“STEWART’S” A House with a History

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 16

“STEWART’S” A House with a History

How the "tewart Hardware Ltd. is Developing. Story of Progress and Achievement

, . _ TEWAKT’S!” To any resib 4C dent of Wellington with half a century of life behind him VmJ the name only suggests one firm, the one which has arisen out of the sawdust of ‘‘Stewart’s Sawmill,”, which played no insignificant part in the building up of a bigger and better Wellington. What memories of bygone days are revived by the mention of the old sawmill, which in the '6o’s ranged from the street alignment in Courtenay Place back to the water’s edge? At times, when stocks of timber were heavy, the stacks were built so close to the water that at high tide the seas would flow under their outer edges and make it impassable to those who preferred not to wet their feet in making the passage along the foreshore. EARTHQUAKE DAYS.

Those were the days when it was considered almost criminal to build in brick. Memories of the ’55 earthquakes, when Wellington was rendered chimneyless, and people were made sick by the rocking of “terra iuflrma, were fresh in the mind of everyone, and, with that experience in the mind, was it any wonder that the timber house was the only type of dwelling considered safe for human, habitation? For that reason the big mill in Courtenay Place was ever the centre of building activity, because P was the chief source of timber supplies for half a century. Those were the days when the well-equipped bush-mill of later development was unknown, and the great logs of giant kauris, totaras, and riinu trees had to be felled, pul-ley-hauled down to the water’s edge in the northern harbours of New Zealand, towed off to the waiting schooner, brig, or barquentine, shipped through the log-hole in the bows, and stacked one on top of the other in the vessel’s hold by the aid of the ship’s steam winch. It was arduous, dangerous work, but it was the only way of shipping timber (in the rough) in those days. Then after ten days or a fortnight’s run these sailing vessels would haul into Wellington harbour, and anchor just about where the Town Hall now stands, and that done, the big logs, usually roughly squared, would be crow-barred out of the bow-

hole into the water, where they were picked up and towed to the mill by Stewart’s boats, hauled up by steam power ou to benches which carried them into the teeth of the whirring circular saws, to emerge mere boards. Then away they went to the stack to mature for one or six months, according to the demand. THE STOUT OLD DAYS.

It was the stewart’s direct connection with the sea that developed among the men a taste for rowing. At one time it had its crack four-oar-ed crew, and at another two of Stewart’s men (Hearn and McGrath) formed part of the famous “Dolly Varden” crew, a photograph of which

still hangs in the Wellington Rowing Club’s sheds. Hut Wellington, ever short of flat land, had to enlarge its scope, and as the years crept on the •seas were driven back and back from the old beach line and Stewart’s mill until at pr. sent there are two blocks of business premises between the old yard and the harbour front. But these are but idle memories. Stewart’s of to-day bear- little resemblance to its appearance in the dear old '6o's and 'TO's, and no more does one see old John McCord running round the yard, spectacles on forehead and rule in hand, selling two bur. Ired feet of rlmn weather-boarding and a collide of

dozen 6ft. totara piles to several people at the same time. . . THE STEWARTS. To be a little more explicit, the well-known business of “Stewart’s,” now situated in the very heart of the busiest business thoroughfare of Wellington (but fifty years ago almost wholly a residential street), was founded bv the late -Mr. Robert Greenfield and Mr. James Stewart,- both hard-headed Scotchmen, sixty-three years ago, firstly under the name of Greenfield and Stewart. When Mr. Greenfield retired the business was taken over by the late Messrs. James Stewart, Charles Stewart, his younger other, and Mr. James Ilutchen (still amor'- us), who continued to develop it by adding extensive lines of builders’ and hardware requirements, which.dovetailed with the timber business, which was still the nerve, sinew,

and backbone of the concern. At that time-Mr. Janies Stewart was able to keep a watchful eye on the company’s property, for he lived right opposite the mill iu a five-roomed woodeu cottage that stood on the present site of the Beehive Chambers. When in the fullness of time Mr. James Stewart p „sed ou, Mr. Charles Stewart and Mr. Ilutchen formed the business into a limited liability company, when it was registered as the Stewart Timber, Glass anil Hardware Company, Ltd. From its title oue can judge that the business had rather changed its complexion from the oue it bore at its origiu. Instead of the unpretentious woodeu premises and store that sutliced in the old dav< it was necessary to

move witli the times, so Courtenay Place received its first accession to architectural dignity when "Stewart’s” erected the first three-story brick building in that thoroughfare, a massive building with a (iSft. frontage to Courtenay Place by a depth of 101 ft. This was considered no small achievement. Indeed many said it was years before its time—that. is always said of the new idea if it s bigge. than anyone else’s. But Stewart's did not find if so. They knew where they stood. The name of the old firm bad spread all over the island: its travellers visited every nook and corner. It was an institution and a

