Blockhouse Bay Murals

All along Blockhouse Bay shopping centre are a set of really attractive heritage murals. As I can, I'll take more photos and post them here.

Street Stories 5: the realignment of Maioro Street, 2008

Maioro Street has almost always been a busy road in my 45 years of existence here in Avondale and on this earth. It directly connects traffic from Boundary/New Windsor/Tiverton Roads with that from Richardson Road, one of Auckland's main arterial routes. Before 1932, this was simply East Road because, well, it headed east.

Today, I walked to visit a friend who lives off Richardson Road, and traversed the rocky battleground of Maioro Street's 2008 facelift and realignment. Maioro is no longer rifle-barrel straight, leading to and from Richardson. From now on, it has a kink, at the eastern end, designed to meet the upcoming State Highway 20 on/off ramps, and the planned tunnel through to the North-Western motorway.

I took this photo right where Maioro Street used to be. Before this year, I'd have been run over taking a shot from that angle. No more -- I was on the beginnings of a new footpath.

This is what remains of the Christ the King school and church. Steadily, carefully, it is being demolished, to be rebuilt/replaced by a new building further along Richardson Road to the north, after land deal arrangements with Transit NZ. The new motorway was a bit too close for comfort, and a chunk of the parish's land was required for the new road.

Update and correction (8 January 2009): No, the above is the southern half of the new complex. The crucifix sculpture, with a twin at the other (northern) end is complete, but they're still working on this bit.

Street stories 4: The 1929 and 1932 changes

See also Street Stories: 2 "Lucus a non lucendo"

Updated 30 December 2021.

Avondale Borough amalgamated with Auckland City in September 1927. In June 1929, a list of suggested changes in local street names was published under "Corporation Notices" in the newspapers. Primarily, the changes were to Maori or Maori-sounding names. After a round of submissions, further changes were made, and in 1932 the names were altered again in many cases and this time became official.

I've included here the 1929 name suggestions in green, while the 1932 names are in red. In addition (2021 update) I've added the 1939 changes as well.

Avondale
Aorangi Avenue - Ahiriri Avenue from 1939
Argyle Street – Arran Street (Scottish town on Firth of Clyde)
Beatrice Street – Ronaki Street – Beatrix Street
Blake Street (part of New North Road for a time, 19th century) – Paparau Street – St Judes Street
Bollard Avenue – Booth Avenue – Bollard Avenue (retained name. The Bollard Road in Pt Chevalier lost out, renamed Boscowen Street. Bollard Avenue in New Lynn later became Delta Avenue.)
Brown Street -- Kanuka Street – Brunel/Pembroke Street -- Rosebank Road

The 1932 list left the "e" off the name Brown Street, so the changes could have been for either the Avondale or Waterview Brown(e) Streets.

Church Street – Chalmers Street
Cracroft Street – Kura Street – Crayford Street (model town in Kent)
Elizabeth Street – Ripeka Street – Plane Street
George Street – Taramea Street – Aspen Street Taramea later used for another street on Rosebank Peninsula
High Street – Kotae Street – Highbury Street Now southern part known as Community Lane
Kelvin Grove Terrace -- Kelvinside Terrace (1939)
Kitchener Road – Puroto Street – Holly Street
Old Windsor Road -- Wingate Street (1939)
Princess/Princes Street – Pahure Street – Elm Street
Palmer Street – Ngaio Street – Donegal Street
Park Avenue – Patiki Road
Pine Park Avenue -- Pinewood Street (1939)
St Georges Road – Nota Street – St George’s Road (retained name)
Seaview Road – Taimati Road – Birch Street – now Saltaire Street
Sinclair Square -- Himikera Avenue (1939)
Station Road – Costley Road – Blockhouse Bay Road
The Avenue – Kopiti Street – The Avenue -- Astrolabe Street from 1939, now Mead Street
Victoria Road – Rarangi Road – Victor Street
Walton Street – Waenga Street – Walsall Street
Wharf Road – Kaupapa Road – Ash Street
Wicklow Avenue -- Wairau Avenue (1939)
Wolseley Road – Bancroft Street – Wolverton Street
Wilson Street – Seaforth Street – Larch Street

Blockhouse Bay
Ayr Street – Puanga Street – Alleway Street. Now a stopped road, part of a reserve. Alleway is a Scottish town in Ayrshire.
Bartley Street -- Barton Street from 1939.
Bedford Street – Hertford Street Town on River Lea, England
Boylan Street – Takau Street – Whitby Road -- Wade Street
Clifford Street – Colombo Street Now part of Blockhouse Bay Reserve
Connell Street – Paraki Street – Connell Street (retained name)
Dilworth Street – Tahapa Street – Ulster Road
Esplanade Street -- Esparto (1938) -- Endeavour Street from 1939
Exeter Street – Towai Street – Exminster Street
Gore Street – Makenu Street – Govan Street – Gore Street now stopped and part of Blockhouse Bay Reserve
Hill Street -- Heaphy Street from 1939
Karaka Street – Titongi Street – Bolton Street
Mackay Street – Mahara Street – Marlow Street – Crowther Street
Manukau Road – Wairaka Road – Blockhouse Bay Road
Marine Terrace – Koluga Terrace – Taunton Terrace
Matai Street -- Matata Street (1939)
O’Neill Street – Hinau Street – Connaught Street
Porter Street – Rakau Street – Kinross Street
Puriri Street – Puketea Street
Rangihoua Street -- Railway Street -- Rangihoua Street (1939). Part of Section 76, now stopped from c1947.
Richmond Street – Mamaku Street – Rathlin Street part now stopped and included in reserve
Taylor Street – Wharepape Street – Taylor Street (retained name)
Thomas Street -- Terry Street (1939)
Whitby Street -- Wade Street (1939)
Williamson Street – Haretu Street – Armagh Street
Wynyard Street – Karewa Street – Windermere Street now vanished, although there is a Windermere Crescent nearby. Part of Wynyard Street is in the Blockhouse Bay Reserve, part is close to Crudge Street, the remainder (off Donovan Street) now just an accessway to Exminister Street.
Wynyard Road – Manukau Road – Blockhouse Bay Road

New Windsor
East Road – Marangai Street – Munster Road -- now Maioro Street
Garnet Street – Takarangi Street – Tiverton Road
Glenside Avenue – Haunui Avenue – Leinster Street
Myers Road – Kakariki Road – Margate Road
Whittaker Street – Raumanga Street – Whitney Street
Willow Avenue – Mahora Avenue – Dundale Avenue
A formerly nameless road – Holbrook Street

Waterview
Albert Road – Mariwai Road – Alford Street after an eminent theologian and writer, Henry Alford Alexander Street – Alverston Street named after Richard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone, First Lord Chief Justice.
Argyle Street – Tutuki Street
Bedford Street – Pokapu Street – Hertford Street
Browne Street – Mamangi Street – Brunel/Pembroke Street -- Dale Street – Fir Street See above for Avondale's Brown Street
Cameron Street – Karamu Street – Middlesex Road
Dale Street – Manapau Street – Fir Street
Hillcrest Avenue -- Hadfield Avenue from 1939
Norman Street -- Saxon Street (1939)

From 1939, for at least 14 years, Mr. K. F. Haszard of Auckland City Council’s town-planning staff was the man behind the naming and re-naming of the city’s street names. He was interviewed by the NZ Herald 16 July 1953.

