The 2 general stores of Rawene

Rawene wharf, 1950s, Rawene, by Eric Lee-Johnson. Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. © Te Papa. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (O.008336)

By 1872 Rawene had 2 hotels and 2 general stores - one was the T.P. Lane and Co near the wharf and the other was the old Lane's Store on the waterfront now operating as a Bed and Breakfast

Sadly according to the 20 May 1926 issue of the NZ Herald the top store was burned down with the fire brigade unable to save anything. Mr Lane estimated the loss at over 3000 pounds over insurance.

Then in 1945 the store was robbed over a period of time from the end of March until the beginning of October. At first shoplifters were suspected until the realization that goods were vanishing from the enclosed store room at the rear of the shop which the public did not have access to. Cotton threads were set up across the fanlights and one intruder was trapped by the owner and one of his assistants - 7 people were eventually held responsbile.

Who was Mr T.P. Lane? His full name was Thomas Percival Lane born in 1882. According to Methodist Church of NZ he was a businessman , a Sunday School Superintendent, Circuit Steward and Treasurer for many years and also a secretary of Rawene Church Trust. His wife Edith Janie Goodall a former deaconess was an organist and a local preacher. They were married in 1918 and it looks like they had 1 daughter named Margaret.

Thomas passed away in 1960 aged 78 years old and is buried at Onerahi Cemetery in Whangarei.  The top store he once owned is now the Rawene 4 square store near the wharf and shops.

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