Genesis of Crown Lynn

The following comes from the NZ Herald, 3 September 1941. It's one of those things I picked up a while back, and tucked away -- then wondered where the heck I put it! Well, it's now found, and here it is: part of the genesis of the famous Crown Lynn brand. This report might have been read by those at the time as being just another rah-rah piece on local industry and how wonderful we do things here in Enzed, but, in context, this is a snapshot which led on to so much more.

PORCELAIN LINES

LOCAL ENTERPRISE

PRODUCTION IN AUCKLAND

WIDE EXPANSION PLANNED

With the growing scarcity of imported porcelain the provision in Auckland of plant for its manufacture on a considerable scale and using entirely New Zealand materials is of wide interest. As the culmination of four years' research and experiment, the porcelain department of the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company Limited at New Lynn is now manufacturing a limited range of fine earthenware goods and is planning many other lines.

The enterprise can claim to be a local one in every sense of the word. The clays are all of New Zealand origin, obtained after lengthy search from many parts of the Dominion and blended according to the product being made. The stains and glazes have been developed from local materials to suit the clays being used. The designing is all done on the spot. The plant has been built from local designs with local materials.

For about two years the company has been mnanufacturing electric porcelain and many similar products -- switches, insulators, radiator bars, stove plates and the like -- by pressure and kiln treatment with the aid of hardened steel dies manufactured on the premises, but the making of such articles as basins, mixing bowls, egg cups and jugs has only recently started.

For this work the only tunnel kiln in Australia or New Zealand has been built. The shaped clay, which has been blended, mixed, dried, pressed, cut and turned, passes slowly through this kiln in a never-ending stream at a temperature of 1240 degrees centigrade, and after glazing passes again through the kiln to emerge a finished product.

The local staff which has developed the process has aimed throughout at independence from overseas sources. Plant is being extended with all possible speed to keepm pace withn the demand. Experiment and research are bering pushed ahead continuously and facilities are now available for rapid extension in the number of lines manufactured as soon as the pioneering work is completed. It is hoped within six to nine months to be producing hotel and restaurant ware.

What went before

Valerie Ringer Monk, in her book Crown Lynn: A New Zealand Icon (2006) traced the origins back to Rice Owen Clark and the drain pipes he made from local clays to drain a boggy farm he'd bought up at Hobsonville in the 1890s. By 1906 his factory was turning out salt-glazed garden pots and urns, bread pans and storage jars. The Hobsonville works closed in 1925 when the Clark family centralised their operations at New Lynn with the NZ Brick, Tile and Pottery Company, before setting up Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company from 1929.

During the 1930s, in order to diversify from just straight-out brick manufacture (and therefore help insulate the company's fortunes from the winds of worldwide economic gloom), Thomas Edwin Clark snr. began investigating ways to manufacture tiles. From tiles, as electricity supply increased to New Zealand homes and demand for insulated goods grew, the factory constructed at the New Lynn site for tile manufacture began to turn out radiator bars, ceramic stove elements, radio parts, and insulators for power poles and electric fences. By 1940, according to Monk, there were six men employed at the ceramics factory.

The Second World War mean restricted access to imported goods -- and the New Lynn facility was in the prime position of supplying even more of a need to the market.

What came after

In the period after the Herald article, Pearl Harbor meant the stationing of units of the American military forces here -- and they required truck loads of vitrified porcelain, thick and solid and robust enough to do the job. The New Lynn factories went into mass production around 1943, producing tens of thousands of mugs and bowls for the war effort. The the New Zealand Government placed orders for what was to become a Kiwi icon, and much sought after: the NZ Railway cups. By the mid 1940s, the porcelain department of the Amalgamated works was named "Ambrico Ware", from the initials of the parent company. A new tunnel kiln was built in 1946/1947, remaining in use right through to the close of the works four decades later. By the beginning of 1948, Ambrico was the largest pottery in the Southern Hemisphere, with 300 workers producing six million pieces a year. In that year, Ambrico was renamed Crown Lynn by Tom Clark -- "Crown" for quality, and "Lynn" for the suburb where the enterprise had begun and was based.

Albert Crum’s New Zealand Brick, Tile & Pottery Company in New Lynn (1905-1929)

The New Lynn works. Image from a letterhead held in the J T Diamond collection, Waitakere Central Library, Henderson

I started researching this because of the interest shown in the New Lynn brickworks managed by Albert Crum by the members of the NZ Pottery Forum. I suspect that this post will be updated as time progresses and more information comes to light.

The first NZ Brick, Tile and Pottery Company

There were at least two companies which operated under the grand name of the New Zealand Brick, Tile & Pottery Company, separated by around two decades and the colony’s geography, and not connected with each other in any other way at all. It may have been that when the second company was being put together, the name probably sounded suitable to adopt.

The original NZBT&P company was an amalgamation of four Canterbury firms: Walter Austin & Henry Bland Kirk earthenware and brickmakers in Sydenham, William Neighbours brickmaker, John Brightling (a night-soil contractor and gravel-pit owner) and James Goss (Canterbury Timber & Coal Depot).

“It appears the members of the abovementioned firms have taken up 350 £5 shares in addition to the 1177 paid-up shares which they have received for the purchase of their premises and stock-in-trade. A large number of shares have also teen subscribed for by the public, and applications for others are still coming in freely. By the amalgamation of the business of the four factories, the saving effected on the former cost of working will, it is estimated, be very considerable. Judging from their former experience, the members of the firms concerned have every confidence in the success of the undertaking.”

Christchurch Star, 1 February 1886

Initially, the new firm worked well, and made quite a splash at exhibitions.

“Industrial Association

The New Zealand Brick, Tile and Pottery Company had sent a collection of specimens, in various designs, of terra cotta, window and door arches, finials, garden vases, air bricks, string courses, brackets, &c, made from fire-clay and stone from the Port Hills ; also, some samples of a rich red colour, from the clay of the Malvern Hills. This handsome exhibit had been intended for the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, but had not been in time for it.”

Christchurch Star 15 April 1886

But, as with so major commercial initiatives during the Long Depression, especially new brickworks, their dream run came to an end. They tried for liquidation in 1890.

“This afternoon Messrs H. Matson and Co., associated with the National Mortgage and Agency Company, submitted by public auction, by instruction of Messrs C. Kiver and Joseph Jebson, the liquidators, the various properties in the estate of the New Zealand Brick, Tile and Pottery Company. Mr J. T. Matson acted as auctioneer, but no sale was effected. It was announced that the properties would be open for sale privately.”

Christchurch Star 12 July 1890

The Friedlanders

The next element to our story is that of the German-born Friedlander brothers of Ashburton. Hugo Friedlander and two of his brothers set up a store and dwelling “near the upper ferry of the Rangitata” by July 1872, and their business boomed. One brother, Max, became the proprietor of the Ashburton Guardian by 1881, the same year the brothers moved their store and started entering into the quarrying business at Mt Somers. This quarry they dubbed “Kolmar”, after the family’s original home in East Prussia (today’s Poland), and produced “Kolmar Stone”.

In January 1882, the brothers, Hugo, Rudolph and Max purchased the premises and brickworks of Montgomery & Co Ltd in Ashburton. (Christchurch Star, 25 January 1882, Ashburton Guardian 17 February 1990)

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

KOLMAR BRICK AND PIPE WORKS.

