FOUNDER

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 10

FOUNDER

MR C. BUTTERFIELD The present managing director of Butterfield’s, Mr Charles Butterfield, joined the company in 1924. He worked for a time in the shop before serving his time at the upholstery trade.

Mr M. C. Butterfield his father, was very insistant that all members of his family should learn the trade. Returning to the retail side in 1930, Mr Charles Butterfield was appointed manager in 1932, general manager in 1937, and to his present position of managing director in 1943.

Apart from his interest in retail affairs, Mr Butterfield has been connected with rowing for nearly 40 years.

A past president and life member of the Otago Rowing Association, he is at present its secretary a position he has held at various times during 14 seasons. He is a member of the council of the New Zealand Rowing Association.

Mr Francis Johnstone Butterfield, the founder of the well-known and respected firm that now bears his name, was always of a very adventurous spirit. Born in Hobart in 1838, he ran away from home at the age of 13 and stowed away on a ship bound for the California gold fields. Apparently he made no fortune there, but the lure of gold was still strong, and he returned to Australia and took part in the Ballarat gold rush.

From there he went to Sydney and served his time in the furniture trade. He then went to sea as second mate in a small sailing ship engaged in the timber trade between Tasmania and the southern part of the South Island. On one of these voyages he visited Dunedin, and stopped to watch some men working on a new building. Talking with the foreman he was offered a job, and promptly took it, leaving his ship. It turned out this was a good thing as the ship was lost at sea a few voyages later. After working in Dunedin for a year or two he returned to Hobart where he set up in business. In 1868 Mr Butterfield returned to Dunedin to form the present company.

Mr Butterfield was very musical and fond of theatricals and generally managed to make friends with visiting companies. Quite often when these companies toured the Otago gold fields he used to go along, frequently playing the piano, and leaving his wife to run the business. In his day he was considered one of the finest tradesmen in the country. Although running his own business he was a strong unionist and was founder and first president of the Otago Furniture Trades Union. His son, Mr A. J. Butterfield, was ' first secretary and held this position for more than 20 years until he assumed control of the company on the death of his father.