Wanganui's business past: Dustin's Catering served royalty and army

Ever heard of Dustin's Catering? If you are of a certain age and living in the Whanganui region, the name would be very familiar.
Dustin Ltd was founded in 1880 by William Samuel Dustin who had arrived in New Zealand on board the Geraldine Paget in 1879.
Soon after leaving England the ship encountered rough weather, causing chaotic conditions in the cookhouse, and causing the ship's cook to withdraw from all duties.
With 320 passengers and crew aboard, William, a 19-year-old baker, was said to have taken over cooking and baking for the rest of the voyage to New Zealand.
He and his first wife, Ceclia, established Devon Bakery in Wicksteed Place. In 1896, Mr Dustin began biscuit baking and continued with great success until 1900, when he sold out to the Southern Cross Biscuit Company.
By 1897, his bakery business was selling 5000 loaves of bread a week in a town with a population of 6000. In 1898, Mr Dustin opened a shop in Victoria Ave. As the firm held a wine licence, it was very popular, especially when the hotels closed at 11 pm and Dustin's was open until midnight.
He started a catering firm (which closed in 1957) which catered for all kinds of dignitaries from New Zealand and overseas, including the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927, who were later to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
In 1909, Dustin's Ltd was appointed bakers to the Governor General, then Lord Plunket.
During World War I, Dustin's was asked to take over and run the canteens at Trentham and Featherston military camps. The Featherston camp had more than 130 buildings, including a canteen and 16 dining halls.
Dustin's did not have the availability of service personnel to help, nor did the Government assure Dustin's would be able to procure foodstuffs.
But the firm successfully carried out the assignment.
A typical menu for the day was: breakfast - mince and potatoes, porridge, bread, butter and tea; lunch - bread, butter, jam, cheese and tea; and dinner - roast beef, potatoes, suet pudding.
Along with running a successful business, Mr Dustin was actively involved with the community. He was at various times a borough councillor, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and an officer in the Wanganui Garrison Band and the Queen Alexandra's Own Regimental band, as well as vice-president of the Wanganui Rugby Union and Union Boating Club.
In 1905 he went to England as a supporter of the All Black Originals rugby team and repeated the visit in 1924. Mr Dustin died in 1927 but the name lives on in Dustin St, Gonville, named for his son Claude, the first Wanganui man killed at Gallipoli.