The Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year, Nigel Ogle, has been a fan of history since his school days when he often carried old things around with him.
South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop says said he has known Ogle for a long time and remembers those days at Hawera High School well.
"He's always loved history and as a high school student he used to carry a suitcase full of interesting historical items around, like musket balls and that sort of thing."
When the news of Mr Ogle's achievement was broken to Mr Dunlop yesterday he was all praise for the man who created Tawhiti Museum.
"He's turned his passion for history into the nation's best private museum," he said.
"This is true recognition for a talented and creative person."
Mr Ogle's contribution to South Taranaki was also noted by Mr Dunlop. "Nigel's family have lived and worked for many generations in South Taranaki and it makes all of us very proud to see him receive this award."
BLANTON SMITH - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 01/01/2011
Saturday, January 1
Keeper of the treasure
An art teacher who quit the classroom to become a potter is the 2010 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
Nigel Ogle was "preparing for another day at the office" at his Tawhiti Museum near Normanby yesterday morning when told he'd won the award.
"That's crazy," was his first reaction. "Wow, what a surprise. We opened Traders and Whalers in March and now this. It has been an amazing year really."
He acknowledged the deeds of the four other finalists, former New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennent, St John stalwart Jack Chivers, Taranaki rugby coach Colin Cooper and White Ferns captain Aimee Mason.
"I'm an admirer, particularly of Peter Tennent who has been an inspiration. So has [former South Taranaki mayor] Mary Bourke, and I have learnt a lot from both of them."
The support of his family was key to the success of the museum.
"If I make something I always get [wife] Teresa to have a look. Jeremy is the deputy of Highlands Intermediate so there is education input there, while the girls, Jenni and Paula, have had vital parts to play."
He reflects on the day he left teaching at Hawera High School in 1988 and headed to his farmlet a few kilometres away.
"I couldn't have picked a worse time to become a full-time potter," he said. "It was right when the Chinese imports started to hit the country. There were big garden planters everywhere all of a sudden.
"New Zealand had a very vibrant potting industry at the time. They were all over the place, up valleys, living in tree huts in the bush. There were some very skilful people but so few survived because of those imports. It was tragic."
But it only served to harden the Ogle resolve.
"I suppose we can thank the Chinese for Tawhiti," he said with a smile. "I turned to niche pottery, stuff they wouldn't do, and set about getting the museum started."
The pinnacle came this year with the opening of the Traders and Whalers exhibition in March.
It was his most elaborate project and was four years in the making after gaining backing from the South Taranaki District Council.
"The council was courageous in taking it on. It raised a few eyebrows as there was quite a bit of money involved and a private-public partnership hadn't been tested before. It just would not have happened without them."
You can sense the pride when he talks about any of his work. The intricacy is obvious in the 800 unique figurines that make up the 1820s Musket Wars display, which opened four years ago.
"I actually made 1000 but took 200 out because it was too cluttered with all the dogs and pigs and horses."
The exacting detail of the landscape and flora is a hallmark. The late New Zealand historian, Michael King, marvelled at it.
"A friend of mine, Buster (Maurice) Walden, brought Michael here a few years ago. It was a few weeks before he was killed in a car accident. He just stood in front of it and didn't say anything for about two or three minutes. I was a bit worried but he finally turned to me and said: `This is what I'd hoped we would see when Te Papa opened'."
Nigel Ogle was humbled by that.
"I couldn't have asked for a better compliment. I had great respect for Michael."
Mary Bourke champions the Tawhiti Museum.
"It's a sort of a hidden treasure but that's part of the reason that makes it so good," she says.
"If this was somewhere else in the world, like Britain or the US, you would have to line up for hours then fight for your space. It is great to see the museum utilised to the point where they have gone underground with this latest work."
PETER BINGHAM - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 01/01/2011
AWARD WINNER: Nigel Ogle with his trophy after being named the 2010 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News
AWARD WINNER: Nigel Ogle with his trophy after being named the 2010 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
Nigel Ogle was "preparing for another day at the office" at his Tawhiti Museum near Normanby yesterday morning when told he'd won the award.
"That's crazy," was his first reaction. "Wow, what a surprise. We opened Traders and Whalers in March and now this. It has been an amazing year really."
He acknowledged the deeds of the four other finalists, former New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennent, St John stalwart Jack Chivers, Taranaki rugby coach Colin Cooper and White Ferns captain Aimee Mason.
"I'm an admirer, particularly of Peter Tennent who has been an inspiration. So has [former South Taranaki mayor] Mary Bourke, and I have learnt a lot from both of them."
The support of his family was key to the success of the museum.
"If I make something I always get [wife] Teresa to have a look. Jeremy is the deputy of Highlands Intermediate so there is education input there, while the girls, Jenni and Paula, have had vital parts to play."
He reflects on the day he left teaching at Hawera High School in 1988 and headed to his farmlet a few kilometres away.
"I couldn't have picked a worse time to become a full-time potter," he said. "It was right when the Chinese imports started to hit the country. There were big garden planters everywhere all of a sudden.
"New Zealand had a very vibrant potting industry at the time. They were all over the place, up valleys, living in tree huts in the bush. There were some very skilful people but so few survived because of those imports. It was tragic."
But it only served to harden the Ogle resolve.
"I suppose we can thank the Chinese for Tawhiti," he said with a smile. "I turned to niche pottery, stuff they wouldn't do, and set about getting the museum started."
The pinnacle came this year with the opening of the Traders and Whalers exhibition in March.
It was his most elaborate project and was four years in the making after gaining backing from the South Taranaki District Council.
"The council was courageous in taking it on. It raised a few eyebrows as there was quite a bit of money involved and a private-public partnership hadn't been tested before. It just would not have happened without them."
You can sense the pride when he talks about any of his work. The intricacy is obvious in the 800 unique figurines that make up the 1820s Musket Wars display, which opened four years ago.
"I actually made 1000 but took 200 out because it was too cluttered with all the dogs and pigs and horses."
The exacting detail of the landscape and flora is a hallmark. The late New Zealand historian, Michael King, marvelled at it.
"A friend of mine, Buster (Maurice) Walden, brought Michael here a few years ago. It was a few weeks before he was killed in a car accident. He just stood in front of it and didn't say anything for about two or three minutes. I was a bit worried but he finally turned to me and said: `This is what I'd hoped we would see when Te Papa opened'."
Nigel Ogle was humbled by that.
"I couldn't have asked for a better compliment. I had great respect for Michael."
Mary Bourke champions the Tawhiti Museum.
"It's a sort of a hidden treasure but that's part of the reason that makes it so good," she says.
"If this was somewhere else in the world, like Britain or the US, you would have to line up for hours then fight for your space. It is great to see the museum utilised to the point where they have gone underground with this latest work."
PETER BINGHAM - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 01/01/2011
AWARD WINNER: Nigel Ogle with his trophy after being named the 2010 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News
AWARD WINNER: Nigel Ogle with his trophy after being named the 2010 Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year.
Sunday, December 26
Well-read couple marks 60 years
The Barr family will be celebrating more than Christmas Day tomorrow.
Roy, 87, and Judy Barr, 78, will be ticking off 60 years of marriage. Some might say Christmas Day was an unusual date to marry, but it made sense for the couple. "All the family was here for dinner anyway so we thought we would get married too," Mrs Barr said.
This year the family will be having Christmas dinner at Cobb and Co, before marking the anniversary with a party on Boxing Day at the Waimea Bowling Club.
Mr and Mrs Barr are keen bowlers, but they also share a wicked sense of humour.
When asked to put his arm around his wife for a photo, Mr Barr was quick to quip: "You'll start to expect this every day. You ain't getting it".
Roy is clear about his role in the marriage though: "Making sure she doesn't spend too much money."
He was a tail gunner in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and met his future wife when he moved to New Zealand.
Her sister was dating his brother. Both couples ended up marrying.
The couple dairy farmed in Normanby for years before retiring to New Plymouth after Mr Barr had a heart attack.
Mr Barr said they had always lived in Taranaki, and the region "got a bit of rain now and then, which is very handy".
They have two children, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
When asked for their secret to a successful marriage, the Barrs said they were unsure whether they had one, but son Brian said they were both too stubborn to find anyone else. One reason for their happy union could be not changing their routine much – the couple still read the paper in bed every morning.
KATE SAUNDERS - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 24/12/2010
Barrs
ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News
HAPPY UNION: Judy, 78, and Roy, 87, Barr, celebrate 60 years of marriage on Christmas Day.
Roy, 87, and Judy Barr, 78, will be ticking off 60 years of marriage. Some might say Christmas Day was an unusual date to marry, but it made sense for the couple. "All the family was here for dinner anyway so we thought we would get married too," Mrs Barr said.
This year the family will be having Christmas dinner at Cobb and Co, before marking the anniversary with a party on Boxing Day at the Waimea Bowling Club.
Mr and Mrs Barr are keen bowlers, but they also share a wicked sense of humour.
When asked to put his arm around his wife for a photo, Mr Barr was quick to quip: "You'll start to expect this every day. You ain't getting it".
Roy is clear about his role in the marriage though: "Making sure she doesn't spend too much money."
He was a tail gunner in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and met his future wife when he moved to New Zealand.
Her sister was dating his brother. Both couples ended up marrying.
The couple dairy farmed in Normanby for years before retiring to New Plymouth after Mr Barr had a heart attack.
Mr Barr said they had always lived in Taranaki, and the region "got a bit of rain now and then, which is very handy".
They have two children, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
When asked for their secret to a successful marriage, the Barrs said they were unsure whether they had one, but son Brian said they were both too stubborn to find anyone else. One reason for their happy union could be not changing their routine much – the couple still read the paper in bed every morning.
KATE SAUNDERS - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 24/12/2010
Barrs
ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News
HAPPY UNION: Judy, 78, and Roy, 87, Barr, celebrate 60 years of marriage on Christmas Day.
Saturday, August 28
Hawera 'shuts down after 5pm'
Hawera's central business district is an uninviting "disgrace" when the sun sets, say business owners and residents.
Sporadic veranda lighting throughout the town's CBD is contributing to dark spots, forcing many residents to avoid the area at night.
A Hawera resident, who would only be identified as Miss Paisley, said without adequate veranda lighting outside shops she felt vulnerable.
"I will not use an ATM in Hawera at night," she said.
"I come home (from work in Eltham) and they haven't left the lights on for me."
She said it shouldn't be that way as the town had a lot to offer but a lack of lighting was damaging to its image.
"It feels like the town shuts down after 5pm.
"They welcome Americarna home but don't leave a light on for me when I come home."
She said someone needed to take ownership of the issue as it would be an easy way to attract more people into the CBD after dark.
The Taranaki Daily News understands the issue first arose when the now defunct Progress Hawera handed control of the lights to the council.
Not all businesses were linked to the scheme run by the business association which connected them to the council's street light circuit.
That created an issue over who was responsible for the lighting and led to many lights being neglected.
Real Sports owner Ross Laurence said Progress Hawera should never had been given the responsibility for the lights and since it was handed over to the council, nothing had been done.
"It's a disgrace that there has been no maintenance to some of the lights. The town needs to have all of these lights going."
South Taranaki District Council roading manager Vincent Lim said the council was responsible for repairing broken lights and paid the power bills for those linked into the system.
"In the last three weeks we have received a number of customer requests about the lighting issue in the area and we are looking into it."
Mr Lim said the council would approach businesses to find out which veranda lights were connected to the council's street light circuit and which were being run privately.
Mr Lim accepted some shop owners may not want the lights out of their control but it was about time the council asked the question.
"Many shopkeepers may not know they are entitled to have council look after the lights as many businesses have changed hands over the years."
He said if they did want council's support there would be a cost for rewiring the lights into the town's main circuit.
Groom owner Quintien Calder said he had been forced to install a light because without one his shop security camera would be useless.
"It would be nice to think people could go for walks on a Friday or Saturday night in a well-lit area," he said.
By LAIRD HARPER - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 28/08/2010
Sporadic veranda lighting throughout the town's CBD is contributing to dark spots, forcing many residents to avoid the area at night.
A Hawera resident, who would only be identified as Miss Paisley, said without adequate veranda lighting outside shops she felt vulnerable.
"I will not use an ATM in Hawera at night," she said.
"I come home (from work in Eltham) and they haven't left the lights on for me."
She said it shouldn't be that way as the town had a lot to offer but a lack of lighting was damaging to its image.
"It feels like the town shuts down after 5pm.
"They welcome Americarna home but don't leave a light on for me when I come home."
She said someone needed to take ownership of the issue as it would be an easy way to attract more people into the CBD after dark.
The Taranaki Daily News understands the issue first arose when the now defunct Progress Hawera handed control of the lights to the council.
Not all businesses were linked to the scheme run by the business association which connected them to the council's street light circuit.
That created an issue over who was responsible for the lighting and led to many lights being neglected.
Real Sports owner Ross Laurence said Progress Hawera should never had been given the responsibility for the lights and since it was handed over to the council, nothing had been done.
"It's a disgrace that there has been no maintenance to some of the lights. The town needs to have all of these lights going."
South Taranaki District Council roading manager Vincent Lim said the council was responsible for repairing broken lights and paid the power bills for those linked into the system.
"In the last three weeks we have received a number of customer requests about the lighting issue in the area and we are looking into it."
Mr Lim said the council would approach businesses to find out which veranda lights were connected to the council's street light circuit and which were being run privately.
Mr Lim accepted some shop owners may not want the lights out of their control but it was about time the council asked the question.
"Many shopkeepers may not know they are entitled to have council look after the lights as many businesses have changed hands over the years."
He said if they did want council's support there would be a cost for rewiring the lights into the town's main circuit.
Groom owner Quintien Calder said he had been forced to install a light because without one his shop security camera would be useless.
"It would be nice to think people could go for walks on a Friday or Saturday night in a well-lit area," he said.
By LAIRD HARPER - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 28/08/2010
Sunday, August 22
Hawera becomes tinseltown for film
The searchlight lit up Hawera skies, as the Predicament film cast and crew hit the red carpet in South Taranaki last night.
Months of waiting finally came to an end as the film's stars joined the locals to enjoy the film at the charity gala premiere.
Arriving in vintage cars fitting for the film's 1930s setting, the stars were then mixed and mingled at the pre-party in a marquee outside Cinema 2.
Inside both theatres were linked for those attending to hear speeches before the screenings.
Director Jason Stutter apologised for Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords) and Tim Finn who could not make it.
But Stutter decided to phone him anyway, despite it being the wee small hours in New York.
Although bleary from an interrupted sleep, Clement still made the audience laugh, just as he did almost every time he spoke throughout the film.
Stutter said he was rapt to have been able create the Predicament film to match the book and in the home town of its author, Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
"He sat in his home in Hawera, dreamed up this story that he struggled to get published and now it's going to Hollywood. It's a shame he can't be here to see everyone loving his work."
Co-producer Vincent Burke congratulated Taranaki for putting up money and hosting the film and he acknowledged Morrieson for being the only New Zealand author who has had every novel written made into a film.
"It was so important to have it filmed where he lived and wrote it," he said.
Producer Sue Rogers said loved being back in Taranaki.
"This is its launch and hopefully lots of people in New Zealand want to see it. The event, the team here is world class."
Predicament is due to be released into cinemas nationwide on Thursday.
By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 21/08/2010
Months of waiting finally came to an end as the film's stars joined the locals to enjoy the film at the charity gala premiere.
Arriving in vintage cars fitting for the film's 1930s setting, the stars were then mixed and mingled at the pre-party in a marquee outside Cinema 2.
Inside both theatres were linked for those attending to hear speeches before the screenings.
Director Jason Stutter apologised for Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords) and Tim Finn who could not make it.
But Stutter decided to phone him anyway, despite it being the wee small hours in New York.
Although bleary from an interrupted sleep, Clement still made the audience laugh, just as he did almost every time he spoke throughout the film.
