Some Onehunga landmarks

We'll start with a loo -- "De Loo", to be precise, a wrought-iron artwork dandifying what is otherwise just another Auckland Council public convenience of the modern age. The artist is Dave Vazey, and the ironwork was installed in 2002.

St Peters Anglican Church has been at the corner of Church Street and Onehunga Mall since 1848, although not with the appearance it has today. A wooden church was replaced by a new church in 1930, shifting the old building back for a tower and chancel, designed by D B Patterson. The new church was consecrated in June 1931, but the foundation stone was laid a year before with Masonic ceremony, with corn scattered over the stone by Provincial Grand Master Oliver Nicholson, then the stone was anointed with wine. The stone is a time capsule as well: a copy of the architect’s plans, several silver coins, and copies of Auckland newspapers were deposited in a cavity before the stone was placed in position. In 1979, a new church was built around the tower, to the design of architects Gillespie Newman Pierce. 

Outside the church grounds on Onehunga Mall itself: the Mainstreet Table and Sofa, installed 1999, and designed by ceramic artist Karen Kennedy.

If you look under the table, there are apparently secret messages. Sorry, folks, I didn't look ...

I don't include commercial murals here as a rule -- but this one on Pearce Street is an eyecatching beauty. The artist is Phat 1 Diva, dating from this year.

Scotlands on Onehunga Mall, a site originally purchased from the Crown in 1854 by Presbyterian Rev. David Bruce, possibly in connection with the nearby church. The property was purchased in 1884 by Dr. William George Scott (who was apparently born in Staffordshire in 1852 according to internet sources, and died in Onehunga in 1930). Dr. Scott was in active practice in Onehunga for nearly 50 years. He served as Mayor of Onehunga Borough 1883-1884, and again in 1885-1887. He was one of the chief supporters of a water reticulation system for Onehunga, which led to the building of the pump house at the borough’s water reserve. He served on the staff at Auckland Hospital, was a Fellow of the Royal Laryngolical Association, and from 1900 President of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association.

A very nice interpretive sign is in place here.

The house has certainly changed over the years. The inset photo is of Dr. Scott himself.

The property has had successive owners since Dr. Scott passed away. The Women's Division of Federated Farmers bought the house in 1948, the NZ Railways took it over in 1953 when everyone thought (at that time) that the Avondale-Southdown link would come to fruition. We're still waiting.

Finally, the Onehunga Club, which formed also in 1953, began to lease the building and have been there ever since.

Further up Onehunga Mall, at the intersection with Trafalgar Street, is Tin Tacks Reserve. Which is named after the corner just across on the other side with Trafalgar.

But ... why "Tin Tacks"? Well, I'm still not certain, but Norine Borchard in her book Untold Stories of Onehunga (1993) included research by Margaret Ashton at the time on the matter.

Tin Tacks was actually Alexander Wright, a wood carver by trade. Born in Scotland in 1873 he and his wife Helen came to New Zealand in 1912.  A mere 4 ft tall, Mr Wright was physically dwarfed by his spouse. They ... opened a shop in Trafalgar Street. His wife Helen ran the shop while he ran the horse and three wheeled cart. He visited the Onehunga Woollen Mills at Wednesday lunchtime, the Onehunga Sulphur Works in Church Street and primary schools in the lunch hours.

Tin Tacks also supplied icecream for the Onehunga cinema in the Onehunga Mall, which was then called Queen Street.

The corner was initially Wright Corner -- but then took on the name Tin Tacks. But, as I said, I'm still somewhat hazy as to exactly why Mr Wright had that nick name. Still -- he came in 1912, which is the same year my paternal grandfather came to New Zealand, and made his mark.

Walking along Trafalgar Street -- a former Church of Christ, now a NZ Chinese Mission Church. The brickwork at the front is interesting, given the wooden structure for the rest of the church.

Finally, this mural on the side of the Jellicoe Dairy.

You can't go wrong with a tram. Well, not too far wrong!

The Auckland Museum coin theft of 1895

"The Auckland Museum and Institute on the corner of Princes Street and Eden Crescent, Auckland Central,"  

reference 4 -RIC99, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

“Public institutions,” according to the Auckland Star in 1895, “appear to be so seldom made the subject of robberies and burglaries, at any rate in this colony, that they are not uncommonly looked upon as enjoying an immunity in that respect as any of us.” This was written, however, at the head of a report on a heist at the Auckland Museum, then located in Princes Street.

