Rangitoto Jack

Rangitoto by moonlight, c.1910. Ref 35-R50, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries.

My eye was caught the other night by a notice placed in the Auckland Star of 11 February 1878. 

My interest was piqued especially when the matters of the rescue were described by the newspaper. Sinel, with a young man named Alfred Beetson, had headed out on a fishing trip in the harbour, when a squall caught them near Rangitoto Island. On making it ashore, they spent a night in a cave, then, after erecting a signal, discovered they were close to the “solitary abode” of George Jackson, otherwise known as “Rangitoto Jack.” The “lonely fisherman” and his wife took them in and made them comfortable, until Sinel and Beetson were rescued by the Naval Brigade. 

With a name like “Rangitoto Jack”, it seemed that George Jackson had a story behind him. As it turned out, there were apparently two “Rangitoto Jacks”. The first seems to have been one John Beaton, said to have been a crewman on the immigration ship Duchess of Argyle in 1842. 

An old settler whose experience in this province dates as far back as 1842, in rummaging his boxes, came across the following scrap, an interesting reminiscence of the arrival of the pioneer immigrant ship on the shores of this province: "About sunset, on the 4th of October, 1842, our vessel was steadily gliding over the ocean with a careful watch placed, upon her forecastle. An experienced eye would have seen at a glance from the preparations on deck that she was near the end of her journey. She was the pioneer immigrant ship Duchess of Argyle, with nearly 500 souls onboard, commanded by Captain Pait, a thorough gentleman and sailor, he having no chart but those laid down by Captain Cook. It was needful that there should be a sharp look-out, as the Captain had intimated that we were nearing the land, and that possibly we might see it early next morning. We gradually, one after another, retired to dream of those we had parted from, probably, in this world, to meet no more, and our ship followed her path over the waste of water. Early the next morning, a very little before the first dawn of light, there was a cry that roused every one on board, it was "land oh the weather bow." I hurried on deck, it was very dark the captain was standing with only his trowers [sic] and shirt on him, night glass in band, and the seamen were heaving the ship to, but no one could see anything like land, only one man, a sailor, whose name was John Beaton, better known lately as "Rangitoto Jack." He was standing, bent a little forward, pointing over the bulwark, crying, "there it is, don't ye see it." Still the Captain, nor any other one on deck could see anything like land. The Captain looked at John, and said "Beaton, it was the Flying Dutchman you saw." "No, it was not; don't you see it, there -- there it is." Gradually, as if by magic, the darkness passed away, and there rose before us the Three Kings, apparently towering hundreds of feet above over masts, glittering like silver and gold before the rising sun. We had reached the shores of New Zealand." 

Auckland Star 5 October 1875 

That passage is interesting as, by the time that was published, there was a different man known as "Rangitoto Jack" in the newspapers. The first "Rangitoto Jack" does seem to have been John Beaton. In the papers there is also, from the early 1860s, a John Beaton who was a Ponsonby Road bricklayer/brickmaker, well in business then out of business as bankrupt. There's no certainty that the two (or even three!) John Beatons are the same man. In March 1868 though, "Jack Beaton of Rangitoto" reported the theft of “a four-oared boat, sharp at both ends, clinker-built, painted black outside and lead colour inside.” In October 1868, “Rangitoto Jack” Beaton and his “intrepid daughter”, as the Southern Cross described her, both living on Rangitoto, assisted John Johnson after the fishing boat Pet was caught by a sudden storm and partly sank. 

In November 1869, “Rangitoto Jack” was charged with assaulting one Frank Deprasquail on the 23rd of that month. It seems that Deprasquail had taken a shine to Miss Beaton, and had been ardently wooing her. Her father, however, laid down some conditions for the hopeful swain – that he become Roman Catholic, and pay £100 for the privilege. (Isn’t it the bride’s father who usually provides the dowry?) According to Deprasquail: 

“I was following defendant's daughter, intending to marry her but Beaton told me to give it up, and I did give it up. I never asked defendant for his daughter after that but had twice asked for his daughter before. I did not attempt to blacken the character of the daughter after being refused. I told defendant to look out for his daughter, or she would be on the town. I told him this before being refused. I said nothing of her to any one else. The girl did not refuse me. When we parted she said, “You keep your own, and I'll keep my own," and that was all. She followed me, and I followed her.” (Laughter.) 

Southern Cross 30 November 1869 

I'd say telling a man his daughter would become the next thing to a whore would be enough to fuel any temper. Two weeks later, Beaton gave Depasquail a walloping, and was fined 50s. 

In April 1872, Beaton, described as a fisherman, sued Jeremiah Casey over a collision with one of Casey’s boats, the Gemini. But, just before this, one George Jackson appears in the newspapers. He was reported as being a witness to seeing a thief named Charles Foster on Rangitoto. (Southern Cross, 4 February 1871) 

Perhaps, John Beaton left and George Jackson took over, taking over both the sobriquet and the local legends. 

Over the years from that point, "Rangitoto Jack" popped up in reports from time to time, usually in relation to finding dead bodies in or near the Rangitoto waters, and bringing them in to the mortuary. At least the 1878 Sinel-Beetson accident ended fortunately. 

In 1876, "Rangitoto Jack" brought public attention to himself in a different way -- as part of one of the wild goose chases by the police tracking Hara Winiata, accused of an infamous Epsom murder. The following offers a colourful illustration of the "rulers" of the islands in the harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

The police expedition to Rangitoto yesterday affords an illustration of the trouble to which our zealous guardians of the peace are subjected in their search for the Maori murderer by persons coming to them and spinning yarns which are based on commonplace facts, but kindled into startling information by vivid fancy untempered by judgment or intelligence. As our readers are aware the Water-Police started for Rangitoto yesterday soon after 12 o'clock to investigate a rumour brought to town by Captain James of the Pilot service, that Wynyard, the Epsom assassin, had been seen about the island by Mr Jackson, or “Rangitoto Jack" as a well-known man is called who lives with his wife in a little whare near Rangitoto reef. 

The police arrived at Jack's mansion soon after three o'clock, and were hospitably received by the island monarch. Detective Jeffries broached the subject of their mission in his well-known diplomatic style, and did his level best to set before his majesty the advantage which would accrue to himself both in a pecuniary and general sense from giving up the murderer if he had sought shelter in the rocky fastnesses of the island. King Jack made answer that, although no extradition treaty existed between himself, and her Majesty, he should be most happy to give his assistance and command his subjects (consisting of his wife, a dog and two cats) to do the same towards capturing and delivering over to justice the man Hara Winiata, should he or they come across the scoundrel. 

The detective then confronted the monarch with Captain James, and asked his island majesty to repeat the story told to the pilot yesterday. Now arose a wonderful discrepancy. King "Jack" denied most emphatically having told the captain that he had seen the Maori. He had seen a man in a punt, who said he was going to Motutapu for sheep, that was true and he had also told Captain James that he had known a man named Wynyard at Mahurangi some years ago but he had not said he had seen the murderer, nor could he even swear that the man he had seen was a Maori. To this story "Jack" adhered, till her Majesty's ambassadors, finding that the petty sovereign either could or would not furnish them any other information, took their departure after exchanging mutual felicitations. 

