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| 34-M7H-8, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries. |
The business continued to grow in the Queen Street premises with Milne & Choyce claiming to have the largest stock in Auckland. In 1901 Milne & Choyce became a public company with Choyce as managing director. Mary Jane Milne was not on the board, but she remained active until her retirement in March 1908. She held a large shareholding and remained influential in the business all her life. [1] [2]
Although there is no longer a family interest, Milne & Choyce remains today a leader in glamour department stores in Queen St and a place to visit.
This was closed after 48 years in 2015, it was known that this would not be a popular move and much was made of the closure. However, as a result we now have on-line coverage of the closure where descendants of the businesses featured talk about the past and share memories. [4]
[1] teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2m49/milne-mary-jane
[2] www.remueraheritage.org.nz/people/henry-choyce
[3] www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/spectrum/audio/2017...
[4] www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/t...
30/5/1929
OLD COLONISTS DEATH.
MRS. CHARLOTTE CHOYCE.
OVER SIXTY YEARS IN N.Z.
We regret to announce the death of another old and highly-respected member of the community in the person of Mrs. Charlotte Choyce, wife of Mr. Henry C. Choyce, who passed away peacefully last evening. Mrs. Choyce was a resident of over 60 years' standing, having arrived in the Dominion in the Queen of the Mersey in 1863, from the North of lreland. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to Mr. Choyce, the two sons, Professor C. C. Choyce, of London, Mr. H. V. Choyce, of this city, and Mrs. Wyvern Wilson, of Hamilton, daughter of the deceased. The funeral, a private one, will leave her late residence, 10, Lucerne Road, Remuera, to-morrow at 11 o'clock. As a mark of respect the premises of Messrs. Milne and Choyce, Ltd., will be closed to-morrow from 10.30 until noon.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290530.2.91
Henry Charles Choyce – Pioneer Draper – Anglican Division A, Row 4, Plot 58/60
21/8/1937
LONG LIFE ENDS
MR. H. C. CHOYCE DEATH AT NINETY-SEVEN Y DRAPERY TRADE LEADER OVER 70 YEARS IN AUCKLAND One of the best-known and probably the oldest of Auckland's business, men, Mr. Henry Charles Choyce, died at his home in Lucerne Road, Remuera, yesterday, aged 97. Mr. Choyce was a founder and for a long period managing director of Milne and Choyce, Limited. He retired from active business 16 years ago, but remained a director of the company until his death. Born in Leicestershire in February, 1810, some months before the founding of Auckland, Mr. Choyce received part of his education in France, and at the age of 16 was apprenticed, to a whole-sale draper in London. At the end of his apprenticeship he found himself a well-equipped salesman, but his inclinations were toward a wider field than that which a London warehouse could offer.
Bushfelling and Prospecting
Hearing in 1866 that a party led by the Rev. Mr. Hall was leaving for New Zealand in the ship Mary Shepherd, he joined it and eventually landed at Auckland. The passage-money which he had paid entitled him to a grant of 40 acres of land. However, when the Mary Shepherd arrived the chosen area was not ready for settlement and her passengers, who were given temporary quarters in the Albert Barracks, had abundance of time for looking round. Auckland was then suffering from one of the periodical slumps of the early days, and for newcomers employment was hard to find. As the town's drapery trade offered nothing to the young colonist, Mr. Choyce was obliged to seek some other occupation. With another new arrival as resourceful as himself, he took to bushfelling, and, although his life up to that point had little prepared him for such work, he persevered and earned a living at it for 12 months.
Then, in 1867. came the opening of the Thames goldfield. Mr. Choyce and a friend sailed to the field in a cutter, sleeping on straw in the hold. For 5 years they prospected the ranges and had varying degrees of luck, but did not make a fortune.
Establishment of Business
A happy marriage was the foundation of the business which Mr Choyce established and directed for the greater part of his long life. Returning to Auckland in the early70's, he obtained the position of buyer to one of the departments of Archibald Clark and Sons, then in business in Shortland Street. Not long after this he married Miss C. Milne who, with her sister, Miss M. J. Milne, had conducted a millinery business in the city.
Leaving his employment in the warehouse, Mr. Choyce entered into partnership with his sister-in-law under the style of Milne and Choyce. The partners bought out the business previously carried on by Mr. Berry Cass at the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets. Their enterprise was increasingly successful during the next quarter of a century, and in 1901 it was formed into a limited liability company, with Mr. Choyce as managing director. As the business was rapidly growing beyond the capacity of its premises and the directors felt justified in moving to a site further down Queen Street, the company in 1909 purchased the building situated between the B.N.Z. and the B.N.S.W., paving the then very high price of £5OO a foot.
Modern Store Erected
Trade continued to expand, and in due course, it was decided to erect a modern department store to the full height that the city by-laws permitted. This had to be done without interrupting the company's business, but in 1923 the task was completed and the eight-storey structure was in full occupation. Large as it was, the building proved before long to be inadequate, and after purchasing from the B.N.Z. an additional piece of land fronting Mill's Lane, the company erected on it a large wing of equal height, topped by a fine reception hall, which is a favourite meeting-place for many Auckland social organisations.
A Veteran Bowler
After his retirement Mr. Choyce continued to interest himself in the conduct of the business, and on his 90th. birthday he was presented with a clock by the older members of the staff at a gathering in the company's tea room. On that occasion he gave his recipe for a long life: "First of all, it is necessary to choose healthy parents. Have plenty of exercise and do not worry. Leave your worry behind in the office at night, and if it is still there pick it up again in the morning. Mr. Choyce devoted much of his leisure to bowls, and lived to be the oldest player in New Zealand taking part in tournaments and club games. He was for many years a member of the Remuera Club, and was a familiar figure on its green until a few months ago, playing in many veterans' matches there and elsewhere. Mr. Choyce is survived by a son, Mr. H. V. Choyce, a director of Milne and Choyce, Limited, and a daughter, Mrs. Wyvern Wilson. His eldest son, Professor C. C. Choyce, professor of surgery at London University, died in England last April. The funeral to-day will be private.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370821.2.157
Compiled by Geri Eccles - Discover Waikumete
I worked at Millin in 1950 and 1951 when John Milne was in charge. Many happy memories for me of hours spent behind the artificial flowers counter, also did some modelling in the front windows by strutting my legs in shoes.
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