Thursday, October 28, 2010

Repainting the old


Now, when it comes to the repainting of heritage buildings, I'm very subjective and quite judgemental as far as the results are concerned. Basically, though, the main rule of thumb I apply as to whether I like the result or not is whether the fine architectural details of buildings are just covered in a swathe of paint, or used as part of the final paint job and shown off by the new colour patterns.

Exhibit A comes from home -- the 1938 Avondale Post Office, designed by Llewellyn (Llew) S Piper. I don't know how it was originally painted, but in the 1990s, under Avondale's Mainstreet Programme, it was repainted using three colours, with details accentuated, as seen below. The yellow when first done was brighter, but not too much.



Now, no longer a Thai restaurant, new owners are giving the old girl a refit and make over this month. I do like the results so far, because the detail around the windows and along the low parapet are being recognised and picked out in grey. Folks in the community I've spoken to feel this looks quite smart.



Hopefully, if no one bowls the Unity Building (1932) opposite, whatever landlord that comes along treats it just as kindly.


Then, we have exhibit B: the Victoria Picture Palace Theatre in Devonport.


It used to look like this (below). Described as "lolly-pastel", this exterior paintwork at least looked bright, true to period, and showed off architect Daniel B Patterson's 1929 facade detailing. But, I suppose because it was "lolly-pastel", it had to go. Image from WikiCommons, by the way.


So, now there's this (below). The details are still there, but they're now visually washed out by the sun reflecting off all that gleaming white. This building has now added another dislike to my set of personal opinions: I wasn't fond of old commercial and public buildings painted totally black, and now the Victoria Cinema has added solid white to that lack of preference. In an age, today, when we realise that the ancients didn't just have white buildings and white statues (even the Romans used colour for details) -- the Victoria Cinema's cheerful seaside hues have been obliterated.


Below, from the "History of the Victoria Cinema" poster displayed on the outside of the building, are Patterson's details as designed.


So, fine -- there's now a clean, freshly-painted old building in Devonport, but I do hope some day, when there's a need to raise the paint brush again, that they give some thought to providing a masterpiece, and not just a whitewash. Righto, I'll step off my soapbox now, thank you ...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

More old sign spotting: Crown Lynn on Hurstmere


While having an all too bland lunch at a cafe across the road today on Takapuna's Hurstmere Road --  I spotted the lettering of an old Crown Lynn Tablewear Centre sign. Above what is today a jewellers.


Crown Lynn in New Lynn had retail outlets for their wares, if I recall correctly. Perhaps this was one of them, before the 1980s? I can't think of any other reason why this would use the well-known Crown Lynn name, in association with tableware.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Art Deco Buildings blog

Andrew from the High Riser blog emailed overnight to give me the head's up on a beautiful piece of art deco design on a building in Ranfurly down south, featured on a blog for Art Deco Buildings (yes, Andrew, the plaque with the wagon and the train is quite wonderful). The whole of that blog is beautiful to browse through, but there is also a listing of posts with the "New Zealand" tag here.

Thanks, Andrew.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Inskip family tragedy


Back in November 2008, I posted the story of William Inskip's sad death down a well in Avondale in 1886, after initial publication the year before in the Avondale Historical Journal.

Over this weekend, Jennifer Inskip made contact, and has sent through a link to her research into his family background. Her blog is a quite beautiful and detailed one-name study. Well worth a look.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Tutu te Puehu: New Zealand's wars of the 19th century

 I received the following email today from Peter Cooke, of the NZ Military History Committee.

You might be interested in this brochure of the latest NZ Military History conference. Our previous conferences were great successes, 'Zealandia's Great War' (in 2003) and 'Seeing Red' (2007). Apologies if you have already received this brochure - please pass on this mail to anyone else who you think would be interested in the conference.

The conference is 'Tutü te Puehu - New Zealand's Wars of the Nineteenth Century'. The title means 'kicking up the dust' and can arguably apply to the wars themselves or our desire to stir up discussion on them. It will be at Massey, Wellington, on 11-13 February 2011.

