Crown Lynn at Silverdale

Siverdale & Districts Historical Society is a long-time favourite of mine -- so I'm delighted to assist them in promoting their event during the upcoming Auckland Heritage Festival.

"We are taking part in the second week of the Auckland Heritage Festival and the Pioneer Village will be open every day from Saturday 24 September to Sunday 2 October from 10.00a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

"We are putting on a "nostalgic" exhibition of Crown Lynn tableware.  There will also be a few swans and vases.

"We have a huge collection of tableware collected for our big Crown Lynn exhibition of a few years ago when we had other people's collections of animals, vases, a copy of an urn Crown Lynn meant to present to the Queen (but didn't) etc. etc.

"We couldn't manage all that this time - so just "homely" stuff!!"

Aucklandmusings blog

The creator of a new blog on Auckland stuff commented at the Seddon's Memorials post this morning -- so take a look at Auckland Musings, which has kicked off with the change of seasons to spring with great posts on the new Auckland Art Gallery, and -- how the Auckland Town Hall might have looked if the other choices got more votes ...

Seddon's memorials

Portrait of Richard John Seddon, Reference Number: 1/2-005255-F, Alexander Turnbull Library.

New Zealand is in tears today. From Sydney comes the news that. Mr Seddon died yesterday white on his return to New Zealand. It has long been common knowledge that Mr Seddon's health was unsatisfactory. Some years ago, indeed, it created the gravest anxiety among his friends, and it rendered it necessary for him to abandon work for a time. But to a man of his active temperament, rest was always more arduous than labour, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he could be persuaded to lay aside his work. Of late years his health had appeared to be improving, and even the wear and tear of the last general election imposed little apparent strain on it. The mere fact that Mr Seddon appeared to have regained much of his earlier vigour intensified the shock caused by the news of his death. There is not a man, woman or child in New Zealand to whom the news will not bring the bitterest sorrow. Not only has the country lost a leader of unexampled popularity, but the people have been robbed of one who to many was a close and dear friend.

Christchurch Star 11 June 1906

The death of Richard Seddon began the first flurry of memorial-making in the country since Queen Victoria's jubilees, and only surpassed by those linked with the coming of the Great War in 1914, and our later conflicts. The following are just some of the ones around the country -- some still existing, others not.

Here in Auckland, we were quick off the mark.

"UNVEILING THE FIRST MEMORIAL ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MR. SEDDON: SIR JOSEPH WARD UNVEILING THE MEMORIAL LAMP PRESENTED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE AUCKLAND RAILWAY WORKSHOPS TO THE ST HELENS MATERNITY HOSPITAL, JULY 30, 1906." AWNS -19060809-4-1, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries

Employees at Auckland's railway workshops at Newmarket fashioned a simple, ornamented curved lamp, with a brass heart-shaped plate attached, bearing the inscription: “Erected as a tribute of respect to the memory of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., L.L.D., Premier of New Zealand, by the employees of the Newmarket Railway Workshops, June 1906, at St Helen’s Hospital, Auckland, N.Z.”St Helen's was supposed yo have been opened officially in June 1906 (it did open to patients then), but Seddon's death prevented that, as Sir Joseph Ward ordered the hospital to forego the occasion. The unveiling of the lamp, though, in a way made up for the June cancellation.

The memorial lamp was relocated onto the grounds of National Women’s at Greenlane possibly either after St Helens Hospital closed in Pitt Street (1968) or the succeeding Western Springs hospital closed in 1990. It was still there, at the back of the hospital, in 2008.

Pulpit commemorating Richard John Seddon, inside Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Mulgrave St, Wellington, [ca Oct 1958] Reference Number: PAColl-8163-79, Alexander Turnbull Library

Mrs Seddon has intimated her intention of presenting an oak pulpit to St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, in memory of the late Premier. 

 Fielding Star 27 April 1907 

The memorial pulpit presented by Mrs Seddon to St. Paul's pro-Cathedral, Wellington, commemorative of the life of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon was expected to arrive at Wellington yesterday. A service, at which the pulpit will be dedicated, will be held in the pro- Cathedral on June 22nd, which is the birth anniversary of the late Mr Seddon. 

