Stories from Deli

VAN NIE & CO.

Few firms on the east coast of Sumatra are better known than Van Nie & Co., local agents for the Koninklijke Paket- vaart Maatschappij, Sto. Maatschappij “Nederland,” Rotterdamsche Lloyd, £ Line, Java–Bengalen yn, and Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Ltd.

The business was established in 1885 by Mr. Jacob van Nie, one of those sturdy pioneers who helped to make Medan an important mercantile centre. He was first joined by Mr. W. H. van Breda Kolff, afterwards by Mr. J. B. Cohen, and, in 1895, by Mr. C. G. van, Houten, who for three years previously had been connected with the Deli MaatsChappij. The present, manager of the firm is Mr. M. Chits, who is also French Consular Agent at Medan, and who is assisted by Mr. Adr. Vervloet. That the enterprise continues to prosper is evident from the imposing list of new agencies obtained within recent years, including N. I. Portland Cement Maatschappij,

Messrs. van Nie & Co. commenced operations in 1885, under the directorship of Mr. Jacob van Nie, one of the earliest pioneers of the district. The firm are agents for the K.P.M., the Nederland Line, the Rotterdam Lloyd, and also represent a number of other important steamship, insurance, and manufacturing interests. A branch of Messrs. van Nie & Co. at Balawan, the port of Medan-Deli, is principally attending to their shipping agency, the export of tobacco, etc.

The Handel Maatschappy, Guntzel & Schuhmacher, also occupy an important position in the community. Mr. Edward Goldenberg, the managing director of the Company, kindly volunteered the following particulars : Messrs. Guntzel & Schuhmacher’s New Offices, Medan-Deli.

Mr. Carl Hick, who has held the position of German Consul at Medan for eleven years, has been closely identified with the commercial interests of Deli for more than twenty years past. Among his other interests and activities he is Director of the Handel Mij “Guntzel and Schuhmacher,” one of the most-important firms of its kind on the east coast of Sumatra. Founded in 1889 by Messrs. Gustav Guntzel and F. A. Schuhmacher, for the purpose of carrying on a general import and estate agency business, the firm prospered from the very start. In 1892, the original partners sold the entire concern to Mr. Carl Hicks and Mr. Aug. Jaenichen, who at that time were assistants on neighbouring plantations, both having come out to Sumatra from Germany seven years previously.

In 1905 the business was formed into a limited liability company under its present title, with Mr. Hick as Managing Director, and Messrs. Aug. Jaenichen and Eduard Goldenberg to assist him on the Board. The firm has a capital of f1,000,000, fully paid-up, and branches at Belawan and Loebock, Jakan, in Sumatra, and at Hamburg. Latterly Mr. Jaenichen has represented the Company as Resident Director at Hamburg, whilst Mr. Goldenberg has taken in hand the management at Medan. Amongst the principal agencies held by the firm may be mentioned the Norddeutscher-Lloyd, the Hamburg-American Line, the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company, the Kali-Syndicate, G.M.B.H., Stassfurt, the Langkat Petroleum Works, and a number of first-class Dutch, German and English Insurance Companies. Mr. E. Goldenberg, of Giintzel e Schuhmacher, has a little summer residence in the neighbouring hills which he often courteously places at the disposal of tourists to this part of the Dutch Indies.

All the principal banks of Java are represented in Medan and private banks have also obtained a solid footing in the district. We are alluding to Messrs. Nandin ten Cate & Co., who only about three years ago acquired the business. Originally established in 1892 the firm are now employing a capital of f 1,000,000 and enjoying the confidence of the commercial world as a prosperous and reliable concern.

Messrs. Harrison & Crosfield have a branch office at Medan. Their operations extend throughout the various tobacco and other estates, dealing as they do in all the manifold requirements of the whole district.

Another firm of importance is that of Messrs. Kerkhoff & Co., who were established in 1897 as general merchants and iron and machinery importers. Messrs. Kerkhoff & Co. conduct a large number of agencies, among which should be mentioned Lindetevesa Stokvis, Orenslem and Koppel of London, Calcutta and Johannesburg, makers of portable rail-Ways, switches, waggons, locomotives, signals, and excavators ; also Eigen Hulp, Batavia.

J.W. Metz

One of the most picturesque towns in the Far East, Medan immediately impresses the newcomer of its buildings, both public and private. The firm of J. W. Metz is responsible for a large proportion of the buildings.

Mr. J. W. Metz is a Hollander, and studied is profession under several prominent Government and private architects in his native country. Not only are plans prepared by this firm, but the entire contracts are undertaken. Such a method gives the greatest satisfaction, as careful and expert European supervision in respect of the materials employed and other matters of importance is thus assured. The firm undertakes constructions of all kinds—residences, public buildings, bridges, aqueducts, etc. The importation of all kinds of building material, and particularly various brands of
cement, plate-glass and and window fittings, – important sanitary fittings, forms an section of the business.