My Story: The Private Memoirs of Frank Bannerman Logan (1884 – 1981)

Cover Image
Frank Logan fishing for trout off Fan Rock, Whakaipo Bay, Lake Taupo looking towards Whangamata Bluffs (date unknown).  Image source: Hamilton Logan. There were no details on the back of the framed enlarged photo as to the location. Michael Drake (Lake Taupo Historian) and Tonya Dunn (Taupo District Libraries and Museum) are gratefully acknowledged for their assistance with identification of the location.

Published by Hamilton Logan & Stu Webster.
This edition published 2023.
© Hamilton Logan & Stu Webster
The moral right of the authors is asserted

Edited, designed and typset by Stu Webster

Printed in New Zealand by Benefitz Advertising Limited.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights of copyright above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owners and the publishers of this book. ISBN 978-0-473-68045-9

Frank Logan became a director of Williams & Kettle in 1940 and was chairman from 1958 to 1963. The date of this photograph is not known but it’s likely to have been taken when FB was in his 50’s (namely 1934 to 1944). Image source: Len Anderson, Throughout the East Coast: The Story of Williams and Kettle Limited, Pictorial Publications, Hastings, 1974, p121.

Studio photograph of Frank Logan taken in 1952 when he was 68 years old. Image source: Hamilton Logan.

CONTENTS

Forward by Hamilton Logan   1
Introduction by Stu Webster   3
My Story – The Private Memoirs of Frank Bannerman Logan (1884-1968)   17
Biographical Notes   315
Supplementary Material   331
Napier 1981   332
Hawke’s Bay Earthquake   334
Conversations with Hamilton Logan   338
Glossary of Names   344
List of Important Stations   387
Acknowledgements   391
Bibliography   392
Index   393
A Note About the Authors/Publishers   447

1

FORWARD

HAMILTON LOGAN

I was the youngest of Frank and Dorothy’s six children. Being the baby of the family is not all bad news. It does have its fringe benefits and I was fortunate enough to have the love of my five older siblings. A situation that went on for the rest of my life which led to me having a very good relationship with my family. The other benefit was living at home with my parents until I was 24. I was at home most of the time except when I was away boarding at school for 8 years. But I was at home for some of the crucial and devastating years of the Second World War.

I was fortunate to have parents that were both well-read and intelligent and they discussed many aspects of their own life with me which gave me a great insight to the upbringing and lives of my parents. Many of the names that appear in my father’s diaries are people that I have heard of through them. Many of them I have met. Because of my age I was not known to them. And having a memory of most things that happened in my life since the early Depression years I have a very good recall of the people I have spoken about in this publication of my father’s memoirs.

My father was a very wise and meticulous man. I was very lucky to have spent so much time with him because I learnt a great deal of things that were of inestimable benefit to me in the life I was about to lead. I can never thank him enough for this. He was also a very caring person and I can well remember when I was young, during the Depression Years in the early 1930s, the many people who came to him for help and the many people he was able to give advice to.

Although he was blessed with a very good memory and quick recall he still meticulously documented most things that happened in his life and for that we are all very grateful because the diaries he wrote from 1908 covered a very interesting time of the growth and development of NZ.

I can remember when he was writing these diaries he used to do that every night straight after dinner so, if we was late to dinner, he was late writing up his diaries. But it was always done absolutely meticulously to the day.

When he arrived in his 80s he decided that, with the diaries in the form that they were in, they would not be widely read or of very much use to people because interested readers would not wade through copious numbers of diaries to find what they were looking for. So he decided to condense his diaries and this he did for many years all in long hand with his favourite fountain pen that he inherited from his father Francis who died in 1933.

I can remember when I used to visit my father in Napier he would assiduously be going through his diaries and writing up his memoirs. He usually had a series of questions to ask me and these questions were usually written on the back of a business envelope. He seldom used a clean page to write down notes. He witnessed some very difficult and challenging times in his early farming years and it developed a mindset of never having to waste anything if you don’t have to.

When he’d got a distance through his memoirs he asked Annie Whyte, who was Jim Zohrab’s secretary, [1] if she would write them up for him.

Annie was devoted to my father and immediately agreed. She did it on a script typewriter that I brought back from Australia in the 1960’s. I think she made an extremely good

1   Jim Zohrab was a partner of Sainsbury Logan & Williams, Solicitors, Napier from 1961 to 1994.

2

job of it with very few mistakes and I know only too well that at times she had difficulty in deciphering his handwriting. These diaries would have never come to the light of day had she not done this because it would have been too cumbersome of an operation for people to research.

And it is true to say that this publication would have never been in the form that it is now had it not been for the energy and enthusiasm of Stu Webster ably assisted by Michael Fowler who has a very extensive knowledge of the Hawke’s Bay area. On behalf of the Frank Logan family I would like to sincerely thank these two gentlemen for the work and passion they’ve put in and I would also like to thank my father for his legacy.

Hamilton Logan
Havelock North
June 2023

3

INTRODUCTION

STU WEBSTER

The final sentence Frank Bannerman Logan wrote in his memoirs encapsulates everything that is significant about this work:

The time now appears appropriate to bring ‘My Story’ to its close for I am 84 and 70 years of diaries have been condensed. ‘My Story’ is somewhat carelessly written and there is much repetition but when I undertook the task time did not appear to be on my side. It was a strange experience to journey through one’s life again – naturally sadness and disappointment showed up from time to time but on the whole happiness abounded. [Emphasis Added]

Frank (affectionately referred to here and throughout this work as “FB”) completed his memoirs in April 1968. The words appearing in bold are addressed shortly below. However, the journey to that point is important for context.

I met FB’s youngest son Hamilton [2] for the first time when I was researching a book that I was writing that touched on his family. [3] Hamilton was extraordinarily generous with his time and was a mindful and careful guardian of photographic images and memorabilia (I like to refer to as “Logan taonga”) [4] that he willingly shared.

One day whilst sifting through the panoply of historical material Hamilton shared with me, two green foolscap folders emerged. Each contained pages and pages of closely typed italicized manual typewriting representing a condensed version of 70 years of handwritten journals and personal memory. Over 235,000 words in all. [5] And it had never been published. Sadly, only a few of the more than 70 journals exist. But there is a convincing “Logan” reason for that. [6]

Photo caption – The two green ring binders containing 278 foolscap pages of closely typed italicized manuscript. Image source: Stu Webster.

2   Hamilton Stopford Logan or “Boy” as FB refers to him, was born 21 November 1924 and turns 99 this year.
3   Webster, Stuart Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, Sainsbury Logan & Williams, Napier, 2011
4   The Logan taonga includes items such as Francis Logan’s fountain pen that FB inherited from his father Francis and used to write up his diaries; a silver school medallion Mente Manuque (Latin for “by brain and hand” or its popular English translation “with all thy getting, get understanding by brains and hard work”) from Bedfordshire Middle Class Public School that FB’s father was given when attending school in Newcastle-on-Tyne; a bound volume of Testimonials and Letters; Francis’ Cambridge degree and his English Practising Certificate together with hundreds of priceless photographs lovingly preserved. For further examples see Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 Chapter Two, page 37ff.
5   By comparison Tolstoy’s two-volume War and Peace runs to a modest 600,000 words; James Joyce’s Ulysses at 265,000 words; Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring is a paltry 188,000 words; John Irving is closest with his work A Prayer for Owen Meany at 236,061 words.
6   Hamilton tells me that there was no need to drag around that many volumes of handwritten journals when the task of condensing them had been completed. Only three are known to exist. One is the New Zealand Rough Diary (see next page) which covers the year 1931, including the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake. There are also two Collins’ Royal Diaries for the years 1905 and 1907 (see page 8).

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It was a rich treasure trove of biographical material that accompanied me on many picnics. I would sit in the shade of a tree and read about things that happened 120 years ago in Hawke’s Bay.

In May 1966, whilst writing up the events of May 1898, FB observed:

If I continue quoting my diary my story will be more lengthy than a Scott’s Novel [7] so I shall have to curb my enthusiasm somewhat.

In fact, concerning the Biographical Notes written by him in 1970, [8] FB made it clear that none of the material was to be made available publicly for at least 20 years after his death – not as a way of hiding the salacious but to avoid embarrassing those still living because he makes some very frank observations about some notable Hawke’s Bay identities. He said: [9]

I am confining my attention to men who were born not later than 1870 so I feel safe from attack, at all events in this world.

All of his subjects would have been 100 years old or older, if still living.

With reference to the last paragraph of FB’s memoirs, why did he feel it was time to write “My Story”?

For many years I have been meaning to make use of a reasonably good memory and my diaries which I have kept since 1908, to build up for you the story of my life. It may or may not be of great interest to you, but I am quite looking forward to my task. [10]

Why did FB shun the word “memoirs” and call it “My Story”?

There is no real answer to this question except to say that he obviously preferred the title:

Photo captions –

Sample of page 79 of the manuscript which contains FB’s recollections about the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake. Image source: Stu Webster.

Image of the front cover of the New Zealand Rough Diary that FB used to record his diary notes. This particular diary is from 1931. Image source: Stu Webster.

7   Likely to be a reference to the works of Sir Walter Scott, a prolific writer, many of which, in their published form, exceeded 700 pages including the mammoth four volume Tales of a Scottish Grandfather that runs to 994 pages. Indeed, My Story did end up the length of a “Scott’s Novel” or longer!
8   See pages 13 and 315 – 330
9   Carefully noted in the inside cover of his Olympic 1B School Exercise Book as “my own personal observations only”.
10   Opening passage of My Story, April 1884

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This is my story, so enough in the meantime of those who went before. [11]

Why would he, in a self-deprecating way, describe his memoirs as “carelessly written” and containing much repetition? My “take” on this is that it’s typical self-effacing Logan humility.

How big was the “task” he set for himself?

FB started writing his memoirs on Christmas Day 1965 and it took until April 1968, some 28 months, for him to transcribe 70 journals by writing up a summary of his memoirs longhand with the fountain pen he had been given by his father Francis.

Why did FB think it strange to journey through his life again?

It’s unclear how FB would have answered that question because he doesn’t give any hint in his memoirs. However, the sheer volume of material covered, coupled with the fact it took 28 months to distil his diaries and the meticulous way he did so perhaps is reason enough to assume he, in effect, relived his life in the telling of My Story.

What sadness? What disappointment? As with anyone’s life there were set-backs through circumstance and for FB these included having to pursue a career outdoors because of his health, the consequences of the 1931 earthquake and the death of Frank and Dorothy’s eldest son Jim in World War II.

1911 certainly witnessed the turning point in my life – for it was now definite that farming was to be my part and I settled with a will to gaining all the experience I could. The last five years had been wonderfully happy ones for me – I made many friends, enjoyed life and recaptured health but they were years, up to a point, of indecision and times my Parents must have been worried about my future. However, as the years passed by, I felt I was able to make up for those years of apparent idleness – but throughout that period my Parents bestowed upon me kindness and showed patience which, at that time, was beyond understanding. In my mature years I realise that, if you can understand youth and exercise patience, you are repaying your own parents. This is my philosophy and there may be something in it. [12]

Before going any further let me tell you our greatest joy in our life at Pukekino was Jimmy, who was now in his second year. He had outgrown his trouble in early life and was now a healthy, pink-cheeked, robust little boy. To watch his development and to have his companionship meant everything to us. At this time we had a most competent nurse in old Louise and Jim was her only thought.

Photo caption – Image of Francis Logan’s well-used and handsomely inscribed fountain pen with his surname and initials on the metal band half-way down the shaft of the pen. FB was gifted the pen by his father. The pen was used by FB to write up his daily diary entries. The pen is now in Hamilton Logan’s family collection. Image source: Stu Webster

11   My Story, page 1 (April 1884)
12   My Story, March 1911

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My Parents were very devoted to their only grandson at that time and they frequently came out to Pukekino or had Jim and his nurse to stay in Napier. [13]

The incredible sadness of losing their eldest son Jim as a casualty of war in 1942 is relayed in FB’s memoirs in a very matter-of-fact, no-nonsense fashion which is incredible to think, given the gravity of the situation and enormity of the loss. His use of the phrase “poor old Jim” itself evokes such sadness, for Jim was young and had a bright future as a farmer or for that matter whatever he turned his hand to, with such supportive parents and siblings. Without taking away from that, the putting-down of Jim’s dog received almost equal billing, as did the gales that wreaked havoc late in the Spring and the Allies’ progress in the war despite it being the reason their son’s life was lost: [14]

November

Early in November a large U.S.A. task force landed at Casablanca, Oran and other ports of North Africa and a pincer operation began as our armies in Egypt began the offensive on a big scale and by the end of the month Rommell’s army was in full retreat along the coast road – altogether the situation was becoming very hopeful. Randall Kettle left us and after a week at his home he was on his way to England to join the navy. Very heavy gales struck and the windmill was wrecked.

On the 10th poor old Jim was lost in the English Channel when his bomber was brought down in an air battle off the coast of Normandie. Early on the morning of the 11th Dorothy and I heard on the short-wave of the loss of three Boston Bombers and we just thought that Jim might have been on this venture. Next day our worst fears were confirmed but we were asked to keep quiet for security reasons. Constance Fountaine was quick to report to us. A little later in the month Jim’s old dog `Ben’ became ill – old age – and we had to have him `put to sleep’. Meg had gone earlier. I spent a weekend at the Mackay’s in Lincoln Road and Ian was taken ill at the time and it became apparent that his diabetic trouble was becoming serious.

December

The damage to the Windmill was extensive and it took some repairing. However we were fortunate to have a pump engine as well. Goats on Pukekino were becoming a menace so Anne and Godfrey Kay came down and gave Boy a hand to wage war on them. Early in December we had our last letter from Jim and on the 17th came the news that he had been killed – his body was washed onto the shore near Le Havre where he is now buried. The overall war situation was improving – the Japs were driven out of Burma – Rommell was still in full flight towards Tunisia from where he hoped to embark with his army upon Italy – the Russian offensive in the south was also progressing well and the Japs’ Navy was being held in the Pacific and severely punished.

What does FB mean by saying on the whole happiness abounded?

FB was undoubtedly well-liked and wanted and appreciated by many. He talks fondly of his many years of community service. His extensive travels both around New Zealand and abroad brought him much joy and gave him the enormous breadth of knowledge experience and compassion that shines through the passages of his memoirs. But overall, his helping others in need and his sheer love of family provides a unique portrait of a man who had an obvious contentment with self.

Reading through the memoirs, the manner in which FB writes in the first person and addresses the reader really begs the question: who was FB’s intended audience?

13   My Story, April 1915
14   My Story, November/December 1942

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In the memoirs FB refers quite often (in the first person) to “you”. The opening passage is quoted in full again but with emphasis added:

For many years I have been meaning to make use of a reasonably good memory and my diaries which I have kept since 1908, to build up for you the story of my life. It may or may not be of great interest to you, but I am quite looking forward to my task. [15]

If you want to know more about my school days and later, have a look at my diaries. [16]

So, you can see I had a flow of visitors and was never lonely. [17]

Before I continue with my story let me say what I have written since my earliest recollection has taken six months and I have only covered superficially a little over one-third of my life to date and the part that really counts for most in my life has not really begun – I refer now to the time when the tide turned and I set out with a will to make a success of my farming enterprise and to take my part in helping, in a small way, with the further development of our country, particularly Hawke’s Bay. If by chance I don’t get much further – for I am now 82 – you will find my diaries will tell the story). [18]

At the beginning of my original diaries you will find much interesting information especially about taxation and general statistics. [19]

By the way I will not go into much detail about the farm and its activities. This story is just a general outline of my doings over a lifetime. If the diaries are still intact you will get detailed information from them but in the light of modern times you won’t get any help. [20]

My diary for January and February and up to March 22nd seems to be missing – when we left for England I probably handed it over to Jim to carry on and it is possible after his death it may have been mislaid or destroyed. Therefore my ‘doings’ and those of Pukekino up to March 22nd cannot be recorded here. [21]

My diary in full from of our trip, which lasted from 25th March to October 28th, is enclosed among these papers. In it you can read all about our wanderings through England and Scotland and a brief visit to Paris and conditions in England in the early part of World War II. [22]

As you know the Kays had been our neighbours since about 1920 and all through the years never had a week passed without our meeting and more often than not, on my rounds of the farm, I dropped in for a cup of tea with them and were viewed the news of the neighbourhood etc. [23]

So as you will see it was a busy ten days. [24]

Jan

I found these statistics in my diary – but I think I have referred to them earlier but you see it is sometimes difficult to remember just what you have written earlier on – Out of the 1335 acres of Pukekino I estimate:
1164 acres to be in grassland
60 acres in Tussock and Native grass
11 acres in Garden, plantation and buildings.
30 acres Barren land
70 acres fern and scrub
Being 1335 total [25]

Later in the month Sarah took her holiday and our old Rose Hillier came to look after Mr. Wenley. Rose, as you know, had been with my parents for about thirty years or more with only a short break in Australia for a year or two. [26]

15   Opening passage of My Story, April 1884
16   My Story, February 1897
17   My Story, August 1907
18   My Story, January 1911
19   My Story, December 1917
20   My Story, June 1925
21   My Story, January1939
22   My Story, March 1939
23   My Story, November 1945
24   My Story, June 1947
25   My Story, January 1950
26   My Story, February 1954

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On the 23rd we got our telephone connection after nearly two Year’s wait. You will remember my condition in joining the Land Valuation Committee for six months was that the Postmaster granted me a ‘telephone connection’!!! [27]

At the Historic Section’s monthly meeting I read a paper on Kereru district (you will find it among my papers). [28]

Early in November, – Rhodesia took the step of declaring independence – the British Government had refused to grant it unless Rhodesia agreed to one man one vote which would ultimately mean ‘Black Rule’. As you know, Sanctions were imposed and much pressure brought to bear. This position still stands today (May 1968) and Rhodesia still lives on. [29]

At a Hospital Board Meeting I read a paper on my impressions of the various hospitals I had recently visited in U.S.A. and Canada. This paper you will find among the papers in my desk. [30]

This was quite one of the fullest years of my life (I am writing now in January 1967) – it was my 51st year. I am adopting a different method of recording things and am dividing my activities into several parts – 1st County Council and Local Body activities, 2nd my Family, private and home life, 3rd Political adventures and 4th Farm activities – these will be more or less scanty as everyone knows the routine work on a farm and as I have said before, if you really want to know more about this you can refer to the diary of the year. [31]

I have decided to condense further for several reasons, but the main reasons for doing so are –
(1)   I am getting older and my life is not nearly so full as it was; and
(2)   You all know pretty well my activities of today and most of the people I may mention. [32]

And now I shall give you a resume only of our adventures abroad from April 19th till October 27th. Among my diaries there is a more detailed account of all we did and all we saw during that time. [33]

I asked the same question of Hamilton “who was the “you” in My Story”? His answer was:

I think he was referring to family and friends. People who’ve borrowed a copy of the memoirs have wondered the same thing, – for example Ewan McGregor, Adrian Coleman – because it does have a limited audience. You have to be interested in learning from the past and not everyone is. [34]

Diary and Journal Entries

Apart from the 1931 Rough Diary, Collins’ Royal Diaries exist for the years 1905 and 1907.

They contain a fascinating insight into FB’s organised mind. First, FB wrote up a schedule of his whereabouts during the year. He used the section titled “Cash Account or Bill Record” to

Photo caption – FB’s Collins’ Royal Diaries for the years 1905 and 1907 in which he recorded the events in his life on a daily basis. Image source: Hamilton Logan.

27   My Story, June 1956
28   My Story, September 1961
29   My Story, November 1961
30   My Story, January 1927
31   My Story, January 1935
32   My Story, May/June 1958
33   My Story, April 1950
34   Discussions with Hamilton Logan, March 2022.

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list the places he visited and, where applicable, the vessel he boarded.

For example, in April 1907, FB was on board the P&O vessel RMS Mooltan 35 travelling from Hobart to London via Colombo in (then) Ceylon disembarking in Marseilles, France 30 days after leaving Melbourne. Secondly, in his 1905 diary, FB records some personal physical details including his weight (10 stone, 1 pound) and that he took a size 8 in gloves, a size 10 in boots, a size 6 ¾ in hats and preferred a collar size of 15” x 2¼”. [36]

Thirdly, he listed the contents of his luggage, presumably for his overseas excursions. For example, at the back of the 1907 diary he listed a Black Trunk, a Kit Bag and a Suit Case containing various items such as a “grey suit”, “12 collars”, a ”Holland coat”, 5 pairs of “pyjamas”, “2 new underflannels”, “3 new thick underflannels”, 4 pairs of “underpants (old)”, “4 cuff shirts (stiff)”, 6 packs of “choc.”, “1 Malted Milk”, an “evening suit”, “cigars”, a “New Navy blue suit”, “1 pr thick sox”, “11 New Handkies”, a “Meerschaum pipe”[37], “Patent boots”, “collar studs” and a “Hat band”. [38] For a trip to Sydney, FB listed the following items to take with him: “Light Tobacco”, a “White dinner coat”, “cigarettes”, “suspenders”, “evening ties”, “socks” and a “Hat”. [39]

Photo captions –

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1907. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1905 titled “Personal Memoranda”. Image source: Stu Webster.

35   Launched in August 1905, the Royal Mail Steamer Mooltan was a luxury P&O vessel that replaced the Oceania on the Hobart/Melbourne to London service. On 26 July 1017 she was torpedoed by the German submarine UC27. All but two of the 554 aboard had been taken off when Mooltan was abandoned about 160km south of Sardinia only to be sunk two hours later by a second torpedo (poheritage.com)
36   Collins’ Royal Diary 1905, page titled “Personal Memoranda”
37   A smoking pipe carved from sepiolite
38   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, page titled “Personal Memoranda”
39   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, page titled “Memoranda from 1906”

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FB even went so far as to give himself a note, mid-voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), to do some washing when he got there. He lists “6 collars, 3 white shirts, 1 flannel shirt, 1 flannel collar, 2 stiff shirts, 1 pr sox”. [40]

Remembering that the diaries and journals were used as an aide memoir for writing up the memoirs, it is fascinating to compare (on the one hand) what FB wrote in his diary entry as a contemporaneous record of the events that happened with (on the other) his later re-telling of those events in the memoirs themselves. For example, in his 1905 Collins’ Royal Diary, writing from his lodgings at Oxford, he starts off the entry for Thursday 23 February [41] by saying:

Another bitterly cold windy day…NZ Shipping Co. sent labels & advised me that they had reserved a berth in the Ruapehu” he also notes that he “Met Mrs Henderson ‘Alice in Wonderland’ fame.

The very next day (Friday 24 February) [42] he tells of the “usual lectures”, watching the final soccer cup “Oriel v Ch Ch”, and that he then “Had a cuppa, supper & general binge…Bed early”. He also records that “Mr Gollan sold Moifaa [43] to HM the King for £2500”.

In his memoirs FB writes:
One afternoon I was bidden to tea at 45 The Broad with a Mr. and Mrs. Percival related to the Sydney Johnstons) and there I met and had conversation with an old lady (Mrs. Henderson) – she was a daughter of Dean Liddell of Christchurch fame and was the “Alice in Wonderland” of Lewis Carroll.

In another comparison, on Wednesday 7 August 1907, [44] FB was travelling in Europe with Maie Casey and a Mrs Ryan and had just arrived in Zermatt, Switzerland. The next day

Photo captions –

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Diary 1907 titled “Memoranda”. Image source: Stu Webster

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1907 with FB’s laundry list to do in Colombo. Image source: Stu Webster

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1905. Image source: Stu Webster

40   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, inside cover
41   Collins’ Royal Diary 1905, entry for Thursday 23 February
42   Collins’ Royal Diary 1905, entry for Friday 24 February
43   Moifaa won the Grand National by 8 lengths in 1904
44   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, entry for Wednesday 7 August

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dawned fine and he saw the Matterhorn covered with snow. On 11 August [45] FB went to an English Chapel service in the morning and then sat in a garden where it appears he must have picked a flower that, to this day, 116 years later, lies pressed between the pages of the diary entries for 10 and 11 August 1907. It’s hard to tell but it looks like a clover flower.

On Monday 12 August [46] FB was on a train from Visp to Stresa when he observed in his diary:

On board train for Stresa when behold our porter did not put luggage in so I jumped from train in motion – fell on platform & hurt left knee – think water on knee. So the luggages were left at Visp & others including 3 Americans went on. I went to Brig in goods train & waited there 3 hours on the platform. Then train at 7.30 to Domodossola, Italian frontier, had to change train and bother with luggage eventually reached Stresa at 10ish. Hotel des Iles de Borromeés. Very tired & sore knee.

As a footnote written vertically in the margin he adds: “Passed through the Simplon Tunnel – 12 ¾ miles – longest in world.

The rendition in FB’s memoirs written-up in the late 1960’s from these notes goes like this: [47]

At Visp we changed into a little toy-train which took us up the Rhone Valley to Zermatt. There we stayed for several days, doing a bit of walking but mostly sightseeing by funicular rail up to heights from which you got lovely views of the mountains around. The trip up the Gornagrat to 10,000 feet gave you a magnificent view of the Matterhorn – Switzerlands most renowned mountain. We joined up with some American people and enjoyed “bridge” in the evenings. One night Maie and I strayed into a little church and there were two climbers stretched out on the Chancel – they had fallen on the Matterhorn and been killed. I fancy today you can climb this mountain of 17,000 feet by the help of a hand-rail. Our stay in this pleasant village under the shadow of so many mighty mountains came to an end and we travelled once more on the funny little railway to Visp where we joined the express from Paris to Rome. However an unfortunate

Photo captions –

Image of the pressed flower inserted into FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1907. It’s possibly a clover flower plucked from the gardens he visited after chapel service on Sunday 11 August 1907. Image source: Stu Webster

Excerpt from FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, entries for Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th August. Image source: Stu Webster

45   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, entry for Sunday 11 August
46   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, entry for Monday 12 August
47   My Story, 1907 (see pg 56)

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accident occurred to me and my journey in this express only lasted a few seconds for I spotted the porter who had taken charge of our luggage still had it on his barrow and had failed to put it aboard the train. Realising how easy it was for baggage to be lost on the Continent, especially in Italy, I instinctively leapt from the moving train to be with these possessions and in doing so the door began to close and I was thrown off balance and fell off rather than jumped off. The train with my companions sped on its way leaving me on the ground and very close to the train’s wheels. A bevy of officials closed round me and my thoughts were “here goes, jail” but they were sympathetic instead, particularly when they found my left knee was pretty badly injured and very swollen. After about an hour I was put on to a goods train and taken to Brigue [sic] in the van. After another long wait I joined a passenger train. We passed through the Simplon Tunnel and were in Italy. As luck would have it, my travelling companions had left their keys with the Customs Officials and I was able to clear the luggage. Later that night I arrived at Stresa and thankful to be joined up again with Mrs. Ryan and Maie.

Process

So, the typewritten version of ‘My Story’, literally faultless without a hint of any crossings out or correction tape or fluid, sat inside two green foolscap Olympic University Ring Binders barely seeing the light of day given FB’s wish that they not be published for twenty years following his death.

The following paragraphs talk a little bit about the process involved in getting the material FB recorded in his daily journals into the form you see in this work.

FB was born on 27 April 1884 and died 28 December 1981 at the age of 97. We know from My Story that he started writing a daily diary entries from as early as 1905. On Christmas Day 1965 at age 81, writing from 10 Clyde Road to which address he and Dorothy had retired, FB took the 60 or so years of journals and started to write up his memoirs in longhand using his favoured fountain pen that had belonged to his father Francis. In writing up the first 20 years of his life he would have relied on memory to provide the narrative of the formative period of his life because those years pre-dated his diary regimen. He completed the task not long after his 84th birthday on 27th April 1968. It took FB two years and four months to convert his diaries into his memoirs which now stand at 235,000 words give or take. By the time he’d finished the initial task, he had lined up Annie Whyte to type up his memoirs from longhand but not before considering Miss Wilson, another secretary from Sainsbury Logan & Williams: [48]

Miss Wilson [49] of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams thought she could manage typing this story of mine and she seemed to be the person for she knew so much about the family and also about Hawke’s Bay.

However, the task fell to Ann Whyte: [50]

Early in the month we called to see Ann Whyte in Clive who has undertaken to type this ‘story’ for me. I hope you will get some interest out of it.

And a mammoth task it would have been on a new electric typewriter with italicized script. Annie was not without help since FB recognized that his handwriting could be a challenge at times: [51]

It is May, 1968, so you see I am making good progress and it looks as if I may soon be out of a job. While I continue with the condensing business Dorothy is making a bold effort to decipher what I have already done so that Ann Whyte, who is typing the story, will have less difficulty to overcome.

48   My Story, June 1967
49   Namely Miss Rae Wilson. See Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 at pp 180 and 331
50   My Story, February 1968
51   My Story, January 1964

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FB had pondered whether he should finish his memoirs earlier than the age at which he was writing it up:

Now we have reached the year 1915 and as I begin to write about the events of that year I am 82 and I just wonder whether I shall ever be able to complete the story of my life, for there are still another 50 years almost to be accounted for. What I do is to take up my diary each year and go through it carefully noting down what I think are events worth recording and then I write up from these notes. I try not to go too much into detail but I hope just to give you an insight into what we did in the days gone by. [52]

I really think “My Story” should have ended in 1964 when I reached the age of 80 and all public activities had come to an end. However, I was persuaded to carry on. On looking over the story of 1965 it appears to me there is much that cannot be of great interest to you so I shall try to cut down considerably on 1966 but if you are at all curious you can refer to my original diary — that is if you can read it. [53]

In fact, in 1964 he wrote the following passage: [54]

I tendered my resignation as a director of Williams and Kettle and on the last day of the month it took effect. I was sad to sever my twenty-four years connection with the old firm but at the age of 80 I did not consider it fair to remain on the board when there were so many younger men more fitted for the job. And so ended my public life and now with the exception of a few Trusts etc. I am to lead a private life. During my time I have served on the following bodies:
Hawke’s Bay County Council
Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board
Hawke’s Bay Rabbit Board
Napier Bay Harbour Board
No. 4 Transport Licensing Authority (which governed the area from Dannevirke to Rotorua, including Gisborne and Bay of Plenty)
Mangatahi Rabbit Association
Kereru School Committee
Kereru Sports Club (now merged in Maraekakaho Sports Club)
Hereworth School Board
Hawke’s Bay S.P.C.A.
Royal S.P.C.A. of New Zealand

Memoirs Scanned to File

The first major task involved in preparing the memoirs for publication was to scan the 278 foolscap pages of single spaced italicized typewritten text into a form that could then be formatted and proofed.

Thankfully we were able to use one of the latest copiers at Sainsbury Logan & Williams for that task. The pages in the Olympic ringbinder were fed into the scanner in manageable chunks and the resulting scan was joined together in one continuous document and converted into Word format which was then completely word searchable The scanned copy contained numerous formatting and other errors simply because of the quality of the original typewritten work which contained some gaps, interlineations and areas where correcting fluid had been used. The text was converted to double column.

Formatted

The memoirs are in four parts:
My Story. This contains the bulk of FB’s work because it represents his condensing of 70 years of journals together with narrative that contains his recollection of events before he commenced writing his journals.

Biographical Notes. These are set out in alphabetical order and cover a number of individuals who, by FB’s calculation would all be either dead or

52   My Story, January 1915
53   My Story, January 1966
54   My Story, April 1964

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over 100 years old by the time his memoirs would see the light of day (namely 20 years after his own death).

Hawke’s Bay Earthquake. This part of FB’s memoirs goes into minute detail about his own personal experience during the earthquake and its aftermath. Assisted by his journal entries, he put this together in 1981. The original handwritten notes were found inside the Olympic 1B School Exercise Book.

Supplementary Material. This is derived from notes that FB wrote when he was 97 years of age and likely added because he felt that Eddie Herrick should be recognised amongst the

Photo captions –

Image of the inside cover of FB’s Olympic 1B School Exercise Book in which FB recorded his Biographical Notes. He makes it clear that “they are personal observations only.” Image source: Stu Webster

Excerpt from FB’s Rough Diary, 3rd February 1931; Image source: Stu Webster

Image of the front cover of FB’s Olympic 1B School Exercise Book in which is written the biographical notes about various Hawke’s Bay identities, his personal recollection of the 1931 Hawke’s Bay Earthquake and Supplementary Material he penned in 1981 (at the age of 97) dealing with EJ Herrick in particular. Image source: Stu Webster

15

other notable personalities in Hawke’s Bay given his contribution to the region and because he too would be of an age that anything said about him was unlikely to be contested “in this life” at least.

Whilst the aim was primarily to produce this work in electronic form so that it would be freely available, readily accessible, word-searchable and indexed, we always knew that a certain number of printed copies would be needed in order to satisfy a limited audience of people who preferred it in that format. Hence the need to condense the finished version into two-column format with a font size that was big enough to read unassisted but not so big as to force us to publish it in two or more volumes.

Proofed

As mentioned earlier, the scanned version picked up a number of unforced imperfections during the scanning process.

That required careful work to check that the scanned version intended for publication was as close as possible to the original manuscript. In addition, there were some grammatical and spelling mistakes that we decided not to correct. Despite FB’s Oxford University education, he was susceptible as we all are to making some basic mistakes. [55] All of this is quite remarkable when you consider the task of transcribing FB’s writing which even he confesses was a challenge .[56]

Glossary of Names

As Hamilton succinctly observed: The absence of a glossary that provides context and meaning to My Story is “like a photograph without any names under it”.

The glossary of names contains over 250 references to the names of people found in FB’s story.

Michael Fowler and I sat down with Hamilton over three sessions [57] consisting of a total of 13 hours and had the whole of our conversations with him recorded and then transcribed in full (including Hamilton’s wife Timmie’s voice summoning us to tea and scones during a well-earned break).

From the transcript we extracted passages relating to individuals who are now named in the glossary.

My Story Hyperlinked to the Glossary

We hyperlinked the text of the memoirs to the glossary so that readers who are reviewing the electronic copy of this work would be able to simply click on the highlighted name and be taken straight to the glossary and, in many cases, further suggested reading.

Conversations with Hamilton

Just like “out-takes” in popular sitcoms, there was a wealth of material that we covered in our sessions with Hamilton that were simply too valuable to end up on the editorial room’s floor. These passages have little connection with each other and may appear completely out of sequence, but nevertheless deserve to be published because of their historical value. One item that comes to mind is the beautifully tailored morning suit that has been in the Logan Family for over 110 years and can be seen in a number of photographs in Hamilton’s autobiography Fear Not Change. [58] One of those images is reproduced as part of that chapter of this work. [59] The tailor’s name was Henry Corlett of 9 Princes Street, Hanover Square, London.

List of Important Stations and Other Reference Points

55   Epedemic, galvernised, liason, caesarean and Scandanavia [sic] although this could have been as a result of the transcription process from handwritten notes to the typewritten form.
56   My Story, January 1964
57   On 12 July 2020, 15 January 2022 and 12 March 2022
58   Fear Not Change, pp191
59   See Chapter 7 “Conversations with Hamilton Logan”

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In reading the memoirs a number of times it’s immediately apparent that FB had a huge connection with the men and women who lived and worked at the many farming stations both in Hawke’s Bay and farther afield including Australia. Miriam Macgregor published an invaluable work that chronicled the genesis of 117 Hawke’s Bay Stations. [60] In his memoirs FB makes reference to no less than 53 of those stations and although Miriam’s work has long since been out of print it is still available through public libraries. It seemed important for reasons of background and context to provide links to reference material for readers who wanted to learn more about the people and properties that meant so much to FB and his wider family.

The same applies to important buildings, other structures and locations. The references are contained in the glossary rather than hyperlinked in the text itself. However, the index should also provide a reliable guide.

Image selection

Hamilton was able to provide an enormous amount of written material, images and memorabilia that have a connection to his father’s memoirs. The issue of image selection was therefore challenging. In consultation with Hamilton, the image chosen for the front page of this work seemed to encapsulate the essence of who FB was. Obviously at leisure, trout fishing was a strong and recurring feature of FB’s life, as was Lake Taupo and the plus-fours he wore whilst fishing which rounds out the sartorial nature of his character.

The other images tell a story about the individuals and landscapes that feature prominently in the memoirs and hopefully provide an added layer of richness to what is already a multi-layered and textual life-story.

Index

The index was compiled last of all. It is selective and does not include every word, name or topic covered in this work. This is explained in more detail in the Notes to the Index. However, by presenting this in electronic format it is hoped that any omissions in the index are forgiven as a result of readers being able to word-search the entire work.

Stu Webster
Napier
June 2023

60   Macgregor, Miriam Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, Reed, Wellington, 1970

17

MY STORY:
THE PRIVATE MEMOIRS
OF
FRANK
BANNERMAN
LOGAN
(1884 – 1968)

18

CHAPTER ONE

My Story

Christmas Day, 1965
10 Clyde Road Napier

For many years I have been meaning to make use of a reasonably good memory and my diaries which I have kept since 1908, to build up for you the story of my life. It may or may not be of great interest to you, but I am quite looking forward to my task. I was born in 15 Lincoln Road, Napier April 27th 1884. The house is still standing though it has had many face-lifts. It also has a frontage to Fitzroy Road. It was a comfortable old house and my childhood there was happy.

My father (Francis) was born in Edinburgh on February 9th, 1857. In 1863 he moved with his parents to Newcastle-on-Tyne and lived there till 1881 when he came to New Zealand on a health-revitalising trip in a sailing ship (Paramatta) but New Zealand appealed to him to such an extent that he decided to make his home here. In England he had qualified as a Solicitor. After a short time in Auckland he came to Napier where he lived till he died in 1933.

My mother was Louisa Taylor – born on the 27th of December, 1859 in Paramatta N.S.W., her father being Clerk of the Petty Sessions. Her parents died when she was about 17 and she then came to live with her aunt (Rhodes) and uncle in Napier at (now) 16 Lincoln Road. Joseph Rhodes was a Member of the H.B. Provincial Council. He was one of four brothers who came to New Zealand as whalers in the 1840s. Two settled in the North Island and two in the South Island. All appeared to take up big tracts “of land and founded large families. My father and mother were married in St. John’s Church (now the Cathedral) Napier on the 3rd of July, 1883.

My paternal grandfather (James Logan) was born in Stirling in 1827 lived most of his life in Newcastle-on-Tyne and was Manager of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company for N.E. Counties of England. He died 1897.

My paternal grandmother nee Rachel Bannerman and was born in Edinburgh in 1828 and lived with her grandparents there till her marriage in about 1850. Her maternal Great Grandparents were named Biggar and their portraits hang in our home. They lived in Edinburgh at the time of the 1745 troubles.

After my grandfather’s death in 1897 my grandmother and Aunts Rachel, Helen and Mary went to live in “Bank House”, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, a pleasant seaside village 20 miles from Newcastle-on-Tyne. My uncle James, who had succeeded grandfather as Manager of the Company, was a bachelor and had a home in Newcastle, but spent weekends at Bank House.

This is my story, so enough in the meantime of those who went before.

Many people seem to imagine they can remember happenings at an early age in their lives. I must be an exception for I do not seem to remember anything until I was 5 years old but in 1889 the routine of my life underwent a complete change for in that year my parents took me and my brother, Ivan, who was born in July 1886, to England to see our grandparents.

The sea voyages were a tremendous thrill, as I apparently was interested in ships and knew most of them that visited Napier. The Napier Roadstead was in full view of our home in Napier. That was before the Breakwater Harbour came along, and in the wool season there were as many as twelve sailing ships lying at anchor in the Bay. We travelled to England and back in the S.S. Amman of about 4,500 tons. She was a very graceful ship – clipper bows, four rakish masts and two funnels. When there was a favourable breeze her sails were set and she then looked more like a full-rigged sailing ship than a steamer. The voyage to England was by way of Cape Horn, Rio de Janeiro and Teneriffe, and took 42 days. The return journey was by way of Teneriffe, Cape Town and Hobart and the time was 45 days. We were in England for six months, and most of the time was spent with our grandparents in Newcastle or Newbiggin.

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At the latter place Ivan and I had a wonderful time on its glorious beach. We had a nurse, so our parents were free to do quite a lot of running about, looking up old friends and the occasional visit to London.

Several things concerning that adventure to England remain clear in my memory – the voyage to and from England and the heavy rolling of the ship, my grandparents who were so wonderfully kind to us, the woman who called once a week with balloons which my grandfather used to fill with gas so that they floated up into the heavens, the London Zoo, and mastering the porridge eating ritual in my grandfather’s house. They (the Scots always regard porridge in the plural) were eaten in what was called the Breakfast Room half an hour before breakfast, which was served in the Dining Room. My grandfather ate his porridge walking about the room. The porridge was brewed by our Jean, whose only jobs in the house were porridge making and darning. She had been nurse to all my grandparents’ children and in her old age remained on just to perform the jobs I have mentioned.

Back in New Zealand before Christmas, but my mother and I did not arrive at our home in Napier till after Christmas, as I fell out of my upper bunk on the ‘Arawa’ the night before our arrival in Wellington, and after remaining unconscious for a couple of days, I was taken I Hospital where I remained for two weeks. My Aunt Andro, sister of my mother, lived with us at that time, and she and my mother soon nursed me back to health. In 1894 my aunt married Charles Cotterill of Christchurch, who was Manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Masterton.

For part of the summer holidays of 1894-5 Ivan and I went to Masterton to stay with my Aunt Andro and her husband, Charlie Cotterill. In those days the journey from Napier to the Wairarapa was quite an undertaking, for the railway between Eketahuna and Woodville had not been completed. My mother took us by train to Woodville where we spent the night and early next morning we coached (4 horse team) for 4 to 5 hours through lovely bush clad country to Eketahuna and then picked up the train to Masterton.

During 1893 or 1894 I can remember two weddings in the family – my mother’ cousins Millie Rhodes and Ida Lock married Will and Charlie Bidwill (Wairarapa) respectively. I recollect, very vividly, being seized with terrific tummy pains at one of the weddings and being rushed from the Cathedral to the Colonial Bank, next door to the Church, by L.W. Balfour who was Manager of the Bank at the time. During the last three years of what I call my childhood, my life was a happy one. The population of Napier was about 8,000 and everybody seemed to know everybody else. We had a very pleasant circle of friends, and life moved along at a peaceful measure. My particular friends of those days were Nellie, George, Keith and Basil Cotterill, whose father was a Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor, Louis, Von, Dudley and Audrey Kettle. Their mother was a daughter of the celebrated Major von Tempsky, and she was my mother’s life-long friend and my godmother. Then there were Godfrey, Leonard, Basil and Gladys Jardine, and May and Herbert Coleman, who lived in a very large house with a turret on top. As children, we imagined it to be a castle.

In 1890 my aunt and I spent a few months in Christchurch visiting friends and her future relatives. Incidentally I brought back a kitten which we named Myrini. She lived for thirteen years and produced about one hundred kittens during that time.

Among our friends was one outstanding – he was Frank Stopford. He came to New Zealand for his health and did not expect to live more than a year. However, thanks to the climate of Napier, and much care, he lived to be 78. He was formerly in the British Army and was a man of much learning. His fondness for and interest in children knew no bounds, and he was ever ready to answer their questions. I learned more from him than I ever learned at school, particularly in general knowledge.

Miss Florrie Sutton opened a Kindergarten school in 1891, and I was one of her first pupils. There were eight all told. I remained at her school till February 1894 when I became one of the original pupils at the Napier Grammar School, which was run by Messrs

20

Monckton and Gray, who were graduates of Cambridge University.

Those were happy and carefree years – the British Empire stood firm and no one ever spoke or thought of war. After school hours there always seemed plenty to occupy one – swimming lessons at the Napier Baths given by father and Jack Hughes – playing with friends, expeditions up the Tamekia River by boat, frequent visits to “The Spit” – Port Ahuriri of today – to watch the loading of lighters with wool and frozen meat, fishing from the old breastworks or the North British Freezing Works across the fairway at the Port. At the age of ten I became the proud possessor of a pony ‘Daisy’.

A great part of the school holidays was spent at Mangatarata, a sheep station of 30,000 acres, just out of Waipukurau. This property was owned by the sportsman Spencer Gollan, who lived most of his time in England, and was managed by his half-brother Louis de Pelichet. There were visits too to Longlands, then a station of 10,000 acres managed by Alec McHardy, grandfather of Douglas.

Longlands extended in the East to what is now Havelock, to the South to Paki Paki, West to Ngatarawa and North to Stortford Lodge. Hastings was then only a Village. I remember a visit to Poporangi (Andersons). It took the best part of a day by buggy and pair to reach it from Napier. On all big stations the main transport was bullock wagon, and I remember being so distressed by the “Bullocky” at Poporangi saying “such horrid things about Jesus Christ because the bullocks would not do as he wished”. This I wrote to my mother. Life on Poporangi in those days was hard and tough, and so was the country.

A highlight of my childhood was a visit to New Zealand by my Aunt Mary Logan, she was tall, dark and very good looking and full of fun.

My father was a keen sportsman and fond of many games. In his young days in England he played Rugby and Cricket for his County (Northumberland). From the moment of his arrival in New Zealand (1881) he played a prominent part in the advancement of Rugby football and became a referee of repute over a period of 20 years or so. He and his Northumbrian friend Minden Fenwick, who was on the staff of Tomoana Freezing Works, won the New Zealand Doubles Championship at Lawn Tennis one year, and were runners-up another. He was a good shot and a keen angler as well. It was not surprising therefore, that my father should give his sons every opportunity, within his means, of enjoying games and sports. My brother took full advantage, but though enjoying myself in the effort, I never excelled in any game.

At a very early age, I was taught the art of boxing – my father considered it essential for a boy to have some idea of defending himself. These boxing lessons took place before breakfast each morning, my father standing on the garden path and we boys standing on the verandah so as to give the necessary height.

In those far off days there were also sailing expeditions on Ahuriri Lagoon (now farm lands since the earthquake of 1931 raised it) with Jack Parker, Leo von Haast, Jack Hughes and Frank Kennedy – all friends of our parents.

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CHAPTER TWO

Boyhood & School Days – 1894 to 1902

I suppose it is safe to suggest boyhood begins the day of entry into a purely boys’ school . I began as a pupil at the Napier Grammar School in February 1894, and I think it was a relief to get away from Kindergarten, even though the discipline imposed by Messrs. Monckton and Gray seemed a little harsh at first. Otherwise life continued along the same happy lines, and each holiday was mostly spent at Mangatarata, where one enjoyed riding, swimming, taking some part in the routine work of the Station, riding or driving to Waipukurau two or three times a week for the mail, eel fishing in the evenings. The homestead was extremely comfortable, and the two maids seem to be part of the estate.

After a year at school came another breakup, for in 1895 we were taken to England again at the bidding of our grandparents. By this time I was 11 years old and old enough to enjoy and appreciate to the full all that a visit to England could give. I attended school till the last minute before our departure about mid-March. We travelled from Napier in the S.S. “Mararoa” to Sydney by way of Gisborne and Auckland. The voyage took 7 or 8 days – the “Mararoa” was quite the star ship of the Union Company’s fleet and was of about 2,000 tons. I subsequently had several trips in her and I shudder when I look back on the discomfort of ships of those days. In Sydney Ivan and I spent several days with a cousin of Mother’s. She had been Mrs. Locke, whose husband had been one of Napier’s Surveyors in the days of its making.

It was about the middle of March when we embarked on the “Oceana” – the latest of the P & O. fleet, and about 6,000 tons. The voyage was full of excitement and interest to a boy of my age – I had my 11th birthday on board. We called in at Hobart, as most ships on the way to England used to do in the apple season. Then we called at Melbourne for at least 24 hours, and my parents had several friends there, and this made the visit enjoyable. Then a full day in Adelaide. I was on the point of going ashore when a giant sting-ray was hooked by a member of the crew. So I did not accompany my parents but watched the playing and landing on the ship of the huge sting-ray which was over 12 feet across.

The passage across the Australian Bight to Albany was rough, and the ship rolled heavily.

By this time I had made friends with other boys and girls of my age – the Charles Murrays in particular – and my parents too had found friends, and among them was Ella von der Heyde, whose father was German Consul in Auckland. Ella (Haidee) as we called her was in her early 20s, and was under mother’s care. Later in the year she married Archie Seth Smith of Silvermere Cobham, and this delightful home in later years, became a home to me – more about this later.

From Albany to Colombo the sea was calm, and the heat gradually increased as we drew towards the Equator. Colombo in those days was attractive and unspoilt, and the British were held in high regard. After a morning of shopping and Temple visiting we drove out to Mount Lavinia, about 12 miles away, and then we stayed in a pleasant Hotel overlooking the sea, for a couple of days. Six days’ sailing and we were in that arid and bleak place – Aden – and how grim, hot, dirty and fly-ridden it was. A drive to see the huge water tanks and back thankfully to the ship. Four days of intense heat in the Red Sea and then the Suez Canal. The passage through the wonderful Canal was made by day, and later in the evening we arrived at Port Said. As we passed through the Canal a very spectacular mirage loomed in the western distance – it appeared to be a large city – many grown-ups said it was Cairo.

Early next morning coaling began and was accomplished by a swarm of dark almost naked Egyptians carrying a basket of coal on their backs. They ran up a gangway like a lot of flies, emptied their loads and down by another gangway and into the bowels of a coal barge to reload. This went on for hours and the ship at the end was covered in a layer of coal dust, and had to be hosed down. Most of the passengers who were on board spent

22

most of the time on shore, looking at the bazaars and watching the conjurors at work. Port Said was smelly and dirty and full of very evil-looking men – you hardly saw a woman and most wore the face covering. Three days later we were in Brindisi, and some of our passengers boarded the Calais-Brindisi express, and were thus in London 12 days before the “Oceana”.

Many years later 1 travelled by the Brindisi express. Even at my age I appreciated the romance of hearing the mandolins played by musicians in boats sailing in the Harbour.

The next call was Malta, full of history going back to the days of St. Paul, and later the Crusaders. Then on to Gibraltar, at that time an impregnable bastion of the Empire. Four days more and we were in London.

Referring to the “Oceana” – she was one of the most modern liners afloat, and according to the standards of the day, she was the last word in comfort. The decks were spacious but completely open, not glassed in even where the deck faced the bows, and there always seemed to be a wind rushing along the deck. There were, of course, no electric gadgets whatsoever, and the dining saloon, smoking room and lounges were kept cool by the pulling of punkahs by Indian boys. The Captain, Officers and Engineers were British and so were the stewards, in both the cabins and dining saloon, but the ship’s crew were Lascars and swarms of them at that.

This visit to England was for me very enjoyable and a high success, for I was old enough to take in everything. We made our headquarters as before with our grandparents in Osborne Road, Jesmond (Newcastle-on-Tyne), a pleasant part of that industrial town of the North. Two of three months were spent at the grandparents’ seaside cottage at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea which was a very delightful village with glorious golden sands. We bathed, rowed in boats and were occasionally out with a fisherman. The place was a boy’s paradise.

Each morning my grandfather caught the 9a.m, express to Newcastle and returned at 5 p.m., and we would have a walk with him on the sands or the Moor. It was light in those days of summer till 10 p.m. or later, and we resented having to go to bed in daylight.

My grandmother took Ivan and me to stay with two great aunts in Edinburgh, and we got a great thrill out of that lovely city, with its Castle, Forth Bridge (only recently built) and the masses of Scots Soldiers in the Kilt, and bagpipes were forever playing. From Arthur’s Seat my Grannie pointed out little Lock Mary where she and my grandfather first met while skating and at a later date became engaged. A. visit to Loch Lomond was a highlight.

There I learned the full meaning of Presbyterianism, for my Aunts were rigid Presbyterians, and as narrow as they are made. We arrived at their home on a Saturday, and by my bedside, when I went to sleep was the book I was reading “Great Engineers of the World” and I was more than interested in the story of the Forth Bridge but when I awoke the book was gone, for my Aunts had removed it till the Sabbath was over. Nothing could be read on that day but literature pertaining to religion. The two Sundays in Edinburgh were indeed gloomy – all blinds were drawn – the Aunts walked about as though there had been a death – and there were two services to attend at the Kirk where there was much talk about eternal Hell and its flames.

We had a week in London with my Grannie and saw all the sights boys expected to see, such as the Zoo, Tower Bridge, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Works, and, of course, many visits to the Army and Navy Stores, especially the toy department. In those days only shareholders or relations or friends of such could shop there, and you always had to give the ticket number of the shareholder in question. My Grannie had inherited some shares from her father, who was a Naval Officer, and her ticket number was 98, and that is the number we as a family used for many years. But the day came when the ticket business had to be abandoned by the Stores for competition with other similar organisations made this necessary.

Our six months in England passed only too quickly. I was devoted to my grandparents and three Aunts who did so much to make our

23

visit a happy one. Grandfather said goodbye to us at his home, he did not feel he could stand the parting at the Central Station, but we caught sight of him away in the distance on the Station platform as our train pulled out. That was the last time we ever saw him for he died in 1897. The Central Station at Newcastle was and still is one of the most important and busiest in England. My brother and I loved to be taken to see the trains rushing in and out. The fastest train in England “The Flying Scotsman” passed through the Junction on its journey from London to Edinburgh.

I almost forgot to mention two of my greatest adventures while in Newcastle – one was the launching of one of the earlier Destroyers H.M.S. Oppossum at Swan and Hunters’ ship building works at Walker-on-Tyne. The excitement of seeing this ship glide down the slipway into the River! Later Mrs. Watts (later Lady Watts) took us and my Aunt Rachel out past Tynemouth to see the Channel Fleet at anchor. Aunt Rachel was very seasick and so was Mrs. Watts. Mr. Watts as he was then, was a ship designer at Armstrong Whitworths works on the Tyne, and later he was knighted when he was Constructor to the Admiralty. More about the Watts later in the story.

After another week in London we set off in November in the “Oceana” on our return to New Zealand. After leaving the Docks a fog settled down and we anchored for the best part of two days in the Thames with the fog-horn blowing every minute or two – even to a boy this became annoying. The journey back was by the same route – The Suez Canal and Colombo intriguing us even more. My father decided we should disembark at Melbourne as by catching the “Mararoa” we would arrive back in. Napier about a week earlier than going on to Sydney. We called in at Hobart, The Bluff, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington and reached Napier a week or so before Christmas.

I went back to the Grammar School in February 1896 for a year. The School had grown during my absence and consequently the circle of friends grew. Our holidays were mostly spent at Mangatarata, which we always enjoyed, but at Christmas we were sent to “Okawa” for a couple of weeks – old Mrs. Lowry was then alive.

Her three daughters were unmarried and lived there, also Mr. T.H. Lowry, who was early in 1897 to marry Miss Watt of Napier. Early in 1897 we were taken to Wanganui by train which left Napier at 8 a.m. and reached Wanganui at 10.30 p.m. Today the journey by car takes about 3½ hours so began my first term at The Collegiate School. Ivan and I were put into a dormitory with Harold and Ritchie Abraham, sons of a friend of father’s from Palmerston North. In the first week or two I was stricken with homesickness, and hated everything and everybody – but eventually I settled down and began to like those whom I had at first hated. Mr. Walter Empson was the H.M. and we all had a great regard for him and he was called “The Man”.

While there were several boarding schools in both Islands, Wanganui Collegiate School and Christ’s College were the leading schools and both were endowed by the Church of England. Wanganui was on the whole, depressing, cold and drab, without a single comfort whatsoever, and how we ever survived I do not know. The Headmaster (Mr. Empson) was educated at Charterhouse and was a B.A. Trinity, Oxford. He had a flair for teaching the Classics, and I always think of him during Lent – though he was a low Churchman he observed Lent particularly Passion Week, as though Christ was still on earth and undergoing the ordeal, and woe betide the boys who were due for punishment at that time. The only other master worth mentioning in my diary was J.R. Orford, a Triple Blue of Cambridge, and as well as being a Scholar he was a man of liking. The Padre was quite unimaginative and lacking in humour. The chief Matron was a dragon, and her only cure for all ills was Castor Oil or the dig of a needle! Of the Masters only the Head was allowed to administer corporal punishment. All offenses boys’ names were entered in the “The Book” and at five to one each day the Head dealt with Justice! with a Fives bat – it was wooden rather like a table tennis racquet and covered an area of about 5 or 6

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inches. – it hurt but did not draw blood or make weals as does a cane.

The Prefects were allowed to administer the cane for offenses detrimental to the wellbeing of the school. I never believed such authority should be given to Prefects – the privilege was often abused. At the Napier Grammar School the Masters caned on the hands and this was a very crude and cruel method, as one can well believe.

Mr. and Mrs. Empson were kindness itself to me all the six years I was at school. We had met them at the Masonic Hotel in Napier one evening in the holidays before, so we were not strangers, Arthur (the son) became a friend of mine very early and we remained friends, though after our school days, we only met at rare intervals. Judy (daughter) married Gordon Williams of Drumpeel, and so we met more frequently in later life. During the first two years at school, more often than not, I had a nursery tea with Arthur and Judy in their home – it was usually cold sausages and a boiled egg, whereas school tea was just bread and butter – but you provided your own jam.

During my six years at Wanganui I suppose I came in contact with about a dozen masters but the only outstanding master beyond Mr. Empson was J.R. Orford, who had been a triple blue at Cambridge and was also a scholar of note and further he was a man among men.

Breakfast at school was porridge, full of lumps, some sort of hash three days a week, bread and scraps and tea. On Sunday we had sausages (mystery bags). Dinner was usually a roast, a hashed up dish and vegetables, followed by milk pudding and steamed pudding almost daily. On Sundays we supplied our own cream by joining a ‘cream Club’ at a 1/- a term. No in-between but when you were 15 you could have supper of bread and cheese and cocoa once a week. When you became a Prefect you could have supper every night. However, if you wanted a biscuit and a drink of water before going to bed, you were welcome to them!

We rose summer and winter at 6.30 a.m., a cold plunge – about 30 boys to the same bath and once a week there was a hot bath before bed. Preparation was held from 7 to 8 – mighty cold in winter. Breakfast at 8, prayers at 9 and school till 1, with a 20 minute break at 11 a.m., school 2 to 4 and games in the summer and in the winter games till 4 and school after. Tea at 5:30, preparation 7 to 8, prayers and bed at 8:30 for those under 15, and 9 for the older boys. There was Chapel on two mornings of the week (Litany on Friday) and morning and evening services on Sunday.

When I first went to school there were two Houses – The Big School (Empson) contained about 180 boarders then and Shield’s House with 30 to 40. The usual practice was for each Boarder to spend one term a year in Shields. A year or two later a small House, run by another Master (Watson), was added and accommodated only about 12. The Head Prefect was E.V. Riddiford. I think I hated my first year (1897) at school because there was hardly an entry in my Diary.

The holidays in December and January of 1897-8 were particularly happy, for I went with Father’s party on a fishing expedition to Taharua. Ivan, Basil and Keith Cotterill were with us. We coached to Tarawera, 52 miles on the first day, and on to the Rangitaiki next morning – coached on over a rough track to Taharua Station, and from there it was a case of walking another 8 miles and taking the gear by pack-horse. Our henchman was Piripi te Heu Heu and he was with us for years while on fishing expeditions. Our camp was close to some lovely bush, and the Taharua Stream was only a stone’s throw away. Camp life was enjoyable and we were taught the art of fly fishing. There were no rainbow trout in those days, but brown trout were plentiful.

Father was one of those responsible for the liberation of the brown trout in the early 1890s, and this was the second year of fishing since the liberation of the small fish. The sport was good and the weights of the fish were from 2 to 5 lbs. We found the best fly was the Cicada, and these we boys used to catch and put in match boxes. We were back in Napier early in January and the rest of the holidays were spent there.

According to my diary every day was full – tennis, parties, visits to my Parents’ friends,

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who by now regarded me almost as a grown-up. Among these friends were the Bullocks, Hoadleys, Burkes, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald (wonderful friends) the Bernaus, etc., etc. There was a weekend with H. Abbott at Ardlussa. We drove in a dog cart (Tandem) and each river crossing, and there were 15, I had to jump out and lead the horses. There were cycle expeditions, some photography and tennis at the Wenleys.

I must not forget Mr. and Mrs. Stopford. He was one of the best and most helpful of friends.

A most devastating flood occurred in Hawkes’ Bay at Easter time 1897 – particularly about Napier and Clive – railway bridges were destroyed and there was some loss of life. Owing to transport disruption the boys from Napier and Gisborne came home from school for their May holidays by ship from Wanganui.

Back to school on February 2nd, and from my diary it would appear I had found ‘my feet’ and boarding school did not hold so many terrors. I began to make many good friends and among them was Eru Johnson who later became almost a brother. Eric Riddiford was another.

If you want to know more about my school days and later, have a look at my diaries.

In the May holidays of 1898 I went with the Empson Family to Mt. Peel – a most delightful home up the Rangitata – brick house in lovely gardens, a chapel in the garden. We spent a night in Wellington on the way, crossed in the ‘Rotomahana’ (Greyhound) train to Rangitata and coach to Peel Forest, then by buggy to Holnicote. The Acland Family owned Mt. Peel and Mrs. Empson was a daughter. Old Mrs. Acland was a daughter of Bishop Harper (first Bishop of Christchurch). I met hundreds of relatives of the Aclands and one day went over to Orari Gorge, the home of the Tripps (Mrs. Stopfords people). Arthur Empson, his Father and I had many expeditions round the countryside and there was snow on the high country. I returned to Napier for the last two weeks of the holidays, staying a night in Christchurch and climbing the Cathedral Spire with Mrs. Henry Cotterill. I joined the S.S. “Flora” at Lyttleton and travelled with Dr. and Mrs. Ronald. We left on a Saturday night – next afternoon in Wellington and the whole of Monday and back in Napier on Tuesday afternoon. For some reason we did not berth at the breakwater so came ashore in a boat.

There is a note in my diary that I attended Court one day during the hearing of the Woburn case – this property of 30,000 acres or more belonging to Mr. Purvis Russell was acquired by the Crown under the “Lands for Settlement Act” or Seddon’s Act -the price offered was £4.10/- per acre but after a fight the Government paid £5 – this land today (1966) would fetch £100 per acre.

If I continue quoting my diary my story will be more lengthy than a Scott’s Novel so I shall have to curb my enthusiasm somewhat.

This studio image of Francis Logan hangs in the reception area of Sainsbury Logan & Williams, Tennyson Street, Napier (date and photographer unknown). Image source: Stu Webster

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On October 12th I note England declared war on the Transvaal and so began the unhappy and weary Boer War. Every Sunday night after Chapel Arthur Empson and I used to bike down to the Chronicle Office for latest war news.

I was confirmed with others in the chapel on Sunday 16th December by the Rt. Rev. F. Wallis (Bishop of Wellington). I knew him for he often came to the Empsons and on my way to Christchurch I had breakfast at Bishopscourt with him and Mrs. Wallis. Mother came over for the confirmation.

So my second year at Wanganui passed – I had got to know many kind residents of the town and often used to go to tea on a Sunday with them. There was Mrs. and Miss Moore, Mrs. Earle (doctor’s wife), Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Dunn (cousin and sister of Mrs. Empson), and Mrs. Barnicoat and others.

Our Christmas fishing expedition was a very successful one – this time we went 20 miles down the Rangitaiki River towards Galatea. Richard Jebb of England was among the party and 7lb. trout were common. Sam Crowther, the expert coachman of the Taupo-Napier coach service, was in charge of our camp and Piripi, of course, was there. Denty Wilson and Lowry North were among the party. We returned to Napier early in January 1899 and during the balance of the holidays we had a full programme of games, fishing and picnicing with our many friends. The time passed on too quickly and back to school on February 2nd.

Early in the year 1899 my friend Jim Ritchie left school for a naval exam, in Sydney and then to England (H.M. Britannia, Dartmouth). I was to see much of him in later years when our friendship grew closer and we corresponded on through the years. It was during 1899 I first met the Rt. Rev. Cecil Wilson – Bishop of Melanesia – he was a very striking looking man and charming to boot. He married a daughter of Archbishop Julius and a son, John, is today Vicar of Havelock North.

I notice that, during 1899, the new Rutland Hotel seems to have become more popular than Chevannes, so far as parents of boys at school went.

During that year amateur photography seems to have become popular and I notice many references in my diary to my own interest in it.

On January 1st 1900 we returned from our annual fishing trip. The month passed only too quickly – there was a short visit to the North’s at Dartmoor and also to Mr. and the Misses Lowry at Crosby, Havelock North. Basil Cotterill and ourselves seemed to do quite a lot of fishing, tennis (mostly at the Wenley’s and Bernau’s) and rowing up the river to Balfour’s Hole (Meeanee).

I became 16 this year and it was my 4th year at school. I became much more amenable to school life and amassed a host of friends and two more homes adjacent to Wanganui were opened to me – Mrs. Troutbeck’s and Mr. and Mrs. Sherriff’s. I progressed satisfactorily, but not without hard work, in my lessons but did not make much progress in sport and games. I was just very mediocre.

However by now I was quite reconciled to this state ­then came an accident on the football field on August 13th that finally decided my fate in regard to football in particular and also running. I dislocated the left knee and this was for ever left

Photo caption – Louisa Logan with Ivan (left) and Frank (right) c. 1889. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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weak. I had to leave school after a few days in bed and continue life in bed or on a sofa for the next couple of months. During that time Mr. Stopford came over almost daily and we discussed all sorts of things together and he taught me much. In the afternoons after work Ella Burke (Thornley Sherratt) used to come along to cheer me. She her mother Mrs Gore (Aunt Bess) and sisters then lived at Burlington Road.

During the early part of 1900 the Boer War dragged on and we suffered many reverses. Then a change came when Lord Roberts took command – Kimberly, Ladysmith and Mofe King were relieved after long sieges and the Boers began their retreating tactics. I joined the Debating club in 1900 and once a week in the winter term we had our debates. Mr. Empson usually presided and gave advice.

At times I was given the task of reporting (for the Collegian) the 1st XV football matches and I kept this up for the next two football seasons as my football days had come to an end. In the May holidays we enjoyed two or three shooting expeditions to Te Onepu (Groome) – a delightful friendly old home – and there the usual bag was from 12 to 16 brace of quail and a few pheasants. My first of many visits to Blackhead was made those holidays and what a lovely home it was overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The journey to Blackhead from Pourerere was along the beach and could only be effected when the tide was reasonably low. One night in later years (1906) Mr. McHardy was taking a party of us back from a woolshed dance at Pourerere when the incoming tide caught us and during the night the car was completely submerged and had to be dragged home by the bullock team.

After the end of September there were no entries in my diary – why I cannot tell – but when my knee mended sufficiently I went back to school and this must have been somewhere about half-term. I foolishly sat for my Matriculation that year and naturally did not make the grade. One of my subjects was Botany which Mr. Stopford instructed me in.

Talking of Blackhead Station – originally it was a property of about 24,000 acres taken up by J.H. Coleman and A. McHardy about 1860 and it was financed by Archdeacon Samuel Williams of Te Aute. Old Mr. Coleman had been head stockman on Te Aute Station which possessed a herd of Shorthorns. Mr. Coleman once told me that in their first year at Blackhead they had a flock of 2,000 ewes and practically all the lambs were devoured by wild pigs. So they had to set to work to exterminate the pigs. During Christmas and New Year period there was our usual fishing expedition to Taharua and Rangitaiki rivers but the first week I spent at the Spa in Taupo to have the “spout” on my knee. This seemed to have a good effect. We returned to Napier early in the New Year (1901) and the holidays passed again too quickly – there was much tennis at the Wenley’s, Kettle’s and Bernau’s and fishing with Basil Cotterill.

On January 22nd Queen Victoria, who had reigned for 61 years (9), died and we were ordered to wear mourning: – that meant black ties and lack bands on our arms! King Edward was proclaimed king a few days later.

Back to school early in February. I found myself in Form UA and a Librarian, which was just one lap behind that of prefect. I can see in my diary definite signs of growing-up. My friendship with the C.A. Dunns grew stronger and I was a frequent visitor to their home in Castlecliff. Dunn married Bessie Acland (himself being related to the Aclands) – he had a small dairy farm and supplied the school with milk. He used to drive his own milk delivery cart. Ivan and I spent three days at Te Onepu (Groome’s) in the early part of May and our share of the game bag appears to be good for we distributed 37½ brace of quail among our friends on our return to Napier. Towards the end of May we had another good day at Te Onepu among the quail. I notice that the train for Wanganui now leaves at 8:45 and arrives at 9:10 p.m. – an improvement in time of nearly an hour.

The reason for the length of time for this journey is the lack of co-ordinating timetables

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for the connecting trains – that is the Wairarapa and Woodville trails and Wellington-Palmerston train. The Wellington-Palmerston train was privately owned and was called The Manawatu Railway.

On July 2nd events of note took place – J.R. Orford (Master) returned from the war in Transvaal and W.T.S. Ritchie left for Cambridge University. He had been Head Prefect for 1½ years and was a personal friend of mine. His youngest brother, Charlie, came to school this year (1901) and in later life he and I were close friends.

In the August holidays we went to Auckland and Rotorua – travelled to New Plymouth by train and joined S.S. “Takapuna” for a night’s journey.

The reason for our stay at Rotorua for two weeks was that Father required hot bath treatment for sciatica. At Rotorua we became very friendly with the Crown Prince of the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaiian Islands) and his wife – he never came to the throne. Our return home was by way of Auckland and steamer to Napier (Zealandia – a very uncomfortable and rough passage).

During 1901 quite a number of earthquakes occurred – round about Cheviot they were severe.

I notice that all through the years at school there was always an outbreak of influenza once or twice a year, and I usually fell victim.

It may be of interest to note that on the last Sunday of the term the psalms and hymns never varied :-
Morning Service – Psalm 34
Hymns 103, 121, 122 and 150
Evening Service – Psalm 24
Hymns 391, 274, 439 and 277

During my six years at Wanganui my Aunt Andro lived in Feilding (Charlie Cotterill was Manager of Bank of New South Wales) and she usually met the train with foodstuff, and Frank Ormond lived on his farm near Woodville and he often met us and took us out for lunch in the old buggy.

Our fishing party that year consisted of Father, Ivan, Mr. C.A. Fitzroy, Bob Fitzroy, E. Groome and self.

First we camped at Taharua and a week later on the Rangitaiki where P.S. McLean and Goudy joined us. During the whole time we caught 101 fish and the average weight was 3.67 lbs. Two members of the party, viz. J.K. Goudy (Manager of Dalgety’s) and Dent, Wilson did not catch a fish as they spent most of the day under flax holes swigging out of a flask so the other members had a very good average each. The rest of the summer holidays were spent in Napier – much tennis and kingfishing, evening parties etc. I saw much of Dr, and Mrs. Ronald, F.J. Stopford and the Kettles.

On February 6th back to school and I found myself a prefect and Editor of the Collegian – two responsibilities which fell upon me in my last year.

The Prefects were : – D.H.S Riddiford (head), E.W. Johnson, T.F. Handyside, H.N Coleman, F.B. Logan, R.E.W. Riddiford, F.V. Kettle, O.R. Farrer, L.J. Mackie, R.C. Murphy, R.T. Fullerton-Smith, R.W Williams, A.G. Burns.

Of these only Dan Riddiford, Ralph Murphy and I remain.

For Easter and the Sports there was a big gathering of parents and old boys -among them were my Father and Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Wenley and Uncle Nat and Aunt Lina (Kettle). Chevannes Hotel appeared to have regained its popularity and was a scene of much excitement during the Easter period.

During the May holidays Ivan and I some good shooting – we had three days at Te Onepu early in the month and our share of quail for distribution among friends was 30 brace together with some pheasants.

We spent several happy days at Whana Whana with the Beamishes and shot an enormous number of Pukeko. Eric and Noel Beamish were then about 11 and 13 and were to go to Wanganui next term.

On May 31st Peace was declared in the Transvaal – the war had dragged on for about 4 years.

King Edward VII’s Coronation was postponed from June till August 9th on account of an operation for appendicitis. On September 3rd our next-door neighbour, Mr. AJ. Cotterill died of pneumonia and on September 5th I

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attended the first burial service ever at the Cathedral.

It was after his death that our home became almost the Cotterill’s home too.

During my last year the following figured much in my life. Dan Riddiford, A.H.A. Empson, Tom Handyside, H. Hanmer, T. Holmden, C.A Ritchie, E.W. Johnson and J.N. Coleman. We seem to have been on friendly terms and on each Sunday I seem to have been for a walk with one of them, and more often than not the walk was across the sandhills to the Dunns.

During 1902 S. A Gollan (the owner of Mangatarata) paid one of his frequent visits to New Zealand. He was quite a remarkable man and excelled in many forms of sport – golf, rowing, boxing, riding, billards, etc. It was towards the end of this year that he purchased the horse Moifaa in New Zealand and shipped him to England where he won the Grand National in 1904.

Gollan and his trainer, Hickey (whom I also knew) were stationed near the last jump in the Grand National race and when Gollan said “we’ve won it” Hickey collapsed and never regained consciousness before his death which occurred a few weeks later.

Almost at the end of the 3rd term there was an outbreak of measles in the school – I succumbed and quite a number of the masters as well. So it was a somewhat gloomy ending to the term and the year. I left school with mixed feelings – I was anxious to get on with life but there was sadness in saying farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Empson and other masters who had taken a personal interest in me. I knew that many of the friends I made at school would continue to play a part in my life whereas others would never cross my path again.

The following is a list of friends who helped to make my school days happier than they otherwise would have been –
W.T. Ritchie, J.S.M. Ritchie, Charlie Ritchie, R. St.C. Stewart, Harold Gillies, Herbert Coleman, R.F.R. Beetham, A.H.A. Empson, Ian Kettle, Dudley Kettle, E. Gordon Williams, Douglas Williams, Tom Handyside, E.T. Wilder, Edgar Stead, D.H.S. Riddiford, Eric Riddiford, E.B. Williams, Earl Williams, Selby Palmer, Eru Johnson, T.N. Holmden, Noel Beamish, Eric Beamish, R.W. Williams, W.B. Martin, Jack Nairn, R.P. Wilder

Of these only six are not living but the memories I have of those who have gone remain fresh and happy.

A few days before Christmas, Father, Keith Cotterill, Sam Crowther and I left for the Rangitaiki Camp and a few days later Ivan joined us. After a happy and successful expedition we returned to Napier on January 2nd and from then till the 15th my programme was a full one – saying goodbye and doing many jobs.

On the 15th my Father, Mother and I went to Wellington and on the 18th I set off in the Tyser cargo ship “Indralema” for London – Ronald Williams was my companion. We had known one another since childhood and had been to various schools together.

The “Indralema” was a dismal cargo ship of 6,000 tons – iron deck from stem to stern except for a deck house amidships containing four cabins, dining saloon, bathroom etc. and the Bridge was above. Captain Firth was a big burly man – as strong as an ox and had a voice like a foghorn.

His large wife was also on board and a small girl of about five years. There was one other passenger than R.W. and myself – a man by name of Hardman who was extremely delicate and spent most of his time in bed.

The Chief Engineer was a Creole (Critchlow by name) and he and the Captain were bosom friends but always called one another “Mister”. The Chief Officer was a tough Lancashire man without an “h” to his name. The 2nd Officer was by way of being very ‘up-stage’ and superior. There were two sittings for meals in the diminutive saloon – at the first were the two junior officers, two midshipmen and two engineers. At the second sitting were the Captain and Mrs, Firth, Chief Engineer and Chief Officer and 2nd Officer, R.W. and Self. R.W. and I were very bored at the 2nd sitting and asked to be transferred but after a week this arrangement proved highly unsuccessful and we resumed our places at the second sitting.

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Shipboard life on a cargo ship in those far-off days was very rough and tough. R.W. and I shared a small cabin – all cabins led out of the saloon and there was no privacy whatever. We sailed at 6 a.m. on January 18th – it was a dull and windy day such as Wellington can turn on at will.

During the following week I was seasick and homesick and felt like nothing on earth for the smallpox vaccination had begun to take effect. And during that first week the barometer kept falling and the sea kept on increasing. The climax came on Saturday 24th January when we were awakened by a fearful crash and a huge sea seemed to envelop the ship – then we heard the engine bell ring from the Bridge – the engines ceased and the ship drifted broadside to the sea and began to roll very heavily. R.W. and I thought the tail shaft must have broken, and that we would drift to the South Pole.

It was not for about two hours that we knew just what had happened for we were battened down and were not able to leave the deck house. The Captain seized an opportunity to dash down to the saloon to tell the somewhat scared passengers just what was “cooking”.

The huge sea, that broke on board, buckled the decking just above the steam steering gear and put it out of action so until repairs could be effected the only thing to do was to “heave to”. Vellum bags containing oil were lowered over the ship’s side (windward) and the oil spread out from the ship and so had the effect of converting a breaking sea into a swell.

The Bible speaks of oil on a trouble sea. For 18 hours we lay in the trough and rolled like fury and about 4 o’clock on the morning of the 25th we began to steam on again but the sea was so steep we could only proceed at a very slow speed for quite a time. Gradually we ran out of the storm and on February 6′ we rounded Cape Horn – it was a lovely morning and we were able to get a good view of this desolate tip of the American Continent from three miles away. Actually Cape Horn is a small island. Now the ship headed North and we gradually began to edge our way into warmer weather. We crossed the Equator on February 20th and anchored at Teneriffe late in the evening of the 28th – just six weeks from the time we left Wellington and during the whole of that time we had only seen one ship and that was away on the horizon and we had only had one glimpse of land – that was Cape Horn.

Owing to the quarantine regulations we were not allowed ashore at Teneriffe but native dealers came on board and we bartered for fruit, lace, cigars, etc., and the ship took coal on board. We sailed away again about midnight and after a fairly rough week with weather getting colder we sighted the south coast of England late in the afternoon of March 7th – picked up the pilot at Dungeness and then anchored for the night at Gravesend. The following morning we got under way again at 5 and finally docked in Victoria Docks of London at 8:30 – it was a grey dull day and rather cold.

The long and weary voyage ended – 50 days at sea without setting foot on shore.

I packed my trunk and rammed seven weeks of dirty clothes into the large canvas bag, put on a suit of clothes which had not seen daylight all the voyage and waited for the arrival of Aunt Mary and Mr. Harry Abbot. They arrived at the docks about 10 a.m. and we immediately left by train for Fenchurch Street, London.

It is interesting to note that during the voyage the “Indralema” averaged a little under 10 knots an hour – the best day’s run was 279 and the lowest 213, except for the 24 hours we were hove-to.

In fact the ship was just a tramp, however she was well founded. The cargo was mainly frozen meat and wool.

By rights there were no passengers and R.W. and I signed on as Purser and Assistant Purser on 1/- a month.

Each day R.W. and I devoted several hours to study – mainly Latin and Greek.

It was for this reason we travelled in a non-passenger ship. To keep ourselves fit and out of mischief we also accepted jobs of work on deck or in the engine room.

Then in the evening we played the odd game of cards and often in the afternoons there was deck hockey or cricket but you would not have recognised the games as such.

The cold between New Zealand and Cape Horn was quite awful at times and, of course, there was no such thing as a heater – they were unknown in those days.

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During the nights if you were awake when the hour bell rang you would hear the “Look-out man” who was situated up in the bows of the ship call out to the officer on the Bridge “Lights are burning bright and all’s well”.

Ivan, Louisa, Francis and Frank at 18 Fitzroy Road, Napier in 1901. Image source: Hamilton Logan

A private Hawke’s Bay cricket team (date unknown). Frank Logan is third from right, front row. The three Lowry boys are on Frank Logan’s right. The image was likely taken at The Grove at Okawa which in its day was a relatively famous and well-known private cricket ground. Hamilton Logan recalls that Tom Lowry played a lot of cricket on that ground. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Wanganui Collegiate School Prefects, 1901. Frank Logan is in the front row, first on the right. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Wanganui Collegiate Prefects, 1902. Back row (left to right): AG Burnes, TF Handyside, OR Farrer, RFW Riddiford, RC Murphy, LJM Mackie, RW William. Front row: F von T Kettle, HN Coleman, DHS Riddiford, RT Fullerton-Smith, FB Logan, EW Johnson. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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CHAPTER THREE

Manhood & England

On March 8th, 1903, a new life opened up for me. My Aunt and I spent a few days in London collecting some clothes and visiting friends such as Mr. and Mrs. Gollan and Mr. Edward Shortt (he later became Secretary for Ireland in the Asquith Government), seeing a theatre or two, some sightseeing and, of course, a visit to Customs House to receive my formal discharge from the “Indralema”.

Then we proceeded to Newbiggin-by-Sea. In those days Newbiggin was a delightful little fishing village – today it is a dirty dump. The journey was by the Flying Scotsman to Newcastle-on-Tyne and a change to a local train for a further 20 miles. I was greeted then by my Grandmother, Uncle James and Aunts Rachel and Helen.

Bank House then became my home. It was a longish grey stone house set in a pleasant garden with tennis court complete. At the entrance was the Lodge where Grey the gardener lived. On the far side of the house the lawn sloped down to a delightful sandy beach and the view of Newbiggin Bay with its many herring boats at anchor – it was a pleasing picture.

I spent about a week at Newbiggin and met many of the family’s friends – Mr. and Mrs. West, Ernest Charlton, Ada and Mary Wood and many of the village folk and fisher folk. We visited Newcastle to get more clothes – particularly an evening suit – an absolute must in England in those days ­lunched at the Union Club with Uncle Jim and met some of Father’s contemporaries, viz. Barty Brummell and Billy Swanston.

The time passed only too quickly and I then returned to London for a couple of nights with our old friends Grannie and Auntie Matheson at Hendon. They were not related to my family but for some reason or another I always called them Grannie and Auntie. We had travelled with them on the “Oceana” in 1895 from London to Melbourne. They opened their home wide to me and off and on for many years they remained wonderful friends.

Auntie gave me a day of excitement in London. We visited St. Paul’s, Lloyds, Bank of England, etc. At St. Paul’s we watched Lord Roberts unveil a monument to Sir C. Browne. Later in the afternoon I met Jack Nairn (Pourerere) who was studying medicine at Guy’s Hospital at Kings Cross, and we took my luggage to Charing Cross Station.

After a cup of tea and a yarn over old days at Wanganui I trained to St. Leonards-on-Sea. There I entered a “crammers” establishment in London Road which was run by E.L. Hawkins for prospective Oxford University students. He was a pompous and unpleasant little man and completely disinterested in others than himself and for the month I was there I was never able to forget I was a “Colonial”.

In those days New Zealand was still a colony and few English people even knew where it was. Mr. Hawkins told me the routine of the place and dismissed me.

Barham House was a very expensive place – £10.10.0d. per week, which in today’s equivalent would be about £40! There were about 8 or 10 of us in residence – R.W. being one – and I can remember Mockett, Barlow, Townshend, Patten and a Smith – Mockett and Patten went up to Oriel with me in October but I never cottoned on to any of them.

We worked about six hours per day -only one hour per day of personal instruction at the hands of Hawkins or an assistant and we had to wear full evening dress (white tie) for dinner at 8 p.m. each evening.

I stood the racket for about a Month and when the Easter recess came I decided to make other arrangements for coaching for the Oxford Entrance Exam. I learned mighty little and hated the experience but R.W. and I did quite a lot of exploring which was enjoyable. We visited Hastings Castle, Battle Abbey (William the Conqueror), Pevensey and some of the coastal towns such as Eastbourne, Bexhill, Rye, Winchelsea etc.

St. Leopards and Hastings were at that time, and still are, fashionable seaside resorts and

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there were the usual attractions on the sea front and piers. The only redeemable feature of Barham House was my bedroom which was large and the view over the English Channel was grand. Most of one’s book work was done in the bed-sitting room except for the odd hour a day with the tutor. I always remember my supper there, of Bath Oliver biscuits and Cornish Cream sent me by Sloggett from Cornwall. He had been Mr. Bernates coachman and worked his passage to England in the “Indralema” and by way of paying back a small amount I lent him he sent the cream. The dinners at Barham House were stuffy and formal – Hawkins at the head of the table and a somewhat stylish housekeeper at the other end – the conversation as we waded through many courses was on a high plane – part of our education I think: We always drank red wine and usually a glass of port with dessert. After dinner we were expected to play bridge for an hour before further book work. I managed to avoid this as I told Hawkins I was unaccustomed to late hours.

So on April 8th I said farewell to St. Leopards and went up to Willesden Green where I spent a couple of nights with the Turner Williamses (Mrs. Turner Williams now lives in Havelock North) and R.W. was there too. On the 10th I travelled to Newcastle by the Flying Scotsman and on to Bank House, Newbiggin-by-Sea to my Grandmother and Aunts. Until October 13th Bank House was my home, or at least my resting place between odd visits. Uncle Jim had engaged a tutor by name of Brackenbury for me in Newcastle and for the next month I used to visit him three times a week for an hour’s tuition – mostly Greek, Latin and Maths – and I learned all I wanted and more for 5/- per hour. Had I returned to Hawkins after the Easter Vacation it would have cost me another £50 at least.

From April 11th to May 9th I worked hard and went up to Brackenbury three times a week. It was an hour’s journey by train and half an hour’s walk to Holly Avenue – less by tram. Very often I went to Jesmond Dene to lunch with Mr. Montagu Stopford who lived in Lord Armstrong’s town house (he was an Uncle of Lady Armstrong).

Most of the month the weather was vile – a heavy snow storm on Easter Sunday left the country under a white blanket for about a week. I enjoyed the companionship of many new found friends particularly Norman, Hugh and Eva Southern of Ashington (about six miles away) – the former two were at Uppingham and destined for Kings College, Cambridge, in October and Eva was at Cheltenham. We had a lot of fun together and I was a frequent visitor to Ashington. Their Father (E.V. Southern) was Manager of Ashington Colliery – the biggest coal pit in the United Kingdom and it extended well under the sea. There were also the Liddell Brothers (Chris and Hugh) and the two Forster sisters.

There was an exciting ship-wreck on the Point Rocks on the night of the 27th and when the alarm was given I donned coats and snow boots and was in time to see the rocket being fired over the ship with breeches buoy. The crew were safely landed and the ship “Attiki” of 5,000 tons was towed off a week later when the Neap Tides occurred.

On April 10th I travelled to Oxford, my first visit to this University town which was to be my home while in England. I took rooms in a comfortable “digs” in Walton Street. During the few days before my Entrance Exam for Oriel College I delivered letters of introduction to The Reverend L.R. Phelps (Fellow of Oriel), The Dean of Oriel (Reverend F.A. Hall) who later became my tutor and Dr. Goudy, Regus Professor of Civil Law, one of Oxford’s most colourful and important men. Incidentally he was the brother of J.K. Goudy, Manager of Dalgety and Company of Napier. He was a tall and imposing figure and ready to be helpful. One night he invited me to a dinner party of six in his rooms at “All Souls’: It was my first taste of gracious living such as University celebrities enjoy. I also called on the Provost of Oriel, Sir Vavis Munro, a shy elderly bachelor of great learning. His niece, Jean Munro, kept house for him and she was a

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very understanding young woman for her home was in New Zealand.

I also lunched and dined with Dr. and Mrs. Matheson (Dean of New College) – he is a son of Grannie and Mrs. Matheson a daughter of Lord Abadare.

I attended evening service at New College chapel on the Sunday. I had my first sight of Mr. Spooner, the originator of Spoonerisms: I also called on The Reverend Dixon-Currie of New Hinksey – he was a friend of my Father’s in the days of his youth.

R.W. (Williams) stayed at The Mitre and he, Mockett and I forgathered during the week and visited many Colleges etc. The Examinations were held in the “Schools” at the bottom end of “The High” and lasted two or three days – there was Prose (Unseen) Latin and Greek, Essay, Maths (Algebra and Arithmetic) and at the end a Viva Voce. I was not altogether happy about the papers and went as far as to discuss with Dr. Goudy what move I should make if I failed. He only smiled and said “don’t worry, they would not allow you to travel 12,000 miles and not take care of you”. Well on the morning of the 16th a telegram came to say R.W. and I had passed into Oriel – we were among the 25 out of 46.

So in a high state of excitement we went off to London. The next few days I spent at Hendon with the Mathesons and Mr. Jim Matheson took me about the City. Then I went to stay with Mr. and Mrs. W. Robison (she was the widow of J.W. Carlile (Carlile and McLean – Solicitors of Napier). Then I joined up with Osborne Sainsbury (my Father’s deceased partner’s son), and we did many theatres and I got to know the West End of London Well. During that week there was a heat wave and temperatures rose to between 80 and 90.

On 25th May I returned to Newbiggin and remained there till mid-July with the exception of about a week in Oxford at the end of June. During the time I was staying at Bank House I kept up my book work and used to go into Newcastle for tuition with Brackenbury twice a week. In between times life was very pleasant – there were many more friends to bathe with on the delightful beach, among them were the Rhodes girls of Woodhorn Vicarage. There was much cycling about the countryside, visits to Ashington and Togston Hall (Liddell).

On Sundays I usually walked to Woodhorn for Church Service (about three miles). When my Father was young the Vicar was Mr. Shorn (father of Edward Shortt). The days passed happily but far too quickly and I became attached to Northumberland. It was in June I paid the first of many subsequent visits to Bamburgh Castle. I cycled the forty miles but returned as far as Morpeth by train.

During the last week of June at Oxford I stayed once more at 157 Walton Street and R.W. was with me. We sat our “Smalls” – proper name “Responsions” – it is the University Entrance Exam. The same subjects more or less as those for Oriel. The regulations say “students must wear dark suits and white ties” for exams. I chose a white sailor knot tie and was refused entrance till I had rushed up the High and bought myself a bow tie! This all made me hot and bothered and of course I was about 20 minutes late in beginning the first paper. However, all ended well. R.W. and I both passed – so now we were set for Oxford in October, with no further exams before us.

The next three months were completely carefree and full of enjoyment. In the middle of July I went over to Dublin to stay with a very old friend of Mother’s – Mrs. Blood. When Mother knew her in New Zealand she was a Mrs. d’Elsa. She had a daughter Sophie d’Elsa about my age and a younger daughter by the second marriage. Time passed very happily in sightseeing, cycling, golf, etc. and there was a visit by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Dublin which’ caused much excitement in the way of Procession and Army and Navy reviews, fireworks etc. but there were some cancellations on account of the Pope deciding to die during the Royal Visit. The last three days of my stay in Ireland were spent at Greystones in County Wicklow – a glorious part of the country. I returned to Newbiggin on August 7th and remained there till September 24th except for the odd few days at Rothbury with the Aunts and

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Chris Liddell and a week at Warkworth with the Southerns where we had much fun and a few days with the Robsons at Bellingham, near the head waters of the Tyne. From my diary I note I did some fishing on the rivers Coquet, Tyne and Aln but not with marked success.

At Rothbury I lunched one day at Lord Armstrong’s wonderfully situated home among the hills and heather – Cragside. The hills at that time were a mass of purple heather and in the dells were the most glorious rhododendrons. Mr. Montagu Stopford was staying there at the time and likewise Tom Williamson of Gisborne. In his hey day Lord Armstrong owned Cragside, Jesmond Dene in Newcastle, Bamburgh Castle, a London house in Eaton Square and a villa in the south of France. He was enormously rich but proved to be a fool over money matters and ended life as a comparatively poor man.

On one occasion when I stayed at Bamburgh Castle he had a huge house party and among the guests was Sir Adolphus Fitzgeorge – a son of the old Duke of Cambridge. I thought he was a very ordinary and vulgar old man and his stories after dinner, at which the table roared with laughter, were extremely crude. The last time I saw old Lord Armstrong was at Bamburgh Castle in 1950 – he then had his second wife – he was fairly similar and she was remarkably ordinary.

So the days passed merrily, mostly in company with Norman, Hugh and Eva Southern. On fine evenings after playing tennis at Bank House, we would have a swim in the sea before our supper, of course it was light till 10 or 11 p.m. in the northern summer, On September 24th I departed for Oulton Hall, Norfolk – the home of Mr. Walter Bolton and his sister. It was a lovely old home set amidst glorious woods and about 20 miles north east of Norwich. It was a happy week at Oulton – quite a lot of partridge shooting and I spent one day at East Ruston with the Rector and his son (Conrad Bankes of Christchurch Oxford and whom I got to know well later on) among the snipe.

There were very few private motor cars in those days (1903) in fact my first drive in a car was not till early in 1904 when I was taken for a short drive by the Rev. Dixon-Currie of New Hinksey. The public transport in all large cities was horse drawn bus, tram car, handsom cab and growler. The well-to-do owned carriages mostly and some of the turn-outs were quite wonderful to behold with coachmen and footmen side by side on the box-seat wearing full livery.

Lord Lonsdale’s carriages, I remember, were all painted a deep yellow with coat of arms on the doors and the coachmen and footmen wore powdered wigs. The handsom cab was the taxi cab of the period – you would not see any today except perhaps in Museums – it was comfortable though it looked otherwise. The fare was very reasonable and you could travel a long way for 1/- but it was usual, as it is today in regard to taxi drivers, to give the cabby a little extra. On Sunday mornings it would be the correct thing for the Londoners of fashion to walk or drive in their carriages in Hyde Park after morning church. This was called “Church Parade” and was a colourful sight. To get on with the story – after a very pleasant week at Oulton Hall I went to London, calling in to see Norwich Cathedral which I was to see on many occasions later.

On arrival at Liverpool Street Station I took a handsom cab to York Hotel, Barners Street – this was a very modern and up-to-date hotel to suit the average traveller and was operated on the bed and breakfast lines – the price was 5/- bed and breakfast in 1903. Today a similar type of hotel would charge at least 35/-. Mr. and Mrs. and Norman Southern were staying at The York also. Norman was getting his wardrobe for Cambridge. He and I went to quite a number of theatres and had a good look around London together. We also went to the docks on two occasions.

During the visit to London I saw something of the Harry St. Hills, Nellie Cotterill, the Robiesons, Louis Kettle and Arthur Hawkins – Arthur was then in the 11th Hussars and one night I dined with Louis and Arthur at the Cavalry Club. It was a very full and exciting ten days in London but I felt a little homesick the day I saw the “Rimutaka” leave

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the Victoria Docks with the Tom Crosse family on board.

On the 9th October I went to Silvermere, the lovely old home of the Archie Seth Smiths. It was midway between Byfleet and Cobham. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Smith, Ted and Mollie (aged about 9 and 7 – or thereabouts). The house was a large and rambling one in a spacious garden with lovely woods – there was a lake on which you could row a boat in summer and skate upon in winter. There was a 9 hole private golf course, green houses and everything really that made life pleasant.

Haidie (Mrs. Seth Smith) was the Miss von der Heyde who travelled with us in the “Oceana” in 1895. Minna von der Heyde (her sister) lived also at Silvermere. Silvermere became another home for me and the friendship between us all became a happy one, Betty Hay, now of Auckland, was not born until after I had left England and I did not know her till she visited New Zealand in about 1932. During my stay at Silvermere there was some pheasant shooting and golf and, of course, the complete joy of being in a private home midst friends.

Then on October 13th I went to Oxford and became an undergraduate of Oriel College and so began a totally new life – full of interest and opportunity and I think I realised how fortunate I was to have parents who made it possible for me to enter this wonderful University.

My rooms and R.W.’s were on number 5 staircase in the 2nd Quadrangle – they consisted of a sitting room, the windows of which looked out on Merton Tower, and a bedroom. I took over a certain amount of furniture and added more. There was an outside door you could lock as if it were a flat. A woman used to keep the rooms tidy – make the bed etc – she was called a “bedder” and a man-servant (scout) attended to about four undergraduates and Mr. Phelps who was also on our “Stair”. He was what you call a “valet”. We (undergraduates) breakfasted and lunched in our rooms, having the meals sent up from the “Buttery”. We dined in the Hall with the other College men – about 150 all told – the heads of the College sat at high table. On Sunday mornings we either went out to some restaurant in the town for breakfast or made it in our own rooms, scrambled eggs as a rule.

The night of my arrival my Aunt Mary came down from the north and she helped me do a bit of shopping and get my rooms into some shape. She stayed at The Mitre – Oxford’s famous hotel – and after completing her task she returned to Newbiggin on the 15th and then I settled down to my life at Oriel in ernest. Then followed the settling down process in this strange but historic University. R.W. and I discovered the loneliness of being the only New Zealanders at Oriel and as far as we knew in the whole of Oxford.

However a little later we discovered Cruickshank at Keble and became very friendly with him. About 40 years later he became Bishop of Waiapu. At Oriel there were 150 undergraduates and they hailed from all the public schools of England, and most of them knew one another before coming up to Oxford by reason of being at the same school or playing some game or other in inter-school contests. R.W. and I literally knew no one. We came from a school 12,000 miles away and we were Colonials and New Zealand did not appear to interest the average Englishman in those days. The All Blacks did not come into the picture until 1905 and generally speaking there was very little tourist traffic between England and New Zealand. The idea of young people visiting England on a working holiday was quite unknown. In those days, too, there was no Television, no wireless and no air travel or airmail. It took five weeks at least for letters to travel to and fro and further there was no telephonic communications.

October, 1903, was the first term of Rhodes Scholars and I think the New Zealand Rhodes Scholar was one Thompson – we met at a later date but had very little in common as he was about 22 or more and was a graduate of New Zealand University.

After the first week “Freshers” brekkers got well under way – these consisted of breakfast parties given by second year men

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for Freshmen. Some of them were quite big – up to a dozen – and the spread was fantastic. You got up after eating for an hour, usually there was fish, bacon and eggs, sausages, steak, tea, coffee, toast and marmalade and you felt quite unfit to begin the round of lectures. However this method of entertaining gave the members of a College an opportunity of meeting. Sometimes you could be invited out to other Colleges. Then as the term advanced it was the proper thing for the Freshers to return hospitality. These breakfasts were always served in your rooms and your Scout waited. You were allowed to keep drink in your rooms and sometimes there were evening parties but cocktail parties were unknown then. There were also a few more formal “brekker” parties given by some of the dons and before the term was far advanced I dined with the Provost of Oriel (also vice-chancellor of the University, Sir David Munro and as I said before his niece, Miss Jean Munro, who kept house for Sir David).

The day after entering college I paid my formal call on the Dean of the College, the Reverend F.H. Hall. He was a funny little fellow with a very squeaky voice and always addressed you with his eyes closed. He was my College Tutor but it did not mean he ever taught me. He was mainly my so-called guardian. In order to keep in touch with his “charges” he required them to write an essay every fortnight this was usually discussed with him but the idea was just that of “keeping in touch”. He told me the lectures I would be required to attend and he told me the general rules of the College. Among them was the need to attend 42 Chapel services per term – the attendance of Communion counted for three Chapels, the morning services at 8 counted 2 and the evening services counted only 1.

As a result of this system there was usually a rush to get through Chapel Keeping as early in the term as possible – especially in the winter term, so after completing the forty-two Chapels early on you could lie in bed later as the weather got colder.

For the first year, regardless of the subject you intended to read later, you were further ground in Latin prose and verse, the same in Greek, Logic and Divinity (“Divvers”) – this consisted of the Acts of the Apostles and one of the Gospels in Greek. It was looked upon as a very important subject and you had to make the grade within two terms (as far as I can remember). One attended lectures from 9:30 to 12:30 each day. The afternoons were free to play games or do as you liked, work was expected in your rooms for an hour before dinner and again in the evenings. Sometimes you would be switched from one lecturer (Don) to another and consequently you would have to dash from College to College in your gown – morter-boards were only compulsory after dark. Undergrads could move about out of College freely till 9 p.m. but after that permission was required but freely given. At 9 p.m. Old Tom, the big bell at Christchurch, rang out 101 times and after that the proctors and their henchmen (Bulldogs) were out and you stood a chance of being arrested if you were out without leave or were not wearing Cap and Gown. The steps of Queen’s College was a sanctuary but a “Buller” (Bulldog) could wait for you to give yourself up. Football was out of the question for me owing to my game knee that could go out of joint very readily, so I decided to row and it proved a good exercise and did not take more than a couple-of hours. Each afternoon I used to join the rowing men of my College and run through Christchurch meadows to the barge on the Isis (upper reaches of the Thames) and we carried on our rowing in the orthodox manner and under proper supervision. After rowing you would sometimes go off to watch some soccer and rugger or other games, have a cup of tea either in the town or in a Junior Common Room (College Club) then settle to work in your room.

I soon had a small circle of good friends – there was Keith McDermott (late of Charterhouse) who became a good and staunch friend and his father’s home at 15 Connaught Square, London, became a home to me. Other fellows who became friendly and understanding were Bence-Pembroke,

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Jack Tetley, Freddie Baker, Ron Davison, Wilkinson and Matthews. The first three were killed in the First War, the others I believe are all dead.

The weather got colder, darker and at times foggy and frosty as the term neared its end on December 15th. On Sundays we usually made our own breakfast of scrambled eggs but on occasions we went to a restaurant in town. Then we more often than not went for a long country walk or a tour on bicycle and places often visited were Woodstock, Blenheim Palace, Wallingford, Radley School, Abingdon etc. We would have our lunch at some pleasant country pub. Often on a Sunday we would go to St. Mary’s in the High where there was usually a good preacher viz. Bishop of London, Bishop of Stepney or some other couch dignatory.

So on December 15th my first term at Oriel ended. I had acquitted myself quite well at “Colleckers”, that is the term examination, – written and oral – and therefore looked forward to a month’s rest. I went up to London, had two or three days with the Turner-Williamses at Willesden Green, then a week with Mr. and Mrs. Empson in Cornwall Gardens. Judy and I did many theatres, went to various picture galleries, the Royal Mint and called on friends of the Empsons.

On Christmas Eve I took the Flying Scotsman from Kings Cross to Newcastle and on arrival I had tea with Uncle Jim, then he and I caught the express to Newbiggin and so I found myself home again with my Grandmother and the Aunts. The average speed of the Flying Scotsman in 1903 was slightly over 54 m.p.h. – that means well over 60 m.p.h. at times for there were stops at Grantham, York and sometimes Darlington.

On my first Christmas in England I went out to the Point Church (well out on the northern promontory of Newbiggin Bay) with Aunt Nell. We had a quiet day and Chris Liddell came to a family dinner. I remained at Newbiggin until January 2nd. There were goings and comings among friends, a visit to friends of the family in Newcastle and on New Year’s Eve the Aunts, Chris Liddell and I embarked on a “First Footing” expedition which meant a late night and little sleep for Aunt Mary. The Forster sisters and I caught a train at 107 for a meet of the Percy Hounds at Morpeth. Of course we were only watchers but it was very thrilling to see how a meet of English hounds was conducted – all the followers in conventional hunting attire, much colour, baying of hounds, sounding of the hunting horn and extravagant horsey talk.

On January 2nd I travelled to London. R.W. met me at Kings Cross and after taking our luggage to Waterloo we met the Empsons at the Criterion in Piccadilly for dinner. At 10 R.W. and I boarded the boat express at Waterloo for Southampton en route for our first venture to the Continent. At midnight we boarded the ferry to Le Havre arriving there about 7, boarded the Paris Express for a three hour journey and only one stop.

We spent a week in Paris and got in touch with Cecil Webb (a former master at Te Aute) who was an art student and had a grim bed-sit 104 steps up. He took charge of R.W. and me and at the end of the week there was nothing we had not seen of Paris. He was a wonderful guide indeed. One day we ate snails (“escargot”) – tough and tasteless. Then we proceeded to Rouen. The pension recommended us was pretty low so after a night we moved to a hotel. There were numerous churches and ancient buildings to see and, of course, much of interest concerning Joan d’Arc who was burned at the stake here. A trip or two down the Seine and to Dieppe. Then one night we boarded a ship at Le Havre about midnight and, had a very rough passage to Southampton.

After three or four days with the Mathesons I went back to Oxford. During this term that lasted till 26th March, my rowing progressed and the lectures became more interesting. One Sunday afternoon I was bidden to tea with Sir William Anson (Warden of All Souls). His two elderly sisters kept house and living with them were two daughters of Mr. Fred Anson of South Canterbury. They were delighted to meet and talk with a New Zealander who spoke their language for they were having a very sticky time in that Victorian house. They occasionally came to tea with me in my rooms but there were always the two chaperons (Aunts) with eyes

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like gimlets. I don’t know what became of Margaret but Dolly married Charlie Crawford of Miramar and lived mostly in Scotland.

During the term I was admitted to the Inner Temple and twice during the term Keith McDermott and I went to London to eat dinners. Herbert Sturge became a close friend and this friendship lasted for many years at Oxford and in New Zealand. He died at Rochester, U.S.A., in 1935 where he had gone to the Mayo Clinic for medical treatment. During the term there was a Wanganui Old Boys’ dinner party at the Trocadero. Grey Russell was in the chair. WT. and Jim Ritchie, H. Coleman, R.W., W.B. Martin, Thatcher, H.D. Gillies and, of course, Mr. Empson were present among many others.

On the last day of term R.W. and I suddenly decided to take our bikes over to Belgium. As soon as “Collections” were over we rushed up to London and made our very rapid arrangements and after dinner at the Criterion we caught the 8 p.m. boat train from Liverpool Street to Hawich. Next morning we were steaming up the Scheldt and reached Antwerp about 9. After a meal and a look round the City we mounted our bikes and set off over the very cobbly roads to see the sights. Next day a dreadful ride of three or four hours to Brussells via Malines, stayed at the swagger hotel Metropole, and we spent almost a week seeing all the churches, towers, statues and picture galleries. Then we set off for Ostende via Bruges and Ghent. We had much fun and ran very short of change and boarded the Ostende-Dover ferry about 2 or 3 a.m. Not much sleep and on arrival at Victoria Street Station we biked up The Strand, round St. Paul’s and the City and eventually landed up at Willesden Green. Then a week at Silvermere where Herbert Coleman joined me and we biked to Exmouth via the New Forest to see O.H. Druce who was recovering from pneumonia etc. After a few days we proceeded to Plymouth mostly by train as the weather broke. We met the “Gothic” with Mrs. Coleman and May – the last mentioned was to marry Stephen Walter in May. Herbert went to London in the boat train and I meandered back to Silvermere then and put in a night or two with the Sandersons at Chislehurst. And so back to Oxford on April 22nd.

During the term I went up to the McDermotts at 15 Connaught Square for Temple dinners. After sitting Divinity (Divvers) and Moderations (2nd year exam) I went up to London and spent a few days in Chelsea with Sir Philip and Lady Watts. He was a constructor in the Navy Office and she was a very entertaining Belgian. They were friends of my Aunt Rachel. Then I decided to take a steamer up to Newcastle – it sounded attractive and cheap but it was a ghastly trip. All meals were extra and I had to land at Tynemouth late in the evening or miss the connection to Newbiggin. I had expected to save money by taking the ship but I was well out of pocket! After all the weekend return to Newcastle in those days was only about 21/6: The fare by ship was 12/6 but all meals extra. A few days rest at Newbiggin and then I had to return to Oxford for my Viva Voce exam. By the way I passed my exams. Another few days in London and then back to Newbiggin for the best part of two months when I enjoyed the company of the Southerns, Lizz Richardson and others. There was much tennis, sea bathing, long walks over moor and sands. The long evenings were too wonderful – you could play tennis till 10 and have a bathe in the sea before supper, usually of sea-salmon, crab, etc. There was also the odd weekend at Warkworth with the Southerns, to Sunderland to visit Ada and George Wood, a weekend with Uncle Jim to the Lake District and a long weekend to Mr. Stopford at Bamburgh Castle. The Armstrongs were in residence and one night I dined with them and about 20 guests, (Sir Adolphus Fitzgeorge – a son of the Duke of Cambridge being one). We dined in the Armoury which was full of knights-in-armour and walls covered with flags and strange weapons of war. The Castle Keep is old ­dating back to the day of the Picts and Scots, about 1100 A.D. – but the rest of the Castle had been modernised by Lord Armstrong at terrific cost along the

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lines of the Ancient Castle. The Castle is built on a massive rock and is surrounded on three sides by the North Sea. A few miles off the coast lie the Fame Islands – full of birds and historic for ship wrecks. A little further up the coast lies Holy Islands (Lindisfarne) where Christianity in England had its birth. A most romantic place and one I was to know much more intimately in later years.

About the middle of August 1904 when an attack of boils had apparently subsided I went to Scotland for seven glorious weeks – heather in full bloom wherever I went. There were the odd days and nights in Edinburgh where I made friends with Andrew Young of the British Linen Bank and a cousin of Father’s. He was a very pleasant fellow – a Batchelor and quite a man of the world. On several occasions he took me out to shows and dinners and was helpful in many ways. I spent a very happy fortnight with Mr. and Mrs. Farmer (parents of Mrs. S.H. Gollan) and their daughter Cicily. In the 1870s Mr. Farmer sold his interest in Longlands (10,000 acres) to his partner James Watt and returned to Scotland. Brownhills is situated on the main road between St. Andrews and Dundee and was a comfortable and spacious home with a lovely garden. During my stay there I got to know Mr. and Mrs. Gollan and their four children well, they had a house in St. Andrews where they spent three months of the summers. He, of course, played much golf on the Royal and Ancient. He was at that time a “top-flighter”. On one occasion I had a round with him on this the most celebrated golf course in the world. I am glad to say I did not miss my drive off but otherwise I was pretty hopeless. Staying at Brownhills was Ida Dickinson, who later married a diplomat, Sir Fitzmaurice. She, “Auntie” as we called Cicily Farmer, and I did much cycling over the county of Fife – at times we went as far as the Tay Bridge just this side of Dundee. The town of St. Andrews was quite attractive and was the seat of a famous University. One day I was shown over the girl’s school of St. Leonards by the headmistress.

My visit to Brownhill was a very enjoyable one except for one last boil on the neck:

The cross-country journey to Oban via Edinburgh, Loch Lomond etc, was through pretty heather carpeted country ­it was partly by train, boat and coach. From Oban I travelled for two hours in the inter-island ship “Grenadier” to Carsaig Bay on the Isle of Mull and there I was met by my Oriel friend Keith McDermott, his father, sister and the house party on the little jetty. Inniemore Lodge, my home for the next three weeks, was a typical Scottish home of grey stone. It was situated on a hill commanding a wonderful view across the bay to various islands belonging to the Inner Hebrides and purple heather abounded and you could hear the gurgle of various burns as they cascaded down the hill to the sea. It was a house full of comfort and peace. Our days were spent fishing for sail in Carsaig Bay, which was good sport, tramping over miles of heather hills, fishing for Fontinalis trout in the burns, shooting the odd grouse and rabbit and always a picnic lunch. The mail was irregular and some of us would walk to Pennyghael for it – about five miles by a track over the hills. Each night there would be enjoyable talk round a huge wood fire and so this very happy visit, midst kind friends to this Scottish stronghold, came to an end and I left one morning by small ship calling at Iona, Staffa, Tobermoray, Oban, the Kyles of Bute for Gouroch on the Clyde and so via Glasgow to Edinburgh. The following day I went to Kinross and was met by Mr. and Mrs. Purves Russell (whose property Woburn near Waipukurau was taken by the Crown in 1900). A drive for a few miles brought us to Warroch – a lovely home in the Ochil Hills. Mr. Russell was about 86 and full of interest regarding the pioneering days in Hawke’s Bay. A week passed only too quickly, what with some partridge shooting, visits to his daughter’s home, Hattenburn – she married Sir Henry Montgomery – drives round the countryside etc. Grey Russell (at school with me) was at Warroch for part of the time and we had much in common.

The last fortnight of the Long Vacation – till October 13th ­was spent at Newbiggin. Aunt Helen had returned from her visit to New Zealand and was full of home news. There

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was the resumption of friendships with Lizz Richardson, the Southerns and others. We had much golf and rambles over the moors and even at this time of the year we had an occasional dip in the sea.

And so a glorious and happy summer vacation came to an end.

Wanganui Collegiate Old Boys (UK Bound) at a dinner held at the Trocadero Restaurant in January 1904 to honour Mr Empson, Collegiate Principal (he can be seen seated at the top table, second from left). Frank Logan is seated at the table at the rear of the photograph (second from right). WT Ritchie and RF Beetham are third and fourth from the right, closest to us. HD Gillies is facing them, fourth from the right. Image source: Bob Logan

Frank Logan at Oxford with a punting oar (date unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Ivan, Louisa, Francis and Frank in Paris as part of a side trip on the tour by the All Blacks to the United Kingdom in 1905. Image source: Hamilton Logan.

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CHAPTER FOUR

My Second Year at Oxford

On October 13th term began and it was pleasant to find myself back in my familiar rooms at Oriel and to be among my friends again. During the term I seem to have seen much of Keith McDermott, Ron Davison, Blakeway (Rhodesian Rhodes Scholar), R. Williams of course, who occupied the flat above me, Cruickshank of Keble and others. Being a second year man my status was different and it became quite in order to invite to your rooms any you wished regardless of time of entrance. From time to time early in the term I joined with others to invite “Freshers” to breakfast etc.

At last the real purpose of my coming to Oxford began to unfold and my course in Law began. Lee of Worcester (later one of Oxford’s most brilliant lecturers in certain Law subjects) became my tutor and he and I got on well together. During the term I attended lectures on Roman Law, Real Property, Torts and Contracts (the standard work on Contracts was then and may still be “Anson on Contracts”). This was Sir William Anson, warden of All Souls and uncle of my two New Zealand girl friends who lived with him there – Dolly (afterwards Mrs. Charlie Crawford) and Margaret. During the term my friendship with the Ansons was maintained and I occasionally called at All Souls and they used to come to my rooms but always very heavily guarded by the two Aunts! My visits to the Dixon-Curries at New Hinksey were quite frequent. There appears to be odd dinners with Dr. Goudy (Regius Professor of Civil Law) who always showed kindness to me. I note also a dinner party one night with Woolcombe (Head of Oxford House, London and later a suffrugan bishop in Yorks) W. Temple (later Archbishop of Canterbury) and C.A. Guy who was at Oriel with me and later prominent in the High Church movement. Talking of High Church (Anglo-Catholicism) I sometimes attended a service at Cowley to hear Father Waggett preach. Several times during the term good preachers came to St. Mary’s – notably The Bishop of London (Winnington Ingram) and the Bishop of Wakefield. Davison interested me in a bit of work in a doss house for “down and outs” – very grim and unrewarding – after a visit we always bathed in a disinfectant.

The Broome Society met once a fortnight and in turns we used to contribute a talk – it all sounds rather futile nowadays but it did mean a getting together and a yarn over a cup of coffee later.

On another occasion A.A. David (a don of Queen’s College), who later became Bishop of Liverpool invited me to a big breakfast party at Queen’s and I found myself next to W. Temple, then an undergraduate himself and later Archbishop of Canterbury. He was very untidy in his dress:

Twice during term I went to London to eat dinners at the Inner Temple and I note on three successive nights old W.B. Martin (late of Wanganui, now Cambridge) K. McDermott and Antony Wilding, the famous tennis player with Norman Brookes, and I made up a four. On one or two of these occasions I stayed at Bullers Wood at Chislehurst with the Sandersons. Leslie Sanderson was once Manager of Murray Roberts in Napier for a year. We knew the family well. He was also my sponsor for the Inner Temple.

Very hard frosts set in on November 13th and within a couple of days most of us downed our work and lectures to skate. We had a glorious time at Iffley, ChCh meadow, twice at Blenheim Palace Lake and actually a few hours on the Thames itself. The lake at Blenheim Palace (Duke of Marlborough’s spacious home and birthplace of Winston Churchill) was very clear and you could see the fish of many kinds swimming under the ice. Blenheim was easily reached by train to Woodstock – about eight miles from Oxford. November was very early for skating – as a rule it is not before late December that skating conditions occur.

During the term I seem to have played some hockey and golf as well as rowing. On December 12th “Collecters” (the slang for Collections) took place – they consisted of examinations on the term’s work – set papers and a viva voce – I was quite satisfied with the result. On December 13th Keith McDermott

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and I went to London and were present at the Oxford v Cambridge rugger match at Twickenham. The former were defeated 15-10. I saw W.T. Ritchie for a few minutes. This was his second year as a Cambridge Blue. We were at Wanganui together. That night I dined with Mr. and Mrs. E. Gilbertson of Waipukurau and they saw me off at Victoria for my month’s visit to Dresden and Berlin. I left at 8:30, crossed the Channel from Queensboro to Flushing (Holland) and at 5:30 next morning the Vienna train began its journey. At Goch there were customs exams and I was helped by an English-speaking German for I only knew about half a dozen German words. It was a long and somewhat tedious journey, but it was a comfortable trans-continental corridor train with restaurant car attached. We eventually reached Dresden at 10:20 p.m. having passed through such big cities as Hanover and Leipig. Mr. Douglas Farmer of St. Andrews, who was Anglican Chaplain at Dresden, met me and escorted me to the very comfortable pension where he had procured accommodation for me. It was a very superior pension in a pleasant part of Dresden. There were twenty of us all told staying there and of many nationalities – Russian, French, American, English and Australian and I, a New Zealander. We each had a comfortable bedsitting room and we mealed in a large dining room at one long table. The lady of the pension sat at the head of the table and before each meal, all standing, she bowed to right and left and said “Malzeit” which means “happy meal time”. The meals were lengthy and large, especially mid-day dinner which began at 1 p.m. and usually lasted till 3. There was much amusing conversation and we all tried to learn something of all the languages. Most of the guests were, like me, staying for at least a month for the performance of Wagner’s Ring at the famous Opera House. I had decided to learn a little German, if possible, and had booked lessons for an hour each morning with a German woman. I kept this up for about a couple of weeks and then gave it up for the temperature of her room, what with a coke stove and double windows sealed, was about 70 degrees and out of doors it was below freezing. This did not suit me at all. So I set out to enjoy all that Dresden had to offer.

The museums and Art Galleries were at that time among the best in the world and there was that famous picture, The Sistine Madonna. Saxony was then a Kingdom with Dresden its capital and the public buildings were many and beautiful. The river Elbe flowed through the City and was attractive especially as it was frozen most of the time I was there. There were trips to places of interest sometimes by train and sometimes on foot and of course most evenings there was the opera. This usually began at 7, a break about 9 for a meal and then on again till after 11. There was skating on most days and at many of the skating lakes a band used to play. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer were kind to me and I enjoyed many meals with them especially on Christmas and New Year days. They also passed me on to some of their English friends living in Dresden. Many English people visited this City regularly for it was perhaps the very centre in Europe for Art, Music and Culture. And many of Europe’s girls, after leaving school, were sent there for finishing off in the Arts, etc.

During my stay I visited Berlin with a couple of Australians. A very unpleasant type of influenze cold struck Dresden just about the New Year and I unfortunately picked up the bug and had to call in a doctor but he could not speak English which was not very helpful. On the whole my month’s stay in Dresden was enjoyable and informative – as I said before, the City, in those days, was considered one of the most beautiful is Europe. Today with much of it still lying in ruins after the heavy air raids of 1945 and under the East German regime it must look a very sorry sight.

I returned to London on January 10th, 1905, to spend 10 days with Mr. and Mrs. Gollan in Porchester Gate – those rather noble houses have now gone and a huge block of flats have taken their place. A strange coincidence occurred on the journey by train from Dresden to Flushing – I was shown a seat for dinner in the restaurant car and who should be my table companion but Mr. Goring, a

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metellurgical engineer of Berlin, whom I used to meet at the McDermott’s from time to time in London 1905.

During the ten days in London before term began, I went to several theatres and attended dinners at the Temple, went to the Zoo with Keith McDermott and Lucy (sister), walked to Hammersmith to see Mr. Gollan and Tom Sullivan rowing. I returned to Oxford on January 19th. It was a very cold term and I seemed to get cold after cold which had a lowering effect. The lack of sunshine was more noticeable in this my second winter. Towards the end of January there was more skating. I seem to have seen much of Keith McDermott, Blakeley and Davison and we had many a long walk on Sundays to places of interest in Oxfordshire. Lectures proceeded apace and I seemed to be making reasonable progress with law. One day Lee (law tutor) took me to the Law Courts when Lord Alverstone (Lord Chief Justice) was presiding. Be complimented a young barrister upon his masterly address on behalf of his client – the young barrister was F.E. Smith, afterwards Lord Birkenhead (Lord Chancellor).

Jim Ritchie (in the Navy) came to me for a weekend and one day we went to Pinewood Sanatorium to see Blair Whyte – this place was situated near Wellington College. Blair had T.B. but made a good recovery. In after years Jim and I used often to meet in various parts of the world. He had been at Wanganui with me before joining the Navy. As well as going to Pinewood we walked down to see Ewan Troutbeck at Hadley. One afternoon I was bidden to tea at 45 The Broad with a Mr. and Mrs. Percival related to the Sydney Johnstons) and there I met and had conversation with an old lady (Mrs. Henderson) – she was a daughter of Dean Liddell of Christchurch fame and was the “Alice in Wonderland” of Lewis Carroll. There were the usual visits to All Souls to see the Ansons and the girls and their Aunts came to College to tea with me.

One day I accompanied a soccer team to Bradfield College as an onlooker – C.A. Guy who was a Blue and undergraduate of Oriel was in charge. It was a very enjoyable day and I noted that a heavy cold that had been with me was blown out. There were quite a number of visits to the Tramp Kitchens with Davison – a transit camp for “down and outs”.

Towards the end of the term I spent a happy weekend with Davison at his parent’s home on the river at East Moseley just by Hampton Court and on the Sunday we attended Communion at The Chapel Royal which Cardinal Wolsely used to attend when he lived in Hampton Court in the days of Henry VIII. Collections (Colleckers) took place on 18th and 19th March and the results showed my legal studies were not in vain.

On March 21st the Easter Term ended and Keith McDermott and I went to his home at 15 Connaught Square, near Marble Arch in London, which by then had become a London home to me. Two days later we embarked on the “Ruapehu” at Royal Albert Docks for our journey to Teneriffe. It was the off-season so the ship was very empty. Among the 10 to 12 passengers in the first class were the Bishop of Christchurch, N.Z., and Mrs. Julius (He was some years later the first Archbishop of New Zealand) and the Reverend H.H. King and Mrs. King of Marazian, Cornwall (later they became numbered among my best friends). The “Ruapehu” was about 8,000 tons, burned coal as oil-burners were non-existent at that time and she averaged about 12 knots per hour. We sailed at lunch-time and next evening put into Plymouth for the night and next morning Keith and I landed and pottered about the town and the Hoe till the tender, took us back to the ship about midday. The voyage of six days was pleasant – only one rough day – and we enjoyed bridge, deck games and conversation, particularly with Bishop Julius and the Kings. The former was a man of the world and full of fun and stories, The Kings were going to Teneriffe to relieve the Padre there for a few months as they had done on previous occasions. On the seventh morning after leaving London we anchored in Santa Cruz Harbour in brilliant sunshine and in the distance we could see the Peak high up in the heavens. After landing we proceeded with the Kings to the Pino del Oro Hotel on the hillside above the

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town and this was our comfortable home for the next ten days. Santa Cruz was a typical Spanish town – lovely climate and just the place for us after a cold and grim winter in England. We got to know the Kings well and enjoyed their company to the extent that we did everything with them. They were excellent guides for they knew the place so well. The days slipped by only too quickly – picnics to the Mercedes Forest high up in the hills, visits to Luguna, the old city, full of monastries, visits to the town., waterfront and English Club etc. etc., and much time was devoted to games of Badminton in the lovely gardens of the hotel.

On April 9th the “Ionic” arrived from New Zealand after her voyage round Cape Horn and it was a time of excitement when I greeted Mother and Father, On board were Ivan and Arthur Empson – both destined for Oxford – and quite a number of New Zealand friends, Mr. L. de Pelichet among them, The passengers were all glad to have a day on shore for they had only had a short break at Rio de Janeiro since leaving New Zealand on March 2nd. We all boarded the “Ionic” – Keith McDermott of course with us – towards evening and so we sailed for England.

The “Ionic” was a very comfortable ship of 12,000 tons and there were about 100 saloon passengers. After an uneventful voyage we arrived at Plymouth late at night on the 14th to drop some passengers. Next day we proceeded in glorious weather up the English Channel and arrived at the Docks in London on the 16th. We spent the next two days at the York Hotel, Burners Street, and then proceeded on to Newbiggin-by-Sea so that Father could see his ageing Mother, Sisters and Brother and the plan was to be there for a couple of weeks of golf and Barty Brummell, Father’s very old friend, was to be there also. However the plans went awry – Mother who had been unwell all the voyage, became worse and a nurse had to be installed, the weather was atrocious and cold, I developed a hateful chill and on my 21st birthday Father became unwell. We had only had a little golf by then and still further trouble descended for old Barty arrived one evening in the village and was put straight to bed and within a week he was dead and so he and Father never met.

