3rd Level New Zealand blog

One of the regular commenters here, Phil from Titirangi, has sent through by email today a link to an aviation blog, 3rd Level New Zealand. Another to add to the list ... as an example, check out A Tale of Two Airfields.

And so the kiwifruit myth continues

I saw in Sunday's NZ Herald that Dame Christine Cole Catley has passed away, aged 88. In the obituary prepared and distributed by NZPA, however, a myth disproved late last year (and discussed by email with Dame Christine at the time) is still perpetuated. Why, I'm not sure. She had a wonderful career covering the real facts in her life, rather than this:

In 1961, while working as an advertising copywriter, she was tasked with renaming the Chinese Gooseberries to appease the American market, which was uncomfortable with the Communist overtones of the fruit's name. As a result, Dame Christine coined the name Kiwi berry, which later evolved to kiwifruit.

This myth sparked off Naming the Delicious Little Ray, which I published online in October last year. The following is from that article:

In March 1960, Grahame Turner had a telephone call from one of the Auckland opposition firms: the Fruitgrowers Federation.

“ … they asked me the position regarding the American market as this organisation is exporting on behalf of growers to Australia and to Great Britain. I told them in no uncertain terms that I considered there was definitely not room for more than one shipper. I don’t think they will ship this season but I am sure they will try and get in on the market should the quantities we send start assuming worthwhile proportions.”

Grahame Turner was right. Stan Conway and the Federation did remain determined to get into a market which, from the results of Turners & Growers’ efforts, seemed to be profitable for the Chinese gooseberry. But they certainly didn’t want their product mistaken for that of their opposition. Roly Earp in his book, wrote:

"Following correspondence, Stan visited the United States in 1961, and made a point of visiting the firm's headquarters taking several trays containing fruit conditioned for eating ... With the prospects of a large order for 1962 Stan was extremely disappointed when the tasting proved unfavourable ...This was a set back for Stan, for the growers, and for the Harry & David staff who had been very confident. In anticipation of a favourable response, the latter had already begun making arrangements for the following year, planning how they would handle the late change and make the necessary alteration to their promotional material at short notice. They had also taken steps to find a new name which it was intended would be exclusive to their own use."

Bolding mine. According to David Yerex and Westbrook Haines:

"Other exporters also tended to look on 'kiwifruit' as the Turners and Growers' name, and to think in terms of finding one for their own use. In 1962 the Fruitgrowers Federation put up a prize of 20 guineas to go to the advertising agency that could provide the best alternative name, and received over 60 suggestions. But in the event there appeared to be nothing that improved on the 'kiwi' label. The Federation did however plump for kiwi 'berry', instead of kiwifruit, and this was adopted for a time by both their UK agents and by Harry & David in the States ... "

Again, bolding mine.

Dame Christine Cole Catley, in an email to me in September this year, said that in the early 1960s she was a copywriter for the Wellington based office of the Catts-Patterson advertising firm. The firm was asked to come up with a list of alternatives to Chinese gooseberry, a name not wanted because of perceived “commie fruit” associations. She came up with “quite a few” possibilities, including kiwi berry. In a further email, she said that as far as she could remember none of the Catts-Patterson clients included those involving fruits, vegetables or any kind of plant. As well, neither before nor after the kiwi berry / kiwifruit naming instance was she asked by the Catts-Patterson firm to do anything for Turners & Growers.

The following may seem to the reader to be a rather long quote to include in this article. But, I do so because it is a chance to see Dame Christine’s own words on this subject. She provides background here as to how she came to be where she was employed in the early 1960s, when the other main instance of a name for the Chinese gooseberry arose.

“My family returned in May 1958 from years overseas. We'd decided to build a house so at once I sought a job as an advertising copywriter, beginning almost at once with Carlton Carruthers Du Chateau & King, in Molesworth St, Wellington. (Lew King was historian Michael King's father but I didn't know Michael until 1971 when he joined my journalism-teaching staff.) This work went well but a former employee (John Blennerhassett who happened to be an old friend of ours) was partly incapacitated and wanted to return from Australia to his old copywriting job with this same firm, so would I mind resigning in his favour? Of course, I said. I was given a handsome testimonial and within a week found another copywriting job, and at a higher salary.

“It's important to have some dates here but unhappily so far I haven't found any. Nor can I remember the name of my next agency employer, whose offices (long gone) were diagonally opposite Stewart Dawsons corner. I hadn't been there long at all when I was headhunted by Catts-Patterson Advertising Agency of Upper Cuba Street. This agency too has long gone.

“I find it really hard to believe that, within only 13 months of becoming a copywriter, and with my third employer, I became involved in thinking up another name for chinese gooseberries. That's why I've said all along that this must have occurred (for involved I most definitely was) in the early 1960s, probably 1961. It definitely happened at Catts-Pattersons, however.

“I am writing my autobiography, with three books planned. It's a kind of overview of social change in NZ over my lifetime. Book One will be published next year, taking me just past the Tangiwai disaster. Book Two will encompass our time working overseas, advertising copywriting, being TV critic etc for The Dominion etc, and teaching journalism at Wellington Polytechnic ... probably ending around the mid-1970s. So that's the book which will have the kiwifruit reference, and before long I'll be able to make a serious start on going through my huge accumulation of relevant but unsorted papers, clippings, diary and journal entries. There I hope I will find a date!

