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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Booth, David

Booth, David , General Merchant, Hampden. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The business carried on by Mr. Booth was established about 1879, and purchased by him in 1893. The buildings are of wood and iron, one storey in height, and comprise the store and dwelling, a bakery, coalshed, and stable. and are situated in the centre of the borough on a freehold section of a quarter of an acre. Mr. Booth maintains a well assorted stock of drapery, grocery, ironmongery and grass and crockeryware. His connection extends over a large area of country surrounding Hampden. He was born at North Ouram, near Halifax, Yorkshire, in 1839, served an apprenticeship to the soft goods trade in Bradford, and became a commercial traveller before he was twenty-one years of age. In 1862 he came to Port Chalmers, by the ship “Akbar,” and for three years underwent a rough goldfield experience at Tuapeka, Molyneux, and the Dunstan. From 1863 to 1872 he was in business as a storekeeper at Cromwell.
Mr. D. Booth.

Mr. D. Booth.

page 460 and after a short time in business in Oamaru, he purchased the wool-scouring works of the late Mr. John Barraclough at Kakanui, and successfully conducted them for ten years, during which he became a large wool buyer and exporter. Having sold out, Mr. Booth removed to Wellington, where he was in the flour milling trade for about three years, and subsequently for eighteen months traded as a general merchant. He then went to Gisborne, and became interested in the oil springs, but shortly afterwards removed to Sydney, New South Wales, where he took the management of a large tailoring establishment. Two years later, having lost his health, Mr. Booth returned to New Zealand, and after a long rest recommenced wool scouring at Kakanui, and continued till settling in Hampden. During his residence in Cromwell Mr. Booth was a member of the town council and the school committee, treasurer of the Public Library committee, and secretary and treasurer of the Cemetery Trust. He also held office as secretary and treasurer to the Presbyterian Church committee. Mr. Booth was married, in 1867, to a daughter of Mr. G. Brownhill, of Alloa, Scotland, and has three sons and two daughters. His eldest daughter is married to Professor Hill, now of Sydney, composer of the score of the cantata “Hinemoa,” and the Maori opera, “Tapu.”