[by our own reporter.]

In the young colonies of the Pacific, towns make progress so rapidly that affairs of even five years ago are matters of history. Specially so is this the case in a town like Ashburton, which, only twelve or thirteen years since, was little more than a patch of native tussock, surrounded by large tracts of land similarly covered. Thirteen years ago, Ashburton town and county seemed to have a bright future before them. The agricultural land, still unbroken and innocent of tillage, was rapidly going into the hands of men who either meant to make homes upon it for themselves and those dependent upon them, or to hold it until other men in want of land, on which to settle with the same object in view, should come along to buy at an enhanced figure.

It was in 1878 that a land ''boom" ensued in Canterbury which, although for a time it let loose much money in the district and enriched many people, brought ruin to some and disaster to many more. There are men in the county now who, although they have weathered the storm raised by the reaction that followed the "boom," are still suffering from the financial crippling they received during that time of reckless speculation, when men -- wild with an earth-hunger that could not be satisfied, and frenzied with a thirst for speculation that was only intensified and not assuaged by every fresh transaction—rushed to the crowded auction rooms, and bought land at prices far beyond the power of the soil to recoup. Men who had by hard toil earned the capital they invested, who knew land when they saw it, and could judge of its fertility—such men, in cases where they had sense not to be carried away by the prevailing panic, and paid only a reasonable figure for the land, in the market, had every chance to do well. Buying only enough to be worked by themselves, they started in true colonial pioneer style; building, often with their own hands, the rude whares in which they and their little families lived for a time, they practised economies of all sorts. An immense sum of money accrued to the Road Boards in the county from subsidies granted by Government out of the sale of Crown lands, and this money was devoted to the making of roads, and works of a like nature, throughout the country. Contracts for these works were taken by many of those who are now among our most stable farmers, and from the money so earned numbers were able to add a few more acres to their holdings, and to improve their farms by the erection of buildings and the execution of permanent works. But there were others who, with no practical knowledge of farming, no experience whatever of land or the capabilities of soil, rushed to the auction rooms, bought madly and badly, "improved," not wisely but too well and, when the time came for reckoning results, found that their ledgers did not tally to please their bankers. Then followed the usual trouble, and the land passed into the hands of other proprietors, sometimes without any " V.R. " announcement preliminary to an interview with Judge Ward; as often with 'an appeal to that officer to settle all-creditors' claims with a dash of his pen. How much in the pound that dash represented—lo, is it not written in the records of the Bankruptcy Court?

Roughly, the above is an outline of how the county was settled. The question was simply one of the man lasting: through who best knew his business, and who realised most clearly that wealth could not be reached with a hop, step and jump—that, to be successful as a farmer on the Canterbury Plains wanted both the will and the ability to work, and .that agricultural knowledge! must be in the brain of the possessor of a "Farmers' Dictionary," as well as within the boards of the manual. But for all this the county was settled with a great rush, and the town rose up with a most astonishing rapidity. The rush of farmers to the land necessarily drew on a rush of town business. Houses went up, almost in a night like Jonah's gourd, and many of them in the early time were let before the piles were laid.

Then was the builders' harvest: then was the demand for building material that has never since been equalled ; and then it was—in 1877 —that Mr Stephen Potter saw an opening for the establishment of a brick kiln. He was not the only one who ventured brick making; but he is the only one now engaged in the work in the county if we bar the private kiln on the Longbeach estate, managed by Mr Hillyer. The industry is one deserving notice, and we can hardly realise that one of such importance to townsman and, farmer alike has remained for so long unnoticed, at least to any extent, by either local or metropolitan press.

The Kolmar Brick and Pipe Works are situated on the North-east Town Belt, and are the property of Messrs Friedlander Bros. They were started in 1877 by Mr Stephen Potter, their present manager, on his own account. He was then working a kiln of the old Scotch fashion, but the then requirements of the district were such as to indicate to the managers of the now defunct Company of Montgomery and Co., that a brick kiln of greatly enlarged capacity would be necessary if the local demand was to be supplied from a local source. They bought out Mr Potter, who became their manager, and bought over his plant from his own section of land to that of the Company, which adjoined. When Montgomery and Co. wound up, Messrs Friedlander Bros, bought the whole of their Ashburton business, including the brick field, Mr Potter still remaining in charge. There are not many men in the Colony with the experience in his particular line that Mr Potter possesses. Trained in Staffordshire, that great pottery county, and working for the best part of his early manhood in Lancashire, he is acquainted with all the processes in brick, pipe, and tile work, whether in red ware, glazed, or fire clay.

THE KLIN

The kiln is the second that has been built on the site it now occupies. The first was an oblong structure, adopted contrary to Mr Potter's advice and, proving unsatisfactory, was pulled down. The present one is circular in form, and in the new well known German principle —a vast improvement on the old. process. By the German kiln there is no waste of heat, and a very much increased output of bricks or other red ware is rendered possible, with the minimum consumption of fuel. This circular kiln was built by Mr Potter himself, with the aid of the lads employed, and is of twelve "chambers," with a total burning capacity of 60,000 or 70,000 bricks.

For years the attention of the proprietors was almost wholly devoted to the manufacture of bricks, but as the farmers of the county troubled with wet land, began to find themselves financially able to attempt draining, a demand sprang up for red-ware drain pipes, and this demand Kolmar pipe works set about supplying. At the present moment three or four of the chambers of the kiln are full of 3-inch drain pipes, ready for burning, while long lines of newly moulded pipes of similar calibre are laid out in the sheds undergoing the drying process by atmospheric influence fit for the kiln.

THE YARD

The yard is on a block of fourteen acres, covering a stratum of clay admirably suited for the purposes of the works. In fact, a considerable area of the land in the immediate vicinity has good brickmaking clay quite near the surface; but the actual working yard is only six acres in extent—that is, only six acres are utilised. The clay is "got" at present between the mill race and the kiln, and in the "clay hole" the depth of the stratum is at once seen, a face of six or seven feet presenting itself to the visitor. The situation of the yard is such that on all sides water is available for tempering the clay, and several natural gullies and small creeks running through the land provide a natural drainage system for the clay holes. The raw material, after tempering, is carried on plankways to the "pug" mills, and thence to the brick moulders, who have their benches in the extreme corners of the extensive

DRYING SHEDS

There are benches for four moulders, and the sheds are large enough to store for drying all the bricks and pipes- the moulders could possibly turn out between "firings." The sheds are on either side of the kiln, and are in two sets of three: In length they run to 170 feet per shed by 17 feet wide, so that it will be seen there is plenty of ground roofed in from the weather.

