ARANUI

&

WAINONI
History
Christchurch, New Zealand.
By Tim Baker

ARANUI &WAINONI
HISTORY Christchurch, New Zealand.
Written, researched and
published by

Timothy David Baker

19 Lenton Street, Aranui,
Christchurch.

ISBN 978-0-473-12705-3
COPYRIGHT 2007
Tim, Ruth, Kimberley and David Baker 2007.
I have lived all my life in Aranui. My parents came out from England in 1963 and soon after bought a new
house in Tomrich Street, Aranui. In 1996 I began a career as a Real Estate Consultant (agent), specialising in
the Aranui and Wainoni areas. Then in 1999 having purchased my first computer and scanner, I thought it
would be a good idea to spend my spare time for the next six months researching and writing a booklet of the
history of Aranui and Wainoni. I had no idea that there was so much to discover and six months became seven
years and six months.
In 2002 I discovered Professor Bickerton and his home at Wainoni. The tuberculosis sanatorium, commune,
fireworks, Wainoni Park, the zoo and so much more that in 2004 this became a separate book of 84 pages
including 100 photographs, (see chapter 5).
I have focused mainly on the very early days, to about 1960. However, some parts are later because they
continue on from earlier history. Perhaps one day I will continue a second book of more recent history of
Aranui and Wainoni.
One hard decision was drawing boundaries. Aranui and Wainoni cross boundaries, partly because of the
Wainoni Block, as shown in chapter 37. Avondale and part of Avonside in the past was part of Wainoni,
adding to this difficulty. I have included some maps to show suburb changes. Until 1911, Aranui didnt exist as
a suburb but was part of the wider New Brighton. In 1882, Professor Bickerton named his property now
Bickerton Street, Wainoni and the surrounding area has been referred to as Wainoni since. The time Wainoni
became an official suburb is still not clear.
One regret I have is not being able to find much pre-European history of the area. I hope one day soon
somebody will research and write about the Maori and the Moa or perhaps earlier.
I trust you the reader will be surprised to read of the many personalities and events from the Aranui and
Wainoni districts and that there is a rich history to be proud of.
Thanking all the people for their help with providing me with stories, photographs, books, maps and other
information is a hard task. In 1999 when I began gathering information for a booklet, I didnt record where I
got some photographs, information, booklets etc. from, as I thought I would remember. I had no idea what I
was getting into. I have acknowledged people in each chapter, but I know I have missed some names out.
I apologize for not remembering or acknowledging everybody.
I am also aware that a small amount of mistakes may have been made in the accuracy of the dates in some
parts; some resources I have referred to had conflicting information, but I have endeavoured to make the dates
and events as accurate as possible.
My thanks go to Christine Baker and Barbara Warren for proof reading this book and to Vaughan Ratahi for the
many hours he spent editing the DVD. which complements this book.

Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
INDEX

Page 3
Page 11
Page 23
Page 33
Page 41
Page 47
Page 51
Page 63
Page 67
Page 71
Page 77
Page 79
Page 87
Page 91
Page 95
Page 101
Page 105
Page 111
Page 117
Page 127
Page 137
Page 145
Page 151
Page 157
Page 161
Page 167
Page 175
Page 187
Page 191
Page 195
Page 197
Page 205
Page 207
Page 209
Page 215
Page 225
Page 233
Page 243
Page 251
Page 261

Maps and Stone's Street Directory.

Centennial Booklet 1852-1952.
Peter Kerr and descendants.
Tram tracks from 1887-1952.
Professor Bickertons Wainoni.
Tuberculosis Sanatoriums.
A big house named Littleover.
The Duthie Family 1913-1968.
161 Pages Road and Millers.
H.F. Stevens - Wholesale druggist.
Denson/Lovett Family - Marlow Road.
Breezes and Rowses Roads - East.
St Ambrose Anglican Church.
Aranui School. (Primary)
Churches in Aranui and Wainoni.
New Brighton Golf Links 1910-1919.
Leonard Cockayne and the White Family.
The Pannell Family.
Ted and Mabel Howard.
Stores and Shops.
Breezes Road - Pages Road West Corner.
Wirihana Wilson.
Lucy Larcombe - nee Smith.
Aranui Community Hall.
Rhodes Family and the Arctic Shoe Company.
Sport. (Also see chapter 16 - New Brighton Golf Links and Chapter 27 & 28)
Aranui Speedway 1949-1959 (and the Priest Family).
Wainoni Amateur Speedway 1949-1953.
Port Christchurch 1906-1934.
Richard Pearse - the first man to fly.
307 Pages Road - McHaffie - Aranui Motor Camp.
Bettaplants Nursery since 1934.
Fred and Vilma Greens, green fingers.
Fire and Snow.
Aranui War Memorial, (Aranui Playcentre and Scout building), Wainoni Scouts and Soldiers of the area.
Sandilands, Canadian Block and Cuffs Road.
Wainoni Block.
Jock Mathison M.P.
Houses. (Then and now.)

Chapter 1:

Maps and Stones Street Directory.

There would have been few European people living in this area in 1856. Although a lot of the Aranui and
Wainoni areas was sandhills you can also see the details of swamps, ponds and native plants on this map.
Eventually the ponds and swamps were drained and the sand hills levelled.

There is no date on this map. Joshua Page, (Pages Road), bought just over 14 acres of land numbered 28598 on
this map. In 1893 he sold a little more than an acre to the Stevens family. This is located on the corner of Pages
Road and Shortland Street, (see chapter 10). This map is likely to be dated in the 1880s or early 1890s.

5
In 1912 the Aranui district which was a one mile radius from the Pages and Breezes Roads intersection, had
just 50-60 families in it.
The book Along the hills by James Watson, page 119, states that in 1921 Aranui had a population of 80
people, in 1926 - 353, in 1945 it had 404 people. In 1926 Wainoni had a population of only 19 residents and in
1945 - 307.

Because Onslow Street hasnt changed name to Ottawa Road and because Lenton Street has changed from
Lenton Road it makes this map hard to date but I think it is about 1930.

6
Left: Corners of Pages, Marlow
and Breezes Roads. 1920
Edwin Rowse bought the land on
the corner of Pages and Breezes
Roads and built a general store.
He named it the Sunnydale Store,
(see chapter 20).

Below: Part of a wall map with

no date. It is likely to be the
1930s or 1940s.

7
The confusion over suburb
names and boundaries is not
new. The Wainoni Block
developed in the late 1950s and
early 1960s has long been
referred to as Aranui. The Aranui
Block on this map has sometimes
been referred to by Real Estate
people as Bexley. Rubbish!
Where the Wainoni and Aranui
boundaries meet is a very hard
question to answer. I dont think
there has ever been a line drawn.
The Aranui Hotel, (see chapter
38), now called the McKenzie
Hotel, was built and named in
1969.

1953

Archives New Zealand.

I cant pin point when Wainoni

first became a suburb name, It
may have been as late as the late
1950s or early 1960s. Professor
Bickerton, (see chapter 5),
named his property, now
Bickerton Street, Wainoni. Wai
water, noni bend or curve, bend
in the water, where the Avon
river bends around what is now
Porritt Park. Since the 1880s the
area was referred to as Wainoni.
Aranui on the other hand was
named after a house that was on
Pages Road near to Breezes
Road. Later a shop was built onto
the front of the house. The shop
was known as Blackmores then
Mussins. The Tram loop was
outside the house and was
referred to as the Aranui Loop.
This was where the trams could
pass each other as there was just
one track with trams going in
both directions. Another loop by
Rowan Avenue was called the
Wirihana loop after William
Wilson. Wilson translating to
Wirihana, owned the big house
on the corner of Rowan Avenue
and Rowses Road, (see chapter 22).

The name Aranui first appears on

the 1911 Aranui School photograph, (see chapter 14).
During 2006 and 2007, the Post
Office decided to group suburbs
together under one suburb name.
They have tried to make Aranui
disappear. I hope this book
inspires the post office to
reconsider this unthoughtful
decision.

The Press Saturday September 19th page 16.

This subdivision was named Avondale when it was developed.

The following is from the Stones Directory 1928. Wainoni as a suburb didnt exist until a later date. Cuffs
Road and Onslow Street, (now Ottawa Road), is in Sandilands. The Returned Servicemen's housing on Pages
Road opposite Woodham Road is in the area called Sandilands, (see chapter 36).
Burton RoadRowan Avenue
Lynton RoadLenton Street, probably a spelling mistake
Onslow StreetOttawa Road
Rowse RoadRowses Road

10
Aranui and Wainoni street names (2007). English Block is the Wainoni Block and connecting streets, (see chapter 37).
Canadian Block, (see chapter 36).
? Means the origin is not known for sure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.

Aldershot Street
Ariel Place
Baffin Street
Basingstoke Street
Ben Rarere Street
Betty Place
Bournemouth Crescent
Breezes Road
Brockenhurst Street
Carisbrooke Street
Carteret Place
Carters Road
Casquet Lane
Channel Place
Cheriton Street
Corhampton Street
Cornet Lane
Cuffs Road
Cuthberts Road
Dolamore Place
Doreen Street
Esk Place
Eureka Street
Farnborough Street
Fir Tree Lane
Gosport Street
Guernsey Street
Hampshire Street
Helanca Avenue
Huron Street
Kerrs Road
Knightsbridge Lane
Lenton Street
Leonie Place
Lyn Christie Place
Lyndhurst Crescent
Marlow Road
Mattingley Street
McHaffies Place
Meon Street
Merrington Street
Netley Place
Niagara Street
Nugent Street
Odie Place
Ontario Place
Ottawa Street - Onslow Street
Pages Road
Pannell Avenue
Pateley Lane
Portchester Street
Portsmouth Street
Purbeck Place
Quebec Place
Rosanna Place
Rowan Avenue - Burton Road
Rowses RoadRowse Road
Sandown Crescent
Shortland Street
Solent Place
Soberton Street
St Heliers Crescent
Tahuna Street
Te Rama Place
Tomrich Street
Twynham Place
Vancouver Crescent
Ventnor Crescent
Wainoni Road
Warblington Street
Wildwood Avenue
Wimborne Crescent
Winchfield Street
Winnipeg Place
Woodlands Place
Yarmouth Street

English Block.
? Place names in America, Sudan and Argentina and a brand of English motorbike.
Canadian Block.
English Block.
Local resident, (see chapter 37).
?
English Block.
John Breezes, (see chapter 12).
English Block.
English Block.
? Place name in Lower Normandy, France.
Alfred Carter, (see chapter 35).
? The name of an underwater weather station in the Channel Islands.
Channel Island where Mr C.J. de la Mare came from. He developed the area, (see chapter 12).
English Block.
English Block.
Castle Cornet in Guernsey, (see chapter 12).
Cornelius Cuff, (see chapter 36).
Edwin Cuthbert, Engineer and Secretary of the Christchurch Drainage Board.
? Somebodys surname.
?
? Name of a river in U.K. and place name in Queensland, Australia .
English Block.
English Block.
Fir trees grew in that part of the area when developed.
English Block.
Island in the Channel Islands, (see chapter 12).
English Block.
Name of a nylon used for clothing manufacturing at Lane Walker Rudkin in Helanca Ave during the 1960s.
Canadian Block.
Peter Kerr, (see chapter 3).
? Charlotte Knight, (see chapter 4), or the place name in England.
? Place name in Lincolnshire, England.
? Place name in France, .
Member of the Christchurch City Council when the area was developed in the 1970s.
English Block.
? Place name in Buckinghamshire in England.
English Block.
Gilbert McHaffie, (see chapter 31).
English Block name of a river.
? Place name in Shropshire, England.
Place in Hampshire, England.
Canadian Block.
? Place in Tasmania, Australia.
Odie Kerr, (see chapter 3).
Canadian Block.
Ottawa conference, (see chapter 36) Onslow - ?
Joshua Page, (see chapter 31).
Pannell Family, (see chapter 18).
? Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, England, (see chapter 12).
English Block.
English Block.
English Block.
Canadian Block.
? Place name in Victoria, Australia.
Rowan Trees, (see chapter 27). G.K. Burton a well known member of the Heathcote County Council.
William Rowse, (see chapter 12).
English Block.
?
English Block.
Place in Hampshire England.
St Helier is the capital of Jersey, part of Channel Islands, (see chapter 12).
Fireworks, (see chapter 5).
The Lightto do with Bickertons fireworks, (see chapter 5).
Thomas Richards, (see chapter 35).
English Block.
Canadian Block.
English Block.
Professor Bickerton named it, (see chapter 5).
Place name in Hampshire, England.
Name of the Kerrs horse, (see chapter 3).
English Block.
English Block.
Canadian Block.
? There were a lot of old pine trees in this area, likely to have been planted by John Breeze, (see chapter 12).
English Block.

11

Chapter 2: Centennial

Booklet 1852-1952

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14

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16

17

18

19

20

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23

Chapter 3:

Peter Kerr and descendants

Paerarekanui
(Styx River)
Marshlands Road
Aranui and
Wainoni

Southshore

The early Christchurch settlers built the city close to

Cathedral Square. You can see on this map of
Christchurch in 1852 the city had a small population.
The map shows the small number of Runs, near to the
city. These were mostly leased from the government
and soon after were subdivided and sold as freehold,
smaller farms and residential blocks.
The large area shown here to the east of Christchurch
consisted of Runs 9, 72 and 239. This area was known
as the Sandhills Runs, as a high percentage of the area
was literally sandhills.
On the 31st January 1852 the first European
occupation of run 9 was taken up by William Chisnall
and his brother-in-law, William Derisley Wood with
Peter Kerr as manager. Run 9 included what has
become Aranui and Wainoni. They ran a herd of dairy
cows, supplying Christchurch with milk. When the
areas intermediate school opened in 1960, it was
appropriately named after Chisnall and Wood,
Chisnallwood Intermediate School.
On 14th January 1853 Chisnall and Wood took on run
72, but in September that same year they sold the lease
to Dr. Thomas Richard Moore and Peter Kerr. The
leases were not officially transferred until 4th June
1884.
Wood and Chisnall then took up Snowdon Station.

The Lyttelton Times,

Saturday January 10th 1855
PUBLIC NOTICE.
NOTICE, that the partnership
T AKE
hitherto carried on between us the under-

signed, William Derisley Wood and William

Chisnall as stockowners has this day been
dissolved by mutual consent ; and all debts
and liabilities of and to the late firm are to be
respectively paid by and to the said William
Chisnall.
Witness our hands this eighth day of January
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Wm. D. Wood
W. Chisnall
Signed by the above-named
William Derisley Wood and
William Chisnall, in presence of
J. L. Porter, solicitor, Christchurch
J. Thompson, Clerk to Mr. Porter.

After they sold Snowdon, William Wood founded a

flour milling business, and in later life he bought
Swyncombe Station near Kaikoura. He was born in
England in 1826 and died in Christchurch in 1906.
Chisnall was the first owner of Russley, afterwards Dr.
Prin's stud farm, and also rented an island in the
Waimakariri River. On the afternoon of Friday the 10th
November 1876, William Chisnall left home on
horseback. 24 hours later his body was found in the
Waimakariri River. His horse had returned home.
William Chisnall suffered from epileptic fits and this
was thought a likely reason for his drowning. Born in
1827, William Chisnall was 49 years of age.

24
In February, 1858, Moore and Kerr took up Run 239, which was mostly sandhills and probably not thought
worth bothering with before. Most of the Sand Hills Station lay within six miles of Christchurch and the land
worth buying on it was selected very quickly from 1863. Dr. Moore sold his share of the station to Kerr in
1864. In 1865 Kerr had over six thousand acres of the leasehold left. He also had several hundred, (maybe
500), acres of freehold land of his own.
Dr. Thomas Richard Moore was one of the first doctors to practice in Christchurch. There is an account of him
in "Tales of Banks Peninsula." His father was Mayor of Salisbury. Dr. Moore came to New Zealand in 1851
and settled in Charteris Bay but did not succeed at farming and had to go back to his profession, though he
imported some very good dairy cattle, and strains of their blood were valued for many years on the Peninsula.
He died in Christchurch about 1870.
During the 1860s, the government sold land from the Sandhills runs to private individuals who built their
homes and developed small farms and soon the Sandhills Run was dissolved. In 1887 the tram tracks were laid
from Christchurch to New Brighton, (see chapter 4), and the population from that time grew and grew.
Throughout this book you will read and see photographs of houses and people living in Aranui and Wainoni
from about 1866.
Peter Kerr and his wife Margaret had been brought out from England by Dr. Moore (on the same voyage as Dr.
Moore), on the Sir George Pollock arriving on the 10th November 1851 to be Dr. Moore's servants at his
home at Charteris Bay.

Peter Kerr and his descendants.

Peter Kerr Senior.

The following is an extract from the book The Estuary by Sarah E. W.

Penney: Peter Kerr must have been a remarkable young man of outstanding
ability, who commanded respect. He was appointed by the Provincial Council
on 30 July 1856 as Way Warden for the Heathcote and Avon Districts, a
position given only to very eminent, capable and chosen people. He became
responsible to the Provincial Council for the well-being of that large area. He
had to know the area and the people in it. He had to find out the needs and
requirements of the residents in the area. These he had to submit to the
Provincial Council with suggestions for their financial responsibility. To him
came also any complaints. The author has shown the duties of the Way Warden
more fully in the book, Beyond the City p.35. His duties covered as far as
Sumner. His practical ability had already been recognized by his choice in judge
at the first Canterbury Ploughing Match in 1854 and in many later matches. He
was a resident in the area, and as settlement grew he was to take a leading part
both in the area and in wider field of provincial politics as a member of the
Heathcote Road Board in 1868, 1876 and 1877; as a Committee member of the
Farmers Club in 1867; and later as an active member in the community which
was to develop on the Sandhills Run at New Brighton. The book The Estuary,
by Sarah Penney, is a very in-depth history of places and people in the
surrounding suburbs of the estuary. It covers many topics and personalities. I
highly recommend this book to all Christchurch people.

25

Peter Kerr purchases land in Wainoni.

In 1863 Peter Kerr bought land from Run 9, on the south side of the Avon River opposite Burwood. The land
went from the present Wainoni Road Bridge, along Wainoni Road to Porritt Park, including all the land up to
the Avon River, later named Wildwood Farm. This was more fertile than most of the Sandhill Runs. He made
some sort of ferry boat to cross the river to Burwood. This is possibly the Punt, known to carry early New
Brighton settlers across the Avon River, about where the Bower Bridge is today. Other land he bought was 49
acres in Burwood where Q.E.11. Park is now. Next to this land another 25 acres was bought and this was
leased to the New Brighton Trotting Club from 1885.

Avon River

20 acres

Avon River

This plan is a photograph I took out of the

title deeds book at the title office in
Christchurch. This particular deed is for two
titles of 50 and 20 acres. The land I have
marked X, was also purchased by Kerr.

Over the decades the land was subdivided at

different times. The Kerr family homestead
X
which is pictured on the next page, is marked
on this title plan with the rectangle. The land
with the house changed hands within the
Wainoni Road
family and in 1960 Walter and Margaret Kerr
along with every other large land holder in what is now Avondale, sold to Paramount Homes where it was
subdivided and a new subdivision was built. The homestead was pulled down in early 2000 although William
Kerrs house is still on Avonside Drive but has been extensively renovated.
50 acres

Mr. and Mrs.

Walter Peter Maitland
and
Margaret Hannah Kerr

William
Kerr
Stable, shed and stud.

26

This photograph is of the original Kerr homestead that Peter Kerr (senior) lived in until his death in 1877. The
children pictured are Herbert and Clarence Kerr and their friend Violet Thorn from further up Wainoni Road.
Judging from the age of the children compared to the photograph on page 32, this photograph would have been
taken about 1900-1904.
Sons William and Charles started a horse stables on New Brighton Road, (Wainoni Road). They bred and
trained trotting horses.
The stables photographed below remained until Newport and surrounding streets were constructed in the late
1950s.
As you will read the Kerr brothers were known in the trotting world throughout New Zealand. They
accomplished more than any other trainers of the time and there are horses from their blood lines still racing
today.

Mrs Margaret Kerr did the

invoicing for the business.

Kerr family photograph of the stables on Wainoni Road.

The area was referred to as the

Sandhills.

27

William and Charles Kerr

Above: The Canterbury Times newspaper, 16th

November 1910
Left: The Canterbury Times newspaper, 24th
August 1898, Page 28.

Extracts from the book A salute to trotting by Karl Scotts

The Wildwood Junior story began when William Kerr won a three-mile race at Plumpton Park in 1887 with a
black gelding named Rockwood. He and his brother Charles established themselves that year on a 50-acre
block of land on Wainoni Road, half-way to New Brighton, there training a number of horses. In 1895 the
brothers purchased the American three-year-old trotter Wildwood for 500 from H. Richardson, who had
imported the son of Good Gift from California a year earlier. Wildwood made good on the racetrack, ending
his career triumphant in a match with pacer Prince Imperial and retiring to the stud with a record of 2:24.
In 1897, William Kerr bought for 30 a three-year-old pacing filly named Thelma from her breeder, J. Todd,
of Lincoln. By the Berlin - Jeanie Tracey horse Kentucky, Thelma was a half-sister to a line of winners
including Lincoln Yet (sire of Monte Carlo, etc). She developed into a real money spinner for Kerr, winning
several races, and became foundress of the most prolific winning family in New Zealand. It was the mating of
Wildwood and Thelma that produced Wildwood Junior.
Wildwood Junior went into the 1909 Cup with a background of one win at three years old and two at four, all
at Addington. His Cup start at five was his only race of that term, and he was eighth favourite of 10 starters yet he bolted in by 40 yards. Terra Nova (J. Messervey) and Lord Elmo (J. Milne) were second and third, as
they had been behind Durbar the previous year.
The following year Wildwood Junior, who had leg trouble, again had his only race in the Cup, and won it, this
time by four lengths in an Australasian record of 4:33. He gave starts of up to eight seconds to 14 rivals,
threading his way through them on a dusty track for a win that earned him a great ovation. The 700 sovereigns
he earned for that one run made him top earner of the season.
Wildwood Junior's year-older brother, Willowood, the first foal of Wildwood and Thelma, was likewise
unsound. He was retired unbeaten in three starts, recording a win in the 1907/08, 1908/09 and 1909/10
seasons, with a best mile time of 2:24.
Wildwood Junior became a successful sire, with 132 individual winners, and his daughters bred on, with more
than 140 individual winners. He is credited with siring the unnamed fourth dam of Highland Fling. Adonis, a
half-brother by Harold Dillon to Willowood and Wildwood Junior, after a fine race career here went to stud in
Australia where he sired 103 of his 120 winners.
Waverley (Galindo - Thelma) was another top racehorse and sire, contributing much to the success of
Southland's famed Willowbank Stud. Then there was Authoress, a sister of Wild wood Junior, who died when
only seven but not before producing Author Dillon, the 1918 New Zealand Cup winner and champion of his
day.
Of the Auckland Cup winners of this decade, prominent names appearing in that roster included Andy Pringle
(with H. Grant's Thorndean in 1901), W. Orange (with J. Parson's Scotia in 1908) and Dan Nyhan, with his
own horse Havoc in 1909. Nyhan, who trained with excellent success at Hutt Park, also won the 1913
Auckland Cup, with J. D. Piper's Jewel Chimes. He made an unsuccessful tilt for the New Zealand Cup with
Havoc in 1911. His son Don trained Johnny Globe and Lordship (twice) to win New Zealand Cups and took
out an Auckland Cup with Lordship; and grandson Denis trained the 1974 New Zealand Cup winner Robalan.

28

THE
TRAGIC
DEATH OF
MR.
CHARLES
KERR

The Weekly Press

May 27th, 1914, page 78 (photo p 37)

DEATH OF MR CHARLES KERR.

A POPULAR SPORTSMAN.
Mr Charles Kerr, the well-known
trotting trainer who met with an accident on Saturday week through the
horse he was driving colliding with a
tramway pole, died in the Hospital at
6.30 last Friday evening, without having regained consciousness.
On
Saturday week Kerr drove Admiral
Wood to victory in the New Brighton
Derby, and afterwards came into the city.
He left town at 10.30 pm., driving a trotting sulky, and while travelling along
Regent Street, Woolston , he met with
the accident and received fracture of
the skull and other severe injuries,
from the effects of which he never rallied.
Charles Kerr was one of the best
known trainers of trotting horses in
New Zealand, and was one of the most
respected men in the sport. In his day
he was the most accomplished rider in
the country, and old trotting men aver
that his equal is not to be found in
Canterbury at the present time, while
as a driver there were none better.
Kerr was a very fine sportsman, and
one of the most generous and broadminded men it would be possible to
continue

find.
His career, in connection with
trotting commenced as far back as
1878, and ever since he has been
actively connected with the sport. For
a long time he raced in partnership
with his brother, W. Kerr, another well
-known trainer, but some years ago the
partnership was dissolved, and ever since
the brothers have raced on their own
accounts. He rode his first race at
Browns Paddock, right opposite the
site where the Heathcote Trotting Club
in later years held their Meetings, and
since then he has patronised nearly
every Meeting in the country, including fixtures held by the New Brighton
Club, long before the present improvements were in evidence, Heathcote,
Lancaster Park, Canterbury Park, New
Zealand Metropolitan, besides many
others in various parts of New Zealand.
In the early days he had a lot
of good horses, including Cock Robin,
Gipsy, and Narrow Gauge, and many
others, that helped to bring the sport
to its present high standing.
The great trotting stallion Wildwood
was owned by the brothers, W. and C.
Kerr, and the success of the progeny
of this horse has been very pronounced
during late years. He also owned Alice
Azmoor (imp), dam of Alice Wood,
Huon Moor, and Wild Moor, while W.
Kerr had Thelma, dam of Wildwood,
Wildwood Junr., and Adonis. Many
horses have passed through Charles
Kerrs hands since he first became ascontinue

sociated with the sport, and he always

proved himself to be one of the most
honest and trusted men connected with
it. His death will come as a sad blow
to all connected with the sport of trotting, which loses one of its most respected supporters.
An inquest in was held at the Hospital
on Saturday, when the Coroner recorded a verdict that deceased died from
injuries received by being accidentally
thrown out of his trap.
The respect in which the late Mr.
Kerr was held, not only amongst
sportsman, but among all classes,
was shown by the very large attendance
at his funeral, which took place at
the Linwood Cemetery on Monday
afternoon. There was a very representative gathering, which included
practically all the trotting trainers in
Canterbury, as well as many engaged
in other branches of sport. The pallbearers were Messrs R. McMillan, T.
Frost, N.L. Price, C. Piper, F. Johnston, and J. Milne. The New Zealand
Metropolitan Trotting Club, Canterbury Park Trotting Club and New
Brighton Trotting Club, and the New
Zealand Trotting Association were represented by officials and members.
Many beautiful wreaths were placed
on the coffin, and in a number of them
the deceaseds racing colours were
prominent. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. John
McKenzie.

29

Kerr Family photograph.

Stables at Kerrwood.

Kerrs horse auction on Wainoni Road

K e rr s ho rse au ctio n on W aino ni R o a d.
The W eekl y P ress, 9 th A pril 1 9 1 9 , page 3 3

Above and below: The Weekly Press 9th April 1919, page 33.
There was no written article with these two photographs. The Weekly Press Newspaper often had photographs
with a caption.

W e e k ly P r e s s 9 th A p r il 1 9 1 9 P a g e 3 3

30

Kerrs Road. Kerrs Reach.

Kerrsdale.

Holland Street

Kerrs Reach was dug out for the 1950

Centennial Games.

Drain

Woodham Road

In March 1891, Peter Kerrs widow, Margaret Kerr

purchased a little over 50 acres of land shown here
being blocks 273 and 1656. A month later lots 1 to 4
were sold off and the balance transferred into John
Kerrs (junior) name. Over the next 20 years the land
was subdivided and pieces sold off. In 1909 and 1910
most of the land was sold leaving Peter Kerr with a
little under an acre, (3 roods and 2 and 8/10th perches). (138 Kerrs Road in 2006).

In 1913 this remaining land was transferred to Walter Maitland Kerr of Burwood.
In 1939 Walter sold just under half his land to his brother Stanley who remained in the house until 1973. It is
now number 136 Kerrs Road (2006).

Kerrsdale 138 Kerrs Road

Mr. Peter Kerr, wife Mrs. Bessie.
Kerr. Children, Clarence and Herbert.
Grandma, Margaret Kerr.
Peter and Bessie were married in
1893.
Margaret Kerr was born in 1862 and
died in 1956, 94 years young.
At a guess I would say this photo
would be about 1899-1902.
Today (2006), the house is roughcast
over and has been altered, but
remains at 138 Kerrs Road.

31

Mrs Kerr recalls her past. (John Kerrs wife, daughter in law of Peter Kerr.)
The Star Newspaper Page 19
June 24. 1922
EARLY CHRISTCHURCH
A PEEP INTO THE PAST.

RECOLLECTIONS OF A
PIONEER.

With each succeeding year the ranks

of the pioneers of the Canterbury Province are being thinned, but there still
remain many early settlers who can
remember clearly the early days, and
talk entertainingly about them. Mrs
Kerr, widow of the late Mr John Kerr,
of Wainoni Road, Avonside, who although not one of the original Pilgrims, arrived in Christchurch only
six years later, gave a Star reporter a most interesting account of Christchurch as she knew it in her girlhood
days.
Mrs Kerr is the youngest daughter
of the late Mr D. W. Hamilton,
senior, the proprietor of the old New
Brighton coach. She was four years
of age, when in October 1856 the
family arrived in Lyttelton Harbour
on board the ship Joseph Fletcher.
At that time the province had been established six years and large numbers
of immigrants were constantly arriving
at Lyttelton. The immigrants were
housed in barracks at Lyttelton on arrival. Mrs Kerr was too young to remember the actual circumstances herself, but she was told by her father
in later years that the family stayed a
week in the Lyttelton barracks while
he scoured Christchurch in search of
a house. After much difficulty, Mr
Hamilton was able to secure a house
at Papanui, alongside the Church of
England building, and preparations
were then made for moving the
family into their new home.
GULLIES IN COLOMBO STREET.
Although I was so young at the
time, I have a distinct recollection of
being carried over the Port Hills in
somebody's arms, said Mrs Kerr. At
the foot of the hills my father had a
bullock and dray waiting to take us
to Papanui, which eventually we reached. The first job my father got after
we had settled in our new home at
Papanui was at the building of the
original St Andrews Presbyterian
Church, which has since been pulled
down. He was a carpenter by trade,
and had no difficulty in securing a job,
but as there was no means of trans-

port in those days he had to walk all

the way from Papanui to his work
every morning and back again at
nights. After remaining at Papanui for
ten weeks my father got another
house in Colombo Street near
the corner of the North Belt, or
Bealey Avenue as it is now called.
At that time the North Belt was not
planted with trees. It was just a
wide road only partly formed. Colombo
Street, between the Square and the
North Belt, was nothing but gullies
and in places we had only planks to
walk upon. There was no bridge
across the river in Colombo Street. The
only one I can remember at the time
was the Victoria Street bridge.
Market Square was the name by
which Victoria Square was then known,
and it was quite a busy place, although
only a rough paddock. I can remember several occasions when the Maoris
camped there. I had a great dread of
them, although they never gave any
trouble at all. I think they used to come
up the river in canoes, bringing things
to sell to the Pakehas, and they would
stay for several days. They pitched
their tents about the place were the
band rotunda now stands, and as long
as they were there I felt very uneasy.
CATHEDRAL SQUARE A
PADDOCK.
The earliest recollection that Mrs
Kerr has of the Cathedral was about
1860, when she saw the foundations,
which remained for a long time before
the building was gone on with. Cathedral Square, as near as she can remember, was just a paddock with a lot of
rushes growing in it. There were practically no buildings in the square, the
only one she remembers distinctly
being Dr Barkers house, which stood
near where the A.M.P. building stands
to-day. The post office was in Colombo Street, near the Market Hotel, and
the Golden Age Hotel, a little wooden
place stood where the United Services
Hotel is now situated. There seemed to
be very few shops about, and those that
were in existence were well scattered.
Before the post office was built in
Cathedral Square a temporary building was used in Market Square and it
was afterwards pulled down. There
was also a place called Paddys Market, a sort of cheap-jack arcade,
either in or near Market Square.
There seemed to be very few trees
in Christchurch, when I was first able
to take notice of such things, said Mrs

Kerr. The Riccarton Bush was the

great landmark for miles around and
there was also a very scraggy bit of
bush at Papanui. A good deal of
planting was going on, but I cant remember any other patches of bush than
what I saw at Riccarton and Papanui.
NEW BRIGHTON IN 1864
Mr Hamilton moved to New Brighton in the year 1864, when he built
The Grange, a two-story house in
River Road, near Barkers Road. The
timber for this house was cut out of
the Papanui bush. New Brighton in
those days was nothing but a barren
waste, the only thing growing on the
sand being cutty grass. Where their
house was built the land would grow ordinary grass. Augustus Florence, the
man who, as far as is known, first
introduced the lupins to New Brighton,
was a brother in-law of Mrs Kerr. He
owned about twenty acres of land near
Racecourse Road, and he was very
anxious to get something that would
bind the sand. He tried marram
grass, but he was not successful with
it. Then he got hold of some lupin
seed, said it was a wonderful success. Later it appears that Mr
Florence gave some of the seed to Mr
G.T. Hawker of Seaview Road, who
was responsible for the lupins growing
in that part of New Brighton. At
that time there was practically no
settlement in the part now known as
central New Brighton, but there were
a few houses along the river. Mrs
Kerr distinctly remembers the wreck
of the French barque B.L. which
was referred to by a correspondent in
last Saturdays Star. She went up to
see it some days after the barge
went ashore. It was a nine days
wonder at the time.
OPENING OF BURWOOD CHURCH.

The opening of the Church of England at Burwood took place early in

September, 1877, and Mrs Kerr has
good reason to remember the occasion
for at the first service her eldest
daughter was christened by Bishop
Harper. The same church is standing
now, except that several additions
have been made. She also has a clear
recollection of the opening of the Bower
Bridge in the year 1876. Prior to that,
the only way of getting to New
Brighton from Christchurch was by
going across the Stanmore Road
bridge and through Burwood. But the
river was often crossed in a punt near
where the Bower Bridge was built.

32

Mr. Peter Kerr (junior),

wife Mrs. Bessie Kerr.
Children, Clarice and Herbert.
Grandma, Margaret Kerr.

Mr. Bert Kerr

wife Mrs. Clarice Kerr.
Grandma, Margaret (Bessie)
Kerr. 1924

Wildwood Avenue runs from Pannell Avenue through to

Kerrs Road.
Wildwood was the Kerrs champion trotter.
Kerrs Road was named after the Kerr family who lived on
Wainoni Road from the late 1800s, originally Peter Kerrs
Road.
Odie Place, of Wildwood Avenue is named after William
Kerrs daughter, Odie Kerr.

Sources: The bookEarly Canterbury Runs by L.G. Acland.

The book, A salute to trotting by Karl Scotts.
The book The Estuary by Sarah E. W. Penney.
Kerr family notes and photographs.
The Weekly Press newspaper.
Titles.
G.G. Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury BiographiesCanterbury Museum.

Herbert and Clarice Kerr

1908.

33

Chapter 4:

Tram tracks from 1887-1952.

Weekly Press 8th Sept 1897 p8

This photograph was taken in 1895, these road construction workers are forming what is now
called Pages Road formally The New Brighton Tram Road.

By the 1880s New Brighton by the sea was growing in population. Transport to New Brighton, as with other
outlying areas from Christchurch, was the biggest obstacle in the way of the continuing population growth.
The New Brighton Tramway Company was formed and in February 1887 the first horse drawn tram took the
first passengers to New Brighton from Cathedral Square. During its first year between 3000-5000 people were
carried to and from the city weekly. The seaside resort of New Brighton along with that of Sumner, was
considered to be the makings of a great recreational ground and sanatorium for Christchurch citizens. On
Boxing Day 1888, 5000-6000 people visited New Brighton, most by tram. In the following years the Sumner
line provided severe competition. The company had its struggles over the coming years, however for the New
Brighton district, (which included Aranui and Wainoni), this meant families could live in the area and travel to
Christchurch to work and as a result the population of the area grew and grew.
The following is from Richard Greenaways book Unsung Heroines, biographies of Christchurch Women, written to commemorate Womens Suffrage Year, 1993.

Charlotte Knight, an Aranui Unsung Heroine

(The Knights house was on the corner of Rowan Avenue and Pages Road, (next to the 7th day Adventist Church).
Charlotte Copp was born at Tiverton, Devon, on 26 September 1842. Her mothers Christian name was Amy
or Amey and her surname Hymns, Eams or Emes. Her father was William Copp, a labourer. Charlotte married
John Knight in July 1858 and five years later arrived at Lyttelton on the Accrington with her husband and three
children.
Charlotte gave birth to 24 children and grieved to see several of them die. Fifteen survived their mother. In
1885 the 24th child was born. The exuberant birth notice erroneously clamed that all the little Knights had
been born in the province, that all were thriving, and suggested that the fertility rate of local women was such
that there was little need for the government to undertake policies aimed at boosting population. All doing
well, said the notice. All born in Canterbury. Talk about emigration or the West Coast railway.
By the 1880s the family was eking out a living as dairy farmers at Aranui between Bexley and Breezes Roads.
The land was cheap, though infertile (and) apt to be water-logged in winter and a desert in summer.
The Knights bought shares in and ceded land to the New Brighton Tramway Company which put a track from
the Linwood Cemetery to the sea along what is now Pages Road. The company built the first bridge at Seaview
Road, and in 1887 started a horse tram service from city to seaside. A dispute arose between the Knights and
the company, the family claiming that the company had promisedand failedto form a public roadway
alongside the track and keep the drains clear.

34

The Lyttelton Times, Thursday

March 23rd, 1899, page 3
A NEW BRIGHTON FEUD.
THE NEW BRIGHTON TRAMWAY
COMPANY V. MRS KNIGHT.
At the Magistrates court yesterday,
before Mr Neave, J.P., and Mr E. OConnor,
J.P., Mrs Charlotte Knight and her son,
John Knight, were charged by the manager
of the New Brighton Tramway Company that they did maliciously remove
a
notice
board
that
was
placed on the New Brighton Tramway
Companys land at its intersection of Bercleys Road, and upon which board there
was tacked a printed notice, vis, Private
right-of-way only, contrary to sub-section
4 of section 6 of the Police Offences Act
1884.
Mr Western appeared on behalf of the
Tramway Company, and Mr Scott for the
accused.
Mr Scott admitted, that as a matter of
fact, the defendants did remove the
signpost.
Mr Western then outlined the facts of the
case. Mr Thompson, the Linwood Tramway Companys manager, had, between 1
and 3 p.m. on March 1, caused a tramway
rail to be embedded five feet in the
ground, and a notice bolted to the top setting out that it was a private right-of-way
duly. The spot where the tramway rail
was sunk was the private property of the
company, and no one had right to trespass
thereon. The driver of the 5.15 tram, when
passing the spot on he same day, saw Mrs
Knight and her son industriously digging
the rail out. The son was doing the manual
labour, while Mrs Knight was superintending the operations. The driver, who, no
doubt, had learnt caution by previous experience, did not attempt to stop the work,
but drove on. The driver on the next tram,
on passing the spot, saw the rail lying on the
ground and the notice board broken into
splinters. The road over which part of the
New Brighton section of the tramway line
runs is not a public one, and it was necessary to erect gates at each boundary to conserve the rights of the company over the
road, and take other measures to prevent its
being made a public thoroughfare.
J. Thompson, manager of the Tramway Company, gave evidence.
Mr Scott: did you remember about two
years ago putting up a sign-board, and it
being knocked down by Mrs Knight?
Witness: Well, we have put up so
many, every one of which has been
knocked down, that the question is a
difficult one to answer unless you give
a definite date.

George McIntyre, managing director of

the Tramway Company, said that in consequence of frequent disagreements with
Mrs Knight, the company has given her
a limited right-of-way over the line, but
where the post was sunk there was no right
-of-way to anyone. The reason there had
been no proceedings taken about the previous uprooting of the companys signposts
was that, although they were certain of the
offender, they did not have enough proof to
bring a case into Court. The
deed granting the provisional right-of-way was signed,
and the defendants must have known they
were bound by it.
Mrs Knight: Its a fraud.
John Knight: Its the biggest fraud
over written.
Mrs Knight: Yes, and if Mr Beetham
was here he would know what to do with
it. He would have known it was a fraud.
For the defence, Mr Scott admitted that
the defendants had no right whatever to
knock the post down, but said they had
done so under a mistaken idea of their
legal rights.
Mrs Knight deposed that she recollected
about two years ago breaking a post down
which had been erected by the Tramway
Company. After doing so, she stopped the
tram, and gave Mr McIntyre a letter advising him of her action and the reason
which had prompted her in resorting to the
measure. As there had been no action taken,
she was under the impression that she was
in her legal right. She took the papers to
Mr Beetham and showed him.
Mr Weston: Just one question, Mrs Knight.
Mrs Knight: Yes, nice man you are!
Mr Weston: Did you sign the papers?
Mrs Knight: I never asked no man for
a penny, and I have reared fifteen children;
more than you can say.
Mr Scott asked the bench to make the
penalty as light as possible. The defendant
was, he said, now fully aware that she was
doing wrong. She was in very impecunious
circumstances.
Mrs Knight: Oh dont apologise for me;
I cant bear it!
The bench fined accused 10s each, and
costs 2 pound 16s.
Mrs Knight: What a cruel thing! Oh,
its simply given away. Oh, well have it
before Mr Beetham.
John Knight (sympathetically): Yes,
well have it before Mr Beetham.
Mrs Knight (with asperity): Hold your
tongue! Oh, youve done it, Mr Scott;
youve done it all yourself.
None of the witnesses claimed expenses.
The Bench allowed the defendants a fortnight in which to pay the fines.

George McIntyre,
see chapter 36.

Bercleys Road is likely to be either

renamed or spelt wrong
by the reporter.
It
is
probably
Buckleys Road, the
intersection
being
what is now the joining of Pages Road and
Buckleys Road.

35
Christchurch City Libraries (CCL PhotoCD, IMG0065).
A New Brighton coach (ca 1880)
Coaches as illustrated were operated in New Brighton
from about 1861 by Jimmy Newcombe and from 1873 by
Arch Hamill. Later the mail contract was taken over by
D.W. Hamilton and held until 1881, after which it was
taken over by the tram service. The route followed the
Avon River most of the way and was little more than a
mud track in the winter and a dust bath in the summer
months.
This was prior to the tram route along what is now Pages
Road from Christchurch to New Brighton in 1887.
Christchurch City Libraries
(collection 22, Img02319).

A double-decker horse tram

crossing the original Seaview Road
bridge on the way to Christchurch.
(ca. 1910). The New Brighton
Tramway Company built the
bridge in 1887 and owned it and
the tramline (now Pages Road)
until the Christchurch Tramway
Board took over in 1905. Note the
gate at the entrance, the existence
of which would have reinforced the
Companys ownership of the
structure.
W.A. Kennedy collection, Canterbury
Museum 11524.
A four-horse team hauling two New Brighton
Tramway Company horsecars in Seaview
Road. The leading car is No. 10, which
became No. 91 in the CTB fleet, and has been
restored to its original New Brighton
Tramway Company livery by members of the
Tramway Historical Society.
(From the book Fares please! by Graham
Stewart.)
Photo is about 1900-1906.

Alexander Turnbull Library. G358 1/1

Through open country the line ran

to the sand dunes at New Brighton.
A kitson steam tram locomotive and
saloon double-decker trailer can be
seen in the distance at the end of the
line. (From the book Fares please!
by Graham Stewart.)
Photo is about 1900.

36

Canterbury Times 24th December, 1913, P 13

A MISHAP TO THE CHRISTCHURCH-NEW BRIGHTON TRAM AT WAINONI PARK.
Canterbury Times, photo.
On Sunday afternoon, December 14, a tram from Christchurch to New Brighton met with a mishap at the points of the loop-line outside Wainoni Park. The accident occurred by the
rear bogey wheels of the electric car refusing to take the loop, the result being that the car swung round with each set of wheels running on a different line. At the same time the airBrake connection with the trailers snapped, and the impetus of these cars, heavily laden with passengers, forced the electric car round until it was at considerably more than a rightAngle to the lines, blocking up the whole of the road, and lying over at a dangerous angle. It took two hours to clear the line and resume traffic.

In 1903 when Wainoni Park, (see chapter 5), opened 1000s of people each week would travel there by tram.

Above: Christchurch City Libraries (ADE - 3344).

An electric tram crosses the New Brighton bridge
with a barge moored underneath. (ca. 1910).

Interior of New Brighton tram car number 10.

Photo: Christchurch Tramway Society.

Right: Christchurch City Libraries

(CD 18, IMG0021).
Seaview Road, New Brighton about 1910. The
double-deck trailers, popular for excursions,
had previously been pulled by horses and
steam trams and were adapted for the electric
system. New Brighton was a popular
excursion spot in the days before longer
holidays became normal. In 1909 trams
carried over 14,000 people in one day to a gala
at New Brighton.
Billens collection Ref:
8721
Canterbury Museum

Taken in the 1940s, this photograph is of the corner of Pages

and Breezes Roads. The house on the left is the present day
site of the New World Supermarket building, which closed in
2006. Just out of the photo to the bottom left is where the
Aranui loop was. The loop was where the trams could pass
each other coming in opposite directions. The Aranui loop
was outside a house named Aranui, from which Aranui the
suburb was named. Another loop was near Rowan Avenue,
named after a house called Wirihana, (see chapter 22), on the
corner of Rowan Ave and Rowses Rd.

37
The Press October 9, 1952,
page 10

One of the first of the horse-tram

drivers, on the New Brighton route,

MR J. Hayes

NEW BRIGHTON
TRAMS
Change To Buses
Next Week
DAYS OF THE HORSE
RECALLED

The replacement of trams by buses

on the New Brighton line on Saturday week may seem to some a progressive step, to others it may make
even more remote the spacious days
when a tram trip to the seaside and
back cost 6d and at least one of the
conductors improved the shining hour
by shooting rabbits as the car rolled
through the barren wastes of Burwood.
The first suggestion of a public
tramway system in Christchurch was
made in the early 1870s and Christchurch being Christchurch, it met
with stiff opposition. It was sus- pected that opponents of the scheme included those who plotted to bring the
Government railway station into Cathedral square the Canterbury Tramway Company had the first service, to
the railway stations at Christchurch,
Addington and Papanui, and to what is
now Sydenham Park. The company
soon had rivals. In 1885 the first municipal tramway was built, running
from the council yards, where the
Scott statue now stands, to the public cemetery in Burwood and beyond.
No passengers were carried, although
a tramway hearse was build because it
was felt that
the cemetery was a
long way out of the town. The hearse
was never used, and for many years
it did ser-vice as a powder magazine
on the mudflats near the Heathcote
bridge. From effect to cause, in a
sense.
The early trams were drawn by
small steam engines which might
have come straight from the books of
todays tiny tots. In occasional use
in recent years, the puffing Billies
have given delight to thousands of
children.
Before long the company dis- carded steam engines on their shorter runs
in favour of horse-drawn trams and
these in turn were gradually replaced
by electric trams when the Christchurch Tramway Board was formed in
1905 and took over the business of the
four tram concerns then operating.
(Continue)

Mr James Hayes, lives today in Seaview road, and looks out on the road
down which he used to drive.
Although he is nearly 91, Mr Hayes
has lively recollections of the days
when he drove the trams, and for his
age he is a remarkably active man.
One of his proudest possessions is a
cup he was awarded for coming third
in the grand aggregate in a shooting
competition conducted by the East
Battalion of the Home Guard during
the recent war. It is recorded on the
cup that Mr Hayes is the oldest
active member of a miniature rifle
club in the British Empire. He has
had a further eight years experience
since the cup was awarded in 1944,
and even now still shots regularly
in company with members of his
family representing four generations.
About a year ago, Mr Hayes lost the
sight of his right eye, with the
cheerfulness which seems typical of
him, he changed to shooting from his
left shoulder.
Mr Hayess interest in shooting has
lasted most of his life, and he was
the member of the boards staff who,
unwilling to drive the new electric
trams, was made a conductor, and
improved his marksmanship at the
expense of the rabbit population of
Burwood. His driver was partly
responsible for his success with his
shotgunno toy rifles for Mr Hayes.
The driver sighting a rabbit on the
left of the track, used to give, by
(Continue)

arrangement, one ring on his bell.

At the back of the tram, Mr Hayes
alert for the vital moment, pulled a
string he held in one hand. This
released the red disc which covered
the rear light of the tram , and gave
adequate illumination for him to
sight and shoot. Two rings by the
driver meant the quarry was on the
right. In those days rabbits thieved
in Burwood, and so did Mr Hayes.
Mr Hayes also confessed that sometimes, when he was off duty, he would
also shoot rabbitsand have an occasional shot at a tram. No harm was
donehe only shot at the destination
number of the tram, but he recalls
that more than once, when the apparatus disintegrated, riddled by
bullets, the tram crew was censured
for harsh use of the equipment.
A GOAT IN THE TRAM
Riding on the first electric trams to
New Brighton must have been a notable adventure. If the calm of the
night was not being shattered by gunfire, the passenger might find the next
seat being occupied by a goat; Mr
Hayes recalls that a friend had a property on the route, and also owned a
goat. Sometimes the goat would wander down the road and Mr Hayes, always willing to do a friend a good
turn, would collect the animal and
transport it to its home. Only once
was there trouble. That was when the
goat, perhaps suffering from malnutrition, made a determined assault on the
dress of a woman passenger, and was
only restrained by Mr Hayes tackling
it, Rugby fashion, and holding it.
Driving a team of four horses in
front of a tram on a moonlight night
appears to Mr Hayes as being much
superior to trams, buses or any more
modern forms of locomotion. He drove
single horse trams, pairs, teams of
four, drags and coaches of various
sorts. He cannot recall when he began driving, but it must have been
about 1885, soon after the line to New
Brighton was opened. Even here
there was spirited opposition. One
Aranui resident, finding that the new
line went through her property and
interfered with her cloths lines,
staged a sit-down strike on the track,
and on another occasion held up the
tram and swung a stout stick to such
good effect that the outside passengers
were put to flight. A Magistrates
Court official weathered the storm in
a shelter of the tram stairway and
another leading citizen, sought refuge
in a ditch. It was wet but he decided
to stay until peace was restored.
(Continue)

38
(Continued from last page)

TWO HUNDRED HORSES

My Hayes recalls that most of the
horses used for the tramway system
were stabled in what is now the tram
depot in Cathedral squarethe tramway companys main office was where
the Government buildings now stand
in Worcester street. Other horses
were kept at the Moorhouse avenue
depotthere were about 200 in all attended by a staff of 30 or 40.
There was seldom any trouble with
the horses, Mr Hayes said. Once however, a team of four he was driving
down Colombo street were frightened
by some paper which blew in front of
them, and they plunged across the
road. Mr Hayes applied the brake, but
the horses had their way, and they
dragged the tram clear of the lines and
across the street. Mr Hayes had to explain to the crowd which quickly
gathered just why he was attempting
to take his tram into a butchers shop.
Mr Hayes recalls that when he first
began driving the streets were lit by
gas. He prefers that to the present
black-outs. He also recalls that when
the return fare to Addington was 3d,
and the return fare to New Brighton
was 6d, the trams were always full.
He thinks it regrettable that those
days have gone. He does not care
greatly, either, for the present uniforms, which were much as they were
when the board came into being nearly
50 years ago. He thought the original
grey trousers and tunic and grey
peaked cap of his earliest driving days
quite satisfactory.
When the new bus service begins
officially , the last tram will be driven
by the mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane).
There will be buses, bands and board
members. It is not too late, perhaps,
to suggest that one of the horse trams
still in existence could be made
usable. Mr Hayes might be asked to
ride in it. If he accepted he would
of course, have to come without his
rifle.

Star Sun October 20th 1952 page 8

SWITCH FROM TRAMS TO BUSES

MEMORABLE EVENT
FOR NEW BRIGHTON

the inauguration on Saturday of a bus service to New

W ith
Brighton, two things were achievedthe first step in

the modernisation programme of the Christchurch

Transport Board; and the cessation of a form of transport which
has endured for seventy years.
New Brighton is the first suburb to reap tangible benefit
from the switch from trams to buses being carried out by the
Transport Board. Next in line are Sumner and Riccarton.
The people of new Brighton made
it a gala occasion, and interested
organisations did all they could to
make the day memorable. Men who
have been interested in moving the
people of Christchurch from place
to place for nearly fifty years were
present.
Incidents constantly interrupted
the ceremony at the New Brighton
Post Office. While the chairman of
the Transport Board (Mr F.L.
Brandt) was speaking, the last tram
running from New Brighton back to
the city went past, with resonant
clanging of the gong by the motorman. Appropriately, it bore the
legend: Had it.
Next to have his speech cut in
half was Sir Robert Fryars, head of
the firm producing the buses with
which the board is modernising its
service. This time it was the first of
the new buses arriving to take the
hundreds of spectators back to the
city.
Appropriately, while Mr Brandt
spoke, two of the new buses were
manoeuvring into position in Shaw
Avenue to cope with the homeward
traffic.
October 18, 1952, will be
remembered as a milestone in
the history of the Christchurch
Transport Board, said Mr
Brandt. The standard of progress marker by the transition
from trams to buses to-day is
not measured in days, months,
or years. It is the result of the
constant work of those associated with the transport industry.
Another aspect in which we can
take pride is that these new buses
are of British manufacture; and a
tribute is due to the General Manager of the board (Mr J.F. Fardell),
who drew up the specifications for
them.
To the prospective users of the
buses, Mr Brandt issued this warning: These buses are your property,
and you are going to pay for them.
The board will do its part, but it is
up to you to help us to look after
them.
The historical aspect was dealt

with by the Mayor (Mr R.M. Macfarlane, M.P.), who detailed experiences he had had in connection with
New Brighton, which he said were
climaxed by his turn at the controls
of the last tram to the seaside
suburb.

Quick Growth

In particular, the Mayor congratulated the New Brighton District

Business Association for having
made the occasion one to be remembered. He said that New Brighton
had grown remarkably during the
past few years, its population having
reached 10,000. accordingly, it was
fitting that this suburb of the city
should be first to benefit from the
new system of the Transport Board.
Sir Robert Fryars spoke briefly
and bluntly. He said:
I have seen your roads, your
hydro-electric works, and your
transport system in New Zealand. I
am astonished that so much has been
achieved in a country with such a
small population.
I have come 10,000 miles, only to
find myself still at home. I am proud
to be with you to-day, and proud to
see you are improving your
transport system with the finest product of British workmanship.
It was a red letter day for the
people of New Brighton, who must
be grateful to the Transport Board
for recognising the claims of the
suburb for better transport, said Mr
J. Mathison, M.P.
With the speeches over, scores
went to inspect three of the new
buses placed on exhibition.

Triumphal
The progress of the last tram to
New Brighton was a triumphal
affair. It left Cathedral Square
bedecked with flags and bunting,
with Mr Macfarlane at the controls,
and the Caledonian Pipe Band atop
the trailer.
Prominently displayed on the last
tram was the slogan: A rattling
good time was had by all.

39

Christchurch City Libraries Photo CD 18, IMG0018

The last tram from the New Brighton Post Office to the pier, 18 Oct. 1952.
The first tram route in Christchurch to close was the New Brighton line. At 2.45 pm the last tram (Yank
number 11 towing double-decker trailer number 100) left Cathedral Square driven by the Mayor of
Christchurch, Robert Mafeking Macfarlane (1900-1981). It was decorated with streamers and placards and a
pipe band played on top of the trailer. The tram stopped at the New Brighton Post Office at the same time as
the bus arrived from town.

Christchurch City Libraries Photo CD 18, IMG0016

Seaview Road, New Brighton. The first buses of the New Brighton run, 18 Oct. 1952.
New Brighton was the first line in the system to be converted to new buses. After the speeches at the ceremony
marking the replacement, the tram moved off the scene outside the New Brighton Post Office. The Mayor of
Christchurch, Robert Mafeking Macfarlane (1900-1981) then cut a ribbon stretched before one of the new buses with large scissors. It had been arranged that the tram and bus arrive at the New Brighton Post Office at the
same time. After the ceremony fourteen buses were used to take passengers back to the city.

40

RIGHT: To commemorate the day

of the last tram along Pages Road
to New Brighton, people of the
district dressed up in period
costumes and walked behind the
last tram from New Brighton to
Aranui, then said goodbye to the
tram and proceeded down Rowan
Avenue to the Aranui Speedway
for a parade.
Two Photographs and information
from Jillian Vincent, (maiden
name Jillian Wilson).

TRAMWAY TRACKS
ARE NOT LIKELY
TO BE LIFTED YET

here is not much likelihood of the New Brighton tram

T tracks being lifted in the near future if the Christchurch

Transport Board intends to leave the work to the City

Council and the Heathcote Count Council.
The General Manager of the Christchurch Transport Board
(Mr J.F. Fardell) and the City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) met
this morning to discuss the matter.
Mr Somers will report to the City Council Works Committee, which will report to the councilprobably on Tuesday.
It was highly probable, Mr Somers
told Mr Fardell this morning, that
the board would have to restore its
portion of the road to its original
condition before the City Council
would start work.
No information was available after
the meeting, but earlier this morning the Mayor (Mr R.M. Macfarlane,
M.P.) said it would be up to the
board to put its share of the road in
order first. A similar attitude will
probably be taken by the Heathcote
County Council.
Mr Macfarlane said the City
Council has put 10,000 on the
estimates for roading work connected with conversion from
trams to buses. He pointed out
this sum would not go very far,
especially with the impending
conversion of the Sumner route.
Sumner and Brighton are definitely
a headache as far as we are concerned, said the Mayor, who added
it might be necessary to call for a
roading loan earlier than the council
had anticipated.
A further complication has arisen
in Heathcote County
At the last meeting of the county
council, permission was granted the

board to operate its new buses on

all routes regularly used by the
board.
Since then the county council has
received a letter from the Ministry
of works which states that the
Motor Regulations, 1950, limit tyre
pressures to a maximum of 75lb.
The Boards new buses operate at a
90lb pressure.

