Journal
, 1886-9, bound volume., 1886 - 1889
Scope and Contents
The group consists of files, arranged chronologically by years, relating to Fowlds's private and business affairs both in South Africa and in New Zealand. It includes correspondence, legal documents, company account books, balance sheets, receipts, income tax returns and other papes. The legal documents include birth and marriage certificates, an antenuptial contract, and wills. The receipts record items of personal expenditure, donations, and subscriptions. The South African material is fragmentary but includes a list of chattels as well as documents indicating rights to a 'stand' (presumably a house section) at Kimberley.
George Fowlds's business interests are documented in some detail. The accont books include those of his clothing business at 80 Victoria Street, and of the later stages only of the Victoria Arcade business. The 1910 balance sheet reveals that, in addition to his major interest in the clothing business, he owned small parcels of land at St. Heliers Bay, Hunua, Kaukapakapa, Kawhia, and Waitakere, and was in the process of establishing a branch shop in Manners Street in Wellington. The house property, 'Greystone Knowe' at Mt Albert was in his wife's name. In 1920 the company went into voluntary liquidation and was reorganised as two private companies, George Fowlds Ltd. Auckland, and G. M. Fowlds Ltd. Wellington, in both of which George Fowlds held the majority of the shares, the rest being distributed amongst his wife and children. The file relating to the Auckland business which was among his papers in 1911 (see 4/14) is missing, but the establishment of the Wellington concern is recorded in minute detail in the 'Manners Street Property' file. There are a number of files dealing with his investments in several unsuccessful companies during the depression in the thirties. It was about this time that his firm went into liquidation, and the family moved to a smaller house in Belmont Avenue, Mount Albert. Though fragmentary, the series as a whole gives a fairly precise picture of Fowlds's rise from very modest circumstances to be the proprietor of a substantial business, and of the final decline of his fortunes.
Further material regarding property and business matters may be found in three other series in the collection: letters in Series 1 and 2; handbills and advertisements of the firm in Series 10; and pictures of houses and shops in the photograph album in Series 11.
Access to the Journal and Ledger of George Fowlds Ltd. (5/14-15), is restricted until 1973.
Dates
- 1886 - 1889
Creator
- From the Collection: Grey, George, Sir (Person)
- From the Collection: Yates, C. C. (Person)
- From the Collection: Withy, Arthur (Person)
- From the Collection: Young, J. A. (Person)
- From the Collection: Valintine, Thomas Harcourt (Person)
- From the Collection: Turnbull, Alexander (Person)
- From the Collection: Wilson, James (Person)
- From the Collection: Ward, Joseph, Sir (Person)
- From the Collection: Rutherford, A. W. (Person)
- From the Collection: Spragg, Wesley (Person)
- From the Collection: Taylor, T.E. (Person)
- From the Collection: Tobacco Producers' Trust Ltd (Organization)
- From the Collection: Porangi (Person)
- From the Collection: Renown Clothing Company Ltd (Organization)
- From the Collection: Riddet, W (William) (Person)
- From the Collection: Rotary International. New Zealand (Organization)
- From the Collection: Parenga Tung Oil Ltd (Organization)
- From the Collection: Payne, J. (Person)
- From the Collection: Peren, G.S. (Geoffrey Sylvester) (Person)
- From the Collection: Plunket, William Lee, Sir (Person)
- From the Collection: New Zealand Red Cross Society (Organization)
- From the Collection: St John (Organization : N.Z.) (Organization)
- From the Collection: O'Regan, P.J. (Patrick Joseph) (Person)
- From the Collection: Orr, Thomas W. (Person)
- From the Collection: Bengough, J.W. (John Wilson) (Person)
- From the Collection: Barclay, Alfred Richard (Person)
- From the Collection: Cleary, Henry W. (Henry William) (Title of a work--Child in the home and the school .; ) (Person)
- From the Collection: Blomfield, J.C. (Person)
- From the Collection: Cumberworth, F.H. (Person)
- From the Collection: Cohen, Mark (Person)
- From the Collection: Flurscheim, Margaret (Person)
- From the Collection: Eden District Cricket Club (Organization)
- From the Collection: Low, David (Person)
- From the Collection: Mackenzie, Beryl (Person)
- From the Collection: Jenkin, John (Person)
- From the Collection: Jubilee Institute for the Blind (Organization)
- From the Collection: Higgins, George (Person)
- From the Collection: Fowlds, G.M. (George Matthew), 1886-1974 (Person)
- From the Collection: Hiscocks, E.F. (Ercildoune Frederick) (Person)
- From the Collection: Flurscheim, Michael (Person)
- From the Collection: New Zealand Export Traders Corporation (Organization)
- From the Collection: New Zealand Land Values League (Organization)
- From the Collection: New Zealand Alliance for the Abolition of the Liquor Traffic (Organization)
- From the Collection: New Zealand Anti-Opium Association (Organization)
- From the Collection: Meiklejohn, A. W. (Person)
- From the Collection: Mt Tokatea Mineral Fertiliser Company (Organization)
- From the Collection: Manson, William (Person)
- From the Collection: McNab, Robert (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Not restricted
Extent
From the Collection: 8.9 metres
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, University of Auckland Repository
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142 New Zealand
specialcollections@auckland.ac.nz