On the afternoon of April 27th Ivan and I had to leave as he was to keep an appointment with a tutor in Oxford and my term began on the 28th. After settling Ivan down in rooms and my returning to Oriel news of Father’s very serious condition forced me to return to Newbiggin on May 4th. As his condition became critical I had to catch a train taking me to Morpeth and after many changes I arrived at 11:30 p.m. and was met by Chris Liddell with bikes. We had to do the last 12 miles in the middle of the night. By that time two nurses were installed in our rooms and Father was being kept alive by oxygen for be then had Double Pneumonia and, of course, in those days there were no antibiotics. It was just a case of careful nursing and waiting for the crisis. For two or three weeks Father hovered between life and death and to make things worse pericarditis appeared. However he turned the corner and by June 28th he was fit to be moved,

During the period May 4nd to June 28th Mother and I were able to visit Newcastle several times and to spend a day at Bamburgh Castle with Mr. Stopford. I did some work on my “law” – cycled about the countryside with Hugh Southern, golfed and had the occasional bathe in the sea and of course the Aunts accompanied me on many walks.

I forgot to mention that early in June Mother and I also spent a few days at Oxford to show her around the Colleges etc. and we also had a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph in their pleasant flat in Whitehall Court in London and it was quite a gay time with lunches and dinners at the Savoy and other good restaurants. Father was well cared for that time by two nurses and the Aunts were there too. Eventually on June 28th we set out together with a nurse for Bournemouth via York and London (Kings Cross Hotel). There we stayed at the Grand Hotel for two weeks – Father improving all the time, During that time Ivan came for a week and we golfed, watched the fun shows

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on the Pier, visited Poole and other nearby places such as the New Forest and paid two or three visits to Louie and Arthur Hawkins at their attractive home near Eastleigh.

Then on July 14th after a couple of days in Southampton we took a ship to Guernsey and took up our abode in old Government House Hotel – a most comfortable place with spacious gardens full of all sorts of sub-tropical trees and shrubs abounding. The island resembled New Zealand in many respects and appeared to be a place of friendly people who found their own amusements and were not dependent upon others. This I discovered more markedly a few years later when I stayed there with my Aunts Mary and Helen who made their home at L’Ancresse, a seaside resort of St. Peter Port, for a couple of years or so.

Father made rapid progress in the sunshine of Guernsey and for a couple of weeks we all enjoyed life, some golf, seabathing, cycle expeditions were the order of the day and we became very friendly with Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers and Miss Bigge (sister of Lord Stamfordham) and friend of the Logan family in days gone by. Then Father and Ivan one day decided to go to Rothbury in Northumberland for some fishing. By that time my own health deteriorated and a gland in my jaw flared up (sub-maxiliary) – the doctor ordered me to bed and there I stayed for ten days or so. Had X-ray been known the cause would have been discovered – as a matter of fact it was not until 20 years later at the Mayo Clinic, U.S.A., that a pebble was found which from time to time obstructed the saliva duct and caused acute inflammation. For many years there was a period of peace then eventually the gland was removed entirely, it having become a solid piece of limestone.

To get on with the sojurn in Guernsey – Mother and I stayed on till the doctor and Dr. Carruthers, who came in as a friend (he was retired from the Indian Army), decided a lung was affected and I should see a London Specialist at once. So we returned to London for a consultation with Dr. Taylor of Welbeck Street – he was optimistic generally but insisted on my return to New Zealand for a year’s rest at least. This verdict altered all hope of carrying on at Oxford for the time being – the main idea was for me to regain my health and then consider the position. Mother and I stayed in great comfort at The Metropole in Northumberland Avenue – like the Grand and Victoria it has gone now. Then we moved into comfortable rooms in Hertford Street, just off Park Lane and near Shepherd’s Market.

On 18th August we joined Father and Ivan at Ely and we all went to stay at Oulton Hall in Norfolk with Mr. and Miss Boulton. It was a lovely old home in the depths of the country and surrounded by woods. I had stayed there last year for some partridge shooting so knew it well. After a week Mother, Father and Ivan went back to Northumberland and I stayed on till September 1st when I went to London and next day took the Cornish Riviera Express – non-stop from Paddington to Plymouth (246 miles in 265 minutes, slipping carriages at Bath and Exeter). At Truro I changed trains and proceeded to Marazion where the Kings (Teneriffe) met me. He was the Vicar of Marazion and Chaplain to Lord St. Leven of St. Michael’s Mount.

The Vicarage was commodious and overlooked the Mount and the Bay and at once I knew happiness was in store for me there. The Kings were just kindness itself to me and became very dear friends. The two little girls, Faith and Daphne, were 4 and 2 and became my companions. As I write all are dead except Daphne (Daps) and she is now 62 – retired after her life’s work as a Mistress at Christ’s Hospital in Hertford. I still keep in touch with her and have seen her on all of my visits to England. During my fortnight at Marazion there were many happy excursions by bicycle with the Kings to many parts of Cornwall, including Land’s End, St. Ives, Penzance, Mousehole etc., and often we would call in at some wayside farm house for a cup of tea and splits with Cornish cream and raspberry jam. With fresh air, good food and pleasant company my weight increased. On the 15th I went to Exeter,

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met Viv Riddiford and we saw the All Blacks defeat Devon by 54 to 4. Met some of the team we knew – Eric Deans, Hunter, Harper etc. Also ran into Frank Newman and Arthur Empson.

So back to London to join Mother, Father and Ivan at 5 Hertford Street for 10 days. Ivan and I went to Oxford for a night and I fixed things up with the Dean for my absence in New Zealand – packed up my belongings – had time to show Viv Riddiford over some of the Colleges – a visit to Silvermere and many other things had to be seen to. Then on September 25th Mother, Father, Ivan and I went to Paris via Dover and Calais – we put up at the St. James and Albany in Rue St. Honore.

Mother, Ivan and I had a week in Paris (Father got bored after three or four days and went off to Oulton Hall, Norfolk). Cecil Webb was our guide and friend as he had been to Ronald W and me last year. The weather was fine and we did all the galleries, churches and sights generally and got much fun by visiting an assortment of restaurants and sitting in the Champs Elysee watching the Parisians. One day we hired a funny old Renault Car and went out to Versailles – it was a lovely afternoon and all the fountains were playing. After a week we took the train to Brussells. Ivan and Mother had a good browse around and went to Antwerp one day but I was not very fit so lay low. We returned to London via Calais and Dover and struck a rough and unpleasant crossing of the Channel – passengers were sea-sick in all directions. Father was at Charing Cross to meet us and we returned to our rooms at 5 Hertford Street.

The following week I spent saying goodbye to many friends including a day at Silvermere and on October 13th I went to spend another week with the Kings at Marazion. It was a glorious week – walking along the country roads, cycling and so on. Then on October 20th I went to Plymouth and next day joined Mother and Father on board the “Ionic”. At 3:30 we sailed and the coast of England vanished from sight about 5 p.m.

So I sailed away from England with very mixed feelings – excited of course at the thought of seeing my home country again after three years absence but very apprehensive as to my future and whether I would be able to see my law course out at Oxford. Dr. Taylor’s thoughts were for me to spend a whole year in quiet living in New Zealand and have much fresh air, returning to England sometime in 1907 to review the position. When I look back I realise how very important it is for a young man, going to England for a university course, to watch his health, especially in the winter months. Although in the end I had to abandon an indoor life and the legal profession I feel, after the initial disappointment to my Father, and perhaps myself, my life has been a very full and happy one, for I was able to break in a somewhat rough area of land and to pull my weight in the development of Hawke’s Bay.

The voyage of 45 days was monotonous on the whole for the ship only called at Teneriffe, Cape Town and Hobart and there was much cold and rough weather. However, there were many pleasant passengers among the 65 and Roie Nathan was a constant companion and still is a firm friend. There were the usual deck games, fancy dress ball and concerts. In my three berth cabin was a man we did not care much about (Southern) and Arthur Pilkington of glass fame in St. Helen’s. We became very friendly with him and “his sister. Among the passengers was a delightful Scottish lass, by the name of Forbes. She was to marry shortly after arrival, James Elliot – later Sir James and a prominent surgeon. From time to time in later years our paths crossed.

So on December 6th we reached Wellington and were met by Eru Johnson, the Joe Josephsand Bob Nathan. Father and Mother took the train to Napier next day but I stayed on an extra day to look after the baggage and journeyed to Napier in the S.S. “Mokoia”. It was wonderful to be home again and no time was lost in picking up the threads and visiting old friends, especially the Stopfords. A few days later I went to Mangatarata, Blackhead, etc. Back to Napier for Christmas with a cob I purchased from McLeod at Waipukurau. A festive week

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followed among many friends and on December 3rd I boarded the S.S. “Waikare” together with the Pilkingtons for a visit to the South Island.

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CHAPTER FIVE

1906 – 1916

1906

It was arranged before leaving England that I would spend most of January at Mt. Peel with the Aclands and, of course, the Empsons were to be there. So here I was on January on board the “Waikare” en route to Christchurch.

My Parents and I were quite concerned as to how I was going to put in a little over a year in New Zealand in such a way that I had the maximum of rest and avoided undue exertion so as to build up my health again. Well, as things turned out there was no reason for our worry for invitations to stay here, there and everywhere poured in until I became fit enough to undertake light work on Okawa towards the end of the year. After a few days in Christchurch, mostly in company with the Pilkingtons, and meeting some old friends, I went on to Mt. Peel, train to Orari, coach to Peel Forest and buggy on to Mt. Peel. There I had a happy three weeks in a house usually full of cheerful people – walks over the hills, fishing, visits to Orari Station and many other places around. Then came a happy week at Raincliff (Pleasant Point) with the Hope family.

After that I went on to stay with Willie Ritchie and his Parents in Pitt Street, Dunedin. The old home was a rendezvous of great repute for many years but I was sad to see when fast in Dunedin that it had been demolished and many houses erected on the site. Of the six Ritchie sons there is not one alive today and Mary, the only daughter of the family, lives in London. It was a gay week and so many friends to see. It must be remembered that in those far off days when the population of New Zealand was perhaps only one million and may be less one seemed to have friends in most parts of the country and, of course, one of the great advantages of having been at a good school was that you had a considerable circle of friends for boys came to Wanganui from the whole length and breadth of New Zealand. On the way home I spent a week with the Josephs in Grant Road, Wellington – also a gay and happy week – and I seem to have had many friends there too.

In a town like Napier, of a population well under 20,000 in the early part of the century, everybody seemed to know everybody else.

Till March 10th Napier was my Headquarters and there were visits to the Perrys at Crissoge and to one of the Donnelly Stations, Ohurukura near Te Pohue – this property had a very large area of attractive native bush at the time but after G. P. Donnelly’s death Holt and Sons acquired the property and the bush was rapidly milled. Then a visit to the Donnelly Station of Waimarama was something to be remembered for there was a gathering there of 5,000 for the wedding of Tu Teira (Taylor) and Hiraani Karauria (niece of Mrs. Donnelly, who at that time was the paramount Chieftainess of Hawke’s Bay). Many important people were guests at the wedding and feast to follow – the most important being Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Seddon, he was then Prime Minister. His self-importance intrigued me no end but his wardrobe was hardly in keeping. It appeared he wore the same trousers all the time but changed his coat as occasion demanded – for instance there was a frock-coat, dinner jacket, riding coat and knock-about coat. On several occasions, for they were also staying in the Station homestead, I heard him say to Mrs. Seddon “what shall I wear Mum?” she would tell him and he would disappear to the bedroom for a fraction of time and return with the appropriate coat. The journey to Waimarama was made by drag and it took about three hours from Hastings.

During the week at Waimarama there were no dull moments, what with hakas, poi dances, receptions for all the V.I.P.s, much talking about the titles of Maori land, eating. The food was fantastic – pork, mutton, beef, eels galore, and mutton birds – all cooked in pits and the smell pervaded the whole atmosphere, Mrs. Donnelly was the hostess in chief and she was supported by three very graceful Maori women – Mrs. Iraia Karauria, Mrs. Taranaki Te Ua and Mrs. Brightwell.

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Another week at Ohurakura with Frank Perry – then a few days in Napier before Eric Nairn, Sam Crowther, Bernard Chambers and I set out for ten day’s fishing on the lower Rangitaiki and later the Waikato, making the Spa our headquarters. It was a very happy party and we caught many good fish – all Brown Trout, of course, for the Rainbow Trout had not by then taken charge. Sam Crowther was one of New Zealand’s most colourful and expert of coachmen – he and his partner McAuley pioneered the coach service between Napier and Taupo and Taupo and Waiouru.

When I was a boy and in fact till about the age of 21 coaches were the only means of transport on our roads. The Taupo coach used to leave Napier at 6:30 a.m, twice a week – there was a change of horses at midday at Te Pohue and Tarawera was reached at 5 p.m. Next day the coach started off again at 6:30 or 7 a.m. – lunched and changed horses at Rangitaiki and we reached Taupo about 4 p.m.

The passengers would walk almost half the journey for it was the right thing to ease the burden of the horses by walking up many of the hills. The dust in those days before tarsealing was just too terrific for words and with a following wind you were in a constant cloud of dust – especially on the Rangitaiki plains. From Taupo I went on to Rotorua for a few days and stayed at the Grand Hotel, then to the Grand in Auckland where the Alfred Nathan family took charge of me during an enjoyable few days.

Back to Napier in the S.S. “Waikare” towards the end of the month and it was on this trip that a definite plan was suggested to me until the following year when I was to return to England with a view to going up to Oxford again if my health was satisfactory. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were on board the “Waikare” and Mrs. Lowry, who was one of the kindest and most remarkable of women ever born and who became a lifelong friend, suggested I made Okawa my home just whenever I wanted – there would be all the fresh air and good food needed for me and light work too if I liked, The offer was mostly of Mrs. Lowry’s generosity and was really meant – she suggested that I went out to Okawa to stay for a week or two before making my decision. On my return to Napier I discussed the proposition with my Parents who were more than delighted and very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Lowry for their offer of help over a difficult period.

So after keeping a date with the Johnstone’s of Motuotaraia I went to Okawa on trial so to speak – the result being that I was to take up my abode at Okawa early in September. In the meantime I was to keep various appointments about the country. This happened early in April and my movements from April 17th were then a week in Wellington with Mother at the Royal Oak, We renewed friendships with many friends such as the Johnstons, Josephs, Newmans etc. In those days we had a host of friends and most of them lived in Hobson Street – the Park Lane of Wellington. In later years I was to become almost as much at home there as in Napier. Then came visits to Crissoge Flaxmere (Russell) Whangaehu (the St. Hills), this was a vast leasehold on the Coast. The two daughters, now Norah Valiance and Dumpy St. Hill-Warren were then teenagers and magnificent horsewomen, A visit to the Jack Ormonds at Wallingford – Margaret, Hope and John were then babies – Frimley where Mrs. Frank Nelson, just out from England, was keeping house for her Father, Mr. J.N. Williams, to Pourerere to stay with Charlie and Eric Nairn – Meg and Trix were living there, having just returned from years in England. Among the visitors were the John Nairns and Olive and Ethne Smith, afterwards Herrick and our lifelong friend. Pourerere was a glorious property of about 25,000 acres at the time and the large homestead overlooked the Pacific Ocean. There were visits to Wanganui and Feilding to see my Aunt (C. Cotterill), more visits to Flaxmere and Wellington and in between times I was often at home in Napier and at Okawa.

By September 3rd when I went to Okawa for keeps Mr. and Mrs. Lowry and I knew each other extremely well and the family, Tom (9), Jim (about 8), Ralph (6), Gertie (5) and Marion (2), became very dear to me and we had lots of fun together in the years to come. As my story unfolds it will be seen that I was

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off and on at Okawa from September 1905 till early in 1912.

My visit to Wellington in July was in company with Mr. and Mrs. Lowry and we stayed with Una and Algar Williams in Upper Hobson Street. The winter races were on and there was much gaiety on foot and much coming and going of people such as the Riddifords, Josephs, Johnstons, Jack Hughes, Crawfords, Bells, etc. etc. As I look back on those far-off days I can still see many of those people as they were then but mighty few are here today. And I sometimes shudder to think of the snobbery that existed then – it was quite terrific: Those who lived in Hobson Street were a law unto themselves and thought again before calling upon those who lived elsewhere. Today as I write (1966) there is not a member of any of the families living in Hobson Street – it is a street of flats, rooming houses and ghosts. In the early 1900’s there were Pearces, Nathans, Josephs, Newmans, T.C. Williams, C. Johnstons, Levins, Brandons, Collins and others.

Between July and September, when I went to Okawa more or less permanently, I spent quite a considerable time at Okawa and followed several hunts – my mount was usually Contingent, who was a very faithful and safe jumper and he had been used to train the Rough Riders (H.B.) at the time of the Boer War. Ethel Simcox, an excellent horsewoman, trained me to the art of jumping on Mr. Lowry’s private course – so when the first hunt took place I was able to take part with some confidence, though I had the occasional spill. Harold Russell was the Master of the H.B. Hunt and Harry Hassell was Huntsman. Also staying at Okawa at that time were Helen Hodgskin of U.S.A. (relative of Lady Russell) and Una Williams of Wellington.

In those days entertaining in the large country homes was easy for the domestic servant problem did not exist. Apart from local domestics there was a scheme on foot for importing women from England. – these were carefully screened before leaving and upon arrival in New Zealand. Likewise there was always a plentiful supply of station hands – a good shepherd’s wages would be £1 to £1/10/- a week, and a manager’s salary about £200 a year. A married couple (man usually cowman or gardener and wife housework) would receive £100 a year or perhaps a little more for an extra good couple and of course their “keep” in all cases. In those days farmers paid no income tax but in place there was a Land Tax. Wool would have been 9d. to 1/- per pound and breeding ewes would average 14/- all round store lambs 8/- to 10/, breeding cows about £5 to £8.

In August I paid my first visit to Wanganui since my return and stayed at the old School with the Empsons. Later in the week Father, Mother and John (Eru Johnson, a half-caste friend) came over for an inter-College football match and I returned to Napier with them. In those days we always travelled by train and if possible booked a “Bird Cage” carriage so that we could play bridge in comfort and have privacy.

Later I spent a happy week at Pourerere with the Nairns, Charlie, Eric and Jack lived together and Meg and Trix kept house for them – but they both married a little later, the former to Hugh White and the latter to Harry Traquair, an eye specialist of Edinburgh. Pourerere homestead was a very big house situated on a rise about half a mile from the sea – lovely view. While there, Jack and I selected the site for his home on his portion of Pourerere (Te Manuiri) – owned today by Howard Smith.

By this time cars were becoming a little more plentiful, specially among the sheepfarmers – Charlie and Eric each owned a car, so did Leslie McHardy of Blackhead, the Carlyons of Gwavas owned a magnificent Rolls Royce and to enable the car to ply to and fro to the outside world Mr. Carlyon built, at his own expense, bridges across the creeks where there had been open fords. In the towns doctors were perhaps the first to own cars.

Cars at that time had no windscreens nor doors and were completely open to the elements and you could only start them by cranking with a handle and very often you received an unpleasant kick by a backfire.

Early in September I took up my residence at Okawa as a cadet, though other cadets were

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not accommodated there as was the case on several of the big sheep stations.

I lived in the homestead with Mr. and Mrs. Lowry – did my daily tasks, mainly riding round the dry sheep, and was always at hand to do other jobs and give a hand in the entertaining of numerous guests. The station at that time, consisted of close upon 20,000 acres and carried about 15,000 ewes, 7,000 dry sheep and 700 breeding cows, together with young cattle. The manager was Hutt Peacock and there were five shepherds, two fencers, a groom, a stud groom, two gardeners, chauffeur, cowman to milk the 7 or 8 milking cows, the station cook and a rouseabout to do odd jobs such as cleaning boots and shoes, keeping verandahs and windows clean and attending to firewood supply. Then there were usually about half a dozen Maoris to clean drains and check blackberry etc. In the big house there was a cook, a scullery maid, a parlour maid, two housemaids, a governess and a nurse for the children. Marion was then two and Gertie 3 1/2 years old. So you see the establishment was considerable. Stores were delivered once a month by wagon – tons of all sorts of things – and then were housed in a large store house and once a week Mrs. Lowry would issue stores for the house and the menis cook house. There was a mail once a week by the Kuripapango coach and if mail was urgently wanted in between it meant someone would have to ride to Fernhill Post Office, seven miles away. There were two Renault motor cars but these were not used except by Mr. and Mrs. Lowry. There was no regular delivery of newspapers so sometimes days would pass without knowing what had happened in the outside world. Of course, there was a telephone but it was very temperamental. Lighting was by acetylene or kerosine lamp.

I breakfasted by myself at 7 a.m. and began my work at 8, usually took lunch and was home about 3. Then we would have games with the children, bathe in the creek which flowed through the garden and often on a Saturday I would lead the three boys in a paper-chase. There were frequent drives in a gig or rides up to Sherenden to the Harold Russells – Sally was then two or three. And sometimes we would visit the Shrimptons at Matapiro.

Dry shearing began on November 7th and my job was to help fill up the pens and brand the wool bales. There were twelve shearing stands and all the work was done by Wi Nuku and his gang. On pay day all the Maoris would sit on the billiard room verandah and I would help T.H. Lowry and the Manager to work out the tallies and pay out by cheque. There was usually much talk and some argument.

I remember well a visit by the Government Officer in charge of the purchase of land for settlement (Barron by name) and how T.H.L. arranged for the five children to come into the room to meet Barron one by one so that he could say ” you see we have a large family and eventually Okawa will be divided and more closely settled”. However at a later date T.H.L. did indulge in a settlement scheme. There was excitement one day when Ewen Troutbeck came out in a very swell Daimler car he had brought out from England.

Between the “dry and wet” shearings Mr. and Mrs. Lowry went to Auckland for the races, making the journey by train at about 20 miles an hour, and also by ship. In those days the main trunk was not completed and there were three ways of reaching Auckland to New Plymouth and then a night in a small and uncomfortable ship, two nights and a day by ship up the East Coast, or three days by coach to Rotorua and one by train. While in Auckland I received a wire to bring the big car (a Renault of 11 h.p. with huge body and a canopy) to Auckland by sea and attempt the return journey by car by way of Rotorua and Taupo – almost unheard of then. So Arthur Joseph, the very good looking Maori chauffeur, and I took the car to Napier one morning and we had it hoisted aboard the “Manuka” amidst much excitement, boarded the ship ourselves and proceeded to Auckland. On arrival thirty-six hours later we disembarked the car and went to Ellerslie Race Course, having picked up Mr. and Mrs. T.H.L. at The Grand – the car caused much interest for it was perhaps the largest yet seen in New Zealand. The following day we

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went to Hamilton over a very corrugated and partly unmetalled road and this journey occupied eight hours (less than 100 miles). Next day we were not able to make the first hill out of Hamilton on account of a greasy surface after rain, so we backed down and went to the railway station and trained to Rotorua. At Rotorua we were marooned for a week on account of wet weather. At last we made Taupo and after a night we set out for Napier, leaving at 7:30 a.m. and arriving at 10:30 p.m., having been dragged by horses up some of the hills and proceeding up others in leaps of a yard or two at a time.

On our return I spent a day or two in Napier as my Mother had had a slight operation a few days earlier. Then I went back to Okawa and carried on as before. Ewe shearing took place early in November and owing to broken weather it was a lengthy process.

My friend Frank Perry, who had always been in poorish health, had a big operation in December and after some ups and downs he died on 24th December.

Before the end of the year Mother, Minna Chapman and I motored to Taupo in a Minerva car hired from Hawkins and Rome and our driver was Dudley Kettle. My diary tells me it was a good journey considering most of the road was unmetalled and the time taken was ten hours! Today it takes 2 ¼ hours. We stayed at the Spa in Taupo and enjoyed a good and quiet laze. On New Year’s Eve we were joined by Father, Charlie Nairn and E. Gilbertson, who had been camped on the Rangitaiki river for a week and had had good fishing.

1907

This was the year in which I was to return to England to Dr. Taylor of Welbeck Street who was to be the arbitor [sic] of my fate – in other words he was to decide whether I should continue my studies at Oxford or not. Dr. Bernau was of the opinion that a return to Oxford and perhaps two more winters in England would not be in the best interest of my health. Though my general health had improved during the year in New Zealand I myself was dubious as to the wisdom of attempting university life again especially in a country whose climate was known to be unkind to those with weak chests. So I and my Parents were more or less prepared for the change in the course of my life that eventually came about, but I am just getting a little ahead of myself.

The 1st January, 1907, found my Parents, Charlie Nairn, May Woodbine Johnson, Minna Chapman, Eru Johnson and myself at the Spa in Taupo. Our return to Napier was made via Waiouru, Pipiriki and Wanganui river – two full days in a coach (four horses) and one day in the river boat. It was a tiring journey, especially for my Mother who was enduring tortures with a carbuncle and most of the time in the coach she had to kneel for it was too painful to sit. We spent about a week in Wanganui before going back to Napier and by that time Mother was much better.

During the next few weeks my time was spent between Napier and Okawa – there was golf, tennis, bridge and much going and coming between our friends. An English Cricket XI visited Napier and I have happy memories of much gaiety during the visit of about a week. Father gave a dinner party one night at the Club for the team. He was at that time President. I had been elected a member of the Hawke’s Bay Club in 1906. At that time there was an entrance fee of £15.15.0d. – the annual subscription was £6.6.0d., lunch was 1/6d., and dinner 4/6d. For members boarding at the Club the tarrif was 12/6d, per day – all inclusive. The Club was exclusive in the extreme. Every afternoon the card room was full of bridge players and the billiard room likewise well patronised. Very rarely was it that the bedrooms were unoccupied and there were usually three or four permanent boarders. But it must be remembered Napier was the only town of consequence in Hawke’s Bay – Hastings was still only a small country town. Saturday nights were always very gay and bright.

During the year (1907) motor cars were becoming fairly plentiful, specially among the country people, but it was not till towards the end of the year that we had our first car. It was a Beeston-Humber five seater

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with Cape Cart hood, for closed-in cars had not made their appearance.

So the day came when I set off again for England where my future would be decided, On March 7th my Mother saw me off in the S.S. “Moeraki” for Hobart via Christchurch, Dunedin and Bluff.

At Christchurch I spent the day with Aunt Andro (Cotterill) and visited the Exhibition, then came a pleasant weekend with Willie Ritchie and his Parents at Balvraid – that lovely and spacious home in Pitt Street. At the Bluff Harry St. Hill and I ate many oysters instead of visiting Invercargill with Mr. St. Hill and Mrs. Jack Handyside (fellow passengers). The crossing to Hobart was quite rough and cold. After two days in the delightful town of Hobart we, that is the St. Hills, Mrs. Handyside and I, joined the P. & O. ship “Mooltan” which was the latest of the Company’s ships, about 10,000 tons and for those days luxuriously appointed. Two days later we put into Melbourne for the day and I lunched with friends at Menzies Hotel, When we sailed later in the afternoon there was a great gathering at the wharf to farewell Sir Reginald and Lady Talbot (Governor of Victoria) who were going to England for their half term holiday.

The journey to Marseilles from Melbourne in those days was of 30 days duration and the ports of call were Adelaide, Freemantle, Colombo, Aden, Suez and Port Said, The voyage was an extremely pleasant one and those with whom I appear to have become most friendly with were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elga and Enid of the Wairarapa, Mrs. Ryan (later Lady Ryan) and Maie (now Lady Casey, wife of the Governor General of Australia), the St. Hills of Whangaehu, Mrs. Handyside, the Clive Millers of Melbourne and Mabel Emmerton (now Lady Brookes) of Melbourne. At the various ports of call we did the usual things such as pottering round the shops, taking a drive somewhere or other and having a lunch or dinner party. We passed through the Straits of Messina one lovely afternoon and later when the sun was setting Stromboli erupted for us. There were the usual games on board and dances and I played much bridge – every afternoon we had the same four consisting of Mrs. Ryan, Sir R. and Lady Talbot and myself – we played regularly from 2 to 4. The only unhappy incident took place as we were approaching Marseilles when a nice young fellow named Highett of Perth collapsed and died on deck. From Marseilles to Paris in the night express, I travelled in a compartment with the St. Hills, Mrs. Handyside and Higginbotham – the train was fast and comfortable but we slept very little for we were unable to secure sleepers. Ivan met me at the station in Paris at 8:30 on the morning of April 19th and after a couple of days of seeing the usual galleries etc., and eating good food in the exotic restaurants we crossed by Calais and Dover to England.

On arrival in London, we went to 6 Evelyn Gardens to stay with the McDermotts. Mr. McDermott had married again – his wife being a Kinswoman (Miss McKellar) whom we had known in earlier years. It was good to see Keith again. He had come down from Oxford and was in Chambers in the City waiting to be called to the Bar. During my visit to the McDermott’s I ate dinners at the Inner Temple with Keith, Ivan and Freddie Baker – also saw something of various friends – the Gollans, Lady Campbell and Moyra, the Elgars, Mathesons of Hendon – purchased some clothes, had a day at Oxford etc. Of course I had an overhaul at the hands of Dr. Taylor (this was my real reason for visiting England) and though he was satisfied with the improvement of my health he’was averse to my risking another winter in England, as was expected, and this set the seal on my Oxford career. Naturally there was disappointment, but I was fully prepared for the decision – likewise my Parents. It had been arranged that Dr. Taylor’s word should be final and if he was against another year or two in England I should spend the summer there and return to New Zealand towards the end of the year. So after booking a return passage in the P.& O. China for mid-September I proceeded to make my plans.

First of all there was a happy ten days or so with the Kings at Marazion in Cornwall – the children had grown (Faith and Daphne) and were delightful companions, Gap (the Fox Terrier) was still full of life and always ready for a walk along the country lanes or a frolic

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on the beach by the causeway to St. Michaels Mount. Pa and Ma King and I had many more bicycle excursions to Penzance, Lands End, St. Hilary’s and many other places and there was the Rogation Service from a hill overlooking the Bay when. Pa King blessed all the products of the soil and sea. I can still see him in the cassock and surplice standing in the cool of an evening breeze on the hillside. The last time I saw him was in 1910 – he was then Vicar of Bodmin and a Cannon of Truro Cathedral, later he was appointed Rector of Falmouth and was there till his death in the 1920s. I often think of him and Ma King – they were the kindest and staunchest friends. Pa was a brilliant scholar – and passed into the Indian Civil Service with honors but owing to his frail health he was unable to proceed further so he took orders in the Church and so became the most human padre that ever was and his sense of humour was terrific.

From Marazion I went to Silvermere, Cobham for a lengthy visit to my dear friends, the Seth Smiths, where I had much fun with the children, Ted who was at a prep-school and Molly still with a Governess. Minna Von de Heyde was living there and during my stay admiral and Mrs. Morgan and Fairfax came to stay. We had much tennis and golf on the very attractive nine hole course just in front of the house. After that I had a few days at Oxford for Toggers (College Boat Race), took part in a Bumper Supper at Oriel and forgathered with some of my pals again. Ivan was then in his second year. All this made me yearn to be back as an Undergraduate again.

From Oxford I went on to Rainford Hall, St. Helen’s, the home of Col. and Mrs. Pilkington of glass fame. It was delightful to meet again Edith and Arthur P. whom I got to know so well on the “Ionic” in 1905. Rainford Hall was a large and impressive home and the gardens were lovely but the butler and footman were a trifle alarming. Each morning two footmen brought a hip bath into my bedroom and huge cans of hot water. Bathrooms in those days were not altogether plentiful in the old homes. Over the front door the family coat-of-arms was engraved – a man scything and motto “now thus now thus”.

In the days of Cromwell a Pilkington, on the arrival of Cromwell’s men, rushed into the fields and seized a scythe from one of his farm hands but his awkward handling gave him away and he was taken off and beheaded (being a Royalist). There were excursions in the family car to Liverpool, the Docks and Chester etc., and, of course, a good look round the Pilkington Glass Works. St. Helen’s itself was a very drab industrial town just outside Liverpool but when you entered the Pilkington grounds you found yourself in the most glorious countryside. I remember the rhododendrons which were really lovely and only equalled by those at The Hirsel, Lord Homes’ Estate on the banks of the Tweed.

Then came a week with Ivan in rooms in Curzon Street, London – it was a week of theatres, seeing many friends and a visit to the House of Commons as a guest of Mr. (later Lord) Stewart and Wortley, a brother of Lady Talbot. Winston Churchill and Birrell were among the speakers I heard. We also had another session of eating dinners at the Inner Temple. This eating of dinners at intervals during each legal term is a part and parcel of eventually being called to the Bar. The dinners take place in the magnificent halls of the Inns of Court and at a top table sit all sorts of high luminaries and those aspiring to the legal Bar sit at tables running at right angles to the high table.

Speaking of theatres, George Grossmith the second was at this time at the height of his fame in the musical comedy line and he must have, during his career, delighted more men and women than any other artist. He was the father of George Grossmith now of Napier. I saw him over the years 1903-1910 in many of his plays such as “Our Miss Gibbs”, “The Girl from Kay’s”, “The Orchid” etc. etc. Before going on to Oulton Hall (Bolton) I spent a few days at the McDermotts. A week at Oulton Hall was, as usual, restful and happy. The Boltons still used the carriage for transport – we had drives round the neighbourhood and much golf and there was the always delightful Norwich Cathedral to be visited again.

From Norfolk I went to Newbiggin-by-Sea for a month with my Grandmother and three

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Aunts – it was a happy time of renewing friendships and playing much golf and tennis. Lizzie Richardson was there much of the time and Chris Liddell often came over and his brother Hugh. Visits to Rothbury and Bamburgh Castle to see old Montagu Stopford were fitted in. I played much of my tennis on the court at Woodhorn Vicarage with the Rhodes girls and, of course, frequently I was at North Seaton Hall, the home of the Southerns.

On 29th July I left Newbiggin with Aunts Helen and Mary who travelled to London with me. We spent the night at the G.N. Hotel. I never saw my Grandmother again for she died in 1908 at the age of 80 – having been born in 1828. Next day the Aunts went to Devonshire and I joined up with Mrs. Ryan and Maie and we crossed the Channel by ship and proceeded to Brussells by train. After a few days seeing the sights, viz. picture galleries the field of the Battle of Waterloo etc. we trained to Cologne through some lovely country the usual sights including the Cathedral. It was here I christened Maie “chocolaty Maie” on account of her love of chocolate and she has always been “Chocolate” to me since. Then we took a river boat as far as Mainz up the Rhine – a full day’s journey passing by Bonn and other towns and some spectacular castles. The following day we took trains to Lucerne via Basle and there we spent a day or so seeing all there was to see and taking funny little trains up the Rigi etc. We also fell in with two Countess friends of Mrs. Ryan’s who lived in a beautiful chalet overlooking the lake and we played some bridge with them. From there we went on to Lausanne on Lake Geneva and one night we experienced the most spectacular thunderstorm when the heavens were lit up for minutes on end and the thunder reverberated round the mountains almost continuously.

The train journey from Lausanne to Viege (Visp) was spectacular and beautiful – we skirted the lake of Geneva as far as Chillon Castle and then wormed our way through mountains. At Visp we changed into a little toy-train which took us up the Rhone Valley to Zermatt. There we stayed for several days, doing a bit of walking but mostly sightseeing by funicular rail up to heights from which you got lovely views of the mountains around. The trip up the Gornagrat to 10,000 feet gave you a magnificent view of the Matterhorn – Switzerlands most renowned mountain. We joined up with some American people and enjoyed “bridge” in the evenings. One night Maie and I strayed into a little church and there were two climbers stretched out on the Chancel – they had fallen on the Matterhorn and been killed.

I fancy today you can climb this mountain of 17,000 feet by the help of a hand-rail. Our stay in this pleasant village under the shadow of so many mighty mountains came to an end and we travelled once more on the funny little railway to Visp where we joined the express from Paris to Rome. However an unfortunate accident occurred to me and my journey in this express only lasted a few seconds for I spotted the porter who had taken charge of our luggage still had it on his barrow and had failed to put it aboard the train.

Realising how easy it was for baggage to be lost on the Continent, especially in Italy, I instinctively leapt from the moving train to be with these possessions and in doing so the door began to close and I was thrown off balance and fell off rather than jumped off. The train with my companions sped on its way leaving me on the ground and very close to the train’s wheels. A bevy of officials closed round me and my thoughts were “here goes, jail” but they were sympathetic instead, particularly when they found my left knee was pretty badly injured and very swollen. After about an hour I was put on to a goods train and taken to Brigue in the van. After another long wait I joined a passenger train. We passed through the Simplon Tunnel and were in Italy. As luck would have it, my travelling companions had left their keys with the Customs Officials and I was able to clear the luggage. Later that night I arrived at Stresa and thankful to be joined up again with Mrs. Ryan and Maie. The following few days were spent visiting the various Italian Lakes which were really beautiful and the weather remained fine. Exactly opposite our hotel in Stresa on Lake Maggiore were the Barromean Islands (there is a picture of Isolo Bella in our bedroom in Napier).

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While at Cabbenabia on Lake Como I came to the decision it would be wise to return to London for proper care of my knee which was becoming progressively worse, so very reluctantly I left Mrs. Ryan and Maie to carry on the plans to visit Florence and Rome and I proceeded to Laguna by boat and then by train through the St. Gothard Tunnel to Lucerne. In those days before the diesel or electric engine coal was burned in locomotives and the atmosphere in lengthy tunnels was suffocating and unpleasant.

So on the 16th August my Continental trip came to an end. I left Lucerne by the Engadine night express – passed through Paris at 9 a.m. on the 17th – reached Calais at 1:30 and after a rough passage to Dover I went on by boat train arriving at Charing Cross at 5 p.m., very tired and sore. It was a Sunday so I could not see Dr. Taylor till Monday 19th. He called in company with a surgeon (Mr. Stabb) and between them they decided my knee had been dislocated and the condition was not very satisfactory. I was sent to a nursing home (5 Bentinck Street – off Harley Street) – put into plaster of paris from hip to ankle – and I remained there until the 13th September, a prisoner but the care and attention made up for a lot. During my stay in the home many visitors helped me pass the time happily – among them were Aunt Mary, who came down from Northumberland, Mrs. Ryan and Maie, May and Stephen Walter (May Coleman), Dudley Kettle, Louis and Arthur Hawkins, Mrs. Turner Williams, Captain Birch and Maai (Aunt Helen, Basil Jardine (later practised in Wairoa) Haidee Seth Smith (Bet Hays’s Mother), Florence Car, Oscar Armytage (Melbourne), the Mathesons, Richie Abraham (P.N.), Eric Maclean and Jack Nelson, Dan and Eric Riddiford, Jim Ritchie, Minna von der Heyde (Betts Aunt), Leslie Sanderson (Bullerts Wood, Chislehurst).

So you can see I had a flow of visitors and was never lonely. Dr. Taylor and Mr. Stabb frequently came in as well. After our parting in the Italian Lakes Mrs. Ryan and Maie decided not to go further into Italy and after a few more days in Switzerland and Paris they returned to London and helped keep an eye on me.

Ivan came back from Scotland and decided to come with me in the P. & 0. China as far as Marseilles. On 13th September Uncle Jim and Aunt Helen saw me off from Tilbury in the “China” – I was still in plaster of paris and movement was awkward. We sailed down the Channel and across the Bay of Biscay in perfect weather and called in at Gibraltar for a morning and Marseilles was reached on the 7th day. Ivan left me there and travelled back to London by train in the evening. The “China” did not leave Marseilles till the next day so the Jack Ormonds, a Mip Innes and I took a drive along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The “China” was of about 7,800 tons and not one of the latest of the line but she was comfortable. I had a good single berth cabin to myself on the deck so there were no stairs to negotiate and I had most of my meals for the first two weeks on deck. The passengers whom I saw much of were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston and Doris (later Sir Charles and speaker of the Upper House – Doris later married Nigel Gathorne-Hardy – one of Lord Plunkett’s A.D.C.s), Mr, and Mrs and Miss Tolhurst of Wellington, Mr, and Mrs. Manifold and Mildred of Victoria, J.D. and Mrs. Ormond of Wallingford, Armytage of Victoria, Major Wodehouse, and Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Payne of Melbourne.

We arrived at Port Said on 19th September and Dr. Stawell of Melbourne and the ship’s doctor took me out of plaster and fitted splints. It was a great relief and made me more mobile. Coaling went on well into the night and we entered the Suez Canal at 9 a.m. The Red Sea was terribly hot and the ship was seung several times to create air. At Aden we only spent a morning. At Colombo we had a day and a half and enjoyed the venture ashore and a dinner party given by the Paynes at the Galle Face Hotel. Then came nine days of sea to Perth – a rough crossing of the Bight to Adelaide and so to Melbourne for a day and a night. It was sad to say farewell to so many pleasant companions and those of us left of the party felt dull. At Sydney we had three days at the Australia before joining the “Monowai” for Wellington. Bob Nathan was in my cabin and Richie Abraham was a fellow passenger. The engines broke down on the trip and so we were a day late in arriving in Wellington on October 31st. My Father and Mother met me and we returned to Napier next day, From then until Christmas

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Eve I remained at home but was not able to get about much for another month and our friends the Stopfords, Kettles, Bernaus, Ronalds, Lowrys etc. were very good to me and there was much Bridge.

My old friend Eru Johnson was with us much of the time and he was the principal driver of our newly acquired car (Beeston-Humberr). We had numerous excursions round the countryside and punctures were almost a daily occurrence. Many of our friends by this time also had cars – all open for it was before the time of closed-in cars and of course no windscreen wipers – this made driving in rain quite unpleasant. I spent a week at Pourerere with Charlie Nairn and Trix and Harry Traquair were out from Scotland for a visit – also Jack was back from Guy’s Hospital, London, having given up the study of medicine. On 24th December Mother, John (Eru) and I set off for Tarawera in our car, called Johanna, the journey took us six hours travelling time. The road was very tortuous in those days and unmetalled most of the way. We spent a couple of nights there and on to Taupo on the 26th where we joined Father and Charlie Nairn at The Spa – another five hours to cover forty odd miles – much time was spent in changing tyres on account of punctures. At Taupo we fished and lazed and had the odd drive till the end of the year.

1908

The year began badly as I spent the first few days in bed with “flu” on our return to Napier. Johanna put up about a record for those days – the weather conditions were perfect, so also the road, and we did the journey in four and a half hours – no stops and no punctures.

I spent most of January at Okawa while Mother and John were in Wellington. The latter had an operation, just one of many, for antrem trouble. I went to Wellington towards the end of the month for a week to be near Eru and while there I renewed friendships with the Josephs, Charles Johnstons, Una Williams and Mrs. Charlie Crawford (Dolly Anson of my Oxford days).

After that I had ten enjoyable days at Rototawai with Will and Millie Bidwell where many old friends came along from time to time and there was a lot of dashing about in the cars. I returned to Wellington for a couple of nights and then hack to Napier. After a few days I went to Ngatarawa to stay with E.J. Watt. By this time I was driving the car and my leg improving rapidly. Then came a spell in Napier again with much bridge and social events and frequent visits to Okawa and many picnics.

During March our old friends Dr. and Mrs. Ronald left Napier to live in England. For three weeks of April Eru and I were at Oruamatua, the 30,000 acre station belonging to Messrs. Lowry and Watt and managed by Irvine Peacock. This property was 17 miles from Taihape and in what was then called Inland Patea. I returned by coach to Kuripapango and spent a weekend with the Waterhouses at Mangawhare.

On April 28th Mother, Father, John and I went to Blackhead to stay with Mr. and Mrs. McHardy for Meg Nairn’s wedding – she married Hugh White. The service took place in the little church at Pourerere, then a big dinner party followed by a dance in the woolshed. On our return to Blackhead the tide overtook us and we had to abandon the car which was subsequently completely submerged and next day the bullock team had to drag it back to the Station. We stayed on for the opening of the shooting season – 27 ducks and later a good bag of quail and wild pigeons. These were very numerous in those days. Blackhead was renowned for its hospitality and I always loved my visits there.

May was full of social events – races, Hunt Club Ball, golf, etc., and occasionally Constance McLean (now Fountaine) and I had a game of golf. We used to see much of the McHardy family as they rented the Jardine home In Lincoln Road while their house was being built (now McHardy Maternity Home).

Early in June I went to Australia with Mr. and Mrs. Lowry in the S.S. “Wimaroa” and had a rough crossing. I shared a cabin with Jack Ormond and E.J. Watt.

We stayed at the Hotel Australia for three weeks and I saw much of the Geoff Fairfaxes, the -Austins, Knoxes and others – the Arthur Duncans were there, also Millie Bidwell. We

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had a visit to the Blue Mountains and saw all the sights. Then I left the Lowrys and went on by train to Melbourne. Eddie Watt shared a sleeper with me and in the night he had one of his bad attacks of asthma. We proceeded to Menzies Hotel and I put him to bed. Next morning when I went to his room he was up and out at the racing track to see his horses! I stayed in Melbourne for about ten days or so and had a very gay time – races at Flemington, two days, visited the Emmertons (Mabel is now Lady Brookes – wife of Norman the tennis player), the Clive Millers, Geoff Pares etc., a dance at the Maddens (Sir John acting Governor of Victoria). Mrs. Wenley and the girls passed through on their return to New Zealand and Mrs. Wenley came out to the races one day. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry turned up also. The “Merry Widow” was on and Higginson (Danilo) captured all the girls’ hearts. I met him one night at supper at the Emmerton’s fabulous home.

Then I went on to Purrumbete, the W.T. Mannifold’s wonderful property in the Western district and there I enjoyed a month of their hospitality and played much golf, rode, shot rabbits – one day about six of us got 480. Purrumbete homestead was large and comfortable and built of red brick, all the station buildings were in keeping – there were several cars and on Sundays Mr. Mannifold always drove a waggonette to church in Camperdown. The Western District is the most fertile in Victoria and many very pleasant people lived there. One weekend I spent with the Rutledges at Geelong (Mrs. Bernau’s people) and we played golf on the Geelong links. I was sad to leave at the end of my month and will never forget the kindness of the Mannifolds. The four brothers made one of Australia’s most famous polo teams in the early 1900s. After leaving Purrumbete I went to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Alister Clarke at Glenora (Bulli) – also a lovely home. Then I took train back to Sydney for a day or so and left by the Warrimoo for New Zealand. Guy Russell (later General Sir Andrew) of Tunanui was my cabin mate.

After a very rough and uncomfortable trip we reached Wellington on August 19th. Mother and John to meet me. After a week or two in Wellington I returned to Napier. During that week I stayed with the Charles Johnstons at Homewood, Karori. There was much golf and various social engagements.

Before the end of the year I was a guest for about a week at Government House, Palmerston, and among the guests were Mrs. Algar Williams, Lady Jane Gathorne-Hardy, Constance McLean (Fountaine of Narford), Phyllis Boyle etc. There was golf, tennis, dances etc.

I also put in a long weekend at Wanganui Collegiate and a week at Rototawai with Will and Millie Bidwell. Arthur Empson was back from Oriel College, Oxford, and preparing to join the Indian Army.

In November I went to Christchurch to stay with the George Rhodes in Papanui Road for the Cup Race Meeting and there was much coming and going there. Bobrikoff (T.H, Lowry’s horse) won the big races of the week. In those days, as now, Christchurch was very festive for the Cup Meeting and the town was crowded with visitors from all over New Zealand.

During the last few months of the year 1908 poor old Eru Johnson had several operations in Wellington and Mother and I visited him on several occasions.

Towards the end of December a party of us coached to Taharua for a week’s fishing – Eric Nairn, P. Smith, Father and myself – it was a glorious week and we fished far down the river as its junction with the Mohaka and had very good sport, mostly brown trout. Then for Christmas we moved on to Taupo and Charlie Nairn joined us. On December 28th Father and I went on to Rotorua for a night and then by train to Auckland where we stayed at the Northern Club. The following three days were gay with the races and dining out each night. The Alfred Nathans did much entertaining in their home “Wickford” opposite Albert Park.

So ended another year.

1909

January 1st found Father and me in Auckland still and we went to the races. Next day we left for Napier in the “Monowai” and after

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spending a day in Gisborne we reached Napier on the 4th.

My health seemed pretty good so I decided to carry on with law. I joined the firm of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams as a clerk but the idea was that I was to have several breaks in the year. This legal firm was established by G.E. Sainsbury in 1875 and my Father joined in 1882. Twice a week J.H.G. Murdoch used to give me tuition in torts,property etc. After three years of idleness I found it quite enjoyable to be at work again and earning 10/- a week. I made many friends and there was much joy in life. Every morning and even through the winter I bathed off the beach with a team of about a dozen all of whom are now dead except Godfrey Jardine and Tosh Gilray.

My diary tells me I purchased an Indian motor cycle (one that you had to start by running and with luck you landed on the seat when it started up). Most weekends were spent in the country and I note I visited Pourerere (Nairns), Flaxmere (Sir W. and Lady Russell), Featherston (Bidwells), Okawa, Wallingford (Ormond) and others. I also visited for long weekends Wanganui Collegiate School and Wellington and a couple of odd weeks at Government House (Palmerston North) with the Plunkets. But the highlight of the year was a three week trip in the N.Z.S. “Tutanikei” as guest of their Excellencies.

Among the guests were Dr. and Mrs. Martin of Palmerston North, Meta Johnston (later Mrs. D. Riddiford) Anne Anson. Then, of course, there were Lord and Lady Plunket, N. Gathorne-Hardy, and Shannon (A.D.Cs.), Waterfield and wife (Secretary) and several children. We journeyed by overnight train to Auckland and next day we embarked on “Tutanikei” (about 1,000 tons) and for the next three weeks we cruised quietly round the North Cape and so to New Plymouth and calling en route at Kawau Island, Hen and Chickens, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Mangonui, Tom Bowling Bay, Spirits Bay, Hokianga, Kawhia, Kaipara etc. We usually travelled from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. so as to give maximum of comfort and we struck some unpleasant seas and most of us were seasick at times. We did much sightseeing and fishing and bathing by day and at night there was bridge, dancing and so forth. It was a most enjoyable holiday and the company bright.

There was a pleasant weekend at Oruawhora (Sidney Johnston) when Eddie Herrick became engaged to Ethne Smith. They married in December of the same year. They were always close friends and the friendship grew apace after our marriage. Ethne died in 1961 to our sorrow and we have kept in close touch with Eddie since then. My Father and Ethne’s Father were friends in Newcastle-on-Tyne in their youth.

Another enjoyable weekend in 1909 I spent at Longwood, Featherston, with the Charlie Pharazyns. Enid Elgar, now dead, was there too.

I recall a happy week at Karori with the Charlie Johnstons and at that time poor old Eru was again in hospital in Wellington and I was often to visit him.

In November I went to Christchurch for ten days to the George Rhodes for Race Week. There were many enjoyable social events during that time and I met many of the young people of Canterbury. The Rhodes were living in Sir Heaton Rhodes’ town house in Papanui Road. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were there and their famous horse, Bobrikoff, won many big races.

Towards the end of the year I, very foolishly and without adequate knowledge, sat for exams in Torts, Contracts and Property but success did not come my way.

Ivan returned from four years at Oxford in November with a degree in Law and a Barrister of the Inner Temple.

Just before Christmas Eric Nairn, Ivan and I motored to Taupo via Highden in the Rangitikei, which was managed by Hugh White, Waiouru and Tokaanu. We went on to the camp on the Rangitaiki where we were joined by Father and a party and enjoyed some wonderful days with the trout. Then we went back to Taupo before the end of December to join Mother who was staying at The Spa. I left on December 31st for Greatford via Waiouru to stay with the Booty Levins – the house party consisted of N. Gathorne-Hardy, Doris Johnston (they later married), Mrs. Arthur Duncan (Jimmy), Mary

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Pearce (now Lady Stout), Andrew Sclanders and self.

1910

Stayed with the Levins in their comfortable and large home till the 3rd – there was much tennis and visits to other homes. I left on the 3rd and spent the night in Palmerston North with Eric Nairn and Ivan on their return from Taupo. And after a few days at Pourerere I returned to Napier. Began work in Sainsbury, Logan and Williams on the 8th and during the month the great decision concerning my future had to be made – was I to carry on with law or take up farming. My Father was now prepared to set me up on a -farm. I was now getting on for 26 and as my studies had been so interrupted by my ill- health, my Mother and others thought a life in the country and fresh air was indicated. Our great friend, Charlie Nairn, was in favour of this course and suggested a few months with him on Pourerere would help settle the problem. So the die was cast – early in February I went to Pourerere and said goodbye to law. This, of course, meant giving up the prospect of one day being a partner in the well established firm of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams and it must have been a disappointment to my Father. However his only thought was for my health and welfare and time proved that the decision was wise and during the remaining years of his life he was rewarded by the fact I was able to break in a 1700 acre block of back country and later find time to take a hand in local body politics.

During January 1910 H.E. Sturge came to New Zealand- he and I had been at Oxford together and, like me, illhealth had interfered with his career and he was advised to come to New Zealand. After staying with us for a few weeks he joined the staff at Wanganui Collegiate. Later he and Atkinson started a preparatory school and later still, after Atkinson’s death, he amalgamated his school of Hurworth with Heretaunga in Havelock North and remained headmaster of Hereworth till he died in 1935.

Also during January A.W. Averill was appointed Bishop of Waiapu and I attended the swearing-in service as my Father officiated as Chancellor of the Diocese of Waiapu -about ten years later Averill was appointed to Auckland and made Archbishop of New Zealand. I got to know him well and enjoyed his friendship.

During the early part of the year Woollcombe, whom I had met at Oxford, came to New Zealand in the interest of the Church of England Men’s Society and spent a week with us in Napier. He was a very broadminded fellow and full of humour and sense. Later he became Suffragan Bishop of Whitby.

And so early in February I said goodbye to law and accepted Charlie Nairn’s offer to go to Pourerere for a few months. Charlie and Eric lived there together in the big house overlooking the sea. Each morning Eric used to start up his steam car and by 8 he was ready to set off for Omakere for the day. My days were well filled in taking part in all the workings of the station and it was wonderfully enjoyable and instructive. Several evenings a week we used to repair to the John Nairn’s cottage and play bridge.

The Waipawa Tennis Tournament came along in March and I played in it but unfortunately I injured my weak knee and for a month I was laid low.

Life went on merrily till 29th June. Charlie and I spent frequent weekends at Napier and also Porangahau (Hunters), Awahuri (Hugh White’s) in the Rangitikei district. Then out of the blue Charlie decided to go foia trip to England and my Father said I was to go with him. Just before we left Ivan became engaged to Mary Turnbull, she was then at Wanaka and Ivan was with Chapman and Tripp (Solicitors in Wellington).

On June 30th we sailed in the “Ruahine” (Captain Greenstreet) for London via Cape Horn. There were only twelve passengers in the saloon and during the voyage Charlie became engaged to Pam Ambler. She had a lovely voice. History sometimes repeats itself- about forty years earlier Charlie’s Father was captivated by a voice he heard in a church in Suffolk and now Charlie was captured in a like manner.

The voyage was rather dull and at times rough and after rounding The Horn we were nearly

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shipwrecked on a cold, snowy day. Among the passengers was Jim Mating and his wife of Christchurch and we kept up the friendship made then until his death a few years ago. We called at Monte Video and were able to take river boats up to Buenos Aires for a day, had breakfast on arrival at the Phoenix Hotel where I met the only New Zealand friend I knew in the Argentine – Denis Gorton of Bulls, who had been at school with me. After leaving Monte Video we proceeded to Teneriffe to find a strike on hand so we sailed on to Las Palmas where we spent a day. On reaching Plymouth on August 9th I and others left the ship and took a train to London, arriving at The Langham Hotel at 2 p.m. England was looking lovely on a glorious day. At the Langham I met Leslie McHardy of Blackhead, C.D. Kennedy and Trix Trequair (Charlie’s sister from Edinburgh). Charlie and Pam went on to London by sea.

I was in England for a little over four months and during that time there was much coming and going and seeing old friends and relations. I made the Langham Hotel (now no more – was in Portland Place just north of Oxford Circus and a very comfortable family hotel) my headquarters. Several times I went to Northumberland to stay with Uncle Jim in Newcastle-on-Tyne. From there we had several pleasant days on the Shoot he and three friends leased just west of Berwick on Tweed – partridges, pheasants and hares being the principal game. We usually travelled by evening train to Berwick and spent the night at Kings Arms, shot all next day and returned to Newcastle by an evening train and had our dinner on board. This shoot was leased from Lord Grey of Falloden for a long period of years and the name of the property was Ancroft. It was customary in those days and perhaps still is, for property owners to lease the whole or portions of their properties for shooting.of game or fishing in the streams.

A speciality on the dinner menu of the Edinburgh-Newcastle express on which we travelled was Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit properly speaking) made of Gorgonzola cheese. From Newcastle I visited my Aunt Rachel who then lived at Hexham-on-Tyne. Then there were several visits to my old friends the Southerns at North Seaton Hall. By this time my Grandmother had died and the other two Aunts lived in Guernsey. I well recall a very happy week at Grantham-on-Spey with Trix and Harry Trequair and a night or two in Edinburgh. There were two visits to the Seth-Smiths at Silvermere – my second home. There was also a visit to Cobham, to Sir William and Lady Russell and Violet at Lewes, Jackie Hughes and his wife were also there. A weekend in Derby with the Prices (Sir Francis) – lovely countryside and large house full of men servants – rather terrifying.

In October Charlie Ritchie and I crossed over to Guernsey to stay with Aunts Mary and Helen and we had a grand time there mostly playing golf and roller-skating. Many pleasant people lived there who had been in the Army or Navy and among them were cousins of Charlie Maclaren. Ruth Ozanne was always ready for golf or walking excursions. After a couple of weeks Charlie returned to England and entered the Clergy School at Leeds for a time in order to make up his mind about entering the Church. I stayed on for another two weeks and during that time came a telegram from Charlie saying “The Church has me”. Charlie’s and my friendship lasted till his untimely death in 1961 – we used to meet from time to time but we were always able to pick up the threads of friendship very readily. More about him and his career as my story advances.

On October 10th Charlie Nairn and Pam Ambler married in London and I was Best Man – Trix came up for the wedding – the Reverend Campbell Morgan officiated. Charlie and Pam went off to Eastbourne where they remained until 1911. I visited them at Eastbourne before I left and also dashed off to see Jumbo North at Chichester.

From the end of October to December the sun never showed itself and I was glad to leave England – though I hated the partings. My diary tells me the temperatures were very low – many frosts and some horrid fogs in London all through November. I remember a very cold weekend with the Sandersons at Chislehurst and on the Monday when we

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arrived at Cannon Street there was a pea-soup fog.

While in London I saw quite a lot of Keith McDermott who was in Chambers in the Inns of Court – he was still waiting for a “Brief” as was the case with most young barristers of those days. He joined the Army in 1914 and was killed in Palestine at the very end of the war in 1918.

My last two weeks were spent at the Burlington Hotel in Eastbourne with Charlie and Pam and we walked along to Beachy Head and always looked in to see Sparks, the Coastguardsman at Burling Gap. We used to walk hard to keep warm, Uncle Jim came down for a weekend and was in London for a farewell dinner. K. McDermott Freddie Baker and Jack Tetley were also there (Charing Cross Hotel) and they saw me off by the 9 p.m. Brindisi Express (P.& 0. Special). By travelling overland a week was knocked off the voyage.

On arrival at Calais the through train (Wagon-lit) was waiting for us – very comfortable single sleeping compartments and restaurant car. We left Calais at 1 a.m. and reached Brindisi at 7 p.m. next day, passing through Paris, Lyon, Mt. Cenis Tunnel (between France and Switzerland), Turin, Bologna and down the east coast of Italy. At Brindisi I boarded the P..& O. Ferry Boat “Osiris”. As we had the Christmas Mail for the East to load we did not sail till early next day. There were only seventeen passengers and all available space was occupied with mail bags etc.

The first day was spent travelling down the coast of Greece and the sun shone and we felt warm. After two days and three nights (the last day was very rough) we reached Port Said and drew alongside the P.& 0. “Mantua” and transhipped. After a few hours in Port Said we proceeded through the Suez Canal and so the voyage to Australia began. The “Mantua” was the newest ship of the line and my cabin was a deck single berth one. At Colombo many pleasant friends I made left (the Ralph Pagets in particular) and from then onwards we felt dull.

The Pagets were particularly nice people and I saw much of them. He was British Minister to Serbia and lived in Belgrade (this country does not exist today). The Pagets gave me that picture, now hanging in ‘The Cottage’, by the Marine artist Wylie.

Another very interesting fellow passenger was Colonel Wodehouse (Commissioner of Police in London) and he told me many stories of his work, especially concerning arrangements for the visits of Foreign Royalty to England, and of the safeguards necessary whenever members of the British Royal Family went out of their homes even on chopping expeditions in London.

The Captain of the ship was Freddie Vibert who had been Fifth Officer on the “Surat” when my Mother travelled in her in 1881 and they had been very friendly and, in consequence, he was very friendly towards me. He was the Commodore of the Fleet (P.& O.) Among the passengers I saw a good deal of were Jessie and Agnes Mill (the latter now lives at Wanaka). The last day of the year found us between the Cocos Islands and Perth. It was a rough day and worse night so our New Year’s Eve Dance had to be abandoned.

By the way, Christmas Day was spent in Colombo so the ship celebrated on the next day – the ship was all beflagged and we had extra special meals etc.

On the voyage I was secretary of the Sports and Entertainment Committee and had quite a busy time – this job was not new to me for it had fallen to my lot on other voyages.

So another year was chalked up.

1911

Before I continue with my story let me say what I have written since my earliest recollection has taken six months and I have only covered superficially a little over one-third of my life to date and the part that really counts for most in my life has not really begun – I refer now to the time when the tide turned and I set out with a will to make a success of my farming enterprise and to take my part in helping, in a small way, with the further development of our country, particularly Hawke’s Bay. If by chance I don’t get much further – for I am now 82 – you will find my diaries will tell the story).

Now to get back to the voyage.

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We reached Perth on 3rd January – then rolled our way through the Bight to Adelaide on the 7th. I spent much of the day with Dr, Newman and Mr. Martin Chapman in the Botanical Gardens and as I was much taller than them I had to reach up to gather seeds from the trees for them (they being botanists). The ship rolled up to 30 degrees and was most uncomfortable till we reached Melbourne on the 9th. At Melbourne I lunched with Mr. W.T. Manifold of Purrumbete and later went up to the Ryan’s home in Upper Collins Street and then set off with Colonel Ryan, Mrs. Ryan and Maie (now Lady Casey) by car for their delightful home at Frankston on the harbour (Earimil). There I stayed for several days and loved the quiet country – seabathing, golf, bridge and cross-country rides with Maie. On 15th I returned to Melbourne, lunched with Ronald and Stewart Murray at Menzies Hotel and later boarded the Sydney Express.

The following day in Sydney I called on the Austins and later they took me to see Grace Palotta – the famous and charming actress who now runs a hat shop. Then I went to Wahroonga to stay over the weekend with the Tooheys of beer fame, who have a lovely home. Mrs. Toohey and Maurice had travelled out with me in the “Mantua”. We sailed from Sydney on the 16th January into a storm, but soon got out of it and arrived in Auckland on the 20th in fine weather. In those days every other P.& O. ship used to call at Auckland. That night I caught the Limited Express and shared a sleeping compartment with Mr. Jack Handyside – met next evening at Hastings by Mother and John and it was good to be home once more.

From the beginning of February I settled down seriously to qualifying myself for the art of farming and thanks to the wonderful kindness of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Lowry, Okawa became my home again. Hutt Peacock was the Manager and he and I got on remarkably well.

I took part in all the activities of Station Life and life was full and very happy. By this time Okawa was a station of approximately 14,000 acres and I note the dipping tallies were 28,000 sheep. Early in March Mack Swinburn took over the management and he and I soon became friends. His cottage was about a mile from the homestead and I lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lowry.

I remember Mr. Lowry and I decided to break in a couple of horses – his was black and rather unruly – it dumped him one day and that was the end – mine was a big roan and he turned out to be an outlaw and very vicious so that was the end and we gave up “breaking in”. At this time Tom was at Christ’s College, Jim and Ralph at Heretaunga and Marion and Gertie at home under a governess.

1911 certainly witnessed the turning point in my life – for it was now definite that farming was to be my part and I settled with a will to gaining all the experience I could. The last five years had been wonderfully happy ones for me – I made many friends, enjoyed life and recaptured health but they were years, up to a point, of indecision and times my Parents must have been worried about my future. However, as the years passed by, I felt I was able to make up for those years of apparent idleness – but throughout that period my Parents bestowed upon me kindness and showed patience which, at that time, was beyond understanding. In my mature years I realise that, if you can understand youth and exercise patience, you are repaying your own parents. This is my philosophy and there may be something in it.

This was a year of many happenings in our family. In the early part of March Mr. R.M. Turnbull of Wanaka purchased Kereru Station from W.G. Stead. The property comprised 6,000 acres of freehold and close on 6,000 of Crown Lease. It wintered about 5,000 ewes and 2,000 ewe hoggets together with about 400 head of cattle. The price was £6 per acre for freehold and the rent was a few hundred Pei year for the leasehold.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull, Dorothy and Mary (then engaged to Ivan) came up to Hawke’s Bay and stayed at the Masonic Hotel in Napier until some alterations had been made to the homestead at Kereru.

It was not very long before Dorothy and I fell in love with one another and on my birthday (April 27th) we announced our engagement. It was a very long autumn and there was a

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partial drought in progress – one result was a prolonged tennis season and most weekends Dorothy and Mary were among those who used to come to Okawa for tennis.

The Lowry family always assert that we became engaged in a loose-box of the racing stables – the fact was at that time I was temporarily in charge of the Stallion “Royal Fusileer” and some mares while the Stud Groom was away and it was my job to see to the feeding. Dorothy used often to help me in the task. Hence the “good story”. One night while at Okawa, Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were away, a fearful shouting and noise occurred about midnight so I had to creep out of the house and run across the paddocks to wake up Mac Swinburn – on the way I fell over a sleeping cow and thought my last days had come! We both went to the Cookhouse and found things in an uproar. Mac handled the situation well and next morning several hands were dismissed including the Cook, so for a few days I had to handle the cooking as best I could with the aid of the “handy man”.

On most Sunday nights during the year the W.G. Steads and Herbert Coleman used to come to supper and there was much talk about race horses.

During Mr. and Mrs. Lowry’s absence in Japan, Australia, Singapore etc, Mr. and Mrs. John Nairn, Olive and I lived in the homestead at Okawa together with the little girls and Ralph plus nurses, governesses and maids. I remember replenishing Mrs. Nairn’s Bank Account from T.H.L.’s bank in order for household bills to be paid and what a row there was on the return of Mr. and Mrs. Lowry. In those days it appeared to be the rule only to pay bills once a year and then about Christmas time. In June the Turnbulls were well settled at Kereru Station and I paid my first of many visits there – I usually rode out on my motor bike. However by this time my Father owned a big Cadillac car and employed a chauffeur so this car was very much at my disposal as there was need to keep the chauffeur occupied.

As the year advanced work increased at Okawa – there was lambing through August and September and 12,000 ewes took some looking after. Docking was quite a protracted business and a team of Maoris assisted. This year (1911) the percentage was 74%. Then there were 1,000 cows to watch over – most of the dry cattle were sent to Omarunui for fattening and Mr. Lowry kept a personal eye upon them. Fattening of cattle was his main hobby.

In September I went to Dunedin for a couple of weeks to meet the Turnbull friends and act as bestman to Ivan who was married to Mary at All Saints on the 13th. Dorothy was bridesmaid. There was much gaiety in Dunedin and entertaining, particularly by the Roberts Family and Judge and Mrs. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull took the Rattray home, “Craighall”, for the occasion and I stayed there. My Father, Mother and John all came down for the wedding too.

After returning to Okawa dry shearing began and this was followed later by ewe shearing and these operations carried on till late in November – in fact the days were not long enough for the work on hand.

I did not join the usual party for fishing at Taupo but spent Christmas at Kereru and on the 28th Mr. Turnbull and I went down to Dunedin. We spent a few days at the Farnhill Club and saw the New Year in there.

In those days the journey to Dunedin from Napier was very tedious – two long days in the train and a night crossing between Wellington and Christchurch by ferry which could be very rough and uncomfortable. Today you can fly in a matter of a few hours.

1912

On January 1st Mr. Turnbull and I left for Ranfurly by train and a buggy and pair met us and took us on to Linnburn (Central Otago). It then consisted of 1400 acres freehold and 16,000 leasehold and ran 5,000 merino sheep. Originally it was about 80,000 acres and it was there the family lived till they went to England in about 1895 and there they remained till 1905 when their education was over. After two or three days we went on to Wanaka Station which was once 250,000 acres and one of the biggest holdings in New Zealand. Now it was only about 5,000 acres of freehold. The

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homestead was a comfortable rambling house on the edge of the lake and surrounded by a lovely garden and English trees. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Turnbull were there and we had about a week of roaming round the countryside before returning to the North Island.

I now took up my abode at Kereru Station as the Trustees in Ned Smith’s affairs had offered me a block of 1,670 acres – the Olrig Outstation block – and after much thinking the matter over and getting advice from various friends, I decided to accept the offer and on March 11th I took over what is now Pukekino at £6 per acre. My Father, in his generosity, found the deposit and cash for stock and buildings and the balance remained on mortgage.

The block was in three large paddocks – about 1,000 acres had been ploughed and were in good grass – the balance was mostly gorge and covered in scrub and fern.

The cash which my Father made available to me, viz. £4,000 approximately, was spent as follows : £1,000 deposit on land, £1,400 on stock, £1,600 on buildings.

A week before taking possession a very goo rain came and thus the drought was broken and pastures were revived and very acceptable as the block had been well eaten out by stock. During the two weeks before date of possession Alf Reid (Williams and Kettle’s head stockman) and I attended many sales and under his guidance I purchased the following:

1,000 5 yr. ewes from Olrig at 12/6 approx. 200 Ashcott 2 tooth ewes at 15/4
500 tooth ewes from Prescott Estate at 14/- and,
about 50 rams from Olrig and Okawa at £3.3.0d.

It then became necessary to set to work on the most essential jobs :

1.   Selecting a site for homestead and farm buildings.
2.   Making arrangements with a Stock and Station Firm for finance.
3.   Harnessing a water supply.
4.   Planning a fencing programme.

Before actually getting down to developmentLthe ewes had to be placed on their blocks with the appropriate number of rams. I should have mentioned that actually a week before taking possession I was permitted to erect a very short fence on a narrow gap between the hill portion of the jails and the flat – it was only a matter of several chains and so with the help of a man I engaged (Jim Galvin) I put up this fence. While at Okawa I was instructed in the art of fencing and this stood me in good stead.

Now Pukekino was in four blocks :
The Pit   (front country)   approximately 380 acres
Andersons   270 acres
Lower Jails   200 acres
Upper Jails   300 acres
1,050 acres

This acreage does not include about 620 acres of gorge and gully land which was non-ploughable land.

The ewes were placed as follows :
Pit   525
Andersons   500
U. Jails   280
L. Jails   445
1,750

We carried on with fencing till Galvin departed on May 7th. (He was only supposed to have a week off but various things happened and he ended up in gaol!) During the time he was with me we erected the fences enclosing the front and back paddocks. In between times we dug out the spring and with the help of Le Quesne’s man we laid water pipes to the site of the homestead. This was quite a job for the distance between the spring and the homestead was half a mile.

After many near mistakes we settled on the site for the house and farm buildings – the only sensible and practical site.

The matter of settling upon the mercantile firm to take care of us was simple – Williams and Kettle Limited. I had an interview with Mr. N. Kettle (Uncle Nat) and he undertook that Williams and Kettle would look after me and that I could have credit for £500 in order to carry on, and W.& K. have remained our agents ever since. Then came the planning of

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a home and engaging an architect. Hawthorne and his horse team levelled the site and all was got ready for building.

I don’t know how I managed it but I went off to Pourerere to see Charlie and Pam Nairn for a day or two, then to the Tongariro with Father and party for a week’s fishing. A few days later Mother and I went to Wellington to see John in hospital and I acted as Bestman to Leonard Sedgwick who married Phyllis Riddiford. The wedding was a stylish and big affair at Fern Grove in Lower Hutt (the Riddiford home). L. Sedgwick had been at Oxford with me and lived in Byfleet near the Seth Smiths. He took orders and was a Rowing Blue. The marriage came to an end a few years later. Back home at the end of the month and hard work was the order. I purchased several hundred totara posts and battens from Fred Simmons and with his bullock team he delivered them on the proposed fence lines – posts £5.10/- per hundred and battens 5/- per hundred. Then we proceeded to fence with a will – the first line was between Andersons corner and Cocksfoot. Then followed Ram paddock and Upper Jails – then Upper Jails and Prices. By September there were eight paddocks and two more round the homestead block. Quite a good start. The care of the ewes was always the first priority because they began to show up in lamb about July and lambing began in August. By that time I had a useful shepherd (Percy) and he could well have been with me for a long time but in a fit of impetuosity I sacked him. However he was with me till the end of September.

The building of the homestead began in May and the job was completed at the end of August and I was able to install a married couple. They were pretty useless and I sacked them also at the end of September – they were bone lazy. The house consisted of over 3,000 sq. ft. and there was also an implement shed and cow shed. The timber was all heart of totara from the Kereru bush and was carted down by bullock wagon. The total cost of buildings completed was £1,600. Early in the building I also sacked the architect and Bob Le Quesne (plumber) helped me out. It looks as if I must have been rather “uppish” in those days!

Lambing was practically over early in September – it was a strenuous time for the two of us, especially as the paddocks were so big and in those days it did not appear to be that lambing ewes were drafted according to how they were showing up, the result being that you did not dock until most of the lambs had arrived. The management of lambing ewes is so different today!

On September 4th the Big Day arrived and Dorothy and I were married in St. John’s Cathedral in Napier by Dean Mayne. It was a very quiet affair on account of the recent death of Mrs. Turnbull’s Mother. However the Church was full. A small reception at Ivan and Mary’s home in Napier Terrace, after which Dorothy and I left for Waipawa on our way to spend a week in Wellington and later a week in Auckland. We stayed at the Royal Oak and Grand respectively. At the reception, apart from parents, were Lulu and Winston Barron, Wilfred and Ruby Stead and Mr. Handyside. Eru Johnson was my bestman and Cara Graham of Dunedin was Dorothy’s bridesmaid.

On our return to Pukekino we found Monty and Mr. C. Turnbull (Uncle Charles) had laid all the carpets down and the house was in perfect order for us. It was a grand surprise. So our married life began and our happiness together has never waned. In passing I mention there was no drive from the road to the homestead so on our return after our honeymoon we had to transfer ourselves and luggage from the car to a spring cart.

As well as Piercey we had a married couple – the woman cared for the housework and also cooked. But they were bone lazy and did not last long and when they left Cara Graham (Dorothy’s great friend and bridesmaid) who was staying at Kereru, came over to us to help, for Dorothy, like so many young women of those days, knew nothing about cooking. In those days “domestic” help was plentiful. Hard work set in with a vengence. Docking was strenuous on account of the size of the mob, but Olrig Station gave a hand. After lambing there were 1680 ewes left so our

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losses had been fairly heavy and the lamb percentage worked out at 91%.

My Father-in-law was kind enough to allow us to link up on the Kereru telephone so we were more in the world. The drive was completed from the road to the house – a distance of a quarter of a mile at a cost of £90. Our transport was by horse or spring cart and we did not possess a car for another year or more. But as my Parents had a car (Cadillac) and chauffeur and likewise my In-laws, we were well cared for. In October an outstanding married couple in the Jim Prices came to us (£104 per year) and during the year they were with us life was easy for us. Jim was a great worker and between us we made a garden, carried on with our fencing programme, grubbed and cut scrub. As the years went by three more Price men worked for me – all of them reliable and good workers.

Shearing in December was a terrific job for we had to drive all the ewes plus their lambs to Olrig – a little over three miles but in those days there was very little traffic on the road – still it was a journey of two hours and as lambs became separated from their mothers there was much confusion. On the return journey lambs broke through fences and it was days before all were collected.

W. Richmond was then the “picker” for Tomoana Freezing Works – he came out and took 258 fat wether lambs which was good for it represented 20% of the Lambs. Later the balance were sold to Olrig for 10/- per head which was considered a good price.

In between “going round the ewes” Jim Price and I never had an idle moment – there was always fencing, grubbing manuka in Upper Gaols in a hay crop, grubbing briars and sything Californian thistle. Social engagements were almost nil and we hardly ever went to town but still we were happy. About Christmas time James and Sybil Hutchinson of Bamburgh arrived in New Zealand to take up a farm at St. Lawrence. They came out to see us and so began a friendship that has continued for fifty years. James died a few years ago but Sybil still lives in Bamburgh.

So the first year of our great adventure in farming came to an end. I found among some of my notes the fact that the actual cost of the homestead and implement shed was £1,557/10/-, the 1760 ewes and rams cost £1320, the land cost £10,020, there was a mortgage of £8,517 and I owed my Father £4,258 (at least it was a gift).

At this point I should mention that farmers paid no income tax, but there was a steepish Land Tax and it seemed that few farmers kept accurate books – most knew from Bank Statements how things stood.

1913

The second year of my farming venture was a successful one – in the first place the autumn rains were good and there was ample food for stock and the married couple (Jim Prices) proved to be treasures. He was especially helpful to me and we were able to make much progress in dealing with the second growth of scrub. Then I was able to secure the help of Horace Price to carry on with the fencing programme – he worked as very few work today and all for 1/- per hour.

The wool was sold early in the year and fetched a little over £500 – the lambs off the mothers, as I said, fetched 12/6 and stores 10/6. The gross takings for the year ending March 31st were somewhere about £1400 which enabled us to live comfortably and pay our way. This meant in those days, if you grossed a little under £I per acre all was well – today you would need to gross £5 per acre to be in the same position.

Photo caption – One of the annual fishing expeditions to Taupo taken at Camp Whanganui Bay 1912. From left: WNJ Mackay (Chief Accountant at Sainsbury Logan & Williams), GE Mannering, Rev Fletcher, Ivan Logan, Francis Logan, Frank Logan and JP Lethbridge. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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As I write my story I cannot help thinking of the hard work involved – all the carting on the farm was accomplished by spring cart or sledge – no cars, no land rovers and no tractors to help and the running back and forth to the windmill, which was half a mile away, sometimes in the middle of the night if a gale got up, was an effort to be reckoned with. No electricity and all the fire wood for kitchen stoves and open fireplaces had to be hand sawn. The house lighting was by acetylene and often this needed attention at night – usually it was raining or freezing. I can enumerate countless other inconvenient aspects of farm life of those days.

The ewes were reduced to 1350 on account of carrying 600 ewe hoggets and later as the feed position was satisfactory I bought between 200 and 300 wether lambs from Kereru. The hogget loss in those days was always high – about 5% or more because we knew very little about the management of pastures and there were no such things as drenches for worms and other ills other than Kerol and milk. Nor did we know anything about the application of fertilisers to grass lands – these were only used through the drill for crops.

In addition to grazing 60 odd weaners from Kereru I bought 30 cows with calves from Poporangi Station for £6.10/- (each cow and calf).

Dipping, crutching and shearing were all done at Olrig Station during the year and it was a fearful grind droving the sheep so far but the cost of building a woolshed, dip and men’s accommodation was beyond me at the time and for years to come, however on looking back it would have been much easier on the stock and humans had I borrowed money and built. In those days I had a dread of being overloaded with mortgages and overdrafts.

The homestead had been stained instead of painted – one of our many follies and it began to get very shabby and untidy so the stain had to be removed by an application of Notting and the house painted. This was a great improvement but a costly one. Unfortunately the Prices left after a year and I employed Frank Meissner who hailed from Austria and had been staying at Whakarara. He was a great worker and filled the bill well. When war broke out later he was regarded as an enemy and he had a “‘miserable time.

However after many trials and tribulations he emerged and today he is a very well-to-do apple grower in Havelock North. When he left we got another married couple – they only lasted a week because he told me if I did not call him “Mr. Dalton” he would call me “Frank”. I gave him a week’s notice but reduced it to 24 hours. Then we were able to get a very satisfactory couple who stayed for two or three years.

I seemed to find time to get a garden licked into shape vegetable and shrubs and flowers. Mrs. Lowry gave me asparagus plants and these kept us going for many years and we also got all sorts of cuttings and shrubs from Okawa. About April of the year 1913 my Father, Mother and Eru Johnson went to England – the first two mentioned returned by way of Canada in October but Eru remained away till early next year. While my Parents were away the Hunter-Westons (she was a Roberts) leased their house and whenever I wished to stay in Napier they made me very welcome and I took full advantage of their kind offer.

On June 3rd our son and heir (James Alan) was born in Napier and there was much jubilation. Dorothy got on well and she was able to return home in three weeks.

In those days mothers were kept in bed for two weeks after childbirth – so different from today. All went well until there was a scare of smallpox at Bridge Pa – which turned out to be a false alarm. However all and sundry were vaccinated and the lympth appeared to be either too fresh or too old and much trouble ensued. Dorothy was feeding the baby and she was badly affected so was Jim and the result quite catastrophic – the child went back rapidly and soon eczema of a serious type appeared and this took months to overcome, during which time the poor kid was submitted to all sorts of experiments and we had appalling nights – often no sleep at all. Eventually the trouble subsided but Jim always had a very delicate skin and was allergic to cows for all time.

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The first Kereru Sports were held in April and they continued for years till in the end they were merged with the Maraekekaho Sports.

During the year many friends came out to see us – these were the “calling” days – a number of South Island friends of the Turnbulls came to stay – included were the Sinclair Thomsons, Mary Ritchie and Issy Rattray.

Again I shore the sheep at Olrig under trying conditions ­the distance to drive the sheep was too far so plans were laid for shearing, dipping and crutching to be done in future at Kereru the distance being less than half of that to Olrig.

A strike of watersiders occurred towards the end of the year, which might have been disastrous except for the firm stand of the Government and voluntary labour supplied by the farming community mostly, though others helped. For a few days the position was tense and ugly but gradually there came a crack in the ranks of the militant watersiders and the strike was effectively broken.

1914

This was another year of hard work – in fact hard work was the order for many more years. It was also a year of sorrow in our family and of disasters. In May our dear friend Eru Johnson (John) was accidentally shot in Gisborne while going through a fence with a loaded shotgun. All who knew John loved him for he was a fellow with a noble heart and a friend who would never let you down.

The disasters were the outbreak of World War 1 on August 4th and the severest drought in my memory which gripped Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa from early November till the Autumn of 1915. Hawke’s Bay was much harder hit than Wairarapa. The drought really began with a poor spring rainfall but that would not have been so serious had gales not set in. It literally blew big guns from the end of September till March – never was there a let up and thousands of tons of soil from Kereru blew to glory – one newly ploughed paddock across the Poporangi lost a foot of top soil. At times the sun was obscured from sight. This drought proved to be a most devastating one – creeks dried up and grass was literally blown away. We were able to stand up to it as I was over­cautious and under-stocked but many neighbours such as Teschemaker, Dasent and Olrig Station had to take stock over to the Pahiatua district and trail them for weeks. I remember Jack Teschemaker telling me he used to go out on to his verandah each night and gaze to the sky and say “God if you think this is a joke I don’t and why punish harmless animals”. Then on August 4th came the beginning of World War 1 – in our innocence we thought it would all be over in the space of months but it lasted till November 11th 1918 – many countries were reduced to a state of chaos and the slaughter was appalling. It all began because some fanatic in Serbia shot an Archduke of Austria. New Zealand’s first Exped. Force left on October 15th for Egypt. By the way Japan was with us too and her fleet helped in the convoy work.

But to return to the “doings” of 1914 – the Price brothers were now fencing hard with an odd day scrub-cutting, while Woodward, the married man and I attended to stock work etc.

Having been to see the Masons and Guy Russell (afterwards General Sir Andrew) at work topdressing with Basic Slag, I invested in a hopper and so began topdressing on Pukekino. The process was slow – the Wallace hopper was drawn by one horse and the area covered would have been about 5 to 8 acres a day. And the slag, or super which we began to use later, had to be carted out by sledge. Other work came to a standstill during topdressing except that the cows had to be milked twice daily and other chores attended to.

A sad farewell to Sir William and Lady Russell and family who left Flaxmere to live in England. I did not see the former two again but Violet, who had a flat in Chelsea, often came out for a visit and we used to see her on our trips to England later.

Early in the year the Primate of New Zealand and Mrs. Neville came to stay at Kereru and he baptised Jimmy in the drawingroom – his Godfathers were F.I. Stopford and Eru Johnson.

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The Autumn rains were good and we settled down for the year with 1480 ewes together with replacements (ewe hoggets).

Reg Humphries, who managed Olrig Station, was a good friend and neighbour and we saw quite a lot of him. But his wife was very unpredictable. It was while Cora Lee was nursing her that we first met and she and Monty became engaged. We were always very fond of Cora and have remained so – I write in August 1966! However the engagement did not meet the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull and this upset the family arrangements completely. Monty became unsettled at Kereru and tired of parental interference- so went over to Australia. Also in July James and Sybil Hutchinson returned to England mainly on account of her poor health and they took up a farm on Tweedside near Kelso and later they took up the family farm at Bamburgh which we became to know and love so much at a later date. When they departed they left me their favourite mare, Belle, who was a delightful friend for many years. At Easter I went on the annual fishing expedition with Father to the Western Bays in Taupo – among the party were I.S. Handyside, Ivan, N. MacKay, W.G. Wood, A.H. Russell (Guy), A.E. Mannering and G.S. Wenley. It was most enjoyable, but it was to be the last of these happy parties for the war came to put a stop to such pleasant pastimes and by the time the war was over I was too much involved with a family and the farm to be able to get away at the times Father and his party were free to go. Dorothy went to Dunedin early in July for a couple of weeks to have a spell and see old friends and I joined her in Christchurch on August 2nd, where we had a few days at Warners Hotel and it was the day we returned that war was declared. The married couple (Woodward) left us at the end of August – Nellie, who had been house-parlour maid with my Mother, came to us and stayed for many years, and Critch Price came to work on the farm and he stayed for a few years so we had some peace. Lambing was satisfactory but before docking was over the-drought had set in and the gales had started. We were to have started on a ploughing programme but this had to be abandoned on account of the horses having to trek down to the creek in Sunny Vale for water and as it turned out it was a wise move for no crop could have survived the drought. Monty returned from Australia for a few days to say farewell before proceeding to England to join up. We had a dinner at the Club for him – about a dozen of us present. From now on my contemporaries, the unmarried ones, began to enlist and drift into camp and on October 15th the first contingent left for Egypt escorted by French and Japanese warships.

Shearing took place at Kereru for the first time and what a lot of trouble we had with the old Blackstone Engine – it was always breaking down and how annoying it was to get a mob of ewes and lambs over to Kereru, especially on a hot and dusty day, to find the engine playing up and having to keep the sheep waiting about in the yards.

On November 27th General Elections were held. Reform were returned with a majority of two.

Dorothy, Jim and I went over to Kereru for a week at Christmas. By the end of the year the countryside was the colour of straw and the gales were still raging.

1915

Now we have reached the year 1915 and as I begin to write about the events of that year I am 82 and I just wonder whether I shall ever be able to complete the story of my life, for there are still another 50 years almost to be accounted for. What I do is to take up my diary each year and go through it carefully noting down what I think are events worth recording and then I write up from these notes. I try not to go too much into detail but I hope just to give you an insight into what we did in the days gone by.

When the year came in we were in the throes of the most severe drought in the memory of old men living at that time and I still consider it was the worst I can recall – though there have been some since then that were very unpleasant. Before the drought broke in the middle of March there were many false alarms – such as thunderstorms and drizzle setting in. from a N.E. or S.E. quarter, which usually meant business – but the false alarms only

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came to tantalize us. However, eventually the break came on March 12th when we got 2 inches as a start, then on the 18th it rained off and on gently (the best type of rain) for a week, by which time over 6 inches had fallen and the response of plant life to this was magical. However before this happened I had had to quit 25 cows at £2.5.0d. and 200 old ewes at just on 10/0d. – I realise now I might have held on. My old friend of my boyhood, Keith Cotterill, bought the ewes and after taking over 100% of lambs from them two years in succession he made me a present of a gold wrist watch, but this was promptly stolen in the wool-shed next shearing. Most of January and February was occupied in opening up water-holes and making tracks down to the creek beds for stock. There were no dams at that time and the spring was running so poorly we could not put in more troughs.

From the work point of view it was a wonderful year for I was extremely fit, there was a bit of money in kitty (only a matter of about £200) and I had Critch and Bert Price who were hard and honest workers. Between us, after the routine care of stock, we cut and grubbed manuka, topdressed, cut heavy manuka for firewood, built sheep yards and fenced and fenced hard. By the time Bert left for the war there were about fifteen paddocks on the farm – the biggest job was Hades. To help me was dear old Bess, the mare I bought from Jim McIntyre, she did all the carting in spring cart and sledge, pulled the topdresser and at times was a hack. She lived to be about 30.

Jimmy McIntyre was the country roadman for our section of the road and he knew everybody’s business – we called him the bush telegraphist or Jimmy the Wheel – a character. During the drought sheep wandered up and down gorges and found many gaps for escape int other properties and from time to time it became necessary to muster adjoining blocks of Olrig and Poporangi Stations to collect our strays. In those days we were only bounded by those two stations and this made things easy.

In February my friend Humphries who was manager of Olrig, picked up an infection in Gisborne while inspecting grazing cattle and within a week he was dead. This was a sad loss to the district. In April Edward Averill was appointed manager and we soon became good and friendly neighbours. I forgot to mention that in 1914 the Duff Family from Whakarara Station went for a trip to England and Hugh enlisted there and was killed later. Another death I felt was that of old “Don” – he was my first sheep dog at Okawa and as faithful as a human friend. Don was the first of many faithful dogs to die in my lifetime. Outliving one’s pets is a sad business.

Before going any further let me tell you our greatest joy in our life at Pukekino was Jimmy, who was now in his second year. He had outgrown his trouble in early life and was now a healthy, pink-cheeked, robust little boy. To watch his development and to have his companionship meant everything to us. At this time we had a most competent nurse in old Louise and Jim was her only thought. My Parents were very devoted to their only grandson at that time and they frequently came out to Pukekino or had Jim and his nurse to stay in Napier.

Before the end of the drought Eric Nairn motored me over to Highden (Awahuri) to spend a few days with the Hugh Whites. We had quite a pleasant and social time but I was filled with envy at seeing the lush pastures of the West Coast. Eric and Jack Nairn came much into my life over the years and I was sad at Eric’s departure to the war in May. He joined the Guards in London. There were farewell dinners given at the Club for Seton Wenley and Jack Hindmarsh and also for J.H.G. Murdoch, who did not return.

On my birthday (27th April) my Father and Mother gave me a motor car – the first I had ever owned and what a joy it was. I was told to try out several and as it was just before Eric left I got him to be my guide and advisor. The choice fell on a Hudson and it proved to be most reliable. By May Monty Turnbull had a commission in the A.S.C. and had married Cora Lee – this was in England.

The war dragged on with fluctuating fortunes – Italy joined with us. On April 26th the Australian and New Zealand Forces together with a British Army landed on Gallipoli – the

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expedition might have brought the war to a much earlier end but it was embarked upon without the necessary thought and care and proved to be a failure and a grave for many brave fellows.

The Charles Turnbulls came up to Kereru from Dunedin in August – each year they came up for a visit – sometimes twice in the year. There was always much excitement on their arrival but this soon waned and things used to get mighty blue before their departure. He was a very jovial soul but she was a first rate niggler.

The small cottage – now shearer’s accommodation – and another shed for implements were built.

Marjorie was born on August 23rd- she was a bouncing child and weighed 9 lbs. Each month she seemed to put on a pount at least and never gave the slightest trouble. Old Louise, who had been Jim’s nurse, left us and Nellie Jenner, who had been with my Mother for some years, came and she was with us till she married W. Ainsworth about six years later.

During the year my Father purchased an eight cylinder Cadillac car – a real joy to drive.

For a week during the year there was much gloom as it was reported that Von Kettle and Tim Wilder had been killed on Gallipoli – good news of their safety caused rejoicing. Lambing was quite good and no untoward weather disturbed us. Docking was becoming increasingly easy as the number of paddocks increased and the size of the mobs decreased. On October 24th Phil Brock (then a lad of 16) came and he stayed with me till after the Earthquake in 1931. He was the most conscientious worker I ever met – not a lazy bone in his body. Life with him on the farm was a joy and we became firm friends and have remained so. He left me when Jim began work on the farm after leaving school and he soon got a good job at Tutira which he eventually managed for H. Guthrie Smith, After the cutting up of Tutira he managed Kahika for the Lands and Survey Department till he retired in 1965. Now he lives in Napier.

Critch Price and Phil were a good combination on the farm and I had no worries while they were with me. They lived in the whare – cooked their breakfast and lunch and came down to the house for dinner.

We shore 1160 ewes, 110 2 tooth wethers, 525 ewe hoggets and 1012 lambs and the total number of bales was 50. On the last day of the year we went to Napier to say farewell to the Wenleys who were leaving for England where they remained for the duration of the war.

The average weight of wool was eight and seven-eights a pound per ewe, 3 ¼ lb for lambs and woolly hoggets – 6 ½ lbs.

1916

This was a satisfactory year so far as the farm was concerned for we had good autumn rains and again good spring rains. We started the year with 1260 breeding ewes and 1180 ewe and wether lambs. I made a change in policy and kept all lambs as it was or at least it appeared more profitable to sell 2-tooth wethers and not lambs because the price of 2-tooth wethers after getting the wool was round about 22/6 and wool had leapt up in price which made the wool from the wethers worth about another 10/0d. However as time went on I discovered my mistake and it was really better to sell all wether Iambs and step up the breeding ewes. The cattle population was still far too low – only about 80 cows and replacements. But in those days cattle had not come into their own and were regarded more as mowers of long grass.

We indulged in more agricultural work – turnips mostly and harrowed some of the grassland. For a time turnips did well with us.

The usual scrub grubbing and cutting was carried on and cutting back of gorse.

Until October, Phil Brock and Critch Price worked for me ­then Critch left (after over two years) and Phil and I carried on alone for years. He worked like two men and I seemed to do pretty well. We were a happy combination and things went very smoothly on the farm.

The Averill family were now living at Olrig and Cecil and Rochie were always ready and willing to lend me a hand and we in our turn helped them on Echills when work was pressing, W. Johnston was the Manager of

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Poporangi Station – he was a tower of strength and we became very friendly with him and Mrs. Johnston. His home was only about a mile from my top boundary and I often popped in for a cup of tea or lunch and a yarn. Those were days when you saw something of your neighbours.

The lambing was good – just on 100% and the loss of ewes was light. Sleepy sickness and shearing trouble hardly existed and there was very little scald or foot-rot. These troubles came later as topdressing advanced and the sheep population per acre increased. The principal worry was still the loss among the hoggets – about May they seemed to wilt and much nursing was needed. The loss could be over 5%. Today, what with regular dosing and better pasture management you don’t face the same trouble.

About the first week in August – fortunately just before lambing – we had a flood which did some damage to tracks, floodgates and fences. Over eight inches of rain fell in two days on top of already saturated land.

We, that is Phil mostly, milked four cows morning and evening and we had an abundance of cream and butter ­much to sell and give away. Phil had the cows milked and was ready for breakfast at 7:30 and the days work at 8. On his weekends off I milked. Early in the year George Russell (head ploughman on Olrig) went over to Omakere with me and we purchased the three draught horses which formed the plough team. Critch was ploughman and teamster and after his departure Phil took on the ploughing.

During the shooting season, Father, Ivan and G.E. Mannering came out and we had a couple of good days among the quail – 30 ½ brace one day.

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CHAPTER SIX

1917 – 1929

1917

The war raged furiously over much of Europe and the Near East – at times there was optimism but again much went against us, The Germans began a very intense submarine campaign and the sinkings of allied shipping became most alarming

Towards the end of the year, inspite of rationing, it looked as if England could be starved out. It was about March or April that the Cunard Ship “Lusitania” was submarined off the South Coast of Ireland with very heavy loss of life and many Americans were among those lost. This bought the U.S.A. into the war in April and we knew then we could not lose the war. though it would be sometime before the full weight of U.S.A. help was felt.

Ivan enlisted and went to Trentham Military Camp to the N.C.O. course. He was there and at Featherston Camp all the year as he was eventually made an instructor after gaining his commission. Dr. Bernau, who was Medical Officer in Command of Hawke’s Bay, would not pass me – knowing my history. So I had to be content to proceed with the production of food, wool, etc.

I note the year began with the following stock on Pukekino :
2685 ewes
45 rams
54 killers
1170 lambs and 97 cattle

January was a wet month and we experienced much scald and footrot – this brought untold work. Owing to the war the price of fat stock rose and old ewes fetched 28/6d. During the year cultivation and topdressing was carried on and scrub cutting and grubbing too. The first sheep worrying occurred and I traced the dogs to Poporangi and had them shot. One was a great big pet sheep dog.

During the hot weather we used to dash up to Poporangi stream to a very pleasant bathing hole after the day’s work. Each week we would have a day in Napier with my Parents and often Jim and I used to spend a night or two and he would love a ride on a tram car (he was then 4). The trams disappeared shortly after.

H.E. Sturge (who was on the Collegiate School, Wanganui, Staff) used to come over to my Parents in the holidays. He came out to Pukekino for the last shoot we ever had – we only got 7 ½ brace of quail and thereafter the quail seemed to vanish completely.

In June Hawke’s Bay experienced a very big flood and the low country was in a mess. Up our way there were slips and much wrecking of fences on the hillsides. This meant dropping other work to effect repairs.

In the September holidays I was able to secure the help of Allan Johnston and W. Ross (school boys) and they did a good job on the fences.

Pourerere Station was sold by Charlie Nairn, who was now living in England. The average price was £19 per acre. Jack bought 3000 acres of Pourerere and sold his own farm, Te Manuiri.

Early in August I went down to the Wairarapa and stayed for a week with my cousins, the W. Bidwells. Among those also staying there was Airini Rhodes (now Woodhouse of Bluecliffs, S. Canterbury). She was a great horsewoman and helped exercise Will Bidwell’s racehorses. Ivan was then in Featherston Camp, also Willie Ritchie, W.M. Turnbull and others. We had a fairly severe earthquake early one morning.

After that I went to the Wellington Club for a few days. Dr. A. Newman and Sir Walter Buchanan were there and the latter told me of the Quake of 1866 when the Wairarapa shook for six weeks. I saw many friends in Wellington— Eric Riddiford among them.

Returning to Featherston I met Ivan and we motored back to Hawke’s Bay together—he as having a spot of leave. During the year W. Johnston left Poporangi Station and took over the management of Kereru and his assistance to me grew.

Monty went out to Egypt with his A.S.C. unit and shortly afterwards joined the R.F.C. as a Major.

One day I rode across country to Whana Whana Station. Mr. G. Beamish met me at the Ngaruroro river and I took delivery of a Hereford Bull.

Lambing was not quite up to last year’s and we only docked 85%. After docking there was

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shearing and the usual seasonal work. ‘Then another Christmas came but by then our family consisted of three for Doffles (Dorothy Louise) was born on November 1st. Dr. Bernau was away at the war by then and Edgar attended but he and the nurse arrived an hour after the birth — Mrs. Teschemaker, fortunately, was home and she rushed up to be with Dorothy.

At the beginning of my original diaries you will find much interesting information especially about taxation and general statistics.

1918

The war was waged with fury by land and sea by the Germans and until after mid-year England and her allies were hard pressed but when the U.S.A. got into her stride it became quite evident how the war would end. From August onwards Germany’s allies began to collapse one by one and on November 11th Germany surrendered unconditionally.

The new year set in wet and lamb shearing did not finish till the early part of January.

On January 16th I went to stay with H.E. Sturge at his home in Takapuna. The trip in the “Arahura” from Napier to Auckland was rough and unpleasant and I was very seasick. We sailed from Napier calling in at Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay. Sturge had a very pleasant home at Takapuna overlooking the harbour and he and I just did as we liked – swam, ate, slept, visited Auckland at times and paid a visit to Rangitoto Island. His Uncle and Aunt looked after his house for him and did all the catering etc. It was a very enjoyable holiday but over too soon. I returned in the “Monowai” and struck another rough trip so spent most of the time in my bunk. In the cabin opposite mine were four nuns who were very seasick – they were landed by basket at Tokomaru.

Monty (Turnbull) who had transferred to the R.F.C. in Egypt last year, was taken prisoner by the Turks in June and we did not hear of him till August. He had a tough time what with his wounds and later tetanus.

I made several trips to Wellington and Heretaunga while Ivan was in Camp. Dorothy came with me on one occasion – on another I spent a week with the Will Bidwells at Rototawai and on another I stayed with Mother at the Josephs in Grant Road.

S. H. Gollan came out early in 1918 bringing his deaf and dumb son, Donald, who was about 18. Donald stayed with us at Pukekino for a while and we tried to keep him occupied. Then while alterations were made to our own house we all went to stay at Kereru for a month while Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull were in Dunedin.

Donald was quite impossible so we shipped him back to England after leaving Kereru.

Ivan sailed for England in the Troopship Tahiti on September 15th. Mother and I went down to be with Mary when he sailed. He was assistant adjutant of the troops – over 1100 of them. At Sierra Leone the ship picked up “Black Influenza”. Only about 5% escaped and many died. Ivan was a victim and was in hospital in England for weeks and only reached France two days or so before peace came. Towards the end of the year the “Flu” Struck New Zealand with a vengence and many we knew did not survive – Edric, Chris and Cyril Williams all died. During the year Charlie Cotterill was appointed Manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Napier and so we saw much of Aunt Andro and Neda. On the farm things went well and smoothly till Phil Brock was called up. While he was in a Camp I got a young fellow who was not much help to me and it was a happy day when Phil returned in December. We carried on with the routine work of scrub cutting and cultivation – planted many pine trees and so on. I also learned a lesson. I purchased 400 odd lovely ewe hoggets from Te Apiti Station and by the end of a fairly wet winter about half had died! I should have known better than to bring young sheep from such good coast country to the mountains! And here is a strange deal I exchanged with F. Simonds – 40 old ewes and 1 ram for 33 hoggets and 17 2 tooth wethers and a further 3 lame ewes for 2½ cords of matai firewood. Lambing was rather disappointing – only 85%. However wool prices were up and so was lamb and mutton. Jimmy was now 5 and he was a great companion for he loved riding and poking his nose into everything that went on on the farm. Marjory was a big bouncing girl and

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most independent. Dorothy and I spent as much time as we could with the children and they loved excursions to the rivers – Poporangi, Ohara and to our own little creeks on the property. Trucks for the carrying of live stock were still unheard of in New Zealand and it meant all stock had to travel on their feet to Stortford Lodge sale yards. This meant for us hiring a drover for four days or taking on the job of droving yourself. We would usually take our stock for sale to Olrig Station on a Sunday afternoon and then early on the Monday we would carry on till we met a drover somewhere near Mangatahi. So the journey was accomplished in a little over three days, viz. 1st afternoon to Olrig, stop over for the night in yards, 2nd day to Maraekakaho county yards, 3rd day to Olrig’s holding paddock near Irongate and 4th morning on to the saleyards. It was quite a journey for old ewes and lambs. The latter usually lost, so the experts said, about three quarters of a pound a day while on the journey.

During 1918 graduated Land Tax was abolished and a fairer system instituted, which was more or less nominal and for the first time farmers became liable for Income Tax. The rate of this tax as 6d. in the £ after the first £400 (which was exempt) and thereafter 1/200 of a 1d. for each succeeding £ but in no case to exceed 3/0d. in the £1. Company Tax began at 1/0d. in the £1 and likewise stopped at 3/0d.

1919

This was a year of happiness for the war was over and those who had been abroad in the forces began returning home. Monty and Cora arrived back in May and Ivan came in October. Eric Nairn, the Kettles and Jardines were among our friends who also returned. One night my Father gave a dinner at the H.B. Club to welcome several of our returned friends. Later in the year Mr. and Mrs. Wenley came home – he had been doing a job in London for two or three years of the war on behalf of the servicemen. Gradually life became normal again.

Early in the New Year Johnston of Kereru and I had a cherry picking expedition out to Herricks (Kereru outstation) – the wild cherry grove, probably planted by Col. Herrick about 50 years ago when he owned the station, was always an attraction about January.

In February (13th) our Bob was born (Robert Francis) – this event bought our family to two boys and two girls.

The main work on the farm was still fencing, but the everlasting scrub cutting in the gullies and grubbing still continued.

There were several stock sales during the early months and I purchased 34 2 year heifers at Carlsons sale at £9.3.6d. Then there was Harold Russell’s sale at Apley which attracted much attention. There was also the two day Ram Fair in Hastings but by this time I had entered into an agreement to get my rams each year from W.E. Bidwell’s stud.

We were robbed of our autumn rains which can produce more trouble than a spring shortage, but before we knew what we were in for I had purchased these 34 2 year heifers from the Carlson Estate and lovely beasts they were too. When the autumn passed without rain and winter set in I found the farm overstocked with cattle but somehow we struggled through. However the worst happened and no rain worthwhile came to us in the spring with the result a drought descended and at the beginning of December I was forced to sell 30 odd cows with calves and other odds and ends – the cows and calves only fetched £5.8.0d. I suppose, had I been less timorous, it need not have happened. Then another bit of bad luck befell me – my Father gave me a P.A. bull (Branson’s breeding) and he gave endless trouble for a month by escaping first of all from the Olrig holding paddock at Irongate which necessitated much searching and then after he reached the farm he began his tricks again and eventually he committed suicide by falling over a cliff – so hang went 85 guineas.

In April Olrig Station offered me 25 acres more or less of Brown’s Corner -now called Phil’s corner – so as to round off the boundary by the homestead – this cost £8.10.0d. per acre. In that month Dorothy and I had a motor trip to

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Wanganui and New Plymouth and visited Mt. Egmont – it was a pleasant ten days.

Shortly after that holiday we motored over one day to Eastwood near Takapau where the Hugh Whites then lived and there we met Monty on his return from the war, and later still bin and I went to Eastwood again for a night or two to see Eric Nairn also back from the war.

During the year Nellie Jenner, who had been with us as children’s Nurse for five years, left us to get married and we missed her sadly.

There were visits occasionally to Okawa – Jim and Ralph were still at Christ’s College but Tom had gone to England in May to join the R.F.C.

Monty and Cora took up their abode at Kereru but things did not go very smoothly and at one stage Mr. Turnbull even offered the station for sale and as things turned out it would have been wise to have sold at £8 per acre (the offer) than to have held on till 1947 – after Mrs. Turnbull’s death – when it had to be sold for £6 because the debt on it was becoming unmanageable.

Lambing was poor – mainly on account of the dry conditions when the rams were out – the percentage was only 85, the 2-tooth ewes only produced 75%.

The Peace Treaty was signed in Paris on June 28th – it was a tough one and may have been responsible for the Hitler movement in the 1930s.

My Father’s health gave some anxiety during the year and he was never a very robust man for the rest of his life.

Another mistake I made was to purchase a Timor pony for the children – a very attractive little animal but full of the vilest of tricks and quite unreliable. Fortunately I sold it later for the price paid – £25.

The year ended on a miserable note – a drought in progress, much trouble with labour at shearing time and Dorothy and I catching very heavy colds between Christmas and New Year.

1920

This was an eventful year for I began my local body life by becoming member for Maraekakaho riding of the H.B.C.C. I held this post for eighteen years unopposed after the first election – the last nine years I was chairman. A little later I became a member of the H.B. Rabbit Board, H.B. Hospital Board and Chairman of the No.4 Transport Licensing Authority and later still a member of the Napier Harbour Board and a director (last six years Chairman) of Williams and Kettle Limited. Altogether I served on local bodies for 33 years. But more later.

The drought broke at the end of March and a good growth followed to give us ample grass for the winter and up to the end of April we enjoyed good showers.

Apart from the children having colds early in the year there were no troubles and they thrived well. Jim and Mardie rode well and frequently accompanied me on their ponies. It was good to have Violet Russell out in New Zealand for a few months -likewise Mr. and Mrs. Ronald.

H.E. Sturge came over for the May holidays and we picked up the threads. Charlie Nairn was out most of the year and occasionally came to stay with us. In September he returned to England and Mother, Father and I went to Wellington to see him off in the “Ruahine”. May Walter was also a passenger. We stayed at the Midland for about a week – had some golf and saw many old friends.

After one of Charlie’s visits to us I went back with him to Pourerere where Jack and Lilian were then living.

In February I spent a weekend at the Wenley’s and while there there was a tennis party at the Kettle’s for friends to meet Ngaire Riddiford who was shortly to marry Dudley. Before the wedding we gave Dudley a dinner at the Club – Ivan, Monty, Ewan Troutbeck, Ziele Von and myself. I did not go to the Hutt for the wedding but lent Dudley my morning suit made by Corlett and now the property of Hamilton – it was made in 1906! It has displayed itself at many weddings.

Work on the farm throughout the year kept Phil and me well occupied – in addition to the care of stock, dipping, crutching, docking, shearing and attending to lame sheep we waged war on lizard weed whenever we found it, and we felled a big totara tree in the ram paddock. Out of this we got very many good strainer posts and

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battens. The job took a couple of weeks or more and as we were bringing the last wagon load home the king bolt broke and the three horses ran amok. The wagon (scandy wagon it was called) suffered much damage and eventually we sledged the last of the posts home.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull went to England at the end of May and returned just after Christmas. While they were away Johnston was still the manager at Kereru while Monty and Cora lived at Okawa and took charge of the house etc., during Mr. and Mrs. Lowry’s absence overseas.

In May I had a very happy week at Taupo with Charlie Nairn and we had in our care Andrew and John Russell, then school boys at Christ’s College. We instructed them in the art of fishing and it was all great fun.

In May we had some very unpleasant westerly gales and again just before Christmas.

We did a fair amount of planting of pinus insignus.

In those days we saw a lot of the John Nairns who then lived in Havelock North and on occasions Olive would come out to stay with us and how useful she was too.

John, Ivan and Mary’s third child, was born on July 4th. A great bit of luck befell us on July 6th. Gwynth Canning came as Nursery Governess and she stayed for six years, and during that time she was always happy and bright and the children loved her. After leaving us she married Morrie Averill but sad to relate she died three years later.

A poll of Harbour Board ratepayers was taken during the year on the question of raising a loan of £250,000 for work on the Inner Harbour scheme – this was carried by a large majority. In the years following the 1931 Earthquake there was a change of front as you will see later.

Sometime in October I was approached by many Maraekakaho Riding ratepayers to stand for the seal on the H.B. C.C. After due thought I agreed and there followed much touring of the riding, sometimes with T. Jowsey and sometimes with E. Averill, to make myself known to ratepayers. The furtherest away ratepayers were the Carlyons at Gwavas and Mr. Carlyon was then alive but Rupert was not back from the war. Mr. E. Clarkson (Nell’s Grandfather) was the retiring councillor. H. Gascoyne, the Manager of the 14,000 acre station of Maraekakaho was to be my opponent and he and his kinsfolk by marriage, the L. Macleans, Grahams, etc., took a dim view of my standing as they considered a representative of the Maclean Clan was called for. This caused quite a rift in the hitherto friendship with some of the Clan.

The day of the election was November 10th and it appeared that Gascoyne had a majority of one and there was much celebration and hilarity at the Station House. I agreed to attend somewhat reluctantly. However after the recount I was elected with a majority of 14. There was never another election in the riding till my retirement eighteen years later. The Meeting at the H.B. County Office in Napier at which I was sworn in was on November 24th and Mr. Mason Chambers as the chairman and he was a great chairman and a fine man.

The first major job in the riding was to provide for the bridges over the Poporangi and Ohara streams, on the road to Big Hill. The settlers over the streams agreed to make quite a reasonable contribution towards the cost and the work was put in hand. The total cost of both bridges was, I think, under £2,000 – today what would the cost be?

In these days Miss Elsie Williams lived at Frimley and she had adopted the two little girls of the late Edric and Chris Williams. Often we would call in at Frimley with the children.

It was a very lovely old home and now the grounds belong to the Hastings C.C., the homestead being burned down about twelve years or so ago. It is now Frimley Park.

In the routine farm work the Averills and I worked in remarkably well together – that is Cecil and Rochie.

Early shearing was in November and ewe shearing in December. Another year ends.

1921

In the beginning of the original diaries you will find all sorts of interesting information that will make you think – ­especially in regard

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to taxation etc. My diary of this year tells of almost continuous westerly gales at all times of the year – the worst being on August 4th. In those days there was a weather man – I think he was a retired sea-faring man – he would get information regarding weather conditions from various lighthouses round the coast and from stray ships crossing the Tasman and on this he would have a shot at a forecast each day. But that was very unreliable and unhelpful – Captain Bates was his name. There was a strange old man, by the name of Wragge, who lived at Birkenhead in Auckland and he posed as a forecaster of weather to come but he had no contacts at all – they say that his psychic Indian wife gave him the information. Old Averill and I paid him £2 per year and he furnished us with a monthly forecast – he seemed to be fairly accurate with regard to Westerly conditions – but that was all. Our own observations gave us a little help in forecasting for ourselves. But on the whole we were very much in the dark in those days, and planning work ahead was not as easy as it is today. In September and October there were thunderstorms almost daily.

What we thought was going to be an almighty slump appeared early in the year and the price of wool dropped considerably. By the end of the year good hogget wool was only worth 4 ½d to 6 ½d. Livestock prices fell and it was a bad year. However the slump did not last very long and was nothing compared to the big one in 1929-1931 – that was still to come.

I had a reasonable crop of rape and was able to fatten the wether lambs and about another 100 odds and sods I bought from the Simmons brothers at Whakarara. Lamb was ½d per pound that year – which meant round about 30/- per lamb. Our old ewes (6yrs.) fetched 7/6d. So on top of all the capital work on the farm over the 8 years or so my position at times appeared a bit grim – but my Father kept saying “keep going, all will be well one day”. He was always optimistic.

Phil Brock seemed to spend most of his time erecting new fences and the farm was beginning to take on a good shape and stock work became so much easier.

I allowed Ted Reilly the local ploughing contractor, the run of the Plantation paddock for a crop of oats and later he put in into turnips for me but the season was against a worthwhile crop.

On February 1st we rented the Hugh Campbell’s cottage at Waimaramara for a month – I went backwards and forwards to Pukekino to attend to the work. But it was a happy holiday with bathing, fishing and mixing with friends down there. H.E. Sturge was over in H.B. during the year – by this time he was in partnership with Atkinson in Hurworth School at Wanganui. Col. and Mrs. Goring were constant visitors at Kereru.

During the year just passed Olrig Station subdivided a block on the Pukekino boundary into four for returned soldiers and this year R.P. Kay, Byrne, Cecil, Averill and A.W. Whyte took up their sections. Phil and I gave them a hand in much of their work and this we kept up for a few years till they were well established.

My County Council work kept me occupied at times and periodically, apart from the monthly meetings, I would accompany C.D. Kennedy (Engineer), Puflett (Asst. Engineer) and M. Chambers (Chairman) on tours of inspection. All of this proved very interesting to me and took me about the country. By this time I had also become a J.P., not that I sat on the bench at that time but I was useful in the neighbourhood for witnessing signatures etc.

The sheep population still kept much the same – about 1400 breeding ewes together with ewe hoggets etc. bringing the total to round about 2300. I can see I was still far too timorous. I was forced to be careful I suppose because we had no rain in the autumn and consequently there was no growth. It did not rain in a worthwhile way till May 4th and grass seed sown in March just lay “doggo” till May.

In the September meeting of the County Council it was decided to allow members a car allowance of 4d. per mile when attending meetings. Mrs. Grogan and two grown-up daughters came to New Zealand from Kenya for a holiday and they stayed at Okawa while Monty and Cora were there.

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Occasionally I used to go to Okawa for a night to see them and Mr. and Mrs. Lowry returned late in December, leaving the family all in England for completion of their education. Rabbits were still on the increase and so we formed the Mangatahi Rabbit Association to help cope.

Old Henry, Mother’s cat of 14, had to be put to sleep – he was a great favourite with all and named after Henry Woolcombe, the late Bishop of Whitby and a friend of my Oxford days. One day we picked up several crates of small Rainbow Trout and liberated them in the Ohara Stream.

From August to the end of the year the usual heavy work kept us well occupied – lambing, docking, looking round ewes and shearing. Our percentage of lambs appears to have been about 90 – today you would be disappointed with that.

Another job towards the end of the spring was spring cleaning and the sweeping of the chimneys. No vacuum cleaners in those days and all carpets had to be lifted, taken on to the drying green and beaten! Chimneys were usually swept with brushes of manuka or gorse.

During the year H.M.S. “Chatham” (cruiser) came to Napier and we took the family out into the Bay to see her.

On December 18th Ray (Alison Rachel) was born and now we had five children. Five under nine, for Jim was eight this year.

1922

The year began with very close on 18 inches of rain between January 1st and 28th February, in consequence of which routine work on the farm became well behind.

From March to the end of November the rainfall was very light and the spring growth poor till over five inches came in December. Phil spent much time during the year in erecting more fences while I attended to stock work when only one was needed. By this time Jim, who turned nine in June, was most helpful and could be trusted to do quite a lot of looking round sheep.

Monty and Cora were still at Okawa and on many occasions I went to spend a night or two with them. One time we went to Tunanui to see Sir Andrew and Lady Russell. Mrs. Grogan and her two daughters were still out from Kenya on a visit – she was Mrs. Lowry’s sister and married the man who had once walked from Cape to Cairo.

Early in the year Mrs. A.W. Whyte developed bad circulatory trouble – I was called in to help carry her on a stretcher from their home to an ambulance on the back road for there was no access for a vehicle from the farm house – it was a very tough job for she had to be packed in sand bags to prevent movement of her legs.

At the Ram Fair I note top price for Romney rams (flock) was £4.4.0d.

H.E. Sturge came over for part of the summer holidays and spent most of the time with my Mother and Father. It was always good to see him.

A favourite cow, Dairy, fell and broke a leg, as she was heavy in calf – no splint would hold and she could not be slung so she had to be destroyed. This caused much grief in the family. There were many visits to my Parents in Napier and I usually took one of the children with me. It was always recognised that we visited the Stopfords on these occasions for Mr. and Mrs. Stopford were just as interested in our children as they had been in me as a child.

In February I was appointed to the H.B. Rabbit Board and from then onwards I attended meetings every other month. I was on this board for about twelve years and all through Thomas Crosse was Chairman. He was one of H.B.’s most able local body administrators and served, in his time, on most of the local bodies. He was well over 90 when he died sometime in the 1950s.

In the autumn Rochie Averill, S. Johnston and I made a trip to the top of the mountains behind Kereru Station. We spent a couple of nights in Herrick’s Whare -heard stags roaring all around us and saw many wild pigs. On April 11th Phil Brock married Ida Crawford – we attended the wedding and reception and I had to propose the “Toast”. Two weeks later they returned to live in Pukekino and I note his wages were raised to 47/6d. per week and usual allowance of meat, butter and milk. His was a good wage for he was a good fellow. He never did a shoddy job and never watched the clock. He had a motor bike and side car and once a month he and his wife went to town on a Saturday

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morning and returned on a Sunday evening. In those days no one expected more.

One day Phil narrowly escaped a very serious accident – he was taking a turnip grubber through the Kereru cutting when the three horses took fright and Phil was pinned against the fence by it. A knee was slightly injured only.

J.B. Coates (Minister of Public Works and later P.M.) came to Napier for two important meetings – one with the H.B.C.C. and the other in connection with a scheme to harness Waikaremoana Lake for production of hydro-electricity. This was the beginning of the scheme we now have. This was my first meeting with Coates, whom at a later date I got to know remarkably well and admired.

We used to see a lot of the Jack Teschemakers who lived at Te Hauke Hill. He was an alcoholic – for weeks he took no drink then suddenly he started off and drank till it was necessary to enter a nursing home. In between times he was kindly and considerate. His wife left him at a later date and then he married again. After this we lost touch with him but later still he walked off the farm and lived, I think, in Tauranga. Dorothy went to Wellington for a couple of weeks with her parents at the end of April for a break. One day we motored to Pourerere to see Jack and Lilian Nairn and then called on the Eric Nairns who were then in their new and palatial home. The house was built by Bull Bros. and of bricks made on the site.

Lambing was a little better than usual – 95%

On October 23rd I there was a terrific gale from the west which caused some lifting of top soil on the ploughed land of Kereru.

Ted Reilly still did our ploughing and sowing of crops. On the first Show Day in October we took four of the children – it was quite an undertaking and at the end of the day we felt we never wanted to see another merry-go-round again.

One day Bob Anderson took me off for the day to visit various racing stables and incidentally he visited on the quiet, many pubs and by the time we called in at Okawa he was too tight to see the Stud Stallion and he was on the floor of the car snoring his head off by the time we reached home at 8 p.m. By the same token, after old Mrs. Anderson’s death at Poporangi (a year or two before) the two Miss Andersons and Bob were rarely sober – in fact they drank their patrimony completely away. Their car driver drank with them and often after a day in Hastings they were still somewhere parked by the roadside early next morning. At times I have been among the search parties for them.

The Phil Wrights were now living at Apley – he had been Wright Stephenson’s representative in London for years and returned to New Zealand after the war. The slump of 1930-33 finished poor old Phil financially and Apley went back to the Russell family. Mrs. J. N. Coleman, who had been a good friend since early childhood days, died on 22nd August. She was mother to my school friend, H.N. Coleman, who was killed at the 1914-18 War and also mother of Mrs. T.H. Lowry. She lived in a large house where Coleman Terrace now is situated and she used to entertain very lavishly and was particularly kind to the young people. She and her family lived in considerable style – in the days before motor cars the carriages and horses were sights to behold and later Mrs. Coleman could be seen daily in her yellow Daimler car.

Between the two shearings at the end of the year my Mother and I took Jim over to Wanganui to interview Sturge and to inspect his preparatory school “Hurworth’. We had three exciting days for Jim at Braeburn, across the river from the town.

We had a couple of trips to Poraite – first to see Dudley and Ngaire’s (Kettle) house in erection and then when it was inhabited. A very pleasant house indeed on the hills overlooking the Ahuriri lagoon across to Napier. It was a biggish house, but in those days you could get maids – they don’t exist today.

At the end of December the Johnstons left Kereru and the district gave them a great “send off” at the hall. He had been manager of Poporangi for several years and Kereru for the past five years.

Shearing this year was over by the beginning of December thank goodness, for during the month nearly six inches of rain fell.

The general elections were held on December 7th and W.F. Massey (Reform) was returned to power but only by a majority of two over the Labour and Liberal parties. This was the first year in which I kept an accurate account of the rainfall – you will see it all in my diaries and

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when I left Pukekino in 1953 I think the average fall over the 30 years was in the vicinity of 45 inches

1923

January was like last January, a month of almost continuous rain and there were frequent thunderstorms. Ten inches fell in all and seasonal work was much delayed. However we struggled along and Jimmy was a tremendous help to me on the farm – inspite of the elements we managed to get the dipping done and many other jobs also before losing Jim’s assistance.

On February 5th I took Jim to Wanganui by train – still a journey of ten hours, just about what it was in my school days. Charlie Giblin was also with me taking his boy John. The boys revelled in the long and tedious journey and ate rubbish most of the way. The following day we took the boys to Hurworth School run by H.E. Sturge – after making calls on Miss Moore and Allen, then head of Collegiate School. The following day I stayed on just to see how Jim settled down and when I said good-bye he was very subdued and all excitement had vanished. After dining with Sturge he took me round the dormitories to see all the little boys tucked up in their beds and all were sleeping soundly. Next morning I left Wanganui with Jack and Lilian Nairn by car to Palmerston North from where I took the train back to Napier to my parents. My Mother’s sympathy was very helpful for she still remembered the day in-1897 when she left Ivan and me at Wanganui. After Jim’s departure Mardie and Doffles did their best to take his place and became very helpful to me.

Early in the year there was a tennis party at old Mr. Coleman’s at which Marion Lowry was present. Just back from a finishing-off school in England. Also early in the year Ray was baptised at the Cathedral by Dean Mayne – her Godfather was Charlie Nairn (in England) and Molly and Betty Seth Smith her Godmothers. Spencer Gollan and Bim were out in New Zealand on a trip and were at the ceremony and that night we all went to a play.

Monty and Cora came back to Kereru to live and he managed for the next few ears.

Colonel Goring died at the age of 77 and I attended the military funeral with Monty.

Capron (a young fellow from England and retired R.N.) arrived and I got him a job with R.P. Kay and later in the year he came to us and remained for sometime. He was a very nice young man, full of fun and a good worker and likewise companion. Shortly after his coming to Pukekino he and I went over to Rototawai to stay with my cousins (Millie and Will Bidwell). We had a gay week there – much golf with the family, David Collins (later a New Zealand Champion), Dan Riddiford, J. Martin etc. There were dinner and bridge parties at Rototawai and Fernside (Charles Elgar) and one at Dan and Meta Riddiford’s at Longwood where Lady Jellicoe (wife of G-G) was staying and Miss Hilda Williams.

