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.

George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery sign

Finally, after seven years planning and cajoling, there is an interpretive sign outside the George Maxwell Memorial Cemetery. Back in 2002/2003, Lorraine Wilson, then Chairman of the Avondale Community Board, put forward a project for signs and plaques, as well as heritage bookles, for both Avondale and Blockhouse Bay. Well, things being as they are, the project got chopped up, redeveloped, evolved (put through the mincer at some point, I'm sure) and ended up being some small plaques along Avondale Mainstreet, along with a couple of signs on which they forgot to mention the Avondale-Waterview Historical Society until I kicked up a fuss. The third sign, which was supposed to be outside the cemetery, was dropped off, to my annoyance.

Then, in April 2010, along came Mayor Bob Harvey of Waitakere.

The Western Leader of 15 April had him on the front page, posing beside Daniel Pollen's grave, promising part of his Mayoral Fund to see Pollen was properly recognised, even though Rosebank wasn't part of his city (we're across the Whau Creek from him). Avondale Community Board got stirred up, so -- I took the opportunity of suggesting that, seeing as the cemtery had hit the press, how about that old sign proposal from 2003, eh? Some more suggestions, gentle nudges, I did up some text from Avondale-Waterview Historical Society records, some of my stuff on the cemetery dating back to 2001 ... and here we have it.

The sign is on the Orchard Street side, just by the entrance gate.

The artwork for the AWHS logo above, by the way, was by my good friend Liz, now known for her Mad Bush Farm blog. So, there's the work of two Kiwi bloggers on the sign.

Thank you, Bob Harvey, for speaking up for Pollen's grave. At last, we have our sign!

Getting cooked atop Mt Albert

The story of how I came to resemble a lobster in the January Auckland sun yesterday started shortly before Christmas, when a local telly programme production company contacted me to ask how folks can research the history of their property. When they realised that's what I do for a crust, they then asked if they could interview me. For a telly programme. I said, "Sure, why not?", fairly well sure that such would never happen.

Well, it did. And yesterday, it involved sitting atop Mt Albert/Owairaka, at the Owairaka Domain, while answering questions. The photo above is of the trig station at the top of the mountain (one of Auckland's extinct and badly worn away volcanic cones). Below, a boulder I'll talk about in a moment. I was sitting in the long grass and weeds, for an hour plus, down below and to the right side of that boulder, roughly.

Not the telly production peoples' fault I was sitting there so long and came home with fiery face. It was necessary to wait for the police helicopter to quit doing slow turns around the mountain, and the police were there because the time of the recording for the programme just happened to be when two deaths were discovered in Stilwell Road, just down from the mountain.

Anyway -- I thought that if I'm up there all that time, I'd get something for the blog while I was at it. Sadly, it looks like I'm too late for whatever might have been fixed to the bluestone boulder. By the looks of it, something was there, but it isn't anymore.

There is an interpretive panel for the Maori heritage of the mountain -- but I'd like to see something telling people about the ballast pit up here, the way the cone was carved away for roading all around the district, more on the reservoirs up here (and their link with the aquifer system which stretches right through to Pt Chevalier). Stuff like that. Maybe that's what the missing sign on the rock said. I just don't know.

Horse-Car days in Auckland

 Observer,30 October 1897

From Auckland Star, 29 March 1939.

In the old days when horse-cars were the means of public transit in Auckland, conductors and drivers were jolly men.

In those days the conductor used a bell punch to mark and register the tickets sold, which were in coloured ribbon form, and often at the same time parodied Mark Twain's well known verse:-

Punch, brothers, punchy, punch with care,

Punch in the presence of the passengers;

A red strip slip for a threepence fare,

A blue strip slip for a twopence fare.

The first horse-drawn tramway to be completed was the line from the Waitemata Hotel [Customs/Queen Street] to the Ponsonby Reservoir, and service commenced on August 11 1884. It continued until Auckland's electric tram system was inaugurated on November 17, 1902. The reservoir tram took the route by way of Wellesley Street West, Hobson and Pitt Streets, and was later extended to Three Lamps, Ponsonby, from where a one-horse "jigger" service supplied a penny ride to Wallace Street. The only other service -- which came later -- was by way of Wellesley Street East, Symonds Street, Khyber Pass and Newmarket to the present Epsom tram barns.

