Above: various premises - Fletcher Challenge Archives
Wright Stephenson for many years, selling supplies and horses to farmers and miners. The Timaru Branch was established in 1924. The first office was located in Beswick St in rented premises. Within months the company branch had moved to permanent premises on the corner of Strathallan St and Le Cren Tce. The first branch manager was S G Phillips. In 1932 the branch became an agency of the Ashburton Office. The Timaru Branch, South Canterbury in 1925 was sold the first "John Deere" tractor in New Zealand in the early 1920s; At that time the Company held the agency for the tractors. In 2005, Pyne Gould Guinness merged with Wrightson to form PGG Wrightson.
Dalgety & Co Ltd - New Zealand Premises: 1900 Timaru premises, Canterbury; includes site and building details, square footage and cost; Includes Timaru wool store No.1 (1918) and No.2 (1952) - internal photographs, and shop premises in Timaru 1910. Dalgety Crown Ltd: P5000/25/2
The first John Deere tractor sold in New Zealand, on a farm at Fairview. The tractor was bought from the Wright Stephenson & Co Agency in Timaru - Fletcher Challenge Archives -collection.fletcherarchives.co.nz/wright-stephenson-co-ltd-timaru-1925-the-first-john-deere-tractor-sold-in-new-zealand