Epsom substation

In amongst character villas and bungalows on The Drive in Epsom, stands this beauty-in-brick: the 1930 Epsom substation, built by the Auckland Electric Power Board.

The first substation in the district dated from 1917, on Manukau Road. But, according to the History of Epsom (Epsom & Eden District Historical Society, 2006), with increasing development in the area from the 1920s, it soon became imperative that a substation be built close to the main Balmoral Road.

The architect has yet to be determined, but my money would be on Wade & Bartley, designers of the power board's Queen Street offices also in 1930. It rates Cat II with NZ Historic Places Trust, and is scheduled B on the old Auckland City Council district plan.

Scandal in the RAW

Click to enlarge.

I've been asked to take part in the RAW (Records & Archives Week) event "Scandalous!" happening on May 1 at Archives New Zealand in Auckland.

After quite a bit of jaw-dropping and "oh, my gosh!" reactions from yours truly, I've plumped for the topic of dear old Mr Albert Potter.

Don't know how this will go, but -- I'll give it my best shot, folks.

The will of Thomas Henderson, merchant

One thing kept coming up time and again while I was actively researching the Thomas Henderson saga for Timber's Fortune, a particular challenge, of sorts, laid down by West Auckland local historian, Ben Copedo: where is Thomas Henderson's will?

I had no idea. Normal avenues like the probates collection at Archives New Zealand came up duck's egg. There was a will in Wellington office for a Thomas Henderson dated 1892 (just in case the probate was late, as the Thomas I was looking for died in 1886), but -- no.

Another problem was that Thomas Henderson's most well-known estate, Henderson's Mill and environs was, by the time he left this mortal coil, the property of the bank which had unpaid loans and mortgages they needed to recoup. Lots of titles and deeds references like this:

With someone else already laying claim to title before Thomas Henderson's decease, there's therefore no copy of a will written into the deeds books for example.  Certainly, he probably did have land elsewhere, I thought -- but that would be like looking for the needle in the proverbial. It could have been Wellington, or anywhere.

The breakthrough actually happened much closer to home.

Back in 1852, the Crown Grantee Shortland transferred Lot 19 of Section 8 of the City of Auckland to flour miller Henry Dangar. This site, on the other side of Wynyard Pier from Carr's Platform, may well have been that of the steam flour mill Dangar operated. In 1862, however, he transferred the land to ... Henderson & Macfarlane (Deed Index 1A.96) Now, I can't remember what put me onto this in the first place, but -- while the Bank of New Zealand and their Assets Realisation Board got control of Lot 19, a sliver of land in front on the seaward side, just 5 perches, was surveyed as a result of Beach Road going through, numbered 22, and Thomas Henderson received title in 1876 (title NA 12.246 above). And, somehow -- that sliver of land, in Thomas Henderson's own name, not that of the company, escaped the bank's claims.

On page 2 of the title, this entry:

Reference to a will! I'd been contacted recently by a Macfarlane descendant who asked about Henderson's will. I said none had been found, but -- that transmission reference was my last slender hope. So -- I ordered the transmission file from Land Information New Zealand.

I received the file electronically today. That last slender hope paid off.

Made out in 1872, Thomas Henderson's last known will, (.pdf copy) providing a legacy for his second wife Emma, his children, and any grandchildren. Thomas Henderson Jr. used it as proof of transmission of the Beach Road property to his name in 1891 -- the bank already claiming title in 1890.

In terms of trying to track the will down, then -- I reckon I was lucky the bank hadn't quite caught up with Mr Henderson before he breathed his last.

I've passed on the info to the West Auckland Historical Society today.

Visiting the Zoo, part 2

Further to this post.

I decided today to check out as much as I could of the rest of the zoo, this time first heading towards the older part of the zoo site.

This cabinet is used to hold info on the zoo's otters, and other stuff. This looks like an antique with a heck of a story, though. wonder where it came from?

 

Into the Australia section. Only animals seen were: two emus, a wallaby, and a peacock. Lots of pigeons, but, as I said to a zoo staffer there, "That's Kiwi birds getting in with the Aussies."

This emu was panting quite rapidly at the time. Hope it's okay.

Passing through one of the aviaries ...

Outside again, and sighting the old Elephant House, now a function centre.

Now, back where that old cabinet was, nary an otter could be seen. That's because they'd wisely headed off for shady parts of the stream like this one.

When the nearby Siamang monkeys started up with their hooting, one of the otters started up as well -- and kept a watchful eye on me with the camera.

Golden Lion Tamerins.

Just as I got a place to try a shot for one of the Siamangs, this one decided to be a bit of a star. Bang! against the window. After a bit of a hoot, he swumg off.

Then, I got the other one.

This houses a tarantula exhibit -- but, like the elephant house, may be a part of the old architecture. (Update, 16 April 2012 -- Liz has identified this as the old giraffe house, part of the zoo's original layout. Thanks, Liz!)

Lemur study.

Back at Pridelands, a lion encounter, where enrichment items are placed for the lions to have a go at. The zookeeper here (with lions safely shut away) explains how he has dropped bones, dribbled blood on the ground, hung a sack in the tree (containing, my friend Liz says, likely something like elephant poo), and a box (by his feet) of rhino piddle. Lions love rhino piddle. "Liquid gold to lions", so the keeper said. They like smelling like a rhino.

So, lions released, keeper over on the other side of the moat with us, and yes -- the rhino piddle-soaked box is top of the pops with the lionesses.

I shifted around to one of the view rooms. The windows were a bit mucky, but I managed a few shots of this lion thoroughly enjoying chewing on his bone.

Then, he ventured up top.

And smelled the flattened but still rhino-smelly, box.

Yes, indeed, lions love eau-de-rhino.

Further on, I was just beside Burma's quarters and area, taking a drink in the heat from a bottle, when I heard murmurs from the crowd -- and realised Burma the elephant and her keepers were heading my way. Quickly put the drink down, pull the camera out, get three shots ...

... and she was off around the circuit again. She moves fast, that elephant.

There are memorials to the late Kashin almost everywhere in the zoo.

Remember the old Elephant House earlier in the post? This is where Burma stays now.

Hippo spotting.

Life preservers at various spots throughout the zoo. I guess for those who really feel the need to cool off in strange waters.

One last shot of the lioness ...

... and it's "Goodbye" from the yellow gecko at the entrance.