The first horses used for drawing the trams came from Wanganui and were a fine team, all possessing good blood and breeding. Later horses suitable for the work were bred in the Waikato until the late 'nineties when they were imported from Australia. As the Australian horses cost only £1 per head plus £1 for freight, the New Zealand horse trade was killed.

These horses were wild and unbroken, having been driven straight in from the Queensland  runs. Trace horses were used in Wellesley Street to assist in drawing the heavily-laden cars up the grade, the animals being well fed on chaff, oats and bran with crushed maize or crushed pease, a ration of 15lb being allowed each horse each day. The drivers had whips called "spring tops" made of cane, whalebone and whipcord, which made hair and hide fly.

On both routes, towards the finish of the horse-car days, a total of 34 cars and 12 buses were used. At first there were two double-decker cars but, owing to their extra height and short length, it was feared that in case of a sudden stop on a heavy grade they might capsize, killing or injuring either passengers or horses. For that reason they were discarded.

The largest cars were licensed to carry 22 passengers inside and seven on each platform, but sometimes, especially at times of race meetings or football matches, the cars were so crowded that passengers climbed onto to and rode on the roofs.

There were no uniforms as we know them to-day, and every man dressed as he pleased -- or rather, as his wife pleased. The conductor blew a whistle to stop or start the cars, which could pull up anywhere for passengers, as there were no regular stopping places.

Bad weather was a trial in those days. It was reasonable enough for the passengers, who were protected by the blinds let down when the rain came on -- but the conductor earned his money, as he had to crawl around the outside step, lean in and reach across to collect the fares.

Many of the "old-timers" are still in the service of the Auckland Transport Board. Mr S M Farrelly, who joined the service in 1898, is stores supervisor at headquarters. The chief inspector, Mr G S Elliott, is another horse-car veteran. Among others still in the service are Messrs T Auckram, W J Kirkwood, C Halley, W Neville, J A Hearling, E Watson, J A Beacham, Charles Burns, and W St John Clarke. Other members, since either retired or in other lines of business, are W Richardson, W Haynes, A McGuire, Henry Reid, A H Olney, J Glynn, P McElwain, O Jensen, C A Harris, E Street, C Nankurvis, T H Collecutt, George Fowler, H Fulcher, S Rosser, T J Parvin, A P Caddy, G T Parvin, T A Johnson, W J Kidd (whose father was once manager of the tramways company), Colin Stichbury and James Cox -- all of Auckland. J Gorman, another ex-employee, is now in Sydney.

Presbyterian Archives blog

Just received a lovely email from Presbyterian Archives in Dunedin, alerting me to a post they've put up on their blog on the history of Pukekohe East Church (I included photos of the church in a 2008 post here). I wasn't aware of their blog before -- so, onto the sidebar list it goes as a link. If ever I get to visit Dunedin (and I hope to), Presbyterian Archives is one place I'd like to visit, so I can pop in and thank them for all the help they've given me over the years. They have a wonderful and friendly service.

Owairaka-Mt Albert Heritage Walks booklet

The latest addition to the Auckland Council "family of brochures" series featuring walks and information related to the heritage of areas on the Auckland Isthmus. This one was compiled and written by Carron Boswell, who has also worked on a history of the Sandringham Community Centre, and is the newsletter editor for the Mt Albert Historical Society. Ngati Whatua o Orakei Ltd prepared a Maori history of the area for the booklet. I did a bit of work toward it, but only in a supplementary, supporting role. Brochure preparation and printing was coordinated by Matthews and Matthews Architects.

The walks are:

Farm and Ballast Pit Walk, Genteel Mt Albert Walk, The People's Walk, and Mt Albert Shopping Centre Walk.

Copies available via the libraries.

Walking tour of Oakley Creek

I've just received an email heads up from Wendy John of the Friends of Oakley Creek -- this video, from "Anywhere Auckland", shows you the Oakley Creek walkway in Waterview and our wonderful waterfall.

"Ye Olde Pirate Shippe", Milford, by David Verran

Spotting this piece on the Milford "Pirate Shippe" in the latest newsletter from the North Shore Historical Society, I asked for permission to reproduce it on the blog. David Verran has very kindly said yes. Thanks, David!