Unless he is requested to select a name of an incident or person, Mr. Haszard looks for pleasant-sounding names, names that conjure pleasant thoughts like Hazelmere, Heathcote or Meadowbank. He does not believe that commemorative names are of particular merit. In a very few years the names of most famous people and incidents become closely identified with streets, but their meaning conveys nothing to most people. “It can be comparatively simple to choose a name, but one must be careful,” he said yesterday. “It must be simple and euphonious, it should not duplicate or be closely similar to any other street name in the metropolitan area, and particularly in the case of Maori names, it must not have an objectionable meaning.” Changes of existing names are the second big group handled by Mr. Haszard. A name is not changed unless it is requested by an overwhelming number of residents in a street. Confusion with other street names is the chief reason. But Mr. Haszard likes the reason to be a good one. He is not in favour of the suggested change of Karangahape Road to Elizabeth Street. “It would be a great pity,” he said, “if we gave up our old Maori names, particularly those that have become worked into the fabric of the city. Karangahape is not difficult to say. We could learn from England, where half the charm of poking around the towns is in the odd little place name one finds. “Karangahape Road is in our tradition and background, and I do not see why it should be altered just for the convenience of newcomers.”

Sources: Auckland Star, 18 June 1929, p. 20 NZ Herald, 17 July 1953, p. 11 Auckland City Archives, file reference ACC 275/30/332

Whittaker's Musical Experience, Waiheke Island

While on Waiheke Island last July attending a weekend committee meeting of the executive of the NZ Federation of Historical Societies, a visit was made by the committee to the Whittakers' musical museum, the Musical Experience. Anyone interested in the heritage of musical instruments from all over the world would love this place -- and even for those with a casual interest, the visit is very worthwhile. Here are some photos I took during the visit.

More on the Waikato Saurian, 1886

Further to the previous post of the Great Waikato Saurian Hunt of 1886, I found some notes from the time out of the Auckland Star.

30 September 1886

Considerable amusement was caused in Hamilton last night on the arrival of the Herald containing an account of a "saurian reptile" chasing two boys. The boys in question, who are the sons of Mr. Castleton, who keeps a dairy farm near Frankton, received a fright on Tuesday morning on the bank of a creek on the farm, but nobody supposes that the creature was anything but a lizard or a pig, though the boys described it as a crocodile. It is expected now, since this species of animal is known to live in the district, that there will be a demand for land for rice-growing and sugar-cane culture.

30 October 1886

The Saurian Bosh:-- The people here (in the Waikato) are getting sick of the saurian bosh, though some few credulous people stick to theory.

9 November 1886

Touching that "saurian" it is now believed to have been a "tuna tuhoro", a large eel which the natives say will come out of the water and attack men. Eel or saurian, the people here are getting "full up" of the yarn, and want a new excitement.

25 November 1886

Paeroa, this day -- A rumour was current here at an early hour yesterday morning that a saurian animal was seen in the river near its confluence with the Waihoa, and quite a number of natives started off in pursuit of the taniwha, which was chased up stream to Thorpe's, where three shots were fired at him without any perceptible effect other than to increase his speed. Towards noon the excitement intensified, and at four p.m. Sheehan's bridge was lined with people, whose curiosity was gratified by a view of the head and back of the monster, which rose to the surface of the water immediately under their gaze.

All sorts of theories are advanced with regard to its identity, but from a casual glance which I got of it, I have no hesitation in pronouncing it a seal measuring about six feet in length. From here the chase was continued for a considerable distance down stream, and when last seen our saurian was making its way down to its natural habitat as quickly as possible.

A headmaster’s suicide: the death of John Gurr, Onehunga, 1886

On the morning of 6 October 1886, a painter named Joseph Tingey who lived in Onehunga went to fish off the Mangere Bridge. He became intrigued by a length of clothesline tied to the bridge’s railing, and wondered if there was a basket of fish at the other end. He proceeded to haul on the line, but didn’t find fish – instead, he ended up retrieving the body of John Gurr, headmaster of Onehunga School.

Gurr had tied one end of a clothesline around the railing, and then looped and knotted the other around his waist. He had been wearing his usual attire when he went into the water, and had written a farewell note, given to one of his children, addressed and delivered by the child to the Rev. William Edward Mulgan of St Peter’s Church.

“Onehunga, October 6, 1886. Rev. and dear sir, -- I can no longer bear the living death. My brain is on fire, and at times I don’t know what to do or think. If anything happens to me please break the news quietly to my children, and help them all you can; also send letter to Mrs. Gurr. I am struggling, but oh, what will the end be? I have been a faithful teacher in the Onehunga school, and may my innocence be laid bare, for the sake of my dear ones. Good-bye. – From the unfortunate John Gurr. P.S. – Look near the little bridge.”

John Gurr worked as a teacher in Canterbury and Featherston before arriving in Auckland in 1885 to take up the position of headmaster at Onehunga school. His name is missed out by Janice Mogford in her book The Onehunga Heritage, where only the names of Alexander Grant (1876-1885) and R. D. Stewart (1886-1896) appear, but at the time of his death he was also President of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. He had seven children in all, two grown to adulthood and living elsewhere in the country at the time of his death.

Complaints about improper behaviour around female pupils at Onehunga were taken up by the local school committee as charges “of a flagrant character” with the Auckland Board of Education on 24 September 1886. The Board suspended him, pending a full inquiry to be carried out by the committee and a report back to the Board. The brief news report about the matter, in the NZ Herald offering no details as to the charges, was republished in the Evening Post in Wellington – and one of Gurr’s sons living there sent a copy up to his parents in Onehunga. On top of the local community whispers, Gurr now faced apparent nationwide ignominy, and the pressures rose within his mind.

He had tidied up the school, and had undeniable ability as a teacher and disciplinarian, but the school committee felt that it was best that he leave. “This,” according to the Auckland Star, “was in the face of the fact that the charges on investigation proved to be by no means so serious as at first appeared.” Gurr tendered his resignation, but the Education Board refused to accept it, instead simply suspending Gurr and demanding from the committee the full details of the charges. This, the committee declined to do, stating that they felt the details should not be made public, and that their informants had been promised confidentiality. The Board, however, were adamant – they demanded the details, and also a copy of Gurr’s letter of resignation. The committee responded on 2 October that they would “forward the information asked for in a few days”, and advised that Gurr had applied for leave to withdraw his resignation. Initially, he’d said that he wanted to leave to take up other employment. Now, four days before his death, he seemed keen to take matters to court.

