PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 10, 11 March 1893, Page 223

PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

AS a notable example of the success possible in this colony to persevering industry united with business faculty, I select Mr Duthie, one of the members for Wellington, who, by dintof energy, aptitude and ability, has risen step by step from the lower ranges of the social ladder, where his time was that of his employer, until now he rests against the top rails, well pleased, as he may well be, that by his own unaided exertions he has achieved a position—not only in business, but also in social and political circles —shared by comparatively few.

Did space permit, a detailed account of Mr Duthie’s career since bis arrival in the colony, nearly thirty years ago, would make very interesting reading. Instructive would it be to note the successive steps by which he forged ahead ; interesting to record the experiences of the years spent during troublous times in a district harassed by native insunection, but. instead of this, I must content myself with a brief outline of the leading facts and incidents.

Mr Duthie, like so many of New Zealand’s most valuable citizens, hails from the ‘ land o’ cakes,’ and was born at Kintore, in Aberdeenshire, where he grew up to manhood in the habits of intelligent thrift, and obtained the rudiments of a business training which was destined to be exercised in a wider field than his boyish ambition could have anticipated. Serving his apprenticeship with a leading hardware firm of Aberdeen, he obtained in the employment of some of the principal warehouses in England a completer and more varied knowledge of the trade than was possible in his native place, and then, foil of vigour and determination, he turned his face New Zealandwards, resolved to be, in a new country, the architect of his own fortune.

Auckland was the destination selected by the enterprising young emigrant, and, arrived there, he soon found employment, Messrs Cruickshank, Smart and Co., who were doing a large wholesale trade, readily engaging him to take charge of that department. In Auckland Mr Duthie gave hostages to fortune by taking upon himself the responsibilities of married life, and some little time subsequently he determined to take a bold stride forward by going into business for himself.

Purchasing a business in Taranaki, in which he was associated with Major Brown, his first experiences were of a somewhat anxious character, for native troubles had so unsettled the community, that a widespread business depression was the result; but the ultimate outcome was of a character which proved the indomitable pluck, perseverance, and resourcefulness of the young storekeeper, who, instead of losing heart, or wailing supinely for better days, shewed his national grit by starting another establishment in Wanganui, communication between which and New Plymouth was a matter attended with no little difficulty, and considerable risk in those days. Difficulties, however, only supply a pleasing stimulus to resolute minds, and Mr Duthie, having determined, proceeded to act, undeterred alike by difficulties of transit, and by those arising from native disaffection.

His business in Wanganui was established on a sound basis, but, ere long, personal supervision of both establishments—carried on by means of constant journeyings to and fro over a hundred and forty miles of unsettled country—became an impossibility, owing to the outbreak ot old Titokowaru’s rebellion. On the restoration of peace Mr Duthie disposed of bis Taranaki concern, and settling with his family in Wanganui, developed there a large and profitable business, at the same time identifying himself with the various local institutions, and devoting no inconsiderable portion of his time and attention to the furtherance of their interests.

The activity of his temperament made it impossible for him to hold aloof from local politics, and bis capacity soon became too well recognized for his fellow townsmen to feel at all loth about utilising his services, consequently he bad at all times, in addition to a constantly increasing business, a good share of public work on his hands. On the formation of the Wanganui Harbour Board, he was elected a member, and was selected as its first chairman, a position he filled with acknowledged ability. He was also a member of the Wanganui Borough Council ; and was also chosen to serve on the first Wanganui Education Board elected under the National System, his financial and business knowledge being of essential service in initiatory stages.

Having in many and various ways proved himself possessed in an eminent degree of that desirable, but rather rare, and tantalisingly elusive faculty which unfailingly ensures success, and finding his energies cramped in a district where their exertion was, necessarily, to some extent limited, Mr Duthie, in 1878, resolved to extend his opera-

tions to the Empire City, and in a very short time, spite of keen competition, his success was so pronounced that the Wellington establishment became the import centre for a large district with which its enterprising founder had opened up business relations. His business is now the largest of its kind in the colony, and a few years since he converted it into a joint stock concern, the shares in which are held only by members of his family and of his business staff.

Soon after the successful inauguration of Mr Duthie’s Wellington operations, his fine residence in Wanganui was accidentally destroyed by fire, and the family thereupon re-

moved to the Capital, where his well - deserved, but exceptional success put every educational and social advantage within their reach. Thus taking up his residence among them, Mr Duthie’s interests quickly became identified with thoseof the citizens of Wellington, who immediately evinced their goodwill toward, and their appreciation of him by electing him to membership on the Harbour Board, and, subsequently, to the highest position in the gift of ratepayers, viz., the Mayoralty of Wellington, his term of office being made more memorable to himself and family by the fact that in the course of it, he bad, on behalf of his fellow citizens, to receive the Earl and Countess of Onslow, on the former’s arrival in the colony as Governor, an occasion which he celebrated with a liberality which was widely extolled.

Mr Duthie was one of the members chosen for Wellington at the last General Election, and has ever since identified himself with the Conservative party, the Government of the day having no stronger, norsteadier opponent. Mr Duthie’s commercial knowledge and proved business capacity giveshim acknowledged status in the House, but as a public speaker he is not likely ever to achieve distinction, his articulation is faulty and his delivery is so rapid, especially when his feel-

ings are excited, that he is the despair of the Hansard reporters : while, as for the galleries, they scarcely catch two words in ten ; his manner, more particularly when speaking on party questions, is so intensely provocative of antagonism that it would be mere Battery to say that it is a pleasure to listen to him. However, this much at least may be said, that, although uncompromising ami even bitter in opposition, he makes it his business to avoid scurrilities, while the matter of his speeches is vastly superior to the manner of them. The resolute will, however, which has conquered so many difficulties ought, even in this matter, to stand him in good stead.

Mrs Duthie, like her husband, is of Scottish parentage, although she herself was born in the Emerald Isle, in county Westmeath. As before indicated, her marriage took place soon after Mr Duthie’s arrival in Auckland, she having been a passenger in the same vessel, on board of which the acquaintance was begun which was to end in life-long union. Sharing his early fortunes and his first home in the beautiful city on the banks of the Waitemata, she has tasted at her husband's side a more than common allowance of worldly prosperity, yet still retains the quiet tastes of one unspoiled by fortune, and finds her chief happiness in home pleasures, and her greatest joy in the advancement and well-being of her children, of whom there are nine, six sons and three daughters.