“Have I said clearly that the name of the Fruitgrowers' Federation was never mentioned to me? My two bosses -- and Lisa, I'd really appreciate your mentioning their names, George Lewis and Arthur King, in the hope that families/friends might have something to add, as surely this was just the kind of work-anecdote that would be passed around and some more detail might emerge -- never at any time said to me that Turners & Growers were clients. I don't know now whether I was told, "Turners & Growers want us to come up with possible names..." or "We've been asked to come up with possible names because Turners & Growers want to export...".

“Also please note that whoever it was who approached my firm came back later to them a SECOND time with the news, passed on to me, that "Mrs Turner liked kiwiberry but when a botanist was consulted he'd said it was a fruit, not a berry." TWO contacts! We were all pleased and that was that, except that I told the story stressing my carelessness in not thinking to get a botanist involved. "A cautionary tale," I told students. "Always check such things."

“I must take up the matter in my Book Two because many people have heard that I was the one who came up with "kiwi". I will do my best to convey everyone's views, and will be happy to let interested people have a preview, and get back to me. Similarly, Lisa, I'd love to see your finished piece. It's just occurred to me that Carlton Carruthers may still have staff records and could tell me when I left them, so I'll ask them. But I think it's only a faint possibility that I was working for three agencies within a space of 13 months ... A mystery indeed, but to me the questions are WHO asked Catts-Patterson for help, when, and why.”

After she wrote this, Dame Christine contacted me on 14 October and said that The Kiwifruit Story’s description of the 1962 “20 guineas” competition does closely match her recollections – although there is still the matter of no mention made at the time, as she remembers, regarding the Fruitgrowers Federation, or the prize itself.

Turners & Growers had come up with, and decided on the "kiwifruit" name in mid-1959, the process clearly documented at the time. But, in the light of the obituary this month, so it seems, the Cole Catley myth concerning her part in creating the famous trade name appears likely to continue.

The Whau entanglement with Barney Keane

In 1903, the Whau Canal tour stopped off at Mr. Keane’s brickworks – Keane or Cain being one of the names which keep cropping up in the Whau River bricks story, as perennial as the grass.

The 1903 party from the Waitemata-Manukau Canal Promotion Scheme, alighting from the steamer at Keane's Brickworks, during the 1903 inspection of the proposed canal route. From The New Zealand Graphic, 25 July 1903.

But, to what extent and when did anyone named Keane have brickmaking associations with the Avondale side of the Whau River? He's still in the "obscure" part of my files, unfortunately. Hopefully, as more early newspapers are uploaded online for us to peruse, the murk at the bottom of the river's waters might get a bit clearer regarding this.

The main presumption at this stage is that the Keane link comes from Barnard (Barney) Keane. He appears in Auckland reports from the end of 1862, with the occupation of brickmaker, living in Albert Street in the city. His house was broken into. (Southern Cross, 7 November 1862) However, later reports push back his involvement with the brickmaking trade to c.1858. By 1866, he lived at Hobson Street (SC 8 May 1866) and by October that year was advertising for the purchase of a cutter.

 Southern Cross 1 October 1866

It looks like he diversified into trade with the Thames goldfields. By 1867, he had the cutter Catherine regularly plying the Auckland-Thames route. The main cargo from the Coromandel area, it seems, was lime. By January 1868, he had a office on Customs Street -- there, he lost his cool with a man named John Thomas Brown, striking him on the face and calling him "a rogue", and was later fined 5s by the courts. (SC 7 January 1868) From March that year, the Catherine began to carry sawn timber up from the Coromandel to Auckland, along with bricks going the other way. Cattle were conveyed to Auckland in the cutter as well, from Great Barrier Island. By September 1868, he also ran the cutters Rosina and Wahapu. His son Bernard attended the Auckland Western Academy and did well in grammar and geography. (SC 22 December 1868)

By the end of 1869, he had at his disposal a sizeable fleet of cutters conveying goods between Auckland and the Coromandel area -- Janet Grey, Catherine, Diamond, Sydney, Wahapu, Hope and Rosina. His gamble, taking advantage of the opportunity of the goldrush, had paid off. A launch, dubbed the Janet Grey, was launched for him in the middle of that year.

It appears he operated a brickyard somewhere close to the Auckland docks. Perhaps, even, at Brickyard Bay, part of what is now the Freemans Bay reclamation. He leased land from the Auckland Harbour Board. In the main, however, he was first and foremost a trading agent in construction material -- as such, he became involved, briefly, in the Whau Brickmakers affair of 1872, where the brickyard owners in West Auckland wanted a fairer deal for their wares with Brogden and the contracts for bricks that were on offer at the time during the Vogel push to build railways linking Auckland with the Waikato hinterlands.

A meeting of the Whau brickmakers was held on Thursday night last in the Whau Hotel at 7 o'clock. Mr. Kirby, of Auckland, bad been specially requested to attend, the object of the meeting being to appoint him as the sole agent for the sale of the brickmakers' goods. A little discussion took place whether it would be better to appoint Mr. Keane or Mr. Kirby. Most of the brickmakers were in favour of the latter gentleman, on the ground that Mr Keane is making bricks and buying at the same time, so that he was in opposition to a certain extent to other brickmakers. The question of appointing an agent was not finally settled by the meeting on Thursday, but a vote of confidence was passed in favour of Mr. Kirby.