Above: Lady in black is Mrs Marge Clar ke

with her two daughters, Joyce on her left and
Greta on her right. The Clarke family lived at
327 Breezes Road. Front row: Jillian Wilson ,
Maureen Beattie, who lived opposite and Robina the sister of Jillian.

Problem
A similar state of affairs will arise
when conversion to buses is carried
out on the Riccarton route. Riccarton
Borough and Paparua County will
face the same problem.
We did not want to be the dog
in the manger, so we gave them
permission to use their buses on
the routes of the trams, commented the chairman of the
Heathcote County (Mr F. W.
Freeman) this morning.
The Minister of Works wants to
know if more money will be needed
for road maintenance and has asked
the county to make recommendations.
Christchurch Star/Sun October 21st
1952 page 3.

The last tram in Christchurch was the

Sumner route on the 11th September 1954.
Three pennies were placed on the tram line
by Eric Rhodes and his son Peter Thomas
Rhodes.

There are a lot of good books about the Christchurch tram services in the libraries with many photographs.

41

Chapter 5:

Professor Bickertons Wainoni.

The founders of the Canterbury Settlement in New Zealand had before them the vision of a colonial
settlement in which, from the first, all the elements, including the very highest, of a good and right state of
society, shall find their proper place, and their active operation. They intended to provide their colonists not
only with a school modelled on the great Grammar Schools of England but also with an upper department
(or university) as nearly similar as possible to Colleges in Oxford and Cambridge. It was hoped that this
University might serve the whole of New Zealand and even that it might attract students from Australia and
India.
Because they believed that Canterburys future prosperity depended on the application of science to
agriculture, it was a Chair of Chemistry. The next thing was to find a professor. The man should be young
and one who gives promise of future excellence, competent to teach not only chemistry as applied to
agriculture, arts and manufacturers, but also mineralogy and electricity.
On hearing from Lord Lyttelton, Professor Ramsay replied that he knew of a person who fulfilled the
requirements stated, and, having obtained permission to do so, wrote to Alexander William Bickerton offering
him the position. Knowing little about New Zealand or its people Bickerton sought advice from Dr Ridding of
Winchester who told him that Canterbury was the most advanced and best educated colony in the world, and
added I thought we could offer you something better than the other posts, but not as equal to this.
Bickerton accepted the appointment and sailing for New Zealand on the steamship Atrato, arrived in
Christchurch in June 1874. At this time Christchurch was in its 24th year of existence with a population of
10,000, about one sixth of Canterburys total population.
Between Christchurch and the small coastal town of New Brighton the flat land humped up into a series of low
shifting sandhills, barren except for a few hardy native plants, and generally regarded as little better than a
desert. In May 1880, Bickerton bought a 30 acre block of land. The section was a narrow strip, less than half a
mile long and something more than two hundred yards wide, running in a north-westerly direction from Pages
Road, the main highway between Christchurch and New Brighton, to where the River Avon, made a
horse
-shoe curve towards the east. It was at this end of the property on a rise overlooking the river, that Bickerton
decided to build. The Maori word for curving water suggested sounds conducive to profound peace, the sighing of gentle breezes, the rippling of placid streams. It fell pleasantly on Bickertons ear and he chose it for the
name of his new home, Wainoni.
By 1884 the family had moved from their home in Antigua Street to the new house on the sand dunes.
Additions and improvements continued to be made for many years until the place assumed the unique aspect
which thousands of visitors would visit.

1890s

Canterbury Museum
Ref: 4591

42
At first the property became the focal point for the social life of the students from the University. Parties of
students used to drive, ride, travel by tram or row down the Avon River to the Wainoni landing stage. A
garden, laid out on a grand scale, was beginning to take shape; sometimes there were fireworks in the evening,
sometimes impromptu dances, and occasionally a play would be performed in a small theatre that adjoined the
house; produced and stage-managed by Professor Bickerton.

In 1895 a commune was set up with about 30 people living in their own houses, but sharing meals and chores.
The two photos above are a group at the commune and on the right, a group of children playing near the castle.
Some members worked in factories on the grounds and others like the Professor worked in Christchurch.

FIREWORKS 1899 UNTIL 1936.

The fireworks factory at Wainoni first made fireworks in 1899. After Wainoni Park was sold in 1914, a piece
of land was kept on what is now Ottawa Road. The fireworks factory continued to operate until it closed in
1936. The largest undertaking of all was to make fireworks to celebrate the end of World War One. Every
town and city in New Zealand wanted some and the Wainoni factory supplied them. The grandson of the
Professor, Ron Bickerton, aged 16 years at the time was fresh out of school and was such an expert that he
took charge of the Christchurch display.
In March 2004, I spoke to Mrs
Marion Reed, who worked in
the shed where the fire started.
She remembers the fire all too
well. Mrs Reed said that she
was the only worker who went
back to work at the factory after
the fire. For a short time she
was cutting the fireworks into
lengths. However she does not
recall any gun powders at the
factory after the fire and thinks
that they were filled at a
different location until the
factory closed shortly after.

Christchurch Press 5th November 1936, page 16.

In 1904 a tuberculosis sanatorium, Avon Pine Sanatorium, was opened, (see chapter 6).

43
WAINONI PARK, A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE
1903 - 1914
By 1903 Professor William Bickerton was no longer working at Canterbury University and because many
groups of people including Church groups, schools, businesses, etc. were using the Pleasure Gardens for
picnics and social events, the Bickerton family decided to open the Park to the public as a commercial
enterprise.
The Park was also known as The Wainoni Pleasure Gardens and Tahuna Park.
Among the many activities to see and do at Wainoni Park were:
Merry go rounds, side shows, shooting galleries, rowing, skating rink, social hall for dances, walkways, Aunt
Sallies, gala days, baby shows, refreshment stores, three penny and six penny tea rooms, an amphitheatre that
held 7000 people, open air concerts, sand weaving, Punch and Judy, magic shows, Indian club swinging,
boxing, brass bands, gymnastics displays, ocean waves, glass blowing, art gallery, planetarium, begonia house,
fernery, conservatory and aquariums.
In the zoo there were lions, bears, kangaroos, wallabies, leopard, cranes, lemurs, tiger, emus, 40 monkeys (that
one day made a great escape and were all over the neighbourhood), and a puma which died on its way to
Wainoni.
There was also:
A cinema, possibly the first in Christchurch;
A publishing company and press used to produce a number of books written by The Professor, named
Wainoni Postal Publishing Co.;
Medicine factory making medicines from the Professor's own secret recipes and sold at the park;
Fireworks factory that made fireworks for displays and the mock battles;
Photography and art studios.

44

Canterbury Museum Weekly Press

Ref: 13167

Amphitheatre held 7000 people

Above: Canterbury Times, 4th February,

1914, page 45.
Captain Jonassen doing a trapeze act, then
parachuting to the ground.
Winner of the baby show, Napier
Frederick Rangitiki.
Running races.

Wainoni Geyser: Professor Bickerton invented

this explosive he named splittite. It was
dropped into the lake resulting in the water
shooting 200 feet into the air.

Right: Punch and Judy Show.

10,000 people a day would often visit
Wainoni Park.

Weekly Press 17 January 1906 page 45 and a postcard.

45
In 1914 economic conditions in New Zealand were difficult. World War one had started, cinemas were being
built in Christchurch providing a new entertainment, the Bickerton children had got married and developed
different interests and Professor Bickerton had been in England for the past four years preaching his theory
of partial impact, so it was decided to close Wainoni Park. The family sold all the land except for a small lot on
Ottawa Road where a fire-works factory was located and was operated by a son Ron Bickerton and later with
his son Bevan. The factory remained open until 1936.
Professor Bickerton remained in England and later after Mrs Bickerton died he remarried. Alexander William
Bickerton died in England in 1928.
One of the Professors close friends was T.J. Edmond who owned Edmonds Baking Powder. He had donated
the Band Rotunda to the people of Christchurch and then in 1930 made another gift for the Christchurch
people to enjoy, a large piece of land on the corner of Avonside Drive and Wainoni Road just across the road
from the Bickerton home and Park. He hoped that the Christchurch City Council would create a memorial
garden in remembrance of Alexander William Bickerton for all the pleasure Wainoni Park had brought to
hundreds of thousands of people. Bickerton Reserve has been mentioned a few times in newspaper articles
over the past decades, but sadly until now not many people knew the full story of what took place there. Apart
from some trees, a little garden and the Christchurch City Council sign, the memorial reserve has been
forgotten. In 2003 the Christchurch City Council along with Bevan Bickerton and myself, visited Bickerton
Reserve where I supplied the Parks and Reserves officer and a Council designer with a copy of my book
Professor Bickertons Wainoni, and soon after a design for paths, gardens and memorial information was
being drawn. The Council have budgeted to have the work carried out in 2007-8 . I hope by the time you are
reading this book, that the Reserve is complete.

Bickerton Reserve.

The Christchurch Arts Centre.

As well as visiting Bickertons plaque and
ashes, in the Great Hall at the Arts Centre in
Christchurch, you can also visit his ghost.
Upstairs above Rutherfords den, you can sit
at the students desks in the very lecture room
in which Bickerton taught and listen to an
imitation recording of some of his lectures.

46

Christchurchs Theatre Royal The Prof by John Densem.

In 1985, Christchurch musician and playwright, John Densem was awarded $7000.00
by the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council to
become Writer in Residence at the Court Theatre. Using the grant he set out to write a play
about a local subject. John Densem chose The
Prof.
In a newspaper interview with David Wilson,
Christchurch Press, 24 December 1985, Mr
Densem said, because hes one of those
people we should treasure, he was a
charismatic, colourful character who greatly
enriched the Christchurch scene at the turn of
the century. I came across the Bickerton story
when I was working for the Christchurch City
Council doing graphs and publications. The
more I read about him the more fascinated I
became. My main motivation in writing is to
get people to take a pride in New Zealand and
its characters and not to look overseas.
Bickerton was an obvious choice. The working
title will be Prof as he was known as that, or
sometimes Bicky.
Within six months the play was written and
the following year, 1986, the play was
delivered.
The play included Professor Bickerton's travel
to New Zealand, his time at the Canterbury
College, his theory of Partial Impact, the
Federative Home, Wainoni, the pleasure park,
his death and the return of his ashes to the
college.

Photographs are from the

Theatre Royal archives.

The Prof teaching his most famous pupil, Ernest Rutherford

The play was a raving success!!!

Thanks John Densem.

Professor Bickertons ashes arrive at the college and are

placed behind the wall.
This chapter is very brief but gives an insight to the amazing
character of Alexander William Bickerton and the Bickerton
family as a whole.
While researching information for this book, I discovered
what I thought would be a chapter, but before too long I had
over 100 photographs, extensive newspaper articles and
written history that became a book of its own.
This book Professor Bickertons Wainoni was published in
2004. There are 100 photographs and 84 pages of the
complete history of the different events that took place at
Wainoni.
Professor Bickertons Wainoni, is available in all
Christchurch Public Libraries or to buy a copy, contact the
author Tim Baker.

47

Chapter 6:

Tuberculosis Sanatoriums.

The Weekly Press 18th May 1904 page 37

THE CHRISTCHURCH OPEN-AIR HOSPITAL:

GENERAL VIEW OF THE CAMP

Canterbury Times 16th March 1904 page 35

THE

OPEN AIR

TREATMENT

Within a short distance of the New Brighton Bridge, and about a mile from the sea beach, comfortably
sheltered among the broom, is a new open-air sanatorium. The seven or eight tents which comprise the camp,
under the charge of District Nurse Maude, have been erected for the use of those who are unable, from stress
or circumstances, to afford more expensive treatment. The ground is dry, sheltered from the wind and sunny,
and the patients there have already made excellent progress. The establishment of this poor mans
sanatorium is due entirely to the energy of Nurse Maude, who has long been identified with work amongst the
poor.

48

Nurse Maudes Consumption Sanatorium

( Tuberculosis, T.B.)
This story starts in 1903. Many people in Christchurch, New Zealand and the wider world were suffering and
dying from Tuberculosis. Consumption, tuberculosis in the lungs, was the most common type of T.B.;
although the spine and other parts of the body were affected in some people.
The common practice advised by doctors was the patient staying at home in front of the fire with the windows
closed and with his family around him. He would breath in bad air and contaminate his family with germs
from the air and his utensils. Most of the time he would die, perhaps spreading the disease to his wife or child
resulting in a second death. This disease was a huge killer in New Zealand and throughout the wider world.
Around 1903, in England and Wales 70,000 people died of T.B in a single year.
Nurse Maude challenged this way of thinking and like Professor Bickertons sick horse that he left to graze in
the wild at Wainoni in 1882, returning two years latter to find it healthy and fit due to the fresh air of the
country side, and deciding then to build his home in this healthy environment away from the smell and
pollution of the city, Nurse Maude believed the same result would come for sufferers of consumption.
With financial help from the public, Nurse Maude opened the first sanatorium or hospital for the treatment of
consumption in 1903 for men who couldnt afford to pay for treatment. The site was on a small piece of land
offered by Mrs A.J. White, half way between the Bower Hotel and the New Brighton bridge, adjacent to the
Avon River.
During the middle of one night that winter there was a dreadful storm which ,due to the lack of shelter,
resulted in the wind tearing down tents and soaking everybody's bedding and possessions. Mr and Mrs Amos
Goring, (Mabel Howards grandparents), lived on land on Breezes Road, 200 metres from Wainoni Road and
they offered some of their land where the hospital then relocated to. Here the pine trees were mature offering
better shelter.
The sanatorium continued treating patients, saving many lives. In 1907 a permanent brick hospital built in
Cashmere, The Cashmere Sanatorium, and in 1914 a second permanent sanatorium, The Coronation Hospital
was opened for more advanced cases of consumption.
REFERENCES: Nurse Maude, A friend in need by E.M. Somes Cocks
Nurse Maude, The First 100 Years by Vivienne Allan
Aranui Centennial Souvenir Programme March 1st 1952
Professor Bickertons Wainoni by Tim Baker
Canterbury Times March 27th 1907 page 43, June 16th 1909 page 44, June 10th 1914 page 41

Nurse Maudes Sanatorium, Breezes Road, 1904

Weekly Press 18
May 1904, P37

49

The Opening of Avon Pine Sanatorium 1904

Photographs: The Weekly Press News Paper, 4th May 1904, pages 41 and 42.

Minister, Sir Joseph Ward officially opening the Avon Pine Sanatorium.
In April 1904, Professor Bickertons daughter, Annie and son in-law, Dr. Cecil Greenwood, opened Avon
Pine Sanatorium on the Bickertons land at Wainoni. This was two minutes walk from Nurse Maudes
sanatorium, (hospital). Dr Greenwood became the doctor for both sanatoriums.

Avon Pine Sanatorium was a hospital for fee paying clients, unlike Nurse Maudes sanatorium where the
running of the hospital was paid for by charities, allowing the poorer sufferers a place to get well.
The patients and staff lived in the tents pictured in these photographs.

50
The Canterbury Times newspaper, March 27th 1907, page 43.

THE CHRISTCHURCH CONSUMPTIVE SANATORIUMLAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE.

On Wednesday last the foundation stone of the Christchurch Consumption Sanatorium, on the Cashmere Hills, was laid by the actingPremier, the Hon W. Hall-Jones. Speeches were also delivered by others interested. When the building and appointments are finally
completed the amount expended will have reached 18,000.

Webb and Bunz photo.

The Canterbury Times newspaper, June 16th 1909, page 44.

THE CHRISTCHURCH CONSUMPTIVE SANATORIUM ON THE CASHMERE HILLS, WHICH WAS RECENTLY COPLETED
AND IS NOW READY FOR OCCUPATION.
Canterbury Times photo

The Canterbury Times newspaper, June 10th 1914 page 41.

THE CORONATION HOSPITAL, CASHMERE HILLS, CHRISTCHURCH.
The King George V. Coronation Hospital, intended for the reception of advanced cases of consumption, erected
near the Cashmere Hills Consumptive Sanatorium, at a cost of over 15,000, was officially opened on Jan
3 (the Kings Birthday), by the Hon R. H. Rhodes Minister of Public Health. The weather was extremely wet
but dispite this fact there was a very large attendance. The chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board
(Mr F. Horrell) presided, and with him on the platform were the Hon R. H. Rhodes, Bishop Julius, Bishop Grimes,
The Hon K. F. Wigram, M.L.C., the Rev Father Price, Mr T. H. Davey, M.P., Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch), Mr J. R. Webb (Mayor of Lyttleton), Mr H. R. Smith (treasurer of the Coronation Hospital Fund), Mr
Graham (Mayor of Woolston), Dr Blackmore (medical superintendent Consumptive Sanatorium), Mr R. Moore,
(chairman Lyttelton Harbour Board), members of the City Council and Hospital Board, and other representitives
of local bodies.

51

Chapter 7:

A big house named Littleover

Title 2808

Littleover
Block 1882
40 acres

Title 5382

Professor Bickertons Wainoni

(Bickerton Street)

Wainoni Road

1891
H. Richards
bought these
23 acres from
the Littleover
Block

In 1882 Albert Cuff bought a 40 acre block of land in the

then, New Brighton District. He would soon become neighbour to Professor Bickerton and his family. Albert Cuff was
born in a town named Littleover in Derbyshire, England. That
year he had his house built and appropriately named it Littleover. To the north of the shops on Wainoni Road near Bickerton Street was the long windy driveway leading to the house.
On the property there existed a workers cottage with an entrance off New Brighton Road, now Wainoni Road. In 1891
H. Richards bought just over half the Littleover Block, where
he soon built his home closer to Tram Road, now Pages Road,
(see chapter 9). From 1882 until 1960, Littleover had about a
dozen owners. During 1963 Littleover was demolished, and in
1965 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1954 the last 7
acres was subdivided for housing and industry creating
Te Rama Place and Tahuna Street. The house, Littleover,
would have stood in the north-west end of Tahuna Street.

Pages Road
See chapter 9 for the history of the house built by H. Richards.

52
A note from the author, Tim Baker: My fir st book Pr ofessor Bicker tons Wainoni, is my favourite local
history because of the numerous and amazing events that happened in one place. It took me six years to
compile both Professor Bickertons Wainoni and this book. During the first two years I was often amazed not
only at what history I discovered but with the coincidences that often occurred. This chapter Littleover, is one
of those stories. In 2003, I went to Aranui School and looked through the schools archives, a suit case.
Amongst the many interesting photographs, papers etc., I found a sheet of A4 paper with a brief typed history
of a house named Littleover with the names of most of the owners listed. I showed this to Richard Greenaway
at the City Library, and as I expected he began to tell me about some of the owners including George Tothill
who was a seed merchant. I thought this was the end of this story. Two weeks later, J. Shand went to the
library and asked Richard if he knew anything about her great grandfather, George Tothill. He replied not a lot
but perhaps Tim Baker might know more. We soon spoke and she sent me the photos of the house in this
chapter along with notes from her family regarding Georges death and his business as a seed merchant. I soon
realised that a chapter in one of Richard Greenaways books about New Brightons unsolved murder occurred
at an existing cottage on the Littleover Block. While looking through newspapers at the city library I found
these articles about both George Tothills death and inquest and the original owner, Albert Cuffs gold mining
experience, which is all recorded in this chapter. I am always excited to find new information but nothing
surprises me anymore.
The Weekly Press July 26th
1911 Page 44
CONTRUTIONS FROM
WEEKLY PRESS READERS.

FROM CANTERBURY TO GABRIELS GULLY.

A PIONEERS EXPERIENCES
AT THE DIGGINGS.

By Albert Cuff.
Being one of the early pioneers of
these gold diggings, I have read with
interest all relating to the Jubilee
in your paper, and regret not having
attended the jubilee on the spot.
Early in that year, being with a
brother in the Mackenzie country, we
heard that gold had been discovered in
the Lindis river, far back in Otago, and
decided to try our luck, just riding
home to Christchurch, where, after a
short stay, we were joined by another
brother, and rode off to Timaru, and
thence through the Mackenzie country
to McLeans run, where the diggings
were.
After a few months stay there,
trying for gold, which was very scarce,
and only found in the river and on its
banks, and winter coming on, it being
then July, rumour reached the mining
camp that rich gold had been found in
Otago, so a meeting was held and a
subscription raised to send one of the
diggers to find out if true, but without
waiting his return (in fact, he did not
return), we sold off or gave away all we
could not carry on our horses and pack
mule, and started across country for
continue

Dunedin, making for a hut at the foot

of the Dunstan Mountains, where we
hoped to be told which way to go.
We were directed the best place to
cross the mountains, and where we
should find a shepherds hut on the
other side, but found on arrival it was
deserted, so following some faint wheel
tracks until they were lost, but we
reached another deserted hut at night
and camped, eating the last of our food.
We begun to get anxious as to our

whereabouts, so decided to return and

go down the valley we had passed the
first day.
In the morning we found the whole
country under snow, but had to go
back, and were fortunate enough to
make the home station, where we were
fed and put up for the night and got
proper directions. The next night we
made Murisons station, and were there
put up.
continue

Reaching Dunedin three days later,

we found the town all excitement, and
every hotel full of diggers, arriving in
hundreds. But we got shake-downs,
and after purchasing a few necessaries
to come up by dray at a cost of one
shilling a pound for cartage, we started
for Gabriels Gully, which we reached
the third day out, passing hundreds of
people on the way in carts and walking,
all making for the same place.
On arrival and eager to make a start,
we went up the Valley, to find all the
best part fully occupied by diggers, and
as the claims were only 40 feet per
man, they looked very thickly manned,
so we had to return and peg out our
claims at the back of the then township, and considered poor ground.
Owing to our inexperience in washing
the gold out we made about 2 Pound a
day per man.
After staying some weeks we decided
it was not good enough to stay, so left
for the next gully, Wetherstone, and
purchased a claim from owners who
wanted to go to Dunedin. We did fairly
well at this, our best days work being
24 ounces of gold, but few days were
like that.
After working out the claim we
foolishly started storekeeping, which
we knew nothing about, and did no
good at. By that time thousands of
diggers had arrived, and the whole of
the alluvial ground was taken up, and
they were spreading all over the country, looking for more, but our party
returned to Christchurch. I could give
many interesting events that took
place during our stay that are recalled
by reading your accounts in the Jubilee
meeting.
Auckland, June 13th, 1911.

Albert Cuff arrived in the Minerva, on February 2nd 1853. This article tells of Albert's mining days around
1861. From 1864 until 1871, he ran the Royal Hotel, one of the first three in Christchurch, known as the run
-holders hotel. From 1871 until 1895, he went into partnership with Graham, (Graham and Cuff). In 1891
Albert Cuff subdivided the Littleover block in two, selling both lots, then in 1895 he moved to Auckland.

53

NEW BRIGHTONS
UNSOLVED MURDER August 1879
An extract from the book
Rich man, poor man, environmentalist, thief
Biographies of Canterbury personalities written for the Millennium and for the 150th anniversary of
the Canterbury Settlement.
By Richard L. N. Greenaway

George Vennell, a ploughman from Whitcombe, Dorset, was five feet four inches in height, had a large
head, red hair and eyebrows, low forehead, fair complexion and hazel eye. In youth he was convicted for theft,
whipped and imprisoned. On 22 October 1838, at the age of 20, he was tried at the Somerset Quarter Sessions
for stealing clothing and sentenced to be transported for 15 years. His ship, the Marquis of Hastings, arrived in
Tasmania on 18 July 1839. George's colonial crimes ranged from absconding to 'being in a public house on
Sunday' to 'ill-using and causing the death of a calf, the property of his master'. He was incarcerated, put in a
hard labour gang and subject to solitary confinement.
On 28 August 1854, in the District of Morven, George Vennell married Mary Scollan. The groom, claiming
to be 33, was in fact a little older; Mary was 22. More than a decade later, the couple moved to Christchurch.
George, clad in corduroy trousers, faded pea-jacket and black billycock hat was by now stout, grey-haired and
addicted to alcohol. Despite his fondness for drink, his contemporaries considered him 'an honest
hard
-working man in moderately good circumstances'. On 30 July 1871, however, George's 'beloved Mary died of
cancer at Haast Street, Avonside.
Even while Mary lay dying, George was in contact with the woman who would become his second wife.
Maria Thompson had led a chequered career. As Maria Drake, 24, she stood in the dock at the Central Criminal Court, London, on 28 November 1842. A native of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, a dressmaker and milliner,
and five feet three inches in height, she had a fair complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, long thin nose and wide
mouth. Convicted for stealing a watch and watch stand, she was sentenced to transportation for seven years
and, on 19 July 1843, reached Tasmania on the Margaret. Fifteen years later and now called Maria Thompson,
she appeared on the capital charge of 'feloniously, unlawfully and maliciously' leaving a parcel of arseniclaced custard and cake outside another woman's door. Oliver Adams and Mary Ann Paul, people unknown to
Maria, partook of the food and fell violently ill. The judge 'finding the Court of Requests Room most inconveniently crowded, adjourned to the Supreme Court below'. There he took the guilty verdict and condemned
Maria to death. The sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life.
Discharged from prison on 8 July 1871, Maria came immediately to Christchurch in the company of her
daughter, Hannah; her son, Francis or Frank Sanderson, followed shortly thereafter. In an 'Intention to marry'
file, George described himself as a gardener of 51 who had been four years in the city; Maria stated that she
was a widow, a servant and aged 52 years. On 31 January 1872, at St Luke's church, George wed the
grandiloquently named Henrietta Maria Patience Lydia Sanderson Thompson.
Hannah, Maria's daughter, married Richard Leaver, the son of a prominent tailor (also Richard) in 1873, and
Frank Sanderson also married. Maria and George lived in a rented cottage on an isolated spot on the sandhills.
Sometimes, George's increasing love of the bottle proved embarrassing, especially when, while trying to draw
water, he fell into the river and needed vigilant neighbours to rescue him. In 1879, Maria decamped, moving
closer to the city and living with her children. In the magistrate's court the claim was made that, in an attempt
to frame George, Maria, Hannah and Richard Leaver had stripped his cottage of its furniture and planted
stolen garments.
In August 1879, George's neighbours, concerned that the blinds were drawn and that the old man had been
missing for a week, called the police. When officers arrived, they immediately suspected foul play. A meal
had been prepared but not eaten. Somebody had fired bullets through the window and peppered the wall
opposite. There was blood on the wall, furniture and brown paper which had attached itself to a gorse fence.
Evidence showed that George's body had been dragged through the garden hedge, a post and rail fence and
laid on a sandhill. On the sandhill there was found blood which had oozed from a head wound.
Policemen dragged the river, pushed holes into the mud and dived into the waters, recovering scraps of a
blood-stained blanket. However, they were quickly forced out by the intense cold.
Newspaper correspondents pointed out that the police did not have the resources to scour the large area of
open and broken ground adjacent to Vennell's. Moreover, the citizenry showed scant interest in this 'most
cowardly and cold-blooded murder' which had been committed on its doorstep. When there had been similar
outrages elsewhere, even 'in districts difficult and dangerous to explore', people had turned out en masse. In
this case they did not do so.

54
Even so, some responded to police calls for help. Others volunteered when publicans provided transport to
and food at the sandhills. One group obtained refreshments from hotelkeepers and storekeepers on the pretext
that they had been sent by the police. The greatest inducements to a lethargic populace were those offered by
the police - 100 for the recovery of George's body, 250 for information leading to a conviction.
George's fellow riverside dwellers were scrutinised as potential suspects. It was thought that money might
have motivated one, 'Vaughn'. This was probably Edward Vaughn who later dwelt in a snug scrub-surrounded
camp on the south bank of the Avon opposite Hardy Street, and, with mockaristocratic hauteur, styled his
German companion, 'Frank', as 'my man'. Another neighbour, John Lilly, was eliminated as a 'poor feeble
creature' who cared for 'nothing beyond a pint of beer'.
However, within a short time, the police viewed this as a domestic crime. They noted that Maria had
returned to the property and washed the floor, commenting: 'You know I could never live in dirt'. Aware that
Frank Sanderson hated his step-father, they became convinced that he had committed the murder. Frank, a
cook, with dark hair, blue eyes, large nose and sallow complexion, was kept under surveillance and, on one
occasion, briefly imprisoned for wife desertion. Some family members who felt themselves tainted by the
scandal returned to Australia; certainly Richard Leaver junior was living there at the time of his father's death
in 1911. The fate of Frank Sanderson and his mother is unknown but it is clear that they were never charged
with George's murder.
When, in 1887 and 1892, human remains were found in the sandhills, the subject of George Vennell's
disappearance again came to public attention. Ex-policeman and asylum warden Edward William Seager, muddied the waters. As imaginative as his granddaughter, the novelist Ngaio Marsh, he stated that the bones were
those of Captain Cook's doctor who, it was supposed, had been buried at Pegasus Bay. Museum curator F. W.
Hutton placed this hypothesis before Dunedin bibliophile and historian T. M. Hocken. Examination of east-ofChristchurch human tissue showed that it belonged neither to the murdered man nor to the spectacled skeleton
of Seager's fancy, but rather, was evidence of an ancient Maori presence in the area.
Those aware of the Vennell drama can find a memento when, on 'an early summer morning [with] a gentle
warm breeze just perceptible', they visit 'the most English-looking God's Acre in Canterbury', Avonside
churchyard. Near the entrance, to the left of the lych-gate, a small plain cross bears the name of Mary, the first
Mrs Vennell.
In 1895, an oarsman commented that the 250 reward was still available. As late as 1980, nonagenarian Reg
Bellamy stated that, in childhood, he and his friends were sent from. New Brighton to Wainoni to search for
Vennell's remains. The reward money long remained in the public consciousness but it has never been claimed.

55

George Tothill and Family.

Owner of
Littleover from 1917-1919

GEORGE TOTHILL
George Compton Tothill was born on the 18th of February 1860 at Heavitree, near Exeter in England. At the
age of 17 he sailed for Australia aboard the Glen Osmond to begin a new life. Three years later, in 1879, he
boarded the Rotorua and sailed to New Zealand. For eight years, George farmed a big sheep run at Five
Rivers Estate near Invercargill with his cousin T. Ellin. George owned a substantial interest in the estate of
which he kept. In March 1887, George entered into a partnership with T.C. Watson in a firm called Tothill,
Watson and Co, which grew to have outlets in Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin and later Christchurch. Later that
year he married Constance E. Machoskey. About 1890, Constance died leaving George with six young
children. Georges second cousin Henrietta came out from England to help with the family and soon after they
fell in love, were married and had two more children. In 1902, Tothill, Watson and Co. dissolved, and the
Tothill family moved to Christchurch. George continued to run most of the stock and station business as well
as his former partnership agencies.
In 1917 Littleover became their new home. Sometime between 1902 and 1917, George bought the franchise
for Sutton and Sons, grain seed for the whole of Australasia. During W.W.1., there was an extensive drought
throughout most of New Zealand causing crops to fail. There was a huge demand for grain seed. George
mortgaged all his property to have two ships full of grain come out from England to New Zealand. Many
supply boats had been sunk by the German Navy and Georges thinking was that if both ships made it then he
would be rich, and if only one made it, there would be a premium on the price of grain and he would do well.
As you will read in the newspaper articles on the following pages, George was a passenger in his car
returning home from town with his daughter Ursula driving, heading north along what is now England Street,
turning east into what is now Woodham Road, when the car collided with a horse and cart resulting in George
Tothills death.
Joseph Ward, later Sir Joseph, Prime Minister, had had his own seed supply company based in Southland,
J.C. Ward and Son Ltd. At the time of Georges death he happened to be in England and took the opportunity
to call upon Sutton and Sons and persuade them to sell him the Australasian franchise now that George Tothill
was dead. Somehow they agreed on the condition that Ward did not sell the seed to the same buyers as George
Tothill had organised.
The grain arrived and Ward sold it at a huge loss. The Tothill family lost virtually everything and had to leave
Littleover. Under her solicitor's advice Mrs Henrietta Tothill sailed to England to sue Sutton and Sons, for
breach of contract as they had no legal right to sell the franchise to Ward. (At this time Ward was involved in
Politics and 15 years earlier he had opened the Pinewood Sanatorium next door at Bickertons when Premier,
(see chapter 6).
Sutton and Sons quickly settled out of court granting a generous and comfortable annual payment.
Unfortunately Henrietta only lived one year longer to receive it. Fortunately, by now the children were all
adults. One son with the same name as his father, known as Compton, died at Gallipoli.

56

Weekly Press 18 Sept 1918 p 30

Weekly Press 25 Aug 1920 p 19

Suttons Seeds box.

Robert Duthie lived on Wainoni Road,
north of Littleover from 1913 until 1948.
Roberts grandson, Colin Duthie, recalls
his grandfather telling him that he was
employed by Suttons Seeds. This
Suttons Seeds box along with two others
have remained in the Duthie family.

57

The tragic death

of
George Compton Tothill.
As recorded in the Star Newspaper.

The Star newspaper, Monday May 5th,

1919, page 4

FATAL COLLISION.
MOTOR-CAR AND CART
Mr. G. C. TOTHILL KILLED
A collision occurred on Woodham
Road shortly before six oclock on Saturday evening between a motor-car and
a caterers cart, which resulted in the
death of Mr George Compton Tothill,
a very well known and popular business
man in Christchurch. Mr. Tothill was
proceeding to his home at Littleover, on the New Brighton Road, in
his motor-car, a three-seater Studebaker, and in the car with him were
his daughter, Miss Ursula Tothill, and
Mr. George Hart. Miss Tothill was
driving, while her father occupied the
left hand seat on the outside.
It is
understood that the car, which had
been travelling in the middle of the
road, swerved, as an inspection of its
tracks showed yesterday, from its proper side to the further side of the road,
just past the junction of Rolleston
Street and Woodham Road, and came
into collision with the cart, which was
being driven into town by a young man
named John Bennett, an employee of
P. Burke and Co., the caterers at the
New Brighton trotting meeting. The
left shaft of the cart, which it is supposed struck Mr Tothill with fatal results, was snapped off for about two
feet. The windscreen of the car was
smashed to fragments, not a bit of
glass being left in the frame. The
mudguards on the left hand side of
the car were badly dented, evidently
through coming in contact with the
wheel of the cart. The motor-car ran
into the concrete channelling at the
roadside, where the spokes on the right
wheel collapsed utterly as the car lurched up against the kerbing. Curiously
continue

the tyre stayed on the rim and was

not injured, and all the other tyres
were found to be fully inflated after
the accident. Previous to leaving town
a tyre had been changed on the car
at Haywards garage. A cyclist who
was preceding the cart, it is said, was
knocked over, and his bicycle smashed,
while another cyclist, who was riding
close behind the vehicle, had a narrow
escape from injury as the horse swerved
across the roadway after the collision,
and then bolted for some distance. The
horse was badly cut about.
Mr Tothill was conveyed to the hospital, but so severely had he suffered from
the considerable force of the impact that
he expired from shock before arriving
there.
An inquest was opened yesterday
afternoon, before Mr. S.E. McCarthy,
and after formal evidence as to identification had been given by Thomas
Webb Tothill, a son of the deceased,
the inquiry was adjourned till 10 a.m.
on Friday next.
The late Mr Tothill, who was managing director of Tothill Ltd. and
controlled the Australasian agency for
Sutton and Sons, seedsmen, was born at
Havertree, near Exeter, Devonshire,
in 1860, and was educated at Mount
Radford Grammar School. He arrived
in Australia when he was seventeen
years of age, and after being in business there for two or three years he
took up the position of under-manager
for Mr T. C. Ellis at his run at Five
Rivers, Southland, where he remained
for ten years later he went to Invercargill, establishing the firm of Tothill
and Watson. On the dissolution of this
partnership, Mr Tothill went to England in 1902 and arranged with Sutton
and Sons for the agency of their seeds
in Australasia. Mr Tothill leaves a widow, four sons and three daughters. Four
of his sons went to the war, two with the
Main Body forces, and one son was
killed on Gallipoli. The youngest son
was in camp when the armis- tice was
signed.

The Star newspaper, Wednesday May

7th, 1919, page 6

LATE MR TOTHILL
FUNERAL YESTERDAY
The funeral of the late Mr G. C.
Tothill took place yesterday at the Riccarton Cemetery.
The Rev Samuel
Parr, M.C., officiated at the graveside.
The chief mourners were Mrs Tothill,
Mr Tom Tothill and Miss Tothill, and
the pall-bearers were Colonel Cooper,
Colonel Hobday, and Messrs C. S.
Smith, J. G. Herdman, C. P. Brown and
Shand. A large number of friends of the
deceased gentleman were present.
Wreaths were sent by Mr and Mrs David Matson, Rita and Keith Matson, Mr
and Mrs J. R. Hart, Mr Herbert Price,
Miss Edith Norris, Mr and Mrs G. R.
Beadel, National Mortgage Company
manager and staff, Whitcombe and
Tombs, Talbot and Peoples, Meares and
Williams, Mr and Mrs G. H. Merton, Mr
and Mrs Leicester Matson, Mr and Mrs
F. Bullen, Hilary and Ailsa Bullen, Mr
and Mrs F. I. And Wynn Cowlishaw,
Mr and Mrs Oakleigh Greenwood, Mr
and Mrs Robert Duthie, Mr and Mrs G.
H. Blanch, Messrs Young, Averill, J. M.
and R. H. Lowry and K. Hargraves,
employees, Tothill Ltd, maids of
Littleover, staff of Coringa farm,
Colonel C. J. Cooper, Miss Mabel Murphy, Messrs Manifold and W. Watson,
Mr George Humphreys, members and
committee Canterbury Club, nurses
Christchurch Hospital, Messrs Morten
and Hobday, Mr C. S. Smith, Mr and
Mrs McIntyre and family Wright, Stephenson and Co., and Mr W. Kerr.

58

The Inquest into the death

of
George Compton Tothill.
I have included these newspaper articles in this chapter of Aranui/Wainoni because the significance of this
motor-car accident resulted in the beginning of traffic laws in Christchurch, possibly New Zealand. The Coroners verdict I find of particular interest.

Littleover 1919
The Star newspaper, Saturday May
10th, 1919, page 9

THE LATE G. C. TOTHILL

INQUEST RESUMED.
FURTHER ADJOURNMENT.
The inquest on the late G. C. Tothill,
who died as the result of injuries received through a collision between a
motor-car and cart on the corner of
Woodham Road and Rolleston Street
last Saturday evening, was resumed at
the Magistrate's Court this morning
before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., District Coroner.
Mr F. W. Johnston appeared on behalf of Miss Ursula Tothill, Mr H. O.
D. Meares for the deceases family
and Mr A. Lucas for Mr Bennett, the
driver of the cart.
Dr A. B. Pearson, in describing deceased's injuries, stated that the bone
in front of the chest and several ribs
were fractured. The heart covering
was torn for a distance of about three
inches, and the cause of death was rupture of the heart.
At this stage Senior-Sergeant Cummings asked for a further adjournment
in order to allow the police to make inquiries regarding a cyclist who was
concerned in the accident.
The inquest was accordingly adjourned till Friday next, at 10 a. m.

Site of accident.

1919
Rolleston Street
New Brighton Road Mile Road
New Brighton Races -

2006
England Street
Wainoni Road
Linwood Ave
Q.E.11

59
The Star newspaper, Friday May 16th,
1919, page 6

RECENT MOTOR FATALITY

THE LATE G. C. TOTHILL
EVIDENCE AT INQUEST .
The inquest on the late G. C. Tothill,
who died as the result of injuries received through a collision between a
motor-car and cart on the corner of
Woodham Road and Rolleston Street
on the evening of May 3 was resumed
at the Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M.,
District Coroner.
Mr F. W. Johnston appeared on behalf of Miss Ursula Tothill, Mr H. O.
D. Meares for the deceases family
and Mr A. Lucas for Mr Bennett, the
driver of the cart.
At the preliminary hearing on Saturday, Dr A. B. Pearson, in describing deceased's injuries, stated that the bone
in front of the chest and several ribs
were fractured. The heart covering
was torn for a distance of about three
inches, and the cause of death was rupture of the heart.
At to-days hearing the first witness
was Herbert MacIntosh, traffic inspector for the City Council, who stated
that immediately after the accident he
examined the tracks of the motor-car,
which were well defined from about
ten yards west of Rolleston Street, the
near or left- hand wheel track being
sixteen feet from the northern pavement line. At a point forty-eight feet
east of a telegraph pole at the southeastern intersection of Rolleston Street
and Woodham Road and eighty feet
from the southern gutter line towards
the centre of the road, witness found
a disturbance of the road surface, such
as would have been made by a horses
feet. This no doubt was the point of
impact of the motor-car with the trap.
This point was twenty-three feet from
the northern pavement. From the point
above-mentioned, forty-eight feet east
of the telegraph pole, to a point twentysix feet farther east on the southern
pavement line, was the spot where
the off wheel of the motor-car struck
the pavement. From that point, a
further forty-two feet east, was the
stopping point of the motor-car. This
distance referred to the back wheel of
the motor-car. There was evidence
that while the motor-car was opposite
Rolleston Street the brakes were applied slightly. Witness was of the opinion that the car must have been travelling at at least twenty-five miles
an hour. There was a well-defined cartwheel track fifty feet long, from a
point four feet east of the telegraph
pole and eleven feet-six inches from
continue

the north pavement edge. On the morning following the accident, witness in
company with Constable McLeod, again
visited the scene of the accident and
found a well-defined cartwheel mark
on the south side of Woodham Road,
on the grass, the centre being 69ft east
of the telegraph pole at the south-east
corner of Rolleston Street. The track
was curved in shape, 21ft 6in wide on
the edge of the grass on the metalled
road, and 2ft 3in on to the grass. It
had a side skid in it five inches wide.
In witnesss opinion this wheel mark
was made by the off wheel of the cart
after the collision. There was no trace
of the track of the near wheel of the
cart. The near left-hand lamp of the
motor-car was burning dimly. There
was a lamp on the other side of the
car, but it was not burning, though it
might have been at the time of the
accident. There was a powerful street
lamp opposite Rolleston Street. The
tail light on the car was burning brightly. The gear lever of the car
was in
neutral and the hand brake was off. The
hand brake was in good or- der, and
the foot brake appeared
to be in
good order. The rear off side wheel of
the car, the one which struck the pavement, was in witnesss opinion, fractured when the collision occurred, and
collapsed about twenty-two feet west of
where the car came to rest, the hub of
the wheel dragging the rim for twentytwo feet. The car had been travelling on
its right side of the road near the crown,
which was the proper place for it. It had
gently swerved
to the off side.
Witness of the day following the accident inspected the cart with which the
car collided. The near side shaft was
broken about two feet from the end.
Witness detailed the by-laws relating to
the lighting of motor-cars and other
vehicles. The only by-laws in the city
regarding speeding were with references to speed over crossings and when
rounding corners.
To Mr Johnston : It was often necessary to turn to ones wrong side of
the road to avoid an accident. Witness
did not consider that passing under a
street lamp would momentarily affect
the vision of a motor-car driver. Witness based his estimate that the car
was travelling twenty-five miles an
hour on the theory that it travelled twenty-two feet after the collision without a
revolving wheel, the rear off side wheel
having collapsed.
Mr Lucas : Miss Tothill was a certificated driver. Her certificate was
granted in 1918.
Witness suggested that an official
should be appointed, whose duty it
should be to proceed to the scene of
every accident and take measurements
and gather details. It should be comcontinue

pulsory for those concerned in an accident to notify this official immediately

after the accident.
Joseph Charles Ralph, labourer, residing at 96 Shirley Road, stated that on
the day of the accident he was returning home from the New Brighton races
at about 5.30 p.m. he passed Mr Tothills car in River Road, between Hanmer Street and Stanmore Road. This
would be between a quarter and a half a
mile from the spot where the accident
occurred. The car was travelling at
about twenty-six or twenty-seven miles
an hour. There was another motorcar about three or four lengths behind
Mr Tothills car, travelling at the same
speed. There was not much traffic on
the road at the time.
To Mr Johnston : Witness was returning to town on a motor ambulance,
which registered up to twenty-one miles
an hour on the run. It was not dark.
Joseph Scarlett, carpenter, residing
at 6 Dorset Street, Christchurch, described the accident, which he said occurred at about five or ten minutes to
six. It was dusk at the time, but not
dark. Witness was riding a push bicycle on the left-hand side of the road.
He was as near the kerb as he could
get. He had no light. At Rolleston
Street he saw a motor-car a few yards
distant, coming towards him, on the
centre of the road. It turned sud- denly towards him and struck the front of
his bicycle, throwing him off. The
wheels of the car went over his bicycle.
Witness saw no lights on the motorcar, which was, in witnesss opinion,
travelling between twenty-five and
thirty miles an hour. Witness had been
riding just in front of a trap for some
considerable distance. Soon after he
was thrown off he heard a smash and
saw that the motor-car had hit the
trap.
He ran on to the footpath,
fearing that the horse would run over
him as it bolted towards town. Witness then went up to the motor-car
and spoke to the lady driving it, stating that his bicycle was smashed and
he was hurt. The driver replied that
she was sorry, but she could not avoid
the accident, as she was trying to
dodge the cart. After the car struck
the trap it still went on - for a distance
of from forty to fifty feet.
At the
time of the collision the car was on the
right-hand side of the road, near the
channel. Witness was riding at
from six to seven miles an hour at the
time of the accident. There was a head
wind, and he could not ride faster.
The trap had been behind him from
Wainoni Park. Witness spoke to a
man, whom he did not know, after the
accident, and asked him to view the
scene of the accident and take the number of the car.
continue

60
To Mr Johnston : Witness had no
light on his bicycle. He did not tell a
Mr Ormandy that the accident was not
his fault, as he had a light on his
bicycle. Mr Ormandy did not ask
him where his lamp was if he had one.
Witness was certainly not under the
influence of liquor, although he might
have had a drink or two during the day.
Witness was not riding at the side of
the trap to avoid the wind. He had
had a conversation with the driver of
the trap since the accident, but had not
discussed the accident.
He admitted
that he had told the driver of the cart
that he (witness) was on his correct side
of the road , riding just ahead of the
trap. He denied that he had said to
Miss Tothill, You cant blame me for
it, I was all right.
To Mr Lucas : Witness had his conversation with the driver of the trap
at the Bush Inn Hotel. He went there
to see him.
(Proceeding.)

The Star newspaper, Saturday May

17th, 1919, page 12

MOTOR FATALITY
THE LATE G. C. TOTHILL
EVIDENCE AT INQUEST .
The inquest concerning the death of
the late G. C. Tothill was continued
yesterday.
Guy Nathan Ormandy, school teacher,
of Linwood, said that on the night of
May 3 he was cycling along the Mile
Road towards town, between a quarter
and ten minutes to six. It was between lights. He had none on his
cycle. He was riding to the left
rear of the cart driven by last witness. The cart was on the righthand side of the road, just off the
crown. Witness was five or six yards
behind the cart, riding just off the
grass, the pace six miles per hour.
Witness was gaining on the trap and
had only ridden a short distance when
the accident took place.
There was
another cyclist in front of witness and
ahead of the trap, which was on the
outside of both bicycles. Witness saw
no accident to the cyclist in front of
the trap. The car would have been
one and a half chains distant when he
first saw it. There were two lights
on the car. The brakes were put on
about a chain from where he first
saw it. The car then proceeded, was
pulled across by the driver at an
angle of 45 degrees, there was a crash,
continue

and the horse and trap were turned.

The driver of the cart was thrown out.
There was nobody thrown out of the
motor-car. Witness could not estimate the speed of the car.
To Mr Johnston : On the application
of the brakes the car came nearly to
a standstill, started again, swerved
and collided.
To Mr Lucas : The exact position of
the vehicles was : First a cyclist, then
the cart, then witness. He could not
see the accident to the cyclist because
the car obscured his view. There had
been quite a number of cyclists down
the Mile Road. Witness was quite
certain that there was no cyclist so
placed as to cause the car to swerve
to avoid him.
To Mr Johnston : It must have been
the off-side of the car which struck the
cyclist.
The car itself cut off witnesss vision of the off-side.
AN OCCUPANT OF THE CAR.
George Welbourne Hart, a returned
soldier, of Christchurch, said that on
the evening of May 3 he was in the
car driven by Miss Tothill. He was
in the centre seat.
It was 5.45 by
the Rink clock as the car pulled out
of the garage. They proceeded along
Mile Road. Witness had six years
driving experience with cars. He
estimated the speed of the car as
fifteen miles per hour when approaching the scene of the accident. This
was maintained when approaching Rolleston Street. The car was on the
correct side of the road (the left). Just
after passing the light shown on the
plan he felt the brakes go on. Witness looked ahead, and saw a horse
and vehicle approaching very fast on
the wrong side of the road. To have
attempted to get on the left side of
the vehicle apparently meant being
telescoped. The horse and cart were
further on the wrong side of the road
than the car was.
Witness had the
impression that the cart was out of
hand. He thought that Miss Tothill
took the only chance that an experienced driver would take. It would
have been madness to have attempted
to stop dead. The car appeared to
be somewhere about the crown of the
road when the crash came. Just prior
to this he looked over to his left and
saw a horse almost on top of the car.
The horses head appeared very close
to Mr Tothill. The glass of the
screen was shivered all over the car.
Miss Tothill was thrown away from the
driving seat and across witness by the
impact. She apparently lost control
of the car through retaining the wheel.
The rear of the car was forced round,
and the car ran into the gutter, where it
subsequently stopped. Witness never
continue

saw the first cyclist witness.

The car
had two head lights and one tail
light, all full on. He first saw the
cart fifteen yards distant, when he
realised that an accident was inevitable. It seemed quite impractical
to try and pass on the left. It would
have been possible but very foolish to
stop the car in such circumstances as
the horse appeared to be out of hand
and making for the car. Miss Tothill
lost complete control when the collision
took place.
To Mr Johnston : The cart was approaching on its wrong side without
lights. This and the pace led witness to think it was out of control. The
car did not seem to swerve
when the brakes went on. There
was a cycle light in the rear of the
cart but on its correct side. Mr
Tothill had remarked on the possibility
of meeting traffic and the pace of the
car was steadied. He had no recollection of meeting the ambulance van.
Miss Tothill was driving with foot
control, and after the impact could not
control the car. She never lost her self
-control during the accident.
To Mr Lucas : He would not consider
a cart overtaken by a bicycle travelling
six miles per hour to be driven at a
reckless pace. The cyclist with the
light appeared to be slightly to the
left of the crown of the road coming
towards the motor-car. This cyclist
veered over to the left of the road.
Witness never saw him after. The
cyclist that was knocked down was
not seen by witness. His first knowledge
was when the police came for information. Witness did not see Mr
Ormanby at the time of the accident.
MISS TOTHILLS EVIDENCE.
Ursula Henrietta Tothill said that
on May 3 she was driving a car from
town to her home. She left at 5.45.
The evidence of the last witness was
correct, but she estimated the speed
at fifteen to eighteen miles per hour.
Witness said that as she got under the
light shown on the plan she saw
something in front of her. When within ten to fifteen yards she saw it was a
horse and cart. Witness was
on her
correct side of the road and
the cart
on the wrong side. As the
cart proceeded straight ahead she pulled the
car to the right to pass it and so to give
the cart a free passage and at the same
time pass the bicycle on its right side.
As witness swerved the cart seemed to
swerve also, and the
collision occurred. She was thrown
across the seat and lost her hold on
the foot-control. The force of the
impact threw the car into the gutter,
where it eventually stopped. The
brakes were put on as the cart apcontinue

61
proached, but the car was possibly
accelerated when witness swerved it in
order to try and pass the cart. Witness did not think it would have been
any use to attempt to stop, owing to
the position of the horse and cart.
Witness was sure she was not travelling
at twenty-five to thirty miles an hour.
To Mr Lucas : She did not see the
cyclist who was knocked down, nor
did she feel any bump prior to the
crash of the collision.
THE VERDICT.
The Coroner returned a verdict of
accidental death, and added the following rider :(1) The evidence discloses a need
for a by-law limiting speed at which
motor-driven vehicles can lawfully be
driven in the city, the prescribed speed
varying according to the density of
the traffic.
(2) The evidence further discloses
the need for legislation providing that
immediately on a traffic accident occurring one or other of the persons
concerned therein shall be placed under
a duty to notify the local authority of
the accident, and that some officer of
the local authority shall be placed
under a duty to immediately repair
to the scene of the accident and take
notes of the marks on the road caused
by the accident and accurately delineate such marks on a plan drawn to
scale.
(3) The evidence further discloses
that there is a wholesome failure on the
part of riders and drivers of all classes
of vehicles to comply with the traffic by
-law, and that there does not ap- pear
to be any adequate attempt by
the
local authorities to control the traffic
or bring offenders to book.

Mr Richard Luke Middleton Kitto.

Owner of Littleover 19191925

Occupiers of Littleover were:

1882Albert Cuff
1891Annie Blake. 1895
1898Ada and George Staniland
1905Margaret Jane and George Booth
1910John Reid
1913Agnes Reid
George Tothill rented Littleover 1917-1919
1919Richard Luke Middleton Kitto
1925John and Nola Hobson
1960The Christchurch Milk Company Limited (7 acres, 28.4 perches. A little under one acre was left and in 1962 was subdivided into
smaller lots and sold for housing. They are on Wainoni Road.

Mr Richard Kitto renamed Littleover as Prestinwood.

Richard Kitto had been manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency from 1887 and was
recognised as an excellent businessman who had a thorough knowledge of Canterbury farms and farmers. In
1915 Richard Kitto joined Alexander Boyle in the firm Pyne and Co.
On the evening of 28 March 1919 nine men sat round a table in the home of Alexander Boyle in Christchurch.
They represented three old-established Canterbury stock and station firms and the time had come to merge
their interests and resources. As a result of the meeting the firm of Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd was founded.
The merging firms were Pyne & Co., Gould, Beaumont & Co., both of Christchurch, and Guinness & Le Cren
Ltd of Timaru. The nine men at the meeting were J. Beswick, who presided, Alexander Boyle, B. L. Lane, R.
L. M. Kitto, Geor ge Gould, F. M. War r en, E. R. Guinness, T. J . Maling and Nor ton Fr ancis. There were
seven directors appointed including Kitto. He was the wool department manager from 1919 until 1925, and
stayed with the company until 1939.
The merger had been contemplated for some years before 1919. New Zealand was enjoying a time of farming
prosperity. During World War I farming had remained the most important New Zealand industry. In the early
years of the war there was a marked increase in production-the farmer war effort-and later, despite a shortage
of farm labour, the increase was well maintained.
These Canterbury stock and station firms supplied most of Canterbury farmers with all farming supplies as
well as farm sales, auctioning of stock and brokers of wool sales. It was decided to raise 1, 000,000 pounds in
shares contributed from the three former companies. This assured that if there was a down turn in farming in
the future that the new company would be able to survive. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd, is still a prominent
business today.
Source: PGG, The Jubilee History 19191969. By P.G. Stevens

62
The Christchurch Star, Friday, August 30, 1963 page 7
Built more than eighty years
ago and vacated only this
month, this relic of the heyday of Wainoni will be
pulled down next week. It is
the homestead built for Mr.
Albert Cuff, who named it
Littleover after the area in
Derby, England, from which
he came.
Littleover, standing behind
and to the north-east of shops
on the corner of Wainoni
Road and Bickerton Street,
has revived many memories
since trees were felled in
readiness for removal of the
house. In its days as a stately
home, Littleover had a tower
on the north side where a
water tank was subsequently
erected.
In the foreground to-day is a
large puddle , all that remains of an ornamental lake
where residence in the house
enjoyed boating in other
days.
The youngest son of the
original owner, Fred Cuff,
believed to be now in Australia, was born in Littleover.
He will be 80 this year.
The adjacent Cuffs Road was
named after Cornelius Cuff,
the owner and builder of an
equally well-known homestead at the time, Sandilands.
Zoned both residential and
industrial, the land is owned
by the Christchurch Milk
Company, which will have
the area cleared, levelled,
surveyed and roaded ready
for development.

NOTED CITY HOMESTEAD TO COME DOWN

Local resident Aline Fergusson recalls Littleover being renamed, by different

owners, as Littlewood and then Prestonwood.

ARANUI HIGH SCHOOLS LINK WITH

LITTLEOVER

Aranui High School retrieved three of the four beams that

were 30cm by 30cm thick. The beams had supported the
water tower shown in the photograph above. The original
towers top shown on page 51 had been altered to hold
the water tank. Made from Kauri timber the beams were
made into a beautiful table and lectern for the schools
stage in the assembly hall.

The Aranui High School information

comes from history notes for the Aranui
School 75th Jubilee. Author unknown.

63

Chapter 8:

The Duthie Family 1913-1968

142 Wainoni Road - 1917

In 1913 Mr and Mrs Robert and Mary Duthie bought a

house on four acres of land at what is now 142
Wainoni Road.
In 1917 they bought the neighbouring 2 acres where
there was a small cottage, now 138 Wainoni Road.
Both houses were thought to have been built around
1900. Roberts son Alan bought the cottage in 1939
but had lived there with his family since 1932. His
family sold the property in 1951.
In 1948 Robert Duthie sold the house and four acres
and soon after it was subdivided. Both houses exist
today but the cottage has been extended to make a
spacious family home.

In the previous chapter, Littleover, it is mentioned that Mr Robert

Duthie worked for Sutton Seeds. His neighbour George Tothill lived
almost next door from 1917 until his death in 1919.
The Duthie family recall that it was at this time that Mr Robert Duthie
worked for Mr Tothill, the franchise holder for Sutton Seeds, and was
then branch manager for J. G. Ward and Co., (see chapter 7).
J. G. Ward, Joseph Ward became Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Robert Duthies grandson Colin has in his possession three empty
Suttons Seeds tins that have been in the family from this time.