The papers at the time, however, described him as lacking “moral courage” to see this sordid affair through. His friends and doctor noticed his decline. Dr. William Robert Erson advised him the day before his death to write to the Board proclaiming his innocence, and offered to help him do this. A day before that, his solicitor, William Wasteneys, found him lying on a couch in the dark at Wasteneys’ home, answering in response to Wasteneys’ enquiry as to how he was, “I am as bad as at the worst of times.” A day later, he made out his will with Wasteneys. The next day, Gurr was dead.

His death, at the inquest, was put down to temporary insanity. The Board received a report from the school committee on 8 October, which still maintained that there were charges against Gurr. The Board blamed members of the Press for publishing even the reference of the charges against Gurr, and there was discussion as to whether their meetings in future should be held in private and away from reporters. They maintained the status quo, however, and moved that with regard to the correspondence received relating to John Gurr, that no further action be taken. A Dunedin paper apparently headed up their report of the events as “Death before dishonour.”

The New Zealand Tablet on 15 October 1886 opined (in relation to the still quite-heated debate over religious versus secular education in “godless schools”:

“The facts attendant on the suicide of the unfortunate teacher Gurr, at Onehunga, give us another warning concerning the dangers of the godless schools. Either the man was guilty of the disgraceful conduct of which he was accused, although of this there seems to be strong doubts, or else the girls who accused him showed themselves capable of foul and disgusting lying as well as of a good deal more. In either case parents should perceive how considerately the law acts in compelling them to submit their innocent children to polluting influences, whether those of an infamous teacher or those of abandoned schoolmates — the choice between the two being rather a difficult one to make.”

We’ll never know for certain exactly what happened at Onehunga school or whether John Gurr had been guilty or innocent of the charges laid against him.

Pt Chevalier Times Issue 2

Latest issue of the Pt Chevalier Times. A bit late, I've had some wonkiness healthwise lately, but -- here it is. We also have a meeting set for the 15th of January 2009. The interest is out there, just a matter of seeing if things spark off. I think it just might.

Pt Chevalier Times No 2 December 2008

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

The 1920 Jockeys’ Strike

On Saturday 10 April 1920, jockeys at Avondale refused to ride in support of a colleague, and therefore began the 1920 Jockeys’ Strike.

It wasn’t the first such action in New Zealand. In April 1902, there was a now-forgotten incident in Southland in 1902 where the club refused to admit jockeys without payment, refunding their money only when a mount was secured. A jockey-organised boycott then proved ineffective.

In 1919, in the atmosphere post-war rising industrial unrest, a Mr. C. C. Sheath formed the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association. It registered in October that year with the support of 200 jockey, asking the racing owners (the New Zealand Racing Conference), among their demands; for a weekly wage of £2 5/- with no deductions made by the clubs, a maximum working day of 10 hours, preference of employment given to members of the Association, and the setting up of an Appeal Board to settle disputes between jockeys and clubs.

Sir George Clifford, the Racing Conference’s President, refused to give either the Association or its demands the time of day. Undaunted, Sheath printed the Associations demands in March 1920 and sent them to all racehorse owners and clubs in the country. These, too, were ignored.

On Wednesday 7 April 1920, as can happen at Avondale during an autumn meeting, it rained heavily during the afternoon. L. H. Heath, jockey and also member and representative of the Jockeys’ Association, asked the Stewards to postpone the remaining races in account of the course becoming dangerously wet. The stewards declined to do so. Hewitt apparently made “certain statements” in connection with the matter which the club’s stewards felt were impertinent, and so called him into a hearing on the following Saturday, the next day of the meeting, 10 April. There, Hewitt refused to sign evidence put by the stewards, and was warned that failure to do so would result in the cancellation of his license and a report made on his conduct to the Racing Conference. The hearing had been adjourned when the other members of the Association on course that day heard rumours Hewitt’s license had been cancelled, took his side, and refused to go out on the track. The club’s president, Michael Foley, denied Hewitt had been sacked, but would not give in to a demand for the jockeys’ case to be presented by their representative on the course; instead he brought in apprentices to ride the mounts the Association jockeys refused, to the hooting and hollering of the striking jockeys. At the time, the club officially denied knowledge of the Association, and also denied all applications for a representative of the Association to be present in a official capacity on the racecourse. The club resorted instead to calling the police, much to Association Secretary Sheath’s reported annoyance: “There is one phase of the dispute that I strongly resent, namely, the presence of the police on Saturday afternoon. This had an intimidating effect upon members of the association and, in my opinion, the police should not be called on to make themselves prominent in disputes of this nature unless, and until, it be under threatening circumstances.”

A deputation from the Association journeyed to Wellington to ask the Prime Minister, William Massey (also Minister of Labour) to set up an inquiry into the relations between the racing clubs and the jockeys. This resulted in Massey offering official recognition by the Government for the Association, and agreeing to set up a conciliation conference between the Association and Racing Conference members. Meanwhile, the Avondale Stewards summoned Hewitt to attend another disciplinary hearing in 13 April. The Association responded on his behalf that the inquiry was now in the hands of the executive of the Association, and that negotiations had to be addressed through them.

The whole affair began to get much more involved when a meeting of the Auckland Waterside Workers union that day not only congratulated the Jockeys’ Association on their formation, but also stated,

“… we deplore the attitude adopted by the racing clubs in refusing to acknowledge the said Jockey’s Association; especially do we condemn the Avondale Jockey Club for their despotic and inhuman treatment meted out to jockeys and apprentices on Wednesday, April 7, in refusing their request to postpone the racing owing to weather conditions and the dangerous state of the course. The hostile reception tendered the Jockeys’ Association representative calls for severe censure. Evidently the totalisator turnover is of more importance than the welfare of the riders. Trade unions are recognised throughout New Zealand, and we demand recognition for our fellow workers … and call upon organised labour throughout the Dominion to tender moral and practical support in the event of victimisation or refusal to recognise the Association.”

Three days later, the Trades Council in Wellington added their support. The Jockeys Association’s alliance with the waterside workers wasn’t viewed favourably in some parts of the country, however: the Manawatu jockeys voted later that month to resign from the Association because of it, although the Association later said that this was due to threats from owners.

Members of the Jockeys Association in Auckland were now reported to be refusing rides at racing meetings, putting an upcoming Royal Meeting in honour of the visiting Prince of Wales at Ellerslie in jeopardy. The Auckland Racing Club had been in contact with the Association and was quite open, it was reported on 23 April, to official recognition of the latter in terms of on-course representation. But the Racing Conference demurred, stating that the rules made no provision for the recognition of an incorporated association. Now, the General Labourers’ Union passed a resolution in support of the Association, “urging all members not to take part or attend the Prince of Wales’ race meeting at Ellerslie on the 26th of April.”