PIPE MAKING

Of recent years the making of red ware drain pipes has become a specialty at the Kolmar, and perfect machinery for the purpose has been set up. "Dies" are there, capable of turning out pipes of almost any size, from a 2-inch to a 12-inch calibre, and in lengths from twelve inches up to two feet. Farmers who have been heard to growl about "sending money out of the place" have now no reason for complaint, when pipes equal in quality to any shown at the Christchurch show in November last—as the writer can bear testimony —are offered for sale at about the same price per thousand as bricks. At least £2 17s 6d was quoted by Mr Potter for 12-inch pipes of 12-inch lengths. Elbows, junctions, bends etc., for facilitating laying are also made so that a farmer can lay down his own system of drainage with the ordinary labor strength on his farm. Chimney pots of various kinds are also produced; and all sorts of rough red pottery. Even rustic firm vases for lawn and garden have been demanded and made at the works, along with paving tiles for dairy floors, baker's ovens, etc., and the sample of the latter shown by Mr Potter are a credit to him. The larger sized pipes, as indeed all the ware turned out, are of superior quality indeed, thanks to the excellent clay got from the land and the good workmanship of its manipulators. The demand for both bricks and pipes it would be a pleasure to see increased, so that the moulders should be always busy and the tall 70-feet chimney stalk of the kiln only cease smoking to admit of the chambers being emptied and refilled. The long stalk is a sort of landmark as it is to travellers, but it would be doubly so were its black throat always busy.

Ashburton Guardian 2 July 1890

The site of the Kolmar Brickworks was apparently originally owned by Henry John Tancred, in conjunction with a brother Sir Thomas Tancred and John Collins Allen in 1877 (Ashburton Guardian, 16 August 1978). H J Tancred limped and had blurred speech from wounds received as an officer in an Austrian Hussar regiment (Ashburton Guardian, 17 February 1990) although he was in fact born in 1816 on the Isle of Wight.

It should be again noted here that at no point was the Ashburton Kolmar yard involved with the Christchurch-based NZ Brick, Tile and Pottery syndicate.

The Crums

John Crum (1834-1918) was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It appears he arrived in New Zealand with his family in either 1878 (Ashburton Museum records) or 1875. One son, Albert (1863-1951, born in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire) was to feature prominently in the history of brickmaking in New Lynn – although, while his father was a mason by trade, Albert tried out other trades and skills, including chimney sweep in 1888. By October 1892, however, he was in business with his father as a mason and concrete contractor. In 1895, when the Friedlanders sold their Kolmar brickworks, John and Albert Crum were the purchasers.

Ashburton Guardian 31 May 1895

But still, Albert did some inventive dabbling on the side.

“An Ashburton Invention.

Mr Crum and another Ashburton resident are the inventors of an improved bicycle for which they are taking steps to obtain a patent. A machine on the lines of their invention has we see just been manufactured to their order by Messrs Curties and Co. of Christchurch, about which the Lyttelton Times furnishes the following particulars: The ordinary crank bracket, with cranks, chain wheel and chain are done away with, and two special quadrant pedal levers are arranged so as to rock up and down in arc of circle, instead of taking a complete revolution, as in the ordinary motion, thus obviating the dead centre. In operation, when one lever is pushed down, the cord pulls a clutch round, which grips and turns the driving wheel. By the connecting wire over the wheel the opposite clutch is wound backward, and, consequently, pulls up the other pedal lever ready for the next stroke. As the driving mechanism is independent of the wheel any length of stroke may be taken up to sixteen inches. By an ingenious contrivance, the taking of shorter strokes enable great leverage to be obtained for hill climbing and riding against head winds. For fast work full strokes are taken, which brings into play the longer axis of the quadrant. It is claimed that the machine is very suitable for ladies, as, apart from the advantages named, there is no danger of a lady cyclist tearing her dress owing to the pedalling being back and forth and not continuous.”

Ashburton Guardian 12 March 1896

The Kolmar Brickworks was renamed the Ashburton Brickworks, and the Crum family prospered. Albert Crum was even elected to the local Council in 1904.

In August 1905, however, Crum announced that he was leaving Ashburton to take up business in Auckland.

“Business Change.

Mr Albert Crum, who has been proprietor of the Ashburton Brickworks for many years, has sold the works, plant, stock, etc., as a Going concern to Messrs Crum Bros. and Dyhrberg, possession to be given on Monday. The purchase includes the concrete pipe making plant in Moore Street, and also the bricklaying business. Mr Albert Crum goes to Auckland in a few weeks' time to open a large brick tile and pipe making business on behalf of an influential company, of which he has been appointed manager, and in which he is largely financially interested. While we regret that Ashburton is losing a man of the proved business ability of Mr Crum, we trust he will be as successful in his business enterprise in Auckland as he has been here.”

Ashburton Guardian 12 August 1905

His business partner in the venture was Hugo Friedlander, whose family had survived the slight reversal of fortunes which caused the sale of the Kolmar works in 1895. Albert Crum and Hugo Friedlander may have had close business ties since that period, if not before. Now, with a golden opportunity arising in distant New Lynn, the partners took up a defunct business name, called their firm the New Zealand Brick, Tile and Pottery Company, and set off for northern climes.

New Lynn

1908 trademark. From NZ Gazette, 28 May 1908, p. 1580

According to Charles Gardner, in an address given in 1950 (JT Diamond collection, Waitakere Central Library, Henderson), recognising the value of the clay, especially with the establishment of the Gardners works across Rankin Avenue in 1901, a man named Charles Thomson, together with J Gardner and R O (Tonks) Gardner, started what was termed the No. 4 site in 1903 (according to a note from the Crum Collection, recorded by JTD in 1978) on what was a “decayed orchard”. This partnership didn’t work, however, and the site became part of that purchased in 1905 by Friedlander and Crum. Which part this was I’m unable to determine at this time (I might pay LINZ for a couple of application files to find out at some stage soon).

The New Lynn site for Crum and Friedlander’s NZ Brick, Tile and Pottery enterprise was in three sections, the other sections apparently purchased from Astley, Bethell and King (JT Diamond notes). 19 acres fronting onto Rankin Avenue (NA 132/249) was originally part of a farm owned in the 1880s by a chap named Foley.

Along with this, the partnership purchased 35 acres fronting Astley Avenue by 1906 (NA 131/207), and a 10 acre section fronting Clark Street, most likely from John N Bethell, at some point before the 1920s. (NA752/122)

Crum and Friedlander didn’t necessarily start from scratch. Both men had, of course, long experience with managing brickworks in Ashburton, and they certainly used their hometown resources. Ashburton suppliers like Reid and Gray were used (who tendered successfully for supply of the new brickworks’ boilers in September 1905). Ashburton brickmakers were recruited, such as Hugh Sargeant Barrett in 1908, who served as an engineer at the brickyard.

In December 1905, Crum wrote to the Brightside Foundry and Engineering Co Ltd in Sheffield, Yorkshire, ordering a brick press to imprint “Crum” on the bricks. It appears that he had dealt with the firm before, during his days with the Ashburton Brickworks.

“I may mention here that I am associated now with the NZ Brick Tile & Pottery Co Ltd, New Lynn, Auckland, and as regards this company’s bona fides I beg to refer you the National Bank of New Zealand here through their London office. The company named is just [illegible] erecting extensive works and hopes to have them in full swing in almost five months time.”

(Handwritten copy of letter, not original, on JT Diamond collection)

In February 1906, the following report was published in at least Wellington, and Christchurch.

According to Mr E Hartley, the retiring President of the Auckland Branch of the Architects' Institute, the Auckland-made bricks of to-day were not as good as they were 23 years ago, when the Victoria Arcade was built; they did not keep their colour as well, and were not as durable. This was a serious loss, both to the architects and the public, for it meant that they were constantly being driven back on the monstrous compo. It was lamentable and a disgrace to Auckland to think that if they wanted a good facing brick they had to send out of Auckland for it.

