LONG BUSINESS CAREER CLOSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 15 (Supplement)

LONG BUSINESS CAREER CLOSES

RETIREMENT OF MR. WILLIAM EVANS, OF TIMARU.

Mr William Evans, who recently retired from the position of managingdirector of Evans’ Atlas Flour and Oatmeal Milling Co., Ltd., after having ooccupied the position for 42 years, arrived in New Zealand in the Dutch barque Alma during the rush to the Otago gold fields in November 1861. The voyage from Melbourne to Dunedin occupied eight days, which was considered a fast trip for sailing vessels in those days. Mr Evans was then only 23 years of age, and although he had had little previous business experience, he set himself up as a storekeeper on the gold fields, in which occupation he achieved a fair measure of success, i Four years later Mr Evans participated in the “rush” to the West Coast, being a passenger on the “City of Dunedin,” which was afterwards lost outside Wellington heads. It was on the journey! from Dunedin to Lyttelton, en route to the coast, that Mr Evans caught his first glimpse of Timaru. On arrival in Hokitika, he set himself up as a general merchant, and remained in this district for about nine or ten years. Tiring of life on the gold fields, Mr Evans decided to try an agricultural district, so on December, 1874, he returned to Timaru, and selected a site suitable for a grain store. The necessary alterations were effected, and on January 1, 1875, Mr Evans commenced a business which

Harbour Board was elected, Mr Evans being appointed to a seat on the Board in the interests of the Chamber of Commerce. He is the only surviving member of the first Board. From this on keen controversies arose in connection with harbour matters, and in these Mr Evans played an important part. One of the first actions of the Board was to engage the services of Sir John Coode to report on the proposed breakwater, Sir John at that time being considered as the British Empire’s leading engineer. Mr Evans was a strong advocate of the ultimate scheme submitted by Sir John, but after many debates the Board eventually accepted the plan prepared by the late Mr John Goodall, a New Zealander. The commencement of the work was delayed time and time again by the attentions of the sea, and it was subsequentlyy realised that the breakwater, as erected, was absolutely unable to withstand the heavy southerly seas. It was with the election of a new Board that the threatened danger to the port was realised. Mr Evans agreed to accept the chairmanship of the Board on the understanding that the Board should be unanimous in their support of any action for improved facilities. Mr Evans first obtained the support of the then Premier, (The Rt. Hon. Richard Seddon), and through him, the Government. The Board were ob-

was destined to become one of the coundest and most prosperous in the province. For a period of fourteen years Mr Evans carried on business as a timber, coal and wheat merchant, it being his lot to provide most of the millers with their supplies. The will to work, coupled with a keen business mind, soon brought its reward, and within a short time Mr Evans was firmly established in ' the town. The greatest trouble facing business men at this period was the lack of proper shipping facilities, the mode of handling cargo being by means of surf boats. These boats, which had a capacity of approximately ten tons, could dnly be worked in fair weather, and so progress was necessarily slow. Another handicap was the charge made for the landing service, which was from 5/- to 7/- per ton each way, and 20/(later reduced to 16/-) steamer freight to either Lyttleton or Dunedin. About this time Mr Evans did a fairly big business in the exporting of grain to England, South Africa and Australia, and he even sent a shipment to Guan, in South America. Some idea of the handicap he was under, however, may be had from the fact that vessels coming to the port were sometimes detained through bad weather and want of surf boats for six weeks to two months at a time. Mr Evans made several trips to Australia, and realising the growing necessity of harbour accommodation, he made it his business to inquire into what wa6 going on across the Tasman in the direction of breakwater construction. A Board of Works was in existence at this period, but it was not until 1877 that the first

liged to obtain the support of the ratepayers to a loan of £IOO,OOO to carry out the work of erecting a new breakwater, and after a good deal of opposition in Parliament the loan was approved. The work was commenced, and the consummation of efforts in which Mr .Evans played a prominent part is the present eastern extension which for many years has withstood the elements, and has been instrumental fn establishing Timaru as an important- shipping centre.

After Mr Evans had run his business ' as a private concern for thirteen years, steps were taken to form the company which is In existence at the present time. The first meeting of shareholders was held on February 8, 1888, and it was at this meeting that Mr Evans was appointed chairman of directors. It was not until January 7 of the following year, however, that the Atlas mill comenced operations. Some idea of the extent of the Company’s operations during the- 42 years of its existence may be had from the fact that during this period the amount paid in salaries and wages totals £205,428, and that paid in shipping and railage charges, £99,038. From the date of the commencement of operations up to January 31 last, the output of the mill was 266,796 tons of flour, 50,104 tons of bran and 49,238 tons of pollard. The quantity of wheat used in milling during the same period was 12,251,348 bushels.

Although Mr Evans has resigned his position as managing-director, he still retains a seat on the directorate. His successor is Mr J. W. Fair.