Stutter said he was rapt to have been able create the Predicament film to match the book and in the home town of its author, Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
"He sat in his home in Hawera, dreamed up this story that he struggled to get published and now it's going to Hollywood. It's a shame he can't be here to see everyone loving his work."
Co-producer Vincent Burke congratulated Taranaki for putting up money and hosting the film and he acknowledged Morrieson for being the only New Zealand author who has had every novel written made into a film.
"It was so important to have it filmed where he lived and wrote it," he said.
Producer Sue Rogers said loved being back in Taranaki.
"This is its launch and hopefully lots of people in New Zealand want to see it. The event, the team here is world class."
Predicament is due to be released into cinemas nationwide on Thursday.
By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 21/08/2010
Monday, May 24
Memories aplenty as couple mark 60th
A wall of mementos representing six decades of wedded bliss lined up behind a farming couple from Manaia on Saturday.
Now retired, New Plymouth resident, Gordon and Melba Gibson celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with 70 guests at the New Plymouth Sportfishing and Underwater Club.
The couple were married at St John's Presbyterian Church in Hawera on May 24, 1950.
As well as Mrs Gibson's wedding dress, the couple still have the docket from where they stayed that evening – 2 1s which included breakfast.
All but one of the wedding party are still alive and were able to share the occasion in New Plymouth.
Now 85 and 79 respectively, Mr and Mrs Gibson look back to the early days of their romance in the rural 1940s South Taranaki.
Mr Gibson is from Kaponga and his bride from Manaia – they met when he played for the pipe band in Auroa while she attended school there.
"We use to go to the same dances, we'd probably known one another for years before we met," he said.
They dairy farmed in Manaia, raising two sons and a daughter, and now have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The couple were keen whitebaiters on the Awakino River.
Awarded the OBE, Mr Gibson was deputy chairman for Westgate Transport and served on its board for 26 years.
He also chaired the Taranaki Harbours Board, the Taranaki Port Company establishment unit, was vice-president of Harbour Association of New Zealand, and management committee member of the New Zealand Harbour Industrial Union Of Employers.
Mr Gibson knew what it took to make a good marriage last: "Being good at arguing.
"Actually, I'm waiting to see what you say," he said to his wife.
"We just always try to get along together – give and take both sides," Mrs Gibson said.
The couple received congratulatory cards from Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, and the Queen.
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 24/05/2010
Now retired, New Plymouth resident, Gordon and Melba Gibson celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with 70 guests at the New Plymouth Sportfishing and Underwater Club.
The couple were married at St John's Presbyterian Church in Hawera on May 24, 1950.
As well as Mrs Gibson's wedding dress, the couple still have the docket from where they stayed that evening – 2 1s which included breakfast.
All but one of the wedding party are still alive and were able to share the occasion in New Plymouth.
Now 85 and 79 respectively, Mr and Mrs Gibson look back to the early days of their romance in the rural 1940s South Taranaki.
Mr Gibson is from Kaponga and his bride from Manaia – they met when he played for the pipe band in Auroa while she attended school there.
"We use to go to the same dances, we'd probably known one another for years before we met," he said.
They dairy farmed in Manaia, raising two sons and a daughter, and now have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The couple were keen whitebaiters on the Awakino River.
Awarded the OBE, Mr Gibson was deputy chairman for Westgate Transport and served on its board for 26 years.
He also chaired the Taranaki Harbours Board, the Taranaki Port Company establishment unit, was vice-president of Harbour Association of New Zealand, and management committee member of the New Zealand Harbour Industrial Union Of Employers.
Mr Gibson knew what it took to make a good marriage last: "Being good at arguing.
"Actually, I'm waiting to see what you say," he said to his wife.
"We just always try to get along together – give and take both sides," Mrs Gibson said.
The couple received congratulatory cards from Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, and the Queen.
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 24/05/2010
Sunday, April 25
you know jin, this notion of Poi E as an anthem has always been in the back of my mind ever since Dalvanius passed away. i mentioned this in the music column a few weeks back and it was pretty well received (apart from a few who reckon 'bliss' would be better haha)
could you lot imagine, 30,000 singing Poi E, chanting Poi E in unison as another AB goes for the touchdown? Priceless eh! ;-)
Poi E should be the unofficial anthem of the RWC.
and given the right treatment - Poi E could well be our unofficial National Anthem. Kia Ora!
Glad I am not the only NZer with it playing around my mind!
It brings tears to my eyes and makes the hair stand up on my neck whenever I hear it .. and I am not maori.
I remember in the late 90's, there was Heartland doco, Gary McCormack visited the folk in Patea who were putting on a theatre show about the township, and the impact the freezing works' closure had its people there. What was the Show called? Anyone out there knows of the performance, or had been to it, or had participated in it?
Number 8 in iTunes! TV channel should do a small doco on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ
Here's the lyrics - and a translation!
E rere ra e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha ra, whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā, poro hurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tiwaiwaka e
Ka parepare ra, pīoioi a
Whakahekeheke, e kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga ra, ma muinga mai a
Taku poi porotiti, taku poi e!
Poi E, whakatata mai
Poi E, kaua he rerekē
Poi E, kia piri mai ki au
Poi E, e awhi mai ra
Poi E, tāpekatia mai.
Poi E, ō tāua aroha -
- Poi E - paiheretia ra.
POI... TAKU POI, E!
Swing out rhythmically, my feelings
lean out beside me, so deceptively.
Swing round and down, spin towards me
just like a fantail.
Swing to the side: swing to and fro
zoom down, wriggle,
climb up above, swarm around me
my whirling emotions, my poi, Yeah!
Oh my feelings, draw near,
Oh my poi, don't go astray
Oh my affections, stick to me
Oh my instincts, take care of me
Oh my emotions, be entwined around me.
Oh poi, our love...
Oh poi ...binds.
Poi.... my poi, yeah!
Not sure whether these words are right - off a blog - some seem a bit odd but, anyway...
Oh and the karanga (from memory)
rere atu taku poi - fly my poi
titahataha ra - slanting to the side
whakarunga, whakararo - going up going down
taku poi e! - my poi!
*
Yip great clip! for me it was somewhat great to be a boy living in Hawera, Taranaki, seeing the Kiwi Factory in sight. Poi E No.1 on Ready to Roll.
on the flipside, I do recall in the background there was a bit of controversy between Dalvanius and some Iwi Maori about the contemporary treatment of this Waiata, with its electronic beat and synthesizers- Too modern, too flashy, who does he think he is? (D) mixing pop music with traditional. This is not how Maori cultural performance should be presented to the world.
No offence to our kaumatua, for they were of their time and had their reasoning... i wonder if the most of the old people were still around, what would they make of the the latest wave of Poly/Maori sounds. (If it was my Koro, his opinion will still be the same - "ah blardy $%$@!!" hahaha
Personally i am glad Dalvanius and the people associated with him had the foresight to realise this could be done successfully, all packaged neat in a 3 and a half minute pop song. and for that moment, aotearoa and the world is a sweeter place to live in.
How did The Formuyla's "Nature" get best NZ song ever? That was an industry jack-up. Poi-E was what most Kiwis thought should of got that award, and rightfully so.
Actually, most kiwis were divided..between Poi-E and Slice Of Heaven. Not Nature.
Well, maybe with BOY getting great reviews and the hunt for the right song, just maybe, the powers to be might go for Poi E. Then we will ALL be very proud.
3 cheers for Poi E.
As a previous poster said, the Aussies adore their Waltzing Matilda .. and rightly so.
I'm sure NZers would be equally proud of Poi E.
I remember when I lived in Aus, and Air NZ had Poi-E on their inbound flight audio music tracks, it used to make you want to make the jet go faster to get home, made you emotinal for NZ. This was on the Perth - Auck Run.
I love this song and I like Patea. My parents live there ;p
o
It's a strange feeling. Since listening to the link I have been for a walk to the library and back, singing it in my head. Now I can't get rid of it.
Maybe it's called Brain Washing! Lol!
I love this song and I like Patea. My parents live there ;p
Lucky them! They can be very proud. Now a very famous place.
I remember in the 80's (82) not wanting to go out for Sat Night on the town until "Ready To Roll" had been on at 6pm, with Poi-E at No.1
FYI. Poi E was written by linguist Ngoi Pewhairangi; the music was scored by Dalvanius Prime.
I remember, taking my shy 4 year old grand daughter, to see the Patea Maori Group in concert here in Hawera. When they came on stage her eyes were nearly popping out of her head.They started singing Poi-E and she was in another world!!She was up on her feet singing as loud as she could. She didn't stop talking about them for weeks!
Considering that Poi -E was competing with big acts like Duran Duran for the NZ Dollar back in 1982, it did well. Just about every home must have had a copy, or close to it.
yip Poi E went on to be the biggest NZ single in 1984.
Does anyone know the soundtrack songs to Boy? I've looked, but can't find. Great music
1984 saw Eurythmics, Frankie Goes To Hollywood & INXS storm the charts.
I love this song brings me back to my child hood and yep we had this song on record, would love to hear more of it on the radio
haha 1984 dude! Before KFC in Hawera there was the BIG MC! LOL
My apologies ..you are right....don't know why I thought of 1982, it was of course 1984. First hit the NZ charts in March 1984 (wikipedia.org). Niceone...sorry for that
This was in the 70s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ&feature=playe
r_embedded
Im not sure wot the question was but my sis is in love with on of the babies in this vid.... long story ... but if you are from Ngara you prob know what im babling about
It is a great song and it should be a part of NZ culture.....that guy break dancing (video back in the 80's) and easy to listen to.....i recently sold an original tape of the club playing this live......the buyer was very happy.
just watched the clip of the good morning. great interview. how would we get tVnz to do a programe about the group (again)
are there any clips on dalvanius ??
refer to my previous earlier posts.
this song should be DEFINATLEY included in our All Black world cup....as one other post said, imagine the crowd, we when score, that this is played, all hairs would be standing up.....
We sing our national anthem in both maori and english now.
Could we not have some english words wound into it and a 2010 version ready for the World Rugby Cup? Is that too much to ask?
Saw the movie.."Boy" on Friday and absolutely loved it. The sound track is fabulous and I would love to buy it if it is released. Make sure you see it!!!! Acting is amazing and so funny in a very natural way.
This thread has convinced me that there should be a public campaign to make "Poi E" the official RWC song. If the passion shown for it here is anything to go by it couldn't possibly fail as I think many other Kiwis would feel the same.
My ex's lilly white sister is in that video in the maori club..bahahahaha....
I'm lily white and I would have been very proud to have been in that video. Well done to all who were lucky enough to take part!
You are now an important part of NZ history.
I used to live in Patea and would go and watch the Patea maori club practcing, good times they were .
could you lot imagine, 30,000 singing Poi E, chanting Poi E in unison as another AB goes for the touchdown? Priceless eh! ;-)
Poi E should be the unofficial anthem of the RWC.
and given the right treatment - Poi E could well be our unofficial National Anthem. Kia Ora!
Glad I am not the only NZer with it playing around my mind!
It brings tears to my eyes and makes the hair stand up on my neck whenever I hear it .. and I am not maori.
I remember in the late 90's, there was Heartland doco, Gary McCormack visited the folk in Patea who were putting on a theatre show about the township, and the impact the freezing works' closure had its people there. What was the Show called? Anyone out there knows of the performance, or had been to it, or had participated in it?
Number 8 in iTunes! TV channel should do a small doco on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ
Here's the lyrics - and a translation!
E rere ra e taku poi porotiti
Tītahataha ra, whakararuraru e
Porotakataka rā, poro hurihuri mai
Rite tonu ki te tiwaiwaka e
Ka parepare ra, pīoioi a
Whakahekeheke, e kia korikori e
Piki whakarunga ra, ma muinga mai a
Taku poi porotiti, taku poi e!
Poi E, whakatata mai
Poi E, kaua he rerekē
Poi E, kia piri mai ki au
Poi E, e awhi mai ra
Poi E, tāpekatia mai.
Poi E, ō tāua aroha -
- Poi E - paiheretia ra.
POI... TAKU POI, E!
Swing out rhythmically, my feelings
lean out beside me, so deceptively.
Swing round and down, spin towards me
just like a fantail.
Swing to the side: swing to and fro
zoom down, wriggle,
climb up above, swarm around me
my whirling emotions, my poi, Yeah!
Oh my feelings, draw near,
Oh my poi, don't go astray
Oh my affections, stick to me
Oh my instincts, take care of me
Oh my emotions, be entwined around me.
Oh poi, our love...
Oh poi ...binds.
Poi.... my poi, yeah!
Not sure whether these words are right - off a blog - some seem a bit odd but, anyway...
Oh and the karanga (from memory)
rere atu taku poi - fly my poi
titahataha ra - slanting to the side
whakarunga, whakararo - going up going down
taku poi e! - my poi!
*
Yip great clip! for me it was somewhat great to be a boy living in Hawera, Taranaki, seeing the Kiwi Factory in sight. Poi E No.1 on Ready to Roll.
on the flipside, I do recall in the background there was a bit of controversy between Dalvanius and some Iwi Maori about the contemporary treatment of this Waiata, with its electronic beat and synthesizers- Too modern, too flashy, who does he think he is? (D) mixing pop music with traditional. This is not how Maori cultural performance should be presented to the world.
No offence to our kaumatua, for they were of their time and had their reasoning... i wonder if the most of the old people were still around, what would they make of the the latest wave of Poly/Maori sounds. (If it was my Koro, his opinion will still be the same - "ah blardy $%$@!!" hahaha
Personally i am glad Dalvanius and the people associated with him had the foresight to realise this could be done successfully, all packaged neat in a 3 and a half minute pop song. and for that moment, aotearoa and the world is a sweeter place to live in.
How did The Formuyla's "Nature" get best NZ song ever? That was an industry jack-up. Poi-E was what most Kiwis thought should of got that award, and rightfully so.
Actually, most kiwis were divided..between Poi-E and Slice Of Heaven. Not Nature.
Well, maybe with BOY getting great reviews and the hunt for the right song, just maybe, the powers to be might go for Poi E. Then we will ALL be very proud.
3 cheers for Poi E.
As a previous poster said, the Aussies adore their Waltzing Matilda .. and rightly so.
I'm sure NZers would be equally proud of Poi E.
I remember when I lived in Aus, and Air NZ had Poi-E on their inbound flight audio music tracks, it used to make you want to make the jet go faster to get home, made you emotinal for NZ. This was on the Perth - Auck Run.
I love this song and I like Patea. My parents live there ;p
o
It's a strange feeling. Since listening to the link I have been for a walk to the library and back, singing it in my head. Now I can't get rid of it.
Maybe it's called Brain Washing! Lol!
I love this song and I like Patea. My parents live there ;p
Lucky them! They can be very proud. Now a very famous place.
I remember in the 80's (82) not wanting to go out for Sat Night on the town until "Ready To Roll" had been on at 6pm, with Poi-E at No.1
FYI. Poi E was written by linguist Ngoi Pewhairangi; the music was scored by Dalvanius Prime.
I remember, taking my shy 4 year old grand daughter, to see the Patea Maori Group in concert here in Hawera. When they came on stage her eyes were nearly popping out of her head.They started singing Poi-E and she was in another world!!She was up on her feet singing as loud as she could. She didn't stop talking about them for weeks!
Considering that Poi -E was competing with big acts like Duran Duran for the NZ Dollar back in 1982, it did well. Just about every home must have had a copy, or close to it.
yip Poi E went on to be the biggest NZ single in 1984.
Does anyone know the soundtrack songs to Boy? I've looked, but can't find. Great music
1984 saw Eurythmics, Frankie Goes To Hollywood & INXS storm the charts.