Evening Post 16 February 1906

To which Hugo Friedlander (it is believed) wrote the following response to the Auckland Institute of Architects, 16 February, on reading the report in the Christchurch Press:

“In justice to the brickworks I am connected with, I wish to say that the NZ Brick, Tile & Pottery Co at New Lynn will be in a position to supply when its works are completed as good a brick as ever was made in Auckland. It is, as a matter of fact, mainly due to the inferior quality of bricks which were being made in such an important centre as Auckland that the NZ Brick Co was floated. With an up-to-date plant that will run to something like £15,000 and a man in charge who has the undoubted reputation of being the “best brickmaker” in New Zealand there will be no difficulty to give every satisfaction to the members of your Association as regards the quality we shall supply."

(Handwritten copy of letter, not original, on JT Diamond collection)

The J T Diamond notes state:

“The New Zealand Brick, Tile and Pottery Co. Ltd under Crum’s 25 years’ management grew to its present great size and produced a wider range of glazed pipes, bricks, drain tiles and roof tiles than anything previously attempted in the North Island. Salt glazed bricks, now so well known in fireplaces were one of his innovations. The first big job to use these was the Auckland Boys Grammar School, Mt Eden. Glazed pipes were made here first about 1906 with George Holmes in charge.”

Progress, 1 March 1907 offers this description of the works:

“The works of the New Zealand Brick, Tile, and Pottery Company, New Lynn, Auckland, are being laid out with the intention of making them the most up-to-date plant of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Many New Zealanders will be surprised to hear of the extent of these works when completed. They stand upon 73 acres of land, and clay has been tested as far down as 150 ft. One machine is capable of turning out 100,000 bricks per day on the plastic system, of any colour that may be required; but though the machine has this large capacity, it is doubtful if the bricks can be removed in their plastic state as fast as the machine is capable of making them. The plastic system generally is not supposed to give such a perfectly formed brick as the various press machines, but this particular machine turns out bricks wonderfully true, square, and smooth.

"After leaving the machine they are dried by artificial heat in one day, and are then burnt and ready for market in about two weeks. The kiln is of the continuous kind, with a capacity of from 30 to 40 thousand daily; the draught is specially controlled and arranged in such a way as to be away from the workmen, making it much more pleasant to operate. Sanitary ware will be specialised, and very soon glazed bricks and tiles will be made. The larger kinds of pottery, as demi-johns, bread pans, sinks, etc., will be also made here. Fire-clay goods will constitute a fair percentage of the output, as a specially good clay is available. The abattoirs at Otahuhu are taking the first of the company's output.

"As artificial drying forms a feature in the process of manufacture, a large Hornsby steam boiler of 390 hp , working pressure 160 ft per sq in., is installed and supplies heat for artificial drying and steam for the engine, which is one of Tangyes' 105 hp.

"The managing director is Mr. Hugo Friedlander of Ashburton. Mr. A. Crum kindly showed our representative around, and we hope when these works are in regular running order to supply our readers with some views of them.”

The First World War may have been a challenge for Albert Crum. While he was a British citizen, his partner Hugo Friedlander, although probably naturalised, was viewed as an enemy alien. In Ashburton after the war, the Friedlander businesses shut down for good. 

 Ashburton Guardian 7 October 1919

It was difficult for businesses to operate in New Zealand during the war,if the proprietors were seen to be citizens of the German Empire – so, there is little wonder, then, that Friedlander’s part in establishing Crum’s brickyard has been downplayed over the years.

Added to that, business was also curtailed somewhat during the war years. During an appeal by Charles Gardner against being called up for war service in 1917, it was found:

“… there were no less than five firms carrying on the brick trade …Counsel had discovered that since the war, the firms engaged had found it necessary to curtail the output, and some had decided to close down certain of their works in common bricks with one exception – that of Gardner Bros. and Parker. The firms which had closed down were receiving a bonus as their share of the undertaking to close down.”

Poverty Bay Herald, 11 December 1917

Even so Jack T Diamond’s notes, taken from a note written in pencil in an exercise book from 1918, showing 1919 figures, has it that NZ Brick, Tile and Pottery produced 600,000 bricks, compared with 620,000 for Gardner's and 600,000 for J J Craig at Avondale (the other two were Lauries', 160,000, and Archibald's, 64,000).

In 1923, a quarter section, part of the original 19 acres fronting onto Rankin Avenue, was transferred from the company to Albert Crum himself (NA 291/293). Was this where he lived? There seems to have been small buildings on the site as late as 1940, but these were completely obliterated by 1959. Today, it’s all part of the Monier site.

The first moves towards the rise of the Amalgamated Brick & Pipe Company came in 1925, when Thomas Edwin Clark, from the Hobsonville works became a shareholder of NZ Brick Tile and Pottery. Before then, the company probably had just the partnership of Crum and Friedlander as major shareholders, and the name does not appear to have been registered back in 1905. When the old partnership liquidated to form the new company with shareholders they found that the registration was blocked, as the first NZBT&P company – yes, that one back in 1886 in Christchurch, with no connection to Crum or Friedlander – had not formally liquidated and therefore relinquished the name. This was just a slight hiccup, however. The Christchurch registration office did the paperwork, seeing as the first company had ceased operations around 35 years prior, and approval for the name NZ Brick, Tile & Potteries was finally and formally granted in July 1925. (File on the company, BADZ 5181 477, Archives New Zealand)

In 1928, just before the amalgamation, the scope of the employment at brickworks at New Lynn was as follows (from the JT Diamond notes):

Manager: James Sims Ockleston

Assistant Manager: Jack Albert Crum (Albert Crum’s son)

Burnt Pipe Dept: One foreman, seven workmen.

Unburnt Pipe Dept: One foreman, eight workmen.

Tile Dept.: One foreman, nine workmen

Claypit: One foreman, twelve workmen

Workshop: Four staff

Carpenters: Two.

Bricklayers: Two

Unburnt Brick Dept.: Fourteen staff

One engine driver

Two office staff

Burnt Brick Dept.: Eight staff

Two contract men in the brick dept.

Two crowders

Five draggers.

Evening Post 16 March 1929

After the amalgamation

With the amalgamation, of course, the name NZ Brick, Tile & Pottery faded away. Albert Crum set up his family, sons Gordon, Jack and Colin, with their own pottery business fronting onto Great North and Portage Roads in 1929, the Crum Brick, Tile & Pottery Co. This, however, was not without controversy. A deputation of ratepayers protested the granting of town planning approval by the New Lynn Borough Council in October that year.

“Mr. Putt … addressed the council. The petitions, he said, were not the outcome of any feeling of antagonism. Mr Crum was a most esteemed citizen of New Lynn and residents would never forget his generosity in the past, more particularly for his donation of land for road purposes in front of the school. ‘No one wants to see the pottery industry crushed in New Lynn, but we think such a heavy industry should be relegated to the correct quarters. It should be zoned, as far as possible, to the railway frontages.”

Mr Putt said it was proposed to erect the new works right at the gateway of New Lynn. Such a proposal should be opposed both from aesthetic and land value points of view. New Lynn would become a large residential district and they could look forward to the time when it would be a desirable place for middle-class people. If the only entrance to the borough was to be defiled by unsightly buildings, many residents would suffer, because properties would rapidly decrease in value …

Mr Crum, who was allowed to be present at the meeting, denied that land values would recede if the pottery works were erected. He had been offered an alternative side on the other side of the Whau Creek [this would have been in Avondale!], and if the council decided that the works would not be erected on the site intended, then they would be erected across the boundary in the city area.”