1913

64

1923:

Alan, Robert (senior), Grace, Mary (junior), Mary (senior), Robert (junior), Jean, Alexander.

Wild Wainonirecollections by Colin Duthie (Son of Alan Duthie).

Much of Wainoni was a little like the Wild West in pre-war days. Even well after the war our part of Wainoni
Road had no such luxuries as sewage, high pressure water, fire brigade protection etc. There were rabbits
running about behind our property, and bush fires in the lupins every summer. When this occurred the local
men fought the fires with shovels, heaping sand on the flames.
In earlier times it was even more primitive. One incident I heard about was one night when my grandmother
was preparing for bed, she heard a noise at the window. She looked up to see a man peering in! She called for
my grandfather, who was a keen man with guns in his younger days. He still had rifles and revolvers handy.
Granddad grabbed a .303 rifle, rushed out the front door, to see a man running off down the path. Granddad
did not hesitate, his gun was loaded, and he raised the barrel in the mans direction, presumably over his head,
and pulled the trigger. Bullets went over the head of the peeping tom, whose acceleration was something to be
marvelled at. Next morning it was found that granddads inward opening
gate was broken outwards, and across the road, directly in line with granddads front path, Kerrs farm fence had a new gap, which the man had made
when he ran faster than he had ever run before.

Mr Robert Duthie, like a lot of New Zealanders at the time, was a

member of a Rifle Club. He was a good shot winning many awards like
this barometer. On the back of this barometer, written by Robert Duthies
daughter, it says, "This barometer was won by Dad for being the
best .303 rifle shot in the South Island, about 1914".

Sources: Duthie family information and photographs.

Canterbury Times newspaper.
Land titles.

65
This photograph is of the 1913 South
Island championship where Mr Duthie won
the main event and his team won the team
event. Mr Duthies family still have many
of the prizes he won during his life time.

Mr Duthie was often photographed and

mentioned in The Canterbury Times
Newspaper.
The Redcliffs Range is now Barrett Park,
Redcliffs, Christchurch. During World
War 1, the army practised rifle shooting
there.
9
1919

Robert Duthie and his son

Robert Duthie (junior).
Robert Duthie senior

SNAPSHOTS AT THE RIFLE SHOOTING HELD AT THE REDCLIFFS

RANGE, CHRISTCHURCH, ON FEBRUARY 22, 24 AND 25. (1913)

SNAPSHOTS AT THE RIFLE SHOOTING HELD AT THE REDCLIFFS RANGE,

CHRISTCHURCH, ON FEBRUARY 22, 24 AND 25.
The attendance at this years rifle meeting of the South Island Rifle Association was not so large as usual
and the weather was unfavourable. The competitions were held under the auspices of the Canterbury Military
District Association, which body will in future control all rifle shooting in the province. The following refers
to the illustrations: - (1) SergeantsMajor who assisted in controlling the arrangements of the meeting. Back
row (from the left) - Crampton, Le Mottee and Grover. Front rowCulley and Massey. (2) Rifleman R.
Duthie (winner of the cup presented by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon R.H Rhodes). (3) Range officers:
Lieutenant Wheeler, Major Murphy and Lieutenant Stevens. (4) Lieutenant Charlton (South Otago), winner
of the cup presented by Lieutenant Colonel the Hon G.J Smith. (5) Rifleman Holton (Amberley), who won
the Canterbury match. (6) Rifleman Guiney, (Christchurch Rifle Club), winner of the Westland match.
(7) Rifleman Turner (No 1 Company, N.Z.E.), a winner in the service series. (8) Sergeant-Major Nixon
(Coast Defence Forces, Lyttelton), who headed the Territories in the Service Championship. (9) The
Christchurch Rifle Clubs No. 1 team, which won the Watkinson Shield. Back row (from the left ) - Rifleman
Guiney, Walker and Reynolds. In frontRifleman Sandford and Duthie. (10) Rifleman E.F. Sandford
(Christchurch Rifle Club), who won the championship belt and other trophies. (11) The Glenavy team
winners of the Teams Match. Back rowRifleman Swinard, Bartos and Duncan. In frontRifleman Steenson
and Hogg. (12) Rifleman Eiby (Christchurch Rifle Club) and Sapper Sail (No. 1 Company, N.Z.E.), who tied
in one of the Service matches. (13) Rifleman H.G. Ward (Christchurch Rifle Club), who tied for the
Championship with Rifleman Sandford and lost in firing off, and winner of the Otago Match and tyro cup.
(14) The Hon C. Louisson presenting the prizes. (15) Rifleman Sandford and Ward firing off the tie for the
championship. (16) A view of the prize-presentation ceremony.
Canterbury Times, photograph.

66

67

Chapter 9:

161 Pages Road and Millers.

Photograph from Susan Swan (Scott).
About 1950

Wainoni Road

Title 2808

Title 5382

Professor Bickertons Wainoni

(Bickerton Street)

Littleover
Block 1882
40 acres

1891
H. Richards
bought this
23 acres from the
Littleover Block

Millers Worsted
Mill 1952.
22 acres.

Pages Road

In 1891 Henry Slater Richards bought 23 acres of the land which was subdivided off the Littleover Block. In
1895 it was again subdivided in half and in 1897 the balance of 11 acres was sold to Mrs Mary Norris, the wife
of Thomas Norris. It is thought that the Norris family built this house between 1891 and 1897.
From the Macdonald dictionary of Canterbury biographies, it states (Mr Thomas Cheal Norris (1848 - 1921)
was born in Sussex, England. He married Mary Maria Bellamy and brought his wife and family to N.Z. in
1879. He was appointed to the Charitable Aid Board in May 1886 and when the Hospital Board amalgamated
with the Charitable Aid Board was secretary of the Amalgamated Board. He was a strong churchman and his
life was closely connected to the Church of England. He was a member of the Diocesan Synod, representing
Oxford and New Brighton He had a large family of whom four died young. The Reverend Canon Arthur
Hugh Norris was the most notable of them.)
After his death in 1921 the property was transferred to Mary Norriss sister Aldyth Norris, then in 1945 the
property was bought by Walter Henry Scott where his wife Mildred and their children lived. The Scott family
were a typical family in this era, who were involved with the school, Aranui Progressive League, helped with
fundraising for the Aranui Playcentre and War Memorial as well as being one of the main organisers of the
Aranui Centennial in 1952. Their daughter Susan remembers standing at the gate in 1954 watching the last tram
go by. The Norris family had garden parties inviting many fami1960
lies from the district to picnic together in their beautiful gardens.
Unfortunately there are no more photographs.
In 1959 the property was again subdivided with land being sold
to Wilfred Owen the cosmetic, shampoo, etc producers and in
1965 land was sold to Mobil Oil N.Z for a petrol station, Stadium
Motors, now a bottle store. Other sections were sold for housing.
In 2006, the house remains on 4278 metres of land, about an acre.

Story from the way we

were.

68

Aranui Worsted and Woollen Mills Ltd. (Millers)

The Press 23rd October 1952

161 Pages Road

as seen in 1952

Millers Worsted Mill near

completion in 1952.

In 1949 Mr. Miller set about purchasing a block of 22 acres of sand dunes in Aranui extending from Pages Road
through to Wainoni Road. The last section of the property was just a chain in width.
Levelling the sand dunes took many months of bulldozing, and through this period Mr. Miller went to the UK to
purchase
textile
machinery.
PROGRESS
IN ARANUI
DISTRICTThis aerial view shows recent development at Aranui.
Pages
the left,
and near the
toplet
of the
is Ottawa
Prominently
shown issq.ft
a
At
the road
end isofon1950
a contract
was
to picture
Charles
Luneyroad.
Ltd to
build a 62,000
building at 179 Pages Road.
large worsted
mill in course
construction,
with
its left,
residences
erected
for to assemble the large number of cases of
After
the completion
ofofthe
building,
it on
took
nearly
twelve
months
textile machinery arriving from England. The plant was designed to manufacture both worsted and woollen
fabric taking the process from the scoured wool through to the finished fabric.
The early days were very difficult for both staff and management, mainly because they were not fully
conversant with assembling some of the machinery, however, the day came when the plant commenced
production. At this stage in its operation a hundred and twenty people were employed at the mill, mostly from
the Aranui - New Brighton area. For the first three years it was a rocky road for management with a portion of
substandard fabric coming out of the mill, much of which could not be used in the clothing factory.
In 1955 after various changes in management Mr. Reg Miller took over the control of the Mill and with the
assistance of an English textile fitter and willing engineers and staff considerable changes were made to lift the
products standard up to a marketable level.

Clothing label: An Aranui product by Millers.

Front view of the Millers building with the offices at the

front and the factory behind.

69
In 1959 Mr. Miller senior and Reg Miller decided to consolidate the mill
manufacturing operation by moving the woollen plant from the
Companys Rosedale Mill in Invercargill, and to consolidate it into the
Christchurch operation at Aranui; this required extending the Aranui
building a further 20,000 sq.ft to a total of 82,000 sq.ft. After the settling
down of this major move Mr. Miller decided to extend the working hours
at the mill to two eleven hour shifts five days a week, this meant an
increase in staff to a total of two hundred employees.
The first success in exporting came with producing checked travel rugs
designed in the various State football club colours in Canada, complete
with a large motif naming the club and showing an action shot of a player.
In the late sixties when duties on woollen fabrics were gradually been
reduced the decision to specialize more as a manufacturing unit saw the
step taken to sell off all the woollen plant to the Wanganui Woollen Mills
Ltd and to install the very latest in worsted spinning and weaving
machinery from overseas. This included pirn-less or shuttle less looms
which were new to New Zealand Mills. With this modern plant operating
twenty two hours a day Millers Worsted Mills achieved sales of nearly
forty percent of the New Zealand market for Worsted fabric.
Although Millers mill was operating very profitably the future for the
industry did not look encouraging with so much product coming in from
countries with low labour costs and so it was decided to close the mill in
early 1970 with the building placed for sale in 1976.

Advert
from press

A sad day for the company and staff but in hindsight a sound business
decision.
The retail store for Millers was in Tuam Street and is now occupied by the
Christchurch City Council. Many of the local people worked at the Aranui
Worsted and Woollen Mills Ltd and have told me that they enjoyed it
because their friends worked with them and the management was good to
them.
The building has been occupied by many different businesses since Millers
moved. In 2007 it is Gale Pacific N.Z. Ltd, advanced polymer textiles and
extruded plastics plant.
The six houses in front of the building were built to house office
management and the chemist.

Above and below:

The Press
November 3rd 1959
page 9
Left: Poster found on the
wall in a friends toilet.
The inside of the Tuam
Street store.

70

71

Chapter 10:

H.F. Stevens - Wholesale druggist.

No date but possibly the 1920s

In 1893 Mr and Mrs Henry Frances Stevens bought this section of a little over an acre from a Frederic Powell.
The land had been subdivided off a larger block in 1889. It is unlikely that Frederic Powell had built the house
because the age of this house would be the 1890s and to build such a large home out in the country to sell
again soon after would have been unusual. More than likely H.F. Stevens had the house built soon after
purchasing the section.
Henry Frances Stevens was born in Bristol, England in 1858. He studied medicine and emigrated to New
Zealand in 1879. He worked for Sainsbury and Ellicon, a wholesale druggist in Dunedin before transferring
to Christchurch as a branch manager. However when his salary was reduced from 3 pounds, 10 shillings ($7)
to 3 pounds ($6) per week, he resigned. Christchurch pharmacists persuaded him to open his own wholesale
warehouse and he began trading in 1887 as H.F. Stevens Limited.
The Canterbury Drug Company was started as a subsidiary of H.F. Stevens Limited. After W.W.1,
price
-cutting by grocers and department stores of medicines/drugs throughout New Zealand was common. The
Canterbury Drug Company were pharmacist-owned companies and dividends from them helped to
compensate for business lost to the non-pharmaceutical outlets.
H.F. Stevens grew throughout New Zealand and was referred to as the Stevens group. In 1931 Henry Frances
Stevens passed away leaving his sons to continue the business.
During the 1950s New Zealand shops and the way shopping was done had changed. Supermarkets and other
big shops were opening and big orders of pharmaceuticals were being bought from companies in large
amounts. The older companies like H.F. Stevens had to change and H.F. Stevens in Wellington merged with
The Auckland Drug Company to become Medical Supplies.
A new Christchurch factory was built in the late 1960s in Bickerton Street just 100 metres from the Stevens
homestead built 80 years earlier. Stevens Chemicals Limited was a company within the Stevens Group. This
grew into a very big company employing local people as well as others. During the 1980s huge drug making
companies throughout the world made it difficult for smaller companies to make a decent profit and Stevens
Chemicals Limited decided to close its doors in 1992. On 7th August 1992 the building was sold to The Celebration Centre, which is a very big church with over 2000 members in 2006.
Sources: - Pharmacy in New Zealand Aspects and Reminiscences by Reg Combes
- The McDonald Dictionary - Titles - Tom Jackson.

72

THE CANTERBURY TIMES.

Dec. 19. 1906. Pg 54

ESTABLISHED 20 years ago on November 1st, the business of

Mr. H. F.. STEVENS

Wholesale Druggist

Has grown from tiny beginnings to its present huge proportions. Originally located in one small room
Union Steamship Coy.s Offices, it has become necessary as time went on to enlarge the premises until
space was no longer available, and newer and more extensive accommodation had to be secured.
business continued to grow, and the up-to-date and specially designed building of which we publish
tration and a description, is a standing monument to what can be done by hard work and steady application.

The handsome building which has just been completed , has a frontage of 66ft., and a depth of the same dimensions. The front is of pressed bricks from Crums
brickyard, Ashburton, pointed in cement, the lower bands
and window sills are of Mount Somers stone. The upper
bands, columns, sills, window heads, moulded strings,
cornice, parapet are of Oamaru stone. The basement is
61ft. by 48ft. divided into two cellars, the front portion
being used as a bonded store. The entrance lobby has
blue stone steps and a pair of swing doors, giving access
to the ground floor, on which there is a roomy passage
leading to a general office in front, 25ft. by 15ft. having a very handsome screen of figured rimu, with sashes
glazed with Mura-nese glass : also to the accountants
office and Mr.
Stevens private room at the western
side, a warehouse at rear, 38ft. by 31ft., and packing
room 32ft. by 17ft. with office for warehouseman. A
pair of doors open from the packing-room to the yard. A
bold staircase opposite the entrance doors leads from
this floor to
the floor above, which has two large sample rooms in front, each 32ft. by 24ft., and a warehouse
at rear,
64ft. by 38ft. From this floor another staircase
on the eastern side leads to the top floor, which occupies
the whole area of the building. Each floor is amply
lighted from front to back. Another room, 25ft by

over the
sufficient
Still the
an illus-

25ft., behind the pediment, is approached by a moveable step-ladder, and lighted by the rose window in
front. Massive iron columns in the basement support
the ground floor, while similar iron columns on the
ground floor support the floor above, which has 8 in.
by 8 in. wooden storey posts for supporting the top
floor, where similar posts support the roof, which
consists of three spans. The internal walls on each
storey are match lined, as also are the ceilings. There
is an up-to-date electric lift to convey goods from the
basement to each floor, and a small hand-lift running
from the ground floor to each floor above.
There is
a spacious store in the yard, 74ft. by 23ft. with concrete floor, and provided with copper for heating
water, and also with wash tubs, etc. Conveniences
are also erected in yard with all sanitary arrangements. The windows on the ground floor in the
front have plate glass, while the upper floor windows
in the front have opening casements with fan lights
over : all the back windows are fitted with opening
transom lights. The main building is most substantially constructed, and forms a striking feature
among the up-to-date establishments of Christchurch.
The cost amounted to close upon 5000 pounds. Mr. A.
H. Hart was the architect, Messrs Greg and Sons, the
contractors, and Mr. W. Gee the clerk of works.

73
Newspaper unknown

Christchurch Times April 29th 1931 page 15

OBITUARY.
From the book Lost Christchurch
by John Wilson.
. It was part of the best early architectural
grouping in the city in the opinion of an architectural
historian. In 1981 it was announced that the buildings
faade was to be demolished because it was unsafe and
the cleared part of the site to be used for carparking.
The building finally came down at the beginning of 1984
creating a gaping wound on what had been one of the
citys more attractive and architecturally interesting
stretches of street.

HENRY FRANCIS STEVENS.

By the death yesterday morning of
Christchurch Times 29th April 1931 P. 3
Mr Henry Francis Stevens, at the age
of seventy-three years, founder and
managing director of the well-known
firm of wholesale druggists, Christchurch loses a man who was known for
his kindly disposition and charitable
actions.
Whilst not actively associating himself with public affairs, Mr
Stevens was known throughout New
Zealand for his generosity towards
charity and individual cases of need.
He preferred always to give unobtrusively.
Mr Stevens, who was the son of Mr
George Stevens, was born in 1858 at
Bristol, England, where he was educated.
He studied for the medical profession in England, being associated
with his brother, Dr Stevens, but later
came to New Zealand, arriving at Napier in 1879. He was employed by
Messrs Sainsbury, Ellison and Company, Dunedin, wholesale druggists,
and was transferred three years later to
assume the management of the companys Christchurch branch. He resigned in 1887 to establish business on
his own account.
The firm of
H. F. Stevens and Co., from
very small beginnings, developed into
an organisation with valuable business
connections throughout the Dominion.
In business and in social circles his
death will be regretted very deeply.
He is survived by nine sons, seven of
whom are actively engaged in the
business, and one daughter, Mrs E.K.
Ruddle, of Christchurch. He married
in 1889, Susan Patterson, daughter of
James Patterson, Clyde, Otago.

74

The Press 30th May

1931 Page 21.

75
Stevens Family

The Stevens family

lived on the corner of
Pages Road and
Shortland Street from
1893 until 1944 when
the Brownie family
bought the property
and made Brownies
Matresses inside the
big room at the back
of the house. Both the
house and room still
exist.

Christchurch Times, Tuesday August 30th 1932, page 3

WALTHAM ORPHANAGE CHILDREN:

Stevens
imported and
supplied N.Z
medical supplies
to many shops
and chemists in
Christchurch..

The Press April 28th 1914, p18

The 1930s was the time of the

depression and the property
didnt sell so remained in the
Stevens family until 1944 when
the property was finally sold to
Mr. Francis Brownie where his
family lived. Francis Brownie
shifted his factory, Brownies
mattresses to the large building
at the rear of the property.
A TEMPORARY HOME FOR THE ORPHANS.

Children from the Waltham Orphanage are spending a few days at the house of the late Mr H. F. Stevens, in Pages
Road, while their home in Waltham is being renovated. Some of the children enjoying yesterdays brilliant sunshine.

Aline Fergusson (Reed), told me the story of when she was a child and her mother took the spring base of their
bed to be re-sprung at Brownies mattresses. When it was done she brought it home and made the bed. That
night while in bed she heard a crash and a few angry words coming from her father. She and her brother Tom
ran to see what had happened and were told to go back to bed when they began laughing. Her dad had jumped
onto the bed and with the new springs was rebounded onto the floor.
The property was subdivided and sold in 1951. Today the house is in flats but is very recognisable. It is rough
cast over the weatherboard and the front has been closed in. The large building hasnt changed much either.
Brownies Mattresses are still popular but are made in a modern factory today.

Mrs. TOWLER,
THE GREAT SPECIALIST FOR PILES, ECZEMA, AND ALL
FEMALE COMPLAINTS,

WILL VISIT CHRISTCHURCH.

THE

early part of next month Christchurch will be visited by MRS. TOWLER, of Dunedin, a
Specialist widely known for her great MANSAVITA " Water of Life " REMEDIES. The
remedies are stocked by Chemists, but Mrs. Towler is desirous of personally meeting patients, hence her
journeyings from home, and her visit to Christchurch. She stays here for a few days only, and may be
consulted at COKERS HOTEL. Mrs. Towler is not a surgeon, but takes her place in the ranks of the
ladies who make a specialty of certain branches in medicine. The branch in which the testimonials, some widely known even in Christchurch, fully bear this out, she has been most successful in
the treatment of Piles, Wounds, Bad Legs, Burns, and Eczema. The medicines used have a most important hall mark, in that they are prepared under her personal supervision, and are registered and protected throughout Australasia. Sufferers (of both sexes) should call and see her at COKER'S HOTEL,
and get the benefit of an experience ranging over many years, both at Home, in Africa, the Continent,
and all the Colonies. MRS. TOWLER GUARANTEES A PERFECT CURE; if this is not effected,
any money received is refunded. All interviews and communications are treated as strictly confidential, and country people who cannot find time to can upon her will have their letters promptly replied to.

H. F. STEVENS, Wholesale Druggist, Cashel St.,

IS THE WHOLESALE AGENT FOR ALL MANSAVITA REMEDIES.

Right:
Letterhead from 1960s1992.

Left:
The Canterbury Times
May 16th, 1900
Page 62

76

77

Chapter 11:

Denson/Lovett Family - Marlow Road.

George Thomas Hawker was born in Buckinghamshire, England in 1840. He arrived at Lyttelton in 1865 and
moved to what became known as New Brighton in 1869. He gave the suburb Bexley its name after the small
town of Bexley in Kent, England. He had acquired quite an area of property, both in New Brighton and Bexley.
He applied himself to the experimental plantings of gorse, lupins etc. in an effort to stabilise the menace of
drifting sand. Hawke Street, New Brighton, was named after him.
George Thomas Hawker was one of the very first people in this district and was known as the father of New
Brighton.
This information is from the book, New Brighton, a regional history 1852-1970, by
Geo. W. Walsh. To read more about early New Brighton and George Hawker, I
thoroughly recommend this book.
Remember that in 1905, the suburbs Aranui and Wainoni didnt exist but were part of
the wider New Brighton district.
One of the properties Hawker bought was this sixteen acres, one rood and twenty seven perches shown below.

George Thomas Hawker

Marlow Road

The Denson family came out to NZ from Cambridgeshire, England in the 1870s, and settled in Christchurch.
They lived in England Street. Arthur Denson was one of three children in this family, each of whom was given
property in Christchurch.
His block of 16 acres was purchased in August 1905 from George Hawker. The land in question stretched
along the western side of Marlow Road from Pages Road, along the back boundary of Aranui School towards
Wainoni Road, finishing approximately half way across what is now Wainoni Park.
Arthur Denson was a gardener. Although still living in England Street, he grew asparagus and rhubarb on the
land near Pages Road, and also established an orchard where he grew plums, nectarines, pears, peaches, quinces, apples and walnuts. He later built a small bach, which was known as The Whare, pronounced Worry.
Part of this land passed to his son, Arthur Frank Denson [known as Frank] in early 1913, just before his
marriage to Beatrice Lovett in September 1913. Beatrice had come out alone from England, at the age of 21, on
an assisted passage as a qualified footwear machinist. She had heard stories of how rich New Zealand was, and
expected to find the streets paved with gold! She met Frank Denson, but then returned to visit her family in
England. Beatrice kept the letters he wrote to her in 1910/11 from Christchurch, and came back to N.Z to
eventually marry him in 1913.
In 1913-14 a home was built on the Marlow Road frontage, near Pages Road, on a sand hill. It was a wooden
house with a steep corrugated iron roof and lath and plaster walls. A windmill on the tank stand near the back
door drew water from the artesian well. It was one of only two houses in Marlow Road, north of Pages Road at
that time. Frank and Beatrice had three children - Frank [1914] Bob [1916] and Ngaire [1923]. In 1924, the
balance of the block of land in Aranui passed from Arthur to Frank Denson.
Beatrice was a talented dressmaker, and had several shops over the years, including three in New Brighton, and
later one in Victoria Street where the casino is today. Her skills helped when times were hard especially
throughout the war and depression years and when her husband Frank suffered from ill health. Frank Denson
died of T.B in 1936 when his youngest child, Ngaire was only twelve. The remainder of the land then passed to
his widow, Beatrice.

78

Over the years some of the land was sold. When the war was over, the government wanted land for the
returning servicemen. All the land along the Pages Road and Marlow Road frontages was subdivided for
sections for this purpose at 95 &100 Pounds. When Beatrice died in 1952, the remaining land passed to her
three children, Frank, Bob and Ngaire. It was subdivided into 8 sections. These were gradually sold, except for
two behind the original family house, which became the home of Ngaire and her husband, Ron Huband. This
gave their children, Tash and Ken a huge area in which to play and when they grew up and married they both
built on the last remaining sections behind their Mum and Dad, and with the arrival of their children the fifth
generation of the original Denson/Lovett family played on the land.
98 Marlow Road was stuccoed in the fifties, and had a bedroom and sunroom added. The interior of the house
has been altered, although the bones of the house are intact. The original panelling is still in the kitchen,
although covered and painted. The original interior panel doors and door handles are still there, along with the
deep skirting boards. The coal range was replaced by an open fire in the kitchen.
The house finally passed out of family hands in February 2005, 100 years since Arthur Denson first purchased
the land. The last member of the family to live in the house was Ngaire Huband, nee Denson, who sadly passed
away after a long illness on June 25th 2005, aged 82.

Left: Arthur and

Beatrice Denson on
their wedding day
1913.
Right: Ken Huband
late 1950s before
the house was
stuccoed.

My thanks to Ngaire Huband and her daughter Tash Newton

for the information about their family.

79

Chapter 12:

Breezes and Rowses Roads - East.

Aranui and Bexley Boundary line, (the
authors opinion).

John Breeze
1865
1950s

Radcliffes Rd
H.N.Z
Motor cross 1940s

P.C.L
20 Acres

4
8
9

6
7

Cuthberts Road

Breezes Road

G.C.

10
11
12
13
14

William Henry Rowse

1899

1920s map with

1950s added.

15

One early settler was John Breeze. He purchased this 20 acre block of land and built his house which was
thought to have been where Woodlands Park is now. The large pine trees in the park may have been planted
by him. The Breeze family lived in the area for many decades and were involved with the beginning of Aranui
School which was originally located across the road from their house, (see chapter 14). Harriet and her brother
Robert Breeze were first year pupils in 1911, and the following year brothers Harry and Ronald began school
there. Breezes Road was named after the family and Aranui School was referred to as the Breezes Road
School. Their house is indicated by the 5 on the map top-right.
During the 1890s, John Breeze subdivided his
20 acres into six titles. In 1899 William Henry
Rowse bought the three acre block shown above,
where he and his family built their home. This is
where the name Rowses Road originated.
William Rowse was appointed the first foreman
at the Bromley sewage farm in 1882. He is
pictured here with five of his children.
From left to right: William, Eddie, Fred in the
middle, Dolf at the bottom, Julia and Orlando
looking away. They had one other daughter,
Louise and two other sons, Harry and David.
Fred, Dolf and Eddie had jobs at the entrance
gates of Professor Bickertons Wainoni Park,
(see chapter 5). Before moving to Rowses
Road, the family lived at the sewage plant farm
on Cuthberts Road where this photo is taken.
Edwin and Harry trained as carpenters and built
many houses in the area. The Rowse family
descendants lived in Aranui until the 1970s. In
1912, (Eddie), Edwin built the store on the
corner of Pages and Breezes Roads where his
family lived, (see chapter 20).
Christchurch Press Sat Feb 17th 1990 p25

80

Properties on the map on page 79

(1) Courtenay Ellis and wife Florence Marriott of Bromley, and Marriotts Road.
(2) Mr Vickery who was a milkman.
(3) Mr Poundsford and family. Daughter Dorothy aged 9, was hit by lightning on the way home from school
in 1942. In 2004, a group of about 50 of her school friends now aged in their 70s and 80s, unveiled a
plaque and garden at Aranui School to remember their unforgotten school mate.
(4) Mr and Mrs Fred Lane - A Drainage Board inspector.
(5) Colonel and Mrs Loach. He was a Veteran retired after losing a leg in W.W.1.
(6) Mr and Mrs John Storer and one child Annie. John Storers forebears had come out on the Randolph.
Their section was 6 acres.
(7) John Breeze - see previous page. John Breeze also bought other land in this area totalling about 100 acres.
(8) Mrs Stone. She was involved with St Faiths Church in New Brighton and donated land for the
(9) Mission Hall to be built in 1908, (see chapter 13).
(10) Norman Radcliffe who had 40.4 hectares. He was a milk delivery man. He married the daughter of E.J.
Palmer and when the farm next door came up for sale her brother
(11) Thomas Palmer took it over.
(12) William Gillespie until the Elstob family bought it and lived there for a number of years.
(13) Was Drainage Board property where Andrew Nankivell made his home. He was a foreman for the
Drainage Board. He later moved closer to Pages Road.
(14) Was occupied by another member of the Palmer family, Walter Palmer. He was a dairy worker and had 5
or 6 cows of his own.
(15) Edwin Palmer, Walters brother, was across the road. The Palmer family were numerous in the east of
Christchurch, Palmers Road in Brighton is named after this family.
Over the decades some of these properties changed hands while others stayed in the family until the forced
sales in the late 1950s by the council to make the dump site.
During the early 1970s when the dump was nearly full, a golf course was considered for the site.
This information is from the book The Estuary of Christchurch, by Sarah Penney. I thoroughly recommend
this book which has more information on these families as well as the East of Christchurch.
(G.C.) The reason there are no houses between Cuthberts Road, Breezes Road and Dyers Road to the south is
that it was land belonging to the Sewage Farm (Drainage Board). (G.C.) indicates the Golf Clubrooms.
From 19101919 The New Brighton Golf Links was on this land, (see chapter 10). After it closed, the
clubrooms were converted to a house where different families lived including the Yandal family.

The Rogers family,

farmer and
local
milkman.

In the 1930s Mr Radcliffe (10), sold his property with a new 8 roomed house on it to Mr and Mrs William and
Caroline Rogers who soon had a family of three children, Irene, Wilfred and Shirley. Mr Rogers had it as a
dairy farm and also delivered the milk locally. A horse and cart was first used to deliver milk until the new
truck was bought. Later their son Wilfred and his wife Daphne took over the milk round. When the farm was
taken by the government for the dump in 1964, they kept the east end on Bexley Road which they subdivided
and sold all but two sections. Wilfred and his sister Shirley both built houses. Shirley Mugford still lives there
today with her husband.
For more information about some of these families and others, refer to the book - The Estuary of
Christchurch, by Sarah Penney.

81

Loach Family
The Loach family were involved with the school, church, hall and wider community for a long time. The photo on the right shows their family home as indicated on the map on the previous two pages as (5).
Lt. Colonel A.E. Loach fought in the Boer War and was wounded during World War one at Gallipoli. He lost
a leg and returned home.

Mr Albert Cyril Loach (Son).

Mrs Loachs grandfather William Brassington was the foreman during the building of the Time Ball Station in
Lyttelton during the 1870s.
Albert, known as Cyril, married and moved to Hornby where he worked at the Islington Freezing Works.
Albert wrote A History of The New Zealand Refrigerating Company which was published in 1969. His
daughter Sue Williams commented that it took a very long time. I replied, I know. This book covers the
history of the meat works from 1834, with numerous photographs and interesting information. Another smaller book he wrote was about the history of Templeton. Sue Williams married and farmed on the
peninsula. Later about 1960, with her husband and two children they moved into a house in Marlow Road, then Aldershot Street and in 1967 bought the house she presently lives in, on Wainoni Road.
Wainoni Park 1906: Far left is Alf, far right is Jessie,
the boy with the hat looking at the camera is Albert.

Loach children about 1912: Albert (Cyril), Alf, Jessica,

Ellis, Phyl, and Girlie (Alanor). Reijal wasnt born.

82

BEXLEY MOTOR CROSS

The Bexley Motor Cross in 1948. Local Aranui/Bexley
residents as well as others, raced here regularly on a
locals farm. The entrance was on Bexley Road.

Preparing the track

In the mid 1940s, Mr Harold Henry got permission to

use 2.4 hectares of flat land and sandhills on the Bexley
Road end of the farm. There, the Moto Cross boys and
Mr Henry put down a motor cycle track, holding races in
the weekends. The public would sit under the pine trees
and watch. (Extract from Sarah Penney's book, The
Estuary of Christchurch.)
Three photographs were provided by Wilf Rogers.

THE TORRANCE FAMILY EGG

AND POULTRY FARM.
In 1946, Mr Robert Torrance purchased several titles
totalling approximately eight acres. He began a
business growing free range poultry eggs. In 1960
Roberts son Allen, bought the farm from his father
and along with his wife Joan continued the business.
Allen & Joan lived in a caravan for two years while
Allen built their new home at 353 Breezes Road,
while his father continued living at the family home
on Rowses Road near Breezes Road.
In the early 1970s business was getting tougher and
the free range way of growing eggs had become less
lucrative. At this time caging hens was a very new
idea and Allen and Joan became one of the earliest
poultry farms in New Zealand to do so. Within a very
short time this became the most common way to
house hens.
Muscovy Ducks were also grown for their eggs as
well as eating. 10 shillings would buy you a
beautiful, tender roast.
At the farms peak there were 4000-5000 hens and
2000 ducks.
Information and photographsJoan Torrance.

ABOVE: Joan Torrance feeding the hens.

BELOW: Hens feeding in their new homes.

83

Percy Chew Lee.

Percy Chew Lee was born in 1911 and immigrated to New Zealand with his family from China in 1920. At
this time the Chinese had to pay a hefty poll tax to the New Zealand Government. While in Invercargill about
1932, Percy learned to fly a Gipsy Moth plane. He was the first Chinese person to fly in New Zealand.
Later he came back to Christchurch and in 1947 bought
cheap land on Rowses Road to start a market garden. The
following year there was a drought and he lost money.
Percy decided that the ground was too sandy to make a
living and stopped gardening here. He went to
Invercargill to try fruit growing. Later he bought land in
Cumner Terrace, Woolston. The ground was excellent for
growing vegetables and this was very successful. Percy
then bought 3 acres of land in St Martins where he lived
and got married. He also bought land in Avoca Valley in
Heathcote as well as Charlesworth Street. His reasoning
was that he could use the land to grow on but one day
somewhere in Christchurch the land will go up in value.
He didnt bank on the whole of Christchurch least of all Aranui going up in price as high as it did.
Although Percy didnt farm at Aranui, he stayed friends with some locals that he had met during the two years
he was there. He became very good friends with Tom Richards and his wife Alice, (see chapter 35), and would
visit at least once a year. Percy thought of Alice as a second mother. He would get together with them and
others in the community at Christmas time.
Percy also owned race horses during his long interesting life and was friends with Ron Kerr, (see chapter 3).
During the 1970s, Percy sold all his property so that he could buy land for market gardens and to build his
Chinese style home for his extended family to live in. At the foot of Westmoreland you can see his wonderful
multi storey house and can purchase vegetables grown there.

LEFT: Percy lived in the

Sydenham electorate, and
was friends with Our
Mabel, (see chapter 19).

2003, Helen Clark apologised to all Chinese people on behalf of

the N.Z. Government for the Poll Tax they had to pay. Percy was
one of the eldest Chinese who paid the tax.

Percy bought two lots of land in 1947. They are marked (P.C.L) on the map on page 79. Ministry of Works
(H.N.Z) bought land on Rowses Road to build five state houses that were built in 1959. The Tender documents
called the development the Chew Lee Block, Aranui.
Percy tells the story of selling the land in Aranui, (the figures may not be exact): In the early 1970s a man
asked to purchase his land being a total of about 26 acres. You can buy it for $18,000 said Percy. I only
have $12,000 replied the man. Then come back when you have it. A year passed and he did come back.
Sorry, but I now want $24,000 said Percy. I only have $18,000. Come back when you have it. A year
later he came back and said Percy I have $24,000. So Sorry, land prices have risen and I now want
$50,000 replied Percy. No way, said the man and left. Percy wasnt being greedy, the population of
Christchurch was rapidly growing forcing up land prices. A year later, 1972, Mr Cyril de La Mare of Guernsey
in the Channel Islands, bought the land for $100,000. This is where Guernsey Street and Channel Place got
their names. In 1973 Mr de la Mare together with Tony Merritt of Merritt Homes developed and built the
houses in this area east of Rowses Road, excluding Breezes Road as most on Breezes Road already existed.
Information and photographs from Percy Chew Lee

84

Title plan DP 48246

in 1994, 45.6014 ha

This title plan dated

1994, gives a good view
of the properties of
Breezes Road prior to
the Bexley Dump.
This is about half the
total dump site.
Below these properties
to the south, was where
the New Brighton Golf
Links was located from
1910-1919,
(see
chapter 16).
The boundary of Bexley
to some is unclear
because of the name of
the dump site being
called Bexley. It was
named so because the
original entrance was
off Pages Road in
Bexley and expanded
into Aranui as it got
filled.

The Press newspaper 31st January 1956, page 4.

Fifty Acres for

New Rubbish Tip.
With its Opawa rubbish tip
almost filled, the City Council
last night decided to buy fifty
acres fronting Bexley Road, on
the south side of Pages Road,
as a replacement tip.
Because the Westminster
Street tip is almost filled,
the council decided to open a
subsidiary tip at the Horseshoe
Lake reserve.
In making these decisions, the
council followed the recommendations of its Works Committee.
Low-lying, the fifty acres
would require filling before it
could be used for anything but
the grazing of stock, stated the
committees report. It had two
miles of fencing, all in good
order.

The Press newspaper 31st August 1970, page 1.

Leg Found At Tip

Children fossicking at the
Bexley rubbish tip yesterday morning uncovered
part of a human leg which
was later identified as having come from the Christchurch Hospital.
The father of the two
children, the oldest about
nine, informed the police
and detectives cordoned off
an area of the tip for a
time.
The remains, the result
of an amputation, were
found in a heap of surgical
dressings and empty blood
plasma bottles.
The Medical Superinten-

dent-in-chief of the hospital

(Dr L. Mc H. Berry) said
last evening that a full investigation of how the leg
came to be at the tip would
be held this morning.
We have always thought
that the system which we
have at the hospital for the
disposal of amputated limbs
and other material from the
operating theatres was foolproof, but obviously something has gone wrong in
this instance.
I consider this a very
grave matter and a full investigation will be held into
it, he said.

85
From late 1964 these properties were bought up by the Government. The owners had no choice but to sell.
By the late 1970s the dump site had got to full capacity and the City Council was frantically looking for
another site. Burwood Plantation was opened soon after and the Bexley Tip closed.
I remember as a young boy going with my dad and sister in the car to dump rubbish to the south of Breezes
Road and while dad emptied the car and trailer we would scavenge for goods. We got things like records and
ornaments to take home. I had a really good record collection at the age of seven.
My eldest brother Steve went to Four Avenues High School. He had found a bag of shredded bank notes at the
tip and took them home. He told his class mates that we were so rich that we used shredded money in our
pillow cases. They laughed at him and teased him until the next day when he brought a pillow full of shredded
notes to school. He may have made a lot of friends that day.

BEXLEY GOLF COURSE

The Bexley Golf Course would no

doubt have eventuated if the Bexley
residents had not have had a say.
A local resident whose name will
stay anonymous, explained to me that
in the minds of the local residents a
golf course in their back yard would
be a beautiful sight but logic to them
was that it would be a hazard to the
players. Methane would eventually
escape as dangerous chemicals were
buried here. It has been proven since
that maturing trees die here when
their roots get so deep.
With the opposition from the local
residents the golf course didnt
eventuate.

86
Below: John Breezes 20 acre block as seen in 2006.

The Press newspaper, 11th

July, 1972, page 14

New Aranui
subdivision
A new residential subdivision off Rowses Road, Aranui,
is planned to contain 141 houses on 26 acres. The sub- division will be east of the Christchurch Drainage Boards oxidation ponds.
Mr C. J. de la Mare, a
Christchurch company director, is to apply to the City
Council for a specified departure so that the 141 sections
proposed may be zoned residential. The land is at present zoned rural in the district planning scheme and
rural 5 in the revised scheme.
The subdivision applied for
is part of the eastern suburbs development scheme,
which envisages subdivisions
from Travis Swamp, Burwood, to Ferry Road. Building of houses in the scheme
is already going ahead in
the Burwood area, north of
Ferry Road, and north of
Linwood Avenue. The whole
scheme will mean the construction of more than 2000
houses.
Objectors to the Rowses
Road subdivision have until
August 11 to lodge objections
with the City Council.

In the 1970s, the surrounding

land was bought by Mr C. de la
Mare and in partnership with
Tony Merritt of Merritt Homes,
the land was subdivided and
built on. Allen and Joan
Torrance followed suit creating
about 27 sections. They sold a
few themselves privately, with
the remaining being sold to
Merritt Homes. The street names
were named by him and
Delamare Park on St Heliers
Crescent from his surname.

St Helier(s) (Cr escent) - Capital of Jersey, part of Channel Islands.

Carteret (Place) - Place name in Lower Normandy, France.
Pateley (Lane) - Unknown but likely to be a holiday designation in North
Yorkshire, England where a lot of French people go.
Cornet (Lane) - See Castle Cornet on this page.
Guernsey (Street) - Island in the Channel Island.
Casquet (Lane) - ? There is an underwater weather station in the English.
Channel near Guernsey Island called Casquet. Perhaps this area is Casquet.
Channel (Place) - Channel Islands.
Castle Cornet is Guernsey's ancient harbour
fortress, which was isolated upon a rocky
islet, until the construction of a breakwater
and bridge in the 19th century.

Archives New Zealand map 1957

87

Chapter 13:

St Ambrose Anglican Church

W.A. Taylor photographs

Canterbury Museum
Ref: 95311/4 & 95321/4

THE EARLIEST CHURCH IN THE DISTRICT

1908

In 1908 St Faiths Anglican Church in New Brighton built a Mission Hall in Breezes Road just south of
Carters Road. The land was donated by Mrs. Stone who was excited about a church and school opening and
that she had the privilege of being part of the new adventure. This was a church building to be used for Sunday
services and in the near future to be used as a school room. In 1908 there was no Aranui or Wainoni but the
district was part of the wider New Brighton district. The population of the district was beginning to increase
and as a result of the building of the first two stores on the opposite corners of Breezes and Pages Roads in
1912, this intersection became the centre of the community. Blakeway's store had the only telephone and
telegraph in the district and the Sunnydale General Store was where the tram stopped. In 1913 it was decided to
move the Church closer to Pages Road and the church building was relocated to behind where the present St
Ambrose church building which was built in 1957. After 1957 the Aranui Scout group used the building, (see
chapter 35), but unfortunately one day in the 1970s a fire burnt it down.

Both these photographs were

taken about 1920 behind the
present St Ambrose Church at
309 Breezes Road, after being
relocated in 1913.
The cross, plates and candles are
still used today.

88
St Ambrose Church Archives
1960s?

25th Birthday cake 1933

From 1908, when the church was built, until 1923 the church was part of the New Brighton Parish and was
referred to as the Mission Hall, being part of St Faiths Anglican Church.
In 1923 a new parochial district, Linwood-Aranui, was created combining St Ambrose, then known as the
Breezes Road Church, with St Chad's Anglican Church. St Anthony's in Portsmouth Street became the third
Anglican church in this parochial district, when it was built in 1961. This Parochial Parish also operated a
church centre at Dallington, St Christopher's. It was now the biggest parish in New Zealand but was spreading
itself thin with its clergy.
During 1966 the boundaries were again changed creating the Aranui-Wainoni Mission District. St Ambrose and
St Anthony's were helped by St Michaels in the City. They had the money and expertise as well as the desire
to help with all the community work in the district. With this financial backing the priest assistant to the vicar
at St Michaels, Reverend David Balfour became St Ambrose's first full time priest.
As television became popular along with other social changes the rolls dropped off and in 1972 it was decided
to concentrate on St Ambrose and to sell St Anthony's to the Salvation Army Church, as it remains today, (see
chapter 15).
In 1973 financial support was transferred from St Michaels to the Anglican Diocese. This financial support
continues today. St Ambrose Church continues to give more than it receives.

Right: St Anthony's Church had a

Girls Brigade club until the late
1970s.

St Ambrose and St Chad's members of the choir 1925-6

89
Church archives 1965

The New St. Ambrose was built in 1957. You

may think this is an odd shape for a church.
That is because it is an unused army barracks
from W.W.2. St Ambrose is the Saint of Bees
therefore it is fitting that the church look like a
hive. The pews in 1957 were from the original
church. Later they were replaced with new
ones. I remember in the 1970s that there was
one in our back yard for us to sit on.

Press 6th Feb 1957

In 1966 the vestry and other rooms, as well as

the vicarage had been added, and in 1975 the
church hall was built. The additions were done
in stages as the parish needed to raise the money and build as they could afford to.

THE NEW CHURCH HALL OF ST AMBROSE, ARANUI, WHICH WAS DEDICATED LAST SUNDAY. IT IS IN THE
ANGLICAN PAROCHIAL DISTRICT OF LINWOOD.

Church archives 1969

Snow 2005

St. Ambrose was the focal point in the

community. In 1925 many of the congregation
and others raised money to build the Aranui
Hall next door. As the area was growing
rapidly in population more and more churches
were built in the area. When in the late 1950s,
the Wainoni Block was being developed St.
Anthony's Anglican Church was built. This was
in Portsmouth Street and later was sold to the
Salvation Army Church. St. Ambrose has
played a very big part in the area with fulfilling
the spiritual needs of the locals but also with
fund raising for many, many organisations and
during the War effort etc.

Most vicars today live in their own houses and

the St Ambrose vicarage is used for offices and
meeting rooms because with all the services it
provides, the rooms are needed. Today St. Ambrose is involved with budgeting advice, food
support, counselling and general support for
people with needs.
This bottom photo shows the church during the
2005 snow.

90

St Ambrose Anglican Church

Sewing Bee.

Sewing Bee members 1980s.

Ella Fellows, Edith Brand, Sherlee Richards, Goldie Wilkinson .

In 1935 the women of the church started a

sewing bee group where they met weekly to
sew clothing, pillows, blankets etc. as well
as knitting to provide for the needy in the
area and to fund raise for different projects
local and overseas. During 1939 money was
raised for the North China Mission,
Melanesian Mission and other Missions as
well as the painting of the interior of the
church. During W.W.2 knitting was sent to
members of the armed forces and after the
war funds were raised to purchase food to
send to the needy in England. On the 1st
August 2005 the group celebrated its 70th
year of voluntary service to the community
and world.
The members are growing older and fewer.
The importing of cheap clothing and the fact
that people are wealthier than in the past is
making the Sewing Bee volunteers
redundant.
The Sewing Bee has been a great way for
women in the community to meet and
socialise and at the same time provide such a
wonderful service to the community.

Sewing Bee members 1980s Rebecca Mathie, June Clarkson,

Edith Brand, Goldie Wilkinson, Ila Frost, Kath Oliver,
Ella Fellows, Irene Rogers.

Right:

A common site outside the

church, a couple of long time
members having a Sewing Bee
sale.
Sherlee Richards & Goldie
Wilkinson selling their wares in
2006.

91

Chapter 14:

Aranui School (Primary)

GROUP OF FIRST YEAR PUPILS 1911, ARANUI SCHOOL

As soon as the Mission Hall was built in 1908, the approval for the church to be used as a school was sought.
There was some opposition to this as some people thought that Bromley and Brighton Schools were close
enough so a third school was not necessary. The opponents obviously did not realize that the east of
Christchurch was growing in population, and to think that in just over 50 years time the new school would have
a peek roll of 837, I am sure nobody would have contemplated this. In 1911 the first class began and by the end
of 1911 there were 28 pupils. As mentioned in the previous chapter, in 1913, the Mission Hall was relocated to
behind what is now 309 Breezes Road.

In 1914 land was bought at the present school site and The Tin Shed was
built. This was cold and noisy in winter and hot in summer. It was later shifted
to North Brighton School.

Aranui School role:

1911 - 28 pupils
1914 - 50
1956 - 450
1959 - 707
1960 - 837 (Peak)
2006 - 300.

92

Aranui School 1946

The next classrooms to be

built were the open air
classroom blocks. There are
two blocks with four
classrooms in each. They
were built in the 1940s.
They have huge by-fold
doors that could be opened
up to provide fresh air.
These classroom blocks are
common throughout New
Zealand because it was a
way to keep children
healthy.
During the 1980s the doors
on this block were taken of
and the veranda closed in to
make bigger rooms. The
primer block has remained
original but the bi-fold doors
are not used as in the earlier
days.
In 1956 the government
began building state housing
in the Wainoni Block.
There were over 500 state
houses built and it seemed
that every family had 4 or 5
children.

Aranui School at its peak in 1960 with 837 pupils.

Prefabricated
classrooms,
(prefabs), were built or
delivered on the back of a
truck during the 1950s and
60s.
Concrete
block
classrooms were also built
during the 1960s. In 1960
Chisnallwood Intermediate
School opened as well as
Wainoni Primary School.
The photograph at the
bottom shows the school at
its peak in 1960 with 837
children.
In 2002, Aranui School once
again had Forms 1 and 2
pupils or Years 7 and 8 as
they are now called.
December 2005 the roll was
at 302 pupils.

2005

93

Sue Charmley
nee Iggo.

Above: Two old style prefabs. Primer 4, end of year break up 1959.
During the 1970s and 80s, all but one of these smaller prefabs were taken away.

1941
Ngaire Lean, Rita Stokes, Betty Lean, Irene Rogers, Joyce Scott, Norma Dickie, Shirley Hamhan.
Many ex-pupils as well as current pupils fathers or brothers were overseas fighting in World War 2. The school
was very much involved with fundraising for the war effort. An annual fundraiser was the Aranui Soldiers
Welfare Queen Carnival.

94

95

Chapter 15:

Churches in Aranui and Wainoni.

The Anglican Church had the monopoly in the district for many years. This is a huge contrast to 2007. In this
chapter the history of some of the present day churches is recorded but there are many more that are not. In
2007 I estimate that there are between 1200 - 2000 people in church every week in Aranui and Wainoni. A lot
of the churchgoers live outside the area. The cost of land to build a church or to purchase a factory was and is
relatively cheaper in the district making it more affordable to open a church here. This is partly the reason why
there are so many.
I have attempted to list all the churches and I apologise if I have missed any or if any names have changed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

St Ambrose Anglican - (See previous chapter)

Iona Presbyterian - 306 Breezes Road
Breezes Road Baptist - 151 Breezes Road
Wainoni Methodist - 878 Avonside Drive
St James Catholic - Sandown Crescent
Aranui Seventh Day Adventist - 55 Rowan Avenue
Salvation Army (Aranui Village Mission) - 32 Portsmouth Street
Maori Evangelical Fellowship - 234 Breezes Road
The Celebration Centre - Bickerton Street
City East Church - 110-118 Shortland Street
Assembly of God - Aranui High School
The Gospel Hall - Marlow Road
American Samoan Church - Sunday afternoons at St Ambrose
Church of the Nazarene - 125 Kerrs Road

A Pentecostal youth group uses the Aranui Community Hall at 305 Breezes Road on Friday nights.
There are many Jehovah Witnesses living in the district.

Left:
The Celebration Centre located in the old H.F.
Stevens medicine factory at 81 Bickerton
Street, (see chapter 10).
This is the biggest church in the area by far
with over 2000 members.

Right:
City East Church located at 110-118 Shortland
street is another large church that now occupies
a past joinery factory.

96

Wainoni Methodist Church, 878 Avonside Drive. Written in 2006.

The history of the Wainoni Methodist
Church began like that of many others,
with the establishment of a Sunday
School. In 1931 a request came to the
Linwood Sunday School teachers
meeting from some of the Wainoni
parents asking for the opening of a new
Sunday School at Wainoni. Permission
was granted by the Linwood North
School Committee for use of a room at
the school. Four teachers were
appointed with 24 scholars. The
opening date being August 2nd 1931.
The Sunday School grew steadily in
numbers and by 1937 had reached 60. It
was then apparent that a Sunday School
hall was a necessity and when the
Armstrong family made a gift of a
section in Kerrs Road, a small hall was
built by voluntary labour. The Sunday
School pupils moved to the new building in May 1937. Church services commenced at the same time. Extensions were made to the building to
cater for the larger number of Sunday school pupils and again in 1954 a disused tram was purchased for use as
two extra classrooms.
At this time there were constant discussions regarding further extensions or the erection of a new building. In
1959 the trust purchased three sections from the Presbyterian Church and the present church was erected and
opened in 1963. The Sunday School building from Kerrs Rd. was moved around for use as classrooms.
Photo of church.

In 1997 the Church building was completely renovated and extended to its present state. The new building is
very versatile and is now used in numerous ways. It is the hub of the area with the WACS programme, (The
Wainoni / Aranui Community Services), and offers a craft group, painting group, scrabble, walking group, sit
and be fit exercise, tai chi and cooking demonstrations as well as health speakers.
The Church is in very good heart with its Church services and fellowship groups. We continue in Gods work in
this area.

Aranui Seventh-day Adventist Church, Corner of Rowan Avenue and Pages Road.
Written by Julie Caukwell, 2006.

The main Church building was erected

in 1956 on the corner of Pages Road and
Rowan Avenue. It had a civic opening
by the Member of Parliament for Avon,
Mr. J. Mathison on the 28th October
1956.
A hall and facilities were added behind
the Church in 1968 and dedicated as the
Aranui Christian Youth Centre. Many
children from the community attended
holiday programmes from the 1970s to
the present.
In December 1969 part of the hall
opened to the community as the Aranui
Health and Welfare Centre. Programmes
on healthful living were run and many in
the community came to receive donated
clothes, furniture and food parcels. This
community service was further extended
when in 2000 a new purpose built room
was put on the adjacent section. This continues successfully as an opportunity shop, the proceeds of which are
channelled back into the community.

97

IONA Presbyterian Church, 306 Breezes Road 19562006 by Joan McIntosh.

St. Enochs Parish, New Brighton explored the possibility of starting a church in Aranui, but gave up through
lack of interest. However with foresight a section was purchased in Breezes Road for 31. Rates were paid by
the people of the district for the first 10 years and then by Mr. E. Rowse until building was commenced.
A meeting of interested people decided to start a church in the area and so Iona was born. Mrs J. Borrie
suggested the name Iona and Presbytery approved.
On the 1st February 1956 Sister Molly McChestney was ordained and inducted as Deaconess-in-Charge of
Iona. Services were held in the Aranui Hall until the Church Hall was built. Sister Molly did a sterling job
going around visiting on her motorised bicycle.
The new Church Hall was officially opened on July 25th 1957. Sister Molly collected the Iona stone from the
airport and carried it on her bicycle all the way from the airport to Aranui. How I dont knowit is very
heavy! The stone presently sits in front of the communion table.
At this time many new houses were built in Aranui. A huge Government housing block was opened, bringing
many children to live in the area.
Rev. E. Melville was inducted as minister. The parish continued as an aided charge. An interim moderator was
appointed to look after the parish.
Rev. J. Scarlett was inducted as the new minister. Extensions to the Church Hall were added a hall, a kitchen
and two toilets. We had a large Sunday School (about 100) and about 80 communicant members.
Rev. Wynne Smith was ordained and inducted as the new minister. (She was the first woman ordained to the
Presbyterian parish ministry in NZ.) This was a time of strong development and good outreach into the
community. The Opportunity Shop was started. What a success that has been over the years!
1975, Rev. Donald Malloch was ordained and inducted as minister. A strong concern continued for the
disadvantaged in the community. The Iona Community was begun in the manse. It later moved to the big
house in Pages Road. Donald, Sister Ann and several others did a power of good for those needing help.
A Coffee Morning was started for young mothers and others. The manse was rented to a Vietnamese Refugee
Family. Some of our members tried to teach them Englishan interesting experience.
Rev. Doug Boyd was inducted as minister. When the minister at St. Georges retired in 1986, Doug took over
responsibility for St. Georges as well. The Tuesday Stall commenced in September 1986.
Rev. Norman Wilkins was ordained and inducted as ministera time of relative peacea long ministry.
St. Georges combined with Iona during this time. In 2000 Norman moved on to minister on the Kapiti Coast.
Rev. Fiti Fiti Luatua began his ministry with much hope for the future.
Mr Tom Campbell became interim moderator. Thank you Tom for your efforts.
In July 2005 Rev. Ruth Caughley was appointed to guide us for the next 17 months and is doing a sterling job.
To all the wonderful people, past and present,
who have given so much dedication, devotion, loyalty and love
to the parish over the past 50 years we say:
Thank You all very much! Well done!

98

Breezes Road Baptist Church, Corner of Breezes and Wainoni Roads.

Written by J. Hansen, 2006.

Breezes Road Baptist Church started life initially as Wainoni Baptist Church. A small group of people had
been meeting for a year or two since 1959 in an old house on the present site. Then in 1961 the church building
and a manse in Wainoni Road were constructed with a lot of voluntary labour. The Aranui district was being
newly developed as cheap, low deposit housing and in the following year a thriving childrens ministry was
established with the many young families in the area. Around 1972 the church hall was built. However in early
1988 the original congregation came to an end and the building became the property of the Baptist Union. For
a while it was used as a meeting place for the local Maori Evangelical Fellowship but then, at the Unions
request, Parklands Baptist Church began looking at the feasibility of a Baptist outreach again.
The existing congregation was formed as a daughter group from the Parklands Baptist Church in May 1989. A
group of about 20 people, some already living in the area, came from Parklands to begin the work. Others
joined them as a result of a leaflet drop of 5000 in the surrounding area. In February 1990 Andy Edwards, one
of the group, was called to lead the Wainoni congregation. By the end of 1992 the relationship moved from
daughter congregation towards a sister group with Parklands. Andy became the Pastor and the church
increasingly became autonomous.
Andy and his wife Eve worked tirelessly until by 2000 there was a regular congregation of 120 with active
involvement in cell groups, community ministries such as Minimites (a pre-school music programme) and various courses such as Alpha and Search for Significance. Sadly at the end of 2001 Andy moved to be
assistant Pastor of Rangiora Baptist. Steve McMillan, one of our own church workers, was called to be Pastor at
Breezes Road. The church continues to focus on our mission statement of Together, being and making followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are seeking to build a close knit community of believers with a heart for
others.
Minimites is thriving and children and youth work is a big part of our church life. The youth group is currently
renovating a house with the aim of having a centre for youth activities. The church emphasis is on being a
caring, supportive fellowship of people with an outward focus.

