Ferguson, Alexander , Watchmaker and Jeweller, Dee Street, Invercargill. Mr. Ferguson was born in Inverness, Scotland, on the 8th of May, 1853, and is the eldest son of Mr. William Ferguson, clothier, of Inverness. He was educated at the High School of his native city, and was apprenticed to Mr. P. G. Wilson, the Court jeweller of the northern capital of the Highlands, but completed his term in Glasgow. In 1875 he landed at Invercargill, in the ship “Christian McCausland,” which was quarantined for a month. After three years at Mr. Louis Rodgers' establishment, Mr. Ferguson commenced business for himself, subsequently entering into partnership with Mr. Rein. In 1886 and 1887, he visited West Australia and Victoria, but afterwards returned to Invercargill, where he has since resided.

Guy, photo.
Half-Moon Bay, Stewart Island.

Lumsden, Thomas J. , Watchmaker, Tay Street, Invercargill, Mr. T. J. Lumsden is the fifth son of the late Mr. George Lumsden, and was born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1854. The family settled in Invercargill in 1861, and Mr. Lumsden was educated and apprenticed in his adopted city. After serving his apprenticeship and working for some time for his father, he commenced business in 1878 on his own account, and still carries it on. He married Mary, daughter of Mr. James McNatty, who formerly belonged to the famous Invercargill Garrison Band, and is the father of nine children, five boys and four girls. Mr. Lumsden was a member of the American and Manchester Order of Oddfellows, and held the position of treasurer of the Working Men's Club for three years.

Mr. T. J. Lumsden.

Nicol, W. And J. L. (William Nicol and John Littlejohn Nicol). Watchmakers and Electro-platers, Dee Street, Invercargill. This business was established in 1883, by the late Mr. W. Nicol, who was joined by his son, the present senior partner, under the style of Nicol and Son. He died in 1893, and Mr. W. Nicol carried on the business till 1903, when the present partnership was entered into. An electro-plating plant, including a dynamo and engine, has been imported, and there are complete appliances for the deposition of all kinds of metals, under a pressure of 1000 volts of electrical energy.

Mr. William Nicol , the Senior Partner, was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, in 1870, and came to Port Chalmers with his parents by the ship “Nelson” in 1875. He learned his business with his father, whom he afterwards joined in partnership. Mr. Nicol is very fond of music, and has taken part in a number of productions by musical societies in Wellington and page 858 Invercargill. He was married, in 1891, to a niece of Sir John Bennett, of a celebrated watchmaking firm in London, and has three sons and two daughters.

Premises Of Mr. T. M. Rankin.

Mr. John Littlejohn Nicol , the Junior Partner, was born at Ballarat in 1881, and educated at Invercargill. He made a special study of electrical work in Sydney, where he was employed in the Railway Workshops until 1902. Mr. Nicol joined his brother in partnership in 1903.

Rankin, Thomas Murray , Watchmaker and Jeweller, Tay Street, Invercargill. After serving an apprenticeship to his trade, Mr. Rankin took a tour throughout New Zealand, and on returning to Southland at the end of 1895, he started business in Tay Street. He is both a watchmaker and manufacturing jeweller, and turns out medals and jewellery of all kinds connected with the trade. Mr. Rankin is further referred to as a Freemason in connection with Lodge St. John, Invercargill

Rein, Niels Jacob Martin , Watchmaker, Dee Street, Invercargill. Mr. Rein was born at Bergan, Norway, on the 7th of September, 1852, and is the eldest son of Mr. Niels Rein. He was educated and apprenticed to his trade in his native place. In 1875 Mr. Rein emigrated to New Zealand in the ship “Star of China,” and worked for Messrs. Peterson and Co., watchmakers, of Christ-church, for two years. Going to Invercargill, he obtained employment at the establishment of the late Mr. Charles Freeman, in whose service he remained till 1881, when he joined Mr. Alexander Ferguson, the firm trading as Rein and Ferguson. In 1886 the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Rein opened his present handsome and well-stocked establishment in Dee Street.

Mr. N. J. M. Rein.