Southern Cross 21 May 1872

Bolding mine. This article has been misinterpreted in the past by those looking for signs of early West Auckland brickmakers to mean that Keane was one of them. At this stage, considering the context of his business activities before the meeting, I think that is unlikely. He was trying to act as agent for the Whau yards, while actually competing with them to a certain extent from his own yard in the city. No wonder they went with Kirby to be their man at the negotiating tables.

But, hey -- Keane by name and keen by nature, he had another go at a piece of a lucrative part of the market. He knew, full well, that from the early 1870s onward, West Auckland looked set to dominate the brick making trade.

MEETING OF BRICKMAKERS.

A meeting of the above tradesmen took place on Monday evening, at the Whau Hotel, according to advertisement. At the hour appointed all persons interested in the business were present, and I noticed Mr. Kirby and Mr. Keane. After partaking of an excellent supper, provided by Mrs. Poppleton, the cloth was removed and the business of the evening commenced. Mr. John Malam, being called to the chair, in opening the meeting, said that the object of the meeting was to take into consideration the high price given for coal and the scarcity of that commodity, and to decide whether it would be advisable for that meeting to raise the price of bricks. It was unanimously agreed to raise the price 5s per thousand, on account of having to use the Newcastle coal, which costs 10s. per ton more than Bay of Islands coal. After the business of the meeting was concluded, some hot discussion took place between Mr. Keane and Mr. Kirby. The former gentleman said that Mr. Kirby would never make any money in the business he has undertaken, but would lose. Mr. Kirby said if it was a business of that sort Mr. Keane ought to draw out of it, as he must have been losing money the last fourteen years in the business, and he thought it was time some one would step in and relieve Mr. Keane from his losses. On the whole all parties present seemed to enjoy themselves, and the meeting broke up at 12 o'clock. — [Whau Correspondent.]

Southern Cross 6 June 1872

He was certainly "exporting" via schooner (his stock part of others' in the hold) medium quantities of bricks, between 400 to 2000, along with pipes and lime, to places such as Poverty Bay, along with his old Thames trade via the Catherine.

He was doing something "in the bush" in September 1872, advertising for labourers. Exactly which bush, I don't know. Considering his trade links, it could have been anywhere. (Auckland Star 7 September 1872) He applied for six men to dig clay in January 1873. (AS, 15 January 1873). By February 1874, he seems to have been dealing with "Clark's flanged pipes" (I wonder whether this was anything to do with the Hobsonville Clarks? -- AS 20 February 1874) and applying to "two good carpenters for Tauranga" in April 1874.

He had a new cutter, The Evening Star in September 1874.

A cutter was launched this morning from the yard of Messrs Henderson and Spraggon. She has been built for the builders and Mr B Keane. Her dimensions are as follow :— Length of keel, 42 feet; overall, 47 feet; breadth of beam, 14 feet; depth of hold, 4 feet 4 inches. Tonnage: 18 tons register. She is intended for the brick and sand trade, and will be captained by Mr Hutley. The new cutter has been named after this journal, "The Evening Star," and in return for the compliment we can only wish her a similar share of prosperity to that which has attended our own career. The vessel was launched complete in every particular, with her sails bent and her crew on board. She went off beautifully, and sail was made within a minute of her settling on the water. Under canvass she appeared to great advantage, and she is undoubtedly a useful little boat.

AS 14 September 1874

Reclamations by early 1875 caused him to move his business to allotments next to Holdship & Co the timber merchants at Custom Street east, but 10,000 bricks still went down to Thames on the Catherine later that year. 

He produced lime there as well, but by March 1877 he had finished a new lime works at Whangarei, producing "Whangarei Stone Lime in any quantity", and "Mahurangi Hydraulic Stone Lime ... adapted for Concrete Work. Will set hard under water, as foundations belonging to Messrs Combes & Daldy, Fort Street, will amply testify ..." (AS 2 March 1877) Keane was certainly on a roll, and looked to be on a roll with his business.

Then, difficulties.

The Reclamation Nuisance.—A letter was received from the Auckland Oil Company, denying that their mill was the cause of the nuisance complained of by the residents of Graham and Hardinge streets, and suggesting that it was produced by the "suffocating fumes " from Mr Keane's limekiln, and the volumes of smoke emitted from the respective sawmills of Messrs Holdship and Co., and Messrs Jagger and Parker.—Mr Keane also wrote, promising to abate the lime-kiln nuisance.

AS 10 December 1880

William Carder and Bernard Keane were involved with bankruptcy in 1883. Again, I wonder if this was anything to do with a Hobsonville connection. (AS 25 May 1883)

PETITIONS.—Cr Garrett presented a petition from the residents of Clarence-street, Ponsonby, praying that Mr Barney Keane should be ordered to either remove or abate the nuisance caused by his brick kiln...

AS 24 August 1883

A lad named Bowden, resident in Ponsonby, and employed at Mr B. Keane's lime-kiln in that district, met with a painful accident this morning, which may involve the loss of one or more fingers. He was busied about some of the machinery when his right hand was caught in one of the cog-wheels and the fingers terribly lacerated and torn before he could be released. Dr. Knight having been sent for, dressed the wounded member, affixed a compress upon it, and had the young sufferer removed to the Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the injured hand, the operation being performed by Drs. Haines and Bond. His father works at Vickery's foundry.

