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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Hawthorne, Alfred Francis
Hawthorne, Alfred Francis,
Birmingham Saddlery, Tent, Horse-Cover, Oilskin, and Portmanteau Depôt, Birmingham. Postal address, “Fowlers.” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business, which was established by Mr. Hawthorne in 1894 in a small way, has now grown to be a fairly large and prosperous concern. Born in Kent in 1851, he is the son of the late Mr. M. C. Hawthorne, master tailor, who, up to the time of his death, had the contract from the Government for the supply of clothes to the Woolwich Garrison at Woolwich. The subject of this sketch is a self-educated and self-taught man, and joined the Navy at the age of fourteen, but left through an accident after six years service. In New Zealand he proceeded to the
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Waikato District, and worked for a time at a flaxmill belonging to Captain Hutton, now (1897) the Government Geologist. In 1875 Mr. Hawthorne was married, and took up a farm at Akaroa, also entering into partnership for road contracting. Whilst the former turned out very satisfactorily, the latter was quite the reverse, so that after twenty years Mr. Hawthorne was compelled to sacrifice his property in order to meet the liabilities of the firm. On his arrival at Birmingham, Mr. Hawthorne's means were very limited. He occupied a tent in the main street for many months, where he plodded on in his untiring efforts to obtain for himself a suitable stand. The public recognised in Mr. Hawthorne a good workman, and also found that the prices paid for goods hitherto were exceptionally high. He is gradually securing for himself a good connection, his goods being known throughout the surrounding districts, and he is now doing a steady business in Birmingham.