The attached brochure contains all basic information, and if there's anything else you want to know about the conference please feel free to contact me. A discount on registration exists until 30 November 2010, so I invite you to get your registration to me at the address below, or by email, as soon as possible. Electronic funds transfer is available.

A poster is also available - please let me know if you can display it (the size is A4). We would be greatful.

Peter Cooke
NZ Military History Committee

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Howick Historical Village


I have been trying to get out to see the Howick Historical Village for absolutely ages. Finally last Sunday, thanks to Mt Albert Historical Society, I was able to tag along in their bus. Despite the ongoing 'flu feeling, coughing, and the grey ol' day -- I was determined to go. Glad I did.


Here, on their once a month live days (they're open every day, but the third Sunday of the month is special), Queen Vic's flag still flies.


We were warmly greeted by the residents, although considering the chap in the coat was the town cryer, we heard nothing more from him after this ...




I think this is supposed to be a facsimilie of Private James Hanson's tent.




It was where the 65th regiment based at the village were hanging out ...


... their colonial washing.

Then off they go to keep the village secure. Had to watch out, these guys could come on you suddenly if you are too occupied with taking photos (as I was).



Checking the equipment on parade.

Bayonets fixed ...

Starting the charge across the green, enemy sighted ...



Well, that's one hedge that won't try taking on the might of the British Empire again, eh wot?


All sorted, it's off again to see if there's some more shrubbery elsewhere just asking for a taste of Imperial steel.



I loved this wagon.



The lady telling us about John Boidy's well, and how to use wells in general was very nice.  I mentioned that the well reminded me of the fatal incident in Avondale way back when.


The village is wonderful, and certainly a place you could spend hours looking around. From raupo huts ...


... to sod cottages ...




... to charcoal burners ...


... early classrooms ...



... beautiful old schools ...


.... and Bycroft's flour mill. For a gold coin in the slot, the water's turned on and the wheel goes round. All very cool stuff for us history buffs.


To the right is a peck measure, and to the left one for the bushel. In the middle is a sieve.


Bycroft's millstones from Onehunga.

Howick Methodist Church.


A fire extinguisher. "This large fire extinguisher was made in 1920 for the Shell Oil Company when petrol was imported in cans. To operate, the brass handle was turned, puncturing a cylinder of oxblood, producing a yellow foam that extinguishes petrol fires. Used until 1985." (!!)


Had the offer of a sample of kumara roasted from the open fire (I said no, as I had eaten earlier).


Ginger beer, $2.50, said the signs inside the pub. When I asked how they were making their ginger beer, I was told that they couldn't make their own, thanks to OSH regulations, and offered me a Bundaberg instead. I declined. (Though, yes, I do like Bundaberg).


Behold -- Jean Batten's dunny.



Yes, the Jean Batten. You know ... the aviatrix. Yes, that one.



You don't believe me? Tch! See for yourself.


See? Told you.

There's a sign inside asking folks to kindly not use it as a dunny. On seeing a lone fly buzzing around in there, I ventured no further.



Puhi Nui, built for William McLaughlin in 1861, according to the guidebook.  The design was popular back then, taken from American house plan books.


I loved the detail at the bay window.


This wee bloke, forever guarding the wet umbrellas, looks a bit Boer War era to me.


The ladies are busy with their crafts ...


... while the dining room is already set for tea.


Finally, this is apparently a bit of Aussie -- a postbox from Sydney, 1869, where it was originally called a "street letter receiver."

I want to go back to the village, on a nice sunny live Sunday. I'll wait for my next opportunity -- it will be worth it.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Mt Albert Historical Society website

The Mt Albert Historical Society now have their own website -- and I have to say it looks great. Check it out.