AS 8 July 1884

His son Barnard, now married, lived on St Mary's Road in Ponsonby by December 1885.

Then, the one clear connection between Barnard Keane senior and the making of bricks in the Whau district.

BRICKMAKERS.—Tenders are invited for Making Bricks at the Whau. Tenders returnable by noon of 10th September. Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. For full particulars apply to B. KEANE, Customs-street.

AS 6 September 1886

But ... where exactly? By now, Avondale had been so-named. It could have been anywhere, even up as far as Hobsonville at a stretch. Without more information, there's little to link Barnard Keane senior with an Avondale brickyard enterprise.

And then, two months later, he died.

The remains of the late Mr Bernard Keane were conveyed to their last resting place,the Symonds-street cemetery, yesterday afternoon. The cortege left the residence, Hobson-street, and the body was first conveyed to the United Methodist Free Church, at the junction of Pitt and Vincent-streets, where a short service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Worboys, and the Rev. Mr Macfarlane delivered a feeling address, in the course of which he made reference to Mr Keane's sterling merits as a man and a Christian.

AS 1 December 1886

Included in the selling-up of his estate was: "Brick-yard and machinery, at Avondale, lease of 16 years to run, with 100,000 green bricks set in kiln ready for burning." (NZ Herald, 20 March 1888) Elsewhere at his death he had a brickyard and machinery at Ponsonby, with a lease of 35 years to run; lime kilns at Whangarei Heads 19 acres freehold; 2 years lease on 177 acres at Sandspit; an office on the corner of Little Queen Street and Customs Street in the city, 56 years left on the lease; and a 12 year lease on allotment and buildings corner Hobson and Custom Streets.

His business kept going for a while, probably as executors sorted out debtors and creditors. Then his widow's residence at Hobson Street was sold, and that was that.

What of Barney junior, the man who, as a lad, was a good grammar and geography scholar. It might have been him who ended up with the Auburn Dairy on Hobson Street by April 1895. (AS 19 April 1895) Then, maybe, as a carter from May 1899. No sign found, as yet, that he was connected with Avondale. But who knows what might be around the corner?

Meanwhile -- that caption in the NZ Graphic. I have a bit of a wild hypothesis, here. Perhaps the NZ Graphic had a mix-up of names, and instead of hearing "Keane's", they heard "Cairn's". Seeing lots of bricks littering the landing, and signs nearby of former brickyard workings, they may have presumed it was a brickyard owned by Mr Keane in 1903, but -- what if the yard had not been in use for some time prior to 1903 (which is likely), and it was "Cairn's landing". An Edwin James Cairn had a market garden and orchard along Riversdale Road, a fair distance away further down river, but -- he also had an interest in a yacht, the Poneke.

FOR SALE, Yacht Poneke. 30ft, all gear new this season, well found, dingy, etc. —E. J. Cairn, Avondale.

AS 2 March 1903

There are references in the papers later in 1903 to Messrs Best and Cairns in connection with the Poneke, and the Best family in Avondale did have links with boats and boating on the Whau River further in the 20th century ...

Just speculation on my part, and it can't be taken seriously as a solution just yet. I'm chasing info on Edwin Cairns as well, as an early Avondale gardener ... which is probably why I'm unlikely to be bored with local history research any time soon.

But is there a connection between the Barnard Keane family and Avondale? At this point -- not substantiated.

Update 2 June 2013 -- I've added the list of properties Keane had at his death, included in his estate as at 1884, and a kiln full of "green bricks" at Avondale is mentioned. He could well have had use of Burke's yard - the 16 years left on the lease would tie in with c.1904. We have got a record of a fire at "Craig's brickyard" in November 1888, which I have hypothesised could have been at Burke's. So, Keane may well have operated at Burke's for two years only in the late 1880s. Why would the NZ Graphic  and the NZ Herald make reference, then, to "Keane's brickyard" near the Whau bridge in 1903, 15 years after it had ceased being Keane's?

Words on Lorne Street

I must say that Lorne Street, between the Central Library and the back of the old cinema complex, is looking very swish now. All credit to Auckland Council (and the legacy Auckland City Council) for a project that has certainly improved the looks of the entry to one of my favourite haunts.

I noticed that the council, as is the fashion these days, has installed some heritage inscriptions in the pavement/road, and also these words, etched into the stairway.

KAWE/REO VOICES CARRY

Voice carries us from the foot of Rangipuke / Sky Hill / Albert Park to the Wai Horotiu stream chuckling down Queen Street

Carrying a hii-haa-hii story -- from prams and seats with names and rhymes, words from books and kitchen tables.

Now we laugh again in the St James stalls, in the bookstores, Seddon Tech, Paterson's Stables, Odd Fellow's Hall, art galleries

And our great library gifted by our people who saved the words of our ancestors for one and all ...

Robert Sullivan

I think the author is mainly referencing historical memories of Lorne Street and surrounds with this. St James Theatre is still closed (as at date of this post), Seddon Tech is now AUT just up the road ... but I found it odd that Paterson's stables was mentioned, and not those of William Crowther, which were once right on this very spot.

