KIRKCALDIE & STAINS, LTD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7033, 22 January 1910, Page 2

KIRKCALDIE & STAINS, LTD.

HALF A CENTURY'S RAPID PROGRESS.

The history of Kirkcaldie and Stains is practically the history of Wellington, for the firm has been in existence once December 9th, 1863.' a period of nearly forty-seven years. The first building occupied by the firm, known as Waterloo House, was located opposite Barrett's Hotel, and contained a floor space of 400 square feet. Tho stock was valued at .£ISOO. Wellington was in its infancy then,' the population w|as small, and everyone knew everyone. _ Messrs John Ivirkcaldi© and Robert Stains knew their business, and knew how to treat their patrons. . The business grew with the growth of Wellington, and when Waterloo House was found too small for .the expanding trade, a couple of sections were acquired at the corner of Brandon street and Lamb ton quay, the site of the present palatial warehouse. This land was amongst the first reclaimed, and was purchased from the then Provincial Government, and the price paid was, as things went then, very big—the corner section beng bought at .£l6 per foot, and the adjoining one at Jll2 per foot. The population of, Wellington was then about 5000. ’ Two years later the seat of Government was transferred from Auckland to Wellington, a commission from Australia., appointed.or the purpose, having selected Wellington as the most central and suitable. Tho first building on th:s site was a two-storey wooden building, which was regarded os palatial by the residents ot those days. This building remained intact untu a few months* ago. Tiro business continued to grow and extension, of promises appeared to bo a never-ending trouble. A brick building, larger, and adjoining the first wooden building, was put up m Lamb ton- quay, then another great storo wa»s added on the Brandon street frontage. This appeared to be sufficient, ‘ but only for a few years,, and extensions had again to bo undertaken. Tho site of the old Occidental Hotel.and the section adjoining and fronting Johnston street were acquired, and substantial ‘ brick buildings ’ erected , thereon; meanwhile, the original wooden building had to yield to brick and mortar. - Tho handsome, solid, and. compact brick buildings which now constitute the--pre-mises of Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., are a credit to the Empire City, and evidence of the successful efforts made by the firm to soour© the confidence and goodwill of tho public. The floor space of Waterloo House was about 400 4 square feet, the space now in occupation is about 110,102 feet, and the stock has grown from XISOO to nearly a hundred times as much. In the early days the firm employed one -or two hands, but these increased year by year until now the assistants number between 450 and 500. The departments are complete in themselves and are as large as many ordinary single dhops. Recently china and glassware and household ironmongery have been added, and Wellington, now posseses a first-class Store, The firm does an immense country business, the Mail-Order Department requiring the exclusive attention of a dozen assistants. Of the conveniences and facilities provided in tho extensive new buildings it is unnecessary to write. Practically everyone has seen through the great store, and tested tho quality of the merchandise. c