Maori Evangelical Fellowship.

234 Breezes Road.

Aranui Gospel Hall.

Marlow Road

Church of the Nazarene

125 Kerrs Road, Wainoni/Avonside

99

St James Catholic Church in Aranui.

Written by Bryan Parish, 2006.

The first group of worshippers of the new parish of

Aranui - Wainoni met on 18 March 1962 at Cowles
Stadium for the first Sunday Mass. They were full
of enthusiasm for the challenge ahead, even though
they had no church, no building and not even land.
Four parishioners of that first gathering are still
alive, two still worshiping at St James.
The land on which the church, presbytery and
school now stand was bought in 1962 and had
formally been a speedway. By the end of 1962 the
presbytery, garage and church hall were completed.
The school was opened at the beginning of 1965.
The teachers were members of the Sisters of the
Missions who staffed the school till the early
1980s.
Over the 44 years of St James a constant stream of
parishioners have gathered as the church and
school
communities. In the early days there was a good cross section of Maori, settlers from England, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. In recent times increasing numbers of settlers from Samoa have swelled
the congregation. Interaction with the local churches has always been a priority.
While most in Aranui - Wainoni have little worldly goods they are rich in supporting one another, witnessing
to a strong faith and celebrating the gifts of love and justice.

The Aranui Village Mission moved to its current

location in 1977. We have many programmes that
run during the week, e.g.: FEAST = Community
meal on Mondays at 4.45pm, Home League for
women on Wednesdays at 9.45am, Junior Soldiers,
Bible study and outings for men.
Bright and
10.30am.

breezie

worship

Sunday morning

We hold a camp at the start of the year.

Written by Avis Wood, 2006.

100

101

Chapter 16:

New Brighton Golf Links 1910-1919

THE CORNER OF BREEZES AND CUTHBERTS ROADS.
In 1910 on the corner
of
Breezes
and
Cuthberts Roads, the
New Brighton Golf
Links was formed and
the following year the
club rooms were built.
The Suburb name
Aranui is written on
the Aranui School
photograph
dated
1911. The school was
just 200 metres west of
the golf club, (see
chapter 14).
Prior to this time, the
New Brighton district
included what is now
Aranui and Wainoni,
hence
the
New
Brighton Golf Links.
The boundaries of
Aranui and Bromley
are confused, and in
the Avondale Golf
Club Golden Jubilee
booklet, this area is
referred to as Bromley.
When the links closed
in
1919,
the
clubrooms,
which
were
located
on
Cuthberts Road, were
converted to a house
where
different
families
lived,
including the Yandal
Family.

RIGHT:
CANTERBURY
TIMES, APRIL 3RD,
1912, PAGE 35

102

THE WEEKLEY PRESS, AUGUST 20TH, 1913, PAGE 42.

Typed larger.

(1) The President (Mr R. C. Bishop) driving from No. 1 tee. (2) Members and visitors who assisted at the
opening of the new pavilion. (3) The Champion (E. Butler) driving. (4) H. S. Williams, the runner-up for the
Championship, driving. (5) The President (Mr R. C. Bishop) declaring the pavilion open. (6) The new
pavilion. (7) An exciting finish for the Championship: The 35th hole. Butler wins. All square and 1 to play.
(8) Miss E. Hepburn, runner-up for the Ladies Championship. (9) Mrs Blakeley, Lady champion, leaving
No. 1 tee. (10) The play off for the Championship: Williams and Butler on No. 7 green.
GOLF AT NEW BRIGHTON: THE OPENING OF THE NEW BRIGHTON GOLF CLUBS NEW
PAVILION AND THE DECISION OF THE CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIPS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH.
In declaring the pavilion open, the President, Mr R. C. Bishop, referred to the modest beginnings of the club
two years ago. Twelve months ago the club-house, as it then stood, was formally opened. The grounds had
been improved, and were at present as tricky as one could desire them. The thanks of the club, he said, were
due to Mr J. Clark and the committee for the splendid result of their labours. The additions would mean greater comfort and considerably more space. Later on, as the club grew, they could further improve. The club record was good. They had won two out of three tournaments that they had played in. Mr C. Humphries, one of
the club members, had won the open tournament at Shirley. They had every reason to be proud of their progress and present position. Mr Mandl, vice-president of the Karori Club, Wellington, was warmly
welcomed by Mr Bishop. The President stated that he had received a message from one of their late
vicepresidents, Mr D. Collins, now in the Old Country, wishing the club every success.
The Weekly Press

103

Smith and Anthony Ltd map

Canterbury Museum
Ref: CMU 1322

Avondale Golf Club Golden Jubilee booklet 1919-1969 Page 21.

J. A. CLEMENTS
The jubilee celebrations of the Avondale Golf Club could
hardly be complete without some recognition of the association
with their late professional, James A. Clements who was connected
with the Club for many years. Known to his legion of friends
as "Joe," he was one of the great characters of New Zealand golf.
A player of outstanding ability, he was three times Open Champion of New Zealand, winning this important event at the age of
19 years in 1908, then in 1909 and 1912 and during that decade was
rated No. 1 in New Zealand golf.
His introduction to Avondale was 1919 when he was commissioned by the Club to layout the original course--no mean
task when older members remember the state of the countryside
at that time. In later years he was given the hurculean task of
laying out the present Russley course which was then a big, bare
paddock. To say he accomplished his task, one has only to look at
the present course and comment that here was a job well done.
A very fine club maker, he showed real craftsmanship with
his wooden clubs; to-day, sad to admit, a lost art. His all-round
capabilities made him a valuable asset to any golf club. A cheery,
genial soul, possessing a fine sense of humour, he was full of a
wide variety of anecdotes of golf and many other subjects, and
his everlasting grin was present any time you were lucky to be
in his company.
On his seventieth birthday the members presented Mr.
Clements with an easy-chair in appreciation of his years of service to
Avondale.

New Brighton Golf Links.

Corner of Breezes and Cuthberts Roads.

Extract from the "Star" 1941:

Should any resemblance be seen
between the styles of professional J.
A. Clements and Jack Millard, it
would not be a coincidence. As a boy
Millard was a caddy at the old New
Brighton Club's course and many noted local golfers played on the nine
hole course with Clements and D.
Hood as professionals.
For some time young Millard hit
a ball round those old links and spent
hours watching the best players,
especially Clements, in action.
"Watching Joe CIements made golf
look easy" said Millard, "and in those
days it seemed to me that, if it was
easy for him, it would be easy for
me if I got the right swing." From
that time the Millard game was modeled on the beautifully effortless
methods of Clements-with wonderful results.

Press, Saturday May 16th, 1917, Page 4

GOLF.

NEW BRIGHTON CLUB.

The following is the draw for the ladies
match of 18 holes, to be played at New
Brighton to-day: - Miss Hall v. Mrs E.J.
Taylor, Mrs Mills v. Miss E. Rowe, Miss
Parsons v. Miss H. Hopkins, Miss Corsbie
v. Miss L. Harper. Miss L. Rose v. Miss
C. Smith, Miss Tavender a bye.

Mr James A. Clements at the age of

19 years in 1908, then in 1909 and
1912 and during that decade was rated
No. 1 in New Zealand golf.

104

The following is from the Avondale Golf Club Golden Jubilee booklet.

A Brief History of Avondale

The Avondale Golf Club can fairly be said to have arisen from the ashes of the former New Brighton Golf
Club. That club, in 1910, negotiated a lease of 30 acres of land at the south-east corner of Cuthberts and Breezes Roads, Bromley. This land was owned by the Christchurch Drainage Board and comprised part of the undeveloped Sewage Farm Reserves. As the club grew it leased further land and even persuaded the Board to advance the sum of 500 to clear and improve the additional area. This was early in 1914, the year in which the
First World War broke out. The war resulted in a terrific drain on the manpower of the country and the club
soon found itself in financial difficulties owing to the consequent loss of its members. It struggled on until the
end of the war in 1918, but its arrears of rent and other financial obligations were such that it was forced to go
into liquidation. In 1919 the Club's lease from the Drainage Board was cancelled and the Board agreed to relieve it of liability for arrears of rent and the amount outstanding on the 500 previously advanced.
The liquidation of the New Brighton Golf Club was confirmed at a special meeting early in 1919. This
decision was not unanimous, as it was felt by some that they owed an obligation to their members returning
from war service to provide them with a suitable playing area.

Avondale Golf Club

50th anniversary booklet
1969

With this in view a meeting of a small group of enthusiasts was held at 109 Gloucester Street on Friday
16th May, 1919. Mr. B. Harding was elected to the Chair, and on the motion of Mr. R. Campbell, seconded by
Mr. J. Early, it was unanimously resolved that a new club be formed. The following members were enrolled
forthwith:
Misses Ellwood, Garton, Tavender, White-Parsons, Corsbie, Hall, McMillan, White and Rowe; Mesdames
Early and Harding, and Messrs Francis, Campbell, Early, Harding, Scales and Gordon.
(It is pleasing to note that Miss Ellwood is still a member of the Club).
Mr. G. H. Scales, in the meantime, had been looking around for a site on which to construct a new golf
course, and he purchased some 80 acres of land at the corner of Breezes and Wainoni Roads. This land, with
the exception of a strip along the Wainoni Road frontage retained by him for building sections, was made
available to the new Club. Mr. Scales promised to clear it, sow it in grass, and lease it to the Club with right of
purchase provided the Club had 40 members who had paid the sum of 5 (five pounds) as subscription for
1919-1920~ and an additional 200 (two hundred pounds) had been collected by way of debentures, making
400 (four hundred pounds) in all.
The area acquired was completely undeveloped and consisted of sandhills, swamp, and dense scrub, and it
speaks volumes for the enthusiasm and foresight of those foundation members that they could envisage the
transformation of such an area into an attractive golf links.
An immediate start was made to clear the area and to lay out an 18 hole course. Mr. J. A. Clements, then in
his hey day, was engaged for this purpose. His fee was 20 plus expenses. By the end of 1919 twelve holes
were in play. These, in the main, followed the perimeter of the area, No. I being along the line of the present
13th.
In 1921 two more holes were opened the present Nos. I and 18-and the following year the present Nos. 5
and 6 were added. There were now 16 holes in use, but it was not until 1924 that the final two the existing
10th and 11th-became available. With the opening of these holes the par of the course was 85. This was
reduced to 81 in 1926 when the fairways improved!!
When thought is given to the wilderness of broom, lupin, gorse, sandhills and swamp which formed the area, and to the limited equipment then available, the short time taken to provide playing facilities can only be
regarded as amazing. We, the present generation of members, owe those early enthusiasts a great debt of gratitude.

105

Chapter 17:
Leonard Cockayne and the White Family.
LEONARD COCKAYNE

Leonard Cockayne was born in 1855 at Norton Lees

near Sheffield in England. He didnt enjoy school as a
child but loved to watch the gardeners maintain and
create the old English gardens at his familys home in
the countryside. In 1875 while studying at Owen's
College in Manchester he earned a certificate in
botany, this was his passion. However, soon after he
travelled to Australia and as a registered teacher
taught in schools in Queensland, Victoria and
Tasmania. In 1881 he married Maria Maude and
immigrated to New Zealand. From 18811884 he
taught in schools throughout New Zealand.
His father died in 1884 leaving Leonard money and
an opportunity to practise horticulture. In 1885 he
purchased land of 5 acres at Styx, near Christchurch,
here he grew a large collection of plants.
In 1892 he then purchased 4.5 acres in the sand dunes
near New Brighton where he established an
experimental garden he named Tarata. The title deed
names the owner as Maria Maude Cockayne wife of
Leonard Cockayne of Styx, Gentleman.
Annually he sowed over 2000 different species of
exotic plants from all over the world in exchange for
local plants. He began to make contact with other
scientists throughout the world and 1895 he joined the
Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. He founded the
Christchurch Beautifying Association in 1897. In
1898 he accompanied Robert Brown, a fellow
botanist, on many exhibitions and he met Germanys
most prominent botanist on his New Zealand
exhibition, receiving encouragement from him.
During the 11 years at Tarata Cockayne laid the foundations for his later studies on New Zealand plants
and vegetation.
He attended New Zealands first conference of horticulture in 1901, where he presented a paper on the plants
of the Chatham Islands. This helped to
establish Cockaynes reputation.
From 1900 until 1934 Leonard Cockayne dominated New Zealand science.
In 1903 he visited Ruapuke Island,
Milford Sound, the Auckland and
Campbell Islands. Over the following
years he visited Kapiti Island, Kauri
Forest, Tongariro National Park,
Stewart Island and the Subantartic
TARATA
Islands, writing extensive reports on
each. Although Cockayne was a late
starter, he became the most prolific
recorder of New Zealand Botany,
publishing some 280 articles in New
Zealand and overseas. He was
involved with dozens of organisations

1961 Survey 9802

106
from being the President of the Philosophical Institute in Canterbury to persuading the government to establish
the Department of Science and Industrial Research (DSIR) in 1926.
In 1907 he was appointed as New Zealands Government Botanist. During this period he studied and
categorised New Zealand native plants throughout the country. He wrote hundreds of articles and books about
species of plants. Much of his work was with the preservation of native bush areas throughout New Zealand,
including Kennedys Bush on the Port Hills. Honours and awards for his service are numerous including the
Darwin medal in 1928.
The title deed shows that the property in New Brighton, (Tarata), was sold in 1907.
Leonard and Maude had one child, Alfred Hyde Cockayne. Alfreds personal file which is deposited in the
National Archives records his birth date as 23rd May 1880. There is no other record of his birth but assuming
this is recorded correctly he would have been 12 years old when they moved to Tarata, New Brighton.
Alfred followed his fathers passion and in 1904 was appointed Assistant Government Biologist and then in
1908 Government Biologist.
From 1917 until their deaths in 1934 Leonard and his wife Maria lived in Wellington. In 1931 Cockaynes
eyesight began to fail, and despite almost total blindness he continued his research. Both Leonard and Maria
Cockayne are buried in the grounds of the Otari Native Plant Museum. Today much of his work remains the
standard account of New Zealands vegetation.
I often wonder how well Leonard Cockayne and Professor Bickerton knew each other. It is likely that Leonard
had an influence about the types of plants grown in the expanding Wainoni Pleasure Gardens,
(see chapter 5).

In 1984 the Christchurch City Council launched a restoration programme, and sought advice from Dr Trevor
Partridge, a DSIR specialist in saltmarsh and estuarine wetland vegetation. Cockayne Reserve was developed
with many species of native plants.
It is fitting to name the reserve after Leonard Cockayne as he was likely to have categorised these species nearly 100 years earlier and because the arrow in the photograph indicates the house that the White family built
after the house that Cockayne built was demolished to make room for the new housing development and Meon
Street. Cockaynes house was about 50 metres from the house indicated.

ANOTHER GREAT ARANUI/WAINONI NEW ZEALANDER.

Sources: The life and correspondence of Leonard Cockayne by A.D. Thomson.
The Press newspaper Friday November 29th 1991 page 13.
Titles.

107
Preservation of Native Forest in New Zealand:
Some views of Kennedys Bush, a portion
Of the Ancient Forest of Banks Peninsula.

The Weekly Press 4th April

1906 Page 41

Steps to acquire this Bush for the people of New Zealand are now being taken, the
Government finding two-thirds of the cost (550), leaving one-third
to be raised by public subscription.
Kennedys Bush, covering an area of 180 acres, lies in a gentle hollow near the summit of the Port
Hills, above what is known as the Lansdowne Spur. At present the Bush may be approached by two
routes, one via Dyers Pass and the hill tops, or by a picturesque track commencing at the Halswell Quarry. From the summit of the peak overlooking the forest is the most extensive view in the
vicinity
of Christchurch. Twelve hundred feet below the observer lie the blue waters of Lyttelton
Harbour and
its numerous bays. In the background the lofty ranges of Banks Peninsular frame the pic- ture.
(Photos by The Weekly Press.)

ENNEDYS BUSH ON THE

Port Hills, between Christchurch
and
Lyttelton,
a
portion
of
which it is proposed should be
reserved
for
scenic purposes,
was
visited
early
last
week
by
a
party comprising Dr. Cockayne, Mr
J. Macdonald (photographer for the
Tourist Department), and Mr H. G. Ell,
M.H.R.
The party left town at 9
oclock, and proceeded to Sydenham by
tram, and then hence by coach to the hills.
A long tramp up a ridge brought them
to a peak, from which a magnificent
panoramic view of Lyttelton town and
harbour was obtained, whilst a fine perspective of the country out over the
plain was also given, although in each
case the distances were somewhat obscured by mist.
The scenic reserve lay
below on the plains side of the hills, and
a descent was made on this, and the
bush thoroughly traversed and inspected. Numerous stops were made for photographic and botanical purposes, and although early in the afternoon, heavy and continuous rain set in, the purposes of
the
expedition were rigorously fulfilled.
A
number of excellent photographic
views,
typical of the scenery and vege- table life of
the locality, were obtained. Some idea of the
varied nature of the
flora of Kennedys
Bush, and consequently its value for
preservation purposes, may be imaged
from the fact
that in the area proposed
to be reserved
some fifty acres Dr.
Cockayne has recognized over eighty distinct botanical varieties. This, of course,
includes the ground vegetation, ferns etc.,
as well
as the tree life. The party,
notwithstanding the adverse circumstances attending their trip, were well
satisfied
with their days outing, and are
also
satisfied that the acquisition of the
bush
will be of lasting benefit to the community.
Kennedys Bush, said Dr. Cockayne, who was interviewed on the
botanical
value
of
the
reserve,
is a very fair example of the
forest that once clothed nearly the
whole of Banks Peninsular. The area
to be reserved contains 35 species of
trees and scrubs, and many of them are

of considerable size. There are full-grown

totaras and black pines, and large examples of the fuchsia, broadleaf, lacebark (a tree with beautiful white
flowers), mahoe, ivy tree, ngaio, lancewood, the milk tree, the tree manuka,
the kowhai,
and
the kaikomako.
This last tree bears a profusion of white
flowers, and is specially remarkable in
having a juvenile form, totally distinct from that of the adult. The bush
is very rich in woody lianes (climbing
plants) - of which there are thirteen.
Amongst these are four species of Rubus
familiarly known as lawyers, several
clematises, the climbing lily (commonly
called supplejack), and two species of
Parsonia. This last plant can easily be
recognized by its long kidney beanlike fruit. Botanically it is very important, since its leaf variability is most
striking. The Genus Parsonia is found
in Southern Asia, Australia, and New
Caledonia, and although the species of
these countries are strikingly like our
New Zealand forms, they never exhibit
the above mentioned marvelous leaf changes.
Among the under shrubs are the wellknown pepper tree, with its blotched
leaves, Melicope simplex, whose small
leaves have something of the smell of
parsley, a number of coprosmas, and,
here, too may be mentioned the ferns
of which the bush still contains fifteen
species. About two years ago cattle
were excluded from the bush, and since
then the ferns have commenced to
re-assert themselves in many places. Besides the smaller ferns, such as the black
shield fern, the common spleenwort, the
drooping spleenwort, the creek fern,
the various hard ferns, and some others,
there are still a few fine examples of
the beautiful silver-tree fern. The
more lovely plants, that is the herbaceous plants, including the grasses and
sedges (thirty-four in number), need little description, being what are usually
met with in similar forests.
Besides the bush, as it stands, it is
proposed to make the new reserve, after
it has been acquired by the people,
into a receptacle for as many species of
New Zealand plants as can be found to
grow in that locality.
The position
of Kennedys Bush is specially favour-

able, owing to its mild climate, for

growing many northern plants which
are not generally hardy in Canterbury.
Similarly too, it will be possible to
have there a large collection of
Alpine Plants and shrubs. In short, in
Dr. Cockaynes opinion, there is no
reason why Kennedys Bush and its immediate surroundings should not, in
the course of time, be not merely a spot
for the pleasure and education of the
people of Christchurch, but an attracttion to the colony at large.
As indicating the size of some of the
ancient trees in the bush, we give the
following measurements of the circumference, taken by Dr. Cockayne and Mr
T. G. Ell, M.H.R:Black Pine, 10ft 8in.
Broadleaf, 10ft 6in.
Fuchsia, 6ft 7in.
Treefern, 2ft 6in.
Lemonwood, 4ft.
Mahoe, 4ft.
Totara, 8ft 3in. and 11ft 8in.

Layout is slightly different to

newspaper article.

108

Canterbury Times
4th April 1906, page41.

DR COCKAYNE AND MR H. G. ELL, M.H.R. WHO HAVE INTERESTED

THEMSEVES IN THE PRESERVATION OF KENNEDYS BUSH

Canterbury Times July

29th 1914, page 46.

THE CARETAKERS COTTAGE, KENNEDYS BUSH.

Kenneys Bush is one of the few remaining clumps of native forest on Banks Peninsula. Through the publicspirited efforts of Mr H. G. Ell. M.P. and Dr Cockayne, it has been preserved for future generations. Recently a
cottage was erected on the reserve for the caretaker. It is also a public tea-room.

109
Leonard and Maria Cockayne built this house in
the 1890s. The entrance was off Bexley Road,
near Wainoni Road.
1944 Mr and Mrs William and Eileen White
purchased the property where they lived with
their family until 1969.
By this time the Wainoni Block (see chapter 37)
was developed and the houses built but there
was still a huge need for housing . The White
family as well as the surrounding property
owners were made to sell to the government so
a new subdivision could be developed.
The house was demolished as the road (Meon
Street) runs right through where it stood.
LEFT: Eileen White (right) with her mother,
father and daughter Lyn.
The three top photographs were taken by the
White family in 1969. The bottom photograph
is the new house in 2007.
The new house is on a rear section on part of
the original land they owned. The entrance to
the driveway on Meon Street would have been a
matter of a few meters from the original house.
The photograph third from the top is Mr
William White preparing the site for their new
house photographed at the bottom.

2000 - The motorway under construction

Whites house in the background.

The White family had a long connection with

the Bromley and Bexley area. William George
White took over the property from his father
George White, who had come out on one of the
earliest ships and had set up a pig farm on
Rudds Road. William Georges son William L.
White who grew up on his fathers farm,
attended the North Linwood School, playing the
customary football expected in the early1920s
when it was, in most schools, the only winter
game offered to boys. His sister Mollie, now
Mrs Black of Mt. Maunganui, attended the
same school. After his school days, Bill White
turned to the work the land offered.
In 1937 he married Eileen McDermott of
Invercargill. They lived at Rudds road where
the first four children were born, and then
moved to Bexley road where another eight
children were raised.
The home was close to the land taken by the
Aranui Speedway and it seemed only natural
that Bill White should for ten years have been
busy in the formation and the maintenance of
the track.
William White passed away in 1990 long after
the children had left home and in 2006 after 62
years on the property Eileen White moved to a
retirement home so the property was sold.

Sources: White family and the book The Estuary of

Christchurch by Sarah E.W. Penney

110

111

Chapter 18:

The Pannell Family.

THE PANNELL FAMILY HOME PHOTOGRAPHED ABOUT 1910.

Harry and Annies house is addressed 112 Kerrs Road and has a section size of 1920 metres.
Their son Louis Pannell with his wife Elizabeth, shifted to 96 Kerrs Road about 1920. Their house which is
still there today (2007) was relocated about 1920 from T.J. Edmonds factory grounds. It was shifted in two
pieces and placed on a rise.

Mr and Mrs Harry and Annie Pannell on their verandah about the late
1920s.

112

Pannell Avenue 1930

Lot 3

Lot 4

Lot 5

Lot 6

Lot 7
Lot 8

Lot 5 was purchased by Mr Louis Pannell and Mr Edgar Pannell in 1910 from John Kerr, the son of Peter
Kerr, (see chapter 3). This is where Louis and Edgars parents, Mr Harry and Mrs Annie Pannell, built their
house and lived. It is likely that Harry and Annie had all their money invested in their business.
Lot 5 or 112 Kerrs Road, 2007, was a little over 3 acres. In 1917 Edgar died while serving overseas in W.W.1.
In 1925 the title was transferred to Harry and Annie Pannell. It is likely by this time that they had sold their
shoe and book manufacturing business to the family and semi-retired.
In 1927 two new sections were created, lots 9 and 10, shown on this plan and were sold off.
In 1929 the triangular piece of land on lot 5, to the right on the plan was subdivided off. Harry and Annie Pannell kept the remaining 1acre, 2 roods, 1& 1/2 perches where their house was.
Lots 3 and 4: In 1920 Harry Pannell purchased lots 3 and 4. Together there was 6 acres & 3 perches.
Lots 6 and 7: In 1911 Louis Pannell purchased lots 6 and 7. Together there was 8 acres, 3 roods & 28 perches.
Louis sold lots 6 and 7 to his father in 1925.
Lot 8 was also purchased at this time by Harry Pannell.
From 1927 1930 the new lots 118 on Wainoni and Kerrs Roads were sold.
1930 Pannell Avenue was created and sections sold and built on.
1932 Mr Harry Pannell died.
1938 Mrs Annie Pannell died.

113

The Pannell familys boot and shoe factory and stores.

The following photographs and article is from The Canterbury Times newspaper dated May
30th, 1895, pages 24, 25 and 26.

114

115

NEW
ZEALAND
INDUSTRIES
X1.
BOOTMAKING.

MR H. PANNELLS MANUFACTORY.
The making of boots and shoes is a
New Zealand industry in which great pro
gress has been made ; in fact it is one of
those in which a preference for the im
ported as against the locally-made article
lingers merely as one of the hard-dying
prejudices with which colonial manufacturers have to contend. Tradesmen as
good as any in England or France have
come to New Zealand ; they have practised their avocation here, and have communicated a knowledge of their artfor
art it is to make and finish a perfect specimen of cordwaineryto a large number
of our colonial youth. Thus, from the
stoutest mans watertight to the daintiest
of ladys evening wear, all grades of
boots and shoes are now made in the colony, and no hardship would be caused to
the public were the importation of boots
and shoes to entirely cease. The industry
affords employment to a very large number of hands of both sexes and all ages.
Large quantities of colonial- made leathers
are used, giving support to an other important New Zealand industry ; and various other trades, such as ma-chinists, lastmakers, carpenters, and so on, are benefited in a greater or less degree. The manufacturer of boots and shoes is, indeed, one
of the most important of our colonial industries; and the establish- ment of
MR H. PANNELL,
in Manchester Street, Christchurch, is a
representative one, as there may be seen
all branches of the trade in active operation.
Mr Harry Pannell, the founder and head
of the business, learnt his trade in England, in what, though he is still a young
man, may be regarded as the good old
times, seeing that by the time he was
thirteen years of age he was able to take a
measure and cut and make a boot throughout. Natural aptitude had no doubt,
much to do with this early mastery of an
intricate tradeor art as it may fairly
claim to be termed. Coming to New Zealand, Mr Pannell began business in Christchurch twenty years ago, and two years
later, being satisfied with his prospects,
took a lease of premises in Manchester
Street, which he has occupied ever since.
The exterior of the premises is not imposing, having altered very little since
the sign of H. Pannell was first put
up there. A different tale has to be
told regarding the interior. Entering the
shop we are shown the original limits of
the premises. The frontage was the same
as now, but the single room of which the
establishment consisted extended back a
space of only some twelve feet. The space
Behind the counter was the workshop, and
at first one boy was the only assistant.
Little by little, but always progressing,
the business increased; additional assist-

ance, and with it additional room, became necessary, and extension after
extension was added, until at the present
day the showroom extends to 66 feet in
depth from the street, and spacious workrooms and storerooms have extended right
and left at the rear, the whole occupying
an area of about a quarter-acre, extending
from Manchester Street in front to St
Asaph Street at the south side, and even
this large space is inadequate to the
requirements of the business. Mr Pannell
has now three brothers assisting him, and
employs upwards of sixty hands.
THE MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENTS

are first visited in an inspection of the

establishment, being with the pressroom. here a large stock of sole leather
is stored in order to become thoroughly
seasoned before it is cut up for use. The
bulk of this is of colonial tannage, which
is found to be fully equal to the imported
article; indeed, in some respects the
colonial crop is superior to the English,
the hides generally being finer in grain,
and therefore more elastic, wearing better
and being more comfortable to the wearer.
Here also are the presses, with the knives
of various shapes and sizes, for cutting
soles and heals. The wide ranges of
fashion and caprices of wearers necessitate the use of an astonishingly large variety
of knives, the narrow high heels, as well
as the wide low heels, and the pointed as
well as the square-toed soles, having their
full sets of knives.
The click-room contains a stock
of leather for the uppers of boots and
shoes. Very little colonial leather enters
into the manufacturer of uppers for the
best class of work, the material mainly
used being French calf, glace and
plain kid, and Russian and American
leathers, smaller quantities of almost
every other kind of leather that is made
being kept in stock for special requirements. Colonial leather is used to a
considerable extent in ordinary work, and
for the cheaper classes of ready-made goods.

Everything is thoroughly seasoned before

use, and the stock in the room is large and
costly. The uppers are cut and manufactured in this department, which is fitted
with the various machines fort he purpose.
The main workshop is occupied by men
engaged in the further various operations
of manufacture, such as benching, that
is, attaching the sole to the upper ; finishing, or dressing the sole into proper shape
and polish, and turning out the article
ready to wear. Hand-sewn and handpegged work for orders is done here, as
well as the making of stock for the readymade demand. Much of the hand-sewn
order work is, however, given out to
tradesmen who work in their own premises
- a practice peculiar to the boot trade in
all parts of the world.
The making of boots and shoes to
measure is the most important, though
not the largest, branch of Mr Pannells business. His orders average one
hundred pairs weekly, and at times
reach as many as one hundred and fifty
pairs. Special lasts are kept for upwards

of one thousand customers, and to those

who are accustomed to ready-made boots
the remark may seem strange, though it
is undoubtedly time, that no two feet or
two pairs of feet are exactly alike. Almost
every imaginable shape, deformity, mutilation and weakness would appear to be
represented amongst these thousand pairs
of lasts. Mr Pannells customers who have
their lasts in this collection are resident
in all parts of New Zealand, Australia
and Tasmania, and he has even received
orders from England from some of them.
His instructions for self-measurement are
largely made use of by new customers at a
distance, they being now so perfected by
long experience (as shown by Mr Pannells
advertisement on another page), that with
care in taking the measurements a good
fit can be assured. Mr Pannell has often
been urged to send out travellers, but this
would add greatly to the expense of the
article supplied, and he and everybody
who once deals with him are satisfied with
the present system.
In the making of jockeys riding boots
Mr Pannell has something approaching a
monopoly, supplying most of the raceriders throughout New Zealand, and also
in Melbourne and Sydney. A speciality
in this department is a pair of jockeys
boots weighing four ounces the lightest
made in the colonies. Gentlemens riding,
hunting and polo boots are also made for
customers everywhere in the colonies.
Military boots are also a speciality, Mr
Pannell having had contracts from the
Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, Canterbury
Mounted Rifles, Christs College Rifles and
other corps, and also furnished saddle
holsters and other parts of the equipment.
Livery boots are also made in all styles.
The finer work includes ladies evening,
dress and fancy shoes in all styles and
every kind of leather, some of the work in
this department being highly artistic.
The stage also adds its quota to Mr Pannells list of constituents.
Going to the opposite extreme, we find
that his establishment has a wide fame for
clogs, which, it seems. Worn by those
whose duty or pleasure takes them much
about stables or farmyards, or on wet
ground or grass, the feet by their use
being kept dry and warm. Fishing and
shooting waders are also made, as well as
leggings and gaiters of all sorts. Gum
boots, of course, are imported.
SALES DEPARTMENT.
The large front shop is filled to its
utmost capacity, the stock being one of
the largest of any retail establishment in
trade in New Zealandthough not too
large for the extent of the business that is
done. The main part of the stock is made
on the premises, and consists of all classes
of foot-wear. Importations generally are on
a large scale, and includes boots and shoes
of French and English make, and every
description of leather. Mr Pannell has a
contract with a leading firm for a regular
supply of French calf, so that his customers do not get one article at one time
and a different article at another time.
Continue next page

116
Colonial made boots and shoes are also
bought in large quantities, Mr Pannells
order business, even with his extensive
accommodation, precluding his making
sufficient of this class of goods for the
requirements of his trade.
The business throughout is purely retail,
no other vendors or agents being supplied.
Mr Pannells customers, therefore, deal
direct with him, and avoid paying
any intermediate profit. The strictest
economy is observable in all departments,
and not least in the matter of rent.
Temptation to move into a big central
shop, with big plate glass windows and
other attractive adjuncts, has often been
strong, but Mr Pannell has recognised that
his customers would have to pay the cost,
and has remained in his old-established,
well-known premises, and to depend for an
increase in his business upon the excellence
of his wears.

Christchurch Press
Wednesday 29th June 1910 page 3

The Weekly Press Oct 31st 1917, page 35.

PANNELLOn October 12th, killed in action, Edgar Douglas, third beloved son of H.
and A. Pannell, of 38 New Brighton road ; in
his 32nd year.
Note: New Brighton Road is now Wainoni
Road and Kerrs Road.
The suburbs Aranui and Wainoni didnt exist
but was part of the New Brighton District.

There were other ways of ordering boots as this post card shows.
The name on the hut says Avon. something.
Post card and family history provided byMrs Holden.

117

Chapter 19:

Ted and Mabel Howard.

The in-depth life of Edwin John Howard, his famous daughter Mabel Bowden Howard and Mabels siblings
Adelaide Ellen and Elsie is captured in David Gees book, Our Mabel, first published in 1977 by Millwood
Press in Wellington, New Zealand. All the information in this chapter is from this book bar the article dated
1948. I hope reading this chapter will entice you to read David Gees book titled Our Mabel.
Edwin John Howard was born in Love Street, Bristol, in the west of England, on 18 June 1868. He was the son
of John Howard, who with his wife, Sarah, ran a theatrical company of talented artistes. It was described as
a travelling circus and probably played in the south of England.
At the age of sixteen Ted decided he had had enough of the life and ran away to sea. At least the navy was
close at hand and he signed up in Plymouth in 1884. He did not use the name of Howard but it is generally
thought he used the name of Harney, his mothers maiden name.
He was to see much of the world with the Royal Navy. The warship Rapid tied up in Lyttelton on 25th January
1889. A lot was to happen to Edwin John Howard in the next 25 days. Once in Christchurch, Samuel
Wiltshire, a close shipmate, and Ted Howard (or Harney as he was still) visited a lodge one night in February
1889. The two sailors met the Goring sisters there. Things moved quickly in the next few days. The two
sailors were in port only twenty-five days but both managed to marry the Goring girls. Both Ted and Harriett
Garard Goring were twenty-one and Ted used the name of Edwin Howard Harney. When Harrietts father
discovered his other daughter was also married he got rather upset.
Ted Howard and Samuel Wiltshire left their brides in Christchurch but when Samuel's wife had a daughter it
was arranged that she should join him in Sydney along with Harriett. The sisters lived together in Sydney
until Ted Howard jumped ship in 1891. Ted Howard, who became chairman of committees in the New
Zealand Parliament, and was close to being appointed an ambassador for New Zealand to Samoa, was in fact a
Naval deserter. Wiltshire was questioned by the Naval authorities and when they realised that Ted Howard
was a married man and had left with his wife they made no effort to trace him. As soon as Ted had deserted he
and Harriett left Sydney and in the next five years had several jobs, mostly in mining areas.

118
Ted again found himself out of work and was persuaded to return to Christchurch in 1894. Ted and Harriett
now had two childrenAdelaide Ellen (always known as Nell) and Mabel Bowden who was born on 18 April
1894. Ted didnt get on well with the Gorings and soon they returned to Australia. Jobs were hard to find in
both countries and they retuned to New Zealand in 1895. Leaving the family in Christchurch, Ted once again
returned to Australia to work with the family joining him the following year. From 1901-1903, Ted was
foreman of the government smelter in Port Augusta and was living away from his family. In 1903 Ted rushed
to Adelaide to nurse a dying wife. That was in July and on the 6 September 1903, Harriett died. Before her
death from consumption Harriett made Ted promise to take the girls back to Christchurch. There was now a
third girlElsie Elizabeth, born in 1898.
Ted was left with three girls, Elsie, only four, Mabel, nine, and Nell, eleven. In addition to these problems Ted
had the worry of a bad burn on Elsies arm caused by her dress catching fire.
The Howard family arrived in Christchurch on 23 October 1903. Teds father in law, Amos Goring was said to
be a deserter from the British Army and when he later lived in the district of Brighton, used to crawl around
the sand dunes on his stomach with a rifle looking for rabbits. His boast was one shot, one rabbit. But when
Ted arrived Amos Goring was a grocer, south of the centre of Christchurch.
By 1905, Amos Goring, according to the Christchurch street directory, had moved to Breezes Road. (See
chapter 6, about his land being used by Nurse Maude for a T.B. sanatoria in 1903).
Later that year Ted, Nell and Mabel moved in with Mr and Mrs Alick Goring while Elsie lived with her uncle
Amos Goring in Bath Street. The two girls went to New Brighton School. Again work was hard to find and
again in 1904 Ted left the girls with their grandparents and went to Australia to find work. He was away a
little over a year and had written in his diary that he regretted leaving.
On his return Ted found labouring jobs and bought a sandy section in what is now Wainoni, close to the
fourteen acres where Alex Goring had his home. After work he set about building his home. This was at 71
Pages Road later renumbered 147 Pages Roadthe home of Ted and his second eldest daughter, Mabel, for
the rest of their lives. Ted one of the first solo fathers, was determined that his girls in time should live
together. Times were tough and Ted made clothes for the girls, running them up on a small, hand operated
sewing machine. He learned the rudiments of sewing in the Navy and he was a fair cook.
In January 1906, Ted was working as a labourer pulling down the old Clarendon Hotel. Before long Ted had a
one-room shack built and he brought Nell and Mabel from their grandparents home.

147 Pages Road, Wainoni.

This photograph of the house that Ted built was taken in 1977. The author of this book, Aranui and Wainoni,
History, Tim Baker, (real estate consultant), sold it in 2004 and it looked much the same. A past owner took an
interior wall out about 1999 and told Tim Baker that it was two big doors behind the lining. It is likely they
came from the old Clarendon Hotel where Ted was employed to help in its demolition in 1906.

119
Ted kept working and continued to add rooms to the house and soon all three daughters were living with him.
He later got a job in the fireworks factory at the adjacent Wainoni Park. Once it was said there was an
explosion and Ted and a worker rushed from the factory to dive in a nearby pond to douse flames from their
clothing. (See chapter 5 for more information about Wainoni Park).
About 1908 Nell started working. She soon married, became the mother of three children, and died in 1924
when the eldest was only eight.
Mabel enrolled at Christchurch Technical College for a commercial course, which included shorthand and
typing from 1908 to 1910.
Elsie married in 1926 but lived at 147 Pages Road until she moved out in 1934.

Family photograph about 1910.

From left is Adelaide Ellen (Nell), Ted Howard, Elsie and Mabel.
17 years
42 years 11 years 15 years

Ted and Mabel

Mabels immediate interest was school. The Brighton School was a three-mile walk, and according to Elsie,
who was late starting school because of her injuries, Mabel got on well with teachers and especially the
headmaster. Elsie said in later life that You couldnt teach Mabel enough. She always wanted to learn. Mabel
had always showed a special grit and she was a dominating person. Even at school she took charge of the
school concert. The theatre, to some extent was in her blood coming from her fathers parents. Mabel was a
bit of a bully. She would lash out at any of the kids, Elsie said.
Reading David Gees book, Our Mabel, it is obvious Mabel could be a bully and sometimes had a temper.

Left: A studio photograph of Mabel

taken at the Coronation Studios, 2
Victoria Street, Christchurch.
Right: Mabel as the thespian, possibly
taken in the great war.

120

TED AND MABEL HOWARD, AND POLITICS.

Ted had shown an interest in the Socialist way of life from his early days in New Zealand and his daughter
Elsie, can remember Ted standing on a small box in their home rehearsing his speeches. Professor Alexander
Bickerton, Ted's immediate neighbour had become a good friend and shared the common belief in socialism.
They both loved astronomy and Ted, in later years, ground his own telescope lenses. He took his
grandchildren into the garden on clear nights for a talk on the stars. When Bickerton died in 1929, his ashes
were mailed to Ted and the day he went to Sydenham Post Office to collect them he told the girl behind the
counter: Youve got a professor here for me, he is in a small box. Mabel received the same line of jest when
he took the ashes home and placed them under her bed. The ashes were left in a shed at the bottom of the
Howard garden for a time before Ted, as a member of the University Council, arranged for them to be inserted
in a wall at the university in an official ceremony.
Ted was now embroiled in union and Labour Party affairs and was to become a prominent figure in both for
nearly thirty years.
Mabel was fifteen when she joined the Christchurch Socialist Partythe forerunner of the Labour Party. She
used to recite Socialist poems from a soapbox in Cathedral Square and at seventeen years of age helped her
father run his unsuccessful campaign in the Christchurch South electorate. Ted first stood for Parliament in
1911 coming bottom of the poll with 540 votes. The well known Christchurch figure, Harry Ell, won with
3,690 votes. Ted was not to enter national politics until eight years later.
Mabel was the constant companion of her father at political meetings at this period (1909-1914) and indeed for
Teds full political life. In a letter to John A. Lee, the Labour Party stormy petrel, in 1940 Mabel wrote:
Three times during the past fifteen years have I been faced with the question of marriage but, because I did so
much for dad I turned the offer down. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with him all the way, I have sacrificed
all my hopes of children and a full old age to help in his work of the Labour movement.
By now Ted had been working in the Canterbury General Labourers Union office and in 1911 Mabel left
Christchurch Technical College and found a ready-made job with her father in the trade union office in
Gloucester Street. She was termed office assistant, women were rare birds in Trade Halls.
Mabel remained employed by the trade union and in 1933 became its secretary. The same year an amendment
to the rules to ensure women could take a position meant Mabel also became a member of the Christchurch
City Council and in 1937 she became a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board.
As secretary of the trade union, Mabel later boasted that she took the membership from 300 to 7000. Reg
Jones, another veteran unionist, was secretary of the Canterbury Engineers Union and president of the
national union. He says of Mabel: She was efficient; very good at her job. She was a dominant woman. She
argued plenty and gave everything a good go. But you never had a bad taste in your mouth after an argument
with her. It was over and done with and she got on with the next thing. She would make her point and not care
a damn who she scored off.

121
Ted Howard went into Parliament as a member for Christchurch South in 1919, immediately becoming the
Labour whip for the next eight years. He was to retain his seat for the next twenty years and in that time he
saw the growth of Labour representation in the House go from seventeen in 1922 to nineteen in 1928 and
twenty-four in 1931. In 1924 he was one of New Zealands delegates to the Empire Parliamentary
Associations conference in South Africa but he often said his proudest moment was when he sat in
Westminster Abbey as representative of the New Zealand Parliament at the coronation of King George V1.
He held almost every office in the Labour movement and became the chairman of committees and deputy
speaker of the House of Representatives. He also gave long and varied local body service being in the
Christchurch City Council, the Lyttelton Harbour Board, Tramway Board and others.
Ted Howard is remembered with fondness by all who really knew him. The most frequent remark is that he
was a real gentleman. His grandson Ted Adcock of Christchurch was with Ted in the Cathedral Square in
the depression years. An old chap sidled up to Ted and whispered something. The next thing Ted gave a
chuckle and slipped him two shillings and sixpence. People used to stop him all over the place, Ted Adcock
said. He gave all his money away. When he died he had little.

This was the Parliamentary Labour Party

in 1922. Ted Howard (left back row)
was first elected to Parliament in 1919
and held the Christchurch South seat
until his death in 1939. From left (back
row): Howard, W.E. Parry, V.W. Munro,
D.G. Sullivan, M.J. Savage; (front row):
J.S. McCombs, H.E. Holland, P. Fraser,
F.N. Bartram.
Photograph from
Alexander Turnbull Library.

Ted Howard died on 26 April 1939. He was

seventy-one and he had been in hospital in January
that year but had made a steady recovery. But he
needed a further operation and died following it.
Teds funeral brought out the people of his city in
droves. People of all political persuasions liked Ted
and showed their grief. Six ministers of the Crown
walked in procession to his graveside at the
Bromley Cemetery. The open coffin had lain on the
ground floor of the city council chambers where
tramway workers took up a guard of honour. There
was a short civic ceremony at which the Mayor Mr.
R.M. Macfarlane, paid tribute for the city. The
public was admitted to the chambers just after 9 am
and for an hour they filed past the coffin with many
wreaths. At 10.30 am a service was held in the
chambers attended by Cabinet Ministers, Peter
Fraser (representing the Prime Minister), D.G.
Sullivan, R. Semple, H.T. Armstrong, P.C. Webb,
W. Lee Martin and other members of Parliament.
Outside the council chambers thousands had
gathered and the cortege was led by members of the
General Labourers Union. One hundred and fifty
cars formed the cortege for the four miles to the
cemetery. Another service was then held at the
graveside.
Teds headstone is six feet high, made of black marble.
It is the biggest in the Bromley Cemetery, occupying
two lots: 506 and 507 in Block 9.

122
Christchurch Press Thursday April 27th
1939, Page 12.

MR E. J. HOWARDS
DEATH
-0-

NINETEEN YEARS
PARLIAMENT

IN

PIONEER

OF LABOUR

MOVEMENT

The death yesterday of Mr Edwin

John Howard, member of parliament
for Christchurch South since 1919, and
Chairman of Committees and DeputySpeaker of the house of representatives, removes a pioneer and a widelyesteemed figure from the Labour
movement. Mr Howards death was
rather unexpected. In January he became ill, but he recovered steadily. On
Monday he was operated on for another complaint at the Little Company of Mary Hospital. His death
occurred early in the afternoon.
A civic funeral will be accorded Mr
Howard by the City Council, of which
he was a former member. The body
will be taken to the municipal
offices early on Saturday morning,
and will lie in the horseshoe of the
central office until 11 a.m., when the
funeral will take place. The Mayor (Mr
R. M. Macfarlane) is supervising the
funeral arrangements. Wreaths may
be left at the municipal offices.
The son of Mr E. J. Howard, Mr
Howard was born in Bristol in 1868.
He was educated at St. James the
Less, Plymouth, and became apprenticed to an accountant at Devonport.
However, he went to sea, spending his
early years as a seaman in the Royal
Navy. He first came to Christchurch
in 1887, and in the following year
he married, in the city, Miss Harriett
Goring, a daughter of Mr and Mrs
Amos G. Goring, who died 29 years
ago. He then became a copper, lead
and zinc smelter, and in 1888 he went
to Australia, where he worked as smelter foreman for the Australian Smelting
Company, and later for the South Australian and Western Aus-tralian Governments. While in South Australia, he
studied chemistry at the Adelaide School
of Mines, and he joined a syndicate to
prospect for gold
in the Macdonald
Ranges in Central Australia.
After Mrs Howards death in Australia, Mr Howard returned to Christchurch in 1902 with his three young
daughters. One died later, and he
brought up the two remaining girls
Miss Mabel Howard, now secretary of
the Canterbury General Labourers
Union and chairwomen of the reserves Committee of the City Council,
and Mrs T. Lamont, who also lives in
Christchurch.

Held every office

Joining the Labour movement, Mr
Howard soon became prominent. For
many years, he spoke, to use his own
term, from the soap box in Cathedral square. From those battling days
of the pioneers of Labour, he graduated through every office in the movement until, at his death, he saw his
party elected as the Government for
the second time, and himself in the
honoured position of Chairman of
Committees and Deputy-speaker of the
House of Representatives. Another
honourthat of Administrator of
Samoawas offered Mr Howard in
1936 by the Labour movement. This
was a very attractive offer, to follow
in the footsteps of generals and other
gallant officers, he told the electors
of Christchurch South last year, and
I felt if I accepted I would have let
you down.
Mr Howard quickly made his mark
in the Labour movement and when he
was first elected to Parliament in
1919, The Press, in an editorial paid
him this compliment: There is this
to be said for the new member for
Avon, Mr Sullivan, and for his colleague in the Labour Party, Mr
Howard, that both of them possess a
larger share of common sense than
seems to have been allotted to other
members of that party and we believe
they will do the province no discredit.
That was written after Mr Howard had
fought for Labour for 17 years in this
city.
Like many other Parliamentarians,
Mr Howard obtained hist first experience of public service on a school committee, of which he later became chairman. While secretary of the Canterbury General Labourers Union for
seven years, he was most active in
political Labour, and he held almost
every officefrom secretary of the
Political Labour League to president
of the United Federation of Labour.
His early interest in education did
not wane. He served for twelve years on
the board of governors of Canterbury
College, was for a long term a member of the board of governors of the
Canterbury
Agricultural
College,
and he was till his death a member
of the highest of education authorities,
the University Senate. He was also
the first secretary of the Workers
Educational Association in Canterbury.
Education was not the only sphere
to which Mr Howard gave his services.
He was for four years a member of the
Christchurch City Council and he was
also a prominent member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board and the Christchurch Domains Board.
Another of
his many activities was a member of
the Repatriation Board.
Parliamentary Career
It was in 1919, when Canterbury
electors voted against the Liberal Party, that Mr Howard, at his first essay
into general politics, won the

Christchurch South seat. At that election, Labour won also Lyttelton and
Avon for the first time, seats which
have never been held since. The Christchurch South seat was not contested
at that election by the former member
Mr H. G. Ell, who unsuccessfully attempted to win Lyttelton. He also opposed Mr H. Holland, who had been
Mayor of Christchurch during the war,
and defeated him by 5131 votes to
3335. Mr Holland was later elected
member of Parliament for Christchurch North, a seat now held by his
son, Mr S. G. Holland. At the last
election, Mr Howard had a majority of
5600 over his opponent.
From the time he entered Parliament, Mr Howard was a whip of the
Parliamentary Labour Party until it
became the Government in 1935. In
1924, he was one of New Zealands delegates to the Empire Parliamentary Associations conference in South Africa;
and he also represented Parliament at
the Coronation of King George V1 in
London, it being undoubtedly the
proudest moment of his life when he
took his seat among the honoured
guests in Westminster Abbey. His election as the first Labour Chairman of
Committees of the House of Representatives was unanimous. He was also in
the delegation which visited Samoa
and reported to the New Zealand Government. On that visit he became
enamoured of Samoa and its natives,
and it was no secret that had he desired he could have had the appointment of administrator.
As Chairman of Committees, Mr
Howard, following precedent, did not
speak in other than in his own electorate;
but the position did not prevent him
from using his best endeavourers for
his constituents and the province. His
interests were not merely focused on
Christchurch South, as he proved when
he succeeded last year in having the
Provincial Council Chambers vested
in a trust for the people of Canterbury.
Mr Howard became ill earlier this
year and for a time not even his most
intimate friends were able to see him.
His return to health was fairly steady,
and his failure to recover from the
operation came as shock to the community.
This newspaper articles continue with
Tributes from members, Service to
city and dominion, and more.
It is twice as long as this article is with
politicians, council members, etc.
specking very highly of Ted Howard.
If everybody was like Ted Howard, the
world would be perfect. (Tim Baker)

123
Ted Howards death meant a by-election for Christchurch South electorate. It was solid Labour and as safe as
houses. Mabel Howard expected to get the nomination and follow her father as Mrs McCombs had followed
her husband, Jimmy, in 1933. But naturally, others had different ideas. Bob Macfarlane had been fighting for
the Labour cause for several general elections in the Tory-held seat of Christchurch North and some Labour
supporters thought he should be moved to a safe seat, if only for good service to the party. Mabel had many
supporters but was out-voted 24 to 26.
In 1942, the member of Parliament for Christchurch East, Tim Armstrong, died. He was another of the early
Labour stalwarts and a highly respected Cabinet Minister. Mabel was selected as candidate to contest the by
-election and by winning, became a member of Parliament.

The 6th February 1943 Mabel won the

Christchurch East by-election by less
than a 1000 votes.
Mabel took the oath and assumed her
seat in Parliament on 24 February 1943.
She made her maiden speech the next
day.
She was the fifth woman to be elected to
the N.Z House of Representatives.

Mabel was soon to challenge the rights of women in Parliament. She entered the social room where members
played billiards. A member who knew her well bristled up to her. You cant come in here, he protested.
Am I a member of Parliament or am I not? she insisted. Well, if you like to put it like that I suppose we
cant do anything about it, he grudgingly admitted. Now our privacys gone forever.
The 1943 general election was in September. Mabel won the Christchurch East seat with the second highest
majority in the country.
HOWARDVILLE
One of Mabels suggestions came in March 1944. She said: I ask that when the military have finished with
Burnham Camp it should be turned into a township for pensioners. It should be self-contained with beautiful
trees and people can live in the open alongside the railway and excursion trips could be run from time to time
to allow relatives and friends to visit the pensioners. From this came Howardville, a pensioners village named
after her. For the next three years Mabel directed much of her energies to Howardville.
At the opening ceremony a public relations officer for the city of Christchurch, T.H. Langford, recalled: One
day Mabel came into my office and told me that she had been scrubbing out a room for an old man. That was
the act of a great woman but I told her that the problem would not be solved that way. She told me that something was going to be done about it. The Labour Government approved the establishment on 13 April 1948.

Howardville a village for pensioners opens at Burnham

Camp. The first pensioners arriving in army trucks on
28 April and 2 and 4 May 1948.

For seven years 150 people were in the

community. Howardville was twenty-three miles
from the city and the distance proved to be fatal
for Howardvilletwo far for the pensioners to go
into town and too inconvenient for visitors and
families. But there were other deficiencies too
there was little in the way of recreational facilities
and little real thought to the setting.
Mabels idea seemed sound with the war effort
scaling down. There would obviously be surplus
housing at the army camp; there was scant
provision for the aged in Christchurch at that time
with two homes taking the brunt of the load.
In June 1951, presumably because of the build-up
for the Korean War, the army requested the
buildings back by the end of 1952. However, it
was not until 2 July 1956, that Howardville was
vacated.

124
Mabel used to delight in any approaches from the National Council of Women which, Mabel thought, was
comprised of women prone to be more in sympathy with National than LabourMore and more she became a
spokesman for womens complaints and in March 1944 she was telling the House that an advisory committee
of women should study all plans before State houses were built. The time is coming, Mabel said, when
men will have to realise the value of women as housewives and mothers. For several years Mabels voice
was to be heard in the House on matters concerning Women.. Toward the end of 1945 and in a speech in the
House she said, But with the ending of the warthe war of killingwe start a new war; we start the war
against disease and famine. Later in September she struck another responsive chord with her bottom rung
electors when she entered the debate on the Holidays Amendment Bill.. In many instances, however, the
employers were not altogether enthusiastic about the Annual Holiday Act and there was a certain amount of
antagonism on their part which they took out on the workers. For instance, they would not pay them until they
returned to work. Later Mabel added, Some of the employers hated to part with the money. They did not like
the idea that workers should be paid for something they had not done or that workers should dare to get a holiday at industrys expense and they did not pay until such time as the workers returned. So the Amendment Bill was passed making holiday payments compulsory before the holiday started.
Mabel debated about many, many things such as opening and closing times for shops. It wasnt fair that women should have to stand all day at shop counters as their health was ruined by varicose veins; immigration matters, equal rights, imported goods creating unemployment and capital punishment to name a few.

One hot topic was the standardising of clothing as well as a guarantee of quality.
In July 1946 she was telling the House (again) about trouble with woollen
stockings, claiming there has been a racket going on and added that lisle
stockings were made so badly that it was impossible to wear them.
Holding up two pairs of bloomers in Parliament Mabel said: Members will see
that these two garments both marked OS are of two different sizes. Is it fair?
Holland They were made by two different manufacturers?
Mabel That is right. A firm which wants to get more money out of the
material so as to make more money out of it will give the buyer the smaller
size This debate went on for a while but with the backing of the Labour
Government the New Zealand Manufacturers agreed to label clothing in inches
and later to the standardisation of all clothing.

Mabel loved animals. She had many cats. She stood up for animal
rights reporting in the House of abuse and torture to animals and the
lack of law to punish anyone doing so. The S.P.C.A in Christchurch in
the late 1940s was threatened with closure. The manager approached
Mabel to see if she could keep the home open. A special meeting was
called and largely to Mabels efforts the home stayed open. She soon
became president and the society flourished under her guidance. Mabel remained president for twenty years. She probably put more effort
into her Animals Bill than any other single project. She
introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill on 12 June 1957,
telling the House that there was little legislation to cover cruelty to
animals. It was decided to improve the Bill before passing it into law.
The matter lapsed with the change of Governments and it wasn't until
1 September 1960 that C.F. Skinner, the Minister of Agriculture,
introduced an Animal Protection Bill for its second reading. It was
finally passed and Mabel was delighted. Mabel later told the House
that she received letters from twenty-six countries thanking her for
what I had done for animals.

LEFT:

125
In November 1946 Mabel again returned to Parliament winning her
seat by 6,746 votes, the highest majority in New Zealand. On 13
May 1947, the Prime Minister, Peter Fraser, announced: The
Labour Party, in selecting Miss Howard for recommendation for
appointment as a Minister, has made history, for she will be the first
woman Cabinet Minister in New Zealand. Mabel Howard became
Minister of Health and Child Welfare. Not only was she the first
female Cabinet Minister in New Zealand but in the whole of the
Commonwealth.
In 1950 Mabel became a member of the North Canterbury Hospital
Board.
In 1957 Mabel became Minister of Social Security and Child
Welfare, and Minister in Charge of Women and Children.
Mabel would press the Government on lots of issues. The Government controlled psychiatric hospitals and
Mabel pressed them into giving patients pocket money. This became known as Mabels half crown.
Mabel would make unannounced visits to public and mental hospitals and would visit the Glenelg Health
Camp.
Mabel got on well with the residents at Kingslea Girls Home in Christchurch and the girls would invite Mabel
for her birthday, cooking a big meal.
Speaking to the Dieticians Bill in 1950, Mabel said she would abolish highly-refined white bread and she
would substitute rye bread or wholemeal bread. (I wished they had taken her advice.)
She had the highest majority of votes again in the 1954 election with 5,560 votes higher than her opposition.
Mabel defended the 40 hour working week and against weekend shopping, against capital punishment, fought
for male nurses and for pensioners to name some of the many issues she believed in.
Christchurch Press Thursday January
22nd 1948, Page 6.