Determined to trace the affair to its source, the party pursued their course round the island in the direction the dingy had disappeared, and shortly before six arrived in the narrow channel between Rangitoto and Motutapu. The tide being out they could not pass through, so drawing up their boat and scouring it, they made their way across the island to the residence of the two brother kings of the island, whose name is Reed. Here again every deference was paid to their uniform, and cakes and firewater were set before them of which they partook. When the business was mentioned, the two sovereigns looked at one another, and one closed one of his eyes momentarily, and the other touched his nose with his finger. They then drove a bargain as to what they should receive if they gave all the information they had. This being settled they supplied the following important facts. On the evening of Thursday, a Portuguese man had come to them from the chief of a neighbouring island, whose name was Sandford, to fetch a ram. The man had been sent at day break, so they had learned, from the chief's island, which is called Little Motutapu, and had tried to get into Home Bay, but his boat, the tide being strong and he lazy, had drifted past, and floated into Rangitoto Channel. Now the sun being scorching hot he became sleepy, and had lain down in his boat and gone to sleep forgetful of his mission. When off the reef he was espied and interrogated by the prince of Rangitoto (as our readers have heard.) Subsequently he completed the circuit of the island, being by that time sorry for his laziness, and towards evening arrived through the channel at their palace, when he begged the ram, and obtaining it had departed in peace to his chief's island. Enough, they had spoken. 

And when they had finished, the Queen's delegates looked one upon another, and their lips moved but they spake not aloud for decency sake. So they refreshed themselves with sleep after their search, and returned to Auckland this morning much pleased with their success and Inspector Broham heard their report and his lips moved, but he spake not aloud for decency's sake, and so dismissed them and Captain James departed to the North Shore contemplating the vanity of earthly hopes. 

 Auckland Star 19 February 1876 

For decency's sake -- I'd say the investigators kept their swearing behind closed doors once they got back to base.

But in 1879 -- Auckland lost its "Rangitoto Jack." 

A Man Drowned in the Harbour. 

Yesterday morning at six o'clock the sailors on board the schooner Christina, from the Bay of Islands, noticed a dingy floating near that vessel, when inside of Rangitoto Reef. Seeing that the boat was not occupied, they approached it, and found in it a goat and several loaves of bread. Captain Smith, thinking that an accident had occurred, ordered a constant look-out to be kept until the Christina arrived at the wharf. At 11 o'clock the body was seen floating in the water, further up the channel, and it was immediately taken on board the Christina. 

As the schooner had to wait for the afternoon tide to come up the harbour, Captain Jackson landed at Takupuna, and walked over to Devonport and there by one of the ferry steamers to Auckland. On being informed of the finding of the dead body, Sergeant Martin, of the water-police, had the body brought Auckland in the police boat. The body was recognised to be that of an old man Jackson, who with his wife and family have resided at Rangitoto Island for many years past. It appears that deceased had been at Devonport Saturday right, and had after purchasing some provisions, left to return to his home. As the water was very calm on Saturday night and Sunday morning it is difficult to say how the accident occurred. 

INQUEST 

An inquest was held on the body of deceased George Jackson, this afternoon before Dr Philson. Captain Smith, of the schooner Christina, deposed to finding the body, as described above. William Henry Trevarthen deposed that he last saw deceased alive on Saturday night at 9 o'clock on the Devonport Wharf. 

 Auckland Star 28 April 1879 

The verdict found was that of accidental death.

The scene at Rangitoto when the authorities went to both tell Mrs Jackson that she was now a widow, and to drag her away from her island home, must have been heart wrenching.

Sergeant Martin and several of the police went to Rangitoto last evening to inform Mrs Jackson of the death by drowning of her husband, George Jackson. The police were accompanied by a daughter of the deceased. Mr Trevarthen of Devonport also proceeded by boat to the Island. It was with much difficulty that Mrs Jackson could be induced to leave her old home and come to Auckland. She has two daughters residing in Auckland, with one of whom she will now live. 

 Auckland Star 29 April 1879 

To the Editor Sir,—lt has been suggested that a subscription list should be started, or an entertainment got up for the benefit of the widow of the late George Jackson, who was found drowned in the harbour recently. The case is a very deserving one. Mrs Jackson has no means, and is at present residing with her son-in-law, Mr F. Nicholson, shoemaker, of Wyndhnm-street. Can some of our local amateurs assist in this matter '.—I am, &c, A.B. 

 Auckland Star 7 May 1879 

I don't know what happened to Mrs Jackson after that.

In Papers Past, we find an obituary of sorts to George Jackson, the man who was, at least, the second Rangitoto Jack, most likely coming originally from out of the NZ Herald. It had the wrong details about his family life -- but at least puts something up for posterity in honour of one of the characters of the harbour.

Rangitoto Jack, the old fisherman who is reported to have been found drowned beside his boat in the Rangitoto Channel a day or two ago, was one of those odd characters who are still to be found in secluded spots in many parts of New Zealand. He lived entirely alone in a small hut on Rangitoto, the remarkable insular volcanic cone at the entrance of Auckland Harbour, and was well known to all the boating men who frequent the bays and islands on that part of the coast. There are all sorts of legends about his antecedents, some of which represent his early life as having been decidedly adventurous, and the old man himself was not at all averse to being considered a bit of a desperado. We believe there really was not much harm in him though, and that his most desperate exploit had probably been nothing more thrilling than desertion from some man-of-war. He was a first-mate hand in a boat, and knew exactly where the best fishing was to be had in all the waters anywhere near the Waitemata, and he will no doubt be a good deal missed from the circle in which he was specially known. His solitary death, in the neighbourhood of his humble retreat, was perhaps as suitable an ending to his career as could possibly have occurred. Many a yellow-covered novel has been made out of less promising materials than the incidents of his life and death afford. 

Timaru Herald 30 April 1879 

Rangitoto Island’s 19th century history from 1840 started with it nominally being under Crown control – but in fact being bought and sold actively by Europeans into the early part of that decade. 

The people will recklessly and foolishly spend their money without the sanction of Government on the purchase, or rather re-purchase of lands which are already bought by Government or by private individuals. This is no suppositious statement. It has already happened. We understand that even the barren Island of Rangitoto, although the property of the Government for more than three years, has within the last week been twice bought. 

Southern Cross, 26 October 1844 

Before the appearance of a “Rangitoto Jack” c.1868, stone from the volcanic island was used in works such as the formation of Queen Street Wharf from c.1851, a practice that was to continue into the 20th century. In 1854, the Crown is said to have formally acquired title, but ownership was still under dispute at the Native Land Court before Judge Fenton as at 1867. In 1863, the island was used to quarantine the passengers and crew of the Tyburnia.

… your memorialists regret that the authorities have not been able to procure a better place for the performance of quarantine. The island of Rangitoto is destitute of water, has no sufficient space for exercise, and in the opinion of your memorialists, is otherwise unfit for the purpose for which it has been set apart, more especially in the case of women and children. 

Southern Cross 25 September 1863 

Even with this scarcity of fresh water, there was speculation in 1865 that grapes could be grown on the slopes of the island. Mind you, at that point, those interested in grape growing were willing to try anything. 