1923 seems to have been a year in which I found time for quite a bit of golf and played with Father, the Kettles, Capron, Monty and others. Von Kettle married Gladys Bernau on August 3rd in Napier and we attended a ball in the evening. The night before we, that is 14 of his friends, gave him a dinner at the Club. Poor old Von is now dead (I write this in 1966) and all the others too have gone except Ivan, Dudley and myself.

After running the old Hudson car for 8 years l sold it for £150 and purchased a Buick for £250 – that was then the price of a good new car.

In April I foolishly or otherwise got deeper into local body work and was elected unopposed to the H.B. Hospital Board. So now I was on the C.C. Hospital Board, Rabbit Board, Kereru School Committee and the Mangatahi Rabbit Association.

This all meant several meetings a month and various Committee Meetings into the bargain. I don’t know how I ever found the time or energy but, of course, I was only in my late 30s then, I enjoyed the work, had a good man in Phil on the farm and Dorothy was a tower of help to me and she still is today. The local body work was extremely interesting and the members who sat with me all became my friends. Mrs. Lowry was so pleased that I had become a member of the Hospital Board (she was always up to her eyes in good works herself) that she gave me a cheque for £3000 to help with any scheme to the advantage of

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health. A solarium, suggested by Alan Berry (Medical Superintendent) was turned down by the Department of Health and the money was held in trust by the Board for several years before being applied towards new and necessary equipment.

I also found time to make two or three valuations of farm lands for S.L.W. of Napier and I only hope the valuations were able to sustain the mortgages! One valuation was of a property near Smedley – Nathan’s – I think my valuation was between £4 and £5 – today (1966) I suppose this land is worth at least £30 per acre.

H.E. Sturge married a cousin from England and they came over to stay with my parents in May. She was a very nice quiet woman and proved to be very helpful to Sturge in his school. In spite of much rain in January the autumn was not very good, but with heavy rain in October we had a good spring in the high country.

In the May holidays Jim had to have an adenoid operation but he quickly recovered and was able to rush about on the farm as usual and, of course, his help in the September holidays was much appreciated.

Phil’s brother Fred, came out for a month and between them fencing went ahead well. By now most of the better country was well subdivided and we named paddocks after all the children – there was Phil’s corner, Nairn paddock (after Charlie who suggested the subdivision fence) and so on. An epidemic of ‘flu’ came along and we all went down including the staff and Dorothy was the only one to cope though she got it too, Miss F. Rattray of Dunedin was staying at Kereru at the time and she came over to give us a hand.

A stag appeared on the scene and was most troublesome among the young trees so R. P. Kay, a good shot, came down and settled the problem for us.

Mrs. Herbert Coleman’s fancy dress party for children was a high success in September and we all stayed in Napier for it and attended the ball in the evening for grown-ups. At this time there was ‘The Dansant’ (forerunner of cabaret) run by Mrs. Borlase and Noel Roake in Napier and we often went with parties to it, especially between 5 and 7 in the winter months. This form of entertainment became very popular and you met most of those you knew, old and young.

Phil and I and Capron tackled the briars with a will and before the end of the winter we had settled most of them and thereafter they did not require much attention. They had become somewhat of a Menace for woolly sheep frequently got entangled by them and could not free themselves.

We liberated another 3000 young trout in the Poporangi stream but I think a flood very shortly after the liberation must have swept many away.

Dorothy went up to Taupo for Christmas and New Year with Father’s party and the Family and I went to Kereru for Christmas dinner etc.

Our wool realised 12½ to 15d. which was satisfying.

The year’s rainfall was 48.36 inches. Lambing was a little under 100%.

1924

January 1st was a fine and hot day. Dorothy was at Taupo with my Parents.

The Kays and Whytes came down and we had a picnic near the old Olrig yards – now in Cecil Averill’s property. The fishing party returned on the 7th and Mr. and Mrs. Wenley returned from England on the same day.

During the month of January my Mother and I took Jim to Wellington for a tonsil operation and for two or three days he was in Hobson Street Hospital. After that we had a few days longer in Wellington at the Royal Oak and got in touch with many of our friends which was enjoyable. On our return to Hawke’s Bay the Sturges came to stay in Napier and Sturge and I paid a visit to Guthrie Smith at Tutira Station. Charlie Nairn was out for another visit this year.

On our return from Napier on January 31st we ran into a terrific wind and many things were blown out of the car, which was an open one in those days, and we had much trouble in collecting the articles.

On February 26th Ned Smith was married to Elfie Mayne at Napier Cathedral -it was a huge affair – Dorothy went but I stayed at home with the family.

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Jim went back to Hurworth for his second year on February 12th and I missed him very much as he had become such a help to me on the farm and a wonderful companion.

On March 10th rain set in and by next morning we had had well over an inch. Then a little later in the morning a huge thunderstorm came along which lasted for over an hour – lightning struck the telephone lines as they entered the house and a fire started in the roof. Phil and I got to work and soon put it out but had we not been at home the house would have gone. We thought it a great opportunity to make use of the fire-extinguisher but it was not charged! By the next day we had had another 2 ½ inches and in the following weeks there was more rain and the autumn growth was set. The rain was very heavy in the back country and floods occurred in the low country and much loss of stock and damage round about Pakowhai area.

During the year I was engaged by Sainsbury, Logan and Williams to do several more farm valuations – F. Walsh’s and C.C. Smith’s among them. Also Omarunui (Kinross White’s). I also accompanied old Averill on one or two valuations – a farm opposite Tunanui I recollect was valued at £13 per acre. Today I suppose the same would be round about £70. On our return from this particular trip Averill’s dash board burst into flames which we were able to deal with but we had no lights thereafter and our journey home from Roy’s Hill took about two hours and I used up a box or so of matches. For a short time the Dasent Brothers (Jerry and Bury) lead us by their headlights but they soon forgot about us and speeded home. In April Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull went to England for their last visit and were away about six months.

This was my fifth year on the County Council and I had quite got into my stride and the Maraekakaho Riding was well in credit ever after, quite an amount of work being done. And I also found the Hospital work interesting and rewarding. H.M. Campbell took Mason Chambers’ place as Chairman of the H.B.C.C.

At the end of July Charlie Nairn returned to England but before he left he gave a dinner party at the Club. There were three Logans, three Nairns, Wenley, A. Kennedy and H.B. Lusk – all have gone now (1966) except Ivan and myself. Father, E. Groome and Ivan came out to try their luck with the quail one day but only got five brace on Poporangi and Pukekino after much hard work. The days of shooting game birds are over I think.

In July I purchased a Fordson Tractor which Phil managed well and so ended our days of horse-drawn implements and I was thankful to say goodbye to the sledge especially. We had had 14 years of grinding work with horse labour. The getting up early to have horses fed and ready for work was tiresome and so often there was a horse unfit for work and postponements were frequent and good days lost.

Another farm I valued for mortgage purposes was Hansard’s just beyond the Jack Grahams. My valuation was £14 per acre – what would it be today? – quite £80 I would think.

In July we experienced one of the heaviest snow storms there was at least 6 inches over the Cocksfoot. The family and I had great fun in making snowmen.

There were the odd games of golf with Mr. Lowry, Gertie and Marion. Also visits to Okawa.

Phil put in a crop of rape – all work done with the Fordson Tractor and much excitement over it all.

From September to the end of the year there was the usual pressure of work – docking, dagging, shearing etc. And the first wool sale in November was good – our hogget wool up to 28 ½d. and pieces 21d.

On 18th December a thunderstorm began in the mountains about 11 a.m. and there was a constant roar till later in the afternoon – 79 points of rain fell.

The event of the year was the arrival of Hamilton on November 21st – our family now consisted of three boys and three girls. We were looked upon as Empire- builders.

We had a very wet November – about 4 ½inches and in December the fall was beyond a joke – about 10 inches in all fell.

In early December Cath Coleman came to us as Karitane Nurse – she stayed for a year and became engaged to Rochie Averill and later

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married him. She was an excellent Karitane and a very capable person all told.

1925

There was a severe epidemic of Polio in New Zealand early in the year and schools were closed till May 9th. This meant Jim was at home with us and he was most useful to me for it meant another man al the farm and he was so reliable. And after a very wet summer much foot-rotting ensued – the treatment of this complaint takes up a lot of time and other work has to be delayed.

For the first two or three months of the year Phil and I were much occupied in erecting a fence between the two Jails.

In January we went over to Drumpeel to see Mr. and Mrs. Empson (Headmaster of Wanganui Collegiate all the years I was there and before and after) who were over on a visit to Judith and Gordon Williams. We also went to see them on another occasion and they came to visit us at Pukekino.

During the year I made several more valuations of farm land – among them was the McNiece’s property near Gwavas (£7 per acre) and Alex Stead’s Puketapu farm (£28).

Local body work became more demanding and I was often appointed to special committees, especially of the H.B.C.C. and Hospital Board. S.G. Coates (still Minister of Public Works) came to Napier for one of the meetings. There was also an important meeting of the C.C. to decide on the year’s work on main roads – at that time there was no Highways Board and Counties had to meet most of the expense of road construction and maintenance work out of rates or loans. In some cases there would be Government Grants to help.

The Sturges came over once during the year to stay with my Parents and as usual, Sturge and I did a few things together in the way of small expeditions.

During the year I seem to have found time for a lot of golfing and some of those I played with were T.H. Lowry, Tom and Jim, Gertie and Marion, Pat Higgins, Ewen Troutbeck, Friend (Bank of N,Z.) and Wenley. And there were several visits to Okawa which was still my second home.

On March 25th Gertie Lowry was married to Percy Chapman (the finest English cricketer of the day). It was a quiet wedding but we were bidden to it. This marriage was really doomed from the start but it did not end till during the 1939-45 war. Percy’s parents came to New Zealand for the wedding and I took them to see my Parents one day. Percy and Gertie went off to make their home in England in April and before they left there was a farewell party at Okawa.

On May 20th my Father and Mother sailed for England from Wellington in the “Ruahine” and returned in the “Remuera” in December. Charlie Nairn, Ivan and I went down to see them off. Father had not been very well and it was quite on the cards he would not be able to sail – however all was well and he went.

We came back to Hawke’s Bay with Charlie in his car and ran into floods about Otaki where we had to wait for an hour or two before being able to cross over the bridge and then later we were forced to take the Pahiatua track as the Gorge was blocked. On our return Dorothy and I and the five children, together with Karitane nurse (Coley) and the Governess (Griffie), all moved into my Parents house in Napier till August 21st. I used to go out to Pukekino on an average of twice a week to have a look round. Otherwise I stayed in Napier – played much golf – saw much of friends such as the Wenleys, Kettles, Bernaus, Stopfords etc. We went to several race meetings – Jim Lowry and I visited Tutira (Guthrie Smith) and had an interesting two days with H. G-S. who was a man of many parts.

At Williams and Kettle’s annual meeting I was deputed to propose a vote of thanks to Directors – this was the first of many occasions I was asked to take a part in their affairs, Mason Chambers became chairman of the C.C. again and he and I had some expeditions together – one to Moka Moka, the site of the present forest beyond Darkies’ Spur.

At a race meeting in Hastings I met a [Mr] Napier and his daughter from Shandon near Glasgow and discovered he was a kinsman – my Grandmother often used to speak of the Napiers of Shandon (Shipbuilders on the

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Clyde). The Napiers came up to the house and spent an evening with us.

One evening at the Club I met Judge Alpers – the author of “Cheerful Yesterdays”. This was his autobiography. It was completed just before his death and the proceeds of its ready sale were of much help to his widow.

Another night while staying in Napier and while Charlie Nairn was at the Club he gave a small and enjoyable dinner party for six friends.

Constance Fountaine, who later became one of our nearest friends, was out in N.Z. for a month or so early in the year and we met her at times at her Father’s home in Napier Terrace (Sir R.D.D. McLean). I had known her in her younger days, before she was married of course. We used to have the odd game of golf and tennis. Wool prices were quite good – top hogget 24 ½d.

By the way I will not go into much detail about the farm and its activities. This story is just a general outline of my doings over a lifetime. If the diaries are still intact you will get detailed information from them but in the light of modern times you won’t get any help.

In July we experienced very heavy rain and an unpleasant slip engulfed the pump engine in Hades and it took Charlie Bone and five helpers to move the outfit to a higher site. Many years later, as you know, the engine and pump were transferred to the Spring in Ray’s paddock.

On July 22nd my friend since boyhood days died following a stroke after a game of golf and we buried him quietly in the graveyard of the little church at Pourerere on the 26th. He was only 45. All through the years since our days at Wanganui Eric and I were very close friends and we saw much of one another. He married Beatrice Holdsworth in the early part of 1920 or 1921 and there were two children, Charlie and John.

On August 8th Hamilton was baptised in Napier Cathedral and the two Godfathers were J.N. Lowry and R.D. Kettle. His second name was Stopford after Jim’s Godfather, F.I. Stopford. On August 12th Doreen Johnston was married to Tom Harper of Waiteo.

One day in the late spring – it was a dry spell – I accidentally burned a number of Bill Whyte’s plantation trees while burning off fern in the Ram paddock gorge. However a little later one of Bill’s dogs worried some of our hoggets so we called it quits!

For the first time the A.& P. Society held its Spring Show on the new grounds at Waikoko – hitherto Shows used to be held on the Hastings Race Course.

On the first day of the Show I had to attend at Napier Hospital for a visit of the Governor General and Lady Alice Ferguson (parents of our present Governor General), Then later in the day I accompanied Mrs. Lowry on a tour of the Show with Lady Alice. At the General Elections in November Coates became Prime Minister with 55 seats, Labour 13 and United 10. It was a sweeping victory.

I note a very hard frost on November 8th which did much damage to orchards, potatoes etc.

Our dear old dairy cow, Ruby, aged 12, died and there was much grief in the family. My parents returned from England on December 3rd and the N. Kettles a week earlier. By the end of the year another of our periodical droughts was upon us and things looked blue.

On August 17th Kereru Grandpa celebrated his 83rd birthday with a family dinner at the Masonic Hotel. He and Mrs. Turnbull moved into my Parents’ house on August 21st for a month when we returned to Pukekino.

1926

Towards the close of last year’s diary I spoke of a drought being in progress – well it proved to be a very severe one and no rain of any consequence fell till May 19th though there were many false alarms and thunderstorms that bought next to nothing in the way of rain. Rain set in on the 19th May and by the end of five days 4 inches had fallen – the countryside greened up, waterholes were filled and creeks began to run freely but it was too late to produce much feed. The Road End had been sown down in grass seed in March and there had been practically no strike till May and the ground had been disturbed by frost. I got old Mr. Averill to come to see the paddock and give advice. He suggested driving a mob of

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hoggets back and forth to consolidate. This I did and also broadcast more seed and the result was a reasonable strike of grass but naturally the paddock could not be grazed till late in the spring.

In the meantime stock had to be reduced – old ewes sold at 7/- to 19/- per head and lambs 2/7 to 15/-. I got rid of all else poor conditioned sheep and was left with 980 breeding ewes, 140 2-tooths and 760 hoggets, the lowest number of stock ever. I think now I must have been too timorous – today we would have taken the risk and held on.

Charlie Nairn was out in N.Z. again for a longer period than usual and we saw much of him. There was an odd dinner party at the Club and he came out to stay with us. Then he and I went off for a week for a night or so at Omakere with Mrs. Eric Nairn, to Clareinch with Ernest and Laurie Gilbertson (later she left Ernest and later still married a school master in Dunedin) and I spent a few days at The Pah – Charlie was home at Pourerere – and it was fun to potter about on the station I used to know so well. We also had a day’s shooting at Waipari but only got a few quail and four hares.

On May 12th local body elections took place – C. Ellison, Brownlie and I, who stood for else breakwater party for else County, were defeated as we expected, for old W. Nelson and the H.B. Tribune saw to that! But I was returned to the Hospital Board and C.C. unopposed again. Peter and Mrs. Holden were in N.Z. for a few months and we saw muds of them as they made their headquarters at the Masonic. Peter, Ivan, Father and I had, what might have been, our last shoot at Pukekino. We only got a few brace of quail. What with the clearing of scrub and the increase of the birds’ enemies in else way of stoats and wild cats, birds were gradually becoming exterminated.

Before the Elections I attended a couple more meetings of the Harbour Board and was much amused by the usual wrangling between Jull and Pat Higgins and Vigor Brown. For many years, in fact till after the 1931 Earthquake, there were two factions on the Harbour Board, one in favour of a Breakwater and the other an Inner Harbour scheme and the quarrelling and waste of public money that went on for many years was nobody’s business. The result was that Napier had a roadstead harbour which was difficult to be worked in bad weather.

Coley left us after fourteen months with us as Karitane nurse and she made herself so helpful to us in many ways. We were sad at the parting but she was soon to marry Rochie Averill and be near us as he was managing Whanakino Station. After her departure we had a succession of governesses each worse than the other. Griffie had left us not very long before Coley.

Alison Sharp and her husband came out for a trip at else end of the year and one day they came to see us.

Jim Lowry married Lucy Faulkiner in Sydney during the year and after a week-end at Okawa I had a day with him at Oreka and inspected the house site.

One day I got an urgent call to go over to Tom Jowsey’s and it was to witness him cutting a wire that Dugald Walker had erected across Isis drive which was apparently on Walker’s property. This ended in a law suit which Jowsey lost and he never forgave me for not being able to help as County Member.

Local body work kept me fairly busy throughout the year and still I seem to have got some games of golf in between this and farm work. One weekend at Okawa I took part in a golf match against a team from Gisborne.

It was a bad year for little Frances Brock and she spent much time in hospital but she recovered up to a point and lived another few years. Had Barrett-Boyes been with us in those days he could have saved her life.

Ivan had been very unwell for sometime and his trouble could not be diagnosed. He consulted medical men in Napier, Wellington and Christchurch. So it was finally decided that I should accompany him to the U.S.A. to see the Mayo Brothers. It was not so easy for me to leave the farm, a wife and six children but Dorothy was more than willing to pull her weight and make it possible for me to leave. Phil Brock was as capable and honest a fellow as you could ever meet and so he was to carry on and Charlie Nairn was always in the background to advise. And so on September 13th Ivan and I left our homes. We spent a day in Wellington and contacted a few old friends –

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in fact I saw Lady Johnston for the last time. On the 16th we sailed in the “Makura” – a very comfortable ship of 7800 tons. We rats straight into a terrific storm which kept me and many others quiet for a couple of days. I was very seasick and unhappy till little Dr. Teichelmann of Hokitika prescribed for me with good results. There were 48 passengers in the first saloon – among them J.G and Mrs. Coates- he had been Prime Minister only about a year and was on his way to a conference in London. We got to know and like the Coates very much and we also became friendly with Frank Thompson (permanent Secretary to the P.M.) and Carl Berendson (now Sir Carl). After five dayts we reached Rarotonga – a picturesque island with lush vegetation. After attending a garden party given by the Commissioner for the Coates we were taken for a very enjoyable drive round the island before embarking again and resuming the voyage at 7:30. The sunset was particularly lovely.

Two days later we reached Papeete – Tahiti was a very lovely island with volcanic hills popping up everywhere and the vegetation thick and green. After a look around the town, we, Ivan, Pickett a young Australian of whom we were to see more, and I drove out to Venture – a delightful hotel about 15 miles away. There we bathed and reclined on the beach with the beautiful island of Moarea in the distance. Then we dined and drank champagne at 4/- a quart. Back again to Papeete and we sat on the balcony of the Bourgeanviller Club watching the locals dance and we sipped very potent Rainbow cocktails. Then about 4 a.m. we boarded the “Makura” only a few yards away, had a cup of coffee and to bed. We sailed at 6:30 a.m. and for the rest of the day most of us slept off the excitement of the day and night on shore. During the next ten days the weather was warm and sea calm – there was always something to do and the days passed pleasantly – deck games, reading and yarning by day and bridge most evenings with Captain Davey, Thompson and Ivan. There were the odd dances and concerts too. The sunsets were quite wonderful through the tropics. On October 1st we entered the harbour of San Francisco – quite spectacular but there was rain – the first for five months. After the customs formalities we landed. Ivan Pickett and I then did the city which staggered us with the height of the buildings, density of traffic and noise. We lunched at St. Francis Hotel and Gordon Coates told us that we were included in his party to be entertained by the Shell Oil Company at Los Angeles. That evening at 7:30 we boarded the South Pacific Express Train – Pickett, Ivan and I had a very swank drawing room compartment for our own use and the train was over 440 feet in length. After supper and a yarn in the Coates’ compartment we turned in and slept till about 7. We were then near Santa Barbara and travelling through pretty country – the sea on our right and in the distance on the left were the Sierra Nevadas – high, rugged and forbidding. At 9:30 we reached Los Angeles and proceeded to our splendid hotel “The Biltmore”. Two high ranking officials of the Shell took charge of our party (Wheeler and George) and then the fun began. We all set forth in three large Lincoln cars and visited the port of San Pedro, Longbeach, the fashionable seaside resort – there we lunched and had all sorts of strong drinks inspite of the U.S.A. being a “dry country”. Then we went on to Hollywood and saw many lovely homes – on to De Mills Studio to see a picture in the making – the ‘close-ups’ and fake scenery amused us and I felt I did not want to see a picture show again. Talkies were just beginning at that time and often the lips and voices did not synchronise. A big day but it was not over for we changed and attended a dinner party at the Coconut Grove – the dinner lasted for hours and grog of all sorts. Wheeler got very tight and fell under the table. Next day the Coates left for Washington while Ivan, Pickett and I stayed on for another four days. During this time we had quite a fabulous time as the Shell Company put a Lincoln car, which was one of the best the U.S.A. then produced, at our disposal. One day we went 70 miles into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to visit the Riverhead Mission. Wheeler went with us and got very tight and slept on the floor of the car all the way back.

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One afternoon we went to the Nixons lovely house at Pasadena and were taken to their Country Club, the entrance fee of which was 5000 dollars, and we dined with them in some style. Cocktails before dinner and many wines at dinner and as we left the butler gave us each a parcel containing two bottles Of whisky and this is in a prohibition country. The Nixons were people of great wealth and we had been given an introduction to them by Mrs. Lowry. Then other friends of theirs gave a barbecue party one evening, Potts had served in a U.S. Destroyer in the war. The cocktails were strong and long before the meal began many of the 20 to 20 guests were well under the weather and carried off to rooms in the house to sleep it off. Potts had a bar in his smoking room and in the cellar, which occupied a large space under the house. There was every conceivable drink calculated to last the duration of his lifetime. He too was a millionaire.

We left Los Angeles at midday one day in the Santa Fe Limited express train and at 7 the next morning we woke up at the Grand Canyon, our carriage having been detailed at Williams and drawn by another train, all unknown to us. We spent the day at the Grand Canyon which is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The Canyon is about 5000 feet in depth and 13 miles across at the point we visited – but owing to the clear atmosphere it only looked about three miles to the Painted Desert beyond. Altogether the Canyon is quite breathtaking. After dinner we caught our train and in the early hours of the next day we had linked up with the main through train at Williams and when we woke up we were speeding through the Arizona Desert. It was a somewhat drill journey of fifty hours to Chicago – the train only stopped for ten minutes at three places each day. The meals were excellent and beds comfortable. We read, slept, ate and played bridge or poker. The only excitement on the journey was a telegram for us at Gallup from Coates telling us to pick up our Walker parcel at the Consul’s in Chicago – this we duly collected and it consisted of several bottles of whisky brought for us from the “Makura”. On arrival at Chicago at 10 a.m. on October 10th we went to the Sherman Hotel for a bath etc. and then we had a look round for a while but seeing a huge crowd outside a sports ground we went in and found a soccer match between Prague and Canada about to begin. Both were crack teams but the end of the game was spoiled by onlookers disputing the referee’s decision and a free fight setting in – it was all amusing. Late at night we caught the train to Rochester. By now Ivan began to feel so well we started to think the holiday had cured hills.

Next morning at 7.15 we arrived at Rochester (Minnesota), (we had had six consecutive nights in trains) – a very attractive little town of about 20,000 inhabitants, it was laid out in squares, trees lining the roads, many parks and, of course, hospitals, hostels and hotels galore, for here was the famous Mayo Clinic which attracted at that time, so they say, about 150,000 persons a year for medical advice. The Kahler Hotel was where we made our home for about a month. Our first job was to register with the Clinic (I registered too partly to see if they could throw light on my periodic gland trouble but mainly to see just how the Mayo Clinic functioned). Then we were each appointed to our physician who, after questioning us thoroughly, passed us on to apecialists to be exampled from head to foot. This operation took about four days and at the conclusion there was another consultation with the physician and you were told of the findings of the experts. My gland trouble was due to a pebble which sometimes lodged in the duct and caused blockage.

Advised not to worry unless it became worse or chronic and if that happened to have the gland (sub-maxiliary) removed entirely and also to have some teeth removed at my leisure, (Both these were done at a much later date). Ivan’s condition was due to a large duodenal ulcer. Dr. Charlie Mayo sent for me and told me treatment over a lengthy period might answer the problem but he would suggest an operation and make sure in a short time. So on October 15th Ivan was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital (wonderfully run by Nuns of the Franciscan order) and

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operated on by Dr. Charles Mayo who told me afterwards an ulcer the size of a walnut had been removed also his appendix and that all the organs within sight had been cleaned up! Dr. Mayo then went off for a holiday and Dr. Will Mayo took charge. Ivan progressed remarkably well and came out of hospital on the 26th and was admitted to a private hospital for convalescence on the 5th floor of the Kahler Hotel. During the time he was in hospital my time was fully and happily occupied for I got to know many on the Clinic staff and through Miss Anne Edmondson (Secretary to the Clinic) at whose table I sat, I was wonderfully cared for. At her table also sat Phillips (Phil) and wife from St. Paul and in between treatment for his ulcer condition he and I pottered about together a lot, visiting places of interest for he had a car, playing a little golf, and usually a small party in evenings and, of course, a visit to Ivan twice a day. One day we went to the Mayo Bros’ farm which was well run and supplied most of the food to all the hospitals. It was interesting to watch the squirrells in the woodlands gathering in nuts for the winter – such attractive little creatures. It was now beginning to get very cold and all heat in buildings was on. One weekend after Mrs. Phillips (Laura) had gone to Denver Phil, Anne and I motored to his home in St. Paul – about 100 odd miles away and there, after lighting the heater in the basement, we went off for a cruise round the two cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis. We went to a big picture house in the evening where there was a lovely large new organ. I was taken to see one of the world’s largest Flour Mills.

Among those I met on the Clinic Staff was Archie McIndoe who much later became, with Harold Gillies, leaders in plastic surgery in England. The latter I knew well for we were at school together and later I used to see him in England when he was at Cambridge and I at Oxford. He rowed in the Cambridge boat and was one of the leading golfers.

Pickett turned up in Rochester for a couple of days for a check-up – these check-ups, which are very thorough and no part of the body left out, cost £15. In most reputable hospitals in U.S.A. you can obtain these ‘check-ups’ too and many people over the age of 40 have a yearly check-up as a wise precaution. As I was at this time a member of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board I came to the States armed with letters of introduction and consequently I visited many hospitals of note.

When Ivan came out of St. Mary’s and entered the convalescent ward at the Kahler I took off for ten days or so. I travelled by night train to Chicago where I spent a few hours with a pleasant young fellow I met at breakfast on the train – he took me for a drive, later to his Club and then to catch the B & O Capitol train to Washington- early next morning after a lovely sunrise on the Potomac River, full of glorious autumn tints, I reached Washington. After a hectic rush round the city, seeing the Capitol and White House I took the train to New York and there in company with Pickett, I spent four days at the McAlpine Hotel in 34th Street and what a lot I saw from the highest building of the day – Woolworth 700 ft – to a night club. This was an eye-opener – I slept till midnight then Pickett woke me up and we stayed at the Night Club till 4 a.m., had a cup of coffee in Broadway and back to bed. Louis Moffat lunched one day with me and I visited her and Sam at Ridgeway Park – saw her family and watched a football game. One night I went to a party at the Hortons (N.Z. Shipping Company) and saw their doctor arrive with a satchel full of whisky bottles. New York did not appeal to me one little bit – it was a massive and impersonal city – no soul about it.

So I departed for Niagara – Pickett farewelled me and next day he left for London. He was a very pleasant young companion but I never saw him again. It was a cold and snowy day at Niagara and the falls kept one fascinated for hours. I caught the Toronto-Chicago express at Hamilton and at Detroit I spent three hours round about midnight. As I had a letter to the Henry Ford Hospital authorities I took the opportunity of being conducted round in the dead of night – all very eerie. This hospital was built without regard to expense and caters for rich and poor and provides equipment for all and sundry to have check-ups. On to Chicago by nine next morning and staying at the Palmer House. For the next three days I was

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well cared for by Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Martin and Dr. Maceachren (President and Vice-president of the U.S.A. College of Surgeons). They showed me everything worth seeing and were most kind to me. Back to Rochester to find Ivan in good shape and being well looked after. The next few days were spent in good-byes and together with Louis Barnett (a Dunedin Surgeon) I attended an operation or two and we had some golf. Then we said farewell and departed one afternoon for St. Paul – next morning in a snow storm we set off in the Soo express for Vancouver – three days and three nights. At Moose Jaw we had to wait for some hours for the Canadian Pacific train which joined on to ours -the temperature was below zero so we had to abandon the walk we intended taking and return to the warm carriage. The journey through the Rockies was grand – snowclad mountains, raging streams and so on. At Vancouver we spent a couple of days and were looked after by Jim Irons-and had some golf. Then to Victoria and on to stay two nights with the Dopping-Hepenstalls at Duncan. Vancouver Island is very picturesque and full of lovely forest trees. Victoria itself is quite one of the most attractive small cities I know. From Duncan we were taken to Maple Bay to see the Ian MacKenzies (Mary Ritchie) and their fox farm. There is nothing spectacular or romantic about a fox farm and it is more like a gigantic dog run. Maple Bay was a very pleasant spot – huge redwood trees to the water’s edge. Colonel Dopping-Hepenstall is a retired army man and friend of Violet Russell.

After a night at the Empress Hotel in Victoria we boarded the “Niagara” early in the morning and so were facing home. By the way, a brother of John Jamieson and his wife were good to us in Victoria. On the Niagara Mary MacKenzie, Ivan and I had a table to ourselves which was good. Among the passengers we saw much of were the George Goulds of Christchurch and Barbara and Charlie Turrell (General Manager of New Zealand Shipping Company). The voyage passed very pleasantly, usual, games, bridge each night with the Goulds. A day ashore at Honolulu where we bathed and had a motor trip – a day at Suva where we did the same and so to Auckland on December 6th where we were met by Dorothy and Mary. It was wonderful to be back again.

Ivan, Mary, Dorothy and I spent two nights at the Grand Hotel and then left for Napier by limited night express. It was good to see my Mother and Father again and also on the night of our arrival to dine on board H.M.S. “Diomede” with my old friend Jim Ritchie (Capt. R.N.) and other local friends. I soon dropped back into the routine at Pukekino and was more than delighted to be home with the family once again. Shearing was over but one day’s lamb crutching remained.

One day before Christmas I was asked to make a valuation of Berkhan’s property on the Salisbury Road – my valuation was £9 per acre. On Christmas Day rain set in and continued for a week more or less. The usual festivities and excitement of Christmas dominated the household and, of course, Jim was back from school at Hurworth.

December was a very wet month. My youngest Aunt Helen (Hardie) of Moorlands, Belstone, Devon, died during the year – she was Father’s youngest sister and was Only 59. She married Gordon Hardie about 1912 and they lived at Belstone on the moors. She developed T.B. about two years before her death and was sent to Davos in Switzerland but she hated it and received no benefit. The last time I saw her she and my Aunt Mary were living just out of Peter Port in Guernsey. Charlie Ritchie and I spent some time with them.

1927

January turned out much better than we had hoped for – after a wet December we expected a wet summer.

In January the Averills returned from a trip to England and we were pleased to have him back – he was our next door neighbour. Charlie Nairn left for England again in January but was back in New Zealand in July. He was one of my closest friends and one you could always rely upon.

During the year Mr. R.M. Turnbull celebrated his 85th birthday and he was destined to live

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for another six years and enjoy good health up to the end.

Monty and I laid out a nine hole golf course on Kereru Station – it was a very sporting one and we had a lot of fun during the year. All our neighbours played there frequently – the Kays, Averills, Ned Smith, Dasents and others and at times we were visited by members of the Napier Golf Club. At a Hospital Board Meeting I read a paper on my impressions of the various hospitals I had recently visited in U.S.A. and Canada. This paper you will find among the papers in my desk. And, towards the end of February William McGrath and I were appointed to represent he Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board at a Conference in Christchurch.

We travelled there by train and ferry and stayed at the Clarendon Hotel, but after a couple of days the George Goulds insisted on my going to their delightful home of Avonbank in Fendalton (now demolished – on the rose garden Barbara now resides in a small home she and her mother built after Mr. Gould’s death and the cutting up of the Estate). At the conference I spoke upon the advantages of having our public hospitals partly private as many are in U.S.A. But the chairman being an out and out socialist would not listen and spoke of the idea of having first and second class patients as being quite out of order. In between meetings I had a most enjoyable time with the Goulds, visiting Mr. Gould’s farm on the Waimakariri etc.

H.E. Sturge sold Hurworth at Wanganui and joined forces with Heretaunga School in Havelock North. All his pupils came over with him, Jim included. So from February onwards the school became Hereworth. Heretaunga was under the auspices of the Waiapu Diocesan Board. It was good to have Sturge in Hawke’s Bay for we had been close friends since our Oxford days and with his high reputation the future of this new School was promising (events have proved this to be true). The advent of the Sturges was particularly pleasing to me for we had so much in common and for the next few years we saw much of one another. We had expeditions to Puketitiri and the Whakarara ranges and did some climbing of hills up to 3,000 odd feet.

My Father’s health began to fail this year and it became necessary for him to take things much more quietly and he took one day in bed a week. He was only 70 but throughout those years he had always overdone things, especially in the way of sport but he had enjoyed life immensely. In consequence of my Parents ageing and ailing I frequently spent the odd night with them in Napier.

In the early months of this year the H.B. County really got down to the idea of tar-sealing the roads that carried much traffic and the cost in those days was £1500 per mile. We really should have borrowed heavily and completed many roads quickly but we were a very conservative body and rather abhored the idea of borrowing. This was the year that the power grader came into its own and as time went on the surface man began to disappear. At this time all ridings of the County had to stand on their own feet – the Highways Board had not come into being but some county roads that carried more than their share of traffic received Government subsidies from time to time. And it must be remembered that as more cars, trucks etc. came to use the roads the burden of maintenance increased. This was becoming a problem indeed for the counties and ratepayers. Another burden on the ratepayer was the disproportionate contribution toward Hospital administration. Hospitals were maintained almost entirely by rates collected from the local bodies and Government assistance was small. Today the picture has changed entirely and rightly so for it costs about £1500 annually to maintain a bed whereas in 1927 the cost was approximately £150.

Apart from usual work on the farm such as fencing, scrub-cutting and grubbing and general maintenance Phil and I scraped and painted the roof of the house. This was quite a job as the pitch of the roof is considerable. One day we had a visit from Sir Andrew and Lady Russell. John Russell was out on leave from the Army in India. Mr. Turnbull went to Wellington for an operation for the removal of a small growth on his chin – it was highly

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successful. Dorothy went to Wellington with her Parents.

Gordon Hardie sent out Aunt Helen’s jewellery and some of the family silver etc. to Ivan and me. My Mother divided this between us. There were many valuable rings, pendants and so on. Also came the family portraits.

The settlers in the Maraekekaho Riding held many meetings concerning re-erection of the telephone lines, which were in poor shape. The P.& T. Department was not very helpful so in the end we set up a committee and had the work put in hand and Crawford became our supervisor.

Marjorie’s name was put down for Woodford and we had several meetings with Lady Marjory Dalrymple who was the very elegant headmistress at the time. She became friendly with the Sturges and I met her there sometimes. The winter was a very wet one – in June 6 ½ inches of rain fell and in July there were 11 inches. The lower country was flooded badly but disaster was averted.

In October an old friend of Father’s came out to New Zealand to act as Mediator in a dispute between the Public Works Department (Government) and Armstrong Whitworth Limited over a contract for hydro-electric works. He was the Rt. Hon. Edward Shortt. He and Father were friends as boys for his Father was the Vicar of Woodhorn (near Newbiggin). Shortt was a barrister, became M.P. for a division of Newcastle-on-Tyne and a member of the Asquith Cabinet.

At one stage he was Secretary for Ireland and later Home Secretary. He came to Napier to visit my Parents and while there I took him round the countryside and to Pukekino and one night Father gave a dinner party for him at the Club. At the dinner were Harold Russell, Wenley, Bernau, Sturge, C. Nairn, Dinwiddie, Grant, Father, Ivan, self and, of course, E. Shortt.

Gwynth Canning, who had been with us for five years as nursery governess married Morris Averill on November 15th and we all attended the wedding at the Cathedral.

There was the usual big children’s party at Frimley towards the end of the year.

Wool prices were good – the top price being 22d. I also note sheep prices were satisfactory. The wether lambs were sold for 20/6d. to Maxwell and 16 ½ acres of rape thrown in – this seems a practical bargain. Gascoyne bought the two-tooth wethers – including rejects – for 21/- and this was considered a good deal.

In these days I reckoned if I grossed £1 per acre all was well – expenses and mortgage interest could be met and there was enough over to live quietly.

John Paton, who came to New Zealand under a Public School plan, was put under my care (Big Brother) by Sir Andrew Russell and he was placed with E. Averill at Echills.

The first Hereworth Sports were held in December and proved a great success and it was my job to be the first to present the prizes and make a speech at the break-up. So ended another year.

1928

My Father’s health gave much concern during the year and he had several lengthy spells in bed – his heart appears to be the main cause of anxiety. However in between times he was able to attend to his work in the office, but in a less active manner, and he enjoyed life in a quieter way – of course all forms of sport, that means golf, came to an end and I think he accepted the verdict with equanimity for he realised he had had quite a wonderful life and his full share of sport. He had been the Father of rugby football in Hawke’s Bay – had refereed in many important games over a period of about 20 years – and he bad been instrumental in the making of the Lawn Tennis Courts at Farndon (as good as you would find anywhere). He had been a good shot, keen fisherman, he had won, with M. Fenwick, the New Zealand Men’s Doubles (tennis) in 1888 at Christchurch. In fact he had loved all forms of sport and had excelled in many. He had always been of a very gregarious nature and loved his fellow men. And, in consequence of not being able to get about so much, his life became somewhat dull so I made it my business to spend frequent nights in Napier with him and my Mother. Rose Hillier, who had been with them formerly as cook and now as housekeeper for about thirty years, was invaluable.

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One of my Father’s great delights for as long as I can remember was his daily game of bridge at the Club – nothing ever interfered with this diversion now it had ended.

H.E. Sturge was well settled at Hereworth School and I saw a great deal of him – sometimes spending weekends at the school and sometimes he would come to Pukekino. We had many more expeditions into the bill country – up Te Mata Peak – long walks. One day in the early part of the year he bought the whole school out to Kereru for a picnic at the Old Homestead. Ned Smith sometimes joined us.

I remember R.B. Smith (late of Oriel) was a visitor to Hereworth and we had a dinner at the Club, Ivan joining us. One night Sturge and I went to Hastings to hear Maud Boyden speak – a wonderful speaker she was too. Bob began his school career this year at Hereworth and he settled down well. In February I took Jim over to Wanganui Collegiate and he was there for the next four years, J. Allen (Hoppy) was headmaster at the time. There were several happy weekends at Okawa and usually some golf.

Mrs. Lowry, who was so pleased at my being a member of the Hospital Board, gave me a cheque for £3,000 to be spent in anyway I thought useful or helpful. After consulting Berry (Medical Superintendent) it was decided to erect a Solarium – but the Health Department turned this down and it was not for many years that the money was put to a useful purpose. Mrs. Lowry visited the hospital with me on occasions once when she opened the Coleman Ward in memory of her late Step-father. We also attended the opening of the Hastings Memorial Hospital – then it was just a Cottage Hospital with very limited accommodation. Mrs. Lowry’s life was devoted to good works – Red Cross, St. John’s and helping any who needed help. You never appealed to her without receiving a very generous contribution. Gertie Chapman came out to New Zealand for the summer months.

My work on the County Council, Hospital Board and Rabbit Board increased and, according to my diary, I attended very many meetings. The Highways Board came into being and it took charge of approved main roads throughout New Zealand. This was a great help to Counties for the• motor traffic had increased enormously and the burden of maintaining these roads became a great drain on the ratepayer. Tyndall was the first chairman and he was in Napier on two or three occasions.

December of last year had been a very wet month and work had got well behind hand but this year began well and January, February and March were dry months and we caught up with our work on the farm and by the beginning of the autumn all was well in hand, On March 19th my old friend Jack Nairn died while visiting Wanganui and a few days later we buried him in the Pourerere private cemetery – McLeod, Ian, E. Gilbertson, Greenwood, Ivan and I were the pall-bearers.

Towards the end of March I went to Christchurch and spent a few days with the George Goulds which was very pleasant – I saw many old friends and enjoyed some games of golf with Barbara at Shirley. On my return I spent a few days at the Royal Oak in Wellington where my Father and Mother were staying. More golf, a few theatres, more friends and J.G. Coates and Mrs. Coates came to lunch one day. Also saw the “Makura” off one evening – on board were Mrs. Arthur Russell, the Charlie Birches and Jimmy James. Mrs. Russell was to have an overhaul at the Mayo Clinic.

Father gave Ivan and me a wireless set – it was a Hansen. The erecting of a very high mast was quite a problem. It was quite a joy to me but the programmes were very limited and on Sundays there was only sacred music. At times we could pick up U.S.A. and after dark Australia was heard plainly.

Monty’s golf course at Kereru became more and more popular and I find I played often with him and Brimmer (the chauffeur). The George Goulds came up to Napier in the winter and stayed at the Masonic – I took them to see my Parents and one day they came out to Pukekino. We always looked forward to the holidays when Jim and Bob were home.

In the spring we experienced some very unpleasant gales. During one the tail of the

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windmill was blown off. How I loathed the windmill which so often had to be turned off in the middle of the night and this meant a half mile walk each way! And I would not allow anyone to grease the machine – only myself. Another time, on our return home the carts cape hood was blown off.

Tom Jowsey died during the year. I had not seen him for months because he never forgave me for not assisting him in his ‘fall outs” with Walker over the roadway to his house – this was on Walker’s property and there was nothing the County Council could do about it. Kingsford Smith flew in the Southern Cross from Australia to Christchurch – 14 hours.

This year I stepped up the breeding ewes slightly and carried 1400 and 900 dry sheep. Still I must have been grossly understocked. Fat bullocks were selling at £12 to £15. For two years now I had grown reasonable crops of swedes which were helpful in the winter. Hogget wool was round about 18 to 19d. – ewe wool a few pence behind that.

Much sadness descended upon the family in August for F.I. Stopford, our friend of 37 years, died. On the 23rd my Mother telephoned to say Stopford was dying and would I come to town to see him. He was lying in bed looking very pale but quite composed – he told me how he had enjoyed his 37 years of friendship with our family – we said farewell and on the 26th he died. Leonard and Bernard Tripp (his brothers-in-law), H. Guthrie Smith of Tutira, Mackay, Pinkney, Ivan and I carried him to his grave in the Napier cemetery. Old Stopford was a fund of knowledge and told us so much in our childhood days. He had once been in the British Army and when his health broke down he became a coach for the Army examinations. He had to retire at a very early age on account of T.B. and came to New Zealand to live, Napier’s climate suited him and he had a very enjoyable life for the next 37 years – he was 73.

1929

In the first three weeks of January the weather being gloriously hot and school holidays on, we enjoyed many picnics – mostly in the Olrig cutting.

Late in the month Doffles and Bob had tonsils removed by Scoular in Sherwood Hospital (almost next door to where we now live) and to convalesce they stayed for about a week with my Mother in Napier.

For the last week of the holidays my Mother took Jim to Taupo and Charlie Nairn drove them there and remained with them during their stay. While they were away I stayed with my Father and Rose Hillier was, of course, with my Parents as housekeeper. I was able to take Father about quite a lot and we visited many friends who did not live far from town. We visited the Dudley Kettles who then lived at Poraite.

My Father’s health was very poor during this year and at times there appeared cause for much anxiety. So I took every opportunity of spending the odd night or so in Napier whenever possible and at the time taking him for outings in the car. In April he was at a low ebb and spent quite a time in bed – but towards the end of the year he was much better.

Mardie began school at Woodford House in February. Mrs. Lowry (her Godmother) always said Mardi’s education was going to be her responsibility and so it was to the end. Whenever we called in at the school we always popped in to see Winston and Lulu Barron who by then were living next door to Woodford. Miss Holland was headmistress and a very understanding woman she was. C.D. Kennedy, an old friend of the family’s died aged 71. He was a very versatile man being a qualified solicitor as well as a civil engineer, and he also sang and played several instruments well. When I first joined the H.B.C.C. he was its engineer temporarily till Puflett’s appointment.

This was the year the break between Monty and Cora widened – she came into Napier and started a small antique business in Herschell Street called ‘The Venture’. Her niece Ivall Heywood joined her, Monty, in the meantime, stayed on at Kereru as manager. There were the usual visits to Okawa and Mrs. Grogan (Mrs. Lowry’s sister from Kenya) and Mrs. Fox (Miss V. Russell’s sister) were staying there on one occasion. Then on April

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9th Mr. T.H. Lowry gave a dinner party for 40 at the Club in honour of Reg Bettington.

On April 11th Reg and Marion were married at the Cathedral and a reception on a big scale was at Okawa. It was a wet day and we had a puncture near Brick Works in Napier on our way but fortunately Charlie Morse, who owned the works and was also Mayor of Napier, sent a man to fix the spare wheel.

My local body activities increased tremendously – I was a member of the H.B. County Council, H.B. Rabbit Board, H.B. Hospital Board and Te Mata Peak Trust. Then at the Election in April a bomb fell when H.M. Campbell (the chairman and M.P. for Hawke’s Bay) was defeated in Poukawa Riding by Bob Harding. I was approached out of the blue to be the Chairman and on May 22nd I was elected unopposed. Thus my work increased, also responsibility. From then I attended the County Office every Monday and usually was called upon one other day per week.

In the elections I was again unopposed for all three local bodies. Following my appointment I decided to give a week to ten days to travel. over every riding (there were ten) in the County with Puflett (Engineer) so as to become familiar with all problems. It meant much travelling over good roads and bad and at the end of the task ‘shingles’ took hold of me and for a week I was uncomfortable. In those days travelling allowances for members of various local bodies was 6d. per mile – there was no further allowance for a chairman. However a year later I think, the chairman could elect to take £100 per annum in lieu of mileage rate of 6d. So to be chairman of the County if you attended to your business properly, entailed a loss.

Twice during the year Selby Palmer, who had become a member on the C.C. for the new riding of Waimarama, and I were deputed to go to Wellington to voice our opinion on the iniquity of Land Tax for the farmer and the approval of Income Tax being the proper tax. We had a conference or two with J.G. Coates P.M., H.H. Campbell our M.P. for H.B., K.S. Williams (Public Works Minister), Sir T.G. Ward, Polson (M.P. and Farmer’s Union) and W.E. Barnard (M.P. Napier).

There was some influenza about this year and the members of the Hospital Board were advised to be innoculated. Among others I submitted but this did not save me from an attack a little later. Arthur Empson was in New Zealand for a few months and we visited him at Drumpeel – he had not been in New Zealand since 1912. One night Ivan and I gave a dinner for him at the Club and our guests were the Dudley Kettles and the Gordon Williams and, of course, Mary and Dorothy. I was not feeling too bright and next day shingles overtook me. My County work piled up for me.

In the early part of the year, when surplus sheep were selling, the prices were good. I got 24/- for 5 year ewes, 21/6 for 6 years and two-tooth wethers sold for 27/6 – the last mentioned were bought by Alf Symes. Wool, however, had slipped back to 14d. to 15 ½ d for ewe wool. This came about by a slump beginning in U.S.A.

On July 8th I took my first meeting of the County Council and felt a little nervous but all members were most co-operative and friendly towards me so I gained confidence. My first major task was to represent the County at the opening of the Waikaremoana scheme by the Governor General, Sir Charles Fergusson. Mr. Chambers, A.H. Fergusson (County Clerk), Puflett and I proceeded there in the County car. It was quite a big turn out and lovely. Late in the afternoon after the affair was over, the Governor General invited M. Chambers and myself for a trip on the lake and a picnic on an island. We were at Waikaremoana for two nights. The next affair of note was a Civic Lunch for the Governor General and Lady Alice at the Assembly Rooms in Hastings.

I had the idea of retiring from the Hospital Board owing to the pressure of county work but as the County representatives were unopposed it was rather difficult to do so – moreover I had become very interested in the work. A nephew of G. Wenley’s, Mr. Kay of Glasgow, visited the hospital with me one day – he was quite a ‘big noise’ and so as

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time went on my hospital visits became more frequent. Had it not been for Phil Brock being on the farm and so reliable I would never have been able to devote so much time to local body work.

During the year I purchased a seven seater Buick as the family were getting big. After a month or so we were stuck up in one of the gorges by trouble in the carburettor – it was a faulty bit of work and it should never have happened. However we never had any more trouble after that. We made many expeditions and one day we revisited Mangatarata Station and on the way home we called in to see the Carlyons at Gwavas. Another time we picked up the A.J. Morrises of Fernhill and went to the marriage of Olga Carlyon to Herbert Hudson. A funny thing happened there – there were two maori bands at work – one up stairs and one in the large hall below and when it came to playing the wedding march they each played different ones. The noise of the combination was terrific but neither knew – only the guests.

At last, after months of frustration, our telephone committee, of which I was a member, abandoned the idea the P.& T. had for the erection and we let a contract to rebuild the system ourselves and it cost £1200 odd but there were at least 50 subscribers to bear the cost.

H.E. Sturge and I maintained our excursions to various parts of the country. On June 17th a very uncomfortable swaying earthquake occurred as I was in the County office and we all felt very sick. It turned out to be the tail end of the very disastrous earthquake that caused great damage in the Murchison district in the South Island. But as the area had no towns in it there was no loss of life. It was decided to straighten the road from Te Aute to the top of the hill and this meant the County would have to purchase odd pieces of land from several settlers. All agreed except Mrs. Ellison (a very cute ½ caste woman) and after several abortive meetings with her M. Chambers and I gave up the ghost and so we took the land under the Public Works Act. There was also much trouble with the drainage of Meeanee and I used to dread my Mondays at the C.C. Office for old Erickson (the member of the riding) was always waiting with fresh troubles. However all these troubles ended with the Earthquake of 1931 by the raising of the land by several feet.

Jim was 16 this year and he learned to drive the car which was most useful. In those days you did not have any test nor did you require a license.

King George V had been very ill in the early part of the year and thanksgiving services were held for his recovery over the country – attended the service at Hereworth in the Big School room.

At the end of the year Philip Slingsly brought out a bevy of boys from Hereworth to camp at the Old Homestead.

One day I spoke on County matters at a Rotary lunch in Hastings.

I seem to have found time to make the odd valuation for Sainsbury, Logan and Williams and also to keep in touch with our many friends – Aunt Lina (Kettle) in particular.

Owing to a wet December we did not finish shearing till December 30th. This year breeding ewes were up to 1460. The purchase of
a Red Poll bull was not successful as things turned out.

In October Constance Fountaine paid a short visit to New Zealand following her Father’s death last year. She and I had many talks over her affairs and before she returned to England in November it had been arranged with the R.D.D. McLean Trustees that she should be allowed to purchase, at Government Valuation, the old station garden (this turned out to be 22 acres and two cottages) and 1200 acres of Maraekakaho Station (The Cottage block). The price of the latter was to be £12 per acre. Mason Chambers and I were-her attorneys and it was left to us to decide whether to farm it or lease it in the meantime. For the past 17 years the Maraekakaho Station of 14,000 acres had been managed by H. Gascoyne and over these years the losses had been high. In spite of a book-keeper being employed on the Station there apparently were no proper books kept.

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However from information supplied Butler, McCulloch and Spence worked out balance sheets which told the sad story of more losses than profits over the past 17 years. It all tells of some very fishy happenings for there was no mortgage on the property and for many of the years in question there was no income tax on farm lands.

The Cottage. The original cottage was called Doonside. It was built in the early 1850s by a Mr Oliver. It was later used as the manager’s house for Maraekakaho Station. Image source: Hamilton Logan, Fear Not Change, p141.

 Frank and Dorothy with grandchildren (date location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Pukekino homestead where Frank moved to in 1912 when his father assisted him into his first farm after passing up a career in law (image taken c.1950). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Frank Logan on the eve of his departure with his brother Ivan for the United States in 1926. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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Officiating at the opening of the Hastings Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital on Anzac Day 1928 were (from left): JH Colebourne, W Hart, EH Williams (partner at Sainsbury Logan & Williams), Hon JA Young (Minister of Health), G Ebbett, Dr. THA Valintine (Director-General of Health), Howard (Hillen & Howard Builders) and FB Logan. Image source: Geoff Conly A Case History: The Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board 1876 – 1989, Hawke’s Bay Area Health Board, Napier, 1992 at p107

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CHAPTER SEVEN

1930 – 1939

1930

At 1:30 a.m. on January 1st we were awakened by a fearful din – it was the arrival of the Olrig Shearing Gang to serenade us. There was beer drinking and music in the kitchen and no more sleep for us.

On January 4th Duncan Holden and Helen White were married on a lovely day and the wedding party was held at Omarunui. It was good to see Peter and May Holden in New Zealand again. Then on January 8th Bevan and Betty Williams were married and we trecked down to Atua for the event. The Hereworth Scouts, who were still camped at The Old Homestead at Kereru, had to break camp on the 8th for over six inches of rain fell in the two previous days.

The County Council demanded a great deal of my time these days – apart from the routine work every Monday there were conferences at times with Ransome (Minister of Public Works), with committees of Harbour Board, Power Board and over things of common interest and more interviews with Mrs. Ellison of Te Aute. The Highways Board was now in full swing and Furkert came occasionally for talks with us. The Hospital Board also claimed much time but as its meetings were usually on the afternoons of the County’s meetings I was spared a good deal of extra running about. Very often I spent the weekends, when the meetings were held, with my Parents and quite often I would spring a surprise on the Hospital by an unexpected visit, perhaps to breakfast with the nurses or at some strange hour to the wards. The nurses always claimed I must have given warning because they said breakfast on those days was always reasonable! A.C. Biggs appointed Medical Superintendent in place of Alan Berry who retired. The Maraekakaho sale took place in February and prior to it I took Mr. Wenley and Seton on a trip round some of the blocks. He purchased the Homestead Block of approximately 900 acres at £22 per acre. Billy purchased a block up the valley at the same time. The sale of the Station sheep and cattle was quite poor as the stock were in bad condition. Shortly after this sale Mr. and Mrs. Wenley and Bill and Mardi went on a trip to England.

Mrs. Wenley had a stroke on the ship from which she never recovered and died in Southampton – Mr. Wenley, Mardie and Bill returned later in the year.

Early in the year I was appointed a member of the Hereworth School Trust Board and remained on the Board for about ten years. Other members were Herbert Williams (Bishop of Waiapu and Chairman), Sturge, P. Wilder, A.I. Rainbow, E.T. Herrick, V. Hoadley and A.B. Williams (he later became a great benefactor as did his brother H.B. Williams).

In the summer Anne Edmondson, who was the Mayo Brothers Secretary, came over from the U.S.A. to spend a couple of months at Okawa with Mrs. Lowry. I spent the odd weekend at Okawa during her stay and took her to see my Parents, the Napier Hospital, Hereworth School etc., and she came out to Pukekino to visit us.

Mason Chambers and I met on many occasions to discuss the fate of ‘The Cottage’ and Station garden at Maraekekaho. We also had several interviews with Lady McLean who then lived in grandeur in the old home on Napier Terrace. She was quite difficult to handle at times.

With regard to ‘The Cottage’ and the farm of 1200 acres we agreed to let the latter to Rochie Averill for a period of five years at 15/- per acre per annum and the Cottage and gardens we held and put in a married couple to care for it (the Poultons) and Bill Graham was to care for the gardens and orchard.

As for the Station garden, it was Constance Fountaine’s wish that Hugh Player and his wife should lease it at a very nominal rent – they lived in one of the cottages and McPhee lived in the other and worked in the garden. It was not a very good proposition as Player was lazy and the garden worn out. Phil and I laid out a tennis court in Phil’s corner just behind the garden. It was a terrific job on our own but we accomplished it – sowed it down in April and erected a high netting fence

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round it and by October it was marked out and ready for play. It was before the days of motor grass mowers and what a job it was to keep it cut and in order. Had we realised the extra work involved I would never have made it.

There was Jim to help after he left school at the end of the year but when the war came we had to abandon it.

One day the General (Sir Andrew Russell) rang for me to go to see him at Tunanui as he had something important to say. He had an idea of forming a discussion group for the purpose of studying problems affecting the Nation. Be suggested the group consist of about a dozen – they would meet once a month in each other’s homes in turn – the host was to read a paper and this to be followed by a discussion and, if need be, the result would be forwarded to the Government. The meetings were to be held following a simple two course dinner and a whisky at dinner and before leaving only – no formalities. After a week or two of thought the following were suggested to make up the group – Sir Andrew Russell, Keith Cotterill, Noel Beamish, Ian Hamilton, H.E. Sturge, G.N. and H.H. Pharazyn, Ivan Logan, Orme Bayly, John Russell, P. Scannell and self (there were two others suggested later but only attended one meeting F. Nelson and Dalziell – can’t remember him at all). Before the end of the year we held two meetings – our first at Tunanui and second at Hereworth School. Both were enjoyable and I think, instructive.

So far as Pukekino and the activities connected with it went, there is not much to report beyond the fact that Phil and I kept up the grubbing manuka. This seemed an endless job and would continue to be until the country had had a second ploughing at least. Each year we ploughed anything up to about 40 acres so the job was going to be a long one. The surplus 5 year ewes fetched 24/4d. and fat ewes were only 16/9d. Though there was over seven inches of rain in September by the end of December after gales and very little more rain there were all indications of a drought.

At the end of July there was a heavy snow storm and the country was white as far as Mangatahi! There was a light fall in Napier too. Sheep for some reason did not winter well and the ewes were in poor condition at lambing time and the percentage of lambs was the lowest ever – somewhere in the 80s. We did not know at the time what the trouble was, but now we do. It was ‘sleepy sickness’ – even had we known the reason I doubt if there was an antidote at that time. The many pests that appeared from time to time just had to be put up with! In the middle of March Ivan lent me his cottage at Taupo for three weeks and we went off for a happy holiday taking Miss Patterson, the governess. I had not been to Taupo for twelve years. Dudley and Ngaire Kettle were there for part of the time, also Bernard and Strat Canning and Athol and Sam Williams. We had some good days on the lake and on one day we caught 23 Rainbow Trout averaging 5 lbs. We visited Arapuni Hydro works, Rotorua, Chateau Tongariro and, of course, all the fishing spots and returned home full of beans on April 6th. Keith and Madge Cotterill were also there.

W.E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, and later Speaker of the House, gave me several days and we visited Kereru, Blowhard and other parts of H.B. County that you could call marginal land – the idea being to persuade him that land tax on poor land was unfair. He reported to the leader of the Labour Party (H.E. Holland) whose reply showed he knew nothing! Charlie Nairn went to England for a few months but was back for the Show which we visited together.

W. Johnston was manager of Kereru Station again as Monty left to join Cora in Napier. He tried several jobs and ended up as a service car driver on the Napier-Wairakei run. Mr. George Gould was in Napier for a week and he and I had alittle time together.

Sir George Hunter (M.P. for Waipawa) died and it became necessary to hold a bye-election. I was on the panel to go to Waipukurau to select our candidate – Charles Pattison and W. Tucker were the aspirants and Tucker was chosen. Coates came to Maraekakaho to speak on his behalf one day. The election was in July and the result was that A.E. Jull (Liberal) defeated Tucker (Reform) by 308 votes only. I used to see quite

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a lot of Ned Smith these days – also Johnston and the Averills who now lived at Echills. Rochie managed Whanakino. Also John Paton used to visit us – part of the year he went to Massey for a course. The newly appointed Governor General (Lord Bledisloe) came to Hawke’s Bay for our first Royal Show and I met him at the Hastings Memorial Hospital. After a succession of service Governor Generals he was the first civilian and his appointment turned out to be a popular one for he was a farmer of repute in England and consequently took much interest in New Zealand’s main industry. The Alec McGlashans left Poporangi Station after two lengthy terms of management. There was quite a big farewell at the Kereru Hall. Jim left Wanganui Collegiate School at the end of the year – he was then 17 ½ and had been there for three years. After some thought we considered for many good reasons that he should remain at Pukekino with us and we never had reason in future years to regret the course.

A world wide slump was making headway – U.S.A. appeared to be the first country to feel it, then England came and by the end of the year New Zealand realised she could not help it for she was entirely dependent on England to take most of her produce. The first wool sale in November confirmed the horrid fact for there was a big drop in the prices offered ­our hogget wool, for instance, sold for 4d. to 7 ½d. – well below production cost. Another unpleasant thought towards the end of the year was that of drought – practically no rain fell after September and by December 31st a drought was upon us. The total rain for the year was 35.82 inches – our average was about 44.

Just before Christmas Slingsby again brought the Hereworth School Scouts to camp in the Old Homestead paddock at Kereru and we stood at the road gate to cheer them as they marched past – they had by then marched about 23 miles in two days. This year had been a miserable one for my Father. In April the doctors began to be worried over his heart condition and later in the year he suffered a slight stroke. This all meant that he had to lead a very inactive life and he only went to his office occasionally, doing much of his work at home. It was an anxious year and one of sadness for him as he had always been so very active and loved life and all sorts of sport. In the Spring there were eight or nine milking cows and heifers coming in so Phil agreed to milk them all (with extra help from me at times). It was so arranged that he shared the proceeds of the cream (we had a separator at the time) -this made up for the cut in Phil’s wages and helped provide me with extra cash for luxuries we had had to forego.

1931

This was a grim and disastrous year on account of the depression or slump which by now had gripped the world. As no living person had had experience in handling slump conditions, many mistakes were made and for a time the situation became quite out of hand and the unemployment position was the most pressing one to deal with.

In Hawke’s Bay we experienced the worst earthquake ever recorded which caused untold damage and in addition the country was in the grip of one of the severest droughts ever remembered. The Earthquake and drought added to the slump made life in Hawke’s Bay extremely difficult, This too was a year of much concern to me for my Parents began to go downhill more markedly.

January was a dry and windy month and this intensified the already difficult situation. However life had to go on and we enjoyed many picnics with the family and neighbours and bathing parties. The Hereworth Scouts were encamped at the Old Homestead and we went down sometimes to their sing songs.

One day T.E. Crosse, McCulloch of Public Works and I, who had been appointed to adjudicate on the efficiency of a spray for blackberries, concocted by a man named Gordon, journeyed to Tangoio. A couple of acres of dense blackberries were selected for the experiment and we watched Gordon spray his boiling mixture. About a month later we visited the area and found it completely bare of blackberry and then in the late Spring we paid another visit to find the blackberry shooting again. The whole performance was repeated later but still the

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blackberry grew and Gordon’s so-called cure failed to comply with the conditions laid down by the Government and so he did not receive the £10,000 reward.

A special meeting of the C.C. was held to consider our position and ability to employ the staff we then had and maintain the rate of wages – altogether we had three meetings during the month. As the rates were due on February 13th we decided to wait to see how they came in before taking any drastic steps. As the man on the land was the first to be hit by a slump and he was already feeling it, we guessed there would be some falling off in the payment of rates.

My Parents came out to Pukekino on January 25th but the journey proved to be very tiring for my Father. As a matter of fact this was the last time either of them were able to come out.

One day Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull and Monty came out and we had a family conference which ended without achieving anything worthwhile. Monty would not hear of returning to manage Kereru and so the property remained under the management of W. Johnston and supervision of Murray Roberts and Company till the end. Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull had leased the Stopford home in Napier during last year and were still there.

On February 2nd Dorothy and I lunched with Mrs. E.J. Riddiford who was renting the W.G. Woods’ house – then I attended a Hospital Meeting. I was to have bought Anne Averill (aged about 6) home after a bout of Scarlet Fever but owing to a septic sore the sister-in-charge (Mitchell) thought she ought not to leave the hospital – the next day they were both killed in the Earthquake.

And now for the Earthquake of February 3rd.

All telephone communications, except our party line with Kereru and the Averills, were non-existent, so we had no communication with outside world. John Paton on his bike inspected the cutting and found that impassable. So we decided to erect a shack in the back yard and convey the whare stove to it so that cooking could he done for us all away from the house. We also did what we could to make the house waterproof where the bricks had made holes in the roof. By evening all was ship-shape and then messages came over the radio which was a battery set. The news was of a most disturbing nature. Napier and Hastings seemed to be in ruins, then when darkness fell the glare in the sky in the direction of Napier, where fires were raging, filled us with alarm. John Paton managed by much struggling to reach Napier on his bike and late that night he brought back news that my Parents were safe and housed in the F.W. Williams’ garage next door to Ivan’s house in Gladstone Road – that the Ivan family were well, that Napier was a shambles and the hospital was a total wreck and poor little Anne was killed by falling masonary. It was out of the question for me to try to get to Napier on account of almost continuous shakes and road blockages – besides one knew the Napier families were as safe as they could be in the circumstances. The following day a gang of local residents cleared a track in the two gorges and on the 5th February Dorothy and I were able, with much difficulty, to reach Napier. We could not travel by Fernhill and Taradale owing to the bridges being too dangerous to use. Napier was a sad sight – the whole of the town in ruins as fire had followed the Earthquake. We found my Parents and Rose well and cheerful in their garage home. Then I went to the C.C. Office – it had stood the shaking for it was well reinforced but the fire had gutted the interior. Sainsbury, Logan and Williams’ office was levelled as were all buildings except a very few that had been built in recent years and had been re-inforced well. While in Napier there was a very big ‘shake’ so we thought it well to return home to the family.

The centre of the ‘Quake appears to have been about 50 miles out at sea from the mouth of the Mohaka – on a major fault. The severest damage was done between Wairoa and Napier though some damage occurred as far away as Dannevirke. Hastings was knocked about quite a lot but a fire did not follow. The death [t]oll in Napier was about 250 and could have been a thousand or more had the ‘Quake occurred three minutes later when all the schoolchildren

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were back in school after the ‘break’ at 10”45. At least twenty nurses were killed in the Nurses Home, which fell like a pack of cards and while the night nurses were asleep. Several were killed in the Cathedral where a service was in progress.

All the water in the Ahuriri Lagoon (7,000 acres) rushed out to sea for the land rose a good seven feet – the effect of this land rise has been of great advantage, especially on the Napier sea front and in the marshy land between Napier and Taradale.

During the month of February over 1,000 earthquakes were registered and on the 13th another quite as severe as that on February 3rd occurred, and it bought down most of the buildings that were hanging on by their teeth. Phil, Mrs. Brock and I were at Price’s yards that day and we saw a plantation of 30 or 40 Black Birch Trees slide down into the creek. The biggest earthquake registered 7 ¾ on the Richter scale.

For the next couple of weeks I went to Napier each day to attend to County affairs which were of paramount importance. We established our office in the old Athenaeum building nearby – emergency meetings were held – Mason Chambers and I were given authority to act for the council in between meetings. There were numerous conferences with Furkert, Public Works Engineer. Public Safety Committee under Morse (Mayor) and with various local bodies. Barton (a S.M.) and Campbell (a Wellington Engineer) were appointed a commission to conduct the affairs of the Napier Council while Charles Morse became Chairman of Public Safety. One of the first steps was that of evacuating practically all women and children from Napier. This was done very promptly and Napier thereafter seemed a strange and quiet city. The only women left were those in essential jobs such as running community camps for the menfolk. Dorothy always came to town with me and while I was engaged in my work she would spend the day with some of the friends who were running these camps.

My Father and Mother were taken by Mr. and Mrs. Kinross White to Omaranui for a week and then Charlie Nairn took them and Rose to “The Pah” at Pourerere where they stayed till the house in Fitzroy Road was repaired and ready for re-occupation early in April. Ivan, Mary and Family came out to us at Pukekino. Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull went to Wellington.

Occasionally I got a day at home, but Phil had to become responsible for most of the essential repairs in the meantime and Morrie Averill was most helpful in temporarily restoring the water supply. Jim was at home to help Phil and fortunately we had Mary Thomson who was a wonderful “stand-by” to us. As time went on we were visited by a brick layer, who was engaged for the district to rebuild the kitchen chimneys for the residents. And at a later date, when the pressure was lighter, other chimneys were dealt with. The most important fences were attended to as soon as possible, while others had to wait. Most of the fencing was badly hit. The drought was at its worst – water as scarce as could be – sheep in poor condition and dairy cows almost dry. The mill water supply was at a very low ebb but fortunately we had fairly recently installed an engine in Hades where there was a good spring. But it was several days before we could use this plant as the outfit had to be moved to a higher site and in doing so Phil tore a nail off a finger and this caused some concern to himself and also to the work in hand.

So much for Pukekino which had to take second place so far as I was concerned for being Chairman of the C.C. I had to ‘show the flag’ almost daily. There were visits to every riding with Pullen (Engineer) and we had some nerve-wracking drives especially in the Waikare riding – the hardest hit of all – steep country and many unpleasant land slides to circumnavigate.

Often after an arduous day we would call in at Lindisfarne to have a cup of tea or other refreshment with Eddie and Ethne Herrick. Mr. Mason Chambers often accompanied me on the inspection and he was a tower of strength. One day we visited the enormous dam formed at Ngatapa by the blocking of the Te Hoe stream. Within 24 hours of the Earthquake two warships arrived from Auckland – their bakers supplied Napier with

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bread till supplies could come forward and their crews played a very useful part in demolishing dangerous buildings and patrolling the town.

At the time of the catastrophe my Father was in the boardroom of the Gas Company (upstairs) with the Secretary, awaiting the Annual Meeting timed for eleven. The walls of the building fell out and fortunately the stairs remained. As he was very frail at this time the Secretary (Thompson) picked him up and carried him out into the centre of Hastings Street away from falling bricks etc. It was several days before the strong room doors of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams’ safes could be opened and then it was found all deeds and documents were intact and an insurance policy disclosed that after the Tokyo earthquake my Father had taken out an earthquake policy with Lloyds. He was one of the very few who had had the good sense to do so. Later in the year when Napier was being rebuilt we built the present office for £3,500, the value of the policy – today these premises are worth about £18,000 to £20,000.

One notty question was settled for ever – that was the Inner Harbour-Breakwater question. The uplift in the land settled the Inner Harbour. Within only days of the ‘Quake a move was made to make Clive Square the centre of the town and shops and offices were rapidly erected around the square which served a most useful purpose till the town was rebuilt. The buildings, naturally, could only be small and were constructed of corrugated iron. The Banks and offices were mainly adjacent to the Roman Catholic Church and the shops round the square had a verandah in front of them to act as a roadway. It takes a disaster to really bring the best out of the human being and the friendly atmosphere in Napier for years to come was very marked. And everybody met around this shopping area and exchanged their views and opinions from day to day.

All hospital patients were moved from Napier and Hastings hospitals very promptly, some as far as Wellington, and the Racecourse Stands at Greenmeadows and Hastings were used as emergency hospitals. The Hospital Board met fairly frequently at Greenmeadows and Hastings until a temporary office was erected in the grounds of Napier Hospital. At a meeting of the Board in April it was definitely decided that the base hospital should still be in Napier and Hastings should have adequate accommodation and loans up to £82,500 were approved for the rebuilding.

I was, at this time, a member of the Hospital Board as well as County Council Chairman. It was surprising how rapidly the county roads were brought back to a reasonable standard and damaged bridges repaired. The work was considerably helped along by the use of a 4A scheme – this was a scheme by which the county provided tempory camp accommodation for single men, supplied food and boots and the Government paid 10/- per week per man. It was a way of providing work for the unemployed who were growing in numbers rapidly as the slump grew in intensity.

Farmers were the first to be hit and hit hard. Wool by early in the year was round about 8d. per lb. average and later fell to less. Sheep and cattle prices fell to sums quite unrealistic and, of course, the drought still raged.

County rates fell due on February 13th but mighty few ratepayers could raise the money to meet them and banks and mercantile firms were not prepared to do so for the farmer. This put the County in a difficult position and the Government had to come to its aid. When this awkward position became apparent Fergusson (County Clerk) Puflett (Engineer) and I proceeded to Wellington to interview J.G. Coates (Prime Minister) and other Cabinet Ministers, The Public Trustee and Furkert (Public Works) with regard to a rehabilitation loan. We were well received and assured of being able to put our houses in order. And they kept their word. In Wellington we stayed at the Club and met many friends there who were anxious to have news of their many other friends in Hawke’s Bay. This was 23rd February. The only part of the visit we did not appreciate was the visit to the Public Trustee whose office was in the tower of the tall building and we felt unsafe there. We took a dim view, too, of the Public Trustee taking a cigarette out of a gold case for himself and not offering us one! We certainly felt at that time, like the very poor

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relations as most of us in Hawke’s Bay were really in a sad state.

I think the highest price offered for Pukekino wool in the early sale of the year was 8d. I withdrew as my Uncle James in England offered to lend me £1,000 as he thought there might be a rise later – I accepted but the prices went farther back and ultimately I had to sell.

Gordon Hardie, husband of my late Aunt Helen, released to Ivan and me half of her estate in which he had a life interest. This was a kind and helpful gesture as we were in a bit of a mess. The amount was about £4000 each. This sum enabled me to put my affairs on a good footing and to carry on with all repair work without having to borrow from outside. Hardie lived at Belstone in Devon and was a well-off man but still rich men don’t always act so generously.

Owing to much unemployment labour was plentiful for clearing away the wreckage in the towns of Napier and Hastings and long before the end of the winter all the rubble had been removed. Most of the damage to private homes had been repaired and plans were well in progress for the re-surveying of streets in towns so that rebuilding could be undertaken on well organised lines. That is perhaps enough about the earthquake. History books tell the full story.

On the 1st April Phil Brock left me after 15 ½ years. It was sad to lose him but he was anxious to better himself and with Jim on the farm with me he realised he could never go much further. For a time he lived in Hastings and took casual work in Hastings and the country. Then his opportunity came and he got the management of Tutira Station (Guthrie Smith) and he never looked back. Later, after Tutira was sold, he managed a large block for the Lands and Survey (Kahuka) and now he is retired and lives in a pleasant home in Napier (This is December 1966).

The County contribution to Hospital, which was out of all proportion to services rendered the ratepayers, began to give us much concern, especially as rates were not coining in at all well so Lassen and I were deputed to meet Stallworthy (Minister of Public Health) – a sympathetic hearing – but as far as I can recall that was all.

A few days after Phil Brock’s departure Bill Graham came to us and there he remained for over 20 years till he went to the Cottage with Hamilton round about 1951 and he is still there. A grand, reliable and trustworthy fellow. And through the years we have had much fun out of him too! One day Mason Chambers took me again to the Hastings Rotary Club where I addressed them on County matters. A new valuation of Pukekino was made – £9.10/- capital and £5.17.6 – I disputed the valuation with Lloyd and later got a reduction more in line with my ideas. This will appear in 1932.

In July a meeting was held in Waipukurau again of Reform selectors for Waipawa electorate and I was a delegate. We had to select a candidate for the November elections. The candidates were John Ormond, Goring-Johnston, C. Pattison, W. TuckerBill and A’deane of Waipawa. We selected John Ormond. Later I went to Hereworth School for the night and the Jack Ormonds were there also. The election campaign began early in November and Ned Smith, of whom I had seen much over the past two or three years, and I attended many meetings including a big rally at which Coates spoke at McLean Park in Napier. I also took the chair at Jull’s and John’s meetings at Maraekekaho and Kereru. The Elections took place in December: The Coalition Party (Reform and United) 52, Labour 28, Jull defeated J. Ormond at Waipawa. Forbes became Prime Minister. I was approached by The Reform Party to stand for Napier but my hands were too full with the County and Hospital Board.

It was a cold winter with three falls of snow – feed was short but there had been a little growth for sheep after the autumn rains. We had to feed out much hay to cattle. I note in my diary that conditions were fairly desperate at the end of September but in the first half of October there was good rain and the situation improved in the hill country but it was rather late to be of much benefit to the low country. There was a fairly heavy earthquake again on September 12th but the epicentre was further north than that in February and Gisborne suffered a fair amount of damage.

My diary does not tell who went off the Hereworth School Trust Board but Mrs. T.H. Lowry and Ned Smith were appointed. Mrs. Sturge became unwell during the latter part

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of the year and she died on December 24th and was buried on Christmas Day. S.M. Palmer, Rainbow, Preston Thomas, Reeves, Eddie Herrick and I were the pall bearers and Herbert Williams (Bishop of Waiapu) took the service. Later I took Sturge to see my Parents and then ,I returned to spend the night with him.

The lambing over most of Hawke’s Bay was very poor – at Pukekino we had about 80%. The rainfall for the year was 29.82 inches which was 14 inches below the average.

One weekend Jock Twigg came out to us and he brought flu and the whole family succumbed and we had to get a nurse out to help nurse the patients.

At the beginning of this year in part of my story I spoke of my Parents beginning to go downhill. On August 7th my Mother suffered a stroke and for sometime it was thought she would make a reasonable recovery for her speech returned completely and her brain was unimpaired and after a while she was able to walk a little with the help of Sister McBeth and a stick. But gradually the improvement halted and she gradually slipped and became more or less bedridden before she died in 1936. The Scouts of Hereworth camped again at The Old Homestead and Bob joined them.

The year ended as gloomily as it began – in fact more so for by then my Parents had become more of an anxiety. The depression also seemed to gain in intensity and there appeared no sign of any uplift.

Before the end of the year we had managed by hard work and sweat to repair much of the damage to fences and buildings on Pukekino but it was a grind, and all the time I was much worried and occupied with County work. With labour camps throughout the country we were able to clean slips and re-align many roads, also to patch up bridges and even to rebuild some. The heaviest damage appeared to be in the poorest Ridings – Waikare suffered badly.

The big dam in the Poporangi creek, which reached a depth of about 90 feet was eventually released without any flooding.

On February 3rd Phil, Bob and I set out early and crossed over to Bill Whyte’s farm by way of the gorge in Brown’s corner (Cecil Averill’s) and we began to muster his long paddock as many of our sheep had crossed over owing to drought conditions. It was a very hot and still day – almost an uncanny feeling in the air – when, without warning, except for a loud rumbling noise, the Earthquake struck us – I found myself on the ground and at first I thought a stroke had overtaken me but I felt quite well. On looking up I saw the Ruahine ranges in the distance rocking and huge puffs of soil puffing up ­then the ground began to heave.

As I lay on the ground and saw the mountains heaving I thought of a story I had once read by Cortes in which he told of his seeing the Andes rocking during an earthquake. Phil and Bob ran towards me and we had a consultation. I sent Phil home, as he had his horse, to see how things were at home – we abandoned the sheep and set off for home also but we decided to head the gorges and go by way of Bill Whyte’s, the Ram paddock, Prices and the Cocksfoot.

The journey took us about an hour and on the way we saw many wrecked fences, land slides, overturned water tanks and so on. On reaching the homestead we found all the family safe but much damage to the buildings in the way of fallen chimneys in the middle of the kitchen etc. Shaking of the ground was almost non-stop.

Pukekino homestead circa 2011. Image source: Stu Webster

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1932

New Year’s Eve 1966
I note that I began the work of condensing my diaries on Christmas Day 1965 so I have been a year at the job and have only covered half the task. I shall have to speed up a bit. My story of 1931 covered the Earthquake year and I have been able to devote more time to it – just a week – because from Christmas Day of this year to New Year’s Eve it has rained almost ceaselessly and my outdoor work was nil.

1932 was a year fraught with much sadness for my Parents were in very poor health all through the year. My Mother did not make the progress towards recovery after her stroke that we had hoped for – in fact she became completely confined to the house and was in her chair most of the time and my Father’s heart condition worsened – at times the doctors only gave him a few days to live – then there were times when he rallied and enjoyed periods of comfort. He, at no time, ever lost grip and his mind was always clear, but how he hated the sedentary life after a life of such activity. It was a great worry to him not to he able to go to his office and help with the reconstruction work and the many difficult problems that arose by reason of the ‘depression’.

It had become necessary to establish a ‘Mortgagor’s Relief Court’ to deal with a thousand and one cases where mortgagors were unable to meet their obligations and as my Father’s strong point in the office was dealing with mortgages and family affairs he could have been of great help. The slump or depression increased in intensity as the value of our products fell further and further and unemployment increased. The only thing that saved Hawke’s Bay and Napier in particular was the extensive rebuilding in progress.

Napier was still in control of the Commission (Barton and Campbell) and it had immense power and did good work. Loans of a very generous nature, inspite of the money shortage, were made available by the Government to local bodies and private individuals for rehabilitation purposes. In most cases they were free of interest for

Photo captions –

FB alongside his trusted Buick in 1931. It took approximately 1¼ hours to drive from Pukekino to Hastings. It was a drive that FB took hundreds of times during his lifetime attending meetings of public bodies and local authorities. Image source: Hamilton Logan

FB and family on the front steps at Pukekino, 1932. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Frank Logan on the eve of his departure with his brother Ivan for the United States in 1926. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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varying periods and a gift of up to £100 was made towards rebuilding chimneys following the earthquake. Most of the private homes, especially in Napier, suffered trouble with the foundations (piles) and they were attended to as early as possible after the Quake. By 1932 Napier had become habitable again – in fact by the end of 1931 – drains had begun to function, gas and electricity restored and water available.

January was an easy month for me as I only had to attend the County Office four times so I was able to catch up with a lot of farm work. Jim and Bill Graham were a great help to me. One day in January, T.E. Crosse, McCulloch and I made another inspection of Gordon’s cure for blackberry at Tangoio and again at the end of the year we made our final inspection – we found the cure was not successful in entirety and was far too costly for the farmer with many blackberries.

Towards the end of January Jim went off to Taupo on his motor bike for a week. And before going he gave R.P. Kay a hand to take the Kereru furniture to Napier as Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull had leased a house in Lincoln Road, and there they lived to the end of their lives – Isobel Mclean being their faithful housekeeper.

Early in the year the price of sheep fell with a bang – my five year ewes fetched 7/8d. and mixed age ewes 6/10d. Good rams only fetched £3.3.0d. This year W.E. Bidwell of Rototawai made me a gift of the usual draft of rams – it was a generous act.

One day early in the year Ned Smith, Ian Maclaren (his brother-in-law) and I took a walk to the top of the Ruahines, 4300 feet. It was a terrific struggle for my companions who had failed to prepare for the task. The shortage of water worried them. On our return journey as darkness was falling I lost the track and led them into a gorge from which we could find no exit. However, at about 10 p.m. Hewitt and a party from Big Hill Station, who had been alerted, came out and found us. Hot drinks and supper revived us and we eventually got home. After this venture Ned and I did several more walks together but usually on easier country – one enjoyable walk was from ‘The Cottage’ to Olrig.

In February 10.53 inches fell and after a fall of 4 ½ inches one night floods occurred particularly on the low country and in Waikare Riding. This meant a few days for me with Puflett inspecting the damage. Averill and I accompanied by Johnston, made a thorough inspection of the 6,000 acre leasehold at the back of Kereru – we were seven hours in the saddle. Our opinion was that the leasing of this block was hardly economical though the rental paid to the Education Board was only a matter of a few hundred a year. Mr. Turnbull decided to abandon the lease but the Board was reluctant to allow the land to become unoccupied so in the meantime no rent was charged.

During the Session of Parliament last year legislation was enacted with a view to regulating all public motor transport – goods as well as passengers. The whole of New Zealand was divided into licensing areas – about six or eight – and Licensing Authorities were set up covering the whole country and all motor services were called to apply for licenses to operate over defined areas or routes. No.4 Transport Licensing Authority dealt with transport from a little north of Whakatane to Dannevirke and included such towns as Rotorua, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Dannevirke. J.G. Coates, who was then Minister of Transport, asked me to be Chairman of No.4 Authority and I agreed, after some pressure, and M.S. Chambers and Charles Matthews of Gisborne were appointed members and Wilkinson of the Public Works in Napier was our secretary. Hitherto there had been complete chaos and confusion in the transport line and much uneconomic competition. It was, therefore, our duty to try to bring about order and regulate transport generally. The various authorities were set up towards the end of February and Hunter, Commissioner of Transport, toured the country to brief us. Then we got to work and at intervals we had sittings in Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Gisborne, Whakatane, Opotiki, Rotorua and Wairoa. This involved a fair amount of travelling and much hard work but by the end of the year we had a system

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of public transport in fair order. We had our ups and downs and after revoking the license of one Whitfield who deliberately broke the terms of his license, we were sued. On one occasion we had to sit as a Commission of Enquiry in Gisborne and were given some rough handling by a clever solicitor, Barnard, and others. In the long run Transport Department took a hand – in fact took the matter over entirely and just what happened we never knew. Whitfield kept on running for a short time and then retired. We enjoyed our work and the remuneration! Maurice Chambers was a tower of strength to me and at times I wanted all the help he gave.

Sometimes I wonder how I held down all the jobs in hand when there was so much to do on the farm and a big family to care for. But I suppose administration work appealed to me for one thing and Dorothy was a great help in all ways and with Jim and Bill on the farm I knew all was well, And I knew too that my days on the Hospital Board were drawing to an end when the Transport work was offered.

In May the local body elections came along again and I was unopposed for the County but I refused nomination for the Hospital Board because it had become very apparent, particularly in these days of depression, that one could not be Chairman of the County and a member of the Hospital Board. The County had to find 4/5ths of the money to run the Hospital so the position became impossible. Very reluctantly I declined nomination for I was very interested in the work. I had been a member for nine years and knew all connected with it very intimately. The position had become full of anomilies – on the one hand as Chairman of the County you had to resist the huge levy and as a Hospital Board member you urgently wanted every penny you could lay hands on. For years we fought against this anomilous position. Today hospitals are virtually financed by the Government. A short time after my retirement I was invited by the Board to attend a farewell and later the Matron and Staff asked me to come along. I retired too from the Rabbit Board and was pleased to be able to secure E. Averill’s appointment. At that time the rabbit position was in complete order and rabbits under control and with the County work increasing daily I felt it wise to hand over.

A.H. Fergusson retired as County Clerk but remained in an advisory capacity. W.J. O’Connell took over but Fergusson continued to sit with me at my Monday Sessions. In these days I saw much of E. Averill who was a man of much wisdom and a very dependable friend.

Other friends we used to see at times were A.J. and Maud Morris of Fernhill. Also the John Nairns of Havelock. We saw quite a lot these days and onwards of Lulu and Winston Barron – frequently calling in when visiting Hereworth and Woodford House schools. The Herricks, whom i had known well in the far off days, we now became very friendly with, and this friendship became very firm as the years went by. Gwynth Averill (Canning) who had been with us for about five or six years died having her second child – we were very sad about this.

Mason Chambers and I had several meetings about ‘The Cottage’ and owing to evil times we had to make a reduction in R. Averill’s rent. Likewise an adjustment was made in the Station garden leased to Player. Gertie Chapman came out from England on a visit and Marion Caine over from Australia. As usual I put in the odd weekend at Okawa. Bob was still at Hereworth and he promised to make a good footballer – on two occasions I saw him kick some useful goals in matches against other schools.

In July Bill Hyslop of The H.B. Tourist Motors asked me to act as umpire in an arbitration case – his company was claiming £1800 for cars and parts destroyed in a fire. John McLennan acted for the Insurance Company and Cox (a tailor of Napier) acted for the Tourists. After a solid week of argument etc. (I used to go home each night) Cox and McLennan got together but Cox got cold feet and retired so leaving me to umpire. It was something I had not expected but as 1 had kept careful notes through- out the hearing I was not caught unprepared. I considered the claim excessive and unwarranted and my award was framed accordingly by A.B. Campbell of

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Sainsbury, Logan and Williams. It shocked Hyslop and his solicitor (Wilson of Wellington) and they tried to bounce me. However in the end they shook hands and all was well! I knew Cox quite well but he never told me his reason for ‘walking out’. I guess he just could not carry on with a clear conscience.

On 18th May we attended the wedding of Phyllis Johnston and Doug Harper. I had to propose the health and John McLennan also spoke. That was the first time we had met. We met again over the Tourist business and it was after that he offered to help me with my own book-keeping and put me on a proper basis. He made the offer as a friend and for two years made no charge. From then up the present (January 1967) he has looked after my affairs and guided me in a divestment scheme. And, incidentally, I have secured for his firm some good clients, e.g. Ned Smith, John Gordon and not the least, Constance Fountaine.

On May 30th I took the chair at a conference between contributing local bodies and the Hospital Board. It was a long drawn out affair and we reached no conclusion. On May 25th at the Statutory meeting of the C.C. I was elected for the fourth time as chairman. The only election issue in our riding was that of Harbour Board representations – over the County those chosen were L. Harris, L. Gordon and Barker and they remained for many years. There was much controversy over who should bear the cost of the Havelock bridge on the Hastings road and in the end a satisfactory arrangement was reached, the three interested local bodies contributing. This was the first year we spread super from a truck – Stirling did the work at the rate of 4/6d per acre. Ned Smith and Averill were much interested in the work.

In April there was much rain and the low country was flooded – this, of course, meant more worries in Meeanee but not nearly so many as the Earthquake had lifted the level by several feet. John Ormond came to see me one day about politics generally. And at a later date Averill, Ned and I were delegates at the Reform party rally at Waipukurau of all Waipawa branches. We continued to support the Coalition.

Early in May Charlie Nairn paid one of his frequent visits to England and returned in August. He has managed Pourerere for the Jack Nairns family since Jack’s death.

It was found necessary to appoint a Transport Appeal Board and Fraser and Alderton were the Judges. Some of our decisions were reversed and we were not in the least degree surprised as we had had much difficulty in some of the cases that came before us. The Eaton family had come out from England at the end of last year and were now living on Whakarara Station – a property of 10,000 acres and carrying about 6,000 sheep. The boys (Jock and Sandy) went to school at Christ’s College. Eaton, though a great worker, was completely at sea on the property and in July Peter Plummer was appointed to manage – it did not work out too well and he left to manage Dartmoor in October. We saw much of Peter in those months and he often came to us. Later Paul Williams took on the job but that did not last long. He, too, became a friend of ours.

Golf had come to an end when Monty left Kereru and I never had time for the game with all my other jobs on hand. G. Attwood, Carlo Fountaine’s factor at Narford, came to New Zealand for a couple of weeks to look into Constance’s New Zealand affairs for Sir R.D.D. McLean’s estate had not by then been wound up. Poor Attwood was quite lost as he knew nothing about anything outside the work involved as a factor on an English estate and he returned in a state of confusion.

By the time Attwood arrived the Poulton’s had left ‘The Cottage’ and we had installed Phil and Fay Wright. It was a pleasant home for them and a little pocket money. They were very hard up after Wright Stephensons had sold up their property of Apley. It was a sad business altogether. The result of a continuation of poor farming and slump.

More floods in lower Hawke’s Bay again in September but a good Spring followed.

Apart from the usual stock work on Pukekino we were still heavily engaged in grubbing scrub and this would continue till we were able to get round the property with the plough.

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In May Wren Corry (daughter of Sir H. Cory of Port Line) who had been on the Woodford House Staff came to us as governess. She wanted a taste of New Zealand country life and was willing to come to us for a home in the country till the end of the year. She was a bright young woman with a good education and expert in mountain climbing and games. She had her own car and was provided with a horse so she was very independent. She remained with us till early in December and we were grateful for her help. A few years later we met her in London – she was then married.

Mr. Turnbull celebrated his 90th birthday during the year. Mardie had her tonsils removed and late in December we all in turn had a sharp attack of summer sickness – I was the last to go down on Christmas Day.

A Poll was taken throughout the country an rating systems and the voting for unimproved value on which to be rated was 1607 for Capital 1200. So we remained as we were.

On our last sitting of the Licensing Authority in November in Gisborne we had to go as far north as Ruatoria and we were invited to visit A.B. Williams at his home near Te Puia. Puketiti is a most lovely home high in the hills – a wonderful garden – native bush and a panoramic view of Waipiro and Tokomaru Bays.

The County decided to extend Kennedy Road towards Greenmeadows – this has proved of much value in shortening the route to Taradale and opening up sections for buildings.

In The Land Assessment Court my claim for a reduction in my recent valuation was upheld. There was much consternation on the part of Lloyd (Government Valuer) because the Chairman of the County should take such action. The value of Pukekino was established at £13,732 Capital Value and £7,390 Unimproved. Lambing was 90% – it does not seem possible to get up to the 100% I once had. Miss Tiny Anderson of Poporangi dies and so Miss Bessie is the only member left on the Station. In November there was a Waterside Strike and many young men from H.B. manned the waterfront in Napier – Jim among them. The strike did not last more than a few days.

As the Anderson Family had handed over the small area of land on which the Kereru Hall is built a Trust Board was formed – myself (Chairman), Ned Smith, R.P. Kay, Byrne, R. Averill and Eaton.

Pukekino wool clip was now 61 bales – highest ever. Wool prices were at zero. Ned and I attended the last of the year’s sales in November which was depressing. After the sale we had a good dinner at The Central and then repaired to the Club and forgathered with Warwick Gregory of C. & D. now Port Line, Eric Beamish and others.

As a result we forgot to pick up the nurse to Ned’s children before leaving Napier: Fleece wool was as low as 4d. per lb. Our total clip fetched round about £300.

Mr. Wenley returned to live in Napier after being with Mardie and Bill since the Earthquake. He and Sarah McLean, the old housekeeper lived in the gardener’s cottage where Seton now lives. And he began to plan for the subdivision of his property.

At the end of the year it did not seem that the ‘Slump’ would ever lift. The only bright spot on our horizon in Hawke’s Bay was the gradual restoration or rebuilding of Napier.

1933

This year brought sadness to us through the deaths of my Father and Dorothy’s Father. It brought also hope for the future for towards the end of the year there was an improvement in the price of wool and meat. It was also one of the busiest years I had experienced and I was away from home a great deal on County and Transport business. It was only because of Jim’s ability to cope so well with the working of Pukekino and of his reliability that I was able to be away so much. It was so this year.

January was a comparatively easy month so far as local body work went and I was able to be at home mostly – there was much tennis, bathing etc. as well as the routine work on the farm. However after January my work on the County and Transport Authority piled up and up. It was largely owing to the speeding up of rehabilitation work that the

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County demanded my attention. There were many conferences with Napier Harbour Board, Taradale Town Board and River Board over the proposal to divert the Tutaekuri River.

In the end complete agreement was reached and the river diverted from the Inner Harbour to where it runs out near Awatoto. The cost was apportioned as follows – Harbour Board £15,000, County Council £12,500, Napier B.C. £5,750 and Rivers Board £10,750. Barton at that time acted for Napier B.C. and was a very helpful man. This agreement between us saved expense and waste of time in setting up a commission. T.M. Geddis was Chairman of Harbour Board, Lassen of Rivers Board and myself of C.C.

There were conferences galore – one big one of all counties in the Province in regard to the allocation of Heavy Traffic fees. This was full of bogeys but in the end a solution was found.

There were conferences with various Mayors and County Chairmen in regard to the use of unemployed. We had several camps about the County and from time to time it was necessary to pay visits and hear any grievances. W.C. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, went with me once or twice and praised our effort but at a later date (1935) he referred to the relief camps as ‘slave camps’ for political reasons. In May I was elected again Chairman of the C.C. This was my fifth term. Following election I had another general tour of the County and in June Puflett, Dorothy and I went to Wellington where we were joined by Sir Andrew Russell. We had several interviews with J.G. Coates (acting P.M.), Bitchener (Minister of Public Works), Hamilton (Minister in Charge of Labour) – he dealt with unemployment. We discussed finances, unemployment position and road construction etc. While in Wellington we saw Mrs. Joseph and Sybil Nathan and others. On our way to Wellington the county car broke down and we had to be towed many miles and then in the end caught a train at Palmerston North. I was late for my first meeting but Coates fitted Sir Andrew Russell and me in later.

Again in July I went to Wellington with Puflett and Fergusson (Engineer and County Clerk). This time we stayed at the Club, where I met some old friends – G. Ritchie, Beetham, Cora, Mrs. H. Crawford, A. Duncan and Jimmy. A party at Mrs. Crawford’s – her house is now the U.S.A. Embassy in Fitzherbert Terrace. Our meetings were with Coates, Bitchener, Jull (Chairman of Highways Board and M.P.) and H.M. Campbell M.P. At these conferences we always were assured, of generous and understanding treatment. After two or three days we returned to Masterton. At this time Jull was M.P. for Waipawa and Campbell M.P. for Hastings and H.B. Now, of course, Waipawa is merged in H.B. Electorate and Hastings is on its own.

There was one unpleasant meeting with two delegates of the unemployed men on local body works and we got nowhere. These two men (Clancey and Kay) turned up again in 1936 and raised trouble.

I represented the C.C. at a welcome to Lord and Lady Bledisloe (Governor General) at Hastings and next day the new wards at Napier Hospital were opened by him (built after the earthquake). The Transport Licensing work increased beyond imagination this year and I was literally on the go two or three days a week after January. The goods services had been brought in at this time and that brought about all sorts of complications. Most of our meetings were in Napier or Hastings but there were three trips to Wairoa, Gisborne, Opotiki, Whakatane and Rotorua for sittings. On one occasion we travelled north by way of Waikaremoana. On another occasion Maurice and I were allowed to take some of our Family. He took Susanne and Dudley – I took Dorothy, Ray and Bob. At Rotorua I caught a shocking cold and felt pretty rotten for the rest of the time and we still had Opotiki, and Gisborne to do. Ray developed the cold on reaching home and it turned to congestion. While in Rotorua on one of our trips we struck Archbishop and Mrs. Averill at the Grand and we took them on some of our expeditions in the course of inspecting the routes. One visit was to the village of Wairoa (overwhelmed in the 1886 eruption). At

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Gisborne one time I was able to run out to Ngatapa to see Heni Sherratt, Mrs. Woodbine Johnson and Ra Pomare were there. The Harbour Board members who favoured the Breakwater Harbour as opposed to Inner Harbour were beginning to become active and one night Trevor Geddis (Chairman) with John Barker and I. Cato came out to speak at a meeting at Maraekakaho.

Twice during the winter after very heavy rain floods were out on the plains and, as usual, Meeanee riding suffered. Now that Mr. Wenley was back in Napier I used to visit him as often as I could but after my Father’s death I spent as much time as I could with my Mother.

The Poporangi Rifle Club was formed this year and the district used to meet as a rule on Saturday afternoons. It was quite a popular event. Prices were low for stock and wool in the early part of the year – fat ewes 8/6d to 9/6d, fat lambs 9/-mixed age ewes 12/- – but towards the end of the year there came a feeling of optimism and prices began to rise and it looked as if we had rounded the corner. In the middle of February we took W. G. Wood’s cottage at Te Awanga for a month and we enjoyed a holiday by the sea – bathing galore, some fishing and meeting many friends there, e.g. the Frank Gordons, who were very kind to us, the Gatenbys, Jack Prices, H.G. Warrens, etc.

On the 3rd March the new Masonic Hotel was opened and this gave Napier a considerable uplift.

Jim spent three weeks in the South Island in January staying at Orari Station and with the George Goulds in Christchurch.

One day Mason Chambers and I went out to Tunanui to spend the day with Sir Andrew and Lady Russell who had Lord and Lady Bledisloe staying with them. Another day Dorothy, Ray, Jim and I went to the Hugh White’s at Sherwood. Trix Traquair was out from Scotland on a visit. Another day we went to Korokipo to lunch with Mrs. Robert Nairn and Violet Russell was there – on one of her frequent visits to New Zealand – also there was Mrs. Fox. Later they came out to see us – also Diana Price.

John Ormond and Jim Nelson came over one day to see if they could interest me in the New Zealand Legion. I joined up as Sir Andrew Russell asked me to do so. But I never really discovered its aims or objects and it all faded away within a year as I thought it would. There was a farewell party at Lulu Barron’s for Wren Corry before she returned to England. Many weekends at Hereworth with Sturge especially after Board Meetings for I was a member of Hereworth Board. At the end of the first term of this year Bob left Hereworth after four and a half years and at the end of May we took him to begin his school life at Wanganui Collegiate. He was in Pup McLean’s house. Dorothy and I took Mardie and Dot to Wanganui with us. Phil Giblin was also at school. I note we spread 8 tons of super this year and Jim did the ploughing work with the Fordson. Later in the year Roy and Boy began schooling at Kereru and the parents shared the driving of the various children to and from school e.g. ourselves, Ned Smith, C. Averill and the MacKenzies (Manager of Olrig).

We seem to have seen quite a lot of the Dudley Hills and at times Vyv came out to stay with us. He and Jim did a bit of shooting at times. One day while crossing the Ohara in slight flood Jim fell and dropped his gun which was not found for another week.

The Acclimatisation Society gave me pheasants to release on Pukekino – it was not a high success and I am sure natural enemy took them for we hardly ever saw them after a month or two.

There was quite a big earthquake in may. In June I spent a few days with Charlie Nairn at Omakere and The Pah at Pourerere.

On March 8th, after a year of much sickness, my Father died in his sleep. I had spent the morning with him and he appeared very weak but smoked a cigarette with me. According to his frequently repeated wish he was buried in Napier Cemetery privately and the pall-bearers were Ivan, self, Sturge, MacKay, Wenley, V. Kettle, Jim and Duncan Holden. Dean Brockleburst had a short service

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beforehand in the house. On the whole Father had had a very full life – he loved sport and his fellow beings – he had a host of friends and was a very highly respected person. And above all he was a wonderfully good Father.

In the last week of September Mr. Turnbull became unwell with what was thought to be a cold but it soon became clear that he was declining – he was 91. For a couple of weeks he was unconscious and on 7th October he died. We buried him privately at Havelock and Mr. McCully, a Presbyterian Minister, who once used to visit Kereru, took the burial service. R.M. Turnbull was, like my Father, a man of integrity and also very highly respected by all. He was born in Barbados, West Indies, of Scottish parents – his great-great grandfather was Rob Roy Macgregor, that Highland freebooter! He was educated and lived in Scotland till he was about 20, then he came to New Zealand round about 1860 or 62 and took up large blocks of grazing land in various parts of Otago, including Linburn and Wanaka. In 1910 he and Mrs. Turnbull took up Kereru Station and he sold his interests in the South. He married latish in life Annie Sweet of Bath.

During the year New Zealand’s currency was devalued by 25%. Before the end of the year Maurice Chambers and I resigned from the Transport Authority – the work was becoming rather burdensome and demanding and we found working for a Government Department very irksome and, at times, frustrating.

1934

It was a great relief to be free of the almost endless work involved by being Chairman of No. 4 Transport Authority apart from this Maurice Chambers and I both felt we had put our best into the work and had brought some order out of chaos. Charlie Matthews remained a member and John Cliff-McCulloch was appointed and Reg Gambrill of Gisborne became Chairman. Shortly after the New Year I gave evidence before the Board in favour of a season license for Dave Walker and he was allowed to vary his defined area in fat lamb period.

The slump appears to be lifting quite steadily – wool was a reasonable price, hogget wool up to 16d. early in the year but a slight fall towards the end. Stock prices continued to improve also and there was a world-wide feeling of optimism. My Mother was in very poor health all the year and I spent as much time as I could with her – always lunched with her on my County days in Napier and spent many weekends.

January was a fine month and fairly free of County work so we had the odd picnic and a good deal of tennis. The Peter Holdens arrived in New Zealand in January and it was good to see them again. The most important work on the farm was the erection of the fences dividing the Jails and it should have been done years ago.

Kingsford Smith was in New Zealand on his third crossing of the Tasman by air and later in the year Jean Batten (a young New Zealander) flew solo from England. Morse (Mayor of Napier) and I welcomed her at the newly built theatre in Hastings Street, now the Odeon.

Early in the year the Phil Wrights bought Percy McHardy’s old home and 65 acres between Palmerston North and Feilding. And in their place at ‘The Cottage’ I put Mrs. Meredith.

In February we took the Shand’s Cottage at Awanga for about a month and the Family enjoyed a complete change and much bathing. Except Ray who developed whooping cough but by a stroke of luck she did not pass it on. Our friends, the Frank Gordons and H.G. Warrens and Gatenbys, helped to make our visit enjoyable. The W.G. Woods were at Awanga too and I was able to play much bridge in the evenings.

During February Jim and Ian had a trip in the Port Alma to many places in both islands thanks to Warwick Gregory (Port Line Manager in Wellington).

The Poporangi Rifle Club moved to a more central spot at Whanakino and interest in its activities was well maintained through the year. I resigned as President at the Annual Meeting and Ned Smith took my place. I used to see

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quite a lot of Ned – we continued our walking expeditions and we usually attended Hereworth Meetings together.

We purchased a 12cwt. V8 Ford light truck (price £260) and it proved wonderfully helpful. Jim used it in place of his motor bike and he carted most of the petrol, super and other goods for the farm. The Bishop retired from the Chair of Hereworth School Board and Eddie Herrick became Chairman. I attended all the meetings and, as usual, I saw quite a lot of Sturge during the year – one night Sturge, Ivan, Barclay Smith and I had another Oriel dinner together at the school.

A severe earthquake did some damage in Wairarapa and Wanganui and it was followed by another the following day. Then sometime in December a biggish ‘Quake visited H.B. A day or two after the May ‘Quake Bets Seth Smith and Marge Hay came to us from Eketahuna and stayed for about a fortnight. Bets was born after my last visit to England (1911) and is my God-daughter. She was out here on a visit and later on she married Trevor Hay, During their visit we took time off to show them much of the countryside and friends. One day we went as far as Forest Gate to see Duncan and Helen Holden, Peter and May were there too, And the day Bets left Napier by afternoon train to Auckland Ray and Boy had their first train journey as far as Hastings where I met them! County work continued to grow and I had to make many visits to the various ridings, There was a visit to Ridgemount to inspect the collapse of the road the County had made at the foot of the cliffs between Awapawanui and Ridgemount. Lunch at the other end with Alec and Jean Stead. Visits to the various Relief Work Camps. The bridge across the Tutaekuri at Redcliff was completed and the cost £11,800 – this bridge was destroyed by the Earthquake of 1931. Then there were two trips to Wellington to interview the P.M. and other Ministers, On the first I stayed at the Club. While there George Gould arrived and he and I had a day together seeing the Zoo etc, Then I dined on board the “Rangitane” with him and Turrell and later they sailed for England. Bernard Shaw was a passenger and he gave a talk before leaving. On the next trip to Wellington I took Dot and Mardie – Miss Currette (a late governess) looked after them while I attended to my jobs – this time Puflett and Fergusson were there and our business was with Young (Minister of Health) and McKenzie (Highways Board). Eddie Herrick was then on Reserve Bank Board and travelled each way with me. Then John Mason (Napier Mayor), G. Maddison (Hastings) and I had a prolonged meeting with Young on hospital levy in Napier one day. Charlie went to England again for a few months. My Aunt Andro (Cotterill) died in Christchurch aged 76 (my Mother’s sister). Rochie, Coleman (his father-in-law) and I had a grand tour of the Maraekakaho Riding one day and we called to see Bob Bidwell who had a farm near Gwavas. We also called in at Gwavas. Cruickshank, whom I knew at Oxford (he was at Keble) came to Napier for General Synod – he was then Dean of Dunedin.

Sturge and I gave a dinner party to celebrate our birthdays – both in April. Present were Ivan, Gordon Williams, H. St. Hill and Eddie Herrick. We were fifty years of age. 212 acres were topdressed this year.

In May there was a party and dance at the Kereru Hall to raise funds and Russell Moss brought a party from Hastings who put on three short plays. Trevor Holmden, whom I had not seen since our school days, came to Napier on insurance business with the County, It was good to meet again as we had been good friends at school, Mrs. HillDudley died and I attended the funeral at Omahu she had been a friend of Mother’s and mine. During the year Dorothy and I often called in to see the Hills at Fernhill, Morice Averill married a Miss Brown from Wellington,

Jim was 21 on June 3rd. He had become a wonderful help to me and was always so reliable, In the middle of the year Peter and May Holden returned to England and just beforehand the Ivans and ourselves had a small dinner party for them at the Masonic, We changed cars and got a V8 Ford – Peach took the 7 seater Buick in exchange.

I gave another talk at Hastings Rotary, Ian Smith, who had taken up his home at

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Whanakino, was a frequent visitor to Pukekino. The Rifle Club held a ball to raise funds. The severest frost since I came to Pukekino occurred on July 1st – it was 15 degrees. I purchased 25 yearling heifers from Bill Jowsey at £2. We planted quite a number of trees – pine and macracarpa mostly but also some English trees near the homestead, Mrs. Charlie Forde (Groome) died. Paid a visit with Puflett to see the large tract of country known as Omahaki, recently taken up by Jim Lowry.

Lambing percentage this year was 86 ½ – we don’t seem to be able to get much better – but I can remember in the 1890s 80% was considered quite good. Mardie began training at Hastings Hospital early in the year. Doffles had a sudden and vicious attack of appendicitis one night and we had to send for Barnett who took her straight into Sherwood Hospital and operated at once. All was well.

Eddie came one day to inspect the grave of his Father’s first wife who died at Kereru somewhere about 1868 or 70. Eddie and Ethne celebrated their silver wedding in December and there was a very pleasant party at Lindisfarne. At the Hereworth Sports David did well in winning the 440 and 880 and one or two other events.

Phil Johnson, a son of Peter, was in New Zealand for a visit. The Duke of Gloucester visited New Zealand – we were at the receptions at Napier and Hastings. A friend of my youth, Mabel Donnelly (Burke) died and I attended her funeral in Napier Cemetery.

Among the jobs that fell to my lot as Chairman of the County was that of attending the Jubilee of the Methodist Church in Hastings. The County, Harbour Board and Napier Council (represented then by Barton as Commissioner) had various conferences over matters of common interest – mostly brought about by rehabilitation after the earthquake. Some ended very satisfactorily in a short time and others could be tedious and abortive. I became a Trustee of the Village Hall at Maraekakaho – Lachlan Maclean of Glencoe was then Chairman – other members were Gascoyne and Chris Tait.

I had become a little interested in spiritual science after reading works by Oliver Lodge, Conan Doyle and Meyers and when the Mason Chambers invited me to a seance at Tauroa one night conducted by a Mrs. Hope I willingly accepted. The whole affair was interesting but left me somewhat bewildered and in the air. Later further seances were held at various homes in Napier and Vyv Hill was also invited to them.

We became more and more sceptical as time went on and in the end we laid a trap for Mrs. Hope into which she fell and was thus exposed. I think it shattered the Chambers family – we were never included in any further parties. Mrs. Hope who at that time enjoyed a considerable reputation as a medium, just faded away. I have never delved into spiritualism since.

In October Vyv and I had a very enjoyable fortnight away together. We went by car to Rotorua where we stayed two or three days at the Grand, seeing the usual sights and we visited Leila Byrne who was dying of consumption – she was a sister of Ethne Herrick she was so bright and cheerful poor thing. Then we stayed at the Station Hotel in Auckland – Vyv had a few friends there and I was happy to meet up with Roie Hewitt whom I had not seen for about 25 years. After Auckland we made for Opotiki calling in to see the Cliff McCullochs on their farm near Whakatane. At Te Kaha we were advised by many to turn back and travel to Gisborne by the Waioweka Gorge but a police officer thought we could make it by the East Coast road so we gave it a ‘go’ and with much luck and thanks to Vyv’s expert handling of a car we reached Te Araroa at 8 p.m. But we had five rivers to cross – all unbridged – the last one, Raukokori, nearly beat us. The journey was a very spectacular one and the Pohutukawas were just coming into flower. On the way from East Cape to Gisborne we looked up Captain Plummer of Tokomaru Bay and had tea with H.B. and Mrs. Williams at Turihau.

While in Gisborne we went out to see Mrs. George Bloomfield at Te Hoi Station. We brought Gay Knight (now Barron) with us to Napier and so ended a very enjoyable

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holiday. On the way down we called in to see Bernard Chambers at Poutu (Wairoa) and the Dick Sherratts at Wharerata. The Queen Mary of 73,000 tons was launched in September and for many years was the greyhound of the Atlantic.

One of the most notable events in Hawke’s Bay was the carrying of the Harbour Board Poll. For long enough the progress of H.B. had been retarded by the inability of the members of the Harbour Board to agree on the completion of the Breakwater Harbour. The Earthquake had made it clear an Inner Harbour was out of the question. Still there was antagonism on the part of Hastings and County ratepayers to progress with more wharves at The Breakwater – this antagonism was kept alive and encouraged by Mr. W. Nelson, Jull and the H.B. Tribune, However, this year a majority of the Board was favour of taking a poll of ratepayers to raise £100,000 to build a new wharf and do the necessary dredging and building of suitable offices and sheds. At this time all overseas ships used to lie out in the open roadsted and were tendered by lighters inspite of the fact Napier Harbour Board had to care for such a great volume of exports from H.B. So T.M. Geddis (Chairman), Eddie Herrick and Pat Higgins decided on a campaign throughout the Harbour rating area, to inform people of the need for a proper harbour and to thus break down opposition and gain support. I was asked if I would help, being Chairman of the County Council and knowing so many of the ratepayers. This I willingly agreed to and we started off with a series of expeditions to the roadsted to watch the antiquated and laborious method of loading and unloading ships. To these expeditions many, particularly those in opposition, were invited. We called meetings in many places throughout the district.

A Harbour League was set up in Hastings, the seat of violent opposition, and Geddis, Eddie, Pat Higgins and Barker addressed business men and meetings. George Maddison, the Mayor of Hastings, was an ardent friend of the cause and it gradually became apparent our cause was gaining support. Then the day of the Poll dawned on 17th. Eddie, Norman Stewart, Alec Roberts, Harry Wilson and I dined at the Club. Later came the result of the poll – a victory for us. We were then joined by M. Gleeson, Pat Higgins, Geddis and others and speeches from the steps of the Borough Council and later Majestic Theatre followed – great excitement. Then we supped at the Geddis home and Eddie and I got back to Lindisfarne at 1.30 a.m. The carrying of this poll was a red letter day and result may be seen today at the Breakwater. So this was how it all started and much credit is due to T. Geddis, Pat Higgins and Eddie Herrick. While on Harbour matters I remember one day while a party of us were returning on a launch from the roadsted, overhearing Bob Harding say ‘Logan will lose his seat on the County for his action’. He was wrong.

This was the year Hawke’s Bay lost the Ranfurly Shield to Auckland 18-14 – I watched the match with Jim – it was a disappointing game on Hawke’s Bay’s part. (Incidentally the Shield was not held by Hawke’s Bay again till 1966).

1935

This was quite one of the fullest years of my life (I am writing now in January 1967) – it was my 51st year. I am adopting a different method of recording things and am dividing my activities into several parts – 1st County Council and Local Body activities, 2nd my Family, private and home life, 3rd Political adventures and 4th Farm activities – these will be more or less scanty as everyone knows the routine work on a farm and as I have said before, if you really want to know more about this you can refer to the diary of the year. But farming methods have changed so much over the years that what happened from day to day on Pukekino can only be of passing interest maybe. The main thing to be remembered is that Pukekino was the home we all loved and it did provide us with much work, fun, relaxation at times and an income – not always adequate in times of low prices, still it was a home.

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County Council

The work of restoration still proceeded apace. Apart from my weekly attendance at the office when members of the Council used to come in to discuss the riding affairs there were numerous other appointments to keep and conferences to attend. I well remember on one occasion C.W. Nash (a local solicitor and son of Sir Walter) called in to ask me and the Council to apologise to a couple of J.P.s about whom we had said harsh things for their leniency in dealing out punishment to a couple of fellows who were convicted for woolstealing. Pukekino had actually lost two bales. I did not accede to his wish but as he owned a small farm in Eskdale fear of losing stock and wool from his own farm gripped him and made him realise our wrath. There were many conferences with Geddis (Harbour), Mason (N.B.C.) over matters of common interest with the C.C. such as drainage, Westshore embankment etc. There were conferences galore with members of the Unemployment Board about the work we were undertaking under its schemes. The Minister of Public Works visited us and we organised a meeting at Kuripapango when the Rangitikei County Council sent over representatives and we discussed the question of the Taihape road – its importance beyond that of the two Counties etc. This question is still a matter of frustration so far as the Counties are concerned. On our return journey we called in for tea with Sir Andrew and Lady Russell at Tunanui. Then there were meetings with the Hastings B.C. concerning the sewerage problem. Makeshift plans were adopted from time to time and now (in 1967) it appears the new pipeline has just been completed.

A.H. Fergusson was now taking a less active part in County affairs and it was usual for O’Connell now to be with me at Monday Sessions. Another lunch party at Rotary in Hastings and an address to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce added to my many duties. A conference between the carriers of H.B. and the Commissioner of Transport was held in Napier and for some unknown reason the duty of Chairing the meeting fell upon me.

S.M. Palmer, Harding and I were appointed members of a Noxious Weed Committee as there was alarm over the spread of many unpleasant weeds throughout our area and after a bit of a struggle we were able to get the co-operation of the Rabbit Board for their inspectors to cover off the beaten tracks of the C.C. This move helped us enormously.

At a meeting one day at Haumoana a Mr. Shufflebottom was introduced to me without warning. This rather rocked me for a moment. W.J. O’Connell (Deputy County Clerk) was married this year and we and the staff presented a silver tea tray to them. The County approved of the candidature of Harry Wilson, J.B. Campbell, C. Lassen, R. Harding and V. Hoadley at the coming Hospital Board election as being men to support the County’s views. The matter of sound representation was important and I lent a hand in the campaign by attending several meetings of the team. They were returned at the election.

My appointment as Chairman of the C.C. was unopposed for the seventh time. C. Morse defeated A.H. Fergusson for the Mayoralty of Napier, The Napier-Gisborne air service was begun and we attended a ceremony at the Airport. At the County elections Ericksen became a member for Meeanee once more defeating Mooney, Eric Beamish became a new member and likewise Maurice Chambers. In December after the Labour Party had become the Government, R. Semple (Public Works) paid a visit to the C.C. He could not resist having a crack at me for things I may have said about Labour’s plans. He was quite elated at the importance of being a Cabinet Minister but in later years he settled down and of all the Ministers of the Crown he was the only one who really knew his job and believed in an honest day’s work.

My Private Life

This was a sad year in that my Mother’s physical condition grew worse and she rarely left her bed but her mental condition was quite unimpaired. As often as possible I was with her and, of course, she had Sister

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McBeth permanently and if Sister wanted to go off for a few days there was always Sister Allen to come along and Rose Hellier, who had now been with Mother for over thirty years and was the mainstay of the home. Mrs. Empson came back from England where she had been living for the past twenty years or so and as Mr. Empson had died recently she decided to live in New Zealand again. Lulu and Winston with Charles and Elespie Roberts, also Mr. Wenley, went to England for a few months. The Barrons home had become quite a pleasant refuge for us whenever we went to see the children at their schools.

In the middle of January we took the Herrickts cottage at Te Awanga for three weeks and enjoyed a complete rest and much bathing. We also saw something of our friends the Cordons, Warrens, Gatenbys and others. The Barnett’s from Napier came out at times to see us. Ray and I took Bob back to school at Wanganui picking up John at the Crossroads. We stayed at Fosters Hotel where Roie Hewitt was also staying. She had taken Pat back. I had a yarn with Maclean and Allen before leaving Wanganui. One day in February Lord and Lady Baden Powell visited Hawke’s Bay – at Napier Charlie Morse, Ruth Herrick and I received them and later attended a camp fire affair in Windsor Park. I spent the night at Lindisfarne.

The Harkers, Walls an Hardings gave a ball for young people at Waipukurau and Jim, Mardie, Dot and I went through to it. The Bledisloes left New Zealand in March after a five year term of Governor Generalship. They were a popular pair. Their successors were the Galways – he was quite an unpopular Governor General and no one regretted his departure when his term was completed. Jim’s holiday was spent partly at Taupo and partly at Wellington and his transport was a motor bike. What young man of today would be content to own a bike?

Monty Turnbull was now representing McWilliams’ (Wine Merchants) and travelled mostly in Hawke’s Bay. Averill and I had a tour of inspection of Smedley Estate (7,700). This property was now being developed by a Board of Control and it was a training ground for young prospective farmers. Algernon Maclean, who died in the 1920s, left a small estate and a vague will. For some reason I was appointed to act with Gascoyne in the administration and we proceeded to dispose of his small estate as best we could.

At the end of March Dorothy and I took Dot to Auckland to see about an artificial arm. We motored by way of Rotorua. While in Auckland we saw Roie and were entertained at dinner by her and Brian. We also visited Puketutu Island, then owned by the Bulls. On our return we travelled by way of Hamilton, Waitomo Caves and Wanganui. There we saw Cora and the boys (Bob and John) and Michael at St. George’s. The boys came out to dinner and brought Pat Hewitt and Phil Giblin, On our way home we had lunch with the Phil Wrights near Feilding. A meeting was held in Napier to establish a branch of “The Crippled Children” and I was appointed the first Chairman and remained as such for a couple of years when Budge Grant took my place. The Society thrived from the word ‘go’ and today it is still doing good work.

Throughout my diary of 1935 I frequently come across the names Herrick, Sturge, Ned Smith, T.H. and Mrs. Lowry, Dudley Hills and Vyv, Dudley Kettles, Barrons, S.M. Palmers, Kays, Averill and so on – all friends. On April 20th Paul Williams came to manage Whakarara Station – he only reigned till June 2nd but we saw much of him while he was there.

At the end of May Mardie was accepted by New Plymouth Hospital for training so I took her over – had an interview with the Matron (Miss Campbell) and an old school mate (J.C. Nicholson) whom I had not seen since leaving school in 1902. On the way home I spent a night at Wanganui and saw the boys and Cora.

We went to the races in Hastings in June – lunched with the Eric Nelsons, Mr. and Mrs. Lowry there too and the Eric Loisels of Tologa. At a meeting of Hereworth Board it was decided to make some extensive alterations and Mrs. Lowry, Sturge, Eddie and I were appointed a committee to act. At this time Sturge’s health was not very good and we were rather anxious about him. His back gave much trouble.

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Towards the end of June M.S. Chambers took me off for nine days. The first night we made Wanganui and called to see Cora at Harvey House – then we took several boys, including Dudley Chambers, Bob, Philip and John, out to dinner at Forsters. Next day we made New Plymouth and took Mardie out – Harold Johnston (then a Judge) sat at our table. Then we went to Mohakatino Station – 50 miles up the coast and had a couple of days there. This was a huge place – managed by Critch Price who used to be with me as a boy. It was owned by a company mostly of Hawke’s Bay men. Then we went up the Mokau River and took a launch another twenty miles to Mangatoi – a property owned by the Chambers. It was in the depths of the backblocks on the river and surrounded by bush and steep hills. It appeared to me to be a very depressing place and the rainfall was very high. After a few days we picked up the car again and travelled to Taihape and while having dinner with the Chrystals (Ruth Scannell) a telephone message came from New Plymouth to say Mardie had been operated on for appendicitis. So instead of going on to Mangaohane we returned to Wanganui and next day I took train to New Plymouth where I found Mardie very fit. After that I returned to Palmerston North and was met by Dorothy and taken home.

In July I went to Wellington for a conference of branches of the Crippled Children Association. David Smith (Judge) took the chair at our meetings. At the Club were Stephen Allen and H.B.S. Johnston and they were still connected with the Transport Authority but their job was of a roving nature. George Gould was on the train to Napier and at a later date he came out to Pukekino to have a look at our sub clover which was becoming well established on the light land.

We went to Palmerston North to bring Mardie home for a holiday after her appendix operation and we called to see the Phil Wrights while over there.

On July 18th there was a reception in Napier for the Galways and one at Hastings the following day. I had to be present and offer the County’s welcome. He did not impress one at all. He was a relation of W.G. Monkton who was once Headmaster of Napier Grammar School and I remembered passing his door at ‘The House’ Oxford when I used to visit a friend.

On July 21st there was an invitation to Local Bodies to attend the Morning Service at St. Matthews – Mortimer Jones was then the Vicar. Maddison (Mayor of Hastings) read the First Lesson and I read the Second Lesson. Hamish Armstrong lost his life in the Ruahines when his plane crashed – his body was never found.

John Ormond, W. Tucker, S.M. Palmer, Bob Harding and I had meetings in connection with the Waipawa Seat now held by A.E. Jull. And on his return from England Charlie Nairn also took a hand. The result was that he and I went to Wellington to see Forbes (Prime Minister) and Coates and to discover if they would be in favour of John Ormond’s candidature at next elections – Forbes was favourable but not Coates. This year Eddie and I joined the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Club – H.B. Lusk was president – other members representing the County were Harold Russell and Hugh Chambers.