SALVAGE BY MISS
HOWARDS PARTY
Furniture In Burning
House
MINISTER, SECRETARY, AND
DRIVER
The Press Special Service
NEW PLYMOUTH, January 21.
About 300 pound worth of furniture was
saved from a blazing house by the
Minister of Health (Miss Mabel Howard), a friend (Mrs K. Connelly), Miss
Howards private secretary (Mr E. J.
Sutch) and her driver (Mr F. Walker)
while they were on their way to-day
to Stratford for Miss Howard to open
continue

In January 1959 newspapers around

the country carried photographs of
Mabel cavorting in rock n roll
postures with the young singer from
Wanganui, Johnny Devlin. Mabel
attended Devlins show and was
welcomed by the singer from the front
of the stage. A very big hello for a
very wonderful woman, he warbled.
Devlin started singing to drown out
the calls of Able Mabel and Good
Old Mabel. At the interval Mabel
told a reporter, I'm really enjoying
the show. Theres nothing much
wrong with rock n roll.

the new nurses home. None of them

seemed to any the worse for their efforts,
but Miss Howard and Messrs Sutch
and Walker smelled strongly of smoke.
Praising the work of the two men,
Mrs Connelly referred to the party as
Mabels fire brigade.
Near Kai Iwi, they saw smoke rising
from a farm house and drove across
country to the house. On the way
they met a farmer and discovered he was
the owner of the house, but that
it was occupied by a former serviceman, Mr Kevin Howard, who, with his
wife was at Wanganui.
While Messrs Sutch and Walker entered the blazing building, Miss Howard and Mrs Connelly stood outside
and dragged the salvaged furniture to
safety. They cleared three rooms before the flames grew too fierce and
other helpers arrived.
continue

I had the breeze up properly, Miss

Howard said. I thought I was going
to lose my driver and secretary. Both
men did wonderful work.

A street in Mabel Howards

honour in Avonside, Christchurch. In the street are houses for old age pensioners.
Ironically, the adjacent street
is Holland street.

126
In her time Mabel met the Queen Mother, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. She got on remarkably well with
them and they with her. During the Royal visit in 1953 preparations were being made for a garden party for
the queen and the Duke in Christchurch Mabel was told that the Wellington organisers of the tour ruled that
the Queen would not be planting any trees during the tour of the country. So, in compromise, it was decided a
tree would be planted by a local dignitary to mark the occasion - on the same day of the Royal garden party.
The garden party went ahead on the archery lawn of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and, after meeting the
public, the Royal party moved to a marquee for refreshments. Mabel was introduced to the Duke (again; she
had earlier been introduced as a member of Parliament at another function) and he remarked upon the number
of times he had met her. Mabel listed the bodies she served on and positions she held ending with her
chairmanship of the councils reserves committee. She then told him the committee was disappointed with the
Queen. Why? asked the Duke. We wanted the Queen to plant a tree but the powers that be in Wellington
said it couldnt be done, Mabel answered. Have you a bloody tree? Of course, we have a bloody tree.
Have you a bloody spade? Of course we have a bloody spade. Well, lets get the bloody tree and the
bloody spade and go and plant the bloody tree. Prince Philip went for the Queen and Mabel found Barnett,
director of reserves. The tree, a cooper beech, already planted by the local dignitary, was dug up and the
Queen, Duke and Mabel with a few others slipped from the tent and planted the tree.
On the 4 September 1967 Mabel was admitted to Christchurch Hospital with pneumonia where she stayed for
nearly a month. The following year she suffered ill health most of the time. She also fell asleep in front of a
heater and burned her leg. The burn took many weeks to heal, her body and mind were getting tired. She failed
to regain her seat on the city council and the hospital board.
Mabel made only one speech in 1968 when in December she spoke about Christchurch's litter problem for
about five minutes.
A friend found Mabel slumped over a chair at home, her head in her hands. Whats the matter, Mabel? Dont
you feel well?
No I dont. Im very, very tired. Its such an effort to work. Im just tired and weary. When Im finished in
Parliament Ill die.
On 25 June 1969, Mabel went into Wellington Hospital for observation and remained two days. She returned
to the House on 2 July but made no speeches. Not only was Mabel facing senile decay but she knew her days
as a member of Parliament were rapidly running out.
In Mabel's final year in Parliament, 1969, Mabel only uttered four words, Yes, Thats right. One interjection
ended Mabels career.
On 23 October 1969, Mabel cried in Parliamentary Labour Party caucus room when Labour members
farewelled her. The leader of the opposition, Norman Kirk, said: Nobody in our Parliament have given their
whole life to politics the way Mabel has. Mabel replied, It was dammed hard graft in my early life. We were
poor people in those daysdownright poor. Well thats the end of the game. And she wept.
Mabel lived in her house at 147 Pages Road by herself. Her health was deteriorating, she had no interests and
in 1972 her memory went. Her family tried to get her into an old persons home but she resisted. An
application to the Magistrates Court was reluctantly made for her removal from Pages Road to a home. After
months of wrangling the Magistrate ordered her to go to Sunnyside Hospital. Mabel lived her last days drifting
in and out of reality. She caught pneumonia and died in her sleep on 23 June 1972. She was seventy-eight
years of age.
Mabel Bowden Howard had kept the Sydenham seat from 1943 until she retired from Parliament in 1969.

This plaqueon the grave of her father in

Bromley Cemetery Christchurchwas placed
there by Mabels sister Elsie.
This might be the end of this chapter in this
book, Aranui and Wainoni History, but lets
not forget Ted, Mabel and the rest of the family. If you are in the Bromley area and can
spare ten minutes, put some flowers on their
graves and realise what good they both did for
Aranui, Wainoni, Sydenham, Christchurch
and the whole of New Zealand.
The house that Ted built is in good order and
celebrates its 100th birthday as I type this
chapter.

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Chapter 20:

Stores and Shops

With the electric tram now connecting the
Aranui District to the city, more people built
houses both big and small and made a home for
their families. In 1912, the population had grown
to between 50-60 houses in a one mile radius of
the Breezes Road-Pages Road intersection.
Living in the district was John Blakeway and his
family, and in this year, 1912, they employed a
Mr Edwin Rowse to built the first store of the
district, (photograph on the left). The building
itself was a house that the Blakeway family lived
in with the front room used as the store.
The photo above is the Blakeways house/store
in 1956, before it was pulled down to make way
for new shops and a petrol station. It is located
on the south east corner of Breezes and Pages
Roads where the new petrol station is today.
The red brick M.E.D. building is shown at the
left of this photo. On 27th March 1912 a telephone office was established in the Blakeways store. It was provided free of cost and with Mr Blakeway
agreeing to act as telephonist without pay until such time as the revenue reached 10 pound per annum.

This earlier photo was taken in 1932. Blakeways store is on the left and across Breezes Road is Rowses
Store. This photo is from the book Along the hills by James Watson. This book is about the Heathcote Road
Board which the Aranui and Wainoni Districts were part of and is one of the best books I have read. The
caption describes Pages Road as a busy highway.
It wasnt until 1940 that up to Pannell Avenue became part of the City Council and the following five years
the boundary was moved up to Ottawa Road and much later in 1953 that the decision was made for the whole
of the area to change from Heathcote and amalgamate with the Christchurch City Council.

128
Sunnydale General
Store in 1932.

Just six months after Blakeways Store was built by

Edwin Rowse in 1912, Edwin Rowse built a second
shop which he kept for his wife to work in while he
continued work as a carpenter. Like the Blakeways
store, the building was a house with the shop being
at the front. The Rowses shop was much larger and
was known as the Sunnydale Store after the
subdivision on which the store was built. The
subdivision included the boundaries of Breezes,
Pages and Rowses Roads and probably Rowan Ave,
formally Burton Road. Edwin Rowse is a son of
William Rowse first foreman of the Bromley
Sewage Farm in 1882, (see chapter 12).

In 1918 The Sunnydale Store took over the

Telephone and telegraph services from the
Blakeways store.

From 1912 until 1955, the store had changed

proprietors 12 times.
LEFT: Mr Laurie Gracie in 1941.

LEFT: Mr and Mrs Wilson lived in the state unit on

Pages Road for over 50 years. This photo is taken
of the store during the 1960s. The Wilson's had a
prize winning garden pictured. Allen Frosts butcher shop and the Self-help shop is also shown in this
photo. Today the butchery is a fish and chip shop
and the self-help is a dairy and to the left of the
dairy is a hair salon.
Later the Sunnydale Store became a Keystore and
later still a second hand shop. In 2002 the building
was demolished and a new Post Office sorting room
was built.

Keystore Wholesale Groceries in the 1970s

129
These two calendars dated 1913 and 1916
were given to local people just as business
people do today.
It is likely
have been
name and
Rouse and

that the 1913 calendar may not

distributed as both the Rowse
Sunnydale are spelled wrong.
Sunnyside.

The top calendar is 1913 and is titled

Crossing The Ford and the bottom calendar
is dated 1916 and titled The Night March.
Both these calendars are part of the authors
collection. They were in the possession of
Colin Duthie for decades until in 2004 he
kindly gave them to Tim Baker where they
are cherished.

130
South of Blakeways store on Pages Road about a half dozen shops were built at different times. In 1954, Bob and
June White built the Aranui Fish Supply and another
adjoining shop.
Venners store was owned by the Venner family in the
1940s and 50s. During the 1950s the exterior was
rough
-cast over.

Left to right: Phyllis Hutchings, Phylliss sister and brother

in law - Mrs Rita and Mr Arthur Venner about 1942.

A sad day for me in December 1990. No more space invaders at the White Heather Dairy.

131

Shops and Stores advertised in the Aranui School 50th Jubilee booklet 1961

On the site where the supermarket is today (2006), there were

houses and on Pages Road during the 1950s, two shops were
built. The store on the left Blackmores is where the tram line
loop was outside of and a house named Aranui originally was
sited here and that this is were Aranui got its name from. This
would have been around 1910-11. There is no other verbal or
written evidence of this except for the mention of the Aranui
and Wirihana loops mentioned in the 1952 Aranui Centennial
Booklet, (see chapter 2).

During the 1950s, Jack Banks

opened the Aranui Pharmacy
on Pages Road. Later when the
shops were built in the early
1970s to the south off the
supermarket, the pharmacy
relocated to the site it occupies
today. Jack Banks retired in
2004.

When the Wainoni Block

was developed, a handful of
shops were built to service the
new housing block.

Originally the Wainoni Housing Block shops, were to be located on Carisbrooke Street where instead of the
shops a childrens playground was built. This accounts for the large size of the playground.

132

ADVERTISEMENTS FROM THE LEAVEN BOOKLET 1961

The monthly booklet to the four parishes of St. ChadsLinwood, St. Christophers
Dallington, St. AmbroseAranui and St AnthonysWainoni, (see chapter 13).

133
Billens collection Ref: 8721
Canterbury Museum

RIGHT: This house on the corner of Pages and Breezes Roads, was owned by the
Cross family for decades. To the left of
the Crosss house on Pages Road were
other early houses, including the house,
Aranui and a Keystore. The new Post
Office was opened in November 1955
and closed in the 1990s. In 2002, the
existing post office sorting rooms were
built on the Sunnydale Store site.

RIGHT: During the 1940s, the M.M.M.

Butcher Shop along with Capstan
Chemists and other shops were built.
These shops are similar in appearance
today.

For some years it has been

known that a big new post office,
with postal deliveries for the whole
area, was to be established at
Aranui. At last enquiry it seemed
years away, so it was a pleasant
surprise to learn the other day
that tenders are to be called on
October 12th.
The present Aranui Post Office,
which is a particularly busy one,
is housed in premises leased by
the Post Office.
The amount of business conducted at Aranui has expanded terrifically and these premises are now
too small. The new office will
provide better facilities and a
more congenial atmosphere for the
public. More counters, more writing desks and public telephones in
the foyer of the office.
In addition better and more convenient working conditions will be
provided for the staff.
The Aranui postal deliveries are
at present effected by postmen
based at New Brighton and the
Chief Post Office. The new Post
Office will include a larger postmen's branch and eighteen postmen will be based at Aranui, delivering to the whole of zones 6
and 7.
The new building is expected to
be ready about the middle of next
year.
As the architect's drawing
shows, it will be a single storey
building of reinforced concrete,
with a floor area of 5,400 square
feet.

ARANUI: New Post Office At Last

Illustration and article from the Pegasus Post 1963

The artists sketch shows an existing store.

134

LEFT: Eric Rhodes contemplating

more change about to happen in the
area. It is unusual to find a photo with
Eric in it as he took hundreds of
photographs of Aranui and the wider
Christchurch, of which many are in
this book.

LEFT: In 1973 the houses and two

shops
were
demolished
and
construction of the New World
Supermarket began. It was completed
and opened in 1974.

ABOVE: The New World Super Market at the dawn of the new millennium.
In November 2006 the new PAKnSAVE on Wainoni Road opened and New World Aranui closed its doors.
My daughter Kimberley aged 2 years was the last customer at New World and the very first customer at PAKnSAVE. The last item was a fruit and nut Cadburys chocolate bar and the first at PAKnSAVE was a Whitaker's peanut slab. You can view this on the DVD with this book as well as other shops.

135

New Years Day 2000.

Opposite New World on Breezes Road near Pages Road.

Vancouver Crescent.

Pages Road near the Breezes Road intersection.

Wainoni Road and Bickerton Street.

Corner of Breezes and Wainoni Roads, Jamies Fish Supply.

MobilCorner of Breezes and Pages Roads.

Bickertons Bar.

Pages Road next to New World.

136

137

Chapter 21:

Breezes Road - Pages Road West Corner.

Prior to 1911 this part of the New Brighton district was referred to as the Town of Flemington. The survey
plan above is dated 1906 and Flemington is crossed out and replaced by Breeze after John Breeze, (see
chapter 12). The Town of Breeze must have been named so for a brief time as I cannot find any other
information or anybody remembering their families referring to the area as Breeze. It is 1911 when the name
Aranui first appeared, (see chapter 14).
The wills of two of the McHaffie family members in the 1890s held at the National Archives of New Zealand,
referred to their home address as in the Town of Flemington near Christchurch. Their property is labelled D.P.
878 on this title map.
There is a huge amount of information on this plan. Up until 1953 the area was part of the Heathcote Road
Board, the Avon Riding. It joined the Christchurch City Council at this time.
From the Aranui Primary School 50th Jubilee booklet 1961, it reads, Mr Rowses store was one of the first
buildings to be built on what was known as the Sunnydale subdivision, whilst Mr Blakeways store was
built on part of the Jubal Fleming subdivision. In earlier times the stop at Breezes Road was known as the
Flemington: named after Jubal Fleming.

138

Jubal Fleming subdivision.

Breezes Road

Pages Road

Rowses Road

Title transfer (part of).

Title office, Christchurch,
1881

The following is an extract from the G.R. Macdonald

Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies from the
Canterbury Museum, N.Z
In 1880, Jubal Fleming had a hairdressing shop and
hot baths in Colombo Street. It was the first agent for
Taltersalts sauces before they were declared illegal.
His address was City Baths, Christchurch. He was
the first man to have cigarettes made locally. He used
to have a man sitting in the window rolling them, this
was of course a stunt to attract attention.
In 1890 Jubal Fleming went bankrupt owing 913
pounds.
In 1881 Cornelius Cuff, who Cuffs Road is named
after, sold this block of land, 9477, to Jubal Fleming.
The Jubal Fleming subdivision would have been
houses built mainly on Pages Road as well as Breezes Road east of Pages Road and a few on Lenton
Street from about 1900. The Blakeways store was
built in 1912.

Blakeways store 1912

Jubal Fleming
subdivision

9477

Breezes Road

Canterbury Museum
Library
Map No. CMU 1582
(part of) 1930s

139

Hughes home on Breezes Road

Lot 5 on Breezes Road was bought by James Stewart, where this house was built. It was on sold to William
Anderson in 1916 and then to Captain Frederic Boulton Hughes and Blanche Ethel Maude Hughes in 1920 and
who had three boys, Freddie, Bert and Harold. The house was approximately where the Trustbank was on the
New World Supermarket site. Freddie married a close neighbour named Gertie Blakeway whose parents owned
the first store in the area that was also their house and was located on the corner of Pages and Breezes Roads
where the Petrol Station is today. This photo of the Hughes family home was taken in the 1920s.
Photograph from Mary Harrall.

The Press Wednesday April 5th 1944

page 6.

MR F. B. HUGHES

Mr. Frederic Boulton Hughes, who

died last week at the age of 76 years,
was a well-known resident of Christchurch for more than 50 years.
Born at Adelaide Mr. Hughes arrived in New Zealand at the age of
about 15, and after a short period in
the North Island settled in Christchurch. At the time of the Boer War
he was in Business as a photographer,
and sailed with the 3rd New Zealand
Rough Riders as war correspondent.
Later he took part in the siege of
Wepener, where he joined Brabant's
Horse and gained his commission in
the field. After being wounded, Mr.
Hughes returned to New Zealand, and
later returned to South Africa and
joined the Prince of Wales Light
Horse, in which regiment he held the
commission of captain. He was twice
mentioned in dispatches.
continue

At the outbreak of the Great War,

Mr. Hughes enlisted, and was posted
to the 10th Reinforcement, Otago
Mounted Rifles, proceeding overseas as
officer commanding of the troopship
Waihora. He was later invalided back
to New Zealand.
Some years ago he twice contested
Parliamentary elections in the reform
interests, once in Christchurch South
and later in Avon. Latterly he had
been a supporter of the National Party, holding the position of Chairman in
the Avon electorate up till the time of
his death.
Mr. Hughes married a daughter of
the late Mr. John Burrell, a very early
colonist, and he leaves a widow and
three sons, Messrs Fred and Harold
Hughes of Christchurch and Bert
Hughes of Wellington. There are also
six grandchildren, the eldest of whom
is at present serving in the R.N.Z.A.F.
Representatives of the Veteran's Association and the Returned Services'
Association attended the funeral and
"Last post" and "Reveille" were sounded at the graveside by Mr. Fred Fox.

Weekly Press
4th November 1914 p 39.

140
The Press February 20th
1901, p32.
These trophies were
brought back from the
Boer War by Mr Hughes
about 1900.
Mary Harrall, the great
grand
daughter
of
Frederic and
Blanche
Hughes has in her
possession the bugle in
this photograph but was
surprised to see this
collection as the family
had no knowledge of it.
Mary Harralls daughter
Christine married my
brother Steve.

In 1944 the house was sold to the Government for State housing. This was possibly the earliest State house in
the area.
Des Hardys recollections of life in Breezes Road.
84 Breezes Road, 1943-1946 was the home of Arthur and Jessie Hardy and their nine children, Jim, Ruth, Des,
Peter, Bruce, Rosalie, Yvonne, Eric and Rodney.
We moved to the large state rental house at 84 Breezes Road early 1943. I was nine years old. The house was
ideal for our familys needs. The section was exceptionally big, running through from Breezes Road all the
way back to the camping ground driveway, off Pages Road. The house had several large rooms, no floor
coverings just bare boards and high ceilings and it was cold in winter. We had no money for fire wood. I
remember one time when my brother Peter and I had to walk to Brighton pushing a cane pram to pick up a
sack of coal and take it all the way back home because we had no money to have it delivered. One time mum
ordered us to take some boards off the rear of the shed and cut them up for the fire. We did that many times
until the shed was completely destroyed. Nobody missed the 20x20 foot, three bay shed, That wouldnt
happen these days would it ?
One wet day we were all at home. Mum decided to go and visit a neighbour as I guess this was her time out
from us kids. We began to play hide and seek inside throughout the house, under beds and in cupboards etc. In
the kitchen and dining room there was a coal range, either side of which were double wardrobe type cupboards
used for general storage, each being 4 foot wide and about 6 foot, 6 inches in height leaving a clear space
between the cupboard space and the ceiling, just enough room for an ideal hiding place. I opened the double
doors and climbed up into that space. I was well hidden and was undiscovered by the seeker.
Someone else also had thought it was a good safe place for storage. I had found it quite uncomfortable up
there. I realised I was sitting on something in the form of a picture in a frame which was face down flat on the
cupboard top. The game of hide and seek was over. I climbed down with the frame and then saw in it the painted picture of a man in uniform with buttons running on an angle across his chest and a rather odd looking
shaped hat. I took the picture into the wash-house and placed it against the wall. Just then I noticed the paper
which covered the rear of the entire frame was damaged, perhaps done by myself when hiding on top of it. Just
under the torn area I could see a piece of white paper. On inspection I discovered a letter which I could not
read due to the type of writing and perhaps my age. Just about then mum arrived home so I showed her what I
had found. She was very interested saying that Granddad Breakwell would be visiting us soon from Ashburton
and he will be keen to see what you have found. Granddad duly arrived and was surprised to see the picture,
saying it was a painting of the famous Lord Nelson and that the letter was, he thought, written by Nelson
himself using a quill as a pen. I will take this letter, said Granddad, and send it to get authenticated.
Time went by and the painting remained looking at anyone who entered the wash-house. Then one day my two
brothers, Peter and Bruce, and I were looking for a target to use our home made bows and arrows on. The
painting was taken out into the back yard, placed against the old shed wall. Yes I hate to say that the painting
was completely destroyed.

141
It hurts me to this day every time I hear of Lord Horatio Nelson or see his paintings. We never were told if the
letter or the painting was authenticated or not.
Some years later when I was sixteen years old, I asked my Granddad what happened to the letter from the
painting, he just didnt seem to want to discuss the event. Granddad isnt around now, so I guess I will never
be sure.
In 2005 it was the celebration of the battle of Trafalgar. I was upset again, worse now than ever, after seeing a
similar painting along with a similar story except the painting wasnt wrecked, in the Christchurch Press,
which makes me think what the hell did we destroy that painting for back in 1943.
I have great memories of my time living in Breezes Road, Aranui. Breezes Road was about the limit of the
built up area from Christchurch City Centre. About a mile on from Breezes Road through the sandhills, lupins
and farm land was the New Brighton township. The citys number 5 tram was the main public transport to
Aranui and beyond, otherwise the bicycle dominated the roads, hence Christchurch was known as the city on
wheels.
Aranui School was just down the east side of Breezes Road about 300 metres from our front gate. Harry North
the headmaster was a great person, as was my primer four class teacher, Miss McCorn, the type of teacher
badly needed in schools today. Apples and milk were the normal daily fare provided by the education board
for every pupil. Most people welcomed the apples and milk, without it many children wouldnt have the benefit of such healthy food. I was lucky at ten years of age to be given a job working after school on Dave Pattullos poultry farm. The farm was just across the road from Aranui School. That same land backs on to Shortland Street and now is part of Aranui High School.
Mrs Poundsford, Bobs mother, also worked at the poultry farm. She was a champion at plucking the feathers
from the chooks, first she would grab a chook from the crate beside
where she sat, then she stretched and broke its neck while holding it
across her knee and in no time at all the chook was naked and ready for
gutting. She did all that with a smoke in her mouth. Her son was a school
mate to us. He was a great sportsman. Running, football and cricket was
popular sport at Aranui School.
Next door to the school to the right of the of the main entrance lived the
Pope family. On the left side behind a large hedge lived Ross Payne,
another good friend.
D.A. Bowick was the grocer on the east corner of Pages and Breezes
Roads. He had a daughter Helen who was also at school in my time. The
Bowick store was taken over by the Campbell family. Their children
were Helen and George. On the south corner where the service station is
now was a house where the McKegney family lived. Their two children
were John and Dawn. Next door to them was the Venners dairy shop.
We had scouts and boxing in the Aranui Hall. The scout master was Mr
Brownie of the Brownies Mattress Company, who had the two storey
house and behind it on the same property the factory, on the corner of
Lord Horatio Nelson
Pages Road and Shortland Street. The Blewett Family lived on the Pages
Road corner opposite Brownies. I was playing at Trevor Blewetts place one day and on the way back home I
crossed the road by Venner's dairy and I noticed a 10 pound note stuck to the side of the gutter partly wet and
the dry half moving in the breeze. I grabbed it up and ran home and showed mum what I had found. I was very
excited. She said, Just what we needed, Ill pay you back one day. Those were hard times for us. I can
remember our milkman used to deliver the milk in a can and measure a pint with a pint dipper and tip that into
our billy can. It was about 1944 when our milk came in bottles. Often in winter the bottles would crack in the
cold frost.
Dad had a large veggie garden, as did most people at that time. There was also a veg delivery man who called
once a week. Another weekly delivery was the fish monger who would call out fresh fish, as he slowly
drove the streets.
My brothers Peter and Bruce and myself would often go on adventures to explore the sand hills, lupins and
gorse land between Breezes, Pages and Wainoni Roads, to the Avon river boundary near New Brighton. We
would often be away playing for 3-4 hours, they were great childhood days.
1945, when I was 11 years old, was the year of the big snow and was a cold hard winter for our family. My
mother contracted T.B. and gradually got worse until she was placed into the Cashmere Sanatorium. At that
time, 1946, there wasnt a cure, they thought that plenty of fresh air was the best . Who knows?
My dad Arthur used to work at Auto Parts Car Wrecking Company at 48 Tuam Street near the Hagley Park
end. He cycled to and from work in all weathers. One had to be tough to go though life as he did.

142
The family never had spare money, it took all dads effort at work to maintain his large family. The hardship
caused problems for mum and dads relationship.
In 1945 I was given a bicycle, so I was able to do a newspaper round delivering the Star-Sun newspaper to
houses east of Pages and Breezes Roads. I would pick up the papers from where the service station is now on
the Pages Road corner. The papers had to be rolled and bent like a boomerang so they could be thrown a great
distance from the footpath over the front fences. Sometimes the odd one landed on the roof. If there was a
spare left over I could take it home for mum, otherwise we didnt see the news. 3d was a bit much for us to
buy a paper.
On the rare occasion, mum would give us 5d to go to the pictures. 1d each way on the tram and 3d to get into
the pictures. Often we would sneak in past the fireman on the door, that way we could have a 3d ice-cream at
half time which was a real treat for us. We were also lucky enough to have Uncle Arthur who was a tram conductor on the number 5 tram most of the time. If he was on the tram we always had a free trip. Sometimes
when the tram stopped outside Campbell's Store, if we could see the conductor wasnt Uncle Arthur we
wouldnt board that tram and would wave it on and wait for the next just to save a penny.
In 1947 us children were placed in the Methodist Orphanage, mum being ill and dad unable to look after 9
children. We were better off than we had ever been. Just three years later in 1951, mum died of T.B. at the age
of 37 and I was just 16 years old. Her life was over and mine was just beginning. That all happened 56 years
ago, it seems only a short time looking back.

Nankivell and Wilson Families.

Lot 7 was bought by Andrew and his
wife Robina Nankivell in 1923. Originally the address was 82 Breezes Road
then later changed to 94 then 290.
Andrew and Robinas older son
Lawrence built the house probably in
1922-3 and Lawrence and the other
seven children lived there.
Gracie Nankivell married Mr
Alexander Wilson and had two
children, Jillian and Robina. They lived in
the house until 1972. The house was
demolished to make way for the New
World supermarket and Canterbury
Savings Bank in 1973.

Nankivell Family:
Back row left to right: Olive (Ollie), Albert, Lawrence (Laurie), Robert (Vic).
Middle row: Annie (Nance), Andrew, Robina (Beanie), Ruby. Front row: Gracie (Grace), Gordon

The house Lawrence Nankivell built for his parents at 290 Breezes Road in 1922-3.

143

LEFT: Lady in black is Mrs Marge Clarke with her two daughters, Joyce on her left and Greta on her right.
The Clarke family lived at 327 Breezes Road, (see chapter 39). Front row: Jillian Wilson, Maureen Beattie,
who lived opposite and Robina, the sister of Jillian Wilson.
RIGHT: To commemorate the day of the last tram along Pages Road to New Brighton, people of the district
dressed up in period costumes and walked behind the last tram from Brighton to Aranui, then said good bye to
the tram and proceeded down Rowan Avenue to the Aranui Speedway, (see chapter 27) for a parade.

Right: Mrs Wilson with Robina outside the Nankivell/Wilson

family home, looking across Breezes Road you see the house at
275 Breezes Road. In 2005 Tim Baker (the author) purchased this
property and along with Andrew and Pip Gilmore, (nephew and
his wife), renovated it completely. New kitchen, new bathroom,
new roof, new floor coverings, totally Gib stopped and painted
inside and out, and a new garage built. It was then subdivided and
Andrew was employed by Tim and Ruth Ltd to build two E.P.H.,
elderly persons housing units. They were completed in August
2006, (see chapter 39).
This house was roughcast over and the front entrance enclosed to
make a sunroom about the 1950s-60s.

Photographs and family information:

Jillian Vincent nee Wilson

2006/7

During 2006/7 the Pages Road west corner has changed hugely. The New World supermarket closed on 7th
November.
The two houses next to the Supermarket at 286 Breezes Road were relocated and three new houses and two
over 60s units built, the house at 272 Breezes Road was relocated to Oxford and in 2007 four over 60s units
were built, (see chapter 39).

144

145

Chapter 22:

Wirihana Wilson.

Rowan Ave
Marlow Road

In 1890 William Wilson bought 14

acres and six perches of land
described by the Lot numbers on
the above title.
He built a large house on the corner
of what is now Rowan Avenue and
Rowses Road, 83 Rowan Avenue.
The Maori name for Wilson is
Wirihana, and Mr Wilson was
referred to as Wirihana Wilson.

Pages Road

The house and property was also

known to the community as
Wirihana and the tram stop and
loop on Pages Road near to Rowan
Avenue was known as the
Wirihana loop.

146
In May 2007 I received some information from Gordon Ogilvie that he had received from William Wilsons
grandson in 1977. I thought it would be a long shot but searched David Gordon Wilson on google on the
internet and was pleasantly surprised to see about a dozen references to him. I e-mailed to confirm that
Professor Wilson from Massachusetts, U.S.A. who designs and builds human powered vehicles up to 80 miles
an hour was Wilsons grandson. He was also surprised to hear from me and confirmed he is indeed the
grandson but couldnt add anymore information than what he had sent to Gordon Ogilvie in 1977. He
confirmed that William Wilson was the school master at Cranmer Square and the photograph below is of the
school, which was thought by Wilsons grandsons, to be open from 1892 until 1908.

A water colour painting of Wirihana painted around 1900. The

painting hangs in Tom Wilsons home in Birmingham, England.

A photograph of the Cranmer Square School in the 1890s. This is

the only known photograph and hangs in David Wilsons home in
Massachusetts, U.S.A.

It is likely that Professor Bickerton knew William Wilson and Miss Smith as the university was just around the
corner from their school and Bickerton's house was about 1 km from Wirihana.
David Wilson - Here is what my brother Tom (T.W.S. Wilson) wrote about our grandfather, sent by his wife
Gabrielle (Gabi).
Gabi and Tom: Do you have the water color of Wirihana that used to hang in, I believe, the drawing room of
330 Boldmere Road? Tim Baker would like to receive a photo of it. Would that be possible? Incidentally I
intend (the road to hell?) to search the genealogical records for the black-sheep member of great-grandpa's
family who was banished to the USA in around the 1870s. Maybe he produced someone famous (Woodrow
Wilson) or infamous?
From: "Gabi Wilson"
To: "David Gordon"
Subject: Wirihana
Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 11:49:57 +0100
Tom's message:
Dear David, thank you very much for the very interesting material! I see that in writing to someone else you
have wondered why our grandfather emigrated. I have always thought that it was to better himself as a teacher.
His father had, after some years as an NCO, bought himself a commission in the army. But it used to be well
known in those days that "an officer cannot live on his pay", even mess-bills being expensive. When he died of
cancer, he left his family destitute. Some fellow officer got William, our grandfather, a scholarship for officers'
orphans to, I think, The Forest School, Epping Forest. His brothers were taken in by a Scottish uncle, and our
great-grandmother got employment as a companion to the dowager Lady Willoughby de Brooke in
Kineton. When William finished his education at the school, he got a job in the estate office. But he wanted to
teach and borrowed from Lady Willoughby de Brooke the 50 annual fee to attend a Teachers' Training
College in London. He did not realise that it was a two-year course, but he fell on his feet. He had done his
teaching practice at, I think, a school in Kent, in his first year. The schoolmaster was taken ill and besought the
college to let William continue at the school during his illness. This paid the second 50 fee. After qualifying
he taught in Highgate. In the 1860's Combrook Grammar School had closed through lack of pupils and the

147
Willoughby de Brooke family opened a school, Kineton Middle School, to take its place. William and his wife
Drusilla were appointed to the staff. It was not a large school but it was approximately at Grammar School
level, and when William aimed at promotion to a larger similar school, he was handicapped, not being a graduate. He emigrated, I should think, to obviate this handicap - and he emigrated without securing a post. He just
wrote to an educational agency in Wellington. When the ship docked there, he was immediately sent to Christchurch, to the Normal School, where the head was away, ill. William held the post for five years before joining
Drusilla at her Cranmer Square School, where they had over 100 pupils, I think, of both sexes. The Wirihana
School was a later development. Girls attended as well as boys. Their prize pupil was Grace Wilding, sister of
Tony Wilding, first KIWI to win at Wimbledon. She won the Bowen Prize, a national prize for a thesis on a
historical subject, which William had won some years earlier for a thesis on "the Constitutional Significance of
the Reign of Edward I"
Hoping that you all are well, with best wishes from Tom and Gabi.

NOTES FROM DAVID WILSON IN 1977.

In December 1908 the Wilsons closed their school in Cranmer Square and moved out to Wainoni, now Aranui,
near New Brighton, where they had bought a large house and about ten acres of land. Its address was 196 Pages Road, but after the area was re-zoned to become Aranui it became 75 Rowan Avenue, and still stands. The
area had hundreds of acres of scrub land, pine plantations, sandhills and a fine sea beach, an ideal area for
boys to grow. There were paddocks with lupins and gorse. The school kept a cow. The late Mr. Stuart Rutherford, when a pupil there, milked the cow for a shilling a week. And there was a large greenhouse. The tomatoes in he greenhouse loomed large in several ex-pupils memories. A punishment for poor work or being late
might be to prune the tomatoes with Mr. Wilson. The diet seemed to be almost entirely composed of tomatoes. (To do Mrs. Wilson justice, others record that the food was actually very good, although those of her
grandchildren who remember her - in her old age in England cannot recall signs of the gentler domestic
virtues. She seemed severe, authoritarian, and demanding of perfection. But my - David Wilsons - earliest
recollection of anyone was of her, dressed severely in black, taking a fancy to me at the age of about two,
which would be in 1930, and pronouncing that the boy should have the N.Z. chair which she had carved beautifully - and it stands proudly in our Massachusetts living room today).
The school in Wainoni was known as Wirihana, which we believe is Wilson in Maori, but everyone still called
it Wilsons school. However one effect of the change in name was to get the pupils to call William Wilson,
behind his back, Wearie Willie. But he was also affectionately called Professor Wilson by his neighbours.
He was described variously as genial, understanding, calling the boys by their nicknames, a great story-teller,
with yarns that he would serialize to keep up interest, but also a great disciplinarian. Several times each week
he would walk 20 or 30 of the pupils into New Brighton after school, where they would spend an hour or two
in the shops or on the beach. (I remember him telling me that he used to walk 50 and 60 miles a day on
occasion, but no pupils were apparently forced to go along). The boys were described as exceptionally
well
-mannered, walking along in double file. The School uniform was college grey, jacket, waistcoat, short trousers, white shirt, Eton collar, and school cap or straw boater with a gold stripe around with the monogram W
upon S, in gold at the front.
Mrs. Wilson was in charge in the house and in the dormitories. Punishment from her could be six of the best
with the cane. But the boys still had fun. Mr M. G. Ogilvie recalls a pillow fight during which a feather pillow
burst and the consequent efforts to recover every last feather and to bury them lest Mrs. Wilson discovered the
crime.
We have no particular details of the last ten years or so of the school, although Dr. and Mrs. L.CLL. Averill
remember with pleasure being invited to out to tea in 1926. Dr. Averills father was archbishop of New
Zealand at one time, and knew the Wilsons well. But in 1927, when William was 75, they retired, closing the
school and giving a pension to the one remaining long-service teacher.
The large fourteen-roomed house and 5 and 1/2 acres of land were purchased by the late James Finnerty, and
we have heard from Mrs. Ruth OConnell what fun it was to grow up there. Later it was divided into flats,
sold, subdivided again, and the land developed. The house still stands, apparently, in 1977, although it is but a
ghost of its former glory.

148
William Wilson was a school master and soon after moving there he set up a private boys school in the house.
The author of the book The Riddle of Richard Pearse and many other books, Gordon Ogilvie, told me of his
father boarding at the school about 1912. The school is described in the following page in I Well Remember.
Gordons wife had an uncle who also attended the school.
According to the G.R. Macdonald Dictionary, it is possible that prior to this William Wilson may have been
the same school master who had a school in Cranmer Square between Chester Street and Kilmore Street. This
school had originally been a young ladies school called Cranmer House run by a Miss Smith.
If so Miss Smith may have been the same Miss Smith that according to the Aranui Primary School fiftieth
jubilee booklethad a childrens home on William Wilsons land at Wirihana and would send the children
to the Breezes Road School, probably about 1911-1915. (Aranui School was referred to as the Breezes Road
School until about 1915).

In the story I Well Remember on the next page, the author, O.B Stanford, describes the house his family rented from Wilson and that others were built by him to let. I believe it very likely that the house photographed
above in 2007, is the last one remaining. While visiting 440 Pages Road in 2006, I couldnt believe my eyes to
see this cottage hidden behind the lived in house which was built in the 1920s. The title deeds to Wilsons
property show that he sold land off between 1921 and 1929. Lot 27, which this property was part of, was sold
in 1921 and it is likely the new owner built the existing lived in house. The present owners, (2007), intend to
repair it.
The Press, Tuesday, August 6, 1929. Page 2.

OBITUARY.
MRS WILLIAM WILSON.
Christchurch is the poorer by the
death of Mrs Drusilla Wilson, wife of
Mr William Wilson, late of Wirihana, and formerly headmaster of the
Christchurch Normal School.
Mr and Mrs Wilson left Christchurch a few years ago for Britain,
where they had intended to settle, but
finding the English winters too severe,
they returned to New Zealand quite
recently, and the news of Mrs Wilsons sudden death on Sunday came
as a shock to her many friends, many
of whom had not had an opportunity
of welcoming her back to Christchurch.
Continue

The late Mrs Wilson was a woman

of arresting personality and a rare
intellectual gifts, a brilliant scholar,
and an accomplished musician.
Coming from London, where she
was born and educated, and where she
obtained her University degrees, the
late Mrs Wilson did great work in the
cause of education in Canterbury. She
conducted a private school for girls in
Cranmer square, and to her enthusiasm, and her wise guidance, many
graduates of Canterbury College owed
much of the success they achieved in
the scholastic world.
She was a foundation member of the
Canterbury Womens Club, and president of the Clubs music circle. She
also, at one time, conducted a womens choir and was a vice-presi-dent of
the Musical Union. She was also an
active member of the Navy League.
Continue

Her experience, her breadth of

vision, and her alert interest in all current affairs enabled her to speak with
authority on matters of importance to
women, and her opinion on such matters was eagerly sought and greatly
respected.
The late Mrs Wilson leaves a husband, Mr William Wilson, and a son,
Mr William Wilson, head of the Wellington Department of Vickers. Ltd., a
brilliant electrician, and editor of one
of the largest electrical magazines in
the Old Country. Her only daughter,
Grace, died many years ago, after a
distinguished career at Canterbury
College.
The funeral takes place at 11 a.m. to
-day.

149

I WELL REMEMBER:

thirty, forty, fifty, nay even sixty years ago. Some recollections of O. B. Stanford. (Published in 1962)
In March 1903, when I had just turned 5 years old, my father sold Wai-itiHomey-Homey, as I had come to
call it. The purchaser was Cecil Wyn-Williams
CHAPTER THREE
Moving Out
HONEYBONES wool-wagon took our furniture to the rail. We left Wai-iti in a four-wheeled buggy which we
always called blunder bus. It could be fitted with a pole and pulled by a pair of horses, or with shafts for use
with one horse. On this occasion it was pulled by a rather heavy, faithful chestnut mare, Peggy. Tied behind
the four-wheeler was a little low gig known as the daisy cart. Our destination was a rather dirty, flea infested
cottage on Pages Road, about a mile from New Brighton. (This district now known as Aranui.) My father had
rented it from a school master named Wilson. Wilson used to buy second hand timber from dismantled
buildings and with it build cottages among the sand hills and let them.
The cottage we rented had huge, heavy doors of peculiar pattern. They were ex a dismantled church.
Wilson kept a second or third-rated boarding school away among the sand hills, for boys. He used to attend
fire sales, if any groceries were to be offered, and so obtained cheap, if smokey, food for his boarders. If no
suitable fire sales had occurred, food for the boys was prone to be below the requirements of growing lads.
At this cottage I came in contact, for the first time in my life, with other boys of my own age. They came from
neighbouring houses. One of the first things they showed me was that the wheels of our little daisy-cart exactly
fitted into the grooves of the tram lines which ran past our gate. So we played trams, pulling each other up
and down the lines in the daisy-cart. As there were no motor cars on the roads and the real trams were slow
moving, horse-drawn and infrequent, we were in no danger. All went happily until one day when father wanted to go to Christchurch and the daisy-cart seemed to be missing. After a bit of thinking back I recollected that
a few days previously we had tired of playing trams when about half a mile up the road and had pushed the
daisy-cart in among the lupin bushes. Coming home by a devious route through the lupins, playing all the way,
we had forgotten to bring our tram home to the depot. Luckily I was able to locate the place where we had
hidden it and it was still there. After this we were deprived of the use of the daisy-cart, so had to look around
for some new occupation.
Once more my new friends came up with an idea. Blue road metal lay about in chunks on the road and was to
be had for the taking. Laid in the tram line, it produced, after the passage of a tram, a blue powder. This
powder, collected in tins and mixed with a little water, produced a satisfying blue paint. An odd lump of
rock in the tram line was nothing unusual on a rough metalled road. So the trams passed over our pieces of
rock and we rushed out with tins to gather the harvest of powder. Later we laid out our pieces of brick and so
got the raw material for red paint as well. Unfortunately, more boys joined in and the business expanded.
Where we had laid an odd stone or perhaps two, we now laid rows of stones and also pieces of brick. It was
hardly to be expected that our expanded activities would ever pass unnoticed and that the tram drivers would
continue to put up with things without complaint, one terrible afternoon the tram, after a particular rocky run,
stopped just beyond our gate. No passengers lightened but, we saw the driver hand the reins to a passenger and
so I remained, hidden and miserable, at the back of our section, and was late for tea when I crept into the
house.
I knew the tram driver had been in and laid a complaint. I expected a whipping, but got instead a long and very
severe talking to from my mother. I might quite easily, she explained, have tipped the tram over and killed a
lot of people. That, she further explained, would have been just like murder. I had been well taught about hell
and knew just what was in store for murderers on the day of judgement.
The other boys, who were leading me into all sorts of trouble were forbidden to come anymore, and I was
not to leave the section. So, theoretically at least, I was once more a lonely little figure, having to play by
myself. Actually, the other boys and I had a rendezvous among the lupins away at the back of our section.
Here we dug a large cave in the side of a steep sand hill. One morning soon after breakfast, my father took me
for a walk down the section; as we passed the cave he expressed great surprise that I should have dug such a
large cave all by myself. I said nothing. He said nothing more. Of course he could plainly see all the
different sized foot-prints in the sand, and made the remark all by myself with his tongue in his cheek. He
was also a little unpredictable in his reactions when I had been disobedient. Usually he would thrash me for
what seemed only trivial deviations from his orders. On the other hand he would, every so often, obviously
turn a blind eye to some liberty I had taken without his permission.

150
He would slyly let me know, however, by indirect means, that he knew all about it. My mother never
developed a blind eye. It would have been an affront to her conscience to compromise in any way her
Christian duty to bring me up in the Fear of the Lordat all times and in all places.
The horse-drawn trams were small affairs but had upstairs seating for passengers as well as inside. Two horses
pulled each tram, or two trams were coupled together and four horses used to draw them.
One particular tram guard carried a shot gun and potted rabbits among the lupins, which bordered the tram line
most of the way from Linwood to the New Brighton bridge, there were no fixed stopping places. The tram just
stopped where and when there was a passenger to pick up or alightor, of course when the guard had a rabbit
to pick up.
At this time preparations were being made to run electric trams and, about opposite the Linwood Cemetery a
piece of land had been taken from a Mrs Knight in order to re-lay the lines so that two right angle bends were
eliminated.
Mrs Knight was remarkable for having 22 children and an aggressively determined nature. Considering the
compensation offered for her land inadequate, she refused to accept it and maintained that where the new set of
rails had been laid was still her land. When the early morning tram taking people up from New Brighton to
their offices and places of work in the city came to this stretch, trouble (worse than our stone-laying) often met
them.
On one occasion she had a large bonfire of gorse trimmings burning on the line. At other times she would have
a tip dray loaded with sand, and tip the lot out in a heap in front of the tram.
The run to Sumner was considered too far for horses, so the trams were moved by small steam engines pulling
two tramcars, or even three at a time if traffic to the seaside was heavy on a hot day.
Now even the electric trams have gone, diesel buses having taken their place. Other forms of transport which
have disappeared from Christchurch streets are the hansom cabs and four wheeler cabsboth plentiful in my
youth.
While we were at this cottage, Uncle Willies (Menzies) first wife, Gertrude, died in child-birth (Alan). While
my parents were at the funeral, I was left with the Norris family who lived further up Pages Road. I usually
liked a visit there, chiefly because they had a pond stocked with gold fish. This day, however, was wet and I
had to keep indoors. One of the Miss Norris offered me a piece of toffee and, as I had practically never tasted
sweets, I accepted with alacrity. She left the room immediately and I discoveredalso immediately, that the
toffee was burnt. The windows were shut and I was faced with the problem of what to do with the toffee. I
only knew I was not going to eat it. However, I rose to the situation by taking a book out of a book-shelf,
opening it about the middle, I placed the burnt (and sticky) toffee between the pages, closed the book and
replaced it in the book-shelf. A little later the same Miss Norris returned and asked if I would like her to read
me a story. I said I would. I was a little apprehensive when she went to the same book-shelf I had so recently
made use of. Apprehension gave place to sheer panic when she pulled out the very book I had just before
chosen as a repository for her burnt offering. I hastily told her I really did not want a storycouldnt we go
out and see the gold fish. Noit was raining. Well, could we play hide and seek. Noshe would read me
a nice story. A last desperate requestcould it be the first in the book? There was a chance it might not extend
to the middle pages where that sticky toffee lay embedded. However, the wretched women knew a far nicer
story than the first one. Then it happened. Miss Norris merely said, in measured tones, Didnt you like it
dear. I replied, Nothank you. She took the book out to the kitchenfor a wipe with a wet cloth I
imagine. I was eternally grateful to her that, when my parents collected me, she did not mention the matter
merely said I had been a good boy.
You can read more about: Charlotte Knight and the tramway in chapter 4
Norris family in chapter 9

151

Chapter 23:

Lucy Larcombe - nee Smith.

In 1986 Lucy Larcombe compiled and wrote a 70 page book of her earlier years called Know your family, a
peep behind the scenes. This chapter contains extracts from book about her parents who had been married just
three short years and their travel to New Zealand, the time leading up to her family moving to Aranui in 1919,
and Lucys memories and recollections of her time in Aranui. The book is not printed commercially but is
photocopied. It is very rare and this is partly why I have included so much in this book, because I think it is a
great first hand experience from Lucy of her familys life in the Aranui district during this early period.
INTRODUCTION
I would like to share some wonderful knowledge, the fact that we all have been blessed with some worthy
ancestors of whom we can be justly proud. What I would like to hand on to family members, family
connections, and future generations is a record of just some of our forebears that can be recalled in this
moment of time, and just a few of the events that have occurred which I hope are interesting, humorous, or of
sentimental value..
This is a tribute then to Florence Jane and John Edgar Smith as without their arrival in this country there would
not have been a Smith Family to carry on.
THE YEAR WAS 1904
The passenger liner the Corinthic, proudly flying the flag of the Shaw Saville Shipping line, sailed up the
Wellington Harbour, just coming in to port at New Zealands Capital City. The ship showed little signs of the
long journey from Southampton in England, where she departed about ten weeks previously even though she
had passed through storms and the heat of the tropics..
John and Florence settled in Kaikoura where John worked in a flax mill. It was hard work. Lucy didnt give
the year that they decided to move to Christchurch. I estimate it to be around 1906-1910.
THE FINAL COUNT DOWN
And so Edgar, (John was known as), and Florence Smith began to pull up stakes and depart. Actually they
were not sorry to see the end of these hundreds of flax bushes in the early 1900s. They decided to try their luck
further down the South Island, back to Christchurch, the Garden City on Canterbury Plains, with the pretty
Avon River flowing through it. It was referred to as being so English. They had spent a short time here
before, after their trip from Wellington, in the old overnight ferry ship. Florence was delighted to return to this
beautiful place, and settle down in a dear little bungalow in St Albans, a handy fashionable area of
Christchurch, already established with many attractive gardens. Edgar managed to land a good job, he rode his
bicycle to work, and this became a very happy period for this pair..
THE BABIES ARRIVE
I was born on a Christchurch winter morning, in bitterly cold temperatures, and a blanket of snow covering the
ground, rather unusual for that part of the country, and to make matters worse, was in the wee small hours. My
sister Dorothy had preceded me, and later on I was joined with another sister, Joyce, so came to be known by
some as the middle one. My mother was always proud of showing off her Three Little Girls. When the
longed for son Eddie arrived, (a perfect healthy baby) their joy soon turned to sorrow, as he only lived ten
days, when he was taken away suddenly with a chill. It could have been termed later as a cot death. In time my
brother Norris duly came on the scene, and so life as a family became established.
THE SMITH SAGA HAD BEGUN!............
Lucy and her family moved to Papanui where Lucy and sisters went to Waimarie (Waimairi), school which
was in the street they lived in. Lucys teacher was Mrs Ironsides, whom she adored.
CAMP LIFE IN A STRANGE SETTING
Our next move was unusual to say the least. There we were with two tents set up, in what had once been a
shingle pit, surrounded with broom bushes and trees. The little creek, running through part of it with
overhanging willow trees dipping their boughs into water, helped out in more ways than one. It was from here
we had to carry the fresh water to meet all requirements, so too bad if the farmers cows further up, had
already been tramping in its flowing waters. My father must have decided that a taste of open air would do us
all good, but I think possibly he had sold our house, and was waiting for another deal to come up. Anyway,
there we were, almost lock, stock and barrel, as included in the menagerie, were the horse and cart, a few
fowls, our pet Broody Hen, the parakeet Joey, and Rangi and Rose, our precious dogs, with their four pups.
They all settled down remarkably well. This place was in the country area, north of Christchurch, just near the
Waimakariri River

152
Eventually the time came, when it was all action again. Our temporary life under canvas had come to an end.
The tent pegs were pulled up, the site dismantled, and everything packed up. We had to hit the trail again, and
so with a little reluctance on our side, but a very relieved feeling from mother, the cavalcade set off for
pastures new. It was quite a sight, the wagon and horse on loan, laden with furniture, pots and pans, poultry,
dogs, and one cheeky goat, and all of us driving with father, in the trap pulled by our horse. What an
astounding picture it must have made, looking for all the world, like something from HOW THE WEST
WAS WON!!
ON THE LONE PRAIRIE
Here we are on the road again, heading for destination unknown?
Sounds fascinating in fantasy, but could be devastating in reality. After a whole days journey, with a large
horse drawn wagon, we landed in this quiet remote area, just as the first evening shadows were beginning to
fall. We only just reached our designation in time, after a chapter of accidents, the worst one being on the last
lap of the small lane, leading up to the property, when one wheel of the wagon, became firmly stuck, in a pot
hole or rut. It required much strong pulling by the horses, and ingenuity on the part of the men, before it was
released. My father had hired this man, with his horses and wagon, for the furniture removal, which took all
day, at the amazing cost of one pound.
SHADES OF THE PAST!
This new place was called Aranui meaning Big Path, and we certainly had plenty of that, with a long
driveway up to the house. The old two-storeyed house with its sloping attic walls, and funny little windows
upstairs, made a quaint picture. The homestead was well set back, surrounded with several acres of ground, a
few paddocks, a small cow bail, and the rest covered with bushes of broom, gorse, lupins, and the inevitable
sand, being only a mile from New Brighton.
I realised later that in my mothers eyes, it must have appeared to be a combination of Ma and Pa Kettles
farm or the sinister Patters Castle. Of course here again we children, thought it was all a glorious
adventure, and went on a voyage of discovery, peering into every nook and cranny.
I was especially intrigued with the four upstairs attic bedrooms, as they all had doors leading into each other,
so we could traverse through it all in one circle. It became a favourite place for playing chasing. We were so
young, we accepted change, but did not really understand the full impact of the situation. Uppermost in my
mind later, was the sad picture of my mother, sitting on a box in the kitchen, weeping bitterly. I literally
stopped in my tracks, when I saw her and I cried too. Only later did I realise what this upheaval meant to her.
She of course, had never been shown this place, and then to find herself in this old empty house, no electricity,
no near neighbours, and surrounded with sand and bushes, well it would have caused some very sick thoughts
and doubts. Of course after the first initial shock, she took up the reins, and took everything in her strides as
usual. Learning to cope, had to be her stock in trade.
CAME THE DAWN
A new chapter had begun, and our lives truly began to take shape, at this point. We settled down at the Aranui
School, and on the first morning at assembly, much to my delight, I found that my beloved teacher, Mrs
Ironsides, was once more to be my teacher here.

This photograph is not from

Lucys book but most likely the
three sisters are present.

The time of year Lucy Smith and her family arrived in Aranui is unknown, but as Lucy hasnt described the
weather so far, it is likely to be toward the end of 1921. Lucy and her sisters Dorothy and Joyce are recorded
in the Aranui School archives as starting in 1921. Her teacher, Mrs Ironsides is recorded as teaching at
Aranui School from 1922-24.