I love this song brings me back to my child hood and yep we had this song on record, would love to hear more of it on the radio
haha 1984 dude! Before KFC in Hawera there was the BIG MC! LOL
My apologies ..you are right....don't know why I thought of 1982, it was of course 1984. First hit the NZ charts in March 1984 (wikipedia.org). Niceone...sorry for that
This was in the 70s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ&feature=playe
r_embedded
Im not sure wot the question was but my sis is in love with on of the babies in this vid.... long story ... but if you are from Ngara you prob know what im babling about
It is a great song and it should be a part of NZ culture.....that guy break dancing (video back in the 80's) and easy to listen to.....i recently sold an original tape of the club playing this live......the buyer was very happy.
just watched the clip of the good morning. great interview. how would we get tVnz to do a programe about the group (again)
are there any clips on dalvanius ??
refer to my previous earlier posts.
this song should be DEFINATLEY included in our All Black world cup....as one other post said, imagine the crowd, we when score, that this is played, all hairs would be standing up.....
We sing our national anthem in both maori and english now.
Could we not have some english words wound into it and a 2010 version ready for the World Rugby Cup? Is that too much to ask?
Saw the movie.."Boy" on Friday and absolutely loved it. The sound track is fabulous and I would love to buy it if it is released. Make sure you see it!!!! Acting is amazing and so funny in a very natural way.
This thread has convinced me that there should be a public campaign to make "Poi E" the official RWC song. If the passion shown for it here is anything to go by it couldn't possibly fail as I think many other Kiwis would feel the same.
My ex's lilly white sister is in that video in the maori club..bahahahaha....
I'm lily white and I would have been very proud to have been in that video. Well done to all who were lucky enough to take part!
You are now an important part of NZ history.
I used to live in Patea and would go and watch the Patea maori club practcing, good times they were .
Patea and "Poi E" back in the Charts
Jumped in at #39 this week from the popularity of the Film "Boy", Making it into the charts 3 times in 3 decades, I wonder if the Patea maori club gets any royalties from this song as their clubrooms are looking rather shabby.
Patea once a thriving town in South Taranaki, now not so, Who here has rellies living there and who had family living there in its heyday
This was in the 70s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ&feature=playe
r_embedded
Patea is a ghost town, or at least it was when we passed through about 5 days before xmas
my grandfather used to work there in the 70's. i remember he used to have a morris 1100 car, and i used to travel with him from hawera to patea to the garage and morris dealership there for a service and a warrant. in the mornings with the freezing works going, in the eyes of a 7 year old it was like mayhem! people everywhere, so busy!
the main road was narrower too :-)
used to stop of at the factory butchers, pick up a forequarter or a bag of pork bones real cheap.
Has anybody on here seen the film 'Pallet on the Floor'. story by local author th late Ronald Hugh Morrison. Check it out, its good! Shot on location in and around Patea with shots of the Factory in its heyday!
if anyone wants the video in mp4 format http://sites.google.com/site/clipone/home/poi-e-video
Here's a link for a clip and interview from the current group...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQdvZ0lTVU4
Awesome song, possibly the words to which are as well known to Kiwis as Pokarekare ana!
great childhood memory... esp. the bleached hair guy up on the waka busting his moves.
I used to work with some of those older ldies in the group. About 4 of them where sisters or sister in laws. Lovely people who couldn't do enough for you. Just watched the interview and recognised 3 of them. Wonderfula nd thank you for the link.
my nana lived there .Died 1980.up till then,i spent all my holidays there with her.Had cousins at whenakura?? from a farming community.I even worked in the local tearooms during Christmas break.Havent been back since nana died,but need to go back and check it out
This was the first time ever a Maori song had been released for the charts without any english verses. Well done Dalvanius and Patea.
Yes, patea maori club still performing all over the place. did a live performance at the local cinema in hawera on thursday for the opening of the movie. past members promote the new ones but are still very much the backbone of the club.
could be rambling here but i'll share it with yous anyway. grew up in Hawera and my fondest memories is of my grandfather up early at 4.00am getting prepared to go to work down in Patea. i'd be up too having breakfast of porridge and cream, big cuppa tea reading Commando comics. Nana would make him up a lunch of barracuda bread sammies with hogget and tomato, and a bottle of tea, and it all went into a battered old leather doctors bag. He rode a BSA superrocket, unbaffled silencers, and the roar it would make in the early morning was hell terrific; you could hear him from one end of South Road in town to the other.
somehow the neighbours never complained..
Patea once a thriving town in South Taranaki, now not so, Who here has rellies living there and who had family living there in its heyday
This was in the 70s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ&feature=playe
r_embedded
Patea is a ghost town, or at least it was when we passed through about 5 days before xmas
my grandfather used to work there in the 70's. i remember he used to have a morris 1100 car, and i used to travel with him from hawera to patea to the garage and morris dealership there for a service and a warrant. in the mornings with the freezing works going, in the eyes of a 7 year old it was like mayhem! people everywhere, so busy!
the main road was narrower too :-)
used to stop of at the factory butchers, pick up a forequarter or a bag of pork bones real cheap.
Has anybody on here seen the film 'Pallet on the Floor'. story by local author th late Ronald Hugh Morrison. Check it out, its good! Shot on location in and around Patea with shots of the Factory in its heyday!
if anyone wants the video in mp4 format http://sites.google.com/site/clipone/home/poi-e-video
Here's a link for a clip and interview from the current group...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQdvZ0lTVU4
Awesome song, possibly the words to which are as well known to Kiwis as Pokarekare ana!
great childhood memory... esp. the bleached hair guy up on the waka busting his moves.
I used to work with some of those older ldies in the group. About 4 of them where sisters or sister in laws. Lovely people who couldn't do enough for you. Just watched the interview and recognised 3 of them. Wonderfula nd thank you for the link.
my nana lived there .Died 1980.up till then,i spent all my holidays there with her.Had cousins at whenakura?? from a farming community.I even worked in the local tearooms during Christmas break.Havent been back since nana died,but need to go back and check it out
This was the first time ever a Maori song had been released for the charts without any english verses. Well done Dalvanius and Patea.
Yes, patea maori club still performing all over the place. did a live performance at the local cinema in hawera on thursday for the opening of the movie. past members promote the new ones but are still very much the backbone of the club.
could be rambling here but i'll share it with yous anyway. grew up in Hawera and my fondest memories is of my grandfather up early at 4.00am getting prepared to go to work down in Patea. i'd be up too having breakfast of porridge and cream, big cuppa tea reading Commando comics. Nana would make him up a lunch of barracuda bread sammies with hogget and tomato, and a bottle of tea, and it all went into a battered old leather doctors bag. He rode a BSA superrocket, unbaffled silencers, and the roar it would make in the early morning was hell terrific; you could hear him from one end of South Road in town to the other.
somehow the neighbours never complained..
Sunday, February 14
Words on Wheels
Words on Wheels
They'll be coming around the mountain
Five of New Zealand's top writers hit the road in February for another literary road-trip, this time to Taranaki.
On the bus this year is David Hill (Teen Fiction), Duncan Sarkies (Fiction), Briar Grace-Smith (Scriptwriting), Alison Wong (Poetry) and Janet Hunt (Non-fiction). They'll be travelling to Waitara, New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, Waverley, and Opunake from 12-17 February, appearing at schools, libraries, and other local venues across the region.
They'll be coming around the mountain
Five of New Zealand's top writers hit the road in February for another literary road-trip, this time to Taranaki.
On the bus this year is David Hill (Teen Fiction), Duncan Sarkies (Fiction), Briar Grace-Smith (Scriptwriting), Alison Wong (Poetry) and Janet Hunt (Non-fiction). They'll be travelling to Waitara, New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, Waverley, and Opunake from 12-17 February, appearing at schools, libraries, and other local venues across the region.
Sunday, January 3
ELSIE LINLEY
Elsie, at 104, has nothing to grumble about
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 02/01/2010
ELSIE LINLEY
MARK DWYER/ Taranaki Daily News
ELSIE LINLEY: At 104, these days her only birthday wish is to have family around when she blows out the candles.
At 104 years old Elsie Linley is not ready to "peg out" just yet.
Her Boxing Day birthday makes her one of, if not the, oldest person in Taranaki
Since being born in Hawera, Mrs Linley has learnt a thing or two about life and love and espouses the benefits of patience and keeping grumbling to a minimum.
"Well they have enough on their shoulders without me complaining," she said with an elegantly cheeky smile.
"Besides there is nothing very much to complain about anyway."
This attitude comes from her mother who, despite a hard life, was always kind and loving to all, Mrs Linley said. And what did she look like?
"She was buxom. I hate saying it but she was a very large woman and I take after her."
Mrs Linley, nee Smith, married Englishman Jack Linley in 1926.
They had three children and lived on farms around the mountain at Oaonui, Okato and Tariki although they maintained an apartment in New Plymouth for weekend jaunts to the city.
She has nine grand-children, nine great-grandchildren and said they were all quite lovely.
Her interests over the decades have included a love of rugby, socialising, playing cards, photography, crochet – and hard work.
She now lives in New Plymouth's Radius Thornleigh Park rest home.
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 02/01/2010
ELSIE LINLEY
MARK DWYER/ Taranaki Daily News
ELSIE LINLEY: At 104, these days her only birthday wish is to have family around when she blows out the candles.
At 104 years old Elsie Linley is not ready to "peg out" just yet.
Her Boxing Day birthday makes her one of, if not the, oldest person in Taranaki
Since being born in Hawera, Mrs Linley has learnt a thing or two about life and love and espouses the benefits of patience and keeping grumbling to a minimum.
"Well they have enough on their shoulders without me complaining," she said with an elegantly cheeky smile.
"Besides there is nothing very much to complain about anyway."
This attitude comes from her mother who, despite a hard life, was always kind and loving to all, Mrs Linley said. And what did she look like?
"She was buxom. I hate saying it but she was a very large woman and I take after her."
Mrs Linley, nee Smith, married Englishman Jack Linley in 1926.
They had three children and lived on farms around the mountain at Oaonui, Okato and Tariki although they maintained an apartment in New Plymouth for weekend jaunts to the city.
She has nine grand-children, nine great-grandchildren and said they were all quite lovely.
Her interests over the decades have included a love of rugby, socialising, playing cards, photography, crochet – and hard work.
She now lives in New Plymouth's Radius Thornleigh Park rest home.
Ghosts of dinners past
Ghosts of dinners past
By HELEN HARVEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 14:06 21/12/2009
ROBERT CHARLES
Taranaki Research Centre information services officer Andrea Wallace with some of the early New Zealand Christmas cards in the centre's collection.
PUKE ARIKI COLLECTION
A Christmas card from colonial New Zealand.
Relevant offers
On Saturday night, December 24, 1887, New Plymouth was buzzing. The main street was full of people and the shops were busy as people did their last- minute Christmas shopping.
The day had been hot, so the cool night air was refreshing to the shoppers, who listened to a band playing while checking out the colourful displays in the shop windows.
The weekly newspaper the Budget reported that shopkeepers appeared to be doing a "fair business considering the dull times and shortness of money".
The butcher shops used to compete with each other to have the best display. The Taranaki Herald reported in 1884 that one butcher's shop window showed bullocks, sheep, lamb, calves, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl.
Grocers had seasonal fruits, little titbits, sweetmeats and tasty treats to attract customers.
And the shops stayed open as late as possible to ensure a good trade. In 1887, the band stopped playing at 10pm and the streets cleared at midnight, when the bell at the Catholic church "resounded through the town", the Budget reported.
Though the hotels were full, there was no drunkenness or breach of order or decorum, the paper said, "which is a credit to the town".
Christmas day dawned bright and clear. It was a Sunday, so the churches were full. The paper recalled the band played Christians Awake on the Barrack Hill (now Marsland Hill) in the morning. Back at home, houses may have been decorated with nikau palms, which were very popular for Christmas decorations in mid-1880s Taranaki.
There may have been a Christmas tree. Christmas trees were a German tradition that became popular in England in the 1840s, when pictures were seen of Queen Victoria, her German husband, Albert, and their children gathered around one.
The Tarrant family, who lived in Taihore, out the back of Strathmore on what's now the Forgotten World Highway, in the 1880s and '90s, had a little rimu sapling for a Christmas tree one year. In the book No One Went to Town, author Phyllis Johnson says it was decorated with buttons and beads.
Taranaki Research Centre team leader Gary Bastin says people had to use local materials and make do. This was true with the Christmas dinner. One popular meat dish was called colonial goose. It wasn't a goose at all - rather a flap of mutton with stuffing inside.
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You could still buy a colonial goose 20 years ago, but then it was a rolled seasoned shoulder of hogget, according to Murray Sattler, better known as Buzz the Butcher in Westown. Then, when farmers got better money for lamb, it became a rolled seasoned shoulder of lamb. But the term has gone out of use, a victim of consumer laws, since it isn't, actually, goose.
Christmas was more marked in the 1800s, Mr Bastin says. "[People] lived a more spartan existence, so the notion of having a social time and making a fuss over the meal would have been differentiated over time."
In 1887, the Budget's Christmas stories included one about a feast held by a chief named Henare Punuruka and his wife, Louisa, who lived in Peropero, to which Europeans were invited. The dinner consisted of "roast turkeys, geese, ducks, fowls, lamb, beef, pork, fish, new potatoes, green peas and cabbage". And that was just the first course. There was a Christmas cake and dessert included plum puddings, tarts, pies and jellies of various kinds.
As Christmas is the season of goodwill, spare a thought for the settlers in Christchurch in 1850, whose first Christmas dinner in their new country didn't quite turn out as planned.
A bullock, whose every joint had been ordered, did a runner. It was never found, Alison Clarke says in her book, Holiday Seasons: Christmas, New Year and Easter in Nineteenth Century New Zealand.
An abundance at Christmas was a sign of how well people were doing in the new land.
Agricultural labourer George Douch emigrated in 1875. He had struggled to make a living in his native Sussex, but two years after he arrived in Taranaki, he was building his own house on his own land, Dr Clarke says in her book.
He wrote to his parents saying he would never forget the white plum pudding (lacking fruit because the family was so poor) he'd had in 1855. In New Zealand, his Christmas dinner included new spuds, green peas, roast beef and "nine gallons of ale".
The new potatoes and green peas were a reflection of mixing old traditions with the realities of having Christmas in summer. And despite the weather, the settlers, like a lot of New Zealanders today, still had a hot meal. However, they also had summer desserts, especially strawberries, which they ate along with the traditional Christmas pudding.
In 1857, Taranaki resident Maria Atkinson made a 16-pound (7kg) pudding to feed the 18 people present for Christmas dinner.
"The groaning table also featured beef, turkey, ham, fowl, almonds, raisins, Christmas mincemeat and gooseberry pie".
Making a plum pudding involved family members, who took turns stirring the pudding, during which time they had to make a wish.
Mrs Beaton, a famous cook during the second part of the 19th century, has a recipe for a plain Christmas pudding in one of her cookbooks. The ingredients were flour, breadcrumbs, raisins, currants, suet, eggs, milk, peel, allspice and salt. The pudding was boiled for five hours. It was, according to Mrs Beaton, sufficient for nine or 10 children.
Taranaki Research Centre information services officer Andrea Wallace says when people first came to New Zealand, they would have had wonderful cookbooks. When Christmas rolled around, they would have looked up some recipes and found something they liked.
"Then you'd have looked at the ingredients you had and your lack of kitchen and thought, What can I do in a Dutch oven? Ingenuity reigned supreme and people made their colonial goose."
A Dutch oven is like a camp oven, a big pot with a thick lid that was covered in hot coal and ashes.
The ovens were used until the 1870s, when Henry Shacklock made the first coal range.
"Before then, no one really had coal ranges, because they weren't compatible with local coal."
Despite the difficulties, people were determined to enjoy their Christmas. Nearly 300 new settlers enroute to New Plymouth spent Christmas 1879 on board the Halcione. According to the ship's newsletter The Maraval Jackdaw all were determined to have a good Christmas. "May the smoking joint, the steaming glass and the ringing peal of laughter reign supreme," the newsletter said.
The first Kiwi Christmas was held just offshore in 1642. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman crossed the entrance of Cook Strait and anchored east of Stephens and D'Urville islands. There was what has since become a bit of a Christmas tradition in some parts of the country: bad weather.