On the night of 25-26 March 1895, Robert (aka George) Levett (aka Lovett) , aged “considerably over 50 years,” broke into the museum and stole a coin collection valued at £125. A crack in the window already there was the way in; Levitt later denied breaking the window to flip the catch, but as it was doubted that someone else conveniently left an arm-sized hole there, he was the one who was blamed.

The coins were displayed in two glass cases on the upper floor. Levett easily cracked the cases open, and scooped up the entire contents, including the cloth lining of one of the case. The Auckland Star report presumed that the cloth was to serve as a bag for the loot.

The collection was one of the most valuable in New Zealand. It contained a large number of very early English and Roman coins, such as are very rarely seen in most collections, and was a most valuable collection, as far as the Museum was concerned as well as from a coin-collector's point of view.

The following day, it all came unstuck for the thief.

Last night, George Levett was arrested on a charge of being concerned in the robbery at the Museum. He attempted to change one of the old coins— a half crown of the period of George II — in a hotel. The barmaid noticed the coin, and telephoned for the police. When the man was searched, eight coins were found on him answering to the description of the missing coins. The police have ascertained that some coins were disposed of on Tuesday morning to jewellers and others before the robbery was publicly known. The accused is well known to the police as an old offender … Chief Detective Grace has recovered some more coins of the Museum robbery at the pawnbrokers establishments. Levett states that he bought them from another man.

Wanganui Herald 29 March 1895

Levett was indicted before the Supreme Court on 3 June 1895. In the testimony, it was reported that he had lived a “long time” in Auckland, but had travelled to Sydney in 1891, where he served two sentences totalling three years. Robert Benjamin Levett appears to have been a marble mason working in Auckland in the early 1880s. In 1883, he prepared a marble mantelpiece of the Imperial Hotel. Then, in 1887, things seemed to have come adrift in his life. In February that year, he was before the Police Court charged with intent to defraud. That case was later dismissed, but then in May 1887 he was charged with assaulting his wife, Catherine. In November he was charged with stealing a shovel from T & S Morrin, but that charge was also dismissed. In January 1890 he broke into a jewellers’ and stole five silver watches, one case of carving knives, one gold necklet and locket, one double-barrelled gun, two saloon guns and six gold brooches, all up valued at £20 17s. For that, Levett was sentenced to nine month’s hard labour. After that – he crossed the Tasman.

He’d only just returned to Auckland in early March in 1895, three weeks before he robbed the museum. For the museum heist, he was sentenced to nine months hard labour.

In June 1896, Levett was at it again – this time sentenced to three months’ hard labour for stealing an overcoat valued at 30s. A theft (with an accomplice) of six pairs of boots followed in October that year, then another robbery involving trousers and serge coats in 1898.

In May 1898, a bit of a change of pace for the old lag.

MALINGERING.

A PRISONER PUNISHED.

A CURIOUS CASE.

At the Police Court this morning, an elderly prisoner named Robert Levett, at present “doing" two years in Mount Eden Gaol, was charged with pretending illness. He pleaded not guilty. Chief Gaoler Reston said that the prisoner had begun the day after he entered gaol last March. The doctor could see nothing the matter with the man. He had been under treatment at the infirmary. Dr. Philson, the gaol surgeon, said that Levett had complained of his head and back, and had declared that he was unable to work. Witness would not say that there was nothing the matter, but he could not find anything wrong with the man, after examining him. "There were no symptoms,” said the doctor.

"Nothing wrong," exclaimed the prisoner, "is it likely a man who has nothing wrong with him would go for thirty-three days on three pounds of bread?" The question remaining unanswered, he went one better: "For fourteen days," he declared, “I never broke my fast."

The surgeon's orderly stated that the prisoner used to change the expression of his face when he found he was being watched, and relax when he was unaware of the survey. In the same way he could scarcely speak when questioned, but if he thought none of the officials were about he talked easily enough.

"Any questions?" said the magistrate to the prisoner. The latter declined to cross-examine, and raised a laugh by declaring that "them two have dished it all up together."

A prisoner named Dawber mentioned that Levett had told him several times that he did not intend to work, and another witness deposed to a remark the accused had made while in gaol, that "a man must be a blanky fool to work here." Levett had told him that he intended "to sleep his time out." The accused never starved himself at all.