153
I had the rest of my primary school days here, from Std. 1 to Std. 6 gaining a lovely prize each year. I was
disappointed to miss out on being Dux of the school by three marks, as I had been the top pupil at every exam
during the year. We had to sit our Proficiency Test at New Brighton School on the last year, as we were only a
small school. I know I was a bit nervous, in these strange surroundings. During the years at school, we always
had the New Zealand flag ceremony, and I was very proud of being part of it.
In due course , the power lines were carried over the paddocks, from the main road, and we had the luxury of
electricity. After the kerosene lamps, and candles, this was pure magic. The cooking still had to be done on the
range, but mother was quite an adept, in manipulating this tedious job. Joyce and I were relegated to the task of
keeping the wood box stacked up. Every day after school we set off with an old box on wheels, which we gave
the ostentatious name of a sledge, and the wood we collected, was located in what we termed a plantation.
Why be hum drum, like Ma and Pa Kettle down on the farm, when we could use more grandiose terms, and
imagine ourselves on Tara from Gone With The Wind.
My father used to get quite carried away with ideas of trying to reform the existing architecture, and one was
to lower the roof of the house, by removing the top storey, so we lost those quaint little attic rooms. He
obviously had his reasons, and we thought it was all great fun, and very impressive, to have some carpenters
on the job, especially with the addition of a new room..
IF WISHES WERE HORSES The Advent of More Horses, and Learning to Ride
We were all very excited when my father bought us a little black Shetland pony. I have an idea here, that he
made a satisfactory swap, with an old discarded gig! We all took up the reins now, and had great pride and
pleasure, in learning to ride. We bestowed the name of Jean on her. It is a well known fact that a Shetland pony
can be very stubborn, and this one was no exception. One day I saddled her up, for a ride to New Brighton.
Actually it was not a saddle. When we first started riding, just a girth strap with stirrups was used, which was
quite sufficient on the small pony. All went well in traversing two small roads, but when I tried to turn her on
to the main road, I struck an obstacle. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, and would not budge. No
amount of persuasion, either on or off the pony, would get her to yield an inch. Once she had made up her
mind, that was it - In frustration, I now turned her head in the direction of home, where upon, with a delighted
whinny, she threw up her head, and galloped off, hell for leather. So much for an afternoon ride!............
SARAH BERNHARDT TAKES THE STAGE
This small suburb of Aranui only boasted one little church, so that is where we children, attended the Sunday
School, Church of England. I used to love going there, especially when given a lovely coloured card with Jesus
on it. When a special Sunday School Concert was produced, it was really exiting. I was duly elected to show
off my acting ability, by giving a recitation. I rehearsed this very special poem, about Little Mary Forset who
came from down in Dorset. I took my place on the platform, and presented my big act. In my ears rang the
applause of the crowd, and I was so elated to think I had gone over really big. Sadly later on, my ego was
somewhat deflated, when I was told the audience were laughing at the sight of me, blinking madly the whole
time, and I was treated to a most unkind exhibition at the picture I presented. So much for great acting
aspirations!
During my last school year in Std. 6, I was allowed, as a great privilege, to go to the school social, but home
early, was the rule. As it was my birthday then, I received a most delightful surprise from Dorothy, a lovely
pink evening dress! She had bought the material, and arranged for a friends mother, to make it in secret. The
soft Japanese silk, I thought was a perfect dream, especially with the little pink rose on the shoulder, and one at
the waist, made from the material. As this was the first party dress I had ever owned, I could just see myself
showing off to my class-mates. One dance I do recall was the Boston Two Step to the tune of Valencia,
played with great gusto by the band. That certainly was a night to remember.
We have always been keen on dancing, and actually, Dorothy and I taught ourselves the art of ballroom
dancing, in the early stages. We acted as partners with each other, when we played our records, on the gramophone, and I could say, that we were considered quite adept, at this exhilarating pastime.
I remember when I was only about twelve years of age, that the teacher let the class have a little music and
dancing in our classroom. Another boy (also a keen dancer) and I were asked to go out, in the front, and give
an exhibition, to show the children how it should be done. What a pleasure and fun it inspired.
UP THE TREE
It was most unusual for my mother to ever go out at night, but once we had all been down to the local hall, for
a special occasion. Later, when I started off home, I thought mother and the others, had gone ahead of me, so
on arrival home, when I found the house in darkness, panic really struck. I could not possibly enter alone.
What a dilemma! What was I to do? I had already traversed the lane, off the main road, then the long driveway, by myself. I walked half way down the driveway again, then decided, no, I would not dare adventure
further that way either, so by now I was terror stricken. All I could think of were lions and tigers, could be
lurking round

154
the bushes. Desperately I climbed up a big willow tree, thinking nothing could get me up there. I would be safe
from wild animals. So I sat there on the bough of this tree, my only safe haven, until I heard the welcoming
sound of the family coming home, flashing a torch, as they walked up the drive. I waited until they were under
the tree, to make my presence known. I will never forget the sight of my mothers white face, staring upwards,
as she peered into the tree saying - Is that you Lucy? Looking back on it later. It was a truly comical
situation, with poor little Lucy, up the tree, looking like something out of an old film comedy!............
THE MOTOR CAR WE GO UP IN THE WORLD
During the next few years some changes began to take place, the most noticeable being the advent of a motor
car, which signalled in our eyes, a step up, in our possession in society. Even if it was an old Brisco, and later
on, an Overland, at least it was a car, which travelled faster than a horse, and did give us some status. After
skiting about our latest acquisition to my school mates, I was asked if it was a closed-in car, and when I told
them - Yes it has mica curtains, I could never understand why they all burst into hoots of derisive laughter. It
was great having a car, to go off sometimes, for a picnic further afield or visit some beauty spots.
THE WINDMILL
My father could always be relied on, to come up with some quite unpredictable ideas, at inventions. His father
before him had been a clever inventor. In the back yard, was a well, and it was always someones job to pump
up the water, into a tank on the roof. This was of course manual labour, so he hit on the idea of a more devious
solution. Why not let the wind do the job? Why let all the boisterous wind just go begging? So forthwith he
erected a windmill, which was nothing short of a masterpiece. It stood in a strategic position on top of a small
hill. Now came the real complex part, how to get the mechanism, to pump the water up to the tank. Using all
his ingenuity, he devised a system of a long pipe, running down the hill, connected up in some mysterious
way, and when the wind blew and turned the windmill round, this pipe would work up and down furiously. In
a gale force wind however, it could be quite alarming, as it would get faster and faster, shaking and rattling,
and making a terrific racket, like a dented creature, writhing in agony. The long pipe was fastened to posts, set
in the ground at intervals going down the hill
.During our years at Aranui, I also learned to ride a bicycle, Christchurch being so flat, was known as
the City of Bicycles, and nearly everyone owned one. I also had a go at milking a cow once, but alas, that came
to a sad end, after the cow kicked over the bucket of milk. My neighbour, in most forceful language, told me to
Get out of it. We all took part in school activities, such as basketball.
One year our school even entered for the school sports at Lancaster Park, and Joyce and I had the distinction of
being the champion runners in the three-legged race. She was an excellent fast runner. One year, when the
headmaster retired, I was given the great honour, of making a speech, and presenting him with a rug, from the
pupils, at his farewell ceremony. I will always recall my school days, with a satisfactory feeling of warmth,
knowing the pleasure and rewards.
THE BEACH AND OCEAN BEAKON
At one time, my father had tried to float a business, The Solar Salt Company. He was ambitious, and an
excellent salesman, but money was scarce, he failed to sell enough shares, so the project was abandoned.
When he was offered a situation later on, in Auckland, as a travelling representative, he felt it was a chance he
had to take. It was hard trying to earn a living in Christchurch, a quieter city, businesswise.
Gradually, all the livestock had been going, the horses, dogs and birds. The goat family had risen to five, but
three had come to an ultimate end. Even the one lone goose had disappeared, after a suspicious looking
character had called on a fictitious errand. When the man had gone, the goose had gone too. My mother had
informed us, that we would be forced to give up the house.
Now comes the dramatic turn of events! Mother was ill in hospital, father gone, the mortgage foreclosed, Dorothy out at work, and here I was, looking after the household, at about fourteen years of age. Dorothy and I
agreed we should move, while mother was away, to save her any hassle and the hard work involved. Looking
back later, I marvelled how I could have tackled such an undertaking. I went to a land agent in New Brighton,
stated I wanted to rent a house for the family, and was handed the keys to go and look at them. Quite
incredible! After inspecting a few most unsuitable holiday abodes, I finally found a respectable little house
very handy, at a most modest rent. The asking price was actually 22/6 per week but I beat them down to 1.
Sounds like one of fathers tricks. Dorothy hired a carrier, and we proudly moved in, after the most bizarre
form of packing up, you could ever see. Any surplus items, or furniture we could not use, we just stacked up,
in one small room, and left it there.
Poor mother, her feelings must have been quite traumatic, when she came out of hospital and saw what we had
managed to accomplish. Reasonable thinking however could say - the end justified the means.

155
A TOUCH OF CLASS
When mother was ready to leave the hospital, I set off on my mission, to accompany her home. I knew she
would have to have some transport, but trams were out of the question, so on arrival in town, I made enquiries
at a taxi stand. Their quote of ten shillings, I considered exorbitant, just then I had an inspiration! I thought of
another unique Cab Stand, and this was really when the Smith ingenuity came to the force, surely this old
fashioned Hansom Cab, drawn by a horse, would have to be cheaper, than that mechanical marvel, running on
petrol. Hoping that I made a picture a bit like Little Orphan Annie, I looked pleadingly up at the driver, and
asked how much the fare would be to pick up my sick mother at the hospital, then to drive out to New
Brighton. When he stated Six shillings, I made a rapid calculation. I was saving four whole shillings on the
family expenses. Proudly I climbed the high step into the cab, and gave the order - Drive to the Hospital
please. I kept chuckling to myself, at the unusual situation I found myself in. Had I known it, at the time, I
would have been singing - If my Friends Could only see me now. The driver had spoken down to me, from
his perch in the high Dickey seat, behind the cab, but level with the roof. There was a small trap door, which I
opened up, if the occupant wished to converse with the driver. There he sat in his old bowler hat, whip in hand,
and looking for all the world like a figure out of the Sherlock Holmes era, in London.
These famous cabs were first invented by Joseph Hansom in 1843 in England. The four Hansom Cabs in
Christchurch clung tenaciously, to what was a dying breed, as the cars and taxis had been in existence for
years. Some people used them more as a novelty, and the young ones, for romantic reasons. Even when three
of them folded up, this one elderly cabby, stuck it out to the bitter end. It became a landmark in the city.
My mother was slightly nonplussed at first, when I rushed into the hospital and said Your carriage awaits
without. I think she was quite pleased with me, however, at the Fait Accompli I had carried off.
WE MOVE IN WITH THE CATS ST ALBANS.
The time came, when we had to think of moving again. Much as we loved New Brighton, the long tram ride to
town became a draw back for Dorothy, going each day to her hairdressing job. I was also very keen to try my
hand in the workforce.
Dorothy hoped to find us suitable accommodation near Renes place, in the nice handy suburb of St Albans,
and luckily we found a small flat there. We only discovered after moving in, that the landlady kept twelve cats
in her part of the house. What a menagerie, and what a peculiar lady!
IN THE MONEY
We all settled down here quite happily. I found a job as a cashier in a large Department Store, T. Armstrong &
Co. Quite an achievement.
THE DEPRESSION IS COMING
...Back in 1931 in Christchurch we could now see the winds of change, blowing in our direction. Dorothy
had already gone up north to Auckland, as she had been offered a much more lucrative position, in a top
hairdressers there.
In the meantime I had become engaged to Clarry Larcombe, but he had departed North to take up a position
with a well known car firm. His brother-in-law had been called up there, to put the Wellington branch back on
its feet. Many people seemed to be leaving Christchurch. Unemployment was rife. People would do anything
for a job.
A nice middle aged lady I had worked with as a cashier (a spinster), had to resort to going round from door to
door selling oddments from a suitcase. My mother was so sad for her when she appeared on our doorstep. This
was just an example of what could happen to anyone. We were told there was more business to be found in
Wellington, and now it seemed that this Capital City was looming on the horizon, beckoning us on, to take the
plunge. My friend Rene Davies, also decided she would like to try for a job in the North Island, and so the
fates decreed, that she and I would eventually take off from Christchurch and leave the South Island behind us.
Who knows now, what the next stage of our lives will lead to?

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157

Chapter 24:

Aranui Community Hall

2nd Feb 2007

(The Press 5th May 1925 P5)

ARANUI BURGESSES
ASSOCIATION.
LAYING OF HALL FOUNDATION
STONE
Fine weather favoured the large number of residents who assembled to watch
the ceremony of laying the foundation
of
the Aranui Ratepayers Hall
on Saturday.
In the opening address Mr G. M.
Hall, president of the Aranui Burgesses
Association, moved a motion of sympathy to Mr Massey in his present illness.
He also read an apology
from the Rev. E. Malden, and
a
congratulatory telegram
from
Mr Ronald Hall, Wellington.
Mr
Hall congratulated the residents of
the district, who had worked hard to
get a suitable site which had been gifted to the Heathcote County Council.
Now that a hall was being erected, he
urged all to work and get enough money
to furnish it, which would cost in the
vicinity of 200 pounds. At the present time

40 pounds was earmarked for the piano.

Mr Aston, the first president and
prime mover of the hall scheme, said
(continue.)

that it was with pride that he thanked

those who had assisted to obtain the
hall. He was the organiser of a Fete
which brought in the first 50 pounds,
which in turn was handed over to pay
the deposit on the section. From then on
they seemed to progress, and he wished
to thank the members of the Heathcote
County Council and Aranui Burgesses
Association for what they had done.
Mr D. J. Sullivan, M.P., apologised
on behalf of the Aranui Hockey Club
members, who were unable to attend and
complimented the Aranui Burgesses
Association on their energy in striving
to obtain the hall which was now in
progress.
Colonel A.E. Loach, the second president, also spoke and congratulated the
residents in having a hall in such a
healthy district.
Councillors Moore and Kerr congratulated the members for going in for
a hall, and wished the Aranui Burgesses Association every success.
Mr Hall (president) then called on Mr
Flavell, chairman of the Heathcote
County Council to lay the foundation
stone.
(continue.)

Mr Flavell said that he hoped that

the hall would not be a burden on the
rates. In Heathcote, residents did not
know what they would do without their
hall, and often it was found to be too
small. He quite agreed with Mr Sullivan in regard to Burgess Associations
and hoped they would still continue and
progress. Mr Flavell then set the stone
and declared it to be well and truly
laid.
The president on behalf of the Aranui Burgesses Association, then
presented Mr Flavell with a silver
trowel suitably inscribed, which was
used in the laying of the stone.
Mr Flavell suitably responded and
congratulated Mr Roy Lovell-Smith, the
honorary architect.
The sum placed on the stone amounted to 13 pounds 16s 1d.
Amongst the guests in the afternoon
were: Messrs C. Flavell, D.G. Sullivan,
M. P. Adams, J. Moore, C. Kerr, W.
Scalfe, Inder, McAuliffe, H. M. Hall,
H. Aston, Colonel Loach, L.B. Cooper,
R. Lovell-Smith and Venner. Mesdames
Flavell, Moore, Kerr, Scalfe, Inder, Hall,
Loach, Venner, Scott, Nankivell, and
many others. In the evening a social
and dance was held in the schoolroom,
Breezes road.

158

V.E. Day celebrations 1945

Prior to 1926 the St Ambrose or Mission Hall as it was named was the meeting place for the community then
Aranui School when a permanent classroom was built. The population was growing fast and a bigger
permanent building was needed. Thanks to the Aranui Burgesses Committee and the wider community, funds
were raised to build the Aranui Hall.

Public Bodies At Aranui

Combine To Hold
A Dance

Aranui gymnastic club in approximately 1931. The club met at the

Aranui Hall. This photo is from Marion Reed who is top row,
second right.
2006 the hall is used by many different groups. Churches, youth
group, dance lessons, community groups, after funeral functions,
weddings, 21st birthdays, car club, and other groups. The Senior
Citizens group that had been meeting for over 30 years to play
housie and go on outings unfortunately finished at the end of 2006.
The Christchurch City Council fund most maintenance for the hall
and volunteers take the bookings and clean.
The Aranui Community Hall is good for at least another 80 years.

One of the largest social gatherings ever held in

Aranui, and one which strongly emphasised the
happy spirit existing among the various bodies in
the district, was held in the Aranui Hall on Thursday evening. It took the form of a dance and
cards tournament, and the committee that had
worked so willingly to ensure the success of the
evening consisted of members of the Aranui
Burgesss Association, the Aranui School Committee, the Football Club, the Womens Hockey
Club, the Tennis Club and the Aranui Jazz Club.
The hall was decorated with streamers and
balloons, and the excellent supper was provided
by the women of the district. Music was provided
by W. Cowlins and Boyds Bands, the members
of which gave their services free. The proceeds
will be devoted to the fund set aside for hall
improvements.
The prizes for the five hundred tournament
were won by Madams E. Barnes and Ross Smith
and Messrs A. Nankivell and C.G. Lee. Monte
Carlo dances were won by Misses F. Royland
and P. Winters, and Messrs M. G. Iggo and
V.Thomas. Mr H. Basher won a special Competition. The prizes were awarded by the
Mayor of Christchurch, (Mr D.G. Sullivan,
M.P), who was present at the invitation of
the Committee. Messrs W. Ford and M.R. Fleet
acted as masters of ceremonies. Etc
Christchurch Press

159
The Aranui Burgesses Committee was responsible for the progress of the area. Thanks to them roads,
footpaths, Playcentre, water supply, rubbish collection and a whole lot more was organised and petitioned for.
Later the Aranui Progressive League was formed carrying on with the same goal. During the 1970s my father,
Ernie Baker was involved with the group and one job he had was a sniffer. At different addresses at different
times sniffers would go to the door and sniff. The smell from the sewage farm was recorded to its severity
and collated to present to the Drainage Board with a petition. This ultimately led to the lids being put over the
filters that are visible today. This solved the problem overnight. When it does smell it is when the filters are
bypassed for maintenance.
The Aranui Progressive League is still active in 2007. It is less known about because most things in the area
are taken care of by the Christchurch City Council and other bodies.

This newspaper article describes exactly the Aranui Districts

community. The names of the people on the committees are the
founders of Aranui and Wainoni today.
Throughout this book a lot of their names are mentioned and chapters
written about some of them. Their children went to Aranui School and
some of their children did also. They were long time residents in the
area and proud to be so.
Today people in the district comment on the community spirit of the
area. This is not new but has been so for well over 100 years.

The hall was extended in 1972

(Christchurch Press 16th May 1925 P17)

ARANUI BURGESSES
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Aranui Burgesses Associations was held on Wednesday
evening at the Aranui School. The retiring
president, Mr H. M. Hall, presided over an
attendance of forty members.
The president referred to the great loss
sustained by the whole Dominion by the
death of the Prime Minister. A motion of
sympathy with Mrs Massey and family was
carried in silence.
The annual report referred to the commencement of the Aranui Hall, the foundation stone of which had been laid the
previous Saturday, and referred also to the
great work done by the Social Committee.
The annual balance-sheet showed a credit
balance of 158, the income for the year being 42 11s 3d, while the hall and piano
fund stood at 115 10s.
The election of officers for the ensuing
year resulted in the following: Patron, Mr
Wm Wilson; president, Mr R. LovellSmith; vice-presidents, Messrs C. H. Aston
and F. O. Rowse; secretary, Mr. C. Priest;
treasurer, Mr J. Venner; General Committee,
Mesdames Aston, Scott and Rowlands and
Messrs Wheeler, Cooper and Iggo; delegates
to the United Council of Burgesses, Colonel
A. E. Loach and Mr J. D. Sprosen; Social
Committee, Messrs C. H. Aston (chairman),
J. Venner, A. Nankivell, F. O. Rowse, C.
W. Iggo, G. J. Wheeler and Mrs Scott and
Mrs Henderson.
Mrs C. W. Iggo and Mr E. J. Howard,
M.P., were elected members of the association.
It was decided to write to the Christchurch Drainage Board asking that the
drains at Bexley be cleaned.
It was decided to write to the Heathcote
County Council asking for a return of the
moneys spent on Pages road out of the
special Avonside load of 12,000.
Complaints were received of the condition
of the footpath in Pages road near the
Sandilands tram stop, and the secretary
was instructed to write to the Christchurch
City Council with regard to the matter.

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161

Chapter 25:

Rhodes Family and the Arctic Shoe Company.

The Rhodes family have contributed a large amount of photographs, film and information in this book. Eric
Rhodes would have no idea that the film footage he took of the area and the thousands of photographs he took
would be treasured and some published in this book. The DVD with this book is mostly footage Eric filmed
himself. It is fitting that Erics family also have a fascinating story to tell about where the family house came
from and the family business. A special thanks to Erics widow Marjorie Rhodes and their son Peter for
allowing me to use this material and taking the time to recall dates, people and events.

Sometime prior to the completion of the Christchurch Cathedral

in 1904, a temporary Vestry was built on the north side beside
the Cathedral where the visitors centre is today. It is seen in the
middle of this photograph. It was clad with corrugated iron with
a door on the long side as pictured. After its completion the
building was no longer needed and by the official opening of the
Cathedral in November 1904, the vestry was relocated to a site
that is now addressed 315 Breezes Road, Aranui.

Photograph: Canterbury
Museum. Dated 1901.

Above: The Weekly Press May 18th, 1904 page 41.

Heading: CHRISTCHURCH CATHEDRAL, WHICH HAS
RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.

This photograph is of a similar building being

relocated in Christchurch in 1899.
Canterbury Times March 29th, 1899 page 28.

162

In 1903 the father of New Brighton, George Thomas Hawker, purchased lots 4 to 6 and 16 to 21 on the above
title plan. (New Brighton Tramway Road is now Pages Road.) You can read a little about Mr Hawker in
chapter 11, where he purchased other land in 1905.
The following is from Geo. W. Walshs book, New Brighton, a regional history, 1852-1970:
He was one of the first to erect a house in Seaview Road. This cottage was one of two cottages he had
purchased which stood on the site of the Canterbury College. The other cottage erected was moved to the Caledonian Road property. The cottage erected in Seaview Road stood on the edge of the footway.
Having taken an active interest in local affairs from earlier days a memorial plaque acknowledging his public
service is erected in the stone wall on the foreshore south of the Pier. The inscription on the stone pillar reads
the following:
This Pillar was erected by G. T. Hawker.
The father of New Brighton.
1865-1924

By
1904,
and it is most likely it was he who relocated the
Breezes Road.

George Hawker had already relocated houses

temporary vestry beside the Christchurch Cathedral to

In 1909, George Hawkers wife Mary Anne died.

In 1911 George Hawker sold lots 5 and 6. He then made lot 4 a separate title of 2 acres.
George Hawker died in 1924 and from 1925 until 1947 the property, lot 4, was owned by members of the
Hawker family. Both Mary Anne and George Hawker are buried in he Linwood cemetery.
From 19201947 Mr Thomas and Mrs Lilly Rhodes rented the house from the Hawker family.
In 1947 the 2 acres, lot 4, was subdivided into 4 tiles. Thomas and Lilly Rhodes purchased the house on
1083m2 now 315 and 313a Breezes Road, son Eric purchased a 865m2 section next door, now 317 Breezes
Road and built a house, and son Stanley purchased the 825m2 section at 319 Breezes Road where he built a
house. This left a section behind their three sections of 2 acres = 8096m2 - 2773m2 = 5323m2. This is now
part of Merrington Crescent.
In 1956 just 12 weeks apart both Thomas and Lilly Rhodes died. The property was then sold.
Marjorie Rhodes, Erics widow, remembers Eric telling her that before 1920 his family lived on Rowses Road
in a house on a sand hill and had cows.

163

Lot 4:
1904 it was 2 acres.
1947 was subdivided
into 4 sections.
Thomas and Lilly
Rhodes at 315 Breezes Road,
Son Eric Rhodes 317
Breezes Road,
Son Stanley Rhodes
319 Breezes Road.

Archives New Zealand

survey map. No date.

In 1904 the vestry was relocated to 315 Breezes Road, Aranui. It was still clad with corrugated iron when it
was sold in 1956, (see DVD). The photograph on the right was taken after the new owners had roughcast the
exterior. The house was demolished in the 1970s and subdivided. Another house was relocated to the exact
spot.

The Rhodes family - Mr Thomas

and Mrs Lilly Rhodes. Their sons
Eric and Stan (Harry and Cyril are
absent) and their three daughters
Eunice, Sadi and Joan at 315
Breezes Road in the 1920s.

164

New Zealand's first Commercially made Sheep-skin boots

The Arctic Shoe Company 1926 - 1939

Sons Eric and Cyril Rhodes working in the shoe factory in the shed behind the house.
During the 13 years of production, all the family helped at one time or another. The skins were purchased from
Bowron Tanneries in Woolston and the complete boots were made in the factory, (shed) behind the family
home. Different sizes and styles made and were sold all over New Zealand. During the depression times local
children would often have their shoes and boots mended for free. When war broke out in 1939, fewer people
could afford to purchase the shoes and boots and factories like this were encouraged to produce a product to
help with the war effort. However Thomas and Lilly Rhodes were getting on in age and decided to retire. The
Arctic Shoe Company closed.

The following photographs were taken by Eric Rhodes from his back yard in
1954-55.

Left: Looking across to Rowses Rd to the old house shifted from Jack Beages place with part of the bloody
big sand hill that we chased those cows through as kids in the early 20s. (Eric Rhodes wrote this on the back
of the photograph).
Right: Looking along Breezes Road toward the hills. The south end of Rowses Road yet to be constructed.
Within just ten years all that is seen in these photographs was developed and built on.
Merrington Crescent and Doreen Street was being developed at this time, 1955, with the first houses already
being built.
Tomrich Street and Rowses Road south was developed in 1961, (see chapter 35).
Breezes and Rowses Roads East was developed in the mid 1970s, (see chapter 12).

165

Above: Marlow Road in the background. The old

two storey house at the right is still there today.
This was Wirihana Wilsons private boys school in
the early 1900s, (see chapter 22).

Above: No mans land, or is that a house?

Above: Looking toward Pages Road before and after the area was cleared.
Left: New houses in Mer rington Crescent.
Right: Looking towar d 19
Lenton Street, my house.
Bottom left: Houses being
built in Breezes Road 1955.
Bottom right: Looking
towards Breezes Road and
Doreen Street corner.

166

167

Chapter 26:

Sport

Sport has been a very big part of peoples life in Aranui and Wainoni from about 1900. The commune at
Professor Bickertons Wainoni, (see chapter 5), undoubtedly had unorganised sports games such as rugby,
cricket, soccer and hockey. Lord Rutherford probably played cricket on many occasions while visiting his
Professor and friend, Bickerton. The two photos below are likely to be of the earliest organised teams to play
sport in the area. Both photographs are from the Canterbury Times newspaper article May 16, 1900 page 33. St
Pauls Presbyterian Bible class from Christchurch and St Johns Bible class from Wellington visited Wainoni
a number of times to learn scriptures to keep their minds fit but also to play sport to keep their bodies fit.

2nd April 1904 page 7

Christchurch Press

Over three hundred members of the

Presbyterian Bible Class Union, representing classes from all parts of the colony,
are in camp at Professor Bickertons
grounds, Wainoni. The encampment opened on Thursday evening, but most of the
members arrived yesterday morning. At
a combined class meeting yesterday afternoon papers were read on The Essential
Characteristics of Our Movement, by G. R.
Hutchison (St. Johns, Wellington), and
The difficulties and defects of our Movements, and their Remedy, by G. Mc
Cracken (Knox Church, Dunedin). Both
papers caused a long discussion, and a
motion was passed that the movement
should extend its sympathy to healthy recreations and amusements, including ath
letics. Fifty delicates, representing thirtythree classes, attended the annual conference yesterday, over which the President
(Mr T. W. Reese) presided. The annual
report showed that new classes had been
formed in nineteen different places. It
was decided that the executive for next
year be stationed in Wellington, and Mr
C. S. Falconer (Kent terrace, Wellington)
was unanimously elected President. The
conference will be continued this morning.
The annual camp concert was held last
evening, and to-day athletic contests for
the championship banner, and a rugby
football match, North v. South Island, will
take place.

168

Dave Iggo and family, Aranui residents for 126 years.

Pages Road, where Nga Hau e Wha Marae is today.

Mr. Charles Iggo beside his Model T Ford car in 1929

In 1866, Alfred Carter (Carters Road) bought a narrow 20 acre block of land that ran from Pages to Cuthberts
Roads. In 1926 the land was then owned by his daughter and son in law, Emma and Charles Iggo. In 1946 the
land was subdivided and the Christchurch Drainage Board bought most of it leaving about 1700 metres
including the family home. This was bought by one of Emma and Charles sons, David Iggo. David, his wife
Joyce and their children lived here until they sold it in 1981 and then finally in 1987 the land was bought as
part of the site for New Zealands first National Marae, Nga Hau E Wha, (The Four Winds). The house was
not demolished but relocated to North Brighton and is still lived in.
During the 1920s David Iggo as a youngster would remove the cows mess from the paddock ready for the
Aranui Rugby Team to challenge another competition team. As you can imagine, the rugby field wasnt too
level and at one end was on a slope. (How many ankles were broken I dont know?). After a while the other
teams complained and new fields were sown on Wainoni Road as proper playing fields.

While a teacher
at Aranui School,
David Iggo
coached the
schools 7 aside
rugby team.
(1961)

Aranui Rugby Team outside the clubhouse (shed) behind the Iggo
family home.
In later years, the Aranui Girls Hockey Team also
used the Iggos land and the clubhouse.

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The football club was formed in 1921. These two pages from the minutes book, kept at the Christchurch City
Library Archives, are from the time before the team was selected. The names of the people involved are well
known people of the district. It is likely that every family in the area would have had some involvement in the
club.

Sometime in the 1920s new football grounds were developed in Wainoni Road. The competition games were
played there while practise continued on the Iggos back paddock.

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From Roly Ireland, pupil of Aranui School late 1930s and early 1940s.
The Aranui Rugby league Club would have been formed about 1937 or 1938. Rugby has always been popular
in the district and as school boys we played regularly against Bromley, Burwood and Brighton as well as on
occasions playing in organised inter-school competitions which were played on Wednesdays at Hagley Park.
We also had teams in the Saturday competition which were under the auspices of the Canterbury Rugby Union
and this is what led us eventually embracing the league code. These grades started under 7 stone then 8 stone 7
pound through to the open grades. We found the 8 stone 7 pound grade a bit too much for us and were on the
end of some heavy defeats, also finding it difficult on occasions to field a full team, which didnt help, until
Ron Lisle suggested we might like to try league. Ron had always been keen on league and was a fine player
himself in his younger days. We had instant success in the new code and became a very hard side to beat,
especially on our home ground which was at school and had permission to use. The playing surface was not
the smoothest and was often the cause of complaint from visiting sides but we simply loved it. I was privileged
to captain the team through the grades until we reached 3rd grade when some players shifted away for
employment and various reasons until I think it would be about 1944 when the club went into recess. Ron Lisle
was always a great supporter of the club in all sorts of ways and had strong support from others such as Morry
Aldwin, Jim White, Bill Duncan and many others.
Aranui had a 3rd grade and a 5th grade team in the late 1920s and early 1930s whose home ground was inside
the trotting track at Wildwood farm owned by the Kerr family, well known identities. We used the loose boxes
for dressing sheds and jumped into the horse trough for a sluice down after the game, not much fun in a
Christchurch winter! Many of these players would have seen war service and this is what caused the club to go
into recess.
I must also mention Ron Lisles contribution in other areas such as school committees, social activities and in
any other way always ready to help as were Tom Lean and Jim Dickie, but there was always a strong
community spirit in the district and I have the fondest memories of growing up in Aranui.
Kind regards,
Roly Ireland.

Aranui School Boys Rugby

League Team 1940s
Photo: Trevor Blewett

Aranui School
Rugby Team 1946

171

EASTERN RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB.

In 1945 The Rugby League Board wanted Joe Walker to rejuvenate the Addington or the Woolston Clubs
which were in bad shape. At the end of 1945, in Joe Walkers lounge in Armagh Street it was decided to form
a new club; The Christchurch Rugby League Club. Joe was the first Secretary/Treasurer, A. Drury was
President, T. Wellesmore was Chairman and L.G. Amos was Patron. H.J. Walker was Club Captain.
During the 1946-47 season there were just six teams and the first club rooms were rented. This comprised of
an old ex-army Quonset hut sited in Gilby Street. It wasnt long before a second location was found at a rented
house in Antigua Street and during the late 1940s a third location, another rented house in St Asaph Street.
During the 1950s with years of fundraising behind them the club purchased a run down two roomed house in
Nova Place at the rear of the Star and Garter Hotel at the cost of 100 pounds. Two club members Sid Collins
and Brian Douglas were carpenters and with other members labour they soon converted the house into one big
room with bar and storeroom. The players spent long hours at the clubrooms drinking and playing cards and
darts etc. It was a great social club from the day Christchurch Rugby League started and still is today, 2005.
After closing one Friday night in the 1960s, fire broke out destroying the whole building. From here the club
rented premises above John Williams fathers panel beating shop in St Asaph Street while a more permanent
building was sort.
1960 saw the first two teams of players come from the Eastern area and with the housing development
growing in the new Wainoni Block and throughout the wider Aranui and Wainoni areas, sights were set on
Wainoni Park in Hampshire Street for a home ground.
During the later 60s Christchurch Rugby League Club was established in the Aranui area and it seemed
appropriate to change its name to Christchurch Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club.
The fire insurance at Nova Place was $2000.00 and was put down as a deposit for just over an acre of land on
Breezes Road. The owner Dave Pattullo was very good with the payment of the balance, allowing it to be paid
over the next few years. A Building and Finance Committee was formed to raise a loan to build the initial
clubrooms in 1969, later extending the main building in 1975-6, and in 1985, in conjunction with the
Christchurch City Council, a crche was built.

1960, the first year Rugby League was

played at Wainoni Park, the home ground.
M. French, R. Franklin, D. Brisbane, P.
Jackson, M. Graham, G. Fairbrother, R.
Dunstan, R. Pattern.

1957: The first Female Rugby League game

in Christchurch.
Christchurch Eastern Suburbs women's
team versus Halswell. Played at Halswell.

172
Like most team sports during the 1990s, less children and seniors were joining teams, putting financial
pressure on the club as team numbers got fewer and fewer. The club was losing money and when the
clubrooms were burned to the ground in 1999 a smaller Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club arranged to use
the Softball venue at Cowles Stadium where teams continue to socialise and show good competition today,
2006.
The success of the club during the 70s and 80s was partly due to the enormous support of coaches, club
referees, crowds of supporters and the huge fundraising efforts by all, especially the ladies committee.
The greatest achievements were when the Seniors won the competition in 1947 and 1975 and were runners up
in 1976.
JUNIOR KIWIS
1981
G.R. Hamburger
1982
J. Rangihuna
SCHOOLBOY KIWIS
1947
O. Cairns
1948
J. McRobie
1949
R. Gillard
1949
P. Hughey
1950-1 R.Booth
1951
R. Hamburger
1952
R. Franklin
1956
G. Clarke
1962-3 G. Cooksley
1963
D. Carroll
1968
B. Dickison
1968
B. Murphy
1970
T.Philpott
1970
D. Harris
1971
B. Edkins
1971
S. Flaus
1976
D. Campbell
1976
A. Stowers
1976
J. Rangihuna
1978
D. Billesdon
1985
D. Brennan
1985
D. Aupaau

1986: Inside the clubrooms on

Breezes Road.

Larry Sutherland M.P.

KIWIS
1955
C. Paskell
1963
J.H. Fisher
1970-1-2 G. R. Cooksley
1971-2 J.H. Fisher
1975
B.I. Dickison
1977-8 A.P. Rushton
1978
B.R. Edkins
1982
G. Stokes
LIFE MEMBERS
1952
R.A. Falgar
1956
J.W. Davies
1962 W.J. McCormick
1964 D.C Wilson
1967 W.A Gray
1969 A.C. Woodham
1971 A.E. Ozanne
1973 R.A. Franklin
1975 L.R. French
1977 J.R. Renney
1979 V.J. French
1985 R.F. Hamburger

This land on Breezes Road was purchased

from Dave Pattullo for the building of the
Clubrooms and grounds. After the fire in 1999
the property was sold and subdivided and
residential houses built on it. The driveway, lot
6, had three elderly person housing units (over
60s units) built on it in 2006, (see chapter 39).

Photographs and information: Dick Hamburger

Mr and Mrs French
Christchurch Eastern Suburbs R.L.C. 40th and 50th anniversary booklets.
Land title

173

1931 Aranui School Rugby Team. Photo: Mrs Buzan

Aranui School offered a lot of sporting opportunities such as basketball, netball, tennis, hockey, soccer, rugby
union as well as rugby league.

1953 Aranui School Soccer Team, Western 6th.

Winners of the Championship knockout!

Ex-pupils from Aranui School, Marching Team.

174
Star newspaper Saturday March
8th, 1924, page 9.
ARANUI ACTIVITES.
-0-

ARANUI GIRLS HOCKEY CLUB.

A meeting of this club will be held
shortly, and the number of new members joining gives promise of a successful season. Any girl desiring to
play may leave her name at the Aranui
Supply Stores.
TENNIS.
A great impetus has been given to
singles games since the inauguration of
a ranking list, and ladder matches are
now quite the order of the day.
A
very close contest was played on Monday for Rung 2, resulting in J. D.
Sprosen defeating F.W. James by 9 - 8,
thus retaining his position.
Matches which will be played next
week are J. Newman v. J. Venner for
Rung 8, and R. Lovell-Smith v. F.W.
James for Rung 3.
Every rung on the mens ladder has
been contested, and in only two cases
have the defenders of a rung failed to
successfully retain their positions.

ABOVE: Aranui Hockey Club

Winners of the Annual Inter-Club
Six-a-Side Tournament 1930.
In 1910 the New Brighton Golf
Links opened on the corner of
Breezes and Cuthberts Roads. This
moved to and was re-named the
Avondale Golf Links in 1919, (see
chapter 16).
There were a number of different
tennis courts in the area over the
years. Pages Road between Shortland Street and Breezes Road was
where club tennis was played and
later moved to Shortland Street
where the entrance to McHaffies
Place is today.
The Aranui camping ground had a
court, (as well as a bowling green),
as did one or two residences.

Aranui gymnastic club in about 1931. The club met at the Aranui Hall
on Breezes Road.
Photo: Marion Reed top row, second right.

In 2007 there is Cowles Stadium to play badminton, gymnastics, basketball, softball and rugby league. Aranui
High School has sports academies as well as club sports. The Centre church has senior rugby league. New
Brighton Soccer Club is off Pages Road in Bexley and competition is played at Cowles Stadium. Linwood
Rugby Club is on Kearneys Road. B.M.X. is off Breezes Road and Bexley Road on the old dump site.
Avondale Golf Course is on the corner of Wainoni and Breezes Roads. Touch Rugby is played in schools and
at Wainoni Park in Hampshire Street. The Aranui Hall in Breezes Road has many different dance classes.
Aranui High School has tennis courts. etc.

175

Chapter 27:

Aranui Speedway 1949-1959.

In 2000, Allan Batt published the book called, ARANUI, a speedway legacy. This book is available in the
Christchurch libraries and for sale while stocks last. The information in this chapter is from Allan Batts book.
As you will read, the Aranui Speedway produced world championship riders and was an excellent form of
entertainment for tens of thousands of people. I often talk to older people who either raced or were spectators
at the speedway. I have also learned that Aranui, was a place used to court the ladies. Many long married
people I have talked with have told me the speedway was where they courted. See practice motorcycling
footage on the DVD.
INTRODUCTION (From the book Aranui a speedway legacy)
The war was over. The world was back in peaceful times and people were starting to get their lives back in
order. Already speedway fans in Auckland and Wellington were getting their weekly fix with the Western
Springs and Hutt tracks in action. Christchurch waited for a new speedway stadium and many bided their time
by catching the action at a track carved out in a paddock at Tai Tapu, some fifteen miles south-east of the city.
The relatively dormant spell, brought about by the closure of Monica Park Speedway in 1938 and then the
outbreak of World War 11, did not leave Christchurch too short of speedway talent. As well as a handful of
old timers from Monica Park, there were plenty of riders from other forms of motorcycling who, after
competition out of Tai Tapu, were keen to give big time speedway a go.
Early in 1948 Alec Pratt, a Wellingtonian, arrived in Christchurch to work for a newly formed business called
the Christchurch Speedways Limited. A number of shareholders were involved in Wellingtons Taita
Speedway which opened in 1947.
After checking out several possible sites including English Park, Christchurchs original track, Pratt selected a
piece of land in Rowan Avenue, Aranui, to construct the new stadium on.

This site was not new to

motorcycling as it had been
the hurly burly course for
the New Brighton Motor
Cycle Club. Several large
sandhills had to be removed
and plenty of trees and bush
cleared. Slowly but surely
the construction of the new
track and stadium took
shape, with an expected
holding capacity of 18,000
spectators. The track had a
clay and sand base covered
with cinders.
Pratt, who had been a pre
-war rider based at
Kilbirnie in Wellington and
Dunedins Speedway Royal,
knew what he wanted and
he wasnt afraid to make
appointments
to
cover
specialised fields to ensure
the companys success.
Amongst then was Les
Moore, a Tasmanian Wall of Death rider who had raced at the Hutt Speedway for Pratt, and another Wellingtonian, Theo Underwood, who was appointed as the track manager.
With the construction required for embankments, terraced seating, fencing and the like finished, at last the
competitors had their first chance to try out the cinders.
For some, the practices were the extent of their careers. While for others, like Mike Holland and Trevor
Redmond, a trip up to Wellington was made to gain racing experience at the Hutt track.
All of a sudden speedway was providing a way to make a living. Former Aucklander, Jack Cunningham set up
Direct Speedway Supplies who had several speedway machine agencies for imported equipment.

176
Out at Sockburn, Jim and Bill Philp had started a speedway line at their Uniweld business complete with a
training track. With the provision of these facilities the Philp brothers played a large part in the re-birth of
speedway in Christchurch.
There were many others who played pivotal roles at Aranui. Many of them are mentioned somewhere in the
following pages, but a similar number are not.
This book is dedicated to all of those who gave a big part of their lives to the Aranui Speedway.
Allan Batt (AJ) December 2000

Above: October 1948 - Construction work at the site of the Aranui

Speedway.
Below: A view of the Rowan Avenue entrance to the stadium.

The man whose dream became the

Aranui Speedway.
Alec Pratt.

FIRST SEASON - 1949

On Saturday 29 January 1949, amid great excitement, the Mayor of Christchurch Mr. E.H. Andrews officially
opened the Aranui Speedway. He claimed in his speech, that the speedway had a big future as it was situated
away from residential areas but was within easy reach of the city.
The crowd of over 10,000 roared its approval while the Crichton Cobbers Band and Essex Marching Girls led
the Grand Parade which featured top Wellington riders, Peter Dykes and Kevin Hayden. After the formalities
racing began in earnest. An ex-Monica Park rider, Ernie Brown took his Harley Davidson powered machine to
victory and entered the record books as the first winner of a race at Aranui.
The nights programme was incident free. However, during the second heat of the big Nine Handicap, Bob
McFarlane hit the fence coming into the home straight. One reporter described the incident in a rather unique
manner. A wobble, a slide, and Bob was heading for the officials box on the infield. Announcer, Bob
Cooney, did a neat two-step in an effort to decide which way McFarlane was headed, the starter shot one way,
and Tom McCleary headed the other!
Another reporter noted the performance of fifteen year old Ronnie Moore, who needs to be told very little on
how to handle a machine. Other first night winners were Ossie Hawkins, Jack Cunningham, Kevin Hayden,
Trevor Redmond, Bob Stewart, Bill Philp, Peter Dykes and Ray Ayres. But, while he never registered a win, it
was Ronnie Moore who had the crowds support..

177
.On 16 April 1949, the Aranui Speedway hosted its first international match when a New Zealand team
took on a lineup from Australia. Most of the top riders from either country were already en-route to Britain, so
both teams were pretty much second or third string lineups. Indeed after three heats the Kiwis looked headed
for a big win, having already pulled out to a 10 point lead, however a brave fight-back brought the Aussies
back within striking distance.
The leg injury sustained by Redmond against Auckland the previous week forced him to retire after the fifth
heat. His replacement, veteran Art Lamport, brought the house down when he rode brilliantly to win the
seventh heat.
The final results saw New Zealand win by 32 points to 21.

Above: The first Canterbury side from left; Mick Holland,

Art Lamport, Jack Cunningham and Trevor Redmond.
Below: The finalists in the track championships from left;
Mick Holland, Art Lamport, Trevor Redmond. and Jack Cunningham.

Below: A couple of riders getting in some

practice laps.

Geoff Mardon putting in some practice.

178

Above: The final of the South Island Championship (1950) from left
Trevor Redmond, Ronnie Moore, Mick Holland and Bob McFarlane.
Right: Billy Philp with English legend Jack Parker.
SEASON 4 1951 - 1952
Ten local riders had ventured across to Britain during the winter to try their luck on the tough speedway scene.
All did well, and some were simply sensational.
The chief headline grabber was, without doubt, Ronnie Moore. In his second year of British racing he became
one of the hottest properties in the Division One competition. He also finished fourth in the World competition
and it was only a matter of time before the world crown would be his. Trevor Redmond and Geoff Mardon
began with a Third Division side, Aldershot, but by the end of the 1951 season they were with Division One
glamour sides, Wembley and Wimbledon respectively. A third rider at Aldershot was Craig Jones, who had
started the season with Wimbledon. At Cardiff Mick Holland established himself as a key rider, while his
brother Laurie thrilled the crowds everywhere with his spectacular riding, despite a slow start due to injury.
Others to have had a taste of the British action were Dick Campbell, Jack Cunningham, Les Moore and Alby
Thomas.
The gates at Aranui re-opened on 29 November. No thrilling handicap Races were programmed so the racing
was fairly processional, and the more experienced riders dealt to their rivals with comparative ease. None of
the big guns had arrived home yet, so it gave some of the other riders a good chance of winning a good haul
of the prize money...
SEASON 5 1952 - 1953
It was a wet start for the new Track Manager, Ted Beckett
with the first two practices being rained out. Again it
appeared that few star riders would be available to
represent Canterbury in the Speedway League, although
the impending return of Geoff Mardon would no doubt
strengthen things. Barry Briggs had ventured to South
Africa, in the company of Trevor Redmond and Ronnie
Moore.
On the right side of the ledger was the return of Brian
McKeown after a season in Britain, and it was announced
that Wembley rider Jimmy Gooch would replace Norman
Parker as the Canterbury team captain. Following four
seasons racing based solely around the speedway solos,
Beckett introduced sidecar racing to the fare in a bid to
add variety to the nights entertainment..
.A skilful display by the two outfits competing
marked the introduction of sidecar racing to the programme. Bob Burns with Clarrie Davey in the chair, and Bob Burns with another of the sidecar pioneers Ken Lipscomb.
Ken Lipscomb with John Lee acting as the ballast, entertained the crowd which was surely left hoping that more sidecars would face the starter at future meetings...

179
SEASON 6 1953 - 1954
..The midgets brought the crowd to its feet as the cars slid sideways around the bends, and sometimes
down the straights. However the general feeling was that the track was too narrow for most passing
manoeuvres. Reg Hammond won the first race from Bill Harris and Bill Shaw. Because there was no organised
Speedway League, it came down to the track promoters to organise inter-track matches in a bid to continue
riding on the success of teams racing.
..While Jim Curline won two of the sidecars events and Ronnie Moore the other, the flamboyant style of
back marker Earl Wilde earned him the bulk of the crowds applause. The midget cars continued their
progress, with some tight competition between the seven cars. Gerald Jiggs Alexander won both races. In the
first race he started from a handicap of seventy yards. For the next race the handicapper pegged him back a
further fifty yards, which made him really work for his money.
The seasons last two meetings featured the return of the Match Race Championship. Ronnie Moore made a
successful challenge on the first night, defeating Barry Briggs quite decisively. The seasons final night
attracted a large crowd, including 800 American tourists who were in town as part of an Around the World
cruise on the luxury cruise ship Caronia. They would have been particularly impressed as good racing and
track work made for an excellent evenings entertainment, particularly in the Match Race Championship
between Moore and Mardon..

Above: Jiggs Alexander in his Ford powered Midget.

Photo John Williams

Above: First night competitors in the Midget Cars including (from

left) Bill Shaw, Snow Smith and Reg Hammond (55)
Photo V.C. Browne

Above: Ron Rutherford in his Ford Special Midget.

Above: Neil Stuart in the Racing Car section

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SEASON 7 1954 - 1955
.The seventh season at Aranui opened on 27 November 1954, and with it came New Zealands first taste
of stockcar racing. Also introduced to the programme were events for stock bikes and racing cars to
complement the existing fare of solos and midgets. Despite smaller than usual fields, a crowd of around 5,000
certainly got value for money, particularly from the racing cars that provided the nights best racing.
Ronnie Moore, who had won the World Solo Championship during the northern summer, showed his
versatility by competing in the racing cars at the wheel of a tiny Cooper. His battle with Hec Green, who was
in a R.A. Vanguard, was particularly memorable. For eleven laps the cars hotly contested the lead, at times
they seemed to be locked together in high-speed runs down the straights. The Cooper had a distinct advantage
through the corners, but eventually Green got passed. The crowd was on their feet cheering wildly. Moore
confined his activities to the cars so the bikes were a bit short of name riders but the return of Craig Jones
somewhat buoyed the section. Jones was a bit rusty, having just returned from a stint of active service in
Korea. The wily Welshman, Windy Rees, took out the nights solo final from Selwyn Burt and Peter Adair.
Regular solo riders Maurie Daniel and Syd Harrison were the top stock bike performers, while Bill Harris put
his name in the record books as the winner of the first stockcar race.
The crash and bash action of the stockcars really got the crowd going, and despite the track and fence suffering
somewhat it was, by all accounts, a very successful debut....

Right: Nola Blackburn was one of the

standout drivers in the Racing Car class

Left: The fence was the biggest

loser from this Stockcar battle

181

Above: The Butchers Picnic

Above: Sidecars ready for a start

Above: Veteran motor racing identity Hec Green put

in some good drives in Pluto
Photo John Williams

Above: Ray Revell fills the Goldfinch V860 with water

Above: John Jacobson (34) and Trevor Hall in Midgetcar action

Above: Co-Promotor Alison Holland presents Ray

Revell (Australia) with some silverware from the
Australasian Midget Car Championships

182
SEASON 8 1955 - 1956
A reported crowd of 10,000 attended the opening meeting of the 1955-56 season, which was held on 8 October
1955. With Des Wild and Alison Holland once again at the helm, the competitors and fans were assured of a
great season
This meeting was also the first competitive appearance of Ivan Mauger, who finished second behind Alby
Jordon in the Novice Race. The promoters retained all of the previous seasons classes and most of the top
competitors were still racing.
In the sidecars Earl Wilde, on a machine powered by two J.A.P. 500cc engines, was the early pacesetter while
Neil Stuart (racing cars), Bill Harris (midgets), and Peter Snell (stockcars) enjoyed similar roles..
...Ivan Mauger had also shown good improvement in the Novice Section and on 5 November 1955, he
registered his first of many race wins..
..They say that Christchurch speedway fans appreciate great motorcycle solo racing more than any other
New Zealanders, so it was perhaps appropriate that Test Match racing returned to the country in front of a
large Aranui crowd. The visiting team was lead by Ken McKinley with Ron Mountford, Eric Williams and
Fred Pawson.
Williams in particular was expected to provide some stiff opposition for the Kiwis, in light of his fourth
placing in the previous World Championship.
The Kiwis had the runner up from that Championship, Ronnie Moore, as Captain with Mike Holland, Brian
McKeown, and Hastings star Peter Clark, completing the lineup. From the beginning of the first heat it was
obvious that the match would be a close one and, in fact, going into the last heat the Kiwis were four points
behind. Moore, perhaps the greatest team rider that speedway had ever known, got the early lead in the
deciding race. He soon let Clark through so that he himself could hold out the hard riding McKinley, who was
left to go it alone after his partner Williams pulled out early in the race. With the English captain firmly
entrenched in third place, Moore passed his team mate just before the finish line to tie the match at a 27 all
draw
.. The nights proceedings saw two other noticeable happenings. In the Aranui Handicap, Windy Rees and
his son Ken shared a dead heat for the first place. Such finishes would be
a rarity, but a father and son! The other notable incident was when George
Samuel won Christchurchs first official TQ race from Stan Fisher, Bill
Philp and Sid Faulkner...

Above: Early Stock Car action

Below: Novice rider Ivan Mauger

Bottom right:
The Ultra Midgets
were very popular
particularly with the
children

183
NZ Test side 1955-56
from left;
Brian McKeown, Ronnie Moore,
Des Wild (Promotor),
Barry Briggs and
Peter Clark

SEASON 9 1956 - 1957

In their final race Moore took the lead into the first bend but
Fundin overtook him and an exciting duel ensued over the next four
laps. Moore was in the lead as they slid into the front straight for the
last time, but Fundin got up to win by inches ahead of Moore.
...Unbeknown to everyone this was to be Ronnie Moores last
appearance as a competitor at the Aranui track. Days later he
announced his retirement to concentrate on racing cars..
SEASON 11 1958 - 1959
On 30 November 1958, the final season of racing at Aranui Speedway commenced. The imminent returns of Ivan Mauger, Barry
Briggs, and Brian McKeown were eagerly awaited as all three had
been in fine form during a stint overseas. Briggs would be returning as a double World Champion after his
wins in 1957 and 1958. The TQ class would certainly benefit from the off-season purchase by Selwyn Burt of
the Doug Culhane car from Auckland. .After the formal opening of the season by the Minister of
Transport, Mr Jock Mathison, the action came thick and fast. The first midget race had a spectacular incident
when Bill Clarkson and Earl Wilde collided and crashed heavily into the track fence. Both were hospitalised
with minor injuries. ...Ivan Mauger returned the following week and he immediately showed that he had
learned plenty. Showing a
relaxed style of riding and cornering at speeds far superior to his rivals, Mauger
had the crowd buzzing from the minute he put in a few pre-meeting practice laps. He went through his three
rides unbeaten, but Mike Houston, Bruce Savage, and Ken Rees rose to the occasion to provide some stiff
opposition
...Some anxious moments were experienced in the midget races with both Ross Payne and Trevor Hall
being lucky not to suffer injury. Hall, in particular, could count his blessings after going through the fence and
bringing down a lamp pole during the Aranui Midget Handicap. Bill Bone also knocked out a few fence palings the following week, as the midget car action heated up. Collisions and cars becoming locked together
were a regular part of the midget car races
....An inter-island solo clash was the thirteenth meetings feature attraction. With another big crowd
present the South Island team of Briggs, Mauger, Mardon, and McKeown were far too strong for the North
team, which consisted of Bruce Abernethy, Jack Hart and Kevin Hayden
..on 11 April 1959, the gates of Aranui Speedway closed for the final time. The final nights racing was
presented by the Christchurch Speedway Association as a fundraiser to help find and build a new permanent
home for speedway in the city. Despite the appearance of Briggs, Mauger, Mardon and McKeown, and a
return match-up in the TQs, only a small crowd attended the meeting, which very nearly fell victim to poor
weather. Also racing were three old timers form the Monica Park Speedway era - Bill Philp, Norm Gray and
Art Lamport, who all took the opportunity to have one last race.
Last night winners were John Lee, Bernie Carlisle, Barry Briggs, Mick Houston, Geoff Mardon and Bernie
Lagrosse in the solos. Selwyn Burt won the three TQ races. Bill Bone won all the speedcar races, including the
last race to be held at Aranui.
Within weeks, the dismantling and levelling of Aranui Speedway began and it was soon reduced to history.
While the future of Aranui had long been in doubt, its closing was a painful one for all its many fans, officials
and competitors. To fill the huge void and prevent the sport from dying, the Ellesmere Auto Cycle and Aquatic
Club ran meetings at Osborne Park in Doyleston, some thirty five miles from Christchurch. The Christchurch
Speedway Association also did its bit by searching for a new home for speedway racing in the city.
Three years later the Billy Philp Memorial Stadium opened at Templeton Domain, but speedway racing in
Christchurch would never quite be the same.

184
Des Wild did plenty to
re
-establish Aranui Speedway

The Rock and Roll cars provided

plenty of entertainment

John Jacobson in his Racing Car

EPILOGUE
There was much more to the Aranui speedway than the 182 race meetings held at the Rowan Avenue site. As
far as Speedways go it had a huge following, particularly during the first four seasons when inter provincial
rivalry for the Uniweld Golden Helmet was almost as big as Ranfurly Shield Rugby.
The names of the competitors rolled off the end of sporting fanatics tongues as readily as test rugby and cricket
players names did and a large supporters club which organised many after race dances which gave the fans
an opportunity to mingle with the competitors.
Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and Geoff Mardon all got to ride the tractor at Wembley which signified a first
three placing in the World Championship. Of course Moores two World titles and the four won by Briggs
have gained them a place among Speedway immortals but Mardons terrific placing at the 1953 final must
never be forgotten.
Another Aranui old boy Trevor Redmond also made the World Final in 1954 but his place in sports history is
perhaps more assured due to his standing as one of the first dedicated Promoters of speedway in both Britain
and South Africa.
And then there is Ivan Mauger. He started off as a raw novice in 1955 and went on to win six individual World
Speedway Championships as well as many Pairs, Teams and Long Track titles. This places him as one of the
greatest Speedway riders of all time.
For each of these superstars there were many others whose big night came when the gates to the Aranui
Speedway swung open. Aranui was their Wembley.
The Sidecars, Midgets, TQs and Stockcars also had their heroes. John Shaw and Rex Burt went on to win New
Zealand TQ Championships while Trevor Hall was desperately unlucky not to join Bill Harris as a New
Zealand Midget Car Champion.
Throughout the eleven seasons that Aranui ran it had some very capable promoters. Alec Pratt, Ted Beckett,
Les Moore, Des Wild, Alison Holland and Pat Doling all left their mark on the place.
It was Speedway that launched many dreams and shattered others and despite its relatively modest facilities, it
deserves its place as one of the greatest Speedways that ever opened its gates.

The end of Aranui Some members of the Christchurch

Speedway help with the demolition job

185

Bill Philp

Harry Randall

Dick Campbell

Jim Swarbrick

Alby Thomas

Ivan Mauger

Geoff Mardon

Art Lamport

Ray Ayres

Earl Wilde

Bruce Abernethy (Wgt)

Fred Williams (Akl)

Gil Craven (Eng)

Brian McKeown

Ken Smith

Bill Harris

Ron Johnston (Otago)

Norman Parker (Eng)

Bob McFarlane

Larry Houston

Brian Norriss

Trevor Hall

Chris Boss (Eng)

Trevor Redmond

Ronnie Moore

Tom Johnston (Otago)

Mick Holland

Selwyn Burt

Ernie Brown

Russell Lang

Ray New (Akl)

Craig Jones

Les Moore

186

The Priest Family - 40 Rowan Avenue.

(Not from Allan Batts book)

Above: Ducks from their back yard

taken in 1922.
Left: Lesley Priest outside the family
home in 1986.
Mr and Mrs Colin and Madeline Priest bought
this house in 1920 along with the section next
door. They had two children, Leslie and Valmai.
Prior to W.W.2, Mr Colin Priest worked for a
jewellery manufacturer then as a car salesman at
Hutchinson Ford. At the beginning of W.W.2, he
was manpowered to Oakleys sheet metal
factory where he stayed until he retired.
Originally Rowan Avenue was named Burton
Road after a member of the Heathcote Council
Mr George Kyngdon Burton who had a farm in
Bromley. Mr Burton died in 1957 at the age of 98
and was the last surviving member of the
Heathcote Road Board.
Mr Colin Priest and his neighbour Mr Ernest
Young planted Rowan Trees in the street in the
early 1930s. This is why the name Rowan
Avenue was chosen to replace Burton Road.
In 1948, the construction of the Aranui Speedway
had begun. The entrance was almost opposite the
Priests house. Both their house and the Young
family's next door were built on sandhills and had
a good view of the speedway. Their houses can be
seen in the speedway photograph.
When the speedway opened in 1949, Leslie
would charge speedway patrons to park bikes on
their property, as parking was a problem when
10,000 people turned up on a Saturday night. A
sixpence for a motorbike and a threepenny bit for
a pushbike. It didnt take long for Leslie to save
enough money to purchase his first motorbike
Fizzer.
Their neighbours (Mr Ernest Young), owned the
jewellers shop, Youngs Jewellers. The business
was sold long ago but the company, Young's
Jewellers is still in business in Christchurch.
Right: Leslie and his sister Valmai on his newly
purchased motorbike named Fizzer, outside their
house at 40 Rowan Avenue about 1950.

187

Chapter 28:

Wainoni Amateur Speedway 1949-1953.