His book, by the way, The North Shore, an illustrated history, is a wonderful collection of North Shore heritage images, mixed in with David's writing on various aspects and themes around the story of the North Shore.

Lasting from just January 1929 to 1957, this iconic Milford institution lives on in the memories of many on the North Shore. The building itself was shaped like a ship, hence the name, and offered dance halls, a restaurant and tearooms. Nearby was a swimming pool and of course Milford Beach wasn’t far away either.

Visitors from the city side caught a Devonport Steam Ferry Company ferry and then a North Shore Transport Company bus to get to and from the ‘Shippe’. Those means of transport and the destination were all owned by the Alison family. However, many others travelled to and from the ‘Shippe’ from all over the North Shore using their own transport. Buses to Milford from Northcote or Birkenhead or the more rural areas of Glenfield, Albany and the East Coast Bays were practically non-existent.

Dance bands performing at the ‘Pirate Shippe’ were of such a high standard that the National Broadcasting Service broadcast their performances on the radio in the 1930s. There was also a ‘Pirate Shippe Orchestra’.

Fletcher Construction originally built the ‘Shippe” for the Milford Amusement Company, but the Devonport Steam Ferry Company bought both the ‘Shippe’ and surrounding land in the early 1930s. In the mid 1950s, ownership was transferred to the Takapuna Borough Council, in exchange for the Devonport Steam Ferry Company receiving land near the Milford shopping centre. I am told that the New Zealand Army got the contract to demolish the now deserted building in 1957.

Chris Bourke’s new book Blue smoke; the lost dawn of New Zealand popular music 1918 – 1964 (Auckland University Press, 2010) has some wonderful stories and a 1950 photograph of the ‘Pirate Shippe Orchestra’. My The North Shore; an illustrated history also has details and photographs.

Both Takapuna and Auckland Central Libraries have copies of New Zealand Memories and pages 598 to 600 of Volume Two, 1997, include an article by Jacqueline Crompton Ottaway featuring both her and her mother’s fond memories of the ‘Shippe’.

David Verran.

When they found Charles Dickson's headstone ...

... in 1927, it was proclaimed "An Historic Discovery" and a "Link with Early Auckland".

An historic discovery was made in the Grafton Bridge Cemetery this morning by Mr A Bond, sexton, who unearthed from a thick bush of ivy creeper a headstone which dated back to 1851, a period of 75 years.

The stone, a slab 3ft 6in by 2ft 3in, is Mount Eden blue stone, and the inscription was worked with quaint originality. It read: "Sacred to the memory of Charles Dickson, Esq., son of the late Major-General, Sir Jeremiah Dickson, KCB, died, 6th October, 1851, aged 28 years."

The cemetery is 77 years old, and the fact that the headstone has been in place for 75 years is taken to mean that it was probably the first monument erected over a grave in that cemetery.

For many years the headstone lay on its face, the inscription to the ground, and the ivy creeper in time completely covered it. It was only while cutting down the ivy to-day that Mr Bond came across the stone. He raised it and found the inscription in as good condition as if it had been completed to-day. The workmanship was crude, in the sense of spacing and punctuation, but apart from that it stands as an excellent idea of what the stone masons of early Auckland could accomplish.

A well known stone mason stated this morning that there was nothing like the stone in Auckland. It was the original Mount Eden blue stone and was, in his opinion, the first stone erected.

Auckland Star, 10 February 1927

How did poor Mr Dickson die at so young an age?

An Inquest was held on Tuesday last, at the New Leith Inn, Onehunga, before Wm. Davies, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Charles Dixon [sic], Esq. It appeared from the evidence produced that the deceased fell from his horse as he was riding towards Onehunga, between 8 and 9 o'clock on Monday evening, and was found by James Magee, the Ranger of the Hundred of Onehunga, about 10 o'clock, who had him conveyed to the New Leith Inn. The last place at which he was seen alive was at Mr. Tye's, Epsom. Dr. Warrington stated, he had made a post mortem examination of the body, and that the cause of death was Apoplexy, arising from the rupture of a large vessel at the base of the brain. The Jury returned their verdict accordingly. 