Levett elected to give evidence, and began in this fashion: "Gentlemen of the Court, I trust you will listen to what I am going to say."

"Address yourself to me," said the Magistrate.

“Sir," replied the old man in the dock, “I am addressing the gentlemen of the Court,” and he went on to tell how he had laid in his cell and "felt bad", been examined by the doctor, and fasted for 14 days, and other things more or less irrelevant.

The Magistrate said he was satisfied that the accused was guilty of malingering, and sentenced him to be kept in close confinement for a week, without irons. "And that's getting justice," sneered the old fellow, as he was removed.

Auckland Star 20 May 1898

Searching for McVay's Freemans Bay tannery

Someone came up to me earlier this month, just after a talk I gave at the Central Library, about the McVay family tannery at Freeman's Bay. I see on the blog statistics that someone recently has been doing a bit of a search into tanneries there in the old bay -- so here's what I know to date.

George and John McVay are recorded as carpenters in the 1842 Jury List for Auckland.

...The large importations of stock, during the last 2 years, have not only supplied tho settlers with beef and mutton at moderate prices, but also with hides and skins. The numerous forests abound likewise with barks, peculiarly adapted for tanning : — and now, Auckland possesses a tanyard in which is produced leather of quality that will vie with European manufacture. The bark used in the tanyard of Mr. McVay is that of the native tree Towai, which is to be found all over New Zealand. ... The whole processes of tanning and currying are completely carried through by Mr. McVay, so that leather of every description, for the boot and shoe-maker as well as for the harness-maker, can now be purchased in Auckland, and at much cheaper prices than they can be imported ...

Southern Cross 19 April 1845

John McVay's enterprise was known as the Auckland Tanyard. So he operated possibly the earliest tannery in Auckland.

It is too commonly the practice, especially in the Colonies, to puff the qualities of any new ingredient or production, used in the arts of manufacture, or connected with the interests of commerce, before the intrinsic excellence of the commodity itself is fairly tested. We cannot, however, fall into this error, in extolling the qualities of the Towhai bark ; its excellent properties have been proved in a manner that leaves no room for doubt by our industrious townsman, Mr. McVay. The specimens of sole leather which he has produced, are even superior to much of of that which is imported from the neighbouring Colonies; and could he but obtain a sufficient quantity of hides, the capital now expended in the importation of leather would be saved and devoted to other purposes affecting the interests of the Colony.

New Zealander 25 July 1846

But the question I was asked was -- where was the tannery? It wouldn't have been far from one of the streams draining into the bay, for it required running water.

(By the way, there was a small tannery in O'Connell Street, connected possibly with the nearby boot making business of William Sansom, from c.1846 but out of business by c.1848. When that began isn't certain, but the McVay tannery still seems to predate it. Just.)

I started looking through the land advertisements.

CONNELL & RIDINGS

Will Sell by Public Auction, on the premises, O'Connell-street, at 1/4 before 11 o'clock, on Wednesday next, 14th inst., MATERIALS of a Store and Dwelling House, adjoining the Tannery of Mr.

McVay, and at present in his occupation. The Building is about 46 feet in length, by about 21 feet wide, and consists of eight rooms, and a two roomed loft. The materials consist of weather-boarding, scantling, floor and ceiling joists, boarded partitions, glazed sashes, doors, &c, &c.

New Zealander 10 May 1851

Well, that's not much help. We'll move on.

John McVay died in 1852.

New Zealander 11 December 1852

George McVay advertised his tannery at Freemans Bay from December 1852.

ROBERT SCHULTZ & CO. are prepared to Sell by Private Sale the following valuable Town Properties at the 

Lot No. 1—22 feet frontage to Union-street, depth 91 feet, upset price £33. 

Lot No 2—22 ft. frontage to Union-st., depth 85 ft 2 in., upset price £32. 

Lot No. 3—22 ft. frontage to Union-st., depth 79 ft. 3 in., upset price £33. 

Lot No. 4— 33 ft. frontage to Union-st., depth 72 ft. 9 in., upset pace £35. 

Lot No. 5—335 — 33 ft. frontage to Union-st,, depth 63 ft. 6 in , upset price £33. 

Lot No. 6—35 ft. frontage to Napier-st., depth 63 ft. 6 in , upset price £25. 