Auckland Star, 8 October 1929

The Borough Council, despite the opposition, granted Crum approval. (NZ Herald, 9 October 1929)

The works at Great North Road closed down in the late 1970s, around the same time as the Ashburton Brickworks, still run by members of the Crum family, put out the fires in their kilns for the last time.

My thanks to Ashburton Museum, Archives New Zealand, and the staff at the J T Diamond Reading Room, Waitakere Central Library at Henderson and the Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Central Library for their assistance with this research.

Rev. Edgar Ward's miraculous Kuranui cure

Rev Edgar Ward served as Anglican minister to the Church of the Ascension in Pt Chevalier during the 1920s-1930s. I found the following articles in Papers Past while gathering up material for the Point Chevalier Times. I'll let them speak for themselves.

A CURE CLAIMED

CLERGYMAN'S DISCOVERY

(Special to "The Evening Post")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Claiming to have discovered a medicine which has cured scores of cases of tuberculosis, an Auckland clergyman has obtained the permission of Archbishop Averill to distribute the compound to sufferers anywhere at practically no cost. The Rev Edgar Ward, vicar of the Church of the Ascension at Point Chevalier, makes the claim. The medicine, he says, has effected so many cures during the past three years that there can be no question as to its efficaciousness, in the majority of cases. “If I were not thoroughly convinced I should maintain silence, for it would be very wrong to raise the hopes of sufferers wantonly, only to dash them to the ground. My medicine has been used with great success, and is still being used extensively by a medical practitioner who is a member of the British Medical Association. This doctor practises among the Maoris, many of whom suffer from consumption of the lungs." 

Mr Ward said he did not propose to make profits, either for himself or for his church, from the distribution of the medicine. However, he did not intend to disclose the recipe. For one thing it would be useless to a lay person unskilled in dispensing. Mr Ward is a qualified pharmaceuticist, and makes up the medicine himself. It is a compound of certain mineral salts used extensively by one school of the medical profession in Europe, and a herb that grows freely in New Zealand, and which, while having no specific action on tubercle baccilus, has remarkable tonic properties. All the ingredients are easy to procure, and the medicine is harmless.

Mr Ward says he would make the medicine free of charge if he could, but he finds he must have to make a small charge to meet out-of-pocket expenses. "If I were to give the prescription away, I fear it would be commercialised, and I wish to avoid that." 

Evening Post 5 December 1929

CONSUMPTION CURE?

EXPERT INVESTIGATION

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.')

AUCKLAND, This Day.

An undertaking to discuss with an expert his formula and treatment claimed to be a cure for tuberculosis, was given to the Minister of Health to-day by the Rev Edgar Ward, Vicar of the Church of the Ascension, Point Chevalier. 

Since the publication of the report last week Mr Ward has received numerous requests for supplies of the medicine, from as far away as Buenos Aires and one from England containing a large order.

Following a communication from the Director-General of Health, Mr. Ward interviewed the Minister this morning, and informed him that two and a half years ago he had consulted the Health Department in reference to the treatment. The Department failed to follow up the matter; indeed, it gave him no encouragement whatever, and declined to discuss the matter further till he had offered conclusive proof of the efficacy of the treatment. The Minister expressed surprise on hearing Mr Ward's statement and asked if he would be prepared to discuss the details of the formula and treatment with the superintendent of a sanatorium. Mr. Ward said he would be prepared to do that, providing all the proceedings were regarded as strictly confidential. The assurance was given by Mr. Stallworthy that secrecy would be observed, and said that the necessary steps would be taken immediately. Mr. Ward will probably place the formula and treatment before a specialist next week.

Evening Post 9 December 1929

CLERGYMAN'S CURE

PROPERTIES OF HERB

CLAIMANT AND DEPARTMENT

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Replying to the comments of the Department of Health on his preparation for the treatment of tuberculosis, the Rev Edgar Ward says: "With reference to the statement that the herb used by me is not known to possess any qualities other than sedative, I wish to say that if the Department asserts in the face of evidence that the herb pomaderris eliptica if properly collected, prepared, and administered, does not possess remarkable medical qualities, the Department is merely being absurd."

Mr Ward says, moreover, that the quality of being a sedative is markedly absent.

Commenting on the statement that his preparation is being analysed by the Department, he says that his arrangement with the Minister was to disclose his formula to Dr. McLean, of the Pukeora Sanatorium. His condition for doing this was that the Department should guarantee his out of pocket expenses. It would seem that the Department was unwilling to fulfil the condition and was trying to obtain the formula without reference to himself. The analysis would, therefore, be quite useless.

Evening Post 11 January 1930

ALLEGED T.B. CURE

REV E. WARD'S CLAIMS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Rev Edgar Ward, who has a specific which he believes exceedingly beneficial in tuberculosis cases, has decided to submit it for trial under the auspices of the British Medical Association under certain conditions. He has broken off negotiations with the Health Department, declaring himself "utterly disillusioned.”

Evening Post 11 February 1930

CURE CLAIMED

MR. WARD AND MINISTER

OUTLINE OF NEGOTIATIONS

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

Replying to a statement by the Rev Edgar Ward, the Hon A J Stallworthy, Minister of Health, said that Mr. Ward had been given every opportunity to prove his bona fides in relation to his claimed cure for tuberculosis. It was not the fault of the Department or the Minister that up to the present Mr. Ward had not fulfilled his undertaking, but of Mr. Ward himself.

"From the moment Mr. Ward interviewed me at Auckland," said Mr. Stallworthy, "I promptly did all that was reasonably possible to secure for him a fair and unbiased trial of his claimed remedy under responsible medical men." There was no truth at all in a statement made that a paltry financial consideration stood in the way of giving the claimed remedy a trial. The medical superintendent to whom Mr Ward definitely promised to disclose his formula had not yet received it. To another medical man named to him by the Minister he had disclosed his formula, but had failed to send a supply of the medicine, as definitely promised in writing to the Minister. At least this was the position up to his leaving Wellington.

Mr Stallworthy said that he was still awaiting replies to his last two communications to Mr Ward. When he interviewed the Minister at Auckland, Mr Ward definitely refused to listen to the suggestion of the Director-General to submit his medicine to the test of three members of the British Medical Association. To the Minister's alternative suggestion already referred to, he definitely agreed. He did not produce one single example of the claimed efficacy of his medicine. Ho refused to name one medical man to whom the Department might refer for evidence. However, because of the unfortunately premature but wide publicity he had received in the Dominion and overseas Press, the Minister felt that it was due to the public that a fair and unbiased trial should, if possible, be made, but until Mr Ward made his formula and treatment available it was impossible to accomplish this. If no replies to the Minister's last two communications awaited him on his return to Wellington, the whole correspondence would be handed to the Press.

Mr Stallworthy said that, as he had notified Mr. Ward last week, another medicine, claimed to be based on a previous discovery of the medicinal properties of the main ingredient of his claimed remedy, the herb Pomaderris Elliptica, was being professionally tested. In this case the fullest information regarding the treatment and cases treated had been given.