The Government announced two days before the Ellerslie meeting that a conciliation meeting between the jockeys and the Racing Conference would be arranged on 10 June. The Association voted therefore to suspend their industrial action during the Prince of Wales’ visit, and asked that “the public generally refrain from any act which may have a tendency to disturb the harmony of the meeting to be held at Ellerslie.”

The next metaphorical shots fired came on 7 May, when an inquiry held by the Auckland Racing Club District Committee decided that jockey L. H. Hewitt was

“ ... guilty of refusing to sign evidence given at a meeting of the stewards of the Avondale Jockey Club on April 10, of inciting riders engaged at the meeting to break their respective engagements, and of promoting concerted in that direction for the purpose of embarrassing the management of the club in the conduct of the meeting, and for refusing to attend meetings of the stewards when called upon to do so.”

Hewitt was suspended for the rest of the season, along woth E. C. Rae (for actively aiding and abetting Hewitt) and J. B. Shea for breaking his engagement to ride, refusing to attend meetings with the stewards and embarrassing the club. Another jockey, L. Conquest, was to have his case heard at another meeting. Other districts were to be advised of jockeys from their areas who had also committed the above breaches. The Avondale Jockey Club, it was reported, was about to issue a full report naming those jockeys who had taken part in the strike.

In response, the New Zealand Labour Party met in the Auckland Trades Hall to consider a petition from the Jockeys Association for support. A combined meeting of trades union and labour organisation delegates met at the Trades Hall on 10 May, chaired by Labour MP, W. E. Parry. An official statement made after the meeting said that as a result of the Auckland Racing Committee’s “vindictive attitude … they have openly challenged organised Labour from one end of New Zealand to the other.” The meeting voted to fight for the reinstatement of the jockeys, and to call on all “unionists and friends of Labour to keep away from racecourses” until the jockeys were reinstated. All racecourses were declared black.

Three days later, the South Island Association representative declared that the affair was a North Island one. “The present situation in the North Island is purely an outcome of the Avondale affair, and Mr. Davies stresses the fact that at present the South Island jockeys have no grievances against the South Island clubs, which have treated the riders and their official representatives with the greatest courtesy.”

Meanwhile, up in Auckland, the local railwaymen’s unions declared the racecourses black on 16 May. Edwin Mitchelson, chair of the Auckland Racing Clubs District Committee, wrote to the Prime Minister, putting their case. Sir George Clifford of the Racing Conference triumphantly announced on 19 May that he had received a petition from 22 leading jockeys who said they had resigned from the Jockeys’ Association because they objected to being associated with trade unions. When a deputation of trade unionists met the Prime Minister, he was quoted as saying,

“I do not think it would be much loss to the country if we did away with racing altogether. It would not trouble me in the very slightest. Perhaps as Treasurer I should not get as much revenue, but that would not worry me for I could get it some other way.”

It would appear, by now, his patience will both sides of the dispute was wearing thin.

Come 3 June, and a race meeting at Ellerslie. In the morning, 31 tram crews refused to work the race traffic trams, and were suspended, with tramways officers filling in for them. The suburban railway also operated as per normal, although there were some pickets. However, in the afternoon, things ground to a halt, as the trams motormen went out on full strike which continued for the next few days.

At the long-awaited conference in Wellington on 10 June, no agreement could be reached between the owners and the Jockeys Association. Gradually, the dispute died down, and Sir George Clifford claimed a victory of sorts. There was one incident of interest in the aftermath of all this however when, on 12 July 1920 the crew of the ferry steamer “Mokoia” refused to sail with Clifford on board. Still, Clifford in his Who’s Who in New Zealand entry proudly claimed that he had “done much to secure purity of racing” in New Zealand.

The Great Waikato Saurian Hunt of 1886

Six weeks of hunting for what some termed a taniwha, and others a scaly unwelcome visitor from the continent across the Tasman, began with a report by the NZ Herald of 29 September 1886. The Waikato Times on 30 September repeated the report:

“A report, the correctness of which is vouched for by Mr. Castleton, who owns and occupies a portion of which is known as Maunders farm, near Frankton, appeared in the Herald of yesterday, to the effect that a reptile, the description of which is almost identical with that of the alligator, was seen on Tuesday morning. The story goes that Mr. Castleton's son, a boy of 14, went down to a small creek which runs through the property, and that the strange animal came up out of the water and chased him. His younger brother, aged twelve, went down to the creek to satisfy the burning curiosity engendered by his brother's recital and "enjoyed” a similar experience.”

A Constable Wild went out to investigate with some settlers, but failed, at the time, to see anything at all. (Evening Post, 2 October 1886)

The Waikato Times from the outset was sceptical.

“Without wishing to cast suspicion on Mr. Castleton's boy's, whose tale the father implicitly believes, since he has been lying in wait to shoot the "monster," we may casually remark that not only are there no crocodiles in this colony, but there are no reptiles except the katipo and the mosquito. If the creature in question was larger than a lizard, and the lads said he was as large in girth as a calf, it will probably turn out to be one of Messrs Qualtrough and White's pigs.”

Two days later, the Times was still not convinced that this was much more than a wild goose/croc chase.

“CROCODILE OR WHAT? To be sure, the idea of a crocodile making his way unobserved from warmer latitudes across the ocean and taking up his residence in the vicinity of Hamilton is very laughable. Yet Mr. Castleton's boys declare that the beast which chased them up the banks of the creek running through the farm resembled the pictures they had seen of alligators more than anything else they can think of. They scout the notion of its being a pig, scornfully demanding to know whether they, seeing members of the porcine species daily, could be deceived by a pig. What adds to the difficulty of elucidating the story is the fact that both boys are evidently telling the truth, that is to say, they believe their narrative to be correct.

“On Thursday afternoon a representative of this journal visited Mr. Castleton's place and, in the absence of their father, who was working at the other end of the farm, the two boys took him to the creek and showed him the spot where the alleged monster was seen by them. The creek is that which falls into the Waikato at No. 1 Bridge. The course of the stream is exceedingly tortuous; the amount of water is considerable, and at short intervals there are pools ranging in depth from three to nine feet. The banks are perhaps 40ft. high. Along the side of a small branch creek a path descends to the water, and the cattle are wont to cross here to the paddocks beyond. It was at or near this crossing-place that the strange beast was, as they aver, seen by Mr. Castleton's lads. Both boys are bright and intelligent, and there is nothing in their manner or appearance to justify a suspicion that they have made up a yarn. Going down to the creek they related what they consider their uncanny experience with great circumstantiality and completeness of detail. They describe the animal as having a body about two feet long, with a thick tail about the same length, short thick legs, and long pointed head and long jaws armed with terrible looking teeth. Its motion when chasing them was a sort of amble, which one of the lads, going down on all fours, simulated. It was brown in colour, with scales on its back. The creature was first seen by the elder boy, Arthur, on Monday morning, and by both at different times on Tuesday.