Lot No 7—337 — 33 ft. frontage to Napier-St , depth 72 ft. 9 in , upset price £25. 

Lot No. 8—228 — 22 ft. frontage to Napier-st., depth 79 ft. 3 in , upset price £17. 

Lot No. 9—22 ft. frontage to Napier-st., depth 85 ft. 2 in., upset price £20.j 

Lot No. 10 — 22 ft. frontage to Napier-st , depth 91 ft., upset price £24. 

Lot No. 11 — 55 ft. 9 in frontage to Napier-st., depth 106 ft. 3x9, upset price £42. 

The above Lots are subdivisions of allotments No. 30 & 31 of Section 43, and immediately adjoin Mr. McVay's residence, in Freeman's Bay. Lots No 1, 2, 3, 9, 10 & 11 are all at present under clover. A good substantial fence runs through No. 8& 9. No. 3& 4 are also fenced on one side. 

Southern Cross 8 May 1855

Now, this looks interesting. What we have is the legal description "30 and 31 of Section 43" adjoining McVay's residence. So, I turn to the 1866 Vercoe and Harding map of Auckland (reference NZ Map 18, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries).

The land being sold in 1855 was between Union and Napier Streets, and right at the corner of those streets, so I suspect the tannery was close by. Much of it is under the Northern Motorway today, or is in grassed and vegetated reserve.

A George McVay turns up on Wellesley Street as a tanner in the 1856-57 jury list. John McVay isn't on that list at all. George McVay advertised that he was in Freemans Bay as well -- if he was on Wellesley Street, this was probably at the Victoria Park end of that long road. But when he died 24 August 1863, it was at his home on Union Street, aged just 42.

A house in Union Street occupied by a Mrs McVay was struck by lightning later that year.

It appears that during the storm a cottage in Union-street, Freeman's Bay, occupied by Mrs. McVay, was struck with the electric fluid, which split and splintered one of the verandah posts in front of the house, shattered the weather-boarding in the end of the cottage, broke through the roof by the side of the chimney, and burst a large stone ink bottle, the fragments of which broke several pieces of crockery. A lamp and other articles were thrown from the shelves ; the kitchen utensils, which were of tin, were thrown off the nails on which they were suspended ; and the clock was stopped at the same time (nine o'clock). Seven of the family were in the house, and the effect of the shock deprived Mrs. McVay of hearing for about a quarter of an hour, leaving a ringing sound in her ears. The remainder of the family experienced a similar sensation. The shock appears to have been felt by other persons residing near, but providentially no one was seriously injured. Mr. Hunt, living next door to Mrs. McVay, had his arm paralysed for some time. 

 Southern Cross 21 December 1863

Finally, this last note from the 1890s.

An old colonist, Mrs John McVay, widow of the founder of the first tannery in Auckland, died at Napier on Monday. She arrived with her family in Sydney in 1837, and four years after came to Auckland in the schooner Shamrock, commanded by Captain Daldy.

Auckland Star 1 November 1892

There passed peacefully from our midst at an early hour yesterday morning, at the age of sixty-nine years, a very old colonist in the person of Mrs McVay, after an illness resulting from an attack of bronchitis of over four months. In 1837 she, with her father, Mr George Deuchar, and a sister, arrived in Sydney, her mother having died on the passage from Home. Mr Deuchar intended settling in New South Wales, but after experiencing several dry seasons, followed by a disastrous flood on the Hunter river, decided to leave for Auckland, subsequently farming land at Epsom, near the city of Auckland. Capt. Daldy, who is still resident in Auckland, is we believe, the only survivor in the colony of all those twenty-nine passengers and crew who made that first trip to Auckland in the brig Shamrock, reaching port after a long and tempestuous passage on the 1st day of July, 1841, about fifteen months before the arrival in Auckland of the first emigrant ship, the Jane Gifford and Duchess of Argyle, whose jubilee has just been celebrated. 

Over a year afterwards Miss Deuchar was married to Mr John McVay, who was a fellow passenger from Sydney in the Shamrock. Mr McVay subsequently established a tannery in the middle of what is now the city of Auckland. About fifteen years ago Mrs McVay came to reside in Napier. She leaves a family of five sons, two of whom are Messrs George and John McVay of this town, and one daughter, Mrs D. Miller, residing is Christchurch.