H.E. Sturge’s health was giving us all much concern and after Eddie, Mrs. Lowry and I had given it much thought it was decided he should go to Rochester U.S.A. to consult the Mayo Brothers and in September he departed for the U.S.A. and he never returned. It was discovered his trouble was T.B. of the spine and very little could be done for him beyond rather a tricky operation in the hopes of success. He under- went the operation and after a miserable few weeks he died in November.

It was all most depressing for many of us had lost a good friend. As a young man he had had T.B. as I mentioned early in ‘My Story’. Ivan and I were the Trustees under his Will which was simple and straightforward to administer. Sturge was 51 – just a week older than me. A strange accident befell us one night when returning home after a farewell dinner party at the Herricks. It was dark and several horses belonging to Olrig Station were loose on the road – they took fright and one leapt on to the bonnet of the car – it was severely wounded and later had to be destroyed – we were able to proceed home but the bonnet was in a mess.

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Bob left school at the end of August and got himself a job in Williams & Kettle in Napier where he remained till the war in 1939. At first he boarded with Mrs. Marrett in Brewster Lane. It was his own wish to follow a career in a business firm as farming at that time had no appeal.

On 23rd August we had a very unpleasant gale which brought many trees down. On September 17th we took Hamilton to Hereworth School – he settled down very well and was happy but the home was very dull and lonely without him. The household help was becoming a very difficult problem now – the old type of maid suddenly ceased to be and no one ever wanted to be in the same position for long. Like other employers we seemed to have a procession of so-called ‘helps’ and each appeared less efficient than the former one. 1 note in my diary “Thank heavens E.N. has left”. When I told the female of a married couple she need not refer to her husband as “Mr. So and So” he took exception and told me he had a handle to his name and intended me to use it or else he would call me “Frank”. I gave him a week’s notice which ended in a day’s notice the next day.

In October Mardie went back to New Plymouth Hospital after making a good recovery. After a few years spell the Royal Show was held in Hawke’s Bay again and after it we dined at Lindisfarne – the Governor General and Lady Galway were staying there. Italy invaded Abyssinia and we did nothing about it – but Anthony Eden, who was then Foreign Minister, resigned. Kingsford Smith and party lost their lives when the Southern Cross disappeared in the Bay of Bengal on a flight to England from Australia.

The Veronica Bell which hangs in Napier near the SoundShell was formally presented by Captain Bevin R.N. of H.M.S. “Leith” and we were in the official party. This bell has ever since been rung on important occasions and on New Year’s Eve. The Veronica was berthed at Ahuriri at the time of the Earthquake and had a remarkable ‘get away’.

Larry Herrick left New Zealand to join the Royal Navy at Dartmouth – now he is retired and is an orchardist in Essex. At a Hereworth Trust Meeting soon after Sturge’s death, Eddie, A. Rainbow and I were appointed to find a new Headmaster – Elder was not anxious to carry on. First of all Eddie and I went over to Marton to sound Sherriff of Huntly School but he was not keen to break up his school. So then we advertised all over New Zealand and received countless replies. After cutting them down to three we decided on a personal interview. Buchanan came to see Rainbow and me and we were happy about him but as Eddie was in Wellington we sent Buchanan down to Wellington. Eddie was of our opinion and Buchanan was appointed and he filled the job well for many years when his health made it impossible to carry on – so he retired and Beatson came.

Mr. George Beamish, whom I had known since childhood, died and was buried at Crownthorpe. Throughout his life he had been a valuable asset to Hawke’s Bay as a farmer and as a man. I think it was this year that we dined for the lasttime on a warship – the Herricks and ourselves dined with Captain Cosmo Gordon the “Diomede”. After that time it was unusual to dine on board a warship – mostly there were cocktail parties. In Maraekakaho we got busy about an offer of electricity in the district and after numerous meetings etc. we were offered the supply subject to guarantees. These we were able to arrange and we then signed up and hoped!

Politics

One day in September Eddie Herrick and Les Rolls asked me, as they had done in 1932, to consent to stand for Napier in the elections at the end of the year – they were asked by the National Party in Napier to approach me. A day or so later others and organisations brought a bit of pressure to bear, especially the Chamber of Commerce, and I fell. Then followed a short period in which I presented myself to the various committees within the electorate. Then my henchman, C.D. Cox, and I went to Wellington for my presentation to Forbes (P.M.) Coates and the National

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Party. This went off well and on my return to Napier there was much going and coming in preparing for the campaign. Forbes came up for a day or so to give encouragement. Committees were set up here and there and all was set for the opening of the campaign on November 4th. My first address was an easy one at Meeanee which was a stronghold of Nationalists and there was no heckling nor any awkward questions, and maybe I was lulled into a feeling of false security! However the shock soon came and things became quite hectic at times and I began to wonder what had struck me. And at times I could not believe it possible for so much unpleasantness to abound at Election Time. My henchman to begin with was Wardell-Johnston, but he began to imagine he was the candidate not me and so C.D. Cox took over and we were together to the end. Bob and Phil Giblin and also Brian Mahoney were faithful helpers and followed me to most meetings and they gave me much courage. Meeting places were scattered over the Electorate – the furtherest away being Pakowhai. I must have addressed about twenty meetings at least – the most noisy were at the Port, Forresters hall and the Methodist Hall in Napier. Little did any of us realise what was awaiting us on the 27th and what was the feeling in the County really at the time. During the campaign I stayed in Napier with my Mother and old Rose (though staunch Labour), looked after me with wonderful care – keeping me in bed for breakfast and feeding me up so well and even leaving sleeping pills by my bedside – I never used these. But at the end of the week I used to feel fairly weary and how I enjoyed the weekends at Pukekino – far from the mad world. J.G. Coates came up to give a helping hand and one night after dining at the Masonic we proceeded to a rally at McLean Park – the grounds were packed and the crowd in a noisy state. Fortunately I was not called upon to speak – the Mayor and Coates were the only speakers and the latter, at times, could not be heard for the noise – there were no loud speakers in those days. So the election campaign ended and voting took place on November 27th.

The usual place for the National Candidate and his supporters to watch results was the office of The Daily Telegraph – so there we took up our stands and we watched all the National Party Stallwarts lose their seats one by one – it was a Labour Landslide and no one guessed it would happen. The result was Labour won 52, National 20 and Independent 6. I was defeated by Barnard, the sitting member, by 3,000 votes. At next session W.E. Barnard was appointed Speakers. He and I had always been on friendly terms and once or twice during the campaign we took a cup of tea together much to the annoyance and confusion of some of my supporters. So ended my political career and I was not sorry. In my short campaigning life I learned many things that did not appeal to me.

The Farm

This was carried on as usual with interest and joy and much hard work. The year was a good one in that there was always plenty of feed for stock but wool and meat prices were not as good as they could be. Still we were emerging from the World Slump and at last it looked as if the end of gloom was in sight. As a matter of fact the Slump really ended at the end of 1932 but the clearing up process carried on till this year.

And after the Elections there was shearing and then we went to Napier on Christmas Day to see Mother, who was becoming very frail.

1936

I am beginning to condense my diary for 1936 on January 26th 1967 – we have just experienced a very wet Christmas and New Year season and many have asked me if I can remember worse weather for this time of year. I should say January 1936 was more persistently wet than January 1967 for my diary tells me it rained almost every day, the fall for the month was 6.12 inches at Pukekino. Then for the twenty-four hours ending February 2nd five inches fell and the ground was supersaturated and resembled a wet sponge. The glass began falling rapidly and we wondered what was brewing. Then about midnight on February 1st the wind went round from North East to South West and the

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worst gale I care to remember struck us – all day long trees in the home plantation were toppling over mostly coming out by their roots and the mess was appalling. Just as darkness was falling on the night of the 2nd Boy and I were having a final look round and we witnessed a big wattle gradually fall on the men’s whare – but it came down so gently that it did not do really vital damage to the building. The following day February 3rd, (five years since the Earthquake) after surveying the damage we went to town to the County Council Office and see Mother. Later at Hereworth, with Judy Williams, Ivan and I sorted up much of Sturge’s possessions – with the exception of legacies everything was left to Hereworth School Trust – but Ivan and I were the Trustees. We naturally consulted the Hereworth Board in the matter of disposal. Buchanan, who was taking over as Headmaster this term, was given the opportunity of taking over what he thought necessary – much of the silver and glass, of which there was quite an amount, was sold privately after valuation. The gale abated during the day but the damage it had wrought in much of Hawke’s Bay was considerable and many telephone lines were out of action. After a few days we were able to get a couple of experienced bushmen to clean up the plantations for us and they were fully occupied for three weeks. Many of the fallen trees were sold to Robert Holt and Son but we kept, for firewood, what we required and sawed it up in spare time. In January Buchanan and his wife came to Hereworth to prepare for taking over and Eddie and I met them at Hastings Railway Station.

On January 21st King George V died and the following day I attended with Morse (Mayor of Napier), Barnard M.P. and the Bishop of Waiapu at the reading of the Proclomation of Edward VIII at Napier. During January it was necessary to get another nurse to assist Sister McBeth with my Mother, whose condition was now much worse physically but mentally she was wonderful.

We took Ray and Boy back to school on February 7th and once more we became a very small family – only Jim and Dot at home with us. On February 21st the Bishop and members of the Hereworth Board and a few friends attended the burial of Sturge’s ashes in Havelock Cemetery. The following day the school swimming sports were held, After a meeting in February between F. Gordon, W. Tucker and self it was decided to form The Clifton Domain Board to take over an area of land from F. Gordon for a public camping site. On March 4th Jole Hill was married – none of us thought the marriage would last long and it did not and now poor Jole is dead. Joan and Jim Ritchie came to Hawke’s Bay for a few days and we ran them round the countryside and one night we gave a small dinner party at the Club – Ivan and Mary, Eddie and Ethne Herrick, Lulu and Winston Barron, ourselves and, of course, Joan and Jim. It was a happy affair.

On March 9th while at a County Council meeting Barnett sent for me as he did not think Mother would live through the day but she did not die till the evening of the 12th but was more or less unconscious much of the time. I was with her to the end which was peaceful. So with Mother’s death the last link with the older generation was severed and one faced a period of sadness for she and I had always been so close to one another, The burial took place privately in the Napier Cemetery after a short service taken by Brocklehurst (then the Dean of Waiapu) who had been a friend of Mother’s. The pall-bearers were Jock Twigg, H.A. Barnett, G. Wenley, W. Dinwiddie, Jim, Ivan and myself and N. MacKay. After her death there was the winding up of my Father’s Estate to be attended to and the division of all the household possessions between Ivan and me. This was a very simple matter and carried out in complete agreement. Rose Hillier remained on for a time as caretaker of the home until we decided to let it pending the ultimate decision to sell it. The idea of retaining it and converting it into flats (as it is today) did not appeal to us on account of many difficulties and worries.

At the end of the month I took a few days away from the scene of sadness and Doffles and I went over to New Plymouth to see Mardie. We called in at Wanganui seeing Cora, who was still Matron of Harvey House,

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and taking John, David, Michael and Pat Hewitt out to dinner. On our way home we spent the night at the Phil Wright’s. Towards the end of April Dorothy and I had about ten days holiday at Ivan’s cottage in Taupo. We travelled by way of Wanganui, New Plymouth, Cambridge and Tauranga and spending a night at each place as well as with Peggy Lane (Phil Wright’s daughter) at Bickton. F. Gilligham was now Headmaster of Wanganui in place of Allen who retired and I spent an evening with him. At Taupo we had a very enjoyable and peaceful stay only cooking our breakfast and being out at hotels for other meals.

Later on in May Gilligham came to spend a night or two at Hereworth and there was an Old Boys’ Gathering for dinner at the Hawke’s Bay Club to meet him. I went with Eddie and Rupert Carlyon. After Mother’s death I frequently spent nights at the Herricks, or Mr. Wenley’s in Napier and on one or two occasions with Val Hoadley and Harry Wilson.

There were two or three meetings of The Crippled Children’s Society and at the annual meeting I agreed to accept the Chair for one more year. In May I was elected Chairman of the County Council for the eighth consecutive year. It was again a year of activity and there seem to have been numerous conferences with other local bodies apart from our own domestic affairs. The Harbour Board and County Council were very vitally interested in the development of the Ahuriri Lagoon land – the actual development work – that of reclamation etc. was being undertaken by the Public Works, The Harbour Board and County Council were interested in the Awatoto dewatering scheme and they, together with the R.C. Mission, established water pumps to cope more successfully. The scheme worked well. There was still a fair amount of labour employed under the unemployment scheme – but on the whole the country was recovering and unemployment on the decrease. There seem to have been several meetings with Pat Higgins and the Public Trustee in regard to the line of the Moteo road. We made another attempt to interest the Government – this time the Labour Government – in the necessity for major work on the Taihape road. Eric Beamish, Puflett and I took G. Cullen (member for Hawke’s Bay) to Kuripapango. At a meeting in August the County Council decided to abandon all Tarsealing work except along the Maraekakaho road owing to most Ridings being in the ‘red’ and members unwilling to increase rates. At a later meeting Tucker tried to upset the resolution unsuccessfully. I admit I hated having to submit to a halt in the work of tarsealing but in those days we viewed the borrowing of large sums with horror – but today local bodies take a different view. I made an inspection of all Ridings during the year -some I visited on more occasions.

One day in June J.G. Coates came to-Hawke’s Bay and he met some of us at the Club to tell of the National Party’s plans for the future – among those present were John Ormond, Rolls, J. Mason, Harold Russell etc. Then I attended a meeting at Waipawa of the local National party – among the delegates were P. Wilder, Gascoyne, Forbes, McHardy, S.M. Palmer and C. Pattison. In July Nigel Poett came to New Zealand to make himself know to Eddit and Ethne Herrick and he and Julia then became engaged in the formal manner. WE went to meet Nigel one day after the Point to Point at Mangateretere. One day towards the end of the year Eddie, Julie and I went to Tautane Station and spent the night with Frank and Flora Herrick. On the way back we called in to see the St. Hill-Warrens.

A part and parcel of the job of County Chairman was attending various functions and I well remember attending the Jubilee celebrations at Taradale. On my arrival I parked the car too close to the open drain by the roadside and stumbled as I got out and dropped the key of the car into it. Many young men came to my assistance – the key was eventually found but I had to sit through a very long and boring evening with wet feet.

During the year the Empire Chamber of Commerce held its meeting in Napier and we were invited to a party at the Masonic Hotel. Lord Elibank was the chairman and we dined one night at Lindisfarne to meet him and Lady Elibank. We also attended a civic reception given by the Mayor for Mrs. Watt, who founded

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the Women’s Institute, and she was a first rate speaker.

Ivan and Mary celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary on September 13th and gave a very cheery family dinner party.

In those days the Cafeteria was the restaurant of the time and I note various members of the County Council and I used often to take lunch there – on looking back it would appear we were easily satisfied at that time.

Mr. Walter Shrimpton of Matapiro died at the age of 93 and I attended his funeral at Crownthorpe. In his time he had been a remarkable local body man and his work on the Hospital Board had been outstanding. For some years I used to sit next to him at meetings.

The Rotary Hoe came on to the market and Jim and I visited the Hugh Whites at Sherwood to see it at work. After that we purchased one and Jim did much useful work on the light parts of the farm – especially Upper Gaols. A meeting of delegates from many Hawke’s Bay local bodies met in Napier with a view to some celebrations for Hawke’s Bay’s Centennial in 1940.

The Hereworth School picnic was held on Tauroa Station on the banks of the Tuki Tuki River. It was a great success. Selby Palmer gave away the prizes at the end of the year and made a good speech. The Governor General visited the school one day.

One day I took Johnston and Rochie Averill to Pourerere to see Charlie Nairn and have a look round that part of the country and on the return journey we called in at Drumpeel to see the Gordon Williams and Sid Johnston. Vyv and Rowan Hill took up a small area of land near Gwavas and began fruit farming. Aunt Lina (Kettle) began to go downhill rapidly – she was about a year older than my Mother. At Pukekino there was the usual work of maintenance and grubbing. The County Council bridge gang came out and in a few hours had erected a bridge over the little stream near the yards in the Cocksfoot. Shuker and a couple of men cut out the gorse in Jim’s corner and we hoped to keep it in check thereafter by means of a flame thrower but this did not work out very well. We got a new Fordson Tractor with self starter. Wool was going up satisfactorily.

Boy was getting on well at Hereworth and he was in the XV playing wingthreequarter. Ray too seemed reasonably happy at Woodford House and had made friends with Mary Holmden. Except in the holidays we were a small family at Pukekino.

At the Hawke’s Bay Club Annual Meeting Eddie Herrick and I were again elected to the Committee. I was staying at Lindisfarne at the time – also Miss Francie Moore of Wanganui – and next day we all went to Drumpeel for the day to see Judy and Gordon Williams.

On December 5th news came out that King Edward VIII was having an affair with a Mrs. Simpson (divorced woman of U.S.A.) and after much excitement in high places, on December 11th he abdicated. The Duke of York became George VI, Local Bodies were represented at the Proclomation read by the Mayor from the steps of the Borough Council Chambers.

R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, visited Hawke’s Bay. He and I had a tour of some of the County and, of course, we visited Kuripapango to discuss the Taihape Road. At one stage of the journey, he questioned me about a dispute between the River Board and a team of unemployed – when I told him it was two blokes of the gang who were causing all the trouble his reply was “Why don’t you shoot the buggers?” Semple certainly knew his job better than any other cabinet minister.

During the year Ivan and I and many of Charlie Nairn’s friends had noticed he was not at all well and on November 17th he surrendered to Dr. Cashmore and was put into Royston and I frequently visited him there. He was always cheerful and hopeful but he looked so ill. And just before the end of the year Cashmore told me there was no hope of a recovery – he had the same heart condition that seemed to affect the male members of the Nairn Family.

Mrs. Mason Chambers also entered Royston at the same time and very little hope of recovery appeared. I visited them both for the last time this year on December 28th.

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1937

This was a red letter year in that electricity came to us. Early in March Marcroft (who still does our electrical jobs in Napier – I am writing this in February 1967) wired the house and buildings – he was then employed by Boyd of Port Ahuriri. And on 23rd March the power was turned on. Those who had been born in the electricity age have no idea of what its advent meant to us who lived beforehand. No more coal or wood-burning stoves, and no more cleaning of flues, no more annual taking up of carpets for spring-cleaning, no more dirty acetylene or other lighting plant to attend to daily. No more waste of good food in hot weather and so on. Ever since we knew electricity was on the way we began to put something aside for gadgets we would require so as to be able to take full advantage – so March 23rd was a day we shall never forget. This year we stepped up our ewe flock to 1600 – still I am sure we were very understocked. The wool prices were satisfactory and store lamb 16/-. Alf Symes was still a prominent buyer of store sheep. Two-tooth wethers were worth 25 10d. In addition to the routine work on the farm Jim rotary-hoed Upper Gaols in June in preparation for sowing sub-clover next year. It was a paddock of sixty acres and Jim stuck to the job like a Briton.

Poor old Charlie Nairn continued to deteriorate in health rapidly after New Year and I spent as much time as possible with him. On February 19th he died at Royston and was buried alongside his brothers at Pourerere on 20th February. On my way to Pourerere I picked up Duncan Holden and in the evening Bob and I dined at Forest Gate with him and Helen, after calling in at Omakere for a cup of tea. So a very dear friend departed – he was a loyal friend to our family for a long period. My friend George Gould passed through Napier on his way north and we spent a night or two together at the Club – that was early in January.

Wren Corry (now Robinson) and her husband Pat paid a visit to New Zealand and cane out to see us one day. At the end of January Dorothy, Ray, Boy and I went to the Ivan’s cottage at Taupo for ten days – Ivan was there part of the time. We had many outings including a trip to Rotorua, Wairoa and the lakes. On our return there was a big cocktail party at Ngaire and Dudley Kettle’s preparatory to the wedding of Hester Herrick and John Elworthy.

Aunt Lina (Kettle) was getting very shaky and I used to call to see her as often as I could, especially as Audrey had gone to England to join John Platten. She has never been back to New Zealand.

Early in March the Frank Gordons took John to England to school at Harrow. Eddie and Ethne gave a dinner party before they left. The Gatenbys, L. Gordons and ourselves were present. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers (she made a good recovery after her operation) and I attended a private seance at Mrs. Hill’s one evening – it was the last one I ever attended.

The Ivans and ourselves gave a cocktail party at the Women’s Club in March -at this there were about 100 guests. This type of party was coming into fashion. A week later the Hetleys gave a big party at the same place.

There was another outbreak of polio this year just before the Easter gathering at Wanganui and I remember one day Val Hoadley, Harry Wilson, Bob Levin and I were very hot about its being held and we sent a wire to Gilligan asking for it to be abandoned and he agreed. There was a concerted move by a man named Davey to start up a morning paper in Hawke’s Bay in place of the Hawke’s Bay Herald (defunct) – after many meetings the project was turned down – we did not like Davey’s attitude. Violet Russell was in New Zealand for another of her brief visits and it was grand to have her out to stay with us. She is a most remarkable woman with a very generous outlook.

In April Colitis overtook me and it was not until quite late in the year that recovery seemed sure. It was quite an uncomfortable complaint and a very strict diet was imposed upon me. Also there was that unpleasant barium meal and x-ray for which event the Barnetts (doctor) kindly had me to stay at their home in Nelson Crescent. Arthur Empson was in New Zealand for a short leave and he and his Mother came out

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to see us. The Reverend Waugh of Havelock used to come out to Kereru every other month to take the Presbyterian Service. We usually attended and I became the local Treasurer. This did not amount to much work – almost nil. He took our Anzac Service and we listened in with interest to the new Bishop of Wellington preach on that day. He was H. St. B. Holland and later became a friend of the family and used to stay with us.

On May 12th I represented the County Council at a function at the Sound Shell in Napier on the occasion of the Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Morse was still the Mayor. Later we lunched with the Empsons and Tony Wilder at the Masonic. We heard a relay of the service in Westminster Abbey very clearly.

Jim was given an exciting trip in the new U.S.S. Company’s ship “Awatea” from Wellington to Auckland. This ship was the latest for the Australia-New Zealand run and was very fast. She was eventually lost in the Second World War.

Julia Herrick married Nigel Poett (Lt. in Durham Light Infantry) on May 26th. As he was a Roman Catholic the ceremony took place in the drawingroom at Lindisfarne rather than in the Roman Catholic Church. Many guests were present and it was a nice day. An old friend of my Parents, W. Dinwiddie died on June 3rd- he had been editor of the Hawke’s Bay Herald for many years.

It was decided that a trip to Sydney might do me good, so after installing Sister McBeth at Pukekino to take charge of the home, Dorothy, Bob and I set off for Auckland on June 10th to catch the S.S. “Monterey” – she was one of the latest of the Matson Line (U.S.) and very comfortable. After an uneventful voyage we reached Sydney on June 14th – actually only three nights and two days on board. We were met by our old friend Elsie Austin and taken to the Hotel Australia which became our headquarters for three weeks. June was a shockingly wet month in Sydney and 15 ½ inches of rain fell but this did not prevent us from seeing and doing much. The Austins, Victors, Webbs and many of their relations, together with the Zeiles, helped to make our stay pleasant. We visited everything worth seeing – Harbour, Zoo gardens, Coogee, Manly, Blue Mountains etc. George Gould and the Arthur Elworthys were at the Australia and we saw much of them. After a week George Gould left for Queensland.

The Elworthys took us by car to Canberra (then in the making) and we spent a night and two days seeing much of interest and we met the Geoffrey Streets (M.P.) and Fairbairn (M.P.) Later these two valuable men were killed in a plane accident. They were very kind to us while in Canberra. The Elworthys went further afleid in their car and we returned to Sydney by train. Bob was only six days in Sydney and returned with Sir Carrick Robertson in the “Wanganella” and had a very rough trip – so rough that he and Robertson did not move from their berths. Altogether our stay in Sydney was most enjoyable and it did me much good. A. Elworthy and I usually had breakfast together at a restaurant in Pitt Street. Most of our meals we took out – I visited the Union Club often for Reg Bettington had put me down there. Arthur Empson was in Sydney for part of the time, and I saw him sail back to England one day in the “Oronsay”. We returned to Wellington in the “Wanganella” early in July and the Elworthys and Phil Wright travelled with us.

On our return we found Mardie had married in New Plymouth so we went over there to see about it and returned very disappointed and unhappy about her choice. On our journey over we spent a night at Wanganui seeing Ivan’s boys and Cora.

In August Dot and I went to Marton to see Hereworth XV defeated by Huntly School by 18-6. Next day we paid a flying visit to Wanganui and back to the White Hart in Marton for a boys’ dinner party. Then home the next day.

Lloyd Coleman came out from Cambridge for the Long Vacation.

We swapped the V8 Ford Car after 13,300 miles and paid £50. The car was eighteen months old.

Attended in strength the wedding of Mary Wilson to Rex Ludbrook at St. Matthews in

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Hastings. A farewell lunch for Violet Russell at the Masonic on August 30th.

September was a very wet month, 11.17 inches falling and many lambs drowned so the percentage was very low – round about 80. It had by now become a habit to spend many odd nights with Mr. Wenley and old Sarah always seemed so pleased to welcome me. In September we noticed that Hamilton (Boy) now aged 12, was somewhat wilting at Hereworth and we got Barnett to give him a thorough overhaul and make all necessary tests. It was discovered he had too much sugar in his blood – in other words diabetes was on the threshold. It became necessary for him to be put on a strict diet but the Matron (Mrs. Wood) was most unhelpful and unco-operative and Buchanan, too, did not pull his weight as he should, so, on Dr. Barnett’s advice, we took Boy away from school early in December. However, he competed in the school sports in November and, inspite of his condition, he was runner-up to Topliss in the senior championship, coming second in all events except the 100 yards. And so he remained at home until May when he went to Wanganui.

We were not altogether pleased with the attitude of the school doctor (Whyte) and on occasions Seton Wenley and I confronted him before Rainbow and Buchanan over, what we considered, slackness in his care during an epedemic [sic] of ‘flu or heavy colds.

Dot had joined the Oxford Group and journeyed to Dunedin with a party – the Athol Williams among them. We had hoped this interest would be of help to her but we were disappointed in this.

Charles and Elespie Roberts decided to make their home in Napier after many years in Scotland.

In September the All Blacks were beaten by the Springboks 17-6 – it was the first time the All Blacks had been defeated on their own ground.

Ray was confirmed by Hubert Williams (Bishop of Waiapu) in October. Not long after this – in December – the Bishop, after a short illness, died and I attended his funeral in Napier. In November Eddie and Ethne left for England and we missed them very much. For it had become a habit of ours to call in at Lindisfarne almost regularly on our way back to Pukekino after our days in town.

The MacKays also left for England about the same time – they were to spend some months in South Africa on the way. The severest earthquake since 1931 occurred on December 15th but very little damage ensued.

Tom Lowry captained the New Zealand XI on its tour of the British Isles.

During the year I saw much of my neighbours, the Kays, Averills, Nelson Smiths and Johnstons – there were frequent goings and comings between us.

The County Council work kept me pretty well occupied and I always attended the office on Mondays – Mr. Fergusson was easing up much in his work these days and Pop O’Connell usually went through the routine work with me and mostly we repaired together to the Cafeteria for lunch.

I have a note that Government Grants for flood damage was very miserable. We were not getting much assistance from the Labour Government, the reason being they were discovering that money did not grow on bushes.

The unemployment of Maoris was quite a problem and the Employment Board wanted us to assume responsibility for finding work for those out of work in Hawke’s Bay. However, Eric Beamish, who was on a special committee with me, and I did not agree.

Parry (Minister of Internal Affairs) came along to see us one day full of steam about a scheme of amalgamating many local bodies but we did not rise. I accompanied him on a trip round the Waikare Riding (the soft spot in the County) and, of course, we had another go at the Taihape road and visited Kuripapango. How often we pressed for better recognition of this thoroughfare between east and west – it eventually took another war to bring this about, but still I doubt if the road is up to the standard it should be.

On May 26th at the County Council’s Annual Meeting I was again elected Chairman unopposed. And, on June 2nd there was a meeting of Maraekakaho ratepayers which

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expressed satisfaction with my efforts on behalf of the Riding – later I dined with the Jack Grahams.

Meetings between the Harbour Board and County Council still continued in regard to the extension of Kennedy Road and agreement to planting along the length was agreed to. Today this road is the main road to Taradale and much building is in progress in the adjacent land.

The Stock and Station Agents and County Council agreed to a plan for improving the stock holding paddocks and yards throughout the County.

On December 1st there was a conference held in Napier of all County Councils in the Hawke’s Bay Province to discuss mainly the erection of highways and allocation of fees for heavy traffic.

G.A. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, called a meeting of all local bodies which had had an earthquake loan to ask for its wiping out. It was agreed to meet Mr. Walter Nash (Minister of Finance) in February of next year.

On Christmas Day we had a lovely picnic at the Ohara Stream.

1938

Having served on local bodies for eighteen and a half years and the Hawke’s Bay County Council for the whole of that time I decided the day to retire was at hand. My reasons were – 1. that Jim was going to England this year and I would require to be free from outside responsibilities, 2. that I had reached the age when one should retire and allow a younger man to take over, 3. in my time I had seen a number of men hold on to office for too long – they had been useful while young but had become useless in their old age and what a nuisance they were and a hindrance, 4. and perhaps I was beginning to feel a bit weary – it may have been I was over zealous and tried to do too much. And I longed for a time when I was my own master. And so on April 11th I took my last Council Meeting, but with sorrow in my heart, as I had loved my work and had made many friends. Out of the 292 meetings since joining the County Council I had only missed five and that was when I was in Australia and the U.S.A. The members and staff made me a wonderful presentation of a silver tea set and then entertained me at a luncheon at the Criterion Hotel. However before my retirement there were many meetings of committees and so forth.

There was a meeting between Mr. Nash (now Sir Walter), Maddison and myself in regard to wiping out Earthquake loans. Nash was then Minister of Finance – at this meeting we put our case and were promised a reply later. There was a tour of Okawa, Puketapu and Waimarama Ridings with Puflett and the members. These visits of inspection were brought about by over 4 inches of rain falling on 23rd, 24th and 25th January.

Quite an amount of damage to bridge approaches occurred and much flooding of low country and slips in the hill country. Then Mr. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) paid another visit to Hawke’s Bay and I accompanied him round some of the work in Pakowhai. He held a reception at the Masonic Hotel in the evening. The elections did not take place till May 11th so I was still a member and chairman when the unfortunate cloudburst occurred in the northern ridings – Petane riding getting most of the damage. The Esk River overflowed and swept all before it leaving that lovely Esk Valley in the most appalling mess. As our telephone had been put out of commission and as there were slips on our cuttings, I was cut off from the outer world and quite ignorant of the catastrophe until Puflett arrived out of the blue to tell me. He was only able to get as far as Olrig by car. After taking our truck to the cutting and walking across it we went to Napier and I then began my tour of the devastated area. The lovely Esk Valley was a shambles. A Committee was set up with the help of Public Works to bring relief to the affected settlers and, in due course, things were tidied up but it was not, of course, until the following spring that the countryside really began to look like itself again. Roley Hill of the Agricultural Department was a helpful worker and he and I have been on friendly terms ever since. So right up to the end I was kept busy and it was rather sad to

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leave the County so soon after this unfortunate episode.

On May 11th Glazebrook was elected in my seat as member for Maraekakaho, beating G.A. Eaton of Whakarara. At the meeting following the elections C.C. Smith was elected Chairman.

The rainfall for April was 14.45 inches – that was my taking but in the watershed of the Northern Ridings it could have been twice that amount for the worst floods in thirty years occurred in Petane and parts of Okawa, Puketapu and Waikare Ridings.

On New Year’s Eve of 1937 Bob had a crash in the truck on the Westshore Embankment so he and Pat and Dudley Kingston did not get out to Pukekino till late the next day.

During much of January it was very warm and the family enjoyed much tennis and bathing, mostly in the Ohara Stream above the bridge.

Ralph Lowry had a mental breakdown and was sent to Porirua – at that time he was managing, and very well too, Ohinewaiorua Station near Taihape. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry asked me to go to Wellington to interview the medical men of the Mental Department and see what could be done to help Ralph. So on February 1st I went to Wellington and after a yarn with Dr. Russell of Mental Department, I went out to see Ralph at Porirua and assess the position. Mrs. Lowry was staying at the Royal Oak at the time and I was able to take Ralph to lunch with her one day, Jimmy Jamess (nurse we knew very well and friend of the Lowry Family) was very helpful. After a day or two I returned home and discussed Ralph’s case with Hobbs and Marion Bettington, then Hobbs and I returned to Wellington on February 8th and after various formalities and undertakings I was able to get Ralph’s release and put him aboard the “Awatea” for a trip to Australia where E.J. Watt was living. But during the twenty-four hours or so before the ship sailed Ralph gave me some concern for he was really far from normal and Betty’s presence in Wellington, but at another hotel to ours, did not help matters. Though Ralph’s condition improved for a time as a result of the complete break in Australia, he has never been a normal and reliable person since and, at times, he has been a menace to himself and a great nuisance to others (this holds still in 1967). On my return to Hawke’s Bay there were further conferences with the Lowry Family but there was nothing more to be done than “wait and see”. Jack Barron went off to Edinburgh University for further medical studies.

On February 26th Dorothy, Boy and I went to Wellington to see Jim off for the wonderful trip made possible by Constance Fountaine’s kind help. We stayed at the Waterloo and enjoyed ourselves. Jim sailed on the “Akaroa” on the 25th and we watched the ship sail down the harbour on a lovely summer evening with a great longing to be in her too. While in Wellington we saw Sybil Nathan and other friends and also Henry Paton (John’s brother and surgeon on S.S. “Port Wyndham”) and Robert McDermott (son of Lucy McDermott of London and nephew of my Oxford friend Keith) – who was a cadet on the “Port Alma”, Boy got some bug so we had to remain in Wellington an extra day – Jimmie James came along and she advised a doctor. All was well next day and so we returned home and began to look forward to Jim’s letters telling us of all his doings.

On March 15th there was a National Party Meeting in Napier and we asked John Ormond to contest the Napier seat in the elections this year – he agreed and we got to work to organise. Then later in the month I went to a monster National Party Rally with M.S. Chambers at the Hastings Racecourse. Adam Hamilton, S.G. Holland (P.M. at a later date), Maddison and Jull all spoke – much enthusiasm prevailed.

About March Hitler was on the rampage in Europe and becoming very cheeky – he seized Austria and tension mounted daily through the year. Neville Chamberlain, (P.M. of England) realising Britain was totally unprepared for a war, appeased Hitler right and left and sacrificed many principles and finally was completely lulled into a feeling of safety after a visit to Munich. It was a year of anxiety. During March Ray was not very fit at school so had two weeks holiday at home which set her up once more. Aunt Lina’s (Kettle) condition worsened very much and she died on April 28th and I was a pall-bearer at her burial at Eskdale Cemetery on the 29th.

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She was a daughter of Major Von Tempsky and had been a lifelong friend of my Mother and was my Godmother. While Jim was away many jobs fell upon our shoulders and we realised the great help he was to us on the farm and round about the home.

Barny Byrne who had walked off his farm last year died from a brain tumor.

I had always enjoyed his company for he was a wide reader and had much intelligence. He should have stuck to journalism and never embarked on farming. Cora came to us for part of the school holidays. For the first time this year I took part in Williams and Kettle’s Annual Meeting and proposed thanks to the Directors.

S.M. Palmer, McLennan and I had our annual dinner at the Club as usual but MacKay was away in England this year.

On June 3rd we took Boy over to Wanganui to begin his happy and satisfactory school life – he was in Harvey House with Denniston as head and Cora as Matron. We returned next day very sad – lunched with the Phil Wrights on the way.

Frank Gordon of Clifton (72) died on June 10th and was buried the next day. I took Sir Andrew Russell to the funeral at Havelock after a service in Hastings.

Constance Fountaine’s cabled their happiness at having Jim with them and his news was always of much interest to us each week.

He had just been for a wonderful tour with the Peter Holdens to Scotland and the Lake District.

The George Ritchies and Mary Mackenzie came to see us one day. Mary was over from Canada for a holiday.

Eddie and Ethne returned from England at the end of May and we resumed our friendship and he and I were still on the Club Committee.

The Teschemakers left Te Hauke Hill and Selwyn Cullwick took over. We had once upon a time, been very friendly with Jack but after her death and his remarriage we rarely met.

Another death to bring sadness was that of Harold Russell – that occurred on July 15th – so I had two funerals to attend in a month. On July 20th we went over to Wanganui to see both XV beaten by Te Aute 11-3 and 24-8. Boy looked wonderfully well and dined with us at Forsters. Home next day and picked up Mardie and Betty (first grandchild) at Palmerston.

Another funeral in July was that of little Frances Brock. In July we had another big fall of rain – 13.27 inches.

Bob went over to Wanganui on August 4th to bring Boy home for holidays. He had Cora Lee with him. In Middle of August I had a rotten attack of ‘flu which prevented my attending an important meeting of the H.B. Club (committee) but Eddie informed me that F. Burton had been appointed Secretary in place of Pollock – he was also Manager. It was high time Pollock went. At a subsequent meeting, at which I was present, the Committee were very satisfied with Burton’s handling of the Secretaryship. Bob took Mardie and Betty back to New Plymouth in the light truck. Jim sailed from London in the “Orcades” in September but owing to tense European situations he quite expected to be recalled from Gibraltar as he had volunteered for the Navy in case of war.

In September ‘flu seized Dorothy, who had been the mainstay while the epidemic was rampaging, and we got Sister McBeth out to help us. Then the Ivan Family all went down with ‘flu.

On September 22nd Dorothy, Doffles, Hamilton and I all went. to Wanganui – we dropped Doffles at Palmerston North, and arrived at the School in time to have a cup of tea with Gilligan (head) and Denniston. We saw Cora of course. We said goodbye to Boy that night and early next day left for home calling in to see the Phil Wrights on the way. Bob and Phil Giblin came out for a weekend and the former picked up ‘flu and had to remain to be cared for. Alister Phillips was a very constant visitor during this year and last. In July Dorothy Gordon came out – this was shortly after F.G.’s death -and during the following couple of months I was able to give her a helping hand as there was much to be sorted out before she returned to England in October to see John’s education completed. In October I proposed the Toast at Mary Palmer and Douglas McHardy’s wedding at Te Aratipi (S.M. Palmer).

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In September and October John Ormond’s election campaign was in full swing. Apart from attending a few meetings I was roped in to lend a hand. Peggy Mayo was his chief of staff again as she had been for me and Perry Wilder was also a helper. The elections took place on October 15th and once again Labour won the day in a straight-out contest 54-26. So it looked as if labour had come to stay for some time yet. John went down to Barnard as I did in 1935 by 3000! To see the results many of us gathered at the Daily Telegraph’s Office and later Eddie and I had supper at Geddis’ house and I stayed over night at the Club – in my diary I say there is never a change of Government during a time of prosperity.

My favourite cat at this period was just an ordinary grey cat called ‘Doggie’ – he lived to a fair age in spite of a cyst on a leg which used to flare up at times. News of Archie Seth Smith’s death at Silvermere, Cobham. He and Haidie had been wonderful friends to me in my days in England and their lovely home in Surrey was my home too. At the Show Ray brought with her Betty Mackenzie and Bet Dove – still staunch friends today (1967) – they were all at Woodford House together.

Still another death – A.B. Campbell, who had been a partner in Sainsbury, Logan and Williams for forty years died. He must have been nearly 80. He was quite a brilliant lawyer and had a very charming personality.

On November 2nd Jim arrived home after his wonderful holiday overseas and we had much to hear for many a day concerning his wanderings and about so many of our friends. The MacKays also returned after being away for a year. I had a long and happy weekend at Taupo with Ivan and Mary in late November.

Dorothy had a week or two of massage and hot baths in Napier for an arthritic condition and benefited greatly. I attended a meeting Sir Andrew called concerning matters of Defence – it was a long and wearisome meeting and quite unhelpful. I spent the night with Eddie and Ethne – the latter just recovered from an attack of measles. Shearing was not finished until the 30th December. It had been a wet year – 77.70 inches fell which was 32 ½ inches above the yearly average.

On the farm the most important work was that of oversowing sub-clover in Upper Gaols and Sturges after Jim had spent weeks earlier with the Rotary Hoe. Sub-clover had only just come into New Zealand and, of course, in the years to come it proved to be the greatest boon to those who owned light or shingle land, such as the Tikokino area. Bernard Chambers, who had seen the advantages of sub-clover in Western Australia, recommended it to me while I was ordering grass seed for Sturges in Williams and Kettle.

War was waged on gorse in Jim’s corner with the flamethrower and on the odd blackberry with Atlocide. But the flamethrower was a tiresome thing to use and the carrying of oil up and down hillsides was a tough job. We later discovered the best course to adopt so far as gorse eradication was concerned was to keep it from flowering, if possible, and to grub small areas at a time. Breeding ewes were stepped up to 1700 and other sheep numbered 700. Cattle were 130.

The lamb percentage was only 90% – heavy rain during lambing was the cause of a heavy loss of lambs. Wool prices were round about 1/-.

1939

My diary for January and February and up to March 22nd seems to be missing – when we left for England I probably handed it over to Jim to carry on and it is possible after his death it may have been mislaid or destroyed. Therefore my ‘doings’ and those of Pukekino up to March 22nd cannot be recorded here.

On March 22nd Dorothy, Ray and I went to Napier, after leaving Jim in full charge of Pukekino, and Sister McBeth in charge of the homestead. As our ship had been postponed in its sailing for two days we stayed in Napier till the 24th – all final arrangements for our departure were confirmed and there was a lengthy meeting between Constance, Wood, Conway and myself. A Family Dinner party and next day we journeyed to Wellington and Jim and

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Bob, who had gone in the truck with the luggage, met us at the Station.

Early in the year Constance Fountaine had come out to New Zealand to look into her affairs and as Conway and Newcombe were about to retire from the R.D.D. McLean Trust she requested my appointment as a “Trustee. W.G. Wood and I remained Sole Trustees until the final winding up of the estate sometime in the fifties. After our departure by ship for England Constance flew to England and was there when we arrived.

On 25th March at 3.30 p.m. Dorothy, Ray and I sailed in the “Mataroa” – among those on board we knew were S.M. and Dorothy Palmer, the Ernest Groomes and Jim Duncan of Wellington (Jimmy was Mrs. Arthur Duncan). Sir Julian Cahn’s cricket team were passengers and, as time went by, we became very friendly with at least a couple of dozen out of the 150 or so other passengers. The Palmers, Hilda Molesworth and ourselves had a table in the saloon to ourselves.

My diary in full from of our trip, which lasted from 25th March to October 28th, is enclosed among these papers. In it you can read all about our wanderings through England and Scotland and a brief visit to Paris and conditions in England in the early part of World War II.

The voyage to Southampton was very enjoyable but uneventful – we enjoyed the complete rest on board ship played many deck games and slept much. At Balboa we had a short time only as we arrived late in the evening – passed through the Panama Canal next day – it was new to me and full of interest. Then we had the late afternoon and evening at Colon. Then came a day at Curacao and we had a taxi driver for an hour or so before visiting the shops.

After Curacao there was a twelve day steam across the Atlantic to Southampton where Dorothy Gordon welcomed us. The journey by train to London was glorious – the day was lovely and the countryside equally so. Selby Palmer said the sight of such trees and country completely made up for the boredom of the voyage. I may mention that on the journey across there were times when the European news was alarming and the Captain said it was quite on the cards that the ship might have turned back at Panama. However after our arrival in England things quietened down till the beginning of August when they became very bleak.

Our train arrived at Waterloo Station at 11.10 on the 29thApril and there was Violet Russell to meet us and escort us to our hotel – the Maudeville in James Street off Oxford Street and here were our headquarters till the 16th September.

It was wonderful to be hack in London again after twenty-nine years and Dorothy and I proceeded to recapture the London we used to know so well and loved in those far-off days. Ray was somewhat bewildered first and thought London was a grim and dismal place but as time went on she grew to love it too. One of our first thoughts was to get busy over clothes and it was a great thrill to me on visiting Henry Corlett (my tailor in Hanover Square) to find they remembered me and old Mr. Corlett, aged 90, was still ‘on deck’ and took a hand in the fitting of suits. He used to make for my Grandfather, Uncle Jim, Father and, of course, for Ivan and me. At one time a suit cost £6.6.0d. – now the price was £12.10.0d. and the last suit made by his firm in 1950 was about £30. In about 1953 Wilkinson off St. George St. bought him out and he has made for me since then.

The following chart shows you how our itinerary worked out from the day we left New Zealand.

March 25th – April 29th S.S. Mataroa
Apr 29th – May 13th London
May 13th – 14th May 13th – 14th Okehampton, Devon
14th – 20th London
20th – 26th Keswick
26th – June 1st Bamburgh
June 1st – 2nd Newcastle-on-Tyne
2nd – 5th Silvermere, Cobham
5th – 16th London
16th – 20th Narford
20th – 21st London
June 21st – 26th Narford
26th – 28th Warminster

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28th – July 1st   London
July 1st – 3rd   Stafford
3rd – 7th   London
7th – 11th   Keswick
11th – 12th   Boat to Belfast
12th – 13th   Belfast
13th – 17th   Keswick
17th – 24th   Bamburgh
24th – 29th   Edinburgh
29th – 31st   Dundee
31st – Aug. 3rd   Edinburgh
Aug. 3rd – 4th   London
4th – 8th   Silvermere
8th – 11th   Sidmouth
11th – 18th   Narford
18th – 21st   London
21st – 23rd   Paris
23rd – Sept. 16th   London
Sept. 16th – Oct. 24nd   S.S. Rangitiki
Oct. 24th   Auckland

You will see our programme was a very full one and meant a good deal of travelling. Our visits to Narford Hall to the Fountaines were particularly enjoyable and we had a taste of life in, what the books would say, a gracious home of England. It was a great joy, too, to meet again our old friends such as the Peter Holdens at Keswick, the Jimmy Hutchinsons of Bamburgh, Mrs. King my great and kind friend of Marazion, Violet Russell, the Seth Smiths of Silvermere whose home had been a home to me while at Oxford, Alison Sharp and her husband in Dundee, Gordon Hardie of Belstone (husband of my Aunt Helen), Dr. and Mrs. Ronald of Sidmouth (once lived in Napier) and Dorothy Gordon of Clifton, at present living in Warminster.

Owing to the poor economy of New Zealand, through well overspending. of overseas funds by the Labour Government, the money allowance for overseas travellers was much reduced – this somewhat cramped our style and serious thought had to be given to our financial position from day to day. Another thing that had a depressing effect was the ever growing arrogance of Hitler and the fear of war. Then our worst fears were realised on September 3rd when England declared war on Germany after Poland’s invasion.

We had gone to Paris for ten days in August but the day after our arrival there we decided to fly back to London as the situation worsened very suddenly. And it was as well we returned when we did as a stampede of English people on the Continent returning set in with a vengence [sic]. It was August 23rd when we returned to London and things moved very fast from then onwards – all plans for a complete ‘black-out’ were in full swing, hospitals were being evacuated, anti-aircraft guns everywhere, many buses off their route, plans for evacuation of children completed and so on. Then on Sunday September 3rd at 11 o’clock war was declared and within days London was a dead city – not a light to be seen after dark, we watched the evacuation of children and the hospitals and sandbagging of historic places. Not a child’s voice to be heard. There was the occasional air raid siren’ to be heard and. the retreat to shelters. It was all very depressing but, of course, interesting to witness. After much running to and fro to shipping offices, passport offices and having plans changed by altering conditions we eventually sailed from Tilbury in the “Rangitiki” on 16th September – we boarded the ship in a terrific thunderstorm carrying our gasmasks. Our ship was the Commodore’s Ship in a convoy of 26 or more for the journey down the Channel, surrounded by destroyers and airplanes overhead. Next day our convoy was reduced to sixteen as ships peeled off towards Gibraltar and the Irish Channel etc. Then we carried on in a convoy of eight with two destroyers till somewhere near the Azores.

After that we were on our own and full steam and zig-zagging occurred from then on. And so on October 24th we reached Auckland after a good voyage with only one or two incidents, and calling only at Jamaica and Panama. In spite of a very reduced speed etc. for several days we only took about ten days longer than the normal time.

Our family and friends had no idea of the ship we were travelling by or date of departure on account of security measures. So our arrival gave them a surprise. We had been happy on the very comfortable

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“Rangitiki” – she was a full ship and there was elbow room for all and much opportunity for games. Bill and Mary Toomey were a pleasant pair and we became friendly with them. The David Collins were also in our party – as I write in 1967 they are all dead except Bill. The Rangi class of ship was popular – comfortable accommodation and unlimited space and above all those who served in them invariably remained till retirement. The “Rangitiki” and “Rangitata” ploughed backwards and forwards between New Zealand and England for over thirty years but the “Rangitane” lost her life at the hands of a German raider during the second war.

After a day in Auckland seeing some of our friends we set off in the Limited for home – Boy came from school at Wanganui to breakfast with us in Palmerston North and the Phil Wrights came along to see us. And so on to Napier in the Express where we were met by Ivan and Mary, Jim and Bob. To see Mrs. Turnbull and spend the night in Napier. Next day I began to pick up the threads of friend- ship again and it was good to see Eddie, Maurice Chambers, Horrie and others. We went home to Pukekino in the late afternoon and found it good to be in our home again. The little cats and my dogs gave me a great welcome and Sharpie (sheepdog) would not let me out of his sight. And so we soon settled down to our life in the country and the routine of work. Pukekino appeared to be in good heart and all seemed well.

It seemed quite strange to be without a local body job to do but for a little time I was fully occupied, on my days in Napier, with the McLean Trust as only W.G. Wood and I were now the Trustees and there were many arrangements to be made for the disposal of the Wellington properties on the Terrace. There were many interviews with Lady McLean who was, at times, a very difficult and obstinate woman.

One day Bill (New Zealand Shipping Company) bought Captain Barnett of S.S. “Rangitiki” to see us when the ship was in Napier. On October 30th I attended Mrs. Puflett’s funeral – she was the wife of R.P., County Engineer, and a very nice woman indeed. Duncan Holden, with Diana aged 8, came over to see us and get all the news of his Parents.

On November 18th Guy Barron and Zoe were married and we attended the wedding and big reception.

It was interesting to see the progress at Napier Breakwater -the new wharf had been completed in my absence and was in use. Eddie, T. Geddis and Pat Higgins were very proud of the feat and always took pains to keep up my interest in the Harbour. Late in the year good rains fell to save what appeared to be an unpleasant situation. Mardie and her baby (Betty) came over to stay with us for a month.

I broke a bone in my wrist in a fall towards the end of November and this was rather a hindrance to my activities. W.G. Wood and I put in a couple of days visiting all the properties in Maraekakaho over which the McLean Trust held mortgages. This was just a routine visit of inspection.

Photograph of Vice-Admiral Charles Andrew and Mrs Constance Fountaine taken at Narford Hall in Norfolk, England in 1939. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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Image of FB (far right) with three other former Hawke’s Bay County Council Chairmen (date unknown but circa 1938). From left to right – HM Campbell, County Chairman 1924-1928; TE Crosse, County Chairman 1907-1908 and 1914-1919; TM Chambers, County Chairman 1906-1907, 1908-1911, 1920-1924; FB Logan, County Chairman 1928-1938. Image source: Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank, Accession number 878/1616/3933

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CHAPTER EIGHT

1940 – 1949

1940

This was, perhaps, the most momentous year in English history – she and the Commonwealth, as the word Empire has gone out, faced a very perilous period.

The German war-machines got into their stride and overran Norway, Belgium and Holland in rapid succession. The British Expeditionary force of over 350,000 was forced back to a narrow fringe of the French Coast and by a miracle it was evacuated almost to a man, together with a number of French and Belgian troops. Every possible ship that could float was used in the evacuation which took about three days and the weather was kind. History books will tell you of this epic story – England was now all alone in the struggle and there were no arms practically speaking – most had been left behind in France.

Neville Chamberlain stepped down from Primeministership and Winston Churchill became Prime Minister and the greatest inspiration to the free world. His first object was to try to save France which was hard pressed and divided – all efforts failed and France caved in and became a vassal of Hitler. However, after a struggle, some of its fleet fell into our hands and some became immobile. Then Italy jumped on to Hitler’s bandwaggon, hoping to share in the spoil. So it came that our position in the Mediterranean was one of extreme difficulty.

Preparations for a German invasion of England were set in motion at once. For three weeks the German Air Force tried its best to knock England’s small force of fighters out – they failed to do so to their cost. Then the heavy bombing of London began and though the damage and loss of life was great they failed again to achieve what they set out to do. England was saved by its fighter pilots and by the wonderful spirit of its people. “Never in the field of human conflict did so many owe so much to so few” said Churchill. So the war went on in all its fury and England stood alone.

There were no local bodies to occupy my time or attention these days – however, we used to go to Napier at least once a week as Mrs. Turnbull was getting older and less able to get out very much and usually on our visits to town we used to call in at Lindisfarne to see Eddie and Ethne Herrick and I spent many odd nights with Mr. Wenley while Dorothy went to her Mother. Also there were visits to Okawa.

Here now are notes of events month by month through the year-

January

This was a full month by and large. Ray paid a visit to Whana Whana and Boy had a week in Taupo.

Mardie and her Betty returned to New Plymouth after a visit to us.

During the month we had our first pick of fat lambs and the balance of wether lambs were put on the rape crop. Towards the end of the month the boys took the baby car and went to the Centennial Exhibition in Wellington and on their return visited the Collins and Bidwell families in the Wairarapa.

The war remained fairly static.

February

At the Ewe Fair Kereru Station topped the market with 20/6 for five year ewes and we got 17/6d. The principal work on the farm was dipping and a grand sorting up of the ewes. Boy went back to school on February 7th – he was now 15.

Many of our friends’ sons were now in the Army and Air Force or Navy and on February 13th, which was his 21st birthday, Bob went to the Air Force training camp at Ohakea. At the next Ewe Fair we got 26/- for two tooth ewes. On the last day of the month there was a biggish earthquake – power and telephone were affected for a time.

March

Early in the month a start was made in the sowing down in grass the II Cocksfoot – wind delayed this operation and then on the 20th and 21st of the month a heavy

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westerly gale played havoc, fortunately by that time, the subclover had struck but much of the other seed suffered. Early in the month Maie Casey (now Lady Casey) passed through Auckland on her way to join Dick in Washington, who was the Australian Ambassador to U.S.A. and she telephoned me. Her voice came through clearly and it was grand to hear it after twenty-nine years. On March 15th Jim had to go before the Air Force Board and sit an exam for which he had been swotting for a long time. At Easter Dorothy and I went to Wanganui, calling in for a night at the Phil Wrights. Bob and Ray joined us there and we attended the School Sports – Boy acquitted himself well until he spiked his leg in the hurdles. He won the mile under 16 and was second in the half mile. I met many old friends at the Easter gathering – among them was Forbesy (Lady Elliot) and Horace Hewitt whom I had not seen since leaving school. H. St. B. Holland (Bishop of Wellington) was there too and preached in the Chapel. He and I resumed our talks on many things of interest for he came from Cornhill in Northumberland. There was a reception given by Gilligan (Headmaster) and many old boys and wives also were there. Randall Kettle won the Junior Championship. There were the usual dinner parties at the hotel at which boys gorged themselves as of yore. After watching the football match between School XV and Old Boys we left for home, calling in to the Phil Wrights en route. Mrs. Turnbull stayed at Pukekino while we were away. J.A. Lee, one of Labour’s strongmen, set up a party of his own and was, consequently, expelled from the Labour Party. W.E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier and Speaker of the House, resigned and followed Lee. That was the end of both of these men politically. During the month M.J. Savage, P.M., died and there was a grotesque funeral – it began with the body being taken by special train from Wellington to Auckland with a running commentary of the journey, crocodile tears being shed at every stopping place. Alister Graham came up to a farewell dinner before leaving New Zealand with the Air Force – he was among those who never returned and was missed by many for he was a very nice young fellow.

April

Doffles and her baby (Robin) came to stay while her husband found a job. She and Mardie caused us much worry. Jim sat his test exams for the Air Force and now awaited his ‘call up’. Norway’s plight had now become very desperate.

There was some rain before the-end of the month and this saved the second Cocksfoot’s life, though quite an amount of seed must have been lost the paddock proved to be better than hoped for. Ian joined the Army and proceeded to Trentham Camp. And Bob, after suffering from perpetual air sickness at Ohakea, was grounded and joined the A.T.C. and, likewise, went to Trentham Camp. The Family gave a party for them at the H.B.F. in Hastings – after starting it off Dorothy and I left. The feed position seemed to be satisfactory for I purchased about fifty odd 21 year steers at £6.1.0d.

May

It was in May that Belgium and Holland were invaded by the Germans – the British Expeditionary Force was rushed to stem the tide but all in vain. On the 30th Belgium surrendered and by then our Forces were just holding on to a fringe of the coast of North France. Then came the order for the British Armies to evacuate France and every conceivable ship that could steam or sail proceeded to the coast near Dunkirk to pick up what they could. With fair weather and superb management nearly all of the Expeditionary Force was rescued and bought back safely to England but without its arms. It was a miraculous achievement. England then stood alone with backs to the wall and awaited the attempted invasion. W.S. Churchill was P.M. by this time and his courage gave courage to us all. During the May holidays Cora was over to stay with us. On May 26th, just before the evacuation, an Intercession Service was ordered and as our padre (Waugh) could not come to Kereru on

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that day I undertook it and there was a good congregation. Eddie Herrick, Pat Higgins and T.M. Geddis kept me interested in Harbour affairs – the idea being to get me on the Harbour Board. On 27th I was elected to the Board of Williams and Kettle at the Annual Meeting and once again Charlie Matthews, M.S. Chambers and I came close together.

June

The retreat from Dunkirk was actually completed on the 3rd. It was a week of much gloom and speculation and to look back upon that time makes one shudder. There was another universal day of thanksgiving for the safe delivery on the first Sunday of the month and Parson Waugh (Presbyterian Minister of Havelock) gave one of his inspiring talks. The Eatons came down that afternoon and we had a quiet talk over things before the fire.

At this time W.S. Churchill spoke to the nation over the air and what he said was always courage producing though the message was grim. One of his first missions when France appeared to be collapsing was a hurried flight to France somewhere south of Paris, to offer her union with Britain so long as she maintained the struggle. But France had lost heart and she surrendered. It was then that Italy, under the tyrant Mussolini, decided to come into the war on Hitler’s side – she was determined to have something out of the wreck – what a liability she proved to be to Hitler. During June the last of our troops were withdrawn from Norway but her underground movement never allowed the Germans any rest. Bob came back from Camp for a few days to recover from a bout of ‘Flu. Our dear old cat “Goody” died and Sharp (sheepdog and constant companion) showed signs of definite deterioration and was allowed to sleep at night in the washhouse). There was much going and coming to Okawa as Ralph’s mental state began to give anxiety. L.C. Rolls and I were appointed his attorney and took over his affairs. This, in the long run, became a fearful headache for me. There was much anxiety concerning the fate of the French Fleet -ultimately some of it was scuttled, some sunk by our Navy, some was immobilised and some came to our side. England began making feverish plans against the expected invasion. F.W. Williams (a founder of Williams and Kettle) died aged 87.

August

Sandy Eaton got his wings in the Air Force and Jock his M.B. We received the sad news of the deaths of Jim Fairbairn and Geoff Street in an air crash in Australia – they were M.P.s and we had met them in Canberra in 1937.

Bob’s final leave came and he sailed for Egypt – Dorothy went to Wellington for a day or two before his departure.

Eddie, M. Chambers, N. Avery and I attended the Club dinner before the annual meeting. Vyv and Rowan Hill came to say farewell during their final leave. It was the last we saw of Rowan as he was killed in North Africa.

The nice and gentlest hack we ever possessed was Joyce – Jim bought her from somewhere near Korokipo and she was a faithful friend for very many years and in her last years she was with Boy at ‘The Cottage’.

It was a year of much grass and we had 400 cattle on the place. But a disease among lambs cropped up and we lost quite a number when they were three or four weeks old. It was about 25th August that The Battle of Britain began – the attempt by the German Air Force to ground and destroy our fighters preparatory to invasion.

September

This crucial battle of the air continued for another week or two and then the Germans broke off and concentrated on heavy bombing of London in particular, causing much damage and loss of civilians. These raids were usually staged in the night time and were full of alarm but the Londoners stood firm.

A.E. Jull, M.P. for Waipawa, died. He was a very able man and had figured prominently in local body affairs over many years. But as Chairman of Napier Harbour Board many of us consider he stifled progress by his Inner Harbour Scheme. Then Uncle Nat (Kettle) died at the age of 85 or 86 and I was a pallbearer at his funeral at Eskdale on

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September 30th. So the two founders of Williams and Kettle died in the same year. For many years, ever since the formation of Williams and Kettle into a Limited Liability Company in 1895, Uncle Nat and F.W. Williams were joint managing Directors – the former concentrated mainly on keeping contact with the clients while F.W.W. was the financial expert. Whenever I had occasion to call upon them and found them both sitting at the same table (it is still used by the Manager) I was reminded of the Dual Monarchy of Grecian days.

October

On the 1st Lady McLean died at her home in Napier Terrace – W.G. Wood and I were pallbearers at the quiet burial in Napier Cemetery. She was the daughter of a Mr. Stoney Butler of Southern Ireland and married R.D.D. McLean of Maraekakaho in 1884 (later Sir R.D.D. McLean). Constance (Mrs. Fountaine) was the elder daughter, Beatrice the younger and a son, Algernon, who was a Captain in the Cameron Highland Regiment and died in the 1920s. After Lady McLean’s death, W.G.W. and I, being sole trustees, got to work to complete the winding up of the large estate. Lady McLean had switched over to C. Bisson as her solicitor and this caused a little complication but we survived.

Once more I was a delegate to a meeting of the National Party at Waipukurau to select a candidate for the By-election caused by Jull’s death. At Maraekakaho we had had several meetings to discuss the question of how delegates should vote – whether their hands should be tied or left free. In the end freedom of choice prevailed. The candidates were John Ormond and Cyril Harker – the latter was chosen and once again John accepted defeat wonderfully well.

Yet another death of an old friend – too many this year have departed, that is friends of my Parents. Aunt Bess (Gore) died at the age of 84 -her children had been friends of my youth especially Ella (Mrs. Thornley Sherratt) and Mabel Donnelly, mother of Pat. Aunt Bess had been Spencer Gollan’s friend for many years and in those days this sort of thing caused much eyebrow lifting – it seems to be accepted these days with equanimity.

Forbes McHardy of Aramoana was elected to Williams and Kettle’s Board in place of N. Kettle.

Again I met H. St. B. Holland (Bishop of Wellington) at Okawa.

Mrs. Edward Averill (our close neighbour) died and was buried at Havelock on the 24th. It was a merciful release for her memory had been of little account for some years. At the Show on 23rd we went to a large lunch party given by Eddie and Ethne, then to tea at Tauroa to see Mrs. Chambers who was nearing the end of her life but still so wonderfully bright. Measles laid Dorothy low at the end of the month – it was a very nasty bout and we had to get Sister McBeth out to help. News came of Bob’s safe arrival in Egypt after a long voyage by way of Australia and India.

November

One time while spending a night or so with Mr. Wenley I took him out to Havelock to see Mrs. Saunders.

The old “Rangitiki”, while in a convoy in the Atlantic, was one of the few ships to escape a German raider but the “Rangitane” was less fortunate and she was sunk near the Chatham Islands with a large cargo of meat on board. Jim sat for his Air Exams and passed.

Italy was learning all about her folly of joining up with Germany and suffered some heavy naval losses in the Mediterranean. At the by-election in Waipawa Cyril Harker, the National Candidate, won and he was M.P. for Waipawa and later Hawke’s Bay until his retirement twenty odd years later.

Eddie and I were still members of the H.B. Club Committee and attended the monthly meetings regularly. By this time Norman Mackay was President.

After much discussion and thought W.G. Wood and I (McLean Estate) decided to sell the Wellington property (Terrace) as a whole rather than subdivide and road it etc. This was George Nathan’s advice to us – so we sold it to the Government.

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On the 27th Bryan Herrick, R.F.C was lost somewhere in the English Channel. Earlier Michael Herrick had received the D.F.C. for good work in the Battle of Britain.

On the 29th Jim left us to enter the Camp at Levin and how we missed him in the home and on the farm.

December

There were more meetings in regard to the subdivision of Napier Terrace.

Home Guard Defence meetings throughout New Zealand were held and at Kereru it was decided to appoint R.P. Kay as Commander of our unit and I was on the council committee to help work things out. On the 10th we attended a lunch party al Lindisfarne to say farewell to the Galways (Governor General) who were about to leave New Zealand after their term of office. Later we went to see Mr. and Mrs. Mason Chambers.

The offensive against the Italians in North Africa appeared to be gaining success and the situation there was easing. Jim came home for a few days leave at Christmas time and the Eatons also had leave.

On the 30th I attended the funeral of C.C. Smith at Eskdale who had succeeded me as Chairman of the H.B.C.C. It looked as if Robert Harding would follow on as Chairman.

1941

On the Continent of Europe the war was mainly between Russia and Germany and it was a titanic struggle between giants. We were heavily engaged in North Africa against Italy and were giving her all she deserved till Germany came to her aid – then the fortunes of war fluctuated back and forth for most of the year. At one time, just as it

Photo captions –

Frank Logan joined Williams & Kettle as a director in 1940 and was Chairman from 1958 to 1963. Image source: Len Anderson, Throughout the East Coast: The Story of Williams and Kettle Limited, Pictorial Publications, Hastings, 1974.

FB alongside his beloved Buick c. 1931. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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appeared we were on top, many of our troops were sent from North Africa to help the Greeks but the venture failed. Late in the year Japan attacked the U.S.A. and we were then forced to declare war on Japan. This meant we were then committed to a war in the East and at a time when our resources were at a low level. The year ended in our overall position being fairly desperate and, for the first time in her history, New Zealand’s safety was threatened. However my monthly record will tell of happenings at home and abroad.

January

The campaign in North Africa progressed well and the Italians continued to run backwards losing many thousands of prisoners to us. It was fine and warm for the first half of the month and seasonal work on the farm, such as putting lambs on the rape crops, dipping sheep and normal maintenance work, was well up to date.

Tony Mayne lost his life on Lake Taupo in trying to save the life of one of his boys, who fell off a launch. He was killed by the propellor.

Our dear friend, Mrs. Mason Chambers, died and I was at her funeral in Havelock on the 18th. It was more or less private. Jim passed out of Weraroa, Levin (R.N.Z.A.F.) with 88% marks and proceeded to New Plymouth for flying instruction. At our first Home Guard meeting R.P. Kay was elected to be in command, W.A. Whyte (Sergeant), George Anderson, Ian Smith and Cecil Averill (Corporals). Towards the end of the month the weather turned and the month’s total rainfall was 6.77 inches.

February

On the 1st, which was a perfect day, the Kereru Sports were held. Ray and Boy were there all day but Dorothy and I did not go over till the afternoon when we met all the locals and had much conversation.

We saw Boy off to Wanganui on the 6th and then went up to Onslow Road to see Judy and Gordon Williams who had taken the Branson’s house for a period.

The Ewe Fair took place on the 7th – there was only one held in those days. My two-tooth ewes fetched 39/- and the old ewes fetched from 20/-to 14/-. Selby Palmer and I lunched at Hastings Club. Later I walked up to Lindisfarne to see Eddie and Ethne. We changed and went to ‘The Gondoliers’ at Hastings, after dining at Maurice Chambers to meet Guy Stroud, Viola Wilson and Fullard, the principals of the Show – we had met Guy a few years earlier at the Austins in Sydney. St. John’s Ambulance people came out to Home Guard one day and instructed us in first aid. The campaign in North Africa was still going well. I spent a weekend at Okawa. The usual Williams and Kettle meetings to which I took Eddie, he being on a bus route had a very limited supply of petrol.

The work on the farm consisted mainly of fence repairing and blackberry spraying. Bill and I were alone to cope with the work these days but Ray and Dorothy were always at hand to help us along.

March

Hildreth, the contract plough expert, came and sowed barley in Sturges together with grass seed.

Russia overran the Balkan States and U.S.A. adopted a Land Lease policy and began to supply us with naval vessels and other equipment which was very timely help.

Yugoslavia stood out against Hitler and proved a very definite thorn in his flesh for it delayed his plans in the Balkan affair. Bob had a hit of tummy trouble in Egypt and Inga Sorenson, who was nursing over there, posted us his news.

Jim came up for three days leave and Hugh Eaton (now a pilot in the Air Force) was home at the same time. Also Hiraani came to us for ten days – she was more or less engaged to Bob. The Autumn was a good one – the young grass shot up over night, also barley, and lambs fattened well on the rape. Williams and Kettle celebrated their fiftieth anniversary and all Directors received a present of some ‘grog’. On the 20th we farewelled Eddie and Ethne who went off to the Fiord country in Southland for Wapiti shooting.

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April

The Italians had a bad month for Eretria was first retaken by our troops – then Abyssinia regained and Haile Selassie was then returned to his own country. And the Italian Navy suffered considerable loss in the Mediterranean. They were almost a liability to Hitler now. But the war in Greece became an anxiety – the Greek Government made for Crete and the fighting in Greece itself became desperate.

We heard that Bob had had measles and was unable to go to Greece so after a rest in the Holy Land he returned to Egypt. So he was well out of the Greek venture.

It was a sad time for the Grahams for after Alister had gone missing for sometime he was posted as killed. The campaign in North Africa was seriously affected by so many of our troops being sent to Greece and our troops fell back once again to the Egyptian border. This was a blow. After considerable thought and upon advice from surveyors etc., Wood and I (Trustees in McLean Estate) abandoned the idea of cutting up the land in Napier Terrace and dismantling the old house. It was going to be very costly. So we sold the area for £1800 – this sum was ridiculously low in view of present values (1967) but it was considered a good price at the time. Our ewe flock was now 1730 plus hoggets etc – this came about as a result of topdressing, new pastures and more courage. Towards the end of the month my old friend George Gould of Christchurch came up to Napier for a few days and we had a few jaunts into the country together. A.H. Fergusson, late County Clerk, died and I attended his burial at Puketapu Cemetery where the Service was conducted by a Plymouth Brother. It was a hot day and the Minister held forth for about half an hour.

May

The position in Greece became very critical and Greece asked us to withdraw our troops. This was done but not without heavy loss and Crete became the front line. It was a wet month and crutching was much hampered. Early in the month Boy and Ray went to Auckland for a few days. Monty was now married to Pat Goodson – the three years after Cora and he were separated having passed. Monty was posted to Blenheim as a Flight Lieutenant in R.N.Z.A.F. Eddie, Pat Higgins and Geddis prevailed upon me to stand for the Harbour Board – I would never have agreed had it not been for the war and the younger men, who should have undertaken local body work, being in the forces or about to be. So my nomination went forward and I was unopposed. My first meeting was on the 26th and on that day the last pile of No. 4 Wharf was driven. County representation on the board was L. Gordon, J. Barker and myself. T.M. Geddis was Chairman, Eddie Herrick and L. Stephenson were Government nominees. The Board consisted of twelve. Vichy France, under Laval, became a complete puppet of Germany but the Free French stood by us. Our fighters seemed to be getting on top of the German bombers but still the bombing (particularly night bombing) of England seemed to continue. The House of Commons was damaged one night. Jim came home on final leave and on the 23rd he sailed for Canada in the “Aorangi”. We said good-bye at Pukekino and Boy and Ray took him to catch his train. Sandy Eaton also went overseas and before he left he flew over our house one day to say farewell.

H.M.S. “Hood” with all her crew save one, went down after the German Battleship “Bismark” got a direct hit. A chase then began and a day or so later the “Bismark” was caught and sunk. A bulldozer came out and made a number of useful tracks on Pukekino. Our Home Guard was fitted out with uniforms and one night we held a dance in the Kereru Hall to raise funds. On 26th George Gould died in Christchurch he was a close friend but older than me by about twelve years.

June

Frances Woods (Turnbull) and her husband came out to see us one day with the Ivans. The Woods live in Surrey and he was a building contractor. We had not seen her since she was a girl round about World War 1. Our Expeditionary Forces, after suffering severely in Crete, were evacuated to Egypt,

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or what was left of it, and then the Greek Campaign came to an end and Greece and her dependencies fell into the hands of Germany. My work as a member of the Harbour Board really began and the habit of picking up Eddie at Lindisfarne lasted till after the war as his slender petrol allowance did not cover journeys to Napier which was on a bus route. A cheerful letter came from Jim on his journey to Canada and Bob’s letters from North Africa came fairly regularly. Jim eventually reached Vancouver on the 16th and proceeded to the Air Training Camp at Portage La Prairie near Winnipeg. One day Sir Cyril Newall, our new Governor General, met us at the Harbour Board and later Dorothy and I dined at Lindisfarne to meet him and Lady Newell. He had been in command of Bombers in France early in the war. She was an American and somewhat “up-stage”. Dennis Herrick (Air Force) was brought down off the west coast of France and severely wounded. It was not till some months later that the news of his death came to hand. He was buried in L’Orient (Brittany). The month was a very cold and wet one – 6.25 inches fell.

July

It was a quiet and uneventful month except for Williams and Kettle and Harbour Board meetings. I spent a week at Okawa and called to see the Dudley Hills he is now much of an invalid and much in a bathchair, The present Kennedy Parking Area was sold by the Harbour Board to the City Council. The principal work on the farm was ploughing and usual routine work. Japan became very aggressive in Indo-China and Siam so the U.S.A. and ourselves applied sanctions, whatever they may mean – they were applied to Italy when she waged war on Abyssinia but I don’t know what effect, if any, such action had.

August

A titanic struggle was in progress in Russia – the German armies and the Russian armies were locked in deadly combat. Early in the month I went to Wellington to attend the sale of Lady McLean’s effects from the homes on The Terrace. I stayed at the Wellington Club and was happy to find J. G. Coates also staying there. He was a member of cabinet it was then a Labour Government but Holland and Coates of the National Party were taken into Cabinet. Gordon Coates and I saw much of each other during the few days. It was the last time of meeting for he died before the end of the war. While in Wellington I also saw L. Tripp, G.G. Watson, Jimmy Duncan, Mrs. Joseph and Florence and, of course, Cora Turnbull. And one afternoon I visited Jim and Forbesy (Sir James and Lady Elliott) in their attractive Georgian home in Kent Terrace. I called on the Canadian High Commissioner (Riddell) who was an old friend of Maie Casey. Boy was now in the Wanganui Collegiate School 2nd Fifteen and spare man for the 1st Fifteen.

The famous Atlantic meeting took place off the coast of Newfoundland between Churchill and Roosevelt when many things were ironed out and plans laid for a better world after the war. John Logan joined the Navy and proceeded to England to H.M.S. “Ganges”‘ for training.

September

The sale of the effects of the McLean home in Napier was held at the H.B. Farmers wool store at the Port – there were a few good prices but much junk. I suppose you would call it a good sale. A committee was set up in Wellington called The Shipping Allotment Committee to deal with the movement of all ships on the New Zealand Coast. There was a meetingleld with the Napier Harbour Board and understanding reached. Russia held her own with Germany and the losses on each side were terrific. Another of our dear pets had to be ‘put to sleep’ – this time it was a very loving ten year old cat we called “Trolly”.

October

There does not appear to be very much of interest in my diary to note for this month. The sleeping verandah was glassed in and much of the interior of the homestead was painted and papered. Jim passed his navigation exams in Canada. I think he enjoyed his time

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there and many people were very kind to our Air Force boys. He was posted after Portage La Prairie for a short time at Defoe (Saskatchewan). Late in the month the sad news came that Dennis Herrick had died in a Prisoner of War Camp and was buried at L’Orient in Brittany. A day or two later Eddie and Ethne came out to see us full of bravery.

November

Russia was being very hard pressed but standing firm. The Aircraft Carrier “Ark Royal” was torpedoed near Gibraltar – a great loss but fortunately only one out of a complement of 1300 lost his life. The campaign in North Africa was not in good shape – we were still suffering from the result of the lost war in Greece and Crete.

But a cheerful matter was the ever increasing destruction of Italy’s navy. For some reason Boy was given ten days leave from school to give a helping hand on the farm and what a help he was too. Later he went to Christchurch to row for Wanganui in the second boat. On the 14th we were sad to part with Ray who went to Auckland to do her Karitane training. We were then completely without any children at home. Molly Herrick and her little son, Dennis, came up to Lindisfarne for a visit. Algernon McLean had left a small sum of money and as he had always suggested in event of his death that it should be distributed among some of the old retainers at Maraekakaho I was appointed with Gascoyne to make the distribution.

Towards the end of the month only one inch of rain fell and we grew worried as there had been very little spring growth. I spent the first weekend with Mr. Wenley – old Sarah (McLean) his housekeeper of years standing, always had a very appetising dinner whenever I spent a night or two in Onslow Road.

On the 8th a breathtaking happening occurred – Japanese planes arrived over Pearl Harbour in Hawaii early in the morning and after a sharp attack almost the whole of the U.S.A. fleet based there was destroyed and much loss of life. There had been no warning whatever and the lapse of late had been agressive. The blow was very severe but it had the effect of bringing the U.S.A. into war with Japan – we then declared war on Japan and U.S.A. declared war on Germany. So it was now a world war. Before the end of the month many unpleasant things happened – the Japanese sank our two largest ships in Eastern waters – the “Repulse” and the “Prince of Wales” – it appeared the ships had no air cover. Then the Japs began to advance towards Burma, Malay, Singapore and Hong Kong fell easily at that time. A cable came from Bob to say all was well so we gathered he had been- in action – this proved to be the case. Out of his company he was one of twelve to remain – most were taken prisoner and Phil Giblin among them. A momentous meeting took place between Churchill and President Roosevelt off the coast of Newfoundland and this made history. After this meeting Churchill broadcast a very strong message to the Nation and our Allies. Our defence against possible Jap invasion was stepped up and, incidentally, rationing of many articles intensified. Jim passed his observer-navigation exams with 70% in Canada. Towards the end of the month nearly three inches of rain fell and shearing was not finished until December 23rd.

1942

This was the third year of the war which had now become global. It was, perhaps, the most perilous period of the war for during the most part of it we and our allies were very sorely pressed in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. However, towards the end of the year the tide appeared to be turning in our favour. It was early in the year that Jim arrived in England after nearly a year’s training in Canada and in Nov he was lost in an air battle over the English Channel.

January

The year began with very unsettled weather and high gales and at the end of the month the rainfall reached 6.50 inches.

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We waged war on the blackberries with atlacide and the goats with .22 and .303 rifles. The goats had increased rapidly over the past year or so and were a menace to our crops. Early one morning we were listening to the B.B.C. News (it was 4a.m.) and we heard Philip Giblin’s voice from Benghazi – he was left there by the Italian Army in retreat. This was the first news of his safety. After months of grim resistence in Stalingrad the Russian Armies appeared to be ready to take the offensive and the huge German Armies there were becoming exhausted. But the situation in the Phillipines and Singapore became increasingly grave. Mardie and her children came to stay with us. During the month I had a weekend with Mr. Wenley and there were meetings of the Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle and the McLean Trust.

February

This was a gloomy month so far as the war news went. In North Africa we were being pushed back towards Egypt and in the Far East, Singapore and the Phillipines were completely occupied by the Japanese.

Further gloom was bought about by Boy’s return to school and the deterioration in Sharp’s condition (my sheepdog) he was finding it difficult to follow me on my daily rounds and one day he just couldn’t make it.

There was a cable from Jim to say he was stationed at Andover (Wilts) and later a letter to tell of a very unpleasant crossing from Canada to England and his arrival there on Christmas Day. We heard later that the convoy he was in was under heavy submarine attack and the seas were rough.

It was a very wet month for a little over seven inches fell but nonetheless we managed to get most of the dipping done and some fat lambs away.

Ivan was now in camp at McLean Park with the National Guard and was at H.Q.

My Harbour activities seemed to grow and I was now on the Reserves and Works Committees. One day Burnley (Commissioner of Crown Lands) took some of us over the Ahuriri Lagoon which the Public Works were bringing into production, mostly by drain work. W.G. Wood and I had our annual tour of the lands in Maraekakaho under mortgage to the McLean Estate.

March

By the early part of the month all wether lambs except sixty-two had gone off fat.

This was the 30th year of my occupation of Pukekino and I felt as Cecil Rhodes felt on his deathbed `So much to do so little done’.

A letter written by Jim on board the transport from Canada only just arrived. Mails in these days were very erratic. The war in North Africa was gloomy, likewise in the Pacific but Russia was giving the Germans all they wanted. Little Lloyd Coleman, a brilliant young airman, was killed in action. Eddie Herrick came out for a weekend ad we made an excursion or two in the district.

After our Harbour Board meeting on the 16th and a visit to Ellison and Duncan we found Gordon Hannay (Captain R.N.) at Lindisfarne.

On the 20th we had our first letter from Jim from England. He was stationed at Andover. We also heard from Violet Russell and Peter Holden who had seen him.

Hiraani was out to stay with us for a week.

My little sheep dog ‘Sharp’ – such a faithful friend of eleven years – had to be ‘put to sleep’ and we buried him near the hazel tree where he loved to sleep.

April

Early in the month there was a Home Guard alarm given – it came at 2.30a.m. and we had to beat it rapidly to a meeting place in Twyford – I was for a time to watch over certain crossroads. Later we all gathered at Fernhill before returning to our homes. One night after dark over one hundred vehicles of various types and sizes passed along our road on the journey to a rendezvous – they had come from Waiouru via the Gorge. The vehicles carried no lights and there were numerous accidents – a truck went over Olrig Gorge and landed in the creek – Cecil Averill’s road fence was wrecked in several places and in a collision near Fernhill a soldier was killed. At this time there was a very definite thought that the

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Japs would attempt an attack on New Zealand, by passing Australia, and feverish plans were considered as to the guarding of our beaches – a big task indeed. On my annual overhaul Barrett suggested an easing up of my strenuous Home Guard activities as I was now 58, so I was appointed orderly room clerk or the equivalent.

Ray came down from Auckland in the middle of the month for a couple of weeks holiday after an attack of ‘flu’ and it was nice to have a young person in the house again. One day L.C. Rolls, who was in command of Napier’s Home Guard, took me for a tour of the Home Guard operations, He took his job very seriously and was most efficient. I decided to apply lime to several paddocks on Pukekino and Bill Limes did the job for me. Mrs. Empson and Mrs. Fox were living at Hillsbrook in Havelock at this time and we paid them a visit one day. Letters were coming regularly from Jim, who was in constant touch with our numerous friends. Boy was home for the holidays and his help was very needed. Before returning he was in Auckland to play in a match against Kings College. Bob wrote from Syria where he was having a period of leave. The situation was not very happy in the Egyptian area. But Russia was making good progress. The U.S.A. were now beginning to get into their stride and were striking hard against the Japs in the region of the Solomons and the naval battle of the Coral Sea proved to be the turning point in its favour. In this month the annual dinner at the Club when S.M. Palmer, N. Mackay, J. McLennan and I foregathered, took place. It was always a happy event. One weekend while I was staying at Okawa Commodore and Mrs. Parry were also guests. He had once been stationed in New Zealand. Then he was in command of the Achilles at the time three Light Cruisers engaged the German packet battleship `Graffspee’ of South America and so bought about her destruction.

June

One thousand bomber raids began over Germany particularly selected targets were Cologne and Essen. The U.S.A. Navy continued its activity in and around the Solomon Islands. Williams and Kettle’s annual meeting took place and five percent dividend paid. Jim’s 29th birthday was on June 3rd. More often than not, after our monthly meetings of the Harbour Board, Eddie and I and sometimes others, would go to Ellison and Duncan’s store at the Port where Bert King (Cocky) entertained us. Eddie has been Chairman of Ellison and Duncan’s job for many years.

On the 24th there was quite a sizeable earthquake – it was felt more in Wellington than in Hawke’s Bay. We had much cattle feed and as Seton Wenley was short of feed 70 of his bullocks came up to Pukekino for grazing. It was quite a bad season for lameness in the sheep and much of our time was taken up with foot-rotting – a horrid job. At the end of the month the position of our forces based in Egypt was gloomy and we were right back on the frontier once more.

July

Remarkably mild winter so far – one of the mildest I can remember.

Home Guard activities much in evidence – sometimes there were parades more than once a week.

News came that Ian (Logan) had married Kay Wilson, who was nursing in Fiji where Ian was stationed for some months with the New Zealand Forces.

A cable came to say Jim had been promoted to a Pilot Officer’s rank and was now stationed at West Raynham, just a few miles from Narford. So he was able to bike over to Narford for weekends and enjoy the comforts of a pleasant home and all it meant. Carlo and Constance Fountaine were wonderfully kind to Jim and they became his ‘next of kin’ and this was a great comfort to us.

Heavy fighting flared up in Egypt and Russia.

Rowan Hill was posted missing in Egypt and later pronounced killed.

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Dudley Hill, who was always a difficult man, became very bitter after this.

Sandy Eaton was home from the Pacific on a little leave. I went over to Wanganui to see the School XV beat Te Aute by 18-6. Boy was playing wing three-quarter. It was good to meet many old friends over there, among them were Hartgill and David and Sybil Collins. Just before leaving I suspected ‘flu’ had seized hold of me and the journey home by service car was uncomfortable.

August

I spent at least a week in bed and was a bit groggy for longer. On Dorothy’s birthday we had a small family luncheon party at The Masonic. Eddie had a severe attack of ‘flu’ also and was in bed for at least a week.

The U.S.A. Fleet in the Pacific seems to be well in command of the situation.

Napier had by now become the port from which most supplies were despatched for the U.S.A. Navy in the Pacific and several ships came in to port each month. And at times high ranking Naval men came. On one occasion Pat Higgins and I were deputed by the Harbour Board (Geddis being away and Eddie with ‘flu’) to attend a very important conference with Commodore Sir Atwill Lake, Hannay and U.S.A. Captain Olding. We also showed them all the harbour facilities after the conference and lunch.

W.S. Churchill visited Egypt and Moscow and it must have been at that time he urged action to be taken to stop the rot. The Duke of Kent was killed in an air accident in Scotland and this caused much consternation.

The weather changed and much rain fell towards the end of the month and this caused some considerable loss of young lambs. We also had more trouble than usual of cattle going over the gorge, which entailed much heavy work in trying to save them.

At the end of the term Boy left school for good and his help on the farm was tremendous – he was in his eighteenth year. So ended the education of our family.

September

The German Army under Rommell began an offensive in Egypt again in an attempt to push us out of the country and gain access to the Red Sea.

John Russell was killed in Egypt by a land mine – he was a grand young man. Bob cabled to say he was out of hospital the truck he was driving in the desert was wrecked by a bomb but he was not injured badly.

Jim was now a member of a Boston bomber crew – navigator. There were letters from various friends who had seen him and Constance Fountaine and Carlo had taken a great liking to him and had stepped in as his ‘next of kin’. This was a very happy thought for us.

Docking was not so exciting as hoped for – only 90% and this was on account of heavy rain in August.

Randall Kettle, who had always been a great friend of Boy’s, came to us while waiting for his call to join the Royal Navy. He was a nice boy and most helpful on the farm.

Jim Lowry had a lengthy stay in Royston Hospital and I often popped in to see him. It was here his romance with Edna Sorenson began and later he married her.

October

The long looked for offensive began in Egypt -during the wait there were many changes made and now Alexander and Montgomery were in command and the necessary equipment was to hand. Owing to the Mediterranean being virtually closed to us everything had to go round by South Africa and Suez Canal. The big battle around Stalingrad still raged with the Germans getting weary. The situation in the Solomon Islands remained fairly static. Air raids over Italy were stepped up and she began to feel her choice of joining up with Hitler was the wrong one. With Hamilton (Boy) and Randall Kettle with us our work on the farm progressed and it became a pleasure instead of a burden.

Harbour Board meetings, subsequent visits to Ellison and Duncan at the Port

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and Williams and Kettle meetings continued.

November

Early in November a large U.S.A. task force landed at Casablanca, Oran and other ports of North Africa and a pincer operation began as our armies in Egypt began the offensive on a big scale and by the end of the month Rommell’s army was in full retreat along the coast road – altogether the situation was becoming very hopeful. Randall Kettle left us and after a week at his home he was on his way to England to join the navy. Very heavy gales struck and the windmill was wrecked.

On the 10th poor old Jim was lost in the English Channel when his bomber was brought down in an air battle off the coast of Normandie. Early on the morning of the 11th Dorothy and I heard on the short-wave of the loss of three Boston Bombers and we just thought that Jim might have been on this venture. Next day our worst fears were confirmed but we were asked to keep quiet for security reasons. Constance Fountaine was quick to report to us. A little later in the month Jim’s old dog `Ben’ became ill – old age – and we had to have him `put to sleep’. Meg had gone earlier. I spent a weekend at the Mackay’s in Lincoln Road and Ian was taken ill at the time and it became apparent that his diabetic trouble was becoming serious.

December

The damage to the Windmill was extensive and it took some repairing. However we were fortunate to have a pump engine as well. Goats on Pukekino were becoming a menace so Anne and Godfrey Kay came down and gave Boy a hand to wage war on them.

Early in December we had our last letter from Jim and on the 17th came the news that he had been killed – his body was washed onto the shore near Le Havre where he is now buried. The overall war situation was improving – the Japs were driven out of Burma – Rommell was still in full flight towards Tunisia from where he hoped to embark with his army upon Italy – the Russian offensive in the south was also progressing well and the Japs’ Navy was being held in the Pacific and severely punished.

One day Eddie brought out Steven Roskill (Captain of H.M.S Diomede and cousin of Ethne’s). The Leander took part in the battle of the Coral Sea – David Logan was an A.B. in her. David was home in Napier on leave and returned to H.M.S. Leander. Ray came home for Christmas.

Sandy Eaton, now Flight Lieutenant, was also home on leave. Shearing was rather a difficult business this year – at least the getting of sheep to Kereru for distemper was among the dogs on Kereru and we dare not take any of our dogs across. Shearing did not finish till December 29th and our total clip was 71 bales including crutching. Total sheep shorn 2850 and out of this 610 were lambs.

I notice Boy’s wages when he left school were 30/- per week. At the close of the year there were signs of a drought – the rainfall for the previous five months had been:
August   4.84 inches
September   0.67 inches
October   1.20 inches
December   1.25. inches

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Jim Logan in uniform c. 1942. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Jim Logan enjoying a casual lunch probably at Narford Hall (date unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

The original cross marking Jim Logan’s grave at Le Havre, France. Image source: Hamilton Logan

The replacement cross marking Jim Logan’s grave at Le Havre, France. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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1943

January

The new year came in with useful rain and by the end of the month 5.21 inches were recorded. We spent New Year’s day at home – Coley and Rochie came up and we made them stay on for dinner. The war news was becoming very encouraging – the Russian Armies were on the move – the gap between the U.S. forces and the Eighth Army in North Africa was narrowing and the Japs were suffering some heavy navel losses in the Pacific.

My old pal of boyhood days, Keith Cotterill, died in Havelock of cancer which seems to have taken a great toll of that family. Keith married Madge Rhodes of Springhill, a second cousin of mine.

Jim’s last letter reached us during the month – it had been written ten days before his death. He had some leave and had been staying in Edinburgh with Trix Traquair.

Mrs. Lowry brought the Hollands (Bishop of Wellington) out to see us. We discovered Mrs. Holland came from Newcastle-on-Tyne and that we had many friends in common. Another day we met them again at Lindisfarne.

Bob wrote to say he was having a spell in a convalescent home in Palestine after a shake-up when a bomb exploded near his truck.

Churchill and Roosevelt had a meeting of importance at Casablanca.

The Port Jackson, of over 10,000 tons, was the first Port Ship to berth at the new wharf and a party of seventeen of us lunched on board and it was for me to propose the toast. Dorothy and I spent a weekend with Lulu and Winston Barron.

February

Meetings of Harbour Board Reserves Works Committee, McLean Trust and Williams and Kettle began again. Eddie and Ethne went south after Wapiti again but before going they brought a Free French Naval Officer to see us. After a weekend at Okawa when I took Mrs. Lowry to church at Puketapu, I called in to see the Dudley Hills – he was very depressed over Rowan’s death.

News of Jim’s body being buried in St. Marie Cemetery in Le Havre.

From time to time there were U.S. Marines on leave in New Zealand from the Pacific and we occasionally came across some pleasant fellows,

British and U.S. air raids on Italy were becoming very severe and the Italians were very worried and rightly so.

Our grass seed was sown this month and we had luck in a reasonable fall of rain just after the operation – ploughing, discing, drilling, rolling in those days cost £2.15/- per acre. David Logan rejoined the Leander after some leave. I note that our very dear and favourite hack ‘Chummy’ seems to be aging and we shall have to spare him.

Photo caption – Roll of Honour at Maraekakaho. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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March

A big sorting up of sheep and dipping took place. This year we are setting off with 1768 breeding ewes, 535 ewe hoggets and about 300 Odds and sods, and 116 cattle (still far too unrealistic). War news was wonderful and a naval victory near the Solomons. Early on I spent another weekend at Okawa and took Mrs. Lowry to Puketapu Church Service. Ralph, recently back from Scotland and South Africa, was there and told us his story. He managed to find his way from Australia to Scotland and to get a commission in the Gordon Highlanders. But on his way to India he was landed at South Africa as he had begun to tell the C.O. what to do! His troubles were later to be handed over to L.C. Rolls and me.

Only .68 points of rain fell and we were beginning to worry again. We dug a good crop of potatoes. There were many meetings to attend such as Harbour, Williams and Kettle, McLean Trust and another committee in regard to movement of ships came upon us.

April

The last pick of fat lambs was made by Dyer for H.B. Meat Company on the 1st and now only 18 wether lambs remained. Some welcome rain fell again early in the month and the autumn turned out better than expected.

Coley’s brother, Jack Coleman, was killed in action. W.G. Wood and I had a good tour of the Valley properties on which we held mortgages. Old Mr. Averill was taken to Royston and later he underwent a Prostrate operation.

Eddie and Ethne returned from Wapiti hunting in the South Island and he and I resumed attendance together of our various meetings in Napier. After a cattle round up one day we definitely decided that old Chummy was beyond cattle work – he had been such a reliable old fellow on cattle work. There were twenty or thirty big pines behind Jim’s whare and I made terms with Odlins Timber Company to take them. The bridge in Lower Gaols was due for renewal and we struggled ‘down to the site with stout McArthur Gums grown on the place to act as stringers. The Hollands and Robin came out to see us again as they were searching for a suitable camping ground away from the crowd. They seemed to fancy a spot in the Poporangi Creek bed at the foot of the hill leading to Whakarara.

Ian MacKay died suddenly of a heart attack and Eddie and I attended his funeral on the 29th. He had been a diabetic for years. A milking heifer called ‘Babyface’ fell down the Gaols gorge from Bobs – she was unhurt and we fed her down there till we could get her up and later she produced a healthy calf. Another Port Line ‘Port Fairie’ came into Breakwater and there was another lunch party to celebrate – Haselwood was the Captain.

The North Africa campaign ended by the enemy being squeezed out some managed to escape to Italy and Sicily but 150,000 prisoners were taken. The next move will be across the Mediterranean to Europe. What Churchill called the ‘soft underbelly of Europe’. T.M. Geddis was elected Chairman of Harbour Board – again Eddie was deputy. Ray came home from Karitane in Auckland and she was now a qualified Karitane nurse.

On the 20th we completed the task of building the Gaols bridge and were thankful. On the 29th came the news of J.G. Coates’ death and I was sad for I had always liked and admired him. He had been a very successful Public Works Minister – then P.M. 1925-29 and at the time of his death he was a Member of the War Cabinet. (The Labour Party had co-opted him).

Williams and Kettle had their fifty-second birthday and at the annual meeting I was elected to the board again. The last weekend of the month we spent with Lulu and Winston Barron at Havelock North.

June

Our weekend at the Barrons lasted till the Wednesday and we saw quite a number of friends again – such as Chambers, Mary Coleman Mrs. Handyside, who is now 86. Since heavy petrol restrictions came about it became almost impossible to move far except for meetings etc. For instance, people living on bus routes did not get any petrol beyond the very meagre ration.

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We had a big Home Guard shoot at Fernhill (Roy’s Hill Range) on the 6th and after it I went on to Okawa for the night and took Mrs. Lowry to church at Puketapu again. That night I went to Lindisfarne.

The following morning Ethne took me to catch a very crowded train for Wellington. Sanders (Harbour Board Secretary) travelled with me and later Eddie, Pat Higgins and others joined us in Wellington, for an appearance before the Local Bodies Committee in regard to a possible setting up of a Royal Commission on the Harbour Board’s endowments. A little later in the month we were advised to get together with the City Council over the question and that suited us. In Wellington we were taken care of by Jack Stevenson (Harbour Boards Association Solicitor). We got much amusement out of the affair – the two Labour women members of the House sat on the Committee – Mrs, Dreaver and Miss M. Howard, In between times I met several old friends such as Harold Johnston (Judge), Sybil and Gladys Nathan, Jimmie Duncan, Lady Shirtcliffe and old Rose Hillier (her housekeeper and for 37 years, my Mother’s cook and housekeeper latterly). On returning I spent another night at the Herricks.

Tui, quite a favourite dairy cow, fell over a bank and was killed. Miss Disbury,once the McLean’s governess, died. W.G. Wood and about half a dozen who knew her went to the funeral with me at Havelock.

John Logan was stricken with appendicitis while in the North Sea on patrol (R.N.) and was removed to hospital ashore where he was desperately ill for a couple of weeks. Thanks to Dr. Webb-Johnson (later Lord Webb-Johnson) he was well cared for.

Mr. Averill returned to his home after two months in hospital but was rather shaken. John McLennan, Selby Palmer and I had our annual dinner at the Club – a party we always enjoyed and it celebrated our gratitude to McLennan for much help to our affairs. One day I saw a couple of men gathering mushrooms in the Pit paddock. On asking for their names they said they were members of the Hastings Police Force. It was very amusing and we laughed together.

July

This was a memorable month – the war in the Pacific against the Japs assumed exciting proportions. After much bombing of the coast line of Sicily and Italy landings were effected and then the foothold became secure and Mussolini, later in the month, resigned as Italy’s dictator and he never regained favour. There were bigger and bigger air raids on Germany and Hamburg as an industrial town and port existed no more.

News came quite unexpectedly that Bob and others of our troops in North Africa were coming home for some leave for the position was so much eased by recent successes. And he arrived a day or so later – we all met him at the Station in Napier one evening and it was grand to see him after over two years absence. We had dinner with Ivan and Mary and home at 10:30 to find a warm fire to sit over a little longer. Gladys and Janet Turnbull were staying with us at the time.

Vyv Hill was also home again and we called to see him. Janet left us on the 17th after a visit of two weeks which we enjoyed. Later Bob went to Auckland for a week – taking advantage of free rail passes. Ray took her first Karitane case with Aire Cranston (Hewitt) at Fordell.

Early in the month L.C. Rolls had a severe heart attack but his recovery was good and I was able to see him on my visits to Napier. Eddie had a party for Michael who had won his D.F.C. and was on leave after his adventures in the Battle of Britain. Hannay was there also and about to return to England after two or three year’s service with the R.N. in New Zealand as transport officer. Ian Logan was back from the Islands and married to Kay (Wilson) – Ivan and Mary gave a party before he went off to New Caledonia. Later he proceeded to Italy – he had a commission.

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August

It was a good lambing month and most of the lambs arrived before the end of the month. I note by then there were only about 200 ewes left to lamb and only 64 appeared to be dry. But the deaths had been highish – 30 had gone and the two-tooth were in a poor state – this must have been ‘sleepy sickness’ which can, these days, be avoided. Mardie and Dot came to stay and there seem to have been a number of parties in the district.

Sandy Eaton was home on leave from the Solomon Islands where be was a fighter pilot. Incidentally he bought us some tobacco. Jim McIntyre (our local county surfaceman) and I planned out a road through the farm for, at that time, it was known the Whanakino Bridge would not last much longer and it was also thought desirable to deviate and thus save much expense on a new bridge. Bob and Hiraani became engaged and she came to stay for a few days.

Boy passed his medical test and he hoped to have a try for the Navy which would take him earlier than the Army. David returned from the Pacific on his way to England to sit for a commission in the Navy in England as John had done. So there was a party for him at the Ivans’.

Activity increased daily at the Breakwater as many U.S.A. ships now called for supplies and this meant we were kept pretty busy at the Harbour Board.

Sicily fell on August 18th and Italy proper was having a raw time. Our bombers were now able to reach many vulnerable spots in Europe and Ploesti and the oil works in Rumania were receiving attention. Russia was still making good headway against Germany, So altogether the axis was having many headaches.

Eddie brought Stephen Roskill (Captain R.N. in Leander) to see us again before he returned to England after serving in the Pacific. He now had removed his beard and looked so young and fresh. Steenson was still our contract ploughman and this month lie finished ploughing Andersons Corner for chow moellier. Our barley crop was proving a great help for a run off, particularly two-tooth ewes and their lambs.

September

It appears that spring came in well and there was a very satisfactory amount of rain during the month. In our part of the country rain is more acceptable in September and October than in August. August is the month the flat country appreciates rain to ensure an early growth. We never expect the growth proper till late in September.

A favourite pet lamb, Blackie, of some years age decided to produce twins but shartly after their birth she died to our sorrow but we managed to find foster mothers for the lambs. Bill was very busy in the vegetable garden these days, and quite successful too, what with help from me. In those days we almost kept ourselves in vegetables and made our own butter too.

On the 3rd news came of Ian Smith being missing on a bombing flight over Germany. On that day there were church services throughout the Empire – it being the fourth anniversary of the war. Mr. Waugh took the service at Kereru.

The following day in heavy rain Hiraani and Bob were married in the Scott home at Haumoana by Father Murphy. It was not a big affair – mostly relations. Mardie and Dot came with us.

After the wedding I spent the night at Okawa. Very heavy rain fell and there was some flooding. I took Mrs. Lowry to catch the express to Wellington next day. Then I met W.G. Wood and Bramwell at Hastings concerning the valuation of the Glazebrook properties. Later I went to Lindisfarne before returning home.

Dudley Hill died on the 8th and he was 74. Early in the month the Eighth Army landed on the toe of Italy and began to advance towards the army already higher up the coast. Shortly after this came the unconditional surrender of Italy and what was left of her fleet came to Malta. However Germany carried on the war in Italy. Elections were looming up again and one evening Cyril Harker came to address us at Kereru. He, Mrs. Harker and Frank Tickner had dinner with us that evening.

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Ralph and Betty Lowry suddenly decided to end their marriage and sent for L.C. Rolls and myself to discuss matters. L.C. was not really fit for such a thing so I went to Havelock. After lengthy talks I quite saw the time had come and Ralph was on the verge of another ‘break down’. We sent for Penn Scannell and he prepared the way. Later there were meeting in Napier between L.C. Rolls, Ralph, Frank Kelly (Betty’s Solicitor), Penn and myself and financial arrangements were agreed upon.

We attended Henry Tahau’s wedding at St. Matthews in Hastings, followed by a huge feast at which Algie Rainbow and I had to speak.

Towards the end of the month I spent a couple of nights with Mr.Wenley as there were two or three important meetings on hand – Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle and Ralph’s affairs.

On the 27th the General Elections took place and we voted at Mangateretere on our way from Napier to see Lulu and Winston. The results were much better that we had hoped for. Labour only ended up with a majority of seven – Labour 43 National 36. There was much confusion over the soldiers’ votes abroad and before the final count these ballot papers had been burned! This caused speculation and will never be forgotten. The rainfall for the month was 7.28 inches.

October

The first weekend of the month I spent at Okawa and we had much talk over Ralph’s affairs as he also was staying there. The following Monday I dropped T.H.L. at Omaranui where he fattened his cattle, and Mrs. Lowry and I went to Napier for a meeting of the Ohinewairua Company with L.C. Rolls. This was a Land Company formed by T.H.L. – the land comprised over 20,000 acres in the Taihape area and the shareholders were Mrs. Lowry, Ralph and his two boys. Mrs. Lowry, Rolls and I were the directors. After a night at Mr. Wenley’s, Dorothy came to town and we lunched at the Charles Roberts’ before returning home. During the month there were further meetings of the Land Company but towards the end of the month Ralph cancelled the Power of Attorney he had given to L.C. Rolls and myself and this complicated matters somewhat.

The war progressed satisfactorily on all fronts and Italy turned round and declared war on Germany. Portugal gave the Allies the use of the Azores Islands facilities.

On the farm docking was finished but lambing was not a very good one. Ploughing was completed and the chow’moellier sown. Bob and Hiraani were staying with us off and on – making Pukekino their headquarters till the end of leave.

Mason Chambers (Jnr.) was a frequent visitor these days – being a friend of Boys.

Butter rationing began and it was fixed at half a pound per head per week. The allowance in Britain at the time was two ounces. Monty and Cushla (nee Rainer), who had been married recently, came to Napier to see Mrs. Turnbull and they came out to see us. One day we listened in to a very stirring address by General Smuts Prime Minister of South Africa. He was one of the strongest men of the Commonwealth.

November

After early shearing Dorothy and I went to Napier for a few days leaving Bob and Hiraani at home and they had Jack Symes with them – he also was on leave from the war. While in Napier I attended Mrs. Handyside’s funeral at Havelock – she was 86 and had been a friend over a long period.

Occasionally Boy and Bob went to the back of Kereru Station after deer and one time they returned after shooting five stags and a hind.

It was a month of very heaving dagging of ewes owing to the growth of grass and this work together with wing thistle cutting became monotonous.

Boy went to Wellington to present himself at the Navy Office for what he hoped and expected, his acceptance into the Navy but his eye test showed he was colour blind. As he was under age for the Army he had to wait longer for the call-up.

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December

L.C. Rolls, after a holiday, looked very fit and well. Sanders of the Harbour Board, became very unwell and was in Sherwood for a kidney operation. Eddie and I deputed by Harbour Board to meet the Sea Rovers with Captain Black in charge of a team of boys in training.

Another day Eddie, Geddis and Rochford, the engineer, and I had to meet Hercock (Mayor of Napier) and John Mason, Oldham and Viv Cox over the allocation of sections in Napier South. At the end of the month, on our last meeting day, we had our annual Harbour Board lunch at the Club.

Shearing was finished on December 15th. The Charles Roberts and Harris of England came out to lunch one day.

Ray went to care for Irna Roberts in Napier.

Sandy Eaton was home for a bit of leave again. These flying men in the Pacific have a very exacting time and it is considered frequent leave is needed.

On the 26th December there was a big picnic party in the Whanakino Creek and most of our neighbours attended. On the 31st Boy went off to Taupo with John Averilll and, as Bob’s leave was up, he and Hiraani left us. So Dorothy and I were left completely on our own once more. The year ended with the war news being satisfactory. Churchill and Roosevelt had a meeting in Teheran and later at Yalta with Stalin. At the latter meeting poor old Churchill had to agree to things that were later to prove disasterous to the peace of Europe. At this time Russia and U.S.A. had much bigger armies in the field than either Britain and the Commonwealth.

1944

January

New Year found Dorothy and myself alone in Pukekino. The day was perfect after a shower during the night to freshen up the garden. We had a slack day but did a little bit of gardening. The following night the Eatons and Sandy, who was on leave again, came to dinner. A day or two before the end of the year I developed a hernia as a result of pedalling a push bike against a heavy wind between Echills and Pukekino. As Barnett was away I consulted Gilray, who confirmed it and suggested a truss till I consulted Harold Barnett. Later Harold agreed with Tosh Gilray as in those days hernia operations were to an extent avoided unless absolutely necessary. One night while staying at Lindisfarne Eddie and I went over to Harry Wilson’s in those days I used to see quite a lot of him and Val Hoadley. Bob’s leave was up and he went to Palmerston Camp preparatory to returning to the war. However a big dust up occurred – the leave men protested against so many fit single men being kept in industry while many married men, who had already served in the Army, had to return to the war. The result was that Bob and those whose leave was at an end were held back in the meantime. He was not among the demonstrators.

One night Dorothy and I went to Napier to Mrs. Turnbull and next day we went to-have lunch with Lulu and Winston. We called to see Mrs. Empson, who now lived in rooms in Havelock – poor thing she was now becoming senile – she was 85.

At a Williams and Kettle meeting the only directors present one day were M. Chambers, Eddie, Von Kettle and myself. We wondered if there was a quorum but did not question it.

John Fairley’s boy was killed at Olrig as a result of a tractor accident. There was the usual night at Mr. Wenley’s at Napier. The `chou’ crop was good and during the month we put 700 lambs on it. Goats were beginning to become troublesome so Boy began to wage war upon them. Before the end of the month dipping began. The war was going well on all fronts.

February

By the 3rd dipping was over and ploughing was in progress for young grass in Ray’s paddock. The sowing took place towards the end of the month.

They were a little shy of labour at Kereru so we gave a hand with their dipping. I spent a night at Lindisfarne during the month Ethne had acquired a dear little Siamese kitten. While there I went over Dudley Kettle’s farm of 275 acres at Wharerangi. While at Lindisfarne Lady Newell (wife of Governor

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General) came and she and Ethne set off for Waikaremoana for a holiday. Eddie and I called to see Brocklehurst (Dean) in Napier. Ray went off to Auckland again on the 18th to a case.

I had a letter from Maie Casey to say they were off to India as Dick had been appointed Governor of Bengal. He had been Minister Resident in Egypt for a year or more and in the British Cabinet. Dorothy and I spent a couple of days at The Masonic in Napier as there were meetings of Harbour Board, McLean Trust etc. to attend. One meeting between Harbour Board and Napier C.C. over the Marewa Block was long and contentious. Over 500 fat lambs left the place in February.

March

I stayed at the Club for a night or two while Dorothy was at her Mother’s. Mrs. Turnbull was about to go for a trip to the South Island and Wellington with Bessie Anderson.

Pat Higgins and I had a meeting with Kirkpatrick and Little (Freezing Works) re the lessening of draught of ships at the port – this affected the load the big ships could take. Later the dredging enabled us to go back to the twenty-seven foot mark.

The Bishop of Waiapu preached at Maraekakaho one Sunday and we went to the service after a meal with Rochie and Coley at ‘The Cottage’. We put rams out with 1822 ewes this year, 32 years ago we had only 1800 sheep (ewes) – now we have 2500 sheep all told. Originally three paddocks – now thirty. Mrs. Turnbull returned from her holiday in a somewhat excitable state and this caused some concern so Dorothy had to spend the odd night with her more frequently.

Mason Chambers was still a frequent visitor and he and Boy used to go out after deer at Kereru or Whakarara and they also cracked at the goats. I attended a S.P.C.A. annual meeting at the end of the month and thought it stuffy – little did I realise that I would be President in less than another ten years.

More meetings of Williams and Kettle, Harbour Board and McLean Trust before the month was out.

These days we saw quite a lot of Ned and Elfie Smith. Since the slump Ned had become a very interested farmer and more than pulled his weight, especially on the agricultural side. By the end of March only 67 wether lambs were left – it had been a good fattening season.

Over fifteen inches of rain fell in March and winter feed was assured. A far reaching Local Bodies Bill was passed, giving all residents in the County over 21 a vote regardless of being a ratepayer or not.

April

On April 6th Vyv Hill and Elizabeth Harvey were married – we were not present as the invitation did not reach us till after the event. We went early in the Month to see Mr. Mason Chambers and later Lulu and Winston. Bob came up for a weekend and Ned and Elfie came to dine. Boy and Mason went deer shooting at Whakarara. Janet Turnbull and Ray Sherning visited us. John Logan returned to New Zealand after nearly three years in the Navy. He was on leave after his illness in England but he did not return to sea. Dorothy and I spent ten days at the Masonic Hotel in Napier and staying there at times were the Harold Johnstons, the Banks Amerys from England, Hamish Wilson and wife (nee Ada Ormond). While there there was the Anzac Parade which Tim Wilder took. At Pukekino we had a good innings in the garden.

May

We got crutching out of the way during the first week. Later came topdressing and the usual farm work. Boy went off shooting with Morrie and Cecil Averill on the opening day – the bag was a poorish one but mixed. The Government suggested I might be willing to sell some land to enable R.P. Kay to increase his holding and, as Jim had been killed and Bob did not appear very interested in farming there was only Boy left, after a yarn with Burnley (Commissioner of Crown Lands) I decided to sell about 350 acres (Upper Gaols, Ram Paddock and part of Prices). Final arrangements were to be made later. There was a meeting of the National

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Party (Maraekakaho) at Maraekakaho one night and I met our member for Pahiatua for the first time (Keith Holyoake) – beforehand I dined at ‘The Cottage’ with Rochie and Coley.

One day Eddie and I were invited to have a look at the guns located on the top of the Bluff Hill. There was an observation post there. There were Harbour Board meetings – Works and Reserves Committee meetings – and Williams and Kettle (annual Directors) – it looks like a record year – about £49,000 net profit.

L. Stephenson had retired from the Harbour Board and A.P. Sheehan was appointed by the Government in his stead. He did not last very long. The Allies offensive in Italy was gaining momentum daily and the long and bloody battle for Cassino was won. Towards the end of the month we spent a few days in Napier at the Masonic on account of several meetings of importance. Staying there also were the Hollands (Bishop of Wellington) and the S.M. Palmers and the Local Body Elections were held – I was returned for the Harbour Board again. One night N. MacKay, McLennan, Selby Palmer and I had our annual dinner at the Club. T.M. Geddis, who had been Chairman of the Harbour Board since 1932 did not seek election again. He had been the most able and progressive Chairman of all time and Hawke’s Bay should be grateful for his contribution to its advancement.

On the 31st Pat Higgins, Harland (Secretary Harbour Board) and I had to go to Wellington, also with us was Davis (Engineer). We travelled in a crowded train – the trains were always overcrowded in these times. That evening we had a meeting with the Shipping Allotment Committee (Rae Shiflett, Bevan and Binnie). It was satisfactory. That evening we went to see poor Sanders who is now in Lewisham Hospital and very unwell and not likely to last much longer. Marie Louise was born on May 25th at a home in Nelson Crescent. Both well.

June

In Wellington – during the morning of the 1st we had a meeting at Treasury and Furkert (Engineer in Chief) accompanied us and was very helpful. Later a meeting at the Navy Office to discuss a problem or two and our mission was then over. I called to see Cora who was nurse to Dr. David Whyte in Kelvin Chambers – met Charles Burns (now Sir Charles) a prominent physician. Cora lunched with Pat and me. Later I called on Sybil and Gladys Nathan at 45 Grant Road. Then Pat and I spent the evening with the Charlie Miles. On my return to Napier next day I spent the night at the Club, before going off to bed I dropped in at the Masonic to see the Hollands. The 5th was a day of excitement for Rome fell and the next day was the day we had waited for for what seemed a lifetime. It was D-Day and our invasion of Normandy took place. We were in Napier when the news came through – Bertie Holland and I were together at the Masonic Lounge when the radio made the announcement. For the next few days we held our breath – then we realised the landing by our troops and the U.S.A. was sure and successful. Towards the end of the month the position seemed secure and the whole of the peninsular including Cherberg became ours. Cherberg fell on the 27th.

The poor Herricks were in more trouble for Michael was posted missing somewhere off Denmark on the 25th and his death was confirmed later. He had had a brilliant career in the R.A.F. and had been through the Battle of Britain. Ray returned home after her case in Auckland. During the month we established what we now call our plantation of English trees. At this month’s Harbour Board Meeting my life-long friend E.J. Herrick (Eddie) was made Chairman.

July

On the night of the 1st we experienced one of the heaviest S.W. gales possible and many trees recently planted in the back paddock were destroyed – these were mainly macrocarpa. Our little cat, Kim, became very unwell and we took him to the Vet (Brodie) after struggling with various methods

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suggested by him. He made a good recovery. In those days Brodie was the only Vet for Hawke’s Bay. Since those days Vet Science has made great strides as you can see and animal husbandry would fall to pieces if it were not for the present day knowledge and the Vet Surgeons and Clinics we have. One day M. Chambers, H.M. Campbell, T.G. Crosse and I lunched at the Hastings Club with R. Harding (Chairman of the H.B.C.C.) and later had our photographs taken. The first four were ex-chairman of the County Council. I seem to have-lost my copy of the photograph and perhaps it is well that it is lost! I spent two or three nights at Mr. Wenley’s and Dorothy at her Mother’s – this was on account of several meetings to attend in close succession. At the Harbour Board Meeting Pat Higgins was elected Chairman of the Works Committee and I was elected Chairman of Reserves in place of John Barker now retired. His place as a county member was taken by Hylton Smith. Lindsay Gordon and I were still the other two. V. Sanders died before the meeting in July and J.R. Harland was appointed in his stead. The war progressed well and the break through towards Central France made Hitler’s position unsteady and there was an attempt on his life. The Japanese were likewise feeling the pinch. John Roberts came out of the Army and was posted to a job in the country and Kereru was where he came. From then onwards we used to see much of him, especially at weekends. One day the ship ‘Empire Grace’ came into Napier and lifted the biggest cargo of mutton carcases ever – 200,000 carcases. Eddie and I had a meeting with McLennan in regard to the Bank of New Zealand’s attitude towards Williams and Kettle’s overdraft. McLennan was insistent that we should not contemplate a change over to the Bank of Australasia in spite of, possibly, more favourable terms and in the end we knew he was right.

August

We had another meeting on the same lines and reported back to the other directors.

The breakthrough at Normandy continued and it really looked as if Germany was beginning to crack – however, there was still a big distance to travel. The Russians too, were pressing Germany hard on the other fronts – East Prussia and Poland.

The weather was wonderfully mild and lambing progressed well.

Boy was chosen to play for the Hawke’s Bay XV and it was exciting that he was on the victor’s side in the match against Wairarapa16 – 14. Later in the month he was also in the team when it played the return match in Masterton.

Maurice Chambers and wife, Kath, now lived at Tauroa with Mr. Mason Chambers and I spent a weekend with them.

T.M. Geddis had a long period of convalescence after a gall bladder operation and at times I used to visit him in hospital and at his mother’s house on the Bluff Hill.

Charlie Tahau came out to Pukekino and took a large quantity of pine firewood. There was much activity in the Harbour Board over passing over an area in the Lagoon to the Airport Authority – assessing the area, valuation, etc. I was drawn closely into negotiations as I was Chairman of the Reserves Committee.

Mrs. Turnbull was not very well these days and Dorothy often spent a few nights with her in Napier. At the time of the Club’s Annual Meeting I spent a few days, at the Club. Alec Roberts was also staying there. Maurice Spence was elected Chairman and, once again, I found myself on the Committee. Towards the end of the month another landing was made in the South of France.

During lambing Anne Kay was engaged to help us and she looked after the lambing ewes in Cocksfoot one and two and Sturges at 2/6d a round. By the end of the month the Allies were very close to Paris and all was going well.

September

Spring came upon us suddenly and this was a most satisfactory month and docking proceeded rapidly. The percentage was just about average – somewhere in the 90s. Green, the Hastings Traffic Officer, asked if he could lease a few acres in our part of the world in which to grow carrots for these

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vegetables were in much demand in these days of war. I agreed to let him have six acres of Phils corner. The crop turned out a failure eventually as he neglected to thin out properly and was quite unorganised when the digging and bagging took place.

On September 3rd there was a National day of Thanksgiving for our recent successes. There was wonderful progress in all theatres of the war and it was now Germany’s turn to face invasion. But the flying bombs launched from the north coast of France were still causing trouble in the South of England as far north as London.

On the morning of the 5th Harold Barnett rang to say Mrs. Turnbull was not well and he thought we should come to town. On arrival we found her unconscious. We were able to get Sister McBeth to come along to be with Dorothy and old Isobel. At 10.30p.m. Mrs. Turnbull died. She was 85. On the 7th after a short service taken by Brocklehurst in the house, she was buried privately in the Havelock Cemetery. Her maiden name was Sweet and she came from Clifton. The only people who attended the funeral outside the family were W. Johnston (Manager of Kereru) and Alec Roberts and his son, John. It was quite a busy month with meetings of the Harbour Board and Williams and Kettle.

On the 16th I was on my way to Okawa when I met Mrs. Lowry and Ralph at Monkeytown on their way to see Mr. Lowry who had been taken to Royston on account of a haemorrhage. I spent the night at Okawa and next morning Tom and Margot arrived early from Taihape. During the next few days his condition worsened and he died on the 23rd. His burial took place at Puketapu on the 25th and I was a pallbearer with Tom, Jim, Ralph, Brandon (Stud Groom) and Geordie Stevens (Manager of Omaranui and formerly shepherd). Many of us lunched at Okawa beforehand and it was there Penn Scannell informed me I was a trustee together with Tom and Algie Rainbow. I said at the time that there would be many complications to be faced and time showed how right I was! Nothing seemed to go right at first. Phil Giblin was back from the war and one day he and Justine came out to see us at Pukekino.

October

Calais fell to us and so the flying bomb menace lessened and during the month the U.S.A. forces returned to the Phillipines [sic] after a terrific naval engagement in which the Japs lost fifty-eight ships – in fact their navy was crippled. Tokyo was now within bombing range. There was much activity in the garden as this is the month for sowing vegetables.

Early in the month we went to the Masonic for a few days as Monty and Cushla were in Napier for the purpose of dividing up Mrs. Turnbull’s possessions. Mary and Dorothy agreed between them only to take a few things as Monty possessed no household goods. Mrs. Shrimpton was staying at the hotel too. During the few days at Napier much of my time was occupied with Harbour Board work and Williams and Kettle. At a T.H. Lowry Trustee meeting in Hastings we appointed L.C. Rolls as Managing Director of Ohinewairua Company in T.H.L’s place. On the 16th and 17th we were staying at Lincoln Road and while there I was able to attend a Club Meeting and to visit the MacKays, also to attend a Town Planning Meeting at which Newnham (Engineer-in-Chief) was present and later to attend a very contentious meeting of the Ohinewairua Company (Mrs. T.H. Lowry, L.C. Rolls, Ralph and myself). Ralph was most unpleasant throughout the meeting.

We returned to 18 Lincoln Road for the last time on the 23rd to help pack up the various belongings and for Dorothy to bid farewell to the home of her Mother over the past twelve years. We did not go to the Show this year. On the 26th John and Ngaire were married by Brocklehurst (Dean) at Ivan’s home in Gladstone Road – it was a quiet affair, only relatives of both families present. Only 2.34 inches of rain fell during the month which is rather light for the most important month of the year.

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November

It was arranged with Johnston (Kereru) that we would shear first.

For twelve days we struggled against fearful odds – it rained and rained and there were thunderstorms too. At times we had most of the sheep over at Kereru that just had to stay there. However the shearing eventually was completed and we were thankful it was dry sheep shearing and not ewes and lambs.

There were two lengthy meetings of the Harbour Board with Skinner (Minister of Lands) concerning the agreement over the destiny of the Ahuriri Lagoon – the area of 7,000 acres brought into being by the earthquake had been developed and drained by the Public Works Department at great cost because the Board had not the money. At last a very satisfactory plan came back – the Public Works were handed over approximately half the land and the Board retained the other half. Genie Chapman came out to New Zealand for a few months after three years of the war in Egypt and Italy doing war work. Mardie and her two children came over to stay with us for a couple of weeks.

Williams and Kettle’s No. 4 wool store was finished and was the last word in wool stores and the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.

The German Armies were by this time on the east side of the Rhine and the war progressed very satisfactorily.

Ray was up in Wairoa helping Shiela de Gruchy.

There were several T.H. Lowry Trust meetings but still the tangle looked formidable.

We saw much of the Herricks during the month.

December

The month began with another wet spell and this caused delay over shearing and all the time the ewes were becoming more and more daggy. There were quite a lot of thunderstorms.

On the 2nd Dorothy (Tommy) Wilson was married to John Arkwright (who had at 23 won his D.F.C.) at St. Matthews and there was

a huge reception afterwards at the Wilson home in Lindhurst Road.

Surveyors came out to measure up the land to be sold to the Government. It amounted to 369 acres and comprised Grahams, Upper Gaols, Ram paddock and part of Prices. Okawa cattle sold at Stortford Lodge.

In the middle of the month we spent a few days at The Masonic – Harold Johnston was there as the Supreme Court was sitting.

Judy Williams came to see us and Peter Tonkin back on leave from the R.A.F.

John Wenley came to say goodbye before going to England to join the Navy.

At the annual meeting of the Kereru Sports Club I was re-elected President – this will be my last year I think.

Quite without warning the Germans staged a sudden terrific counter-attack in Belgium and made a huge dent up to about fifty miles deep in the U.S.A. lines. However after about ten days their effort seemed spent and with much help from the British the position was restored – but it was a tense time while it lasted.

