ADVANCE SOUTHLAND!

Southern Cross, Volume 10, Issue 21, 23 August 1902, Page 5

ADVANCE SOUTHLAND!

A PROGRESSIVE FIRM. Stormed at by wind and • rain, as they were during the greater part of Coronation Day, the business people of Invercargill might well have been excused from making any special display on that occasion. But as kites fly best against the wind, so difficulties only serve to spur some men on to victory. Some such feeling as this must have influenced the employes of Messrs Broad, Small and Co., for despite the first disappointment, owing to the King’s illness, whereby the labour involved in the getting up of a number of vehicles for the trades and industrial procession was rendered null and void, they were out and about at three a.m. on the 9th of August, and cheerfully did the work all over again. This time the weather interfered, but nevertheless the cavalcade ventured forth, and undoubtedly proved a great attraction as it moved along the principal streets. It veil deserved all the admiration it received, and while a good advertisement for the firm, gave the employes abundant scope for the display of skill and ingenuity. The place of honour was held by a timber wagon drawn by a team of six horses, and decorated with ferns and evergreens. On the wagon choppers and sawyers were to be seen in full swing. Next came a huge jaunting car surmounted by a Hon and a unicorn, while underneath were examples of the latest designs in furniture, conspicuous among them being a fine drawing-room suite, with the heavier furniture in the background. The third vehicle was devoted to the upholsterers of the firm, who showed examples of their work, finished and unfinished. They were succeeded by the office staff in a finely decorated wagon, with desks and ledgers and all the rest of it, not forgetting the little telephone boy, whose witticisms made the crowd laugh in spite of their cheerless surroundings. Next came under review the ‘ house that Jack built ’ a miniature establishment that would have done credit to our leading builders and architects. Great merriment followed the arrival of the next item in the procession in the shape of a decorated cart drawn by an elephant, or rather a horse disguised for the occasion. In the cart were a clown and a number of satellites, but here again things were not what they seemed, for the occupants of the vehicle proved to be the head polisher and his apprentices, all of whom took a hand in showing how furniture can be made to order. Here was variety enough and to spare, but the resources of the firm were not yet exhausted, for had the weather permitted two other vehicles laden with door sashes and other articles from the timber yard and ironmongery department would have turned out and taken their places in what was certainly the most striking combination of the useful and the ornamental ever seen in the streets of Invercargill, The enterprise displayed, and the trouble taken to worthily celebrate a great occasion are typical of Broad, Small and Co. It is one of the most successful firms in Southland. It is nearly twelve years since Messrs C. J. Broad, J. H. Small, and M. Thompson, joined forces and started business as ironmongers in part of Messrs Lewis and Go’s, premises in Dee street. Three years later, daring which time the business' had steadily increased, it was found necessary to remove to Bsk street, and there operations have since been carried on. At intervals additional space has been found necessary, and eventually extensive yards and premises were secured in Tyne street, and connected by telephone with the Esk street establishment. The furniture and upholstery branches of the business are also carried on in the Tyne street buildings, which are connected with the railway by a siding. The firm lately made an important new departure, namely that of engag-

ing in the sawmilling industry—a step rendered imperative by the great i increase that has taken place in their furniture and timber departments. The Long Bush mill, formerly owned by Mr Geo. Melvin, was bought some months ago, the firm thus securing an up-to-date plant, and the services of some of the best axemen in the colony, as was proved at the last carnival. Although the industry has been very quiet of_late, there are signs of a change for the better, and at the beginning of this week several additional hands were put or by the firm. The staff in the bush are all very well known throughout Southland, and comprise— ‘ Our ’ Sam Fisher, who is the bright, particular star of our axemen, Herb. Dawson, W. Jordon, Albert Melvin, J. Hibbs, E. Hibbs, D. McPhee, T. Pay and Bryan Bros. Jack McLeay is the sawyer, and A. Sims his mate at the end of the bench. Although the mill was in good order when the late proprietor left, the new owners have made some very important changes. Donald McLeay has charge of the yard, and Archie Meikle is his mate, and they send the timber out in fine style. The firm is in an exceptionally good position to supply the demands of contractors and builders, their stocks now standing at nearly half-a million feet of totara, black and white pine and other timbers, with a large quantity of moulding, flooring, and lining. The firm are large direct importers, thus doing their share in supporting Southland’s port, the Bluff, and another gratifying feature of the business is that it gives employment to about 60 residents of the town and district. Mr F. T. Pearce, who, by , the way, built the fine organ in use in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, is in charge' at Tyne street, Mr T. Brown is the chief salesman, and Mr M. MclSTeilage is the senior member of the numerous clerical staff. A visit to the firm’s extensive premises in Esk street is sufficient to prove that they are sparing no pains to keep in the front rank, and to be able to meet the demands of an ever-increasing business. Always busy, the place is especially thronged on Saturdays, when the staff is kept hard at it to meet the wants of customers, some of whom have just left themselves a minute or two in which to catch a train. The more purely local industry section of the work is to be seen at Tyne street, where furniture is to be seen in the making, and at the sawmills at Long Bush and at Tisbury, for the cutting from the latter mill is also absorbed by the firm. Judging from the evidences of progress to be seen in every department of the business, one can readily believe that during the twelve years that have elapsed since it was set going, it has increased twelvefold. This is very satisfactory, but is not surprising, for it would be difficult to find three principals who give more attention to their business than Messrs Broad, Small, and Thompson. They possess a thorough knowledge of local requirements, combine in their management the beat features of the old and new schools of business, and so have built up a concern that is a credit to the town, one that has grown with its growth, and one thaty-with a continuance of existing' methods, has practically no limits to its expansion. As a purely local business, and one that is doing its best to advance the material wellbeing of the place, we wish it an increasing measure of success, or, to adopt the phrase of an enthusiastic onlooker when he saw the display made on Coronation Day—“ Kapai, Broad, Small and Co,”