Evening Post 12 February 1930

TUBERCULOSIS

TRIAL OF REPORTED CURE

The Rev Edgar Ward, of Point Chevalier, Auckland, writes to "The Post”: “The Minister of Health having publicly stated that the breakdown of the negotiations between his Department and myself for an official trial of my treatment of tuberculosis is entirely my fault, I send you here a copy of the correspondence relating thereto.”

Publicity has already been given to most of the correspondence, and to the conditions specified by Mr Ward. Under date 17th January, Mr Ward wrote to the Minister withdrawing his offer to submit his treatment for trial under the auspices of the Health Department. After further correspondence, Mr Ward, under date 12th February, wrote:

"The withdrawal of my offer contained in my letter of 17th January must stand, but I will meet you so far as to add after the words 'under the auspices of your Department,' the words 'as at present constituted.' "

In answer to a question as to the present position and the correspondence between himself and Mr Ward, the Minister of Health (Hon A J Stallworthy) stated today that on the 14th February he wrote to Mr. Ward: "For my part, no financial consideration was a bar to the trial of your treatment, upon the terms agreed to at our first personal interview. I was, and still am, simply waiting for you to honour your promise to disclose your formula, to Dr. Maclean (medical superintendent of Pukeora Santorium), to enable him to report as to whether the Department would be justified in proceeding further with the suggested trial, and any expense that might be involved. The Minister remarked today that there was at present being made a fair medical trial of the medicine supplied by Mr Ward, and since that was going on he had nothing more to add.

Evening Post 10 March 1930

The TB cure gained a brand name: "Kuranui". Rev Ward was now in business.

ASTHMA, TB, distributers Rev Edgar Ward's Treatment. Kuranui, Box 1613. Tel. 50-909.

Evening Post 6 June 1932

KURANUI TREATMENT. EDGAR WARD'S Famous Kuranui for Asthma, Catarrh, T.B., Bronchitis. Expert advice given free at Clinic, Dwan's Bldgs.. over Woolworth's. Willis Street.

Evening Post 9 June 1934

Then, in 1935, Rev Ward passed away.

PERSONAL AND GENERAL.

Auckland. — The death has occurred at Mt. Albert of the Rev. Edgar Ward, formerly vicar of Point Chevalier. Mr. Ward was in his 71st year, and was ordained deacon and priest in 1900. From 1909 to 1919 he was vicar of Waierenga-a-hika, and later held cures at Matawai, Putaruru and Kaitaia. Mr. Ward is survived by his wife, to whom sincere sympathy is extended.

Waiapu Church Gazette 1 September 1935

His "Kuranui" though outlived its creator. I've seen advertisements in newspapers on both sides of the Tasman, downn to at least the early 1950s. The TB cure bit, though, was dropped.

ASTHMA & HAY FEVER.

Successfully treated with THE REV " EDGAR WARD'S "KURANUI."

WORLD-WIDE SUCCESS.

During the nine years that have elapsed since Kuranui was first introduced to .the public the remarkable, results that have been achieved have placed its effectiveness in the treatment of ASTHMA AND HAY FEVER beyond dispute. The chemists at the MADDOX PHARMACY, 84 Lambton Quay, Telephone 44-966, will be pleased to advise about this successful herbal treatment; a free booklet will be dispatched immediately upon the receipt of a telephone or letter request.

Evening Post 31 October 1939

The legend, however, lives on. From this site:

"Rev. Edgar Ward, a Pharmacist from Kaitaia around the turn of the century, made a remedy using both Kumarahou and Koromoko and claimed to have cured not only Asthma but also several people suffering from Tuberculosis."

Image details from advertisement, Evening Post 1 June 1940

Two Te Atatu brickworks

Back in 2009, I did some research in conjunction with West Auckland Historical Society into the Hartshorne and Henderson brickworks on Te Atatu Peninsula. I've decided to publish the research report done at the time on Scribd.

Hartshorn Brickworks (c.1895-1917) and Henderson Brick and Tile Syndicate (1903-c.1912), Te Atatu North.

Rats!

The photo was taken by me at Meola Creek, just down Motions Road from the zoo, in June 2009 (originally from this post.) The following comes from the Auckland Star, 3 November 1947.

Not the least of the attractions at the Auckland Zoo is a thriving rat colony. Its well-fed members sometimes vie with the legitimate exhibits for attention when, to the delight of small children, and not a few adults, they perform amazing acts of daring in the lion pits, whisk food from under bears' noses and threaten to steal the show in more than one cage.

Feeding time is the signal for these zoological "spivs." Then, once the animals have had first pick, it is not unusual to see a score of rats swarm over the rocks to surround a piece of meat almost at the feet of a lion. A rat may look at a king, but what a rat can do in the presence of a lion is surprising.

According to the keepers the rats count for nothing in the lion and tiger pits. The animals, well provided with all the meat they need, ignore them. In fact, almost the only part of the zoo where they are given short shrift is  in the monkey cages, where they are hustled out as soon as they appear. But elsewhere they claim plenty of public interest. Mothers tasking their children out for an educational afternoon are often perturbed to hear them shout, "Look, there's another rat," when they should be concentrating on the brown bears. The impression these unwelcome exhibits make was shown the other day when a five-year-old boy, asked what he saw at the zoo, answered, "Lots of rats."

The growth of the rat settlement is partly a sign of the times. Before the war the zoo authorities were keeping the rats down with a special poison which does not harm the birds or animals. The war cut off supplies, and in the last two years shipments have been erratic. Another stock of this liquid has arrived recently and hundreds of baits of saturated bread have been laid. It will take some time, however, to reduce the lead the rats have gained. Rocky ground and the rats' ability to burrow test the resourcefulness an patience of the workers. To add to their troubles a large City Council rubbish dump in Old Mill Road makes an ideal breeding ground for rats, which only have to cross the road to join the zoo colony.

Guest Post: Hunting for the Head of the Great Champion Carbine

 Image: Carbine, from Wikipedia.

I've just spoken to Liz, from Mad Bush Farm blog, and obtained permission to mirror her post on Timespanner.

RELICS OF CARBINE
FAMOUS RACEHORSE'S HEAD GIFT TO AUCKLAND MUSEUM

The memory of Carbine, the famous racehorse who was bred at Sylvia Park and who died in England in 1914, will appropriately be kept green in Auckland by two interesting momentoes.

Some time ago, Carbine's owner, the Duke of Portland,forwarded the skin as a gift to the Auckland Racing Club.

The Committee of the club in view of the great interest attaching to Carbine and his great feats in the racing world, decided that such proportion of gift as was suitable for public exhibition should be presented to the Auckland Museum.

The skin was to be found unsuitable for a full mounting in the ordinary manner, andit was decided to present the head and neck portion to the Museum.

This has been successfully mounted by Mr Griffin, the taxidermist at the Museum. The interesting relic will be placed on a suitable shield, and will shortly be on exhibition in the Museum.

An inscribed silver plate, containing a record of Carbine's Pedigree performances and total winnings, will be attached.

The remainder of the skin will be converted by the club into a chair cover. Carbine's skeleton was presented by the Duke of Portland to the Melbourne Museum, where it has been set up.