The Wainoni Amateur Speedway began in
1949 the same year the Aranui Speedway
opened. Dozens of children between the
ages of 9 to 14 years met regularly to race.
Four riders at a time would race one another
around the course. There were heats, semi
finals and finals.
The children cleared the track by hand,
using spades and shovels.
There was a president, secretary and an
official office at "Bettaplants" Nursery on
Ottawa Road. The members paid subs and
there were prizes and raffles.

The track was located off Avonside Drive near Emlyn Place in an area that was formerly known as Wainoni.
Later when the area was subdivided and became residential, this part of Wainoni was unofficially referred to
as Avondale.
As well as club races there were interclub races and during the 1950s the club held the New Zealand
Championships, at which clubs from Christchurch and Dunedin competed. North Island clubs wanted to
attend but this was not possible.

188

In 1953 a young man was convicted of stealing two bikes

from the Aranui Speedway and racing them at Wainoni.
When he had a crash and the bike was broken he would
pinch another one. By this time some of the boys had grown
in age and with this bad publicity it was decided to call it a
day.
A dance was held in the Aranui Hall with a band as a final
farewell.
Many of the older boys then raced at the Aranui Speedway
on motor bikes. The most famous of whom was Ivan
Mauger who has won more New Zealand titles in any sport
ever, (see chapter 27).

189

SPEEDWAY
FOR YOUNG
CYCLISTS

f it is a good thing for any

sport to have plenty of youthful followers, the future of speedway riding in Christchurch is
assured. From time to time since
the opening of the motor-cycle
speedway at Aranui, youthful
enthusiasts have shown their
paces on small home made
speedways in various parts of the city, but
few have flourished to
the same
extent as the speedway
at Wainoni.
The juvenile riders at Wainoni
have reduced speedway riding on
cycles to a fine art. They ride
strictly according to speedway rules, and
even hold teams races for appropriate
trophies, which look like
changing
hands frequently in view
of the
keenness of the competition.
The
gold helmet for the teams
racing
events is a worthy replica of the glittering trophy for which the champions
make the cinders fly at Aranui. There is
a suitable trophy, too, for individual
championships.
The land on which the Wainoni
speedway is established was made
available through the generosity of a
resident of the district. On Sunday afternoons, the racing there
attracts a fair number of people
seeking
entertainment.
Certainly
the management does its best.
There is a good sound amplifying
system, in the hands of a seasoned
announcer who extracts every atom
of excitement and humour from the
races.

Newspaper articles are from Tom Reeds scrapbook. (No dates kept)

Wainoni Rider Wins

Speedway Honours

Cycle racing in speedway form

appears to have taken a firmer hold
in Christchurch than in any city in
New Zealand, and on reports from
other centres the Wainoni Amateur
Speedway Club must be about the
most progressive in the country.
Last week the club ran a meeting
styled the New Zealand championships, in which riders from other
clubs in Christchurch and from Dunedin took part.
Efforts had been made to have competitors from the North Island attend,
but unfortunately this did not prove
possible. For all that however, the
competition was keen, though familiarity with the track gave the Wainoni
competitors a decided advantage.
There was about fifteen aspirants
to national title honours, but in the
finish the issue lay between C. Fisk
and W. Mechen, the two star Wainoni riders, with the laurels going to
Mechen in the run-off. Mechen has
won success, too, in short road cycle
races.
When training the day before the
meeting, the Dunedin riders had
equalled the track record, but they
could not do nearly as well in actual
competition. The meeting was run
with a celerity and smoothness that
would have done credit to many
more important fixturesa tribute to
its youthful but efficient organisers.

Humour, too

Certainly there is no lack of

humour, particularly in the free for
all races, in which the rules are
allowed to go by the board, and a
fallen rider who sees no reason why
others should remain mounted can
do anything he likes about it. And
between these lively exchanges the
spectators are entertained by music
over the loud speakers.
In forming their speedway, these
Wainoni youths did everything possible to make it conform to its larger
counterparts in New Zealand. A safety fence protects spectators, and there
are even well-appointed pits where the
riders, who cannot afford
to retain
mechanics, effect big repair jobs like
the complete overhaul of a three-speed
gear box in a matter of minutes.

Cycle Speedway ChampionshipR.

Hamburger won the South Island championship, decided at the Wainoni cycle
speedway during the week-end. R. Brown
was second and I. Mauger third. Trophies
were presented by Mr W. Philip, whose
young son gave a display on his midget
motor-cycle.

W. Mechin Wins Wainoni

Cycle Speedway Senior Race

The Canterbury senior championship

race at Wainoni Cycle Speedway meeting on Sunday was won by W. Mechin,
with R. Hamburger second and M. Knight
third. H. Sanders won the Canterbury
junior championship with P. Gibson
second and B. Beer third.

Speedway RacesWainoni beat

Eagles, 29-11, in a series of cycle
speedway races held during the
week-end.

Taking Ways Lead to

Court Appearance
This lad has taking wayshe
has a flair for taking other peoples
property.
This description was given by
Senior-Sergeant J.C. Fletcher in the
Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon to Ian Harold Pattison, a
labourer, aged 19, who admitted two
charges - that he stole a bicycle
valued at 25, the property of
Michael Lydon, on March 29, and
that he stole a bicycle valued at
25, the property of Malcolm John
Gowans, on March 10. he was
remanded for a week for a probation Officer's report, by Mr Rex C.
Abernethy, S.M.
Pattison pleaded not guilty to a
third chargethat he stole a bicycle
valued at 21 15s, the property of
Robert Allan Walker, on February
20. This charge was dismissed.
Pattison could neither read nor
write, said Mr Fletcher. He rode on
the speedway track at Wainoni, and
when he smashed a cycle he simply
took the first one he saw.
Its always a good one, commented Mr Fletcher.

190

191

Chapter 29

Port Christchurch 1906-1934.

In the first decade of the 1900s, Christchurch and the surrounding countryside was growing in population and
producing more and more exports. Lyttelton Port was struggling to cope with the increasing demand. The
single railway tunnel with heavy charges made cartage expensive. A solution was desperately needed. About
this time the Lyttelton Harbour Board instructed their engineer, Mr. Cyprus J. Williams, to report on the matter
of Harbour extensions, a portion of the scheme being the construction of a ship canal via Sumner to
Christchurch. In 1906 it was decided to employ a British engineer company to explore the viability and cost.
Mr. Wilson, Messrs. Goode and a Son and Mathews representative, arrived in Christchurch on 25th January
1907, and took until the 18th February to complete this task.
There were two problems, the first was the price difference of construction between Mr. Cyprus J. Williams
and Mr. Wilson, Messrs. Goode. The second was the practicality of a port that would be just 20 feet deep in
the low tide and 25 feet at high tide. The construction cost in 1907 could reach 2,500,000.00 pounds. This cost
would make charges too high for users of the port. Although many different plans were drawn over the
decades to follow, like the one below dated 1919, it was decided to look elsewhere for a solution. With W.W.1
and less growth the Harbour coped for the next two decades.
Canal Reserve
Factories

Aranui
and
Wainoni

Estuary
reclaimed

Avon
River

Boat Harbour

Map 1919
Pegasus Bay

Redcliffs

Sumner

Train track and Lyttelton

tunnel
Wharf workers houses
and farms

1933

In the early 1930s Port Christchurch as it had been named, was again pushed. With the depression widespread
labour was available and cheap. Politicians, residents groups and people throughout Christchurch wanted the
Port built.
Funds were being raised from a variety of investors, political groups, businesses, individuals and residents
groups including the Aranui Burgesses Association in 1932-33.
Port Christchurch was about to become reality.
BUT:
It was now the 1930s which meant that although there was a lot of cheap labour because of the depression,
there was also a massive decrease in exports from Lyttelton Harbour.

192
The cost to build Port Christchurch had again increased, so it was decided to widen and extend Dyers Pass
Road. By the time the depression was over new modern trucks were available and could use this route over the
Port Hills from Christchurch to Lyttelton. I also found a plan of a suggested scheme for a Christchurch
Lyttelton road tunnel in The Weekly Press and New Zealand Referee dated October 14th 1926 page 31,
which suggests that this must have been another option thought about during this time.

REFERENCES

1. Entrance beyond Scarborough, in deep water.

1-2. Rubble Breakwater.
1-3. Entrance Channel dredged to 30ft. at low water. Can be
dredged to any depth.
3. Harbour: basin 150 acres; wharves spaced 400ft. apart, 4000ft.
wide, by 1,600ft. long.
4. Oil Wharf, with 350 acres reclamation.
5. Reclamation, 250 acres.
6. Railway to Harbour.
7. Reclamation.
8. Seaplane Base.
9. New Main Highway to North.

193
You can see from the newspaper advertisement on the left
that a majority of people wanted Port Christchurch to be
constructed. What if it had happened? What would the
Aranui and Wainoni Districts be like now?
Today is Sunday 21st January 2007. I could take my
daughter to the redundant port and walk along the
breakwater and catch a fish.
I could go kayaking around the old wharves, dive into the
water or is it too shallow?
Would it have all been demolished and factories built
there?
A new housing subdivision with water views?
Where would the sewage treatment plant have expanded
to? Aranui and Wainoni?
Would there have been a faster more dense population
growth in the district to house workers at the port before it
was redundant? If so I think the district would have a lot
of old workers cottages and today redevelopment of new
houses would be everywhere.

There are a lot of possibilities and one thing is for sure, Aranui and Wainoni would have been a totally
different place to live then and now. With the districts rich history I am glad that Port Christchurch didnt
eventuate.
Sources: Christchurch City Library Archives Supplementary report 27th February 1934 and Access to the
sea report of investigation committee 1933, The Weekly Press and New Zealand Referee dated October 14th
1926 page 31, The Weekly Press articles July 8th 1908 page 68, The Star Tuesday July 8th 1919 page 5, Bob
Andrews collection Port Christchurch Plan 1919.

194

195

Chapter 30:

Richard Pearse - the first man to fly.

1972

2007

The house that Pearse built!

164 Breezes Road.

In 1903 Richard Pearse was the first person to fly an aeroplane. During 1921 Pearse built the first of three
houses, which was located at 4 Breezes Road, later renumbered 164 Breezes Road. During 2003 the property
was subdivided and soon after the house was renovated and roughcast over.

The following is from Gordon Ogilvies book; The Riddle of Richard Pearse.
.a small community now known as Aranui grew up alongside the tram route where Pages Road was
formed. The first settlers there used the New Brighton tramline as a right-of-way. Their land was cheaply
bought but it was almost pure sand and infertile. Wainoni, situated west of Pages Road in between Linwood
and Aranui was another such area. As a district its chief claim to fame up till then had been Professor
Bickertons Wainoni Park, the most extraordinary entertainment area Christchurch has ever seen.
It was on Breezes Road, Wainoni, that Pearse decided to make his fresh start, only a block away from
Bickertons former land. He had spent all but eighteen months of his forty-four years in rural areas and
Wainoni was suitably quiet at this stage: yet if he wanted to go to town the New Brighton tram route was only
a few hundred yards walk to Pages Road.
On 28 November 1921 Pearse, describing himself as a farmer, paid John Hutchinson of New Brighton 45 for
a section of 40 perches. It was situated on the south side of Breezes Road and was next section but one from
the Wainoni Street corner. Pearse, who had built nothing larger than a shed before, now set about constructing
a house.
He did the job on his own, in a deliberate and methodical manner. Much of the timber he used was secondhand
and he wheeled it to the section on a bicycle. He lived on the site. There were three or four other houses in the
vicinity and Pearse kept completely to himself. Occasionally neighbouring children would visit him to see
what was going on, and Frank Roberts remembers that several times he recorded their voices on his recording
machine and let them hear themselves back. Now and again he used to go next door to the Roberts house and
size things up when he was not sure what to do next. Frank remembers Pearse sinking his own well behind the
house. He had a gantry and pulled the monkey up and down himself. In sandy coastal suburbs like Wainoni the
water table is apt to vary with the tides and seasons of the year. But nevertheless, water is never very far
downusually within ten feetand Pearse got it quite easily.
The house he built still stands. It was formally 4 Breezes Road but in renumbering it has become no. 164. In
style it is a single-storeyed weatherboard bungalow with a livingroom, three bedrooms, an entrance hall, passage, scullery, bathroom and detached washhouse and toilet. The construction is reasonably solid still, and has
lately been restyled, but originally it was far from an artistic performance. Pearse did everything himself, even
to installing the lighting and plumbing. He planted a Macrocarpa fence and front hedges but did not put down
paths or garden. The land remained sandy and uncultivated until his death, though there was a rough attempt at
a front lawn. As soon as the house was finished, Pearse put in a tenant and lived off the modest rental. Barely
two years after he had bought the Wainoni section he bought another, at 68 Wildberry Street in Woolston.
Woolston was by 1923 a well established south-eastern suburb skirting the lower Heathcote River and Ferry
Road, the main route to Sumner and the Eastern Port Hills. It had been part of the City of Christchurch since
1921. ...

196
..1947... Every Saturday Pearse used to collect his rents. To do this he usually got into a dark suit,
donned a dark felt hat, rolled a coat up on his handlebars and cycled along to Dampier Street. Though it was
only two blocks away, he would never have considered going without his bicycle. After a brief word or two to
George Allan, who had rented the house there from 1941, he would then cycle the three miles and a half to
Breezes Road where John McLellans rented his other house. From there, after another chat and a cup of tea, he
cycled his way back to Woolston. In his last year or two he became too unsteady on his bicycle to ride it any
more. He then used to wheel it instead. The Polkinghornes, who lived across the road from the McLellans,
used to see the old gentleman approaching wearily from afar, usually along Wainoni Road. Mrs McLellan, a
warmhearted Scotswoman, always treated him with kindness. Best of all, she listened to him patiently when
he talked. She heard him speak often of his aeroplanes and other sidelines but never knew whether to take him
seriously or not. Few ever did. .

31st March 1903, Waitohi, New Zealand.

Extracts from Gordon Ogilvies book,

The riddle of Richard Pearse.

"The plane taxied for a considerable distance, keeping very well to the centre of the road. Then Pearse
accelerated, and the machine rose sluggishly into the air, sounding like a giant chaffcutter". The plane was
traveling at an estimated 20 mph. "As soon as it got into the air it started pitching rather badly and the climb
was very slow. The aeroplane then veered badly to the left and landed on top of the gorse hedge". Different
witnesses estimated the flight was from 50 yards to 1/4 mile, the average being 150 yards. Mrs. Inwood
remembered later how "goggle-eyed with amazement" those present were at this spectacle. The flight lasted a
little over 5 seconds.
It is clear from his remarks that Pearse did not himself regard this as flying. Nor, apparently, did he regard the
Wright brothers' efforts on 17 December 1903 as true flights because they used a launching rail.
Gordon Ogilvies book is a very interesting read. It is available from book shops and libraries. As the author of
Aranui and Wainoni History, I will have the last say;
As a one-eyed Cantabrian I say if the Wright brothers flew, then so did Richard Pearse - 9 months earlier.
What is more amazing is that his plane had 3 wheels and "ailerons".
Ailerons are wing tip rudders. (All planes have them).
AND apart from the spark plug, Richard Pearse made the whole engine using a pedal powered metal lathe, that
he also made.
AND Pearse invented gear change on handlebars on bicycles.
What an amazing Aranui/Wainoni citizen!

197

Chapter 31:

307 Pages Road - McHaffie - Aranui Motor Camp.

On the 3rd October 1878 Joshua Page took title of
this 60 acre block. In 1889 Page subdivided the block
and sold off different lots until 1900 when the
balance was transferred to Charlotte Page.

Title 34/244

The first lot, Lot 9, was sold to Gilbert Hamilton

McHaffie in 1889 and soon after the McHaffie
family built their new home. The property was
transferred to his wife Edith in 1891.
This is where the street names Pages Road and
McHaffies Place originated.
It is very likely that the McHaffie family planted the
blue gum trees, the remaining of which are in
McHaffies Reserve in McHaffies Place today.
The Press newspaper records in an article July 8th
1901 that G.H. McHaffie was elected to the Board of
the New Zealand Trotting Association.
Two of the sons A. McHaffie and G. McHaffie are
recorded on the W.W.1 Roll of Honours board for
Aranui, G. McHaffie as being killed while serving.

McHaffie
Lot 9
Year 1889
Title 137/216

Without looking up every title to learn exactly how

much other land the family purchased and when, and
the change in title boundaries it is obvious that some
transactions occurred because on title 137/216 it is
written that in 1919 Mr Louis Laugesen purchased
part of their land; lot 14 from the McHaffies totalling
over 5 acres leaving lots 1,2,3 and 6 which were sold
in 1928.

Title 315/25

Although the Laugesen family owned the property

for just two years it is worth mentioning them as they
are the people who took this photograph of the house
in 1919. Later their son Keith had involvement with
Midland Coachline.

The house that Gilbert McHaffie built about

1890, photographed in 1919.

198

This is the complete article but to fit the

page I have rearranged the layout.

Christchurch Press
Weekend
Saturday 8th April
2001 page 8

199
In 1921 the property was purchased by Ethel Margaret Coull
and then in 1924 was sold to William Leonard Glanville. The
Glanville family was one of the districts well known families
involved in the school, dances, social events and the progress of
the area. They also fostered children for short periods of time
except for one child Barbara Glanville (born Le Comte) who
was fostered as a baby in 1925 but was part of the family and
lived with them until 1947 when they sold the property. By this
time Barbara was 23 years old and the following year was
married. She is still close to her foster family who regard each
other as family. Barbaras bedroom was the only room upstairs.
From the photos below you can see the size and shape of the
house. These photos were provided by Barbara, now Barbara
Simpson.

RIGHT:
The Christchurch
Star newspaper,
Monday March
14th, 1966, page 2

By P. Faroilias

CAPTAIN William Leonard Glanville,

M.B.E., who died last week at the age of
84, was a man who dedicated the whole
of his active life to soldiering. When he
retired from the Army
A LIFETIME
in 1947 he had comOF SOLDIERING pleted almost half a
century of service. In
his
capacity
as
quartermaster
and
instructor in Area 10 of the Southern
Military District over a period of nearly
forty years, thousands of recruits passed
through his hands and he was one of the best
-known and most popular officers, both on
and off the parade ground.
William Glanville was serving with the
Territorial Force in 1900 when he enlisted
for the Boer War but peace came just
when he as ready for embarkation and
his hopes of overseas service were disappointed. However, in later life he preserved his association with the Veterans'
Association and was its president from 1941
to 1943.
IN 1911 he joined the New Zealand
Permanent Staff as a sergeant instructor and soon rose to warrant rank, which
he held throughout World War I, during
Which he served in the GalliSERVED ON
poli campaign. After
that GALLIPOLI war he took up an appointment as quartermaster and
sergeant-major instructor at Christchurch
and until the outbreak of World War II
served in Area 10.
Mobilisation in 1939 saw him commissi-

oned and training recruits at Burnham,

Captain W. L. Glanville, M.B.E.
when he later was appointed to the rank
of captain and appointed quartermaster of
B Block. Captain Glanville retired from the
active list in 1947 but he remained a close
association with the Army until recent
years when his health began to fail.
He was a much decorated soldier, having
had the rare distinction of holding two Meritorious Service Medals, one for service in
World War I and the other for his work forthe Army in New Zealand. He was made a
Member of the Order of the British
Empire in 1940. He was buried with full

200
Aranui Motor Camp 1947-1975
In 1947 Mr. Horace Papps purchased the property and made it into a Motor Camp. As well as caravan sites
there were cabins and tent sites. Entertainment included tennis courts, 6 bowling greens, swimming pool, dances, dress ups, concerts, cinema, bingo, lawns for cricket, monkeys and other animals etc. People from all over
New Zealand came here for their holidays.
ARANUI TO PICTONThe Story Behind New Zealands Early Motels by Mark Aitchison 02/08/02.
The Aranui Motor Camp in Christchurch with its novel attractions and the American Luxury Motels in Picton,
the first modern motels in New Zealand, were the brainchild of Horrie Papps and changed the pattern of New
Zealand holidays from the 1950s till the present day. My grandfather, Horace (Horrie) Papps, must have been
the world's expert on every aspect of having a good vacation. Some of my best memories are of camping with
my grandparents by the sea at Oaro, or spending the Christmas holidays on his 40 foot launch in Takamatua.
All sorts of people would turn up, perhaps with fish, perhaps just for a good yarn. As well as caravanning and
boating he loved to go tramping in very isolated parts of the country, and went on world cruises to the opposite
extreme. Not only did he enjoy all this himself, he knew better than anyone how to make the occasion perfect
for those with him.
That obviously helped when he established his own holiday businesses. He turned an old estate into the
extremely popular Aranui Motor Camp in Christchurch soon after the Second World War, and went on to
build the "American Luxury Motels" in Picton. The "Luxury Motels" were different from Mr L. Bird's holiday
cottages already built in Picton in 1953, and different from his own Aranui cottages; they were based on
motels he had seen in the United States a few years earlier, more luxurious than typical cabins of the time...
one of the earliest examples of the modern style of motels we see around New Zealand today.
Modern motels are a far cry from the holiday accommodation of half a century ago; they are certainly more
well-equipped, but we have also lost some of the fun.
New Zealand Camping in the 1950s
Whether staying in a holiday cabin or your own tent, you'd have to take a lot of things with you - cutlery,
bedding and much of what we now take for granted in motels. Some camps, such as Aranui, provided many
attractions - movies, talent quests, a shop, a small zoo even! But often a camp was simply a convenient, well
-drained and hopefully picturesque spot you returned to regularly to relax and catch up with other regular
campers who have become friends. Even those staying for a short time, perhaps in the middle of touring the
South Island would mix with other campers in a way that is foreign to modern motel privacy. The distinctive
friendly atmosphere of these camps seems to have stayed on in caravan clubs years after many of the greatest
motor camps have gone, and this is what I can remember best, as a child in the 1960s.
From the internet site: www.nzine.co.nz/views/motels.html

(2007)

The D.V.D. at the front of this book has footage of the camping ground filmed in the late 1940s by Horace
Papps.
1956 Harry and Martin Sewell purchased and continued to run the camp.
Photographs from the 1970s: Thian family.

201

These eleven photographs were taken by Mr and Mrs Thian during the 1970s when they were caretakers of the Motor Camp.

202
The following is an extract from a letter
written by W.I. Bacon to the author in
2004.
Dear Tim, thank you for sending me
copies of the Aranui/Wainoni history
clips. We enjoy them very much and are
grateful to you for sending them. This
weeks question concerns us very much as
about 50 years go when our children
were very young we came regularly to
the area you refer to and which was then
called Aranui Camping Ground. We did
this regularly for 10 years at least and
enjoyed a really safe camping ground for
young children and inexpensive holiday
for people with a low income. The
ground in those days was owned by a
very nice couple and their son called
Sewell and they employed a very
efficient manager groundsman and his
family called Cowie. Cowie was a Scot
with a rather raw accent so that Cowie
came to be heard as Cooie. The motels
were inexpensive wooden one and two
roomed huts but quite acceptable and
comfortable specially where young families were concerned. There was a swimming pool and a special enclosure for
pets such as dogs and the camp itself was
well run and no vandalism permitted. It
was possible to have a complete
holiday in the camp without leaving it, unless
preferred. I think we may have taken the
children for tram rides to the beach a few
times and never went near the city. On
Sundays we attended the then young
Iona Presbyterian Church opposite the
Community
Hall
in
Breezes
Road I also remember that
there was a shooting range...
Yours Faithfully
Ivan Bacon
In later years Ivan Bacon served as the
Minister of Iona Church.

203

McHaffies Place and

McHaffies Reserve

In 1975 the land was sold to Enterprise Homes along with other property to give access from Shortland Street.
Soon after McHaffies Place was constructed. This plan from Archives New Zealand shows the outline of the
buildings in the Motor Camp as well as houses on Breezes Road. The house that Gilbert Hamilton
McHaffie built was demolished. You can seen the outline of it on lot 11. I remember when I was about 5 or 6
years old going with the kids in my street, Tomrich Street, to the Motor Camp when they were demolishing it.
When the workers weren't there we kids each took a hammer and hit the lath and plaster thinking we were
being of help to the workmen. We were chased away by an angry man and we didnt go back.
It is fitting that the cul-de-sac is named after the McHaffie family and the reserve with the big blue gum trees
is called McHaffies Reserve.

McHaffies Reserve in
2007.

204

205

Chapter 32:

Bettaplants Nurserysince 1934.

1930s

29 Wainoni Road

Joseph (Joe) and his wife Ellen Reed and family arrived at 29 Wainoni Road in 1912 where Joe built his
family home. The house was demolished in 1973 to make way for a block of flats. About 1919 Joe bought the
section at 27 Wainoni Road, where his youngest son George built his home on his return from W.W.2. Joe had
glasshouses and grew tomatoes, selling the fruit at the door as well as having an orchard, fine vegetable
garden, beautiful lawns and flower gardens. A huge oval fish pond was on the front lawn. Statues standing on
the front steps of the house came from the Christchurch International Exhibition of 1906-7.

1925

On his return from W.W.1 Joes elder son Gordon Thomas Reed took up three sections in Ottawa Road,
numbers 27, 29 and 31 at the cost of 25 pounds each. Earlier this land was part of Bickertons Wainoni Park. It
was well overgrown with lupins, gorse, broom, thistle and twitch etc. Nethertheless, by hard work, Gordon
cleared the land and by 1925 had built a house on each of the three sections. Gordon, being fiercely
independent and reluctant to go on relief work as so many had to, first tried his hand at breeding rabbits for
their skins but the depression took its toll once more.
One momentous day in 1934, Gordon invested 10 shillings in lettuce, cabbage and leek seed and so
Bettaplants was born.
1948
1950s

Emily Reed

1970s

Gordon Reed

206
As well as vegetable seedlings, they grew yearling box grown Macrocarpa plants which were sold mainly to
farmers for shelter belts all over north, mid and south Canterbury as well as the West Coast. Bedding plants
were next to be propagated which proved to be a huge success. Gordon imported all the seed from Germany till
the outbreak of W.W.2. In 1936 the explosion at Bickertons Flamos Fireworks Ltd factory next to the nursery
blew the end out of the only glasshouse causing much damage and destroying hundreds of bedding plants.
After this time, although working full time for the Christchurch Drainage Board, Gordon in his spare time built
glasshouses, outside frames and sterilised soil with steam using an engine boiler. Gordons wife Emily, with
two small children, still managed to work all day watering, pricking out seedlings, seeing to customers and
wrapping dozens of parcels of plants for a large mail order clientele which went out all over Nelson to Bluff
and the West Coast. Plants were also supplied to a number of shops in Christchurch, Rangiora, Ashburton and
the West Coast. The couple worked long hours with no outside help. When the children grew up they
eventually helped after school and in the holidays.

Their daughter Aline finished school in 1946 and joined the family business as did their son Tom in 1948. The
family worked well together, they were happy times. Aline and Tom showed their love of gardening by creating
lovely flower gardens around the huge pond at the front of the nursery and spent much of their spare time
tending it. By 1950, Gordon was becoming unwell and spent spells in hospital and after several operations
developed cancer. He spent most of 1955 and almost all of 1956 being confined to hospital, passing away on
November 7th that year. During this trying time Aline became manager. Every night the family would visit
Gordon in hospital and Aline would report the business of the day. Her father kept in touch with everything
going on until the end. He actually ran his business with Aline from the hospital bed. On Gordon's death his
wife Emily took over the nursery and decided that the family should carry on with the business.

1950s

Aline (Fergusson)

Tom Reed

Gordon and Emily Reed

At the end of 1958 Aline reluctantly moved on to other things and her brother Tom took over as manager. For
the next 20 years Tom managed Betta Plants while his mother worked alongside. Emily only stopped working
because of illness, at the age of 73. Emily had developed cancer, passing away 6 months later on June 3rd
1978. At this time Tom inherited Bettaplants Nursery and continues trading in the traditional ways of the
founder, still growing beautiful plants. As well as the public clientele, plants are supplied to factories, rest
homes, motels, hospitals, race tracks and others who produce prize winning gardens like Fred Green, (see the
next chapter).

207

Chapter 33:

Fred and Vilma Greens, green fingers.

Leonard Cockayne had 2000 species of plants from all over the planet in his experimental garden, Tarata,
(see chapter 17). The Bickerton family entertained Christchurch with their pleasure gardens, (see chapter 5).
Throughout this book you will have seen other grand houses with expansive beautiful gardens, but for a
residential property with no paid gardeners, Fred and Velma Greens garden would have been the most
beautiful. Fred and Vilma were married in 1947. In 1956 they bought their new home at 7 Doreen Street,
Aranui.

Fred worked for the M.E.D,

maintaining gardens and other
duties during the day, and most
evenings and during the weekends he dug, sifted, planted
watered, and created extensive
gardens.

Entering your garden in the

Horticultural Garden Awards
was a common event for people
all over Christchurch including
different people in Aranui and
Wainoni. The competitions are
still popular today.

Within 10 years, Fred won his

first Trophy. This would be the
first of many.

At its peak, the garden had

more than 800 plants, of which
most came from Bettaplants
Nursery on Ottawa Road.

Throughout the years Fred and

Vilma created paths, rose
gardens, rockeries, fountains,
hanging baskets of begonias,
cacti gardens, veggie gardens,
bridges, bonsai and ferneries.

208

Cacti garden with over 200 varieties.

Winner of the Canterbury Cup for Best Vegetables.

From 1966 until 1995, over 50 Trophies were won.

1995 was the best year in the competitions, with 12
trophies won in all. They included: Horticulture New
Brighton Cup, Horticulture Canterbury Cup,
Beautifying Association of Christchurch Cup,
Premier Award and others.
Fred and Vilma continued to garden well into their
eighties but although their garden was still colourful
they were unable to maintain the same winning
condition. They have both been photographed for
newspapers and magazines many times and the
community always talked about Freds garden.
In April 2006, due to bad health, Fred and Vilma
sadly had to move from their home to live with one
of their daughters. Fred passed away later that year.
Well done Fred and Vilma Green!
Only six this year

209

Chapter 34:

Fire and Snow.

During the late 1800s, George Thomas Hawker, the father of New Brighton, planted gorse and lupin to help
stabilise the sand in the New Brighton District which at that time included what is now Aranui and Wainoni.
By 1900 east Christchurch was covered in gorse, lupin, trees, scrubs and grasses. This helped in stopping the
sand drifts, but in the heat of summer became a real fire hazard. A sniff of smoke and neighbours would come
running with sacks and shovels. The women would make meals as some fires would take all day to put out.
During the 1940s and early 50s, Aranui and Wainoni, as far as Cuffs Road, were still part of the Heathcote
County Council, and New Brighton was Christchurch City Council. The Christchurch City Council laid 8 inch
water pipelines along both Wainoni and Pages Roads from the City to New Brighton, but there were
restrictions on who could use this water. The New Brighton and City Fire Brigades would drive through the
area and not be permitted to attend fires as this was the Heathcote County Council. By 1953 it was decided to
amalgamate Aranui and Wainoni with the Christchurch City Council. Fires could then be fought better with the
use of the high pressure water supply and fire trucks to call on.
In the Aranui and Wainoni district many houses have been destroyed by fire. The last older house was the
Rowse family home on Breezes Road in 1999. Written in the Aranui School 50th Jubilee booklet 1961 is In
Pages Road, at Wirihana, on the right hand side going east, a childrens home was kept by Miss Smith who sent
the children to Breezes Road School. Mrs Innes lived as a young child on Pages Road close to this location
and remembers a house burning down one night about 1913. It is very likely this was the childrens home as it
has not been mentioned anywhere since.

Right:
Address (2007)
361 Pages Road
Christchurch Star
January 14th 1924,
page 1.

From the Aranui Centennial, souvenir programme,

March 1st 1952:
In this area of dry crackling undergrowth

THE FIRE HAZARD. fire has always been one of our nightmares,

and, in the absence of more than the pitifully few fireplugs and lack of
guaranteed fire protection, still is.
In the old days, when a fire started , the church bell was rung, and
the inhabitants piled out at all hours of the day and night to fight it
with shovels and wet sacks. Mr Sampson tells how his family several
times spent part of the Christmas period sitting on the kerb with their
effects piled around them while the men fought off scrub fires.

Christchurch Star February 9th

1924, page 23.

210

A WIDE AREA OF LUPINS AND SCRUB AT ARANUI, BETWEEN CHRISTCHURCH AND NEW BRIGHTON WAS SWEPT BY FIRE ON SATURDAY JANUARY 12TH. WORKING
PARTIES HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY IN SAVING THE SETTLEMENT AND THE SCHOOL. THE PICTURES SHOW THE FIRE AT THE HEIGHT IN THE DENSE SCRUB.

A COTTAGE IN THE ARANUI SETTLEMENT THAT NARROWLY ESCAPED DESTRUCTION IN THE FIRE.
GRASS AND SCRUB FIRES AT CHRISTCHURCH.

The Weekly Press

EXPLOSION AT THE FIREWORKS FACTORY

4TH NOVEMBER 1936
Professor Bickerton,
(see chapter 5), and
his family had been
making
fireworks
since the 1890s. In
the book Our Mabel
by David Gee, it is
remembered
that
there was a fire at the
fireworks
factory
when Ted Howard
was working there in
the early 1900s, (see
chapter 19).
In 1936 there was a
fire at the fireworks
factory causing a
huge explosion.

Left:
The Press
5th November 1936,
page 16.

211
EXPLOSION AT
FACTORY
0
TWO PERSONS
INJURED

BUILDING RAZED
GROUND

TO

CONCUSSION FELT OVER

WIDE AREA

Fire followed by a series of explosions completely destroyed the

major portion of Bickertons Flamos
Fireworks factory
in
Ottawa
road,
Wainoni
2.45
yesterday afternoon. One employee,
Miss Rose Roberts, aged
20,
of 32 Vincent Place, Opawa, was badly
burned and is in a very serious condition, and another, Mr Norman Reid,
of Keppel street, New Brighton, who
rescued Miss Roberts from one of the
burning buildings, was burned about
the face and arms and had one arm
severely cut. The other nine women
employed at the factory are suffering
from shock and some have minor
burns.
Of the 12 buildings which comprised the factory seven, in which
all the explosive materials were used
or stored, were either blown to pieces
or burned to the ground. Five of them
were arranged to form sort of a square
and it was in one of these, standing
alongside the entrance, that the fire
started. It appears that seven of the
women were working in the shed
where the labelling of fireworks is carried out and one of them, who was
wearing shoes with steel heel plates,
stepped on a star firework which was
in course of manufacture.
Dash From Blazing Shed
The firework exploded and the
rockets that were being wrapped by
the others and some which had been
finished, started to go off, the employees, all except Miss Roberts who
was second furthest from the door,
ran screaming from the shed which
was very soon blazing furiously. Burn
ing rockets shot from it in all directions and ignited a shed where gunpowder was stored. The gunpowder
shed exploded and three other sheds
where finished materials and saltpetre
were stored blew up, almost simultaneously.
The women employees, bewildered
by the explosions, were trapped in the
court formed by the buildings, and it
appears to have been some time before they thought of escaping through
the rear of the yard. Three women and
five men employed in other parts of
the factory ran into the open on hearing the rockets go off, and one of
them, Mr Reid, went to the shed where
the girls had been working.
So far as could be ascertained, he saw
Miss Roberts attempt to come through
the door, which was about eight feet
wide, stumble and fall back. He ran
to a window and forced his way inside and found Miss Roberts with her
clothes ablaze. He took her to R.M.
Bickertons residence nearby where
she was attended by the St. John
Ambulance and taken to hospital.
The prompt arrival of the ambulance
was due to the presence of mind of
Mrs C. Smith, who lives opposite the
factory. Hearing the screams of the
girls, she rang the ambulance, which
arrived on the scene before the sheds

blew up. The driver, Mr J.C. Anderson, said the explosions were as bad
as anything he experienced in the war.
Parts of the sheds and burning fireworks were flying 100 feet into the air.
Iron and beams from the gunpowder
shed were afterwards found in a section 100 yards from the fire. Fortunately, the buildings were very lightly
constructed. Of the gunpowder shed,
nothing but a few embers were left
where it had stood.
NEARBY HOUSE DAMAGED
The force of the explosion blew in
one window of Mrs Smiths residence
and a hanging lamp in the front of
the house exploded, bits of it being
scattered over the room. A peculiar
feature was that though there were
other windows in the front of the
house, only one of them was shattered.
Burning rockets were showered over
the house and on the land around it.
Houses as far away as a half a mile
were shaken by the concussion, and a
trainer at the New Brighton racecourse nearly two miles distance said
he heard the explosion and saw a
great mushroom of black smoke rise
into the air.
The fire burned with great rapidity
and scarcely an hour after the first
outbreak the buildings were razed to
the ground. The staff made strenuous
efforts to fight it with hoses there for
the purpose, but the tanks ran dry. As
they went to start the electric pump
to fill them the sheds blew up carrying
with them the power lines, and they
had to stand by and watch the factory burn. The fire spread to scrub
and trees nearby but City Council
workmen and the factory workers
succeeded in preventing this from becoming serious.
The manager of the factory, Mr R.
M. Bickerton was away in Dunedin
yesterday and there were only the employees there at the time. There were
no insurances on the buildings or
stocks, but the monetary loss will not
be very heavy. Large consignments
of goods had recently been dispatched
from the factory and the value of the
stocks was not high. The factory had
been busy preparing for Guy Fawkes
Day (which occurs to-day), and had
recently taken on extra hands.

Left - Newspaper article:

The Press 5th November 1936,
page 12.
Unfortunately Miss Rose Roberts
was severely burned and died three
days later.
The Press 2nd January 1954, page 2.

OLD HOUSE BURNT

FIRE AT ARANUI
An old single-storeyed, wooden house
at 23 Rouses road, Aranui, was burnt
to the ground between 9 p.m. and 10
p.m. yesterday. The house, believed
to be one of the eldest in the district,
was unoccupied. The last occupants,
Mr and Mrs Henry Bruce, moved out
about a month ago. The old building
is reported to be on land which has
been taken over by the state for
housing purposes.
The Christchurch Fire Brigade,
which was notified of the outbreak at
9.9 p.m., sent two engines, but when
they reached Aranui the old house
was beyond saving. Attracted by the
glow, which could be seen miles away
hundreds of sight-seers flocked to the
fire. The brigade had to run out between a quarter and a half a mile of hose
from Pages road before they could
tackle the flames. By 10.30 p.m. three
gaunt brick chimneys were all that
remained of the old building, which
was formally owned by the late Mr
Arthur Rose. Lupin and undergrowth
abounds in the locality but with an
almost complete absence of wind the
fire did not spread to it.

DESERVES A
MEDAL

PRAISE FOR YOUNG MANS

BRAVERY.

The Christchurch Star May 6th 1959 page 3

The rescue of Miss Roberts carried

out by Mr Reid met with the highest
commendation from the nurses and
driver of the St. John ambulance
which was called to the fire. One of
the nurses said that when they arrived the employees were running
about evidently dazed by what had
occurred. Someone told them there was
a girl in one of the sheds and it was
while they were looking for her that the
sheds blew up.
The shed where Miss Roberts had
been was burning furiously and they
learned later that Mr Reid had taken
Miss Roberts who, it is understood, was
a close friend of his, from the building shortly before their arrival. The
other employees were evidently not
aware that a rescue had been effected.
That young man certainly deserves
a medal for the rescue of Miss Roberts, was the final comment of one
nurse.

THESE PUPILS of Aranui School had an obstacle to pass

going to school this morning. Rainwater covered the school
entrance in Breezes Road.

212

The Press Thursday October 21st 1965 page 1

Tugged At Skirt
Scamp,
a
mongrel
terrier,
tugged
and
tugged at the skirt of
her mistress, Miss C.
S. Franks, aged 72,
yesterday
afternoon
and pulled and guided
her from the blazing
kitchen of her home.
Miss Franks was trying to
put out a fire which destroyed half of the house she
lives in at 285 Wainoni road.
I was trying to put out the
fire with buckets of water.
Scamp was terrified of the
flames. She ran outside the
front door, barking and yelping. I stayed in the kitchen
too long, and was almost
overcome by the smoke and
heat. Miss Franks said.
I had lost my sense of
direction and had only one
ideato put out the fire
although it was gaining on me
as I now realise.
I was almost out of it when
I felt Scamp tugging at the
back of my skirt. said Miss
Franks, her face reddened
and slightly burned

and her silver hair singed

yellow at the front.
Scamp barked and yelped
then seized my skirt again. I
dropped the pot I was
ladling water on the fire
with, and put my arms over
my face. Scamp tugged and
tugged and I staggered backwards from the kitchen
through the front door to the
fresh air, with Scamp still
tuggingthe darling.
A neighbour gave the fire
alarm at 5.22p.m. Firemen on
three engines from New
Brighton and Headquarters
answered the call and used
two hoses from high pressure
mains and two hose reels to
have the fire under control
within a few minutes. The
front of the house was
guttered.
I was out the back feeding my fowls. I had just put
a pot on the coal range.
Scamp kept
barking and
darting round to the front
of the house. My two cats and
scampthe three always
sleep togetherwere excited
and upset. I went to the front
of the house and found the

Stove and mantel-piece on

fire. Miss Franks said.
Miss Franks has lived in
the house eight years. She
was formerly a cleaner, and
was in Ballantynes fire, in
1947.
She recalled rolling
girls down the stairs by the
hair when they panicked.
I cant remember it all.
I was found that evening in

Woolston, with my feet cut

by broken glass, wandering
round in a daze. A friend
found me, and took me home.
My friend Scamp helped me
this afternoon. she said.
The photographs show
Miss Franks with Scamp,
and the burning house
just before the fire engines arrived.

213

THE BIG SNOW Saturday 14th July 1945

CHRISTCHURCH
UNDER SNOW
DEPTHS UP TO 18
INCHES
BUSINESS OF CITY PARALYSED
Although the fierce north-west gale
on Friday and the ominous sky of Friday evening were accepted by many as
portents of exceptional weather still to
come, the snow which lay to a re
cord depth over the city on Saturday
morning was a complete surprise to
the great majority of Christchurch re
sidents. There was no hint of snow
at the time most of the city went to
bed; it arrived stealthily in the early
hours of the morning in a flat calm.
The absence of the strong south-west
wind on which the majority of Christchurchs occasional snowstorms are
borne was the reason why few resi
dents suspected what was happening
outside their bedroom windows. It may
also have been one of the reasons for
the unusual destructiveness of the
snowfall. The huge flakes lodged and
remained undisturbed on every surface.
Electric light wires and telephone wires snapped under the burden of accumulating snow; small trees
and shrubs bent and were flattened
under the growing weight.
The fine weather that succeeded the
snowstorm enabled good progress to
be made with the big task of restoring
services, but it will be many days
before the city is back to normal. A
frost yesterday morning delayed the
work of clearing the streets, and if the
melting snow freezes again it is probable that many streets to-day will be
dangerous to traffic in the early hours
at least.

Looking down Breezes Road, east, from the Pages Road

intersection.
Photos: Phyllis Stevens (Rowse)

Left: Looking from

the Rowse family
home and front yard,
across Breezes Road
toward
313-319
Breezes Road.
The Rowse family
home at 310 Breezes
Road burnt down in
1998.

The Press Monday July 16th 1945

page 4.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN
CHRISTCHURCH
CLOSED UNTIL NEXT
MONDAY
An announcement by the Canterbury
Education Board states: All Christchurch city and suburban schools will
not reopen until Monday July 23. The
Temuka District High School will reopen to-day. The committees of schools
elsewhere that are affected by the
snow are asked to use their discretion
about re-opening.
The Press Monday July 16th 1945.

Betty Smith outside her family home (now demolished)

at 296 Pages Road.

Photo: Betty Smith

Aranui and Wainoni along with other suburbs in Christchurch, got the worst
of the snow. Incredibly buses were operating throughout the city within two
days. However the tram to New Brighton via Pages Road was the last in
Christchurch to be back in service. Delivery vans, shop supplies and post
were delayed but managed to deliver by Monday. Graders were out clearing
the roads straight away to keep the city running. Schools were closed for a
week and lots of snow was thrown.

214

215

Aranui

Chapter 35:
War Memorial, (Aranui Playcentre and Scout building),
Wainoni Scouts and Soldiers of the area.

From the time people settled in the district, some served overseas in the different wars. Both World War 1 and
2, saw a large number of young men from all over New Zealand sign up and join the New Zealand Forces.
Aranui and Wainoni were no different. Though most men came back to their families, a lot didn't. These
names are from the Roll of Honours for W.W.1 and W.W.2.
The Roll of Honours is headed Aranui but in 1919 and 1945 this included the Wainoni area and what we now
call Avondale.
These men served in many countries including Palestine, Egypt, Turkey and France in W.W.1 and Singapore,
Germany, Pacific Islands, Greece, Crete and Italy in the Second World War.
In 1912 the Aranui district which was a one mile radius from the Pages and Breezes Roads intersection had
just 50-60 families in it.
From the book Along the Hills by James Watson, on page 119, it states that; In 1921 Aranui had a
population of 80 people, in 1926 - 353, in 1945 had 404 people. In 1926 Wainoni had a population of only 19 residents and in 1945 - 307.
When you read all the names of all these young local men who served in the wars, you come to realise how
many families had fathers and sons risking their lives for their families, district and country.
See chapter 36 for information about Colonel Slater and the Boer War, Canterbury mounted rifles and
the Canterbury Voluntary Service.
Lest we forget.

Left: Lieutenant Colonel A.E. Loach fought in the Boer War and was
wounded during W.W.1 at Gallipoli. He lost a leg and returned home. You
can read about Lieutenant Colonel A.E. Loach in chapter 12.

Right:
Lieutenant-Colonel
J.F.R. Sprosen, D.S.O.
James F.R. Sprosen started at
Aranui School in 1914 and then
was a teacher there in 1927.
This photograph was given to
the school after W.W.2 and is
hanging in the foyer of the
Aranui Primary School hall,
(2007).

Left: Captain W. L. Glanville, M.B.E.

1900 - Served with the Territorial forces in the Boar War.
1911 - Joined the N.Z. Permanent Staff as a Sergeant instructor then soon
rose to Warrant Rank which he held throughout W.W.1.
1939 - Was commissioned and trained recruits at Burnham.
Later he was appointed to the rank of Captain and appointed Quartermaster
of B Block. Captain Glanville retired from the active list in 1947 but he
remained in close association with the Army.
You can read more about Captain Glanville in chapter 31.

216

Thomas James Richards

Tomrich Street
Thomas Richards W.W.1

Above:The cor ner of Rowses and Br eezes Roads.

Mr Thomas Richards suffered from bad

health as a result of being buried from an
explosion in W.W.1. He married Alice
Beecroft in 1921 and bought a 2 acre 2 rood
property on Breezes Road. He farmed
poultry to supplement his war pension. In
1961 he and his neighbours sold their land
to Paramount Homes. The land was cleared,
as was their house, and Tomrich Street
along with the south end of Rowses Road
were formed.

Above: Clear ing the land in 1960

Below: Thomas Richar ds feeding the hens.

Tomrich Street

217
The Star Newspaper Monday
10th February, 1919, page 8
-

ARANUI SCHOOL

ROLL OF HONOUR
UNVEILED

ADDRESS BY HON G. W. RUSSELL.

The Hon G.W. Russell, Minister of

Public Health, addressed a meeting at
the Aranui School, Breezes Road, on
Saturday evening on the occasion of
the unveiling of the Honours Board
which had been erected to those men
of the district who had gone to the
war.
The board was provided and
the carving done by Mr H. Went, who
stated that of the fifty-one names thereon
eleven where those of soldiers who had
died on service.
In the course of his address to the
children and visitors who were present
Mr Russell paid a splendid tribute to
the men of the Expeditionary Force
regarding whom he said that they were
the bravest of the brave.
On the
field and off the field they had always
shown themselves to be gentlemen, and
they had left a record worthy of
honour so long as the name of New
Zealand stood on the map.
Mr Russell gave an address to the
children on the origin and history of
the war, and, referring to New Zealands part, he recalled the momentous
day in 1914 when New Zealand
informed the British Government that she
was in the war, and would give
her last man and her last shilling to stand
by the Mother Country.
Referring
to the share which had fallen
to the lot of France during the war,
Mr Russell made a brief survey of the
frozen meat industry in New Zealand,
and referred to Charles Tellier as the
man who made New Zealand.
It
was he who was responsible for the
frozen meat industry being introduced
into the country, and since the time
when only wool and tallow were exported from the sheep farms a gigantic
industry had arisen.
Speaking of the work which the
Government was doing for the repatriation of the returned soldiers the Minister said that for two and a half years
the entire control of the medical treatment of the sick and wounded soldiers
had been in his hands, and that he
was proud that throughout that time
never once in Parliament was a question asked or criticism made of the
manner in which the soldiers were
being treated.
He was sorry that he
had had to refuse passports to the
wives who wished to rejoin their husbands, but this was on account of
stringent Imperial regulations.
Five
or six million pounds has been raised
for our soldiers and for the relief of
sufferers in Belgium, Rumania and elsewhere, and the patriotic societies had
now over a million and a half of money
which would be spent to assist in the
repatriation of soldiers.
The department was prepared to do everything
reasonably possible to help the soldiers
Continue..

to establish himself in civil life.

If
he wished to get married the department would help to buy the furniture,
if he wanted a taxi or a bus with
which to start in trade, the department
would assist, and in whatever direction
the speaker could help the returned
soldier, financial assistance would he
rendered to him.
Mr C.H. Opie, late chairman of
the Canterbury Education Board, in
introducing Mr Russell, said that returned soldiers would be given the preference in all matters of appointments
in the schools.

World War 1 Roll of Honour.

Aranui Primary School in 2007.

World War 1
Roll of Honours
Board for "Aranui"
1917-1919

* MB O. Norris
MB
A. Wilks
* 3rd G. McHaffie
* 4th J. Williams
5th
J. Radcliff
5th
J. Stevens
5th
L. Stevens
5th
J. Stewart
MB A. McHaffie
5th F. Radcliffe
* 6th D. Gillespie
6th R. Gillespie
6th
L. Richie
* 7th A. Nankivell
7th
E. Reeve
* 8th M. Duggan
11th
F. Timms
12th S. Hodson
12th
W. Went
14th
W. Foster
14th
F. Hobbs
14th L. Timms
* 16th C. Bailey
17th L. Nankivell
17th G. Pitcher
17th
A. Went
18th
T. Grose
86th Bh F. Abraham
Samoa
W Grose
MR BT Pat H. Richie
AUS.ARTIL L. Phipps
AUS. MIN.C L.Phipps
20th
T. Merry
* 21st L. Corson
* 21st W. Breeze
22nd
F. Merry
22nd A. Stewart
* 23rd A. Jones
24th
H. Bailey
24th A. Napper
28th
A. Hobbs
28th
G. Lewis
* 31st N. Packham
31st
J. Thorne
36th
R. Grose
42nd R. Palmer
M.B J. Boocock
4th
F. Boocock
37th E. Boocock
31st
J. Dunnan
41st V. Nankivell
Total - 51
* 11 died in action

218
David Iggo grew up on Pages Road in Aranui where Nga Hau E Wha Marae is today. David was a pupil at
Aranui Primary School in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and during the 1960s a teacher at the School.
David's wife Joyce worked in the School office. During W.W.2 David Iggo flew this Spitfire which he named
"Aranui". It was common for pilots to name their planes after their home towns or suburbs. David's job was to
escort the bomber planes to their dropping designation in Germany. You can read more about the Iggo family
on page 168.

World War 2
1939 - 1945

Alexander . G *
Alexander .L.S
Aldwin .M.N
Ashley .W
Brookes .J *
Beardsley .G
Bodger .W
Bodger .S
Bailey .H.J.L
Bellamy .P
*
Brown .G
Beale .B.K
Burson .R
Campbell .J.F
Campbell .P.R
Cooke .E.N
Churchill .L.C
Cooke .F
Carr .J.B
Crampton .L.H
Crockett .G.N
Chapman .D *
Callaghan .L
Cochrane .J.F
Densen .R
Dench .T.R
Dunbar .A.H
Ellis .A.H
Elliot .J
*
Elstob .H
Elstob .N.J *
Fletcher .A
Foord .L
Fletcher .H
Frost .L.C
Finnerty .J.L
Frickleton .W.L
Gracie .L.R
Green .R
Green .L.W
Geary .R
Hicks .R
Iggo .D
Ireland .A.M
Jones .E
Jones .C
Jackson .M
Jackson .P
Jackson .W.H
Kirkpatrick .J.C
Kennard .R
King .R
Knowles .D.J
Kerr .W.D
Kerr .E.L
Kerr .L.J
Long .V.J

Long .P.J
Lloyd .C.L
Lindsay .W
Mitchell .N.B
Munro .G.W
Mechen .T
McConchie .L.J
McConchie .E.L
Moody .L
Morton .R
Millar .W
Millar .A.J
McClelland .H.L
McDonald .J
Nicolson .E
Nicolson .R.J.D
Nye .B.E
Nankivell .G
Poundsford .J
Parkin .M
Powell .T
Russell .L.R
Rowland .G
Rowland .J
Reid .L
Reid .R.W
Reid .G.E
Rhodes .S
Rowse .H.M
Robertson .R
Roberts .F
Roberts .T
Secker .R.E
Stevens .R
Scott J.E
Switalla
Stowell .T
Sutton .C
Smith .C
Thompson .S
Trotter .C
Tindall .G
Tindall .C.A
Thompson .T
Trolove .P
Vickery .M
Widdowson .R.G
White .W.J
Wolley .G
Williams .H
Wood .R.K
Wood .J.K
Worcester
Yandle .G.A

Total - 111

* 6 died in action

Note:There are names missing on this roll and

the 3 x Reid names should be spelt Reed and
Densen should be spelt Denson .
The W.W.2 Roll of Honour is on the wall in the Aranui Hall at 305 Breezes Road.

219

Aranui War Memorial, (Aranui Playcentre and Scout building).

Christchurch Press
13th December 1954 Page 14

ARANUI WAR
MEMORIAL
RESERVE IN BREEZES
ROAD OPENED
There are many people who
approach the central Government and
local bodies for assistance, but many
of them are never prepared to do
something themselves to justify the
support they seek, said the Mayor
(Mr R.M. Macfarlane, M.P) when he
spoke at the opening of the Aranui
War Memorial Recreational Reserve on
Saturday afternoon.
Mr Macfarlane said he attended
many functions in his capacity as
Mayor of Christchurch but there was
none so pleasant as when he found
the spirit of the citizenship and community effort. He congratulated the
people of the Aranui district who had
worked hard for the last four years to
bring the reserve into being. Mr Macfarlane turned the key of the door of a
1400-square feet building, which in
the day will be used as a nursery
play centre and which in the evenings
will be used by the Aranui Boy
Scout Troop as a den. The building
cost more than 3000 pounds.
Continue

Before the official opening of the

building a short dedication service
was held at the entrance to the twoacre reserve in Breezes road where a
memorial plaque commemorating the
men and women of the Aranui district
who did not return from the Second
World War was unveiled by the president of the Christchurch Returned
Services Association (Mr G.D. Hattaway). The plaque was consecrated by
the Rev. C.W. Kent-Johnston. Music
was played by the Sumner Silver
Band.
Led by the band the official party
and about 150 guests made their way
to the neat dove-grey flat-roofed
building over rough sand and earth.
The surroundings will be planted out
by the City Councils parks and
reserves department.
The ceremony in front of the building began with the breaking of the
Union Jack from the masthead by the
leader of the Aranui Boy Scout Troop
(Ray Terras). The chairman of the
memorial organising committee (Mrs
W.H. Scott) outlined the progress the
committee had made with the reserve
and thanked all those who had helped.
Dr Helen Field, Dominion president
of the Nursery Play Centres Association, and the district commissioner of
the Kowhai Boy Scouts Association
(Mr N. Reeder) replied. Other members of the official party included the
chairman of the parks and reserves
committee (Miss M.B. Howard, M.P.)
and Mr J. Mathison, M.P.

While compiling this chapter in

January
2007,
my
daughter
Kimberley aged two attends the
Playcentre and my wife Ruth and I
are involved. The building was built
by labour from the community and a
large amount of the 3000 pounds it
cost to build was raised by the
community.
In 2006 a building inspection was
done to decide what condition the
building was in and the best way to
renovate it. The flat roof has leaked,
there are some rotten weatherboards,
some parts of the floor have sunk a
little and there are a few other minor
problems.
The biggest problem is the question
of who owns the building.
The Ministry of Education have no
records of ownership and neither do
the Playcentre Association.
The land is leased from the Christchurch City Council but the building
is solely used by the Playcentre.
It July 2007 it was decided that the
Playcentre Association would take
responsible for the maintenance of
the building.
The Aranui community built the Hall
next door in the same way in 1926.

220
The Aranui War Memorial building (Playcentre) under construction in 1954.

Original St Ambrose relocated in 1913

Eric Rhodes took this

photo from his back yard
at 317 Breezes Road in
1954.

This is the cover of the Aranui Centennial

souvenir programme. In 1952 local residents
gathered at the Aranui Speedway to celebrate
100 years of European occupation in the area.
This cover shows the proposed playground,
building and the W.W.2 War Memorial
pillars near the footpath on Breezes Road. The
Aranui Hall already existed but you can see it
has been altered a little. The old St Ambrose
church is also in the picture. The second St
Ambrose church building was constructed in
1956-7.
Eric Rhodes took a home movie of the
opening of the War Memorial in 1954 which
you can see on the DVD with this book.
You can read the Aranui Centennial Souvenir
Programme in chapter 2.

1960s: The woman in white

is Mrs Allen, she was
supervisor until the late
1960s. My mum, Sheila
Baker, was supervisor for a
few years from 1973 as was
my wife Ruth in 2006.

The Aranui Playcentre first began in 1952 using the

Aranui Community Hall next door. For two years the
equipment had to be stored away after each session. What
a relief it must have been to have a purpose built building.