 Southern Cross, 10 October 1851

The bad news is that this important early headstone is gone. Section A of the Anglican section of the cemetery, where Dickson was buried, was carved away for the motorway, and his disinterred, cremated then reinterred remains are now part of the Anglican Memorial at the cemetery. Hopefully, somewhere, there's a photo. Instances like this remind me why we're lucky to have Sandy around.

Tanner Bros photos of Auckland

One day, some time ago, I spotted a tiny envelope in a secondhand bookstore (regular visitors to Timespanner will know that secondhand bookstores are my drug, and every so often I weaken ... quite badly ...). Anyway, the envelope was a wee collection of "Real Photographs for your Snapshot Album" from Auckland, New Zealand, by Tanner Bros Ltd.

The best I can find about Tanner Bros is from here. Apparently, they were a Wellington firm, established around 1904, with branches in Auckland and London. The Maori motif border reminds me a lot of cheap and obiquitous souvenir shops in Rotorua from the late 1970s -- but these images, I'd say, date from the 1930-1950 period.

Ah, Partington's Mill. Over 60 years since it was removed from Auckland City's skyline, just the mere mention of it is enough to make local historians grind teeth and mutter, "They never should have removed the mill!" All we have is art, images of its destruction ... and advertisements. This one (below) from the Auckland Star, 7 May 1930.

Back to the Tanner photos. Savage Memorial, Bastion Point.

Auckland War Memorial Museum, and Robbie Burns Statue, in the Domain.

Auckland's Ferry Building. One of my favourites in the city.

The Tea Kiosk in the Domain is a remnant of the 1913-1914 Auckland Exhibition.

Winter Gardens, Domain.

Auckland, when it was still a quarter-acre paradise. More or less ...

A Thursday afternoon (medical) matinee

From the Auckland Star, 5 March 1915. The site of this rather different film showing, the Lyric Theatre, was once on Upper Symonds Street, built in 1911. It later became the New Lyric from 1926, then the State from 1935. It was demolished in the 1990s, apparently for road widening.

About forty doctors and the same number of nurses attended a special exhibition of medical films held at the Lyric Theatre yesterday afternoon at the invitation of Hayward's Picture Enterprises, Ltd. A number of films were shown, the most interesting being one taken and circulated by the officials of Sydney Hospital, showing an operation for the cleaning of tuberculosis material from the pleural cavity adjoining the lungs. The surgeons hands were not shown, but the patient was depicted at the various stages of the operation and full explanations of the procedure were thrown on the screen at intervals. 

The principal interest of the operation which is a well-known one, was in the fact that the anaesthetic was adminstered by intra trachal inhalation, i.e. pumped into the lungs under pressure. This method of administration makes the lungs considerable more active during the period of insensibility.

Apparatus for administering anaesthetics by this method has recently been imported intro New Zealand, but has been very little used in Auckland. Several other films were also shown including one dealing with the drug "salvarsan" and others with the X rays. These latter were taken from a stock of special films owned by Hayward's Enterprises. '

The exhibition was held under the auspices of the British Medical Association, and the doctors present expressed their thanks to the management of the theatre.

Electrifying Auckland, 1908-1925

A good summary here from the NZ Herald, 4 May 1925, of the initial steps taken to bring electricity to Auckland homes last century.

The completion of large extensions to the Auckland Electrical Power Board's main section on King's Wharf, together with the completion of the board's new offices in Quay Street, will bve marked on Wednesday by an official opening ceremony. This has been arranged in order that members of the public may have an opportunity of seeing for themselves the development in the board's activities which has taken place in the last few years, and may obtain an accurate idea of the scope of the present operations.

It is now 19 years since the question of commencing an electrical supply in Auckland was first raised, and in the early part of 1908 the City Council opened a power station in Freeman's Bay on the destructor site. The station was run in conjunction with the destructor department, and the plant consisted of two steam generators of 300 hp each. When the station was opened, mains had been laid in about a dozen of the principal city streets, while 105 applications had been received. Development was limited by the size of the station, and for some years the demand was not very great, but in 1909 the City Council decided to build a complete new station on the waterfront next to King's Wharf, and this was formally opened in 1913.

