MAKERS OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20309, 17 July 1929, Page 8

MAKERS OF AUCKLAND.

SOME EARLY MERCHANTS.

THE " THREE SANDIES."

-CAREER OF JUDGE MANING.

14 THE LAND I LOVE SO WELL."

by y.w.w. No. VI. Tlio sito of tho main branch of the National Bank of New Zealand in Shortlarid Street was purchased at tho initial sale of city lots by Mr. Thorns Weston, who rests in St. Mark's churchyard, Epsom, and must be distinguished from Mr. T. Shailer Weston, who became a District Judge, and whose descendants nro now in Taranaki, Wellington and G'hristchurch. Mr. Thomas Weston came in 1840 from Sydney, along with his partner, Mr. William Hobson, who, again, must bo kept distinct from Captain William Hobson, our first Governor. Messrs. Weston and Hobson first sottied at tho Bay of Islands, as auctioneers and commission agents. On the removal of tho seat of government to Auckland, they built a warehouse on their Shortland Street site, and eventually a larger offico building—known as tho Hobson Buildings—which, in turn, came down ;when tho National Bank acquired it a few years ago.

The Hon. Patrick Dignan.

Yob another prominent citizen who came near the beginning of things in the city was the Hon. Patrick Dignan, one of the arrivals of 1841. Mr. Dignan was a member of tho Provincial Council from its establishment in 1853 to the abolition of the provinces in 1876, being thus returned by the electors seven times. On tho Provincial Executive he served under tho superintendencies of Sir Frederick Whitaker and Mr. John Williamson. For three terms between 1867 and 1879 he represented Auckland City West in tho Houso of - Representatives. Two davs after his resignation of the seat in tiie latter year he was called by the Grey Government to tho Legislative Council, then a nominated body with life tenure, and remained a member until his death in 1894. Mr. Dignan was a strong supporter and close friend of Sir George Grey, and was credited with having considerablo influence in inducing the great Pro-Con-&ul, after his retirement from hi 3 long teries of colonial Governorships, to enter into New Zealand party politics, and become tho founder and leader of the Liberal Party. Locally he was a member of tho first Auckland Harbour Commissioners. In business matters, he was one of tho largest original shareholders in tho Bank of New Zealand, a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank, and a director of the Auckland Gas Company. Auckland's First Camellias.

There were two Messrs. Owen in business in Auckland at an early period. One of them, Mr. G. B. Owen, came out in 1841, and, purchasing a cutter, entered into tho coastal trade, principally _in gum. Afterwards lie established himself in business in the city as a general merchant, in partnership with Mr. W. K. Graham, thus forming the old firm of Owen and Graham. Mr. Owen was on the early directorates of the Bank of New Zealand, tho Loan and Mercantile Agency Company and tho New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr. Owen's namesake, Mr. G. W. Owen, did not arrive until 1859, and he became the founder of tho firm of G. W. Owen and Company, also general merchants. He was an early member of the Auckland Harbour Board, and was its chairman in 1885. Mr. Owen is given by old residents the credit of having been the first to introduce the camellia to Auckland. It is stated that he brought hither a shrub each of the white ■ and the pink camellia, which were nur- « tured with jealous care in the garden at Owen's Road, Mount Eden. In the Presbyterian Cemetery in Svmonds Street will be found, distance apart, the graves of the "Three Sandies" —Messrs. Alexander Marshall, Alexander Black and Alexander Dingwall— who came to Auckland together in 1841, and became the owners of land in Queen Street, opposite the end of Fort Street. Afterwards, in partnership an builders, they erected several of the early commercial buildings in Lower Queen Street. . Author o! " Old New Zealand." Considerably earlier than the foundation of Auckland itself was tho connection with Now Zealand of Mr. F. E. Maning, one of tho first Judges of the Native Land Court, and author, under tho pen-name of "A Pakeha Maori," of tho incomparable book of Maori life, customs and character, "Old New Zealand." Judge Maning camo to New Zealand in 1833, at tho ago of 21. and settled among the Ngapuhis of Hokianga. There ho gained that thorough knowledge of the history and customs of tho people which proved a valuablo asset to tho State when he was appointed a Judge of the Land Court on tho creation of that tribunal. He rendered useful service to the Crown ' during tho Heko war of 1845, and again in the fighting of 1861, through his powerful influence with tho tribes. Though Judge Maning died in England, whither ho had gone for medical treatment, his remains were brought back to New Zealand for interment. Tho inscription over iiis grave in the Symonds Street Cemetery is known to have been drafted by Sir John Logan Campbell, who was bis close friend, and docs justice to his public service. It concludes thus: "His last words were. 'Let mo be buried in the land I lovo so well.' Here, therefore, loving friends interred him in his last resting{)lace, in tho land of his adoption, and lave raised this memorial to one of New Zealand's earliest colonists and most faithful sons."

Well-known Mercantile Firm.

Ono of Auckland's very early merchants was Mr. David Nathan, who was in business at Kororareka when Captain Hobson arrived there and proclaimed British sovereignty over Now Zealand, and who came to the Waitemata when the seat of government was being removed here. At the original land salo Mr. Nathan purchased the property at the corner of Shortland and High Streets, and there started the business which, on the admission to partnership of his sons, the Jato Mr. Lawrence Nathan and Mr. N. Alfred Nathan of to-day, became the firm of \j. D. Nathan and Co. Messrs. Nathan remained on the sito until a year or two ago, when the section ,was sold to the South British Insurance Company, and tho firm built a still larger warehouse on another historic site in I' ort Street, till then occupied by Gra names old bond. It was on the Shortland Street site that Mr. Alfred Nathan was born. Mr. David Nathan's first husmess-placo was a modest structure in a " cl tho larger warehouse lately demolished was constructed of bricks brought fiom England in tho "fifties." The Second Harbourmaster. Tho Burgess family have been associated £, U^ kland from as far back as tho year 1846, when the late Captain I J Burgess came into port as chief officer of tho barque Madras, and left tho vessel ™ take the position of chiof officer Of the boveniment brig Victoria, of which on the accidental death of her captain, lie succeeded to the command. In 1850 ho became chiof pilot of Auckland, still in tho service of tho Government, for that was long before tho days of harbour hoards. When Captain David Rough, original harbourmaster of tho Waitemata, was transferred to the Customs Depart men, Captain Burgess was appointed to ins office. Hn was confirmed in his position first; by the Provincial Government and then by the Harbour Board, and continued m it until 1894, "syhen lie retired.