LENGTHY BUSINESS CAREER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5536, 19 July 1920, Page 5

LENGTHY BUSINESS CAREER.

RETIREMENT OF MR. J. W BRIGHT.

The announcement, that Mr. John Wilson Bright, who for the past ,B6 years has held the position of Gisborne manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., is retiring from business on account or ill-health will he received with general regret. Always diligent in business matters, Mr Bright has also played a very prominent "part in patriotic work and civic services. Mr Bright, who joined the coinpi nv’s employ in 1876, first came to Gisborne in October, 1886, and was relieving until February of the following year. Returning to Gisborne in 1887, he has been here ever. s ince, and during his long term of residence in the district has seen many changes incidental to its development and progress. The principal products of the district in 1887 were maize and grass sQed. In those days there was no precision locally for the handling of fat sheep, which had to be sent to Auckland, and often times considerable loss was occasioned through bad weather. The only ship loading here at the time was a barque of about 50 tons called the Loclmagar, which took shipments of wool. In those days passengers were lightered by a little boat of light draught iknown as the Snark, and on the occasion of Mr. Bright’s arrival here the bar was causing inconvenience and the lighter struck on it. The breakwater had not then been constructed. Land on the flats in those times was bought at £2O per acre, whereas the same land to-day is valued at £l2O. In addition to his position of manager of the Loan and Mercantile Coiupanv, Mr Bright has, since their initiation’. also acted as chairman of both the Stockbrokers’ Association and Wool brokers’ Association, and these duties he lias also relinquished'. Mr Bright was present at the opening of the Matawhero yards in 1892, when his firm and Messrs. Williams and* Kettle were the only firms here. For the first- three years the yards did not soil more than £IOOO worth of stock per year which is in marked contrast :to the volume of business conducted there at the present day. For about 21 years Mr Bright conducted the sales himself and. had the gratification of seeing the establishment of a market of inestimable value to the district. In conjunction with the late Mr J. Campbell, Mr Bright arranged the lease in respect of the opening of the snleyards in November, At the time the Tauwhareparao lands were originally leased, Mr Bright was a member of the Harbour Boarc!, and for a number of years was also a member of the Borough Council. Another position held by Mr Bright was that of chairman of the Citizens’ Defence . Committee.

Mr Bright’s successor as manager of the* N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has not yet been definitely appointed, but Mr. Blackburn is carrying on the business in the meantime.