Daily Telegraph 31 October 1892

It looks like Sandy, regular reader and commenter on this blog, has already spotted and photographed the Deuchar/McVay gravestone in Grafton Cemetery. John McVay, according to what Sandy found on the gravestone, died in 1852, aged 39. When George McVay died in 1863, that was virtually the end of the McVay's tannery business in Auckland. By that stage, Benjamin Gittos in Avondale, along with the Ireland Brothers at Mechanics Bay and later Panmure, would have dominated the market, until the Garrett Brothers in the mid 1870s.

Queens Hotel site, Eden Terrace

Of the Eden Terrace pubs of old, there's the Edinburgh Castle of 1864 (still existing today), the Eden Vine of 1866 (first building gone, second building now retail) -- and third the Queens Hotel of 1867. Of the three, this is one whose traces are completely wiped out.

The original wooden Queens Hotel, at the northern corner of Symonds Street and Khyber Pass, was completed in May 1867 for Peter Robertson (Southern Cross 29 May 1867). He let it to one W H Ripley from around June that year, then took back the licence in March 1868.

Southern Cross 15 June 1867

A meeting of the residents in the Kyber Pass and Newmarket districts was held last evening at Robertson's Hotel, to consider whether the Newmarket portion of the district should be constituted a separate district. There were about thirty persons present ...

SC 23 September 1868

By around 1869, Joseph Rose appears to have both purchased the hotel, and was the publican.A bit more study into the land history would be needed to confirm this, but the Auckland City Council valuation records from as late as 1912 refer to the hotel as being owned by the Rose estate (ACC 213/171d, Auckland Council Archives). J Hanson was publican there for a time from 1877, then George J Panter, who transferred to the wonderfully named George Frederick Brimblecombe in September 1881.

Brimblecombe had arrived in Wellington just five months before, immediately meeting with a newsworthy mishap.

James West, seaman, was charged with stealing an umbrella, value 30s, the property of George Frederick Brimblecombe. Mr Brimblecombe, who arrived in Wellington by the s.s. Rotorua this morning, said he went into the Pier Hotel for refreshment shortly after his arrival, and left his umbrella on the counter in order to visit the back of the premises. On his return, two minutes afterwards, he found his umbrella had been stolen. Constable Laurie deposed that he succeeded in tracing the properly to the prisoner, who said he had taken it for a lark. The prisoner was evidently under the influence of drink, and his Worship considered him too "boozey" to know what he was about, and discharged him.

Evening Post 29 April 1881

Observer 22 September 1883

He seems to have quit the hotel a year after a disastrous fire along Khyber Pass and Symonds Street in September 1882 which missed destroying the hotel but still left a considerable amount in damage costs.

Next was Michael O'Connor, who in 1884 transferred his licence for the Queens Hotel  to James Hawkins. Hawkins seemed to have real trouble from those who reckoned he was trading on a Sunday -- and also due to his outdoor urinal.

Mr Cotter applied on behalf of Mr James Hawkins for a transfer of the license of the Queen's Hotel from Michael O'Connor.—Superintendent Thorn offered no objection to the applicant, who, he believed, had done his best. He might mention, however, that the granting of the extension of time until 11 o'clock had been somewhat inconvenient to the police, as it necessitated the placing of an extra constable there on Saturday evenings.—Mr Laver considered that an extra constable in the locality would be of greater service on Sunday nights, although Mr Hawkins had nothing to do with the drunkenness which prevailed on the Sunday. —Mr Aickin complained of the urinal by the side of the footpath, but which the applicant would remedy.—Mr Cotter suggested the propriety of extending licenses generally to 11 o'clock, which would remedy effects of which complaints had been made to Mr Thomson, —The Chairman did not agree with Mr Cotter's suggestion. The extension should only be granted where it was required.—The application was granted.

Auckland Star 8 September 1884

Queen's Hotel. Mr T. Cotter, on behalf of James Hawkins, applied for a renewal of the license of this hotel. The Chairman said that something had been said about additional stable accommodation required. Mr E. Cooper appeared on behalf of Mr W. H. Connell, the trustee of the premises, and said that the stable was not required. The Bench decided to grant the application and leave the other matters to be arranged. Mr D. Robertson testified to the excellent manner in which the hotel had been kept by the present licensee. He considered that the urinal required attention, and he thought for the sake of the hotel the stable accommodation ought to be improved. Mr Hawkins said that he had removed the urinal three times in five years. It was decided to leave these matters to be remedied by the licensee. Mr Cotter asked permission to extinguish the light in front of this hotel at 10 o'clock at night, which was granted. It was also decided that the urinal should be built of brick.