The dispute over ownership of the island may have been how “Rangitoto Jack” first came into the picture in 1868 – as a squatter, with no one particularly interested in moving him on. Even so, reports on excursions to the island in December 1869 and January 1870 do not include any descriptions of habitations thereon. (Auckland Star, 28 December 1869; 28 January 1870) The Auckland Harbour Board was granted management over Rangitoto from October 1872, which made sense, as the Board were in the process of the vast reclamations which reshaped Auckland’s southern foreshore to the Waitemata. Stone from Rangitoto formed part of the great seawalls built up. 

The wife of another fisherman based at Rangitoto, or so she said, one Mary Carmichael, alias Mary Cameron, was up before the courts for drunkenness in 1877. 

Sub-Inspector Pardy to prisoner: Have you been drunk three times lately? Prisoner: Oh, yes as drunk as a lord. I am the wife of a fisherman at Rangitoto. Reached this colony in 1842 and when I come to Auckland I must have a drop, you know can't help it. 

Auckland Star 31 August 1877 

By 1890, Rangitoto came under control of the Devonport Borough Council, forming a Domain Board. Ahead was the rest of the story: quarrying, wrecks, heritage baches, and Auckland's pride in a unique landmark on the waters.

Street Stories 20: the Ladies Mile

(left) Robert Graham, from the Observer, 21 January 1882

From 1848 through the 1850s, Robert Graham bought up a patchwork of landholdings, and created a farm called Ellerslie (approximately named after a boyhood home back in the old country). At the beginning, he intended for the massive farm to simply be a sheep run, but on returning from a trip to California in 1853, he decided to turn it into a true farm, built  a farmhouse at the top near Remuera Road, and set aside an area at the bottom for a racecourse by 1855. The Auckland Racing Club held their first meeting on Graham's land two years later.

In the early 1870s, he decided to create Ellerslie Gardens, in conjunction with an Ellerslie Hotel, and the coming of the railway from Newmarket through to Onehunga. The main reason for the gardens, with its orchards, and sports fields, and nice drives on which the ladies could stroll past the menagerie -- was to sell land. The Ellerslie Gardens was a grand advertisement in Victorian style.

So -- what of the Ladies Mile?

There are two main theories abroad in local history texts as to the origins of the Ladies Mile, the road stemming from off Remuera Road, heading down towards Ellerslie, veering at Peach Parade to skirt around the Ellerslie Racecourse, before heading straight through to link up with the Main Highway which heads towards Panmure.

The main theory, the one I most often see popping up its head, is the one Jenny Carlyon and Diana Morrow used on page 50 on their book, A fine prospect: A History of Remuera, Meadowbank and St John (2011) -- that the Ladies Mile was formed  as as a track to connect the properties of  David and Robert Graham. David Graham's house was "The Tower", on Remuera Road; Robert Graham's house, the farmhouse later grander mansion called Ellerslie House, is on Mainston Road, just off Remuera Road. Developing the Ladies Mile as a connection would have been pointless -- both brothers had Remuera Road frontage, and the slight line of Ladies Mile from Remuera Road perhaps leading to Ellerslie House can hardly be called a "mile". The name Ladies Mile, for a connecting road like that, had it truly existed, would make little sense. Carlyon and Morrow simply repeated the tale of the brothers' connection -- and looked no further into the logic of it.

Theory number two appears on the Wikipedia page for Ellerslie:

Adjacent to his home, 'Ellerslie House', was a track along which Mrs Graham was in the habit of riding her horse every morning, now a street called Ladies Mile.

Has anyone ever asked why Mrs Graham would ride her horse from Ellerslie House down a track towards a racecourse every morning? Was she hoping, perhaps, to be New Zealand's first woman jockey? Robert Graham ceased living on his land around 1868, pursuing a career in politics, and land deals at Waiwera and Rotorua. The racecourse was just about the only thing Mrs Graham would have been riding towards. Again, this theory, while as picturesque as the other one, just doesn't appear to make sense -- and is an attempt, on the face of it, to try to explain the "Ladies Mile" name.

What was a "Ladies Mile" in late Victorian times? I think, primarily, the "Ladies Mile" most at the time would think of was that at Hyde Park, in London. The following from W.S.Gilbert, London Characters and the Humorous Side of London Life, c.1870, via Victorian London.

But we now enter the great Hyde Park itself, assuredly the most brilliant spectacle of the kind which the world can show... the splendid mounts and the splendid comparisons, between fine carriages and fine horses---fine carriages where perhaps the cattle are lean and poor, or fine horses where the carriages are old and worn; the carriages and horses absolutely gorgeous, but with too great a display; and, again, where the perfection is absolute, but with as much quietude as possible, the style that chiefly invites admiration by the apparent desire to elude it. In St. James's Park you may lounge and be listless if you like; but in Hyde Park, though you may lounge, you must still be alert ... I sometimes think that the Ladies' Mile is a veritable female Tattersall's, where feminine charms are on view and the price may be appraised---the infinite gambols and curvettings of high-spirited maidenhood. But I declare on my conscience that I believe the Girl of the Period has a heart, and that the Girl of the Period is not so much to blame as her mamma or her chaperone.

In late 1874, as Graham's Ellerslie Gardens began to take shape, details of the layout appeared in the press, including the first description of the as-then unnamed road.

We should advise all who wish to build a suburban residence, or who wish to speculate for the rise in land, to go out and take a look at these allotments. The plan of the township shows great taste in the arrangement of the streets, crescents, and thoroughfares. One broad roadway a chain wide strikes off from the station past the Gardens, and is carried right across to the Remuera road, affording a series of beautiful frontages.

Auckland Star 7 November 1874 

So, the Ladies Mile dates from late 1874, at least on paper.  The road "striking off from the (Ellerslie) train station" was Bella Street, now part of the line of Ladies Mile. Even on an 1885 plan for the gardens and the subdivision, Bella Street still went by that name.

 NZ Map 4537, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Library

But then, by 1878, came speculation in the Auckland Star, and the first instance of the name "Ladies Mile":

ELLERSLIE CARRIAGE DRIVE.

It was stated some time ago that Mr Robert Graham was about to lay out a road at the back of the Ellerslie Hotel, leading through a portion of his estate at Remuera, so as to form a splendid carriage drive. We understand, however, that he has now so planned the carriage drive as to run right through the Ellerslie Gardens to the grand-stand on the race-course, opening up the Onehunga road via the Harp of Erin, and running through the race-course and gardens. This road, when completed, will be a great convenience to sportsmen and, forming a picturesque and easy drive, will probably be much used in fine weather. It has been proposed to call it “The Ladies' Mile." The alteration will also render many valuable building sites available, which will doubtless be in demand. Altogether the proposal is one that reflects much credit on Mr. Graham's forethought and enterprise. 

Auckland Star 16 November 1878

Detail from NZ Map 4537. Note the diagonal drive through the original layout of drives and paths of the gardens, before the overlay of later streets as part of the subdivision -- something which may have reminded the Auckland Star in 1878 of the "Ladies Mile" through Hyde Park in London.