NZHistory.net.nz says while sheltering from a storm, the Dutch enjoyed freshly killed pork from the ship's menagerie, washed down with extra rations of wine.
The next Christmas dinner in New Zealand wasn't until 1769, when Captain James Cook first arrived.
The crew of the Endeavour, while battling heavy seas, this time off the tip of the North Island, had a feast of goose pie. Only there was no goose available, so they improvised and botanist Joseph Banks shot a gannet instead. Apparently the Endeavour's crew spent Boxing Day nursing hangovers.
This has also become a bit of a Kiwi tradition. As has going to the races. Boxing Day race meetings were held all over New Zealand in the 1800s.
A lot of families also went on picnics on Boxing Day, something that wouldn't have happened in a European winter. But it was a good way to use up the leftovers and enjoy the summer.
For Hawera residents, catching the train to Normanby, having a picnic and then heading to the races was a popular way to spend Boxing Day.
But in New Plymouth on Boxing Day in 1887, it rained all day and the races were postponed and the picnics abandoned.
Not so traditional
Most of the Christmas traditions enjoyed today date from Queen Victoria's time. Before she came to the throne in 1837, there were no Christmas trees, cards, crackers, Santa Claus or a holiday off work. The wealth and technologies generated by the industrial revolution of the Victorian era changed the face of Christmas forever.
Mass production meant getting toys for Christmas was no longer only for the rich. And the wealth generated meant middle class families in England and Wales were able to take time off and celebrate over two days, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In New Zealand, a day off work for Christmas was the norm, but was not law until 1910. Shops and pubs often opened. Newspapers were published on Christmas Day, some of them even into the early 20th century. Christmas cards: The first Christmas card was designed in England in 1843 by John Horsley after Rowland Hill introduced the penny post in 1840. Before 1840, it would not have been feasible for ordinary people to send cards because of the cost of postage. By the 1860s, Christmas cards were very popular in England. Christmas cake: Originally, Christmas cake was eaten on Twelfth Night (January 6). In the late 19th century, people began to eat the traditional Twelfth Night cake at Christmas. Christmas crackers: Crackers were invented in London by Tom Smith in 1846. The original idea was to wrap his lollies in a twist of fancy coloured paper, but this developed and sold much better when he added notes, paper hats, small toys and made them go bang. Boxing Day: December 26th earned its name as the day servants and working people opened the boxes in which they had collected gifts of money from the "rich folk". Christmas stockings: These first became popular around 1870. Traditionally, an orange went in the toe. Christmas carols: A number of popular Christmas carols were written in the 19th century, including O Come All Ye Faithful in 1843, Once in Royal David's City in 1848, O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868 and Away in a Manger in 1883.
By HELEN HARVEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 14:06 21/12/2009
ROBERT CHARLES
Taranaki Research Centre information services officer Andrea Wallace with some of the early New Zealand Christmas cards in the centre's collection.
PUKE ARIKI COLLECTION
A Christmas card from colonial New Zealand.
Relevant offers
On Saturday night, December 24, 1887, New Plymouth was buzzing. The main street was full of people and the shops were busy as people did their last- minute Christmas shopping.
The day had been hot, so the cool night air was refreshing to the shoppers, who listened to a band playing while checking out the colourful displays in the shop windows.
The weekly newspaper the Budget reported that shopkeepers appeared to be doing a "fair business considering the dull times and shortness of money".
The butcher shops used to compete with each other to have the best display. The Taranaki Herald reported in 1884 that one butcher's shop window showed bullocks, sheep, lamb, calves, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl.
Grocers had seasonal fruits, little titbits, sweetmeats and tasty treats to attract customers.
And the shops stayed open as late as possible to ensure a good trade. In 1887, the band stopped playing at 10pm and the streets cleared at midnight, when the bell at the Catholic church "resounded through the town", the Budget reported.
Though the hotels were full, there was no drunkenness or breach of order or decorum, the paper said, "which is a credit to the town".
Christmas day dawned bright and clear. It was a Sunday, so the churches were full. The paper recalled the band played Christians Awake on the Barrack Hill (now Marsland Hill) in the morning. Back at home, houses may have been decorated with nikau palms, which were very popular for Christmas decorations in mid-1880s Taranaki.
There may have been a Christmas tree. Christmas trees were a German tradition that became popular in England in the 1840s, when pictures were seen of Queen Victoria, her German husband, Albert, and their children gathered around one.
The Tarrant family, who lived in Taihore, out the back of Strathmore on what's now the Forgotten World Highway, in the 1880s and '90s, had a little rimu sapling for a Christmas tree one year. In the book No One Went to Town, author Phyllis Johnson says it was decorated with buttons and beads.
Taranaki Research Centre team leader Gary Bastin says people had to use local materials and make do. This was true with the Christmas dinner. One popular meat dish was called colonial goose. It wasn't a goose at all - rather a flap of mutton with stuffing inside.
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You could still buy a colonial goose 20 years ago, but then it was a rolled seasoned shoulder of hogget, according to Murray Sattler, better known as Buzz the Butcher in Westown. Then, when farmers got better money for lamb, it became a rolled seasoned shoulder of lamb. But the term has gone out of use, a victim of consumer laws, since it isn't, actually, goose.
Christmas was more marked in the 1800s, Mr Bastin says. "[People] lived a more spartan existence, so the notion of having a social time and making a fuss over the meal would have been differentiated over time."
In 1887, the Budget's Christmas stories included one about a feast held by a chief named Henare Punuruka and his wife, Louisa, who lived in Peropero, to which Europeans were invited. The dinner consisted of "roast turkeys, geese, ducks, fowls, lamb, beef, pork, fish, new potatoes, green peas and cabbage". And that was just the first course. There was a Christmas cake and dessert included plum puddings, tarts, pies and jellies of various kinds.
As Christmas is the season of goodwill, spare a thought for the settlers in Christchurch in 1850, whose first Christmas dinner in their new country didn't quite turn out as planned.
A bullock, whose every joint had been ordered, did a runner. It was never found, Alison Clarke says in her book, Holiday Seasons: Christmas, New Year and Easter in Nineteenth Century New Zealand.
An abundance at Christmas was a sign of how well people were doing in the new land.
Agricultural labourer George Douch emigrated in 1875. He had struggled to make a living in his native Sussex, but two years after he arrived in Taranaki, he was building his own house on his own land, Dr Clarke says in her book.
He wrote to his parents saying he would never forget the white plum pudding (lacking fruit because the family was so poor) he'd had in 1855. In New Zealand, his Christmas dinner included new spuds, green peas, roast beef and "nine gallons of ale".
The new potatoes and green peas were a reflection of mixing old traditions with the realities of having Christmas in summer. And despite the weather, the settlers, like a lot of New Zealanders today, still had a hot meal. However, they also had summer desserts, especially strawberries, which they ate along with the traditional Christmas pudding.
In 1857, Taranaki resident Maria Atkinson made a 16-pound (7kg) pudding to feed the 18 people present for Christmas dinner.
"The groaning table also featured beef, turkey, ham, fowl, almonds, raisins, Christmas mincemeat and gooseberry pie".
Making a plum pudding involved family members, who took turns stirring the pudding, during which time they had to make a wish.
Mrs Beaton, a famous cook during the second part of the 19th century, has a recipe for a plain Christmas pudding in one of her cookbooks. The ingredients were flour, breadcrumbs, raisins, currants, suet, eggs, milk, peel, allspice and salt. The pudding was boiled for five hours. It was, according to Mrs Beaton, sufficient for nine or 10 children.
Taranaki Research Centre information services officer Andrea Wallace says when people first came to New Zealand, they would have had wonderful cookbooks. When Christmas rolled around, they would have looked up some recipes and found something they liked.
"Then you'd have looked at the ingredients you had and your lack of kitchen and thought, What can I do in a Dutch oven? Ingenuity reigned supreme and people made their colonial goose."
A Dutch oven is like a camp oven, a big pot with a thick lid that was covered in hot coal and ashes.
The ovens were used until the 1870s, when Henry Shacklock made the first coal range.
"Before then, no one really had coal ranges, because they weren't compatible with local coal."
Despite the difficulties, people were determined to enjoy their Christmas. Nearly 300 new settlers enroute to New Plymouth spent Christmas 1879 on board the Halcione. According to the ship's newsletter The Maraval Jackdaw all were determined to have a good Christmas. "May the smoking joint, the steaming glass and the ringing peal of laughter reign supreme," the newsletter said.
The first Kiwi Christmas was held just offshore in 1642. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman crossed the entrance of Cook Strait and anchored east of Stephens and D'Urville islands. There was what has since become a bit of a Christmas tradition in some parts of the country: bad weather.
NZHistory.net.nz says while sheltering from a storm, the Dutch enjoyed freshly killed pork from the ship's menagerie, washed down with extra rations of wine.
The next Christmas dinner in New Zealand wasn't until 1769, when Captain James Cook first arrived.
The crew of the Endeavour, while battling heavy seas, this time off the tip of the North Island, had a feast of goose pie. Only there was no goose available, so they improvised and botanist Joseph Banks shot a gannet instead. Apparently the Endeavour's crew spent Boxing Day nursing hangovers.
This has also become a bit of a Kiwi tradition. As has going to the races. Boxing Day race meetings were held all over New Zealand in the 1800s.
A lot of families also went on picnics on Boxing Day, something that wouldn't have happened in a European winter. But it was a good way to use up the leftovers and enjoy the summer.
For Hawera residents, catching the train to Normanby, having a picnic and then heading to the races was a popular way to spend Boxing Day.
But in New Plymouth on Boxing Day in 1887, it rained all day and the races were postponed and the picnics abandoned.
Not so traditional
Most of the Christmas traditions enjoyed today date from Queen Victoria's time. Before she came to the throne in 1837, there were no Christmas trees, cards, crackers, Santa Claus or a holiday off work. The wealth and technologies generated by the industrial revolution of the Victorian era changed the face of Christmas forever.
Mass production meant getting toys for Christmas was no longer only for the rich. And the wealth generated meant middle class families in England and Wales were able to take time off and celebrate over two days, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
In New Zealand, a day off work for Christmas was the norm, but was not law until 1910. Shops and pubs often opened. Newspapers were published on Christmas Day, some of them even into the early 20th century. Christmas cards: The first Christmas card was designed in England in 1843 by John Horsley after Rowland Hill introduced the penny post in 1840. Before 1840, it would not have been feasible for ordinary people to send cards because of the cost of postage. By the 1860s, Christmas cards were very popular in England. Christmas cake: Originally, Christmas cake was eaten on Twelfth Night (January 6). In the late 19th century, people began to eat the traditional Twelfth Night cake at Christmas. Christmas crackers: Crackers were invented in London by Tom Smith in 1846. The original idea was to wrap his lollies in a twist of fancy coloured paper, but this developed and sold much better when he added notes, paper hats, small toys and made them go bang. Boxing Day: December 26th earned its name as the day servants and working people opened the boxes in which they had collected gifts of money from the "rich folk". Christmas stockings: These first became popular around 1870. Traditionally, an orange went in the toe. Christmas carols: A number of popular Christmas carols were written in the 19th century, including O Come All Ye Faithful in 1843, Once in Royal David's City in 1848, O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868 and Away in a Manger in 1883.
Happy birthday , Eltham
Eltham begins celebrating its 125th birthday today. Rob Maetzig, who grew up there, takes a lighthearted look at the town.
Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 10:37 07/12/2009
ROBERT CHARLES
Taking time out: Long-time Eltham residents Beulah and Max Hucker enjoy a moment under art deco artwork in the town's Stark Park.
There are quite a few Elthams around the world, but none quite compares with ours.
Consider the Eltham in the London borough of Greenwich, for instance. Famous people born there might include comedian Bob Hope and musician Boy George, but the New Zealand Eltham produced cut-the-hedge- with-a-lawnmower All Black Jazz Muller.
Eltham in Victoria, Australia, might be where the paralucia pyrodiscus lucida - the Eltham Copper Butterfly to us - was discovered, but our Eltham had this country's first fully tarsealed main street.
The Eltham in New Kent County, Virginia, might be where the New Kent-Charles City Chronicle is published, but our town has got the Eltham Argus.
But wait, there's more. Our Eltham had New Zealand's first commercial butter factory, which made the first-ever classic pound of butter. And it's got the first commercial building ever to have a suspended concrete floor. And Eltham even hosted the first-ever world axemen's carnival.
No comparison, really. But that's Eltham.
The town actually likes to describe itself as a town of firsts, because it is true that many years ago, it did pioneer everything from tarsealed streets to pounds of butter - which in some ways is ironic, because Eltham was the last place in Taranaki to be settled between Patea and New Plymouth.
Historians say this was because Central Taranaki was difficult country. If in the mid- 19th century it took several days for a bullock dray to travel the 21 kilometres between Inglewood and Stratford, it must have taken even longer to negotiate that valley where Eltham now is.
The town is nestled between the Waingongoro River on one side and the Ngaere Swamp on the other, and the whole area is crisscrossed with numerous smaller streams and creeks, so in those early days, it must have been a very muddy place when it was wet.
No wonder a few years later it became the first town in New Zealand to tarseal its main street.
Actually - and maybe this was because of the difficulty of the country - it almost seems that in the very early days, no one even wanted to claim the Eltham district.
In 1876, when the Patea County Council was formed, Eltham was lumped into its area of jurisdiction. Then, five years later, when the Hawera County Council was created, it was given the fledgling township.
It took another three years for Eltham to be declared a town district. Mind you, at that stage, it only had a population of 25 settlers.
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But the town quickly grew, thanks first to the timber industry and then the development of dairy farms. This meant that by the beginning of the 20th century, the district was sufficiently populated to allow the urban area to be declared a borough and the country surrounding it a county.
One of the things I enjoy about Eltham is that its first mayor was the powerfully named and United States-born George Washington Tayler, and that among the borough council's first decisions were to ban driving stock through the main street, outlaw spitting on pavements and curtail cycling on footpaths.
Obviously, this would all have been part of a big move to bring respectability to a town that, by then, would have been getting quite prosperous. The beautiful Victorian and Edwardian buildings that are there today are proof of that - everything from the Coronation Hotel (it opened in 1902, the year of King Edward VII's coronation), to the Post Office Building opened in 1904, to the Eltham Courthouse opened in 1908.
And what about the Pease Building down on the corner of Bridge and Stanners streets? Built in 1909, it was the first such commercial building outside of Europe to have a fully suspended floor. That's flash. So was the fact that during World War II, it was officially designated an air raid shelter.
Mind you, when I was a child, we didn't know that building as the Pease Building. It was Carmen's, because that's where one of those traditional old booksellers-cum-giftshops was located.
Locals do that sort of thing, you see. That's why the Coronation Hotel is known simply as the Corrie, why the little stream running through the centre of town isn't known as the Mangawharawhara but the Town Creek, and why the Waingongoro River on Eltham's western boundary is simply called the Wong - just like the sound of a stone plopping into one of its deep pools, wrote the late Douglas Stewart, famous ex- Eltham author and poet.
And how about this? Down by the golf course there's a green area officially known as Soldiers Memorial Park, but which everyone calls the Gully. And the golf course has a hole called not Suicide but Sewerside, because it runs alongside what used to be a sewage outfall into the Town Creek.
Instead of sorting out the pollution at the time, Eltham named a golf hole after it. Now that's local.
But let's get back to history. These days, Eltham is most famous for the magnificent selection of cheeses it produces and that history goes right back to the late 1880s, when Chinese entrepreneur Chew Chong built a dairy factory on the banks of the Waingongoro River.
He exported his butter under the Jubilee Butter brand, because the factory was opened on the date of Queen Victoria's jubilee. Maybe these days it might have been called Chong Wong Butter.