Looking from Albert Park to Crowther's Stables (centre), corner Lorne & Wellesley East Streets, 1870s. Photo reference 4-776, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Mr Crowther has been elected Mayor of the city of Auckland unopposed. Mr Crowther was born in Lancashire in 1834, and was apprenticed to Messrs Hibbert, Platt and Sons, ironworkers, of Oldham. At the time of the Crimean War Mr Crowther and several other apprentices were told off by the firm to go to Russia to fit some machinery. They were, Mr Crowther very candidly admits, afraid to undertake the duty imposed upon them, and determined to run away. Distant fields looked "green," and they were attracted thitherwards by the Victorian gold rush, landing at Melbourne about the end of 1853. In Melbourne Mr Crowther pursued various occupations ranging from digger to contractor, and in 1862 he proceeded to Dunstan (Otago), being attracted thither by goldmining prospects. He came to Auckland with shipments of horses from Otago on two occasions, and disposed of them at Penrose, and eventually made up his mind to start business in Auckland in the livery stable line. In 1864 Mr Crowther succeeded in setting up a good business, and it was carried on ably under his personal supervision until March last, when he sold out and retired. 

 Auckland Star 3 December 1891

DEATH OF MR W. CROWTHER.

It is with sincere regret we announce the death of Mr W. Crowther, M.H.R. for Auckland City, who passed away at his residence at the corner of Eemuera Road and the Ladies' Mile yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock, at the age of 66 years. Deceased had been unwell for the past two months, and for the last four weeks he had been confined to his bed. His complaint was an internal one, but it appears that he had a bad attack of influenza at the close of the last session of Parliament, and that aggravated the disease. Dr. Mackellar diagnosed the complaint from which diseased suffered, and therefore his death did not come as a surprise ...

In Melbourne [1853] Mr Crowther pursued various occupations, ranging from digger to contractor, and in 1863 he proceeded to Dunstan (Otago), being attracted thither by gold mining prospects. In Otago he engaged in carrying stores to the goldfields. He came to Auckland with shipments of horses from Otago on two occasions, and disposed of them at Penrose, and eventually made up his mind to start business in Auckland in the livery stable line. In 1864, with this object in view, Mr Crowther went to Melbourne and got a number of vehicles built suitable for the Auckland roads, which at that time were "heavy." Some of the vehicles were so ponderous that the authorities were afraid to permit them to be landed on the wharf, and they had to be returned. Eventually he brought across two "Albert" cars, which will be well remembered by old identities, and one of these he drove from Parnell to town. He also started  an Auckland-Remuera bus service. At Parnell deceased had his first livery stable, and it was in that district he married his wife (Miss Georgina Stafford). Subsequently he removed to Albert Street, and afterwards to Wellesley Street East, where he built up-to-date stables, and carried on a large and extensive business under his personal supervision with success. In March, 1891, Mr Crowther sold out and retired. He then took up his residence at Remuera, and built a house of 14 rooms.

Mr Crowther always evinced a keen interest in public affairs, and for some years he was a member of the City Schools Committee and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He was elected Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board in 1893. For 17 or 18 years he was a member of the Auckland City Council, and was elected Mayor on the 16th November 1891 unopposed. Mr Crowther won every contest in which he took part, and his elevation to the Mayoral Chair unopposed was an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow councillors and citizens. Under Mr Crowther's two years' presidency as Mayor much was done towards maintaining the beauty of the public parks and recreation grounds. Deceased also served on the University College Council, Auckland College and Grammar School Board, and the Sailors' Home committee. His last good public work was in helping to organise the local horse fund for the South African war. 

Deceased was elected three times a member of the House of .Representatives, and he was one of the most energetic of members. Altogether Mr Crowther was one who made his mark in Auckland, and it can honestly be said of him that his word was his bond, and his honesty of purpose could not be questioned. He had great energy, dogged perseverance, and manliness, and his many employees bear testimony to the fair manner in which he always treated them. Deceased leaves a widow and grown-up family well provided for. 

At a special meeting of the City Council, held last evening, the Mayor (Mr D. Goldie) announced the death of their "old friend Mr Crowther, longtime Mayor of the city and also a City Councillor," and the Council passed a vote of sympathy with his widow and children in their bereavement. The remains of deceased will be interred to-morrow afternoon, the funeral leaving his late residence at 3.30 p.m.

Auckland Star16 March 1900

I'm not too sure where Patterson had his stables, during the early 1880s or so, but they may have been further up on the other side of Rutland Street. They just weren't on the site of those steps with the words.

"Looking south along the east side of Lorne Street from Wellesley Street East. Showing the Salvation Army Metropole (dining rooms and board and residence) on corner of Lorne Street and Wellesley Street East (left), with Spraggs Auckland Garage (centre, middle distance)", 
9 October 1925. Reference 4-2077, Sir George Grey Special Collection, Auckland Libraries.

The site has changed since Mr Crowther passed on from this mortal coil. The Salvation Army Metropole dominated the corner in the 1920s ...

"Looking south from Wellesley Street East (foreground) showing the intersection of Lorne and Wellesley Streets showing (from the far left) Turnbull and Jones, Auckland Slide Company, the Cottage Shoppe, the Domestic Vacuum Cleaning Company, McLeod and Rogerson, F D Woodroffe and Company Limited", 1935. Reference 4-1387, Sir George Grey Special Collection, Auckland Libraries.

... followed by an art goods retailer and a vacuum company in the early 1930s. Then the Art Deco design beauty the Embassy Cinema from 1936, until that, too, was demolished in 1979, for the present-day library-archive complex.

