Milk Delivery 1920s

During the 1920’s Tweedie Bros. started dairy farming on Raupare Road., near Hastings.  The milk and cream was taken into Hastings each day by horse and cart and sold door-to-door by my father Jim.  Later they purchased a motor driven delivery van that was the first in the district.  About 1929 Uncle Bob took over the door-to-door run from my father.

Just after the 1931 earthquake, Mr. Munro [Rush Munro] approached dad and asked him if Tweedie Bros. would supply cream to his new premises in Heretaunga St. West.  His original shop near the present Embassy Court had been destroyed in the earthquake.

As a child I accompanied my father or my Uncle Hugh on many trips from the farm into Rush Munros with the cream.  The farm truck we used had no doors and travelled very slowly over the shingle roads.  Sometimes I was allowed to steer or even drive when we got near home.  Once dad came out of the shop to find the local traffic officer on his hands and knees beside the truck.  Dad asked him if he had lost something and in return was told to get a new muffler without delay.

Rush Munros, to me, was unique and exotic.  I could watch the gold fish in the pond or look for frogs on the lillypads and if it was a hot day, drink from the drinking fountain nearby.  I can still hear the sound of metal on concrete as dad revolved the cans, hand over hand, into the shop and chairs scraping on the concrete as customers arrived and departed.  So many flavour to chose from.  I never did get past passionfruit.

In recent years, on “granny day out”, I’ve taken my grandchildren to Rush Munros.  They also have enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes, but at a price.  They have had to listen again and again to granny reminiscing about her visits to Rush Munros when Tweedie Bros. delivered the cream.