Anyway, the story goes that within a few years, Chong's suppliers didn't like it when he told them he could not pay more than tuppence per gallon for their milk - and that the payout would probably be half that the following year - so the farmers formed their own Eltham Co- operative Dairy Company.
Cheese was the first product to be manufactured, as it was considered a safer export commodity, and Eltham's cheese industry took off from there. These days, a massive selection of cheeses, ranging from traditional cheddar to French- style and processed, roll out of two big plants in the town.
But there is one particular cheese that Eltham is most famous for: blue vein - that product that smells like foot odour but tastes divine.
This tangy, salty cheese has been made in Eltham since 1952. Today the town might also make a variety of cheese on the blue- vein theme, but nothing beats the grunty original version that is quite addictive.
Over on the other side of the railway tracks, there's the Riverlands meatworks, which produces damn good steaks. In fact, a couple of years ago, its porterhouse took out New Zealand's prestigious Steak of Origin title.
Besides the cheese and meat industries, there's not a lot left in Eltham these days. A few decades ago, its main throughfares of High Street and Bridge Street were alive with shops. Most of these retail premises are empty now, although retro and second- hand shops have opened up and are popular.
The reasons are obvious. It used to be quite a journey to the big city lights of New Plymouth. Today, it's just a half-hour scoot up the road in the average family car. That means many people choose to live somewhere else and commute to Eltham to work, and that in turn has hurt the financial viability of retail businesses.
But if Eltham's business area is looking a bit bony these days, the town's soul is still very much there. In fact, it's turning back to its past as the means towards its future. Take Time Out is the mantra now being promoted by the Eltham Business and Professional Association as it encourages visitors to spend time in the village and sample both its history and its wares.
And that includes popping into the little cheese bar on Bridge Street, where there's usually a big selection of Eltham-made cheeses, often at ridiculously low prices. Just why this cheese bar isn't out on the main street, I'll never know. Then again, its almost-hidden location makes it a neat sort of Taranaki secret that's quite appealing, because you have to take time out to find it.
That's the thing about Eltham - you have to take time out there to begin to appreciate it. So how about this: pop into the town and pick up a brochure outlining the histories of all the beautiful old buildings in the central area. Head off on a walking tour of these buildings and, along the way, pop into the cheese bar for some blue vein and the Corrie for a few beers.
Then head down to the Wong for a picnic. And if you're really hungry, set up a barbie and cook a Riverlands steak. That'd be the true spirit of taking time out.
Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 10:37 07/12/2009
ROBERT CHARLES
Taking time out: Long-time Eltham residents Beulah and Max Hucker enjoy a moment under art deco artwork in the town's Stark Park.
There are quite a few Elthams around the world, but none quite compares with ours.
Consider the Eltham in the London borough of Greenwich, for instance. Famous people born there might include comedian Bob Hope and musician Boy George, but the New Zealand Eltham produced cut-the-hedge- with-a-lawnmower All Black Jazz Muller.
Eltham in Victoria, Australia, might be where the paralucia pyrodiscus lucida - the Eltham Copper Butterfly to us - was discovered, but our Eltham had this country's first fully tarsealed main street.
The Eltham in New Kent County, Virginia, might be where the New Kent-Charles City Chronicle is published, but our town has got the Eltham Argus.
But wait, there's more. Our Eltham had New Zealand's first commercial butter factory, which made the first-ever classic pound of butter. And it's got the first commercial building ever to have a suspended concrete floor. And Eltham even hosted the first-ever world axemen's carnival.
No comparison, really. But that's Eltham.
The town actually likes to describe itself as a town of firsts, because it is true that many years ago, it did pioneer everything from tarsealed streets to pounds of butter - which in some ways is ironic, because Eltham was the last place in Taranaki to be settled between Patea and New Plymouth.
Historians say this was because Central Taranaki was difficult country. If in the mid- 19th century it took several days for a bullock dray to travel the 21 kilometres between Inglewood and Stratford, it must have taken even longer to negotiate that valley where Eltham now is.
The town is nestled between the Waingongoro River on one side and the Ngaere Swamp on the other, and the whole area is crisscrossed with numerous smaller streams and creeks, so in those early days, it must have been a very muddy place when it was wet.
No wonder a few years later it became the first town in New Zealand to tarseal its main street.
Actually - and maybe this was because of the difficulty of the country - it almost seems that in the very early days, no one even wanted to claim the Eltham district.
In 1876, when the Patea County Council was formed, Eltham was lumped into its area of jurisdiction. Then, five years later, when the Hawera County Council was created, it was given the fledgling township.
It took another three years for Eltham to be declared a town district. Mind you, at that stage, it only had a population of 25 settlers.
Ad Feedback
But the town quickly grew, thanks first to the timber industry and then the development of dairy farms. This meant that by the beginning of the 20th century, the district was sufficiently populated to allow the urban area to be declared a borough and the country surrounding it a county.
One of the things I enjoy about Eltham is that its first mayor was the powerfully named and United States-born George Washington Tayler, and that among the borough council's first decisions were to ban driving stock through the main street, outlaw spitting on pavements and curtail cycling on footpaths.
Obviously, this would all have been part of a big move to bring respectability to a town that, by then, would have been getting quite prosperous. The beautiful Victorian and Edwardian buildings that are there today are proof of that - everything from the Coronation Hotel (it opened in 1902, the year of King Edward VII's coronation), to the Post Office Building opened in 1904, to the Eltham Courthouse opened in 1908.
And what about the Pease Building down on the corner of Bridge and Stanners streets? Built in 1909, it was the first such commercial building outside of Europe to have a fully suspended floor. That's flash. So was the fact that during World War II, it was officially designated an air raid shelter.
Mind you, when I was a child, we didn't know that building as the Pease Building. It was Carmen's, because that's where one of those traditional old booksellers-cum-giftshops was located.
Locals do that sort of thing, you see. That's why the Coronation Hotel is known simply as the Corrie, why the little stream running through the centre of town isn't known as the Mangawharawhara but the Town Creek, and why the Waingongoro River on Eltham's western boundary is simply called the Wong - just like the sound of a stone plopping into one of its deep pools, wrote the late Douglas Stewart, famous ex- Eltham author and poet.
And how about this? Down by the golf course there's a green area officially known as Soldiers Memorial Park, but which everyone calls the Gully. And the golf course has a hole called not Suicide but Sewerside, because it runs alongside what used to be a sewage outfall into the Town Creek.
Instead of sorting out the pollution at the time, Eltham named a golf hole after it. Now that's local.
But let's get back to history. These days, Eltham is most famous for the magnificent selection of cheeses it produces and that history goes right back to the late 1880s, when Chinese entrepreneur Chew Chong built a dairy factory on the banks of the Waingongoro River.
He exported his butter under the Jubilee Butter brand, because the factory was opened on the date of Queen Victoria's jubilee. Maybe these days it might have been called Chong Wong Butter.
Anyway, the story goes that within a few years, Chong's suppliers didn't like it when he told them he could not pay more than tuppence per gallon for their milk - and that the payout would probably be half that the following year - so the farmers formed their own Eltham Co- operative Dairy Company.
Cheese was the first product to be manufactured, as it was considered a safer export commodity, and Eltham's cheese industry took off from there. These days, a massive selection of cheeses, ranging from traditional cheddar to French- style and processed, roll out of two big plants in the town.
But there is one particular cheese that Eltham is most famous for: blue vein - that product that smells like foot odour but tastes divine.
This tangy, salty cheese has been made in Eltham since 1952. Today the town might also make a variety of cheese on the blue- vein theme, but nothing beats the grunty original version that is quite addictive.
Over on the other side of the railway tracks, there's the Riverlands meatworks, which produces damn good steaks. In fact, a couple of years ago, its porterhouse took out New Zealand's prestigious Steak of Origin title.
Besides the cheese and meat industries, there's not a lot left in Eltham these days. A few decades ago, its main throughfares of High Street and Bridge Street were alive with shops. Most of these retail premises are empty now, although retro and second- hand shops have opened up and are popular.
The reasons are obvious. It used to be quite a journey to the big city lights of New Plymouth. Today, it's just a half-hour scoot up the road in the average family car. That means many people choose to live somewhere else and commute to Eltham to work, and that in turn has hurt the financial viability of retail businesses.
But if Eltham's business area is looking a bit bony these days, the town's soul is still very much there. In fact, it's turning back to its past as the means towards its future. Take Time Out is the mantra now being promoted by the Eltham Business and Professional Association as it encourages visitors to spend time in the village and sample both its history and its wares.
And that includes popping into the little cheese bar on Bridge Street, where there's usually a big selection of Eltham-made cheeses, often at ridiculously low prices. Just why this cheese bar isn't out on the main street, I'll never know. Then again, its almost-hidden location makes it a neat sort of Taranaki secret that's quite appealing, because you have to take time out to find it.
That's the thing about Eltham - you have to take time out there to begin to appreciate it. So how about this: pop into the town and pick up a brochure outlining the histories of all the beautiful old buildings in the central area. Head off on a walking tour of these buildings and, along the way, pop into the cheese bar for some blue vein and the Corrie for a few beers.
Then head down to the Wong for a picnic. And if you're really hungry, set up a barbie and cook a Riverlands steak. That'd be the true spirit of taking time out.
Saturday, December 26
Campgrounds brace for their summer rush
By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 26/12/2009
South Taranaki beach and motor camps are upbeat about how this summer season is shaping up.
Kaupokonui Beach Motor Camp opened to full bookings today and is set to host busy grounds for five weeks.
It's caretaker Vince Leatherby's first year in the job and he's taking calls from keen campers from Wellington to Auckland.
While most spots are taken, there's always room for overnighters, said Mr Leatherby.
"I'm a friendly man and people are more than welcome at my place."
The new $200,000 shower and facilities block at Kaupokonui was up and running by Christmas Eve and this year the camp shop is fully stocked, and will open from 9am to 6pm.
By Christmas Eve, Waiinu beach camp, near Waitotara, already had a smattering of campers and South Taranaki District Council staff were expecting it to be almost full through the first two weeks of January.
Library Plus in Waverley takes registrations for the council managed campground.
Staff said many of the campers were locals who continued working while based at Waiinu. There was also a steady flow of overnighters staying on their way through Taranaki.
Opunake Beach Holiday Park's peak time starts today, with most but not all spaces already booked.
Camp leasee Craig Russell said the camp is "pretty solid right through until January 10 to 15".
He said there was "the usual crew coming" and many farmers had rung to extend their camp bookings since the increased milk solids pay-out was announced.
Mr Russell had heard from other campground managers that in general New Zealand camps were fuller this year with people who, because of the economic recession, had put their overseas holidays on hold, deciding to stay local instead.
King Edward Park Motor Camp manager Lu Katene said that while there were bookings from now through to the end of January, it was difficult to know how many people in motorhomes would be staying.
"They just turn up, one day we can be empty, the next day full."
Likewise for Ohawe Beach Camp.
Manager Phoebe Paraha was expecting to be busy from Christmas through until the first week of January with several bookings, mostly tenters. "I'm anticipating being busy. I'm not stressing, just plodding along."
In Patea, Carlyle Beach Motor Camp operator Ken Bentley was expecting a usual season with the camp's 30 sites filling up over the period until New Year with mostly families from around Taranaki and Wanganui.
"If the weather stays good, we're looking good."
Last updated 05:00 26/12/2009
South Taranaki beach and motor camps are upbeat about how this summer season is shaping up.
Kaupokonui Beach Motor Camp opened to full bookings today and is set to host busy grounds for five weeks.
It's caretaker Vince Leatherby's first year in the job and he's taking calls from keen campers from Wellington to Auckland.
While most spots are taken, there's always room for overnighters, said Mr Leatherby.
"I'm a friendly man and people are more than welcome at my place."
The new $200,000 shower and facilities block at Kaupokonui was up and running by Christmas Eve and this year the camp shop is fully stocked, and will open from 9am to 6pm.
By Christmas Eve, Waiinu beach camp, near Waitotara, already had a smattering of campers and South Taranaki District Council staff were expecting it to be almost full through the first two weeks of January.
Library Plus in Waverley takes registrations for the council managed campground.
Staff said many of the campers were locals who continued working while based at Waiinu. There was also a steady flow of overnighters staying on their way through Taranaki.
Opunake Beach Holiday Park's peak time starts today, with most but not all spaces already booked.
Camp leasee Craig Russell said the camp is "pretty solid right through until January 10 to 15".
He said there was "the usual crew coming" and many farmers had rung to extend their camp bookings since the increased milk solids pay-out was announced.
Mr Russell had heard from other campground managers that in general New Zealand camps were fuller this year with people who, because of the economic recession, had put their overseas holidays on hold, deciding to stay local instead.
King Edward Park Motor Camp manager Lu Katene said that while there were bookings from now through to the end of January, it was difficult to know how many people in motorhomes would be staying.
"They just turn up, one day we can be empty, the next day full."
Likewise for Ohawe Beach Camp.
Manager Phoebe Paraha was expecting to be busy from Christmas through until the first week of January with several bookings, mostly tenters. "I'm anticipating being busy. I'm not stressing, just plodding along."
In Patea, Carlyle Beach Motor Camp operator Ken Bentley was expecting a usual season with the camp's 30 sites filling up over the period until New Year with mostly families from around Taranaki and Wanganui.
"If the weather stays good, we're looking good."
Friday, October 23
Hawera High School principal Paul Ryan
Hawera High School principal Paul Ryan has announced his resignation.
In a shock announcement at the Taranaki Secondary School Association's annual dinner this week Mr Ryan said this year would be his last. He will be the fourth Taranaki principal to leave in 14 months but while the other three will be working overseas, Mr Ryan is going to travel. Quite simply, it's time to see the world with his wife – again – but this time in style. "It's been 20 years since Christine and I have done any decent travelling," he said.
The pair are off on an overseas adventure to visit family and friends and return to places they have wanted to go for years.
It'll be their third overseas experience but with a bit more comfort – there'll be no backpacks and shoe-string budgets.
"I've made a promise to Christine that we'd stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel when we're in Zimbabwe because last time we were in a motor camp."
South America and China are also on the travel plans they never visited the first and second time around. There are no other plans beyond the travelling yet.
When Mr Ryan leaves it will be three years and three terms since he first set foot in the door of Hawera's secondary school and he thinks he's made his mark.
Classrooms have been refurbished, there are plans under way for further improvements to the property and the school is in a financially strong position. "I've been hearing from a few people the school is in better shape now than before I arrived which is nice to hear," he said.
He's also proud the school has improved academically. "The students continue to make positive decisions in relation to their schooling and in setting up the best possible future for the themselves."
Staff had also been amazing to work with. "They are a fantastic group who really focus on the students and have a genuine desire for them to achieve."
In a shock announcement at the Taranaki Secondary School Association's annual dinner this week Mr Ryan said this year would be his last. He will be the fourth Taranaki principal to leave in 14 months but while the other three will be working overseas, Mr Ryan is going to travel. Quite simply, it's time to see the world with his wife – again – but this time in style. "It's been 20 years since Christine and I have done any decent travelling," he said.
The pair are off on an overseas adventure to visit family and friends and return to places they have wanted to go for years.
It'll be their third overseas experience but with a bit more comfort – there'll be no backpacks and shoe-string budgets.
"I've made a promise to Christine that we'd stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel when we're in Zimbabwe because last time we were in a motor camp."
South America and China are also on the travel plans they never visited the first and second time around. There are no other plans beyond the travelling yet.
When Mr Ryan leaves it will be three years and three terms since he first set foot in the door of Hawera's secondary school and he thinks he's made his mark.
Classrooms have been refurbished, there are plans under way for further improvements to the property and the school is in a financially strong position. "I've been hearing from a few people the school is in better shape now than before I arrived which is nice to hear," he said.
He's also proud the school has improved academically. "The students continue to make positive decisions in relation to their schooling and in setting up the best possible future for the themselves."
Staff had also been amazing to work with. "They are a fantastic group who really focus on the students and have a genuine desire for them to achieve."