On Christmas Day I got up quietly and milked the cows so as to give Boy a rest as he had had a pretty heavy weeks work. We had a quiet day. The Kay Family came along for a drink later on. The next day at the Cecil Averills, Ned Smiths and Bernard Dinwiddies came to see us.

At a T.H.L. meeting we decided to sell the Okawa flock at a sale to be held at Okawa early next year. Some of the cattle went off earlier and also some of the odds and ends of sheep.

So another year ended – all the war news was encouraging. The rainfall for December was 5.24 inches

1945

January

On the 1st Ray and Boy went to the races. For some reason, my diary tells me, we gave the pet lamb an extra feed.

The war goes well all round and the salient on the Belgian front has been wiped out and all is well.

Boy’s mare, Diana, foaled a short while ago and the little filly is now ready for handling,

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so we made a start and met with success in getting her used to man.

John Roberts was back from his holiday early in the month and once again he became a frequent visitor to Pukekino. Boy undertook to break in a horse for L. Maclean of Glencoe but he turned out to be rather an outlaw. Early on one hundred fat lambs went off their mothers. Another calf went over the Gaols gorge and as Boy and I were trying to get it up it turned on me and pushed me over into the creek. The result was three cracked ribs. Thomas the chemist strapped me up but later I had to go to Waterworth (Barnett was away) who did the job more thoroughly. This kept me quiet for a time. We were able to get Boy’s time for entering the Army postponed till May when the heavy work would be over. We had no qualms about this as the war was now on its last legs and whatever happened Boy would not see active service. During the month there was a gathering of the Lowry family at Okawa for the distribution of T.H.L.’s personal belongings, especially a large quantity of silver. Rainbow and I were there to represent the Trustees and there was complete agreement in the family to our suggestion that Mrs. Lowry would be the distributor of all the possessions, and this was carried out in great harmony. After this event I spent a few days in Napier for various meetings and to have my ribs strapped up again. One day the Bishop (Holland) and Robin called in with the idea of finding a good camping ground and we went to the Poporangi Stream on the way to Whakarara where we met Eaton and a good site for the camp and caravan was decided upon. There the camp was set up a day or two later and there they stayed happily for a month or more. The wool sales were satisfactory and we got up to 15 ½d per pound – how would that suit today? The Kereru Sports were held in fine weather and were successful – Boy did well winning the points prize. The sale of Okawa sheep at the Station was held on the 25th. I assisted Dixon (W. and K’s Auctioneer) by helping keep up with the bidding. The two-tooth ewes fetched 32/6. Other values were good. But as T.H.L. had reduced the value of sheep to 10/- per head during the depression these prices attracted much by way of income tax! On the last day of the month we began dipping.

February

We carried on the dipping and then helped Kereru with theirs. The first Cocksfoot was sown down in grass before the end of the month – about 1 ½lbs. of sub-clover was included in the mixture. At the ewe Fairs, which by now had come to stay, we got 24/9 for mixed aged ewes, 27/6 for top two tooth ewes and 24/6 for five year ewes. February was a wet month – 7.71 inches fell altogether but on the 12th and 13th over four inches came down and there was a trail of mess to clear up. The chou mollier crop was ready and 750 wether lambs were put on to it. We spent a weekend at the Masonic so as to attend the enthronement of Cruickshank as Bishop of Waiapu. He and I had become friends at Oxford when he was up at Keble – later he was Dean of Dunedin. Archbishop West-Watson and all the bishops were present. Staying at the Masonic were Topsy Hewitt and Trix Russell whom I had not seen for about twenty years or more. Bob and Hiraani, who were staying at The Grange, came to dinner with us. During the month we went to see the Percy McHardys at Havelock and the Arthur Morrises at Fernhill. Likewise we saw a lot of the Hollands in camp at the Poporangi Creek – we had the odd game of bridge with the Bishop and Robin -took them vegetables and cream. He came to a Presbyterian Service at Kereru Hall one Sunday and sang his head off. Boy competed in the Athletic Sports in Napier and Ray went back to the de Gruchys in Wairoa for a short time. There was much activity in local body work (Harbour), McLean Trust etc. after the Christmas break. As usual in those days, I saw much of Eddie and Pat Higgins. The war on all fronts, continued much in our favour and it looked as if the end was really in sight.

March

The beginning of the month found us at 4 Gladstone Road. Ivan and Mary were in Taupo. We dined at the Masonic that night and the Eric Rickards were there. A long meeting at Harbour Board one day and we agreed to an

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offer of the Housing Department to purchase 193 acres In Napier South for £22,000. The Bishop, Mrs. Holland and Robin left the Poporangi Camp on March 12th but before their departure Boy and I had another bridge evening in the caravan. We missed them as they had been so much in our lives for six weeks. 520 fat lambs went off and only a few over 200 remained. On the 12th I finally parted with 369 acres of Pukekino to the Crown – the price was £6 per acre – today it might have been £60! Isobel McLean (used to be housekeeper to Mrs. Turnbull) came out to Pukekino to look after me while Dorothy went to Auckland for ten days. Boy was also away in Rotorua and Ray was in Wairoa. This year we had a very good crop of potatoes in Boy’s Paddock and old Bill Graham put in much time digging and bagging for we sold quite a quantity. On the 21st L.C. Rolls died rather suddenly – his heart condition had been poor since his attack last year but we did not expect him to die. On the 23rd Eddie, Gordon Williams and I represented the Directors at the funeral at Park Island. Ray came home after Isobel’s week was up and she and I were at home alone till later in the month when Boy and Dorothy returned. At a meeting of the T.H.L. Trust J.B. Campbell was elected to take L.C. Rolls’ place as General Manager of Ohinewairua Company with me. As will be seen this plan did not suit Ralph. The appointment of a General Manager to fill Rolls’ place with Williams and Kettle was left to Eddie, M.S. Chambers and myself. After much thought we decided as a first step to advertise throughout New Zealand.

April

In the meantime, E.S. Burkitt, who had been Secretary of Williams and Kettle, and with the firm since he left school, was elected interim Manager. March had been a dry month with only a bit over one inch and this month was equally dry with much wind and so by the end of the month we were becoming anxious about the grass situation for the winter. We finished the potato digging and got about three and a half tons from one acre in Boy’s paddock. Greene’s carrot crop of six acres in Phil’s corner was a rank failure and he hardly paid wages so I forgave him the rent. In any case it wouldn’t have amounted to very much. On the 4th Ray and I set off by service car for Auckland – the first night we spent at the Grand in Rotorua. We were late in reaching Rotorua on account of a breakdown near Reporoa and, on arrival, found our accommodation at Waiwera Hours had been muddled up so we were pushed off to a ghastly place called Australia House. This was appalling but we able to get into the Grand in Auckland after much trouble. The next day found us at the Grand in Auckland which, at that time in my opinion, was the most comfortable and friendly hotel in New Zealand. There we found Roie Hewitt, who had made the Grand her home all the time Brian was away on war service. We were in Auckland for a fortnight and had a most enjoyable time – seeing our many friends viz. Bets Hay, back in New Zealand while Trevor was still on service in India, the Holmdens, Marg Hay, Joan Bullock, Monty and Cushla (he was still in the Air Force, but in Auckland for a short term), Nellie Ainsworth (children’s nurse for six years). I lunched several times at the Northern Club with Trevor Holmden, Frater (Chairman of Harbour Board), Harvey Bell (then Major General) and others.

I saw old Fancourt (Dean of Auckland) several times and lunched with him. He had been prefect of my dormitory when I first went to Wanganui and sometimes I used to see him in England when he was at Cambridge and I at Oxford.

President Roosevelt died suddenly on the 12th and on Sunday the 13th I attended a huge memorial service at St. Mary’s where Fancourt preached a good sermon and crowds of U.S. Servicemen were present.

Carlton Hay and I were to have gone to a sports meeting on the 14th but he had a stroke that morning and died next day. I attended his funeral service at St. Sepulchre’s on the 16th when Archbishop Averill and the Bishop of Auckland (Simkin) officiated. It was all very tragic.

One day I lunched with Ralph Lowry and Jennie Ross-Smith, whom he later married. He had been trying to get his divorce from Betty

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for many years and at last succeeded, at great cost.

I also had many glimpses of the Auckland Harbour works with various officials – including Holderness and Vickerman and a trip by launch to Hobsonville. This was all of much interest to me being a member of the Napier Harbour Board at the time.

At times in Auckland I used to have yarns with Ernest Davis (Sir E. ) who was a big gun in business and later Mayor of Auckland. One day I went to St. Heliers to see Archbishop Averill and Mrs Averill in their pleasant home (he retired a year or two earlier and she was getting very senile, poor thing). Roie Hewitt was unhappy with her bank (N.Z.) so I introduced her to the Union Bank of Australia and she changed her account there and then. Ray and I returned to Napier on the 19th. Then there were some hectic meetings of the Ohinewairua Company and a conference at Okawa. J.B. Campbell was elected sole supervisor of the land operations as he was very conversant with that type of country. Bob left Eric Nelson’s property at Mangateretere after seven months and shortly proceeded to Campbell MacNiven at Haumoana as he had definitely decided against returning to Williams and Kettle.

The weather during April was dry and much wind abounded. Things were very dry in the country. By the end of the month only 91 wether lambs remained – the balance had gone away fat. The war in Europe was drawing to a close and Berlin was under siege. The Cruickshanks (Bishop of Waiapu) were well entrenched in Bishopscourt – the Troutbeck home in Chaucer Road, but he was having trouble to get his driver’s license after not having driven a car for so long.

May

I forgot to mention in April that owing to the sale of 369 acres there was a reduction made in the sheep population but only in the number of ewes – these were reduced to 1650. In the first few days of the month crutching took place and after that the usual routine work – stock work – fence repairing – gardening etc. Two bullocks went over a nasty drop in Bob’s paddock – one had to be shot but the other we managed to get out, after a week’s work of track making down the creek near the Whanakino bridge. There was a meeting of Ohinewairua Company one day to confirm the appointment of J.B. Campbell. Ralph Lowry was most hostile and Mrs. Lowry, who had always supported me, was reluctant to approve. However, ultimately, she did agree but things were never quite the same for many years. We appointed E.S. Burkitt secretary. Lunch afterwards at the Masonic was a dull affair except that Meta Riddiford came along and brightened us up.

The following day, I was spending a night or two with Mr. Wenley, Berlin and Hamburg fell to the British Army and Montgomery accepted the surrender of north west Germany and on the 8th Germany surrendered unconditionally after five years and eight months of war. There was much rejoicing and that night we heard Churchill and the King speak to the world. On the 10th Bets Hay and her two children, David and Libby, came to stay with us at Pukekino. They were living in Auckland till Trevor returned and plans were made. Trevor was a civil engineer before the war in Burma. On the 14th the New Zealand Naval Chief of Staff (Commodore Sir A. Lake) came to Napier and we had a meeting with him at the Harbour office. The talk was ‘off the cuff’ to a point and he told us of what might be the plan of campaign v Japan. Brian Geddis was married by Cruickshank (Bishop) on the same day and Eddie and Ethne Herrick went with us to the reception afterwards. Williams and Kettle’s Directors had a meeting or two during the month and on the 21st there was the Annual General. Meeting. It was still a better year than ever with £178,000 gross profit. On the 28th I had a tour of inspection (as Chairman of Reserves) with Harland of the Harbour Board’s Endowment Lands. Then our annual dinner took place but only J. McLennan, N. Mackay and I were present as S.M. Palmer had a bad cold. On the last day of the month Boy (Hamilton, of course) left us for Trentham Camp – his call having come from the Army. The dry spell came to an end this month and we were grateful for 4 ½ inches of rain.

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June

Mustered up 43 fat bullocks for sale – six were missing in Boy’s but after a big search we found them. Eddie, Maurice Chambers and I spent much of a day going through applications from 36 for Williams and Kettle’s job – it was quite a task. In the end we whittled them down to two – M.S.C. favoured Dick Wylie of the Power Board while Eddie and I favoured E.S.Burkitt. At a subsequent director’s meeting Burkitt was unanimously chosen and his appointment was confirmed on the 8th. On the same day I attended a meeting in Rainbow’s office with Gilbertson in connection with Ohinewairua – a meeting at Harbour Board and a lunch at the Masonic with Tom Lowry, Eddie and M.S.C. There was also a McLean Trust meeting during the month and a T.H. Lowry Trust meeting. Boy rang up one day to say I would be justified in appealing for his discharge as he was only occupied in picking up spent bullets at Foxton and would not even start military training till he was 21 and that was not till the end of November and since the war with Japan was nearing its end and his help was much needed at Pukekino where Bill and I were alone, I contacted Jack Graham, a member of the Appeal Board in Hawke’s Bay, and he, being a farmer, said he was completely in agreement and would further the matter.

The Japanese were now being very hard pressed and being driven back to their own country rapidly, suffering heavy losses all the way Moreover their once powerful navy was almost non-existent. John Turnbull (Willie’s son) was back from the war and spent a week or so with us. I offered him a job for a time but it did not work out very well. Germany was divided into four zones of administration (British, French, Russian and U.S.A.). Hitler and one or two others of his brigade had committed suicide by this time. At the end of the month at a monster conference of leaders of the allied Nations was held at San Francisco, the ‘United Nations’ was born.

July

Now the war in Europe was over it was time to settle down to hard work – not that we had not worked hard during the war but wars usually have an unsettling effect upon one. More trouble in the Lowry Family. Unfortunately T.H.L. left a 300 acre block paddock to Jim in his will – this had years ago been gifted to Mrs. Lowry who in turn gifted it to young Tom. Jim became very obstinate over it and regarded the Trustees as nitwits because they could not grant him this area. After much bother etc. Mrs. Lowry approached young Tom’s Trustees (Rainbow and myself) to sell to her and she would then gift it to Jim. There was then argument about the price she would have to pay – she thought £10 per acre but the valuer said £15! On top of that she had to pay gift duty – this was a further injustice to Ireland. Mrs. Lowry took a dim view of me. Old Mr. Averill became unwell again. Ruapehu erupted violently and clouds of smoke could be seen from many vantage points. After our first meeting of Williams and Kettle Directors with Burkitt as General Manager we all lunched at the Club and this became our habit for the time I was on the Board. A suggestion to change Banks was turned down. During the month we had, once more, quite a number of Seton Wenley’s cattle grazing on Pukekino. One day Fay, Hamilton’s little filly, staked herself under the shoulder. It was a very deep and ugly wound. However, with George Anderson’s help (rabbiter) we were able to cope with her satisfactorily and Callaghan, the Vet, gave us full marks. Fortunately Boy came home a little later, for ten days, and all was well. It was fortunate he had handled Fay to the extent she had confidence in men. Fay’s wound had to be attended to twice daily for about six weeks. One day the H.B. County gave a luncheon party in honour of T.E. Crosse, who attained the age of 91. Boy’s weekend leave was extended for ten days on account of his not being too fit. Then we heard that the appeal had succeeded and after reporting at Foxton he was discharged till November 21st (his birthday) when he would be 21.

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One day coming along Kennedy Road to a Harbour Board Meeting in the truck we blew out a tyre and the amount of red tape there was to get a permit for a new tyre was no one’s business. A heavy fall of snow fell on the night of the 15th – this made the journey to town for a Harbour Board meeting very hazardous for the first eight miles, as far as Mangatahi – ice on windscreen. I had a meeting or two with J.B. Campbell during the month and I was very happy to have him associated with me in Ohinewairua Land Company. Mrs. Lowry and Ralph seemed more agreeable towards him. We shifted the hay paddock fence – a job which should have been done ages ago. There were signs of sleepy sickness among the ewes so we had to have a big drafting up as lambing was almost upon us. One day the Derricks brought out Sir Harry and Lady Battersby (High Commissioner) – he and I found much in common as he had been ‘up’ at Hertford, Oxford. During the month Little Fly, a favourite sheep dog on the farm, was killed by a truck on the road and there was much sadness in the family. I note we had a great struggle to keep a little dairy calf alive – she went off her feed and appeared to be on the ‘way out’ – however we persevered and after a while her life was saved. I shall never forget the struggle we had for we always loved our pet animals. On the 25th the first British elections after the war took place and the Conservative Government was defeated, Winston Churchill fell in a landslide – Labour secured a majority of 150 at least. England certainly showed her gratitude towards the man who saved the world in a poor manner.

August

On the 7th the U.S.A. Dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese town of Hiroshima causing widespread destruction and death. This was shortly followed by another and Japan was brought to her knees and on the 15th she surrendered unconditionally. So after six years, less one month, of war peace came and there was untold relief in the civilized world. Charlie Roberts and I were taking a walk to the Breakwater when the sirens and whistles blared out so we rushed back to town to take part in the excitement. That night we went to a very enjoyable peace dinner with the Herricks at Lindisfarne – besides ourselves were Ray and Boy, the Lindsay Cordons and Mrs. Allen. On August 8th Dorothy and I went to stay at the Masonic Hotel in Napier. We found Ernest Groome and the two Miss Johnstons of Motuotaraia also there. From time to time we were able to entertain a number of friends – among them were the S.M. Palmers, N. MacKays, G. Wenley, the Sturms etc. So we were staying in Napier actually when peace came and were able to take part in some of the celebrations.

Bob and Hiraani were now with the Campbell MacNivens at Awanga and we went to see them one day in their cottage on the farm, Bob had now definitely decided to make farming his career. On Pukekino lambing proceeded apace and the signs were for a good spring as the rainfall for the month was sufficient to ensure an early growth if the warm weather set in.

Opposums were beginning to become a nuisance and our rabbiter George Anderson, in addition to rabbitting, took on the setting of traps for opposums.

September

Ploughing again was in progress and by the end of the month docking was virtually over. There was about 95% lambing – still far too many dry ewes. The formal surrender of Japan took place on the U.S. Battleship ‘Missouri’ in Tokyo Harbour. There were the usual meetings of Ohinewairua Company, T.H.Lowry Trust, Williams and Kettle and Harbour Board – now that the war was over the Harbour Board began to consider future construction works – but it realised there would be a shortage of some materials for a time. I notice I was still a member of the H.B. Club Committee and after attending the September monthly meeting I spent the night with Mr. Wenley. One day I invited a few young people to lunch at the Club to meet Cruickshank (Bishop of Waiapu) – there was Larry Herrick (Lt. Commander R.N. and in submarines), Peter Wilson, Boy and Eddie were also there. Later in the month Larry had a party at Lindisfarne. Anne Kay had her 21st

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birthday on the 25th September and the Kays gave a dance for her in the Kereru Hall. Again we purchased about 30 to 40 yearling heifers from Bill Jowsey. When not engaged in stock work we erected the fence between Nairn and Road End on a better line. Towards the end of the month J.B. Campbell and I had more meetings as Ralph Lowry was making things as difficult as he could for us. Had it not been for our desire to protect his children we would gladly have resigned from the Trust.

October

Spring came in with a bang but as there was much snow on the mountains, unless rain fell or westerly winds blew, there would be frosts. Neither happened and we experienced some heavy frosts. Jock Eaton came back from the war a Major – having been in England, North Africa and Italy for the past three years, and he brought Dorothy Bell of Auckland to Whakarara for the approval of his parents! Monty and Cushla, now out of the Air Force, returned to Hawke’s Bay and, after staying with us for three weeks, they took on a job at Kereru Station. By this time Kereru was well run-down. No revenue was forthcoming but, for their keep, Monty was given the job of milking two or three cows and looking after the garden. No repairs had been effected to the homestead since the Earthquake, except to the kitchen and one or two rooms had been made habitable.

Early in the month Dorothy and Ray went to the Masonic for a few days before the latter went to Auckland to a case, and I stayed with Mr. Wenley. During that time I had a Harbour Board Meeting and other things to attend to. And one day was spent in a very unpleasant wrangle with Mrs. Lowry and Ralph over the Ohinewairua affairs. Mrs. Lowry swung completely over to Ralph and they wanted me to resign my position of Managing Director because I would not agree to dispense with J.B. Campbell as superviser of the property and allow Ralph to take over.

Ivan’s health was not good these days and we wanted him to take a trip to England feeling six months holiday and a complete change of scenery would be the answer. However, he seemed to think the only thing to do was to retire from business. He and Mary went to Taupo for a week or two and for a few days we went to their home in Napier as there were meetings of Williams and Kettle, Harbour Board and McLean Trust to attend.

Labour was still in power and among its revolutionary actions was the taking over of the Bank of New Zealand and abolition of the County Quota whereby rural electors of the County were on a favourable basis with Urban electors in the matter of representation. October was a windy month but during the last few days we had some acceptable rain to freshen things up but that was all. The total rain for the month was 3.21 inches, which would have been of great benefit had it not been for the very parched conditions brought about by the incessant wind.

November

At the Kereru Sports Annual Meeting I retired from the Presidentship after two or three years of holding the position and R.P. Kay was elected. As you know the Kays had been our neighbours since about 1920 and all through the years never had a week passed without our meeting and more often than not, on my rounds of the farm, I dropped in for a cup of tea with them and we reviewed the news of the neighbourhood etc.

The Mangatahi Rabbit Board began to get really busy for rabbits were on the increase and it became apparent that some action to combat the menace was imperative. The time had come round again to prepare for sowing of chou moellier and potatoes – also the dry shearing was here. The day we finished this Boy went off to Gisborne for a few days for the Spring Show and other attractions. Gales were the order of the day and dry weather continued which spoiled the effect of the rain at the end of last month. We went to the Masonic again for a few days on the 12th so as to be near at hand for Harbour Board Meetings – a party at the Herricks and one at Vyv Hill’s. Also Mrs. Gould and Barbara were staying in Napier for Natalie’s

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wedding and we wanted to see something of them. On the 21st we celebrated Boy’s twenty-first birthday with a big party, mostly for the young, at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers in Hastings. Eddie proposed Boy’s health. We mixed the cocktails at Ivan’s in the morning – then the party began at 5 p.m, and lasted till well into the night but Dorothy and I retired for dinner at Lindisfarne and so wended our way home later. Not one drop of rain fell all through the month – literally not a drop. This was a record. By now we were beginning to prepare for a full scale drought.

December

Hot and dry and much dust blowing over Hawke’s Bay from Mt. Ruapehu which was still fairly active. On the 1st Boy went off to be present at Jim Lowry’s wedding he married Edna Sorenson of Mangatahi. Rabbits were increasing and at off times Boy would go out just before dark and pot a dozen or more on the edge of the gorges. On the 10th we began shearing the ewes – heavy clouds kept appearing about this time and rain seemed imminent – however nothing happened and shearing was finished without a break but the shearing gang was a most unsatisfactory one. Boy and Wils Van Asch went to the Wairarapa for rams. Menleyuch unrest over much of the world and crimes on the increase in N.S.W. there was a big strike.

On the 14th J.B. Campbell and I motored by way of Gentle Annie to pay a visit to Ohinewairua Station which was highly successful and, after a night at Taihape, we returned, satisfied with the inspection. After the final Harbour Board Meeting for the year Eddie (Chairman) gave a party at Lindisfarne for the members and executive staff. After Williams and Kettle’s last meeting of the year, 21st December, we went to the Port to have our Christmas get-together with Gordon Cooper (Merchandise Manager). Then I paid my usual Christmas calls in Napier before returning home There was a big muster of the Kereru residents at the Presbyterian Service on the 23rd. Mr. Waugh was our Padre still and though not a Presbyterian, I was Treasurer. Monty and Cushla came over to Christmas dinner with us. There were some odd showers during the day. Shuker took on a contract for scrub-cutting in the Gaols Gorge. The week before New Year we began our rabbit poisoning campaign, which was to last for a very long time. By this time the menace was alarming us. The year ended with our dining at Kereru. The drought was upon us. The month’s rain was 1.21 inches and the total for the year was 33.37 – 11 inches below the average.

1946

January

This was a hot dry and windy month and the drought persisted all through – in all only 28 points of rain fell in the month. It was a time of anxiety – no one can ever be quite prepared for a drought and you always keep on thinking this cannot happen. Much of our time was devoted to keeping water holes open for stock. Rabbit poisoning was maintained and also blackberry spraying. On the 3rd H. St. Barb Holland (Bishop) came to stay with us for a week and we had much fun and laughter. He enjoyed rabbit shooting in the evenings with a .303 rifle. Then we visited Okawa and Tunanui one day. The first night I asked him if he would like to say Grace – his reply was that it was his Chaplain’s duty to perform this job. So I said Grace before that meal but forgot thereafter! Monty and Cushla, who were at Kereru, came over for dinner and bridge once or twice and we went to Kereru. So the week passed very pleasantly and then the Bishop and Boy left for Featherston together.

Inspite of the chou moellier crop being an extremely poor one, by the end of the month we had a good pick of fat lambs. At a Mangatahi Rabbit Board Association Meeting we (farmers) were urged to co-operate with it to the best of our ability and to devote all the time we could to assisting in the poisoning campaign. Our precious little pet ‘Kim’ (a cat) disappeared and we never found any trace of him. He must have taken rabbit poison. John Wenley came up to see us after his return from England where he had a brief experience in the Navy, and we were pleased to have news of the Sharps of Balruddery.

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February

This was a month of much wind, excessive heat and worry concerning the disposition of the stock on the farm. Not a drop of rain fell during the whole month – as was the case last November -and my diary shows the rainfall over the past six months was less than seven inches. You can imagine the appearance of the countryside it was almost black – a dirty dark brown and there was hardly any glass to be seen. It was almost as severe a drought as that in the summer of 1914-15. Much of our time, as in January, was spent in keeping water holes open and constantly moving stock about and poisoning rabbits. However, strange to say, on what little of the crop survived the lambs did well and by the end of the month only a handful of wether lambs were left in hand. Stinker and his gang made a good job in cleaning up the Gaols block and the total cost was £150 – today it would cost £500 at least, that is if you could get competent scrub cutters. During most of the summer the atmosphere was charged with smoke from fires in the back country but during the drought we hardly dared light a fire and on some properties smoking in the open was forbidden. The nearest fire to us was on Big Hill Station and all hands were out to cope with it. Sandy Eaton came back from the war and was discharged so as to be able to start off his medical course at the Otago University. The Ewe Fairs were depressed – most lines of ewes showed a drop of 10/- per head on last year e.g. our two-tooth ewes only brought 17/-. There were several Harbour Board and Williams and Kettle Meetings. I still used to call in at Lindisfarne to take Eddie into town and bring him back and we usually picked up Horrie (Horrobin) at the Bank of Australasia before lunching at the Club. Ray was off at a case in Waipukurau for most of the month. Boy represented Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay in an Athletic Sports Meeting in Napier and came second in the 120 and 220 Hurdles. J.B. Campbell was making a good job of Ohinewairua and we had a meeting or two. It was finally decided by the Directors of Williams and Kettle to make no further move towards changing the Bank Account. Guy Rochford, after being consulting engineer to the Harbour Board, retired. We were sorry to lose him for he was a very sound and reliable fellow. Ivan’s health was not good and he decided to go to his cottage at Taupo for a year and take life easily.

March

The month came in as dry as ever. On the 1st, after a day at the Harbour Board Office, Ray, Dorothy and I went to a party at Lindisfarne for Gordon Hannay, who was out in New Zealand for a month or two. Also there were Molly and Sally Russell, just back from England after several yews, and Jocelyn Price. On the 2nd Gambiazzi (contractor) had about ten acres of rolling to do in Anderson’s corner, after sowing of grass seed, when he was called away to a sick relative, so Boy hopped into the breech and finished the job. That night a good rain came and during the next two days we had over two inches which was just too wonderful. We also had a crop of black barley, longing for some rain. That night the young people had a dinner party for Garry Glazebrook, Donald Gascoyne, Margaret Maclean and Marjory Clarkson and her fiance, Len Walton, so Dorothy and I went over to dine at Kereru with Monty and Cushla. On the 4th Cora came to spend a fortnight with us and we had much fun and laughter and some excitement. H.M.S. Belfast came to Napier on the 8th and I was deputed to represent the Chairman of the Harbour Board to call upon the Admiral (Severn) and Captain together with Hercock (Mayor of Napier). Randall Kettle was a junior officer on board so Boy stayed in Napier for a few days to see something of his old school friend and enjoy the fun. Next day I lunched on board with several others and Mayors of Napier and Hastings included and Randall was invited to the lunch. Then a cocktail party took place later on board and Dorothy, Ray and Cora came along. The Raglan seat was won by the National Party in a by-election – this gave us encouragement. We sorted up the ewes and by the end of the month we planned to carry 1560 through the winter plus 500 ewe hoggets and odds and ends. But the cattle population was well down at 82. I dined one night with the Seton Wenleys and then

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attended a meeting of Federated Farmers at Maraekakaho. The benzine pump of the car had been giving trouble lately and I had to walk the last few miles on my way home. Round the middle of the month we had more welcome rain to boost up the grass, particularly the newly sown grass. Ray went to Waipukurau for another Karitane Case. On the 19th much trouble and sadness descended upon us. Poor old Mick (Boy’s first sheep dog and a wonderful dog too) had to be shot on account of a complete break-up and what must have been distemper. It was a sad blow to the whole family. But this was not the end of trouble for on that day we detected distemper among more dogs and from then on for a month or more we had a very busy and anxious time as the epidemic spread and we had to fight hard to save lives. As you will remember, several of our best dogs succumbed and the little pups of which we were so fond, all died. It was a very trying time. Among the dogs that eventually died were Tip, belonging to Bill, and Bruce and Ben, two of Boy’s mainstays.

Then came crutching and the problem of getting sheep to and from Kereru was overcome but only with much had work and Anne Kay was called in to help. It was feared there might be an outbreak of Facial Eczema following the flush grass and all known precautions were taken throughout Hawke’s Bay. The Kereru Sports were held on the 23rd – having been postponed owing to the drought conditions in January. Boy did very well in many of the horse and foot competitions. Monty and Cushla were still at Kereru but their days were numbered for it became very certain that the property would have to go. By this time the overdraft with Murray Roberts and Company was beyond the value of the stock and there was, of course, a mortgage of £4 per acre still in existence. Percy Burbury, who was interested in Kereru on behalf of Gwen Malden and Ruth Nelson, was given an option to purchase till April 30th. Monty and I were trustees of the R.M. Turnbull Estate and we took J.B. Campbell’s advice before reaching the decision to sell. J.B.C. could see no hope, at that time, of being able to hold on to the property – there was no money available for maintenance whatsoever and the property was going back rapidly and the rabbits were in full charge. Towards the end of the month there were more Harbour Board Meetings and also Williams and Kettle, McLean and Lowry Trust meetings. It was good to see Jock Twigg again. He returned this month full of honour after his war services in Europe and the Middle East. The month’s rain was 4.45 inches.

April

Charlie Bone’s men came out for the annual sweeping of chimneys and overhauling of the windmill and pump engine. In our early days at Pukekino the sweeping of chimneys was done by ourselves with branches of manuka or gorse attached to a rope. Distemper among the dogs continued till the 25th of the month and the work of dosing the invalids and caring for them occupied much time. By this date we had lost four dogs and the three pups and only four dogs remained. And one of those was my little Sharp and his life had hung in the balance for days. The six weeks during which distemper held us in its grip, was one of the most unpleasant and saddest periods I can recall. One of our very friendly dairy cows, Nigger, went down with milk fever one day and we had a big struggle to get her on her feet again. In those days the only treatment was by means of inflating the udder with a bicycle pump. Each day more and more ewes who had crossed gorges into neighbours’ properties were returned. Bill Shuker and a man came out and after a few days they effected a good job of burning the fallen manuka and then we sowed grass seed on the burn. More beneficial rain fell during the month and by the end four and a half inches had fallen and a good growth of grass was assured. Bob, Hiraani and Louise came out to stay for a few days. They were with the MacNivens at that time. From the 7th to the 17th Dorothy and I stayed in Napier at the Masonic as we felt a rest was due after the last months of strain. During that time there were meetings of committees of the Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle, Lowry and Ohinewairua Trusts etc. We were able to entertain many friends such as the Von Kettles, Olive Nairn, Selby Palmer and daughter Pauline just back after eight years in England,

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the Ivan Logans, Ian and his new wife Kay, Jock Twigg and so on. Percy McHardy and his wife were also at the Masonic and I pottered a about a little with him. There were also visits to friends such as Mr. Wenley, the Mackays and the Charlie Roberts. One day there was a lunch party I gave at the Club for Bob, Boy, Don Bisson, and Phil Giblin who had been nominated for membership. On our way home on the 17th we called in to see Mrs. W.B. Johnston who was ill in Royston – then to Lindisfarne to say farewell to Gordon Hannay. However, before he finally sailed for England he and the Herricks came out to Pukekino for the day. On my 62nd birthday I went to spend a weekend with Mason Chambers at Tauroa. Nan Harvey (now Mrs. Bill Whitlock) was there also. Maurice and I went to see the Penlingtons – he was Headmaster then of Hastings High School. On the 28th Eddie and Hannay came to Tauroa, Later Maurice and I had a walk over the Havelock hills. On the 29th I went to Lindisfarne for breakfast, then Eddie and I went to Napier where Burkitt picked us up in Williams and Kettle’s car, and we proceeded to Wairoa to have a look over Williams and Kettle’s premises. Then we spent an hour or so at the Hydroelectric works at Kaitawa before proceeding to Lake House at Waikaremoana for the night. The next day we journeyed on through the Urewera country and Galatea to Rotorua. We stayed at the Grand Hotel.

May

Eddie, Burkitt and I proceeded to Te Puke to investigate the advisability of making an offer to purchase the Farmers Trading Company, and so establishing Williams and Kettle in the Bay of Plenty. We did not recommend to our fellow directors making any offer. We set off at midday for Waihau Bay, via Whakatane and Opotiki, where we stayed the night. The trip along the coast route is, in my opinion, one of the most delightful in New Zealand. Waihau Bay is quite a romantic spot on a rugged coast with a view of Cape Runaway.

The fresh fish at dinner was the freshest you ever tasted. Next day we carried on through Hicks Bay where we saw the giant Pohutukawa Tree, Tiki Hill, Ruatoria – here we visited Williams and Kettle’s branch – and so on through Te Puia, Tokomaru and Tologa Bay to Gisborne. We stayed at the Poverty Bay Club and met several old Gisborne friends that night. Next day we left early and visited Williams and Kettle at Wairoa and so on to Napier by evening. Dorothy met me as she and Ray were staying in Napier as the latter was to have her appendix removed the next day. Isobel came home with me and she took charge of the house while Dorothy was away.

Ray’s operation in Sherwood at the hands of Harold Barnett was successful and she remained in hospital for about ten days. During that time I spent a night or two with Mr. Wenley. There were several meetings at various times during the month between Monty and myself (Trustees Kereru Estate) and Burbury, Dixon (Manager of Williams and Kettle, Hastings), Val Hoadley and others. We turned down various offers that seemed most unrealistic, one for the land (approximately 6000 acres) was £25,000. One day, Monty, Burbury, McGregor and I had a ride round the Station – we were in the saddle all day and we covered the property completely and talked much. It was a very tiring day.

I spent a night with Mr. Mason Chambers to attend a small party he gave at Tauroa. Next day there was a meeting of Williams and Kettle in Napier and later a dinner at the Club with N. Mackay and W.M. Palmer and this time John McLennan was absent as he had influenza. Last year S.M. Palmer missed out for the same reason. We heard of the death of Carlo Fountaine last month in England and we were sad for he died before his time and he was a type so needed during the period of rebuilding a country so torn by years of war.

Rabbit poisoning was still the most important job on the farm. At Williams and Kettle’s Annual Meeting on the 31st I was re-elected to the Board again. May was a wet month – 9.49 inches fell.

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June

Eric Averill, who was about 12, died of a kidney complaint and we attended the funeral in Havelock. He was Cath and Rochie’s youngest. Boy was playing football again this season and usually went to Napier on Saturdays. J.B. Campbell took another look at the Kereru position and advised Monty and me to accept Burbury’s offer of £36,000 for land and stock. There followed many conferences with various people. Usually on my visits to Napier, which by now had become frequent, I would have a cup of tea with Pat Higgins and T.M. Geddis and at times there would also turn up Charlie Morse, Peters and F.W. Browne (Public Trustee). On the 17th we went to the Masonic for a few days on account of a spate of appointments. And while there we were able to see many of our friends. Lady Sargood was staying there again. George Maddison, who had been Hastings’ popular Mayor for years, but now retired, came in to see me one day.

Dorothy Gordon returned to New Zealand during the month after eight years in England, except for a brief visit here after Frank Gordon’s death in 1938. Freyberg began his term of Governor Generalship. Once again Monty Turnbull appeared to be out of a job and he thought quite seriously about purchasing Ben Lomond in Clyde Road for the purpose of letting of flats. However, he very wisely decided against that. June was a wet month – 6 ½ inches fell.

July

There was a National Party meeting early in the month and before it took place in Kereru Hall, H.W. Dowling, Gavin Black and [sic] had dinner with us. Dowling was the wrong man then, as he would be today. Ray went to Waipukurau to stay with the Gibbs family (Williams & Kettle Stock Agent). We concentrated on repairing sheep yards during the month and also splitting firewood. There was also planting of poplar cuttings and crutching took place. Kay Logan, who had been ailing for some time, was pronounced to have a tubercular infection in her spine and was admitted to Napier Hospital Shelters. It was a sad business but she was very plucky and resigned. The usual meetings of Williams and Kettle, McLean Trust and Harbour Board took place and the reserves committee, of which I was Chairman, was kept busy in negotiations with the Napier City Council concerning the development of the Marewa area. At the time the area was just a blank empty space. 1967 – have a look at the area today – what a remarkably attractive part of Napier it is -with its pleasant homes, parks and shopping area. There is an avenue in Marewa named after me – ‘Logan Avenue’ – I was, in 1946, Chairman of the Harbour Board Reserves Committee. We visited Dorothy Gordon at Clifton and brought her out to stay with us. She was very busy getting ready for John’s arrival – he had been at Harrow and after leaving school he had a year in the army in Italy. John Roberts, now living in Wellington, came to see us one day, Also Robin (the Hollands young friend) came to stay with us. Michael came to Kereru to spend a few days with Monty and Cushla after his return from Japan where he had been on Keith Stewart’s staff after his war service in Italy. On the last day of the month Monty and Cushla left Kereru for good as the property was virtually sold, They went to Auckland to visit Cushla’s people first and then came to settle in Napier.

August

I spent the first two or three days in Napier at Mr. Wenley’s as there were various meetings to attend, the most important being the signing in Penn Scannell’s Office of the document of sale of Kereru Station to Gwen Malden and Ruth Nelson for £35,500 – stock as well as land. The other meetings were concerning the development of the Marewa Block. The Bishop of Wellington came to us for a couple of nights to say goodbye as he returned to England early in August to become Dean of Norwich. He was finding the work in Wellington too much and too exacting at his age. It was sad to say ‘farewell’ as we all had become fond of him and loved his informal visits to Pukekino. I saw Ray off one day from Hastings Aerodrome for Auckland, Peter Van Asch

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took her in his little air-mapping plane but a burst tyre at Hamilton made it necessary for her to continue her journey by service car as she was to be bridesmaid at Norah Craven’s wedding. There was sorting up of ewes as it looked like an early lambing. And this proved to be so.. Also much attention was devoted to the vegetable garden. The ploughing up of the Nursery Paddock also began. The Pigeon Club (Kereru) disbanded after completing its wartime task of sending parcels to our ‘boys’ overseas and, at a Victory Ball at the Hall on the 19th, we distributed what remained in the funds (£37) to the ‘returned boys’. On the 19th I went to Mr. Wenley’s again and attended a Club dinner held as a farewell to E. Waddington, who had been Manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Napier for many years, and was being transferred to Gisborne. One day Burbury brought out his son, Ian, to see us and Ian’s wife, Bunty – she had been stationed at West Raynham which was one of Jim’s camps in Norfolk. Poor old ‘Doggie’, another of our beloved cat friends, had to be put to sleep. He was 15 and life was beginning to be too much of a burden to him. We loved him dearly. On the last day of the month the Hawke’s Bay Club’s annual meeting took place and I had Bob, Boy and Phil Giblin to dinner. It was my job to propose Maurice Spence for Presidentship of the Club. Later I joined in a game of snooker with Keith Bull, Humphry, Bayley and Reeves. A disappointment came to me when I discovered that W.D. Johnston, Manager of Kereru for many years and likewise a friend, had been betraying that confidence and friendship.

September

This was a busy month on the farm, as you know. Lambing had been an easy one and the weather was fairly mild with just the odd shower, no heavy falls of rain. There was also much activity in the garden and early potatoes planted.

Kereru was taken over in the last week of August and the new Manager, Alec Anderson, was installed. We called upon him and Mrs. Anderson and they became close friends of ours in the years to come. They had two grown-up sons (Budd and Bob) who both worked on the Station, and a daughter, Betty, who was still at school in the South Island. And so Kereru Station passed out of the Turnbull Family after 35 years. Many things contributed to this happening. Two reasons stood out in my mind – R.M. Turnbull was too old when he took up a North Island sheep station after a lifetime in Otago – he was 70. Also had he given Monty more freedom of movement all may have been saved.

Another meeting of Federated Farmers took place at Maraekakaho – I dined that night with the Seton Wenleys and his cousin, Laing, who was a Veterinary Surgeon and gave a talk. Another day I went to Seton’s to inspect a lime deposit with Burbury, McGilluray (Agricultural Department) and Owen Hope (Engineer) – later they came home for dinner and then had a meeting of Maraekakaho residents to hear a talk on the use of lime. Mardie and Betty departed for New Plymouth after a holiday with us. And at the end of the month Ray returned from a case in Auckland. There were the usual Harbour &mid, Williams and Kettle and McLean Trust meetings to attend – also a meeting with Harland at the Land Sales Court and also a Hawke’s Bay Club meeting. Monty and Cushla took a house in Morse Street, Napier. Ohinewairua Land Company had a loss this year of £600 – but my diary does not indicate just how this occurred. J.B. Campbell is not with us now to tell the story but I think it was the year in which he carried out a big improvement programme as maintenance had to be caught up with.

October

The Burburys came out to see us one day and Percy and I were able to clear up some points concerning the sale of Kereru. Boy and Ray went to Jean Hallett’s wedding early on the month. Docking was finished and the lambing was satisfactory in spite of a bigger death rate among the ewes. 1522 ewes were put to the rams and 1580 lambs were docked. Early shearing was earlier than usual – it was over on the 10th. After shearing I went

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to Napier for a couple of days as the Reserves Committee had to meet to discuss the development of the 28 acre block and Macdonald block – also we attended the Sales Court. After the long drawn out War Criminals trial at Nuremburg (Germany) ten criminals – Ribbentrop among them – were executed. Goring escaped by committing suicide – likewise Goebbels. We carted many posts and battens from Whakarara preparatory to a fence repair campaign. We did an amount of liming this season in addition to super topdressing. And the Nursery paddock was put into chou moellier.

Much needed rain fell on the 20th – still by the end of the month the country was fairly dry.. At this time of the year we usually get stiff necks by looking towards the heavens for signs of rain clouds. On the 21st the Harbour Board held its annual meeting and it was disclosed that this had been the best year ever. It was its seventy-first birthday too.

There was a Club dinner to farewell Walter Rowan, who had been Manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Napier for many years. We were all sorry to lose him. There was a big Maori Gathering at Paki Paki to welcome the Freybergs – hakas, poi dances, speeches and a terrific feast of pork, eels, potatoes etc. Later we went to Lindisfarne on our way home. On our return we found that Boy had cut a finger badly while killing a sheep and Ray had to take him to the hospital for treatment. All was well. Keith Holyoake (National member for Pahiatua) was beginning to appear more and more on the platform and to be taking a prominent part in the National Party. We wanted more rain shortly to keep the spring growth on the move. Only 2.42 inches fell during October.

November

On the 3rd there was a meeting of the Reserves (Harbour Board) and then we visited the Ahuriri Lagoon to inspect a site for the Napier Aerodrome. In the evening I went to hear Price (National Candidate for Napier and a returned R.A.F. man – son of Charlie Price of the Herald) speak at Richmond Park and then returned to the Club for the night.

Next day Eddie, Pat Higgins, Harland and I journeyed by service car to Auckland as representatives of the Board at the Harbour Board’s Association Meeting. We were at the Grand till the 10th when we returned by car. In those days the journey took twelve hours and was fairly uncomfortable. Apart from attending the Conference, Eddie and I visited Role and Brian Hewitt, the Cravens (he was Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital). I also went to see Cheesey Donald. I had not seen him since school days, and Nellie and her husband. J.P. Kenny, late Secretary of the Harbour Board now living in Auckland, came to see us. On the journey home we ran into snow, hail and rain. The following day I had a conference with Stanton, an Auckland Solicitor, in regard to compensation for Aerodromes. Also a meeting in Hastings of T.H. Lowry Trust. On the 12th more Harbour Board meetings re the Aerodrome and a Williams and Kettle meeting. At last I got home again.

On the 19th, 20th and 21st we did our ewe shearing. The total sheep shorn were 2266 and I noted we got 63 bales of wool which was considered good. A party on the 20th at the Dudley Kettles’ prior to Juliet’s marriage next day to Tony Grace. Juliet is a god-daughter of mine.

On the 25th I had a big day – Harbour Board Meeting – lunch at the W.G. Woods – McLean Trust – a short visit to the Barrons and home. On the 26th the Maori elections took place and, of course, all four seats went to Labour. The following day the European elections were held and Labour secured 42 seats and National 38. So we are gradually making progress and we might, with luck, win the next elections.

Jim’s effects arrived from England – four years after his death. All his belongings had been collected by Constance Fountaine and packed very carefully. There were uniforms, civilian clothes and all sorts of nic-nacs. The month was disappointing – there was only 2.43 inches of rainfall and much wind to off-set the moisture that fell. So the prospects did not give much room for complacency.

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December

On the 1st, being Sunday, there was a Church of England Service which we attended – Jim Anderson of Puketapu Parish used to come up every second month. The rabbit position was worsening and Steele of the Rabbit Board came up to give us up-to-date instructions on the art of laying rabbit poison and we then got to work with a will. We obtained the help of David Wright (friend of Boy’s and a Medical Student) for a couple of weeks during the month and we picked up about 1500 poisoned rabbits. The biggest kill was in Marjorie’s where we got 490. The boys skinned what they could but most had to be buried or dumped in the Sugar Pots on Echills. Early in the month Dorothy spent a night at Monty’s new home in Napier (Morse Street) while I went to Mr. Wenley. After going through the agenda of the Reserves Committee in the morning we returned home via Havelock North, calling in on the Burburys and Olive Nairn. Bob, Hiraani and Lou came out to stay for a few days. Dyer, (H.B. Farmers Meat Company) came out on the 13th and picked 136 Romney lambs and 137 S.D. lambs. The pick was earlier than usual. The average weight was good – 37.8 lbs. On the 16th after the final Harbour Board Meeting of the year there was Eddie Herrick’s party at Lindisfarne as usual. Ivan and Mary were mostly in Taupo as former was taking a year more or less off work on account of his state of health.

On Christmas Day R.P. Kay and family came down and we had fun mixing cocktails. In those days all sorts of funny mixtures used to be consumed and all your friends seemed to have the ‘best recipe ever’. Now, of course, it is straight drinks. Boy went over to Featherston with Rochie Averill and Bothoway (Williams and Kettle Stock Agent) to select rams. While Boy was away a most unfortunate thing happened. I was awakened by a great whinneying. I pulled on some clothes hurriedly and rushed out to find Boy’s little piebald foal caught up in the wires of the Pit-Nairn fence. I had to rush back to collect the wireclippers. Callaghan came out to see the wound on the fetlock and feared the tendon may be severed. This eventually proved to be the case and the little filly had to be destroyed. December was a very dry month – only .36 of an inch fell – so things were becoming dry. As I write this (June 1967) I am reading Dick Casey’s ‘Australian Father and Son’ which tells, among other things, of devastation wrought by the frequent droughts in Australia and I feel ashamed to tell of our alarm when it doesn’t rain for a few weeks.

1947

January

Conditions were very dry and my diary says ‘a drought is in progress’. Eddie rang up early on the 1st to say he and Ethne would be out for the day – they bought lunch and a bottle of wine-almost the last from old Sturge’s cellar which Eddie bought at the sale after his death. On the 3rd I it became quite certain the little filly’s tendon had been severed. Callaghan held out no hope so the little thing had to be shot. So, Boy’s dream of possessing a piebald pony was shattered, David Wright came out again and helped us with our rabbit killing programme and he was with us for three weeks. During the month we collected, after poisoning, at least 600. However, we concentrated, very largely, during David’s stay, on Cynogassing rabbit stops. Athol Williams, who was at the time Chairman of the newly formed Waipawa-Ngaruroro Rabbit Board, held a meeting at Kereru one night and we were advised of the gravity of the rabbit infestation and urged to fight relentlessly. A little later the Board forbade the use of guns which could disturb rabbits when poison was laid. Lamb shearing took place. Another 250 odd fat lambs went to the works, leaving about 190 on the crop which was beginning to wilt. The weather was hot and windy and often thunderstorms appeared in the distance but never came near us. However, on the 14th, 15th and 16th we got 80 points of rain which gave a little relief to crops and gardens. On the 8th Eddie overturned his car in heavy shingle near Ben Lomond and injured his spine. For a couple of weeks he endured much discomfort. Then it was found that the vertebrae near the neck were badly injured and there had been a near miss of a

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broken neck. For months he was in a plaster cast. He was also flown to Wellington Hospital for treatment. Boy went to Taupo to stay with the Dudley Kettles for ten days.

Anne Kay became engaged to Bill McKenzie Douglas of Masterton and one day she brought him to see us and the Kay Family came down as well. On the 18th I went down to Lindisfarne to spend a night with Eddie – he was very miserable. On the 20th I went to stay at the Club for a few days for a Harbour Board Meeting and a Harbour Board Staff picnic at Eskdale to which I went with George Murray. And I called on the Captain of the S.S. Waiwere (Moffat) to find he was the Briscoe Moffat who stayed with us in Napier as a boy and whose Father was Chief Officer of the Arawa when we travelled in her in 1889. Moffat lunched with me at the Club next day. The ship was to be in port for some time so we saw much more of him as time went on. On the 25th the Kereru Sports took place and Dorothy Gordon was staying with us at the time. She and I went to the dance in the evening. On the last day of the month there was a T.H. Lowry Trust Meeting in Hastings. I lunched at the Club with Tom, Hylton Smith and Briscoe Moffat. Alec McKenzie, Manager of Olrig Station, was very unwell with a heart condition. The rainfall for January was 1.32 inches – so the drought carries on.

February

Hot and dry – much trouble with lambs getting stuck in the creek in the Nursery where the crop was this year. Much trouble was brewing in Palestine where the Jews were now settled in a little strip of land called Israel. Also there was unrest in Burma and India. On the 3rd I had a party for lunch at the H.B. Club for Eaton, Rochie Averill, Hylton Smith, Boy and Moffat (S.S. Waiwera). Later a big party of farmers from the Kereru and Maraekakaho areas was conducted by me for a trip in the Harbour on a launch. Then a tour of Harbour facilities and we ended up on the Waiwera for tea. I spent the night with Eddie at Lindisfarne. The next day there was a Reserves Committee Meeting, then a big cocktail party on the Waiwera. I may say she was one of the biggest ships to berth in Napier and she was taking a very big load of meat direct from Napier to England. I went out to spend another night with Eddie whose condition was not very good and there was a nurse installed. The next day he was taken to Royston – Alec Gillies (Orthopaedic Surgeon of Wellington) came to see him. The result was he was flown to the Wellington Hospital next day where he spent about a month. Dipping was begun and finished and only just in time for the weather broke on the 11th and during the next three days nearly six inches of rain had fallen and the drought had been well settled. One day Monty and Cushla brought the Douglas Rathbones out to see us. On the 17th Ray returned from three weeks in Auckland. On that day I attended a McLean Trust Meeting, H.B. Club Meeting and later a Federated Farmers Meeting at Maraekakaho.

John Foley (a returned R.A.F. man) came to me under a rehabilitation scheme to work and learn the art of being a sheep farmer. He was a half-caste Maori, a nice fellow and a good worker. His wage was £4.10.0d per week and keep. I was reimbursed by the Rehabilitation Department but my diary does not tell to what extent. Poisoning of rabbits continued with vigour and our biggest catch was after one night’s poisoning in the Gaols and Sunny Vale where we picked up 662. We began making a cattle stop at the front gate – this should have been done years ago. Grass seed sowing began. The night of our Williams and Kettle meeting which was taken by H.M. Campbell in Eddie’s stead, I spent with Mr. Wenley.

March

This was a fairly busy month. The cattle stop was completed on the 15th and it was a good job. What a joy it was not to have to get out of the car on a wet or dark night to open the road gate. The grass seed was all sown and in Prices and Sunny Vale soft turnips were sown with the grass. Rams were put out with 1730 ewes and the total sheep at the end of the month was 2493. We don’t seem to have stepped up the cattle – they still seemed to be just under 100 head. Crutching took place and so the seasonal stock work was completed in good time. Rabbit poisoning proceeded well and by

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the end of the month about 1500 rabbits had been picked up. The boys gave up the skinning as it took up too much valuable time and the value of the skins was not very attractive. Roy Sorenson came up with his bulldozer and made several dams on the property.

The growth of grass was good after the February rains but by the middle of the month we began to look for more and on the 20th rain came again and for ten days we enjoyed gentle falls almost daily. By the end of the month we had taken 3.89 inches and all was well. The Olrig Dog Trials were held as usual and were a great success. The last pick of lambs was 172 – only about 20 left – and the weights were the biggest ever – average was 43lbs. In those days there was satisfaction in the heavy weights but not so today.

We attended Marjory Clarkson’s wedding and reception later at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers on the 27th. Cora came to stay with us on the 17th. Another party of farmers was conducted over the Harbour Board outfit and Captain Smith of S.S. ‘Taranaki’ entertained the party later. As you may recall, I started these parties before the poll was taken in 1934 (I think) when I was Chairman of the H.B. County and the Harbour Board called upon me to help foster the County ratepayers’ interest in the development of an adequate harbour in Napier. They helped to keep the farming community informed of the good work being done by the Board. Our weekly tea parties still carried on when T.M. Geddis, Pat Higgins and others met to discuss current affairs. There were the usual meetings of Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle Directors (H.M. Campbell still acting for Eddie Herrick), McLean Trust and Lowry Trust. On March 8th Eddie came back to Lindisfarne in plaster after a month in Wellington Hospital. He was much more comfortable and cheerful. I used to call to see him whenever I went to Napier. On the 8th Dorothy Gordon gave a party for John, now back in New Zealand after ten years at school in England and the war. The cravens came to spend a long weekend with us and we took them about quite a bit.

April

After a day in town we called in to see Eddie at Lindisfarne and found him in a much better state but Ethne was not very well. Ivan and Mary were in Napier again for a few days from Taupo. A Miner’s strike was in progress in the Waikato and trains were not running. In my diary I say ‘the Government seems to have lost control and a collapse may be expected within measurable time’. Lamb dipping took place early in the month. On Easter Saturday the Family went over to the Tikokino Sports – always a great event but somehow or other I never managed to go to them though I always intended to go. On the 7th Bell of the New Zealand Shipping Company invited a number of us to the Masonic to meet How – the London Manager. Later Pat Higgins and I gave a lunch party at The Club. Then I took How out to see Eddie. After a night with Mr. Wenley I returned with the truck which looked so spick and span after its repair and repainting. I don’t think I mentioned that Boy and John Foley capsized the truck last month while carting metal and made a fearful mess of it. Don Black had to come out with the breakdown van and tow it away. The biggest poison kill of rabbits was 760 in Marjorie’s and Anderson’s. The Kereru Estate was finally fixed up and, thanks to John McLennan’s help in raising the Marriage Settlement, which was considered ‘dead’, Monty received half and Dorothy and Mary each one quarter of a total £2252. How the ‘mighty’ fell when you think of those days of Kereru in the early 1900s. Ray took off to Auckland to live there and take on day work as a Karitane. She shared a flat with one Anne Mizell but I cannot place her – her Father owned Great Mercury Island off the coast of Auckland. (She is now Mrs. John Weymouth). One day it was all arranged I was to meet Lord Bledisloe on his arrival for a night in Hawke’s Bay for he was in New Zealand on a visit. But owing to bad weather his plans all went wrong and I never saw him again. Mrs. H.M. Campbell was buried in Havelock Cemetery on the 25th and afterwards I went to have a cup of tea with the Brian Boyes who then lived at Muritai. Then I went out to see Eddie – later to Napier

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where I met Peter Holden who had just arrived from England. His wife had died in England earlier in the year. Cora came to stay with us again.

Harold Holt came out to inspect the piles under the homestead with the result that many had to be replaced and some stringers as well.

May

The 1st was a big day. We went to Napier early, Pat Higgins and I had to welcome Senior (Port Line) at the Harbour Board office and show him round. Then we took him to lunch at the Club. Later in the afternoon there was a party at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers in Hastings for Senior given by Williams and Kettle and the Hawke’s Bay Farmers. These firms are joint agents in Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay for the Port Line. Then E.S. Burkitt gave a dinner party at the Club. Directors and wives of Williams and Kettle and Hawke’s Bay Farmers were present. We spent the night at the Masonic. The following day Dorothy and I went to the Aerodrome to see a Vickers Viking. Dorothy went to Mary’s as she was off to Taupo with them the following day. I returned home via Lindisfarne and Cora was staying at Pukekino with Boy and myself. The next week was a busy one on the farm – mostly poisoning rabbits. The Maraekakaho Sports were held this month, having been postponed on account of drought. Bob, Hiraani and Louise came out one day and Lou and I had to do the rounds of all the pets as usual – lambs, horses, cows, dogs etc. One night we had a supper party for about a dozen, the Kays and others came down. Margaret and Michael came to Napier to stay with Monty so Cora and I went in one day and we had lunch at the Masonic. Godfrey did the topdressing this year with R.P. Kay’s truck. On the 19th, after a Reserves Meeting, I picked up Dorothy and we returned home – we bought Robin with us – he was 8 and Dot was just about to have Garry. Once again old Nigger developed milk fever and we had quite a picnic getting her up again. We had another of our parties to inspect the Harbour Works an this time we were entertained on board the ‘Somerset’ by Calcutt who had been Chief on the Rangitiki in 1939. There were also Lowry Trust and McLean Trust meetings as well as Harbour Board and Williams and Kettle. One day Alec Anderson and I had a day’s ride round Kereru Station and he indicated his plans for the future. They intended spending thousands in fencing and cultivating. Up until the middle of the month we experienced glorious weather – an Indian Summer (very like the May we experienced this year 1967).

June

On the 1st, which was a Sunday, we all went to the Anglican Service at Kereru Hall – Anne Kay’s banns were published for the last time. Later she, Bill Douglas and Godfrey came down for supper. Then on the 5th the marriage took place in the Taradale Parish Church and a reception was held in the R.S.A. Hall in Napier.

That night I dined with Calcutt at the Club where I spent the night and on the 6th I went by service car to Wellington where I stayed at the Club till the 14th. During that time I flew round quite a bit with Cora, who was then at Mrs. Bill Handyside’s flat in Pipitea Street, as she was getting ready to leave for England. We visited many of her friends, fixed up the last minute affairs necessary before leaving – supped at Michael and Margaret’s flat in Burnell Street, lunched at the Midland, visited the Shands and Mrs. Ewart in Hobson Street. Then on the 13th I saw her safely on board the ‘Arawa’ at about 10 am. Hew Bruce was with me. The next day the ‘Arawa’ sailed. Also during my stay in Wellington I lunched with a party of shipping men on board the ‘Port Pirie’, dined with Peter Holden at the Royal Oak, supped with Mrs. Vautier at the Mayfair Flats, had tea with Lady Shirtcliffe and Rose, visited Margaret at the Turnbull Library, called to have a yarn with Gladys and Sybil Nathan, also with Jimmy Duncan and her daughter, Susan (who is now Garry Glazebrook’s Mother-in-law). Went to tea one day with Will Kiely at Elsie Young’s home (a 2nd cousin of mine). Also saw Molly Herrick,

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Barbara and Janet Herrick. Then there was a business meeting with Christie who was senior partner in Chapman and Tripp’s. He was Attorney in New Zealand for the Fountaine Marriage Settlement. And finally lunch with Leonard Tripp. So as you will see it was a busy ten days. On the 13th I returned to Napier by service car and stayed at the Club till the 17th and Dorothy came to town and stayed with Monty. During those three days there were sunday meetings and Williams and Kettle’s usual General Meeting after which H.M. Campbell (still acting for Eddie), M.S. Chambers, Tom Lowry and I lunched together and celebrated Williams and Kettle’s best year – better than last year’s £12,000 for distribution and a carry forward of £19,000. At the meeting I was elected Deputy Chairman. And so I returned home and it was good to be home again. We called to see Eddie and found him much better.

For the next week I was kept busy pruning roses, planting out willows and poplars etc. Great excitement when Beauty, the very favourite dairy heifer, had a calf and, as we had handled her before, she was no trouble to get into the bail. After the Harbour Board Meeting on the 23rd Peter Holden and Terry Herrick came to lunch at the Club and then we went to see Duncan who was far from well at the Masonic. The carpenters came out to renew piles and plates under the house. On the 30th Boy went to Sherwood to have his tonsils out. That night the Barron’s home in Havelock was destroyed by fire and nothing was saved whatever. June was a wet month and up to the 30th 30.60 inches had fallen for the first six months of the year.

July

The month began with crutching. Then John Foley, who had turned out a good and helpful worker, and Bill felled some of our own grown Macarthuri Gums for bridge stringers. Frogley came and began the ploughing for chou moellier – the Road End was ploughed up. Sleepy sickness developed again among the ewes and this required watching. Late in the month came the sorting up of ewes for lambing. On the 3rd we visited the Barrons, who had moved into a house in Market Street after their unfortunate fire. Then I attended the Big Hill auction at which there was not a bid. But later Kereru Station purchased it for 4£ per acre, stock included. It was a gold-mine. Then we went on to Napier to visit Boy in Sherwood, who was making a good recovery after his tonsil operation. Then on our way home we called in to see Eddie at Lindisfarne – Molly, Terry and Janet and also Janet Kemball and her husband, out from England to visit her parents (Russell of Tunanui).

On the 8th there was a visit to Harbour Board – we picked up Boy at Sherwood and took him to the Von Kettle’s to convalesce. Poor old Charlie Roberts was at Sherwood after a slight stroke. And on our way home we called at Royston to see E. Averill and he looked very ill. On the 15th Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip Mountbatten were engaged. On the same day we went to see Mrs. Lowry then living in ‘The Castle’ at Havelock. We met Ray on her return from Auckland. Later called to see Lulu and Winston Barron and looked in on E. Averill before going home. On the 14th our old habits were resumed and we picked up Eddie at his home once more and took him to the Harbour Board for a Reserves Meeting. He was taken home after lunch. I stayed on for a H.B. Club Meeting. On the 21st I took Eddie in for the Harbour Board meeting and he took his old place in the chair again after six months absence, through the breaking of his neck. That day I also went to see Duncan Holden who was in Sister Guffie’s hospital.

A.B. Cutler V.C., High Commissioner for Australia, addressed us at a meeting of Federated Farmers and Rotary Club at Maraekakaho. One day during the month Field Marshall Montgomery came to Napier and, after a reception at the Sound Shell, he was entertained at a lunch given in the R.S.A. Hall. I was seated next to Bishop Lesser (the new Bishop of Waiapu – poor old Cruickshank had retired earlier in the year on account of ill health). Later J.B. Campbell and I met Mrs. Lowry and Ralph at Havelock and they agreed to selling Ohinewairua if a satisfactory price could be obtained. It was quite an amicable party. Ralph’s future wife,

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Jenny Ross Smith, was there. E. Averill’s condition worsened towards the end of the month.

August

Frogley came out to plough a couple of paddocks and Godfrey Kay did most of the topdressing. Lambing went along satisfactorily and the weather was favourable. This was the first lambing time I can remember that was comparatively easy for there were more of us to cope with the work this year -Boy was quite an expert in all branches of farm work now and John Foley was a willing worker and intelligent. Bill was able to devote much more time now to the garden and fencing. Of course there was never a let-up in the fight against the rabbits but it looked as if we were beginning to get the better of them. However as time went on we discovered we were too optimistic.

Old Mr. Averill died on the 3rd and after his burial in Havelock Cemetery we went to lunch at Lindisfarne and tea with Mary Coleman and Helen, who was in New Zealand for a few months. I got to know E. Averill very well during the thirty years of his residence in the district and I missed him a lot for hardly a week passed without our meeting and he was a wise and kind friend. After lunching with T.M. Geddis at the Rotary Club one day I brought Peter Holden out to stay with us and during that time we went about the countryside quite a lot and so much enjoyed his wonderful company. Then on the 19th a call came to say Duncan had taken a serious turn for the worse in Gullies hospital so Boy took Peter to Napier to take up his abode at the Club. Duncan eventually made a fair recovery but he never was the same again and today (1967) he is a pretty sick man though always so cheerful.

On the 23rd Ray went to stay at Westshore with Ngaire and John for a few days and that night Boy, Bob and I dined at the Club and attended the Annual Meeting. M.S. Spence was elected President again. Then on the 25th I had a long interview with Penn Scannell re T.H. Lowry Trust, then a McLean Trust Meeting in Napier and dined with Peter Holden at the Club before returning home.

Ivan Lopdelll was now in possession of Bill Whyte’s farm and Bill was living in Napier. Myra Kemp (now Bisson) was at this time a friend of Boy’s and she came out to stay for a week. There was a letter from Cora who was staying at Narford Hall.

On the last day of the month we attended Godfrey Kay’s twenty- first birthday party which was given at the Kereru Hall. But unfortunately Ray and Boy could not be present as on that night the Eric Williams gave a dinner party for Beth Bellerby who was about to marry Ian Lyons.

September

The month began with picking up Eddie at his home and to the Harbour Board Office and then on E. & D. at the Port. We lunched at the Club with Peter Holden, Then I had a meeting over the Ohinewairua affairs with F.A. Simpson of Williams and Kettle and Chas. Sorrell. I must say I looked forward to the end of this show -it appeared to be in sight. On the 2nd we had a heavy fall of snow and it was mighty cold. I went to a T.H. Lowry Trust Meeting at Hastings and after lunching with Tom at the Club I went on to Mrs. Lowry’s in Havelock to another meeting of Ohinewairua. There was much laying of rabbit poison throughout the month and we got through most of the docking. There was a good deal of westerly wind and too little rain for this time of the year – we only got 1.77 inches. Kay Logan had a return of her T.B. trouble in her back and she was transferred to Otaki Sanatorium.

There was much trouble and unrest in India – the partitioning of the Continent under Mountbatten’s scheme was not working out very well and the slaughter of innocents proceeded apace. There was also a further spate of strikes and unrest in England – still under Labour rule. Dorothy Gordon and Bob and Hiraani came out for a weekend. And it was then the big decision was made to get Bob back to Pukekino and let the two boys run the property. After much talk and thought we picked the site for Bob’s house. The idea we later evolved was for me to gift a small area of land to Bob and then for him to borrow on the easy terms for returned servicemen, some of the money, at least, for

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building the dwelling. From the 14th to the 17th I stayed with the Mackays in Napier as there were two important Harbour matters for consideration -one was in connection with the Ahuriri Lagoon scheme. Duncan Holden was discharged from hospital.

On the 20th we picked up the Herricks and went to a dinner party given by Burkitts in Napier for Williams and Kettle Directors and wives and executive officers and wives. It was a big affair and most enjoyable. Then we all went to No. 3 Wool Store for the Williams and Kettle Staff Dance. The Maraekakaho Federated Farmers Club gave a return party for Hastings Rotary Club – it consisted of a dinner and just two or three speeches afterwards. Dorothy and I called on the Bishop and Mrs Lesser – Bishopscourt was then in the Troutbeck’s old house in Georges Street.

October

John and Ngaire had now built a very pleasant home off Thompson Road with access also to Seapoint Road. Until the middle of the month the weather remained threatening, as it does at times of drought, but no rain fell and we were becoming worried once more. Then luck favoured Us and over a three day period we had over two inches of rain and by the end of the month 4.13 inches had fallen and we felt happier. Poisoning of rabbits was still our main task and a crop of rape was sown in the Nursery. On the 6th Boy went to Christchurch to be best man at Donald Gascoyne’s wedding. This marriage turned out a rank failure, mainly through his Mother’s attitude and came to an end a few years later. And now poor Donald has ‘gone’ – if he had been rightly handled he could have been a very useful member of society.

At a meeting of the Ohinewairua Company a 10% dividend was recommended and paid. I, however, was opposed to this big pay out. On the night of the 13th I stayed at Lindisfarne and next day Eddie and I flew to Christchurch for a Harbour Boards’ Association Conference. J.H. Harland and Pat Higgins also represented the Harbour Board and were waiting for us at the United Services Hotel. We met in conference on the 15th and 17th – the 16th was an ‘off day’- most went for a day’s tour of the Lake Coleridge. However Eddie and I had a social day. We lunched at the Christchurch Club with George Denniston . He and I had been at school together and a fellow I knew at Oriel, Oxford, was there too. He was Father Shelley (a high Church Order). It was enjoyable to be able to go over some of the days of 1903-1905. Then we went to Mrs. George Gould at Avonbank for drinks and met Derek and his wife and the Arthur Elworthys etc. MacGibbon, Chairman of the Lyttleton Board gave a party one night and then I met Arthur Sim (now Sir) and Nancy his wife. She and I had been at Miss Sutton’s Kindergarten together in the 1890s – her father was Captain Todd who was in command of the sailing ship ‘Northumberland’ which was lost on Westshore in a North East gale in 1886. On the 18th we returned to Palmerston North in a Lockhead 18 seater as Paraparaumu was closed on account of floods. Ethne met us with the car and we returned to Hastings. On the 21st I picked up Eddie and we went to the Harbour Board to meet Freyberg (Governor General) and later he came to a reception at the H.B. Club.

The Freybergs attended the H.B. Show which was this year the Royal Show. As Dorothy Gordon had some of the Governor General’s Staff staying at Clifton Ray went there to help. At the Show we were impressed with the D2 Caterpillar Tractor and decided to purchase one for Pukekino.

November

On the 1st Dorothy returned home after helping Dot in Napier for a few days and she promptly retired to bed with a heavy cold. Ross Falls came out for the first weekend in the month. The Road End was sown down in chou moellier. Early shearing took place early in the month. We purchased a black bull from Jack Graham and met with much difficulty in driving him home. The English Municipal elections showed a big swing away from Labour. Our first Logan grandson was born on the 13th – Robert Junior -and a few days later we went to see him and Hiraani at the home in Napier. We sowed a considerable area in potatoes in Sturges where we also had more chou moellier. The month was very dry and once again the thought of drought was in our minds. We only had ¼

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inch of rain in November. On the 15th Ray and I went to Napier for a few days. We picked up Eddie on our way and we proceeded to a Sherry Party given by Williams and Kettle and Dalgety and Company in honour of Sir William Cooper and Robertson and Walker-Lee, Directors of Cooper, Macdougal and Robertson. They are makers of sheep-dip and various drenches etc. And Williams and Kettle and Dalgety and Company are their New Zealand Agents. Later there was a dinner at the Masonic. Then I went to Lindisfarne to stay over the weekend. On the Sunday we went over to Tauroa (M.S. Chambers) and the Cooper Party came out also. Nancy Holmes and Sally Russell were at Lindisfarne. On the Monday Eddie and I went to the Harbour Board meeting and we farewelled R.D. Brown as a member for Hastings. He had been a good member and we said goodbye with much sadness. Our biggest kill of rabbits during the month was in Marjorie’s paddock where we picked up 320.

December

The first Napier wool sale produced the best prices I had experienced in thirty-six years – the C Hogget fetched 23 ½d and 23 ¼d. It was another dry month with a good deal of wind. However 80 points on the 6thhelped the crops and garden. My diary tells of the rabbit position getting a little out of hand again and at the end of the month Athol Williams (still Chairman of our Board) came to Kereru with Steele, the Inspector, and we were told to make a greater effort still in fighting the pest. There was much activity in fencing – maintenance work. The first draft of 320 lambs averaged 37.71 lbs. which was good -the next draft was not quite as good but it was satisfactory to get nearly 500 away before Christmas. Shearing ewes took place on the 17th and 18th and just beforehand Boy made his annual trip to Featherston to select rams. There was much activity concerning Ohinewairua Company’s affairs and J.B. Campbell told of H.B. Williams’ offer of £75,000 for the shares and we accepted very gladly – at least I did. In the middle of the month Dorothy and I went to spend a weekend at Clifton and while there we attended a party at the Barnett’s in Napier and visited Bob and Hiraani at Awanga. John Gordon went to Pukekino for that weekend. At the last meeting of the year of the Harbour Board several new members appeared as a result of the Election in November. J. Macdonald represented the Taradale district and Ross Walker took R.D. Brown’s place. After the meeting there was Eddie’s party at Lindisfarne. The County members, including myself, were returned unopposed (Hylton Smith, Lindsay Gordon and self). Williams and Kettle’s Directors meeting (the last of the year) took place on the 22nd. We stayed in Napier over night for the Port Napier was in port on her maiden voyage. Martin, the young 4th Officer, later came to spend a few days with us. Dorothy attended Sue Kettle’s wedding – she married Gordon Osborne. Mary and Ivan were down from Taupo for it too. The last Sunday’s service (Church of England) at Kereru produced a big muster. For sometime now Jim Anderson had been taking a service every other month and he was the Vicar of Puketapu. He and Mrs. Anderson stayed on for supper in turn with the Kays, ourselves, the Cecil Averills and Ned Smiths. While the Herricks had the Duffs (High Commissioner for U.K.) to stay we looked after their Siamese cat as Lady Duff hated cats. We had a picnic with the cat too, as he was terrified of the strange noises in the country, such as cocks crowing and dogs barking.

1948

January

The Family returned from a party at Seton Wenley’s at 4.30 on New Year’s Day – they milked the cows and then went to bed. I attended to the other chores which included feeding about thirty turkeys which were almost ready for turning out on to the farm. 50 points of rain fell yesterday and the crops and garden benefitted but no rain fell at the top end of the farm, or at Kereru or Cecil Averill’s – we were lucky. On the evening of the 1st the Anderson Family from Kereru came over for a drink and later Ian and David Logan came out unexpectedly and they stayed for a couple of days. On the 2nd Ethne and Eddie came out

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for the day and we had a picnic out of doors. And John Martin of the Port Napier came out for another visit. Early on we went to a big Cocktail Party on the Port Napier given by Hazelwood (Captain) – Ray was with us. Later on the Waiwera came in again and we saw more of Briscoe Moffat. During the month we had a big sorting up of ewes, did some dipping, much firewood splitting and, of course, there was the never-ending laying of poison for rabbits. By the end of the month we had killed round about one thousand. The biggest kill was 528 in Sturges and Cocksfoot II. Boy bought 300 lambs at the sale for the rape crop at 26/6d. Wool prices went up further and we touched 34d at the sale. Another party on the Port Napier was a presentation from the City of Napier to the ship. This ship is still in the trade (I am writing this in 1967) and is still ranked as one of the good but old and comfortable ships of the line. One day we went to Clive Grange to see Hiraani and the children and to go over the plans John Scott had drawn for ‘The Cottage’ to be built on Pukekino for Bob.

February

Ray and Boy brought Briscoe Moffat out for the night and there was much talk, particularly about his adventures in the Malta convoy days. Next day we took him back to his ship and there was a big party on board that evening. The grader came out and in one and a half days the site for Bob’s house was levelled and a drive formed. Another little filly of Boy’s got into trouble in a fence and this meant dressings etc. And a very affectionate milking heifer called Ida fell over a nasty drop in Ray’s paddock and we had to shoot her eventually. There was much sadness. A big draft (530) of lambs went off the farm fat and the average weight was 42 lbs. which was good. Robson, an employee of the Rabbit Board, was appointed to look after the rabbit poisoning in our area and during the month 1280. at least, were picked up on Pukekino. On the 12thJohn Foley left after a year with us. We were sad to lose him as he was a good worker a nice young fellow to have about. One day we went over to Forest Gate to say goodbye to Peter Holden before he returned to England. The Percy Elworthys came out to dinner with us one night. I spent a night at Lindisfarne during the month and also at Tauroa and there were meetings of Williams and Kettle and the Harbour Board. Ivan and Mary went off for a fishing expedition in the South Island. Conditions were mighty dry and we got less than an inch of rain during the month.

March

Jim and Charlie Foley came out to rabbit for R.P.K. and me but they can’t have lasted long because by the end of the month I notice we are hard at work on the job again. On the 2nd I went to Lindisfarne for the night and next day Eddie and I flew to Christchurch for a fortnight’s holiday in the South. We stayed in comfort at the Christchurch Club and during the time there we were much and pleasantly entertained by the Jim Malins, Edgar Steads, Mrs. Gould and Barbara, Dennis and Jean Cotterill, Maggie Cotterill, Red and Kitty Neill, Mrs. C. Rattray, Bill and Mary Toomey, Jack Rhodes, George Denniston. It was a very enjoyable fortnight all told. One day Derek Gould took me to Addington stock yards and Harold Atkinson took me round the yards. One Sunday night, Eddie was in Timaru that weekend, Bill Toomey took me to his lovely home for supper at which twelve sat down at 10 p.m. Bill, after singing `The Mountains of Morne’ as he used to sing it on the Rangitiki in 1939, fell off his chair and we carried him to bed! At times staying for the odd night at the Club was Ernie Clark, David Boyle, George Hennessy, Harold Johnston conducting enquiries into the fire at Ballantynes where many were burned. Eddie and I went for a short time to the hearing – most boring. One day the Chairman of the Lyttleton Harbour Board (Tyler) took us round the harbour works and then for a drive over the Cashmere hills. Also at the Club for a night or two were Frank Spite and Warwick Gregory. One day we went to Inglewood Stud farm at Kaiapoi to spend the afternoon with the Ken Austins. One night we went to supper with John and Hester Elworthy on

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their farm near Sumner – there was a glorious view looking across the Straits.

So our enjoyable holiday came to an end. We took the service car by way of the Lewis Pass and Murchison to Nelson where we spent two nights at a dreadful hotel, the Trafalgar as the Nelson was full. Charlie Duke looked after us and put our names down at the Club. After two days we flew in a two seater over the rugged fiordland to Paraparaumu where Ethne met us and we motored to Lindisfarne. That night Boy took me home. As we flew over that forbidding fiordland country Eddie said ‘What happens if the Pilot has a fit?!’ Then there was some leeway to catch up with on my return and we had our final meeting of Ohinewairua Company, thank goodness, and all was wound up. While I was away the rams were put out and this year we were running 1852 breeding ewes and the total sheep population was 2740, There were 110 cattle, 59 being breeding cows. Cooper built a 15,000 gallon concrete tank in the Mill and this was to be of much comfort to us after the galvernised [sic] tanks with a capacity of about 1600 gallons.

April

Nearly every time I went to Napier I managed to fit in a cup of tea at Blythes with P. Higgins, T.M. Geddis and F.W. Browne. This month there were meetings of Reserves Committee and Harbour Board as usual. The whole Board was on the works committee but this did not often happen. There was a special works meeting. In the first week we had some welcome rain but not nearly enough. The Kereru Sports Meeting took place this month. It had been postponed on account of an epedemic [sic] of Polio earlier in the year. Rabbit poisoning was taken on by the Russell brothers but they don’t seem to have stuck it out for long because by the end of the month we were at it ourselves again. Dorothy Gordon came out for a few days and after she had gone Dorothy went to spend a week or so in Taupo before joining me in Auckland. On the 23rd Boy and I saw John Foley off to England in the S.S. Devon as cook’s assistant. After much trouble I was able to get him this job and so a cheap trip. When he left England after the war he left a wife there and he wanted to see why she would not come out to join him. It ended in a divorce and he returned to New Zealand later in the year. Our turkeys began to disappear – we lost about five in one week, Maurice and Math Chambers went to England for a few months and Nan Harvey (now Mrs. Bill Whitlock) came to take charge of Tauroa and Mr. Mason Chambers. I spent a few nights there before the end of the month and while there I looked up the Barrons, Olive Nairn and Lily, and May Coleman and Helen. On the 30th I flew to Auckland in a special plane for wool buyers and there were only four or five passengers. Among them was Winifred Dawson (now Mrs. Tony Horrocks). We did the journey in one hour twenty-five minutes. I met Dorothy who had come from Rotorua by train and we stayed at the Grand. It was nice to find Bill and Mary Toomey there and her sister.

May

On the 1st I saw old Bill Toomey off by the Port Hobart to England – Mary did not go. We were in Auckland till the 11th and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. While there we supped twice with Brian and Roie Hewitt and Mrs. Nathan, now 88, was there one night looking just as elegant as ever. Brian and Roie also came to dine with us. Miss Ruth Spencer, of course, was at the Grand. I lunched at the Club several times with Trevor Holmden. One day Miss Hutton, secretary of the Northern Club, took me to see her Father, Wattie. In the far-off days he had been groom to the Troutbecks. We saw Nellie Ainsworth and her husband, the Cravens, Marge Hay and her Mother and, of course, to St. Helier’s Bay for a cup of tea with the Archbishop and Mrs. Averill – the latter was rather senile and looked sad. Boy rang up early one morning to say the cattle feed was short and some cattle would have to go. I knew this would happen because if you don’t get a growth in April rains in May won’t help for the growing period is over. We left by service car on the 11th and stayed with Ivan and Mary at Taupo till the 13th. Then on to Napier, Dorothy to spend a couple of nights with Monty and Cushla and I at the Club. Only four of us attended the Williams and Kettle Directors’ Meeting –

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Burkitt told us of the proposed Fertilizer works and that F.W. Browne was to canvass the district for support. Today (1967) you see the works at Awatoto. Before the end of the month I attended a lunch party on the Condessa and later a Cocktail Party. It was her first visit to Napier and she was taking a big load of Hawke’s Bay Produce. There was a cocktail party at the Hawke’s Bay Club and M.S. Spence unveiled the portrait of W.S. Churchill presented by Sapsworth who lived at the Club through most of the war years. Our friend of over forty years standing, Mrs. Joseph Joseph of Grant Road, Wellington died. Britain relinquished her mandate over Palestine and much fighting began between the Jews and the Arabs. Heavy rain set in about the middle of the month and by the end we had had 11.69 inches.

June

The breaking-in of Fey had to be postponed a little while she was being treated for the wound but the handling of her was of use. On the 4th a dinner was given at the Club by directors, managers and executive Staff of Williams and Kettle as a farewell to Von Kettle who had retired. I spent the night with the Herricks and next day I called to see Mason Chambers – he was in bed with a cold and then to see Mrs. Lowry. She too had a heavy cold. I also went to have a yarn with Harry Wilson, then returning to Lindisfarne again for another night. Ray went off to Christchurch on the 6th. She was to go on to Dunedin for further training at St. Helens. One Saturday, after lunching at ‘The Cottage’ with Rochie and Coley, we went to a hunt at Mangatahi. On the 21st it was a long day of meetings – Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle and McLean Trust – at the Harbour Board meeting we had to dispense with the services of McLaughlan (Harbour Master) all very unpleasant.

On the 26th there was a big party of about 100 for Eddie’s 70th birthday – a great success. Dorothy, Boy and I stayed with Dorothy and John Gordon and Vyv and Elizabeth Hill for supper. On the 28th the Hawke’s Bay Club farewelled Mr. and Mrs. Crosse – he had been a very satisfactory Manager for some years. I spent a night at Tauroa before the end of the month.

July

Not much of account this month. The new grass in the Nursery was ready for grazing the hoggets. Topdressing was in progress and we did the crutchig. We purchased 18 cows for £18.0.0d. I note the Boys’ wages were £3.0.0d each and, of course, keep into the bargain. Mr. Kinross White died during the month. He was 90 – he and my Father batched together in the early 1880’s. On the 1st I went to Tauroa for a tea party – four exchairmen of the Hawke’s Bay County Council were present (Chambers, Crosse, Campbell and self) and Bob Harding (the present Chairman). John Gordon came out for a weekend. The last two or three days of the month I had an unpleasant cold and retired to bed. The unrest in Europe increased and Russia made things most unpleasant in her sector of Germany. The Arabs and Jews were still at each other’s throats.

August

Yet another rabbiter turned up and after a month’s work we were well satisfied with him and he seemed to know his job and was getting good results. We sorted up the ewes ready for lambing and this began after the first week and progressed well. Jim’s Corner and Ray’s paddock were ploughed up this year. Poor old Tinker, a favourite pet lamb, had twins but they died and she was very sad &. fretted a lot. I spent two nights at Lindisfarne for Harbour and Williams and Kettle Meetings. Our little cat, Kim, had to visit the Vet as he seemed to lose his appetite and de loped a skin trouble. However he made a recovery. Walter Nash, Minister of Finance, brought New Zealand back on a parity with sterling – our £ had been devalued by 25% for round about fifteen years. Australia did not follow and this put New Zealand at a disadvantage. Williams and Kettle’s Annual General Meeting was successful and the profits higher still. After a meeting concerning the delivery of lime in Williams and Kettle in Hastings, I went on to

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a party at Lindisfarne to celebrate the engagement of Barbara to John Gordon, Dorothy and Boy joined me there. At the Hawke’s Bay Club Annual Meeting Bob, Boy and Godfrey Kay came to dinner. M.S. Spence was elected to the chair again.

September

The rabbiter stayed a month and killed 800 rabbits which was not bad considering he was alone. After a demonstration in the Road End of a Major Fordson Tractor we bought one for £490 – self-starting and all latest Equipment. Docking and Calf Marking went on steadily, but, in spite of good weather over the lambing period the percentage was only about average and too many dry ewes. Boy’s appendix did some growling and an operation was necessary. However this had to be postponed until the 16th as he developed a heavy cold. Ted Averill gave us a hand at docking in his place. On the 8th my dear old friend, Mason Chambers died. He had been ill for only a few days but it was known he would not be with us for long. He was a ‘gentleman’ in the true sense of the word and I never, in all the years I knew him, heard him say an uncharitable word of anybody. He was a very valuable and helpful friend to me in very many ways. On the 10th I picked up Eddie and we attended a service, taken by Robertson (Presbyterian Minister of Havelock) on the terrace in front of the house, and later the burial in the Havelock Cemetery. We went on to Napier later in the day.

On the 15th I took Boy to Sherwood for his operation next day but first of all we fixed up a passage for him to England next year in a P. & O. Ship. I stayed at the Club for three days and T.B. Ching, who used to manage the South British in Napier in the early 1900s, was staying there – he was out on a visit from England.

On the 16th at a meeting of the Harbour Board, Bevan was appointed Harbour Master in place of McLaughlin and Barker (now Harbour Master 1967) was appointed 2nd Pilot. Boy made good progress after the operation and he went straight ahead. We used to visit him frequently. On the 25th I picked up Eddie and we went to the Bit rkitts for another dinner party for Directors and heads and so on to No. 4 Wool Store for the Annual Dance of Williams and Kettle. The rainfall was under two inches – not much for this time of the year.

October

Some of our dogs had taken a liking to rabbit hunting and we often found them missing – very annoying. Boy returned home on the 3rd and after that there were visits from our neighbours the Kays, Cecils etc. etc. Between the 3rd and the 8th about 3 inches of rain fell and the position became easier. By the middle of the month Jim’s corner (35 acres) and Rays (12 acres) were sown in chou moellier. I must still have been on the Club Committee for I attended a meeting on the 18th. On the 20th we went to the first day of the Show and lunched with the Herricks – among the guests were Nancy Rolleston and D. Gordon. Rex Willock was now a member of Williams and Kettle’s Board and was present at our monthly meeting. An N.A.C. Lockhead plane with thirteen on board crashed on Mt. Ruapehu and there were no survivors. It was our worst accident to date.

November

We replaced the Cocksfoot bridge with pipes. Bastin came to do the job with Jim McIntyre’s help. Dry shearing was fortunately finished early in the month for it rained on and off from the 12th to the end of the month and altogether 7.06 inches fell and this completely restored the position. The first wool sale was satisfactory – prices equal to those of last year. Goats were becoming a menace again along the Poporangi gorge and we had to wage war on them severely. At one Harbour Board Meeting a very satisfactory picture was presented to us – whereas in 1944 there was a debit balance of £35,000 today there was a credit for that amount. The progressive work was paying a good dividend. King George V was far from well and his visit to Australia and New Zealand had to be cancelled. Shirley Kettle was married to Jim Allard in Napier Cathedral on the 27th. We all attended and then went to the

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reception at Wharerangi – there I was glad to see Dan, Meta and Nancy again. The flat roof was giving trouble and Bone came out to give it attention – Flat roofs are a menace.

December

The first pick of fat lambs was 225 – Dyer said he could take twice as many but as the crop was such a good one we decided against it. Little and Scott came out to view the site for Bob’s cottage and it was suggested the price would be £2300. We began some shooting of rabbits again at the Rabbit Board’s suggestion and it was nothing to get 30 or so about sunset round the edges of the gorges. Ewe shearing was over by the 16th and we were thankful as the wool was long and ewes were casting badly. One afternoon Bruce Lindemand and Nancy Bain came out to join Boy in a goat shoot and they got 62. One day we lunched at the Burbury’s in Havelock and then did a round of visits – Mrs. Lowry and Gertie, the M.S. Chambers and Barrons. After a visit to the Port Pirie and Mr. Wenley one day we called to see the Harry Wilsons on our way home. Eddie’s annual party took place on the 20th after the last Harbour Board Meeting of the year. Our old friend, Violet Russell, was in New Zealand again and we called to see her in Hastings just before Christmas. Then we went on to a party at the Sandtmann’s to farewell John and Helen Humphries who were to leave for a trip overseas shortly. Boy’s annual visit to Featherston for ram picking was also just before Christmas. On Christmas Day we went to the Cecil Averill’s in the afternoon and Sandy Eaton came down to us for dinner. On the 27th the Herricks came to us for, what had now become, an annual picnic and before they left we all laid jam poison on the spits in the Road End. On the 30th we went to lunch with Tom and Doreen Harper at Waiteo – the Johnstons were there, Then we called in to see Ann and Bill Douglas at Whakamarumaru and later still to see Tom and Margot Lowry at Okawa. On New Year’s Eve the Cecil Averills, on their way to leave the children with us while they went to a party, collided with the Mail Car. So all plans fell through and they all stayed with us till the breakdown van came out later and they just went home again quietly! Margaret Retemeyer, who was a passenger in the mail car, had a few scratches and was also with us till called for later. It was a dull New Year’s Eve for us all, especially the Cecils whose car was extensively damaged. During the year two referendums (should it be referenda?) were taken:

1.   Should we have ‘off’ course betting – carried.
2.   Should licensing hours be extended to 10p.m. – lost.

1949

I am gradually catching up with my work of condensing my diaries and I am writing this on July 5th 1967. At present I am in bed with one of my very heavy colds and yesterday I completed 1948 and if there happen to be many more days of bed I shall be out of a job.

January

New Year’s Day was cold and unpleasant and we were all very tired after a late night on account of the Cecil Averill’s car smash last night. In the afternoon the Andersons of Kereru and the Rochie Averills came up and we had a drink to 1949. Before the end of last year we took our family of turkeys out to the Nursery yards to get acclimatised to their surroundings but as some of the female birds hatched out young ones, we bought them home for better attention. On the 3rd we had one of the most severe thunderstorms I can remember and before breakfast next morning we bad taken 3.34 inches of rain. Onwards through the month we had periods of very heavy rain and altogether 11.68 inches fell through January, interfering much with our work and causing slips in the gorges where from time to time we had to rescue marooned sheep and cattle. This inspired us to hasten our programme of putting up cattle fences round some of the gorges. We got to work at once with a fence round the Road End Gorge. Many parties were given, mostly for young people, for Barbara Herrick and John Gordon. We went to one at the Frank Herricks at their new house in Havelock. There we saw Chris Duckworth and her husband and Miss Elsie Williams – all back

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from England. Barbara and John were married at St, Luke’s in Havelock on the 15th after three appallingly wet days and the garden at Lindisfarne was a quagmire but loads of straw were laid on the floor of the marquee and paths leading to it. Sir Patrick Duff (High Commissioner for England) proposed the toast and all went off well. Later we went to Frimley for a very enjoyable buffet meal and the young people stayed on for a dance. We all went to the Seton Wenley’s 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner. Then came more parties for Joan Averill and we all went to her wedding on the 26th when she married Michael Kay and my task was to propose the toast, Surely I should have become too old for this job. On the 24th there were Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle and McLean Trust and Hawke’s Bay Club Meetings. It was a long and weary day’s work. The Kereru Sports were held on the 29th – we attended in the afternoon. A number of young people came along for supper and Dorothy and I retired to bed. The first pick of lambs only produced 131 – there had been too much rain for good results.

February

The month began with westerly gales which helped to dry out the country. The work of the month proceeded as the weather, except for thunderstorms, was mainly fair. The boys disced Sturges in readiness for sowing next month. Blackberries were sprayed and thistles cut especially in the Pit. Yards were repaired in Price’s. Crutching took place at R.P. Kay’s for convenience. Dipping was done at Kereru. The cattle fence in the Nursery was begun and finished – not before time for another little cattle beast was rescued out of the Gorge just before we made a start. The ewes were sorted up. Fat ewes in the sale fetched 39/10d. and shaky old ewes 31/9d. A draft of 514 fat lambs went off and averaged a little over 42lbs. A start was made on Bob’s house site – first of all a garage was built which would act as the workshed. And the concrete foundations were laid. Little was the builder. Early in the month our parties at Blythe’s were resumed where we discussed world affairs etc. Pat Higgins, T.M. Geddis, F.W. Browne and, quite often, P.W. Peters, and myself foregathered. There were Harbour Board Works Meetings, McLean Trust and a long session between W.G. Wood, Penn Scannell and myself over the Ohinewairua Affairs. Another day we spent at Clifton and also went to view Barbara’s wedding presents at Lindisfarne before she took them away. Ray and Boy had their vaccinations preparatory to their ventures abroad and after a few days they had the unpleasant reactions. One day the Don Algies and Ian Lyons came out to dinner – so also did Jock Eaton just back from England after getting his M.R.C.P. After a meeting of the Works Committee of the Harbour Board on the 14th we called in at Frimley to see Miss Elsie Williams and Ruth Herrick, now settled there again. Our annual dinner party consisting of John McLennan, N. Mackay, S.M. Palmer and self happened during the month and I spent the night with the Mackay’s. Monday 21st, was a heavy day with Harbour Board meeting, McLean Trust, Williams and Kettle Directors and Hawke’s Bay Club Committee – I spent that night also at the Mackay’s. On the last day of the-month Ray and I went to Hastings and, after lunch at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers, there was a T.H. Lowry Trustees Meeting. Then Ray and I attended a function at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers given by Williams and Kettle and Hawke’s Bay Farmers in honour of Donald’s visit – he was Chairman of the Port Line. Wives of Directors of both Companies were present. At night there was a Cocktail party and later dinner at the Hawke’s Bay Club. I returned to Lindisfarne with Eddie and Tom Lowry and we talked on till 4 a.m. but what about I cannot think.

March

March is usually a month of much activity in the farming world as you have the final sorting up of stock before the end of the financial year. We put the rams out with 1828 ewes on the 2nd. By the 12th the boys had sown and rolled the Road End. Good luck was with us for a helpful rain followed immediately after the completion of the job. Had the weather held up for another two days Sturges would have been sown too.

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However by the 25th this paddock was finished and before long the grass shot as the soil was just ready for the seed. Rabbits were on the move again and we had some heavy kills during the month. Also rats and opposums were becoming a nuisance and they had to be coped with. They were tackling vegetables and a small crop of maize. Some of our dogs were still interested in putting down rabbits – Jess and Clyde seem to be the ringleaders.

Apart from farm work up to the 14th, there were all sorts of important things that kept Boy busy. As he was leaving for England for a year, there were farewell parties galore. And Ray, too, was going to England a little later. One night Harker, M.P., came to give an address at Kereru and on our way home the steering of the car suddenly seized and we ran quietly off the road between Poporangi and Kereru. Ned Smith, who was following, took us home. Next day Bob rescued the car and repairs were effected.

On the 14th excitement filled Boy for on this day he began his year’s travels overseas. In 1938 Constance Fountaine gave Jim his return fare to England and he loved every minute of his trip. Then, after the war, Constance, offered to do the same for Hamilton (Boy) and he, likewise, accepted the wonderful offer and enjoyed, as Jim had, the generous gift. So on the 14th, Boy and I went by train to Wellington and stayed at the Club till the 17th. While there we called on Binnie of the Port Line, and Robertson of the S.S. & Co. we met Keville (General Manager of S.S. & Co. in London) who travelled to Sydney with Boy and gave him considerable help and introductions. We saw Gladys and Sybil Nathan and Jimmy James and others. Ralph Beetham and Dan Riddiford were at the Club and I met Sam Wheeler whom I had not seen for years. We also saw Hew Bruce and Georgette Handyside. It was a pleasant three days we had at the Club. On the 17th Eddie arrived in time for lunch and he and I took Boy to join the ‘Wanganella’ on the first of his journey. The ship sailed at 4.30 and that evening, while I was with Jimmy James she became very unwell and being a nurse she realised the symptoms were serious. So it ended in her doctor ordering her to hospital and I took her to the Public Hospital. That was the beginning of a year or two of operations and sadness before the end. Jimmy was a friend of Cora’s and she had nursed Mrs. Lowry and other friends of ours at times. The following day Eddie and I together with Molly and Julia, went on board the Frigate ‘Pukaki’ for a gin with Larry, then to a monster Cocktail Party on H.M.S. ‘Bellona’ where all the social lights [sic] of Wellington were at play. I met Owens (Archbishop), a friend of Charlie Ritchie’s. As we were leaving Eddie tripped over a bollard and crashed into a lady-guest who was sipping cocktail. I laughed till next day. He and I went to Evans Bay to inspect a pilot’s launch which had been recommended as suitable for Napier but it apparently was not what we required.

On the 19th we journeyed to Hastings – Julia with us – and I spent the next three days at Lindisfarne as Dorothy was in Taupo and Ray and Bob were at home enjoying ‘summer sickness!. Eddie and I went to Napier on two consecutive days to meet New Plymouth Harbour Board Officials and to a lunch party on the ‘Port Philip’. Dorothy returned from Taupo and we went home on the 23rd. So back to work.

Some papering and painting took place in the house and confusion reigned.

April

Violet Russell came to us for a weekend and true to form she at once asked what there was to do in the way of household chores or gardening. What a wonderful woman she was. It was a happy week- end and on the Sunday we joined the Herricks and a party from H.M.S. ‘Pukaki’ for a picnic at the old homestead – later they all came to us for a drink before going home. By the way Eddie Herrick’s Father (Colonel Herrick), Mr. J.N. Williams of Frimley and Mr. Duff (Father of Mrs. Eaton) used to live together in the Whare of the Old Homestead in the 1860s. Kereru then belonged to Colonel Herrick and J.N. Williams. It was then a vast property and it included Whana Whana (now the Beamish property). We carried on with cattle fences

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and the one giving on to the gorge in Bob’s paddock was finished. Early in the month another 300 lambs went off at about an average of 44lbs. and on the 19th the last wether lambs left the place. This was about a record – every lamb. we hoped to fatten did fatten. We transferred the turkeys to the Nursery again and they settled down but later a tragedy occurred when they all died after taking the poison laid for rabbits.

The renovation of the interior of the house was completed and all looked well and fresh. Sanson (a dog of Boy’s) became ill and caused us some worry. However he recovered quite well with care. We received a cheerful letter from Boy on his way to England -he had seen much of the Austins in Sydney and Maie Casey had been very good to him in Melbourne. The young grass in the Road End and Sturges was coming away well. The drive, yards and many gateways were metalled by Ralph Douglas. On the 17th John Foley came back to us and we were glad to have him to help during Boy’s absence. Before the end of the month the roof was on Bob’s cottage. On the 14th we went to ‘The Cottage’ to say goodbye to Rochie and Coley who were going to England the following week for a trip. After a Reserves Meeting one day Eddie, Harland and I inspected the development work in Onekawa. An inspection of this area today (1967) tells a story of exciting progress during the eighteen years. Eddie went with Larry to the Campbell Islands after the Harbour Board Meeting of the 21st but before leaving he and I went through Williams and Kettle’s Agenda as I was to take the chair in his absence. After the meeting I met Violet Russell and took her to see Miss Ormond and then, while in Hastings later, I said goodbye to Algie Rainbow who was going to England with Jim Wattie in regard to getting a market established there for the tinned goods. The 27th was my 65th birthday and on it I deputised for Eddie at a party on the mission ship ‘John Williams V1’. Others present were Bob Harding (H.B.C.C. Chairman), R.A. Brown and T. Hercock, Mayors of Hastings and Napier, and I had to welcome the ship through the microphone as the ship was such a small one many people were on the wharf.

May

On the 1st the Burkitts came out to lunch and later Coley and Rochie with Adrienne and John, came up, Topdressing proceeded under our own steam. John Foley did most of it until he crashed the topdresser into a cabbage tree. Bill felled several well-grown Macarthuri gums of our planting and split posts out of them. The weather was still mild for the time of year and the young grass grew well. Patsy Nelson had a ‘coming-out’ ball and we took care of the Cecil Averill Family for the night. Rona Heinemann of Wellington, came to spend a week with Ray – she and Ray were to travel to England together in June. On the day of the Harbour Board Meeting I also had a meeting of McLean Trust and took John Foley to see W.A. McLeod in regard to getting a divorce from his wife who refused to come to New Zealand. On the 23rd Boy reached England and a few days later came letters from him and Cora who had taken him in her care. Dorothy Gordon came to stay at the end of the week – she was now living in a flat in Havelock till her house at Awanga was built. The rainfall was 4.44 inches. On the 3rd May a memorial service was held in St. Luke’s, Havelock North, for Percy McHardy who died on board the Port Hobart on his way to England. He had hoped to visit the grave of his son, Forbes, who was killed during the war in Italy. Mrs. McHardy carried on, however, and visited the grave. I had known Percy McHardy since my very early childhood for I used to stay quite often with his parents when they lived at Longlands and later at Aramoana.

June

As I was going out one morning I overtook George Menzies, the rabbiter, dragging two little Labrador pups to his camp so I made him carry one and I carried the other. For several days after I used to go out to give the little things milk etc. and I was so upset over their loneliness that I induced George to give them to me, Bob took one for a friend in Westshore and I kept the other, who became

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my constant and faithful friend for six years. This was Winnie (Winston) and how naughty he could be at times in leading whatever dog was willing into rabbit hunting. At the end of 1953 I took him to Napier but after a few months Boy gave him a home at ‘The Cottage’ for he hated town. And each time I went out to ‘The Cottage’ he would give me a Brea welcome. Then the day came when another friend of the dumb would had [sic] to go. Louie Moffat was back from U.S.A. where she had lived for the past twenty years and was now with Betty Mayne. We were glad to see her again. The Kettle family and ours had always been on very friendly terms and the friendship dated back to the 1870s when my Mother and Mrs. Nat Kettle (nee von Tempsky) were young together in Napier. On the 1st we called for Louie and took her out to see Lulu and Winston Barron and Jack Roberts and Ruby Stead – quite a family gathering. Jack Roberts was out in New Zealand on a short visit. He lived in Selkirk (Scotland), our new double garage was completed and this was a godsend being so much nearer the house and it gave room for implements in the old one. We rebuilt the yards by the killing block – they had been in poor shape for long enough. We purchased thirty weaner steers at the sale for £8.15/- during the month. As George Menzies was located at Pukekino for the purpose of looking after the rabbit position we were much freer and able to get on with our usual work on the farm. There was always fencing maintenance to be done – this never ends. McIntyre, the Board’s Inspector (Rabbit), often dropped in to have a yarn – he was a painstaking fellow and practical.. A few months ago (towards the end of 1966) I ran into him in Hastings – he is now retired. Now that Bob’s house was in the process of being built Hiraani was often out at Pukekino and Louise usually came with her and loved pottering about with the animals. Eddie and I had a day in Napier apart from board meetings and we called, as we often did in those days, on Bert King (Cocky) who managed Ellison and Duncan Limited, we paid one of our frequent visits to see Mrs. Lowry – she seemed very unhappy in Havelock. Since leaving Okawa she had lost her importance – this can so easily happen when the family home is vacated. After the Harbour Board meeting on the 20th I spent the night at the Club – John Johnston of Tamumu was there also. He left the Army after the war and returned to the family property. Tamumu was poorly run by his late father, Goring Johnston, for years but John was able to pull things together in a wonderful way. I went to see Eric Rickard after dinner – he was then in charge of Williams and Kettle’s wool department. For several years we saw quite a lot of him and his wife but since they left Napier about 1953 or 1954 we have not seen them. The following day I had a long session with Moloney, who was then Commissioner of Stamps (Napier Office) and a very tough guy. Then I went to see Dudley and Ngaire Kettle and later called in at Lindisfarne. There Dorothy and Ray joined me and we went to a monster party at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers given by Tom Lowry and Enid Nelson for their god-daughter – daughter of Snow and Harry Hassan.

On the 24th Tom Lowry and I, after a Trust Meeting in Hastings, went on to Napier to a Williams and Kettle Directors’ Meeting. Later Dorothy and Ray joined me and we went aboard the ‘Waiwera’ which was in port again. Mrs. Moffat was also on board during the ship’s stay in New Zealand waters. Permission to import a car from England was granted and with funds in London I purchased a Morris Oxford and Boy was to have the use of it in England and bring it out. He had good use of it eventually and he and Ray took it on the Continent. As a result of my interview with Moloney Tom Lowry, Penn Scannell and Algie Rainbow and I visited Macken, Commissioner of Stamps (Wellington), mainly in regard to the valuation of T.H. Lowry’s racing stud. This was quite a complicated job. We more or less left the argument over values to Tom and Macken and in the end a satisfactory compromise was agreed upon. I went to Wellington with Tom and Margot by car and we stayed at the Midland. On the evening of our arrival Tim and Philippa Williams and Tripe came along and we talked late into the night. After our meeting next day Penn Scannell and I were

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able to get the 2.30 service car back to Hastings where Bob met me and brought me home at 10.30p.m. The rain for the month was too much for our liking for June -it was 5.41 inches.

July

This year we decided it was time to embark upon a bigger ploughing programme than usual. The Gaols (used to be Lower Gaols before the sale to the Government) was the best block on the farm and we owed it a ploughing. It, perhaps, would have been better to have subdivided it and ploughed it in two blocks. So Chris got to work and began ploughing on the 1st – 130 acres in all. We crutched all the far away ewes at R.P. Kay’s and the hoggets and front ewes at Kereru. I was away for a good deal of the month and Bob, John and Bill had their work cut out in looking round the ewes, as lambing was at hand, sorting the ewes up and placing them in their blocks and doing the usual seasonal work. On the 3rd Bob went to Napier and brought the Moffats out for the day. Barbara was living on the ‘Waiwera’ while it was on the N.Z. Coast. Then the following day Bob took us to a party given by David Neilson at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers for his Mother-in-law, Mrs. Cox, who was in New Zealand for a visit. Old Isobel McLean, who had been Mrs. Turnbull’s faithful maid for about fifteen years, died and we attended her funeral on the 5th. A service at St. Pauls Church and later at Taradale Cemetery, She belonged to the old school and was so loyal.

On the 6th Bob, Dorothy and Ray went to Wellington and I followed next day by service car and on my arrival later in the evening at the Waterloo Hotel I found Ray had taken to bed with a severe attack of measles! And she was to have sailed for England on the 8th in the ‘Dominion Monarch’ with Rona Heinemann. There was nothing for it but to cancel her passage forthwith, so I rang up Wynyard of the S.S. & Co. at 10p.m. as the office was closed, and he got busy. Next day Twigg (doctor) came along and had a look at her and shook his head. Later I took her in the ambulance to the Fever Hospital as the hotel could not cope and there she languished for ten days – then a week with Mrs. Heinemann. Dorothy and I stayed in Wellington till the 11th and then came home. The Wray Nolans and Peter and Pam Reynolds were there and helped to cheer us up. We went to see the old Nathans, Lady Shirtcliff and Rose and Jimmy James, who was better but rather frail. I was also, during that time, able to get a passage for Ray in the ‘Rimutaka’ sailing later in the month. On our return there were the usual monthly meetings of Harbour Board and Williams and Kettle and the McLean trust. At the Harbour Board C.R. Gardiner was appointed Government Nominee in place of Black, who retired – the latter was never ‘at home’ on the board. The Denis Cotterills were up on one of their usual winter visits to the Masonic Hotel and they came out to see us one day and we lunched with them too. The dock strike in London became more serious than ever.

On the 25th Dorothy and I journeyed again to Wellington by service car – this time we had to go over the Saddle Road as the gorge was blocked by a slip. We met Ray at the Midland where we stayed. Also there were the Herricks, Barbara and John, Jasper and Letty and, of course, Julia and her three children. The next day we saw Ray off in the ‘Rimutaka’. Julia and family and Janet Turnbull also travelled in her, Ray had made a good recovery but looked a bit ‘wan’ – the rest on the voyage set her up and then there was Boy in England to take care of her. That evening the Herrick Family joined us and we had a drink or so in the lounge to drown our sadness at the parting. Next day we returned home – Hiraani, Bob and Family were there to greet us. By the 31st Bob’s house was finished and we all helped to settle them in.

August

A referendum on compulsory Military Training was carried by two-thirds majority. On the 1st we went to christen Bob’s house, it really was very nice and they seemed very happy and comfortable in it. During the first few days the weather was warm and mild – one or two goodshowers fell which helped lambing along. Then on the evening of the 6th a North East storm came upon us and for the

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following week it just poured down in buckets – on the night of the 7th we had 4.45 inches and the wind had then gone into the South East and it was cold. During those few days we had an appalling time for the ewes chose to lamb freely and the confusion was terrific. There was so little we could do and the mis-mothering of lambs was heart-breaking. We took into shelter countless weak and lost lambs and, as time went on, we were able to get them mothers as there were so many ewes without lambs by the time the storm abated. I had never experienced such a miserable week before – and it was a disappointing time for Bob, his first year in charge. However, before the month was over the weather had picked up and was warmer and lambing proceeded smoothly. In fact lambing was over in a much shorter period this year than ever before. Ploughing was impossible for about three weeks but Chris was able to finish the Gaols by the 25th. Routine work on the farm was almost at a standstill for much of the month for we were all so fully occupied in caring for the ewes and lambs. During the past few weeks we had been sending half a dozen fat ewes to the sale each week and I note that the last half dozen in August fetched 56/6d apiece. I only went to town three times during the month – on the 12th to a Williams and Kettle Director’s Meeting to review the year’s working. Then on the 15th to a Harbour Board Meeting followed by a McLean Trust and visit to Lindisfarne on our way home. Lastly Williams and Kettle’s Annual Meeting on the 22nd – the year was a good one but a little down on last years. I was re-elected to the Board and Deputy Chairman again. That day we lunched with Louie Moffat -called in to see Percy and Bertha Elsworthy and the Barrons. Letters were now coming regularly from Boy who was having a wonderful time in England, Narford (the Fountaine’s home in Norfolk was his home as it was Jim’s before him. Also we had cheerful letters from Ray from Panama and Curacao. The rain for the month was 10.66 inches.

September

This was quite a good month and we appreciated the fine weather after what we had last month. Docking proceeded apace and by the end of the month only a few very late lambs remained to be docked. Bill’s principal work consisted in cutting down trees for next winter’s firewood. He also sowed the early potatoes and pulled his weight in the vegetable garden. Owing to the wet weather of last month many lambs developed arthritis and it was sad to see so many hobbling about but as the weather warmed up it was good to notice their rapid improvement in these little lambs. One night a couple of bulls got into the garden and they left horrid marks on the lawn which we had to fill in. Our proper registered ear mark consisted of two marks in one ear and one in the other but we only used the long fork in one ear which was, properly speaking, incorrect. So I approached the Registrar and he was able to obtain the one mark which we now use. One day while Ivan and Mary were down from Taupo they came out to see us bringing Ian and Kay with them. England devalued the £1 sterling in relation to the U.S.A. dollar and New Zealand followed suit. There were the usual Harbour Board and McLean Trust Meetings – at our Harbour Board Meeting we had the Marine Superintendents of the four Shipping Lines (now called the Conference Lines) to discuss our proposed development work. They threw cold water on the suggestion (it was Pat Higgins’) of a Coastal Wharf at right angles to No. 1 and No. 2 Wharves (now Geddis and Herrick Wharves) and many of us quite agreed. The idea was scrapped. During the month we visited Mary Coleman, the Barrons, Charlie Roberts, Olive Nairn and Lily Macfarlane, Louie Moffat and Betty Mayne. Louie Moffat came to stay with us for a week after her visit to the Ned Smiths at Olrig. There was a very heavy gale one night and at 2 a.m. I had to run over to the Windmill to turn it off. This used to happen from time to time in those days of the Windmill. Life was strenuous at times in those days. There were cheerful letters from Ray and Boy, who were motoring on the Continent in the Morris car we had purchased

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in London. I was still Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church (Kereru) and used to attend services about once a month. We definitely decided to go to England next year and booked passages in the ‘Rangitane’ sailing in March.

October

By the beginning of the month we appeared to be getting a bit worried about the feed position – we certainly had very little rain during the month – only 1.19 inches – but it fell over a period so was more helpful than if it had come suddenly. Docking was completed and, as expected, on account of the August storm, our losses were more than thought at the time. Our percentage was about 79 which was low enough and the loss of ewes since they were put out was 60 – this was not too bad. We decided to quit twenty-six fat bullocks as they were fat and ready to go and it was a wise move as it eased the position – they averaged £.16 which was apparently quite satisfactory. The Gaols block was disced and more or less worked up ready for the crop. We enjoyed a very pleasant break in the middle of the month when we were the guests of the New Zealand Shipping Company on a short cruise. We left by service car from Napier on the 12th and at 5:30 we drew up alongside the ‘Rangitoto’ in Wellington. There were about ten of us from Napier and Gisborne. Shortly after boarding the ship and being received by Frank Spite (Manager for New Zealand and a Director as well) we were presented to the Governor General and Lady Freyberg who were also guests of the Company. We sailed at 6 p.m. and it was a calm sea. At our table in the saloon were Mrs. Clarke from Gisborne, and George and Mrs. Duncan (he was Chairman of the Wool Board), and the ship’s doctor. The next day was fine and warm – about 9 a.m. we crossed Hawke’s Bay – we steamed within sight of land till we passed the East Cape about 6 p.m. We had a lovely view of Aorangi and the other mountain behind Ruatoria. The day was spent in games, talk, etc., then at night there was a gala dinner. A number of friends were among the 150 guests aboard – there was Jim Mating of Christchurch and the W.B. Martins. W.B. Martin, whom we called Butcher at school, was always a particular friend of mine. I remember once at school, for a 5/- bet, he dived into the swimming baths with his Sunday suit on and wearing his watch. His watch stopped and he later received six of the Fives Bat from the Headmaster. So it wasn’t worth it. I used to see him from time to time as he was Cambridge while I was at Oxford. The morning we reached Auckland at 7.30 and, after breakfast, we boarded a special service car waiting at the gangway and were taken to our homes. Our car travelled through to Wairakei where we lunched. Then we reached Napier at 10 p.m, when Bob met us and took us home. Altogether it was a very pleasant interlude. S.G. Holland opened his election campaign with a very vigorous address which was broadcast. Before the end of the month we had a lengthy Harbour Board Meeting and the Marine Superintendents of the four main Shipping Companies were present to take part in discussions over a further plan for harbour developments. We lunched one day at the Masonic with Mrs. Warren (wife of Alwyn Bishop of Christchurch) and her cousin, Mrs. Laws who is also a cousin of my old friend, Mrs. King of Marazion. I had met Mrs. Laws in Eastbourne in 1939.

November

Welcome light rain fell early in the first week and heavier rain in the middle with some thunder. There was much activity in the garden, particularly in the vegetable portion. And we remade the loading yards at the Pit and Road gate. Bob ploughed up Boy’s paddock. The rabbit menace was easier than it had been for sometime past and this made life easier. On the first Sunday the Herricks came out for the day. We met Rose Hillier (once a housekeeper for my Mother) one day in Napier and talked about the past. Ed Stewart was back from a trip to Europe and he bought us news of Ray and Boy whom he had seen in London. There were the usual meetings of Harbour Board, Williams and Kettle and McLean Trust. Keith Bull was now the Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company in Napier and took little Bell’s place a few months ago. The first wool sale of the year was quite exciting and prices went up as

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high as ‘39d. S.I. Jones (National Candidate for the Hastings seat) came to Kereru to address a meeting on Harker’s account. The General Elections took place on the 30th and at last the tide turned after fourteen years. National Party seats were 46 and Labour 34. Great excitement prevailed and we looked forward to an end of a Policy of Nationalisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange which was Labour’s ultimate aim.

December

My shearing began early in the month and almost immediately after we carried on with the wet shearing. The total number of bales was 90 which was the best so far. The first pick of lambs was good and 162 went off their mothers! Bob went over to Featherston in Boy’s place this year to select the rams. Sandy (Boy’s dog) broke a leg but after a few weeks in splints a good recovery was made. A dog of George Menzies disappeared one day with its chain and there was much searching in vain till a few days later I heard a faint call from the Nursery Gorge and so discovered the little animal firmly tied up by its chain to a tree. All was well. One day I lunched in Napier with Frank Spite and three directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company in England. Sir Robert Menzies’ party was successful in the Australian Elections and he became Prime Minister for seventeen years. Williams and Kettle’s Directors’ Meeting wound up at the Store at Port Ahuriri – it was our habit to join Gordon Cooper at the Merchandise Store whenever a meeting ended in a reasonable time. After the last Harbour Meeting of the year there was Eddie’s party at Lindisfarne. Lulu Barron had a fall at Taupo and injured a leg rather badly and this meant a lengthy stay in Royston. It was the beginning of much trouble later in life. There was a Christmas Tree at Bob’s for the two children. The Eatons, Jock, Pam and their two children came down. News came that Boy was ill with pneumonia at Glasgow and was being taken care of by Tom and Jean Hastie. On his arrival in Scotland from Ireland he developed this trouble and the enforced stay in Glasgow threw his plans out. The Hasties were wonderfully kind friends.

Hamilton and Bob Logan at The Cottage, Maraekakaho (date unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Bob and Hiraani Logan (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Cora Turnbull (Hamilton Logan’s cousin) with Hamilton Logan (date unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

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CHAPTER NINE

1950 – 1956

1950

As I begin on the diary for 1950 the date is July 16th 1967.

Jan

I found these statistics in my diary – but I think I have referred to them earlier but you see it is sometimes difficult to remember just what you have written earlier on – Out of the 1335 acres of Pukekino I estimate:
1164 acres to be in grassland
60 acres in Tussock and Native grass
11 acres in Garden, plantation and buildings.
30 acres Barren land
70 acres fern and scrub
Being 1335 total

Mardie and her two children were with us for part of the holidays. As the rabbiter was away for a holiday I had charge of his pack of dogs and this kept me busy as they were out at the Nursery Yards. On the 4th I had a day in town with Eddie and we did many things including a visit to Ellison and Duncan and dined at Lindisfarne before coming home. Dorothy Gordon came for a weekend. On the 12th we attended John Wenley’s wedding later a supper at the Assembly Hall in Hastings. R.D. Brown acted as M.C, and the speeches went on and on! My dogs, Glen and Winston, were very troublesome and whenever my back was turned they used to hunt rabbits.

Boy left England on his return to New Zealand on the 16th in the ‘Dominion Monarch’. Ray remained in London and did various jobs to await our arrival later.

The work during the month was devoted to blackberry spraying, weaning lambs, repairing yards, cutting firewood and making a start with dipping the flock.

The Kereru Sports took place and were a great success. There were several visits to town to the dentist, to fix up passports and arrange many things before leaving for England. A good rain fell towards the end of the month. The wool sales were good and our average price per bale was £44.

Feb

One day early on Louie, Betty and Derek Mayne came out to see us. Bob began ploughing up Jim’s Corner for grass seed. Dipping was completed. Perry Wilder came out to revalue. It was the year for County Valuations to be made. Much rain fell during the month – a total of 6.32 inches and the country became very green and a good growth ensued. There were many visits to Napier for Harbour and Williams and Kettle Meetings and one day Eddie and I inspected a block at the top of Ahuriri Lagoon which Ben Lopdell agreed to lease. The British Elections provided a surprise, Labour’s lead was only six over the Conservatives. On the 18th I went to Wellington by service car and stayed at The Club. I went to see the Nathans and Jimmy James, who was far from well.

On the 19th the ‘Dominion Monarch’ arrived with Boy and it was grand to have him home again. The following day our Morris Oxford was landed and we journeyed home via the Wairarapa.

Before the month was out a big draft of fat lambs went.

March

We sold the old Morris Car for £435. Boy’s overhaul disclosed his health was very satisfactory after his recent illness in Scotland. Dorothy Gordon’s new house at Awanga was ready for occupation at the end of the month – we thought it to be a very pleasant and compact house. She came out again during the month for a weekend.

Next year the lease of ‘The Cottage’ to Rochie Averill terminated and, as Constance Fountaine had asked Boy to farm it for her, I broke the news to Rochie. This was unpleasant news for him and he was never particularly friendly towards me again – though it was only natural Constance Fountaine would wish to farm the 1200 acres she bought at the time of the sale (20 years ago) for she had much affection for the place. On the 2nd March, unfortunately, John Foley and I fell out and he was very rude, which was so strange after our very friendly association of over a year.

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The result was he left the same day. During the month we carried on with blackberry spraying and Jim’s Corner was sown down in grass – a final sorting up of stock was made – a good deal of foot-rot among the ewes also kept us busy. Our tallies of stock at the end of the month were:
1840 Breeding ewes
690 ewe hoggets
80 rams and killers
2610 sheep and 130 cattle – 42 were breeding cows. Bob, Hiraani and children went off to Waimarama for three weeks holiday.

Much sadness when Bob’s dog, Dick, died – we suspected rabbit poison as the cause.

There was much coming and going during the month and final arrangements in connection with our departure for England next month. Then there were meetings of Harbour Board, McLean Trust and Williams and Kettle – at this meeting of Directors we appointed to the Board Jasper Herrick and Douglas McHardy. I appointed John McLennan as my Attorney to act on the McLean Trust and for myself. A good pick of fat lambs was made – 418 – and this left 167 still on the crop. At the end of the month we gave a farewell cocktail party at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers in Hastings, but, unfortunately, I had a rotten cold and could not attend. But they say it went off well.

April

My first entry was ‘this is a wonderful autumn’ and so it was the country looked lovely and the stock were in great condition. Early on the Olrig Dog Trials took place and, as usual, it was a great day for the district. Barney Byrne’s dog was as disobedient as it could be and Barney was getting livid with rage so he asked the judge if he could swear at the dog, the judge said ‘No, if you do you will be disqualified’ – thereupon Barney told the dog what he thought of him, the dog cleared out and was not seen for several days and Barney was disqualified.

Two more dogs, both helpful and very friendly animals (Sandy and Jess), died after taking rabbit poison. We spent much time in searching for a site for the woolshed and eventually, as things turned out, we picked the wrong one. The shed should have been in the front paddock, Bob, Boy and I were all equally to blame for this.

There were several visits to Napier before the 19th for final meetings and farewells. One day I discovered Paul Oliver (First Officer of S.S. ‘Taranaki’) who had been fifth on the ‘Mataroa’ in 1939 and I took him to lunch at the Club. On the 14th Eddie and Ethne gave a party to farewell the Elworthys and ourselves. Then on the 17th, after the last Harbour Board Meeting, we called in at Lindisfarne to say goodbye. It turned out to be our last visit to Lindisfarne during the Herrick’s occupation for during the year they were to move to Muritai, Havelock North. I made a thorough inspection of ‘The Cottage’ so as to be able to report to Constance in England.

On the 14th and 15th another very welcome rain came along – so we felt happier than ever with the knowledge that there would be no shortage of grass during the winter. The Rochie Averills and Cecil Averills came to say goodbye on the 18th and Greta Coleman came to housekeep for Boy during our absence.

And now I shall give you a resume only of our adventures abroad from April 19th till October 27th. Among my diaries there is a more detailed account of all we did and all we saw during that time. On April 19th Dorothy, Boy and I journeyed to Wellington by car and put up at the St. George Hotel where Dorothy Gordon joined us. That evening we had a pre-dinner drink with Arthur Elworthy and Miss Forde who were in Wellington for a Gould wedding. The following day we went to see Jimmy James and Hew Bruce and did many odd jobs. In the evening we attended a party given by the Ed Stewarts for the Archibalds who were to travel in the ‘Rangitane’ with us.

