Riding the Bull to School in 1911

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19110223-6-5 

Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 23 FEBRUARY 1911 p006

W. G. Gordeon-Jones Auckland Weekly News

I found this image a fascinating reminder of how farm animals can be utilised in all kinds of ways. So far I've been unable to establish the identity of the boy on the young animal he is using as transport for school. The bull is most likely of the Shorthorn breed. If anyone knows anything about this image please let me know. I'd be very interested to know more about this.

Antarctic Blue Whale at Matakana

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19071205-2-1

Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 05 DECEMBER 1907 p002

In December of 1907 a large Antarctic Blue whale was seen stranded near Matakana in the Rodney District. Residents were quick to take the opportunity to capture the unfortunate cetacean, by roping its tail and tying it to a kedge anchor. The whale was also shot several times. It died later on after restranding and ended up being stripped for its blubber.

A large whale was observed a few days ago, lying some distance out at sea from Matakana (says the "Auckland Star") and a party of residents succeeded in securing its tail with a noose attached to a kedge anchor. Several bullets were also discharged into the huge mass of flesh without any apparent result, but the cetacean afterwards obligingly beached itself at a convenient spot. its captors stripped the carcase of about two tons of blubber. The dimensions of the carcase were found to be 69 feet in length, 36ft. in girth, 12 feet across the tail, and 12 feet across the jaws.

Colonist 9 December 1907

A search into various biology websites reveals that the whale in the image is most likely an Antarctic Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus ssp. intermedia ). Blue whales are now classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Allegedly they are now fully protected, however Blue whale meat has been found in Japanese fish markets in the recent past proven by DNA testing.

The First Train to run in New Zealand

The first train to run in New Zealand, Canterbury Railways No. 1, steam locomotive "Pilgrim", Circa 1870s?
Reference Number: APG-1227-1/2-F

I came across this image when I was searching for something completely unrelated in the ATL Library site. According to the information that was provided with this image this is the first train to run in New Zealand.

'Pilgrim' as she was called pulled the first train in New Zealand between Christchurch and Ferrymead on 1st December 1863 with much ceremony on behalf of the people of Christchurch.

"..Going down the line we found the engine in a state of polished brass and oiliness, and apparently totally indifferent to the excitement which pervaded everything else. We were informed that it is from the workshop of Messrs Slaughter, Gunning and Co., of Bristol, that its power represented about 50 horses, that the action was reversible, so as to render turning unnecessary, that its curious inverted conical funnel was constructed so as to catch the sparks as they fly upwards, and that it could draw with ease a weight of 200 tons 

The passenger carriages, of which there are four, two first-class and two second-class, are rather comfortably than expensively fitted they are built of Australian timber, in a very substantial manner, with all the latest improvements, and are from the manufactory of W. Williams, Melbourne. Besides these there are about 30 box and ballast waggons. It is expected that the rolling stock already on hand will meet the requirements of all the traffic which will pass over the line for some time to come, but another engine is on its way from England, and other stock will be procured as soon as necessary. 

We were shown through the offices, & c., which contrast in a very favorable manner with some of the Government offices at Christchurch the Indies waiting room is very neat and chastely furnished, although as may be supposed rather small. The engine shed is a commodious building of timber and corrugated iron, the same may he said of the wool shed in short the whole of the arrangements seem eminently adapted to the purposes they are to serve..."

Wellington Independent 12 December 1863

Depiction of the opening of New Zealand's first railway on 1st December 1863

Sourced: The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 1 (May 1, 1930)

NZ Electronic Text Centre: Victoria University

The Ferrymead to Christchurch line according to Wikipedia became a branch line after the construction of the Lyttleton Tunnel. With the opening of the Lyttleton line (9 December 1867) Ferrymead's days were numbered. By 1868 it had become a siding with the buildings removed to Christchurch and Heathcote.

Ferrymead is now a historic heritage railway run the Canterbury Railway Society. You can view their website here. 

Remembering the monument to Opo

Back in October of 2011 the iconic memorial statue to Opo the Dolphin was a victim of careless vandalism. The head of the boy was broken off and there had been hopes that it could be restored. However it seems the memorial will be replaced. Plans reported in December of 2011 have indicated that it's a possibility that the monument will be replaced with a bronze version.