Tuesday, October 6
The sale of Manaia and Opunake townships 1880
e original list of names was from Papers Past
From the HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR, dated 22nd December 1880
SALE OF MANAIA
The sale of Manaia and Opounake townships was advertised for Friday and there must have been at least 300 persons present when the sale commenced.
The townships of Manaia was first offered for sale and a large number of sections were sold, some at very high prices, those at the octagon bringing in over £80 ($11,442 in 2008)
The competition was very spirited throughout the day and the Commissioner went through the various sections at a pretty rapid rate.
When the suburban sections around Manaia were disposed of, an adjournment took place and the sale of Opunake commence after lunch.
The area of nearly all the sections was about a quarter of an acre each (unless otherwise stated)
The following are the details:-
(the number of the section then price paid at auction)
* A.C. FORCE was a member of the NZ Armed Constabulary 1846-1885)
BLOCK II
#10 - £15 .. AND ..
#11 - £12 - J. Davidson, storekeeper, Hawera
#22 - £10 - F. McGuire
BLOCK III
#1 - £15 .. AND ..
#10 - £15
#11 - £12 - William Hackett, A.C. Force, Manaia
BLOCK VI
#6 - £10 - John Meikle, carpenter, Hawera
#10 - £15 - C.A. Wray (for Church of England)
#11 - £12 - J. Linton
#20 - £12 - Timothy O`Brien, A.C. Force, Manaia
#22 - £18 - M. Byrne, Manutahi
BLOCK VII
#1 - £15 - P. B. Cahill
#4 - £10 - Right Rev Dr. Redwood (for Roman Catholic Church)
#12 - £12 - M.D. King (for Wesleyan Church)
#13 - £18 - Charles O. Hawke, A.C. Force, Waihi
BLOCK X
#10 - £21 - Charles Days
#11 - £15 - P.B. Cahill
#12 - £15 - J. Livingston (for Presbyterian Church)
#20 - £16 .. AND ..
#21 - £17 - R.E. McRae, farmer, Kakaramea
#22 - £28 - Charles Days
BLOCK XI
#1 - £21 - George Parmenter, laborer, Hawera
#3 - £15 - James Thomson, Waihi
#10 - £12 - R.A. Adams
#12 - £21 - James Nicoll, tinsmith, New Plymouth
#13 - £31 - George Newsham Curtis, storekeeper, Stratford
#14 - £25 - George McLean, farmer, Hawera
#15 - £18 - John Gilmour, storekeeper, New Plymouth
#16 - £14 - Benjamin Vickery, labourer, Wanganui
#17 - £16 - Henry Sinclair, carpenter, Hawera
#20 - £13 - Benjamin Vickery
#21 - £15 - R.A. Adams, draper, Carlyle (now Patea)
#22 - £18 - John Gilmour
BLOCK XIII
#2 - £10 - Hearn & Kennedy, Kakaramea
#9 - £13 - Patrick Tarrant, ploughman, Hawera
#10 - £17 - P.B. Cahill, Hawera
#11 - £17 - James Linton, Mayor of Palmerston North
#12 - £15 .. AND ..
#13 - £15 - A. Young, farmer, Manutahi
#14 - £15 - E. Pulford, storekeeper, Hawera
#15 - £15 - William Shearer, settler, Hawera
- (if you have ANY further information on William, at the above link, please leave a comment)
#17 - £16 - George Parmenter
#18 - £15 - E. Pulford
#19 - £17 - Michael Bourke, cooper, Carlyle
#20 - £31 - Charles Days
BLOCK XIV
#1 - £15
#2 - £13 - George Lgenn, Greymouth
#4 - £14 - G.T. Potto, saddler, Carlyle
#5 - £13 - A. Young
#6 - £14 - John Gilmour
#7 - £15 - H. Honeyfield, settler, New Plymouth
#8 - £16 - James Nicoll
#13 - £21 - G.N. Curtis
#15 - £24 - John Manson, draper, Hokitika
#16 - £27 - A. Young
#17 - £34 - John Gilmour
#18 - £36 - H. Honeyfield
#19 - £37 - James Nicoll
BLOCK XV
#1 - £33 .. AND ..
#2 - £36 - J. Milroy, settler, Carlyle
#3 - £18 - George McLean
#4 - £14 - J. Barleyman, solicitor, Hawera
#5 - £15 - John E.W. Honeywill
#7 - £15 .. AND ..
#8 - £16 - Daniel Leitch, settler, Hawera
#9 - £16 .. AND ..
#10 - £18 .. AND ..
#11 - £20 - John Patterson, settler, Hawera
#12 - £81 .. AND ..
#13 - £86 - J. Milroy, Carlyle
#14 - £47 - Jacob Meuli, saddler, Hawera
#15 - £41 - J. Barleyman
#16 - £40 - R.A. Adams
#17 - £37 - G.T. Potto
#18 - £85 - T.M.J. Sheahy, spinster, Palmerston North
#19 - £80 ($11,442 in 2008) - William Shearer
#20 - £80 - Daniel Leitch
#21 - £85 - John Henderson, saddler, Hawera
BLOCK XVI
#1 - £15 - Benjamin Vickery
#3 - £12 - Charles Jamieson, A.C. Force, Manaia
#12 - £29 - H. Owen, commercial traveller
#13 - £24 - Thomas Broadrick, settler, New Plymouth
#14 - £21 - Frank McGovern, laborer, Carlyle
#15 - £17 - Jeremiah Sheshan, farmer, Whenuakura
#17 - £13 - Martin Power, settler, Hawera
#18 - £18 - J. Mouri
#19 - £18 - P. McLoughlin, Carlyle
#20 - £14 - E.H. Thompson, A.C. Force, Manaia
#21 - £17 - P.B. Cahill
#22 - £80 - Thomas Broadrick
BLOCK XVII
#2 - £12 - Arthur J. Knyvett, Maxwelltown
#4 = £12 - W. Cowern
#5 - £12 - George Glenn
#6 - £15 - J. Tingey, painter, Hawera
#8 - £15 - George Norgate, A.C. Force, Waihi
#9 - £15 - A. Young
#10 - £25 - Kenneth Fraser
#19 - £12 - A. Young
BLOCK XVIII
#1 - £ 28 - Robert F. Holden, contractor, Stratford
#2 - £25 - George McLean
#3 - £20 - G.V. Bate, Hawera
#4 - £23 - F. Searling, carpenter, Carlyle
#6 - £28 - C.S.Curtis, storekeeper, Stratford
#7 - £30 .. AND ..
#8 - £41 - W.H.E. Wanklyn, Hawera
#9 - £59 - Albert R. Langley, settler, Normanby
#10 - £85 .. AND ..
#11 - £65 - Thomas Lloyd, Hawera
#12 - £16 - Joseph F. Pease, Hawera
#18 - £12 - H.R. Parrington, solicitor, Hawera
#14 - £13 - George McLean
#15 - £13 - F. Searling
#16 - £14 - Martin Bolger, settler, Manaia
#17 - £15 - C.S. Curtis
#18 - £13 - Thomas Whelan
#20 - £17 - A.R. Langley
#21 - £33 .. AND ..
#22 - £32 - ?. Taylor
BLOCK XIX
#1 - £75 - Patrick Healy, hotelkeeper, Ross, Westland
#2 - £51 - John Gilmour
#3 - £41 - Patrick Healy
#4 - £38 - Newton King, Auctioneer, New Plymouth
#5 - £36 - E. Pulford
#6 - £31 - William Shearer
#8 - £29 - John Manson
#9 - £27 - Henry Sinclair, carpenter, Hawera
#10 - £27 - John Patterson
#11 - £31 .. AND ..
#12 - £31 - James Linton
#14 - £ 12 - R. Dingle, Hawera
#15 - £12 - Newton King
#16 - £17 - E. Pulford
#17 - £15 - C.W. Broadbent, Hawera
#18 - £12 - R.H. Wilson, storeman, New Plymouth
#19 - £13 - Cornelius Casey, settler, Normanby
#20 - £14 .. AND ..
#21 £16 - John Patterson
#22 - £30 - Charles Days, boatbuilder, Oamaru
BLOCK XX
#1 - £27 - James Linton
#2 - £19 - J.C. Yorke, settler, Hawera
#3 - £16 - H.R. Parrington
#4 - £16 - R.A. Aams
#5 - £16 - H.B. Cockburn, blacksmith, Hawera
#6 - £13 - J. Davison, storekeeper, Hawera
#7 - £13 - T. Twigg, settler, Hawera
#8 - £15 - George Glenn
#10 - £16 - E.H. Thompson
#11 - £29 - Charles Days
#13 - £12 - J.C. Yorke
#14 - £14 - H.R. Parrington
#15 - £14 - R.A. Adams
#16 - £12 - W.M. Thomson, auctioneer, Hawera
#18 - £10 - Thomas Twigg
#19 - £12 .. AND ..
#20 - £10 .. AND ..
#21 - £10 .. AND ..
#22 - £12 - George Glenn
MANAIA SUBURBAN SECTIONS - price PER ACRE
each person bought around 5 acres, give or take 2 roods
#57 - £12 4s - T. Mann
#58 - £12 4s - Freeman R. Jackson, auctioneer, Wanganui
#72 - £19 5s - William Box, Rosy Creek, Waimote Plains
#73 - £12 5s - Alexander Sutherland, Wellington
#79 - £15 - J. Burton, brewer, Hawera
#80 - £13 - P. Healy, hotelkeeper, Ross, Westland
#81 - £12 - Frank McGovern
#85 - £11 - Martin Power, Hawera
#86 - £10 10s - George Glenn
#87 - £12 - John Patterson
#88 - £11 15s - John Vincent Riddle, Waihi
#89 - £15 5s - C.A. Wray, R.M., Carlyle
#90 - £12 10s - George Glenn
#99 - £12 10s - R.E. McRae, Kakaramea
#100 - £14 10s - John V. Riddle
From the HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR, dated 22nd December 1880
SALE OF MANAIA
The sale of Manaia and Opounake townships was advertised for Friday and there must have been at least 300 persons present when the sale commenced.
The townships of Manaia was first offered for sale and a large number of sections were sold, some at very high prices, those at the octagon bringing in over £80 ($11,442 in 2008)
The competition was very spirited throughout the day and the Commissioner went through the various sections at a pretty rapid rate.
When the suburban sections around Manaia were disposed of, an adjournment took place and the sale of Opunake commence after lunch.
The area of nearly all the sections was about a quarter of an acre each (unless otherwise stated)
The following are the details:-
(the number of the section then price paid at auction)
* A.C. FORCE was a member of the NZ Armed Constabulary 1846-1885)
BLOCK II
#10 - £15 .. AND ..
#11 - £12 - J. Davidson, storekeeper, Hawera
#22 - £10 - F. McGuire
BLOCK III
#1 - £15 .. AND ..
#10 - £15
#11 - £12 - William Hackett, A.C. Force, Manaia
BLOCK VI
#6 - £10 - John Meikle, carpenter, Hawera
#10 - £15 - C.A. Wray (for Church of England)
#11 - £12 - J. Linton
#20 - £12 - Timothy O`Brien, A.C. Force, Manaia
#22 - £18 - M. Byrne, Manutahi
BLOCK VII
#1 - £15 - P. B. Cahill
#4 - £10 - Right Rev Dr. Redwood (for Roman Catholic Church)
#12 - £12 - M.D. King (for Wesleyan Church)
#13 - £18 - Charles O. Hawke, A.C. Force, Waihi
BLOCK X
#10 - £21 - Charles Days
#11 - £15 - P.B. Cahill
#12 - £15 - J. Livingston (for Presbyterian Church)
#20 - £16 .. AND ..
#21 - £17 - R.E. McRae, farmer, Kakaramea
#22 - £28 - Charles Days
BLOCK XI
#1 - £21 - George Parmenter, laborer, Hawera
#3 - £15 - James Thomson, Waihi
#10 - £12 - R.A. Adams
#12 - £21 - James Nicoll, tinsmith, New Plymouth
#13 - £31 - George Newsham Curtis, storekeeper, Stratford
#14 - £25 - George McLean, farmer, Hawera
#15 - £18 - John Gilmour, storekeeper, New Plymouth
#16 - £14 - Benjamin Vickery, labourer, Wanganui
#17 - £16 - Henry Sinclair, carpenter, Hawera
#20 - £13 - Benjamin Vickery
#21 - £15 - R.A. Adams, draper, Carlyle (now Patea)
#22 - £18 - John Gilmour
BLOCK XIII
#2 - £10 - Hearn & Kennedy, Kakaramea
#9 - £13 - Patrick Tarrant, ploughman, Hawera
#10 - £17 - P.B. Cahill, Hawera
#11 - £17 - James Linton, Mayor of Palmerston North
#12 - £15 .. AND ..
#13 - £15 - A. Young, farmer, Manutahi
#14 - £15 - E. Pulford, storekeeper, Hawera
#15 - £15 - William Shearer, settler, Hawera
- (if you have ANY further information on William, at the above link, please leave a comment)
#17 - £16 - George Parmenter
#18 - £15 - E. Pulford
#19 - £17 - Michael Bourke, cooper, Carlyle
#20 - £31 - Charles Days
BLOCK XIV
#1 - £15
#2 - £13 - George Lgenn, Greymouth
#4 - £14 - G.T. Potto, saddler, Carlyle
#5 - £13 - A. Young
#6 - £14 - John Gilmour
#7 - £15 - H. Honeyfield, settler, New Plymouth
#8 - £16 - James Nicoll
#13 - £21 - G.N. Curtis
#15 - £24 - John Manson, draper, Hokitika
#16 - £27 - A. Young
#17 - £34 - John Gilmour
#18 - £36 - H. Honeyfield
#19 - £37 - James Nicoll
BLOCK XV
#1 - £33 .. AND ..
#2 - £36 - J. Milroy, settler, Carlyle
#3 - £18 - George McLean
#4 - £14 - J. Barleyman, solicitor, Hawera
#5 - £15 - John E.W. Honeywill
#7 - £15 .. AND ..
#8 - £16 - Daniel Leitch, settler, Hawera
#9 - £16 .. AND ..
#10 - £18 .. AND ..
#11 - £20 - John Patterson, settler, Hawera
#12 - £81 .. AND ..
#13 - £86 - J. Milroy, Carlyle
#14 - £47 - Jacob Meuli, saddler, Hawera
#15 - £41 - J. Barleyman
#16 - £40 - R.A. Adams
#17 - £37 - G.T. Potto
#18 - £85 - T.M.J. Sheahy, spinster, Palmerston North
#19 - £80 ($11,442 in 2008) - William Shearer
#20 - £80 - Daniel Leitch
#21 - £85 - John Henderson, saddler, Hawera
BLOCK XVI
#1 - £15 - Benjamin Vickery
#3 - £12 - Charles Jamieson, A.C. Force, Manaia
#12 - £29 - H. Owen, commercial traveller
#13 - £24 - Thomas Broadrick, settler, New Plymouth
#14 - £21 - Frank McGovern, laborer, Carlyle
#15 - £17 - Jeremiah Sheshan, farmer, Whenuakura
#17 - £13 - Martin Power, settler, Hawera
#18 - £18 - J. Mouri
#19 - £18 - P. McLoughlin, Carlyle
#20 - £14 - E.H. Thompson, A.C. Force, Manaia
#21 - £17 - P.B. Cahill
#22 - £80 - Thomas Broadrick
BLOCK XVII
#2 - £12 - Arthur J. Knyvett, Maxwelltown
#4 = £12 - W. Cowern
#5 - £12 - George Glenn
#6 - £15 - J. Tingey, painter, Hawera
#8 - £15 - George Norgate, A.C. Force, Waihi
#9 - £15 - A. Young
#10 - £25 - Kenneth Fraser
#19 - £12 - A. Young
BLOCK XVIII
#1 - £ 28 - Robert F. Holden, contractor, Stratford
#2 - £25 - George McLean
#3 - £20 - G.V. Bate, Hawera
#4 - £23 - F. Searling, carpenter, Carlyle
#6 - £28 - C.S.Curtis, storekeeper, Stratford
#7 - £30 .. AND ..