We sailed at 2:30 on the 21st April and had a very comfortable cabin just next door to that of Lulu and Winston Barron, The Barrons and ourselves shared a table for four in the dining saloon. We soon settled down to shipboard life and enjoyed the complete rest – all sorts of deck games etc. and the company of a very pleasant set of

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companions – viz. the Barrons, Jessie and Agnes Mill (old Dunedin friends), the Cecil Teschemakers, the Leo Bestalls and Mrs. Tattersall of Napier, Babs and Harry Milsom of Cornwall (she was Babs Collins of Wellington in the days of my youth), Lady Palmer of Reading, David Boyle (we were at school together, he was a retired Captain R.N.), Elspeth Barton of Featherston and so on. Lord and Lady Cobham (later to be Governor General of New Zealand) were also on board and he was a great asset on the voyage – so full of steam and energy.

So we proceeded harmoniously and happily till May 8th when we reached Balboa where we enjoyed a few hours ashore and had a pleasant taxi drive. Then came the trip through the Panama Canal – always full of thrills and amazement. After a terrific thunderstorm we reached Christobal about 7.30 p.m. and went straight out into the Carribean Sea. Two days later we had a few hours ashore at Curacao. For the twelve days following we plugged across the Atlantic – and incidentally V. Rhind and I won the Men’s Doubles in Deck Golf, the only game I excelled at! At last we reached Southampton on May 21st and took the boat train to London through some glorious countryside. At Waterloo we were met by Ray and David (he had his Father’s Jaguar Car) and we went to Inverness Court which was to be our home more or less for the next four months, This hotel was situated only a stone’s throw from Porchester Gate where I use to stay so much in the days when the Spencer Gollans lived there.

It was very thrilling to be in London again after eleven years but it was sad to see so much devastation about as a result of the war. Wherever you looked in London, and in many of the big cities, you saw the ghastly result of the bomb raids.

Ray shared a flat with a friend in Drayton Court at this time and she had a job in Harrods. Our first job on reaching London was to register and receive our Ration Cards for food and clothing were still rationed. I think it was half a pound of butter and only a small amount of sugar and meat. Until June 1st we stayed in London and enjoyed glorious weather most of the time. There was much to do and the days were not long enough. Cora was living not far from London and came to see us and spent a night or two with us. There was shopping to be attended to. Dorothy went back to Schwartz and I to Wilkinson, who had taken over Corletts tailoring establishment and was located in St. George Street. We saw Babs and Harry Milsom, who were staying at Brownes Hotel near our Bank’s new premises in Albemarle Street. There were visits to the City to meet Shipping people (New Zealand Shipping and Shaw Saville and Co.) and to see bomb damage in the City area. It was a miracle how St. Pauls survived when you saw the devastation around. We saw the Hat Doctors (Dacia and Rosa), we visited Molly Mudford and family who were up in London in their dear little Mews Home in Wilton Crescent. There was, of course, the thrill of the Chelsea Flower Show. Violet Russell took us to it and we used often to visit her at her flat in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. St. James Church in Piccadilly was very badly damaged and looked most pathetic (today it has been completely restored to its old glory). I lunched one day at the United Services Club with Gordon Hannay and Sharpe (New Zealand Shipping Company) who was liason [sic] officer.

I went off for two or three days to stay with Lady Burton and Cora at Ibstone, near Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire – she had a lovely old home, only small, with old-fashioned garden and in a lovely part of the country. Lady Button was elderly and not very strong and Cora kept house for her with only a daily help but there was a very large Rolls Royce car and chauffeur! One day I journeyed from Ibstone to Oxford by bus – about one hour through lovely country. Then I had a wonderful time recapturing part of my earlier life. I spent an hour or so in my old rooms in Oriel drinking coffee and yarning with a young man named Stowell who occupied them. He knew more about New Zealand than Oxford Undergraduates in my day did. After meandering around old haunts and seeing again some of the beautiful gardens I went to afternoon tea with Sir David and Lady

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Ross (he was Tutor in 1903-4-5). He was now retired but on several important boards and nearly 80 years old. It was all most enjoyable and I returned to Lady Button’s full of memories. The following day I returned to London by Green Line bus through High Wycombe. Another week in London weather still lovely and much to do and see and we entertained some of our friends at the Overseas Club which is so central and extremely comfortable.

Then on June 1st I journeyed to Cambridge and was entertained for lunch at High Table, Trinity College by Toby Milsom who was the youngest Don in Cambridge – he was under 30. It was an interesting episode and full of fun. After lunch we had a look round some of the more important Colleges such as Kings, St. John, Jesus etc. Then I caught a train on to Downham Market where Constance Fountaine’s car met me and so to Narford Hall, fifteen miles away. There a great welcome awaited me and I felt at home once more. But it was sad that Carlo was not there – he died in 1947. He was a very dynamic person and such a wonderful host. Since five years of war and Carlo’s death much of the majestic style of life had come to an end and there was not the formality that there once used to be. Full evening dress for dinner had gone and there were fewer servants hovering about. Still the great comfort of this large country home was there and all its glorious pictures etc. told you of the past. It was a very happy week-end and Constance and I talked by day and night about many things and people of mutual interest. And she told me much about Jim when he was stationed at West Raynham with the R.A.F. Narford was his home while there and they were wonderfully kind to him. The weather was fine and we motored about quite a bit. Then on the 5th I took the bus from Narborough to Norwich where I spent the day with St. Barb. Holland (now Dean of Norwich) – more talk and a visit to the Cathedral and lunch and boarded a fast train to London.

Then came another fortnight in London during which time we saw Lilian Nairn and Poppy, Peter Holden, Violet Russell often, the Hilliers (cousins of Dorothy), Charlie Ritchie (Archdeacon of Northumberland) a dear friend over countless years, Mary Wilson (Ray’s friend), the Seton Wenleys etc. One day Keville of the S.S. and Co. Line gave me an invitation to join a party on the Port of London Authority’s Cruise Ship and we had a grand day doing the principal docks – champagne lunch! One other day I took Billy and Betty Wenley over Hampstead Heath. Then there was the thrilling Military Tournament and watching the Trooping of the Colour. As we had had tickets in 1939 we could not obtain them again but we got a good view from St. James Park – we watched the procession along the Mall. There was a twenty-first birthday party for Jeremy Mudford given by Molly. Another day we went to Cobham where Dorothy dropped me and went on to Fareham to see the Burroughs – I walked on to Buntings (part of old Silvermere) to see Haidee Seth Smith and Minna. I had a look at the old Silvermere home and felt very sad. It was in the course of being demolished for the sake of progress. It had been such a lovely old home in the past. Daphne King came to see us one day. G.G.G. Watson (Solicitor of Wellington) and I called on Weir of Lincoln Inn Fields to discuss a matter of a gift of Constance’s to her family. We took Ray out to Windsor Castle one day and it was a gorgeous day too. One night we had seats at a Command Performance of Odette – it was a great show but a stifling night – not a breath of air. On the 19th June we began six weeks wandering about the country. First we went to Narford for a few days – journeyed to Kings Lynn by train and were met by Ellis (Chauffeur of many years). Then we proceeded to the G.W.R. Hotel at Paddington for a night and on to Exeter where we stayed at the Royal Clarence for the best part of a week – this was a delightful old hotel in the Cathedral Close -the front faced themest door of the lovely Cathedral. Exeter still showed many ghastly marks of the bomb raids in the war. From Exeter we did many trips with Ashplant (taxi) – to see Myrtle Lee and her friends at Bovey Tracey – a dear little Devon Village on the edge of the Moorlands. The picture of the silver birch tree in our sitting room was

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painted by Myrtle (Cora’s Sister) and the tree was in her garden.

At Myrtle’s we met Audrey Kitcat who hired out her car for taxi tours and we arranged with her to take us for a tour of England and Scotland. We went one day to see Cordon Hardie at Belstone on the moor country. He was the husband of my Aunt Helen and as mad as a hatter. Twice we went to Sidmouth to see our dear and old friend A.E. Ronald – once a doctor and partner of Dr. Bernau in Napier. He was now a widower and very frail. He was confined to his upstairs flat and never went out of doors at all. We had so much to talk about.

After our stay in Exeter we took a six day tour in a bus which was very enjoyable in that we saw much lovely country but we found bus travelling a bit tiring and too much was crammed into the day. During those six days we visited Glastonbury, Wells with its beautiful Cathedral and clock, and, of course, the swans that rang a bell, Bath, Bristol, through Worcester, Cheltenham, Stratford-on-Avon, a whole day in the Cotswolds which is the garden of England, a few hours in Oxford where I acted as guide to our new-found Swedish friends on the tour (the Hemels), on to Brighton for a couple of nights and from there we had an expedition through Kent, Canterbury Cathedral, through the Cinque Ports – Dover etc. And on one off-day Dorothy and I took the bus to Beachy Head and, after a good walk on the Downs, we walked passed her old school into Eastbourne where we met Faith King (Marazion days). And so back to Exeter by the Dorset Coast and through the New Forest. After a day’s rest – attending a service in the Cathedral and later visiting A.E. Ronald – we set out with Audrey Kitcat in her Hillman Car on our wonderful tour of England and Scotland. We set out from Exeter on the morning of July 3rd and by nightfall we had reached Ludlow in Shropshire, after a glorious drive through typical English scenery and stopping frequently to have a good look at Wells Cathedral again with its fantastic clock and the swans that rang a bell for food, Bath – the suspension bridge at Clifton – Worcester Cathedral and the lovely Wye Valley. Ludlow was a fascinating old world town on the borders of Wales. I may say the hire charge for Audrey’s car was 1/9 per mile and what a wonderful driver Audrey was and so full of knowledge. On the 4th we passed through Shrewsbury and then the Black Country to Bowness on Lake Windermere – such a peaceful spot it was. On the 5th we passed over the Kirkstone Pass through Penrith and Carlisle and so into Scotland by Gretna Green. At Glasgow we met Tom Hastie (Sergeant of Police – a tall and very good looking edition of his brother Jack of Olrig). He met us by appointment at St. George’s Square and took us to his home where we were put up for the night. He and his friendly wife had insisted upon this. They were a very kindly pair. After a sumptuous ‘high tea Tom took me to the General Police Station and, after setting his men on to their night duties, he took me for a tour of the docks and slum areas – it was a weird experience, especially as he, from time to time, intercepted people to ask their business and sometimes searched them. At 3 a.m. I fell into bed after hot coffee, whisky and an aspirin – insisted upon by Ina.

July 6th found me still asleep at 9a.m. Later we left Glasgow, being led out of town by Tom, and sad at leaving Such hospitality. We travelled up the West Coast and reached Oban in the evening. After a day’s rest at Oban we pushed on through Glencoe Pass and all sorts of other places steeped in history to reach Inverness by night. There we also had a day off and visited Strathpeffer and one of the Mackinlay’s Whisky Distilleries (Glen Mohr). On the 10th we travelled through typical Scottish Country to Braemar by way of Elgin, Nairn and Tinnily and having a glorious view of Balmoral Castle. Then, after a night in the very comfortable Invercauld Arms, we travelled by the Devil’s Elbow to Perth where we lunched with Bill Farquharson (Bell’s Whisky). By this time Dorothy had developed an unpleasant tummy bug but with a chemist’s help she became much better by the time we reached Edinburgh. The 12th was a crowded day- looking at The Castle again, shopping, procuring overdue ration cards and having tea with the Traquairs (Charlie Nairn’s sister) – it

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was grand to meet Trix again and to be able to pick up the threads of an old friendship. On the 14th we set out for Bamburgh by way of Kelso and through that part of Northumberland I so loved. James, Sybil, Ivan and his wife, Pat, were awaiting us at the Hall and Pat discovered it was Audrey’s brother who had taught her to be the good horsewoman she was. We had a happy couple of days at Bamburgh and James took me to see some of my old friends such as Jessie Sanderson of Newlands, and Willie Maling of Fenwicke Steads. We attended a cattle sale at Belford among other things. When we left we travelled down the main north road to Newcastle-on-Tyne. I got out of the car at Jesmond and walked the last two or three miles into town so as to recapture memories of the past. I passed by Osborne Villas where my Grandfather lived when I first knew him in 1889. We lunched in Newcastle and visited Amos Atkinson (Bootmakers) who had made for my Grandfather, Father and myself.

In days gone by your shoes and boots were all made to order. From Newcastle we visited Durham Cathedral, the finest example of Norman architecture in existence and a place I was very fond of, and so on to York for the night. Next day, after a visit to the Lovely Minster and city wall, we went on to Ashby de la Zouche for the night, after seeing Chatsworth Hall and having tea with Myrtle Lee, who was staying at Matlock Hydro. From Ashby de la Zouche (a delightful old city with much history) we proceeded to Fordingbridge in Hampshire where we had dinner with John and Joan Barron before repairing to our little hotel. Lulu and Winston were staying with John and were in good form though Winston was unable to do much travelling around. Eventually we reached Exeter on the 20th, calling in to see A.E. Ronald at Sidmouth and say farewell, We found Ray awaiting us in Exeter. We rested in Exeter for the weekend and a most interesting event took place on Sunday – a procession of about 100 proceeded from the outskirts of the City to the Cathedral in commemoration of the transference of the See from Crediton to Exeter 700 years ago. There were many Clergy including the Bishop who was a young man -most of the clergy were old and infirmed. Later on board the Dominion Monarch the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Fisher) asked me what my opinion was of the church in England. Why, I don’t know. I said I was sad to see so many old men still in office who ought to be happily and comfortably retired. His answer was ‘we can’t afford to retire them – so little money and so few young men coming along’. We started off again on the 21st and spent an hour or two inspecting the bomb damage of Plymouth and having a walk on the famous Hoe, then on to look at an old church at Devon Prior where Eddie Herrick’s ancestor, Robert Herrick, once held sway. So on to Truro for the night and a visit by twilight to Falmouth.

The following day we pressed on to Polzeath to stay with Babs and Harry Milsom but on our way we visited Marazion (to remind me of the happy days, in the early part of the century, that I used to spend with the Kings), Penzance, Mousehole, Lands End, Sennen and St. Ives. It was a great trip but much rain dogged us. At Polzeath we spent five enjoyable days seeing much of the countryside and much of Charlie and Marjory Ritchie who were staying in their seaside home. Nearby were Jean, their daughter and her fiancé, David Haddon of the Cheviot country. They married in August and a few months later Jean was killed in a car accident.

Audrey came for us on the 27th July and we motored back to London where we stayed at the Inverness Court until 21st August. It was a 250 mile journey, During our stay in London I seem to have had a very full programme. There was a night’s visit to Lady Buxton and Cora at Ibstone (near Stokenchurch) – the following day Dorothy, Ray and Audrey came down for me. Then there was a night at Catts Place near Reading with Jim and Joan Ritchie and while there Grey Russell came over to see me – again the others came for the next day and Jim discovered Audrey’s brother had served under him during the war in H.M.S. Courageous and, incidentally had saved his life when the ship was sunk by a submarine. One day we went down to Cambridge to show Dorothy and Ray some of the principal colleges and then on to see the Peter Tonkins at their

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farm in Essex. We called to see Mrs. Bloomfield in her lovely flat – called also at the Rembrandt to see Auntie (Mrs. Baden Powell) and Julia Gollan. We saw various theatres and one day, after visiting the Port Line Office, I was taken to the City of London Club by Rooper, Sir James Corry and Senior for lunch. Later I was taken for a drive in the Company’s car through many parts of the city and so back to our hotel. There were frequent meetings with Violet Russell of course. One night we dined with Mary Wilson and another day we went to see Lulu and Winston Barron at their hotel. Cora came to spend a few days with us and she and I had an expedition one Sunday to the fabulous Petticoat Lane and walked all the way back seeing much of the City which was almost empty of humans. Another morning we rose mighty early to see Covent Garden and the arrival of flowers and vegetables. Dorothy went down to Fareham for a couple of nights to the Burroughs. We fitted in a couple of nights with Peter Holden at his very comfortable Country Club in Crowborough and enjoyed some motoring in the gloriously wooded country of Sussex.

I also went down to Sudbury in Suffolk one day to see Audrey Platten (Kettle) and Jack. Julia Poett and her children came to Inverness Court for a few days and while Julia and Ray shopped and did last minute jobs Dorothy and I looked after the three children and what a picnic we had at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Works on a very crowded morning. Then the day came for us to see Ray, Julia and her family off by boat train to join a ship in Liverpool for Singapore. The Poetts had suggested the venture and it was an opportunity not to be missed. I spent another day at Buntings with Haidee Smith and Minna and had another wander round the grounds of old Silvermere while Haidee and Minna went to Weybridge to do a little shopping. We had a very happy long weekend at Narford – this time we took the train to Narborough after changing at Kings Lynn. We loved the peace and beauty of this part of the country and the time passed only too quickly with motor trips to Norwich and elsewhere and visits to the Attwoods.

After another day or two in London when I went to see Gordon Hannay recovering from an operation at a London Clinic, we flew over to Paris for a very enjoyable week. We stayed at the Stockholm Hotel in Rue Vernet just a stone’s throw from the Place d’Etoile. During the week the weather was fine except for one day and we accomplished much. Dorothy had some shopping ventures with Anne Price, who had a good job in Paris at the time, and she took us to the Montmatre area and dined with us most nights. She was a great asset. We visited many places of interest such as Notre Dame, the Louvre, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Bois de Bologne and glorious Versailles. A young man we met on the plane (John Le Grand) dined with us one night. Our favourite restaurant was Andre, recommended by Mrs. Severn, and we became well known there. One day we ran into Jack Macdonald of Taradale and his daughter. Early on another day – at 7:30 in fact – we went by Rapide to Le Havre at a breakneck speed, only stopping at Rouene. There we took a taxi to the Sainte Marie Cemetery to see Jim’s grave – the cemetery was beautifully kept and was on a hill with a lovely view overlooking the harbour and the river Seine. Jim’s grave was in the section set aside for British Service Men whose bodies were buried there. We were glad to have seen his grave. Later we had a drive round the city, particularly in the dock area which was bombed so accurately by the R.A.F., because only objects of military use appear to have been destroyed. Back to Paris in a very comfortable ordinary train. When we told the housemaid in our hotel where we were going early that morning she must have gone out to a florist for she came to our room just before we left it with a lovely sheaf of flowers. Another day we hired a car for the day – first we visited the Chateau Rambubillet, the President’s Country home – then that very wonderful Chartres Cathedral with the famous rose window – on to Barbizon, renowned for being the centre of so much modern art and near Napoleon’s country seat ‘Fountainbleu’, a magnificent home set in the heart of a glorious forest. So we flew back to London for a few days of

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much going and coming. A visit to Violet Russell to tell of our doings and Terry Herrick coming to lunch at the Overseas League. He was working in the Admiralty.

Then came our final visit to Bamburgh and that North Country so dear to me, We took the midnight sleeping train from King’s Cross and were met at 5,30 next morning by James (Hutchinson) at Berwick-on-Tweed, then the twenty mile journey to Banburgh Hall. Sybil gave us a great welcome and, after a shave and bath, I fell upon a typical Northumbrian breakfast of porridge, bapps and ham and eggs. We found ourselves in the midst of warm friends again.During the week’s stay I was able to do and see all that my heart wanted. There were visits to Belford to see Percy and Bertha Elworthy on one occasion as they were passing through, and several times to the Blue Bell Inn which was a typical country hotel and full of charm. A day’s outing to Kelso was full of interest to me for the Annual Ram Fair was being held in the grounds of Floors Castle on the banks of the Tweed, the seat of the Duke of Roxburgh. All sorts of weird breeds of rams – one breed had big blue noses. Before our thirty mile journey back through the Cheviot country we fortified ourselves at Ednham House (another small hotel of great fame and sitting on the very edge of the river Tweed and the massive Castle of Floors in the background). Then there was a visit to Adam Little’s lovely farm at Duns, just across the river and in Scotland – the world famous racing car driver, Jim Clarke, lived in Duns. There were visits to Seahouses, Ellingham and Fenwicke (Holy Island lying almost within arms length) and also a run to Chillingham to see the wild white cattle and lunch on the moors of Hepburn amidst the heather which was in its glory. There can be no place in the world to beat Northumberland. Sometimes in the evening we took a walk to the foothills to watch for a fox training her cubs and were rewarded. Ivan Hutchinson lived about four miles away at New Shoreston Hall and he and James farmed 1000 acres of magnificent land – fat lambs and fat cattle. They crossed the Cheviot ewes with Suffolk rams – they did not breed cattle but brought 700 yearling steers (usually from Ireland) each Autumn -housed them through the winter and then finished them ‘off’ on good grass land before next autumn. So our farewell visit to the north ended – we took the train to Newcastle-on-Tyne and went to Charlie and Marjorie Ritchie’s home in Jesmond for dinner and a happy evening. At 10.30 Charlie put us aboard the night train for London. We slept well and reached Kings Cross at 7 a.m.

Then followed our last and crowded ten days in London. We were completely tired out when the day of departure came. There were good-byes to be said to many of our friends – there were several dinners at our very special restaurant in Soho (Cafe Bleu). There was much last minute shopping. I had an interesting day with Davis of the New Zealand Dairy Board and visited Tooley Street Butter Market, Billingsgate Fish Market and a lunch with him and two men of the British Food Ministry at a restaurant in St. Martins Lane. There was Jocelyn Price’s wedding at Christ Church, Chelsea (the little church just near by to Violet’s flat) – she married a Gunner (Logan Scott-Bowden). Terry and Janet Herrick took us in their car to the reception, There was a farewell supper in Rosie’s and Dacia’s flat and Lady Clauston was there. There was a Cherniasky Concerto at Albert Hall and the Overseas League had given us seats in the Royal Box. There was a lunch at Julia Gollan’s Club (Landsdowne) – a dinner at Mary Wilson’s flat – Daphne King came to see us, likewise the Wenleys and Pam Stewart. Constance Fountaine came to London one day and we lunched with her at Harrods. We had tea another day with Jessie and Agnes Mills at The Goring Hotel.

On our last day in England (21st September) Seton and I went to the Wool Sales in Coleman Street and came away excited as prices were well up and the tone optimistic, This was largely due, no doubt, to the Korean War in which the U.S.A. had become heavily involved a month or so ago. That day we had a farewell lunch with Violet Russell at the Victoria League. Cora, just back from the Continent, and David came to say good-bye.

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Then came the day of departure – Violet Russell and Mary Wilson saw us off in the boat train at Waterloo and we boarded the ‘Dominion Monarch” at Southampton at 12 and sailed at 2 p.m. She was a ship of about 27,000 tons, first class only, carried about 500 passengers and had a speed of at least twenty knots. She was extremely comfortable and we had a good cabin on ‘B’ deck. We found quite a number of people we already knew such as Cappy Bidwell, Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Dalgety of Auckland, Mrs. Dick Tattersall, Mrs. Bean (a daughter of R.J. Seddon), Margaret Halliday, and others, and, as time went on, we became friendly with about a dozen more and there it ended. After a few days the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Fisher) asked his Chaplain to contact me. The Archbishop and I became quite pally and during the voyage we had many interesting talks. His brother-in-law and Charlie Ritchie were both Archdeacons in Northumberland and Charlie had mentioned that I would be a passenger in the ‘Dominion Monarch’.

I used to see much of Mrs. Bean – she was a dear old soul and was still far from well after her stroke on the ‘Rangitane’ on the voyage to England. Each evening I had a session with her before dinner and we used to hatch up questions to ask the Archbishop! She had a great sense of humour and she must have been quite eighty then. After a few days we reached Las Palmas – I had been there once before in 1910 – Margaret Halliday, Dorothy and I hired a taxi and had a drive for a couple of hours – it was not a very attractive place. I had left England with a cold and did not feel at all well so I consulted the ship’s assistant Doctor who was a New Zealand young man working his passage back after a post graduate course and a very nice fellow at that, by the name of Donald Black (Gisborne). He became a friend of ours as time went on. He put me to bed as I was on the verge of pneumonia there I stayed for several days and the weather was getting hotter and hotter and how frustrating it was too. Then at last, when I was allowed up, I could only take it easily till we reached Cape Town. But in the meantime the ‘D.M. Bug’ was on the rampage and at least 75% of passengers and crew became infected, Dorothy among them and the Archbishop was smitten down twice. It was a very unpleasant tummy upset – the ship became a morgue for the time being and later in the voyage the bug struck again. Don Black said it was all to do with unhygenic [sic] conditions in the galleys. At Capetown, Margaret, Dorothy and I had a glorious drive round the coast through Constantia and to the foot of Table Mountain. Then lunch at the very pleasant Hotel Nelson – then a walk through the principal streets of the town and back to the ship.

For the next eleven days we steamed across the southern portion of the Indian Ocean – it was much cooler and, at times, the sea was rough and Fiddles were on the tables at meal times. During this time there were deck games, tournaments and the usual entertainments. On the 17th October we reached Freemantle and enjoyed a very pleasant day in Perth – quite one of the most attractive of places and much grown since I saw it last in 1911. After that three days were taken in crossing the Australian Bight but the weather was good. On the 21st October we reached Melbourne early in the morning and, after breakfast, Maie Casey (later to become Lady Casey and wife of the Governor General of Australia) was down to meet us – it was many years since we had last met and we had much to talk about. She and Dick were settled in Australia again after his consignments overseas and he was back in politics. Maie took us to their pleasant home in Gipps Street first and then she and Jane took us for a drive around the City and to lunch, after which we rejoined the ship. Two days later we were in Sydney and met Freddie Victor, Kit and Charlie at Farmers – then out to see Win and Elsie Austin at Darling Point, the latter was very unwell and mostly confined to the house which was sad to see. After a drive all round the place to behold the growth of Sydney since we saw it last in 1937, we sailed at five in the afternoon. Three days later on October 26th, we arrived in Wellington and were met by Boy – Dorothy Gordon also came. Next day I

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had an interview with Christie about Constance’s affairs and then we set out for home which we reached in the late afternoon. It was great to be back again after our six months of wandering.

November

To my annoyance a cold developed and I took to bed for the next few days. Harold Barnett came out and ordered this move. So I could not get round the farm or contact my friends for a week. Then on the 6th November we went off for the day to see the Barrons, Herricks, Wenleys and to report to McLennan on my talks with Constance Fountaine about the future of ‘The Cottage’. Then a little later I went to spend a few days at Tauroa with Maurice and Kath Chambers and from there Eddie, Cooper, D. McHardy, Burkitt, Maurice and I went off for an inspection of the Waipawa, Waipukurau and Dannevirke branches (Williams and Kettle). On the 14th Eddie and I attended our last meeting of the Harbour Board. I had been a member for ten years and altogether I had spent thirty-one years on various local bodies. Eddie had been on the Board for eighteen years. I was sad to quit local body work but at my age it was only right to give way to younger men – I was 66. After the meeting I went to see the Charles Roberts. Wool sales were buoyant – crossbred reached 10/- per pound. World troubles grew as China walked into Tibet and also made the situation in Korea difficult, just as a peaceful settlement seemed round the corner. This month we painted the homestead and buildings. We also definitely fixed a site in the back paddock for the woolshed. Shearing was rather later than usual as the early part of the month was very wet. In fact we collected 8.52 inches in the month. Mrs. Hill (our table companion on the ‘Dominion Monarch’) came to stay and we took her all over the countryside – Whakarara, Lindisfarne, Awanga to see D. Gordon, to Napier and also to see Freda Wilson at Onga Onga who had also been a fellow passenger on the ‘Dominion Monarch’. The Ned Smith family came over to say goodbye before they sailed for England in the ‘Dominion Monarch’ to be away for a year.

December

On the 2nd Brian Kettle married Audrey Fenwick – we did not go to the wedding but Boy went. Early in the month I spent a night at Lindisfarne and the following morning Eddie, M.S. Chambers, Jasper, Tom Lowry, Cooper, Burkitt and I set out in two cars. Douglas McHardy came too. We lunched at Wairoa and had a look round Williams and Kettle’s outfit with Bill Crarer. On to Gisborne, and, after a party at Rex Willocks’, where we met many local people, Eddie and I went to see the Ted Monktons. The next day we went to Ruatoria to visit Williams and Kettle’s store and called in at Puketiti to see A.B. and Rere Williams. Puketiti is a glorious home, native trees, gardens and lawns and a wonderful view of hills and sea. Sue Deardon came out to stay as she was leaving for England shortly. Shearing began on the 11th and with good weather it was over on the 13th. There were the usual meetings of McLean Trust and Williams and Kettle and, after our last meeting of Williams and Kettle for the year, we went on to No. 2 Store as guests of Gordon Cooper. The Harold Barnetts gave a cocktail party and much amusement was caused because the spirit bottles had bowsers attached. The boys went to the Wairarapa to pick rams at Pihautea (Carrie Bidwell). Boy and I spent a day at ‘The Cottage’ sizing up things that would require to be done when he took over for Constance in 1952. The Andersons of Kereru came over on Christmas Day and the following day Bob Anderson came with the bulldozer and made a road to the woolshed site and did some levelling as well. A very important railway strike was called and this caused much disruption and postponement of the wool sales and this in turn proved to be disastrous as a big fall in prices came when they eventually took place. The strike ended the day before New Year. With both sons now well-established on Pukekino I very rapidly handed over the management – in fact since Boy had left school I had been gradually passing things over. I became the

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handyman about the place and ready to do whatever was required of me.

1951

Jan

On January 1st the Herricks came out to us for the day as usual and it was a very enjoyable day. It was gloriously fine for we were having a dry spell. The Korean War was still in progress and things were not going very well. Kitty (Mumps as we called her) who had come as a stray to us a year or two ago was not well at all so we took her to Brook Taylor and he performed a caesarian [sic] and within a day or two she was home and as fit as ever. Later Boy took her down to ‘The Cottage’ when he took over there and she ended her days happily with the Barney Rosses and lived to a good age. Betty McLean and Sally Coop (children then) came out to spend a few days with us. Gordon Hannay came out to lunch with the Herricks – he had recently been in Singapore where he saw Ray and bought us news of her. A good draft of fat lambs went off early and the average weight was 35.99lbs. Later, as the store market was so good, we quitted the balance of the wether lambs at over £3. This good price was the result of the big lift in wool prices – our hogget wool was sold at 140d. per lb. The Kereru Sports were held on the 27th. Many visitors were there and they went off well. Barbara and John Gordon came out and brought their little boy Angus. On the 24th I attended Robert Puflett’s funeral at Havelock -he had been County Engineer in my time. During the last week or ten days of the month much rain fell and by the 31st we had had six inches.

Feb

On the 1st the first Ewe Fair of the season was held and our five year ewes fetched £6 4.0d and six year olds £4. At the next sale the two-tooth ewes brought £7.10.0d. This was the most exciting year in my life as a farmer. It is amazing to look back to my early days at Pukekino when a five year old was worth 12/- and a good two-tooth 18/-. One day Boy and I paid a visit to John Paton, then called in at Tunanui and went to the top of the Flag Range with Sir Andrew Russell. He drove us at a break neck speed in his old jeep, Another day Boy and I visited Okawa in the morning, lunched at the Hastings Club with Selby Palmer and Norman Stewart and then had dinner at Lindisfarne. Brook Taylor came out one day to test our rams – he found 20% were sterile and seven out of ten of last year’s were useless. This was a bit of a shock to us. We got the dipping over successfully in spite of rather a wet month-not that there was over

Photo captions –

Frank and Dorothy outside Narford Hall (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

FB smoking a pipe (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

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much rain but rain fell on many days. George Menzies was still doing our rabbitting and the number poisoned was still high – e.g. in the Nursery and Marjorie’s one kill was 273. On the strength of good times we purchased a Caterpillar Tractor -great joy indeed. On the 10th there was a heavy thunderstorm that brought 75 points of rain and later a biggish earthquake that we felt out of doors. Eddie and Gordon Hannay came out to supper one day. Chris Firth started giant discing the Gaols paddock after the crop. From the 13th to the 16th McLennan and I were in Wellington to consult Mackin and Duncan of Stamps Department in regard to Constance Fountaine’s inheritance from her Father and death duties. While there we also saw Roy Christie (Marriage Settlement Attorney) – I went to see Sybil Nathan. We returned with Bill Tucker and his daughter and inspected the wool works at Whakatu on our return. I spent a night with M. and K. Chambers at Tauroa – Wells was there. Next day I called to see Mrs. Lowry and then there was a Williams and Kettle Meeting. On the 19th a long and bitter strike on the Waterfront began which lasted about six weeks. It was a fight to a finish and the strikers gave in but the disruption throughout the country was great.

March

Old Bill had a very heavy cold and couldn’t shake it off so we sent him away for a few days and he returned a well man. The Waterfront Strike was still on and servicemen worked on the wharves. The Korean War was also on. Dorothy Gordon and Susan Dearden came out one weekend. We crutched again at R.P. Kay’s shed early in the month. By the second week the Gaols was ready for grass seed sowing but unsettled weather came and the 140 acres was not completely sown till early in April. I don’t seem to have stock tallies in my diary so it looks as if figures from now on are to be found in the boys’ diaries. These days we used to see a lot of the Andersons at Kereru and Betty was getting ready for her trip to England. One night Cyril Harker (our M.P.), Robin Bell and Robinson came to the Kereru Hall for a meeting as it seemed an election might be held soon to test the feeling of the country when the strike ended. John McLennan and I went to Wellington again for a couple of days on Constance’s affairs – we travelled down with Wilfrid Turner by car and stayed at the Midland again. We had a couple of interviews with Mackin and Duncan and later Roy Christie (Chapman and Tripp) and we were able to have the gift duty reduced by about £1200. Sir Douglas McLean had, unfortunately, left Constance’s share of his estate – about £150,000 – outright to her knowing she was bound by her marriage settlement to hand over to the Trustees. This was able to be a gift and so attracted gift duty. However McLennan was about, by devious arguments, to have the duty reduced. While in Wellington I ran into the Misses Wilson of Bulls at the hotel and they told me of the tragedy of Jean Haddon’s death in a car accident in England (Charlie Ritchie’s daughter). Eddie and Ethne Herrick moved into Muritai at Havelock, having sold Lindisfarne for a school. We went to see them in their new home. We also called to see Mrs. Lowry, now living in the main road, and also called to see Lulu and Winston. Poor old Charlie Roberts had to have a leg amputated on account of circulatory trouble and he never really recovered from it. Boy went off for a holiday, first to the Frank Newmans, then on to Wanganui, New Plymouth and Taupo. The rainfall was 4.24 inches and the autumn growth good.

April

More rain fell during the first week of the month so completion of sowing grass seed in the Gaols was further postponed. In the end Bob finished the job as Chris was away when the weather fined up. Then a tragedy occurred on the 17th when a thunderstorm bringing 1.90 inches of rain came and there was much scouring of the hillsides which had to be attended to forthwith. Now that I was no longer on a local body I had much more time on my hands when I went to town. However, Williams and Kettle, Lowry Trust and McLean affairs still occupied quite a bit of my time. One Sunday we went over to lunch with the Dearden’s at Rochdale and

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Boy and I were taken round the property in a jeep. Susan Dearden seems to have spent most weekends with us for some weeks past. The waterfront strike persisted through the month. One day we went to see Tom Lowry at Okawa, who was not well, and then we went to Napier to meet old Rose Hillier (used to be with my Parents) and then to see Enid Nelson at her farm on Lawn Road. Sandtmann and I were still the trustees in Ohinewairua Trust for Ralph Lowry’s sons and our job was not as strenuous as it used to be. The rainfall was over five and a half inches.

May

Eddie and I flew up to Gisborne and stayed at the Poverty Bay Club for a few days and had a very enjoyable time. Renner (Williams and Kettle Manager) lent us a car so we were very independent. We visited Heni Sherratt at Ngatapa, Cook (Nursery Gardens) at Rere and other places. One night I got the car messed up in a ditch on our way to dine at Ted Monckton’s. We saw Rex Willock, Bob and Ralph Murphy, George Reynolds and others. W.B. Martin was at the Club too. Our return journey was by a tedious railcar full of Maoris drinking beer and playing various musical instruments. On the first day of duck shooting Boy and party at Atua got over one hundred ducks. Margaret Halliday came to stay with us for a week and we did a lot of running about with her. Bob and Hiraani had a holiday and Louise stayed with us. We saw Michael Turnbull in Napier while staying with Monty, sad to think he and Margaret have parted company. We liked her and she had such a steady outlook. But Mick is at bottom a playboy but likeable. Saw topdressing by plane at Poporangi for the first time. At the end of the month Boy went to Wellington to see Nan and Susan off to England in the ‘Rangitata’. Boy went to the Breakwater to help load a ship taking wool away because the payment for the last sale could not be met till the wool was on board ship and the watersiders were still on strike.

June

George Menzies is still with us as rabbiter – at times we thought the rabbit population was shrinking. The last of the fat lambs went off at an average of 35 ½lbs. We crutched at R.P. Kay’s for the last time as the woolshed would be ready for use towards the end of the year. The drive to the shed site was metalled, timber began to arrive and a start was made later in the month. Another of our pets, Sally (cat), had to be put to sleep and for a time Boy’s dog, Jock, was not at all well but he recovered and lived to be about 17. A dog of Mason Tihema’s did a bit of sheep worrying out at the back – we were able to track him down and he was destroyed. Boy did some hunting during the season. I gashed my left thumb cutting up dog’s meat and poison set in -for a time it was a toss up as to whether I would lose it or not. However, Ray rang from Auckland where she was working for Peter Kirker (Orthopaedic) and she said to come to Auckland before consenting to removal of the thumb. But the tide turned and all was well. Louise began her school life (Kereru School) – she was now six. The Frank Herricks came out one day and I took them over to Kereru for he was born there in 1876. Constance’s affairs were in the process of being well straight- ened out by John McLennan and all was set for taking over the ‘Cottage’ property early next year and stocking it. McLennan was also setting in motion the formation of a Company for Pukekino with a view, of course, of cutting down the value of my estate. The beginning of my Divesting Scheme. As I correct this abridged diary the task of divesting is well behind me – half the livestock and all but 3500 shares in Pukekino have passed from my possession – also my life policies and the Napier home is a joint family home. I note I complain of being idle now that I have virtually given up the reins of managing the farm and also my local body career had ended.

July

Crutching was finished. There was an epidemic of Cat Flu and we lost four of the farm cats but after a big struggle we saved our little Sammy. We had a couple of fencers out and much repair work was done by contract. Topdressing and ploughing were in progress. The woolshed progressed well and

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on the 20th we had a celebration with John Mackersey as the roof was finished. Several times during the month my Labrador ‘Winston’ led other dogs away on rabbit hunting expeditions. Ivan and Mary were down from Taupo and came out to see us one day and Mrs. Scott and Charlie were out with Bob and Hiraani on a visit. Once or twice during the month there were visits to Napier and Eddie came too, We went to say farewell to Margaret Halliday at D. Gordon’s – she went back to England. Eddie and Ethne were now well established at Muritai and the garden was being replanned. S.G. Holland (P.M.) had decided to have an election to test the country’s feeling after the long and disrupting waterfront strike. On the last day of the month both Mrs. T.H. Lowry and Frank Herrick died – both very old friends. Mrs. Lowry had been a wonderful friend to me and she was a very remarkable woman. She was the most generous woman I have ever met.

August

On the 2nd I attended Mrs. Lowry’s funeral service before a cremation in Hastings and took John Gordon with me. John McLennan had another set-back and was confined to his home for most of the month, but this time they got to the bottom of his trouble and he subsequently made a good recovery. We had two contract fencers for a month and many fences had a complete overhaul and some were re-erected. Virginia Ritchie (Jim’s elder daughter) was in New Zealand – we gave her a job with us as a land girl for two or three months and she was useful, especially as a caretaker of motherless lambs of which we had, at times, up to 25. There was one wet and cold week during lambing when we estimated the death of lambs to be at least 300. There was a fall of snow too, but it did not lie for long. The General Election had been fixed for September 1st and candidates were busy. Cyril Harker spoke at Kereru. The Korean War which had been going for a year looked like ending in the near future. Dorothy Gordon came out for a weekend. Wool Sales were resumed and there was a big drop in prices. Crossbred average was round about 3/6. The waterfront strike cost the country millions. Louise, who was now six years old, had an adenoid operation in Sherwood but made a good recovery. One day we went to a farewell for Gordon Hannay at Muritai. He was about to return to England by way of the East.

September

The Elections were highly successful and resulted in National winning fifty seats and Labour thirty. Holland’s policy over handling of the strike was highly approved. Williams and Kettle’s 65th Annual Meeting took place. It had been the best year ever and a dividend of 8% was paid. Owing to lambing being well up to time we were able to start docking fairly early in the month. Boy and Bob undertook the ploughing up of Marjorie’s paddock while I concentrated largely on garden work, but, of course, I was free to give a hand on the farm when needed. Dorothy and I had been giving some thought about our retirement in the not too distant future and I approached Mr. Wenley on one of my frequent visits to him about letting us have the section in Clyde Road just above his house. In the end it was agreed by him and his family that we would have the first option to purchase the section after his departure – he was then about 84. On the 15th Boy and I set off by car for Taupo – but a puncture caught us at Olrig and this meant some delay while the tube was repaired. We spent that night with Ivan and Mary at Taupo. Next day we went on to Auckland via Putaruru and stayed at the Trans-Tasman (now no more). As I had developed a nose infection and felt uncomfortable, on Roie Hewitt’s advice, we called in Dr. Alex Kirker who prescribed something that soon put me right. We met Constance Fountaine at Mechanics Bay – she had flown out from England by flying boat via the East in five days. After another day in Auckland when we had a look round and visited Brian and Roie, we left for home, spending a night at Rotorua on the way. On our arrival we found Dorothy’s leg was giving trouble for she had had a nasty fall on the kitchen floor. Though no bones were broken the leg was never quite the same again. During the rest of the month we took Constance about the country quite a lot

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and she loved being back in New Zealand. We visited Mrs. Miller, the Players, Mrs. McBeth, the Seton Wenleys, Mr. Wenley etc., and, of course, we had several sessions with McLennan re her affairs and visits to ‘The Cottage’. September was a dry month – only .16 inches of rain fell.

Oct

Rabbits were still with us and George Anderson seemed to have taken over in our district. Noel Grimes (a nephew of Mrs. Hill who travelled out in the ‘Dominion Monarch’ with us) arrived from England on a trial with us as he was anxious to take up farming in New Zealand. Docking progressed well and the job was over early in the month with about 100% result. The woolshed was finished and John Mackersey built a new two-roomed whare for Bill and added a bath and shower room for shearer’s accommodation. And at the same time the boys and Bill worked hard to complete the yards at the woolshed. My dog, Glen, was very unwell and had to visit the Met on two occasions. However he recovered and lived to a good old age. During his last years he was a retired old man and did much sleeping. Early in the month Boy and I took Constance to Wellington and we stayed at the Waterloo – there she entertained several old friends including the Elliots (Sir James and Lady), Daniel Riddiford etc. And one day we went to lunch with Dan and Meta Riddiford at their lovely home, Longwood, just out of Featherston. While in Wellington we met Ray who flew from Singapore – she had been away from New Zealand for 2 ½ years in England and Singapore. We returned home leaving Constance at the Waterloo and a few days later Dorothy and Boy went to Wellington to spend a few days with her, and to see her fly off to England. We very much enjoyed her visit and were sad to say farewell. Later in the month the Elliots came to see us one day and the Eatons came too for Mrs. Eaton and Forbes), (Lady Elliot) had been at school together in Edinburgh. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of England again after the Conservative Victory at the Polls. Ray and I went to the Show alone as Dorothy and Boy were in Wellington and we lunched with the Herricks and party. There was much unrest in Egypt and worse things were to happen later. Mr. Norman Mackay’s health was giving some concern and he was becoming rather frail. Virginia Ritchie left us early in the month to go to the South Island. She had been of much help to us for about six weeks. There was the usual Williams and Kettle-Meeting during the month.

Nov

This was a month of much wind and the sowing of chou moellier was delayed. The carpenters finished their job on the 19th and all was ready for the use of the woolshed except for the late arrival of the interior equipment, so shearing was postponed for the month. I was a witness in a Supreme Court case when a shepherd on Seton Wenley’s property claimed damages for injury received when coupled dogs frightened his horse. He won his case. Owen Woodhouse (now Judge) cross-examined me about the practice of a young dog being coupled with an older one while being trained. The new season’s wool sale opened on a very disappointing note -top price for hogget wool was 40d. – last year our hogget wool fetched 140d. Allen Balfour died and I went to his funeral at Taradale. He was a brother of Mrs. R.P. Kay. Sandy Eaton took his finals in medicine – he worked very hard since quitting the Air Force after the war. The John Coops came out to see us one day and brought Keith Ronald (a Wool Buyer) who was a nephew of A.E. Ronald – I had met him in London last year. On my visits to Napier usually Eddie accompanied me and we would look up Horrie at the Bank and then lunch at the Club.

Dec

I received a letter from G.H. Hardie’s nurse to say he was dying he was husband of my Aunt Helen and lived in Belstone in Devon. A letter came from Myrtle Lee to say G.H. had died on the 14th. Tiny Groome was married on the 1st and after the wedding the reception was held at Waikoko a big crowd and very hot. The old Mackays were not in very good shape

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these days. Poor old Von Kettle died in Rotorua on the 8th and Eddie, Maurice Chambers and Tom Lowry and I went to the funeral at Eskdale on the 10th. Later we had a Williams and Kettle meeting then a visit to Cooper at No. 2 (the Port). On the 17th I was invited to the Harbour Board’s Annual Cocktail Party. Pat Higgins was Chairman, having been appointed after Eddie’s retirement in 1949. After the party we went to see King at E. and D. Then came my usual pre-Christmas visits to Williams and Kettle, Sainsbury Logan and Williams, the County Office etc. We did our shearing for the first time in our own woolshed and what a relief it was to have put behind us that fearful trek of two miles to Kereru for shearing and crutching. For thirty years we had put up with that fearful ordeal of dust and toil. Shearing was over on the 14th and then lamb shearing took place on the 20th. It was a record clip and hogget wool averaged out at 8 ½lbs. Owing to our being unable to get our wool into a sale before the end of April we decided to ship it all to London for an earlier sale. Boy and Bob went over to Featherston with Botherway to get rams. Boy went again to Featherston to stay with the Dan Riddifords for New Year Festivities. Bets wrote to tell me of her Mother’s death in Cobham, Surrey. She was Ella Von der Heyde when we first knew her in 1895 when she travelled with us on the P. & O. Oceana. She married Archie Seth Smith of Silvermere later that year. Silvermere was, as I have said before, a home to me in England. December was a month of much wind but not much rain. The year’s rainfall was a little over 49 inches. The average over the many years I have kept a record of the rain still appears about 44.5 inches. On Christmas Day Dorothy and I had supper at the Cecil Averill’s – Ray was with us too. Joan and Michael Kay were there. The R. P. Kay’s came one day between Christmas and New Year to introduce Pauline Wedd who was engaged to Godfrey.

1952

Jan

So began the last full year of my life at Pukekino – the fortieth year of my possession of it, The management was in the hands of the boys and I was quite content for it to be so. Ray went up to Rotorua for a couple of weeks and Boy returned from his visit to Featherston. During the first week of January it blew continuously from the west day after day. The Herricks were in Singapore and Horrie was left in charge. Peter Holden was in New Zealand again and it was good to see him one day when we visited Forest Gate. Nancy and John Rolleston were there that day also. McLennan and I visited ‘The Cottage’ one day to discuss many matters with Rochie Averill prior to taking over on February 1st. And we arranged to have Pery Wilder and J.B. Campbell to value improvements effected by Averill during the twenty years of his lease. Early on an outbreak of Salmonella (Paratyphoid) broke out among the ewes and by the time it ended we lost about fifty. The Government Vet came out but apparently there was no cure at that time – only open all the gates. The shed and various buildings were painted and five men had to be fed for nearly a week – much extra work for the housewife. Much time was taken up with foolparing of ewes as footrot made its appearance – always a horrid job. Also there was the usual sorting up of sheep and we were anxious to get as much done as possible before Boy’s departure. And nodding thistles came on the scene for the first time in a menacing way. These are still a major problem. Violet Russell came to stay with us and we took her about quite a lot and enjoyed her visits as she was always so full of information. The day we took her to the Players we called on Dorothy Gordon and John and Barbara. Bob went to Wellington to pick up our new Morris Oxford Car. Dorothy and Boy had an attack of gastric-flu – fortunately no others were struck. Ray and I went to a cocktail party on the new Port Ship – the ‘Port Nelson’. Randal Kettle was back in New Zealand again – now he was in the Fleet Air Arm. The Kereru Sports were a great success and the Andersons had a tea party at the Station House. Percy Burbury was there as usual. Boy went to Wellington to bring up his Oxford Car – the first car he had owned. One day we

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discovered twenty ewes stuck in the creek of the Nursery and had a big job to rescue them. The sale sheep were all dipped. On the last day of the month Boy left us to take up the management of ‘The Cottage’ for Constance. We were very sad to lose him but the adventure was a wonderful one for him.

Feb

This was a month of much going and coming to ‘The Cottage’ to help settle Boy in. Ray went down to start him off as housekeeper and Bob was there off and on to help earmark and sort up the sheep. Altogether we enjoyed the added interest of Boy being the Manager of this property. At the Ewe Fairs we got 75/- for old ewes and 83/- for two-tooth ewes. We made a start on dipping but owing to a case or two of Salmonella again in the old ewes we decided to abandon dipping this year. 375 fat lambs went off before the end of the month. Cooper erected a concrete storage tank of 2000 gallons at the Spring and later we put up another. One day we found a couple of calves marooned on a ledge in the Road End and had to get help from Kereru as Bob was away.. Peter Holden came to us for a week and we were sad when Duncan came to take him back to ‘Forest Gate’. On the 7th King George VI died while Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in Africa on their way to New Zealand and Australia. The State Funeral was on the 17th and we listened on the radio. Dorothy Gordon came out for one of her frequent and welcome visits One night I spent at Tauroa and Maurice, Eddie. and I went to a dinner at the Club for Senior (Port Line). Parry (Admiral) was staying at the Herricks and he told us something about the Naval engagement in which his ship H.M.S. ‘Achilles’ took part and how eventually the Graf Spey scuttled herself off the River Plate. At a meeting one day in Napier E.A. Blundell (now High Commissioner) in London (1968), Tom Lowry, Penn Scannell, Sandtmann and I came to an agreement over Ohinewairua mortgages. The usual Williams and Kettle meeting and lunch to follow took place. Lulu and Winston Barron came out to lunch one day. The last few days of the month I was forced to take things quietly on account of a giddy attack. It can’t have meant much as a later ‘check up’ proved satisfactory. February was a month of much rain and odd thunderstorms. Altogether the rainfall was 6 ½ inches.

March

This was the month I actually purchased the section in Napier for £1000. Mr. Wenley was horrified at the price and insisted on demolishing the old stables at his expense. A year later this section could have cost £2000. On the farm there was much activity as there always is in this month. Bob and Noel got Marjorie’s paddock sown in grass. A general sorting up of ewes took place and rams were put out early in the month. The rabbit position appeared much easier though Anderson, who was now in charge of the district, was still active in poisoning. One day we got a fright as my little Labrador friend, Winston, appeared to have got some poison – however, with much dosing we got him right again. Another good picking of fat lambs resulted in only forty wether lambs being left on our hands. I took Jess and Rover, with sadness in my heart, down to ‘The Cottage’. They were Boy’s young dogs but I had cared for them since birth. Rover was a wonderful dog and had a lovely disposition – he lived till the beginning of 1967. His life was a happy one with a kind master and a happy home. One day Dorothy and I had a small lunch party at the Masonic there were Marion and Reg Bettington, Dorothy Gordon and ourselves. While we were in Napier the Olrig bridge collapsed and so we had to use the Salisbury road for a couple of weeks. When the concrete tank at the Spring was completed we had to lower the level of the engine and erect a new shed, Ralph Douglas came up with his truck and did much metalling of yards, gateways, troughs and tracks. Trevor and Bets passed through Napier and we met them and took them to see our section in Clyde Road. Peter and Lizz Fligg spent a few days with Boy at ‘The Cottage’. The wisest step in my life was taken on the 18th when, on the valuable advice of John McLennan, I turned Pukekino into a

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family company. Budge Grant of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams, did the legal work and in his office on that day I did the necessary signing of documents. The value of Pukekino (1335 acres) had been established at £22,500 and I gifted 3500 shares to each Bob, Boy and Rachel and sold 2000 to Dorothy, retaining 10,000 for myself, and paid the gift duty, hoping to survive the next three years. (This was accomplished and later in the years I sold another 500 shares to Boy and gifted 600 shares to the Children’s Trust – thus only keeping 3500 shares for myself). One day Dorothy had five teeth removed by Bob Whyte and actually that afternoon she was fit enough to entertain Bay Johnston (nee Chaffey) whom Percy Burbury brought out to Pukekino. Cora, who had just returned to New Zealand after five years in England, came up to stay with us much to our joy.

April

After much hard thinking I felt bound to take W.G. Wood (my co-Trustee in the McLean Estate) to task over his outrageous legal charges, I was going to have the fees taxed – then I decided to suggest that Budge Grant act as a mediator. Wood’s partners, however, suggested a meeting first to see if a solution could be found, So one day later C.C. Sorrell, W. Dobson, W.G. Wood, John McLennan and I met and it was suggested I should go through the bills of cost over several years and report where, in my opinion, there had been a wrongful charge, This I did and the result was that Wood refunded a sum of money to the Estate. I hated taking this action but having discovered, what I thought to be, some wrongful charges I could not do otherwise, However, my action did not seem to disturb W.G. Wood overmuch, for during the month Cora, who was staying with us, and I were invited to their home for drinks one day. We dug quite a good crop of potatoes. It seems the rabbit menace was easing and most of the poisoning we did ourselves and occasionally we shot the odd rabbit as restrictions on shooting had been lifted. One day a fire occurred in the long grass by the approach to the bridge in the Kereru Gorge – it was pinpointed to a cigarette being thrown alight from a passing car. We put it out successfully but had Dorothy not discovered it much damage could have ensued. In March we only had 1.35 inches of rain and in this month only 1.34 inches fell so conditions were not very good for winter feed. All was going well at ‘The Cottage’ and we frequently visited Boy. After Williams and Kettle’s monthly meeting Eddie took me to Muritai in his new Alvis Car (this car was not a great success). Julia Poett was staying there on her way from Singapore to England. On the 30th Eddie, Percy Elworthy and I flew to Christchurch, and we stayed at the Christchurch Club, always comfortable and homely, and there we found Maurice Macfarlane, Maurice O’Rorke, Bruce Douglas and Godfrey Westenra also staying.

May

Eddie and I had a very enjoyable week in Christchurch – the first thing we did was, what women are always accused of doing when visiting a strange town, to go shopping and we took ourselves to Beaths where we were greeted again by young Duke. Our week was occupied with visiting the Parks and Gardens where the autumn tints were quite lovely and later than usual. We were entertained by our many friends, namely Mrs. Gould and Barbara, Cecil and Mrs. Teschemaker, the Jim Malings, Maggie Cotterill, Bill and Mary Toomey, who took us out one day to see Ken Austin and his wife at Rangiora. I lunched one day with Nancy and Leslie on the Cashmere Hills. Jim Maling look me to see dear old Mrs. Bean, my friend of 1950 when we travelled in the ‘Rangitane’ and ‘Dominion Monarch’. She was now very much more frail but her brain was clear. (She did not live much longer).

Eddie went to Timaru and I left by service car on the 7th to Nelson via the East Coast route and Mrs. Ethel Handyside travelled with me from Kaikoura to Blenheim. I stayed at the Nelson Hotel in Nelson for a week and saw much of Port and Jane Low and Cora, who was living with them. Port lent me one of his cars and Cora and I were able to have some pleasant excursions to Motueka, Tahuna

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Beach and over the 2000 odd foot hill to Takaka overlooking Golden Bay. On the 15th I returned home, travelling by the S.S. ‘Ngaio’ to Wellington and thence by service car to Hastings. I had breakfast at the Waterloo en route and had half an hour with Hew Bruce. The Maraekakaho Sports Meeting was held on the 17th and it was successful. Violet Russell, after a day or two at ‘The Cottage’, left for England again and we farewelled her at the Napier Airport. For some time we had been grazing 70 head of Glazebrook’s cattle but at the end of the month we had the number reduced to 35 as feed was getting less as the drought still persisted. During the month only .73 of an inch fell so it looked rather grim. Distemper broke out among our semi-wild cats of which there were about seventeen now, and several of the younger ones died but Ivy two favourites, the parents of Baby (yet to be born), survived. Dick Gaddum, who had taken up a block of land across the Poporangi Stream, lost his house by fire one night. Dick was in the habit of calling in to see us quite often.

June

On the first Sunday the Church of England service (Rev. J. Anderson) had one of its biggest congregations since the wartime. There were 26. We purchased an Austin Seven Truck – trading in the Ford V8 light truck and a Baby Morris which we had had for many years. George Anderson left the district after at least twenty-five or thirty years residence. We gave him and Mrs. Anderson a farewell at the Kereru Hall. Dorothy Gordon was out on one of her visits to us – we always enjoyed her company. Ray and I went to a Williams and Kettle Party at Burkitt’s – Directors and Principal members of Staff being present – then we went on to the Staff Dance at the Port. That night I spent at Tauroa with M. and K. Chambers. Next day a visit to the Station before going home. I attended a farewell lunch party given by the Catchment Board at the Masonic for Guy Rochfort who had been engineer to that Board and the old Rivers Board before for fifty years. At the end of the month Ray flew to Auckland. It was a month of much wind and only 1.89 inches of rain fell. The country was mighty dry.

July

This was another dry month – only 0.83 of an inch of rain fell and much of Hawke’s Bay was very bare of grass. However, Pukekino was in reasonable shape and we actually were grazing outside cattle. The grass was, of course, lacking in something and there some cases of ‘sleepy sickness’ in the ewes. There were some hard frosts. There was much coming and going to ‘The Cottage’ where Boy was having a tough spin on account of the drought for this area of Hawke’s Bay always seems to be the hardest hit. Peter Dunn completed his round of laying rabbit poison for six months and we carried on. In the early part of the month Bob had to have some teeth extracted on account of abcesses and I had a rotten cold. Dorothy went to keep house at ‘The Cottage’ for a week while Cora came up to Pukekino – then she took Dorothy’s place for a short time till a housekeeper was found. The formation of a land company in connection with ‘The Cottage’ property was well under way – John McLennan being the architect of the scheme. There does not appear to have been a Williams and Kettle meeting this month so there were not. many visits to Napier. John Logan was working on plans for our new home in Napier. There was a cocktail party at the Frank Herricks one evening and we went with Lulu and Winston.

August

This was a terrific month. Lambing was in full swing and we had an appalling amount of rain – 12.86 inches all told – and on one or two occasions over two inches fell in the twenty-four hours. Lamb losses were fairly high but not as high as expected. On the 14th we experienced a very heavy thunderstorm and nearly three inches of rain fell on that day. The transformer was struck in the Hay paddock and we were without electricity for about twenty hours. Plans for the house progressed well and Mr. Wenley demolished the old stables. Boy was lucky to get a good man in Barney Ross, who stayed for two or three years and proved to be a very capable help on the farm. On the 28th we had a very unpleasant earthquake but no damage was

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done. Lord Freyberg left New Zealand after being Governor General for six years. On the 15th my old friend Jim Maling died – he was Chairman of Directors of Pine, Gould and Guiness of Christchurch. I first met him on the ‘Ruahine’ in 1910 and we had been friends ever since. He was 84.

September

Williams and Kettle’s Annual Meeting was a happy one for the firm had had its most successful year in its history and we paid a 8% dividend, £28,000 to reserves and gave the staff a 15% bonus. I was re-elected to the Board and at our subsequent meeting of Directors I was again made Deputy Chairman. Later on the day of the Meeting, we went to the Masonic to see Carne and Cappy Bidwell and Hew Bruce was there also. The weather in the first ten days of September was cold and between four and five inches of rain fell by the 11th and there were some thunderstorms. However, by the 16th better weather set in and we were able to make a start with docking. Bill was kept well occupied in painting various out-buildings. Betty Anderson returned from England and had much to tell us of her travels with the Burbury Girls. Pere Dearden died on the 19th, just a few days after Susan had announced her engagement to Bruce Clayton. Much discussion still took place with John al‘fut the house plans and there were many visits to our section. There was a T.H. Lowry Trust Meeting – now that things were settling down our meetings were not so frequent. Lord and Lady Elgin were staying at Tauroa and one day we were among a few invited to a cocktail- party. Lady Elgin is a sister of Ralph Cochrane. A fall of snow occurred on the 28th but it did not last long. At No. 4 Woolstore at the Port there was an Industrial Fair and it was a great success. Godfrey Kay and Pauline Wedd were married on the 26th and we attended.

October

Docking was over and in spite of the unkind weather in August, when there were some lamb losses, our percentage worked out at over 100% – best for forty years. We marked 1984 lambs in all. Noel Grimes, who was still with us, was occupied on the giant discs in Marlorie’s paddock and later the 57 acres were sown down in chou moellier. Boy’s forty cattle grazing on Pukekino returned to ‘The Cottage’ where feed was growing fast. Boy came up and helped Bob select our ewe hoggets for keeping before shearing which took place before the aid of the month. At ‘The Cottage’ the woolshed was completed and it was very modern and very workable. The Shearer’s accommodation was now under way. Boy had done much work at ‘The Cottage’ during the past few months. The Rochie Averills, who had purchased the Gascoyne farm, built their house during the year. Boy had a collision in his car at the Waitangi bridge and it was badly damaged. During the month Dick Gaddum was married in Gisborne and Boy went up to the wedding. Rowe agreed to supervise the building of our house in Napier and John expected to start building shortly and have it ready for occupation in April. Winston Barron’s health began to deteriorate and he was taken to hospital. The Ian Maclarens (Sylvia Mayne) came over to stay with the Ned Smiths. It was twenty years since they had gone over to Sydney to live. We attended the first day of the Show – Dorothy Gordon lunched with us and later we called to see Lulu Barron.

Nov

Early in the month I motored to Wellington with Eddie and Ethne and we spent a couple of days at the Midland. I was able to see a few old friends such as Sybil Nathan and Jimmy Duncan. Podge Neilson and John Ormond were also at the Midland. Eddie and I spent one morning at the Turnbull Library and Margaret was helpful there. I went to see the McLean Papers. One night Letty Herrick, who was also in Wellington, and I went to see ‘The Importance of Being Ernest’ – it was good. On our way back to Hawke’s Bay we lunched with Brian Keiller in Palmerston North. The Republicans won the Presidential Elections in U.S.A. and Eisenhower became President. We went back and forth to ‘The Cottage’, quite a lot – Boy being in charge of the

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property gave us an added interest. And, of course, with the building of our house in Napier we were in there frequently and Mr. Wenley was also getting quite excited about it. Bob and Noel gave a hand to get the section cleared of concrete and rubbish so as to be ready for the laying of the house foundations. Shearing took place at the end of the month. My dog, Winston, had a great battle one day with a large Polecat. November was rather wetter than usual and many thunderstorms came along. 6.17 inches of rain fell.

December

This year we had a new Governor General in Sir Willoughby Norrie (later made a Baron). I cut my left thumb with a meat chopper and it gave considerable trouble for some time. At one stage Barnett thought it might have to be taken off but Ray rang from Auckland where she was working for Peter Kirker (an Orthopaedic Surgeon) and she said before taking that decision to come to see Peter first. However, a turn for the better came and all was well. One day while we were at ‘The Cottage’ there was a cloudburst up towards Gwavas and the creek rose many feet in an hour or so and the roadway became impassable for a car. Fortunately I had been in Hastings when the flood came so I waited at the main road for Boy to bring Dorothy out in the truck. The rabbit position became better still and we were happy to be free from the everlasting poisoning and picking up of dead rabbits. Dorothy Gordon was helpful to Dorothy in her job of selecting carpets and furnishings for our new home. There was a cocktail party at Muritai one day and it was good to see so many of our old friends. And on the 15th I picked up Eddie and we attended the annual Harbour Board party and later lunched at the Club with Pat Higgins. To our great joy one day the wild cat (Mother we called her) returned after an absence of a year. She was about to have a litter of kittens so decided to come home for the event and a little later several more wild cats came to take up their abode with us. One day I ran into Frank Spite (General Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company) and Maltby (Captain of ‘Rangitane’ when we travelled in her in 1950). The Tui birds came back in force after their nesting session and enjoyed the gums which were in flower and they gave us many songs. I met Harlow (S.M.) for the first time – a strange fellow but later on we had many excursions into the country together. He was a poor driver. As Bob was stricken with Summer Sickness on the day of the John Coop’s party Hiraani and I went along. It was what you call ‘some party’. Without rhyme or reason some of our well-behaved dogs ran amok one day and killed most of our newly acquired pullets and we were most annoyed. Boy came up for Christmas Day dinner and later we all went to Woodgate for a very happy supper party.. Now that I am off local bodies etc. life has become very pleasant in that there is lime to see so much more of one’s neighbours viz. the Ned Smiths, Averills, Kays and Andersons at Kereru. Sandy Eaton was now a house surgeon in Palmerston North Hospital and was able to come to Whakarara often for weekends. December was one of the wettest Decembers I can remember and there were many more thunderstorms than usual. 12.80 inches of rain fell and the year’s fall was 56.68 (12 inches above average.)

1953

Jan

During this year I was to say ‘goodbye’ to Pukekino after just over forty-two years residence there and to hand over to Bob and Boy the complete management of Pukekino. For a year or more I had more or less handed over but still took a hand actively when required and was the man about the place so to speak. I was about to be 69. Dorothy and I were alone on the farm for New Year except for Noel. For he first week the weather was cool and there was much drizzle. Jock Eaton and his family came to see us while holidaying at Whakarara. On the 3rd Mother (the wild cat) produced three kittens, two of which did not survive more than a few minutes – the other lived and was my lovable companion for fourteen years. She learned to follow me from the tractor shed, where she was born, very early in life and, after

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discovering the mysteries and delights of the homestead, she decided to stay with us. Mother soon realised she had chosen well and was happy. Of all the cats I have possessed, perhaps, Baby was the dearest and she returned her love at all times. The first cat I ever owned was Myrene who was given to me while on a visit to Christchurch when I was five and she lived to be about ten I think after producing legions of children. I am writing this in 1967 (Sept.) and though Baby has been dead ten months I miss her very much and look for her each time I return to the house as I always called her and she never failed to answer my call). On the first Sunday of the month Eddie and Ethne came out as usual and we had a happy day together. I note we bought a horse from Ted English but I cannot remember him. Break-well came out and picked 254 fat lambs which weighed out at 34lbs. and they were the first to go. Eddie and I carried on still with the odd day each month in Napier and one day we lunched with Pat Higgins, T. Geddis and M. Chambers to meet Basil Sanderson (now Lord Sanderson) of the Shaw Savill Line and it was good to see Warwick Gregory again of the Port Line. The John Graces came out to spend a week-end with Bob and Hiraani. Lamb Shearing took place and so ended the daily task of looking for fly-blown lambs. They were weaned and all put over on the Gaols. And what a tricky job this was in the days when the track across the gorge was so narrow and steep. Minna Von der Heyde, who was in New Zealand on a visit, came to stay with us and it was so enjoyable talking over the days at Silvermere. While she was with us we took her round the country and then when she left we took her to lunch with the John Humphries and Connie Nathan was there to take her to Gisborne! Roy Spackman came out to see us one day – he was now living in Dunedin – and we talked of many things and our voyage in the ‘Dominion Monarch’. Grubbing, Nodding Thistles and Barley Grass were the work of the month. The Wool Sale was about average – nothing very exciting. A heavy fall of rain between the 26th and 28th brought much flooding especially about the Clive area and John Gordon lost a lot of sheep. There appeared to have been a cloudburst in the watershed of the Tuki Tuki river. After the Kereru Sports Percy Burbury, Ted Phillips (Manager Hawke’s Bay Farmers) and I had a tour over the Island Top and Blowaway of Kereru station with Alec Anderson. The rainfall for the month was above average being 6.10 inches.

Feb

Early in the month there was the sorting up of ewes and crutching of these for sale. At the first ewe fair our five years fetched 52/- and the six year olds 40/-. At the later sale the two-tooth ewes fetched 90/-. Peter Dunn came to us to do some fencing. Cora and Michael came to stay – Mick only for a couple of days then he went to Monty and Cushla but Cora was with us for about five weeks and was of much help to us. Dorothy took the opportunity of going to help Boy for a week as his housekeeper had left and later in the month she went to Taupo and Auckland for a couple of weeks. Dorothy Gordon came out for a long weekend and Horrie came out to lunch. Later in the month came dipping and ploughing up the front paddock for a crop of black barley. As the price for store lambs was good we sold them and so saved the chou moellier for winter use. One day Cora and I visited many of our mutual friends in Havelock such as May Handyside, Mary Coleman and Lulu Barron. And on another day Maurice Chambers gave a party for James Thomson (Mackinlay’s Whiskey).

March

We finished dipping and put out the rams. One day Boy and I had a long session at ‘The Cottage’ with John McLennan. McLennan furnished a report to the directors of Williams and Kettle in regard to the finances of the company which we all approved of. Cora and I visited Havelock again, this time to see Olive Nairn and Flora Herrick, and beforehand we took Eddie and Horrie up to Clyde Road to see our new home in the course of construction. The John Masons of Havelock and Flora Herrick came to lunch one day with Cora and me. And the Seton Wenleys came

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up one afternoon. Dorothy returned from her trip having enjoyed it very much. Bob and Hiraani had a long weekend in Wellington and the children went over to Betty Anderson at Kereru. On the 16th Betty Anderson came over to stay while Boy and I went off for a couple of weeks. First of all we went up to Clyde Road to inspect the house. Then at 1.30 we set out for Gisborne and stayed at the Poverty Bay Club. On the way we called in to see Billy Crarer at Williams and Kettle and have a cup of tea. In the evening we played snooker with Keith Bull and others and then had a cup of coffee at a pie cart. During the next two days we attended a sale at the yards and contacted various people. Lunched with Carl Williams, drinks at the Rex Willocks etc. Then we set off for Te Puia, having a pleasant afternoon with A.B. and Pere Williams at Puketiti and a stroll round the lovely garden and native hush. Next day we finished up at Te Araroa for the night, having lunched with the Harold Williams at Ruatoria. From there we proceeded on – that was the 20th and a long day too. We passed through Waihau Bay, Te Kaha, Opotiki and Whakatane. We could get no accommodation in Rotorua owing to some Conference or other. So we fled on to Wairakei at breakneck speed for dinner and on to Ivan and Mary at Taupo for the night. They were very surprised to see us as you can imagine. The following day, 21st, Mary sped us on our way with sandwiches and we arrived in Auckland, after a good journey, about 4 and stayed at the Trans-Tasman Hotel for nearly a week. During that time we saw much of Ray who lived in a flat at the top end of St. Stephen’s Avenue with Joan Hay and two other girls, and she was working for Peter Kirker (Orthopaedic). Before we left she went into private hospital to have some foot adjustment. We enjoyed our stay in Auckland, lunching at the Northern Club with Trevor Holmden, supping with Roie and Brian Hewitt, meeting the Frey Nolans, Jim and Edna Lowry and others at the Grand, pottering about the waterfront which I always enjoyed. Coley, Rochie and the Morrie Averills were at our hotel. We dined one night with Billy and Mrs. Dove too. Then on the afternoon of the 27th we left Auckland and, leaving the car at Sandspit, we took the launch across. to Kawau Island where we spent a happy weekend at The Mansion House (Sir George Grey’s old home). There we found the Dick de Gruchys and others and the weekend passed very pleasantly. Then we took to the road again and, after a night at the Commercial Hotel in Whangarei, we pushed on to Russell and stayed at the Duke of Marlborough. We visited Waitangi and the Treaty House and had a lovely day in a fishing launch in the Bay of Islands – we did not catch a sword fish but saw one caught on another launch. We covered a big mileage and passed through the tunnel on Piercy Island and out beyond Cape Brett. So the last day of the month found us still at Russell.

April

After a day or two pottering about Russell and Paihia where we saw something of the Boots and Boy did some skin-diving. Boots was a dentist – a migrant one and they lived in a caravan of much comfort. On our return journey home we visited Kerikeri, the Kauri forest where we saw the giant tree with a girth of 43 feet. We stayed at Opononi, passed through Dargaville, spent another night in Auckland and, eventually, reached Taupo, after seeing the Cravens and Jacobs in Rotorua. After a day or so in Taupo we journeyed in one day to Opoutama (Mahia) by way of Galatea, Waikaremoana and Wairoa and there we spent a couple of days with Harold Johnston (Sir) on his farm. We were not very impressed with his farming operations but enjoyed our visit to him. We reached Napier on the 9th. Boy returned to ‘The Cottage’ and Dorothy met me and we went home where the dogs and cats gave me a wonderful welcome. Before the end of the month all but 37 wether lambs had gone off as fats. There was some going and coming to Napier to see to the house in the course of erection. Peter Plummer and his wife came to see us one day. T.B. Ching was out from England on a visit and I met him at Muritai one day.

May

We made up our minds to go for another trip to England next year after our retirement and

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booked passages in the ‘Rangitata’ to sail in March. One day Eddie came out and Alec Anderson took us for a great drive over Kereru Station – out to see the work being done on the leasehold beyond Herrick’s Whare. My mind went back to the days, and not so far off, when it took us the whole day on horseback to do what we did in three or four hours in the jeep. After crutching Bob and Hiraani went over to inspect Mrs. Scott’s farm at Taihape. We went to a farewell party for Dorothy Gordon at Clifton as she was to go off for six months to England. Barbara Gould and Elspeth Barton came to Napier for a few days and it was nice to see them. The S.P.C.A. asked me to be their President so I began to make some enquiries of the Secretary, A.E. Hollay, regarding the duties and general set up. The time came also to look into the question of a married couple for Pukekino after our departure and after some enquiries we engaged Allen Gillies to come in August. It was a wettish month – 5.68 inches fell.

June

On the 2nd Queen Elizabeth 2nd was crowned and we listened in to the service from Westminster Abbey which was very clear. There as a supper party one night on board the S.S. ‘Corinthic’ in Napier – she was the largest ship at that time to come to the breakwater. Ray and I attended the party and many of our friends were also present. Boy had a fancy dress ball in the woolshed just built at ‘The Cottage’ and the whole district was invited, Our home in Napier progressed apace and Mrs. Blythe was busy making the curtains – she had been in Napier almost as long as I could remember doing this type of work. At home we were busy sorting up the accumulation of forty odd years and deciding what to take to Napier, what to leave and what to relegate to the rubbish dump. Our dear little cat, Sammy, only four, developed a form of bone cancer and had to be ‘put to sleep’- another of life’s tragedies. And our little Baby, now six months, suffered an attack of `flu’ but we were able to save her after a struggle. Top-dressing this year was done by plane and we used the air strip at Kereru with much success. A ghastly happening at ‘The Cottage’ – Mrs. Thomas, Boy’s housekeeper of only two days standing, shot herself with Boy’s rifle. This caused some concern and unpleasantness. The Pukekino Land Company was safely launched and all documents signed. The valuation of Pukekino (1335 acres) was fixed at £22,500. I sold the shares ($1 each) and then proceeded to forgive the debt owing – this process was completed over three years. Boy, Bob and Ray each got 3500 – Dorothy and Boy later got another 500. I was left with 9500. At a later date, a few years later, when I formed a Children’s Trust I handed over 6000 of my shares to it as well as my life policies. Noel Grimes, who had been with us for one year and nine months, left to do some fencing contract work at Mokutuku as he wanted to make more money preparatory to marrying. We were sorry to lose him for he had served us well and had been a good worker. On the 19th I attended my first S.P.C.A. Meeting at Maxine Edgar’s house in Tennyson Street and was duly elected President. Among the committee present were Freda Hole, Max Edgar, Mrs. Pharazyn (now Nina Burnell), Rene Dinwiddie, Ethel Caro, Phil Oxford, Miss Wilson, Hope Bernau, A.E. Hollay (Secretary) and Jim McCormack (Inspector). So began a job that kept me busy and interested for a good many years. After the meeting I spent the night at the Club – Dick Black of Gisborne was there and next day I took him to see the house. Very heavy rain fell during the night of the 19th and floods were ‘out’ next day. Boy bought his first Vauxhall Car. Seton Wenley’s marriage began to crumble more than ever and not much later it came to an end. On the 25th the district gave Dorothy and me a farewell party and it took place at the Cecil Averills. It was a great affair and all our friends were present and said nice things. Another wet month – 10.21 inches of rain fell.

July

After three years of war an armistace [sic] was agreed to in Korea. We booked a passage for Ray in the ‘Ruahine’ sailing a month after the ‘Rangitata’ next year. The Alan Gillies came – he was the new shepherd – and they occupied Bob’s cottage. Bob and Hiraani came over to

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our house. Crutching took place about the middle of the month. Peter Dunn was rabbiting again for us but the position was getting better and better. We had our usual hunts for cattle going over gorges and getting into trouble. This will continue until all danger spots have been cattle-fenced. Throughout the month there were still parties hem and there on the eve of our departure. Betty Anderson, came over from Kereru and gave a hand in the packing. W.J. Johnston (Bill who had managed Poporangi and later Kereru Stations died at the age of 83 and we went to the funeral in Hastings on the 20th. At last the day came for us to say farewell to Pukekino after just over forty-two years residence there. On the 31st a huge furniture van, together with the farm truck and cars took our belongings to our new home in Napier, With the family’s help and Cushla’s we were settled in by nightfall and, after supper with Monty and Cushla, we returned to 10 Clyde Road and slept the sleep of the weary but not before a nerve-wrecking search for Baby who had strayed away. We eventually found her among the Coprosma trees on the bank – the poor little thing was so terrified. And so after forty-two years of happiness at Pukekino we were realistic enough to retire and hand over the control to the boys. Of course we were not able to adjust ourselves to the changed life for sometime but gradually we did so and were able to settle down to a life in town. My S.P.C.A. work kept me quite busy as the Society had fallen by the way badly and much had to be done to restore it. The other was my Williams and Kettle work as I was deputy Chairman.

August

Our first month in Napier was a busy one as there was much to be done to get the place into order. John and Gordon Symes did not finish off the jobs about the house till about ten days after we had come in. Then came the tidying up and carting away of rubbish and bits of timber. Also there was the metalling of the drive and, of course, a beginning of getting the ground into some order for a garden. The place seemed to be a mass of couch grass and oxalis and it appeared that we would be well occupied for years to come. Our neighbours were all kind and helpful and Mr. Wenley seemed happy to have us near. Many Napier people popped in to wish us well. And friends from further afield came to see us – the Cecil Averills, Derricks, Lulu and Winston Barron, Flora Herrick, Ned Smiths and others. One night Eddie and Ethne Herrick were expected for dinner and a great feast was prepared. But they did not turn up and as we had no telephone at the time there was nothing we could done! Next morning two very contrite people arrived on our door bringing flowers and other gifts – they had forgotten to consult their appointment books! Talking of telephones – it was quite difficult in 1953 to get on the Exchange in spite of being S.P.C.A. President, Deputy Chairman of Williams and Kettle and having held many jobs over the years I still could not qualify. So I had to depend on the Days and Wenleys for messages. However, later – it was in 1955 – Harlow asked me to act on the Land Valuation Committee and I agreed only on condition I could get a telephone! So we approached the Postmaster who said ‘Well now, Mr. Logan, you are rendering a service’. I have never heard of such ‘rot’ and nearly said it to him. However, the telephone came to hand and the frustration ended.

My little Labrador dog, Winnie, hated town life and, after a couple of weeks, I reluctantly decided it would not answer so Boy suggested giving him a home. I had had him now for four years and we loved one another. However I took him to ‘The Cottage’ and there he lived happily for two or three years and always gave me a welcome when I went out to ‘The Cottage’. Then a day came when he became hostile to the children as he had, in Napier, to the postman and so Winston had to go. Williams and Kettle had a good year and at each meeting we were quite elated. Then came the annual general meeting and a dividend of 8% was approved. Again I was elected Deputy Chairman of the Board after the meeting. We paid several visits to ‘The Cottage’ during the month and one to

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Pukekino and the cats and dogs gave me a great welcome. Horrie often came to see us and it became our habit to take him out to Muritai on Saturday mornings, and this continued for several years – in fact until Horrie became an inmate of Maraenui. After carefully perusing Cone’s Account (Plumber) I decided to tax it and he reduced it by £150 without a murmur. Bill Day’s health worsened – he was in hospital. England won back the ashes from Australia. On the 28th the S.P.C.A. got moving in top gear and we had a shop day which was a success. I met H.P. and Mrs. Hole (Freda’s parents) for the first time. H.P.H and I formed a friendship which lasted happily till his death in 1964.

Sept

We were settling down well to life in town, what with the garden, Williams and Kettle, S.P.C.A., odd journeys to town shopping and social appointments, time began to fly too fast. Selwyn Price, the post boy, used to come often in the afternoons to help in the garden. Mr. Wenley seemed delighted to have us so near and I used to pop in often for a short time in the evening to see all was well and we used to take him to town when he wished to go. On the 1st Bill Day died and I took Mr. Wenley and Sarah to the funeral at Taradale on the 3rd. He was 82. The S.P.C.A. Kennels were located at Bay View and some of us paid the odd visit to them. Ivan and Mary came down from Taupo to stay with Kay for a week. We visited ‘The Cottage’ several times and once we went out to Pukekino. Betty Anderson came to us for a few days and we took her out to Clifton to see John and Barbara, the latter had just had her second girl (Rosemary). Dorothy was away in England. Poor old Charles Roberts was getting very frail and he never really recovered after losing a leg. However he carried on in comfort in his own home in Thompson Road with two nurses in attendance. I had a letter from Keith Ronald to tell of the death in Sidmouth of our dear old friend A.E. Ronald at the age of 90. He had been a wonderful friend in the days of my schooling and we always kept in touch with him and Mrs. R. after they left Napier in the early 1900s. I used to see much of Maxine Edgar and Freda Hole as they lived in Tennyson Street so it was a handy place to pop into. They were wonderful S.P.C.A. women and had boundless energy and love for animals. Our meetings used to be at their home once a month. One night James, The Chief Inspector, came to a meeting. The tragedy of the month was the murder of old Miss Player and Miss Armytage of 21 Onslow Road – they lived just below Mr. Wenley. A few days later Miss Wilson (S.P.C.A. Committee Woman) was arrested and later proved guilty. She owed the S.P.C.A. £230 for the Tailwaggers Club which amalgamated, and knowing Miss Player had savings in the house she decided to murder the poor old thing. After committing the crime, as Miss Armytage appeared on the scene, she decided to murder her as well. She took the money from the house – paid her own bills and took the £230 to Hollay. I called in one day at the Glazebrooks to sign a nomination paper for Howard for County elections. He had been the member for Maraekakaho Riding since my retirement in 1938.

October

Williams and Kettle’s Directors had another tour of the branches and on the 1st we covered Hastings, Waipawa, Waipukurau and Dannevirke. It was a long day and I did not get home until 11p.m. Then from the 7th till the evening of the 9th we did Wairoa, Gisborne and Ruatoria and we found time to attend a party at Rex Willocks’ and to see O.T.W. at Ruatoria and to call in at Waipiro Bay. A Canberra Jet did the journey from London to Christchurch in eight or nine minutes under twenty-four hours. One day we went to Te Hauke to see Billy and Peter Wenley (Colin White’s property). Still visitors seemed to come – the Burburys, M.S. Chambers and the Sturms and others. Poor old Sarah had to give evidence in the murder case and hated it. Miss Wilson was found guilty of murder and given life imprisonment but she died in Gaol after eight or ten years. Several times we went out to ‘The Cottage’ and Pukekino and the animals’ welcome was always wonderful. Cushla and Daphne came one day. Elespie had a women’s party to which

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Dorothy went – poor old Charles was going back. On one of my visits to ‘The Cottage’ I took McLennan and Ken Pearson. Willie Wilson began stone work and crazy pavement work for us.

November

Not much to record for this month. At the beginning I attended the opening of the cricket pavilion at Hereworth by the Bishop – John Gordon was Chairman this year. This pavilion was in memory of the Old Boys who fell in the Second War – Jim was among them. On 10th November I went to Wellington by Service Car and put up at the Club. I found Bill Kiely still there and also Mr. Young. The following day I attended the Annual Conference of the S.P.C.A., then a walk round the wharves and bed early. On the 12th I called to see Hew Bruce morning tea with Jimmy James. In the afternoon a visit to the S.P.C.A. Clinic. A good walk to Lewisham Hospital to see Dan Riddiford and also his brother-in-law, John Rolleston, both inmates. Nancy and Meta were there. Meta drove me back to town. On the 13th I met Eddie and Ethne at the Midland and we went to Government House to lunch with the Norries – a pleasant affair only ourselves plus A.D.C. etc. After 5 p.m. Tim Williams took me to his home for drinks, his wife, Phillipa, is a daughter of Dan and Meta Riddiford, Hew Bruce dined at the Club with me. The 14th was a foul day – wind and rain. I motored back to Hawke’s Bay with Eddie and Ethne. After some delay at Waipawa with the battery we reached Havelock at 5.30 where Dorothy met me and I was glad to be home. Towards the end of the month the Hollands (later Bishop), who were in New Zealand on a visit, came to see us and on the Sunday we attended the unveiling of a window in Puketapu Church to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Lowry by Bertie Holland. Our garden was taking shape and Wilson was making headway with the stone work. The Percy Elworthys came to see us one day. Joe and Norah Craven came to spend a few days with us and it was grand to have them.

December

During the four days of December the Cravens were with us we went to ‘The Cottage’, went to see Dorothy Gordon at her home at Awanga and we had some drives round the countryside and called to see Horrie at the Club. They left us for a visit to Masterton and we were sad to say farewell. I went out to the Kennels at Bay View twice with Phil Oxford and as we got into our stride the S.P.C.A. work increased until it almost became a full time job. Our office was, and still is, in Hursts Buildings in Emerson Street. Dorothy Gordon, now back from her trip to England, was frequently in to see us. Williams and Kettle gave a picture party one night at Oddfellows Hall – Ian Young of Bell’s Whisky was in Napier at the time and compered the pictures. Bill Graham came in for a day and trimmed the hedges and John Logan painted the boundary fence between Bartlett and ourselves. One day Algie Rainbow, who was a director of Watties Canneries in Hastings, took me over the works. Ivan and Mary came to Napier for a few days for Andrew’s christening and Ivan stayed with us. I took the first Annual Meeting of the S.P.C.A. in Edgley’s Office but only two or three other than the committee turned up, I recall a man by the name of Hoddinot was a nuisance and it was only with difficulty I managed to keep cool. The W.W. Doves, Lizz, Fligg and a young Englishman (Mark Fiennes) came to stay at the Masonic for a few days and they came to see us once or twice. My vaccination took well and my arm was pretty sore for a time. One day I had morning tea in town with Sir Andrew and Lady Russell and Kath Deans – then the General and I drove to the Parade and had a long and enjoyable talk together while the other two carried on with their shopping jobs. As usual on Williams and Kettle Director’s meeting day the Directors and Burkitt lunched at the Club, After our meeting we usually went down to Cooper at the Port for a session. Later this day Dudley and Ngaire came to see us. On the 21st I walked to see where a fire on the old Glasgow Wharf had done some damage. Then I met Eddie and we attended the annual party at Harbour Board Offices where we met our old mates again. Then Boy and I picked up goods at Williams and Kettle’s and he then came to us for a time before going back to ‘The Cottage’. The following day Rainbow and I went out to

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Woodthorpe where Ralph met us and took us over the 900 acre block left to his children by T.H. Lowry. Ralph leased the block in the meantime. After leaving Ralph we called in to see Tom at Okawa – the new house was a very pleasant one on the same site as the old Okawa homestead. The Queen and Prince Philip came to New Zealand in the ‘Gothic’ for a two week’s visit. The first part of this was marred by the disastrous railway accident near Waiouru when the night train crashed into the Whangaehu River after the bridge had been swept away by the cloudburst or some such thing. About 160 people lost their lives. Ray arrived to stay on Christmas Day and we all went up to Monty and Cushla for drinks, then we had our family party, and later we heard the Queen speaking over the air from Auckland. On the 26th, after a call on Maxine and Freda, I took Horrie out to Muritai. In the evening Mick Turnbull came to dine with Ray while Dorothy and I went to Muritai and had an enjoyable dinner with Eddie and Ethne. The Warwick Dunsfords and Joy Cox came in for drinks one night. On New Year’s Eve we went over to ‘The Cottage’ calling in on the Wenleys. Winston and I had a good walk. Dorothy and I returned to Napier and left Ray as Boy was having a woolshed dance to bring in the New Year. Monty, Cushla and Mick also went out to it.

The house at Clyde Road to which FB and Dorothy retired in July 1953. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Rachel (“Ray”) Logan (Frank’s daughter), Mittens (the cat) and Frank (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

Studio photograph of Dorothy Logan (FB’s wife) taken in 1952. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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1954

January

This was quite a memorable year for during it we had a very pleasant seven months holiday, most of which time was spent in England and I was also to attain the age of 70. The 1st was a perfect day and I paid an early call on Mr. Wenley. Later Bob came to see us as he and Hiraani had taken the Brian Hill’s house for a couple of weeks. We went out to tea with Lulu and Winston in Havelock North and Harry Wilson was there too. Then we picked up Ray and Mick Turnbull in Hastings – they had spent the night at ‘The Cottage’. Later we joined up with Monty and Cushla and had drinks at Bob’s. The following day, being Monty’s 67th birthday, there was a dinner party given by him and Cushla – at it were also Bob, Hiraani, Mrs. Douglas, the Ian Websters, Ray and Mick. The Queen and Duke received a big Maori welcome at Rotorua. Charlie Roberts died on the 2nd and on the 4th, after attending a service for him at the Cathedral, I took the Dean (Gibson) and Horrie out to the Havelock Cemetery. Then I went to see Eddie and Ethne and got home at 6 p.m. On the 6th the Queen arrived in Napier in the ‘Gothic’ and we had a good view of her at times. The Burkitts gave a dinner party for about thirty which the Herricks and ourselves attended and enjoyed. January was a very dry and windy month and a note in my diary towards the end of the month notes ‘a drought exists’. One day Boy got a nasty crack on his jaw while playing Polo at Hastings but he made a good recovery. One day while he was recovering we took Sir Andrew Russell out to ‘The Cottage’ and they were able to compare notes concerning their many misfortunes in the game. I had one lovely day at Pukekino when I had a good cruise round in the truck, and Glen, the other dogs and cats seemed pleased to see me. There were several trips to ‘The Cottage’, to Havelock to see the Herricks and Barrons. On the 23rd Betty Wenley was married to Michael Davis at Maraekakaho and I proposed the toast. Gillian Maltby, a friend of Ray’s, came to stay for a few days and later went to Fiji. The second wool sale of the season was satisfactory and our ewe wool ranged between 45 and 49 + ¾ pence which pleased us. H.M.S. ‘Lachlan’ was in port for a few days and we went to a party on board but space was too cramped for comfort. Don and Myra Bisson bought a couple of young

Photo captions –

Studio photograph of Frank Logan taken in 1952 when he was 68 years old. Image source: Hamilton Logan

Dorothy and Frank Logan (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

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officers up to see us later. On the 30th the Queen sailed away from Bluff in the ‘Gothic’ after a most successful visit to New Zealand.

February

This was a very dry month and several times in my diary there are references to drought conditions prevailing. The price of stock was depressed on account of the dry season and I note our year old ewes were down to 43/6d. Mr. Wenley returned from a visit to Dannevirke with Mardie and Bill and he was glad to be home again. Later in the month Sarah took her holiday and our old Rose Hillier came to look after Mr. Wenley. Rose, as you know, had been with my parents for about thirty years or more with only a short break in Australia for a year or two. More teething troubles in the house with another water leak, all very troublesome and through Bone’s faulty work. It meant taking up carpets etc. and getting Temple to dry them out and so on. Ivan called in on his way to the South Island for his annual fishing expedition with Owen Clissold. At Williams and Kettle’s Director’s meeting we appointed Cyril Hunter and Jim Coleman to the Board. And Eddie and I were given leave of absence for nine months. That afternoon Eddie and I, as Chairman and Deputy, gave a party at Muritai for directors and wives and executive officers of the Company. It was quite a big affair and went off very happily. The Maurice Chambers gave a party for the Herricks, ourselves and the Percy Elworthys one Sunday morning – there were about a dozen others there and among them two girls from the South Island (a Rutherford and a Gould) who later in the afternoon, were killed in a plane crash in the Marlborough Hills. There was quite an amount of running about during the month. We went out to ‘The Cottage’ two or three times and on one occasion Cora, who was with us, and I spent a weekend there. Winston was delighted about this and he watched over me well. Then we went to see Flora Herrick who was in Royston with a broken leg. Ray and I had a day in the Tunanui area visiting the John Patons and Sir Andrew and Lady Russell. There was a party given by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers and Williams and Kettle at Hastings for Mr. and Mrs. Donald of the Port Line. We were to meet Donald again later in London. The Herricks came for a farewell dinner one night and on the 23rd Dorothy Gordon came and after dinner we went to the breakwater to see the Herricks sail for London in the ‘Port Nelson’. It was a new ship and the accommodation was very good. The Southwells (he was still acting head at Lindisfarne) came to see us. He had been at the same school (though later) that my Father attended. It is now called Elstow but in Father’s day it was Bedford County School. Lizz and Peter Fligg came to see us one evening on their way back to Masterton after a visit to Boy, Ray, Dorothy and I went out to Okawa to see Tom and Margot in their new home. ‘H.M.S. Lachlan’ was in port again – still surveying the Hawke’s Bay Coast – and the Bissons brought some officers to see us again. I went out to the John Masons who now lived in the big house Mrs. Lowry occupied after T.H.L.’s death. Elespie Roberts brought Findlay Sanderson to see us one day and we talked of Bullers Wood, the lovely home of his parents in Chislehurst where I used to stay in the by-gone days, There was quite a lot to do during the month in preparation for our time away – such as fixing up Power of Attorney and getting leave of absence and arranging for McLennan to act for me in some matters etc.

March

The first sixteen days were crowded and were full of excitement. Cora was with us for the first week and one day we spent at Pukekino – calling to say good-bye to the Cecil Averills and at Kereru to see the Anderson Family. Another day we went out to Muritai to see Horrie who was in charge while the Herricks were away and we called to see May Coleman who looked very ill and I did not expect to see her again – nor did I for she died while we were away. The drought broke on March 3rd and by the 7th Bob reported over four inches of rain and the country was saved. Another party on the H.M.S. ‘Lachlan and Barbara and John came with us. There were many goodbye calls to make and quite a number of impromptu parties

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at our home. When we said goodbye to the old Mackays we did not realise he would not be here to greet us on our return. The great excitement, of course, was Boy’s engagement to Sue Stead. This was a happy event for Sue’s Grandmother, Ruby, had been a lifelong friend of ours and there were many tie-ups in the families. Sue spent a day or two with us – there was a dinner party at the Masonic given by her parents and also a big cocktail party at Richmond Park on the afternoon before we left. Mary Wilson came to stay with us and to help Ray put the house in order. The day after we left Ray handed over to Mrs. Pacey who was to be in charge and as she was devoted to cats we were happy because we knew Baby would be well looked after. So on the 17th we left home on our venture, Boy took us to Wellington and we called in at Williams and Kettle in Hastings and at Richmond Park on the way. We stayed at the Midland and Cora and Mick came to dine with us. On the next day, 18th March, we boarded the ‘Rangitata’ and sailed at 12.30. We had cabin B7 on B deck and found it large and comfortable.

April

We sailed steadily through calm seas and pleasant temperatures till April 4th when we reached Panama. During those seventeen days there were plenty of games of deck golf to keep one fit. There were cocktail parties almost every night and all sorts of other amusements to keep one occupied. We had a very pleasant lot of passengers and among those we seemed to be with mostly were the John Humphries, Alan and Rona Moss, the Nihottes (Belgian Minister), Kitty Knight, Elspeth Barton, David Boyle (we had been at school together later Captain R.N.), John Morbaunt. Kinnell was the Commander. We had a table for two and the Third Officer, John Masson, whom we liked, sat with us. The ship seemed a very happy one and, of course, she was one of the comfortable old fashioned type. She was about 17,500 tons, carried about 180 to 200 in the saloon and about 300 in the Tourist. We reached Balboa early on the morning of the 4th April and proceeded through the ever interesting Canal till 12:30 when we tied up at Christobal. Several of us walked up as far as the Washington Hotel and we sailed again about midnight. On the morning of the 7th we reached Caracas Bay, Curacao and Elspeth Barton, Dorothy and I hired a taxi for a drive out to the Airport on the other side of the island, to Piscadera Bay and then to Willemstad to see the shops. After leaving Curacao we ran into heavy seas for a day or two, then the weather became perfect again. After twelve days of further enjoyment of games, parties and so on we sighted the Scilly Islands and a little later the Cornish coast of England on the 18th. A fellow named Annett and I got into the final of the Men’s Doubles in the deck golf and but for a silly move by him, just as we were about to win, we fell. The journey up from Southampton to Waterloo was, as usual, a feast for the eyes. We took up our abode for two or three days at The Liverpool Street Station Hotel while we rushed about madly to tailor, A.A. for licenses, banks, Overseas League, Morris Motors for our new car and to lunch at Browns Hotel with Eddie and Ethne Herrick. Then we set off in our car for Narford Hall with an A.A. man to drive us as far as Cambridge. There we took over and reached Narford safely under our own steam – the distance was a little over 100 miles. At Narford Constance gave us a wonderful welcome and we spent about ten very happy days there visiting several friends of former days, especially Henry Paton, and having trips to Kings Lynn, Oxborough Hall, Swaffham and lovely walks and drives through the countryside. Choka, the bull-terrier, was still there and so was Mrs. Malpas. The head gardener, Deer, and Chauffeur, Ellis, were there, of course, and our particular maid, Margaret, and all gave us a warm welcome. When we returned to London the A.A. man met us at Barnett By-pass and took us to the Coburg Hotel near to Kensington Palace in Bayswater Road. By the way, I had my 70th birthday at Narford, champagne dinner party and Constance had a cake made for the occasion.

May

We stayed at The Coburg till May 9th when the Goring could take us. During that time

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we pottered about London thoroughly enjoying seeing various friends, an odd flower show and the British Industries Fair at Olympia. We also took the odd drive in the car, always employing a driver from the A.A. One day we went to Runnymede to see the memorial to Airmen who lost their lives and whose bodies were never found. It was a glorious monument on the most historical site in Britain where King John signed the Magna Carta. We also visited Windsor and Eton College and called to see Myrtle Lee, now an inmate of St. Kathrines Convent (Passmore) in the Chilton Hills overlooking the Thames. We also spent a weekend with Peter Holden at Crowborough and motored about the glorious wooded country of Sussex and the spring flowers were lovely. Of course we saw much of Violet Russell who was just as energetic and as full of knowledge as ever. Then on the 9th we went to The Goring – very comfortable but I think far too expensive. The following day I took to bed with a very heavy cold and Ray arrived on the ‘Ruahine’. I stayed in bed while Dorothy and Ray pottered about and the latter began driving lessons to learn the rules for obtaining an English driver’s license. On the 14th I felt better but not equal to rampaging about London, so I accepted Constance’s kind invitation to go to Narford and recuperate for a couple of weeks – how pleasant it was to get into that comfortable home right away from all the strife and turmoil of London. While there I had a complete laze and there were country walks, canoeing on the Lake, visiting the Ash family at Narborough Hall, Andrew at Red Lodge and the Attwoods at the Estate House. It really was a glorious two week’s rest and the weather was kind. Then I returned to London and before the end of the month we attended an unveiling ceremony by Lord Ironside at St. Martins and visited Violet to meet Lady Stewart (widow of Lord Chief Justice) and she was a Miss Stewart of Wanganui. So May came to an end and on the last day we moved to Inverness Court where we had been happy in other days and the staff gave us a great welcome.

June

The Ian Websters were now staying at Inverness Court and also the Malcolm Brodies. A couple of Australians, the Mitchell Braziers by name, we found very pleasant companions too. On the 1st we took up a vantage point in Birdcage Walk to watch the wedding procession of a very fashionable society wedding -Lord Althorp and Lord Fermoy’s daughter (friends of Constance). Many royalty were present and we caught sight of Constance on her way from Westminster Abbey to St. James Palace. On the 3rd Boy and Sue were married and we thought of them often 12000 miles away. We had a very interesting day looking round Cooper, Macdougall and Robertson’s Laboratories at Berkhamstead in Herts. They sent a car for us and it was a lovely drive. We lunched with Sir William and Lady Cooper in their pleasant home in the lovely countryside. One day we spent at Hampstead Heath which was enjoyable – we went by underground and returned by bus. Kellwood House was full of treasures. We had a good view of a full dress rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour. One night we took Percy and Bertha Elworthy to dine at the Cafe Blue in Old Compton Street and, as usual, it was worthwhile. The Academy did not appeal to me very much this time – modern art is not very attractive. Winston Churchill had several pictures! Then on the 9th I went off by myself to the North. I caught the Flying Scotsman from Kings Cross at 10 – I would not care to speculate the number of times I have travelled by this train. I disembarked at Newcastle and had a walk round some of the streets I knew so well and later picked up a local train that stopped here and there. The Scotsman only stopped in Berwick between Newcastle and Edinburgh. James and Sybil Hutchinson met me at Belford and it was grand to find myself once more in Bamburgh. The next ten days were full of excitement rushing round the countryside and meeting once again many old friends such as the Barbers, Sandersons of Newlands, the Tommy Darlings, the Ivan Hutchinsons at Shoreston and so on. One day we spent at Alnwick Cattle Fair and returned by

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way of Eglingham, Chillingham, Colonel Milvane’s hunting stables, Chatton etc. On another day I took a bus to Berwick and Jim Smaile (proprietor of the local newspapers), who came from Christchurch in New Zealand, took me to Selkirk, Kelso etc. up the Scottish side of the Tweed and back on the English side. While in Selkirk I called on Jack Roberts. It was a lovely day. We returned to Jim’s home, Scramerston Hall, and later Tommy Darling picked me up and took me back to Bamburgh. Tommy and Jim married sisters (Reece of Christchurch) and Tommy was a nephew of Jimmy Hutchinson. Another day we went over to Otterburn, calling in at Rothbury where the Rhododendrons in Cragside were lovely. We passed through lovely country and saw many sheep. One day it was foggy and you could hear the foghorns on the Farne Islands blaring all day. And so on the 17th, very sadly, I left Berwick by the Heart of Midlothian and so back to London. The weather was lovely in London and we had the odd outing with the Alan Mosses – one was up the Thames and lunch on Monkey Island. Ian and I did the three clubs, Saville, Devonshire and Junior Carlton and we picked the last mentioned as the one we would favour. Ray and I had an afternoon at Wimbledon at the Centre Court and saw some good games. One day Ray drove us to Hayling Island and after much difficulty we found the Mordaunt’s home. That night we spent at the Red Lion at Fareham and saw the old Burroughs. Next day a lovely drive through the heart of Sussex back to London. Then we had a day at the Jim Ritchies just out of Newbury. We saw the odd play and on the 29th we motored to Narford to get the usual warm welcome. The next day was a perfect day and the Royal Norfolk Show attracted us to the grounds just out of Norwich. Constance had a lunch party of about twenty. It was a very enjoyable day. Lord and Lady Ironside were staying at Narford and there was a dinner party in the evening. Lord Ironside told me many interesting stories of his career. His life had been very remarkable and there seemed few parts of the world he did not know. He spoke seventeen languages fluently.

July

Constance went to the Show again but just to lunch with the Queen Mother and I spent an enjoyable and quiet day in the gardens and on the lake. On the 2nd we returned to London but only till the 6th. During those few days we visited the Herricks at Browne’s, took the Elworthys to the Cafe Bleu for a very exotic dinner and where the waiters sang from Opera. It was an Italian Restaurant. Bertha took Eddie and me to Wisley Gardens near Cobham one day which was full of excitement. Wisley is not far from the old Silvermere Estate. Then on the 6th Ray, Dorothy and I began what turned out to be a very happy tour of Scandanavia [sic]. We set out in a very comfortable Swedish ship called ‘Saga’ from Tilbury. Accommodation was good, food excellent and we were looked after by very well trained young women stewardesses. It was a calm and pleasant crossing of the North Sea to Gottenburg and we enjoyed the complete rest and comfort of the ship and the wonderful food. After tying up we took a taxi very rapidly to the railway station for the train was held for us – for some reason we had expected it to start from the ship’s side. The four hour journey to Stockholm was through a maze of woods and lakes – all very lovely. We spent five happy days in Stockholm seeing all things worth while and eating at famous restaurants. I think we visited all the best and they all had names a mile long and were very expensive. Among them was the restaurant where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented each year. These restaurants were really out of this world and most of them so wonderfully situated with lovely views of the city and its waterways. One day our friends of a bus trip in England in 1950 – Nils Hamel and Robert Bley – took charge of us. They were, as we had thought, in a very big business. Nils sent his car for us and, after visiting his Office A.S.E.A., which was a very up-do-date place we were taken out for an extensive drive and later entertained at a very pleasant Country Club for lunch. Nils Hamel had just returned the day before from a long visit abroad and was only in Stockholm for a couple of days so we were lucky to strike him. We had trips on the

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many waterways which were most attractive – one to Drottingholm, the King’s Summer Palace about twenty miles away. And there were one hundred and one places of interest to be seen. After five days we were very reluctant to say good-bye to such a delightful city. We left about 7:30 by train – it was one of the longest I had ever come across – it consisted of fourteen coaches and was over four hundred yards in length. To reach the restaurant car we had to walk along a corridor and, at times, through carriages for at least three hundred yards. The journey was again through picturesque countryside of woods and lakes. At Helsingborg, which we reached in the late afternoon, our carriage and another one or two were diverted on the ferry and we sailed across to Elsinore in Denmark. There we coupled up with another train which took us to Copenhagen. Elsinore was the scene of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. And so we reached Copenhagen about 6 p.m. and stayed at the Terminus Hotel – very comfortable and close by the famous Tivoli. There we spent four or five very enjoyable days – we loved the country and the people. Copenhagen was a most attractive and bright city and the people friendly. We visited shops, the Royal Palace, Waterways, the celebrated seaside resort of Klampenborg, had bus drives round the countryside. The restaurants were good, especially the Tivoli where the food and music was wonderful. The land is almost dead flat – I think in all our wanderings we did not get higher than 160 feet above sea level. On the buses there was always a guide who told us the story in four or five languages. So after several days of happiness and interest we moved on again. We left about 7:30 or 8 in the morning by train and by 10 we had reached the tip of the island on which Copenhagen is situated and our train took to the ferry and this in turn transported us across the Baltic to a port in Germany. The crossing took three hours and on the ferry were our train, buses, cars and seven hundred passengers. We met up with a Dane who took care of us and saw that we got a good lunch. In Germany we linked up with the express to Amsterdam and off we set – it was not a very good day, a good deal of rain and wind, and the crops through which we passed were taking a battering. We passed through Bremen, Hamburg and Osnabruck in daylight – then after dark we ploughed on to reach Amsterdam about midnight and all very tired and grumpy. We stayed at The Grand Hotel in the same square as the Royal Palace. During our few days in Amsterdam we were taken into the care of Dick Timmer’s Parents who were most helpful to us in many ways. They took us on the first day to their Club overlooking the front of the Palace and from its windows we watched the Queen and Prince Bernhardt receive the French President with all the ceremony that goes with it. We were taken for drives and trips on the waterways and round the numerous docks. One day there was a very spectacular fleet of gaily decorated boats and barges on the canals. We tasted the numerous restaurants and found The Five Flies very good but very expensive. After testing out some electric razors 1 picked on a Braun which I still have (1967) – it is a full brother to the Ronson. One day we visited The Hague but did not call in at Rotterdam, which did not appeal to us particularly for Amsterdam seemed to possess all we wanted. Another day, and this was the highlight of our visit to Holland, we took a train to Arnheim on the Rhine to see the beautiful burial ground of those two thousand paratroopers who lost their lives in a bold attempt to shorten the war. The cemetery was so beautifully kept and in such a lovely and peaceful setting. Eastabeck was the name of the village just close by to Arnheim. On our last night there was another procession of gaily decorated boats etc. on the canals and the illuminations in the City were very spectacular. It was the Annual Floral Fete. Then we flew back in comfort to London on the 23rd in a Britannia carrying over seventy passengers and so our travels in Scandanavia [sic] and Holland ended. And it was good to foregather again with Eddie for a few days before we proceeded again to Narford. Eddie and I pottered about London looking at shops, visiting the Junior Carlton and we lunched

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together and enjoyed a play or two particularly `The King and I’. One day I went down to Birmingham to call upon Rabone, Peterson and Company, Williams and Kettle’s Agents. I was met there by Eccles-Williams, Humphrey Dixon, Colonel Wilmot and others and after a very pleasant day looking around and excellent lunch I caught an evening express back to London. Picked up with a scientist on the train and we had a long yarn which passed the journey. The train was a non-stop express from Birmingham to Euston (London). Another good show Dorothy and I saw at The Haymarket was ‘A Day by the Sea’ in which Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud were excellent. One day Eddie, Ian Webster and I went to the Junior Carlton Club for a session. Then Ian and I bussed to the City and lunched with Sir James Corry and Donald of the Port Line. They returned us to Inverness Court in their car and then Ian and I had a walk in the Park. On the 27th I lunched at 71 Cornhill (A. & N.Z. Bank) with Sir Geoffrey Gibbs (Chairman), Parr and Hardy (VIPs) at the Bank. We did not rise from lunch till 3.30p.m. On the 28th I had a good walk round Connaught Square, Manchester Square etc. – that part of London so well-known to me in my Oxford days when the McDermotts lived in 15 Connaught Square. Then we took Violet Russell to see ‘The White Horse Inn’ at the Empress and back to her flat for tea.

Then on the 29th we motored to Narford taking Anne Chapman and we spent five or six very happy days there. Ray got her English Driver’s License at King’s Lynn so she was set. One afternoon we went to see Lord Althorp show his pictures in King’s Lynn – he had been A.D.C. to the Queen during her recent trip to New Zealand. The pictures were good and likewise his commentary. One afternoon when I went down to the saloon for tea I found a rare collection of people who had been invited to the Hall to view the pictures and objects of art – but Constance had forgotten all about the party!!! Among those present were Lord and Lady Esher, Sir Alan and Lady Adair and others. It was all amusing and quite involved. This is the sort of thing that occasionally caught up with Constance. I remember another time when quite out of the blue about a couple of dozen people began to arrive for tea, then I remembered Constance had been issuing invitations ad lib at a party we attended the day before. The dining room at Narford was a huge room with a table that seated at least twenty-four and it was there that we usually had afternoon tea. It was on this occasion Lady Suffield said to Dorothy, on yet another arrival, ‘who in the world is this couple just entering?’ and Dorothy said ‘it must be some Lord and Lady’. Before the end of the month Ray, Ann and I went to afternoon tea with the Widdowsons of Swaton Manor near Sleaford, Lincolnshire. He was a brother of Mrs. Dick Tattersall and Mrs. Bestall and has a very delightful home and well-appointed farm. Sir R. and Lady Renshawe and Lady Suffield were guests at Narford for the weekend.

August

After a few very enjoyable days in Narford we returned to London and that night Dorothy and I took an overnight sleeping train om Kings Cross to Edinburgh and early on the morning of the 4th August we found ourselves in the North British Hotel where we spent a few days. I always enjoyed Edinburgh – I suppose it was because it meant so much to me as so many of my forebears had lived there and I loved the glorious city and its wonderful tradition. My Grandmother lived her young life there and used to tell me so much about the life of those far-off days. While in Edinburgh we visited Trix Traquair (Nairn) and found her very frail and Harry was in a private hospital. We visited Bell’s and Mackinlay’s blending and bonded whiskey stores at Leith. We dined one night with the Ian Mackinlays at their lovely home on the Queensferry Road not far from the Forth Bridge. We had a cup of tea with friends of Mrs. Day’s. And one day I took the train to Perth and spent the day in that delightful little town and lunched with Bill Farquharson, the Managing Director of Bells. And so on the 7th our visit came to an end and we took the train for

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Belford where we were met by James and Sybil and taken to Bamburgh Hall. How grand to be there once again in that glorious and romantic spot. From one of my bedroom windows I looked out to sea to the Farne Islands and from another there was Bamburgh Castle almost within reach. What a lot of ground we covered in the next week and what a number of old friends we saw again – there was Jessie Sanderson and Cynthia of Newlands, the Adam Littles of Duns, just across the Scottish Border, the Ivan Hutchinsons of Shoreston and so on. There were visits to and a dinner one night at the most lovely of old Inns in England, The Blue Bell of Belford. There was a lovely day when we visited Forde Norham, Cornhill, Kelso – up on the Scottish side of the Tweed and back on the English side. There was another lovely trip to the Cheviots by way of Kirk Newton, Wooler, Chatton and Yethohn and the heather on the moors was lovely. It is at its best in August. There were walks on the beach below the Castle, visits to Sea-houses for lobsters and fresh fish, the rounds of James and Ivan’s wonderful farm lands and frequent visits to Tommy and Anne Darling at the Friars. On our last day Bertha and Richard Edmonds arrived and that afternoon we caught the ‘Heart of Midlothian’ back to London. How I loved Northumberland, its rugged countryside and friendly people We spent a couple of nights at Kings Cross Hotel, went to see Ray in her flat with Margot Finn in Notting Hill. Eddie and I had a morning together – then in the afternoon we caught a train from Liverpool Street and Ellis met us at Downham Market and took us to Narford. We had a very happy week there despite of many thunderstorms. And while there I enjoyed canoeing on the glorious lake surrounded by forest trees and shrubs. The lake at Narford covered fifty acres and was made in a depression in the 18th Century by hand. There were excursions to Swaffham and Kings Lynn and a very enjoyable day with Lord Ironside while Dorothy, Constance and Lady Ironside went shopping in Norwich. The Ironsides lived in the small village of Hingham and he and I went to the large Elizabethan home of Morley which he was trying, at great expense, to restore. There he grew all sorts of fruit and raised chickens for the London Market. I never ate a chicken in London again! It was rather pathetic to see the late C.J.G.S. struggling to bolster up his slender retiring allowance by attempting to produce things such as small fruits and chickens. Why old Ironside ever purchased the place nobody knows. He never completed the task needless to say. But there were countless retired men all trying to do the same thing. The old story of taxation catching up on people on fixed incomes. We returned to the Inverness Court in London and were glad to find the Braziers, Ian Websters and Alan Mosses there. It was a very happy party and we did many things together. Eddie and Ethne were still at Browne’s Hotel and we met up frequently and did all sorts of things. One day we spent a morning at Apsley House (Duke of Wellington) and feasted our eyes on the silver, plate, china etc. Another day we went to Whipsnade Zoo where the animals lived in much freedom but the condition of an old wolf sorried me and the following day I reported her poor condition to the Secretary of the R.S.P.C.A. in Jermyn Street, Headquarters, with the result they had the poor old girl put to sleep, So it took someone from 12000 miles away to tell the people of England how poorly the animal was treated. Eddie had always loved the Army and Navy Stores so he and I had a good browse round this fabulous store. But it never did appeal much to me for it was rather drab and dull compared with Harrods. My Grandmother, through a naval brother, was a shareholder in the early days (Victoria) and I remember her number was 98. I also remember, talking of the Army and Navy Stores, how in my childhood I loved helping my Mother to make out an order for Christmas delicacies from the Stores and the excitement when the order arrived. In those days the Army and Navy Stores had a monopoly. It was the only such organisation in London. Before the end of August we went to Fordingbridge for a night to see Jack and Joan Barron and the following day he took us

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over his portion of the Salisbury Hospital where he carried out his plastic surgery.

Sept

Eddie and I pottered about together again and had much fun. We went to see Julia Gollan at The Rembrandt Hotel in Brompton Road. One day I went down to Bognor Regis to see Ted Seth-Smith – Minna Von der Heyde was there and also Harold Mudford. We spent a day with Molly and Harold Mudford and family at their home near Loxwood in Sussex. Arthur Empson, now a small farmer in Shropshire after quite a career in the Indian Army and later a parson, came to London one day to see me. The Websters returned to New Zealand on the 3rd in the ‘Rangitane’ but before leaving Ian had secured a job for Ray in the Bank of New South Wales, Berkeley Square, as she wanted to stay on in England for a while. One Sunday I attended High Mass in Westminster Cathedral (R.C.) and was intrigued at all the ritual. It was quite a gala day and about two dozen high ranking prelates sat in stalls above the choir and at the sound of a bell they kept removing and replacing their beretta [sic]. There was much shopping to be done as we were to leave England towards the end of the month. There was a wonderful concert at the Albert Hall one night when Malcolm Sergeant conducted the orchestra. On the 9th I went off on my own on a farewell visit to Narford, and how grand it was to be in the country and fresh air again. Constance and I had much to discuss before my departure. The Ironsides came for the weekend and this was the last time I was to see this very fine man for he died before our next trip to England. One night there was a dinner party and Lord and Lady Evershed came – he was Master of the Rolls. Also Madame de Gryppenberg was there – she was the widow of a Polish Diplomat before the Second World War and an old friend of the Fountaines and now lived in New York. Farewell to Narford on the 17th and return to London for the last hectic fortnight. The weather was now becoming chilly and leaves falling rapidly from the trees. There was the last of the shopping to be done and many goodbyes to be said, One Sunday night the Hat Doctors (Dacia and Rosa) entertained us again for supper in their quaint flat above the shop in James Street. Lady Claughton and Nancy Waibrook were there again. Lady Claughton was a music adjudicator (also this means an examiner) and knew Malcolm Sergeant well. One day I met Peter Holden at Victoria and we crossed London together and I saw him into his train at Kings Cross on his way to Yorkshire. It was the last time I saw this dear old friend of happier days and his memory was failing fast. The S.M. Palmers flew back to New Zealand just before we left. One afternoon we went to a Cocktail Party at the Ed. Stewarts in Barkham Gardens and quite a number of New Zealand friends were present. Alan and Rona Moss and ourselves had a morning at the Tower of London and later visited a wine store in the City. Kitty Knight came too. Margaret Halliday came for a night to the Inverness Court to say goodbye. The John Humphries and ourselves had a farewell dinner at The St. George and Dragon in Brompton Road – it was a wonderful dinner too. On our last day we had farewell drinks with the Crawshaws at the Overseas House, said goodbye to them all there, went for a last dinner at The Cafe Bleu – Ray was with us.

Oct

So the day of sailing came on the 1st and how sad we felt. Ray and Kitty came to see us off at St. Pancras about 10.30 and we boarded the old ‘Rangitata’ at Tilbury – we had our same cabin and it was full of flowers and there was our same steward, McNichol, to greet us. Lady Hewart came to our cabin and introduced us to Lady Doidge, who was a fellow passenger. The Nihottes and Alan and Rona Ross were among those who had travelled to England with us and it was good to have them on board. Terry and Janet Herrick with Peter and Diana were also passengers. Terry was taking up an important naval appointment in Auckland. We had a table for three in the saloon and our companion was Lionel Knight (a relation of Kitty’s) and we found him a very pleasant companion all through the voyage and we

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had much fun together. After a good passage we reached Curacao on the 13th. During those thirteen days there were the normal entertainments such as deck games, cocktail parties almost nightly, games of scrabble etc., and the time passed pleasantly. On arrival at Curacao Dorothy, Lionel Knight, Mrs. Bush and I took a taxi for a drive to the Airport, Piscadera and Willemstad. We always enjoyed Curacao which, though rather barren and very hot has much of interest. There are countless oil refineries and the homes of those connected with the companies are very pleasant and attractive. The town is just like a town of old Holland – except for the intense heat you would think you were in Holland. After two days we reached Colon and on returning to the ship from a drive in the evening we found the ship was to be delayed there for the best part of the following day on account of trouble in the fresh water system. So next morning about a dozen of us took the train across the Panama Isthmus which was very entertaining. At Panama, which we reached at midday, we repaired to the new and exotic El Panama Hotel. About 8p.m. we joined a launch to pick up the ‘Rangitata’ as she passed Balboa but owing to trouble in lowering the ship’s gangway we did not eventually board the ‘Rangitata’ till midnight and by that time we were well out of the Canal. The adventure was not without some unpleasant moments and it was owing to Terry Herrick and Bush that we boarded the ‘Rangitata’ safely. It was really a very unpleasant experience and fraught with some danger. The voyage across the Pacific then began and after a short call at Pitcairn Island we anchored in the Auckland Harbour late on the night of November 3rd. The Captain (Kinnell) invited several of us to the Bridge as we entered the Harbour. The voyage from Panama was very enjoyable with all the attractions and our final champagne party in the Nihotte’s Cabin was the highlight. Early next morning the ship berthed and the voyage was over. Hamilton and Sue were on the wharf to meet us and helped us with our luggage problems. We spent the night at The Grand Hotel – visited the Doves and saw other friends. Next day we motored to Taupo where we spent the night with Ivan and Mary in their new home. On the 4th we reached Napier in the afternoon and Baby gave us a wonderful welcome – she was then just about two years old. I think Mr. Wenley was happy to have us back again.

Nov

November was With us – it was quite a busy month picking up all the threads. During our absence our old friend Norman MacKay had died and Mrs. MacKay seemed rather frail and lonely. Eddie and Ethne were back, having sailed in a Port Ship before us, and we resumed our weekly visits to them. Of course, there was a visit to ‘The Cottage’ and a big welcome from Winston. The wool sales began satisfactorily. There were many thunderstorms and it appeared that the rainfall was satisfactory. We had a day at Pukekino and found the place looking well. On the 13th our General Elections took place and the National Party lost ground – Napier, Hastings, Gisborne, Palmerston North were among the seats lost but we ended up with a majority of six. Social Credit was raising its head to some effect. One night the Burkitts had a small dinner party – the Ted Phillips and Cooks (Port Line) and ourselves.

December

Our new car arrived – another Morris Oxford – I could not say how many of these we have possessed but since 1939 we had driven only Morrises and as I write in 1967 we still drive a Morris. Ivan and Mary came down from Taupo to stay with us for a few days. There was much activity in the S.P.C.A. – the Committee and I were determined to make a success of things and we succeeded over the years in doing far more than we ever dreamed possible. We financed the Whites into the Meeanee Kennels. Our street day this year brought in £188. On the 8th Janet Smith of Olrig married Dick Patterson. After the ceremony at St. Matthews in Hastings we all trekked to Poraite for a massive reception and my job was to propose the health of the bride and bridegroom. Lionel Knight and Felicia

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Worley came to stay for a few days – she with us and he at the Club. During that time we gave them a good look round – going to ‘The Cottage’, Pukekino, Clifton and Muritai. I went out to John McLennan’s farm at Mangateretere with John and Ian to observe subclover which was appearing in a grass mixture supplied by Williams and Kettle. This was the beginning of a lengthy feud between McLennan and Williams and Kettle. Billy Wenley went to Porirua for a period of treatment – things between her and Seton had been very strained (understatement) for a long time. On the 18th we and Hamilton and Sue gave a big cocktail party at ‘The Cottage’ – it was a lovely day too. We paid several visits through the month to Pukekino and one day we went to see the Andersons at Kereru. Williams and Kettle’s last meeting of the year was on the 20th and after it we repaired to the Store at the Port to be Cooper’s guests. On Christmas morning the Websters and Horrie came to see us. Later Bob and Hiraani came for dinner and then Boy and Sue came for supper and stayed the night. On the 26th we went to Clifton to see John and Barbara. And so ended an eventful year – my 70th.

1955

In this year we really began our life of retirement in Napier. We certainly came to town in August of 1953 but then came our trip to England for most of 1954. I think I shall try to condense my diaries more for at 71 my doings cannot be of very great interest.

Jan

On the 1st we paid several calls on our friends nearby – first Mr. Wenley, of course, then Freda Hole and I were called to attend a dog which was knocked by a car in Carlyle Street – St. George had to give it the fatal injection. Boy and Sue called in for supper on their return from a visit to Taupo. Mrs. Oxford died on the 1st and I attended a service for her in the Cathedral on the 3rd, She was a foundation member of the S.P.C.A. R.H. Wilson (Bill) began ‘jobbing’ garden work with us and he came when needed – about two or three times a month (1967). His first job was to lay the crazy pavement and erect various stone walls. The Southwells (he was acting Headmaster of Lindisfarne School) came to dinner one night. There seemed to be much activity in the S.P.C.A. -Maxine Edgar’s home in Tennyson Street was our regular meeting place. There was a horrid case of a rabbiter leaving his team of dogs tied up in a plantation near Tunanui for two weeks without water or food. Several died and others had to be destroyed but three lived and homes were found for them. The Society took proceedings against him and he was jailed for a month. This was the first prosecution in my regime. Early in the month Williams and Kettle’s store and premises at Wairoa were completely burned to the ground – a young Maori was later found to be the ‘fire-bug’. The George Ritchies came to stay at the Masonic for a few days and we saw quite a lot of them. We went out to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ several times during the month. One day Eddie went with us and we had a tour round Big Hill and Kereru. Brian Hill developed T.B. and was forced to rest at home and I used to visit him. Our Saturday visits to Muritai were maintained and Horrie (Horrobin) always came with us. The boys, Ray and I formed a farming partnership and to begin with I retained two-thirds of the stock and plant but later reduced my holding to one-half and we-leased Pukekino lands. This was another of John McLennan’s ideas and it has proved a high success. One day after visiting Olive Nairn and Lily Macfarlane we went on to a big party at Flora Herrick’s in Havelock. At the end of the month our friends Mitchell Brazier and wife came to Napier for a few days on their return to Melbourne from England and we took them all round the countryside.