The next feature in the growth of electricity in Auckland was the generating of the whole of the electrical requirements of the city and suburbs from the King's Wharf station, and this meant the closing down of the tramway power house in Hobson Street as a generating station. This was done in 1920.

A most important proposal was made in the following year, when it was suggested that the city and the surrounding local bodies should amalgamate and form one Power Board to control the whole area. The City Council's plant was purchased by the new board, which first sat in April, 1922.

The tremendous task of reticulating its area was then commenced by the board, as the system at that time extended only through the city area and in a small portion of Mount Eden. A loan of £600,000 [around $45.5 million today] was authorised and now supply is available throughout practically the whole of the city area, Mount Eden, Mount Albert, One Tree Hill, Ellerslie, Newmarket, Onehunga, a large section of Mount Roskill and Avondale, while work is proceeding in Mangere, Point Chevalier, New Lynn, Penrose, Otahuhu and outward toward the southern boundary of the district.

The hydro-electric supply from Arapuni is expected to be available in three years' time, but the board has been forced to make further extensions to the plant owing to the rapidly increasing demand for power. This additional plant had been delivered and erected at the main station, and it is anticipated that the 33,500 horse-power from the station, together with a supply of 5500 horse-power fromm Horahora, will be sufficient until the Arapuni current arrives.

The cost of the King's Wharf station and equipment is 530,000, and the maximum output at any one time recorded to the present is 17,500 horse-power. There are three 500 kilowatt units, one 3000, and the old plant of 5000. The present load is about 14,000 kilowatts, but the station has a capacity of 20,000 kilowatts.

The electrical power is transmitted from this station to various outlying sub-stations in the case of alternating current, and in the case of the direct supply current by means of feeders to points on the network. Work is already in hand to alter the design of the distribution system for the area in which direct current is supplied, and ultimately each sub-station will feed its separate and defined areas.

One of the best and most up-to-date sub-stations of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere is that at Hobson Street, which was the original generating station for the city tramways. The other sub-stations are at Kingsland, Newmarket, Epsom, Ponsonby and Penrose. The last named is the main Government sub-station to receive power from Arapunui. A site has been secured in Beresford Street for a new sub-station.

The board is now supplying over 22,500 customers, and new services are being connected at a rate of 120 per week. The new offices close to the main station are now in occupation, a cash-receiving office and showroom has been opened in Wellesley Street and other offices have been opened at Onehunga and Otahuhu.

Gapminder world data

I found this elsewhere in the Net: Gapminder, a collection of graphic data, set to animation using Flash. One interesting bit is the Wealth & Health of Nations. Countries of the world are coloured according to region, and laid out on the graph as to where they were in 2009 in the basis of income versus life expectancy. Fascinating to watch is where New Zealand and Australia are isolated out on the checklist on the right, and then after clicking "Play" down below the graph, you can see how the two nations managed from 1800 through to 2009. Basically, we're fairly close together, improving in health and wealth from c.1870, with Australia finally outpacing us around a hundred years later. Watch countries drop suddenly and then recover as time progresses and epidemics and wars take effect.

There's a YouTube video here.

Provincial Councillors, and the turpentine cat

I recently borrowed a copy of Tom Walsh's 1924 A Story of Devonport and the Old North Shore. The following isn't about the North Shore at all, but sprang from part of an article included by Walsh, called "Early Government", to do with the Auckland Provincial Council.

"Fourth Superintendent, Mr John Williamson, defeated Mr J A Gilfillan, 28/10/56-18/8/57. The sixth session called for 9/12/56 was noticeable for the strained relations between the Superintendent and the Council, which culminated in both the Council and the Superintendent issuing writs for the filling of a seat vacant through resignation. The two members who were elected both claimed the seat, and on one occasion the Council was locked up for a night and a day in connection with the wrangle. During the night that bugbear of politicians, the "mob", gathered outside the Council Chamber and hurled stones at the building, and as confidence grew pushed through an open window a cat with a tin of turpentine tied to its tail."

Well, not exactly correct, but I'd say Walsh was having just as much difficulty sorting through the bizarre politics of that summer of 1856-1857.