The monument was created in 1960 by significant New Zealand sculptor Russell Clark from Hinuera stone. Over the years since the statue has been one of the most photographed icons in Northland. The images you see here I took in 2009, when I took a trip up to Hokianga with my two children. Then it was still intact. Opo's replacement was mooted because of the statue's fragile and weathered state. I still think it should be repaired and perhaps preserved in a more secure situation. It's far too important to vanish from the Opononi township and end up in storage somewhere. I hope that will not be one of the options being considered. The memorial was a work of  love. I was 9 when I first saw the memorial and my father told me the story of Opo the friendly dolphin who had come to play with the children in the harbour during the summer of 1955/56. Opo was later found dead on some rocks a possible victim of dynamite fishing by careless boaties. The true cause was never established. But she remains as an iconic part of Northland's history.

Let's hope that in the near future Opo is restored with her friend the boy back to their original state as best as can be possible. If a new monument is put in place then I hope it reflects the true spirit of the dolphin that captured the hearts and minds of an entire nation and the world if only for a few brief years.

Book Review -Love at the end of the Road

 Romance mixed in with rural shenanigans and history

Local writer Rae Roadley brings a down to earth account of her experiences of going from city girl to old farm hand when she meets her future husband to be Rex at a Table for Six dinner date.

Rae has lived in many of the major cities of the world, but perhaps the country  life appealed. Finding employment with the Northern Advocate as a journalist, little did she realise she would meet a farmer who lived in a big old house down the end of a long gravel road.

On the shores of the Kaipara Harbour Rae finds out how to deal with bulls in the garden, getting to know the local characters around the Maungaturoto district, and realising she is becoming a rural woman at heart.

Together with her husband Rex, Rae has transformed the old rambling Batley House into a stunning home. Tales of the dogs Jess and Floss, mixed in the mishaps and triumphs makes this a fun book. Photographs of the Roadley family are scattered through out the book.

Rae spent some time researching the history of Batley, as a result she has included family trees for the Colebeck, Roadley and Masefield families, as well as an excellent time line of events. The index is comprehensive and the bibilography of source references has been included.

David Hill of the New Zealand Herald gave this book an excellent review. He noted some of the characters had what he termed 'flawless grammar, but in my view that's being a little picky. You can read the NZ Herald review here

Published by Penguin books in paperback, Love at the end of the Road - Finding my heart in the country by Rae Roadley is a charming down to earth good read. R.R.P NZ$40 256 pages.

The Dargaville Memorial Band Rotunda Circa 1928

Many years a go my grandmother mentioned to me about the band rotunda in Dargaville and of the activities she and Grandpa used to be involved with. Grandpa had a sweet shop in the township next to what was the old picture theatre. Nana was a member of the Bradley clan and was born at Te Kopuru. When she was just a girl of thirteen her parents decided to move along with their villa on a barge to River Road. The property is still standing and is now part of the River Road Historic area. Grandma and Grandpa Bradley had a house just near by and this property is also included in the heritage area. A plaque on the side of the rotunda commemorates the men of Dargaville who fell in World War 1. The structure is a registered Category 2 Historic place with the NZ Historic Places Trust Reg: 3851 and was registered in September 1984

 Situated on the reserve opposite the Central Hotel the rotunda is used even today for many events. The idea of the band rotunda was first discussed at a meeting in 1919 as one of the proposals for a memorial to the men of Dargaville who had fallen during the great war.

MEMORIAL TO FALLEN SOLDIERS

 A public meeting last evening decided to acquire a park of eighteen acres at Mangawhare as a Northern Wairoa memorial to fallen soldiers.

Evening Post 29 August 1919

As part of the proposal a grand band rotunda with a concrete base and 8 marbles pillars was proposed at the August  meeting

 "Mr Hayes proposed the erection of a band rotunda on the esplanade; with a concrete foundation and, perhaps, eight marble pillars, on which would be inscribed the names of those who had fallen They had to consider pounds, shillings and pence —the present proposed expenditure and the future upkeep, He estimated that the band rotunda would cost £800 and the upkeep would be a mere fraction Moreover, Dargaville would undoubtedly recognise its responsibility and improve the water frontage."

Northern Advocate 3 September 1919

Other proposals included a memorial institute,  sports ground and park at Mangawhare,  purchase of Dargraville Club as a Soldiers' Club.The meeting resolved to purchase land at Mangawhare for a park. However the idea of the band rotunda, was not lost.

On 16 May 1928 the wife of Prime Minister Joseph Gordon Coates unveiled the band rotunda we see today.

