EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 10

EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.

NOTED AUCKLAND PIONEER.

MR. N. A. NATHAN'S ACTIVITIES

RECORD OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP

Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, head of the firm of L. D. Nathan and Company, will celebrate his eightieth birthday to-morrow at bis residence in Princes Street. Mr. Nathan's family dates its connection with Auckland from the very foundation of the city. Indeed bis father, Mr. David Nathan, was in New Zealand oven before this city was thought of. Ho was settled in business at Russell when Governor Ilobson in 1840 proclaimed the colony a British possession; and on the selection of Auckland as the seat of Government he was one of the purchasers at the first sale of city lands. It was then that he acquired the property at the corner ol Shortland and High Streets on which became established for nearly ninety years the business of which he was the founder. In those early days most traders in the town lived on their business premises, and so it was on the site of the old Shortland Street warehouse of L. D. Nathan and Company—then almost on the beach of the Waitemata —that Mr. N. A. Nathan was born on January 5, 1850. As a' lad of eight summers he was sent to England to bo educated. Ilis alma mater waa a school at Edmonton, the town celebrated by Cowper in poetry as the scene of the exploits of John Gilpin. Entering the Business.

From there lie went to a high school at Frankfort, returning to Auckland in 1866. Ho then began to take part in his father's business, and passed as a junior through most of its departments. In 1875 Mr. David Nathan retired from business in favour of his two sons, Laurence and Alfred, and it was then that the more modern style of the firm, L. D. Nathan and Company, was adopted. In 1905, for convenience in defining .family interests, the firm was formed into a limited liability company, with Mr. L. D. Nathan as chairman, and on his death in the same year Mr. Alfred Nathan succeeded to tho chairmanship. Blest with abundant health his years sit lightly upon him, and he still continues to bo the main director of what has grown to be one of tho most extensive wholesale hading and shipping businesses in the Dominion.

Mr. Nathan has throughout his life been prominent in patriotic and philanthropic work in Auckland. With tho Jubilee Institute for the Blind he has been actively associated since its inception in a wooden building further along the Manukau Road from its present site. For several years he was chairman of the Board of the Institute, of which he continues to be a member. He was also chairman for some years of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, of which his father was one of the founders in 1845, and is one of its main financial supporters. When volunteering was at its height in New Zealand lie was lieutenant in the Auckland Rifle Brigade under Major Batger and Captain Morrow. Many Business Interests.

With but few intervals Mr. Nathan has been president of tho Auckland Hebrew congregation for the past 30 years. It was founded by his father and first met for worship in his warehouse. Ho has been an active and generous supporter of the Zionist movement and after visiting Palestine several years ago gave an address on his impressions. He is the oldest surviving New Zealand-born Jew and is the lay head of New Zealand Jewry. One of the most enterprising men in the city, Mr. Nathan has been prominently connected with a number of businesses outside his own. Of the Northern Steamship Company lie has been a director since tho death of his brother. He was one of the founders of the United Permanent Building Society and is still a director. Ho is also a director of the Union, Oil, Soap and Candle Company. For many years he was-a member of the council of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce — another body which his father took part in founding—and has occupied the office of its president. He is a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank, a position in which both his- father and his brother preceded him. He has been a member of flit? executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association from its inception and was its first treasurer. He has been president of the Northern Club. Childhood Memories.

Sport has been another of Mr. Nathan's active interests and he is a trustee and a member of the committee of tho Auckland Racing* Club. For many years his colours were well known on tho Ellerslio course.

To-day Mr. Nathan recalls very vividly childhood memories of looking out of the upstairs window in Shortland Street and seeing the Maoris grounding their canoes on the beach just across the road. They brought their kits of kumaras, fish and melons and all they asked for a whole kit was "icky penny." "Why, they would ask sixpence each for the contents of the kit now," laughs Mr. Nathan.

On this notable occasion in the family history four daughters of Mr. Nathan >.will bo present, Mrs. B. Hewitt, Mrs. P. Maddison, Lady Tuck and Mrs. A. Lumley Frank. Lady Tuck and Mr. and Mrs. Frank have come all tho way from London specially to bo present,. On Tuesday n private reception in honour of the occasion will be held at Mr. Nathan's residence, "Wickfcvrd," Princes Street, and next Saturday evening he will entertain all the members of his staff and their wives at a social gathering in the Masonic Hall.