Feb

This was a fairly hot month. Brian Hill was moved to the Hospital (Shelters) for treatment and I continued to visit him there. Ivan visited us on his way to the South Island for his annual holiday with Owen Clissold. I was able to persuade Tony Roberts to take on the Presidentship of the Overseas League’s Branch in Hawke’s Bay. England retained the

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Ashes’ – this year was quite an event for the games were played in Australia this year. Mr. Wenley was becoming less active – he was about 87 and began to depend much upon us so I made a point of calling to see how he fared nearly every day and one day I took him to a Hawke’s Bay Farmers Meeting in Hastings. I think it was his last. There were two Lowry Trust Meetings in the month and it was about time too that the work in the Estate eased up. After our monthly Williams and Kettle Meeting we all went to one of the wool stores at the Port to see a fork life handling the wool bales and so saving much man-labour. Nowadays the forklift is universally used in most wool stores, warehouses etc. Many friends called to see us during the month – Elfie and Ned Smith, Lulu and Winston Barron, Olive Nairn and Lily etc. and Elespie Roberts seemed to depend upon us more and more as she began to grow less mobile. She was quite pathetic for once upon a time she was a hostess of importance but that was becoming forgotten now. How forgetful the human being can be. Marjorie Price (Lady Price) and daughter Anne were in New Zealand for a brief visit and it was good to see them and revive a long and happy friendship. Francis Price had died two or three years earlier. Alma Bull was in Sherwood for some time and I used to visit her – she was a wonderfully plucky patient and must have known her days were numbered. Flora Herrick gave another of her parties and this time it was for Lady Vivienne Younger of Edinburgh who was visiting her. Lady Younger and I had some friends in common in Edinburgh so meeting her was enjoyable. My S.P.C.A. activities stepped up and I began a lecture campaign of the schools in Hawke’s Bay. I started of with Mangatahi under the care of Pat McCarthy – Lou and Robert were at school there and the first talk seemed to go off well. The idea was, of course, to get children animal conscious and to become thoughtful for the well- being and care of animals. My next school was Maraekakaho. So my task proceeded and in due course I covered very many of the schools in Hawke’s Bay.

March

Early in the month Nellie Ainsworth, who had been with us for several years as children’s nurse, was in Napier for a day or so and it was good to recapture those happy days of so long ago. This was a very busy month with S.P.C.A. work – many calls to see to injured or stray dogs and cats. Also meetings from time to time and calls at the home of Maxine and Freda. Marianne Stead and Lance Macsmith of New South Wales became engaged. Gretchen Wall came to see us one evening when she was staying at the Masonic and we reminisced over the days on the ‘Rangitata’ last October. We got really busy in the garden which was beginning to take shape. The walls were finished and all was in readiness for the roses to go in. That part of the garden had been in very deep-rooted couch grass and it took hard work to eradicate it. Ralph Lowry decided to make over stock for Woodthorpe which T.H.L. had left to Ralph’s children. And one day, Rainbow, Ralph, Tom, Wacher, Penn Scannell and I had a lengthy meeting in Hastings to sort things up, for Ralph was difficult to nail down these days. Through the month we saw much of Eddie and Ethne, the Ian Websters,. Horrie, Mr. Wenley, Elespie Roberts, Dorothy Gordon and Monty and Cushla. Kitty Knight came to stay for a few days and we took her about quite a lot – to Dorothy Gordon and Muritai one day, another to Pukekino, another to see Lulu and Winston. And one day we had a small cocktail party for her. Another day we went to Pukekino and visited our late neighbours, the Kays and Ned Smiths. Brian Hill was still in hospital and I used to pop over to see him from time to time. There was a Williams and Kettle Directors Meeting one day and the usual lunch at the Club. Then the whole of Williams and Kettle staff gave a dinner party at No. 3 Store as a farewell to Burkitt and Mrs. Burkitt prior to their leaving for a trip to the United Kingdom. Then the day before they set sail in the ‘Port Napier’ the Directors of Williams and Kettle gave a cocktail party and invited many businessmen and their wives. Gordon Hannay was out in New Zealand again and staying at Muritai. On the 29th Doffles had a

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daughter. Mr. Wenley was now just on 89 and was beginning to weary of life though he was still fairly active bodily and mentally. He had now become very dependent upon me so I used to visit him daily.

April

Tom Lowry was about to visit the United Kingdom so we held a meeting of the Lowry Trust at Hastings – it is just over ten years since T.H.L. died and some of the problems of his Will still were unsolved. It was a busy month so far as the S.P.C.A. was concerned and I seem to have had a fair amount of running around – one visit to Eskdale to interview a Maori about starving cattle was quite unpleasant. Later on McCormick was able to deal with him satisfactorily. There was an occasion when the Fire Brigade came to my assistance and rescued a cat from the top of a tree in Tiffen Park. Our weekly visits to the Herricks continued and, as usual, we took Horrie with us. Bob Stevenson (Manager of the A. & N.Z. Bank) was in Sherwood after an operation and I used to drop in to see him often during the two or three weeks he was there. Michael Turnbull was in Napier for a week’s visit – he was about to marry his second wife, he and Margaret having parted. On April 13th we attended a small dinner party at Monty’s home – it was Cushla’s birthday. Later that night Tim was born but we did not hear the news till early next morning when Harold Barnett called to tell us. During the next two weeks Boy stayed with us more or less so as to be able to visit Sue and we also visited her frequently at McHardy Home. On the 13th Mr. Wenley went to stay with Mardie and Bill while Sarah went into Sherwood for a foot operation. While she was there I kept an eye on her. One day Harlow and I went to Kereru and Alec Anderson took us on to the top of Big Hill in the Land Rover. It was a lovely autumn day and the view of Hawke’s Bay was wonderful from the top of the hill. There were four or five wasted days while I was in bed with a heavy cold – this was about the middle of the month. One day the Roley Hills gave a party for Nancy Rolleston and John which was very pleasant. We took Virginia out with us as Brian was still convalescing. A very good rain fell towards the end of the month and ‘The Cottage’ looked a picture when I went out to have a look round. Boy took me out while he was staying with us. Marjorie Price (who was still in New Zealand) came one day to see us with Mrs. Oswald Nelson. On the 26th Mr. Wenley died suddenly while staying with Mardie he was 88. And on the 27th (my birthday) the burial took place at Park Island. After this Bill and Mardie, Sally and Reg Bull, John and Seton came up to our house. Mr. Wenley’s death severed the last remaining link between my generation and that of my Father. He had been a friend of my Family’s since 1889. Williams and Kettle’s monthly meeting of directors was held on the 29th and later, according to habit, we drifted to the Port. On the last day of the month Pat Higgins (Chairman of the Harbour Board) took me for a tour of inspection of harbour works.

May

The S.P.C.A. work continued to increase and as I was a fairly free agent much of the running about and investigating seemed to fall on my shoulders. However, Freda Hole, Max Edgar and Phil Oxford were always more than ready to pull their weight. The Whites were well installed at Meeanee and on the whole they did a good job. The Annual General Meeting of the Society was a success and well attended and our financial position was improving satisfactorily. Our principal worry concerned unwanted and stray cats, of which there were far too many, and having many attractive kittens ‘put down’ tore one’s heart strings to shreds. Many of my friends began to contribute sums of money towards our cause and this was most acceptable and helpful. Several happy days during the month were spent at ‘The Cottage’ and Pukekino and my Winston always was so happy to see me – he was now about seven years old. We attended the Maraekakaho Sports which were successful, and Boy was President. He and Sue had a big lunch party.

One day we went out to Hastings for lunch with Marie and Gilkie – Ruby Stead was there too. The Gilkinsons then lived in Nelson

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Street and Ruby lived in St. Aubyn Street. Another day Ruby and Lulu and Winston Barron came to Napier to see us. Ian Young (Bell’s representative in Australia) was in New Zealand on one of his visits and lunched with me at the Club. We continued to see much of the Herricks, Horrie, Dorothy Gordon, Elespie Roberts, the Ian Websters and Hannay who was in New Zealand. Our weekly visits to Muritai continued. Ivan and Mary came down from Taupo to stay for a few days. Bill and Mardie Russell spent a week at Mr. Wenley’s house and we saw much of them, and Seton Wenley was often a visitor. Brian Hill was now back in his home and making good progress. I continued to visit him. Gardening occupied much of our time. One day we went out to lunch in Havelock with Percy and Bertha Elworthy and then on to the Burbury’s for tea. Mrs. Burbury gave me a cheque for £10 for the S.P.C.A. Another day went to Richmond Park for a party given by Bob and Rua Stead. Altogether it seems to have been a fairly busy month.

June

Another busy month with S.P.C.A. and much trouble again over stray cats. Had to collect a poor little cat run over in Flanders Avenue and with a broken back. Mary Webster was with me and fortunately Court St. George was at home so promptly put the little thing out of its misery. Bertha Elworthy consented to be an Honorary Inspector for the Havelock Area and one day she came to a small party we gave in Napier to meet some of the S.P.C.A. Committee. Percy came in as well. I got in two more talks to schools -Kereru and another short one at Maraekakaho. The most unpleasant job of the month was in connection with treatment of cattle by a Maori at Tangoio named Browne. I took Constable Osborne of Bay View and Jim McCormick, our Inspector, with me and we had quite a scene with Browne. However the result was one beast had to be shot and the others taken away to fresh grazing. The day I spent at Kereru I called in to see Bob and Hiraani and came home with many bits and pieces for the garden. A big garden month, we put in some new roses, cuttings of all sorts of things. Barney came in with another load of soil and he erected an iron fence by the walnut tree to cut out the cold draught. He also carted much rubbish away. Then Horrie suggested he would prune the roses for me – he was fearfully slow and I had to do all the picking up. Never again! Brian Hill progressed well and I continued to visit him. One day after a visit I walked down Sturms Gully to Breakwater Road. It used to be a very attractive spot in my youth and you can still see traces of its former state. I joined the Historic Section of the Art Gallery – Bob Stevenson was its Chairman. We met on the first Monday of each month when a member used to read a paper on some topic connected with Hawke’s Bay’s history. There was a membership of about twenty. Ian Webster had a severe attack of pneumonia but made a good recovery. We continued to see much of Dorothy Gordon, the Herricks, Horrie and others and our garden work kept us busy. One day I took Eddie out to ‘The Cottage’ and Boy gave us a good tour round the farm. Dorothy had a fall and injured an ankle which was a bit troublesome, but massage put it right. Eddie was 77 this month and we celebrated it with champagne in place of gin. I was still a member of the Overseas League Committee and Jim Munro was our President in place of Tony Roberts.

July

Our S.P.C.A. work became more exacting and the Committee had settled on a plan whereby each member in turn became responsible for the calls of the week. But this did not relieve me really of much. Early in the month I took Freda and Max to tea with Bertha Elworthy, and we called to see Wharrier, a Scots Vet living close to Havelock. On the 3rd Tim (Timothy Frank Roberts Logan) was baptised in St. Matthews Church and later we had a party at the Bob Steads. One day we went to Lindisfarne to see the Southwells – we had not been there since the Herricks left four years ago. Brian Hill was making good progress. I used to pop over to see him at times and Jasper Herrick was in Gullies after a nose infection. We had a period of strong winds about the middle of

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the month. Dorothy was still having massage for her leg but getting on well. It was wonderful to see Mary MacKenzie (Ritchie). She came to us for a night and we did much talking. She lives in London now and we had seen her last year, of course. Dennis and Jean (Cotterill) were at the Masonic for a week and we saw much of them – it is always pleasant to have them here. Monty had a severe attack of bronchitis and was confined to his home for a week or more. All was now set for the farming partnership except gift duty to be assessed on sale of stock etc. Mrs. Mackay was not well and had to go into Langside.

August

It was the busiest month of S.P.C.A. work ever – there were many calls to do with cats and dogs in distress. I spoke to the schools at Rissington and Taradale and then for eight days I took charge of the Kennels at Meeanee while the Whites went off for a short holiday. Each day some members of the Committee came out with me and this helped greatly. Freda, Hope Bernau, Jill and Mrs. Moss and Helen Clark were especially helpful. One day there was a dog fight and I was bitten in the effort to part the dogs. Then James, Chief Inspector for New Zealand, came along and he, McCormack and I waited on Kirkpatrick of Tomoana Freezing Works in connection with the handling of Bobby Calves. We got a good hearing and felt reasonably satisfied. One day I spent at Pukekino and went on to see the Andersons at Kereru. Another day I was at ‘The Cottage’ and was able to help draft in the yards. Winston, as usual, gave me a great welcome. On another day we went to lunch with Lulu and Winston Barron and every Saturday we went out to Muritai taking Horrie with us. Lawrie Willis died and I went to the funeral service with John Humphries. Lawrie was Crown Prosecutor and a very able legal man. Boy stood for Maraekakaho Riding in the County Council Elections against Moore Renton but he lost out – the voting was Renton 250 and Boy 180, We devoted much attention to the garden as this was planting month. Dorothy’s birthday was on the 11th – she was 67 – and all the family remembered her and there was a cable from Ray from England she was then in the Bank of New South Wales in Berkeley Square Branch (London). Mary and Ivan were down from Taupo to stay for a week. One evening Helen Humphries and I went out to Hastings for an Overseas Meeting in Mrs. Crawford’s home. Sandtmann and I considered Peter Lowry’s wish to go to Sandhurst Military College in England – he later went but it was not a high success and after a stay in hospital during his training he gave it up.

Sept

This was another busy month in S.P.C.A. work – there were various meetings, visits to the Kennels, attending to animals and speaking at schools. I spoke at Puketapu, Greenmeadows, Haumoana, Marewa and Mrs Ken Parson’s School on the Bluff Hill. I always got a good reception from Masters and boys and girls all of whom showed a very decided love for the wellbeing of animals. So I was much encouraged to carry on. On the 4th we celebrated the 43rd anniversary of our wedding. The following day was Williams and Kettle Annual General Meeting and I was elected Deputy Chairman and Eddie was made Chairman again. It had been a good year and the dividend was 8%. That night we went out to ‘The Cottage’ for dinner. The W.G. Woods and Cappy Bidwell came to see us one day and another day we went to the Woods and the Ned Holmes were there as well as Cappy. Our neighbour, Mrs. Day, was in Langside Hospital for a couple of weeks so we used to call to see her. Mrs. Mackay was then back in her home. One day we took Sir Andrew to ‘The Cottage’ – he always loved a visit there. He, too, had a short stay in Langside on account of heavy nose-bleeding. One evening we went to the Masonic to see Thyra Bethell, Phyllis Boyle and Mrs. N. Rattray who were in Napier for a Red Cross Conference. There were visits to Muritai, Dorothy Gordon and Pukekino and on my visit to the last named it was so nice to be met by Mother (Baby’s Mother) and another brood of kittens. David Cotterill (Dennis’s son) came to Hawke’s Bay to seek a job and I took him in charge and took him to

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see John Gordon at Clifton who was looking for a young man. However he went to the McLean’s in the end at Porongahau. A cheerful dinner one night when Ethne, Eddie, Boy and Sue came in. One day I took the Bishop (Lesser), Athol McCredie and Ian Webster to lunch at the Club. The Bishop was always such good value with his stories but not too good at listening to those of the other fellow. Brian Hill was still progressing but Brian Kettle had rather a grim time in Sherwood. However he made a good recovery. The Ivans came down again and he stayed with us. We saw quite a lot of the Websters and Monty and Cushla. Winston Barron was now 86 and he was beginning to break up a bit more. He had not been very well for years now and hardly ever spoke but now a further deterioration had set in.

Oct

My S.P.C.A. work this month consisted of meetings, frequent calls at Tennyson Street which was mainly the headquarters of the committee and Maxine was always there and ready to help. One day she and I were called to see a poor little dog dragging itself about so we took it to the Vet to be told its pelvis was broken and there was only one thing for it. I seemed to see quite a lot of Terry Goldfinch who was a very kindly soul with animals. Terry had recently set up as Napier’s second Vet. Then we held the Junior S.P.C.A. Member’s Rally at the Red Cross Hall when seventy-four children gathered and Dorothy presented the prizes. Then the day came when Barney Ross and I tried to erect the tent for the Show and we got into a fearful tangle but as luck would have it a big fat Maori came to our assistance. Our two days effort at the Stall at the Show was a great success but we all got very tired and felt cross at the end. The foundation stone of the new Cathedral in Napier was laid by the Governor General (Norrie) and £37,000 was in hand. There were several visits to ‘The Cottage’, to Muritai, to Dorothy Gordon, to the Maurice Chambers, to Lulu and Winston (the latter was in better form again) and to the Bob Steads. Brian Kettle progressed well and left hospital early in the month. Sue and Tim came to see us at times – Tim was now six months old. And Hiraani and her children also came in. The garden claimed much attention and was shaping well. One day Bill Graham came up before the Magistrate for careless driving and we got Gibb Stewart to appear for him. However, he was fine £4.10.0d and put off the road for three months. So we retired to the Masonic for a drink before sending him back to ‘The Cottage’. Alec Roberts came to see us one day – he was now General Manager of Murray, Roberts and Company in Wellington. Burkitt returned from England after a happy and informative trip. He and I attended a land sale at Waipawa when two farms were sold on behalf of the Ingles Estate and the Bridge Estate. Dennis Cotterill was there. I don’t seem to record the actual price but these properties were sold in areas of 350 to 750 lots and the price worked out at between £15 and £25 per acre – so my diary says.

Nov

On the 1st we went out to Pukekino – the usual day it always seemed for early shearing to begin and the hoggets were being shorn. Mother cat and her four kittens paraded for me. On the way out we called in at Mangatahi School to say good-bye to Pat McCarthy who was going to England for a year’s teaching (the loan scheme). We took Horrie to the Rose Show and later to the Rose Garden at Marewa where the roses were giving a wonderful display. After Williams and Kettle’s Director’s Meeting Rex Willock came to see us and we took him later to catch his railcar back to Gisborne. One day Harlow picked me up and we then picked up Eddie and Jasper and went on for a grand day at Tautane. I had not been there for many years. Another day we went out to see Lulu and Winston and on another we visited the Martins at Rissington. There was the usual S.P.C.A. work and at our meeting Boy was present to see how we conducted things. Then I represented the Society at the Annual Conference in Wellington and was elected to the executive. Leo Bestall was in Sherwood for two or three weeks and I used to pop in

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to see him frequently. Bob, Hiraani and the children came in on the 13th – that was young Robert’s 8th birthday. He was growing very fast. I had a meeting or two with Sandtmann as we were the Trustees in the Ohinewairua Trust for our sins, still (1967 – I am still a Trustee and J.D. Thompson has now taken Sandtmann’s place). On the 19th I went to Wellington till the 24th. – I travelled by Service Car and stayed at the Club where I found Ralph Beetham, Norman Avery, Young (Dr.) and Brodie (Tobacco) also slaying. There was one day of S.P.C.A. Conference with a spate of remits that occupied most of the time. On the other days I was able to see many friends – I went out one night to dinner with Alan and Rona Moss at their pleasant home at Silverstream – Pen Blundell was also there. I visited the Blue Cross Kennels out beyond Karori. I lunched with Michael and his new wife, Susan and Cora at Mick’s home in McColl Street – it was rather a shambles of a place which he was trying to renovate. I dined twice with the Nihottes – one was a more or less formal affair at which were present Sir Stephen Weir and several from the diplomatic corps and I sat next to Lois Holland (daughter of Sid Holland P.M.). It was some affair – Mabel prepared all the exotic dishes and there were several maids and a man to do the waiting. The following night just Mabel, Armond and I dined alone. Fussell (Reserve Bank) was at the big party also. Betty Anderson stayed with Dorothy while I was away.

Dec

Early on the S.P.C.A. Street Day was held and it met with high success – £223. The work of the Society seemed to grow apace and hardly a day passed without a call for help. At the end of the month Hollay (Secretary) went off for his holiday and I used to attend the office for a time each day. Jim Grey (retired Mercantile Marine) made his appearance in Napier and stayed at the Club. Cora had known him in his youth and we got to know him quite well. At a later date he built out at Bay View – later still he married Leslie Cornford and after about a couple of years he disappeared out of our lives. I think he and Leslie have now parted (1967) and he lives somewhere in the Sounds of the Marlborough district. One day Tom Lowry, Jasper, M.S. Chambers, Burkitt and I went to Wairoa to see Williams  and  Kettle’s  new premises and there Rex Willock and Keith joined us.  On our way back we visited Moeangiangi, Goldfinch (Vet) and I had a trip to inspect the Farmers’ Vet Club Clinic at Waipukurau and a Cattery off Irongate Road. We visited Sir Andrew and Lady Russell at Tunanui and, as usual, he took us up to the top of his favourite hill (Flag Range) where, years later, his ashes were buried. Marjorie Price (Lady) died in England on the 13th. We had known one another most of our lives – she was such a good soul. It was rather a tragedy that she should have married (Sir) Francis Price for he was very unstable. Towards the end of the month their daughter Diana was staying at Muritai. The usual visits to Lulu and Muritai and Dorothy Gordon and ‘The Cottage’ and I note that Tim was a ‘lovely child’. In the garden our war against Oxalis was being won, We gave a small party and present were the Bob Steads, D. Gordon, Ruby Stead, the Gilkisons, the Barnetts, the Websters, the John Humphries and Monty and Cushla. Williams and Kettle’s Directors Meeting was followed by a visit to Cooper at Port Ahuriri. On Christmas Day we went to 7 o’clock service at The Cathedral -then I took Sarah to her church and while she was there I went on board the ‘Suffolk’ with Captain Bell for half an hour or so. Later Monty and Cushla and Boy and Sue came to a happy dinner party. On Boxing Day I attended the Dog Parade with Freda and others of the S.P.C.A. Billy Wenley (now  separated  from  Seton) took Mrs. Ringland’s house in Onslow Road for a while. On New Year’s Eve Bob, Hiraani and the Brian Hills came up to celebrate.

1956

Jan

The 1st was a glorious day and we went out to Richmond Park for Bob Stead’s  yearling parade – the little animals looked so lovely in the sunlight. There were many people there and some I had not seen for years – it was good to meet again George and  Muriel

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Beatson – she was Muriel  Gaisford.  After drinks etc. in the homestead we returned home for lunch.  S.P.C.A. activities were numerous. Hollay returned early in the year and Freda and Max went off to Wellington for two weeks. This meant added work for me and also I kept an eye on their garden for them. As the weather was dry there was much watering to be done in Tennyson Street as well as in our own garden. The S.S. ‘Suffolk’ was  still  in  port and I went on board occasionally.  There were visits to Tauroa, Muritai, Lulu and Winston (Steve Weymouth was there – he had just been made Vicar of Puketapu after having been in Havelock for years.) Visits also to Dorothy Gordon. We took Madeline Wilder with us. There was a party at Flora  Herrick’s for Horace and Marjorie Zino who were Out from Madeira. We had not seen him since the day war broke out at Violet Russell’s flat in London (September 1939). We had a day at Pukekino. Mrs. Mackay was back in Langside Hospital. Cora came to stay with us and we flew round quite a lot. It was always nice to have her for she had such a steady outlook. One day I spent with John Gordon and we had a grand tour of Clifton Station. Seton and Mardie Wenley sold me a strip of land between us and this made all the difference and it gave me the two small sheds which proved most useful. The cost was only £25 plus survey costs. Poor old Ian Webster was taken ill very suddenly with spleen trouble and within a week he was dead. I was very fond of him and missed him greatly.  Hugh Lynch drowned himself – a nice fellow but his drinking habits got him under and his practice was dwindling rapidly.    Mary Mackenzie was staying with Lizz Ritchie again and came to see us. H.P. Hole’s Manager at Hatuma was suspected of stealing sheep from other farmers nearby to replace those he had obviously been stealing from H.P. Hole  over a long period and, as I had become friendly with H.P., one day he and I went to see Ian Johnston (solicitor) at Waipawa to discuss the affair. After that the Police took action and prosecuted Hedge.

Feb

Cora was still staying with us and she and Jim Grey   discovered   they   had   known   one another in the days of their youth. During the first  week  I  had  many  talks  with  Owen Woodhouse (Crown Prosecutor and now a Judge) in regard to farm management etc., as he would be conducting the case against Hedge. This case was heard in St. John’s Hall by McGregor (Judge) and a Jury and it took eight days. The Supreme Court was under repair at the time. I attended most of the hearing, sitting beside HP.H., and each day Vincent Stratford and I lunched at the Club. Hedge was found guilty of thieving something like 300 woolly ewes from Kibblewhite and driving them by night to H.P.H’s farm to place those he had sold for himself off H.P.H’s farm. Senior (Port Line) was out in New Zealand again and Williams and Kettle and the Hawke’s Bay Farmers gave a dinner at the Club for him at which Kirkpatrick (Tomoana Works) and Little (H.B. Farmers Meat Company) were also present. Senior’s wife was a Joicey of Longhurst Hall near Morpth. Next day Ted Phillips and Senior came up to see us. On the  7th we attended the wedding of Marianne Stead and Lance Macsmith – it was a huge affair and Several hundred were entertained by Bob and Rua – there was a colossal marquee and we sat at a table with Gretchen Wall. On the 1st Monday I attended, as usual, the meeting of the Historic Division of the Art Gallery. Sometimes the meetings were rather tedious and long-winded. Ian and Kay Logan and family left for Fiji on the 10th, having severed his connection with Sainsbury, Logan and Williams to take up a legal job with a legal firm in Suva. It is sad to think there are no Logans now in the firm. My Father joined Mr. George Sainsbury in 1882. I had another expedition with Harlow, Jasper and Eddie – this time it was to the source of the Tuku Tuki River in the far away ranges at the back of Ashley Clinton. We had dinner with Jasper and Letty at Taimate and Peter Plummer  was  there  also.  We  had  much laughter I note in my diary. On the 20th I flew to Wellington   ostensibly to attend an Executive Meeting of the S.P.C.A. but on arrival at the Midland I discovered I had come

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a week too early! That evening I called to see old Violet Gilbertson and her numerous cats in Hobson Crescent she was quite ’round the bend’ and had forgotten I was coming. Next day I flew home and arrived causing Dorothy and Cora much surprise. We paid a couple of visits to ‘The Cottage’ – Tim was now ten months old and a lovely child. On the 27th I set out for Wellington once more and this time by Service Car and stayed at the Midland. Mick and Cora came to dinner that evening. On the 28th I attended the Executive Meetings – Atkins was  in  the  chair  and  George  Spence  was Secretary. Later I visited the S.P.C.A. clinic and Cora came to dinner and at our table were Ned and   Mrs.   Holmes.   The   following   day   I returned  by  Service  Car –  lunching  at Palmerston North also was Marie Gilkison. Dorothy Gordon came to see us.

March

H.P. Hole and I went to Waipawa to discuss his affairs with Ivan Johnston – we talked of the sheep stealing case and also I was able to suggest the idea of a family settlement of his estate   which   eventually   came   about   and proved    very    satisfactory.    After    leaving Waipawa we-went on to Kibblewhite’s farm and Tony K. took me along the route by which Hedge and the stolen sheep travelled. I was amazed   at   Hedge’s   venture.   Later   we proceeded to Clovelly (H.P.H’s Hatuma farm) for a cup of tea with the Archibalds. That evening Boy and Sue came to dinner with us and the Barnetts came over later. The latter left for a visit to England a few days later. Seton Wenley had now decided to come to live in Napier in his Father’s house. F.W. Spite   (General   Manager   New   Zealand Shipping Company) gave a cocktail party at the Club one evening for Harmer (Director from London). Then the Burkitts gave one of their large dinner parties after which we looked at pictures of their recent overseas trip. Rose Hillier was now living in Faraday Street and I used to pop in to see her from time to time. And Sarah McLean had taken a small  house  in  Hardinge  Road.  At  the Historic Division Miss Anderson gave a very interesting talk on old identities of Napier. The Dudley Kettles gave a party at their home (Wharerangi) to farewell the Barnetts and John Masons – both couples were going for  an   overseas   trip.  One   day   I   took McLennan out to Muritai where we had a discussion on many aspects of Williams and Kettle’s  activities.  Eddie,  of  course,  was Chairman and I Deputy. McLennan was the Company Auditor and up to a point advisor on financial matters. At the Autumn Show the S.P.C.A. had a stand but it was not the success  we  had  expected.  Jim  Munro, Curator of the Museum, was living in Cluden Bank Flats, near us, and one evening he brought his sister, Mrs. MacKenzie, who was in New Zealand on a visit, to see us. There was quite a lot of S.P.C.A. work and I spoke at Hereworth School and at Waipawa High School during the month – also at the Clive School. On the day I spoke at Waipawa H.P. Hole and I went on to Waipawa and we returned via the Hampden road and called in at ‘The Cottage’. One night Percy and Bertha gave a small dinner party and Ethne and Eddie were present, also John and Barbara Gordon. There was a visit to Pukekino and we called in to see the Cecil Averills on our way back to town. Mary Webster had a sale of her household effects as she was about to go to England to make her home in Surrey where Alec now lived. (This did not work out very well and after two years she returned   to   New   Zealand   to   live   in Auckland.) We had a Lowry Trust Meeting -these are just formalities now and we go through the Annual Statement of Accounts. Cora left us for another trip to England. Louise and young Robert spent a night or two with us while their parents gave a party at the Brian Hill’s house which they had taken for a long weekend. Before the end of the month Harlow, Eddie, Jasper, John Gordon and I had another expedition into the far away country. We went through Raukawa and over the hills to the Te Aute Road, on to the ranges beyond Ashley Clinton. Then on our return we called in to see Russell Cook’s lovely garden at Ashley Clinton.

April

Louise and Robert were staying with us and on the Sunday, Hiraani came over and took

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them to Mass while we went to early service at the Cathedral. Sometimes I used to call in to see Mrs. Hutchinson and Harold Large who lived in Hadfield Terrace, Patsy Smith married   the   other   young   Patterson   of Marlborough   and   there   was   a   huge reception at Poraite. S.P.C.A. kept me busy -meetings etc. and one day Maxine and I had a  great  struggle  to  get  a  cat  off  a  cliff overlooking Goldsmith Road – a young man came to our assistance with a ladder and all was well. I spoke to the pupils at several more schools viz. Crownthorpe, Pukehamoamoa, Clive  and  Waipawa  and  I  also  spoke  to Federated Farmers in Hastings. At Williams and  Kettle’s  meeting  Eddie  got  leave  of absence for six months and I was appointed acting Chairman for the period. There were several farewells for Eddie and Ethne before they left by air for England. Mrs. Timmer of Amsterdam was in New Zealand on a visit to Dick and Margaret and there was a large party at Glencoe one evening when we met many of our country friends. Monty was laid up with one of his attacks of bronchitis and I used to pop over to see him often. There were visits to ‘The Cottage’ and to Havelock to  see  Lulu  and  Winston  and  also  the Burburys. Mary Webster left to take up her abode  in  England  and  before  she  went Cushla and Helen Humphries gave a farewell party –  present  were  the  Dudley  Kettles, Cooks, Tonkins, Tony Roberts, Mrs. Douglas, the   Russell   Mosses,   Olga   Smith   and ourselves. On my 72nd birthday, Boy, Sue, Monty and Cushla came over to dinner. Ivan and Mary came down from Taupo for a few days – the latter stayed with us.

May

I succeeded in passing my driver’s test a second time and all was set up for another year.  I  took  Cushla  out  to  an  Overseas League party in Grove Road, Hastings but it was a poorly attended one. S.P.C.A. work proceeded apace and we had our Annual Meeting during the month. The Jumble Sale was a success thanks to the Maori Women who flocked to it. I went out to see Ted English at Meeanee and he agreed to help care for our stray dogs, if necessary. Freda Hole, as usual, was a tower of strength to me in my work. During the month we visited the Barrons, Dorothy Gordon and ‘The Cottage’. The Maraekakako Sports were a success and Boy was still President. We took Cushla out with us. At the Williams and Kettle’s Director’s Meeting I took the chair as Eddie was now out of the country. We had our Annual Meeting of the Farm Company – the figures showed a satisfactory year and all were happy. Robert Harding (Chairman of the H.B.C.C.) died on the 23rd. George Cotterill died on the 28th -he was 78 and I had known him all my life as the Cotterills lived next door to us in my boyhood days and my Aunt Andro married Charlie Cotterill, an uncle of George’s. On the 26th we gave a party for Ruby Stead who was about to go to England on one of her many visits. John Humphries had a week or two in Sherwood and I visited him often. I also used to call to see Mrs. MacKay quite often. I flew down to Wellington for a meeting of the Executive of the S.P.C.A. and while there I called to see Sybil and Gladys Nathan and Lucy Menzies. I stayed at the Midland and George Spence was also there.

June

During this month my S.P.C.A. work was quite considerable –  there  were  many  calls  for personal help and Freda was always ready to help. I spoke at Nelson Park School and at the Boy’s High School before an audience of 750. I think these addresses at school were doing the cause good for we already had quite a large number of junior members. I took Horrie out to see M. and K. Chambers at Tauroa one day and we called in to see how things looked at Muritai as Eddie and Ethne were away.  I  paid  a  couple  of  visits  to  ‘The Cottage’ and said farewell to Mrs. Ross and Barney who were leaving to go to the Cohn Bells. Barney had been a tower of strength to  Boy  for  quite  a  time.  I  also  went  to Pukekino one day and so on to see the Andersons at Kereru. The country looked a little depressed as there had been much rain over a long period. One day H.P. Hole and I had a day at Waipawa, Waipukurau and on to Clovelly (his Hatuma farm). I was able to contact Williams and Kettle’s Staff at

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Waipawa and Waipukurau while H.P. saw Ian Johnston. The ‘Port Auckland’ with Commodore Syvert was in port for about a week and there was a cocktail party and big, dinner party – both very enjoyable affairs. I took Maxine and Freda on hoard one morning for a look round. I saw her sail one evening with Ted Phillips and John Cook (General Manager for New  Zealand).  One  evening  I  took  Helen Humphries to an Overseas Meeting where Cleary  of  the  British  High  Commissioner’s Office  spoke –  I  had  met  him  earlier  in Wellington. We used to keep a watchful eye on Mrs. Day and Mrs. Mackay. On the 23rd we  got  our  telephone  connection  after nearly two Year’s wait. You will remember my condition in joining the Land Valuation Committee for six months was that the Postmaster granted me ‘telephone connection’!!! Towards the end of the month Harlow and I proceeded to Taupo for a sitting of   the   Committee.   Over one hundred objections to values were set down but they dwindled down to four. Two of these were objections by Sir David Smith and Morrison (both Judges). The cases were lengthy and Harlow and I did not get anytime to ourselves as we had hoped, to visit Murupara etc. We stayed in comfort at the new Lake Hotel. I must admit I was not happy at all being driven by Harlow – he was a shocking driver. During the hearing  of  Judge  Morrison’s  case  Harlow suddenly  shouted  from  the  bench  to  the Judge, who was conducting his case, ‘There’s far too much repetition, please get on with the case’. The Court shook including the Taupo Policemen and I felt very ashamed for I was sitting   on   the   Bench   with   Harlow!   The proceedings in the Court struck me as almost Gilbertian for whenever Harlow and I rose the Court likewise rose including the two Judges.

July

Horrie wanted to prune the roses again so we consented but he was painfully slow over it. We visited Jim Grey again at Bay View – it looked as if he would take a third wife in the Cornford  woman  (Sutherland).  Sandtmann and I were glad when Peter Lowry at last left for  England  to  go  to  Sandhurst  Military Training School but alas he did not stick it out for very long. I was now acting Chairman at Williams and Kettle and used to confer with Burkitt   frequently.   The   Rathbones   were staying for a time with Monty and Cushla. During  the  month  Dorothy  caught  a  very unpleasant form of ‘Flu and was pretty ill. Sam Turner attended her as Harold Barnett was in England. Then I also caught it and the family were able to get hold of Betty Anderson of Kereru and she came in to take charge of the home.  It  was  a  miserable  time  and  the weather was atrocious. However we both recovered and life returned to normal. The speaking   competition   of   the   Overseas League for the Anthony Eden Cup was held and I deputised for Jim Munro. Maxine Edgar and Freda Hole both developed ‘Flu. One day I did the walk from Lighthouse Road down Storm’s Gully to Breakwater Road. There were visits to Dorothy Gordon, Lulu Barron and Wilfred Turner of Puketitiri but now living in Havelock. The S.P.C.A. work kept me pretty busy at times and I spoke at the Central School. There was also a party for Hollay (our Secretary) for his birthday.

August

Sue went home early in the month with her new baby girl (Diana). I went out to ‘The Cottage’ one day to help Boy with some sheep work. Winston was beginning to get a little rheumaticy – rather young for that as he could  not  have  been  more  than  8.  This month I completed more gifts by forgiving most, if not all, of what was owing after the formation of the farming company. I joined the Napier Savage Club – why I don’t know except that Hollay was its Secretary and I attended  a  meeting.  My  S.P.C.A.  work became more demanding as time moved on and  I  found  Terry  Goldfinch  (Vet)  very helpful to me. The M.S. Chambers gave a big party at Tauroa following Dudley and Pauline’s wedding. This was a small private affair earlier on  account  of  the  latter  being  divorced. Williams and Kettle kept me fairly busy as I used to go through much with Burkitt each week. We had a big ‘do’ at Waipawa – lunch party and then the opening of Williams and Kettle’s new premises by the Mayor (Johansen) and I had to do the honours. Mary came to

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stay for a few days while Ivan stayed at the Club. Our first year of the Farm Company was successful and it was satisfactory that the     family     became     a     little     more independent. There was a sitting of the Land Valuation Court one day in Napier – Harlow and  I  sat  for  about  ten  minutes  and  no objector  turned  up  so  the  thing  lapsed. Harlow was furious and wanted me to put in for my fee which I refused to do. It was the last time I sat as later in the year Arnold returned. But I had got the telephone out of it. Ray resigned from the Bank of New South Wales in Berkeley Square, London, and was to have a month or so to say her farewells before returning  to  New  Zealand.  Mrs.  Mackay’s health  continued  to  deteriorate  and  the question was how long she could remain in her own home. One day I invited the Bishop, Leslie Lovelock (Whakatane Town Clerk) and Owen Woodhouse to lunch at the Club. Mrs. Timmer of Amsterdam came to stay for a few days and we took her round the countryside and Cushla and Helen Humphries gave bridge parties  for  her.  On  the 31st  Williams  and Kettle’s Annual Meeting went off well and I was in the chair as Eddie was still away. He was re-elected  Chairman  for  the  next  year  and  I likewise re-elected Deputy.

September

During the month we visited Jim Grey and Margaret on two occasions. Twice we went out to ’The Cottage’ – one day I helped, in a mild way, with docking. Winston gave me a good welcome. I measured the distance from Clyde Road to ‘The Cottage’ by both routes. By Fernhill it was 24.7 miles and by Pakowhai 27.7. We also spent a day at Pukekino where I had a good look round much of the property and  later  I  went  to  Kereru  to  see  the Andersons.  There  were  several  visits  to Havelock to see Lulu and Winston and lunch one day at Percy Elworthy’s and later we called to see Mrs. Turner Williams and others, Also there was the usual visit or so to Dorothy Gordon   at   Awanga.   Hastings   held   its ‘Blossom Parade’ and we went out to have a look  at  the  procession  which  was  very mediocre.    Douglas    Nilsson’s    condition became worse – I went over to the hospital to see him several times. As it was difficult to follow his speech, after telling of local events I would read to him. Hastings became a City and the Governor General (Sir Willoughby Norrie)   was   there   to   take   part   in   the celebrations. Mrs. Tait of Glenelg died at the age  of 90  odd  and  a  very  large  crowd gathered   there   for   the   funeral   service conducted         by        Steve        Weymouth (Archdeacon). After the service in the garden and when the body left for burial in Napier, a wake   took   place   and   there   was   much drinking.   The   whole   affair   was   rather grotesque. Mardie and Bill Russell returned after their visit to Britain and had much to tell us. H.P. Hole and I had a day at his farm at Hatuma.  I  think  I  may  have  mentioned before that the Hatuma Settlement used to be  Woburn  Station  and  belonged  to  Mr. Purvis Russell till about 1902 when it was taken under the ‘Lands for Settlement Act’. It used to be about 40,000 acres. The price paid (after much legal action) was £5.10.0d per acre. S.P.C.A. work and that of Williams and Kettle occupied quite an amount of my time. Ray’s car (baby Morris) arrived from England as it was purchased with my sterling it had to be registered in my name and Ray was  not  allowed  to  use  it  before  leaving England. Why I don’t yet know.

Oct

Eric Wilson installed a new H.M.V. Fri,. in place of the old one we bought to town. I still attended  the  monthly  meetings  of  the Historical Committee – Bob Stevenson was still  Chairman  and  Peggy  Higgins  was Secretary. The S.P.C.A. job seemed to be on the increase. One night a dog was reported stuck on a ledge of the Bluff Hill overlooking the breakwater. Phil Oxford and I rushed to the scene and later some of the fire brigade came  and  many  voluntary  helpers.  Just before darkness set in two young men made the rescue. One day after a Bradley (Williams and Kettle) to Waipawa and Dannevirke I went on to Motea to speak at the school -somewhere near Weber. We attended the opening of the new Black Bridge on Awanga Road by Goosman (Minister of Public Works). Bill Sykes (our former post boy and part time

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gardener) hired the theatre to speak as he proposed contesting the mayoralty – Freda, Max and I attended for a time. They also came with me to the annual ‘Do’ of the Savage Club. It was very boring. After a week of heavy rain floods  were  ‘out’  in  Hawke’s  Bay  but  the damage was not great. We went out to ‘The Cottage’ one day – the country was looking lovely. The first day of the Spring Show was spoiled by heavy rain but it was fine for Peoples Day and we did very well at our S.P.C.A. Stall. Louie Moffat and Mrs. Bernau came to see us one day. Ray left England on her return to New Zealand in the `Rippingham Grange’ via Las Palmas and South Africa. The usual meeting of the Overseas League took place. On the 29th Horrie and I went to the Airport to meet Ethne and Eddie on their return from England. It was good to see them again. Sam Turner thought the right-hand sub-maxillary gland should be removed – it had been troublesome more or less since 1905.  Egypt  and  Israel  were  at serious   loggerheads   and   it   looked   like trouble, A visit to Pukekino.

Nov

An X-ray of the gland showed the whole gland had calcified. Mac Fisher agreed with Sam that it should be removed. Early in the month Eddie and I attended a cocktail party at the Harbour Board, the occasion was the conference of New Zealand Harbour Boards. We met many old friends from all over New Zealand. Now that Eddie and Ethne were home again our Saturday morning visits to Muritai  resumed.  From  abroad  came  two unpleasant  bits  of  news.  The  Hungarians staged a revolution against the harsh Soviet rule but it was crushed harshly and ruthlessly, mainly by the use of Russian tanks etc. Then Britain and France flew troops to Suez with a view to settling the unpleasant situation in Egypt and all went well at first, the U.S.A. and Russia interfered and put a spoke in the wheel and a withdrawal had to be made. (This is now 1967 and the situation in the Middle East reveals how disastrous was the action of the U.S.A. in 1956 – for today the Middle East is in a turmoil following Israel’s defeat of the Arabs recently and the Suez Canal has been closed for six months.) There was   the   usual   S.P.C.A. work – many complaints in regard to cruelty to cats, dogs and horses were followed up. Some of these were genuine but others frivilous. One day I went to Dannevirke where I stayed the night at Andrews Hotel to hold a meeting with a view  to  forming  a  branch  of  the  Society there. Bob Stevens, after dining with me, took me to the hall and the Mayor (Holloway) took the chair. It was a poor meeting but it was  decided  to  push  ahead  and  form  a branch. Mardy and Rosemary Russell were at the meeting (the venture proved worthwhile for as I write now 1967 there is a thriving and active  branch  in  Dannevirke).  I  returned home by service car next day. There were visits to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ as usual. The opening Wool Sale in Napier was a good one and we got an average of 56d. for hogget wool. Mrs. Mackay’s health had deteriorated further   and   she   moved   to   Maraenui Convalescent home where she remained. On the 19th I flew in a Heron to Wellington to attend a meeting of the Executive (S.P.C.A.) and  the  annual  conference.  We  removed Atkins from the Chair. He was no good but it was quite a ticklish job to accomplish. Then we put George Spence in the chair and this turned out well. I stayed at the Midland and also there were Pat Higgins (now Chairman of Harbour Board) and Harland (Secretary). Now that Eddie was home again my duty as Chairman of Williams and Kettle came to an end. Ray arrived back in New Zealand having left the ‘Rippingham Grange’ at Sydney and travelled to Wellington in the ‘Monowai’. Boy and Sue met her there and brought her home on the 28th. It was grand to have her home again after two years away. We had a dinner party that night – the boys and their wives and Monty and Cushla. My visits to Doug Nilsson continued but poor Doug was going further back. Eric Wilson was in Sherwood for a leg operation and I called to see him at times. During the month Mardie was over to see us.

Dec

Now  that  Mrs.  Mackay  was  in  Maraenui Hospital and also Edith Moore I used to go up to see them once a week if possible. One day we went out to lunch with Selby and

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Dorothy Palmer at ‘Te Aratipi’ going by way of Waimarama as this road is better than the tortuous Maraetotara road. On the 5th, after a day at ‘The Cottage’, calling in at Richmond Park en route, i went into Sherwood Private Hospital and next day Mac Fisher removed the offending gland. I remained in Sherwood till the 13th. I made good progress and was well cared for. Among the patients were Eric

Wilson and Bates (Chief Officer of a British Oil Tanker) who had been landed to have an operation, Many called to see me and I was far from lonely. Dorothy and Ray came daily and also among my visitors were Monty and Cushla,  the  boys  and  their  wives,  Sam Turner, Freda and Maxine, Dorothy Gordon, the Bustalls and John Humphries, who kindly lent  me  a  transistor.  On  returning  home there was a period of convalescence during which time I took things quietly. I missed the christening of Diana but Dorothy and Ray went to Hastings for it and Alec and Betty Anderson came to see me. Before Christmas I  went  out  to  ‘The  Cottage’  and  visited several friends’ homes in a quiet way. Then came Christmas Day and we had lunch with Monty and Cushla and in the evening we entertained for dinner Boy and Sue, Monty and  Cushla  and  Morris  Jenkins  of  the `Rippingham Grange’. Captain Owen of this ship was in Sherwood and ultimately was flown back to England. Sue went over to Sydney for a month and Ray went out to ‘The Cottage’ to take charge. Before the end of the year we went out to lunch at Awanga with Dorothy Gordon and then to tea with the Herricks and I called to see Bates, who was progressing reasonably well. He was a very amusing fellow and hailed from the north of Ireland. I note that, during 1956, I visited and spoke at twenty-one schools in Hawke’s Bay on S.P.C.A. work and I feel this was of help to the cause.

Photo captions –

Image of Frank, Dorothy, Bob and Hiraani Logan (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan.

Dorothy and Frank Logan with Hamilton (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

From left to right: Frank Logan, Dorothy Logan, Kay Logan (Ivan and Mary‘s daughter-in-law), Mary Logan and Ivan Logan (date and location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

John and Alexandra Fountaine (Alexandra is holding Marilyn Fountaine), Hamilton Logan, Frank and Dorothy 1975 (location unknown). Image source: Hamilton Logan

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Frank and Dorothy’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary at Clyde Road, Napier in 1972. Image source: Hamilton Logan

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CHAPTER TEN

1957 – 1962

1957

As I begin this year’s diary the date is January 1st 1968 – so I am still ten years behind but the most important years of my life have been covered.

January

Sue was still away in Australia and Ray was out at ‘The Cottage’ with Boy. We visited ‘The Cottage’ several times during the month – much to Winston’s delight. And towards the end of the month I spent a weekend there and Ray and I went to the Kereru Sports. Rosemary Herrold spent a few days at ‘The Cottage’ and stayed with us for a night on her way back to Auckland. Bill Crosby (now Lord Somerleyton) spent a few days at ‘The Cottage’ and one day Boy bought him to see us and we lunched at the Club. He was a very nice young man and his home was near Lowestoft (Suffolk). It was his family’s firm that supplied the carpets for the Club. Bates was still in Sherwood and I used to pop in to see him almost daily. He had one set back when some of the stitches broke before time. However towards the end of the month his condition began to mend. Captain Owen of the ‘Rippingham Grange’ was well enough  to fly back to England at the end of the month. Leo Bestall was in Sherwood for a couple of weeks following a hernia operation. On January 2nd it was Monty’s 70th birthday and we had a dinner party in France Road.

While lamb shearing was in progress I went out to Pukekino. Most Saturdays we visited Muritai taking Horrie of course. One day we went to Havelock to see Flora Herrick and Miss Elsie Williams was there and looking very frail. She and Ruth Herrick now live in Middle Road, Havelock.

We bought Edith Moore over one afternoon from Maraenui but the effort of getting her in and out of the car was too great for another visit. Dorothy Cunningham went off to England for a trip. Anthony Eden resigned as Prime Minister of England and Harold
Macmillan succeeded him. One day Mrs. Eaton and Sandy (Hugh) brought the latter’s children to see us.

Freda and Maxine had a couple of weeks at Taupo – this threw a bit more S.P.C.A. work on to me. Boy took me to the Waipukurau Show where the S.P.C.A. had a stand. It was not a great success and we decided not to attempt it again. The January wool sale was buoyant.

Hollay went to hospital with pleurisy – this too added to the S.P.C.A. work. On the night of the 29th Williams and Kettle’s No. 1 Store at the Port was totally destroyed by fire and the next day Burkitt and I had an inspection. As a matter of fact this was a blessing to the firm as it turned out, for we rebuilt in Onekawa on the section wisely purchased some years ago.

Feb

S.P.C.A. activity stepped up – there was a meeting one evening at Mrs. Ponga’s in St. George Road, Havelock, as she now provided Kennels for strays in the Hastings area and we included on our committee several men and women who constituted the Hastings Committee and who could attend the S.P.C.A. committee meetings.

We adopted, with success, the oppossum cage for catching stray cats. The Whites were anxious to sell out the Kennels at Meeanee and the Fowdens, who were caretakers at Maraenui Golf Club, became interested in purchasing if the cash could be raised. Our Street Day collection in Napier was a record and we collected £270 – several of our collectors decided to remain on duty till 9 p.m. Ray helped us as she was at home. We held a special Williams and Kettle Director’s Meeting at the beginning of the month and decided to rebuild at Onekawa. We also approved, in principle, the establishing of a staff superannuation scheme and asked Sandtmann to report to us. Dennis Bates was discharged from Sherwood and moved to the Masonic for a few days before sailing hack to England in the ‘Rangitoto’. Before he left we took him about the countryside for the odd drive and there was a visit to Muritai. I was sorry to say good-bye for he was a very pleasant and gay companion. (I used to keep in touch with him for several years – then

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silence and we heard then he had died). My visits to the hospital to see Douglas Nilsson were maintained. Also visits to Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore.

Sue returned from Australia on the 8th and Ray came back to Napier. Then on the 10th Dorothy went off to Taupo for a couple of weeks. One day Eddie and I picked up Boy at Maraekakaho and we proceeded to Kereru. From there Alec Anderson took us on in the Land Rover to the top of Big Hill, to Herricks and the Kereru out-station. After that we called in at Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ on the way home.

While Dorothy was away there was much gaiety – there was a party at Monty and Cushla’s, there was a dinner party for Jimmy Thomson (MacKinlay’s Whiskey) at the Club. There was a dinner party also and cocktail party on the H.M.S. ‘Royalist’. And after the latter party Eddie and Ethne came up to supper with us. The Art Gallery gave a farewell for Jim Munro who was going to Scotland for a holiday and it fell to me to act as host. I took Pat Higgins out to Muritai one Saturday. One day I went to look at the section the Leo Bestalls had bought in Lighthouse Road on which to build a new home. Nina Pharazyn was now Mrs. Jack Burnell – he was a very nice Australian (Civil Engineer) – and they came up one night to drinks with Freda and Maxine. One day I took Louie Moffat to Hastings for lunch and we had a good run round the country. Ray and I went to Tunanui to see Sir Andrew and Lady Russell, the latter was in bed and looked very frail. There were several visits to ‘The Cottage’, to Lulu and Winston Barron, to Dorothy Gordon etc. etc. Bill Crosby came in again to lunch and say goodbye before he returned to England. Williams and Kettle’s salvage sale, following the fire last month, was a success.

March

On the 1st a meeting was held in Hastings between Ralph Lowry and his family for the purpose of reaching an agreement over the running of Woodthorpe. Rainbow and I were also present. Following on this Sandtmann and I were to cope with Peter concerning the availability of the Ohinewairua funds for the Woodthorpe farm. Ralph and his Solicitor (for time being) Weston Wacher, came along unexpectedly – the former was very insulting as I walked out. That afternoon we took Louis Moffat to Horonui for a huge party given by Ewan and Pauline Campbell.
On the 4th Ray and I flew to Paraparaumu by Heron and thence by bus to Wellington where we stayed at The Midland. While there we saw something of Mary Wilson, Michael Turnbull, Lizzy Fligg, the Nihottes etc. I attended an Executive S.P.C.A. Meeting which lasted most of my time and on the 7th we returned to Napier. The 7th was Dudley’s and Brian’s birthdays and we went out to Brian’s house in Wharerangi for a party – about twenty old friends of the family were present. Later in the month Dudley had a hernia operation and I used to visit bins while he was in Sherwood. One day we went down to lunch with Mardie and Bill Russell -several miles beyond Dannevirke – 91 miles away in fact.
We also attended a party at Mrs. Dasent’s to farewell the Eatons, who were leaving Whakarara and about to live in Havelock. I had to make the speech of farewell. They had been at Whakarara ever since the end of 1931.
There was a small and enjoyable cocktail party at Muritai -only about a dozen fairly close friends of the Herricks and we stayed for dinner. During the month we seemed to be fairly gay and visited the John Humphries, Dorothy Gordon, Jim Grey, Lulu and Winston and others and the Weymouths, Peter Wenley, Selby and Dorothy Palmer, Port and Jane Low of Nelson came to see us. I fitted in several visits to my sick friends such as Doug Nilsson, Mrs. Mackay, Edith Moore, Harold Large and old Rose Hillier who was getting very lame.

The John Masons and I attended an Overseas gathering at Windsor Lodge and I took the chair – we appointed John Shirley our President. Donald Bain of Christchurch (Secretary General for New Zealand) was present. Prior to the meeting there was a committee one evening at Mrs. Crawford’s (Secretary) in Hastings but only four turned up. Betty McLean was staying at Doffle’s and we took her out to ‘The Cottage’. We went to

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Kereru one day to see the Andersons – it was our last visit to them for they were about to leave. Sarah McLean was still in the hospital and I took Mrs. Day to see her once or twice and at the same time I was able to see Douglas Nilsson. Much activity in the S.P.C.A. as usual and our purchase of the Kennels at Meeanee was close at hand. One evening I took Freda out to a meeting at Mrs. Ponga’s. And at the Autumn Show we had our tent again.

April

At a Williams and Kettle meeting Sandtmann supplied his report on a Superannuation Scheme for our consideration. There was much activity in S.P.C.A. Many visits to the Kennels and many cats and dogs needing attention. We completed the purchase of the Kennels and installed the Fowdens who leased from us. The purchase price was £2400 and as the Government Valuation was £400 less, Freda, Max, Phil Oxford and I advanced £100 each till the value rose at a later date. I attended the Annual Meeting of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Art Society and moved notice of adoption of report and balance sheet. It was a full house and a pleasant affair. Ivan and Mary were down from Taupo for a few days, the latter was with us and Ivan at the Club. On April 3rd we took Horrie to a party at Muritai to celebrate Ethne’s birthday. Just old friends present. There were many visits to the hospital to see Sarah McLean, Doug Nilsson and Eric Wilson. The Andersons had now left Kereru and were staying at a cottage in Awanga – we went out to see them. On the 13th Cushla was fifty and we had a happy dinner party at France Road. Most of April was hot and fine. One day we went to a party on board the ‘Port Vindex’ – Ross, a London Director, was the host. On the 27th, my 73rd birthday, we dined with Monty and Cushla and a few days before we had tea with the Bestalls. It was in April that I first met Aline Brossmith, who came into the S.P.C.A. Office to enquire about the transport of her cat from Nelson.

May

I called regularly to see Sarah, Douglas Nilsson and Eric Wilson who were still in hospital and I usually took Mrs. Day to see Sarah. And one day we visited the Nilsson’s farm at Haumoana for occasionally Douglas was able to be taken home for a short period, otherwise he was mostly in the Iron Lung. We took the Grossmiths out to Muritai one day. The ‘Rippingham Grange’ was in port for a week and during that time Morris Jenkins came to see us. Joan Young (Wool Board) came to lunch one day. S. Walter (member of the canvassing team for church affairs) called to see me in connection with the Wells Scheme for collecting church funds. I didn’t altogether approve of the word ‘pledge’ but I agreed to making contributions regularly if possible. I went to the Maraekakaho Sports by myself and spent the night at ‘The Cottage’ after a small cocktail party at the Rochie Averills. Next day was one of much sadness for me as I said ‘goodbye’ to my Winston (the Labrador dog I had saved from death at the hands of a rabbiter on Pukekino), who had been my faithful friend for over eight years. Unfortunately, as he grew older he became hostile to the children and others so it was really unwise to keep him and unsafe. So Boy made the necessary arrangements with the Vet. So another animal friend departed. A man called Davis bought a section of McLeay’s next door to us and began excavating a driveway and as this appeared to be endangering our fence I got Budge Grant to come up and have a look. Then Davis was warned of his responsibility. Louise, who was now 13, came to stay for a few days and she entertained us with songs and music on the ukulele. There was an Overseas League meeting one night at Shirley’s home in Brewster Lane. On another day Louis Moffat gave a party for about a dozen friends in her home in Seapoint Road. After our Williams and Kettle Meeting on the last day of the month Eddie, Maurice and I went to see Barbara Halliday who had a flat in Cluden Bank in Clyde Road. I visited Eskdale School and found the headmaster was a brother of the Prices – I had known him when a small boy.

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June

Mary Wilson came to us for the first weekend. She is still with K. & S. in Wellington. Among those who came to see us during the month were Jim and Margaret Grey, the Vincent Stratfords, Boy and Mason Chambers after a football match, the Alec Andersons, late of Kereru, the John Humphries, Barbara Halliday, the Brian Hills. Poor old Sarah, now back in hospital, seemed to be slipping. I went up to see her on several occasions, taking Seton, Rose Hillier and Mrs. Day on separate occasions. Monty was laid low with bronchitis again and was indoors for about ten days. Also Eddie was confined to the house for the first week or two and Horrie and I often went to see him. The cold he developed at the end of last month went to his chest. Cora, after a visit to Pukekino, came to stay with us for a week and we took her about to see mutual friends such as Jim Grey, Dorothy Gordon, Lulu and Winston, May Handyside etc. I visited Doug Nilsson several times, also Harold Large and Mrs. Hutchinson. Also to the Brian Hills to say farewell as they were about to go to England. Ray had a mole removed from her back and was in Sherwood for about a week. There was the monthly meeting of the Historical Committee and my practice was to pick up Miss Woodhouse at the old Bank Corner and take her to the meeting. Mrs. Hole had her 80th birthday and we thought how wonderful she was. Today, 1968, she is over 90 and still more wonderful. Boy was charged by a cattle beast and injured a leg which kept him quiet for a time. He really had a very lucky escape. I took a flight ticket for Constance Fountaine and she will be here towards the end of the year, Ted Phillips, Manager of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers, died – a great loss, I attended the funeral at Hastings. Also Mrs. Pat Higgins died after a long illness and ‘I attended the service at the Roman Catholic Church – she was buried on the 24th June. On the 25th Ray and I flew to Wellington and stayed at the Midland where Flora Herrick and Barbara Halliday were also staying. A meeting of the executive of the S.P.C.A. took most of the next day but I was able to see something of a few friends such as the Peter Fliggs and Mary

Wilson and H.W. Moss, S.P.C.A. work still seemed to increase and I paid many visits to the Kennels where the Fowdens seemed well installed. At the end of the month Eddie was up but much care was needed.

July

Ray returned on the 1st having remained in Wellington for an audition at the N.Z.B.C. – her voice was not of the proper timbre. The S.P.C.A. work was quite demanding during the month and the saddest job was assisting St. George to ‘put to sleep’ eighteen lovely cats belonging to a Miss Muggeridge who had become mental. The cats were trapped overnight in her washhouse and early next day we caught them one by one and applied the needle. For a day or two afterwards her remaining cats were caught by Mrs. Amyes and myself and taken to St. George. However, we found homes for three or four. A seal was washed up on the beach in a sad condition and we were able to get Roberts (Fertilizer Works Chemist) and his wife to care for it at Hastings till it was fit for its freedom again. It became very tame and friendly. Apart from the cat and dog jobs I had to approach a woman in regard to her care for a parrot, Though I did not know much about parrots I was able to get the woman to improve the conditions. Eddie’s health improved and he was able to come to town to see us one day. Ivan and Mary came down for a few days after their month’s visit to Ian and Kay in Fiji. Norah Jacobs (Craven) came to us for a week and Ray took her about the country. We enjoyed her visit immensely. Joan Young was also in Hawke’s Bay on Wool Secretariat business and came to see us on several occasions. There were visits to Lulu and Winston, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore (in Maraenui), to Sarah in hospital

– I took Mrs. Day and Rose with me, Ray and I went out to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ -Winston (Winnie) had gone by now and how sadly I missed his greeting and our usual walk together. This losing of one’s friendly pets is one of life’s biggest tragedies. On the 18th poor old Sarah McLean died and I took Rose and Mrs. Day to the service at St. Paul’s. W.A. McLeod and I were her trustees and

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the settling of her estate was later accomplished without hitch. It was surprising how she had saved – of course Mr. Wenley had left her an annuity which enabled her to save. She was buried in the Taradale Cemetery near Isobel. I had many meetings with John Shiley both in Napier and at Mrs. Crawford’s home in Hastings -particularly over the change of our sending a boy from Hawke’s Bay on an expedition to England which was subsidised by the Overseas League. I attended the opening of the Napier War Memorial Hall on the parade by S. Smith (Minister of Internal Affairs). W. Nash the leader of the Opposition also attended and spoke well. I also attended the Annual Meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Crippled Children’s Society – now in a very flourishing state thanks largely to Lord Nuffield’s generosity, This Society was first formed in 1935 when I was elected President. Kent-Johnston was now its President. Ray and I went to the annual Cocktail Party at the Hawke’s Bay Club – 180 were present. The Overseas public speaking contest for school boys and girls took place and I took Freda, Maxine, Ray, the Grossmiths and Cushla. Whitlock and Don Bisson acted as judges. Cashmore (one of Hastings first-line surgeons) and John Barker died. Among those who came to see us during the month were the Weymouths, Wilders, Grossmiths, Mary and Ivan and Barbara Halliday who was about to go off to England. On the 28th a devastating gale swept over Hawke’s Bay and on Pukekino more than 150 trees in the plantation near the homestead were blown down. During the last few days of the month Dennis and Jean Cotterill were in Napier.

August

Dennis Cotterill lunched with me at the Club before their return to Christchurch. And on the 3rd I took to bed for a day or so with a feverish cold. As I did not wish to go out of doors to an overseas meeting on my recovery we held the meeting at the house, about a dozen of us and Shirley in the chair. The weather was rather foul for the first ten days. On Dorothy’s birthday (11th) we went out to Muritai in the morning and to Monty and Cushla for dinner – it was Dorothy’s 69th birthday.

Williams and Kettle’s new produce store and wine store was now under construction at Onekawa in place of the store at the Port that was burned down earlier in the year. Several meetings with Sefton Mannering (Dalgety and Company) re Ralph Lowry who was transferring his account from Williams and Kettle to Dalgety. A happy day for Williams and Kettle and many headaches lay ahead for Dalgetys. Sid Taylor became my dentist as John Tonkin left Napier for Auckland. During the month there were visits to ‘The Cottage’ – in fact I spent a few days out there. Visits also to Dorothy Gordon, the Greys at Bay View, to Whakapirau where Barry Ross was now located. On the 17th Caroline Kettle married Ken Haldane and the reception was at Wharerangi. I had to propose their health. It was a biggish affair and many old friends were there. There was a reception for Malloby and his wife at the Memorial Hall -he was High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand. I attended the Annual Meeting of St. John’s Parish to give my support to the move to replace L. Clark with Jack Hyde as parishioners warden. This came about – L. Clark should have retired long ago. Michael Turnbull was with Monty for a few days. The Hawke’s Bay branch of the Overseas League was now in a position to sponsor a boy for the party going to England and the following were selected as a committee to chose [sic] the boy from among about half a dozen candidates. John Shirley (President), Mrs. Neilson and myself of the League’s Committee and the Mayors of Napier and Hastings (Peter Tait and Alex Kirkpatrick, at least the latter was deputy Mayor of Hastings). We met and unanimously agreed upon John Miller of Clive as the most acceptable. He was a good type of boy – about 17 and a pupil of Napier High School. After our meeting we lunched with Peter at the Memorial Hall Restaurant. My usual visits to Doug Nilsson, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore continued. I handed over to F.B. Logan and Company another ten percent of the stock on Pukekino and paid gift duty. Now each party owned 50%. The Harold Barnetts gave a party to celebrate

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John’s engagement -the measuring of spirits by a bowser amused us all. Ray went to Taupo en route to Auckland where she expected to make her home. It was sad to see her go but we quite understood her desire for independence. At our Williams and Kettle Director’s Meeting we agreed unanimously upon the Superannuation Scheme and we signed the necessary documents. There should have been such a scheme in force long ago but better late than never (as I write in 1968 the scheme has been in force for eleven years and has proved most beneficial and it is on very sound foundations – I was appointed one of its Trustees and remained so till my retirement). S.P.C.A. demanded much of my time and I began to find the committee more than helpful – Max Edgar, Freda Hole, Phil Oxford and Hope Bernau were quite outstanding. One night we had a combined meeting of the committee and Hastings sub-committee at Nell Swinburn’s home in Havelock. The last two or three days of the month Dorothy spent in bed with a severe cold. It was not often she had to give-in in this way. However she soon recovered.

September

John Shirley and I conferred much during the early part of the month in regard to the Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Overseas League sponsoring a boy on the trip to the U.K. Ultimately, after we had secured the help of Selwyn Toogood, our minds were at rest as far as finance was concerned. Toogood came to Napier and put on a performance at the Theatre which was packed and the result was a net gain to us of £245 – more than we required actually. After the entertainment we had a small party at our home, the members of the committee and a few others to meet Selwyn. One evening I went, at Peter Tait’s request (Mayor), to a ceremony where eight recent arrivals from Europe were sworn in as New Zealand Citizens. And another evening he invited me to a party to welcome Herr Nording, the West German Minister to New Zealand. Mrs. Day and I were among delegates to select a candidate for the National Party (Napier) at the next elections. The candidates were John Shirley, R. Foster, N. Harvey and Douse (from Gisborne and unknown to us), Ray Foster was selected. Rose Hillier was in hospital for part of the month and Mrs. Day and I used to visit her. There were visits, as usual, to Maraenui to see Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore. H.P. Hole was not very fit during the month and I often called to see him. And it looked if Winston Barron was failing – we went out to Havelock to see him and Lulu. Roy Spackman whom I had known all my life and who was now organist at the Presbyterian Church in Dunedin, called to see us. He had been a fellow passenger with us on the ‘Dominion Monarch’ in 1950 (a couple of years ago he was knocked over and killed by a taxi in New York – this is written in 1968). There were visits to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ – both properties looked attractive in their spring attire. Lord Cobham arrived in New Zealand to take up his job of being Governor General. Pop O’Connell, who had followed A.H. Ferguson as County Clerk, retired and Keith Dockery took his place. Towards the end of the month a farewell dinner was given for Pop at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers in Hastings which was a very successful affair and there were sparkling speeches, especially Pop’s and Hugh Crossees. Since the formation of the Hawke’s Bay County Council in 1875 there had only been three clerks, Fannin, Ferguson and O’Connell. Philip Crawshaw (Secretary General of the Royal Overseas League) wrote asking me if I could find a suitable person to accompany a young man back to England from New Zealand. The young man was one Baker and was suffering from a nervous breakdown – his father was willing to pay the air fare of a person to take charge. I went out to see Baker who was working for Graham at Ngatarawa and found him a very nice young fellow. As John Shirley was anxious to go to England and also the U.S.A. to see about a job advertised I thought of him, for he would be just the answer and consequently I approached him. Callaghan and Brooke Taylor built a very up to date Vet’s Clinic in Hastings and invited me to inspect it. At our Williams and Kettle Director’s meeting it was disclosed that this

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had been a phenominal year and the gross turnover had been a little over £500,000. The annual general meeting took place on the 3rd. Eddie was again made Chairman and I was made Deputy. Mrs. Day decided to sell her home just above us and it looked as if Athol McCredie might be the purchaser. Max Edgar decided to sell her house in Tennyson Street and I helped her to make the necessary arrangements. We inspected a pleasant home in Cobden Lane. Our S.P.C.A. work was about average -perhaps the cat work increased. Freda Hole took Hollay and me to a pets parade in Hastings. The Fowdens seem to be doing a good job at the Kennels.

Oct

Mrs. Day sold her house to Athol McCredie we were pleased about this. We purchased another Morris Car – the old one was passed in to Stewart Greer for £514 which appeared to please us. It was the car we bought in England in 1954 and used it there. Zillah and Mary Averill came in one day and gave us the news of Kereru. I seem to have seen much of Eddie and Horrie – especially the latter as he was laid up for a time with bronchitis. Also during the month many other friends came into my life such as Louis Moffat, Elespie Roberts, the Barrons, Mrs. Mackay, Edith Moore etc. The first Russian satelite was launched and went into orbit 560 miles up and its speed was 18,000 m.p.h. There was much joy when Constance Fountaine arrived on a month’s visit. We met her at the Airport and she made her headquarters with us. There were several visits to ‘The Cottage’ and one day she, Boy and I sat in conference for a long time by the creekside discussing the future of the property. Osmond Bendall died at the age of 86 – he had lived at the Club for many years. Plans were well advanced for John Shirley to take young Baker to England. At a meeting of the Overseas League at Windsor Park, Hugh Henderson (Headmaster of Napier Boys High School, who was to be in charge of the boys sponsored by the Overseas League on their trip) and our selected boy, John Miller, were present. The Spring Show was held on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd – it had been decided this year to have three days in Spring and abandon the Autumn Show. The S.P.C.A. for the first time, also had a stand in the Produce Shed – thank goodness the days of tent erection were over. Hope Bernau, Phil Oxford and I went out to the grounds the day before to prepare. Our three day venture was very successful and we made £130. On the first day Dorothy and I lunched with the Herricks – it was a big party and many friends were there. On the second day Constance Fountaine came with ‘The Cottage’ people and she loved every minute there – no doubt her heart is in New Zealand and I am sure she would have been much happier living a quiet care-free life at ‘The Cottage’ than in the huge pile of stone and brick of Narford Hall. Lord Cobham was at the Show and after the first day Boy and I attended a party at the Club in Napier to welcome him. On the last two days of the month the staff of the merchandise store moved all goods into the new building just finished at Onekawa. It was a great job and wonderfully done. I went down later in the day with Burkitt to thank all hands and we drank to the success of the firm.

Nov

On the 1st of the month we dined with John and Helen Humphries at the Club and then went to their home for coffee where Ivan joined us. Constance Fountaine was with us and we gave a party for her to enable her to meet in particular those she had entertained at Narford Hall viz. the Barnetts, Maurice Chambers, Nancy Rolleston, Rua and Bob Stead, Ruby Stead. Monty and Cushla and the Boys and their wives stayed on for a buffet meal. During Constance’s stay we visited ‘The Cottage’ to discuss matters concerning the future of the property and we sat by the creekside for our conference – it was a glorious day. She, Boy and I were together and she must have thought much of her childhood days when she loved every minute spent at ‘The Cottage’. She was favourable to leasing an area of about four hundred acres to Boy with the ultimate right of purchase. This at a later meeting with McLennan was confirmed. (However, when she returned to

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England after conversation with her son, John, this plan came to naught. I took Constance to see her old home in Napier Terrace – not the Children’s Home – also to see the Derek Van Asches at Awanga. We went to see Aira Ormond and her sister Mable (Mrs. Miller) and it was an hour of much laughter. ON the 25th Constance flew back to England (this was her last visit to New Zealand). I nearly forgot to say she went down to Dunedin during her stay in New Zealand to see her sister (Beatrice Maclean) at Ashburn Hall where she had been an inmate for over thirty years. It was a futile visit and Constance returned with a painful poisoned finger and required Mack Fisher’s attention. John Shirley and Rodney Baker flew off to England – Tyler gave Baker a sedative which kept him in good trim for the flight but John told me that he had another brainstorm a day or two after his arrival. As a result of John visiting the U.S.A. on his return the wonderful job he now enjoys fell into his lap. Mrs. Day was not living in a flat at Clyde Court and Athol McCredie was at work marking alterations to her house. Little Baby (my cat) was not very fit so I took her to St. George who discovered it was a tooth trouble and he keprt her at his surgery overnight. She was so excited to see me the next day. There were the usual visits to see Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore, also to Lulu and Winston and the weekly visits to Muritai with Horrie. Among visitors to us during the moth were John Gordon, John Paton and Duncan Holden. Ray came down from Auckland for a long weekend – she was now quite established in Auckland and was receptionist to Peter Kirker (Orthopaedic). Maxine Edgar and Freda Hole were established in their new home in Cobden Lane and appeared much happier than in Tennyson Street. The election campaign was in full swing and Ray Foster was the National Candidate for Napier. I went to several of his meetings and Max and Freda and Holyoake had a big rally in Napier. The elections were hold on the last day of the month and the National Party lost control. During the last term our party had a majority of ten – now Labour had a majority of two. After our monthly meeting of Williams and Kettle’s directors we went to the new Onekawa premises for the first time for our after meeting gathering with Gordon Cooper. On the 28th Eddie and I went to Gisborne with Cooper and Burkitt and next day attended the opening by Barker (Mayor) of Williams and Kettle’s new premises. I met many friends such as Rex Willock, Ralph Murphy, Saxby, Carol Williams etc. That evening we returned to Napier.

Dec

On the 1st Horrie came up and we discussed the election results and later the McCredies came along. Next day I went to Wellington for a couple of days – travelling by air each way. In Wellington there was an executive meeting of the S.P.C.A. one day and next there was the annual conference. George Spence, who was not the president and his wife were also at the Midland. I found time to call on the Gladys and Sybil Nathan and Mary Wilson came to dinner with me. There were many S.P.C.A. jobs during the month to attend to and even on Christmas Day I had to go out to Greenmeadows to inspect the conditions under which a dog was being kept. One night the Cokers of St. George’s Road in Havelock gave a party which Max, Freda, P. Exford, Hollay and I attended at their Orchard. New Year’s Ever also bought several jobs for y attention. I must say I longed for the day where the President of the Society would cease to be so much at the ‘beck and call’ of all. It may have been largely my own fault. It was good to see Violet Russell in New Zealand once again – she was staying with Reg and Sally Bull at Rissington. Reg Bull was in Sherwood Hospital for an appendix operation and I used to pop in to see him often. Sue, Boy and ourselves attended a monster party give by Eric and Janie Tahau at the memorial Hall for the twenty-first birthday of Paul and Heni. It was a swell affair and it was a lovely night with a full moon. Looking out over the Pacific with two ships lying at anchor under all lights was a glorious sight. Ivan and Mary were in Napier for a few days. There were visits to ‘The Cottage’ and one day we called in at the Rochie Averills. The O.D. Vyvyans (John

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Humphries’ daughter) were in New Zealand for a visit and took a house at Westshore. One night the Humphries gave a dinner for them at the Club. The John Masons also gave one of their monster parties where you could not move on account of the crowd. The Harbour Board’s annual party was held as usual and Eddie and I attended – later we joined Ethne and Dorothy for lunch at the White Heron. Ray came down on the 20th for Christmas and New Year. On Christmas Eve Mrs. Day and the McCredies came in, And on Christmas Day, Monty, Cushla, Mrs. Rainger and the Rathbones came along in the morning- then the boys and their wives came for dinner at night. On Boxing Day I attended the annual Dog Parade at the Sound Shell with Maxine, Freda and Phil Oxford. This event was becoming rather feeble. One night before the end of the year we went up to the Brian Hills to see Bernard Chambers’ slides of Africa. On the last Sunday Bob Stead’s annual yearling parade was held and we met all Hawke’s Bay’s horsey people. Then on the last day of the year we went to Okawa for Tom and Margot’s huge party which was enjoyable.

1958

(It is February 2nd 1968 as I begin condensing my diary of 1958 and it is the hottest day I have experienced in Napier for many years. It is just over two years since I undertook this task and I realize I should have begun years ago.)

Jan

The Labour party had now been in power since the end of November and it was beginning to clamp down on imports and make itself felt. This is the second Labour Government we have had in my life and I doubt if it will reign so long this time. Reg Bull left Sherwood early in the month. Flora Herrick gave another of her cocktail parties at Havelock. Edmund Hillary reached the South Pole. He and Vyvyan Fuchs of England who were approaching from opposite angles were to have met there together but for some reason Hillary failed to wait. S.P.C.A. work still seemed to demand much time and I missed the meeting point in Tennyson Street now that Max and Freda had gone to live in Cobden Lane, Jim McCormick (Inspector) and I made an inspection of Longlands Stock Yards one day and Boy came too. We were not very happy about the conditions and later the Hawke’s Bay County Council put things to right for us. I paid several visits to ‘The Cottage’ – Seton Wenley went out on one occasion and we took Joy Cox out on another. Ray was with us for a long weekend at the time. The Sam Turners came over one evening during that weekend. Twice during the month Dorothy and I bathed in the sea – at the foot of Coote Road, where we found it rather rough, and at Westshore. Joy was with us. Eddie and Ethne were in for dinner one night and he and I discussed his resignation as Chairman of Williams and Kettle. They were also at a dinner party with us at the Lindsay Gordons. Bob and Family were at Waimarama for the month and we went to see them there and met many of their young friends. Seton Wenley decided on a scheme of divestment and asked me to attend a meeting with McLennan, McMillan (Prime Minister of England) was in New Zealand for a few days. Winston Barron began to ‘go downhill’ very rapidly and I was able to find Sister Hardy to go out to help. He died on the 15th and Horrie and I attended his funeral on the next day. We called in to see Lulu briefly and went on to Muritai. Dorothy Cunningham returned from her trip to England and Maxine Edgar gave a party to welcome her home.

Feb

This was a busy month. There were the usual weekly visits to Muritai and visits to Bertha and Percy Elworthy, the latter was laid up following a clot, to Lulu, to Silverford with Colin and Gillian Thomson who had just purchased the property of sixty acres. This was once the home of Lowry North. Ivan and Mary came to Napier for a few days and also Nancy, John and Ngaire. The Queen Mother came to New Zealand for a fortnight and we had a view of her as she passed through Napier on her way to spend a night or two at Greenhill – the property was selected as a typical Hawke’s Bay Station. I would not

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consider it the best pick. Our next door neighbour, Bartlett, died and Seton and I attended the service at the Methodist Church – his daughter, a budding nun, was not permitted to attend this. Standford, a member of our S.P.C.A. Committee, also died. Gordon Cooper was back at work again after about a month off owing to a breakdown following the arduous task of carrying on after Williams and Kettle’s fire and the change over to the new premises at Onekawa. During the month I did some sea bathing both at Westshore and off the Napier beach with Hope Bernau and Cushla and the Vyvyans. We saw a good deal of the McCredies who were still heavily engaged in getting Mrs. Day’s house into order. I attended the monthly meeting of the Historic Committee and, as usual took Miss Woodhouse with me, Ken Wilson had now succeeded Bob Stevenson as Chairman. John Shirley was back again and he reported on his trip to England and the U.S.A. At our Williams and Kettle meeting on the 14th Eddie retired from the Chair, and the Board of Directors. He had been a member of the Board for thirty years and Chairman for twenty. I was elected his successor and assumed office from this date. Maurice Chambers was elected deputy. Before departing the Vyvyans (June was John Humphries’ daughter) gave a cocktail party at the house they had leased at Westshore. There were visits to ‘The Cottage’ and Pukekino during the month. Ralph Lowry decided to make a gift of sheep to his family who were about to take over Woodthorpe, which had been leased by them to Ralph. So I was deputed to meet Ralph at Dartmoor and take delivery of the stock with Robin. It was not advisable for Tom to be in the party. Robin failed to turn up so the job was left to me, Rainbow turning up later. It was a very unsatisfactory affair – Ralph was verging on another attack and was quite queer and the stock were in a shocking condition. Later on Robin sold the sheep and purchased others. Ralph’s condition deteriorated and Sefton Mannering (Dalgety) and I had a good deal of worry over his attitude towards the family. Also Tom, Robin and I met on several occasions but we never seemed to make progress as Ralph was so undependable. The H.P. Holes took over a flat in Thompson Road (where the P.S. McLeans used to live in years gone by) and were very comfortable there. H.P. Hole and I had a day down at Waipukurau and Hatuma, Jasper Herrick was not at all well again so Eddie and Ethne decided not to go to England as planned. Rochie and Coley Averill came to say farewell before leaving for England. My S.P.C.A. work was much easier this month but a Dutch woman (Koch) who lived in Ellison Road, just below Tauroa, gave us a fair amount of trouble. She had a few acres which were overstocked with sheep, goats, calves and horses. She was a very unpleasant and obstinate woman. Humphrey Dixon and his wife were in New Zealand for a short time. He was a director of the firm in Birmingham which did Williams and Kettle’s buying in England.

March

I really got into my stride in my job of being Chairman of Williams and Kettle -but during the past few years I had acted for Eddie on several occasions so things were not entirely strange to me. I began by attending head office regularly once a week so as to keep abreast of the general business and, of course, I was always available if Burkitt required me. Many letters and telegrams of goodwill encouraged me and a letter from John Cook, Manager of the Port Line in New Zealand, and a member of the Port Line Board in London, was very kindly worded. On the 18th Williams and Kettle staged the official opening of the new and delightful premises at Onekawa. I gave a lunch at the Club that day at which Sir George Mallaby (British High Commissioner and recently knighted) was present together with the Directors and Burkitt. Then Sir George officially opened the new building in the afternoon – other speakers were Peter Tait (Mayor of Napier) and J. Edwards M.P. About 500 were present at the ceremony. I visited Hawke’s Bay Branches of the firm during the month. At the end of the month

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Williams and Kettle farewelled Eddie at a luncheon party at the Memorial Hall. All Directors, branch managers and executive officers of the Company and their wives attended and a presentation was made. Eddie had been a member of the board for thirty years and Chairman for twenty and during that time he rendered a notable service to the Company. There was activity in the Overseas League – at the annual meeting at Windsor Lodge. John Shirley stepped down from the presidentship on account of his taking up a job later in the U.S.A. and Jim Munro was elected in his place and I was elected deputy. Hugh Henderson and John Miller were farewelled – the latter is the boy we chose to go on this trip sponsored by the League and the former was appointed to be in charge of the team of boys. It was a fine and dry month, rather too dry because I note from my diary rain was wanted. I seem to have got in a fair amount of sea bathing. One day we went to the Peter Hummers for lunch at Argyll and later I spoke to the pupils at East Argyll School about the S.P.C.A. And that evening I went to the Clive farewell to John Miller. During the month there were the Saturday visits to Muritai and among the friends to be visited were Louie and Betty, Dorothy Gordon, Jim Grey etc. Also there were my visits to Maraenui to see Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore, Sheila Williams and Marjory Waddington were in Sherwood for a-time and I used to pop in to see them at times. The New Zealand Shipping Company gave a large cocktail party at the Club which we attended. There was much activity at the Port and, at times, all wharves were occupied. One day I went to see Pat Higgins and Harland at the Office and so pick up the threads again. The Autumn Show took place and the day before Phil Oxford and I got the stand ready and on the Sunday I took Freda out. It was a successful day and we made £230. Freda retired from the Dental Clinic after thirty years’ service and her retirement meant she was able to help me much in my S.P.C.A. work. After a visit to ‘The Cottage’ one day we took Horrie with us we called in at Richmond Park to see Marianne, who was over from Australia with her first baby. Another day I was at ‘The Cottage’ and helped with some mustering. The Guardian Trust (Tom Mitchell) looked after Maxine Edgar’s affairs and she called me in to discuss various matters concerning her affairs one day. Ralph Lowry reached the stage when the Public Trust stepped in and took charge. All rather pathetic. Rainbow and I met and decided to appoint Eric Nelson to report to us on the Woodthorpe property. On the 28th Ray came down from Auckland for a long weekend and I went to bed for a couple of days with a heavy cold. This seems to have been a fairly heavy month.

April

On the 1st Ray returned to Auckland. And on that day the Athol McCredies took up residence in Mrs. Day’s house and we were very happy to have them as our near neighbours. Athol was Editor of the Daily Telegraph and a fellow of much ability. He often dropped in to have a yarn on all sorts of subjects. On the 3rd it was Ethne Herrick’s 71st birthday and we went out to Muritai to wish her well. During the first ten days of the month Hallay was away from the S.P.C.A. office on holiday so I used to drop in for an hour or so each day. We held our annual jumble sale and the Maori women were, as usual, our best customers. Now that Maxine and Freda lived in Cobden Lane their home became a frequent meeting place but by now we, the committee, had decided to hold our monthly meetings in Various committee-men’s homes, whereas we used to meet at Maxine’s home in Tennyson Street. This plan worked quite well as time went on. Jim Munro was in hospital after an appendix operation. There always seems to be someone in hospital to be visited. My interest in the Harbour Board kept up and Pat Higgins kept me well informed. One day-he accompanied me to Muritai. Louise came up from Island Bay (Sacred Heart) for her Easter holiday. Cora was with us for Easter and we had a good run round the countryside for her to see her old friends and then we took her to Pukekino where

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she stayed for a time. There were visits to ‘The Cottage’ which we always enjoyed -the children were growing fast for Tim was three this month. On Easter Monday John Gordon gave a small party to farewell Dorothy Gordon who was about to fly to England for six months. Ivan and Mary were down from Taupo during the month and Betty and Alwyn were over from New Plymouth. While Dorothy and Cushla went out to Hastings for the Ballet Athol McCredie came to spend the evening with me. Maxine Edgar’s health began to cause worry and she spent a couple of weeks on her back but this did not seem to make any improvement. Ralph returned to Porirua for a period. Tom, Peter, Rainbow and I had one or two meetings with Eric Nelson who was now more or less in control of Woodthorpe. While Dorothy went to Taupo for ten days Cora came to take charge. One day we went to Tutira and on our return we ate our lunch by the sea near Tangoio. We had Boy and Sue to dinner one night and also Hollay. We paid a few visits on some of Corals old friends such as Louis Moffat and Mrs. MacKay and Theakestone. We also had a day at ‘The Cottage’. I met Donald Bain at the Airport one day and in the evening we attended a farewell cocktail party at Mrs. Kelly’s in Hastings for John Shirley and later the Overseas Committee dined at The Berkeley Mrs. Findlay, who was retiring from the Committee, was also a guest of honour. On the 22nd Cora flew off to Auckland and Dorothy returned home. Williams and Kettle’s affairs progressed well and after our meeting we went on to Onekawa. Ray came down on the 25th for a few days and on my birthday (April 27th) we went to Clifton in the morning and to ‘The Cottage’ for dinner taking Cushla with us. As we were proceeding along Pakowhai road and got ourselves in a bit of a queue near Lindisfarne, and young hooligan, after several attempts, pushed us off the road. Later, as he had stopped by Stortford Lodge we pulled up and I spoke to him and, as he was very truculent, I decided to go to the Police Station and make a complaint. The Constable in charge could only type Ray’s statement with one finger so Ray took over. As a sequel and, at a later date, in the Magistrate’s Court in Hastings the young man was fined £30 and lost his licence for eighteen months. The Sergeant-in-Charge thanked us for having taken the action we did. Violet Russell stayed with us for a few days and I took her to see Mrs. MacKay, Aira Ormond and Miss Twig. On April 28th Mrs. McCredie was whisked off to Sherwood for an operation and returned about ten days later.

May and June

I have decided to condense further for several reasons, but the main reasons for doing so are –
(1) I am getting older and my life is not nearly so full as it was and
(2) You all know pretty well my activities of today and most of the people I may mention.

My friend Algie Rainbow nearly had a fatal accident. While he was at the Awatoto Shingle Company’s works a man fell from a tower on top of him. He was in Royston for a time and I visited him there. During these two months there were visits to Tauroa to see M. and K. Chambers, to Lulu, to Elespie, to Mrs. MacKay and Edith-Moore, to the Whitlocks at Havelock, where they have a lovely view over the Bay towards Napier, to the Herricks at Muritai, to young Fenton Kelly,who was in the Napier hospital with chest trouble. One day Gordon Cooper and I visited Wairoa for the day-most of the time was spent on Williams and Kettle business. Seton Wenley made himself most unpleasant again in regard to our trees, which we always cut back as we thought fit, and he wanted practically razed to the ground. In the end Boy came in and had a word with him. I was still on the committee of the Overseas League. The Annual Meeting of the S.P.C.A. took place and the muster was quite good. I was elected President for the fifth time. James, the Chief Inspector for New Zealand, came over to Hawke’s Bay to confer with us. Jasper Herrick was not making such progress as was hoped for and he was still in

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Dunedin. Mrs. McCredie was home again after her operation and we saw quite a lot of them both. Geoffrey Archer, a master of Stowe School in England, was out here for a few months and we saw something of him while in Hawke’s Bay. Agnes Mill and Lady Roberts were at the Masonic and came up to see us. We turned our home into a joint family home as the limit of value was abolished. This will reduce Death Duty Charges. Ray was down for a week at the time of the Magistrates Court proceedings against the young fellow who pushed us off the road. One day in May there was a freak heat wave and the temperature in Napier rose to 80 degrees. In June, Boy and I went off for a few days to Gisborne where we stayed at the Masonic Hotel. It was mainly a Williams and Kettle business trip of inspection of Wairoa, Gisborne and Ruatoria Branches. At Gisborne there was a party at the office where many of our clients turned up and I met many friends such as Rex Willock, W. Saxby, Dodgson etc. We also went out one evening to the Dodds where we met the popular Emma McGee. We went on for a night at Te Puia to see Colebrook, late Manager of Ruatoria, who was in hospital. Then the next day we called in to see A.B. and Rere Williams at Puketitiri their lovely home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Then we went on to spend a night with Colin and Jackie Williams at Ruatoria. At Te Puia Boy had a game of golf with Alan Johnston and others. There was a visit to O.T. Williams at Gate Station before returning to Gisborne via Waipiro Bay. From Gisborne we went to Opoutama to spend a couple of days with Harold Johnston (Sir H. retired Judge) on his farm. Rordon Beere and his wife were also there. It was a pleasant interlude and Harold and I had much in common as we had known each other for half a century. Eddie had a party on his 80th birthday – many of our old friends were present. One day there was a very pleasant lunch party on board the ‘Athenic’ at the Breakwater. Heywood was Captain. Among the speakers were Pat Higgins; Peter Tait, Tony Roberts and myself.

July and August

What with Williams and Kettle and S.P.C.A. I appear to have a full job these days and I am lucky at my age to have some occupation that I feel I can still do some justice to. Dorothy went to Auckland early in July for a long weekend and Bob came to stay with me for part of the time and we paid a round of visits to various friends. Then Boy followed as he had to have an x-ray or two on account of some back trouble bought about by a beast charging him in the cattle yards. Eddie, Ethne and the Maurice Chambers flew off to England and I farewelled them at the Airport with Horrie. The S.P.C.A. street day collection was successful and tiring and one night we held a combined meeting at Dunlop’s in Hastings. Betty Anderson came to stay with us for a few days. There was a dinner party at the Club for the John Cooks (Port Line), Directors of Williams and Kettle and the Hawke’s Bay Farmers being present. I had to leave early to attend the Overseas Speaking Contest for the Anthony Eden Cup. I visited Jasper Herrick several times at Knight Street, he was making quite a good recovery. Ruby Stead was also an inmate at the time. At last we succeeded in getting an individual telephone line and what a joy that was. I took Maxine and Freda to the Savage Club’s Ladies night, I was fed up with this show – it was very boring. Several visits to ‘The Cottage’ -Boy was making a wonderful job of the place. And, of course, it is interesting to see the children as they develop. It was a very dry winter and there was a shortage of grass but fortunately Boy had provided pumpkins and hay to meet the situation. The Hawke’s Bay Club Cocktail Party was held – Dorothy had a slight collapse so we came home early and vowed it would be our last big party. Her fur coat was lifted and a poor one left in its place: But after a week or more we were lucky to trace her own. It was a tricky business but I will leave it at that. Sam Elworthy (now a Vice-Airmarshall) was out and we went to a party his parents gave and one day he came to lunch with me at the Club. Percy Burbury died – it was rather mysterious to say the least. He

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had recently re-married but we never met her. Sometimes I went to the Dog Obedience classes organised by Fowden of the Kennels. Ray came down for a long weekend at the time of Dorothy’s 70th birthday. The boys and wives gave a dinner party for her at ‘The Cottage’, Monty and Cushla were there and for some reason Enid Nelson was also present. While Ray was home we went out to Clifton one day. Boy and I went to see the football match at Te Aute where Wanganui First XV won by 16-8. It was a grand game and I met several old school friends -among them Selby Palmer and Thornley Sherratt, There were the usual visits to Elespie – generally taking Horrie and to Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore, We used to see much of the McCredies and one night we dined there and Baby (my cat) insisted on coming too. On the last day of August word came that Ian was stricken with Polio in Fiji.

Sept and Oct

One day I took McLennan out to ‘The Cottage’ for a conference with Boy over the future policy. Through this period the S.P.C.A. work was quite considerable and we seem to have given Terry Goldfinch the bulk of the Vet work. We manned our stall at the Show grounds for the three days and the profit was £140. I did not get much time to myself at the Show but I did find time to foregather with Peter Plummer, Tylee and Merrick Williams. The Show days were fine except for a short thunder storm on the first day. After a week of anxiety Ian died on September 7th. Ivan and Nancy flew over to Fiji and Mary came down from Taupo to us for about a week. Then later she and Ivan came back for another few days. Williams and Kettle’s Annual Meeting took place on the 28th September. It had been a good year again and we paid a dividend of 8% together with good rebates. At the Director’s Meeting later I was re-elected Chairman. One day, just as I was about to board a plane for Wellington for an S.P.C.A. Meeting, I got a message to say it had been cancelled – another couple of minutes and I would have been airborne. One day H.P. Hole and I went to lunch with the Ivan Johnstons at Waipawa and we went on to Waipukurau and Hatuma. Andy Russell was in Langside Private Hospital for a week or two and I used to visit him. Occasionally Peter Tait, T.M. Geddis, Fred Browne and I would have morning tea together. The centenary of the founding of the Union Bank of Australia in Napier was celebrated with a big party. Bob Stevenson (Manager of the A. & N.Z. Bank as it now is), Peter Tait, Edwards and I were the Speakers. One morning Cyril Burkitt took me out to see the Harbour Board’s dredge at work. We missed Eddie and Ethne so did Horrie so we took him about quite a lot. Among those we seem to have visited were Louis Moffat, Betty, Elespie, Dorothy Gordon, the Lindsay Gordons, and, of course, Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore. David Collins was in Napier for a golf tournament – I had not seen him since we travelled out in the ‘Rangitikei’ in 1939. One day I recaptured days gone by by calling in at the sale at Stortford Lodge and later I had lunch at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers with Boy, Sue and the two children. Ray came down for her two weeks holiday and her friend Joan Eales, came to stay also. The Lindsay Gordons gave a party for Dorothy Gordon on her return from England. It was good to have her home again. Ralph Lowry’s affairs kept us on our toes – but we appeared to have made the proper decision in appointing Eric Nelson to watch over the Woodthorpe property.

November and December

Hawke’s Bay was celebrating its centenary as a province and there was much re-enacting of events of one hundred years ago. One night there was a big dinner party at The Memorial Hall for all local body representatives and, as an ex-local body man, I was invited. Lord Cobham and many Cabinet Ministers were there. Miss Mabel Howard was a Cabinet Minister then and she and I had a long talk about the S.P.C.A. and its activities. The Maurice Chambers were home and I went out to see them one day to hear all about their travels. I was in Wellington for a couple of days for the S.P.C.A. Executive Meeting and Annual Meeting. George Spence (President,) took umbrage over something

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and a few of us had a great struggle into the night to get him to see reason. I did not consent to continue on the Executive any longer. I had had three years of it. While in Wellington John Ormond showed me over the new and spacious Meat Board’s Offices on the Quay. On my flight home I met Susan Fisher (great-niece) who was on her way to stay with us. Sue was involved in a car accident near Bridge Pah [sic] she was only shaken but her mother’s car was a write-off. Talking of car accidents – in England Margaret Halliday was killed when she failed to give way at a Stop sign. H.M.S. `Narvic’ visited Napier for a few days and after a party one evening Boy and Sue brought some of the Officers to our house. Gordon Cooper and I visited Williams and Kettle’s branches with a view to future improvements. One day we went out to see the R.P. Kays and Bob came up in the truck and we drove to Pukekino through the paddocks. The Union Steamship Company gave a cocktail party one night at the Club. Kay Logan returned to Napier from Fiji and the boys helped her to get her home in Hadfield Terrace into order. Maxine and Freda went to Taupo for three weeks so my S.P.C.A. work increased considerably during that time. On her return Maxine’s health deteriorated very much and on December 14th she underwent an exploritary [sic] operation in Sherwood. After that it was just a case of waiting for the inevitable for nothing could be done. One day as we returned to Napier from Havelock we over-ran a ‘stop’ sign at the cross roads at Mangateretere -Walker, the Hawke’s Bay County Council Inspector was close at hand and caught us. This sign had only just been imposed and we did not see it. The sign has rightly been altered to ‘Give Way’. (1969 – it has now been changed to a ‘Stop’ sign). H.P. Hole and I went down to Hatuma one day. There were visits to ‘The Cottage’ as usual. The Burkitts gave a party one night – about a dozen of us attended. Just before Christmas I did my usual round of calls. The day before Christmas was a shocker of a day – cold and wet but Christmas Day was better but still unpleasant. Bob, Hiraani and children came in to see us in the morning and Sue and Boy came to dinner in the evening. Dorothy and I went to early service at the Cathedral. On Boxing Day Seton Wenley and Mrs. Storkey came in for a drink and Bob and Betty Sweetapple came along in the afternoon. During the holidays at the Kennels at Meeanee there were about fifty dogs boarding and twenty cats. Peter Tait showed Rose and me over the Charles flats for elderly people and tentative arrangements were made for Rose to have one later. Ray came down on Christmas Day by air for two weeks holiday. On the 31st we went out to ‘The Cottage’ and Ray stayed the night for a barbecue party Boy and Sue were giving. So ends another year.

1959

Jan and Feb

On the 1st of January Nan Deardon, who was staying at Westshore, called in to see us. We also had visits during the day from Boy and Sue and their two children, likewise Bob and Hiraani and Family. Rochie and Coley came along too bringing a man named Sanger-Leather who was a friend and contemporary of James Hutchinson of Bamburgh. We went to the Bob Stead’s for the Yearling Parade again. This event is always enjoyable for apart from seeing the lovely young animals we meet many of our country friends. There were the usual S.P.C.A. jobs of work and one was unusual. A cat became stuck up one of the palm trees in the Boys High School Driveway. I was able to get hold of a young man and a ladder. Ray went back to Auckland on the 4th after her holiday. John McLean, Mardie’s son, was now 17 and a nice young fellow. He was staying at Dot’s and we took him out to ‘The Cottage’ one day. Poor Lulu Barron, who had had a fall in Taupo, was in Knight Street. This was the beginning of the trouble that beset her for the rest of her life. Maxine Edgar, who had been going back steadily died in Sherwood on the 10th and after a service at the Cathedral cremation took place on the 12th. I was able to be of help to Freda in making all the necessary arrangements as Maxine had no relations whatsoever. Afterwards Freda and I had meetings with Tom Mitchell of the Guardian Trust concerning Maxine’s affairs. On the 15th January we went to Taupo with Boy, Sue and Family -Boy drove our car

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and Sue drove theirs. It was the first time we had left our house unoccupied but Mrs. McCredie undertook to keep an eye upon it and to care for Baby, who was by this time a devoted friend. Dorothy and I stayed at The Lake Hotel for two weeks while the family were at their own cottage. The weather was wonderfully fine and we had a grand holiday. We had excursions to Rotorua, Wairakei, on the lake in the Gilkison’s motorboat, and to some of the farms under development. We visited the Averills, Ivan and Mary and others. We had picnics on the beaches round the lake, we had the odd dinner parties at the hotel and in all we had a full and happy time. Ray came down from Auckland for a weekend while we were there. Among those staying at Taupo during the time were the Jim Lowrys, Avelings, Tonkins, Ewan and Paul Campbell, the Pat Kellys and many others. On returning to Napier there were the Williams and Kettle threads to pick up. Also Max’s affairs and Hardie came over to stay with us. Athol McCredie was a good neighbour in all ways and one day he leapt into the breach and repaired an unpleasant leak in a water pipe. I took part in helping at a picnic for Randall House children at Westshore and afterwards we (the helpers) went to the Worker’s in Napier Terrace for drinks. I appear to have seen much of H.P. Hole in the new flat in Thompson Road and he and I had another excursion to Waipawa, Waipukurau and his farm at Hatuma. Early in February the Herricks arrived back from England and it was good to have them home again and to be able to resume our frequent contacts. The Chambers gave a welcome home party one evening to which we took Horrie. The Norman Dixons (of Rabone, Peterson, & Company and Williams and Kettle’ Agents) were in New Zealand, The Burkitts had a dinner party for them. Ursula Lovelock, daughter of the Holes was in Sherwood for a small operation and I used to see something of her husband – Leslie. I was invited to the County Council office one day to meet the members. Mrs. Day (our late neighbour) died rather unexpectedly and I attended a service in the Cathedral. Rose Hillier (she had been in service with my Mother for about thirty years) was beginning to fail very much. There were frequent visits to Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore and we often used to drop in to see Elespie Roberts at the same time. The ‘Port Vindex’ sailed from Napier for London and I went on board to see Lady Palmer who was a passenger. She had travelled with us in the ‘Rangitane’ in 1950. She was a sister-in-law of the Palmer (late Lord Palmer of biscuit fame) who was at Oriel with me. During the period under review we visited friends such as the George Grossmiths, Dorothy Gordon etc. We dined one night with Monty and Cushla. Michael, just back from Barbados, was staying with them. They also gave a cocktail party for him. One day Kay Logan bought the John Falveys to see us – John was a partner of Ian’s in Suva. Pat Higgins came out to Muritai again with us one Saturday. S.P.C.A. work kept me fairly busy and on one occasion I had to get the Port Constable (Ivory) to accompany me to inspect pig dogs at Westshore. Terry Goldfinch gave up his Vet practice in Napier and left for Auckland. I was sorry to see him leave. In the Historic Committee Peggy Higgins took over Mrs. Wacher’s job as Secretary. Melville Milne-Thomson, who as a boy lived for a time in Napier when his father was in practice here, called one day and I was able to show him round and tell him of people he used to know. He now holds a big job as lecturer of Mathematics in Wisconsin University U.S.A. H.P. Hole and I had a day in Central Hawke’s Bay and at his Hatuma farm. There were visits to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ and one day Dorothy and I went out to Tunanui to see the General and Lady Russell. He was how 91 but still full of charm and interested in things, Ray was down from Auckland for Easter and we did some running about the country. The annual service of the Church of England Men’s Society was held in the Cathedral and I took H.P. Hole to hear the Bishop preach. Afterwards there was supper in the hall where many we knew. Pat Higgins and I had a good inspection of the Harbour – he was making a splendid Chairman.

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April and May, June and July

One day I took Horrie to a sale at Stortford Lodge and then we lunched with Dorothy Gordon at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers. Harlow, Eddie and I had an expedition to Pohukura and as far as the Te Hoe Stream in the Kaiwaka district. Another day Hiraani bought Louise and Caroline Williams to see us – she is a granddaughter of Meta Riddiford and is at Island Bay with Louise. Frank Spite (General Manager of New Zealand Shipping Company) gave a cocktail party at the Club and later we, the John Ormonds, John Deans and one or two others dined with him. Bob and Hiraani went to Auckland for a week and while they were away I went to the Kennels once or twice to see Pouchie who was boarding there and rather disconsolate. Ivan and Mary were down from Taupo for a few days. At the Annual Meeting of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Art Gallery Harold Holt handed over the new Gallery (his gift) and I was appointed to the Council. Donald Bain (Overseas League’s General Secretary) was here for a couple of days and I looked after him. At Sainsbury, Logan and Williams there was a party to farewell Miss Mabel Cumming who was leaving after many years service there, H.P. Hole and I visited Hatuma and we met Cyril Harker at Waipawa who was on the verge of retiring from Politics. On April 13th Cushla and Monty came to dinner – it was her 52nd birthday and Tim was 4. Poor old Rose continued to decline. Freda was away at Whakatane for a holiday and this meant a good deal more S.P.C.A. work on my shoulders. There were visits to the Grossmiths, Dorothy Gordon, Elespie, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore. One day we went to lunch at the Selby Palmers and Lady Eva Balfour, an agricultural expert was there. The Overseas Shipping Companies gave a party at the Memorial Hall one evening and three hundred gusts were there. There were T.H. Lowry Trust and Williams and Kettle Meetings and my normal Williams and Kettle jobs to attend to. On my 75th birthday the family came in to wish me well and then next day Hiraani took us to Wellington by car. We lunched in the Palmerston North gardens on the way and we stayed at the Midland. In Wellington I had an appointment with Randall Elliott about my eyes. We saw Cora, Michael, Mary Wilson, went to the Tim Williams’ one evening. Tom Lowry sat at our table as he was there by himself. On the 1st May we returned to Napier having enjoyed our few days in Wellington. Early in the month the National Party had a victory by winning the Hamilton by-election handsomely. S.P.C.A. work proceeded and there still seemed to be a bit of trouble with a Maori family by the name of Jones at Westshore. So I got Batt to take over the job as he passed Westshore each day on his way to work at Petane. Poor old Lulu Barron had a stroke and she never regained use of her legs again though otherwise she was just as wonderful as ever. Joy Cox and her husband, Roy, were in New Zealand for a holiday – this was his first visit and I saw something of him as they had rooms at Ben Lomond. I was elected a member of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Art Gallery Council and from then attended meetings each month. The Council gave a farewell party for M.S. Spence and Mrs. Spence who went off on a jaunt to the Far East. There were the usual visits to ‘The Cottage’ and Pukekino. Poor Rose broke an arm and this, together with her declining health, made life more difficult for her. We passed our drivers’ tests satisfactorily. I still had morning tea on occasions with Peter Tait, Geddis, Browne, and sometimes Pat Higgins. A week of South Easterly gales made the breakwater too difficult for ships to berth – this does not happen very often. The wool market was still buoyant. Ray came down for a holiday at the end of May. During June there were visits to the Kellys at Havelock, Louis and Betty, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore, Monty and Cushla, the Maurice Chambers, many visits to the Holes and, of course, to Muritai on Saturday mornings. There was much activity in the S.P.C.A. for we decided to pull down the old Cottage and rebuild and then lease the show to the Fowdens. We employed Laurie Williams to draw up plans etc. Alister Turnbull came to stay for a few days – he had just returned from a trip to England. The Lions (British Rugby Team) were visiting New Zealand and giving a wonderful display of open football. I went to the match against Hawke’s Bay with Boy, Hansen Averill and Dick Gaddum when we were defeated by 52-12. I attended a reception given

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by Peter Tait (Mayor) for the team and later two of them came to see us – Smith of Kelso and Jeeps, the nuggety half-back – nice fellow. Horrie had a bad six weeks – prostate operation which kept him longer in hospital than expected. Eddie and I visited him there. Then he got a bad attack of ‘Flu. Rose continued to go down hill and Mardy Russell, too, seemed to be losing grip and was in and out of Langside Hospital on account of her mental condition. One day I took Haslam (Judge) and Owen Woodhouse to Pukekino and then to ‘The Cottage’ by way of Salisbury Road. There was a small party at Muritai to celebrate Nigel Poett’s decoration – he was made K.C.B. On June 13th my old friend Pat Higgins died suddenly – his heart had been a little run-down but death was not expected. Eddie and I attended his service at St. Patrick’s Church, Towards the end of June I had a few days in bed with a heavy cold. July was a bad month for us both for early on Dorothy developed a very heavy cold on her chest and was really very ill for a time. In fact Mardie was sent for to help and Betty and Alwyn brought her over. Then when she had to return to New Plymouth Ray came from Auckland for ten days. Mrs. McCredie was very helpful to us during this time and naturally the family, who came in frequently, Then just as Dorothy was beginning to recover I went to bed again – this time it was a slight congestion of lungs and this meant a few days off. All very annoying. However before the end of the month we were both well on our feet again thanks to the help of the family and Harold Barnett who was very attentive. Then another tragedy came along. Poor Kay Logan developed trouble in her spine again and was sent up to hospital for a lengthy stay. Ivan and Mary came down to make arrangements for the care of her home and her children. My old friend Harold Johnston (Judge) died at the age of 84. Towards the end of July Dennis and Jean Cotterill came to Napier for their annual winter visit and we saw much of them as usual. After a visit to the Kennels one day Freda Hole and I called in at the Vicarage of Puketapu to see the Waymouths. Steve, apart from being the Vicar of Puketapu Parish, is now an Archdeacon.

August and September

During August and September there seems to have been an amount of sickness abroad. Kay Logan was still in hospital after a bone graft in the spine. Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore were, of course, in Maraenui. Alma Bull and Mrs. R.P. Kay were in Sherwood, Horrie was in the Public Hospital till the end of August when he returned to the Club. So this all meant frequent visits to see them. Also Bradley of Williams and Kettle, Budge Grant of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams, and Rutemeyer were in the Public Hospital. Nobody seemed well. Then I tore some of my rib muscles which meant strapping up. And one day I tripped and fell in Church Lane just Opposite the Deanery and swore aloud but fortunately the Dean was not at the window and only H. Tonkin witnessed the fall. Mick Turnbull turned up to say farewell as he had been picked up by Longman, Green and Coy, (English Publishers) and was about to leave for Toronto and London for a year’s instruction before going to Melbourne. Monty and Cushla gave a dinner party and we gave one at the Club. I attended a couple of Overseas Meetings at the Boys’ High School for Hugh Henderson, now the President. Mrs. Crawford, after a fuss with Mrs. Neilson, resigned as Secretary but we were able to stave this off for a time. Then came the Overseas Speaking Contest (Eden Cup) – Athol McCredie was a judge and a meticulous one too. The Lions (British Fifteen) were having a triumphant tour of New Zealand on the whole but the All Blacks defeated them in the tests. On the 20th August Sue produced her third child -Marianne, a bouncer and, of course, we made visits to the McHardy home to see her. Jim Stead, one of the leading pilots in B.O.A.C, was out on leave and we met him one day at Elespie’s with his proud Mother, Ruby. My friendship with Tom Mitchell began at this time – or I should say it ripened as he and I had quite a lot to do in the winding up of Maxine’s affairs. At least the job was really his but at times he would ask me the odd question. Freda Hole and I were often on call for S.P.C.A. jobs and

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the new cottage was well under way. We had frequent trips to the Kennels. There was a pet’s parade one day and Hollay judged. One day we were on the scene when a man was lowered by rope to rescue a dog on a cliff face. In August Ray went to Fiji for a couple of weeks. One day I spent an interesting hour or so with Peter Van Asch at his Aerial Mapping Establishment – I took a couple of lads with me who were here for the Public Speaking contest. Also a speaker at this was Charlotte Williams – her parents Tim and Philippa were present to hear her. There were a couple of Williams and Kettle Director’s Meetings and a Pension Fund Meeting. Then the annual meeting took place again at the end of September. I was elected Chairman again with M.S. Chambers Deputy. On one of our visits to ‘The Cottage’ we went on to see Gabbie (Mrs. Lachlan Maclean). During September I attended a meeting of the Art Council with H.P. Hole and likewise a meeting of the Crippled Children’s Society. The local people put on a very good show ‘The Vagabond King’, Hope Bernau went with us. The obedience tests for dogs still continued on Sunday mornings and sometimes I put in an appearance. One day W.G. Wood and I had Steve Waymouth to lunch at the Club -we were searching for something we thought Steve might be able to help us find but we discovered he could not be of assistance.

October, November and December.

Mrs. R.P. Kay, Ralph Lowry, Mrs. Mackay, Edith Moore and Kay Logan were still in hospital and we visited them as often as we could. Poor old Ralph was committed once again and taken to Avondale Mental Home. Later in the year Mardy Russell was back at Langsyde and her condition was growing worse. Alma Bull was back in Sherwood again. Maurice Spence began to crack up but he remained in his home. My visits to him filled me with gloom as I don’t think his wife was as kind to him as she could have been. Then there was always old Lulu to visit for she was now very immobile. An Industrial Fair at Williams and Kettle’s No. 4 Store was a great success. British Elections gave the Conservatives a majority of one hundred. The County Council gave another of its Buffet Lunches for present and past members which was enjoyable. I was now the only ex-chairman living as Mr. Tom Crosse had now departed. Sir Andrew Russell could not make the grade unfortunately. I attended a joint committee meeting of the Overseas League and English Speaking Union at Hastings one day to arrange for a party nearer Christmas. Mrs. Ballantyne was in the chair. Then just before Christmas Sir Evelyn Wrench, the founder of both organisations came to New Zealand and attended the party at Hawke’s Bay Farmers rooms, Jim Munro and I met Sir Evelyn and his companion, Miss Raynor. While in Napier we took them to a morning tea with Peter Tait (Mayor) and gave them a drive round the countryside. In the middle of October there was a big flooding of much of Hawke’s Bay – in the Napier-Taradale area 6.29 inches fell in twenty-four hours and some confusion ensued as you can imagine. One evening I attended the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union which my Father had formed and there was a big gathering and many speeches were made. We realised each day how lucky we were in having, as our neighbours, the McCredies and Sweetapples. But unfortunately Athol McCredie suffered a breakdown in November – it was very pathetic to see him in this sad state. However after a month’s holiday he seemed much better for a time. In October the S.P.C.A. had its stall for the three days at the Show and the nett gain was £165 – the best on record. The Women’s Committee and I were on deck most of the time. But I was able to meet up with many friends and do my duty for a time at Williams and Kettle’s tent. Bill Low spent a week on house decorating – painting and washing down here and there. One day in November Boy and Sue took us to Gisborne for a few days. We stayed at the Masonic Hotel. On the way up we called in to see Williams and Kettle’s outfit and lunched with Billy Crarer (Manager). In Gisborne we did the rounds of Williams and Kettle’s premises, went to see Lucy and Wray Nolan, the Harold Williams, Rex Willocks etc. The Willocks gave a party

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for us one evening where we met many old friends. We had a very interesting day with Renner, Rex Willock and Te Kuni to the huge block of Native land at Whatatutu – 128,000 acres divided into about ten or twelve individual stations. Tremendous development was in progress. Valentine, National Insurance, took us at great speed to Ruatoria and back. We returned to Napier by way of Tiniroto. Selby and Dorothy Palmer, the Pery Wilders, the John Humphries (just back from a trip to England etc.), Elespie Roberts and Neil and Mandy Clarkson were among those who visited us. Elespie and the John Masons gave Cocktail parties – the latter’s party was a monster one and you could not move. I got stuck in a corner for the whole evening with two or three whose names I won’t mention, and we completely ran out of conversation. As usual it was amusing to see the female guests either submitting with grace or trying to avoid John’s kisses. Williams and Kettle kept me pretty well occupied and Burkitt and I had a tour round the branches in Hawke’s Bay. There was an exhibition of pictures of Hawke’s Bay personalities of the period 1858 to 1908 at the Art Gallery which it fell to my lot to open. I took Monty and Cushla to an Overseas League party at Windsor Park to see Douglas McHardy’s pictures of his and Mary’s recent trip to England and the Continent. Very good they were too. Monty and Cushla also went with us to ‘The Cottage’ for Marianne’s christening by Steve Waymouth. The Steads, ourselves and a few friends were present. Then later a cocktail party of greater dimensions followed. The November Wool Sale was good and the average price for wool of the dry shearing was 4/0d. Eddie, Harlow and I had a big day in the Kaiwaka area when we visited Mangataniwha. We were happy in having such pleasant neighbours as the McCredies and the Bob Sweetapples. The Sweetapples then had four children and all remarkably well brought up. The new cottage at Meeanee Kennels was now completed and the S.P.C.A. Committee went out for a house warming party one evening – it was pretty deadly. Dick Tattersall died in England – he was such a nice fellow. Dorothy went out to ‘The Cottage’ for a couple of nights to look after the children while Boy and Sue went to the Wairarapa. I took Chas Sorrell for a look round ‘The Cottage’ as he was Constance Fountaine’s Solicitor. There were Williams and Kettle’s Director’s Meetings, Art Council and T.H. Lowry Trust Meetings too. Then came the Harbour Board’s Annual party to which Eddie and I went together. That day Alec Kirkpatrick was elected Chairman. We went out to the Colin Thomson’s at Silverford to see what they had done to the place over the years. On Christmas Day Ray flew down and the boys, wives and the bigger children, together with Monty and Cushla, had dinner with us which was a happy event. I went to the Pet Parade with Freda and Phil Oxford. These parades were becoming rather feeble as time went on. Between Christmas and New Year there was a small party at Clifton, only ourselves, Dorothy Gordon, the Lindsay Gordons and the Herricks being there. On the last day of the year I went to a staff party at Onekawa (Williams and Kettle). Jim Foley was also a guest. On that evening Ray went out to a New Year Barbecue party at ‘The Cottage’ with Tony and Winifred Horrocks. That is the end of 1959.

1960

January and February

The first two months of this year were very dry and the country longed for rain. The new year was marred by Mrs. Storkey waking us up at 2:30 as Seton was on the rampage. We got a Taxi and sent her to her Mother’s home. Our little cat ‘Baby’ was seven on the first and she ruled our lives. Ray was here for her holidays and flew back to Auckland on the 4th. On Monty’s 73rd birthday we all went to a dinner party at France Road. There was the usual Sasanof display of yearlings at the Bob Steads and the usual assembly of racing people – all was interesting and pleasant at Richmond Park. During the months of January and February there were many to visit in Sherwood, the public hospital and Maraenui. Among these were Maurice Spence, Kay, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore

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and. Peggy Higgins who had had a son at last. We also visited the A’bears at Waiapu House and Lulu at her home. Harry Hayhow, who had been a famous driver of the Napier-Taupo Coach in the days of coaching, died and I attended his funeral. Eddie had a slight ‘set back’ and was laid up for a time – our visits to Muritai carried on. And on his recovery he and Ethne came to dinner one night. Boy and Sue had a month at Taupo. One day we had a run to Pukekino – called in to the R.P. Kays and then went as far as Big Hill. S.P.C.A. work occupied much time and there was a call to inspect animals of Bullen’s Circus at the Port and the farmlet of the Dutch woman in Havelock. Then Dinwiddie and I waited on Peter Tait re a grant from the Napier City Council, and he was most co-operative and helpful. We raised Hollay’s honarium to £150 – cheap labour indeed. For the first time I was requested to sit on the bench as a J.P.- I was associated with Jack Harris and the case was an unpleasant one so we rapidly passed it on to the Magistrate’s Court. Kay came out of the straight jacket – she was improving well. Ivan, Mary, Nancy and David were in Napier for a few days. Maurice Spence died early in February and a large number attended the service in the Napier Presbyterian Church. He had been a very good and generous citizen. There was the annual party at Westshore for the Children’s Home inmates and later we had a Barbecue meal at the Russell Moss’s in Taradale. Williams and Kettle jobs kept me busy and we had James Thomson of MacKinlay’s Whiskey in New Zealand for a visit. Pat Borthwick, Jimmy’s brother-in-law, came to a lunch with Burkitt and me at the Club. Alma Bull died within a couple of days and I attended a service for her at St. Patricks and one for Dick Tattersall at the Cathedral. One day Libby Hay and Rosemary Sherratt came to see us. Libby had recently returned from a year’s visit to the U.S.A. as a Field Scholar, In February John Fountaine came to New Zealand on a visit and made his headquarters at the Club and ‘The Cottage’. We took him to see people and places his Mother knew and to McLennan and Sorrell to discuss the family affairs etc. And he had a good bus tour of the South Island into the bargain. Permission was given to purchase a Land Rover for ‘The Cottage’ which proved a very useful conveyance. Mardy Russell worsened and she consented to go to Ashburn Hall for treatment. Barbara Gould came to Hawke’s Bay for a few days and it was good to see her again. Also John Barron came out to New Zealand for a month – his first visit since he went to England to complete his Medical work in 1938. Higgins Wharf was taking shape rapidly – it took the place of the old Glasgow (original) wharf and was named after Pat Higgins. I continued to take a lively interest in Harbour matters and often used to have a browse round. It was Pat who persuaded me to stand for the Board in the 1920s, when I was defeated, and again in 1941 when I got in. During January and February we saw much of Dorothy Gordon Louis Moffatt and others.

March and April

During March there were meetings of the Historic Committee, the Overseas League and S.P.C.A. Early in the month I had a day at ‘The Cottage’ and helped Boy draft sheep. Marianne Macsmith and two children from New South Wales were at ‘The Cottage’ on a visit. The Horse Society held its annual event and I had to present Williams and Kettle’s Cup – Pat Donnelly supported me. We saw something of John Barron who was with Lulu for a month. We had a small party for Ruby Stead who went off to England for a visit. The Sorrells had a party one evening to which the family went and also John Fountaine to see pictures of their recent trip abroad. Two days before Rose Hillier was about to come down from Auckland to enter Maraenui Private Hospital, for which I had made arrangements, she died suddenly. This was perhaps a merciful event for she was becoming very crippled and I am sure Maraenui could not have coped for long. Pukekino Farms took over Bob’s Cottage. About the middle of March good autumn rains came along. On the 17th March Dorothy and I flew to Auckland and stayed at the Grand for a long weekend. Mrs. McCredie kindly took us to the Airport and brought us home. The visit to Auckland was for the purpose of seeing Pittar,

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the Eye Specialist. It was a satisfactory visit on the whole. Ray was, at the time, in a flat in Rangitoto Avenue and she was still with Peter Kirker. We saw some of our friends e.g. Trevor and Bets Hay, Kitty Knight and the latter took us to the Worleys. H.P. Hole and I attended the C.E.M.S. annual ‘service and Archdeacon Gowing of Christchurch preached the sermon – he is now Bishop of Auckland. Norman McKenzie, who had been the father of Hawke’s Bay Rugby for many years and at one time he and my Father had been the selectors, died and there was a service at the Presbyterian Church. During March and April Eddie had quite an unpleasant bout of arthritis and Horrie’s health began to deteriorate further. At last work began on the track across Gaols Gorge – a job we had contemplated for years but never really thought would eventuate. The Sweetapples decided to put a top story on their house and being the pleasant neighbours we knew them to be they came over to discuss the plans with us for they were anxious to cause us as little inconvenience as possible. As it turned out we lost very little morning sun. Ray came down for Easter week and one day we lunched on board the ‘Port Invercargill’ – Captain Browne was. still in charge. In April our friend Athol McCredie disappeared and was found on the edge of the water at the end of the Parade. It was a tragedy for he was a brilliant fellow – Editor of ‘The Daily Telegraph’ and a good friend. On my 76th birthday the boys and their wives gave a dinner party at the Mayfair for me which was exciting and enjoyable. On the last day of April we went out to ‘Tunanui’ to see the Russells – Sir Andrew was now 93 and Lady Russell 88 – he was remarkable for his age but she was getting very frail.