 A Press Association message from Dargaville states that the Prime Minister had a busy day in Dargaville yesterday. From 9 a.m. till 2.30 p.m., with only a brief respite for luncheon, he was attending to deputations, both private and public. In the afternoon he delivered an address at the unveiling ceremony, which was performed by Mrs. Coates, of the Soldiers' War Memorial Band Rotunda, erected at a cost of nearly £300 by public subscription in memory of the men from Dargaville who fell in the Great War. There was a very large attendance of the public. The Prime Minister left shortly after the ceremony for Paparoa, in the southern portion of the electorate, where he delivered apolitical address. He leaves for Wellington, via Auckland, to-day.

Evening Post 17 May 1928

The Central Hotel Dargaville Constructed Circa 1901

Central Hotel, Dargaville
Date of Construction: Circa late 1901 replaced the previous Kaihu Hotel (est.circa 1874) destroyed by fire 16 February 1901.
Architect: John Currie
Owner: Trustees of the Dargaville Estate
Licensee: Edmund Fitzgerald Moriarty

The Central Hotel at Dargaville has always been an iconic building in the township, situated just across from the shores of the Northern Wairoa and the historic band rotunda where ducks gather to take bread from any passing visitors.

Going through one of my many sets of images I have taken of the area I came across some from a trip to the Dargaville Museum a couple of years back. I had taken a photo of the information that came with an old historic photo of the hotel that stated it had been built during the 1870's.

Information panel at the Dargaville Museum states that the Central Hotel was 'built some time in the 1870's'

A search of the Historic Places Trust Register stated that the building was around circa 1890. The building is registered as a Category II Historic Place Reg No: 3825. It was registered in June 1983.

My curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to have a bit of a look into when the construction of the Central Hotel actually was. After a bit of research, I located the hotel which was not constructed in either of the decades indicated by either the Dargaville Museum (noted as 1870's) or the Historic Places Trust register (noted as circa 1890). To be fair both organisations can only go on the information available that was provided to them at the time. A search into Papers Past has now resolved the year of construction for this iconic building.

Originally the first hotel was known as the Kaihu Hotel (circa 1874) until it burned down on the morning of Saturday 16 February 1901. One man James Carmody, a pensioner didn't escape the fire. The victim's bones were discovered amongst the ashes after the fire and an inquest later held to determine the cause of death. The hotel itself was completely destroyed. The licensee of the hotel Edmond Moriarty, had previously been the publican of the Pahi Hotel which coincidently had burned down in September 1897, when he had been in charge of that establishment.

THE DARGAVILLE FIRE.

MAN BURNED TO DEATH

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DARGAVILLE, this clay

During the fire at Moriarty's Kaihu Hotel on Saturday morning a man named James Carmody, a pensioner, was burned to death in his bed. He was found to be missing after the fire, and a search among the ashes by the police resulted in the finding of a number of bones, which Dr. Purchas pronounces part of a human skeleton. 

Carmody was very feeble, and had been under the care of Dr. Purchas for some time.

The names of the injured men who were sent to the Auckland Hospital were Barry and Gemmell. Both were badly burned. They were attended to by Dr. Purchas, who ordered their removal to the hospital. Mrs. Moriarty got out by means of the fire escape. which was at the time so hot that she had to let go her hold, but was caught by those below. The servants had narrow escapes. 

The cottage adjoining the hotel, occupied by Mr. A. Mills, tailor, was completely destroyed. There was no wind at the-time, or the Masonic Hall and nearly all the adjoining buildings would have been destroyed. Temporary premises will at once be erected. Nothing was saved. An inquest was to be held this afternoon on the remains of James Carmody. 

Auckland Star Monday 18 February 1901

Tender for the construction of the new hotel by John Currie Architect Auckland Star 22 March 1901

Prolific Auckland based Architect John Currie designed the new hotel and had advertised for tenders for the erection of the new replacement hotel in March of 1901. Currie was also the architect for the replacement Pahi Hotel (1897) and possibly the Maungaturoto Hotel (1902). He had a strong association with the Nathan family, and also with brewer Moss Davis the owner of Hancock & Co for whom he had designed the Pahi Hotel.

Edmond Moriarty was granted a license renewal in June 1903 (Auckland Star 9 June 1903) by the Kaipara Licensing court under the name of 'Central Hotel'. By 1904 the license holder was under the name of Walker. In July the hotel almost again became a victim of a fire. The Thames Star (7 July 1904) reported the fire had been discovered in a downstairs bedroom then occupied by an invalid. Only the efforts of the hotels occupants prevented the hotel from again being burned to the ground.

I'm still researching this building so this post will be updated as more information is found.

The list of Licensees I have so far are:

1901 - 1904 Edmund Fitzgerald Moriarty
1904 -?        Mr Walker
19?  -  1916 Samuel Thompson
1916 -19?   W. J.G O'Dowd