flourishing one. (So rapidly did the business increase that the new block was soon overtaxed, and it was found necessary to build a huge three-story bulk store, 36ft. x 100 ft., at the back, extending towards Wakefield Street.) But it flourished in later years rather at a tangent from the timber business, and at length when the directors of the company decided to sell half of the block the timber business was disposed of altogether. The old mill still stands at the rear of the existing premises and is used as a bulk store. The lines of development followed hardware and builders’ requisites, with good china, silver, and elec-tro-plated ware, tools, enamelled goods, and other adjuncts to wellfound hardware business. A DRASTIC CHANGE. With a portion of the vacant land sold and built upon the company had

now to decide whether the business was still to be carried on upon the old lines, or whether the times warranted another big push forward. The question was a momentous one, as further development meant another building scheme of no ordinary dimensions. To stand still was to go back, so, after due consideration, it was .decided that the life blood of this fine old firm was too valuable to be allowed to perish, and it was decided to “go the whole hog,” to expand, and bring the business right up-to-date, and at the same time to provide a home for it, that would rival, if not excel, any other of the kind in the country. That decision taken, action was the word. Plans were prepared by Mr. W. M Page.

architect, for remodelling (lie threestory building fronting Courtenay Place. The result may be seen to-day in the magnificent modern shop and warehouse structure that is such an architectural ornament Io Courtenay Place. With such premises the whole of the btisines of the company had to lie reorganised, and in order to do this the services of Mr. C. Hodder (late of j Briscoe’s and Mason, Struthers, Ltd.. Auckland) were secured, and a comprehensive scheme of expansion was very soon put before (lie directors and I approved. That scheme has now I come into fruition. Instead of the old I four-window display of two or three

lines, the new premises provide no fewer than seventeen beautiful plateglass modern show windows that fairly gleam at one between the basic panels of polished black marbi to the friezes of Viennese and bevelled glass: and it will be noticed that every window specialises in one particular line of goods or articles of allied character. In this manner the new show windows become a miniature exhibition. And within, what a change! Gone is the old respectable -dullness of other years: the dingy half-light, the drab floors, and dusty shelves. On every hand dustless show cases of plate-glass gleam like jewels as they display their treasures of silver and electro-plated ware, their exquisite I ulton ware, and fine fliiua, cutlery, and all the adjuncts of a well-furnish-ed table. There are eight of these cases—each of the highest class workmanship possible, costing in all over £-100. They certainly look the quality. Within the large shop each part is scctionalised, so that the public can sec at a glance in which direction to move. Here is kitchen ware, there plated goods, here sports material (a new and important development), there brushware, here builders’ hardware and tools, there cutlery and glassware, and so on. CARPETS AND TILED HEARTHS. Above the large new shop are two very large floors which have been entirely reconstructed to suit the requirements of the expanded business. For example, the firm is going to develop the tiled hearth business in a manner not hitherto dreamt of in Wellington. The firm has an arrangement with an English company to be served with a contluuor. supply of the latest artistic designs in tiled fireplaces or “surrounds” (as they are known in the trade). These designs will be exhibited by means of large coloured plates, and clients, who are building or about to build houses, may order such designs; and, if they do not care for the colouring of the tiles in the plates, they may have the same designs in t.ny one, or a harmony, of the extensive lines of tiles in stock. These designs in “surrounds” certainly strike a new note entirely in fireside decoration, and will, we are sure, be in eager demand as soon as they are inspected by the building public. Then, in order to make the whole scheme of things one harmonious whole, the firm is instituting a carpet department, where carpets of the finest texture win be stocked in order that clients may have their floors in the happiest artistic relation with their hearths or vice versa. This department is situated on the second floor, and is reached by an automatic passenger lift which rises directly from a convenient vantage point in the shop. And on this floor are also the offices of the clerical and accountancy staffs, where is.also conveniently placed an office especially for the use o.' builders and archit-, Is and their clients. A GREAT CATALOGUE. Carpenters, joiners, mechanics, and the public generally will be interested to learn that “Stewa.-t’s” are issuing the finest and most comprehensive illustrated tool catiilovue ever tmblish-

cd in New Zealand by 1.. e trade. In this publication the design of the goods and their rices will he clearly set forth, and one has only Io forward a list; of their requirements to the “Mail Order Depait lent” to be pretty well as - red that tlmse goods will be forwarded by the first availabh train boat, or motor transport. The linn is not concerned how the goods reach their clients as long as they reach t! cm ;i early as any service can deliver ibeni and in good order. This catalogue is not a thing to he thrown aside. Look to it— and at il I A copy will be posted on request to any ap . plicanl.