AS 8 June 1889

"Children standing on the pavement outside the Queens Hotel at the corner of Symonds Street (foreground) and Khyber Pass (right)", c1890s, reference 4-RIC347, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Hawkins transferred to George Symons Budge in 1895, and Budge in turn transferred yp Charles Reinhardt in 1898. In 1903, Victor Cornaga was the licensee. By 1912, it was George Henry H Foster, followed by Stuart Garland c.1925.

A forewarning of the ultimate fate of the hotels here on this site came in 1924, when the Council arranged for the dedication of part of the hotel's site as a road. But still, the site's owners at that stage forged ahead, and in 1929 built a brick hotel in place of the old wooden one for £24,000. Stuart Garland remained as publican when the hotel reopened as the Astor from 1930, but first Dominion Breweries in 1931, then NZ Breweries and Hancock & Co took over around 1939/1940.

I haven't really been able to find a shot of the Astor Hotel which I can use here. If any readers have one I could use, I'd appreciate it. But the end for the Astor, successor to the Queens Hotel, came in 1996. It was demolished for a Council planned revamp of the Upper Symonds Street area and to improve traffic flows.

Today, the site is that of the Citta Apartments of 2005, by McLeod Group. "Citta, on the corner of Khyber Pass and Symonds St, has 105 apartments and 90 car parks, as well as commercial premises on the ground floor." Most famous person connected with the building? Current leader of the Act party, Don Brash.

Vandalised sculptures at Mangere Bridge

Mangere Bridge township is a pleasant single-level shopping strip, once accessed directly by through-traffic from off the second (old) Mangere Bridge from Onehunga, but in the past few years, with traffic diverted via State Highway 20 and the two newer bridges, it is now a place to get slightly off the beaten track, stop, and relax for a bit over a coffee.

 

Seeing a bit of street art there on Saturday, and this being Timespanner, I decided to take a closer look.

Above is a piece by artist Gordon Toi Hadfield, installed February 2009. According to the interpretive plaque below it:

"The waka form of the carving symbolises the carrier in which people are transported and moved. This symbol embraces all the different people who settle in this place, Mangere Bridge.

"The tapatoru, the triangles, present a tanika / weaving design on the back of the carving representing the mountain of Te Pane O Mataho.

"The puhoro, surface design on the belly of the waka represent "nga hau o wha -- the four trade winds and the different cultures of Mangere Bridge.

"The pakati design, also on the belly, signifies the planting of crops, gardens and plantations that remain in this area to date.

"The carving on the top of the waka symbolises 'nga tangata whenua', the original occupants of this area, Whakatauki."

A pity, then, that this sculpture has been through the wars -- and not those of time. Some locals apparently don't like the top part of the carving -- and as can be seen in my photos, it's already seen more than a reasonable amount of necessary repair. It seems that some artwork in Mangere Bridge is not treated kindly at all.

Across the road, a serene patch of green, with gardens, trees, seats -- and another sculpture.

According to Val Payne in her book Celebrating Mangere Bridge (2005), local-born Bill Kirk worked at NAC (National Airways Corporation) when he met his wife Naomi, an air hostess with TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited, later Air New Zealand). They both became involved in local politics, and campaigned to have Mangere Bridge town centre returned to being a safe and pleasant place. Trees were planted on the roadside, ornamental lamps installed, and the area generally beautified. This park was named in their honour.

In 2008, local artist George Nuku prepared this sculpture, symbolising the birdlife of the Manukau Harbour. However -- the image above is the end result of vandalism over the past three years.

Vandals who hacked a new public sculpture have got right up the noses of Mangere Bridge residents and businesses. The stone piece in Naomi and Bill Kirk Park has been attacked with what appears to be a hacksaw. Sculpted by local artist George Nuku to represent the birdlife of Manukau Harbour, the piece has a New Zealand falcon at its top. But the bird likenesses below it are no longer identifiable now their beaks and heads have been sawn off. 

Mangere Bridge village manager Carol-Anne Armitage is "absolutely hopping mad" about the vandalism.

"It’s such disrespect for a local Maori artist’s work. It’s a real concern."