I'm being too picky again, aren't I? I should just enjoy the words, and appreciate the spirit of the message. 

(But yes, I do still hope someone recognises Crowther's Stables some day soon, anyway).

Update 15 September 2011: Claire at A Latitude of Libraries has posted about these steps.  I've said over there that it's a pity Crowther's stables wasn't mentioned -- and I now also notice even "Odd Fellows" isn't right (should be oddfellows, one word.) So -- these words are, sadly, more poetry than history in those areas.

Death at St Judes crossing

One of the most tragic level crossing accidents in Auckland of recent years occurred on the St. Jude's Street crossing, Avondale, at 9.35 yesterday morning. Mr William Bramley was killed instantaneously when his truck was struck by a Swanson-bound passenger train and carried a distance of fifty yards along the line, ending as is shown in this striking picture. The engine of the train was disabled and had to be dragged away by a relief engine.

Evening Post 1 December 1937

Weekly News, 8 December 1937. Reference AWNS-19371208-57-2, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

FATAL CROSSING SMASH

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY,

TRAIN HITS LORRY;

VETERAN DRIVER KILLED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

One of the worst crossing smashes in the recent history of Auckland occurred at 9.30 a.m. today, when W. Bramley, aged 55, a married man with a grown-up family, was killed outright. He was driving one of Winstone Ltd.'s lorries on the New North Road when, at the St. Jude's Street crossing, he was struck by a northbound passenger train. His body was thrown from the truck about twenty yards down the line, the lorry being carried a further distance of thirty yards.

Eye-witnesses said that Bramley, who was driving slowly, apparently heard and saw the train approaching, for he put up his hand, to advise following cars that he was stopping, but his truck continued on and was struck by the engine. It is thought that the lorry brakes failed. Bramley was the oldest driver in the employ of Winstone's and was regarded as one of the most careful on the road. The train had proceeded a few hundred yards from the Avondale Station when the fireman on the engine, D. Waller, saw the truck and other cars approaching the crossing, which is on a slope, and shrilled his whistle. 

HAD TIME TO STOP. 

Neither the truck nor the train was travelling at more than 20 miles per hour, according to eye-witnesses. The truck had time to stop but did not. The engine-driver, G. R. Harris, applied the brakes instantly and the train stopped in its own length. The truck was caught under the cowcatcher and was dragged along the line. The warning-light standard was carried away, also part of a post, and the wire fence and cattle stops, were broken and scarred. Bramley suffered severe head injuries and was dead when he was picked up. The engine and cab of the lorry were damaged beyond repair. The train engine was so damaged that it had to be dragged away by a relief engine. Mr. Arthur Stych, who, with his brother, was driving a truck behind Bramley, said that when they approached the crossing the warning light was showing. They heard and saw the train. The lorry in front of them had just got on to the line when the train struck it.

Another eye-witness, Mr. G. R. Hampshire, the driver of a small, car on the other side of the crossing, said that Bramley's lorry ran on to the crossing at about three or four miles per hour. Apparently its brakes had failed.

The line was not cleared for over an hour after the accident.

Evening Post 30 November 1937

Rationalist House

Rationalist House at 64 Symond Street is another of those landmarks along a bus journey into the city which I've often wondered about.

Originally part of a crown grant to Thomas Outhwaite, by 1871 it had become part of three allotments totalling just over 11 acres owned by 19th century business tycoon Thomas Russell. The area of his property included Whittaker and Cintra Place. Russell subdivided, and sold some sections, but most was purchased by Sir Frederick Whittaker in late 1885. In 1888 Whittaker took out a mortgage on the property with the Bank of New Zealand, and sold a bit more of the property, rather like nibbling at a piece of cheese. Perhaps buyer reluctance came not only from the Long Depression at the time, but also the steep nature of the ground, falling into the Grafton Gully. The mortgage still unpaid by 1891, the bank transferred the mortgage to its estates company, and Whittaker transferred title to them that year.

The estates company sold a few sections, then by 1897, the Assets Realisation Board, tasked by the BNZ directors to liquidate land assets such as this one, had begun an active campaign to sell the remainder. In 1898 widow Esther Keesing purchased a quarter acre made up of four sections. Two were purchased by Oliver Nicholson and Dr. George Toussaint Girdler in 1909, and sold by 1912, to Dr James Hardie Neil. This became 64 Symonds Street.

Dr Hardie Neil commissioned architects Wade and Wade to design a splendid 16-room Edwardian townhouse, two stories high at the Symond Street frontage, and three at the rear. The value of the building permit was £3200, and Dr Hardie Neil named his house "Pahi". (Possible on a humerous note, an unknown Council valuer in his notes in the 1920s suggested the name might also be "Pay High"). Much of the original exterior can still be seen. 

The doctor was born in Dunedin 27 February 1875, graduated as Bachelor of Surgery in 1898, served as surgeon-captain with the 4th NZ Mounted Rifles during the 2nd Boer War 1900-1901, and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1902. Returning to New Zealand, he was appointed ear, nose and throat surgeon to Auckland Hospital in 1903, and remained in service there for 45 years, until he was appointed consultant surgeon in 1948. During World War II, he served as lieut-colonel in the NZ Medical Corps, and commanded No. 3 Field Ambulance with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 1915-1918. Dr Hardie Neil served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. He was awarded the DSO and the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

A German medical officer, identified as Lt Schnelling of the 14th Bavarian Regiment, watching the removal of a wounded soldier at a New Zealand Field Ambulance near Bapaume in World War I. Colonel J Hardie Neil stands beside Schnelling. Ambulances wait in the background. Photograph taken 27 August 1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders.  
From Alexander Turnbull Library.