On an Auckland summer’s day, 17 February 1857, the Provincial Council was in session. A division was called for, and as per the rules, the doors were duly locked. The Speaker couldn’t accept the division lists, however, because there were 25 members present, instead of the required 24. The lists were returned to the tellers for a recount – but the tellers couldn’t come to an agreement. The Speaker couldn’t order the doors to be unlocked until the vote was decided, and he couldn’t decide the vote because there was one too many Council members – so the doors stayed locked. Retiring members could have counted themselves out, but didn’t; and the Speaker could have retired from the chair, also solving the impasse, but – he stoutly refused. The only option left seemed for the Speaker to become so exhausted that he would be forced to retire the chair. Or tumble from it, asleep, whichever came soonest.

A member from the Southern Division of the Province hoped to anger the Speaker so much he would leap up, affronted – and so retire by absence. The member accused the Speaker of partisanship, “in a manner most offensive”. It didn’t work. The Speaker remained in his seat until Wednesday afternoon. Then, as soon as he rose, the doorkeeper unlocked the doors and the weary members gathering up their makeshift bedding and tottered out into the sun.

On Thursday, it all started again, the Speaker “prepared for all contingencies, and would have been able to keep his seat … until released by the dawning of Sunday, should his duty require him so to do.” But there was still the same problem – one too many members.

The numbers problem with an bi-election during the term of the fourth session of the Provincial Council. One of the members, one for Auckland Suburbs, resigned. At the bi-election, the result was disputed, the victor being challenged by a petitioner who called foul. The victor, David Graham, resigned, “seeing a clear case against him”, and the Superintendent, without consulting the Council, accepted the resignation, and called for another election. But – the Council disagreed and voted acceptance of Graham as a member of the Council, the Speaker refused to put “an illegal question” on the Council rescinding their voted support for Graham, and at the two-candidate election (Daniel Pollen was the unsuccessful candidate), William Crush Daldy was duly elected to the same seat occupied by David Graham.

The Provincial Law Officer advised that the extra seat given to David Graham was an absurdity, but the issue was a political one: that of some members of the Council (called the “privilege party”) versus the Superintendent’s party.

Provincial Acts remained unsigned, the Speaker unable to do so because of the illegality of the extra Council member. Hugh Carleton for the Bay of Islands then put the spanner in the works even further – he called for an adjournment. Which was something that needed to be voted on, and a division was called. And the doors locked once again …

Some members of the Privilege party scarpered out the doors before they were locked. The division was called, the tellers couldn’t agree, and the Speaker stuck fast to his chair. The Superintendent’s party tried every which way to get him to retire from the chair, so that a temporary chairman could be installed, vital legislation approved, before the Superintendent called a halt to the session and prorogued it. From outside, apples were thrown in through the windows, and the members inside went scurrying after them. in a near riot Amidst banging and ringing and general uproar, a mob gathered outside the Council chambers, and a cat, with a tin of turpentine tied to her tail, was thrown into the room, dashing madly with her highly flammable attachment amongst the candles. The members and staff caught the cat in time, but through the night the wooden building was pelted by stones as the furore continued within. The Southern Cross writer felt sure at one stage a sledgehammer was being pounded to keep the Speaker awake.

But, the Speaker stood up to the punishment, and didn’t falter. Friday afternoon came – whatever his preparations had been, they appeared to have left him looking almost as fresh as a daisy.

Williamson, the Superintendent, had had enough, though. He issued the following statement.

Superintendent's Office, Auckland, February 20, 1857.

MESSAGE No. 51.

The Superintendent learns with deep regret that, at a moment when questions of high import to the public interests demand the immediate consideration of the Representatives of the Province, the action of the Provincial Council is arrested upon a point of order, and that there is no immediate probability that the Council will be permitted to relieve itself from its present embarrassment. Under these circumstances the Superintendent proposes to assume the responsibility of carrying on the business of the Province, and of actively prosecuting the several public works, pending the passing of the Appropriation Act for the year, in order that the present favourable season may not be lost, and that the distress which would inevitably be produced by throwing a large number of workmen out of employment may be averted. In the hope that upon mature reflection a better understanding amongst the members of the Council may be speedily arrived at. The Superintendent has resolved to prorogue the Provincial Council, and has accordingly issued the Proclamation which is transmitted herewith.

J Williamson, Superintendent.

Source: Southern Cross, from December 1856 to February 1857