#8 - £41 - W.H.E. Wanklyn, Hawera
#9 - £59 - Albert R. Langley, settler, Normanby
#10 - £85 .. AND ..
#11 - £65 - Thomas Lloyd, Hawera
#12 - £16 - Joseph F. Pease, Hawera
#18 - £12 - H.R. Parrington, solicitor, Hawera
#14 - £13 - George McLean
#15 - £13 - F. Searling
#16 - £14 - Martin Bolger, settler, Manaia
#17 - £15 - C.S. Curtis
#18 - £13 - Thomas Whelan
#20 - £17 - A.R. Langley
#21 - £33 .. AND ..
#22 - £32 - ?. Taylor
BLOCK XIX
#1 - £75 - Patrick Healy, hotelkeeper, Ross, Westland
#2 - £51 - John Gilmour
#3 - £41 - Patrick Healy
#4 - £38 - Newton King, Auctioneer, New Plymouth
#5 - £36 - E. Pulford
#6 - £31 - William Shearer
#8 - £29 - John Manson
#9 - £27 - Henry Sinclair, carpenter, Hawera
#10 - £27 - John Patterson
#11 - £31 .. AND ..
#12 - £31 - James Linton
#14 - £ 12 - R. Dingle, Hawera
#15 - £12 - Newton King
#16 - £17 - E. Pulford
#17 - £15 - C.W. Broadbent, Hawera
#18 - £12 - R.H. Wilson, storeman, New Plymouth
#19 - £13 - Cornelius Casey, settler, Normanby
#20 - £14 .. AND ..
#21 £16 - John Patterson
#22 - £30 - Charles Days, boatbuilder, Oamaru
BLOCK XX
#1 - £27 - James Linton
#2 - £19 - J.C. Yorke, settler, Hawera
#3 - £16 - H.R. Parrington
#4 - £16 - R.A. Aams
#5 - £16 - H.B. Cockburn, blacksmith, Hawera
#6 - £13 - J. Davison, storekeeper, Hawera
#7 - £13 - T. Twigg, settler, Hawera
#8 - £15 - George Glenn
#10 - £16 - E.H. Thompson
#11 - £29 - Charles Days
#13 - £12 - J.C. Yorke
#14 - £14 - H.R. Parrington
#15 - £14 - R.A. Adams
#16 - £12 - W.M. Thomson, auctioneer, Hawera
#18 - £10 - Thomas Twigg
#19 - £12 .. AND ..
#20 - £10 .. AND ..
#21 - £10 .. AND ..
#22 - £12 - George Glenn
MANAIA SUBURBAN SECTIONS - price PER ACRE
each person bought around 5 acres, give or take 2 roods
#57 - £12 4s - T. Mann
#58 - £12 4s - Freeman R. Jackson, auctioneer, Wanganui
#72 - £19 5s - William Box, Rosy Creek, Waimote Plains
#73 - £12 5s - Alexander Sutherland, Wellington
#79 - £15 - J. Burton, brewer, Hawera
#80 - £13 - P. Healy, hotelkeeper, Ross, Westland
#81 - £12 - Frank McGovern
#85 - £11 - Martin Power, Hawera
#86 - £10 10s - George Glenn
#87 - £12 - John Patterson
#88 - £11 15s - John Vincent Riddle, Waihi
#89 - £15 5s - C.A. Wray, R.M., Carlyle
#90 - £12 10s - George Glenn
#99 - £12 10s - R.E. McRae, Kakaramea
#100 - £14 10s - John V. Riddle
Saturday, August 29
Saturday, August 15
Whitebait in decline
Whitebait stand prices remain high even as the numbers of the little fish seem to decline and the Department of Conservation wants catches limited.
The whitebait season opens today with a conservation request from the department. DOC staff monitoring streams and rivers with historical records of adult whitebait had found the tasty fish were no longer present in many of those waterways.
DOC freshwater fish expert Jane Goodman said water removal, pollution, wetland drainage, introduced pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation all threatened the long-term survival of whitebait species.
"Inanga are the most common species, but whitebaiters may also capture the young of giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, koaro and banded kokopu depending on which river they are fishing in. Giant kokopu and shortjaw kokopu are threatened species," she said.
Earlier this month whitebait stands on the Mokau and Awakino rivers were advertised for prices ranging between $4000-$10,000.
Stands cost, on average, about $500 to build and had been available for $1000 just a few years ago.
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 15/08/2009
The whitebait season opens today with a conservation request from the department. DOC staff monitoring streams and rivers with historical records of adult whitebait had found the tasty fish were no longer present in many of those waterways.
DOC freshwater fish expert Jane Goodman said water removal, pollution, wetland drainage, introduced pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation all threatened the long-term survival of whitebait species.
"Inanga are the most common species, but whitebaiters may also capture the young of giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, koaro and banded kokopu depending on which river they are fishing in. Giant kokopu and shortjaw kokopu are threatened species," she said.
Earlier this month whitebait stands on the Mokau and Awakino rivers were advertised for prices ranging between $4000-$10,000.
Stands cost, on average, about $500 to build and had been available for $1000 just a few years ago.
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 15/08/2009
Movie not so magic for cafe
One of the great ironies of Hawera's honeymoon with the Predicament movie makers is that the town's only business to have adopted the Ron Morrieson name is not benefiting from the association.
Owners Tina-Marie and Adrian Kahupukoro put the Morrieson's Cafe and Bar lease on the market only a few months before the movie company arrived. After two tough years they are disillusioned and want out.
News of the movie being filmed in South Taranaki was viewed with relief by the owners of the Victoria St premises, which has the only exhibition of Morrieson artefacts.
But Mrs Kahupukoro says she is "quite disappointed that there is no obvious spinoff coming in the door.
"When they first arrived in town a few movie people came in, but I think more out of curiosity to see what was inside. Maybe they'd heard something.
"They are very busy people and I think they tend to patronise the bars and cafes closer to the production centre.
"Morrieson's might as well have a different name for all it's doing for us; it might even be the wrong name."
The couple did not buy it because of the name, more for its location and British pub-style decor and atmosphere.
"Although we have our regulars and curious out-of-towners, we don't really get the support from the locals and maybe they won't appreciate it until it's gone. Because that could easily happen if it sells."
She says she was heartened "by a wise old man telling me: `People always come back to what they know'.
"I don't want to come out as a negative person but being realistic, I don't think the locals give a rat's arse about the Morrieson thing," she said.
"And this is the only place you can see what's left of him."
She has her own predicament: "I've thought about changing the name and theme, but then I think maybe it does help bring people in. You can't easily measure it."
What's in there is essentially everything that was salvaged from the 1993 demolition of the Morrieson house at 1 Regent St (apart from the attic that was taken off by crane and relocated to retired builder Robert Surgenor's paddock): Doors, the staircase, the fireplace, the matched lining on the bar front, the bookshelves and books, and a hand-painted montage by Tim Chadwick.
There's also a Morrieson's author board for signatures, with a lot of empty space.
Round the walls are snaps of Ron, bits of his dance band sheet music (Heart of My Heart; Abba Dabba Honeymoon, Brush Those Tears), and big original paintings by local sign-writer Rongo Kira of the covers of Predicament and The Scarecrow.
"I think locals take what we've got for granted," Mrs Kahupukoro said.
"That's how we lost Morrieson's house to a KFC." Tough times for Morrieson's owners
By RICHARD WOODD - Taranaki
Owners Tina-Marie and Adrian Kahupukoro put the Morrieson's Cafe and Bar lease on the market only a few months before the movie company arrived. After two tough years they are disillusioned and want out.
News of the movie being filmed in South Taranaki was viewed with relief by the owners of the Victoria St premises, which has the only exhibition of Morrieson artefacts.
But Mrs Kahupukoro says she is "quite disappointed that there is no obvious spinoff coming in the door.
"When they first arrived in town a few movie people came in, but I think more out of curiosity to see what was inside. Maybe they'd heard something.
"They are very busy people and I think they tend to patronise the bars and cafes closer to the production centre.
"Morrieson's might as well have a different name for all it's doing for us; it might even be the wrong name."
The couple did not buy it because of the name, more for its location and British pub-style decor and atmosphere.
"Although we have our regulars and curious out-of-towners, we don't really get the support from the locals and maybe they won't appreciate it until it's gone. Because that could easily happen if it sells."
She says she was heartened "by a wise old man telling me: `People always come back to what they know'.
"I don't want to come out as a negative person but being realistic, I don't think the locals give a rat's arse about the Morrieson thing," she said.
"And this is the only place you can see what's left of him."
She has her own predicament: "I've thought about changing the name and theme, but then I think maybe it does help bring people in. You can't easily measure it."
What's in there is essentially everything that was salvaged from the 1993 demolition of the Morrieson house at 1 Regent St (apart from the attic that was taken off by crane and relocated to retired builder Robert Surgenor's paddock): Doors, the staircase, the fireplace, the matched lining on the bar front, the bookshelves and books, and a hand-painted montage by Tim Chadwick.
There's also a Morrieson's author board for signatures, with a lot of empty space.
Round the walls are snaps of Ron, bits of his dance band sheet music (Heart of My Heart; Abba Dabba Honeymoon, Brush Those Tears), and big original paintings by local sign-writer Rongo Kira of the covers of Predicament and The Scarecrow.
"I think locals take what we've got for granted," Mrs Kahupukoro said.
"That's how we lost Morrieson's house to a KFC." Tough times for Morrieson's owners
By RICHARD WOODD - Taranaki
Tuesday, August 11
Kai with soul
In Spotswood College's food and nutrition classes, Katy Power teaches her students that the key to cooking great-tasting, nutritious meals day after day is to keep it simple. In Kai with Soul, Katy and her students let you in on how easy cooking for a family can be.
Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 12:17 04/08/2009
MARK DWYER
Sam Askew, 17, and Lauren Yule, 17, cook up Surfcaster Fish Pie.
KAI2
MARK DWYER
Surfcaster Fish Pie.
KAI3
MARK DWYER
Lunchbox Lemon Muffins
KAI4
MARK DWYER
Home-Made Lemon Juice
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Food & Drink
Learn to make sausage Southern star shines bright Inseason Fresh idea: Onions Kai with Soul How dare they dis our wine Inseason: Lemons Kai with Soul Balancing act A cool afternoon coffee
The talk in the food industry last week was about pies, after the annual national pie contest was fiercely contested. We decided to take on the challenge of making the perfect fish pie. This one has no pastry or red meat, but has survived the test of time to become an ever-popular family lunch or dinner dish.
A base of mashed potato and cheesy breadcrumb topping replaces the pastry, while the filling is a mixture of fish, boiled eggs and white sauce.
The fish can be fresh, smoked or canned and all are suitable. Since we used smoked cod, which has a strong flavour, only 300g was needed. The selection and availability of fish is varied and plentiful from local supermarkets and fish suppliers, so choose a variety that looks and smells fresh and suits your taste and budget. A 425-gram can of tuna from the pantry is also great to make into a pie when unexpected visitors turn up at mealtimes.
A pie with fresh fish will need to bake for 10 minutes longer than smoked or canned fish and some will need to have skin and bones removed first. Fresh fish needs to be cut into bite-size chunks while smoked fish needs to be flaked because of its strong flavour.
Fish pie is great for using leftover vegetables and mashed potatoes sitting in the fridge.
We mashed our potatoes with olive oil and some potato stock water (the water that the potatoes were cooked in). This adds extra vitamin C to the mash and the olive oil is an unsaturated fat and better for you than the saturated fat found in butter and other dairy products.
Layer the base of the oven dish with mashed potato, then the pre-cooked peas and chopped, hard-boiled eggs. Pour the white sauce and flaked fish over and lastly the cheese and breadcrumb topping.
Serve the fish pie for lunch or dinner and with salad or extra vegetables, such as pumpkin and broccoli. For hungry teenagers, you may wish to include a fresh bread bun or slice of wholemeal bread to soak up the tasty sauce.
Next on our list are Lunchbox Lemon Muffins and Homemade Lemon Juice. Both are great recipes to boost vitamin C in the diet the natural way - through food and drink. They are simple and quick to prepare and make excellent use of backyard lemon trees that are loaded at this time of the year. Make the muffins in paper cases so they can be easily packed in lunchboxes and look appealing to hungry students.
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The lemon drink can be served both hot or cold. Add more or less lemon juice and sugar to suit your family's tastebuds. No additives or preservatives have been added to this drink, so it needs to be refrigerated if not consumed on the day. Keep in a covered jug to prevent fridge odours from tainting the juice.
Enjoy these recipes and remember that fish is a valuable source of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fats. If the weather is fine and calm this weekend, teach your children and teenagers how to fish. Take a stroll along the port and observe the experts (some are very young). It is a peaceful and rewarding family activity.
Breathe in the fresh air, take in the vitamin D from the sun and maybe catch a fish. Life is great in the 'Naki!
* By Katy Power and the Year 13 Food and Nutrition class.
Surfcaster Fish Pie
Serves 4-6
3 cups mashed potato
40g butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
pinch of salt
shake of black pepper
1-2 Tbsp parsley - finely chopped
3 hard-boiled eggs - chopped
400-500g smoked fish, flaked into small pieces, or 400g fresh fish, cut into small chunks, or a 425g can of fish, drained and flaked
1 cup peas precooked in microwave or a saucepan
2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
1/2 cup cheese - grated
1/ Prepare approximately 3 cups of mashed potato (see separate recipe).
2/ Place the eggs into a small saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, cool slightly, peel and chop into pieces.
4/ Melt the butter on low heat in a medium-size saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes on low heat until the mixture becomes frothy.
5/ Remove from the heat and add the milk slowly while stirring. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
6/ Remove the white sauce from the heat and stir in the flaked fish and chopped parsley. Season with a pinch of salt and shake of black pepper.
7/ Line the bottom of a 20cm oven dish with the mashed potato.
8/ Place the chopped boiled eggs and pre-cooked peas over the potato layer.
9/ Pour the fish sauce evenly over the top.
10/ Mix the breadcrumbs and grated cheese together in a small bowl or measuring cup. Sprinkle over the fish sauce.
11/ Place into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked and the topping is lightly golden.
12/ Remove from the oven and serve with vegetables or salad and a few wedges of tomato.
Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Makes 3 cups
1kg potatoes (4-5)
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp - 1/4 cup milk
1/ Scrub or peel the potatoes. Cut into 2cm chunks and add to a large saucepan of boiling water. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 12 minutes until the potatoes are soft. (Check with a paring knife.)
2/ Drain most of the liquid from the potatoes. Add the olive oil and a pinch of salt and shake of pepper.
3/ Mash until smooth and creamy. Add a little extra milk if the potato mash is too dry.
Lunchbox Lemon Muffins
Makes 12
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
lemon rind - grated - from 1 large or 2 medium-sized lemons
75g butter - melted
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/ Preheat the oven to 200[Degree] bake function.
2/ Place 12 medium-size paper cases into a muffin tray and lightly spray each one or spray the muffin tray if not using paper cases.
3/ Sift the flour, baking powder and first measure of sugar into a large bowl.
4/ Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat.
5/ Whisk the egg and milk together in a small bowl.
6/ Wash the lemon and grate the rind (outer skin) using the fine side on the grater. Stir into the flour mixture.
7/ Add the melted butter and egg/ milk mixture to the flour mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Don't over mix.
8/ Spoon the mixture evenly into the 12 muffin cases.
9/ Bake at 200[Degree] for 10-12 minutes until they are lightly golden and cooked. Test by pressing lightly down on a muffin and it should spring back up.
10/ While the muffins are baking, mix the lemon juice and second measure of sugar together in a cup.
11/ Remove muffins from the oven when done and immediately spoon the syrup over the hot muffins. Leave to cool.