Wanganui Chronicle 15 May 1918

His name is to be found in the pedigrees of great thoroughbred racehorses. The mighty Nearco (Ity), Shergar (GB), and Sunline (NZ) are amongst the modern champions that have the name Carbine in their pedigree. Carbine was foaled at Sylvia Park Stud in Auckland New Zealand on 18 September 1885. His sire the imported Musket (GB) (foaled 1867 Toxophilite -West Australian mare) was An Ascot Stakes winner and was already a successful sire. His dam Mersey (GB) was an imported mare who was also the dam of stakes winner Carnage (Foaled 1890 by Nordenfeldt (NZ) (VRC Victoria Derby, AJC Champagne Stakes). Mersey herself in her dam line traces back to the influential broodmare Eulogy (GB) whose name can be found in the pedigrees of many great sires and broodmares throughout modern times.

Carbine has been well covered in history. His impressive race record consisted of total of 43 starts for 33 wins, six seconds and three thirds with total career earnings of ₤29,626. Major Stakes Wins included the 1890 VRC Mebourne Cup (Group 1) AJC Sydney Cup amongst others. As a sire Carbine proved to be outstanding. His sons included the Australian bred Wallace (Leading sire 1915/16 Season) 1906 Epsom Derby winner Spearmint and grandsire of Speamint's son Derby winner Spion Kop. Carbine was euthanised at the Duke of Portland's Welbeck Abbey Stud on June 10 1914.

The Marlborough Express on 12 June 1914 reported the news from London:

"Carbine the celebrated racehorse died at Welbeck. Carbine was out of work. He lived a life of laziness for four years, and was then destroyed. The Duke of Portland has offered his skeleton to the Melbourne Museum. "

For years, the mounted head of Carbine resided in the Auckland War Memorial Museum keeping company with Rajah the Elephant. His impressive extended pedigree hung on the wall along side, with his tail mounted with silver beside the head. Sometime in the 1990's, the Auckland Museum loaned Carbine to the National Racing Museum, then based at Ellerslie Racecourse, as part of the collection of New Zealand's racing heritage. In 2003 the building in which the collection was housed was demolished, and the museum was left with no home.

In 2006 the NZ Herald reported that a new $5 million museum to house the collection was to be established.

It has taken 166 years to honour the thoroughbred in New Zealand, but we are almost there. 

Wendy Pye, chairman of the New Zealand Champions Racing Museum Charitable Trust, this week unveiled the design of the proposed museum, to be built at Ellerslie.

The first thoroughbred landed in New Zealand in 1840 and the history of the industry that now adds about $1 billion to the gross national product each year will be highlighted in the museum, which is due to open in 2008.

Funding of about $400,000 has already been received.

Another $4 million is being sought to complete the project. Construction is expected to start Project support has been provided by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

A detailed model places the building within its setting, to the right of the main racecourse entrance, overlooking the Lawn Gardens and facing the Ellerslie Convention Centre.

"The trust's vision for the museum is about celebrating the extraordinary history of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand," Mrs Pye said.

"A national racing museum will allow us to share treasures and stories that will otherwise be lost or forgotten.

"We also aim to use that rich heritage to create a world-class interactive experience for local and international visitors, a centre for equine research and education, and a welcoming gateway for participation in every part of the thoroughbred industry."

Mrs Pye said the design of the museum exterior included elements of traditional stables but the interior would be that of a modern, interactive museum.

The main exhibition area on the ground floor would include many elements of the racecourse experience.

First floor displays would include a virtual race ride on an electronic horse, an equine science display, racing colours design and a permanent home for the recently established New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Also included in the complex would be a cafe, research area and a movie and lecture theatre.

New Zealand's climate and environment proved to be perfect for breeding horses, with studs such as Trelawney and Cambridge adding to a national roll of honour that includes 41 Melbourne Cups.

Kiwi-bred champions Carbine and Phar Lap established a tradition of international excellence maintained into the modern era by the likes of Bonecrusher, Horlicks, Octagonal, Might And Power, Sunline and Starcraft.

Harness racing in New Zealand has a world class museum at Auckland's Alexandra Park.

- NZPA

NZ Herald 29 April 2006

In November 2010 the following blog post appeared on Genealogy New Zealand. Lyn, who is the author, had noted that the entire collection of the National Racing Museum was in storage.

Being such a big part of life in New Zealand you might think that the racing industry would have its own museum. It did have one at the Ellerslie Race Course up until 2003. It was run by enthusiastic volunteers with no real training and it became a central repository for regalia and records. But sadly, the building it occupied was condemned and the contents were stored in a very bad manner. This was soon rectified by a well-known business woman who moved the contents into a warehouse and a container.

Concerned she had contacted the Head of New Zealand Racing Simon Cooper who was in charge of the collection noting: -

To cut a long story short; the NZ Thoroughbred Racing Board of whom Simon Cooper is currently head of, has the ownership of the treasure but doesn't seem to be doing anything with it. The Auckland Racing Club it still looking after part of the contents but again, doesn't seem very enthusiastic about it.

Lyn went on to say she had contacted Te Papa and other business people concerning the collection. This in turn raised my concerns about the head of Carbine not being back in the possession of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. I contacted Auckland War Memorial Museum expressing my own concerns about the whereabouts of this important icon of the our national racing heritage and of Auckland itself.

Finally I had a response from the museum who were not aware of the situation. They have now contacted Simon Cooper Head of NZ Racing to ask for the return of this champion, so he can be restored back to his rightful place, in the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The very thought that Carbine, long dead as he is - may be sitting deteriorating in a container somewhere in Auckland, is concerning to say the least. The museum are now going through archives to verify the loan of the mounted head to the former National Racing Museum.

While Carbine, as a racehorse and influential sire, has received accolades in history and his other parts are on display in Melbourne, including his skeleton, and an inkwell made from one of his hooves. We have a situation, where the other remains are lost out of sight out of mind. No way to treat a champion of the former glorious racing past.

Last year, it was announced the National Racing Museum project would not be going ahead. Meantime, we also have a very important collection rotting in storage somewhere in Auckland. The racing industry need to reconsider their lack of interest and do something about it. Carbine though should remain in Auckland back at the museum where he was originally displayed for many decades.

I'll keep you posted on developments in the search for our iconic Carbine.

King's Wharf Power Station explosion

My fellow blogger Sandy gave me the heads up on this incident. She found it originally, on doing research into the life and times of Alexander Wyllie, and mentioned it in the comments to this post on the history of electricity in Auckland. The images in this post are Sandy's, by kind permission.

From Auckland Star, 14 July 1917.

A violent explosion occurred in one of the engines in the City Electrical Station at King's Wharf last night, by which four men were severely injured. The accident is thought to have been caused by the overheating of some bearings in a crank case, causing the lubricating oil to vaporise and explode. The injured men are the following:-

Alexander Wyllie, chief electrical engineer, Ascot Avenue, Remuera. Hands and face burned.

William Purcell, station superintendent, Halesowen Ave, Edendale. Severely scalded.

Henry Pearson, shift engineer, 31 Argyle St, Morningside. Scalded hands, face and leg.

William Albert Oram, greaser, 4 Fitzroy Street, Ponsonby. Scalded face, hands, forearms and legs.

Messrs Wyllie and Purcell were taken to their homes, and Messrs Pearson and Oram were sent to the hospital.