“In the course of a conversation with Mr. Castleton subsequently, that gentleman said he was naturally sceptical in matters of this kind and, moreover, he knew that crocodiles and reptiles were not known in New Zealand ; at the same time ho was bound to believe the boys' story, because he placed the utmost faith in their integrity. In company with his man he had carefully searched the creek, but had found nothing, nor could he discover any strange footprints. That some animal of a kind not hitherto familiar to the boys had shown itself he did not doubt, and the only conclusion he could come to was that Shakespeare was right when he made Hamlet say "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of." All this sounds oddly, but, as we have already said, it seems impossible to doubt the bona fides of the boys. That they have been deceived we are bound to believe, but what manner of animal it was that led the two boys, at separate times, to the conclusion that it was an alligator, no less, we will not attempt to conjecture. The Maoris, of course, say it is a Taniwha; if so its capture would be a stroke of luck.

“It has been suggested that it is a lizard and, if the excitement can only be kept up, some rational beings may by-and-bye arrive at the conclusion that it is a giraffe.”

On 5 October, the Times reported:

“There is nothing new to report about the strange beast seen by Mr. Castleton's boys. On Sunday a large number of people visited the farm, and some beat the creek for a considerable distance, but nothing was seen.”

The Auckland papers, by now, were taking the story on with gusto. The Waikato Times, on 7 October, said briefly but possibly with a deep inner sigh,

“Auckland Bell says the alligator story from Waikato grows considerably larger. The "beast" has killed a child. It will next have devoured the whole population.”

The Otago Witness the following day reported that the Herald had published

“... amusing reports of an alleged monstrous reptile seen in a creek near Hamilton,” and that “on the authority of one of the masters of the Auckland Grammar School … “a creature something like a sea serpent was seen swimming up the Waikato river, lashing the water with its tail, which seemed to furnish locomotive and guiding power.”

By late October, the Auckland Star published information from a correspondent “that he is informed that the Maoris brought alligators' eggs some years ago from Australia and placed them near the Waikato River, and it is believed they have been hatched out.” A resident of Onehunga also even reported seeing an animal like an alligator in the Manakau harbour. (Evening Post, 27 October 1886)

The Taranaki Herald reprinted another NZ Herald report on the croc hunt on 6 November:

“The Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland Herald says :—"All attempts for the present to capture the saurian monster have been abandoned since Friday night when some persons sat up in the loft of the slaughterhouse, but saw or heard nothing of it. This has-been determined on in consequence of the inconsiderate conduct of a large number of people who, armed with guns, anxious to capture so valuable a prize, have been beating the cover afforded by tea-tree, furze, and flax on Mr. Castleton's land, and the thick cover along the edges of the creeks, so that the animal, whatever it is, must be so thoroughly scared that it is not likely to leave its haunts far, even at night.

“Food of course it must have, but as there are more than a hundred pigs roaming about the open land beyond the slaughter yard, and many of these are sows with litters, it can easily supply itself without venturing up to the slaughterhouse. Indeed, of late, a large number of young pigs have been missed, sows returning home with one or two less each time. As soon as the excitement has cooled down, the sliding doortrap will be again raised at night and the bait set.

“Public opinion is at variance whether the animal is one escaped from a travelling menagerie or an amphibious creature, but the evidence is decidedly in favour of the latter. The natives think that it will turn out to be the meme, or mimi, a creature of the lizard tribe, which is very rare, being somewhat larger than a big dog, and which runs after people, snapping at them with its mouth, but runs slowly, as was indeed the case with the Castleton's boys.”

A week later, the creature in the minds of those still hunting for it took on another form – that of a Bengal Tiger, while the Times remained extremely doubtful.

“… as for the Royal Bengal Tiger, the leopard, or the cheetah, for it has been supposed to be all these things, if such an animal escaped from a menagerie, we feel sure the circumstance would have been made public. Setting aside the value of such an animal for exhibition purposes, it is absurd to suppose that the circus people should be so destitute of all the finer feelings of humanity as to allow so dangerous a creature to despasture itself on the youthful population of New Zealand without uttering a note of warning. It is worthy of remark that nothing was heard of the so-called tiger until his presence in the neighbourhood was suggested in the Herald.

”After what has happened, we are convinced that nothing is wanting in order that the Castleton boys may discover a sea serpent save a hint that such a monster might be taking his spring bath of fresh water in the Waikato river. Still and notwithstanding all this there are certain people who are ready to swallow anything that is marvellous. It is the duty of the Government, acting through the police, to succor all such weakminded members of the community, though to do so may involve a considerable expenditure. The Saurian business should be sifted to the very bottom, and the guilty parties when found should be made to suffer pretty smartly. We commend the subject to the earnest consideration of Inspector Kelly.”

The Waikato Times went on to report:

“Little that is fresh has transpired since our last in regard to this terrific monster. Several people declare they have seen the tracks of the beast. We have been shown several very carefully prepared diagram from which it would seem that the animal might be anything from a hippopotamus to a turkey, but certainly not a tiger, and still less a crocodile. The joke, whoever is at the bottom of it, is being well kept up, and doubtless the inventive genius of the projectors is capable of further "manifestation".

“The episode has been productive of no little amusement, not only in Hamilton, but in Auckland. Some clever individual has prepared a series of pictures illustrative of the story, which may be seen attached to the notice-board of Gwynne's Hotel. The first picture is the counterfeit presentment of a billy-goat, which is said to be 'the only saurian." Next comes an elaborate cartoon, representing a huge monkey depositing one of the Castleton boys into the jaws of an enormous crocodile (the creature is more like a shark, by the way), underneath which runs the legend, "The really sorry-un, the boy who would tell stories." The series concludes with the likeness of a donkey, who is described in the letterpress as "A constant leader of the Waikato District News (Herald's). Well stuffed."

"The notice board is adorned with other pictures relating to the same absorbing topic, and all have proved to be a great source of attraction during the last few days.”

After all this japery, the Saurian Tales died away, only to be revived briefly, a year later, by an astounding report published in the Herald, according to the Otago Witness of 11 November 1887.

“According to the New Zealand Herald, the mystery of the Waikato saurian monster, which developed from an animal of the alligator species to one having the head of a tiger, has been cleared up. The Castleton boys after all were not drawing much on their imagination. The following was received from Raglan by telegraph and published by the Waikato Times :— " The capture of the Hamilton saurian monster off the south head of Raglan Harbour was effected this (Friday) afternoon by a Kopua Native named Rawini, who put two bullets through its head. It measured 12ft long, with a girth of 6ft, having two large screwlike propellers in its tail. On being brought to the wharf it was found to have a head like a leopard, two rows of formidable teeth, 12 in a row. Its skin, resembling grey silver cloth, was taken off carefully with the legs and head. On opening it, two pouches were found full of birds and feathers. It has been purchased with a view of having it stuffed and exhibited."