It would seem that Robert Graham didn't take too kindly to the use name "Ladies Mile" for his Ellerslie Carriage Drive at all. His response came a few days later.

Mr Robert Graham writes as follows on the subject of the proposed Ladies' Mile at Ellerslie. 

"Sir, —In announcing my intention, in your issue of Saturday last, of laying out a public carriage drive through Ellerslie, you were not quite correct in describing the course “The Ladies' Mile," as you facetiously style it, will take. From Onehunga, passing the Harp of Erin, the carriage drive will be formed straight down to near the grand-stand; thence through the Ellerslie Gardens to near the artesian well, taking the rise of the hill behind Ellerslie Hotel.—ROBT. GRAHAM." 

 Auckland Star 21 November 1878

The name stuck, however. James Baber, engineer for the Remuera Road Board, advertised tenders for "forming part of the Ladies Mile Road, in the Remuera District", in December 1882. Bella Street at the Ellerslie end would have become known as part of Ladies Mile by early in the 20th century at the latest.

Ladies Mile: a road with picturesque myths around its origins and its naming, or a road so-named possibly because of an unknown journalist's comparison between it and a place in a famous London park where the ladies put themselves on display (in the nicest of ways, of course). I'll leave it for the reader to decide.

Lost Property, and Newton's Stories

Another site I came across recently -- Lost Property.

‘Lost Property’ is a rediscovery of unique houses, stories and pieces of history – a site for researchers, students and anyone who wants to know about lost and ‘at risk’ iconic houses, people, paintings and stories from our recent past. Combining historical imagery and in-depth research, ‘Lost Property’ connects the art and the writer to the room in the house in that it was conceived ! (Enter) the kitchens, bedrooms and hallways in which history and a new era was given voice.

I came across it while doing some research into architects and their work -- and found it fascinating. Here you'll see a list of the country's architects, and other lists still in development. As I usually say when I post about other sites I've spotted -- worth a look.

Another site of interest in Newton's Stories. No, not about Sir Isaac -- this, in a few pages, gives the reader a snapshot brief history of the suburb of Newton, the place of Karangahape Road, and a residential area mostly gone to the motorway development of the late 20th century. The site includes research links of interest, to lead the reader off on their own trail of discovery. Simple, well-illustrated, and nicely done.

The Hocken Blog

I've made a reference to The Hocken Blog before now, when posting about a rather musically inspired mural at Pt Chevalier -- but I think the blog deserves a post all its own. Worth having a browse through -- and it's a reminder to me that, someday, I must go down there. Probably for several days ...

Remains of the Auckland Meat Company

Another contribution from Paul Hafner (sent in late November -- thanks, Paul!): his photo of the AMC sign still clearly marked out in tiles, Devonport.

"I know that you like relics of signage. The other day (evening, rather) when I was in Devonport, I noticed these tiles at a shop now called Abigails (corner Rattray and Victoria Roads). I think there were quite a few of these shops at some stage, but not many of the tiled logos left, I guess."

The shop looks like something from around the 1920s. It looks like the shop's butcher's block made its way to the Devonport Museum.

So -- what of the Auckland Meat Company?

As happens with NZ firms, there was more than one by the name, but the first AMC didn't last all that long. From a works on Lorne Street in 1881, operated by Wilson and Mettam (Auckland Star, 12 February 1881), it expanded under new ownership to start a freezing works down at Waitara, near Patea in 1886. Then, apparently, reinventing itself as the NZ Frozen Meat Company, it hit the financial reefs known as the Long Depression and faded out.

Cue the rise of the second, and longer lasting AMC, from 1906.

Observer 22 September 1906

The core of the new Auckland Meat Company appears to have been Jabez William James Marks. Marks arrived in New Zealand in 1878, first working as a partner with John Rod and Henry Saint in a meat company in Wellington. By the following year, however, the partners were being called into meetings with their creditors. (Evening Post 29 August 1879) By 1881, he was working from Adelaide Road in Wellington. The following year, he was in Auckland working for Enoch Wood, a butcher in Symonds Street, then taking over the business.

According to the reminiscences of one of his sons, Marks was in business in Mt Eden by 1902 at the corner of Stokes and Mt Eden Roads. He expanded his business on moving to Dominion Road, establishing several butcher’s shops by 1906. By October 1906, he had joined two partners to form the Auckland Meat Company. These were Oliver Nicholson, the last Mt Eden Road Board chairman (1905-1906) and the first Mayor of Mt Eden Borough (1906-1918), and president of the Auckland Racing Club for 12 years; and Murdoch McLean, businessman and local politician (Mayor of Mt Albert by 1914).

The stalwart figure of Murdoch McLean will no longer be known among men, and those who knew him best will regret his passing the most keenly. He was one of the best examples New Zealand had of executive ability in large affairs, and the works of his father, the late John McLean, his brother Neil, and himself will long remain to remind us of this great ability. Of his 62 years, of life, 57 were spent in New Zealand, John McLean having brought his family from Nova Scotia in 1860. He retained all his life a pleasant suggestion of the accent of his forefathers. Mr. McLean was remarkable not so many years ago for his great bodily strength and his untiring addiction to work. He had tried even during the last year to carry out the public duties he set himself to do, and was a frequent visitor to Masonic Lodges as a Deputy Grand Master. In this connection he made a point of appealing most strongly on behalf of benevolent and patriotic activities of the Order, and was a highly successful appellant to the charity of those who heard him. His public life was marked by that executive ability which distinguished his business career, and as Mayor of Mount Albert —an office he relinquished when his health began to fail—he gave the borough the experience he had gained in thirty years' intimate acquaintance of Mount Albert matters and its local politics. The late Mr. McLean had many sorrows which he outwardly bore with great fortitude. One son was killed by accident during the McLean Bros preliminary work in the Otira tunnel, and two sons have been killed in action during the present great war. A third soldier son is still fighting in France. The deceased gentleman is survived by his widow, two sons, and three daughters. On Friday last the interment took place at Waikumete Cemetery, Mr Oliver Nicholson, Grand Master of the New Zealand Freemasons, conducting the ceremony. There was a very large gathering of friends and relatives. 

 Observer 22 December 1917

Marks himself was foundation president of the Auckland Master Butcher’s Association from 1906, remaining in that position for some years. Marks started as one of two Managing Directors of the Auckland Meat Company until 1912, when he became Chairman of Directors until his death in 1938. Was the decision in 1912 the result of his appearance in court in June of that year as co-respondent to a rather salacious and messy divorce hearing, with the jury finding he did indeed dally with one Annie Jane Adamson? (Lots more detail in true NZ Truth style in the issues of 8 and 15 June for that year).