Home- Made Lemon Juice
Makes about 1 1/2 litres
3-4 medium size lemons
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 litres water
1/ Dissolve the sugar in 2 cups of warm water in a large jug. Replace some of the sugar with honey if preferred.
2/ Cut the lemons in half and use a lemon juicer to squeeze the juice from the lemons.
3/ Pour juice into the jug, straining out any seeds, and add remainder of water (hot or cold).
4/ Stir for 1 minute to combine flavours.
5/ Drink warm or chill juice in the fridge before serving.
Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 12:17 04/08/2009
MARK DWYER
Sam Askew, 17, and Lauren Yule, 17, cook up Surfcaster Fish Pie.
KAI2
MARK DWYER
Surfcaster Fish Pie.
KAI3
MARK DWYER
Lunchbox Lemon Muffins
KAI4
MARK DWYER
Home-Made Lemon Juice
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The talk in the food industry last week was about pies, after the annual national pie contest was fiercely contested. We decided to take on the challenge of making the perfect fish pie. This one has no pastry or red meat, but has survived the test of time to become an ever-popular family lunch or dinner dish.
A base of mashed potato and cheesy breadcrumb topping replaces the pastry, while the filling is a mixture of fish, boiled eggs and white sauce.
The fish can be fresh, smoked or canned and all are suitable. Since we used smoked cod, which has a strong flavour, only 300g was needed. The selection and availability of fish is varied and plentiful from local supermarkets and fish suppliers, so choose a variety that looks and smells fresh and suits your taste and budget. A 425-gram can of tuna from the pantry is also great to make into a pie when unexpected visitors turn up at mealtimes.
A pie with fresh fish will need to bake for 10 minutes longer than smoked or canned fish and some will need to have skin and bones removed first. Fresh fish needs to be cut into bite-size chunks while smoked fish needs to be flaked because of its strong flavour.
Fish pie is great for using leftover vegetables and mashed potatoes sitting in the fridge.
We mashed our potatoes with olive oil and some potato stock water (the water that the potatoes were cooked in). This adds extra vitamin C to the mash and the olive oil is an unsaturated fat and better for you than the saturated fat found in butter and other dairy products.
Layer the base of the oven dish with mashed potato, then the pre-cooked peas and chopped, hard-boiled eggs. Pour the white sauce and flaked fish over and lastly the cheese and breadcrumb topping.
Serve the fish pie for lunch or dinner and with salad or extra vegetables, such as pumpkin and broccoli. For hungry teenagers, you may wish to include a fresh bread bun or slice of wholemeal bread to soak up the tasty sauce.
Next on our list are Lunchbox Lemon Muffins and Homemade Lemon Juice. Both are great recipes to boost vitamin C in the diet the natural way - through food and drink. They are simple and quick to prepare and make excellent use of backyard lemon trees that are loaded at this time of the year. Make the muffins in paper cases so they can be easily packed in lunchboxes and look appealing to hungry students.
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The lemon drink can be served both hot or cold. Add more or less lemon juice and sugar to suit your family's tastebuds. No additives or preservatives have been added to this drink, so it needs to be refrigerated if not consumed on the day. Keep in a covered jug to prevent fridge odours from tainting the juice.
Enjoy these recipes and remember that fish is a valuable source of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fats. If the weather is fine and calm this weekend, teach your children and teenagers how to fish. Take a stroll along the port and observe the experts (some are very young). It is a peaceful and rewarding family activity.
Breathe in the fresh air, take in the vitamin D from the sun and maybe catch a fish. Life is great in the 'Naki!
* By Katy Power and the Year 13 Food and Nutrition class.
Surfcaster Fish Pie
Serves 4-6
3 cups mashed potato
40g butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
pinch of salt
shake of black pepper
1-2 Tbsp parsley - finely chopped
3 hard-boiled eggs - chopped
400-500g smoked fish, flaked into small pieces, or 400g fresh fish, cut into small chunks, or a 425g can of fish, drained and flaked
1 cup peas precooked in microwave or a saucepan
2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
1/2 cup cheese - grated
1/ Prepare approximately 3 cups of mashed potato (see separate recipe).
2/ Place the eggs into a small saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, cool slightly, peel and chop into pieces.
4/ Melt the butter on low heat in a medium-size saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes on low heat until the mixture becomes frothy.
5/ Remove from the heat and add the milk slowly while stirring. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
6/ Remove the white sauce from the heat and stir in the flaked fish and chopped parsley. Season with a pinch of salt and shake of black pepper.
7/ Line the bottom of a 20cm oven dish with the mashed potato.
8/ Place the chopped boiled eggs and pre-cooked peas over the potato layer.
9/ Pour the fish sauce evenly over the top.
10/ Mix the breadcrumbs and grated cheese together in a small bowl or measuring cup. Sprinkle over the fish sauce.
11/ Place into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked and the topping is lightly golden.
12/ Remove from the oven and serve with vegetables or salad and a few wedges of tomato.
Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Makes 3 cups
1kg potatoes (4-5)
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp - 1/4 cup milk
1/ Scrub or peel the potatoes. Cut into 2cm chunks and add to a large saucepan of boiling water. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 12 minutes until the potatoes are soft. (Check with a paring knife.)
2/ Drain most of the liquid from the potatoes. Add the olive oil and a pinch of salt and shake of pepper.
3/ Mash until smooth and creamy. Add a little extra milk if the potato mash is too dry.
Lunchbox Lemon Muffins
Makes 12
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
lemon rind - grated - from 1 large or 2 medium-sized lemons
75g butter - melted
1 large egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/ Preheat the oven to 200[Degree] bake function.
2/ Place 12 medium-size paper cases into a muffin tray and lightly spray each one or spray the muffin tray if not using paper cases.
3/ Sift the flour, baking powder and first measure of sugar into a large bowl.
4/ Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat.
5/ Whisk the egg and milk together in a small bowl.
6/ Wash the lemon and grate the rind (outer skin) using the fine side on the grater. Stir into the flour mixture.
7/ Add the melted butter and egg/ milk mixture to the flour mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined. Don't over mix.
8/ Spoon the mixture evenly into the 12 muffin cases.
9/ Bake at 200[Degree] for 10-12 minutes until they are lightly golden and cooked. Test by pressing lightly down on a muffin and it should spring back up.
10/ While the muffins are baking, mix the lemon juice and second measure of sugar together in a cup.
11/ Remove muffins from the oven when done and immediately spoon the syrup over the hot muffins. Leave to cool.
Home- Made Lemon Juice
Makes about 1 1/2 litres
3-4 medium size lemons
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 litres water
1/ Dissolve the sugar in 2 cups of warm water in a large jug. Replace some of the sugar with honey if preferred.
2/ Cut the lemons in half and use a lemon juicer to squeeze the juice from the lemons.
3/ Pour juice into the jug, straining out any seeds, and add remainder of water (hot or cold).
4/ Stir for 1 minute to combine flavours.
5/ Drink warm or chill juice in the fridge before serving.
Delivering the paper
Our Stories
By VICKI PRICE - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 11:18 08/08/2009
MARK DWYER
Days gone by: As a 10-year-old, Don Taylor earned six shillings a week delivering the Taranaki Herald.
"The Great Depression did not treat my father kindly," says Don Taylor of his Eltham upbringing.
"He earned a minimal wage, but scraped together enough pennies to buy me a bicycle in 1938. I was a 10-year-old boy and was thrilled to have wheels, in spite of the fact it was a really old boneshaker."
A bike was an essential piece of equipment if you were a 10-year-old boy wanting a paper run in 1938 and a paper run was the most desirable thing to achieve in life, says Mr Taylor, who now lives in New Plymouth. Mr Egarr, a family friend, had notified the Taylor household that a run was becoming available and Mr Taylor's father, at the time earning five pounds a week, could see the sense in a little bit of extra earning within the family, albeit just six shillings a week.
The job was arranged and now everything hinged on the acquisition of a bike. His father soon found one.
"He bought an old, painted-up, less-than-attractive, uncomfortable, second-hand machine for next to nothing," recalls Mr Taylor, "It had a fixed gear ratio suited more to an adult than a boy and featured the mandatory bell and 12-inch strip of white paint plus red reflector on the rear mudguard. The seat was as hard as a rock and the light fitting had to be continuously pulled around to face forward when being used at night. But it was a bike!"
The lad delivering the Taranaki Herald on Mr Taylor's new run had been called up to the navy, but showed Don what to do before he left. It was a 10-mile (16-kilometre) run delivering 32 newspapers six days a week and included visiting the homes on Saturday mornings to collect payment for the newspaper office. Mr Taylor collected the money and signed a card held by each customer.
"Clearly the six shillings I received was for six delivery runs and didn't include any payment for the seventh trip. That was the way it was done in those days. The newspaper company had its payments gathered at no cost to itself!"
Don's mother sewed up a sugar sack to hold the newspapers and attached a rope so it could hang over his shoulder or the handlebars of his bike. The bike's rear carrier was filled with an oilskin coat and a sou'wester (an oilskin hat) for rainy days. Don was ready for action.
After playing some after- school rugby or a quick round of marbles, Don would hurry home to enjoy the afternoon tea his mother always laid out on the bench for him before starting his paper run. The bus delivering the newspapers arrived in Eltham at 4.10pm. After the newsagent had cut the string, counted the papers and kept his share to sell over the counter, Don loaded his bike and was off, usually by 4.30.
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Traffic wasn't too great a hazard to Don, partly because he had a light on his bike, but also because there wasn't much of it in Eltham in the 1930s.
"In those days, people walked to and from work or rode their bicycles. Most, of course, couldn't afford to own a motor vehicle."
There were four customers who lived just out of town. One of these deliveries added 10 minutes to the run. But if Mr Taylor was lucky, he would catch two young ladies on their way home from work who cycled past this house to their own homes farther on, and they would deliver the paper for him.
"The customer was a parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party and I could never understand why there were never any expressions of thanks from him for a worker. He must have known that his delivery alone added quite a bit to my time and effort." Mr Taylor says.
Norm Tinney, a butcher at the local freezing works, could usually be found each afternoon on the same barstool at the Coronation Hotel. If not, Mr Taylor had to travel to his house, which was right out on the southern boundary to the town.
"In winter, an added benefit for me not having to travel to his residence came at the moment I handed him his paper. Unfailingly, he reached for the plate of hot counter lunch set out for the bar customers and offered me a piece. This was a very welcome and warming snack on the really cold days."
Each week, the six shillings was divided up into three portions: one for Scout payments, one for the Saturday matinee and the other for savings. By the end of the first year, Mr Taylor had saved enough for a deposit on the new model Phillips bicycle.
"It had a crossbar which curved under the stylishly shaped saddle and the mudguards were shaped into four ridges rather than being in a plain curve. It was painted a modern, dark shade of red and, joy of joys, the gear wheel had been designed to cope easily with cycling about town. It was easier to pedal, was more comfortable to ride and had a dynamo fitted to drive a stylishly designed front light."
A lasting impression for Mr Taylor was the pink, red, orange, gold and blue colours of the sky over Eltham as the sun sank behind Mt Taranaki. During still evenings he admired the smoke rising in tall, thin columns over the town as residents lit their coal and wood burners to cook the evening meal. Unfortunately, the smoke soon thickened and settled into a layer that blanketed the town, obliterating the beautiful sunset. But nights when the moon and stars rose clear and bright, as Don switched on his bike's headlamp to deliver his next paper, were a heavenly scene forever fixed in his memory.
By VICKI PRICE - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 11:18 08/08/2009
MARK DWYER
Days gone by: As a 10-year-old, Don Taylor earned six shillings a week delivering the Taranaki Herald.
"The Great Depression did not treat my father kindly," says Don Taylor of his Eltham upbringing.
"He earned a minimal wage, but scraped together enough pennies to buy me a bicycle in 1938. I was a 10-year-old boy and was thrilled to have wheels, in spite of the fact it was a really old boneshaker."
A bike was an essential piece of equipment if you were a 10-year-old boy wanting a paper run in 1938 and a paper run was the most desirable thing to achieve in life, says Mr Taylor, who now lives in New Plymouth. Mr Egarr, a family friend, had notified the Taylor household that a run was becoming available and Mr Taylor's father, at the time earning five pounds a week, could see the sense in a little bit of extra earning within the family, albeit just six shillings a week.
The job was arranged and now everything hinged on the acquisition of a bike. His father soon found one.
"He bought an old, painted-up, less-than-attractive, uncomfortable, second-hand machine for next to nothing," recalls Mr Taylor, "It had a fixed gear ratio suited more to an adult than a boy and featured the mandatory bell and 12-inch strip of white paint plus red reflector on the rear mudguard. The seat was as hard as a rock and the light fitting had to be continuously pulled around to face forward when being used at night. But it was a bike!"
The lad delivering the Taranaki Herald on Mr Taylor's new run had been called up to the navy, but showed Don what to do before he left. It was a 10-mile (16-kilometre) run delivering 32 newspapers six days a week and included visiting the homes on Saturday mornings to collect payment for the newspaper office. Mr Taylor collected the money and signed a card held by each customer.
"Clearly the six shillings I received was for six delivery runs and didn't include any payment for the seventh trip. That was the way it was done in those days. The newspaper company had its payments gathered at no cost to itself!"
Don's mother sewed up a sugar sack to hold the newspapers and attached a rope so it could hang over his shoulder or the handlebars of his bike. The bike's rear carrier was filled with an oilskin coat and a sou'wester (an oilskin hat) for rainy days. Don was ready for action.
After playing some after- school rugby or a quick round of marbles, Don would hurry home to enjoy the afternoon tea his mother always laid out on the bench for him before starting his paper run. The bus delivering the newspapers arrived in Eltham at 4.10pm. After the newsagent had cut the string, counted the papers and kept his share to sell over the counter, Don loaded his bike and was off, usually by 4.30.
Ad Feedback
Traffic wasn't too great a hazard to Don, partly because he had a light on his bike, but also because there wasn't much of it in Eltham in the 1930s.
"In those days, people walked to and from work or rode their bicycles. Most, of course, couldn't afford to own a motor vehicle."
There were four customers who lived just out of town. One of these deliveries added 10 minutes to the run. But if Mr Taylor was lucky, he would catch two young ladies on their way home from work who cycled past this house to their own homes farther on, and they would deliver the paper for him.
"The customer was a parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party and I could never understand why there were never any expressions of thanks from him for a worker. He must have known that his delivery alone added quite a bit to my time and effort." Mr Taylor says.
Norm Tinney, a butcher at the local freezing works, could usually be found each afternoon on the same barstool at the Coronation Hotel. If not, Mr Taylor had to travel to his house, which was right out on the southern boundary to the town.
"In winter, an added benefit for me not having to travel to his residence came at the moment I handed him his paper. Unfailingly, he reached for the plate of hot counter lunch set out for the bar customers and offered me a piece. This was a very welcome and warming snack on the really cold days."
Each week, the six shillings was divided up into three portions: one for Scout payments, one for the Saturday matinee and the other for savings. By the end of the first year, Mr Taylor had saved enough for a deposit on the new model Phillips bicycle.
"It had a crossbar which curved under the stylishly shaped saddle and the mudguards were shaped into four ridges rather than being in a plain curve. It was painted a modern, dark shade of red and, joy of joys, the gear wheel had been designed to cope easily with cycling about town. It was easier to pedal, was more comfortable to ride and had a dynamo fitted to drive a stylishly designed front light."
A lasting impression for Mr Taylor was the pink, red, orange, gold and blue colours of the sky over Eltham as the sun sank behind Mt Taranaki. During still evenings he admired the smoke rising in tall, thin columns over the town as residents lit their coal and wood burners to cook the evening meal. Unfortunately, the smoke soon thickened and settled into a layer that blanketed the town, obliterating the beautiful sunset. But nights when the moon and stars rose clear and bright, as Don switched on his bike's headlamp to deliver his next paper, were a heavenly scene forever fixed in his memory.
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