 Ohinemuri Gazette 17 June 1908 

Seddon memorial, Waihi, ca 1910 Reference Number: 1/2-057516-F Memorial to Richard John Seddon with street lamp and drinking fountains, Waihi, circa 1910. A branch of the National Bank of New Zealand is in the background. Photographer unidentified. Alexander Turnbull Library

"Looking along Seddon Street, Waihi showing a memorial drinking fountain and gas street lamp dedicated to the Prime Minister of New Zealand (foreground),", reference 35-R2201, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries

The Waihi Borough Council are thinking of erecting a Seddon Memorial somewhat after the style of the Watt Memorial Fountain, which formerly stood in the Avenue, and was later on shifted to Cook's Gardens. 

 Wanganui Herald 6 July 1907 

The Waihi Memorial, in July 1912, was where a public meeting was held, protesting against compulsory military training.

AWNS-19080102-10-2, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Richard John Seddon memorial, Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington, ca 1933 Reference Number: PAColl-7796-07 Richard John Seddon memorial, Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington, photographed circa 1935 for the Evening Post. Photographer unidentified. The memorial was designed by Government Architect John Campbell.

Alexander Turnbull Library.

The Seddon Memorial column which is being erected over the late Premier's grave in the Bolton Street Cemetery is gradually rising above the bush. When completed and surmounted by a marble figure, life size, the column will be far and away the most prominent object to greet the eye of passengers on the incoming steamers.

Marlborough Express 9 June 1909

A correspondent ("Northlander") writes to "The Post" 'inquiring what was done after Mr. Seddon died in the way of providing a memorial. The position is that a monument was erected over Mr. Seddon's grave in the Bolton Street Cemetery, the cost being defrayed from the Consolidated Fund. A statue of Mr. Seddon was also placed in the Parliamentary Grounds, but the funds for this were contributed by members of the Liberal Party and public. 

Evening Post 20 May 1925 

Sir Thomas Brock's statue of Richard John Seddon in Parliament grounds, Wellington. Reference Number: 1/4-016851-G Sir Thomas Brock's statue of Richard John Seddon in parliament grounds, Wellington. Old government house is in the background. Photograph taken by Leslie Hinge between 1915 and 1942. Alexander Turnbull Library.

"Showing the exterior of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Wellesley Street East and the Teachers Training College (far right) with horse and carts in Wellesley Street," reference 35-R122, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Auckland's largest memorial to Seddon would be the Seddon Memorial Technical College, first suggested as a memorial to the late premier in 1906, completed in 1911, and officially opened in 1913. The building still stands on Wellesley Street -- but is, of course, today part of AUT.

St James' Presbyterian Church (Pukekohe), [ca 1915] Reference Number: 1/2-001335-G View of the St James' Presbyterian Church situated on the corner of Queen and Seddon streets, Pukekohe. In the foreground is the gas lampstand erected in honour of Rt Hon Richard Seddon, Prime Minister. 

Photograph taken by William Archer Price, ca 1915. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Does this memorial still exist in some way at Seddon Park in Pukekohe? If any readers know, I'd love to find out. Might be a while before I head back down that way again.

 "Looking down Symonds Street showing a stereoscopic view of the Seddon Memorial lamp, drinking fountain and shelter, Royal Oak, opened in 1909, at junction of Manukau, Auckland (later the continuation of Manukau) Mt Albert, Campbell, Mt Smart Roads and Symonds Street, with man crossing road (right) person standing in memorial,(centre) dogs on road (left) tramlines (foregound); the architect of the memorial was Mr J Park, Onehunga and it was suggested by the Onehunga Liberal and Labour Association; it was erected at Royal Oak, the boundary of three boroughs, Mount Roskill, Onehunga and One Tree Hill, who all paid towards the cost; with Royal Oak Store (left) advertising Standard Tea." Reference 4-8624, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