The Auckland Meat Company was always the number two chain store operation to that of the Hellaby family. At the time of a 1919 strike of butchers, Hellaby's had 75% of the market. Nevertheless, the AMC proceeded and flourished during the 20th century, up until the 1980s. Some highlights included:

1920 – R S Briggs, butcher at Parnell Road AMC shop (AMC had taken over his business. He was once Mayor of Parnell borough) gassed himself in the back of his shop. (Poverty Bay Herald, 8 December 1920)

1969 – Manager of Ponsonby branch still carrying out daily deliveries by bicycle. (Auckland Scarpbook, Library database)

1974 – Opened first butcher shop in Henderson, at Henderson Square. (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

c. 1982 Auckland Meat Company proposal to subdivide holding paddocks land at Hamlin’s Hill opposed by NZHPT – former Maori pa site (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

1985-1986 – Last remaining butcher shop in Queen St to go. (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

1987 – Pacific Business Centre to be built on former holding paddocks owned by AMC in Mt Wellington.(Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

There are some remains of the company around. The shop front Paul photographed in Devonport is one -- and then there's the Auckland Meat Company building on Dominion Road, now (thankfully) sans billboards and polka dots.

 

Treasures of the Auckland Town Hall

Photos taken from when I was part of a group guided around the Auckland Town Hall, 15 December. See also my previous post on the Town Hall's centenary.

Plaques extolling the work of former city councillors are everywhere in the vestibule areas of the Town Hall. If your name ends up in bronze or marble -- and it isn't in a cemetery -- you've made it in the world.

But this one is special: in honour of Lieutenant-Commander William Edward Sanders, VC, DSO. I've come across him before when looking at the Takapuna War Memorial.

Kate Sheppard is here as well. Roderic Burgess' bronze from 2009, donated by Parisian Neckwear Co Ltd "in recognition of the contribution of women in society, and in particular those who have worked in the company since 1919."

In the South Lightwell area, a rather large irregular-shaped piece of kauri.  It looks somewhat like an oversized woodwork off-cut. This was donated to the city by retired cabinetmaker George F Saunders at Arbor Day, July 1950. Saunders, after working for Garlick & Cranwell since 1886, struck out on his own in May 1898 (Auckland Star, May 16 1898) as a "practical cabinetmaker", as well as a joiner and an undertaker. By 1900, business must have been good, as he advertised for other cabinetmakers to work with him, and a french polisher. His house (he only rented it) in Portland Road Remuera burned down in 1901. But, he remained in business through at least to the 1930s-1940s, living by that time in Lincoln Street, Ponsonby.

The provenance for the kauri board is given as having been originally part of a large tree in the Kaureranga Forest near Thames, floated to Auckland by the tug Lyttelton in 1915 to be cut up by the Kauri Timber Company. "The tree from which it came", according to the Herald on 4 August 1950, "measured 50ft to the first branch and towered another 45 ft above that. It was reputed to be more than 3000 years old."

Of course, with 21st century hindsight, the word "vandals" comes to mind, but -- such was the way of the timber trade back then. See something big and old, cut it down ...

Saunders may have purchased the timber direct from the company -- and probably used a fair bit in the course of his trade. There may even be the remains of coffins at Waikumete Cemetery made from the wood of that same tree. This remaining piece measured 13ft 10 inches long by 7ft 4 3/4 inches wide when donated. Initially, Council considered incorporating the board in the vestibule of the Pioneer Women's Hall, Freyberg Place. But, as with other items offered to the Council, such as stone sculptures from off old Post Offices, this was stored "for the time being" at the Town Hall. Probably due to its dimensions, it never left.

One thing about the wording on the board: "The polishing of the board was the gratuitous work of the Auckland Disabled Servicemens Re-establishment League." Now, reports at the time described the League's work as "generous" rather than "gratuitous". Sign of a changing slant to the meaning of our words, that "gratuitous" these days is seen as more "unjustified, uncalled-for", than freely given.

Just as an aside, here's the story about the tug Lyttelton according to the NZ Maritime Index:

"Paddle tug built for Lyttelton Harbour Board. She made her way out to New Zealand under sail rigged as a brig, arriving at Lyttelton 21 Nov 1878. Whilst in service she was involved in several notable salvage feats. 1901 reboilered. Sep 1907 sold to Devonport Steam Ferry Company. 1912 sold to Kauri Timber Company and was active between Whangaroa and Coromandel ports towing rafts of kauri logs. 1941 laid up inside the Western Viaduct. 1945 superstructure destroyed in fire. 5 Oct 1955 towed north and run ashore at Lagoon Bay, Takatu Peninsula, for use as a shingle hopper. When shingle trade ceased mid-1970s the hull was left to become slowly buried in the shingle drifts."

Images of her can be found here.

This is now historic, displayed in the old Council Chambers. The Super City came into effect in 2010 just before the last space could be filled. Has a new board been started for the Mayor of Auckland Council?

I didn't quite catch the name of the room during the tour, but Rendell McIntosh of Parnell Heritage advised that this, the chandelier remnant of Sir John Logan Campbell's Kilbryde house, now resides in the Ngati Whatua Room, part of the municipal offices section of the Town Hall.

The thought that went through my mind on seeing this was -- it is also one of the last remnants of one of the temporary hospitals used during the 1918 'flu epidemic here in Auckland, with Kilbryde, then owned by the Council, called into service.

Next year is the centenary of Sir JLC's death -- mark the calendars, folks.

Sir John Logan Campbell's funeral cortege. Auckland Weekly News, 4 July 1912, ref. AWNS-19120704-7-3, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries.

Finally, on display in the front section of the Town Hall, by the reception area to the meeting rooms, there is a small collection of artifacts from the history of territorial authority in Auckland. Here are some of them.

Above, a silver jug to commemorate the last year of the Auckland Harbour Board before amalgamation in 1989 as Ports of Auckland.

Petrified wood, estimated to be 40,000 years old, from a puriri tree, found during the formation of the Balmoral to St Lukes regional road in 1971.

Crown Lynn crockery for the Auckland Regional Authority.

The switch used to turn on electric current for Birkenhead, 1926.

The most intriguing of all: "Trowel used by Governor Hobson when he laid the foundation stone of old St Paul's Church, Britomart Point, in 1841. Presented to the city of Auckland by Geo. S Graham on behalf of the builder, William Greenwood."

Old St Pauls Church, ref 1-W471, Sir George Grey Special Collections

The trowel, so the Auckland Star reported on 11 June 1894, appears to have been kept by William Greenwood until returned to the St Paul's Trustees by that year, when it was used to lay the foundation stone for the second St Paul's church, on Symonds Street. Then, two and a half years later in February 1897, George S Graham presented the trowel to the Auckland Art Gallery, at the request of William Greenwood, who had recently died. If Greenwood did manage to keep the small trowel in such condition for over 50 years, before passing it along -- he did very well indeed.

Another very old settler of the Auckland district passed away at his home at Epsom this morning between one and two o'clock, in the person of Mr Wm. Greenwood, one of our most respected residents. He had been ailing for the past four days from an attack of bronchitis, and had been carefully attended by Dr. Lewis and Knight, but without avail. For some years, he was in partnership with the late Mr Charles Lawson in the stone masonry trade, but for many years past he had lived in retirement at his home at Epsom. He was about 89 years of age, and had been a resident of Auckland for over forty years. An interesting fact in connection with the deceased, as illustrative of the fruits of early settlement in some, if not many, cases, is that over 30 years ago Mr Greenwood became the owner of that block of buildings between the Thistle and Albert Hotels in Queen-street opposite the Auckland Savings Bank, and about six months ago sold the property to Messrs Ehrenfried Bros, for £14,000. 