...Ms Armitage says the damage must have been done early in the week of November 19."Someone brought it up at the residents and ratepayers meeting last Wednesday and everybody’s furious. By far the majority of people really like it." She had heard criticisms from one or two people about the form of the sculpture but there had been no warning of vandalism. 

Kids enjoy the stone feel of the sculpture, particularly the beaks that have been cut off, Ms Armitage says.

The sculpture is carved from Oamaru stone and is of sentimental rather than material value. It is the first of three to be installed in the village surroundings.

 Manukau Courier, 2009

Now, only the falcon is identifiable, watching Ihumatao (correctly, Te Pane a Mataaho), Mangere Mountain, its companions now stone stumps around it. [Update 7 September 2011 -- I need to get this right. Mangere Mountain is the one in the photo. Ihumatao is, as Claire  corrected in the comments, further off. Something I've learned.]

Back in May 2008, George Toi Hadfield had some reservations about installing his work here at Mangere Bridge. In the end, as we see now, he was right. This from Waatea News Update blog, May 2008:

A leading Maori sculptor is wary of installing his work in Mangere Bridge after the destruction of a colleague's works.

Gordon Toi Hadfield and George Nuku were commissioned by the Mangere Bridge Business Association and Manukau City Council to produce works for their south Auckland suburb.

Mr Hadfield says Mr Nuku's two works have already been smashed.

He says it appears there are people who don't want the pieces with strong Maori themes on display.

“It really is just a small ngangara that’s chewing away at the core there so I think once these people can grow some nuts so we can talk to them and try and discuss some sort of outcome the better but as far as I know they’re quite happy to stay inside and voice their opinions in the darkness rather than come out in the light,” Mr Hadfield says.

His work is still sitting in his driveway ready for installation, and is attracting favourable interest from many non-Maori residents.

 Sadly, just a few vandals are spoiling things for the rest of those living at Mangere Bridge.

Painted sheep at Mangere

I was at Mangere Bridge today, attending an NZ Federation of Historical Societies meeting.  Afterwards, Val Payne from the Mangere Historical Society, our hosts, took us on a bit of a tour of site around the area. One of the places was the Villa Maria Estate.

There -- a group of painted sheep (very large sheep, so large they seemed more like cows, but Liz at Mad Bush Farm has rightly corrected me. The previous post was deleted), decorated with various aspects of Kiwiana, landscapes, native flora and fauna and other designs caught my eye. Given the opportunity to photograph them, I took it.

If you anywhere near Mangere and the Villa Maria Estate -- visit the sheep. These are just awesome. They're on display at the Memorial Gardens from 1 September to 5 October according to this.

A replica cannon in honour of the "Orpheus"

While being shown some of Mangere's sights, this was pointed out -- a half-scale replica cannon based  on the guns taken from the HMS Orpheus. It was unveiled 6 February 2007. The following comes from an article provided by the Mangere Historical Society, for New Zealands Legacy, Vol 19 No. 2 2007, p. 23.

6 February 2007 “… was the day a half-sized replica cannon was fired, one based on that which went down with the foundering of the steam corvette HMS Orpheus on the Manukau Bar, 7 February 1863. The replica had been commissioned by a couple living on Kiwi Esplanade, the road around the southern foreshore of Mangere Bridge.

“Local groups from the Bridge and around the Manukau were invited to take part in a parade to mark the occasion. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis, Councillors, Community Board members, other dignitaries and representatives of various local groups were all there as invited guests and were entertained by the Sweet Adelines choir, and the City of Manukau Bands before the Orpheus Sea Scouts raised and unfurled the White Ensign. This was the flag that had been flown by the Orpheus on its journey to New Zealand. The bugler played God Save the Queen and then the public joined the National Anthem.

“Sir Barry Curtis welcomed the Prime Minister and all those gathered there. He spoke of the hazards undertaken by the early settlers and soldiers who travelled out to New Zealand in those days; of treacherous seas and very little in the way of aids to assist the navigators negotiating the dangers of the ever-changing sands of the Harbour Bar.

“The Prime Minister replied and they both uncovered the impressive cannon, mounted on a concrete platform beside the flagpole. The Prime Minister lit the wick and the cannon boomed out over the full tide of the Harbour. It seemed to echo on the water and several people who were taking photos with their digital cameras found they only had sky in their picture, as they had jumped so much as the pyrotechnics took effect.”