The best-known of the stand-alone memorials to isthmus Aucklanders, though, was the one at Royal Oak. The Mt Roskill Road Board were apparently the original instigators, contemplating “the erection of a shelter shed” and sending a deputation to the Onehunga Borough Council on 10 June 1907 requesting their co-operation in providing a combined tram shelter, lighting standard and drinking fountain at the Royal Oak intersection. It was decided to organise a conference of the local bodies who would be involved in such a project, at the boundary of Onehunga, One Tree Hill and Mt Roskill territorial authorities. At that conference, a letter was presented from the Onehunga Liberal and Labour Federation, “suggesting that the shelter should be erected in memory of the late Mr. Seddon, and promising to subscribe a share of the cost if this was done.” The Onehunga Council raised £40, and with others contributing, including a government grant, £630 was raised.

Work began in 1908, and it was unveiled on 7 July 1909. According to the NZ Herald, 8 July 1909:

“The memorial takes the form of a hexagonal shelter, which is constructed of white stone and marble, and is surmounted by five lamps, which provide an excellent light at night time. It has six Gothic archways, two of which are open, thus affording means of access, while the other four are built in with beautiful slabs of grey marble, about 7ft high and 4ft 6in wide.

On the weather side of one of these marble slabs appears the following inscription: -

“In memory of the Right Honourable Richard John Seddon, P.C., L.L.D., the great Premier, friend, statesman, humanitarian, 1845-1906. ‘He loved, he served.’ Erected by the people of the surrounding districts.

“He passed, but his memory is power
Behind him lives the good that none stay
His name remains a beacon light, a tower,
By which all lower lights may guide their way.”

“In the marble slab under the next arch a small aperture has been cut for the purposes of a postal box, which is placed inside, with a writing desk on top. The next slab has been left blank, while on the next appears a dolphin’s mouth, with water running into a marble basin below. Seats are fitted around the interior for the convenience of persons waiting for tramcars, while overhead is an ornamental dome and a lamp.

“The general design, which was executed by Mr. J. Park, architect, is a copy of the lower portion of one of the 13 memorial crosses erected by King Edward I, in memory of Queen Eleanor, the one referred to being still in evidence at Waltham, England.”

Reference 4-8625, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.

Another tablet was fixed to the memorial in 1916, in honour of Sir Maurice O’Rourke who died that year after representing Onehunga in Parliament for 39 years. 

In 1946, the Onehunga Borough Council and Mt Roskill Road Board received notification from the Main Highways Board that changes needed to be made to the Royal Oak intersection. On 12 August that year, the Streets and Works Committee of the Onehunga Borough Council resolved to conduct experiments at the intersection, to see whether traffic islands would be of use there, and whether or not the Seddon Memorial would have to be removed. By 26 August it was determined that the memorial was indeed impeding traffic, but further action was delayed while costs of installing traffic islands was investigated, and enquiries made, at the request of one of the borough’s councillors, that another site be found for the memorial. Mt Roskill Road Board advised Onehunga Borough in November 1946 that they were only prepared to pay toward the cost of removing the memorial and painting white lines. The Onehunga Streets and Works Committee went ahead. 

On 15 September 1947 they approved the final Scheme Plan to install “an island” at the intersection, and to remove the Seddon Memorial. Mt Roskill finally agreed to contribute toward the cost of installing the islands the following month, and by the end of October the Borough Engineer reported that “the monument is partly demolished, and within another week should be completely removed.” He further reported, in February 1948, that all work on the new intersection had been completed. (Sources: Streets and Works Committee minutes, Onehunga Borough Council records, OHB 106/3; Onehunga Borough Council minutes, OHB 100/23; R. D. Baker, Borough Engineer, Report to the Streets and Works Committee, 31 October 1947, p. 2, Auckland Council Archives)

Thus, we lost the memorial forever, in favour of the Royal Oak roundabout.

Postcard. The Right Hon Richard Seddon; his farewell message - "Leaving tonight for God's own country". "Kia ora and Aroha". [ca 1906] Reference Number: Eph-A-PEOPLE-Seddon-1906-01, Alexander Turnbull Library

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.