Naming the Delicious Little Ray

Just published on Scribd: "Naming the Delicious Little Ray", a result of some research I've done into the story behind the coining of the name kiwifruit for the export markets for the Chinese gooseberry. "Kiwifruit" was definitely a result of a meeting within Turners & Growers here in Auckland in June 1959 ... but there has been an alternative story around the bounds within the last two decades that it came from a Wellington advertising agency. I felt the need to investigate.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

An Auckland Zoo timeline

My friend Liz, who wrote the guest post on Rajah at the zoo, has prepared a timeline of the Auckland Zoo using digital newspaper references. Worth a look.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Point Chevalier Motor Bus Company 1915-1920

The company operated briefly, but judging from the closed company file left behind in Archives New Zealand and the following article from the NZ Truth, 14 August 1915, it made some waves. It certainly allowed the Truth full rein for biting Wellington-based sarcasm.

Point Chevalier Motor Bus Co. Ltd. Prospectus
The Hope to do a Great Many Things with £5000

While Auckland is a beautiful place, it also enjoys some notoriety by reason of the companies it manages to float at times. A lot of this comes from the fact that wherever a goldfield exists one finds a class of people who have quite an optimistic outlook upon this sordid world. Thousands of companies have been floated in the Northern City to get imagined riches from the Thames goldfields, and since the latter have all but petered out, the company promoter is turning his ingenious mind to other things.

In the prospectus under review we get seven gentlemen who desire to float the Point Chevalier Motor Bus Co., Ltd., asking the public to subscribe £5000 in quite a useful venture. That is what "Cambist" concluded when the prospectus of the company was first handed to him. Why should the district lying between the Avondale "nut factory" and the smellful soap works of Cox's Creek, not have an up-to-date motor service? Why not, indeed!

The fact is that the Point Chevalier district, which in times gone by used to belong to dear old Paddy Dignan one of the best of the old-time publicans, and the biggest shareholder of the Bank of New Zealand before the crash in 1890, has developed into an important suburb in spite of everything. The western winds may sweep over the place and make it feel cold, for Auckland, but nevertheless, it is a fine old spot, and has its own attractions. One of the principal attractions, in fact, the chief attraction, is the vast number of allotments that can be easily obtained there, if one has enough money in hand to tempt the owners of the clay lands thereabout. But means of communication are not of the best, so have a motor bus company by all means. Such a movement does a lot to help to soil the "lots."

In the first place let me say that it is no reflection upon the seven gentlemen who are trying to float the Motor Bus Co. to call these proposed directors "guinea pigs." They are out for guineas, all right, if they are to be judged by the prospectus. In stating the objects of the company they put their remuneration down at £1 1s each for each meeting of directors, or such sum as "may be decided by the company in general meeting." Well, seven guineas every time these gentlemen squat m the "seats of the mighty" will produce mighty good results for the act of so sitting. Good old Auckland! No one ever hears of a director going short of a feed, and no wonder.
Dropping into more serious mood, "Cambist" would like to ask what Messrs. [Thomas] Dignan, [Thomas] Fry, [Andrew Wright] Anderson, [Thomas] Baster, [Albert Gilbert] Quartley, [Maurice] O'Connor, and [James] Mackey really know about motor bus companies? Not one of these people describes himself as an expert in that class of business. Two of them are "gentlemen" but who ever heard of a gentleman running a motor bus business? And the secretary does not sport anything more enlightening than F.N.Z.A.A. after his name. The motor bus business has shipwrecked many investors Iin different parts of the world. Lately in Australia quite a large number of such companies have come to grief, principally because they fell into the hands of incompetent managers. Well "Cambist" does not want to say that the “guinea pigs” in this case are incompetent persons, in the same sense. What he does say is that they have taken modest care to hide their motor bus qualifications. However, they are down for one hundred shares each, which is rather more than the usual subscription that promoters put their names down for. Still, it would not take a great many meetings to refund in fees the amount they could draw if they were minded to "call the Board together" often enough. In cases where the Board is without sufficient knowledge, it usually requires a lot of meetings to teach all the members something about the art of running a motor bus company. It would be cheaper if they could point to an expert manager, and leave that manager alone. Why did they not do this at the first?