His medical career here included research on the anatomy of the tonsil in 1908, first president of the Auckland Clinical Society in 1921, and presidency of the NZ League for the Hard of Hearing. During World War II, he worked with the Emergency Precautions Service. His obituaries say that he was even once almost an All Black -- but was unable to go overseas to play with the team in 1905. He died  in 1955.

The house was purchased by the NZ Rationalist Association in 1960, and underwent a change of name. For a time from the late 1960s, number 62 Symonds Street next door (once a private hotel called "Avonhyrst") came to be occupied by the Baptist Youth Hostel, causing one of the Auckland papers to suggest that the answer to what is the dividing line between belief and disbelief was -- not much.

Today, though, Rationalist House is the only survivor in this part of Symond Street's landscape.

Sources:
Valuation field sheet, ACC 213/171c, Auckland Council Archives
Plan No. 3765, 21 May 1912, Auckland Council Archives
Obituaries: NZ Herald 29 January 1955; British Medical Journal 12 February 1955, p. 420

A sheep and kiwifruit beside Rosebank's cemetery

This mural on the power box on Orchard Street, just outside the George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery,  is new this year, and looks wonderful.

The main theme it features is that of kiwifruit -- with Hayward Wright's former land close by on Avondale Road, the choice doesn't surprise me -- but I wonder if the sheep is connected with the ovine legend in the cemetery?

Once, so the stories go, last century the Cemetery Trust Board kept sheep in the cemetery, as living lawn mowers. When one died, it was buried in the cemetery. So they say.

Legends aside -- this is certainly an attractive addition to Avondale's landscape. Well done Vector for allowing this!

Mt Roskill's war memorial cairn

I visited the Mt Roskill War Memorial Park at the May Road end on 31 July, attending the first meeting of the Mt Roskill Historical Society . While there, I took photos of the war memorial -- then went looking for information on it in the usual places. Couldn't find a skerrit on the memorial I photographed -- just the hall.

On 29 October 1955, Mt Roskill mayor Keith Hay formally opened the War Memorial Hall (that's the building in the background), designed by architect Stephen G Wright. This transformed the park's identity from just the May Road reserve to War Memorial Park.

In his opening remarks the Mayor said that in the early stages when we thought back to the trials and worries, it was very pleasing to know that the Memorial was at last finished. He said that they had endeavoured to retain the dignity of a war memorial outside and enjoyment of all inside ...He thanked the willing band of workers who had worked so hard to raise the money and he thanked the citizens for their donations, and said that it was their memorial hall, which was second to none in the Dominion and "what was most important, the hall is opened free of debt" ...

The Town Clerk, Mt R P Pitcaithly, ... announced that the Mayor had donated his honorarium for 1955 and 1956 not [to] assemble here to mourn those we have lost, but to pay so that the hall could open free of debt. Mr Pitcaithly said that his Worship did not want this announced, but in fairness to him and Mrs Hay, as well as to the citizens and all who had contributed to the Memorial, it was only justice that such a fine gesture should be broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, and he finished by saying that "This will go down in history for the future posterity of Mt Roskill" ...

The inspection of the building was ... made. It is a modern structure with a main hall 40ft by 80ft, a cloakroom, a stage and a shop -- a real, living memorial."

Manukau Progress, 11 November 1955, p.1

So, I dug a bit deeper, and sank into one of my usual hunting grounds for information on our city, the Auckland Council Archives in the city.

It wasn't until June 1958 that plans for adding the actual war memorial monument were made, for the site just beside the earlier hall. The architect was, once again, Stephen G Wright.

Determined that Mt Roskill shall have a memorial feature incorporated in the surroundings of the memorial hall of which it can be justly proud, the War Memorial Committee has decided that a cairn in Coromandel granite shall be erected and established in an attractive setting of flowers and trees alongside the hall. So confident is the committee that the people of the borough will respond to its appeal for the extra money needed to build the cairn, that it has decided to proceed with the work immediately ...

It was decided ... to use Coromandel granite for the stone, which will be mounted on a concrete base and connected to the entrance to the hall by a 10ft. wide concrete path. On the west side of the memorial the existing flagstaff will be re-erected, and this in turn will be flanked by a semi-circular flower box 3ft. wide with seats facing the memorial and the flagstaff ... 

...the memorial ... will have a suitably inscribed bronze plaque on the north and south sides, surmounted by a bronze wreath, while an inset cross will be carved on the east and west sides ... The committee is determined to have the whole project completed in readiness for the service on Anzac Day 1959 ...

Roskill News, 26 June 1958

Plan of the proposed war memorial, from Roskill News, 26 June 1958, file MRB 111/93/3/2/2, Auckland Council Archives

It's possible that the memorial may have been finished in time for Anzac Day 1959, but they were still sorting out tenders for the paving around the memorial in August that year. (MRB 111/113/3/4/8, Auckland Council Archives)

South side.

THESE PLAYING FIELDS

AND THE HALL THEREON

ARE DEDICATED

TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE

OF THIS DISTRICT

WHO GAVE

THEIR LIVES

THAT WE WHO REMAIN

MAY REST

IN PEACE

North side.