“Evidently someone,” the Otago Witness mused, “has been hoaxing the papers in Auckland. “

An update here.

The Dunwoodie grave, Onehunga

A grave so consumed by a tree, that the now broken headstone leans drunkenly against nature's timbers, message to the world gradually fading.

Another St Peter's cemetery in Onehunga headstone. The name at the top is that of Andrew Dunwoodie. According to a site which has collected death notices (but doesn't provide dates and sources for all of them, sadly):

"DUNWOODIE Another well-known Auckland and Onehunga resident, Mr Andrew Dunwoodie, died at his residence, Queen Street, Onehunga, on the 2nd August, after a prolonged illness extending over a period of nearly two years, the immediate cause of his death being heart disease. Mr Dunwoodie had been in New Zealand for a long time. He arrived in Otago about 27 years ago, but shortly afterwards he came to Auckland, and with his brother, Mr W. Dunwoodie, started business as farming implement manufacturers, in which they were very successful, and ever since constantly resided in Onehunga, where he was greatly esteemed for his many good qualities. He was three times elected to be a member of the Borough Council. He was also a leading member of the Presbyterian Church in that district, and was superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school. He was also a member of the Licensing Committee, and generally up to the time his health failed, he took an active part in all local affairs. Mr Dunwoodie, who died at the early age of fifty years, leaves a widow and two sons and two daughters to mourn their loss but the sons and daughters are all grown up."

According to the Southern Cross of 19 February 1873, Mr. Dunwoodie, Onehunga blacksmith, took part in a successful ironsand smelting experiment, hammering a lump of the product into the shape of a cold chisel.

The death of John James Lloyd (1881)

I found this gravestone set in the ground at St Peter's Anglican Church cemetery (as many others there are) in Onehunga yesterday.

Today, the stone seems almost engulfed by the surrounding clover and daisies, with grass clippings obscuring the text.

Below, from the Taranaki Herald of 28 May 1881 is an account of poor John James Lloyd's demise.

"An accident of a distressing nature, which resulted in the death of a young man named John Lloyd, happened at the Waitakerei Tunnel today. The unfortunate occurrence took place shortly after 8 a.m. on the railway line. The deceased has been employed as railway laborer, and was riding on some ballast wagons. At the time of the accident he was bending forward for the purpose of working the brake, when he fell off, and two of the trucks passed over him. He was immediately picked up by some of his fellow workmen, and conveyed to Newmarket, and from thence he was taken to the hospital. On his arrival at the hospital the poor fellow was attended to by the doctors, and an examination revealed the fact that he had sustained injuries of a most serious nature. His right leg was fearfully mangled below the knee ; in fact it was completely crushed. A compound fracture of the left leg was discovered, and it was fouud that the limb was also injured above the knee. It was apparent that the shock to his system had reduced him to so weak a state that he could not possibly undergo the operation of amputation of his right leg ; therefore it was bandaged up, and the flow of blood stopped. Lloyd was perfectly conscious during the whole of the time. He stated the circumstances of the accident to Dr. Philson, and also said that the occurrence was purely accidental, and that none were to blame for it. He sank rapidly, and died shortly after noon. Deceased was a young, unmarried man, aged twenty-five years. Both of his parents are residents of Onehunga, where he lived with them up till the present time."

The tunnel was part of the Kaipara line, and finally linked up Henderson with the Kumeu side of the line. Lloyd's accident there was not the first, however. According to David Lowe, in 100 Years of Tracks and Trains Through Henderson 1881-1981,

"The Waitakere tunnel had been a major undertaking, the stiffness of the clay presented many problems as did the filling in of neighbouring swampland. Started on the Swanson side a perfectly straight shaft of 270 yards was driven through the ridge to meet up accurately with the face of the cutting on the Waitakere side. On January 28, 1881 a formal breakthrough was made amidst cheers that resounded through the tunnel before the contractors, foremen, miners, bricklayers and labourers marched to a banquet led by Mr. Collins, a blacksmith, playing patriotic airs on the flute. The men were complimented on their work and on an unblemished safety record. Unfortunately the following day a ganger was killed when he was struck by a work train."

Preparations for the new (temporary) platform (2)

An update from here.

Work is continuing in the area where (according to Ontrack's plans at the last open day) the temporary platform off Trent Street will be located while the main station is relocated and the tracks reconfigured. The photos were taken late in the day after I'd spotted activity earlier while passing in the bus.

A close-up from photo above. The area where some fresh ballast has been laid, interestingly enough, is around about where the old level crossing used to be before 1913 and the building of the Blockhouse Bay Road railway bridge. This crossing connected what is now Tait Street (then, just part of Manukau Road) with Trent Street (part of Station Road) and was highly dangerous, especially when trains then came around a bend (straightened in the 1950s) before pulling into Avondale station from Mt Albert.

The woes of Mataura

I prepare the newsletter for the NZ Federation of Historical Societies, called Keeping in Touch. Always hunting for bits and pieces of interest to my readers (the membership is made up of over 80 historical societies plus affiliates and individual members), I found this blog entry on some problems the township of Mataura have been having with regard to maintenance of their historic town centre, which is almost entirely owned by one American landowner.

The good news is -- there's been some progress as Mataura fights back.

The Postmen of Avondale: 1936 and into the 1940s era

More by the late George Baird. First article here.

The Postmen’s Walks
There were 4 main "Postmen’s Walks" in Avondale when I joined the staff in 1936. They were known as Waterview, Rosebank, New Windsor, and Avondale South. Later a Village Walk was established consisting of those in business areas and adjacent streets. This was a much shorter walk than the others though it still carried quite a bulk of mail. Mr George Button was given this area together with other office and mailroom duties after he had completed the walk. Postmen were rotated on the four main walks and so became familiar with the whole of the postal area. However at Christmas time the same Postman always reverted to the same Christmas walk. So at that time (i.e.1936) Mr Button had the Waterview walk, Mr Jack Dewar Rosebank, Mr Charles Butler New Windsor, and Mr Don Kerwin Avondale South.

Large Deliveries
There were very large mails at Christmas time in those days of Greetings cards, packets and parcels and when an overseas mail arrived by ships from the UK in particular there would be loads of newspapers as well.

