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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Starr, B.
Starr, B., Baker, Manufacturer of French Confectionery and General Caterer, 80 Cuba Street, Wellington. Bankers, Nationa Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Starr is a native of Enfield, County of Middlesex, where he learned his business. He was apprenticed to F. Schmidl, a well-known confectioner of Enfield Town, and completed his term in 1873, after which he continued with his employer in the capacities of journeyman, foreman, and manager for twenty years, when he left to seek his fortune in this Colony, Mr. Starr's employer, Mr. Schmidl, had a large and very fashionable connection, and the experience of a quarter of a century in that establishment was of a kind that very few have a chance of gaining. In his position there Mr. Starr cooked and catered for H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, Lady Brooke, of Enfield Court; Colonel Somerset, of the King's Own Light Infantry, the Essex Militia, and many others of the nobility of England. He had made the ices, etc., for the Mansion House, and was generally mixed up with the most important catering work of England. Mr. Starr left London for Wellington in the steamship “Ruapehu” in 1893, and after looking round awhile, decided to begin business as above. His premises are of wood, two stories high, and have been used as a bakery very many years. Old Wellingtonians will remember the shop as that of Mr. J. Dixon, baker and confectioner. The extent of floor space is about 1000 square feet. In the catering line Mr. Starr lays himself out specially for balls, parties, tea meetings, dinners, suppers, picnics, etc. He delivers his bread and pastry to all parts of the City and suburbs, and sends his French confectionery and other manufactured goods to any part of the Colony. Mr. Starr's list of specialties is a long one. They consist of a variety of cakes, plain and ornamental, French confectionery, a great variety of Christmas novelties, including Christmas cakes, piped and iced, plum pudding mince meat, etc.; home-made jam, in one-pound pots; calf's foot jelly, ready at any time; Vienna bread, at 2d, per loaf; draught lemonade, strawberries and cream, and ices of all kinds. “Starr's School Cake,” at the very low price of 5d. per lb., is quite a boon to the mothers of hungry boys; and his plain cake at 9d., and sultana cake at the same price are having a good run, and rapidly becoming well-known. Wedding cakes, are 1s. 9d. per lb. In the icing and piping of wedding and birthday cakes Mr. Starr defies competition, and certainly his sugar roses and other flowers are an excellent imitation. It is all the work of his own hands, so of course he can afford to put more labour into it than his fellow-tradesmen who have to pay wages. In the small fancy cakes and tarts department there is an immense variety, and each bears the stamp of novelty. In this, as in the other branches, Mr. Starr has the assistance of his wife and children, an advantage which ensures that in every department the wants of customers will be attended to by those who are interested in the general success. The French cream caramels are a good, wholesome confection, made entirely on the premises, and warranted pure. Mr. Starr is an importer of fancy boxes, cases, and ornaments, but all other lines he manufactures for himself. Considering the short time he has been established, he has succeeded in working up a very good trade. Some important catering orders have already fallen into his hands, and have been executed satisfactorily in every way. No pains are spared in the endeavour to please everyone. Mrs. Starr has charge of the front shop, and carries out her duties in a manner that cannot fail to please and inspire confidence. They all work hard, and are in every way deserving of success. There is every probability that as time goes on Mr. Starr will become one of the favourite confectioners of Wellington. He possesses the qualities which always make for personal popularity, and his experience of the way things in his line are done in the Old Country must be of the greatest use to him here.