An examination of the engine was made this morning, but no definite cause could be found for the accident, which is considered to be of an unprecedented nature. The engine in which the blow-out occurred is an ordinary triple-expansion vertical stroke type, developing 820 horse-power, coupled to an electric generator. The machine had been in use for five years, and hitherto had given no trouble whatever. The portion of the engine in which the explosion actrually occurred contains the pistons and driving shaft cranks. In the bottom of this chamber a large quantity of lubicating oil collects, and it is thought possible that it was the effect of overheated bearings on the oil that caused the explosion, but until the whole of the engine is dismantled and thoroughly examined, the cause cannot be definitely explained.

The force of the explosion violently blew off and smashed the steel lid of the crank chamber, and shattered a solid iron bracket supporting a platform around the upper portion of the cylinders. The scalding-hot oil was thrown up against the bottom of the platform, and descended in a shower on the four injured men, who were engaged near the machinery.

An investigation of the accident is being made by engineers of the Government Machinery Inspection Department,

There will be no interference witrh the supply of current. The plant of the power-station includes four main engines and a turbine generator, and an ample supply of power will be available without the damaged engine.

Alexander Wyllie went on to become the Auckland Electric Power Board's first general manager and engineer from 1922. Unfortunately, he didn't live long enough to see the new power board develop its full potential.

From the Auckland Star, 6 June 1925.

Ten days ago, when he completed his annual report to the Auckland Electric Power Board, Mr Alexander Wyllie, the general manager, remarked, "Thank goodness, that is finished. I am going to have a rest." Mr Wyllie, who had been in poor health for some time past, then went home to bed, and did not leave it again, passing away last evening.

Born in Adelaide 55 years ago, Mr Wyllie went to Great Britain as a young man to complete his education, and he studied and worked under eminent engineers. He received an appointment as borough engineer of Walsall, Staffordshire, a position which he held until 1907, when he came to Auckland as Auckland city electrical engineer. He supervised and controlled the establishment and extension of the present electrical undertaking in Auckland, the first section of the plant being opened in 1908. The extensions that have since been made place the King's Wharf station in the front ranks as the most efficient steam-electric plant in the Dominion.

Mr Wyllie visited Great Britain in 1920, when it had been decided to add to the then existing plant, and he selected much of the machinery installed during the last two or three years. He was appointed general manager shortly after the Auckland Electric Power Board was constituted in 1922.

Mr Wyllie was a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He held an MA degree, and could speak several languages. On a number of occasions he lectured on scientific subjects before the Auckland Institute, of which he was a member. He was a member of the Rotary Club in Auckland, and until recently was associated with the French Club. Mr Wyllie is survived by one daughter.

From the Auckland Star, 8 June 1925

The esteem with which the late Mr Alexander Wyllie, general manager of the Auckland Power Board was held was demonstrated by the large number who paid him a last tribute of respect at the funeral yesterday. St Aidan's Church, Remuera, was filled at 2.30 pm when a short service was conducted by the Vicar, Rev J Wilkinson.

The chairman, members and staff of the Power Board were present, also representatives from various local bodies, and the Mayor of Auckland, Mr George Baildon, with members of the City Council. As the casket was carried from the church all present stood, and the "Dead March" in "Saul" was played by the organist. About 40 motor cars followed the hearse to Purewa Cemetery.

The King's Wharf power station, with which Alexander Wyllie was closely associated with during his career in Auckland, was demolished in 1971.

Perhaps someone should contact Mercury Energy, the successor to the Auckland Electric Power Board, and ask if they have some dosh available to help restore Mr and Mrs Wyllie's grave, seeing as he was a pioneer of our electricity system.

Once again, my thanks to Sandy for permission to use her images here.

A fire in Munster Road

Yet again, looking for something else entirely, I came across this article from the Auckland Star, 29 March 1939.

Fire destroyed an unoccupied four-roomed wooden dwelling in Munster Road, Avondale, shortly before three o'clock this morning. The building belonged to the estate of the late Mrs M A Irvine, and was insured for £200.

When the alarm was given from a street box some distance away from the blaze, the glare of the flames could be seen over a wide area, tongues of flame from the dry wood leaping high into the air.

The Mount Albert and Mount Roskill fire stations answered the call, but when the brigadesmen arrived nothing could be done to save the building, which was a mass of flame. It stood in an isolated part of the district and was some distance back from the road. No water was available, the nearest main being over 500 yards away.

The house, one of the oldest farmlet buildings in the district, had been empty for some time and contained no furniture.

It is believed that the outbreak was caused by the wind carrying sparks from the grounds where stumps were being burned out.

I wondered where in Avondale this fire had happened, in a place so remote that watyer supply had not yet reached it by 1939. So, first I ascertained where Munster Road is. Fortunately, a previous post here on the blog gave me the answer -- it's Maioro Street today (or, more properly, Maioro Street West, as a  new extension over Richardson Road now exists, leading to State Highway 20).

So, where on Maioro Street?

That involved a bit of trawling through LINZ survey plans for the road and surrounds. Maioro Street started out as East Street, the eastern-most extent of the old Avondale Road Board and Borough Council area. Most of the development for housing along that stretch started from the 1950s, so that would explain the description of isolation for the farmhouse in the article.

The northern side of Maioro Street West was originally part of 166 acres, Allotment 66 of the Parish of Titirangi, held by Dr Samuel Ford in May 1845. He sold it to a chap named Donnelly three years later, and in 1880, Donnely in turn sold the property to Robert Greenwood. Greenwood, using the services of formerly Invercargill-based but Auckland born surveyor Frederick Alexander Nutter (1859-1908) carved up his acquistion into farmlets in June 1881. [Ref: DP 131, LINZ records, detail below.]

 The farmlets fronting onto Maioro were:

No. 1 of 8 acres, 3 roods and 37 perches
No. 6 of 14 acres, 3 roods, 36 perches
No. 7 of 15 acres, 3 roods, 34 perches; and
No. 8, 12 acres, 5 perches.

No. 1 later came to be owned by the Dickey family from Penrose around 1918. Nos 6 and 7 were further subdivided in 1910. That left No. 8.

In November 1881, a butcher named Robert Perkin Pasco purchased the 12 acre farmlet. What he did with the land is not known. Possibly, he simply leased it out for income. The old farmhouse may well have dated from that time. Tight financial times with the Long Depression saw Pasco put the land in the name of his wife Louisa in 1887, but this move, in the face of mutiple mortgages outstanding on the property, proved futile. One of the mortgage holders from 1884, John Campbell, took control of the title and sold the land in 1892 to Elizabeth Ellen Kelly, wife of carpenter William Alexander Kelly.

The Kellys sold the property in 1900 to Devonport builder, Albert Edward Brookes. He used the property to take out a number of mortgages, before he died in 1906 and his widow, living in Mt Albert, inherited the site. In 1912, she sold the property to another widow: Margaret Amelia Irvine, the "M A Irvine" mentioned in the 1939 article.

The property was inherited by William Johnston Irvine, settler, and spinster Mary Amelia Annie Virginia Irvine, both from Mt Roskill, in 1928. Six acres were taken for state housing in 1953, some more for post and telegraph purposes, some for roading, and some, oddly, for a railway. A cul-de-sac called Cordelia Place was formed and dedicated in 1961, and it is there, at the end of Cordelia Place, in the front yards of nos 7 and 9, where I think that burned-out old farmhouse had once stood, judging by the 1940 aerial photographs available of that area.