Messageboys would be kept busy delivering overflow bags for the Postmen to various points on their deliveries, and extra boys would be employed to assist the Postmen. Frequently because of the bulk of mail and the extra time taken sorting, deliveries would be late leaving the office both morning and afternoon and extremely late returning to the office in the evening. It was a long day, and sometimes after an early start. However there was a plus side to it. Some of the Postmen had become very well known on their Christmas run and the public were often generous with gifts, cash, and perhaps a bottle of wine or a bottle of perfume for the lady in their life etc. I recall one occasion when a Postman had been sampling his bottle of whatever and we had to send out a rescue party to find him.

George Button
The Head Postman Mr George Button was a diminutive man of about 5ft 3” or 4 inches if that. A returned soldier of the 1st World War and proud of it. He was a fast mover, a man of many skills and a fund of local knowledge. His skills reached beyond his duties as head of the Postmans Branch, and he was regularly called upon to perform duties in the office whenever telegraphists or counter staff were on leave. He could take his place behind the telegraph morsekey and sounder, or on the public counter without any trouble at all and frequently did. He was as conscientious a man as any I have ever worked with and yet was never fully appreciated by the Postmaster of that time and was in fact at times shabbily treated.

Jack Dewar
Mr Jack Dewar, Postman on the Rosebank delivery was another local man. Always bright and "breezy and well liked in the district. He eventually moved on and I took over the Rosebank delivery. Jack became a Postmaster himself before he retired and I recall him being at Kaipara Flats in that capacity at one time. After he retired from the permanent staff he came back on the temporary staff as a recorder at the Construction and Maintenance Branch at Takapuna.

Charles Butler
Mr Charles Butler, Postman for the New Windsor delivery, lived in Chalmers St with his wife and 2 boys and a girl if my memory is correct. A very straightforward sort of person, liked a bit of fun and was good at his job. Postmen of the time were always called upon to use a whistle each time they delivered mail to a letterbox and we all did. Charlie’s whistle was different: it had a bass rumble rather than a shrill trill. I do not know what happened to Charlie after I left.

Don Kirwin
Mr Don Kirwin was entrusted with the Avondale South delivery which had the longest distance to travel and some rough metal roads and plenty of hills, A caring man; he was the one who helped me most to find my feet when I started as a raw recruit at Avondale and when I moved on to sorting letters and delivering mail. He later became a Public Service Driver.

Norman Rutherford
Those were the main mail carriers in late 1936. Another boy who came on the staff soon after was Norman Rutherford who lived with his parents in St Georges Rd. He was an Army Territorial in Signals, when he could find the time. He was a Postman also. He left the Postal service and eventually became prominent in the Police force in the Henderson district.

Jack Holmes
Jack Holmes was a Messageboy at Avondale; also resided in St Georges Rd with his parents. Jack moved on to Postman’s duties at Mt Albert and the Symonds St Office. Now retired and living in Mt. Roskill.

Douglas Smith, Eric Turner, Rhoda Nesbit
Douglas Smith, Postman, who lived at Point Chevalier, later started his own business. Also joined the NZ Armed Forces in Signals. Eric Turner, a quiet spoken man was at times a relieving Postman at Avondale. Also served in the Armed Services overseas.

Rhoda Nesbit; First woman mail deliverer at Avondale, always full of fun. Lived with her parents on Rosebank Road - Riversdale Road corner. Was there when I left to join the Armed Forces, and was there when I returned.

Bill Mitchell
Bill Mitchell was another Messageboy who commenced his service with the Post Office in the late thirties. Lived with his parents in the Rosebank area. Was not at the Avondale Office very long before moving on. I have no recollection of Bill in later years.

Recollections of Early Days at the Avondale Post Office

This was written by the late George Baird, a very dear friend and member of the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society who died earlier this year. I still miss him and his charming, welcoming smile. His widow gave me permission today to publish the following online. Second part is here.

Thank you very much, George. The photos are from his collection. Right is the man himself, on telegram duty, Avondale Racecourse on a Race Day.



I commenced work at the Avondale Post Office on 16 December 1936 as a messenger.

The Office was then situated in the old Hotel building on the corner of Great North Road and Wingate Street and occupied the whole of the ground floor. The Postmaster previously resided upstairs on the 1st floor, but at that time had a separate residence half a mile back along the Great North Road so the rooms upstairs were vacant.

A messenger wore a grey uniform and his mailroom duties consisted of receiving inward mail and making it available to the Postman for sorting and making up outward mail consisting of letters, registered articles, packets and parcels and dispatching them mainly by train but sometimes by tram to the C.P.O. in Auckland. Other duties consisted of assisting the messageboy in the delivery of telegrams which were numerous in those days, especially on race days, and relieving Postmen who may be on leave for whatever reason. In other words the Messenger was a “general dogsbody”. There was no such thing as domestic assistant in those days so the messageboy and messenger did all the sweeping, mopping of the office, back rooms, mailroom and toilets.

But no that was not all: there were those vacant rooms upstairs which periodically had to be swept and kept free of cobwebs. It was when sweeping upstairs we discovered a lose floorboard which when removed gave a wide clear view of the mailroom directly above the Postmen’s sorting cases. Is this where the P.M. previously used to keep an eye on his early morning sorting staff?

At the time I started work at Avondale the Postmaster was Mr. J. G. McGregor and his first assistant was George Shirley. Jim Doherty was a cadet counter staff and telegraphist. Head Postman was George Button and additional Postman over a period of time were Jack Dewar, Don Kerwan, Charles Butler, Eric Turner, Norman Rutherford and later Douglas Smith. Messageboys were Jack Holmes, Jim Mitchel and Warwick Brothers. However the total staff at that time was nine.

Above: The Post Office in the Old Hotel.
Left to Right: Jack Holmes (Message Boy, Charles Butler & Eric Turner (Postmen), George Button (Hed Postman, Acting Telegraphist), Jim Doherty (Telegraphist), J G McGregor (Postmaster), Bill Mitchell (Messageboy), Norm Rutherford (Postman).

Mail was delivered by Postmen twice a day with about nine tenths of the district receiving the second delivery in the afternoon. There were four postal “walks” basically known as Rosebank, Waterview, New Windsor and Avondale South. Of course it was all delivered on bicycle and some of those roads were unsealed and without footpaths.

There was still a clear class distinction between Clerical and Postal staff in the eyes of out Postmaster of the time. One way this was reflected was in the Christmas leave rosters. Some postal staff relieved in the office while office staff took their leave first and then the postal staff came into consideration with the messageboys coming last. If one complained the stick reply was that leave was a privilege which you should be pleased to be granted if and when possible!

Mail closing times coincided with Railway running timetables to give sufficient time to date stamp all letters and parcels, record any registered mail, make up a waybill, seal the bag or bags and get them up to the Avondale railway station and into the guard’s van of the passenger train from Henderson to the City. Those trains used to run on time and the slightest delay in getting a mail closing underway meant desperate efforts between the Post Office and the Railway Station for the person responsible. A mailbag across the handlebars of the pushbike and hell-for-leather up Crayford Street and across the railway tracks with the train under full throttle over the St Judes crossing was no piece-of-cake. The ignominy of missing the train and having to come back to ask the Postmaster to telegraph a special memo to the Auckland mailroom informing them which tram to meet was daunting and humiliating.

