Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Levin and Co., Limited

Levin and Co., Limited, (Directors: Messrs. Edward Pearce, John Duncan (managing director), Arthur Edward Pearce (manager) and J. M. Ritchie. Secretary, Thomas King), General Merchants, Station, Shipping and Insurance agents, Grey Street. Wellington. Cable address: Levin, Wellington. page 713 Codes, AI., A.B.C. (Fourth Edition) and Scott's. Telephones: General, 11; Shipping, 5; Mr. E. Pearce (private residence), 599; Mr. J. Duncan (private residence), 499; Mr. A. E. Pearce (private residence), 503. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand and Bank of New South Wales. Private residences of directors: Mr. E. Pearce, Abel Smith Street; Mr. J. Duncan, Thompson Street: Mr. A. E. Pearce, Abel Smith Street; Mr. J. M. Ritchie, Dunedin. Agents: London, Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Limited, 52 Lombard Street, E.C.; New York, Messrs. Mailler and Quereau, 35 Stone Street; correspondents in all parts of the world. This Company was incorporated on the 31st of March, 1896; it is distinctly a Wellington house, without a branch in any part of the Colony, yet there are few, if any, more successful or more highly respected. It was established in 1852 by Mr. N. W. Levin, who for many years past has resided in London, and Mr. C. J. Pharazyn. The firm continued as constituted till 1868, when Mr. Levin, senior, retired in favour of Mr. W. H. Levin, and Mr. (now the Hon.) Walter Johnston was admitted a partner. This alliance resulted in a continuance of the success which had attended the founders of the concern. Ten years later, when the partnership expired by effluxion of time, Messrs. C. J. Pharazyn and Walter Johnston retired, Mr. W. H. Levin continuing the business solely. In 1889 Mr. Edward Pearce, who had for many years conducted a large business as merchant in his own name, joined Mr. Levin, and Mr. John Duncan was admitted a partner. In 1893 the senior partner, Mr. Levin, died, and in 1895 Mr. A. E. Pearce was admitted. A sketch of the late Mr. Levin appears on pages 264-5-6, among the ex-members of the House of Representatives, and brief notices of Mr. Pearce and Mr. Duncan, with their pictures, are given under “Foreign Consuls” on pages 268–9. Mr. A. E. Pearce is the eldest surviving son of the senior partner, and was born in Wellington. He was educated at Crofton and at Bournemouth, England, and subsequently entered his father's office. Messrs. Levin and Co.'s trade—both import and export—extends throughout the civilised world, but more particularly lies with India, Ceylon, China, the United States, Canada, England, and the Continent of Europe. The principal agencies include the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited, the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, the Thames and Mersey Insurance Company, the Victoria Fire and Marine Insurance Company, the New Zealand Trust and Loan Company, Limited, and the National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand, Limited. The agencies for the sale of general merchandise are much too numerous to mention in full, but the following are the most important:—John Hall and Son's blasting and sporting powder, Roburite Explosive Company, Wolseley sheep shearing machines, “White” sewing machines, “Uplands” Ceylon teas, Symington and Co.'s coffee essences, Harraway's rolled oats, Lea and Perrins' sauce, “Crystal” kerosene, Champion's vinegar, Bear and Son's cut tobacco, “Otto de Rose” cigarettes, Dörner's pianos, Gale and Friend's white lead, McCormick reapers and binders, Greenbank Caustic potash and soda, “Toxa” rabbit poison, Little's, Cooper's Hatch's, White's, Quibell's, and Thomas' sheep dips, M. B. Foster and Son's ale and stout, Wm. Edmond's “Pig” ale and stout, Allsopp's “Red Hand” ale and stout, Tennent's ale and stout, Wieland's San Francisco Lager beer, Norwegian Lager beer, Courvoisier's brandy, Clouzeau's brandy, Dessandier's brandy, Faux Fils' and Co's brandy, Martell's brandy, Moet and Chandon's champagne, G. H. Mumm's champagne, Irroy champagne, Heidseck's champagne and Golden Apple cider, Boord and Son's dry gin, rum, and Old Tom, Lemon Hart rum (bulk and case), Catto's, Crawford's Jameson's, Heddle's, Mitchell's, Usher's, Greenlee's, Watson's, and Thom and Cameron's whiskies, Zamoranoy Villar's Teneriffe cigars.