Looking over the memorandum of association, one is fairly staggered at the business this company proposes to undertake. In the second clause it is stated that they can "carry out any of the business of electricians, mechanical engineers, suppliers of electricity for the purposes of light, heat, sound, motive, power or otherwise, builders, contractors, ship owners .and ship builders, aerial ship or plane owners and builders, traction vehicles owners, and builders' manufacturers, repairers and suppliers, of and dealers in all plant apparatus and things required for, or capable of being used in connection with railways, tramways, motor air transit, or for or with the generation, distribution, supply, accumulation and use of electricity, or magnetism for any purpose whatever."

There now, my prospective investor! Take a few shares and maybe "Cambist" will be invited to go with you on a flying trip over Cox's Creek, where we both can enjoy the aroma of the soap works free, gratis, and for nothing. But hold on a minute, there is more to follow. In clause 5 there nestles a nice little sentence— "for limiting competition."

So the Point Chevalier Motor Bus Co Ltd. has got a dash of Rockefeller about it. They would limit (or crush, to be explicit) all competition in the numerous things they would do. After reading this "Cambist" fears his chance of a flying trip over the Mad House on the Whau (pronounced Wow) done for. Limiting competition has the germ of capitalism in its worst form. Unfortunately Capital and Labor give many manifestations that are, at best, an ugly example of the grossest selfishness. Yet the little company proposes to take steps to be selfish by act of incorporation. It is questionable whether this is not ultra vires.

Clause 9 makes it possible to indulge in much land speculation. Clause 11 sets out powers for other transactions connected with land. Clause 25 heads, "to divide as profits among the members of the company the net annual income to be derived from the exhaustion of any wasting asset of the company, without any obligation on the part of the company to provide for loss on any previous year's operations." Land speculations connected with leases would come under this very well. Whatever it means they intend to lift all the profits they can, and quickly as they can. None of the old time precautions here. That clause is as modern as their blessed flying machines.

Clause 26 is a gem for Labor to take note of. "To promote freedom of contract, and to resist, insure against, counteract and discourage interference therewith, and to subscribe to any association or fund for any such purpose." "Cambist" says three cheers! Let him have a hundred shares so that he can smash the Labor push that provides all the wealth of the Dominion. That's the chat. Now we have got it at last.

Clause 30 shows how world-wide the objects of the £5000 Motor Bus concern is: "To procure this company be registered in any part of the British Empire, or in any foreign country, or place." So Point Chevalier will spread its kultur all over the globe, reducing competition, smashing vulgar Labor, when it is not busy running its smellful buses, or flying like a bird over the Mad House at the Whau (now referred to as the mental hospital, Avondale). There is only one thing that the directors seem to have overlooked—there is no provision made for the manufacture and working of submarines. By George! these are great things, quite as wonderful as the aeroplanes, and quite as dangerous. What a comprehensive lot the "guinea pigs" are at the back of this company. Why do they ever ask the public to come into the blessed thing, at all, at all? Whirrau and "Wow."

The word “kultur” was used here as a fairly sharp crack at Point Chevalier by the Wellingtonians. A German word, it wasn’t used in a friendly fashion then, in the second year of the First World War.

The company was supported financially by a loan from DSC and Cousins & Cousins Ltd (the latter well-known coach makers) at the start against two Kissel motor omnibuses, one capable of carrying 18, the other 20 passengers. Anderson Andrew Wright was described as being a motor bus proprietor, living at Surrey Crescent.

The only annual report in the file was from 1918. In it, it described a total of 164,000 passengers during 1917, over 24,000 trips using workers concession tickets of 3/- for 12 trips. The latter statistic, wrote the chairman, Thomas Dignan, “should be a great inducement to bona fide workmen to make their homes in the health giving surroundings of Point Chevalier.” Dignan himself, of course, lived at “The Pines” on Pt Chevalier Road. Such encouragement for "bona fide workmen" was to ensure Pt Chevalier district was a stronghold for the Labour Party during most of last century and into this one -- at odds, I'd have thought, withn the pro-Capital anti-Union sentiments of the company prospectus, as it turned out.

The company suffered losses in 1915-1917, and so were forced to raise the fares due to increased cost of upkeep and “the continually advancing price of oil.” Well, there was a war on at the time, of course …

The Point Chevalier Motor Bus Company went into voluntary liquidation in 1920.