In time, in 1938, a new purpose-built Post Office was opened on the corner of Great North Road and Rosebank Road. The Postmaster was very proud of his new office with walk-in strongroom and a combination lock which gave him untold trouble to open at times. There was central heating from a coal-fired boiler, spacious mailroom and counter space and very adequate public area. We also now had a handcart to pull up the Rosebank Road hill to the railway station with the mail onboard.

Jim Doherty transferred elsewhere and additional telegraphists and counter staff in Les Lyons and Corban Ward joined the staff. I eventually had my designation changed to Postman.

Soon after the outbreak of war in September 1939, for reasons of economy the office was closed from 12 noon to 1 pm each day. Business was increasing and staffing becoming more difficult due to the demands of the armed forces. Female staff were beginning to be employed. At Avondale Rhoda Nesbit became the first Postwoman and later 2 sisters Pam and Jane Silver if my memory serves me correctly were employed on telegram delivery and counter work.

And then it was my turn to depart and join the Army for service overseas. I did return to the Avondale office in late 1945 and resumed in my old capacity as a Postman. However I soon transferred to the Engineering Branch for the remainder of my 40 years service.

At the time I left the Avondale Office the Postmaster was Mr. W C Main.

Additional notes:

From the days when the P.O. was in the Hotel building.

The Postmen wore blue uniforms, the messengers wore grey.
The door was right on the corner of the building, leading into the small office, public counter, ledgers etc.

The counter was very stable. One day a bloke rode into the P.O. door on a motorbike by accident, and just bounced off the counter. George Shirley was behind the counter at the time.

The Postmaster’s room was off the main entry in one direction. There was a side dor and passage linking straight through to a dor on Wingate Street.

The mailroom may have been the hotel’s dining room. In the centre were the sorting benches/racks – postmen stood on each side sorting letters. In the ceiling above was a decorated ceiling with round filigree work carved in wood. The loose floorboards in the upstairs bedrooms allowed for anyone to look straight through the ceiling decoration to the sorting racks below.

Postmaster McGregor was old fashioned, used to rule in his own manner, and didn’t get on with his staff. The Postmaster in those days ruled the “sub office” as his own little kingdom. The day he retired he walked through the office, handing his keys to George Shirley, and no one said good night to him. The new Postmaster WC Main was much younger, but still had the same attitude towards staff. He got a few nicknames because of his name.

McGregor used to set traps for people. There was a little canvas bag on the sorting counter to put in any lose stamps that had fallen off letters or parcels. One time he “planted” a trap for the message boy who was sweeping the floor after the postmen had gone out. The Postmaster came out, and asked him if he’d found any stamps. The boy pulled a stamp out of his fob pocket, produced it, and was accused of stealing it, and had the strips torn off him. He received a written notification from the Postmaster – “please explain” in writing. If you had more than 1 for the month, totalled up, might get fined 2/6 after being reported to the Chief Postmaster in Auckland.

The mail made up to go to town had to have a docket to go with it, description of any registered letters. George Baird forgot to include it one time and was fined. The mailbag was also sealed with a lead seal before delivery to the station.

The guard’s van on the train was on the front. One time George decided to sling the bag to get it on the train. He saw a gentleman in a wheelchair in the guard’s van – the bag landed in his lap. People in wheelchairs travelled in the guards van in those days.

George as postman/messenger also relieved the telegram messageboy in his lunch hour. The Telegraphist worked through to 6 pm. The Post Office closed at 5 pm, but the message boy and telegraphist stayed on until 6 pm, until the head office in town “released you”. Might have to wait for a telegram until after 6 pm sometimes. Might have to do delivery, on push bike, as far as White Swan Road in the evening.

Postmen and messengers alternated duties. Early duty possibly 8.30 am. Early/late duty alternated. The Senior telegraphist would relieve the Postmaster. Order of precedence: messageboy – messenger – postman/messenger – postman – mail sorter – supervisor. In smaller offices, postal staff relieved in the clerical office.

Telegraphists had multiple duties – served as counter clerk. Later on, when the office got bigger, the telegraphist acted as clerk. The Supervisor was the telegraphist as well as counter clerk, and was relief for the Postmaster.

George was 18 when he joined the Post Office. Just out of the Great Depression. PO was just starting to take on staff again. During the Depression men in their 20s were still just message boys, delivering telegrams. There was a vacancy for Postman at Avondale when George was 21. He was rated as a postman, but still worked as a postman/messenger. This was embarrassing for him, aged 21.

He had a good rapport with the customers who were inclined to offer him cups of tea. He had to resist that as the Postmaster would check you in. The last one in got a verbal rap for taking so long.

George wasn’t too fast at sorting. One man tried to help him out, but was shoed away by the Postmaster.

Afternoon delivery was shortened one – not to Avondale South, Rosebank etc.

George Button was senior postman. Had small delivery in the “Village” business centre. Lived up in Roberton Road, went home 20 minutes for lunch. Had to be back by 12 when the office shut. Had to answer the phone, manual exchange, dust Postmaster’s room and table. Postmaster would not allow him to ride his bike – he had to walk. When the Postmaster came back from his lunch, he came in, checked the dust, and said to Button, “You haven’t dusted the table.” “Haven’t had time,” was the reply. Postmaster would then go to the exchange and pick up the toll cards and count them. Button was a WWI veteran.

Warwick Rogers delivered telegrams. The Postmaster wanted full explanations as to why a delivery to Exler’s potteries took so long. “Couldn’t find Mr Exler, that’s why it took so long, the property is extensive.”
The Postmaster went up in a private car to see Exler. Rogers had already pre-warned Exler by phone. Rogers killed overseas in the airforce.

The Avondale South delivery was a very long one. Whitney St was a clay track. The delivery would go up Ridge Road, Halsey Drive (a metal cart road then), then Donovan St to Blockhouse Bay, then out to the other side (Taunton Tce, Heaphy St). Came back down Taylor St, Puketea, Matai, to bolttom. The delivery finished down there. It had the least mail – long spaces between customers.

The Waterview run carried a lot of mail. It included Avondale Heights and Roberton. The sorter for that had the most mail.

Used to have to maintain own bikes. A bike mechanic in Newmarket workshops – periodic repairs, replacement bikes. On the whole you maintained your bike. Changes of tyres, chain, pedals etc. Parts came from Newmarket – any spares available.

Ready for the Road.
George Baird, Charles Biutler (Postmen), George Button (Head Postman), Douglas Smith (Postman). At rear: An unknown messageboy, and George Shirley (Supervisor).