Roberts, J. D. & Co. (Joseph Drayton Roberts). Manufacturing Confectioners and Biscuit Makers. Temporary premises, Excelsior Buildings, Customs Street; works, Stanley Street, Auckland. Mr. Roberts is a native of Leicester, England, and came to the Colony in 1893, for the benefit of his health, which has greatly improved by the warmer climate of Auckland. He had a very extensive experience in the Old Country, where he was director of several well-known English companios, and that and his thorough knowledge of the English and foreign markets, have been of great assistance to him in his colonial business. After his arrival in Wellington by the s.s. “Kaikoura,” Mr. Roberts made a tour through the whole island, and finally settled in Auckland, where, in order to note the difference between the English and Colonial trade, he obtained a position with Mr. J. Rigg, agent for Rowntree's cocoa, etc. Six months later, he took premises at No. 15, High Street, and became sole agent in Auckland and the Northern districts for Cadbury Bros., cocoa and chocolate manufacturers, Birmingham, and also agent for Messrs W. and D. Harvest, London, general drysalters; Messrs Grimble and Co., vinegar manufacturers, London; Messrs Hay Bros., the celebrated Scotch confectioners, of Glasgow; and he still holds these agencies. Mr. Roberts is also a large importer of English twine. Finding that his customers were enquiring for colonial confectionery, which is, of course, cheaper than English, he decided to enter into the manufacturing line, and took into partnership Mr. J. Jowess, but twelve months later, the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and Mr. Roberts continued to carry on the business. In 1896, finding his premises much too small for his fast increasing business, he decided to take a larger establishment, and removed to 36 to 38 High Street, where he carried on his business until its expansion compelled him to move to the well-situated and more commodious premises which he occupied in Stanley Street until the 12th of May, 1901, when the establishment was completely destroyed by fire. The loss thus caused amounted to quite £10,000, which was covered by insurances to the extent of only £2,500. However, in less than a month Mr. Roberts resumed business in temporary premises in the Excelsior Buildings, Customs Street, was erecting temporary works in Stanley Street, and stood prepared to execute all orders. Resourcefulness like this always deserves success, and almost always wins it. Mr. Roberts is in a position to supply retailers with every class of goods, from the highest English confectionery down to the cheapest colonial article. Besides largely importing from England, Mr. Roberts has frequent shipments from Philadelphia and New York, and all the latest American novelties can be obtained at his warehouse; in fact, there is nothing required by a retail confectioner that Mr. Roberts does not keep; paper bags, glass show bottles, scales and weights and all sundries are in stock in large variety. A special branch of the business consists in supplying the smaller manufacturing confectioners with essences, colourings, oils, gelatine, etc. Large stocks of Stevenson and Howell's and W. T. Bush and Co.'s essences are kept, as well as glucose and rollers and stands for manufacturing boiled lollies. Mr Roberts personally possesses the qualities necessary to make a good business man, and being courteous and attentive to his customers, he has secured a large and growing connection. He is a Freemason of the English Constitution, and a member of No. 1560, Art Edward Lodge, and St. George's Chapter attached, also a Mark Master Mason of No. 191 Simon de Montfort Lodge, all of Leicester.