TO YOU

FROM FAILING HANDS

WE THROW THE TORCH

BE YOURS

TO HOLD IT HIGH

IF YE

BREAK FAITH WITH US

WHO DIE

WE SHALL NOT

SLEEP

The quiet sunny Sunday afternoon I was there, a father was helping his child on a small bike, riding around and around the memorial cairn to get balance and confidence. A nice use for such a community-supported installation as this.

Timespanner visits the Wynyard Quarter

Wynyard Quarter, on one of Auckland's 20th century reclamations, was officially opened to the public on 6 August this year. I was at a meeting in Avondale that day so couldn't go -- but I knew I'd get a bit of a chance later on. Well, that chance was today.

First thing you see from the end of Quay Street (it's advertised as a five minute walk from Britomart. Expect it to be 10 minutes if no boats want to get out to sea from the marinas) is this striped pattern on the pavement. At least, it helps you not to get lost.

Heading towards Te Wero, Auckland's artificial island linking the Viaduct with Wynyard Quarter and the first of two bridges. No sign of the spectacular designs promoted on pages like this one -- but then again, the old Auckland City Council reckoned it would take until 2016 to do that design. This one may have been the more quickly designed one.

"Te Wero

220 Quay St, Auckland central

This is a purpose built island which offers a prime location for events space. It is one of the best vantage points for on-water events. It features the heritage lifting bridge and a number of carvings that were installed as part of the America's Cup challenge. Includes marquee anchors installed for large events. Access is via Eastern Viaduct car park. There is no seating or toilets. This is a venue to come and soak up the Viaduct Harbour atmosphere." From old Council site.  

"Te Wero" is the challenge visitors in a Maori welcome ceremony receive when visiting a marae.

On to the main bridge linking Te Wero with Wynyard Quarter.

Brief stop to photograph a beautiful craft. (Update: she's the 1925 gaff ketch Breum. More info here.)

When visiting the Wynyard Quarter and using what is termed the Wynyard Crossing -- if the siren sounds and the lights flash, beedle off it quick smart. Because ... it does this:

Some today were a bit slow getting off it. Luckily for them, they didn't end up clinging for dear life to each end.

Wynyard Quarter is still a work-in-progress, despite being opened last weekend. Which surprised me. The blurb I'd received and seen basically implied "It's all done! Yay us!!" Well, no, not quite. This bloke's still hard at work on finishing touches, for one.

As is this bloke. These are seats, he told me, which slide around on rails and wheels, and the ends are hinged so they fold up.

And the information kiosk ... well, I think that's all done, but by the looks of things, it doesn't appear to be. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit of a cranky grouch through dodgy sleep patterns just lately, but -- is this really the impression we want to give overseas visitors? A kiosk made out of shipping containers stacked up?

This is certainly the first ATM I've seen sticking out of the side of a shipping container.

I was looking for the public artworks which promotion papers on the development said were around. This seems to be one of them: "Silt Line", by Rachel Shearer and Hillary Taylor. The patterns represent, according to the "Public Art in the Wynyard Quarter" card I picked up from beside the shipping containers "graphic representations of the clusters of sounds making up the sound installation The Flooded Mirror, high and low frequencies and revealing the cycles of the tide."

Not terribly awed, I moved on. I couldn't locate "The Flooded Mirror" until an hour later when I left to go back to the city. Some weird noises nearby was probably that. The frequencies made me want to move away from them, so it was good I was doing just that.

This is "Sounds of the Sea", by a duo of artists named Company from Finland/Korea.

These repeat along the North Wharf.

I think these are part of it, but -- I'm not sure.

This is Michio Ihara's "Wind Tree". It has had a chequered past. It was installed in Queen Elizabeth Square at the bottom of Queen Street in 1977, removed in 2002, put in storage, rumoured to be destined for Western Springs, and has now ended up here.

But beyond Wind Tree further east is this -- a playground full of cool stuff.

Only thing is -- as a parent said today, while watching her kids: there's no fence, and the playground is set in a place surrounded by roads which moving traffic still uses. Not really the safest place to put a kiddies' playground, I'd have thought.

Long rocks lying on artificial turf. I have no idea why.

But hey -- at least there's trams.

I paid my $10 adult ticket (which allows you to go around the 15 minute small loop all day if you wanted to. Which I didn't) and did try part of the route. But -- it was depressing. After the delights of Christchurch's tram loop in 2007, this was just sad. Next to no views, except of light industrial buildings, parked cars, some boats in a small harbour, a bus depot, then back down to start all over again. The poor old heritage trams look terribly out of place, here.

The tram barn used by the service, though, has been given a fitting livery. The photo on the rear facing Pakenham Street is from Graham Stewart.

This is where the line stretches into the distance.

I deliberately took this shot to show just what passengers look at while passing on through -- the back end of parked cars on part of the route. On the other side, building construction sites, and carparks.

Is it going to get better before the Council decide to can the whole thing? I don't know.

There are some pretty bits to the new development, though.

Heading back citywards, I thought I'd give the experience 5/10 for a good attempt, anyway. Hopefully, if it's still going in the summer, things will be fixed up, there'll actually be heritage plaques that are visible, and perhaps the trams will have fitted in more.

After all, we're the City of Sails and of the Sea. Hopefully, more of that will have come through by then.