J. & G. BUCHANAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 89, 16 April 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

J. & G. BUCHANAN.

MARBLE AND1 FREE STONE ; WORKERS.

The oldest and xxirhaps the bestknown firm in trie Aibnuinental masonry line in Auckland are the Messrs. J. & G. Buchanan, of Wellesley^street East; Amid a nomadic population such as frequents cities ill new countries, and particularly snipping- ports which lie on great highways, it is something' for a business to be able to lay claim to thirty-eight years of existence. What with rapfdfy changing conditions, booms and reactions, it is so easily to be carried under. Notwithstanding all infelicitous circumstances, however, the MesWs. Buchanan have preserved a steady development, of trade, and their reputation to-day is higher than ever before. In widely separated regions cixn be seen examples of their excellent handiwork, and their sphere of operations is not confined to the islands of New Zealand. Messrs. J. & G. Buchanan established their business in Auckland in 1863. Learning their trade in Glasgow, where they gained a very superior training, in 1852 they proceeded to Australia, and spent some time in the Ballarat and other Victorian goldfields. In 18G1 they came on to New Zealand, and in 18G2 reached Auckland. In the following year they founded the business which has grown to silch proportions. Mr. J. Buchanan has lost his brother and pai'tner by death, and now carries on the work alone. The firm of J:* & G. Buchanan, notwithstanding competition, have always conducted. a big share of the monumental business in Auckland. Their yards are in

Wellesley-street East, and there they have an excellent plant. They work chiefly in marbles and New Zealand stones, and carry a large stock of St. Anne's blue marble, Kilkenny black marble, and white Italian marble, which they import direct from Ferrara. All the basement stone is obtained from Waikawa, near thte Bluff, and Mr. J. Buchanan is loud in bis praises of this material, considering it to be equal to the best Melbourne or Malmesbury. Procuring good material, the Messrs. Buchanan take every care to work it up in a most artistic manner, and there can be ,no doubt as to the excellence of their handiwork. No other proof is needed than mention of one or two big contracts that have been entrusted to them. Thus tfiey cut and erected -.the celebrated Treaty of Waitangi monument at Russell, and recently despatched to Tonga, in the South Seas, a very fine monument to be erected in celebration of the close of the nineteenth and the opening of the twentieth eenturias. This monument is 12ft high, with a blue stone base, a second base of St. Anne's marble, and a shaft of Italian marble. Inscribed on it are the names of George Tubbu, the IL, King of Tonga, and J. T. Mateialona, Governor of Haabai. The Messrs. Buchanan have erected many of the principal monuments in Auckland, and their trade ramifies all over New Zealand and the islands. They supply at a liberal rate all kinds of headstones, .monuments and other examples of monumental works, and the exhibits in their yards from time to time are convincing evidence of the dimension^ 6f their trade and the superiority of their handiwork.The firm import art .into their work, and the result is most pleasing. They serve to draw attention to the importance of Auckland "in'many parts of the colony. Mr.' J. Buchanan's unobtrusive demeanour cannot hide the fact that he is a sturdy, acute and reliable business man. Mr. J. M. Leece has been engagedin the active part of the business for tile past three years as manager. He served his apprenticeship in this city, and has been twelve years in'the trade.