NINETY-SECOND BIRTHDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 10

NINETY-SECOND BIRTHDAY

CAREER OF MR. F. W. COURT PIONEER qiTY 'BUSINESS MAN A pioneer business inan of Auckland, Mr. F. W. Court, of Selwyn Street, Onebnnga, will celebrate the 92nd anniver? sary of bis birthday to-day. He is in excellent health, in spite of his years. At cit.b time he was a leading draper in the city and was virtually the founder of two of its most important drapery firms. Mr. Court was born in Worcestershire in 1840 and is the eldest of three brothers who emigrated from England to New land. After serving his apprenticeship" with a firm of drapers at Walsall, Staffordshire, he established a business of his own at Birmingham in 1869, which he conducted for 16 years. On account of ill- , health he was obliged to leavo England and. with his wife, sailed for New Zealand in the Rimutaka in 1886. Shortly after his arrival at Auckland he opened a drapery shop in Karangahape Road and a second, shop in Queen Street. Five years later, however, owing to continued ill-health, ho was obliged to retire, the businesses being taken over by his brothers, Messrs. John and George Court. Mr. and Mrs. Court celebrated their diamond wedding three years ago. They have two sons and one daughter, Mr. W. T. Court, of Onehunga, Mr. v. A. Court, of Mangere, and Sirs. E. J). Wright, of Onehunga. '. '