 Auckland Star 30 September 1895

Thanks in part no doubt to such shrewd dealings, Greenwood's estate was valued at £20,000.

Street Stories 19: Lincoln, Norfolk, Kent and York in Ponsonby

A sequel in a way to Street Stories 18, about Henderson's Lincoln Road.

A reader this morning drew my attention to John Davenport's book on Auckland street names (and, when I checked, the library's street's database as well) which suggests that Lincoln Street in Ponsonby was named (or probably named) after the Earl of Lincoln (pictured, from Wikipedia) who was, for a time, Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1859-1864. Which was around the time Allotment 31, Section 8, Suburbs of Auckland was first being subdivided and the roads mapped (1862-1863) -- see plan Deed Blue V, and deeds index 2A.987. The two businessmen behind the subdivision were named Whitaker and Wood. Short of a trip to Archives New Zealand to hunt up the actual deeds themselves, my money would be on the wager that these two were Frederick Whitaker, and Michael Wood (another chap born in Lincolnshire).

The original streets on that subdivision (just beside Richmond Road, off Ponsonby Road) were Lincoln, Norfolk, Kent and York (York losing out to Mira Street in 1883 when the Auckland City Council changed names around). Considering that the subdivision had two street names which are also names of important provincial centres in England, and two which are also counties, I'd say it was more likely that Wood and Whitaker went geographic rather than biographical in their choice.

A bit of an odd thing -- on the old subdivision plan mentioned, Deed Blue V, Kent street appears to have originally been called York Street. Mira seems to have been a bit of an afterthought, but was eventually called York (until the 1883 change of course). I suppose as Kent and York were both small connecting streets between Lincoln and Norfolk, they were swapped around a bit.

Street Stories 18: Why Lincoln Road?

 Detail from DP 670, originally dated 1888, LINZ records (crown copyright)

The question, "Why Lincoln Road?" came up when a reader of the Avondale Historical Journal contacted me recently asking about the origins of the name. What we now know as Lincoln Road, the long drive from Henderson township up towards either the North-Western motorway, SH16, or the turnoffs towards Massey and Ranui, is an old road. Older than its name actually. It existed from 1866 at least, when Thomas Henderson sold a farm at the end of the area to a man named Shortt, and the road served as a right-of-way connecting Shortt's farm to the Great North Road if required. It wasn't named Shortt's Road, however.

Nor was it named Duncan's road, after that buyer along the frontage in 1878. Nor Hudson's Road, after another major landowner there.

Instead, by 1889, it was called Lincoln Road, the first documented use of the name appearing that year.

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL. 

An amount of business was transacted yesterday at the meeting of the above body, after we went to press. Lincoln Road.—A petition was read from residents and property holders abutting on Lincoln Road, praying that it should be formed and metalled. It was decided to form the road next summer.

Auckland Star 7 September 1889

The accepted answer as to the origin of the name Lincoln Road is because one Robert Cranwell, one of three members of a syndicate selling the Pomaria Estate (the entirety of the western side of Lincoln Road, plus 173 acres or so along the eastern side) from 1888, came from Grantham, Lincolnshire. That does seem as good an answer as any, considering that I have yet to find any instances of the use of the name for that road prior to 1888. But even that raises questions for me -- why Lincoln? Why not "Pomaria Road"? Well, that option went to one of the side roads in the 1888 estate subdivision (above). Other roads in the subdivision are Rathgar Road (a suburb of Dublin, in Ireland; first reference found online 1916), Larnoch Road, and Woodside Road, named (according to Auckland Library's online list) by the Waitemata County in 1928.

Probably, the three partners behind the Pomaria Estate, especially Cranwell, were able to campaign better than previous landowners to the Waitemata County Council to have the right-of-way recognised as a true road to be formed, and so their choice of Lincoln for a name stuck.

The Pomaria Estate's total area of 898 acres was sold by Thomas Henderson in 1878 to a Mr Mendelsohn (DI 16A.386). This may have been a Temuka storekeeper, one T Mendelsohn -- because by 1885, he had sold the land to three more South Island, more precisely Canterbury, businessmen: Frederic Le Cren (1835-1902), solicitor Arthur Ormsby of Canterbury, and Isaac Lewis Morris of Pleasant Point (NA 41/164). The point of the dealings was undoubtedly for investment. After all -- Henderson received a connection with Auckland by rail in the early 1880s, and it was considered that there might either be a rush of settlers wanting land, or the government itself might come knocking on the doors of major property owners, seeking land for special settlements.

But, the three South Island businessmen sold to three Auckland businessmen in 1888: 

Robert Cranwell, an upholsterer who had his own firm (Cranwell & Co) until 1876, joined Holloway & Garlick that year as manager of their furniture department (Auckland Star, 18 October 1876), and had his name join the others heading the business by 1877. Edwin Holloway left the partnership in September 1879, leaving Jonathan Tonson Garlick and Robert Cranwell to carry on. Robert Cranwell finally dissolved partnership with Garlick in August 1892. According to an obituary for his granddaughter Lucy May Cranwell Smith, Robert Cranwell's son Benjamin (Lucy's father) was the one skilled in orchard cultivation -- but he was born in 1878, a bit young to take part in the earliest years of what some newspapers at the time called the experiment at Pomaria.

For a time, Robert Cranwell became a farmer, and retired in 1893 to his considerable land holdings at Henderson, in the name of his wife Eliza (who had also taken over in September that year, in her name, the mortgage owed by the North Island syndicate to the South Island syndicate.) The Cranwells still retained property in Parnell, however. (Auckland Star, 7 August 1894)

One of the greatest features in Henderson is, of course, the Pomaria estate. It has an excellent position, being tapped by road, railway and navigable water. The owners of this estate, besides planting large orchards on their own account, have sold a good many sections to smaller settlers. The sections run from eight acres upwards. Several of them have water frontages to an arm of the Waitemata Harbour. Mr R. Cranwell occupies a large portion of the Pomaria estate. He has recently erected a very handsome house on his property and has settled there with his family. A Canterbury man tells me that he saw on Mr Cranwell's estate a crop of oats which would more than satisfy a farmer on the richest lands of the premier grain province and I learn from another source that the crop is not so good as one grown on the same ground last year.

 Auckland Star 7 December 1893

He was involved with the local school committee.

By 1900, son Benjamin  operated his own "Delta Nurseries" at Henderson , growing "flowering and ornamental trees, plants and shrubs, including nearly every known and rare varieties". (Auckland Star, 21 July 1900) His father appears to have been involved with growing wattle trees, calling for bark strippers, "3 acres stripped per ton", in the same year. (Auckland Star, 28 September 1900) He died in Parnell in 1916.