Graham Bourquin, the maker of the cannon, is known for his miniatures. But -- how on earth was this replica (non metal) able to fire? Amazing stuff.

St Pauls' memorial tram shelter

The tram shelter in 1922. Reference 1-W1825, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Updated April 2022

This was demolished during my lifetime, but I was too young to remember it, probably. At the point where Wellesley Street intersects with Symonds Street, beside St Pauls Church, there used to be a tram shelter, built by the parish as a war memorial in 1919, completed and opened in 1920.

A handsome stone tramway shelter, erected by the St Paul's Church authorities at Auckland as a war memorial, is rapidly nearing completion.

Poverty Bay Herald 11 March 1920

The Hon. J. G. Coates, Postmaster General, left to-day for Auckland, where he will open to-morrow a war memorial tram shelter erected by the parish of St. Paul's. He will return immediately to Wellington.

Evening Post 27 March 1920

According to Heritage New Zealand, the shelter was demolished in 1971. A real pity.

Auckland Heritage Festival 2011

For the first time, the Heritage Festival started by Auckland City (and the North Shore's own festival which used to run just a little after Auckland's) has now expanded with the Super City to encompass the whole of the region. Over 200 events are advertised. I'm taking part in five of them (and a sixth just outside the period).

The total list of events can be found here. Or, if you're real quick,you can pick up a booklet from your local library (Auckland region).

The events I'm involved with:

Puketapapa Heritage Exhibition and Talk
Date: 17 September
Time: 1.30-2pm
Venue: The Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, 72 Hillsborough Rd, Auckland.
Cost: FREE
Booking required: No
Phone: 09 620 9257 or 0275 471 926

A photographic display of local heritage images will be set up from Monday 12 September in the photography gallery of the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, and an informative talk will be given by local history expert Lisa Truttman on our interesting local history.
(Here, I'm going to try to help give the Mt Roskill crew a hand in getting their new historical society going.)


Anglican Parish of St Judes – Another night with Avondale’s pioneers

Date: 17 September
Time: 7.30-9pm
Venue: George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery, cnr Rosebank Road and Orchard Street, Avondale
Cost: FREE
Booking required: No
Phone: 09 626 5381
A guided tour through Avondale's oldest cemetery, the George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery, with dramatic presentations from some of Avondale's pioneers. 
(I'll be Ann Fletcher Jackson).

Avondale Library: How to be a property detective - talk by Lisa Truttman
Date: 21 September
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Avondale Library, local history section, 93 Rosebank Road, Avondale
Cost: FREE
Booking required: No
Phone: 09 374 1310
How to find heritage information on your property. Lisa is an Avondale and Waterview local historian.
(I gave the same talk at Auckland Central Library on August 10. Apparently, according to the librarians, 38 turned up for that one. I think it went well.)

Avondale Library: Heritage walk conducted by Lisa Truttman
Date: 29 September
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Avondale Library, local history section, 93 Rosebank Road, Avondale
Cost: FREE
Booking required: No
Phone: 09 374 1310
Visit the heritage sites of Avondale.

Pt Chevalier Library: Local history talk
Date: 28 September
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Pt Chevalier Library, Cnr Great North and Pt Chevalier Roads
Cost: FREE
Booking required: No
Phone: 09 374 1322
Rifles and Targets: The Origins of Pt Chevalier.By Lisa Truttman. Editor of Pt Chevalier Times


and ... just outside the AHF period, another Avondale heritage walk on 5 October, same details as above.

So, if anyone wonders why the blog may be a little quieter than usual over the next month or so --- there's my excuse. Not dead -- just a wee touch frantic.

Flight Trainer for Albatross

Flight Trainer for Albatross is one of the best names I've come across for a public artwork. This 2004 sculpture by Greer Twiss  was donated by the Auckland City Sculpture Trust, and unveiled 9 August 2004 on Quay Street, by the harbour. From here:

The sculpture comprises three large albatross being supported in a flight frame and one at ground level. It is constructed of stainless steel and stands six metres high and three metres wide. Auckland-born artist Greer Twiss has designed the artwork to explore the relationship between land, sea and air and between man and nature. It is also a metaphor for the support needed for endangered birds like the albatross. The stainless steel structure will be robust enough for the waterfront environment and has links with the boats and activity in the area.

There are more images here, and more on the Waterfront Sculpture Trail here.