Media: BOOK - hardcover, 342 pages
Year: 1898
Other: b&w photos, index
Publisher: Arthur Cleave & Co.

This is an original copy of the 'Industries of New Zealand' which was published in 1898. This volume summarises the level of industry and commercial development across New Zealand town by town. It devotes a significant section (over 300 pages) to examining individual commercial activities in some detail, and it is full of company biographies and hundreds of photographs of the industries and people of New Zealand.

Old historical records are a valuable resource for local, family and social historians as well as for researchers in other fields of Australasian history. They provide information on the environment experienced by the residents of the time and how they lived, as well as their occupations.

Places covered by this publication are Ashburton, Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hokitika, Kumara, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Reefton, Ross, Timaru, Wanganui, Wellington, Westland, Westport. There are specific sections relating to the railway, forest and timber, and the mining industries. But you will also find details on coach manufacturers, shipping agents, tailors, insurance companies, auctioneers, grocer, stationers and paper merchants just to name a few.

This is a valuable insight into the businesses and industry in New Zealand in the 1890s.

CONDITION: The book is in reasonable condition. The cover is original, however the book does have new end papers and spine. Some pages are showing their age, with tatters on the edges, and some age spots, and 1 or 2 are a bit loose. The front cover does have a watermark stain on it, but none of the pages inside are damaged. The back two pages were used as someones scrap paper for additions at some stage, as there is a lot of numbers written there in pencil.