A highly esteemed citizen, Mr Robert Cranwell, lately died at Parnell, on. Monday, at the advanced age of 81. He arrived in Auckland on the vessel Matilda Wattenbach over fifty years ago, as a member of a Nonconformist party, formed to settle at Port Albert, on the Kaipara Harbour. Mr Cranwell's. family brought with them a spring cart— the first imported into Auckland— in which they had planned to drive to Port Albert. However, they found that the state of the roads necessitated travelling by bullock waggon, which took six weeks to cover the distance from Auckland to the destination of the party. After farming at Port Albert for some time, Mr Cranwell returned to Auckland, where he entered the furnishing trade, in which he was engaged for some twenty years, first as the head of Cranwell and Company, and later as a working partner in the firm of Garlick and Cranwell. He afterwards took an interest in fruit-growing, and, with two others, established the Pomaria Estate at Henderson, which was one of the pioneer farms of the local fruit trade. Mr Cranwell was for some time a member of the Mount Eden Borough Council, and further evidence of his public spirit was his donation of a library to the people of Henderson. Deceased is survived by three sons and two daughters— Messrs A. H. Cranwell, B. F. Cranwell, and R. B. Cranwell, Mesdames H. West and T. Colebrook—besides grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 

Observer 16 September 1916

George Harden was an engineer by profession. If this marriage notice involves him:

HARDEN - HASELDEN
On Tuesday 15th September 1863 at St Mary's, Parnell, by Rev T Chapman, MA,
George, only son of the late George Harden Esq of Hunston near Dublin, to
Mary Sabin, second daughter of Mr Haselden of Arai, late of London.

New Zealander 16 September 1863, via Rootsweb

then this might explain the inclusion of "Rathgar" among the Pomaria Estate street names. By 1880, he was Patea County Council Engineer. Not much else is certain, at this time, about his life and career, and how he came to be involved with Cranwell and Bell.

Thomas Bell was manager of the Union Oil, Soap and Candle Company, at Bell Road in Otahuhu from at least 1882. The company was still in existence well into the 20th century. Could Bell have had Scottish connections, hence the Larnoch name? That isn't at all certain at this stage. But there's one thing -- neither Bell nor Harden were fellow Albertlanders like Cranwell. That's another West Auckland myth taking a bit of hold in the retelling of the Cranwell story regarding Pomaria, helped by some misinterpretation by those writing obituaries for Lucy Cranwell Smith.

 

What of the Pomaria Estate itself? Named after a noted orchard district in Ancient Rome, it appears to have been part of a movement at the time, financed by local businessmen, to set up orchard growing in districts where other types of agricultural  appeared to be struggling.

Of late increased attention has been paid by the townspeople to the necessity of fostering country industries, as it is recognised that commercial prosperity is largely contingent upon having the land opened up, and settled thereon a thrifty and industrious population … 

Perhaps the most novel feature is the forming of associations of city tradespeople for the purchase of land exclusively for fruit growing and fruit preserving. It is believed with the experience now gained, and the improved appliances for fruit preserving, that this may become one of the most thriving industries of the province. One such block has thus been taken up by city tradesmen, some 15 miles from Auckland, on the Kaipara railway line, containing 1000 acres, and named Pomaria. Active steps are being taken for fencing and planting with fruit trees. In the event of the experiment proving successful, private parties adjacent and the Government intend to open up some thousands of acres for fruit culture on somewhat similar lines. The founders of Pomaria are going upon the lines recommended by Mr Alderton and by Mr Federli. They are looking less to benefitting themselves as a commercial speculation than in initiating for the benefit of' the province a new and more excellent way of dealing with our northern lands, not specially suited for agriculture. The experiment is being watched with great interest by the small orchardists and horticulturists generally. 

Otago Daily Times 27 September 1888

Was the estate a real success? Probably not initially. As with other land developments during the period from 1885-1895, it was a bad time to try to sell land and pay off mortgage debt, during the country's Long Depression.  The title (NA 41/164) shows that from March 1889 to December 1893, only 6 of the total of 40 lots were sold. At that point, the three partners divided up shares in the remainder, or sold broad chunks outright to the Cranwell family, via Robert's wife, Eliza. It would appear that Cranwell ended up taking on most of the financial burden for the estate from 1893. Fortunately, he must have both done exceedingly well in the furnishing trade, and was able to hold on just long enough for true settlement in the Henderson area to take effect from the latter part of the 1890s -- and the coming of the vineyards for which Lincoln Road was to become famous last century. He subdivided the eastern wedge of 170 or so acres in June 1894, keeping part as his property, transferring others to family members, and selling the rest.

The Sanitarium Building, Queen Street

Paul Hafner sent these images of his to me for the blog's "relics collection", back on December 8, saying that many years ago, he'd often walk past this building on his way to work, "Always a healthy selection of nuts and stuff... I have no idea when they ceased their retail operations."

Picking this out of my "received and must do something about it when I have the chance" inbox today, I started looking at when Sanitarium became associated with the building. A late-20th century facade, this. The NZ Card Index database from Auckland Library says that in 1962, the company (already a presence on Queen Street from at least 1927 -- see photo ref 4-1688 on Heritage Images) moved into a permanent site at 110 Queen Street, which is the address still for this building: 108-110 Queen Street.

But -- how long was it before all that was left of Sanitarium's interest here was the lettering with one letter askew, and the "SHF" monogram in the centre?

Well, it seems that the Australasian Conference Association Limited, the property and rights-holding arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the South Pacific (the owners, of course, of Sanitarium Health Foods) owned the Vulcan Lane corner site next to the building (right of Paul's photos) down to 1999, when the site became the property of Norfolk Trustee Company).  So possibly, although there's no sign of them mentioned on the title for the Sanitarium Building itself until 1992, when a number of titles for property at the corner were amalgamated, the health food shop lasted into the 1990s.

But is that the end of the building's story? Uh, no, it isn't ...

The links between the certificates of title and the Deeds Indexes had come adrift over the years. The prior reference given for the combined title in 1992, for example, was a deeds index page which terminated in 1875. Before I made myself dizzy looking through the list of subsidiary references, this allotment having been carved up into small shop sites from Queen Street to High Street even into the 1840s -- I headed to subdivision plans. 

And it was then that I realised that there was much more to the storey of this building Paul photographed than it's use as a base by Sanitarium.

This is a detail from the 1914 plan, DP 9347 (crown copyright, LINZ records). 110 Queen Street back then was owned by a Mr Fernyhough, and occupied (on lease) by the Ivil Brothers, who were hairdressers ... and G Aickin. Which was a name which screeched things to a halt because I know that name well. This was Graves Aickin, Auckland chemist, and nephew to Dr Thomas Aickin of Avondale. When Graves Aickin arrived in Auckland in 1863, he worked for around 18 months on his uncle’s Rosebank farm, before opening up a chemist shop in Karangahape Road in 1865. He’d studied his profession originally in Belfast under his uncle.

Quoting from the Cyclopedia of New Zealand (1902 - Auckland Volume):

He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and educated at the Rev. J. K. Anderson's seminary, Belfast, and he studied his profession under his uncle, Dr. Aickin, of that city. In 1862 Mr. Aickin went to San Francisco, and came to Auckland in September, 1863. After his arrival in New Zealand Mr. Aickin started farming, and was for about eighteen months engaged in that business with his cousin, Dr. Thomas Aickin, of Avondale. Not being satisfied with his prospect as a farmer, he removed to the city and opened a chemist's shop in Karangahape Road in 1865. There he remained until 1870, when he went to the Thames goldfields, and established a business, but soon returned to Karangahape Road. 