221

Left: Inside St Ambrose Church.

2006 A.N.Z.A.C. Day Service. Pupils
from Aranui Primary School took
part.

Below: A wreath being laid at the

flagpole. Ray Terras ready to raise
the flag as the bugler played the Last
Post.
In 2005 the Aranui Playcentre
Committee along with Tim Baker,
Mike Coleman from St Ambrose and
Steve Reid organised an A.N.Z.A.C.
Day Church service to commemorate
the 50th year of the War Memorial.
The service included a flag raising and
was followed by entertainment for the
kids, a history slide show for the
adults and a lunch time hangi.
Many local people attended and also
those who had lived in the district in
the past. Because of the large turnout
and encouragement from those who
attended it was decided to make it an
annual event.
The scout who raised the flag at the
opening of the Aranui War Memorial
in 1954 was Ray Terras. It was fitting
that just before the A.N.Z.A.C. Day
Church service started in 2005 his
wife told me so and it was quickly
arranged that he would raise the flag
on this day a little over 50 years later.
Due to the heavy rain we forgot to
unveil the plaque on the rock by the
gate of the Playcentre commemorating
the 50 years. Not to worry it is very
visible to all visitors.

With help from other volunteers from the community, Steve Reid and the Living Word Church the hangi fed
over 200 people.
The A.N.Z.A.C Day celebration involves St Ambrose Church, the Aranui Community Hall, other volunteers
from the district as well as the Aranui Playcentre. I hope when you are reading this that it has become a
tradition and is still popular.

222

Aranui Scouts

When St Ambrose built the existing Church in 1966 the scouts used the old church as their den. Unfortunately
it burned to the ground in the 1970s. The scouts would often go away for long weekends to Coes Ford, Spencer Park and other places camping. These photos are of the Jamboree at Motukarara in 1954 and other adventures. They also went to the Jamboree at Auckland in 1959.
Photos from Ray Terras.

The reason I have included the

scouts in this chapter is because of
the Aranui scouts using the Aranui
War Memorial Building. Also it
should be remembered that scouts
was started to prepare boys in all
skills that might be needed in the
event they went to war.

223

Wainoni Scouts.

DECEMBER 1964. A CLASSROOM FROM AVONSIDE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL

BEING TRANSPORTED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION ON BICKERTON RESERVE.
For a number of years a Scout Group met at St. Chads Anglican Church in Linwood. Because the group was
growing and needed a permanent building a committee was formed to raise the funds and to find a site and
building. It was a big challenge raising money and finding affordable land. In 1961 the Wainoni Scouts were
formed. The Wainoni Methodist Church was used as their Den. In 1962 the Scouts secured a lease from the
Christchurch City Council on part of Bickerton Reserve close to the Methodist Church on Avonside Drive at
the cost of one pound per annum. However during 1964 the Methodist Church had a change in Minister and he
planned on expanding the Sunday School, therefore the Scouts had to find their own building in a hurry. They
were given until July that year. The Christchurch City Council also wrote to the Scout Committee saying that a
building permit needed to be applied for or the they could lose the lease on the reserve. The Wainoni Scouts
had 24 Cubs and 20 Scouts and were expecting more the following year. BUT the timing was good, an old
classroom from Avonside Girls High School was for sale. This was an affordable solution, so a loan was
arranged and the building purchased. They were told the classroom had to be shifted by 23rd December that
year (1964). At first the access was to be only from Wainoni Road through the alleyway. When boats and other
scouting equipment was purchased, Avonside Drive became the main
5th January 1911 page 9
entrance.
The Press
47 years later, in 2007, the Wainoni Scouts still meet on Monday

nights.
WAINONI PARK.

The first time scouts were in the district they were literally across
the road from the Wainoni Scout Den on Avonside Drive on
Bickerton Reserve. This was in 1911 at Professor Bickertons
property, now Bickerton Street. The following page is part of an
article from the Canterbury Times newspaper. Colonel Cosgrove is
pictured at the top middle. He is the man who brought scouts to
New Zealand. The scouts stayed from the 4th to 9th January 1911.

The Scout camp at Wainoni Park

promises to be a great success. Yesterday a large number of Scouts arrived in camp, and their numbers are
expected to be considerably increased
to-day. Visitors will be permitted to
inspect the camp every afternoon. This
afternoon there will be a practice in
hut and bridge building, and to-night
there will be a concert in the arena,
the whole programme being provided by
the Scouts. To-morrow afternoon the
boys will have Scout games, and at
night there will be a combined concert
and fireworks display.

224

CAMERA FLASHES AT THE CAMP AT WAINONI PARK

Canterbury Times Photos.

(1) The Cambridge Terrace Team, under Chief-Scout Hoppy, winners of the Cup given for competition amongst Scouts of the South Island. (2) Dominion Chief Scout Cossgrove. (3)
Scout buglers. (4) Signalling. (5) The camp at Wainoni. (6) Scouts bathing in the Avon near the camp at Wainoni. (7) Hut building. (8) Instruction in first aid to the injured.
(9)
Scouts receiving lessons in cooking. (10) J. Lindsay (on left), winner of the 100 yds and 200yds championships at the Scout sports, and A. B. Cook, first in 100yrs, under fifteen, and in open
high jump. (11) Four Officers; From the leftDr Fenwick, Dr Inglis, Dominion Chief-Scout Cossgrove and District-commander Goodman.

225

Chapter 36:

Sandilands, Canadian Block and Cuffs Road.

Most people who live in the district think of the area of Sandilands as the Christchurch Returned Services
War Veterans Sandilands Settlement on Pages Road. I suppose in 2007 it is.

Cornelius Cuff purchased section 8776 in 1875

comprising of 50 acres. It bordered what is now
Wainoni Road, Kerrs Road, Woodham Road and Pages
Road with the eastern boundary being Ottawa Road.
Cornelius Cuff sold the land and house to Henry Slater
in 1880. Henry Slater sold off a lot of the land over the
years but kept most of what is referred to as the
Canadian Block. The Slaters were a well known family
in the district and their house was built about 100 metres
in from Pages Road near Cuffs Road, with a long
driveway off Pages Road.
In 1894 Cornelius Cuff bought the section marked 1054
and sold it again in 1896.
Cornelius Cuff also purchased title 6754 of 20 acres in
1878 which he sold to Professor Bickerton in 1882. This
is where Wainoni Park was located, (see chapter 5).
In 1882 Corneliuss brother Albert Cuff purchased the
two neighbouring sections to title 6754 totalling 40
acres. This is where he built his house named Littleover
after the Cuff familys home town in England, (see chapter 7).

The Press, 17th Sept, 1901, page 6.

THE LATE MR CUFF.

The funeral of the late Mr C. Cuff, who
was at one time City Surveyor, took place
yesterday at the Avonside Cemetery. Ven.
Archdeacon Lingard and Rev. Canon Pascoe conducted the service. A large number of wreaths were sent, including one
from the directors of the New Brighton
Tramway Company, with which the late
Mr Cuff was connected as a director for
many years. Amongst those taking part
in the funeral procession were Messrs G.
McIntyre, J. Connal, R. Slater and J. R.
Blackett (representing the directors of the
New Brighton Tramway Company), Messrs

R. Struthers, R. H. Wood, S. C. Farr,

R. Pitcaithly, C. J. Marshall, J. Thomson, F. H. Tate, F. Storey, R. D. Thomas,
H. Slater, H. Allen, W. Cuddon, A. R.
Pavitt, G. Slater, W. Jameson, A. Bell,
J. Ballantyne, J. Beswick, W. Ballantyne,
W. H. Hargreaves, O. Pavitt, J. M. Heywood, C. F. Turner, F. Pratt, A. J.
Merton, J. H. Seager, P. Laurie, C. S.
Bean, W. Goss, E. Cuthbert, J. Fisher,
H. S. Richards, A. V. B. Bishop, F.
Denham, D. Bellhouse, F. Graham, J. Slater, Dr. J. Deamer, and the Rev. C. Turrell.

226
It was common for houses and properties to be named after the home town that the owners came from. As you
read in this newspaper article, Henry Slater was born in London, England and in the long obituary on the next
page the funeral starts at the Slaters house described as Sandilands. Residents of the area from earlier years
remember the second generation of the Slater family well and that the house was called Sandilands, (see page
13). The name Sandilands is a place in Croydon, Greater London in England as shown on this Google map.
The Press, 13th Aug, 1917, page 7.
DEATH OF COLONEL H.
SLATER.

I dont have 100% proof that this is why the house/property was
referred to as Sandilands, but I think it reasonable that this evidence is
convincing.

UNFORTUNATLY I HAVENT DISCOVERED A PHOTOGRAPH

OF THE SLATERS HOUSE, SANDILANDS.

McIntyre's homestead

Colonel Henry Slater, V.D., who

died yesterday in his 79th year, was
born in London, and educated in private schools. He came to New Zealand
in 1859, and was for several years engaged in pastoral pursuits. In 1865
he was articled to his father, and five
years later admitted a Barrister and
solicitor of the Supreme Court of New
Zealand, and shortly after entered into
partnership with his father. For
twenty years he was honorary secretary of the Canterbury Law Society,
and from 1894-1896 its president. For
many years he was chancellor of the
Diocese of Canterbury. The deceased
was intimately connected with the
volunteer movement. In 1865 he joined the Canterbury Yoemanry Cavalry,
and was in command of the corps for
some time. He was promoted to the
rank of major in 1883, and to that of
Lieutenant-colonel in 1899. In 1885 he
raised and organised the Canterbury
Mounted Rifles.

Slaters homestead named Sandilands,

the long driveway is off Pages Road.

227
The Press, 14th Aug, 1917, page 8.
THE LATE COLONEL
SLATER.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEER.
The death of Colonel Henry Slater,
V.D., has recalled very vividly to many
in Christchurch the stirring and critical period of the Boer war and the
important part that Colonel Slater and
other prominent citizens took in raising, organising, equipping, and despatching the Canterbury Troop of the
Third Contingent.
Towards the end of December, 1899,
the progress of the war in South Africa
was far from being satisfactory from
the point of view of the British.
General, now Lord French, had strongly
expressed the opinion that more mounted rifles were required in order to cope
with the methods of warfare of the
Boe`````````````````````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````rs. In Canterbury
this call
from the front appealed with
great
force to the late Mr Geo. G.
Stead,
Mr William Reece (then
Mayor of Christchurch), Colonel Slater,
and many other prominent men. Just
prior to Christmas, 1899, a movement
to raise and equip a Canterbury Troop
took definite shape, and the Canterbury War Fund was launched shortly
afterwards, The Press, in order to
impress on the New Zealand Government the necessity for sending an additional contingent, started The
Press More Men Fund, and the response received fully convinced the Government of the day of the urgency
for despatching further contingents.
There was some controversy on the subject as to whether the Patriotic Fund
or the War Fund deserved greater
public support. In a letter which appeared in The Press of January
15th, 1900, Colonel Slater wrote:
We have the material from which we
can evolve the description of forces now
required in South Africa. Let us do
so, and that quickly. on January
26th some of those who volunteered
went into camp at the A. and P. Associations Show Grounds at Addington, and Colonel Slater was appointed
officer commanding the camp. The
executive of the War Fund, which consisted of Messrs W. Reece, Geo. G.
Stead, George Humphreys, George
Harris, Henry Cotterill, Dr. Levinge,
and Colonel Slater, Mr H. Antill Adley
being secretary and Mr F. H. Labatt
being in charge of the enrolling, had a
strenuous time in getting the Canterbury troop equipped and trained, but
between January 26th and February
17th they completed their work, and
on the last-mentioned date the Rough
Riders, as they were called, embarked
on the Knight Templar for South
Africa.
Continue

Of Colonel Slaters part the files of

that time contain the following: At
camp Lieut-Colonel Slater has been
the guide and controlling spirit. Those
who have witnessed his untiring
energy, his attention to detail, his unfailing kindness and consideration to
all, from the rawest trooper upwards,
and in the manner in which he has performed his multifarious dutiessome of
them far from pleasant oneshave only
one opinion, and that is that an abler,
more competent, or better officer for
the position could only with difficulty
have been found. . . . From reveille
till late in the evening Colonel Slater
was always to be found at his post and,
though on many occasions, considerably
overworked, his cheerfulness and enthusiasm showed no diminution it is
not in any way over-estimating the
matter in stating that he has done the
work of three or four men. Although
compared with the magnitude of the
present war, the raising and equipping
and training of 200 or 300 men is not
a matter of great significance, it was
in those days a remarkable performance. That the Rough Riders left
New Zealand so well trained and gave
such a good account of themselves at
the front was in no small measure due
to the thoroughness with which Colonel
Slater conducted the camp.
In 1910 Colonel Slater published his
work. Fifty years of Volunteering,
in which he dealt with the history of
volunteering in Canterbury with which
he had been associated practically from
the outset. In addition to his interest
in Church matters, Colonel Slater was
deeply interested in the Royal Humane
Society of New Zealand, and was at
the time of his death the chairman of
the Court of Directors of the Society.
The funeral of the late Col. Slater,
will leave his late residence, Sandilands, Pages road, at 3 oclock
this afternoon, for the Avonside
churchyard. Col. Slater was on the
retired list, but he will nevertheless be
accorded a military funeral. The Defence authorities have not power to
call a compulsory parade, but the commanders of the various units have
been asked to secure as large an attendance as possible. The Home Service details of the N.Z.G.A. will provide the gun-carriage and firing party.
The pall-bearers will be: Col. Cooper,
Col. Snow, Col. Hobday, Lieut-Col.
Milton, Lieut-Col. John Deans, and
Lieut-Col. Creswell.
The No. 2 Divisional Signal Company, N.Z.E., Christchurch will parade
at 2p.m. at King Edward Barracks today, to attend the funeral of the late
Colonel Slater.

Fifty years of volunteering was

written by Colonel Slater in 1910.
The book gives an in-depth history of
the 50 years of Corps Volunteering
in
Canterbury which ended in
February 1910.
On the 28th February 1910 the New
Zealand Territorials was formed.

228

Henry Slater subdivided the 50 acre block and

Cuffs Road was formed.
Originally when rural land was made freehold,
it was subdivided into 50 acre blocks like this
one.

In 1906 this one acre title was created and

sold to John Ash Efford. When he died in
1919 the property was taken over by his
brother William Efford and Henry Sweney. It is thought that it was William who
built the house which is now
addressed 36 Cuffs Road.

John Ash Efford is

Miriam Leathems
Great Grandfather.

In 1933 the property was subdivided

leaving Mary Sweney, the wife of Henry
Sweney, two roods with the balance sold
off. Later that year the title was changed
into Henry Sweneys name.

Mary Sweney is
Miriam Leathems
Grandmother on the
maternal side.

In 1948 one perch and nine-tenths of one

perch was subdivided off the property
leaving one rood and one perch with the
house at 36 Cuffs Road.

After her grandmothers death, Miriam Leathem and her

husband took the
opportunity to purchase the property.

1964 the property was transferred to John

Edwin Leathem and in 1980 to Johns
widow, Miriam May Leathem.

1906-2007=101 years

229
The Press, 16th May, 1919, page 4.

OBITUARY.
0

MR J. A. EFFORD.
Mr John Ash Efford, who died at his
residence, Cuffs road, Avonside, on Friday last, in his 75th year, was born at
Louth, Lincolnshire, in October 1844,
and learned his trade as a coach-builder
in Torquay. He arrived in Christchurch
in 1872, and some years after entered
the Government service at the Addington Workshops, where he remained
until he was superannuated at the age
of sixty. He took a prominent part in
the establishment of the Christchurch
Working Mens Co-operative Association, acting as director, and afterwards
as liquidator when the business was voluntarily wound up. In 1908 he contested unsuccessfully the Riccarton seat in
the House of Representatives. Mr
Efford was a member of St. Augustine
Masonic Lodge. He was a charter
member of the Good Templar organisation in Christchurch, and a few years
ago filled the office of Grand Chief Templar. He was also a member of the International Grand Lodge. In the Sons
and Daughters of Temperance he filled
in succession all its offices, and at the
time of his death was Most Worthy
Patriarch. With the Oxford terrace
Baptist Church he was connected as a
member, and in the early days as an
elder, his membership being uninterrupted from the time of his arrival in
the
Dominion until his death. He was
an
enthusiastic chorister, and for fifty years
of continuous Sunday school teaching
received, ten years ago, the special certificate of the British Sunday School Union. During his only trip to the Old
Country, Mr Efford had the pleasure of
being in London during the Coronation
festivities of King Edward V11. he
leaves a widow, two daugh- ters, one
son, ten grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren. The funeral took place at
Linwood on Sunday last, when there was
a large gathering of friends and members
of the societies with which he was connected. The Good Templars and Sons
and Daughters of Temperance wore their
regalia. The Revv. J. J. North conducted
the ser- vice, and M. W. Scribe, Bro.
Jones, read the funeral ritual of the
S.D.T. Order.

Miriam Leathem outside the 100 year old shed.

When John Efford, Miriam Leathems great grandfather bought the
property in 1906, he built a modest lean to house on the section. It was
John Effords brother who built the present house in 1919. Mrs Leathem
remembers pulling down the old shack a long time ago.
The shed in this photograph was moved here from the 1906-7 exhibition
in Hagley Park when it closed in 1907. It was used as a wash room and
outhouse for many decades and is still used as a tool shed. The iron is still
in remarkable condition for its age.

Part of the reserve was a

council yard decades ago.
A road was designated to
go from Cuffs Road
through to Pannell Ave,
but didnt eventuate.

230

Photograph: Cyril Rhodes

During the late 1930s, two friends Eric Rhodes and Harry Earl who lived nearby were contracted to fell the
trees from around the McIntyres homestead in Sandilands, later to be named the suburb, Wainoni.
Ottawa Road was formed in the late 1800s. Professor Bickerton owned the east side in 1882. However the
original name for Ottawa Road was Onslow Street. Like a lot of streets in Christchurch and outer regions there
were two Onslow Streets, the other hasnt changed its name and is in Merivale.
Long time resident Aline Fergusson, nee Reed, recalls her father telling her the name Ottawa was decided back
in 1932 when the Right Honourable J.G. Coates, representing the government, and two other government
officials, along with representatives from the meat board and farmers union went to Canada to the Ottawa
Conference.

Right and below:

The Christchurch Times,
Friday, March 27th, 1932.

The Christchurch Times, Friday, March 27th, 1932, page 8.

....
New Zealand, even to a greater extent
than other dominions always had been
dependent for its prosperity upon the
sale of its primary products in the
markets of the United Kingdom, and it
has been the consistent policy of the
Dominion to purchase its requirements from abroad as far as possible
from those who buy our exports, namely, the people of the United Kingdom.
This policy was dictated also by the
general desire to trade with our own
people..

....
Abandonment of Free Trade.
The Prime Minister referred to the
abandonment by many nations of the
old policy of free trade, and said that
at the last Imperial Conference it was
unanimously the opinion of the dominions that it would be in the interests
of the Empire if the United Kingdom
adopted a tariff policy with the view to
protecting her own industries and encouraging trade within the Empire
family by a system of Empire preferences. ..

231
During the 1960s when the houses and
units were built in the area, there was a
lot of clearing of the land to be done.
One giant Macrocarpa stump like this
one in this photograph was missed and a
unit was built over it. It wasnt until
nearly 40 years later when it had rotted
away that the unit began sinking in one
corner. Floor joists began snapping and
to the eye it was obvious something had
to be done quickly. As I had been
involved with the sale of this property to
the current owners, I made enquiries to
the council, as did the solicitor. It was
too long ago to fight for compensation
Eric Rhodes and his friend Harry Earl standing beside a
from either the council or developer, so
Macrocarpa tree stump.
the owners got on with fixing it. To my
surprise the cost was relatively low. Approximately $10,000 was all it cost to dig underneath, jack up the corner and pour a new foundation on part of
two sides. Today it is barely noticeable.
Photograph: Cyril Rhodes

Photograph: Kathy Inns

67 Ottawa Road 1946

69 Ottawa Road, Wainoni about 1946.

This photograph is taken from, (at a guess), the top of a poplar tree at 67 Ottawa Road in 1946. The house
pictured is a good example of how not to have a mortgage. As the owners could afford to they started by
building the first room, as photographed. Then room by room they added to the house and even put a bedroom
upstairs. The finished house was then roughcast over making it look like it was built in one go. In 2007 I did a
market appraisal on the house and was surprised to find that the floors were level and solid. It looked to be
very well built.
This photograph is taken from the north looking southwards. The trees in the background are what was left
after the tree felling in the late 1930s.

232

McIntyres Homestead near Cuffs Road 1940. Photo: Rhodes family.

The McIntyres bought land from Mr and Mrs Henry Slater. Both their houses were pulled down when the
subdivision was made. Nina Slater (1881-1980) nee McIntyre married into the Slater family and lived close to
her sister. Their father George McIntyre (1841-1934) was Mayor of New Brighton from 1901-1903 and a big
- shot in the New Brighton Tramway Co.

CHESTER STREET WEST ON CRANMER TERRACE?

Chester street west had its name
changed to Cranmer terrace recently because there was such a
big gap in Chester streetit runs
from Fitzgerald avenue to Madras
street, and then begins again at
Durham street to run as far as
Cranmer square. Now it is probable that the name will revert
to Chester street west, for confusion with Cranmer square has
arisen.
Thirteen residents wrote to the
City Council saying that there
had been confusion, with letters
being delivered to Cranmer square
there was a delay of seven
weeks in the delivery of one airmail letter as a resultand, especially as new Chester street
west nameplates had been erected,
they sought reversion to that
name.
The street names sub-committee
reported to the council last evening that in five cases places in
Cranmer square and Cranmer terrace had the same street numbers.
Continue

The inadvertent erection of new

Chester street west signs ordered
before the changes had also caused some confusion. The committee said a circular was being sent
to all occupiers of the street asking for their views.
Faced with duplication of street
namesLowry, Tripp and Dennistonin subdivisions in the city
and Waimairi County, the council
agreed that the Waimairi subdivision was further advanced
than the city one, it would make
the following changesLowry
street to Firth street; Tripp place
to Bidwell place; Denniston street
to Overton street.
In the Government housing area
in Wainoni, there were Farnborough and Aldershot streets and
Peterfield and Lyndhurst streets
which were really only two
streets, so that one name should
be cancelled in each case, the
committee said.
The council agreed that Farnborough street should be renamed
Continue

The Press 28th April 1959, page 17.

Aldershot street, and Peterfield

and Lyndhurst streets should be
renamed Lyndhurst crescent.
The following new street names
were approved:
Pagoda street, new street between Marshland road and Joy
street, Niagara street, Vancouver
crescent, Quebec place, Baffin
street, Winnipeg place and Huron
street for a subdivision between
Ottawa, Pages and Cuffs road;
Haig place, off Marshall street between Clarendon terrace and Radley street; Kew place, off Roslyn
avenue; Wildwood avenue and
Odie place, off Kerrs road to a right
-angle bend of Pannell
avenue.
As there had been confusion in
Chester street, it might be advisable to choose a completely new
name, said Cr. M. A. Connelly,
M.P.

233

Chapter 37:

Wainoni Block.
Map from the Aranui Primary School
Archives.

Plan of the
Wainoni
Block 1957

Wainoni Road
Reserve
( Wainoni Park )

16. 1. 1957

234

Looking towards Breezes Road from Aranui Primary School in 1957.

The Beardsley family home on the left was not
demolished as most were, but was transported to
Avonhead and was used as a barn on a large
property. The Beardsleys sons recall seeing the
house as late as the 1990s. It may still be there.
See page 238 for a recollection from Eric Beardsley
of his life in Aranui, 1930-1949.

Photographs from the National Archives

New Zealand, Peterborough Street,
Christchurch.

235
Many people in New Zealand lived
in temporary accommodation. In
Christchurch one place used after
World War 2, was the army
barracks at Harewood Airport.
People lived in cramped conditions
sharing one bathroom and toilet
with many other families. A man I
spoke with recalls people taking off
the cupboard doors and putting wire
netting over them to keep chickens
in. Poverty was common as was
having 5 or more children. New
Zealand needed many housing
blocks.

WAINONI LANDOWNERS
DEMAND A FAIR SPIN
Wainoni and Aranui landowners
last night demanded at a special
meeting in Aranui that the Government should give them a fair spin
in valuing land taken for State housing purposes.
The Government has indicated
that it will take 168 acres in
Aranui and Wainoni to provide for
659 house units.
Two months ago about thirty-five
landowners met and decided to send
a deputation to protest to the Minister of lands (the Hon W.S. Goosman) at the low prices offered for
the land.
About twenty went to last nights
meeting to which an explanation
was given by the deputation.
FAIR MARKET VALUE
The chairman of the meeting (Mr
H.H. Cook) said that the Minister
had said he wanted to take the land
at fair market value.
To get a fair settlement, a tribunal of valuers and landowners was
desired.
The secretary (Mr L.T. Loversidge) said: We are just trying to
get a fair valuation. The Minister
said he wanted to give a 1952 valuation.
Several persons indicated that

they still did not want to sell their

land, and Mr N. Soper said he did
not agree with Mr Cook in some
regards. He thought that the Valuation Department had made a good
job, and was quite impartial in its
judgement.
Mr Loversidge said that a
document was available for landowners to sign in an effort to get
landowners to have independent
valuers for their land so that
the Government does not have
things all its own way.

Wainoni/Aranui had cheap land

spread amongst a few owners and
was an ideal location to house the
people at Harewood and others.
From reading articles and listening
to stories from people who bought
in the area, I have come to the
conclusion that State Housing,
didnt mean State Houses, but that
the state was developing land and
building houses for people to
purchase.
The Wainoni Block soon grew into
the land to the east including, Rowan Ave, Marlow Road and when
the Aranui Speedway closed in
1959, Sandown Crescent and surrounding streets were developed.

This was signed by most of those

present before the meeting ended.

Christchurch Star Sun

Thursday
October 9th 1952 Page 7

C. 6292 Wainoni Housing Block: C. Haworths sewer contract:

Looking down Rowan Avenue. 20.10.56

236

Eric Beardsley reflects back to the good old days at

Aranui.
I add to your collection some memories of my own as a boy living in Aranui from 1930 to 1949.
My grandfather, Harry Elisha Beardsley, built a small bach on two acres of sandhills and scrub at 27 Breezes
Rd at the end of World War One. It was occupied by my parents, Ted and Connie Beardsley after my father
lost his job as engineer at the Bell Hill sawmill on the West Coast at the beginning of the Depression in 1930.
There they brought up five boys, Garth, Eric, Ivan, Kevin and Robin, adding extensions as the family
expanded. The house is shown ( No. C 2810) in the group of curious baches and shanties that dotted the
sandhills before the whole area was subdivided for intensive housing in the 1950s.
Those first houses looked, and were, poor and those who lived in them were poor too. Most fathers were
unemployed and the families were dependent on food rations from a food depot in Linwood and the work
schemes devised by the City Council. Our clothes were handed from brother to brother and we went barefoot
except in midwinter. But we had weekend jobs as caddies at the Avondale Golf Course, weeding, planting and
harvesting vegetables at Willie Wongs market garden, plucking fowls at Pattullo's poultry farm or delivering
newspapers. Despite the poverty we enjoyed our childhood immensely. The hundreds of acres of sandhills and
scrub gave us an enormous playground and we used it. More-over, most children were from homes where
poverty was no stranger and as a result were not envious; nor did we yearn for toys; we made our own. So we
learned some useful lessons in being adaptable. I think the reason was that we were all in the same boat.
All we boys passed through Aranui Primary and at least one was on the roll from 1930 to 1950 while my
mother was secretary of the School Committee for more years than she cared to remember.
Aranui at that time was remarkable for the numbers of radicals, religious fanatics, loners, ex-swaggers, drunks
and other characters and we didn't lack for entertainment. We heard numerous arguments and debates about
creating a better society than the one that had brought most of us so low. The widespread discontent resulted
in the election of the first Labour Government in 1935 and the introduction of cradle to the grave social
security, a considerable achievement which satisfied so many that the appeal of socialism faded.
My mother Connie was a leader in many ways and her story of the poverty-stricken years is told in Simpson's
The Sugarbag Years. While a member of the School Committees' Association she expressed her anxiety
about the poor diet of Aranui children and agitated for the introduction of milk in schools. She also argued
successfully for apples to be distributed in schools when German U-boats halted apple exports to Britain
during the Second World War. On school holidays she led us and neighbouring kids on hikes for picnics along
the Avon or to New Brighton, produced plays for children in her sitting room and taught piano to a number of
young girls. Starved of a social life, the girls subsequently begged her to play the piano for dances in the
little-used Aranui Hall. They were a great success and in a very short time she was leading a six-piece band
two fiddles, saxophone, drums and piano accordion. The dances were so popular that by the time the war
began two were held each week.
They continued through the dark days of the war. Romances began and blossomed at the dances, soldiers,
sailors and airmen heading overseas were farewelled there and a strong sense of community developed in a
district noted more for its loners and eccentrics than togetherness and co-operation.
Connie and Ted Beardsley were presented with silver trays from the community when they left the district
after their property was acquired for group housing in the mid-fifties. Surprisingly their home was transported
to Upper Riccarton for few thought it would survive the journey but it still shelters a family.
Many good and conscientious teachers passed through Aranui School, perhaps the most memorable being
Alan Danks, one of the last students out of Teachers' College when it was closed to save money in the
Depression. Those who had the good fortune to be in his classes in the old Tin Shed remember with affection
his huge laugh, his skill at marbles, the weekend tramps he led over the hills, his appetite for pies from
Venner's Dairy and above all his easy ability to encourage the best from all his pupils.
Alas, he was too good to retain, going on to Boys' High and then the University at which he held every
academic position but Vice-Chancellor. In the 1970s he reached the top of the education tree by being
appointed Chairman of the University Grants Committee.
A most engaging speaker on almost any topic he was regarded as the country's leading economist. In
retirement he chaired the inquiry into Freedom of Information, from which emerged the Act that enables the
news media to demand information from official organisations. His knighthood was richly deserved.

237
The Press, Wednesday August 28th 1957, page 7

STATE HOUSES AT
WAINONI
Tenders Called For
Erection
Tenders have been called by
the Housing Construction Division of the Ministry of Works
for the erection of nine State
houses in Marlow road, Wainoni
on a block adjacent to the site of
the proposed 1958 Parade of
Homes.
Eight of the new houses will
have three bedrooms and one will
have two bedrooms. Brick Veneer
will be used on three of the houses, concrete block veneer on four,
weatherboards on one, and asbestos sidings on the other one.
Eight of the houses will be
built on the north side of Marlow road and one on the south
side, They will be built on sections with an average area of
about 32 perches.
Tenders have also been called
for the construction of sewers to
feed into the general system of
drainage in the Wainoni block.

National Archives N.Z. photograph

The Wainoni Blocks boundaries expanded to the east during the 1960s. The Speedway Block (Rowan
Avenue, Carisbrooke Street etc.) was developed and new housing built. In these newspaper articles both the
names Aranui and Wainoni are used to describe the area. For a long time the area has been referred to as
Aranui. The Aranui Murals project in 1993 and 2002-6, the Aranui Renewal are examples of this. The park on
Hampshire Street was named Wainoni Park after the Wainoni Block, as is Wainoni School. I suggest
districts on large areas of land that had a very low number of residents often were on the outskirts of suburbs
until development took place. Avondale is an other example of this. The suburb Avondale before development
was Wainoni and prior to Wainoni was part of the Aranui district and prior again was in the New Brighton
District.

238
Richard Edward standing outside his new home as it is being
constructed at 42 Lyndhurst Crescent.
Like a lot of home buyers in the Wainoni Block, Richard Edward was
told in 1957 that no state houses were to be built in the housing block.
I believe this was the States intention to begin with, but with a huge
lack of housing and many working class people not able to afford to
purchase their own home the government took the opportunity to built
over 500 State houses in the block.
I talked with Mr Edward in 2000, and he told me that over the time he
lived there that there were no real problems and he didnt mind that so
many government houses were built.

The Press Thursday August 22nd

1957, page 7

1958 PARADE OF
HOMES
Builders Selected.
Fourteen
builders,
different
from the team that provided
the first Christchurch parade of
homes last autumn, have now
been announced for the 1958 parade of homes in Rowan Avenue,
Wainoni, next March. The successful builders won a ballot in
which 39 firms participated.
Sections are now ready to and all
builders must be ready to start
work by November 1.
Those
selected
are:-T.
I.
Murdoch. Ltd., Smith and Stokes,
Yates and Malcolm, Rogers and
Prestidge, G. H. Wales, A. L.
S. Upton, F. Slade, S. G. Frost,
D. H. August, J. Reid and Co.,
Hamilton and Blackmore, Home
and Colonial Builders. Ltd., E. C.
W. Dixon, and T. H. Alexander
and Co. Ltd.
In addition the Canterbury
Timber Merchants Association
will provide a house.
The builders will meet this evening to choose a representative of
the general committee.
The Canterbury branch of the
New Zealand Institute of Architects will not be entering but
has offered its service to all the
builders taking part.

S.G. FROST & SON LTD, won the competition being awarded with the
honour of Best Builders. The winning home is on the corner of Rowan
Avenue and Eureka Street. Ray told me that before the fences were built
the living room had a wide view of Eureka Street and that the police
would spend the nights there looking out for any theft of building
materials from the dozens of other surrounding building sites.
Stanley Frosts son Ray built his home at 320 Pages Road in 1954, where
he lived with his wife Ila and their two children. When the children had
grown into adults and left home Ray and Ila bought a section at 320
Breezes Road not far from their existing home and while living in a
caravan they built two connecting units, one to live in and the other to
rent. When Stan retired Ray continued on his own building many houses
in the district and elsewhere.
Ray and Ila have been a very big part of St Ambrose Church for over 35
years. In 2006 as part of the 150th celebrations of the Anglican Church in
Aoteoroa, Ray received an award of recognition by the Bishop for all the
work he had done for the parish for all the time he was there. Ray was
involved with the building of the Church hall, toilet block and vicarage as
well as on going maintenance. If it needed fixing Ray had his hand up.
Ray has been involved at the Pleasant Point Yacht Club since 1947.

Photo Ray and Ila

239
The Press newspaper, Saturday, April 3, 2004, pages D1 and D6.
In February 1973, three nuns left Villa Maria College and went to where they saw the most need. They lived in
Aranui for 21 years, 19 of those in a state house at 70 Hampshire Street. It was right opposite the fish-and-chip
-shop where Sister Pauline ORegan, now 81, took a part-time job to get to know the children better.
Alongside Sister Pauline, Sister Helen Goggin, and Sister Teresa O'Connor worked in the community, offering
training, befriending local women, and acting as intermediaries with government agencies. I think the
accounts wed heard were vastly overstated. People talked a lot about drugs and vandals and gangs, says
Sister Pauline. People had given Aranui such bad press, Sister Helen, now 74 says. We were amazed. We
found the most wonderful people.
The stigma which Aranui locals had grown up with was soon transferred to the nuns. It was a strange
experience for us, Pauline says. As soon as you said Hampshire Street, when you gave your address, the Biro
would be suspended for a minute while they figured out how reliable you were.
The three nuns moved out in 1994 and now live in Linwood. They still worship at St James Catholic Church in
Aranuis Rowan Avenue.
Sister Helen says tearing down the old two-storey Housing Corp flats will be a good start in rewriting Aranuis
future. They (the flats) said nothing about dignity for the people who lived in them.
In the 1970s, Sister Helen says people were desperate to find the quickest way out of Hampshire Street.
Everybody wanted to be somewhere else. Now, she says, the message she is getting from her friends in the
street is that locals are flocking back to Hampshire Street, and Aranui in general, and wouldnt live anywhere
else.

240

ARANUI MURALS PROJECT 1993

Shop design and alcove: Artists - James Williams, Darryl

Cumberpatch, Mary Himiona, Tanya Hoar, Jaqui Dell.

Blue wall: Artists - Jaqui Dell, Priscilla Cowie, Michelle

Domett, Colton Lambert, Mark Spykerbos, John Wilson.

SouthPower Substation: Artists - Priscilla Cowie

and Mark Spykerbos.

Portsmouth Street side of substation: Artist - John Wilson.

241

DOWN WITH THE OLD AND

UP WITH THE NEW.
In 2004 the Government along with Housing New
Zealand and the Christchurch City Council, under
a scheme called the Aranui Renewal Project, began
to replace the two storey housing blocks on and
around Hampshire Street. The first demolished was
at 37 Portsmouth Street. Over the next 2 years
many of the two storey buildings in the Wainoni
Block, owned by Housing New Zealand, were
replaced by new, modern single storey dwellings.

Kaumatua, Sandy Kaa making a speech prior to the first

building being dismantled. The Aranui High School
Kapahaka group ready to perform a haka.

37 Portsmouth Street 2007

Rob Davidson from the Aranui Renewal Committee

making a speech. Seated are government officials
including Leanne Dalziel, (local M.P.) and Gary Moore,
(Major)

2005. Hampshire Street opposite Wainoni Park.

Constructing a road through the north-west end of

Wainoni Park would provide new housing, a slow
road safe for kids to cross to the park, car parking
for sport, a smaller more manageable park and
security for people using the park.

The opening of Ben Rarere Avenue, 12 June 2006.

242

243

Chapter 38:

Jock Mathison M.P.

I had almost finished preparing this book for proof reading and had decided to research no further when I got a
phone call from Jean Rogatski, a daughter of Jock Mathison. I had heard of Mr Jock Mathison and had been
told where he lived and that he had been a Member of Parliament but that was all I knew.
Mrs Rogatski sent me a lot of articles from newspapers and it was then that I realised that this chapter needed
to be compiled. Jock Mathison was involved with the unions and then politics about the same time as Mabel
Howard, (see chapter 19). Mabel was a Member of Parliament for Christchurch East, (later Sydenham), and
Jock Mathison for Avon. The house Jock Mathison and his family built on the corner of Bickerton Street and
Pages Road, (101 Bickerton Street), is less than 100 metres from Ted and Mabel Howards place at 147 Pages
Road.
The newspaper articles in this chapter tell a very good story of Jock Mathison and his political career.
My father told me years ago that back in the early 1970s when he wanted to purchase a second hand television
from a shop on hire purchase, that it was very difficult, but when he mentioned to the salesman that he could
get a letter from Jock Mathison as a reference no more was said and he came home with the television. Jock
Mathison had an excellent reputation and was known by all, a genuine Wainoni gentleman.
John Mathison was always known as J ock. Most newspaper articles don t mention his birth name, perhaps
the common person didnt know any different.

The Press, 13th December, 1957, page 16.

NEW LABOUR CABINET AFTER SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

Christchurch Press,
13th December, 1957,
page 16.

CABINET photographed at Government House yesterday after swearing-in ceremony. Front row, from left:
The Hon F. Hackett, the Hon A.H. Nordmeyer, the Prime Minister (Mr Nash), the Governor-General
(Viscount Cobham), the Hon C.F. Skinner, the Hon H.G.R. Mason, the Hon M.B. Howard. Back row: The
Hon W.T. Anderton, the Hon P.O.S. Skoglund, The Hon P.N. Holloway, The Hon H. Watt, the Hon E.T. Tirikatene, the Hon P.G. Connolly, the Hon J. Mathison, the Hon R. Boord, the Hon M. Moohan, and

244
The Press, 10th November 1969, page 13.
Article rearranged to fit the page.

MR MATHISON . . . does not readily take no

for an answer.

The Member for Parliament and Labour

candidate for Avon, known to almost
every one as Jock Mathison, is a member
of the diminishing old guard of his
party. A stalwart of Labour in former days
and conditions that would shock most of
us today, he is a man to whom the use
of Old Country for Britain comes
naturally.
In fact, when I pointed it out to him
he seemed almost surprised that there
are so many people who do not see the
United Kingdom today in quite these
terms.
Born in 1901 and that makes him 68
Mr Mathison was a wool spinner in Scotland. He came to New Zealand in 1924,
and incidentally met his wife on the same
ship that brought him to this country.
It was no wonder that Mr Mathison became interested in the Labour movement
in New Zealand. He said his father was
chairman of the British Independent
Labour Party and people like Ramsay MacDonald were visitors to his home in
Britain.
In Christchurch Mr Mathison joined the
Tramways staff and was president of the
union when a 10-day strike was called in
1932. he refused tramways re-employment
when the strike was settled, because 60
others had not been reinstated.
The following year, he was elected to
the Tramways Board, of which he was
later chairman. Two letters were sent to
Mr Mathison from the general manager
one notified him of dismissal, the other,
signed your obedient servant, formally
advised him of selection to the board.
While union president, he was chairman
of the Christchurch Unemployed Workers
Union during the depression.
He recalled: We avoided the riots that
were common in other cities. We did not
see any point in antagonising people and
losing public sympathy to this extent, and
so there were no riots in Christchurch.
Mr Mathison was a canvasser of subscriptions for the Christchurch Star-Sun
and eventually publisher. He had one of
three candidates to poll more than 10,000
votes in the 1951 waterfront strike election.
He was Minister of Civil Aviation,
Transport, Tourist and Health Resorts and
Island Territories in the 1957-60 Labour
Government.
I asked Mr Mathison what the most
satisfying thing was about 22 years as a
Member of Parliament. The most rewarding experience, he said, was being able to
help literally hundreds of people.
As a rule I never ask them to come
to see me, he added. There are times
when they prefer to do this, but usually
I make a point of going to see people in
need in their homes. In this way I get
a better understanding of their problems
and see conditions, especially if they are
sick or injured.
Mr Mathison agreed that being in
Opposition for 17 years did impose limitations but it also had its advantages. He
says an Opposition member has more influence with departmental heads who are
reluctant to come under criticism. One
case took 10 years to settle.
He says one thing he learned was not to
readily take no for an answer.
Asked what this sort of work mainly concerned, Mr Mathison said much concerned
problems over local interpretation of regulations in varying circumstances.

But I have nothing but praise for the

administrators in every department, Mr
Mathison hastened to add.
As to the public attitude towards politicians, he feels that people tend to see
the House as a glorified debating society,
whereas the real work is done in select
committees, he says.
Mr Mathison, who has a sonorous and fullsome style of speaking, says that he has
noted changes in Parliament. He says
there is a tendency to read speeches without adhering to the techniques of debate.
Members tend to go on saying what
they have to say, ignoring points made
by previous speakers. And this makes for
tedious repetition which is unavoidable.
Short question and answer sessions produce some of the liveliest periods.
As to his concept of what Labours role
is today, Mr Mathison says basically this
amounts to wanting to see better utilisation of both human and material potential
in this country.
More specifically he feels there needs
to be an improvement in social services
which have been seriously eroded in the
last nine years, as well as adjustments in
taxation, as proportionally to earnings,
many people are paying too much tax.
Mr Mathison has definite ideas about
salaries and conditions for Members of
Parliament and feels both should be improved. He considers it should be mandatory for the commission on salaries to fix
salaries.
And his major criticism is in the lack
of facilities. He points out in other
countries typists and secretaries are provided in the members own electorate and
when Parliament is not in session.
As to being a Member of Parliament,
Mr Mathison says he has enjoyed it. Some
dont, he says, but he has enjoyed the
opportunity to serve the country and individuals in it.
Members have not changed in their degree of dedication, he says, and generally
they do the work expected of them well.
But he says there are more people with
academic qualifications in government today which is natural considering the
higher degree of learning.
The demands on a Member of Parliament have increased substantially, Mr
Mathison says, and he must be dedicated
both to the welfare of the country and
his constituents. He must always be available.
Mr Mathison favours better distribution
of industry. He agrees that industry cannot be compelled to establish in a particular area, but it can be persuaded, he
says.
While he naturally looks at Britain traditionally, he stresses the need for New
Zealand to develop alternative markets.
We also need to take action to avoid the
situation were people are leaving for
Australia and this involves margins for
skill and opportunities for people here.
The cost of living Mr Mathison sees
as a major issue, and with justification
of price rises being necessary, he considers provision should be made for a reexaminations of costs of production.
It is not always the manufactures
fault that costs have gone up when he is
unable through lack of an import licence
to get the proper equipment.
Mr Mathison sees Labour as again becoming a leader in social legislation.

245

Jock Mathisons
real name is John
Mathison.

The Christchurch Times, Thursday, May 12th,

1932, page 3.
TRAMWAY UNION REPRESENTITIVES:

REPRESENTITIVES OF THE TRAMWAY UNION.

Tramway Union Representatives who attended the tribunal set up to settle the tramway strike.
From left: Mr H . T. Armstrong, M.P., Mr A .T. Boanas, Mr J. Mathison, and Mr E. Snow
(secretary of the union).

246

FROM JOCK MATHISONS FAMILY SCRAPBOOK 2007.

Christchurch Star Thursday December 3rd 1970

Two handsome shields were

the end-of-the-session prizes
for the Minister of Defence
(Mr Thomas), (right), and
Mr J. Mathison (Labour,
Avon), the winners of the
1970 parliamentary snooker
and billiards championships,
held among members this
year for the first time in
nine years.
Mr Thomson commented:
At least now people will
know what we have been
doing during all these late
night sittings.
(Continue)

Mr Mathison is holding the

Sir George Hunter billiards
shield, which he previously
won in 1948 and 1961, and
Mr Thomson the Maui
Pomare snooker shield,
which Mr Mathison won in
1948.
The two members were in
the finals of both championships.
Mr Mathison also won the
billiards handicap and the
Minister of Finance, Mr
Muldoon, beat Mr Thomson
in two frames for the snooker championship.

247

As well as being a trustee of the Canterbury Savings

Bank, Jock Mathison was Patron of over 40 clubs
and Organisations.

248
Christchurch Star
Wednesday 6th May
1959 page 8.

249
The Press 18th November, 1969, page 16.

This article has been re-arranged to fit the page.

250
Mabel Howard, (see chapter 19), entered politics
and became a member of Parliament in 1943 and
retired from politics in 1969.

Christchurch Star Saturday 17th March 1973

25 years as MP

John Mathison (Jock), entered politics in 1948

and retired in 1973 and was first a member of
Parliament in 1957.
Talking with Jocks daughter Jean Rogatski, she
told me of the times she drove to the
Christchurch Airport to pick up Jock and would
then usually drive at least three politicians back
to their homes. The interesting thing is that they
werent necessarily from the same party and
were often the opposition. She commented that
politics was different then.

Christchurch Star, 20th November 1972, page 19.

The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) presents a typewriter to Mr J.

Mathison, member of Parliament for Avon for 25 years until his
retirement at the end of last session, at a function at New Brighton
last night. Centre is Mr H. Henry, branch president and organiser for Mr

Mr J. Mathison planting a tree at the Portsmouth Free Kindergarten open day on

Saturday. This was
one of his last official
duties as member of
Parliament for Avon.

John Mathison, O.B.E., (Jock to everybody), retired in 1973. Six years after his first
wife died Jock married a widow, Jean Prisk, whom he met at the Dallington bowling
club where she was President. Later that year Jock sold the family home on the
Bickerton Street/Pages Road corner and moved to an ownership unit in Avonside.
Jock died on the 11th October 1982, aged 81.

251

Chapter 39:

Houses. (Then and now.)

327 Breezes Road.

The Clarke family home.

Photo taken in the 1930s.
Still in good order.

279 Pages Road.

279 Pages Road. Photo: June White.
The front house is still there today and
was rented by Bob Whites family when
he was a boy. When he got married in the
late 1940s he and his wife June moved
into this house behind his parents, which
was on the same property. There was no
power or sewer and the water came from
the pipe to near the door in the photo.
There were two rooms and a coal range.
It is thought to have been the first house
built in the district but there is no way to
verify this. The property was subdivided
in 2004 and this house was demolished
and a new one built.

326 Breezes Road.

Photos: Neil Haymes.

The Haymes family home was built about 1920. These two photographs were taken in the 1930s. The large
section had a tennis court and big gardens. It was subdivided in the 1990s. The house is still in very good
condition.

252

57 Shortland Street 1948

The Caldwell family had the house built and lived at number 57. Photo from Graham Caldwell.
See the DVD for film footage of Shortland Street in the 1950s.

Corner of Merrington Crescent and Doreen

Street looking towards Breezes Road.
Photograph taken by Fred Green in 1957.

Aranui High School site 1931

Mr Basher and Bill Rhodes felling trees.
Photographed by Eric Rhodes.

388 Pages Road.

The Terras family lived here for a long time. You can just see in the background the original St Ambrose
Church and the Aranui Hall. This photo was taken in the 1930s and the house is still in very good condition.
The Terras family were involved with the Aranui Scouts. Ray, one of the sons, was the scout leader who raised
the flag at the opening of the Aranui War Memorial in 1954 and at the first A.N.Z.A.C. day ceremony in 2005.
You can read more in chapter 35, the Aranui Playcentre. The Aranui War Memorial opening day is also on the
DVD.

253

310 Breezes Road.

Edwin Rowse built this house and lived here with his
family for decades. Edwin built the first two shops in
the district, (see chapter 20).
Unfortunately this house burnt down in 1998. The
section lay empty until 2004 when it was sold and the
new owner relocated a house onto it and 2005 built a
cottage on the front.

138 Wainoni Road.

The Downs family bought 138 Wainoni Road from

the Duthie family in 1951, (see chapter 8). It was a
small cottage at this time and over the decades it
was extended, leaving just one original wall in the
hall. Mrs L. Downs sold the property in 2006.

247 Breezes Road.

First home buyer Andrew Gilmore aged 21, borrowed $4,000 from
his boss, sold his car and took out his first mortgage of $40,000.00.
Working long hours as a builder and proving to the bank he was a
reliable client he and his partner Pip increased the mortgage and
extensively renovated and extended the house by 40%. You could
call the house a 75 year old new home. Today in 2007 just five
years later they have over $100,000 equity. It was a lot of labour but
now a piece of Aranui History has been preserved.
It is hard to believe that in 2002 you could buy a property in any
condition for $47,000.

254

302 Breezes Road.

This house was demolished in the 1990s to

make room for the new Mobil station on the
corner of Breezes and Pages Roads. It was
located where the driveway into the service
station is on Breezes Road next to Iona
Church.

290 Pages Road.

This photograph was taken in 2007. It was

subdivided in the 1990s and a relocated
house was placed behind it.

220 and 222 Breezes Road.

The Palermo family. Roy, Violet with their children Adele, Carol and Allan in 1942.

220 Breezes Road built in the 1990s before the

subdivision rules increased the section size.

Because of her mother being ill, Adele went to live with her Aunty Phyllis and Uncle Bert Ayers in a cottage
at 220 Breezes Rd in1939, at the age of 9 months, while her brother and sister went to live with her fathers
family. After a couple of years they moved next door to a bigger house at 222 Breezes Rd. Her mother died
soon after this photo was taken in the early 1940s. The cottage was demolished, along with another house
alongside it, in the 1990s. Three town houses were built at 220 Breezes Rd site and the first E.P.H. units in the
area were built on the 218 Breezes Rd site. There are ten units and they were named the Gables. The house
Adele moved to at 222 Breezes Rd was roughcast over and is in good condition today. About 1995, 222 Breezes Rd was subdivided and a house relocated to the rear.
Photo and family information from Adele Elwood, nee Palermo .

255

Elderly persons housing units E.P.H.s (Over 60s units)

2006 and 2007 were the years of the E.P.H. boom. Residential Aranui and Wainoni is zoned living 1, (L1).
The rules of subdivision have changed over the past 20 years. In Leonie Place there are a lot of units on crosslease titles. During the 1970s when the street was developed the living 1 zone rules were that a section could
be cross-leased with high density housing units. The rules soon changed to stop the in-fill housing such as this.
I think this is a good change because otherwise there would be hundreds of units in the area without much land
and the potential of ghettos developing. Today in 2007 the development size for living 1 is 450m2 plus access,
if it is a rear section, per lot. Therefore a site would need to be 900m2 plus access. HOWEVER there is one
exception being elderly person housing, E.P.H.s commonly referred to as over 60s units. This means that
anybody, (over 18), can own a unit but the main occupier has to be over 60 years of age or an invalid. The
title/property owners have a common unit title provision between all the other units, but it is on one title or
section. Like cross-lease there is common land, such as the driveway and land that only each unit is entitled to
use. In 2006 the total floor area for any E.P.H. was 80 m2, including garage. By the time you read this book it
is likely that the building area would have increased to 90 or 100m2.
If you found this explanation hard to understand, I will put it simply, there is more profit building E.P.H.s than
a single house, therefore there was a big boom of these units being built in 2006-7 in Christchurch and in
particular Aranui and Wainoni. Up to 100 in total. I think this is because the housing cost in Aranui and
Wainoni is less than other areas, allowing people like myself the affordability to complete a project like these.

Left: 218 Breezes Road site. There are ten units and
they are named The Gables.
They are now numbered 214a-j Breezes Road.
There may have been three houses, not two,
demolished where The Gables and the three town
houses are next door, at 218 and 220 Breezes Road.

Right: 268 a, b, c and d Wainoni Road built in 2004.

Below:

258 Breezes Road 2006

256

295 Pages Road

2006

The bach in the backyard.

The largest elderly person housing units development is this one at 295 Pages Road. The section size is about
1770 m2. Mrs Meirs, nee Newman, built and lived in the existing house after moving from where she grew up
next door. After she passed away the property was sold and was developed with 12 E.P.H. units being built.
The Meirs family deserve a mention here. They were a kind, community minded family who helped others in
need. Talking with the late Bob Poundsford in 2003, he told me that as a boy during the 1940s, his mother and
the children in his family, lived in the old bach in the Meirs backyard. This bach photographed above may
have been built for Mr Meirs to live in while he built the house. Other families including the Lewis family
lived there for a time as well. Both the house and bach were pulled down to make room for the elderly person
housing units in 2006.

2007

Below:

149 Pages Road.

2007

149 Pages Road.

During 2006 a character house was relocated
off the property to another site and four E.P.H.
units built.

257

275, 275a and b Breezes Rd 2005-6

2005

2007

1950s

275 Breezes Road was subdivided in 2005-6 and these two E.P.H.
units were completed in 2006. This was a project that I,
undertook. My nephew Andrew was the builder and I think the
simple shape, rectangle, facing north-west, with there being only
two and with plenty of room to manoeuvre vehicles, makes them
very practical and comfortable to live in. The only downfall, like
other units built around the same time, is that not too long after
selling them the New World Supermarket across the road closed.
Left: Mrs Wilson with Robina outside the Nankivell/Wilson
family home looking across Breezes Road has the house at 275
Breezes Road. The house was roughcast over soon after this
photograph was taken.
During 2005-6, 275 Breezes Road was totally renovated. New
kitchen, new bathroom, new roof, new floor coverings, totally Gib
stopped and painted inside and out, pellet fire, deck and a new
garage built. Good for another 80 years!

Below: 286a and b Breezes Rd 2007. 2 houses were relocated, 3 new houses and 2 E.P.H units built.

258

286 Pages Road 2007

30 and 32 Wainoni Road 2007.

I missed taking a photo of the existing house that

was on the right on this site as well as the original
Cooks petrol station to the left. After The Cook
family built a new petrol station was built on the
corner of Bickerton Street and Wainoni Road the
building was used as a lawn mower and chainsaw
shop.

259
272 Breezes Road 2007. An older house was demolished and four E.P.H.s built.

6 Wainoni Road 2007.

An older house was demolished and four E.P.H.s
built.

162 Wainoni Road 2007.

Next to PAKnSAVE.
An older house was demolished and four E.P.H.s
built.

160 Breezes Road 2007.

An older house was demolished and three E.P.H.s
built.

260

A quick look at the Baker Familythe author.

Back in Sheffield, England,
while still at school, Ernie
Baker, met Sheila Bond.
They married in 1956. In
January 1963 with their 8
week old baby, Steven, they
immigrated to New Zealand.
Later that year in August
they purchased a land and
house package from
Paramount Homes, (see chapter
35), at 32 Tomrich Street.
The section cost 500 and
the house 2500.

1963

1969

During this time when a property was purchased,

there would be no landscaping, fences or paths. After
work each day Ernie and a neighbour would pour
concrete into a mould to make a fence post. When
there was enough the fences were built. Concrete was
poured for paths, top soil brought in and over time
the gardens established. Ernie has worked as a fitter
and turner at Skellerup Industries for 40 years, for the
past few years he has worked 1 or 2 days a week.
Sheila worked full time as Mum. From 1979-1999,
she worked at Banardos Childcare Centre.
They had two more children, both boys, so decided to
adopt a girl, Kathryn. To their surprise a few months
later mum became pregnant with me, another boy.

1983

2004

Oldest to youngest: Steven, Christopher, Michael, Kathryn, Timothy.

One by one we left home. Mum and Dad still live in the family
home in Tomrich Street. I live one street away in Lenton Street
with my wife Ruth and our two children Kimberley 2 years and
David born January 2007.
Growing up in Aranui as a family was excellent. Mum has been a
member of St Ambrose church since the 1970s. All the kids went
to Aranui Playcentre, Aranui Primary School and Chisnallwood
Intermediate. Steve went to Four Avenues School, Kathryn to
Avonside Girls and Chris, Mike and myself to Aranui High.
There were loads of kids in the street and we played all the time.
T.V. was in its infancy but that didnt matter because there was
always a hut to build, a hole to dig or a game of cricket about to
start. Now its my turn to raise a couple of Bakers. We are involved with St Ambrose, Aranui Primary School, the Aranui
Community Hall, Aranui Playcentre, A.N.Z.A.C. Day celebrations and Aranui Plunket.
A GREAT COMMUNITY.

Aranui and
Wainoni A-Z.
Aeroplane

Duthie family

Bickerton

Explosion

Horses

Fires

I well remember

Nurse Maude

Millers

Littleover

Queen carnivals

Pannell family

Richard Pearse

Unsung Heroine

Trams

Jock Mathison

Venners

Cathedral

Golf

Kerr family

Orphans

Speedway

Workers!

And much,
Much More..
X-army

Youth

Zoo

ISBN 978-0-473-12705-3