Index	LU=3Nov04	Contact: Dawn Chambers

National Mortgage and Agency Co., of NZ Ltd
The Story of its First Century by Gordon PARRY (1964)

"Rumour has it that the National Mortgage and Agency Co., of New
Zealand, Ltd actually had its beginnings in a coffee shop, when some
of the first directors got their heads together and discussed the
possibility of investment in New Zealand."

1st address 1877: 1 Lombard Street
2nd address 1877: 46 Lombard Street
3rd address 1878: 37 Lombard Street where rooms were rented from the
National Bank of New Zealand at a cost of £158 a year
4th address 1888: 8 Great Winchester Street - lease at £400 a year

When the company was incorporated it took over most of the staff of
Russell, Le Cren and Co.   J. F. Kelsey was secretary pro tem but the
first appointment was J. W. Leonard in 1877. He worked very much under
the eye of John Morrison who, in the first two or three years of the
Company's life, acted as Managing Director. Morrison kept a close
watch on affairs in London Office, his heavy-handed initials appearing
against most of the figures and memoranda of that time.

[John McFarlane] Ritchie was not happy about Morrison, whose opinions
held considerable sway on the Board, because he felt that Morrison
knew too little about New Zealand conditions. As a result of pressure
from Ritchie, Morrison had his wings clipped.

1895 Negotiations to purchase Levin and Co.
"These were handled primarily by Ritchie with the assistance of
[William Saltau] Davidson and later of Morrison, who visted New Zealand
when Davidson returned to Britain."

Extract from Prospectus 3rd May 1877
Trustees
Archibald Orr EWING, Esq., M.P., of Ballikinrain, N.B.
Charles MAGNIAC Esq., Chairman of the National Bank of NZ Ltd, 
37 Lombard Street, E.C., London

Directors
1877-1896 Henry Robert BRAND, Esq., 104 Queen's Gate, S.W., London
Director of the Pelican Life Insurance Company; later Viscount
Hampden - director 1899-1906; after a term as a liberal M.P. (his
father was Speaker of the House of Commons) he turned to insurance.

1887-1882 Peter DENNY, Esq., Dumbarton, N.B., Chairman of the Albion 
Shipping Co.

1877-1882 James GALBRAITH, Esq., 8 Austin Friars, E.C., London, and 
(Messrs P. Henderson and Co.) Glasgow, Managing Director of the Albion 
Shipping Co.

1877-1895 William Smellie GRAHAME, Esq., Richmond Hill, Surrey, 
Director of the National Bank of New Zealand, Limited, 37 Lombard 
Street, E.C., London

1877-1902 Henry Riversdale GRENFELL, Esq., [1st Chairman], Merchant,
27 Upper Thames Street, E.C., London. He had combined politics with
business, serving as M.P. for Stoke-on-Trent and for a term as
secretary to Lord Panmure at the War Office. His family business of
Pascoe, Grenfell and Co. was a prime interest, but he took an active
part in the affairs of the Bank of England. In this matter he succeeded
his father who had been a director from 1830 to 1864, and was in turn
succeeded by his son who remained a director until 1940 - an unbroken
family chain for 110 years.

1877-1886 Alexander Donald MACLEAY, Esq., Run-holder (of New South 
Wales), 42 Onslow Gardens, S.W., London - resided part-time in London.

1877-1910 John MORRISON, Esq., Bushmead Priory, St Neots, Hunts, 
Director of the National Bank of New Zealand, Limited, and late 
Colonial Agent for the Government of New Zealand. He was also a
Director of the Bank of Scotland.

1877-1911 Lindsay Eric SMITH, Esq., 1 Lombard Street, E.C., London;
a banker.

Bankers
London - Messrs SMITH, PAYNE & SMITHS, 1 Lombard Street, E.C., London;
The Royal Bank of Scotland, 124 Bishopgate Street, Within, E.C., London
Scotland - The Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh, and Branches.
New Zealand - The National Bank of New Zealand, Limited.

Solicitors
Messrs FRESHFIELDS & WILLIAMS, 5 Bank Buildings, E.C., London

Brokers
Messrs MULLENS, MARSHALL & DANIELL, 4 Lombard Street, E.C., London
Messrs BELL & BEGG, 8 North St David Street, Edinburgh
Messrs KERR, ANDERSONS & MUIR, 149 West George Street, Glasgow

Auditors
Messrs TURQUAND, YOUNGS & Co., 16 Tokenhouse Yard, E.C., London

Secretary Pro Tem
1877-1878 Mr J. F. KELSEY. Temporary Offices: 46 Lombard Street, 
E.C., London