About 1875 he removed to the city, in consequence of the expansion of his business, and took premises in the same block in which his present fine establishment is situated in Queen Street. Since then his business has been one of great dimensions. 

Mr. Aickin first entered public life as representative of East Ward, and filled the position for seven years with credit to himself and benefit to the city. During the same period he was chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. It was during his chairmanship that the board let the contract for the construction of the Calliope Dock, and during his councillorship the Albert Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the Colony, was laid out, and he also took an active part in the organisation of the Free Library. In the present year (1900) Mr. Aickin again entered public life, and was returned unopposed to represent the Grafton Ward. 

During his long residence in Auckland Mr. Aickin has held other honourable public positions. He has been chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Chamber of Mines, president of the Ratepayers' Association, and member of the Auckland Museum Institute. Mr. Aickin has always been identified with gold mining, and has done a great deal to develop the industry in the Hauraki Peninsula. He married a daughter of the late Dr. Philson.

It was actually 1872 when he first set up business in Queen Street, between Shortland Street and Vulcan Lane, just along from 110 Queen Street, but advertised as "opposite the Bank of New Zealand". (Auckland Star, 30 April 1872) There he set up "The Pharmacy".

MR. AICKIN'S PHARMACY. 

We have paid a visit of inspection to the Pharmacy of Mr G. Aickin, recently established in Lower Queen street, and as we hold that every thing tending to minister to the refined taste of the public, whether in commercial or any other walk of life, is deserving of encouragement, we have very great pleasure in commenting on what we have seen. One cannot fail being first struck with the chasteness and the beauty of the fittings and decorations, and though this may seem to many a thing of minor moment, we affirm that in a chemist's shop of all other places it is of prime importance. The infirmities of the flesh unhappily necessitate our resort to abominable drugs, evil smelling, ill-tasting and nauseating even after they have passed from our gaze, and it is not too great a concession to human weakness that the place where we procure them should be made as pleasant looking as possible. Mr Aickin has evidently consulted for these frailties and sentiments, and has produced a most pleasing tout ensemble of polished mottled kauri and gilding of plate glass and carving; of drawers and phials with their quaint uncouth and elliptical Latin of charming perfumeries and other bijouterie for the lady's toilet, and of huge carboys fearfully and wonderfully made, sufficient to strike the beholder with awe, as containing within them all the healing power requisite for all the ills that flesh is heir to. The Pharmacy is really a gem in medicine shops, and front its situation right by the side of the greatest thoroughfare in the city, and irrespective of its healing drugs, the display of articles that appeal more to the fancy than the practical views of life, will present a powerful temptation to our fair sisters when engaged in the noble though expensive luxury of shopping. We observe a few items in the furnishing which reveal that thoughtful foresight that comes of residence for a time in Yankee land a little desk for example, with its little library of English and American medicine books, and with prescription forms ready for being filled in, is specially prepared for medical men while a neatly furnished retiring room, where one of the healing brethren has his city quarters, and with an entrance from the rear, ensuring privacy to the patients coming or retiring. All will contribute in no small degree to popularise the Pharmacy. We understand that it is intended by Mr Aickin that a leading principle in his conduct of the establishment will be to obtain at the very earliest date every new remedy of which he receives intelligence, as well as at any cost to keep the newest and freshest drugs. We have no doubt that the popularity which has attended Mr. Aickin during his residence in the Karangahape road will follow him and increase now that he has got into the very heart of the city and its whirl of business, and we have every expectation that his Pharmacy will be an unqualified success.

Auckland Star, 3 June 1872

Then, in 1879, a move into a new shop, in a new building -- 108-110 Queen Street.

 

The corner of Vulcan Lane and Queen Street as at 4 December 1917. Detail of Aickin's "The Pharmacy" at 108-110 Queen Street below. Reference 1-W1614, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries.

MR AICKEN'S PHARMACY.

The building recently erected by the side of St Mango Cafe, and designed as pharmacy for Mr Aicken, the well-known chemist, is a handsome addition to the street architecture of Auckland. It possesses a very neat and tasteful external appearance, and internally the fittings are as complete and excellent as skill and ingenuity could dictate. The Pharmacy occupies one half of the ground floor, the other half being fitted up as a cigar divan by Messrs Partridge and Woollams but all the cellarage accommodation and the whole of the upper story are at Mr Aicken's disposal, and most judiciously has he utilised them.

The shop opens on to the street of course, and in its adornment and ornamentation no expense has been spared. The counter runs at right angles to the street, and is as attractive and as chaste in design as the carver's handicraft and decorator's art could render it. It is fitted with the customary glass cases, and inside these the scents and other toilet requisites are arranged with a due attention to system. Extending along the end of the counter, and facing the entrance to the shop, is a very pleasing dispensing case, having in its centre a large mirror, while behind the counter are ranged row upon row of beautiful varnished drawers fitted with American drawer pulls.

The shop is paved with Minton mosaic work, and at the door the words "Aickin, chemist” are skilfully constructed with variegated flags. We understand that the fittings were executed by Mr John Harvie, the decorating by Messrs Holland and Butler, and that the carved cornice work surmounting the drawers was undertaken and finished by Mr Batts, of Ponsonby.

As we have already said the whole of the second storey is an adjunct of the

Pharmacy. Access to it is gained by a flight of stairs, and a spacious corridor runs along it; the rooms, four in number, being situated to the right and left of the two rooms at top of the stairs one is devoted to the reception of new goods in case and bulk, while the other is known as the warehouse and laboratory. In this latter apartment are stored poisons, subtle and potent, enough to poison the whole city, but so classified and arranged that no one can be unaware of their character. Of the two rooms which overlook the street, one on the left hand is the consulting room, and the other is intended for the accommodation of waiting patients. The consulting room is well furnished, while the patients rooms contains a table covered with interesting reviews, magazines and illustrated papers—a thoughtful contrivance for rendering the period of suspense which precedes the interview with the dreaded medico as little irksome as possible.

The cellar beneath the shop is used as a storehouse for the most valuable and combustible of the drugs and medicines and due care appears to be exercised in their storage. Speaking generally, the pharmacy is the most complete establishment of the kind we have visited in Auckland, and the most efficient and handsome manner in which it has been furnished and equipped discovers a laudable desire on the part of the proprietor to anticipate the wants and please the tastes of his patrons. In conclusion it may be stated that the architect, for the erection of the building was Mr Bartley.

Auckland Star 20 March 1879

He remained in business there until the middle of 1918 when he retired, and died aged 82 in 1923, at his home on Park Road.

Auckland Weekly News, 22 January 1914. Reference AWNS-19140122-54-3, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries.

By the 1930s, the building was no longer "The Pharmacy", Aickin's store now just a memory as the facade looked blankly upon the world.

Vulcan Lane corner, 1930s. Detail of the building below. Ref. 4-2529, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Council Libraries.

Then, as we now know from the photos sent through by Paul, along came the 1960s, and the building once more became part of the health landscape of Auckland -- but the facade designed by architect Edward Bartley back in the 1870s was now completely obliterated. Poetic justice, perhaps, that the facade which covered over a relic from the 19th century, and our pharmacy history, has itself now become a relic this century.