May, June and July

On May 1st we went to ‘Te Aratipi’ to a luncheon party to celebrate Selby Palmer’s 80th birthday. His whole family was present. Also present were the Macintoshes, Ballantynes, Herricks and ourselves. Selby and I had been at school together and friends ever since, so I was deputed to offer congratulations – it was a very enjoyable party. In May Princess Margaret gave the world something to talk about by marrying Anthony Armstrong-Jones. There were my frequent attendances at Williams and Kettle’s -visits to the branches in Hawke’s Bay, directors Meetings etc. And Gordon Cooper, Jim Foley and I used to meet usually on a Friday evening at the Onekawa Store and discuss the affairs of the Nation. S.P.C.A. work continued non-stop. There was the Annual General Meeting at which I was again _appointed President. I visited the Mayfair School at Hastings and spoke to the pupils. Lennon, the new President of the R.S.P.C.A. came to Napier and I took him about a little. Then there was the annual Jumble Sale. Several Port ships visited Napier – among them the Auckland and the Brisbane. I was again pressed to the Bench as a J.P. with Jack Harris – this time it was concerning a theft of a bale of wool. We remanded the fellow to the Magistrate’s Court as usual. Pery Wilder was in the Public Hospital and I often took Madelene to see him – then he came home for a time before entering Sherwood where he gradually became worse. I was able to see him frequently and he always remained cheerful. There were our Saturday visits to Muritai till the end of July when Eddie and Ethne left for England to be at Johanna’s wedding. There were our usual visits to Maraenui to see Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore and to Havelock to see Lulu. There was a small party of old friends on Eddie’s 82nd birthday. There were excursions to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ – I note it was a year of plenty of feed and there were 700 head of cattle on ‘The Cottage’ block. Lulu celebrated her 85th birthday and we took Elespie and Louis out for the event. Boy became a member of the A. & P Society Committee. His back was still giving some trouble so he went to Auckland and stayed with Ray for a couple of weeks while having treatment with Peter Kirker. We took Cushla to the Maraekakaho Sports – it was a lovely day and Sue’s large lunch party was a high success. Kay Logan was discharged from hospital after seven month’s stay and she went to Taupo for a short holiday before settling down to home life again. Mrs. McCredie settled down well after Athol’s death and made the best of her lonely life. While she went to Wellington for a holiday I kept an eye on

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Midi the cat. There was a scare for a time that a tidal wave might reach New Zealand after a very heavy earthquake in Chile but it did not happen though there were some very high tides along the East Coast. Sir Andrew Russell was in Langsyde hospital for some time after heavy nose bleeding and I used to visit him and when he began to recover I was able to take him for a drive or two. We saw a lot of Kath Deans who was staying at the Masonic so as to keep an eye on Sir Andrew. A luncheon party of about one hundred was held at the Memorial Hall to celebrate the opening of Higgins Wharf and it was a very pleasant affair. Now five overseas ships could berth at once at the Breakwater. Lachlan Maclean and his wife came to see us one day. I attended the annual meeting of St. John’s Parish with H.P. Hole after which there was a supper party in the Hall. One day Buck Amyes took me to Waipukurau and I lunched with Russell and Dumpy St. Hill-Warren and called later to see Gretchen Wall. Jim Sullivan of Williams and Kettle died and I went to the Service at St. Patrick’s – that was early in July. Jim was a nice fellow and had been a loyal employee for many years. Seton Wenley and I went to the Wanganui Old Boys dinner at the club. There was a big exhibition of antiques at the Art Gallery and I took Louis Moffat to the opening. Then one Sunday Dorothy and I took charge when over two hundred visited. Horrie began to decline still further and it became a problem as to how the Club could continue to keep him as a boarder. At the Annual General Meeting of The Crippled Children’s Society Parkinson told us how he had fared in the U.S.A. where he had been sent by the Society for equipment whereby he became independent. He had lost both arms in a tractor accident some years ago. The trip proved a great success. Betty Sweetapple’s baby, Bridget, arrived on July 22nd. Serious trouble and massacres broke out in the Congo And as I write in 1968 the country is still in a state of unrest. The same applied to much of Africa. You would wonder if the effort of preaching Christianity in some countries was worth the effort.

August and September

During August and September there was the usual activity in Williams and Kettle preparatory to the Annual Meeting at the end of September when a good year was disclosed and a dividend of 8% paid to the shareholders. I was elected Chairman again at our Directors’ Meeting and M.S. Chambers was elected Deputy. Shortly after Jim Sullivan’s death we agreed to bring back John King from Waipawa to take his place. Dorothy and I spent a day at Waipawa and Waipukurau and while at the latter place we found time to call in to see Gretchen Wall and before returning home we had a cup of coffee with the Turtles. After our Annual Meeting Rex Willock, Burkitt and I visited some of the Williams and Kettle Branches. Eddie and Ethne sailed for England in the ‘Ceramic’ on August 1st. As usual S.P.C.A. work kept me pretty busy – there were many inspections made. James (Chief Inspector) visited us and before one of our meetings we had Hollay up for dinner. Pery Wilder died on the 9th August – I was sorry not to see him for a few days beforehand as I had a heavy cold. His death was a happy release for himself and his family. He and I had been at school together so the friendship between us had been a long one. Bob and Tiny Lawson came to stay with Madelene and we saw them on occasions. We were also able to be of a little help to Madelene. Horrie was taken off to hospital for a couple of weeks or so and the problem of his future became more complicated still. There were many visits to various hospitals during the two months under review, to see Mrs. Mackay, and Edith Moore, May Handyside and Mardy Russell in Knight Street, Barbara Gordon in Sherwood for appendix, and Horrie. One day about eight or ten of us attended Mrs. Mackay’s 89th birthday party at Maraenui. And another day Freda and several others went with me to Waiapu House for old A’bear’s 99th birthday party. Ivan’s health gave some cause for worry and it became necessary to get a nurse. The Wills gave a cocktail party in the new flat they had just

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come to live in (top story of Mrs. Scoular’s house). The Overseas League gave a very successful Cocktail Party and buffet dinner at the Hawke’s Bay Club.

October, November and December

During the last three months of the year we paid several visits to ‘The Cottage’ to see the children who were growing up very fast. On one occasion we took Mrs. McCredie with us and on another we took Cushla and on yet another we took Philip and June Crawshaw. Philip and June came to Napier in the course of a world tour for he was Secretary-General of the Overseas League in London. They were a nice pair and we were fond of them. Unfortunately the weather was appalling while they were here. However we showed them round the countryside and there was a big party one evening given for them at the Hawke’s Bay Club. When they left we took them to Waipukurau where the President of the Manawatu Overseas Branch (Lusk) met them. Jack Hyde was in Sherwood for a time and Alf Hindmarsh was in the Public Hospital. They progressed well. I still attended meetings of the Historic Section of the Art Gallery and one night Mrs. Mooney spoke of the Roman Catholic Church in Hawke’s Bay. Ray came down for a short visit in the middle of October and was with us for the Show. One Sunday while she was here Baby became very distressed and we thought she had a bone in her throat so we rushed her to Brooke-Taylor who found it was tooth trouble. And also while Ray was with us we gave a small cocktail party of about a dozen. The Show was a success and the S.P.C.A. Stall did well – we went out for two of the days. About Show time an English businessman was here, Stratton by name. One night M.S. Chambers, Edgecumbe and I dined at Burkitt’s to meet him. Another day Burkitt, Williams and Kettle’s Branch Managers and I had a meeting with him. Bob Stead decided to consult John McLennan concerning his affairs and I was called in for discussions with McLennan, Bob and Boy. It looked as if Lulu was not going to stage the recovery she hoped for and was destined to be confined more or less to her chair. Dorothy tried to visit her once a week from now onwards, And my weekly visits to Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore continued. Peter Barron died suddenly in November and this was a great blow to Lulu. Horrie was better again and we took him occasionally out for drives and once we went to see how Muritai was looking during the Herrick’s absence and we called in to see Mrs. Olive Williams. Among those we visited or who visited us were the John Humphries, John Masons, Brian Hills, Monty and Cushla, the Holes and Dorothy Gordon and the John Gordons etc. One afternoon Peter Tait (Mayor) wife and family came along for a drink with us. Greta Ritchie was up from Dunedin on one of her visits and we bought her into Napier one day and then dined with her at Stortford Lodge when we took her back. There was a sale of two blocks of Matapiro – they fetched £62 to £69 per acre and the Pakowhai land (Shrimpton Estate) sold in six acre lots from £405 to £555 per acre. Burkitt purchased a section. This land used to be devoted to the fattening of cattle but from now onwards it was. to be used for the growing of vegetables and fruit. While Jack Burnell was away I used to help H.P. Hole and Reg Humphries count the Cathedral collections on Monday mornings – this went on for October, November and December. We met in the Parish Office for about an hour. The Election Campaign was in full swing in November and on the 26th the General Elections took place. The final result was satisfactory with National 46 and Labour 34. We won the Hastings, Rotorua and Gisborne seats from Labour. Duncan MacIntyre became the new Hastings member. Dorothy had a tooth extracted and a dry socket gave some trouble and called for a few visits to Bob Whyte. Our old friend, Mrs. George Gould of Christchurch, had her 90th birthday on November 22nd. Young Robert was 13 and he developed measles. On November 29th my dear old friend Sir Andrew Russell died at the age of 93 and I attended the Military Funeral

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Service at St. Matthews in Hastings. A big crowd of all the V.I.P.s were there. I had known him most of my life and we were very close friends. Margot rang me and said a seat in the church would be kept for me which was thoughtful. He was a great character and full of kindness and he would never let you down. My Friday meetings with Jim Foley and Cooper continued and so did my meetings with T.M. Geddis and Peter Tait but less frequently. I farewelled M.S. Chambers and Kath at the Airport when they flew to India to see Susanne. Mrs. McCredie went away for a couple of weeks in November and Midi (her cat) was left in the care of myself and Mrs. Rickard. Bob took me for a round of Williams and Kettles’ branches in the South. David Logan came out for a year’s holiday after twelve or fourteen years in England. There was the annual Christmas Party at the Harbour Board, I missed Eddie’s company as he was still in England. Ray came down for Christmas and she bought Sally Courage with her and the Burbury girls came in for her. On Christmas evening Monty, Cushla and Boy and Sue came for dinner. Before the year was out Betty and Alwyn with their baby came to see us. On New Year’s Eve I went to Williams and Kettle at Onekawa to a small party.

1961

January, February and March

On the first day of the year we went out to Richmond Park for the Bob Stead’s yearling parade where we saw the lovely little animals and met numerous friends at the party that followed. Ruby Stead was back from her trip to England. On the 2nd, Monty’s 74th birthday, we dined as usual with him and Cushla. I had several interviews with Don Bisson and Seton Wenley in regard to Seton’s pending divorce proceedings – but in the meantime Mrs. Storkey still seemed to find Seton a difficult guy to live with and at times would leave him, having first called on us to ring for a taxi. The ‘Port New Plymouth’ was in Napier for a week (the newest ship of the line) and we took Captain Pedrick for a drive one day and Ray and I went to a monster dinner party on board one evening. We met the Chief Officer (King) and he came up to see us at home. Percy Elworthy and Bertha returned from England and the former was not at all well. Gordon Hannay came out to New Zealand in January and he also was unwell and after a few days at the Club he was sent up to the hospital for two or three weeks where I used to visit him. On his return I took him out for drives to Havelock and elsewhere. Then later in February he decided he would not wait for the Herrick’s return as he thought it better to be near his own doctor in England. The new bridge at Westshore was opened by Goosman (Public Works Minister) and we were invited to the ceremony. Duncan McIntyre (new M.P. for Hastings) and Dinah were also present. During the first three months of 1961 the S.P.C.A. claimed much of my time the usual meetings and running about over animal troubles. Likewise Williams and Kettle kept me occupied. There was an idea Williams and Kettle would make a bid to take over Common Shelton & Co. of Gisborne but after some thought we gave up the idea. Two representatives of MacDougal Cooper and Robertson (Wilson and Carswell) were here and Burkitt gave a dinner party for them at which I and some of the directors were present. There were our usual Friday sessions at Onekawa (Cooper, Foley and myself) and at one party we farewelled Tom Lowry and Jim Coleman who were going to England. The Bank of New Zealand and the A.M.P. gave a dinner party one night at the Club for one Kershaw – a London Director. Gordon Cooper went to Australia for a short holiday. Madelene Wilder went to England for a few months with the Tom Whites and there was a small farewell party for her before she went. I went to Waipawa and Waipukurau two or three times once with Buck Amyes and as well as visiting Williams and Kettle branches I was able to see the odd friend and lunched one day with Nan Deardon. There were the usual social visits – among them one to the Humphries, Ruby Stead, Dorothy Gordon, Brian Hills, Louis Moffat and Betty, Mrs. Ziele, the Cecil Averills in their new home at Poraite (lovely view of Napier). Two visits to ‘The Cottage’ and Pukekino and the country looked so prosperous. At Louis Moffat’s we

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met Arthur and Nancy Sims (Sir and Lady) who were out in New Zealand for a brief stay. Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore were regularly visited. At the end of February our Bishop of Waiapu (Lesser) was made Archbishop of New Zealand and I should say a good pick. I attended the monthly Art Council Meetings -I can’t think that I was much use as I am far from ‘Arty’. H.P. Hole, Jack Burnell and I went to the C.E.M.S. annual service and the Archbishop was the preacher. Early in March we were happy to have Ethne and Eddie back and our Saturday visits to Muritai were resumed. Albert Scheele (Accountant at Sainsbury, Logan and Williams for many years) died. One day Boy bought the family to Napier and I kept the children occupied on the seafront. They kept me busy too. Louise, who had now reached the age of going out to Juvenile dances, came to us one night. The Ivans were down from Taupo for a few days. South Africa pulled out of the Commonwealth and became a Republic. Before the end of March I went to Gisborne with the Tom Mitchells for one night. He and I stayed at the Poverty Bay Club and I was able, in a short day, to have a rush round Williams and Kettle’s outfit with Rex Willock and Renner and Keith and also to contact a few other friends. Mardie was with us for a week before Easter and Ray came down on Good Friday for her Easter holiday. In the last week of March Boy and Sue went to Australia for a couple of months. Tim and Diana stayed with the Avelings and Muffet with Rua.

April and May.

During April and May, while Boy and Sue were away we paid several visits to ‘The Cottage’ to see all was well and Snow Stevens would take me over the farm. We also brought Tim and Pixie to Napier on two occasions for the day and one night, on taking them back to Richmond Park, we stayed on for dinner with Rua and Connie. Ray was with us for Easter, having come down on Good Friday (March 31st). Ethne was 74 on April 3rd and we went out to celebrate on that day at Muritai. Then she and Eddie came to dinner a few days later and she had a sudden `attack’ during dinner and we had to send for Sandy Whyte (her doctor) and he took her home. After that she became quite ill and was an inmate of Royston for two or three weeks – then she convalesced at Clifton and returned home in May. It was quite a depressing time, especially for Eddie. Ted Burkitt was not very well so I made him take a spell at Taupo. I resigned from the Arts Council and was made a Vice-president of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Art Society. The weather was very dry and what you might call a drought existed till April 27th when it broke and the country made a good recovery in spite of the lateness of the rains. Mrs. McCredie went to Australia for a couple of months and it did her much good. Twice, while Tim and Pixie were at the Bruce Avelings, we went out to their home and on April 13th they gave a birthday party for Tim who was six. Louis Moffat was 80 in April and Ngaire Kettle gave a party for her at her home near Wharerangi. The Tom Mitchells gave a party one evening and several of us were asked to remain on for supper. On my birthday (77) Monty and Cushla came for dinner and on that day the drought broke. Our road (Clyde) had its final tarsealing and was a joy to us all. During April and May, as usual, we visited Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore and Lulu – they were our sick friends. We also saw something of Elespie and Dorothy Gordon. The John Humphries gave a farewell party for the Jack Burnells. Lady Roberts came one day with Tony and Irna. Buck Amyes took me for another jaunt to Waipawa and Waipukurau and I lunched with the Ivan Johnstons at their home. Early in May I was not very fit and had a few days in bed which was very annoying. U.S.A. put a man into space and brought him back safely. At an Overseas gathering Wright (the new President for New Zealand) and Donald Bain came along. The S.S. Rakaia was in Port and Bevin (Captain) invited me aboard. I was still assisting each Monday at the Parish Office counting the cash and attending to envelopes. At the end of May, Boy and Sue returned and the day before Cushla and Rua and Dorothy got ‘The Cottage’ house in order for them. S.P.C.A. work went on non-stop.

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June

On the 1st I went out to Hastings and over lunch with Boy he told me of the Australian venture. Then we attended the sale of the last of Gascoyne’s property – 300 odd acres passed in at £60 per acre and later were sold to Ray Jowsey. Ray came down from Auckland for the long weekend on the 2nd and Rua and Bob called in – the former was off to Japan in a day or two. On the 3rd it was Boy and Sue’s seventh wedding anniversary and we celebrated at ‘The Cottage’. It was in June that Humphrey Bayly agreed to join Williams and Kettle’s Board and we were all pleased to have him with us. There were big things pending in Williams and Kettle concerning the re-construction of the Company and M.S. Chambers, Burkitt and I had several meetings to consider Wilkinson’s report (he was a top level accountant and company advisor of Auckland) and at the end of the month we had a director’s meeting. One day we lunched with the Percy Elworthys and Eddie and Ethne were also there. Another day John Fenwick took me aboard the ‘Port Auckland’ -the Commander was still Townshend. W.G Wood died and I went to the service in the Cathedral. I had known him all my life and we were very interested in many things in common. Mrs. Storkey and Seton continued to have their ‘ups and downs’ and one evening I was called in to mediate so took the opportunity of telling them some home-truths about their behaviour. Among those who came to see us were the Roley Hills, Elespie and her sister Mrs. Glendinning. I spoke at the Women’s Club on S.P.C.A. affairs. While it was still possible to prepay death duties at considerable rebate (Labour Government ‘sop’ but later removed) Sorrell and I agreed with the Public Trustee to pay £60,000 on behalf of Beatrice Maclean. This eventually proved to be a very wise move as a few years later Beatrice died and by our action we must have saved the estate £30,000. S.P.C.A. Jumble Sale again. Dorothy had a nasty cold before the end of the month.

July and August

July was a black month. For the first two weeks I was unwell but Barnett could not discover the trouble. And on the 7th M.S. Chambers rang up early to say Ethne Herrick had died very suddenly. This was a sad blow as she was such a firm friend over a very long period. I had known her since her girlhood days and as a matter of fact my father had known her father and family in Northumberland before he came to New Zealand. The day following Jasper brought Eddie into Napier to see us and he seemed very bewildered and down. I was not able to go to her funeral but the family attended. Julia flew out and she brought Eddie to see us on one or two occasions and later I was able to go out to Muritai. Then at the end of the month Julia took Eddie back to Singapore with her and later still Barbara joined them and she and Eddie went on to London for a few weeks. In the meantime the bottom seemed to have dropped out of our lives. Percy Elworthy died on the 10th and this was another sad event. In July New Zealand’s economy was in poor shape and so was the United Kingdom’s. I continued to be much occupied with Williams and Kettle’s affairs and towards the end of the month we held a lengthy meeting of Directors at which Wilkinson and McLeod (our solicitor) were present. Ivan, Mary and David were in Napier for a few days staying at Westshore. On Bill’s 70th birthday we went to ‘The Cottage’ to celebrate with him. Mrs. McCredie returned from her trip to Australia on the 23rd July. H.P. Hole developed heart trouble and for some weeks he was in bed or in a chair and I used to drop in to see him when I could. Ray came down for a long weekend early in August. A French Rugby XV toured New Zealand and were beaten in all tests – the last 32-3. Boy and Bob went to the Test in Wellington. Sir Sidney Holland, our late Prime Minister, died. Much rain fell in the midst of lambing and the mortality throughout Hawke’s Bay was heavy. Jim Zohrab and his wife took me to Waipukurau one day as Buck Amyes was unwell. And Godfrey Von Dadelszen took me to lunch with Gretchen Wall. More Williams and Kettle meetings again and much discussion over the proposals. I went out to see old A’bear on the eve of his 100th birthday. We kept up our visits to the sick – Lulu, Mrs. Mackay and Edith Moore.

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September, October, November and December

Foul cold and wet weather was with us when September came but it began to fair up on the 4th. On that day, the anniversary of our wedding day, and also that of Bob and Hiraani’s, we had a family gathering and Sue brought the babe with her (Marianne). At the Historic Section’s monthly meeting I read a paper on Kereru district (you will find it among my papers). Seton and Mrs. Storkey continued to have their moments. My S.P.C.A. work has become much less now that we have on our committee two very active men, Smith and Archie Forbes – both very helpful and active. George Spence (President R.S.P.C.A.) was in Napier and I took him to the Kennels etc. Hammarskjold (Secretary General of United Nations) was killed in a plane crash – a loss to the world. During the month Williams and Kettle opened its new premises at Waipukurau and as Dorothy was not very well Sue acted for her as hostess. It was a big and successful affair and Winlove (Mayor) did the opening part.

More meetings of Williams and Kettle Directors in preparation for the big event in October and McLennan was very helpful to me in briefing me for the occasion. Bob and Betty Sweetapple were proving to be wonderful neighbours. There was a meeting of Producer Meats which Boy and I attended and Williams and Kettle sponsored. John Humphries memory was deteriorating rapidly and conversation with him was becoming difficult.

On October 9th the big day arrived for Williams and Kettle. First of all there was the Annual General Meeting which we held in the big room at Onekawa – that passed off satisfactorily – it had been a good year and a dividend of 8% was agreed to. Then we had a buffet lunch after which we settled down to the Extraordinary Special Meeting to discuss certain resolutions and pass them (we hoped). The main object in view was that of controlling the transfer of shares so keeping the company strictly a farmer’s concern. On the platform with me was Wilkinson (advisor), McLennan (our Auditor), McLeod (Solicitor), Burkitt (General Manager), and Directors. The meeting was fairly long and full of discussion and questions. Over one hundred shareholders were present and out of these there were only seven opposed to the resolutions. So we carried the day and achieved our object. Later I was elected Chairman again. H.P. Hole was better and about again in a quiet way.

The Show was a success and the weather fine. I was out for only one day and most of that was spent at the S.P.C.A. Stall. Mardie and Ivan and Mary were in Napier for a week in October. Towards the end of October Dorothy went to Auckland for a week and Louise came in to keep house. She made a good job of it and we did a little entertaining too. Mary Roberts came to dinner one night – Bob and Hiraani another night, the Cecil Averills came to drinks. Lou also babysat for the Sweetapples twice. Ivan was brought down to the Napier Hospital from Taupo in a hurry and Mary and David came as well. However it was really not very serious and he went back within a week or ten days. Early in November Eddie returned home and thereafter our weekly visits to Muritai were resumed. It was good to have him back again and he really settled down wonderfully well considering things. Mrs. Enstone who had come to the Herricks a few months before Ethne died proved to be a wonderful housekeeper (she is still there in 1968). My old friend Jimmy Hutchinson of Bamburgh died in November. A good friend for over fifty years. I went out to ‘The Cottage’ for a few days – helped with some sheep work – attended a Pony Club gathering and went to a Young Farmer’s Rally at Maraekakaho one evening. Buck Amyes took me to Waipukurau one day in November and Gay of Williams and Kettle took me to Mangatarata which I had not visited since about 1905 when it was a 30,000 acre Station belonging to S.H. Gollan and managed by L. de Pelichet. I had a brief yarn with Sam and Pat Peacock who now own blocks of the old station. I took Hollay and Miss Peggy MacKenzie out to an Overseas party in Hastings. The Wool Market was buoyant [sic]. It was getting very dry in November and farmers were beginning to worry. And the New Zealand economy was still pretty sick. However early in December we had some useful rain and

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the position improved. Horrie was taken off to hospital again and I visited him fairly often. Eddie and I paid one of our periodical visits to Harland (Harbour Board Secretary). Owen Woodhouse had a short time in Sherwood so I was able to visit him often. About the middle of December we went to Gisborne with Bob and Hiraani and stayed at the Masonic. While there I had an inspection of Williams and Kettle’s outfit, visited Lucy and Wrey Nolan and Rex Willock and we had a day at Ruatoria and called in to see Colin and Jackey Williams. We returned by way of Tiniroto. Traffic lights at two intersections were installed in Napier. At first we thought them unnecessary and a bore but how wrong we were. After our last Williams and Kettle Meeting of the year we had our usual session with Cooper and Onekawa and then we dined with our wives at the Burkitts. Then there were my usual rounds of Williams and Kettle Offices and Stores before Christmas and a party at the National Insurance. Seton and Mrs. Storey were married on the 23rd. Budge Grant died on the 26th – senior partner in Sainsbury, Logan and Williams and a very good man. We took Mrs. McCredie with us to a cocktail party at the Barnetts and there Dorothy met Charles White whom she had not seen since days in Dunedin. We used to see quite a lot of Elespie nowadays and she seemed to rely upon us. Ray was with us for a week or ten days and went off to Taupo on New Year’s Eve. On that day we took Monty and Cushla out to the Stead’s Yearling Parade.

1962

The New Year found Hawke’s Bay in the grip of another dry spell – you might call it the beginning of a drought. On January 1st we called on some of our neighbours in the morning and in the afternoon Monty and Cushla gave a party of about thirty. The following day, being Monty’s 76th birthday, we dined with Monty and Cushla as usual. Our little ‘Baby’ now entered her tenth year and was beginning to show her age – one night she could not be found and she did not turn up till next morning – this caused much consternation. Margaret Cato bought her Uncle, Charlie White, to see us. Davis, the very efficient engineer to the Harbour Board, died and I went with Trevor Geddis to the service in St. Augustine’s. Greta Ritchie, who had been staying in Hawke’s Bay, called in at Napier on her return South and we lunched with her at the Masonic Hotel. Towards the end of January there were some scattered falls of rain which refreshed the country a bit but it set in dry again. News came that Constance Fountaine was unwell and was a patient in a hospital in Norwich – we learned later she had a stroke but it was of a mild order. Bob Sweetapple was not very fit and went to Taupo for a spell which put him right and Horrie was still in hospital, but towards the end of the month he was moved to Maraenui Private Hospital. In January we seemed to come in contact with quite a number of our friends in one way or another. Among them were George and Aline Grossmith, Bertha Elworthy, the Maurice Chambers, Dorothy Gordon, Lulu Barron, Dorothy and Selby Palmer and Elespie. Mardie was in Hawke’s Bay for a couple of weeks and as well as staying with us she visited Pukekino, ‘The Cottage’ and the Cecil Averills. Betty and Alwyn and child also came over for a short visit and John McLean came for a weekend to Napier and called in to see us. Ivan and Mary were in Napier for sometime having made up their minds to quit Taupo after twenty years of residence there. They turned down the offer of Mrs. F.W. Williams’ house in Gladstone Road and picked on Westshore, where they bought a section. The Australia and New Zealand Bank had a reception at the Hawke’s Bay Club for Lord Bridgeman, a London Director. The newly appointed Dean of Waiapu (Guymer) arrived and was duly inducted. At first he appeared to fill the bill well and we met him on several occasions and he and his wife came for drinks with us. However at a later date his popularity declined for many reasons and he wisely resigned.

Elespie spent a couple of weeks in Sherwood. It seems to me, on reading over my diaries, that there always appears to be some of our friends in hospital. The chief excitement in S.P.C.A. circles was the successful action in Court against a man for dumping a kitten out in the

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Redcliff Rubbish Dump. I went one night to see four top flight tennis players at the Centennial Hall, but I found it most difficult to follow the ball for my sight had started to fail a bit. I went with Boy, Bob Stead and Connie Menzies, H.P. Hole and I had a day in February at his Hatuma farm. Trevor Bradley was then the manager – his wife was a daughter of Tom Price. At our Directors’ Meeting of Williams and Kettle in February I was granted six months leave of absence. The wedding of Anne Lowry and Peter Pinkney was a huge affair – it was a perfect day and we all stayed on at Okawa for a sumptuous buffet meal. Most of our country friends were there and we were able to say farewell to them. Early in March the drought broke and all was well. When March set in life became hectic as there seemed Much to be done before our departure for England. There were visits to Pukekino and ‘The Cottage’ for Constance would want to know how the latter looked. I took H.P. Hole and Jack Burnell once more to a C.E.M.S. Service at the Cathedral and this time the Bishop of Wellington (Baines) preached the sermon. The Bob Steads gave us a very pleasant dinner party at the Mayfair. On the 12th we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of our taking up the farm at Pukekino. Ray came down from Auckland for our last week to help pack etc. Julia and Nigel Poett were in New Zealand on a brief visit and Eddie had a party for them. He was at this time Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces in the Far East. Then came the last rush and the good-byes. We were lucky to have Dorothy Cunningham to look after the house and above all our little ‘Baby’. On the 23rd March Dorothy and I went out to ‘The Cottage’ and Boy and Sue took us on to Wellington the same day. We stayed at The Waterloo and Mary Wilson dined with us. The following day, after a run out to Heretaunga to see the improvements recently made to the Wellington Racing Club premises, Robert Junior came to lunch and Peter and Lizz Fligg called in. Then at 3:30 we boarded the ‘Rangitata’ and to our joy we found McNichol was our bedroom steward and he gave us a great welcome. He had been our steward on the two voyages in the ‘Rangitata’ in 1954.

Armond Nihotte and Keith Bull came to say farewell. So at 5p.m. we sailed away amidst hootings of sirens and whistles from all the ships in the harbour for this was the last voyage of this very popular ship and it was her 32nd voyage. She had been built in 1929 for the U.K. and New Zealand trade, had survived her war service and was the most comfortable ship you could wish to travel in.

I was now setting forth on my ninth voyage to England. The first few days at sea were a bit rough and the fiddles were on the tables. We were able to secure a table for two as we had on our previous trips in the ‘Rangitata’. We soon settled down to shipboard life and found a nice young fellow of 24, he was extremely kind and thoughtful towards us, there was Mrs. Fowler, Captain Forde and Winch, the last mentioned was 87, a good deck golfer and sport. He and I played much deck golf together and we won the men’s doubles and were challenged by the two winners in the Tourist Class, both young fellows, and we succeeded in defeating then in two contests, one on our deck and the other on the Tourist Deck. The Seton Wenleys were also fellow passengers.

The Hornblows of Wellington had the cabin next to us. Sally Sheppard, a friend of Bets Hay and going to London to further her music studies, and Richard and Simon Barron were travelling tourist and on occasions they came to our cabin for beer and a yarn. There were the usual games, cocktail parties etc. A short call at Pitcairn where the Natives gave a farewell to the ship that had been a friend for so many years and the time passed pleasantly till we reached Balboa on April 11th. But two days earlier we had passed the ‘Rangitiki’ outward bound and at a distance of two hundred yards we saluted one another.

At Balboa we took a taxi and after a drive through the shopping area we landed up at the El Panama Hotel, which had entranced us in 1954. There we lunched, had a stroll through the gardens and later returned to the ship. Next day we proceeded through the Canal which will never cease to provide for me, at least, a tremendous thrill. A buffet meal was served on deck so we should not

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miss anything – we experienced a terrific thunderstorm for about an hour. At three we passed out of the canal and out into the Carribean Sea and early on the morning of the 14th we arrived at Kingston (Jamaica) where we had a pleasant day on shore.

First of all we had a look around the shopping area, then we spent a delightful hour in the Botanical Gardens. We then went to the Country Club at Morgan’s Harbour (Port Royal). Then we lunched in the open and watched water-skiing. Port Royal was-the Headquarters of the Buccaneers in the days of Captain Morgan.

After leaving Jamaica we passed through the WindWard Passage between Haiti and Cuba and through the Bahama group of Islands and so to the Everglades (the Port of Miami). While having a walk the Barron boys overtook us in a hired car and we had a short drive with them. Then in the afternoon we took a bus to Miami, passing through Palm Beach which was packed with fabulous hotels and huge mansions belonging to millionaires. After that we spent an hour or two at the Sequorium where the dolphins gave a wonderful display. We returned to the ship for dinner very tired so we did not return to Miami to see it by night. The next morning we left Everglades accompanied by many little ships giving us a farewell. The following morning the ship turned about and proceeded for three hours to meet a Norwegian Tanker to pick up a sick member of the crew. Our Chief Officer and Doctor went by boat to the Tanker and returned with the sick man who was taken to the ship’s hospital (he did not prove to be very ill and was landed at Bermuda). Next day we reached Bermuda and spent a very enjoyable day on shore – a drive almost around the island which was a very delightful spot – full of pretty country lands, golden beaches and exotic hotels. Hamilton is a pleasant town and very English. Then followed another nine days at. sea – more games, parties and packing up, and on my birthday a parcel was bought to my cabin – it was two bottles of gin from Williams and Kettle.

On the 30th April the last voyage of the old ‘Rangitata’ ended we reached Southampton and were taken up to Waterloo by special train – the journey was, as usual, as thrilling as ever. On arrival at Waterloo we found we had left a suitcase at Southampton and taken one belonging to someone else and then excitement set in. However, all ended well after a day or two when the suitcase containing Dorothy’s coats and skirts (most important) turned up. We took up our abode at the Rembrandt Hotel in Thurloe Street (a continuation of Brampton Road) and we were comfortable. Patty McCarthy had kindly sent flowers.

It was a Monday when we arrived in London and until Friday 4th May, we had quite a busy time contacting friends, seeing Violet Russell who looked very frail, calling at the Overseas Headquarters and doing a bit of shopping. The weather was cold and overcast. On the 4th we went to Narford for a long weekend, travelling from Liverpool Street to Downham Market where Ellis met us. It was grand to see Constance again but we were rather shocked to see her looking much like Violet -somewhat frail. Her companion, Miss Henderson-Campbell, was a very capable and pleasant person and Rex, the new King Charles Puppy, was full of bounce. We enjoyed all the delights of Narford Hall and returned to London on 8th May and during the next ten days we had a very full programme. On the evening of our return Ray Sherning spotted me just outside the hotel. After that she became a very constant and helpful companion to us for the rest of our stay in London. She introduced us to Sir John and Lady Duncasson of 17 Rutland Court whom we got to know and like. We saw them many times and Ray’s flat was 37 Ennismore Gardens and quite close by. Every night we would dine out – at Peter Evans, The Magic Carpet, La Esperanza, The Brampton Grill etc. Our favourite was La Esperanza. Ray dined with us on most nights and we had others often, such as Sally and Molly (Russell), Isobel Powell, Mary MacKenzie (Mary Ritchie of Dunedin), and we had much laughter on these occasions. We saw Seton and Mrs. Wenley at times and

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we thought they were having a stuffy time. Alison Sharp had died a day or two after our arrival and Seton had not seen her. Harry Milson turned up one day – he was in London on his own. We saw something of Anne Chapman, Patty McCarthy, June and Phillip Crawshaw (Overseas League), Mrs. Malpas. We made much use of the Overseas League. One day we took the train to Bath and spent the day with Richard and Bertha Edmonds (hush hush Navy job) and dear old Sybil Hutchinson was there. Another day we trained to Portsmouth where Muriel and Con met us and took us for a drive and to lunch and then home in Fareham. Then on the 18th we went to Narford for another long weekend and during it we visited Swaffhan and went to see the Ashes of Narborough Hall and for the odd drive. Inspite of continuous cold and dull weather Narford looked lovely and the trees in the woodlands then wore their fresh green tender foliage. Constance seemed so pleased to have us. in England again and she was .particularly anxious to discuss the future or ‘The Cottage’ and her New Zealand affairs Consequently plans were Made for me to meet her solicitors in Kings Lynn and Banker in Swaffhan at a later date. We returned to London on the 23rd May where we remained till June 5th. The day after our return Sally Bull rang to say dear old Violet Russell had died. When we last saw her we realised the end was not far away.

She was a very dear friend and a very wonderful woman and will be missed by many. One day we lunched at Pruniers in St. James Street with Maie Casey (wife of Lord Casey, afterwards Governor General of Australia). Then another day she and I spent a pleasant morning visiting Cartier’s (jewellers), Hatchards (books), Fortnum and Masons and a little arcade near Kings Street. After she had purchased a few little sausages and some lettuce etc. she went back to their flat at 73 St. James Street to prepare Dick’s lunch while I looked in at Christie’s to see a sale of some Auberton’s pictures of birds. At times we ran into the Bill Dobsons and W.A. McLeods (Napier) at the Overseas Club. Jim Munro was staying at the Club and at times we lunched with him.

About a week after Violet’s death there was a Memorial Service at the little church (Christ Church) in Chelsea near her home. David Logan joined us – it was the first time we had seen him. After the service, which we thought very impersonal, we went to Violet’s flat and there we met many Russells and Prices, Ruth Herrick, Chris Duckworth and others. We saw the procession to and from the Trooping of the Colour which was, as always, very spectacular. The Chelsea Show was attractive and there we ran into Paul and Dinah Williams who had only arrived in London that day. The alterations to Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner were under way vast and wonderful. We saw much of Ray Sherning and we took her on some of our expeditions. When we hired a car one day we went via Henley to Oxford I got out of the car at Magdelen Bridge and walked up the High to The Mitre where we lunched. I had a great time recapturing the years of 1903 – 4 and 5. Of course we had a look at Oriel first, then visited Christchurch, St John’s and so on. On our return to London we spent a very interesting hour at the London Airport and were amazed at its vastness and the efficiency of its workings. From the Rembrandt Hotel it was easy to pop into Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum and the ornate Brampton Oratory in our spare moments.,

Then on June 5th, after five weeks at The Rembrandt, we departed for Narford where we stayed for twenty-four days. The weather was lovely most of the time and we loved every minute of our visit. Miss Campbell met us at King’s Lynn and Constance gave us a wonderful welcome but she looked rather more frail than when we saw her last. That afternoon Henry Paton came to see us. Next day Bramley of Rooke, Lane and Company (Constance’s Accountant) came down from London to discuss affairs but we did not get very far that evening as Constance was tired but next day we progressed well and John was called in later to take part in the discussion. So the matter of her accounts was disposed- of and now came the question

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of her ‘Will – she had been waiting for me to come to England for years to discuss this with her and when I did arrive it was most difficult to get her to get to work. However I went to Kings Lynn to see her Solicitor, Bush, several times and when all was in readiness he came to Narford but it was not until two days before I was due to leave that the Wills (one for her English Estate and one for her New Zealand Estate) were duly signed. I heaved a sigh of relief – so did Bush and likewise Henry Paton (her Doctor).

During our stay at Narford there were many excursions to pleasant parts of the country -for instance there were many visits to Kings Lynn, Swaffham, Hunstanton which we found to be an attractive seaside town. One day Miss Campbell took me to Norwich to have another look at the Cathedral, then we had an enjoyable day at Ely and I still think the Cathedral one of the finest in England. One day Ellis took us to Blickling Hall which I knew in days when I used to stay at Oulton Hall. We stopped and had a look at this latter home from the roadside – it had been modernised a little and many trees cut down to open it up to the light of day. We visited St. Andrews Church and entered the garden of the Vicarage to view the home of Aline Grossmith when she was a girl.

We called to see Lady Bedingfield at the most fabulous of homes, Oxborough Hall. We also visited Frank and Mrs. Ash at Narborough Hall on several occasions and inspected his orchards: David Dixon was there with Juliet, his wife who was a daughter of Mrs. Ash. Henry Paton used to come to Narford to fish and usually called at the Hall. One night he, his wife and Aunt (Miss McFie) who was a much travelled woman, came to dinner. And one evening we all went to the Hollies, the Paton’s attractive home in Swaffham, for drinks. It was the first time Constance had been to their home since we were in England in 1954. Mrs. Paton’s parents, Sir George and Lady Reid (a later Alderman of London) were there and the elder daughter, Alison, arrived from Cambridge during the party. For a long weekend the Hanbury-Tracys came – they were a nice young couple.

There was a man of about 70 – a widower -living at Narford at this time. I could never quite understand the ‘set-up’ but he occupied a suite on the top floor in the Queen Anne Wing and lunched and dined with Constance and Miss Campbell. He used one of the coach houses as a work-room for his hobby was clock repairing. He had a very fine Triumph Car and he came and went as he wished. He was a pleasant fellow – much travelled and well-informed. One day he took us to Holkham Hall, the glorious home of Lord Leicester situated on the north coast of Norfolk. It was visiting day and a fair crowd was there. Holkham is not very old – I think early eighteenth century but is full of wonderful works of art and the grounds are very attractive – one of the show places of England. Most of the rooms we went through contained portraits of ancestors of note. The Leicesters were friends of the Fountaines.

One day we went over to John’s farm ‘Moor Farm’ in Great Bircham, close-by to Sandringham, and later John and his housekeeper, Miss Foulkes, came to dine at Narford. After much talk about the shortage of water for the walled garden I suggested a pump to extract water from the lake and so we interviewed a firm in Kings Lynn and later a pumping plant was installed. Then came the Norfolk Royal Show at Cotessy – near Norwich and pronounced Cossey. Miss Campbell and I went on our own and we had a very enjoyable day. By appointment I met Bill Crossley, now Lord Somerleyton, and we had a long yarn together. He has a very nice mansion on the coast of Norfolk and wanted us to visit him but time was too short for this. After a day of inspecting live stock and machinery of all sorts we returned to Narford worn out.

A few days later, on June 28th, we said a sad farewell to Constance and returned to London where we took up our abode at Overseas House and were most comfortable. The weather at Narford had been really wonderful and we were so happy in the lovely home. The good food and wine put about a stone on to my weight and I could see something would have to be done about this. During the next fortnight we had a most hectic time and we

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made the most of what maybe our last visit to London. We dined outmost nights, Ray Sherning always being with us and we entertained Audrey Platten (Kettle) who came up from Colchester, Daphne King and Peggy Park who was still teaching at the Blue Coat School in Hartford, Patty McCarthy, Cog of the Bank of New South Wales, Mary Mackenzie, the Duncanssons, the Crawshaws, Anne Chapman, Trevor Gebbie (a bright young physician at Hammersmith Hospital who told us much about Lung Cancer and Kidney Diseases), Molly and Sally etc. One day we met Alex Cunningham and wife from Tauranga. We had a lovely day on the South Coast and Ray Sherning came too. We went to Eastbourne, a walk on Beachy Head and looked in at Dorothy’s old school, ‘The Links’, and then to Boxhill and lunched at ‘Greystones’, once Cyril Maude’s home. To St. Leonards and a look at Barham House, the tutor’s establishment at which I was a pupil in 1903, to Hastings, and on to Battle Abbey where William the Conqueror smote the English in 1066. It was a great thy and a wonderful ‘eye-full’ of old England. There were two visits to the Exhibition of Ellis Rowan’s pictures of Australian birds and wild flowers -she was an Aunt of Maie Casey’s and Maie had had these pictures flown to London for this exhibition. We had drinks with Maie and Dick in their flat, 73 St. James Street. Two years later Dick accepted the post of Governor General of Australia. I lunched one day with Arthur and Nancy Sims at the Carlton Club and was driven home in their Rolls Royce in style. He began life as a clerk in a Meat Company’s Office in Christchurch (New Zealand) and is now knighted and full of dough but very generous. Nancy (once Todd) was at a Kindergarten School with me in Napier. One day we lunched with Lady Jellicoe (wife of a former Governor General of New Zealand) and her daughter Lady Gwendolen Latham – she was a hostess at the Overseas. One morning I took a bus into the City and had a good prowl round – looking in at St. Mary’s Le Bow (Bowbells fame) which was nearly restored after bomb damage. I also had another look at St. Paul’s and then called in at the old Bailey and listened to a case in progress. Another morning I visited Smithfield Market and watched sales in operation. We saw the Hornblows who came along to the Overseas Club at times. When we went to say good-bye to Mary Mackenzie her daughter Noreen and husband (Ian Wetherby) were there from Rhodesia. On our last day but one we went once more to the garden on top of Derry and Toms and had a look at the Festival Hall and London by floodlight. These were our last days in London – we had drinks with Lady Jellicoe in Eaton Square and a happy supper with Anne Chapman after which Jimmy Smaile (proprietor of several newspapers in Berwickshire) called in. I had met him in years gone-by at Berwick-on-Tweed. On the 12th, after farewell drinks with Philip and June Crawshaw, we set off by special bus for The Royal Albert Docks and boarded the ‘Athenic’. David was there to see us off.

So we said a sad farewell to old England which we loved but may never see again. By the time we had reached the mouth of the Thames it was dark and the next day we were well down the English Channel and out of sight of land. The voyage to New Zealand was the dullest we had ever experienced for we did not like the ship and on the whole the passengers were dull and uninteresting. However, later we got to know the Pat Crennans of Sydney who knew the Bob Steads – they were racing people of course. Seton and his wife were on board and sat at our table. I did not play much in the way of games – there did not seem to be the opportunity. The Captain was Heywood and I had met him once in Napier when the ‘Athenic’ was in port and there was a lunch party on board. The first call was at Curacao and we tied up actually in the centre of the city instead of Caracas. We hired a taxi and had a drive and fetched up at the Airport for lunch. Two or three days later we were at Christobal. It was mighty hot and as this place is unattractive we just drove to the Washington Hotel and had a most appalling dinner. The next morning we entered the Canal at 6.30 and sailed past Balboa and out to sea at 5 p.m. The Canal was as fascinating as ever and during the passage there was a

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spectacular thunderstorm – more so than the one we experienced last April. Here we learned of Ruby Stead’s death.

It was a moderately cool and calm voyage to Pitcairn Island but just as we arrived quite a big sea got up. On the 11th August Dorothy was 74 and it became known in some way so a cake was made for her and her health drunk. The day before we arrived in New Zealand the sea was roughish and during the late evening a freak wave caused the ship to roll heavily and there was much smashing of crockery and sliding of furniture. We arrived in Wellington early on the 13th and were met by Boy who motored us home the same day where Monty and Cushla and, of course, little Baby, greeted us. It was good to be home again.

The day after our return Sue came in with Tim, who was now 7 and tall for his age. Sue made herself as helpful as ever in unpacking and straightening up generally. One of our first jobs was to have our medical tests and then get our driving licenses. It was good to be home again and we soon caught up with our relatives, friends and neighbours. There was an early visit to Maraenui to see Mrs. Mackay, Horrie and Edith Moore, the first wo had gone back we thought, and a few days later Mrs. Mackay was admitted to the Public Hospital for a time for special treatment.

At an early stage we went out to see Eddie. There was the picking up of threads with the S.P.C.A. and Williams and Kettle and on the first Friday, G. Cooper., Jim Foley and I resumed our weekly meetings. By the way Jim Foley was a staunch Roman Catholic as well as being a doctor and one day I asked him where in the body the soul dwelt and at what stage it entered and left the body. He said he would, in time, give the answer. However as no answer was forthcoming after months, I pressed for the answer and his reply as ‘you must ask a priest’. Of course, we went to see Lulu too. Ray came down from Auckland before the end of August and there was much to talk about. The Brian Hills, who were now living at Westshore, went off to Hong Kong for a couple of years as he wanted to study Tropical Diseases. On September 4th we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our wedding day. Our near neighbours, the Sweetapples and Mrs. McCredie came in the morning. At night there was a dinner party consisting of the Boys and their wives, Monty and Cushla, and Bob and Rua Stead. Bob very kindly provided the champagne. During the month Ivan and Mary were in Napier for a few days. Betty Mayne gave a small party – Dudley and Ngaire and the Reg Humphries were there. Betty had returned from her trip to England early this year. Miss Lewis, who had travelled in the ‘Athenic’ with us and her sister, Mrs. Huson, came to see us and we took them for a drive. Among the friends we contacted during September were Dorothy Gordon, the Grossmiths, Frank Spite (General Manager of New Zealand Shipping Company), and Pat Goudie and Peg McKenzie came up one evening. I took Harland out to see Eddie one Saturday. After a lot of thought I decided to retire from the Chairmanship of Williams and Kettle – I was now 78 and it did not seem to me that a man-Of that age could do justice to the job. So at our Directors’ Meeting prior to the Annual Meeting I made my views known. After that I paid my last call at the Waipawa, Waipukurau, and Hastings branches as Chairman and Kay Logan came with us. Brian Kettle had a couple of weeks in Sherwood and I used to drop in to see him. And so the Annual Meeting of Williams and Kettle took place early in October – the last meeting of my Chairmanship. At the Directors’ Meeting later Maurice Chambers was elected Chairman and Jasper Herrick Deputy. I was sad to relinquish office for I had enjoyed my term but I knew I had acted wisely. I was still a member of the Board and decided to remain till my term came to an end. The MacKays were well settled in the Kennels at Meeanee and being active and young MacKay was able to take over much of the work I and the Committee used to do, especially the collecting of animals. The Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Savings Bank came into being. Dorothy Cunningham became very unwell and was sent to the Public Hospital. Mrs. MacKay was there still. The Spring Show came along and I attended

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the first and third days – the third day was cold and wet. The Hawke’s Bay County Council gave a lunch party in the Board Room and invited past members. By this time I was the only exchairman on deck. Ray came back from Auckland and took on a job in the office of the Masonic Hotel and lived at home. Mardie, Betty and Alwyn were over in Hawke’s Bay for a week or two. One Sunday in October we went out to Te Aratipi to lunch with the Palmers and we journeyed by Waimarama Road. I spent a few days at Tauroa with M. and K. Chambers and while there we visited Dudley and Mason’s farms and went to see the Norman Averys. Frank Spite gave a biggish dinner party at the Club, among the guests were the Leonard Williams, Mrs. H.B.W. and Bill, the Sam Turners, the Bulls and the Jamesons. The U.S.A. discovered that Cuba was being used by Russia for a building up of dangerous weapons of war and she was in the position to insist upon the return of these to Russia. Lady Roberts was in Napier and she and Elespie came over one day and we were agreeably surprised when Zoe bought Lulu to see us. Lulu was never able to repeat this venture. S.P.C.A. Meetings once more were being held in the homes of the Committee members as Mrs. Sergant’s home was not altogether convenient for her. One day Hollay and I went to see Miller, Mayor Taradale, and he promised a contribution towards our funds. Boy and Sue went to the South Island for a couple of weeks to stay with friends and attend the Christchurch Show and Races. We visited Pukekino in November and had a look at the huge culvert which takes the place of the bridge over the Whanakino – a wonderful improvement, and all corners in the cutting were eliminated. One day I sat on the bench with Jack Snaddon – it was a motor collision case. We passed it on to the Supreme Court. Lucy and Wrey Nolan were in Napier for a few days and came up to see us. The early part of December was wet and we were glad of the rain. One day we went out to Otatara to see Mrs. Hetley and her sister, Mrs Chesterton, from England. Dorothy’s leg was giving a bit of trouble and Harold Barnett suggested an X-ray. Mary and Ivan gave up the idea, in the meantime, of living at Westshore. The Dean and his wife (Guymer) came up for drinks and we had Betty Mayne and others to meet him. During the month we seem to have seen a number of friends e.g. Dorothy Gordon, the Grossmiths, Elespie, Madelene Wilder, Cecil Averills and the John Humphries etc. Mrs. MacKay was still in the Napier Hospital and also Gillian Thompson with a broken leg caused by the charging of a bull. I used to visit them and, of course, there were the weekly visits to Harris and Edith Moore. At an Overseas Gathering in Hastings Paul Williams gave a talk on his visit to American Ranches. There were the odd visits to ‘The Cottage’ to see the children. At the last Williams and Kettle’s meeting of the year we said farewell to Gordon Cooper, our Merchandise Manager – he had been with the Company for fifty years. And on the last day of the year Jim Foley and I had our final session while he, Cooper, was in charge. Mrs. Dick Tattersall had a small party -likewise the Sweetapples. On the 31st we also called to see Lulu. On the last Sunday of the year Bob Stead held his Yearling Parade to which we went and, of course, met many of our country friends. So another year has gone – so much wiser and so much older.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

1963 – 1967

1963

On New Year’s Day we went to Mrs. McCredie for a small party at which there were the Cyril Rathbones and Vyv Coopers and next day Monty celebrated his 76th birthday and, as usual, we dined with him and Cushla. And on that day Ray went to Taupo for a few days to stay with Lizz Fligg.

The Roley Hills, J. Humphries, Madelene Wilder, Dorothy Gordon, Elespie, Michael and Joan Averill, the Longmores and Mrs. Bestall.

came into our lives in January and, of course, I saw much of the Holes. I still met Tom Mitchell quite a lot. The time came for a review of the rent of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams and McLennan engaged Malcolm McSporran to value the building for us. One evening there was a dinner party given by Williams and Kettle as a farewell to Gordon Cooper and Renner (late Gisborne Branch Manager). We sat at the high table with the Directors and wives. I had Mrs. Cyril Hunter on one side and Margot Lowry on the other. Renner’s speech was good and witty.

Before January was out we lunched with Bertha Elworthy. I was still a member of the Overseas League Committee and Tony Roberts was still its President (Hawke’s Bay Branch). Ian Sweetapple went off to St. Pat’s College at Silverstream only the other day he seemed a little kid.

Eddie had a week or ten days in the South Island and on his return we met him at the Airport and took him out to Muritai. Lou came to stay with us for a week in February and we were sad to let her go. The Queen and Prince Philip came to New Zealand for the celebrations at Waitangi and on the 10th February they arrived in Napier on the Royal Yacht for the day and we had good seats at McLean Park when she presented the colours to the Hawke’s Bay Regiment. Boy and Sue bought the children to town to see the Queen and they had supper with us. Janet and Terry Herrick were down to see Eddie, he was in charge of the Naval Dockyard in Auckland., I decided the time had come to retire from the S.P.C.A. Committee I had been President for nine years and I felt a change would be a good thing so I gave notice that I would retire in May.

Ray’s job at the Masonic Hotel came to an end and she went up to Auckland to see about a job with a couple of surgeons. When this was all fixed she returned, packed up and went back. to Auckland. She had a flat in Crescent Road in Joan Hay’s house. We were very sad to say goodbye but I think she decided rightly.

We went to the Airport to see John and Barbara Gordon fly off to Hong Kong for a holiday.

Boy took Harlow and me up to John Harlow’s farm beyond Cricklewood – we travelled in the Land Rover and had a good outing in the back-blocks.

Selby Palmer had a short spell in Royston and I visited him there, And H.P. Hole’s heart played up again and he had to be very careful after his recovery.

Bob Stevenson retired from the A.N.Z. Bank after fourteen years as Manager in Napier. There was quite a party at the Bank for the occasion and I spoke on behalf of the old customers of the Bank. Lou came out at a dance in Wellington but she came in to show herself in her dress which Hiraani had made for her. Towards the end of February Dorothy was not very well and our friend Mrs. McCredie was kind and helpful to us. Then, unfortunately, I got bronchitis and had to retire to bed so Mardie came over to take charge.

The first week of March found me in bed – this was most annoying. Many came to see me and among them were M.S. Chambers, Eddie, R.P. Kay, Monty and Cushla, Mrs. McCredie. Mardie was with us at the time. Then she went to ‘The Cottage’ for a few days and there she remained for about ten days, having picked up some mysterious bug. Her John came over to take part in Surf events at Westshore.

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Boy leased about 140 acres of Bob Stead’s Longlands property which gave him much interest.

S.P.C.A. work proceeded but as I said before with the MacKays at Meeanee my work was considerably lightened these days. The Society decided to sell the three acre property to MacKay – there was some opposition to this but I was never in favour of the Society holding it for many reasons.

Paul Williams was in Sherwood for about three weeks and I frequently popped in to see him and Dinah used to call in to see us and have the odd cup of tea.

We farewelled the Roley Hills who sailed for England in the ‘Port Vindex’ in March. Bob and Rua Stead also went off for a few months but they went to Australia for most of the time. Our social life proceeded in its quiet way – we visited Margaret Cato’s where we met the Charlie Whites again. Eddie and Letty called in to see us, the Grossmiths came along to say goodbye as Aline and Lucille were going to England – the latter to take up a Librarians career, and there was a small party at Elespie’s to meet Betty Mayne’s fiancé, and the new Manager of the A.N.Z. Bank (L. Truscott) and his wife came over for drinks. One day during Easter holidays Ian Sweetapple and Steven Wood, who were playing in the loft of our shed, set fire to it. Fortunately the blaze was extinguished before the brigade arrived. Ray, who was with us for Easter, and our neighbour, Davis, got to work with hoses. This happened while I was telephoning the fire station and collecting my extinguisher. There was much activity in the Hole family as H.P. decided he would possibly be happier without the responsibility of his farm at Hatuma. He and I paid -a visit to the farm and there we weighed the ‘pros and cons’ and decided to sell would be wise considering the high land values. So there were meetings and discussions with Ian Johnston and Vincent Stratford and ultimately I was allowed to approach Williams and Kettle to find a buyer. Later a sale was made to Beetham at £60 per acre which was very satisfactory. Cushla’s birthday took place on Good Friday (it was Tim’s 8th birthday) and she and Monty came over to dinner, Ray was home too. Horrie was taken to the Public Hospital early in April and his condition deteriorated rapidly and on the 10th he died. For nearly forty years he and I had been close friends. Also in April Arthur Bradley, Secretary to Williams and Kettle, died suddenly – he was a valuable servant of the Company and a lovable soul.

On my 79th birthday we went to Longlands to have a look at Boy’s farmlet, then lunched with Eddie at Muritai, a short visit to Lulu and home for a rest before going to dinner with Monty and Cushla. Mrs. Mackay was back at Maraenui before the end of April but she was becoming very frail – we thought she was about 91. When May came it was time for medical tests prior to getting our Drivers’ Licenses. Barnett would not pass me on account of eyesight so gloom set in -however, Holland examined my eyes and said he could find no reason for Barnett’s decision and advised going to Sabiston, the recently arrived occulist. He was entirely in agreement with Holland so I got my clearance and later had the driver’s test. So all was well but for two or three weeks I had not driven the car and I was miserable. M.S. Chambers and Kath went off for a trip overseas and Jasper took the chair (Williams and Kettle) during Maurice’s absence. I took my last S.P.C.A. meeting early in the month and later said my farewell at the Annual Meeting, Jim McCormick took my place as President. The rent for Sainsbury, Logan, and Williams was fixed at £1310 – which was £400 more than it had been. We were grateful to John McLennan for his good offices and in future he was to be our factor so far as our building was concerned. In May Boy picked up a ‘bug’ and was out of action for a time but he made a good recovery. We went out to ‘The Cottage’ to see him when we could. The Ivan Johnstons of Waipawa came to lunch with us one day. Eddie and Molly Herrick came to see us. After Ivan and Mary had been staying at a motel in Westshore they returned to Taupo and Tim went back with them to stay with the Gilkisons. Among our visitors were Elespie, Sally Bull, Lou for a dance and she looked very nice, John Gordon and Angus after a football match, Dorothy Gordon and

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others. We seemed to see a lot of Elespie these days. At our Williams and Kettle meeting in May our thoughts were directed to Burkitt’s successor for he was retiring in two year’s time. We favoured Philip Giblin who was now Manager of Gisborne branch. George Grossmith, who was batching, came to see us at times.

The Coprosma trees on the bank between Mrs. Rickard and ourselves began to die one by one and we decided they had become an eyesore and were almost useless as shelter. So Mrs. Rickard agreed to the erecting of a 7ft. fence as did Mrs. McCredie, Percy Martin got to work and did a good job in the erecting of the fence. He also renovated the woodshed which had become delapidated [sic]. Then we consulted John Anderson in regard to planting the bank. Charlie Sorrell died at the end of May; and I found myself the sole trustee in the R.D.D. McLean Estate so I appointed Bill Dobson and Hal Nash. Also at the end of the month Meta Riddiford died -we had been very friendly for over fifty years. Bob Stevenson who now lived in Hukarere Road, was laid up for some time with leg trouble and I Often called to see him and took Eddie along once or twice. Early in June the fine weather broke and much rain fell especially in the Tangoia area causing heavy flooding and damage. Mrs. McCredie was unwell for a time and we were able to do something for her in return for all she had done for us over the past few years, Sabiston lifted my left eyelid at Sherwood, I was only in hospital for a day. This drooping eyelid had been hindering my vision and the lifting of it was successful. Pope John died in May and in June a successor was appointed in Paul VI and the work of unity among churches carried on. Mary had a cataract operation and while she was in hospital Nancy came to Napier and stayed with Ivan at a motel at Westshore. Maie Casey sent me her book ‘An Australian Story’ which was most intriguing. The worst air accident New Zealand had known took place near Tauranga when a plane crashed into the mountain range and all twenty-three were killed. Cora came to stay in July and we took her to see her various friends, e.g. Lulu, Eddie, Noel Dowling, Mrs. MacKay, M. Wilder and Elespie. Then later she went to stay at Pukekino. The weather was pretty foul in July. One day I took Ian Sweetapple on board the newest port ship ‘Port Nicholson’. Another day we took Young (Captain of the ship) and Betty Mayne to lunch at La Ronde. Monty had another bronchial attack during the winter and was confined to the house for sometime. Elespie celebrated her 86th birthday by giving a small cocktail party – She was quite wonderful for her age. On the other hand Mrs. MacKay’s memory was failing fast. A week never seems to have past without a visit to the Holes – he was not very fit these days. One day in July we had Bertha Elworthy and George Grossmith to lunch at La Ronde and it was a high success for Bertha had been an admirer of his Father, the redoubtable ‘George’, of the early part of the century. Williams and Kettle’s pension fund progressed well and it has proved highly successful. My visits to the Club on Friday evenings are now very regular – Tom Mitchell and Bill-Dobson were always there and we usually gathered in one or two others. In August John Anderson came up and placed about fifteen shrubs in the top garden and Bill Wilson helped plant them. On Dorothy’s birthday Bob and Hiraani came in for dinner and Cushla turned up later. The Keith Bulls gave a small party to celebrate their wedding which had taken place a little earlier. I was asked to attend a meeting of the S.P.C.A. one night at Mrs. Sargent’s as Hollay and McCormick were both away and they wanted me to fill the bill. Another friend was in Sherwood in August for me to visit -Helen Humphries had broken her collar bone. We went out to lunch with M. and K. Chambers at Tauroa to hear about their recent trip abroad and visit to Constance Fountaine. Another day, after lunching with the Selby Palmers at the Masonic, we went on board the New Zealand Shipping Company’s new ship ‘Remuera’ to a monster cocktail party. She was a new ship and well appointed but the trade did not warrant her and after a year she was sold.

The usual social round still caught us in a mild way. We met Mrs. Edgar Stead at M. Wilder’s – I had not seen her for years. We

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visited the Bob Stevensons, the Burnells and Mrs. McCredie on her 56th birthday, and then there were our Saturday trips to Eddie. Ray came down to us for a few days. A knee was giving some trouble and as Harold Barnett did not appear very interested I saw Sam Turner. Later something gave me reason to think Harold was less interested so with some reluctance and sorrow we parted and Sam took us over. Harold had been our doctor for over thirty years. At the end of August I went out to Pukekino to have a look at the bridge that had been erected over the Gaol’s Gorge – this was going to save untold time and energy. It used to take me about two and a half to three hours to bring sheep, especially ewes with their lambs, from the Gaols to the homestead blocks – now the job would be completed in about half an hour. For years – forty at least – used to pray for the wherewithall to make the roadway and erect the bridge but the cost was prohibitive. Moreover in the early days there were no bulldozers and other implements for such work. I found the country looking well and lambing was almost over. Ray returned to Auckland early in September. On the 4th, the anniversary of Bob and Hiraani’s marriage as well as ours, we four lunched at La Ronde. Harland (Secretary of the Harbour Board) was laid low after a stroke and one day I took Eddie to see him, and later we lunched at La Ronde with Dorothy. The three year period after my last gift duty had passed safely and I felt much happier. We decided on a new Morris Oxford car and made arrangements for the necessary sterling funds to be made available to Stewart Greer. What a silly business it all seems to be and so much probing into one’s private affairs by the Customs Department. The progress over the big additions to Williams and Kettle’s No. 3 Wool Store was satisfactory and at our meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting all appeared satisfactory. Then came the Annual General Meeting and I was persuaded to remain on the board for a little longer as the other directors wanted M.S. Chambers, Jasper and myself to be a committee to go into the matter of abandoning the vicious bonus system and perhaps interporate bonuses into the wage set-up. A little later we brought down our report which was acted upon and now the horrid bonus practice has ended. A visit to ‘The Cottage’ towards the end of September filled our heart with gladness – the country looked lovely and the lambing was good. One day Boy took us down to the Eric Hardys beyond Elsthorpe and after lunch Eric took us in his huge Valiant car to Kairakau on the coast. Boy and family had a very unpleasant attack of chicken pox which made them feel mighty sick. The usual visits to Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore continued -also Saturdays to Muritai. And as H.R Hole did not drive his car now I sometimes took him for a drive and often called to see him. Greta Ritchie was in Hawke’s Bay and while Dorothy was out to see her in Hastings Freda and Lynne came to play scrabble with me. Mardie came over for a while in October and we took her to the Show on the first day. The Napier Operatic Society put on ‘The Merry Widow’ – it was a very good show. Hope Bernau took us down in her car.

Ivan and Mary had bought a section at Westshore and a start was made on their house. After being back in Taupo about a week Mary’s eye did not seem to recover as it should so she came down to see Sabiston and he discovered there was a detached retina and hospital was the only answer. So she was admitted to the Public Hospital for treatment which meant being flat on her back and not being allowed to move a muscle. Bob injured a knee while drafting cattle and we visited him several times in the Hastings Hospital. He made a good recovery. Dudley and Ngaire Kettle gave a party for Betty Mayne the day before she was married to Murray Evison and many of our old friends were there. Hew Bruce was staying with Dorothy Gordon for a few days in late October and it was good to see him again. During November Mary left hospital and entered Sherwood for a couple of weeks before returning to Taupo. It appears that the damage to the eye (the one operated on for cataract) was very seriously damaged. Miss. A.M. Anderson and her friend, De Beer (lecturer at London University),who was visiting New Zealand came to see us and we

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took him later to catch his plane at the Airport. The Arthur Sims were in New Zealand again and we lunched with them at the Masonic. Arthur is very remarkable for his age – he must have been about 86. H.P. Hole became less mobile and I continued to take him for drives and I made a point of seeing Mrs. MacKay and Edith Moore once a week. For the last three weeks of November the Election Campaign was in full swing and on the 30th the Elections were held and the National Party won the day. The Truscotts (Manager of the Bank of A.NZ) gave a party that evening for about a dozen or so and We listened in to progress reports. I still kept up with S.P.C.A. activities and sometimes Freda Hole would take me to meetings. Douglas Sturm, after thirty-one years of service with Williams and Kettle, retired. He had been Manager of the Napier Branch for some years and the firm gave a big farewell dinner for him at Onekawa. The Overseas League held a cocktail party at the Club to which I took Hope Bernau. Before the end of the year Terry and Janet Herrick returned to New Zealand to settle after a brief visit to England to sell their home and wind up affairs. The Gordon Coopers gave a swell party one evening at their home in Coleman Terrace, Murray MacKenzie, Elespie’s Godson, returned to New Zealand on his way to an administrative job in Fiji and he and Elespie came to see us one evening. Ray arrived on Christmas Day for ten days and that evening Boy, Sue and Pixie and Monty and Cushla came for dinner. On the 28th Boy and Sue gave a monster Barbecue party at ‘The Cottage’ – over two hundred guests were present. Ray went out to it but we went to a much quieter affair at the Sweetapples. One day we went to see Reg and Sally Bull at their attractive home at Rissington. In November the world was shocked by the assassination of John Kennedy (the young President of U.S.A.). Within hours of his death Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President.

1964

It is May, 1968, so you see I am making good progress and it looks as if I may soon be out of a job. While I continue with the condensing business Dorothy is making a bold effort to decipher what I have already done so that Ann Whyte, who is typing the story, will have less difficulty to overcome. Here we are at the beginning of 1964. Ray was with us for the holiday week and went out to the races with Bob and Rua Stead, while we went to the Sweetapples for drinks to meet their cousin, Margaret Donovan, who is an Airhostess in B.O.A.C. Monty and Cushla were in Auckland and this was the first birthday (January 2nd) that we missed celebrating with Monty for some years. John McLean (Mardie’s boy), who was now 22, was staying in Napier and he came to see us. He seems a very steady and stalwart young man for 22. The Sasanof Stud Yearling Parade was, as usual, a great success and pleasant. The weather was pretty vile for the first couple of weeks of the year and I note we have had no summer so far. Judy Williams wrote from Tauranga to tell me Arthur Empson had died in his home in Shropshire on January 1st and she asked me to write an article about him for the ‘Collegian’ which I was pleased to do. Arthur Empson was the son of my Headmaster while at Wanganui Collegiate School and he was a close friend of mine throughout our school days and afterwards, in spite of our meetings being somewhat rare. He went up to Oxford at the same time as Ivan – later he joined the Indian Army, then took Holy Orders in England and later still retired and farmed in Shropshire. Quite a varied career. Jack Burnell was in Sherwood for three weeks after a hernia operation and I frequently popped in to see him.

We got to know Peggie McKenzie, the very efficient N.A.C. Clerk and daughter of old Norman and she used to come to see us occasionally. She was a useful friend too. Humphry Bayly was fairly seedy for a time but made a good recovery. His wife stayed at the Masonic while he was in hospital and we used to see her. Lady Russell died at the age of 91 – she had been more or less bedridden since the General departed. At the Yearling Sales Bob Stead did well and one colt fetched 6500 guineas. One day in January Rod Gallen (a partner in Lusk, Willis and Company’s Office) took Harlow and me to see the fifty acre block

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near Ohurakura which he and others were planting. The Tom Mitchells gave a cocktail party one evening and the Eric Hardys and ourselves were invited to stay for a meal. February was a hot and dry month but towards the end good rains fell and the country responded well. The Roley Hills and Aline Grossmith were back from abroad and had much of interest to tell. The Steads gave a farewell party for Marianne who had been here on a holiday. Bob purchased a Land Rover for Pukekino and one day I went out to have a tour round the farm on it. We called in to see the Kays. Ray had her annual holiday and was with us for a couple of weeks in February, Ivan and Mary were also down to see about the house under construction. The wool sale in February was very buoyant and prices next best to those in 1951. It was decided we would go for a holiday in the South Island with Boy and Sue so we got ourselves busy over plans. There was one of the somewhat rare Lowry Trust Meetings at Rainbow’s Office and Win Sandtmann and I had a lengthy meeting re Ohinewairua Trust as he was going overseas for a few months and we wanted. to straighten things up. Mrs. MacKay died in February (aged 92 or 93) and we attended the service at St. Pauls. She was a dear friend all my life. She married Norman MacKay towards the end of last century and lived in Napier from then on. Ray’s holiday came to an end which was sad and she set off for Auckland in her Mini. H.P. Hole’s health was giving concern and it looked as if his days were numbered – this was also sad. During the last few days of February I had one of my periodic attacks and was in bed for a few days. Mrs. McCredie again came to our help -she is a very good neighbour. Among the friends with whom we had contact during January and February were M.S. Chambers, Lulu, M. Wilder, Elespie, Gordon Cooper, the John Gordons, Dorothy Gordon, Eddie (of course), and Janet and Terry who were still staying with Eddie while making up their minds where to settle, the John Humphries and the Wenleys. I was more than surprised to get a telephone call from Philip Crawshaw from Christchurch one morning – he had been at a conference in South Australia and spent a night in Christchurch with Donald Bain on his return to England. There was a good growth of grass early in March following the rain in late February. Bob came in to town to have a session with Ken Pearson over the farm accounts. It appeared to be a satisfactory year. Ivan and Mary finally left Taupo after selling Ancroft – they spent a couple of weeks in a rented house at Westshore and then went into their new house. Personally I would hate to live at Westshore and we thought they had made a colossal mistake. Mardie was over for a couple of weeks in March and after staying with us she visited Bob at Pukekino. Williams and Kettle’s Directors had a tour of the Hastings and Southern branches – we spent one night at the new hotel ‘Merrylees’ at Dannevirke. Ray and Patty McCarthy spent Easter on a cruise to the Marlborough Sounds in the Rangitoto. Louis Moffatt – now in residence at Waiapu House – seemed very happy. H.P. Hole seemed to be failing fast but I still took him for the occasional drive.

Edith Moore’s brother, Briscoe, was in Napier for a few days. He was a member of the Wool Board and lived in North Auckland. Boy and Sue went off for a visit to the South Island and on the 5th April we flew to Christchurch where they met us. From then until the 23rd we had a very happy and enjoyable time with them. After a night in Christchurch at the Shirley Lodge (a very up-to-date Motel) we met Cora for a cup of coffee and then set off in Boy’s Vauxhall car for Timaru, deviating on the journey to see Otahuna (later Sir Heaton Rhodes’ home), Lincoln College and Longbeach (the Grigg property). The next day we made Mt. Cook, having travelled by way of Fairley and Tekapo – at the last mentioned we looked in at ‘The Good Shepherd’ Church built of grey stone in memory of the pioneers of the McKenzie Country among whom were the Arthur Hopes with whom I once stayed at the Mincliff near Timaru. The Hermitage at Mt. Cook was very comfortable and sumptuous. On the following day, which was glorious, Boy and Sue flew up to the Tasman Glacier while Dorothy and I enjoyed a good walk and the lovely scenery. After a couple of days we made for Wanaka, calling in at Otamatata to

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see Benmore Hydro Electric works which were almost finished and which were to provide electricity for the North Island. Wanaka was looking lovely as we approached in the late afternoon. We had booked in at a new and comfortable motel called ‘The White Elephant’. There was a short period of drizzle the following morning, otherwise for the duration of our tour there was no further rain. In two days we visited the old Homestead site of Wanaka Station which bought back memories to Dorothy of happy days there in her youth. We went round the west side of the lake as far as Cattle Flat and we also went to Hawea Station, the home of the Jim Rowleys. Then, after lunching at Cromwell, we reached Queenstown at nightfall and stayed at a very pleasant private hotel- ‘Lomond Cottage’ run by Jane Deans and a friend., I developed quite a heavy cold so lay low the following day. Boy and Sue did the sights including Skippers and Cecil Peak Station. Queenstown is a beautiful spot with the massive Remarkables Range in the background. The next move was to Te Anau, after a deviation to see Manapouri Lake. The following day we journeyed leisurely to Milford Sound enjoying the lovely scenery of the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and many wonderful mountains. The tourist hotel at Milford was most comfortable and expensive! The weather was kind to us and we were able to take a launch trip on the Sound and we sailed under the famous Mitre Peak.

We then retraced our steps as far as Lumsden where we turned north to visit Peter and Anne Pinkney for lunch at Glenary Station – a vast property – of 132,000 acres, well appointed and run with eleven married couples and seven single men and extra labour at mustering time. In my youth I knew the original Pinkney and his wife, who was a Miss Tripp of Orari Gorge. Peter took us in his Land Rover for a drive to Piano Flats and we saw some lovely Beech Forests. That night we reached Invercargill by way of Gore and passing through some very good farming country. While in Invercargill we called on old Gilkison, father of Gilkie, and visited The Bluff and ate Stewart Island Oysters.

From Invercargill we went along the coast road as far as Fort Rose where we found the road under heavy repair so we beat inland and made Dunedin at 4 p.m. via Clinton and Balclutha. We stayed a couple of nights at The City Hotel. While there we called to see Greta Ritchie and the Macphersons (owners of Wanaka) and Greta dined with us one night. We had not been to Dunedin for fifty years. From Dunedin we travelled direct to Christchurch stopping only at Oamaru and Timaru for a short time. After dropping Dorothy and me at The Clarendon Hotel Boy and Sue proceeded to Lyttleton and caught the ferry back to Wellington. In Christchurch Nancy was most helpful and took us around the countryside. We went to Lyttleton through the new tunnel, to see her home on the Cashmere Hills, to see Gladys Turnbull at her home in Sumner and to various places of interest. We enjoyed a walk through the Botanical Gardens and Hagley Park – the autumn leaves were really lovely. We went to see Mrs. Gould and Barbara, the former was wonderful at 94 and we enjoyed talking over many happy meetings in the forty years of our friendship. Denis and Jean Cotterill came to dinner with us one night and so did Nancy and Leslie, I paid a visit to the Overseas League Club and had a yarn with Donald Bain.

Then on the 23rd we left by air for Napier – at Wellington Lizz Fligg was there to meet us and see us safely into the Napier plane. I ran into John Holland (Bishop of Waikato and son of my old friend Bertie Holland, late Bishop of Wellington). Bob and Hiraani met us at the Airport and it was quite exciting to get home again and to be greeted by little Baby. Mrs. McCredie had us to dinner. So we settled down again after a lovely holiday. The following day Ursula rang up early to say my old friend, H.P. Hole, had died – I shall miss him for I was fond of him. He was 86. On the 27th I attended the service at The Cathedral. Ray came down for the long weekend (Anzac) and my birthday. On Anzac Day we went to a service at Maraekakaho and the blessing of the trees planted in memory of the young men from the

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district who died in the War – we gave a tree in memory of Jim – I think there were about eight trees in all. Lou was back from her year or eighteen months in Sydney.

Hawke’s Bay was in the throes of a partial drought and it was getting late for rain to produce much growth. On my 80th birthday we had a jolly party – the boys and wives, Monty and Cushla and Kay were with us for dinner and Bob Stead kindly sent me a couple of bottles of champagne! Before the end of April I had picked up the threads with Williams and Kettle and my various friends. After quite a remarkable Autumn we stepped into winter early in May and that was the end of the warm weather, During May Miss Peggy McKenzie who was now an important officer in N.A.C. went on a trip to the East and on her return came to tell us about it. We began the yearly pruning of trees and shrubs in May and by the end of June the roses too were pruned. In May Morris Averill died and I went to the funeral service at St. Matthews in Hastings. In this month we attended the wedding of Jocelyn Barnett and Geoffrey How and the big reception afterwards at the St. John’s Rooms. John McLennan and I, as Constance Fountaine’s Attorneys, handed over a collection of gold medals, won by Sir R.D.D. McLean at various A. & P. Shows, to the H.B.A. & P. Society (Arnold was Secretary). These medals were worth,- as gold, about £250 to £300.

One day the Sweetapples took me out to see the Hawke’s Bay Gliding Club in action on the banks of the Tuki Tuki. Ivan and Mary were now settled in at Westshore and our regular visits to them now began. The Annual Meeting of the farm partnership (F.B. Logan and Company) disclosed another successful year. The new ‘Wool Exchange’ building on the Parade was completed and it is used for meetings of various kinds apart from wool sales. Louise was twenty in May. Ray came down for the Queen’s Birthday weekend at the end of May and we crammed a lot into the two full days. On our Saturdays at Muritai Dorothy usually went on to see Lulu. Among the friends we saw during May I note the names of Elespie, the Holes, Marian Bettington, Mrs. McCredie, Mrs. Rickard, the Roley Hills, Patons, Madelene Wilder and others. In June when darkness was upon us early Mrs. McCredie and I began to play scrabble and it seems we played fairly frequently either at her house or here and it was surprising how often we had to use a dictionary. Buck Aymes’ condition worsened very much and he had retired from Sainsbury, Logan and Williams by now as his memory was so bad, I used to visit him often and at times I would take him for a drive. He loved to talk about the times of old. Now and again he was in hospital for treatment. Freda took me for a drive in her 1100 Morris one day and this put the thought into my head of getting rid of our Oxford for the smaller car. One day I was called to the Court to remand a young man who had obtained a driver’s licence by faking his age. I felt sorry for the bloke. Alister Turnbull was working on Duncan McPhee’s property and came with Margaret to see us one day. I tendered my resignation as a director of Williams and Kettle and on the last day of the month it took effect. I was sad to sever my twenty-four years connection with the old firm but at the age of 80 I did not consider it fair to remain on the board when there were so many younger men more fitted for the job. And so ended my public life and now with the exception of a few Trusts etc. I am to lead a private life. During my time I have served on the following bodies:
Hawke’s Bay County Council
Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board
Hawke’s Bay Rabbit Board
Napier Bay Harbour Board
No. 4 Transport Licencing Authority (which governed the area from Dannevirke to Rotorua, including Gisborne and Bay of Plenty)
Mangatahi Rabbit Association
Kereru School Committee
Kereru Sports Club (now merged in Maraekakaho Sports Club)
Hereworth School Board
Hawke’s Bay S.P.C.A.
Royal S.P.C.A. of New Zealand

Eddie had a party of about fifty for his 86th birthday on June 25th and it went of, as usual very happily. Boy and I went to the C.E.M.S. Annual Service at the Cathedral and the sermon was preached by John Holland, the

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Bishop of Waikato. Phoenix House in Tennyson Street – the five storied new office block – was opened and Robert Dobson and Company had spacious accommodation there. Ken Pearson took me for a tour of inspection of it. Early in July Helen Humphries came to tell us of her trip to Hong Kong and the East. John did not go as his condition was deteriorating rapidly. ‘I used to visit him often and he loved talking of the past. John Holland (Bishop of Waikato) came to see us one day and we enjoyed his visit. Williams and Kettle presented me with a Television Set which was most acceptable and, after a trial of several sets, we decided on a Bell. This was a generous present and gave us much enjoyment. For a few days Dorothy was a bit off colour and Mrs. McCredie came to the rescue. However she recovered well and the family came to dinner on her birthday – Monty and Cushla also came. Elespie had a heart condition and was in bed for a few weeks, This meant many visits to her. Buck Amyes became worse, and Win Sandtmann was a patient in Maraenui so I was able to see him when I went up to see Edith Moore. Throughout July and August I played a lot of scrabble with Mrs. McCredie which was a pleasant occupation and at times Mrs. Ryan joined us. On Lulu’s 90th birthday we went to a small family party at her home she was always so bright and full of fun. Boy’s family used to come in to see Us and were always full of steam. One night I took Kay to the Overseas Public Speaking Contest. Greta Ritchie was in Hawke’s Bay for a few weeks – one thy we had lunch with her at Stortford Lodge -she came to Napier to see us and on her last day in Hawke’s Bay, after lunching at the Masonic we took her to catch the plane on her way via Gisborne. I gave a small party for the Onekawa Staff (Williams and Kettle) and it was good to see them again. There were many visits to Mrs. Hole and Freda and one night I went to an S.P.C.A. meeting at Freda’s as there was a case pending against a man in regard to cattle starving. But in the end it was called off for good reasons . I went to a lunch party at the Club which was given to launch an appeal for the forming of a branch of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. – Sir Charles Burns was the principal speaker. I was a member of the Committee to help promote interest. One day I lunched with Maurice and Kath Chambers while Dorothy and Kay did some shopping in Havelock which had become quite a shopping centre in a small way. One Sunday I went for a drive with the Sweetapples and family over the Puketapu hills etc. Most Fridays I was at the Club – Tom Mitchell and Bill Dobson were always there. There was a party of about thirty on Dorothy Gordon’s 80th birthday which John and Barbara gave at Clifton. Mardie, Betty and Family were over for a few days in late August. September came in wet and cold – the first week was foul. And while it lasted Mrs. McCredie and I played a lot of scrabble. There were many visits to Westshore – also to Dorothy Gordon, Eddie and Lulu. One day Young Robert brought Paul Nelson to see us. The ‘March of Medicine’ Committee met one evening at the Hospital, Ed Bates taking the chair – most of the Napier and Hastings Physicians were present and it was announced our campaign had been successful. Ray came down for a long weekend for our cocktail party at the Hawke’s Bay Club – about one hundred were present and we think it was a success. After the weekend we flew to Auckland with Ray and made our Headquarters at the Earls Court Motels in Gladstone Road. The visit to Auckland was for Dorothy to consult Barrett-Boyes about her circulation. The consultation took place at Greenlane and was satisfactory and re-assuring. We spent a few days in Auckland seeing our old friends Bets Hay, Kitty Knight, Marge Hay, Roie Hewitt, Patty and Lanky Holmden. One day I lunched at the Club with Trevor Holmden and two Judges (Owen Woodhouse and Hardy Boys). We went to Ray’s flat for the odd meal and had a cup of coffee with Joan Hermann. On our return Medlicott rang me from Dunedin to say Beatrice Maclean was failing quite rapidly. Gladys Turnbull was staying with Mary at Westshore and Alister at Mason’s Ridge. One evening the Wenleys took us out to Maraekakaho for a gathering of descendants of Maraekakaho Station employees when Mandy Clarkson read a paper on the Station’s activities and questions were asked. It was a great success and there were many we knew there. Early in

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October I had one of my periodic attacks and was in bed for about a week with a temperature. Tup Will came to see me as Sam was in Wairoa but on his return he took over. The family all came to see me likewise a few close friends. I soon recovered and got under way again. One night hope and Dorothy went to the local amateurs ‘Maid of the Mountain’ and Boy came in to be with me and we watched the Olympic games on T.V. (being held-in Tokyo). At the Show we met Bill Farquharson of Bell’s Whisky (Perth). Ray came down again for Labour weekend and returned by the evening flight which was delayed till midnight on account of some trouble.

Louise had a job at Blom’s Antique Shop in Napier and was in a flat in Fitzroy Road. Early in November my old friend, Mrs. George Gould of Christchurch, died at the age of 94 – she was a remarkably fine looking woman and so regal that she was known as the ‘Duchess’. She had been a firm friend for nearly half a century. One night I attended a party given by the City Council to welcome the High Commissioner for India for New Zealand and Australia. Peter Cox acted for the Mayor. In the U.S.A. Presidential Elections L.B. Johnson defeated Goldberg. John Humphries’ condition worsened and he was taken to the Hospital and there he remained. His memory completely forsook him. Elespie, too, began to fail in health. more. We took Ivan and Mary out to ‘The Cottage’ to see shearing in progress. Among our visitors during November were the Reg Bulls and Molly Russell, who was in New Zealand on a visit, the Bob Stevensons, the Grossmiths, Marge Hay and Mrs. Robertson from Auckland, the Brooks etc. One day we brought Louis Moffatt in from Waiapu for lunch at La Ronde and Dorothy Gordon joined us. The ‘Green Carnation’ filled us with sadness – it was the life of Oscar Wilde. Robert Junior brought Hugh Riddiford to see us – he is a grandson of Dan and Meta and very like the latter. Ivan was not at all well and spent a few days in hospital under observation. Later in the month his condition became worse and there was a great amount of pain in one foot which was caused by circulatory trouble.

Towards Christmas time there were the usual parties – to begin with the Harbour Board’s and this was the first time Eddie had missed out and I went with Lindsay Gordon. On the 23rd occurred a family tragedy for Monty was killed in a motor accident near Rangitaiki while motoring to Auckland with Cushla. That evening Cushla was brought back to Napier very bruised and shocked and was admitted to hospital where she remained for a few weeks. On the 24th the Cathedral was packed for Monty’s Service and Steve Weymouth took it. Daphne and Douglas came down and Sue helped to sort things up in the house as Cushla was unable to do so. Ray came down for Christmas and it seems we all spent much time going to the hospital to see Cushla who had been very badly shaken. Ray went to ‘The Cottage’ and brought little Pixie to stay with us. On Christmas Day I visited Edith Moore and later Boy and Sue came in for a quiet dinner. So the year ended rather sadly – what with Ivan being so unwell and Monty no longer with us. Monty had been a very close friend for what seems like a lifetime as well as a pleasant brother-in-law and he was a fellow who could never do a mean thing and was loved by all.

1965

On the 1st, after visiting our neighbours, we went to Westshore to find Ivan in much pain and quite unwell. We also called at the Hospital to see Cushla. So it was a day, more or less, of visiting the sick. On the 3rd Boy and family set off for Taupo and we farewelled them at Westshore and then went to the Ivan’s. Very shortly after seeing them off Tim returned in some person’s car to say their car had been involved in a collision at Eskdale turn off, it was badly damaged but no one seriously hurt. Later the whole family came along – there was much telephoning and planning and later they all left for Taupo in a car of Stewart Greer’s. Boy’s car was stationary when a fellow ran into his stern and the impact gave his neck an unpleasant strain and for some weeks afterwards he had to have treatment. It could have been very serious had his neck

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not been so strong. Ray returned to Auckland on the 4th January. Boy and Tim came down from Taupo and spent a night. Next day Tim flew up to Auckland to spend a few days with Ray. Early in the month we went out to Longlands for Boy’s harvesting of the grass seed – it was a lovely day out there.

On the 16th January we went up to Maraenui to say farewell to Edith Moore who was going to the Whangarei Hospital to be near her brother and family. It was sad to see her go but perhaps the move was wise. Greta Ritchie was in Hawke’s Bay again and we lunched with her one day at Stortford Lodge. Ivan’s condition became serious and he was flown to Auckland for an interview with Barrett-Boyes. Kay went in the ambulance plane with him and Mary and John went by car. He returned on the 13th with bad tidings and on the 15th his right leg was amputated at Napier Hospital, After that he was in a poor state till the end of the month, then a recovery set in. Nancy came up to be with Mary. On the 24th Winston Churchill died – one of England’s most famous sons. The Man who saved Europe in World War II. A week later there was a state funeral procession through the streets of London to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Television later showed us what took place. Towards the end of January Douglas Rathbone came and took Cushla to the Waikato. One night Lou gave a party in her flat which was enjoyable. Ray came back from Taupo on February 1st with Pixie and a few days later she went off to Invercargill to visit Mary. Peggy McKenzie and Pat Goudie came to see us one evening. Tim went off to Hereworth for his first term and settled down well. Freda and Mrs. Hole returned to Napier after several weeks at Whakatane and my visits to them were resumed. Young Robert had a crash in his new car and there was great consternation over it for a time. However he was later to have several more of them. We had a visit from Norah Craven. Madelene Wilder brought a Hanmer cousin from England to see us. The Burnells gave a party one evening to meet Nina’s son, Bunny. A tropical storm brought much rain and flooding to parts in New Zealand but in Hawke’s Bay the rain was not heavy but helpful. Ray returned from the South Island and returned to Auckland about the middle of the month. John Humphries died at the hospital – he was 83 – for the past six months he had been without a memory. I had known him practically since childhood but had never really had much liking for him. Trouble began in Vietnam and the U.S.A. stepped in to assist South Vietnam to maintain her independence. (May 1968 the war continues). At the end of February I had further blood and other tests – all proved negative. In March Ivan, at last, began to make headway. On the 2nd Beatrice MacLean died in Ashburn Hall after forty years there. It was a happy release as she had been almost completely insane most of the time. As Constance was the sole beneficiary of a fortune of about £200,000 (free of death duties) and wished Bill Dobson and me to administer B’s estate, the Public Trustee handed over to us. The whole business was easy to settle as her assets consisted entirely of mortgages, Government Stock and investments in the Common Fund. After a month or so of exchange of views by letter with Constance it was decided to send to her in England £100,000 and to keep the balance here. The John Masons gave another of their cocktail parties which always afford much amusement and on the whole are overcrowded and boring. One day Bob and Hiraani took me for a very pleasant outing and one that brought back to mind happy days that had gone. We lunched first with the Howard Smiths at Te Manuiri which had once belonged to Jack Nairn and he and I actually selected the site for the homestead in 1906 before he married Lilian Gilbertson. Later we called in at Bob Howard’s homestead and then to Aramoana to spend an hour with Mary McHardy, Douglas was away. After that we called in to see Andrew Nation at Pourerere. It was a most enjoyable day. I had a look round St. George’s new Vetinary Surgery in Kennedy Road which

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was very up-to-date. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Ramsay) visited New Zealand and one day he preached in the Cathedral in Napier. Larry Herrick also paid a shorth visit to Eddie. He had now retired from the Navy and was an orchardist in Essex.

During March we went to Taupo for five days with Boy, Sue and Bob Stead. Dorothy and I stayed at The Heidelberg but each day the others took us out somewhere or other in launch or car. We Visited Kinloch to see the John Gordon’s house overlooking Whangamata Bay, we dined at Wairakei Hotel one night, another at Echo Cliff, another at De Bretts (once The Terraces). Gertie Chapman, Jim and Edna Lowry came in to the cottage one evening for drinks. Gertie was on her way to England. Good rains fell in March and the country was set for winter feed. One evening Peter Tait gave a party at the Aquarium to interest the audience in a new project which is now ‘Marineland’. On Tim’s first exeat we went but to ‘The Cottage’ to see him. He looked so well and school life seemed to agree well with him. Cushla returned to her home in Napier and settled down remarkably well. I took Mrs. McCredie and Louise to the Overseas League’s Annual Meeting and the latter gave some of her songs. We went out to a chapel service at Hereworth one Sunday. Elespie was beginning to fail rather more and it was becoming a problem to plan for the future. Gordon Cooper came in one day with vegetables grown at his Greenmeadows section. And Dorothy Gordon came to lunch one day before the end of the month. One day early in April Ernest Bernau, whom I had not seen for years came over with Hope and we had a great talk over days that had gone. Later in the year he died very unexpectedly. Maurice Chambers decided to resign from the Chairmanship of Williams and Kettle and several times I went out to see him and we discussed the situation. I think his decision was correct as there was not harmony on the Board. On his retirement Jasper Herrick became Chairman. Mandy Clarkson came to Napier One evening and gave a talk to the Historic Section of the Art Gallery on Maraekakaho Station. Ray came down to us for Easter and we went-out to Hereworth to see Tim on the Saturday and on to John and Barbara at Clifton. It was a lovely Easter – sunshine and no wind. On Anzac Day (50th Anniversary) it poured all day so we did not go to the Service at Maraekakaho.

On my 81st birthday (27th April) our dear friend Dorothy Gordon died quite suddenly – she was just six months younger than me and had been a very staunch friend for many years and she was a woman with a very high standard of integrity. Hiraani took us and M. Wilder to the service at St. Luke’s on the 29th. Bob was in Auckland at the time. On the 27th Boy and Sue took Dorothy and me to lunch at La Ronde. Later we attended a lecture on the Road Code for the over seventies as the time was just about due for a renewal of driver’s licences. Early in May we had our Tests and all was well for another year. On Bob’s return from Auckland he developed shingles and had a rotten time for a while. The Eric Beamishes came to see us one day and we also had visits from Mary Webster (living in Auckland), Mrs. Grey, the Sweetapples, Mrs. McCredie, Cushla, John Gordon etc. Trevor Hay died in Auckland – he was only 56 but the fearful experiences in Burma during the war had undermined his health. Tim Wilder had a cataract operation and I took Madelene Wilder to see him on occasions. Mrs. McCredie, Louise and I went to a party at the Overseas League and Lou helped entertain with her guitar and songs. David Logan was back in New Zealand for good after fourteen years in England. Dorothy went to see about a hearing aid at the hospital and it seemed a successful venture. For Queen’s Birthday weekend early in June Ray came down and we had a happy day at Pukekino. The Reg Bulls brought Molly Russell to see us – she was in New Zealand for a month or two.

Bill Harlow (S.M.) had now retired and Dougall took his place. I called on him one day but have never seen him again (May 1968). Poor old Elespie was becoming

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more frail than ever and her memory was poor. How are the mighty fallen. One day in June we had a shopping spree in Hastings and later lunched at the Hastings Club with Sue – it was the first time we had been there since women had been admitted. It all seemed very pleasant. I still was a member of Williams and Kettle’s Pension Fund Committee. The investments seemed satisfactory – we kept to a plan, all things being equal, of investing one-third in Local Body Loans, one-third in First Mortgage and one-third in Government Stock. There was a gay party at the Club to commemorate Sainsbury, Logan and Williams’ ninetieth birthday. Arthur Robinson (Robbie) proposed the toast very humourously [sic]. The weather was cold and bleak towards the end of June and on one very cold day we went to the Industrial Fair at Dalgety’s big wool store at the Port. It was a good show. In July Mary was in hospital for a cataract operation which proved successful as the sight of the other eye was more or less of no account after a detached retina. The games of scrabble with Mrs. McCredie were resumed on dull afternoons. Bob, Hiraani and Lou had a week in Rotorua. Boy and Sue went to Fiji for a couple of weeks and we went out to ‘The Cottage’ at times to see the little girls. I was summoned to the Court one day to remand a couple of Maori youths up for stealing. I had a heavy cold in the head and was laid low for a few days and Ivan had an attack of bronchitis. Old age can be tiresome at times. Dick Casey was offered the Governor General’s job in Australia and Maie wrote to tell us of this and their anxiety of accepting for Dick was over 70 but, of course, his experience had been vast. He accepted and as I write (1968) he has made a great job and she has been a wonderful help to him. The Springboks came over – though they won many local games they lost all the tests. Elespie was becoming a problem to her friends but for a time a companion (Miss George) looked as if she was going to save the situation. The early part of August was wet and cold. The S.M. Palmers were now living in Havelock North and hated it. One day we called to see them and then went on to the Hastings Club for lunch, A ship called at Napier to take seven hundred cattle to Chile. Phil Brock and I watched the loading of them for a time. Roy Bousefield had an eye operation at the hospital and I went to see him. He had been the first Manager of Williams and Kettle’s Waipukurau branch and a first rate man he was too. Ray came down in August for ten days and we had a good run round the country. On Dorothy’s birthday many of the family came along, also our neighbour, Mrs. McCredie, Ivan and Nancy paid a couple of visits to Auckland in July and August as Ivan was being fitted for an artificial leg.

I still used to have a cup of morning tea with Peter Tait and Trevor Geddis. So as to keep abreast with the local gossip. In the last Test Match against the All Blacks the Springboks suffered their worst defeat, the score being 20-3. Louise and Robert spent a night with us for a wedding and dance. Boy thought our car wanted a long. run at a greater speed than we were accustomed to driving so be took it to the Chateau where Sue and the family were at the ski-ing ground. Hawke’s Bay lost the Ranfurly Shield to Taranaki – shortly afterwards they lost to the Springboks 30-12. The Dolphins were now well established in their home along the Parade and were proving a great attraction. Prior to his retirement as General Manager of Williams and Kettle, Ted Burkitt gave a dinner party at his home for directors and wives and a few executive officers and wives. Eddie and ourselves were included and the party was a very pleasant one. The Annual General Meeting on the 30th September was Burkitt’s last and it was the best year the Company had had in its history. Philip Giblin took Burkitt’s place and Bob Rolls was appointed assistant to Philip as well as Manager of Napier Branch. On the last Saturday of September Timothy Herrick and his wife were at Muritai. Russell Pettigrew, our new next door neighbour,

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approached me about selling a small strip of land on the western boundary and the old shed. I agreed, after consulting Boy, and it was arranged. that Morice of Williams and Kettle should fix the price. It was not until May 1968 that Pettigrew actually built the carport on the site of the old shed. Somehow I tore some muscles round the lower ribs and had to be strapped up. During September I notice we saw the following people – Buck Amyes, Mrs. Rickard, Peggy McKenzie, Dudley and Ngaire Kettle, Gordon Cooper and, of course our neighbours the Sweetapples and Mrs. McCredie, and I often called to see Mrs. Hole and Freda. During October Bob and Betty Sweetapple were in Australia for a holiday and we kept a watchful eye on their house when Kirsty Cameron of Wairarapa was in charge. Gladys Turnbull was staying with Alister at Mason’s Ridge and came to see us one day. I lunched with Maurice and Kath Chambers at Tauroa one day while Dorothy and Nancy did some shopping in Havelock. Another day Dorothy had another shopping spree with Sue in Hastings and Boy took me to his farmlet at Longlands – we also called in to see Bob Stead. Mardie came over at Show time in October and we took her and Doffles out on the first day. Cushla gave a cocktail party of about forty while Douglas and Daphne Rathbone were in Napier for Show week. Jack Tattersall, who had now come to live in a home he recently purchased in Lambton Road, joined our party at the Club frequently on Friday nights. Nancy Rolleston died at Waipukurau on October 25th – a friend of over fifty years. She was a very elegant woman and highly intelligent and a very ardent Roman Catholic. She lived at Oruawharo Station near Takapau. Two days later Buck Amyes died at the age of 67- he was a nice fellow. He joined the firm of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams after leaving school and when he died he was head of the firm. Jack Graham our neighbour at Mangatahi also died. Lulu’s health began to fail a little more and in November she had a slight stroke. Dorothy used to visit her nearly every time we went to see Eddie. One day we lunched with Connie Menzies and Sue at the Hastings Club. Malcolm McSporran, who had been with Williams and Kettle for many years, was offered a job with the Meat Board in Tokyo. Early in November, – Rhodesia took the step of declaring independence – the British Government had refused to grant it unless Rhodesia agreed to one man one vote which would ultimately mean ‘Black Rule’. As you know, sanctions were imposed and much pressure brought to bear. This position still stands today (May 1968) and Rhodesia still lives on.

On November 13th a monster farewell dinner was given by Williams and Kettle at the Centennial Hall for E.S. Burkitt on his retirement. Six hundred and fifty guests were present and we sat at the High Table with the directors and wives. The speeches were good, Speakers were Jasper Herrick, Douglas McHardy, A. MacGregor and Burkitt. Cushla went to ‘The Cottage’ with us one day – the children seemed to grow daily. Ivan and Mary bought a section in Gladstone Road from the Mitchells and were toying with the idea of building – we thought it a mad idea. The S.M. Palmers spent a week at the Masonic and we went down to see them. Our Visits to Elespie were regular. Gladys Kettle brought Mrs. Bernau to see us one day. One day Boy, Sue and children came in to see a picture and stayed for supper. Win Sandtmann was in Maraenui again – he was failing. Among our visitors were Phil and Mrs. Brock, the Grossmiths, the Sweetapples, the Burnells, Alf Hindmarshes, Sally Wilson etc. The Reg Bettingtons gave a party to welcome the Brian Hills home again. Dorothy had a cold so Hiraani went with me. Poor old Lulu was taken to Hastings Hospital on the 11th December and died on the 13th aged 91. We went to the service at Havelock on the 14th. She was a very dear friend of us both. Dorothy had known her all her life and I met her first in 1905 when Louis Moffat was Louis Hawkins and live near Southampton. I took Hope Bernau to an Overseas party in Hastings and later we

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dined at the Mayfair with Helen Humphries, Sophie Pearson (England) and Tony and Irna Roberts. On one or two occasions Bob accompanied me to a Friday party at the Club, and I won a bottle of whiskey on my second. Eddie and I went to the Harbour Board annual party and later lunched at La Ronde. Mrs and Miss McIver gave a party -the Stevensons, Truscotts and Arthur Sinclair were there. There was the usual round to wish Christmas Greetings and Ray came down on Christmas Day. Boy and Sue came to dinner that night. Brett Chalmers, who was to marry Jan on January 1st came to see us. He is a bright and intelligent civil engineer and ought to go a long way. On the last day of the year David Walker came to see us and then later we went over to see the Jack Tattersalls in their new home.

1966

I really think “My Story” should have ended in 1964 when I reached the age of 80 and all public activities had come to an end. However, I was persuaded to carry on. On looking over the story of 1965 it appears to me there is much that cannot be of great interest to you so I shall try to cut down considerably on 1966 but if you are at all curious you can refer to my original diary -that is if you can read it.

As it turned out January was a fairly full month. On the 1st Cushla came to lunch, then Boy and Sue turned up from Taupo. At 4 p.m. Jan was married at the Cathedral to Brett Chalmers – later the reception was held at Sally’s home. About one hundred guests sat down to a breakfast in a marquee on the tennis court. Ray went off to Taupo next day for a few days with Boy and Sue. And Dorothy and I took Helen Humphries and Sophie Pearson to Pukekino for the day. A few days later Helen had a farewell party for Sophie before she returned to England. Before Ray went back to Auckland she had a small party here – the Tony Horrocks, Phil Giblin, the Brian Hills and the family. Elespie spent a couple of weeks in Hetty Charles Home while Miss Hodge had a holiday. One night we dined at Cushla’s and Helen Humphries was there. Another day we went to Gwen Wood for a small party. There was a day at Longlands for threshing of grass seed. Mrs Hetley brought her sister, Mrs Chesterton, to see us and the Reg Bulls came also. John McLean was in Napier for Life Saving Carnival week at Westshore. Nancy and Leslie gave a big party in their rented home at Westshore. Williams and Kettle opened their new premises at Dannevirke and Paul Evans drove us and Eddie there. K. Holyoake and Mrs Holyoake were present and we and directors and wives lunched at the hotel. Holyoake opened the show and it all was a great success. Ned Smith and his wife came to see us one day. We had not seen Ned for years and it was good to pick up the threads again. Nan Deardon has a cottage at Westshore and we went over to see her there. I had a stiff neck for sometime so took a course of massage and adjustment with Semple. It seemed rather severe for me and I only had about ten treatments but I think it did some good. Early in February I had an unpleasant attack of some sort or other in the middle of the night and Sam Turner has me whisked off to the hospital at once and I remained there for two weeks having tests of all sorts, x-rays and pulling about by many medical men including Fleischl, Wilson, Grimoldby etc. I was wonderfully cared for and had a single room. Ray came down and she and Dorothy came to see me twice a day. And the boys, Hiraani and Sue came from time to time. At last I was released – better but no wiser. Then came a peaceful convalescence at home and among those who came to see me were the Ivans, Nancy and family, Eddie, M.S. Chambers, Freda, Lynne, Jack Burnell, Tom Mitchell, McLennan, Kay and Sally, the Sweetapples, Mrs McCredie and M. Wilder. March was a glorious month and I soon reached the stage when I could go about again, and before the end of March I had resumed my visits to Eddie, had been to Williams and Kettle at Onekawa, called to see the Phil Giblin’s new home at Westshore, had morning tea at The Art Gallery, visited the Reg Bulls (he was recovering from a lung operation), Elespie and the Holes.

Mardie came over to spend a couple of weeks. Our Frigidaire (it was an H.M.V.) gave

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up the ghost and we got a Frigidaire. The British Elections on March 31st resulted in a victory for Labour and Harold Wilson became Prime Minister. Ray came down from Auckland on April 8th – Good Friday – and Mardie, who had been staying with us went to Dot for a few days. On Easter Sunday we went to a small party at the Hindmarshes. Sir Charles Burns was there (President of the B.M.A. in Wellington) and also Reg and Sally Bull and Margaret Cato. Dorothy picked up a very unpleasant cold and had a few days in bed. Fortunately Ray was with us till the 17th. Ray and I went to see the Giblins at Westshore on Easter Monday. The Queen Mother was in New Zealand and on her journey from the South to Auckland the yacht “Britannia” passed across the Bay. On the 17th Ray flew back to Auckland and Dorothy and I flew up on the 18th and took up our abode at the Grand Hotel for a week. It was our last visit to this Hotel which we had known and grown fond of over a period of sixty years. The most comfortable and delightful hotel imaginable in New Zealand and now it was to be closed on account of the extensive cost to bring it up to the required standard of today. The main idea of the visit was for me to undergo a complete overhaul at Sam Turner’s wish. I was mauled about by Mike Gilmore, Bill Hallwright, the Colostamic Institute, x-ray outfit etc and altogether had a somewhat unpleasant time. However when all this was over I enjoyed the rest of the visit to Auckland and Ray took us about in her car. We spent an afternoon at Lady MacKenzie’s at Manurewa – also to see Betty Bridges near-by. We went to see Mrs Glendinning and Sheila, to Rosemary Herrold in her very pleasant flat, to supper with Bets Hay and Libby, Mike and Peter were there. We went to Mary Webster, to the Caughey-Preston home for old people where Mrs Rainger now lived, to lunch with Trevor Holden at the Club. Then Roie Hewitt came to lunch, also Marge Hay and Kitty Knight. Also Patty and her husband and Joan Herman came to see us. It was a gay week and I felt all the better for it. On April 27th we returned and our little Baby gave us a great welcome. That night the family and Cushla all came to dinner which they had provided for it was my 82nd birthday. Ray came down again early in May for a week before flying to England on the 12th. She flew via Hong Kong, Athens and Rome and returned to New Zealand in September after visiting the Continent, England and the USA.

Before she left we went to ‘The Cottage’ to see Tim who was home for the holidays -quite a schoolboy now. The autumn colours were lovely. Elespie became rather difficult to keep in her own home and was taken to a home in Havelock North and we visited her several times – she seemed most unhappy. Later she was moved to Royston until a vacancy occurred in Knight Street. Our drivers tests came along again and we passed successfully. On May 20th Mrs McCredie was operated upon and she made a good recovery and after about three weeks she came home. She was very plucky over the business. Towards the end of May Baby was not at all well so I took her to see Courtney St George. He removed a couple of teeth and gave me some pills, which were most difficult to get her to take. However she staged a recovery in the end but she was now over thirteen and we knew her days were numbered. On the 31st May I had to go to Auckland again to see the Surgical Appliances so Boy and I flew up – the journey was a perfect one and the sky blue and clear. We stayed at the Northern Club and were most comfortable. After getting my job one we stayed on for three or four days and Boy picked up Ray’s car so we were independent. We went to see Bets and family at her lovely home in St. Heliers, lunched with Owen Woodhouse and Judges Gresson and Hardy Boys. Sue came up and stayed. at Mrs. Hare’s in St. Stephen’s Avenue and we dined with Mrs. Hoare and ate at The White Heron in style for Mrs. Hoare (Sue’s Great Aunt) was a ‘big noise’ in the catering side of this fabulous motel restaurant. I returned by air and Boy stayed on for the wedding of John Coop’s daughter and he and Sue returned in Ray’s car. Boy was looking after it while she was away. I appointed Jim Thomson a Trustee in the Ohinewairua Trust as I had been left alone after Win Sandtmann’s death. The boys came in for the Farm Company’s meeting and later attended the Wanganui

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Old Boys’ dinner at the Club. My old friend Bertie Holland, late Bishop of Wellington and later still Dean of Norwich, died in the Isle of Mull – he was 83. The Watersiders strike in England was now in its sixth week and causing much disruption. Colin Bell now became a member of our group to attend the Friday night parties at the Club. Tom Mitchell flew off to England for a holiday in June and I missed him. One night Ray rang us from London and we heard wonderfully well. Madelene Wilder had a fall and she was never the same again – it gave her a bad shake.

During the months of April, May and June the following came to see us – the Grossmiths, Burnells, the John Patons, Tattersalls, Reg Bulls, Cushla, John and Barbara Gordon to say good-bye before beginning their trip to England. The old McLean home – quite a landmark – was being demolished and the land subdivided for building sites. I went up to the hospital one day and was agreeably surprised to find my suggestion in regard to fitting handles to the baths in David Russell Ward to enable elderly patients to raise themselves out without danger or effort had been carried out. Why they had not been fitted years ago I do not know. On the last day of June and such a lovely day it was, we went out to Boy’s farmlet at Longlands where Snow and Boy were drafting and putting the hoggets through the foot bath. On my return Lynne picked me up to take me to Freda’s to meet Phil Lettington, widow of the late Commodore of the New Zealand Shipping Company and a daughter of Racy Baker, a friend of my youth. In July Molly was staying with Eddie and they came to lunch with us one day at La Ronde and later in the month Julia was in New Zealand for a few weeks and she and Eddie came to see us on occasions and, of course, she was at Muritai when we used to pay our Saturday visits. One day Boy and K. Tremain lunched with us at the White Heron. Afterwards Phil Brock and I paid another visit to the Breakwater to see a ship loading two-year old heifers for Chile. Eddie and I dined at the Club one night to meet the Governor General Sir Bernard Ferguson. He and I were invited to a private session with him and the Committee beforehand. Owen Woodhouse (Judge) welcomed the Governor General in a very amusing and witty speech. I succeeded in catching poor old Johnnie (the Sherwood Cat) in a cage for St. George to ‘put to sleep’. I hated doing it as he and I had become so friendly but it was the only thing to do as Sherwood was closed and Mrs. Rickard was not anxious to continue to feed and care for him. In the last week of July and early August the weather was cold and wet. Hastings’ Sub-Committee of the S.P.C.A. decided to form a small branch of their own. At first there was some feeling about it but as time went on it Worked out well. In the middle of August I had one of my ‘set-backs’ and spent a few days in bed and later in the house. The family and several friends came to see me from time to time. One day Tim came with Boy for a football match as the Lions (British Team) were here. After much persuasion David Holt decided not to offer himself for Presidentship of the Hawke’s Bay Club again for which we were thankful. and Dick Sherratt took his place. Cushla was laid low for most of August with Bronchitis and we visited her often – then in September she was able to go to Auckland to complete her recovery. Miss Campbell informed us that poor old Constance had had a heart attack but was on the mend. Then a letter from Ray who was staying at Narford told us how ill she had been. The Lions lost the final test match by 24-11 – though they had won some matches in the provinces. For a few days in September I retired to bed with a bit of congestion and the family were most attentive by coming to see me. My little Baby really began to deteriorate a lot and Freda took me with her to St George who thought the day had come to say goodbye to her. However he was in agreement with me to wait till after Ray’s visit a little later. Tom Mitchell came back during September and it was good to see him again. We met the Hallstroms, parents of Mrs John Macfarlane, who were living in 1 Clyde Road while there house by the Lookout was being built. At the annual General Meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Club Eddie, Ivan, Dudley Kettle and I were made Honorary Life Members – I had been a

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member since 1906 – 60 years and Eddie was my senior by a year.

The Hawke’s Bay XV won the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato by 6-0 – it was very exciting for they had not held it for over twenty years. Ray came back from her world trip on the 28th -it was grand to have her home again and there was so much to talk about. Williams and Kettle’s Annual General Meeting was on the 30th September and I was so glad that Philip Giblin had had a good year for his first. It was my job again to move the motion for the Directors’ fees. We had a small party for Ray – the family, Phil Giblin, Tony and Winifred Horrocks and the Brian Hills. During September I note we saw the following at times – the Grossmiths, Holes, Stevensons, Reg Bulls, Col. and Mrs Browne and Girlie Amyes who was about to go for a trip to the East. Early in October we went over to see Nancy and Leslie who had taken a house in Roslyn Road. Ray and I went to see the Maurice Chambers one day and then picked up our first asparagus of the season at the Van Heysts (our Dutch friends near Whakatu). Norah Paton brought Alison to see us – she is Henry Paton’s daughter and we had met her at Swaffham in 1962. John Fountaine was married on the 8th October. Ray returned to Auckland by car on the 10th. Mrs Gleeson, who was in charge of the Sweetapple home while they were away for a holiday, came over to see us. We visited Miss Hardy at her flat built on the Thorp Estate – there are six flats there. Mardie was over for a few days. We did not go to the Show this year for some reason or other. Towards the end of October President Johnson of the USA paid a visit to New Zealand and made a great impression. We were able to see much of him on TV. Vicky Bettingham was married in October to young Thomas who was on Pukekino for a time with Bob. On November 1st Bob and Hiraani took us to the Airport and we flew to Auckland where Ray met us and we stayed at the White Heron which was most comfortable. While in Auckland we fitted in a great deal, as usual. Dorothy had a very satisfactory interview with Barrett-Boyes but Bruce Cornish could not do much to help her hearing. We had morning tea with Patty, drinks with Roie and Kitty Knight. We dined twice at the old Grand as I found the meals at the White Heron rather rich and tedious -at the Grand we saw Eric and Mary Loisel and enjoyed a long talk. Ray took us for several drives. On the last day we went to see Owen and Peggy Woodhouse before catching the plane home. Sue met us with Tim – it was his school exeat. Bob had stayed in Napier and Hiraani for part of the time and so Baby was cared for. Eddie came in one day and we took him to see Ivan and Mary at Westshore before lunching at La Ronde. Mrs Ian Macgregor, who is writing a history of Hawke’s Bay, came along to see what information I could give on a few points she was not conversant with. Baby’s condition began to deteriorate more than ever and she seemed uncomfortable so we decided it was time to follow St George’s advice and have her put to sleep. Freda very kindly took her to St George and Bob Sweetapple buried her for me. It was the saddest day I could remember for a long time and it literally took weeks for me to get used to the home without Baby for she had been a constant companion for fourteen years. This outliving one’s pets is a sad business. I saw Cotter in regard to Mrs. Hole and Freda taking a flat at Ben Lomond because they had to vacate their flat in Thompson Road. Satisfactory arrangements were made and they moved into Ben Lomond in December. In November we visited ‘The Cottage’ once or twice and Tom Mitchell took me to Waipukurau. I was able to call on Johnnie Turtle and the staff. Boy went to Canterbury to buy rams – he had decided to put a strain of English Leicesters into the flock. One day the Timmers of Amsterdam turned up unexpectedly and it was very good to see them. She had been in New Zealand before but not Timmer. In November we had a meeting of T.H. Lowry Trust in Hastings – they only come about twice a year these days. One day before the end of November we attended the official opening of the new County Council’s premises in Hastings along the Omahu Road – very pleasant premises they are too. It was quite a big party and Dick Harrison and Duncan Maclntyre were both there (M.P.s for Hawke’s Bay and Hastings). It

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was just a few days after the General Elections. The Elections gave the National Party a majority of ten. Early in December Wilson (P.M. of the U.K.) and Ian Smith (P.M. of Rhodesia) met at sea near Gibraltar to see if a settlement could be effected between the two countries but the meeting was a failure. There does not seem much to record for December, but there were the usual round of Christmas visits, and the Harbour Board’s party to which Eddie and I went and then he, Trevor Geddis and I lunched at the Club together. Christmas Day was cold and wet but we had a happy family dinner party with Boy, Sue and the children. Bob and Hiraani and young Robert had come to see us earlier in the day. Ray arrived the day before Christmas by car and she left for Taupo on the 31st for a few days there before returning to work. On New Year’s Eve we went to Mrs. McCredie’s for a small party. During the months of October, November and December we were visited at times by the following – Bob and Rua Stead, Mrs. Rickard, Freda Hole, Mrs. McCredie, the Charlie Ryans, Hallstroms, Sweetapples, Reg Bulls, Helen Humphries, M. Wilder, Duncan MacIntyre, Cushla the Burnells and Ivan and Mary.

1967

The first day of the year was what I called in my diary foul. I popped in to see our neighbours, Mrs. McCredie, the Sweetapples and Mrs. Rickard. Boy called in on his way from Taupo to ‘The Cottage’. One day we went to the Grossmiths and they took us on to see Col. and Mrs. Browne who lived on the ‘Look Out’. Bob brought Juliet Hobbs to see us – she is a daughter of Jean Cotterill. Municent Dean (Madelene Wilder’s sister) was in Napier for a couple of months from Canada and we saw her several times. Alwyn, Betty and family were over for a week or two but we only saw them once. Bob and Hiraani spent a week or so in the Scott’s home in Priestly Road and often popped in to see us. Bob Stead got good prices for his yearlings at the Trentham Sales and in addition he won the Wellington Stakes with Floodlit. One day Bets Hay turned up with Mrs. Limbrick of Waipawa and a couple of English friends. Bets was in Hawke’s Bay for a day or two on her way to New Plymouth and the Caves. I had another trip to Waipukurau with Tom Mitchell and had a look at Williams and Kettle’s Silos for the storage of Barley. Cora came to us – she was on her way back from a visit to Mick in Sydney. While she was with us Boy took her to Taupo for a few days. At the end of January there was a monster lunch at the Masonic Hotel for Harland on his retirement from the Harbour Board of which he had been Secretary for about twenty-five years – ever since Saunders’ death. Eddie was there with me and local body representatives from the whole of Hawke’s Bay.

Early in February I made another Club date with McLennan and we planned to meet on Wednesday afternoon at 5 and he would bring me home (he being a member now) and this plan still holds in May 1968. Cora was with us again after her visit to Taupo and one day early in February she went to Pukekino and so back to Nelson. However while she was with us various friends came to see her, Noel Dowling among them. Bill Lowe repainted the sitting room etc. On T.V. the Black and White Minstrels was a very popular show and many of us looked forward to Sunday evenings. Subsidies on butter and many other commodities were removed – quite time too. Trevor Price, another very old friend of my earlier days, died in Taupo -she was a kind old soul. We went out to Hereworth Swimming Sports and saw Tim tie with young Smythe in the Junior Championship. His style is very easy and graceful. In March Ivan and Mary went to Taupo for three weeks. I went out to lunch at Tauroa one day and Sue Scott (Chambers) was there. She lives in Sierre Leone. Boy’s children were under Bill Throp for teeth straightening and sometimes we would go down to see them or they would come to us. One day Dorothy visited a hat shop in the Frimley Shopping Area and I had a good look over the old garden which was handed to Hastings after the old house was burned down. It used to be such a glorious home – I was glad to see most of the old trees still standing. Kay went over to Tasmania to see Jan for three weeks and when she returned

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we took her out to see Eddie one day. Cappy Bidwell was staying with Gwen Wood and it was nice to see her again. Mardie came over for a couple of weeks and Boy and Sue took her to Taupo for Easter. Ray was down for Easter weekend and we did not do much but talk our heads off. Bob and Hiraani came for dinner on Easter Sunday. Tom Mitchell and I went to Waipukurau one day and I had a look at the huge silos Williams and Kettle had erected for barley which was becoming a very popular crop to grow – most of it went to Auckland for the making of gin. On the 26nd March still another old friend died – it was Dorothy Palmer – and we went to the service at Havelock on the 28th. What gruesome things funeral services are. Our new neighbours, the Russell Pettigrews came over one evening and during March we saw many people – among them M. Wilder, Helen Humphries, Tom Mitchell, Freda Hole, the Grossmiths, the Brownes, Tattersalls, Ivan and Mary, Nancy, etc.

On the 1st April Mardie returned to New Plymouth and in the evening Pat Goudie and Peggy McKenzie came to see us. I had my annual overhaul and all seemed well except for a slight deterioration of the heart. Elespie, who was now in Knight Street Hospital appeared quite incapable of recognising people. All sad and depressing – why does this happen to so many in old age! One day Freda and the Hallstroms came along. Bob took me out to Pukekino for a day and we had a grand tour of the farm and it was a perfect day. On the 10th April we set off on one of the most enjoyable holidays I can remember. We left Napier after lunch with Boy and Sue for Taupo and there we stayed for three days at their cottage. While there we visited the Golf Course, dined at Wairakei, de Bretts, and Echo Cliffs, called at the Kains – she is a daughter of Mrs. Fowler with whom we travelled once in the ‘Rangitata’ – Joan Kay and Tom Price came in for drinks. After three days we went on to Rotorua and then Boy and Sue proceeded to Tauranga for the weekend while Dorothy and I took a plane for Auckland. Ray met us and after a short call at her new and pleasant flat in Victoria Avenue and dinner at a restaurant in Remuera, we went to The White Heron for the weekend. On the Sunday night we supped with Bets and Libby, Peter and Mike were there.

The next day Boy and Sue arrived and later we went on to Waitangi by way of Whangarei – the Waitangi Hotel was fabulous and the view from our room of the Bay of Islands was lovely. We spent six days there -weather perfect all the time – visiting Pahia, Golf Course where I enjoyed some putting, the Treaty House full of interest and history, we had a trip round the Bay in the Cream Launch and ate our lunch on the island which Zane Grey once loved. On the Friday we met Ray at Kaikohe airport and, after a visit to Te Waimate (old church) and Kerikeri, we took her to Waitangi. On the Saturday we left reluctantly, and fetched up at The White Heron in Auckland. Ray, Boy and Sue gave me my birthday dinner which was very enjoyable but three days early. On the following day we set off for the Douglas Rathbones home in the Waikato where we had lunch with them and their two sons and wives. Later in the afternoon we set off and reached a motel in Rotorua after a very unpleasant drive for the last ten miles in dense fog. Next day was fine and we had a wonderful run by way of Murupara (vast Logging centre) to Waikaremoana and so back to Napier next day and our holiday was over. On my 83rd birthday Bob Rolls came up with a very acceptable hamper from Williams and Kettle (they never forget the day) – Ivan and Mary came to lunch and in the evening Cushla had dinner with us. There were many telephone calls during the day from the family and others. We decided on a motor bike for the farm and this entailed quite a lot of fuss and bother with the Customs Department over my overseas funds. However all was settled and the bike came later in the year. A Mini-budget appeared and the price of tobacco and spirits rose further. By now there appeared to be signs of a recession – the drop in wool prices was mainly responsible. The Common Market countries (E.E.C.) turned the U.K. down again and it looked as if it might be a long time before she is admitted – the longer the better from our point of view. In May a

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Railway Strike in New Zealand lasted about ten days and caused much disruption – in the end the Railway servants came to terms. One day Boy and the family came in and we were to have lunched at La Ronde but found it full on account of a conference so we went over to the new Onekawa Hotel which was good and the children had a marvellous time. Mollie Herrick was with Eddie again and they came to lunch with us at the White Heron after a gin at the house. The children came in another day and we went to see the wonderful performance given by the Dolphins twice a day. Peter Tait was there and took us into the ‘inner circle’ to get a better view. Among our visitors during May were Mrs. Dove, Lizz and Susanne, also the Reg Bulls and Tom Mitchell. And one day the Van Heysts and their child came along. We went to a very stuffy tea party at the Hollands in Hukarere Road to see their new home. The Dean and Mrs. Childs were among the guests -he seemed very dull!

Trouble in the Middle East brewing. Chichester arrived back in England after sailing round the world -home via Cape Horn – in the Gypsy Moth IV of about 56 feet in length. Miss Wilson of Sainsbury, Logan and Williams thought she could manage typing this story of mine and she seemed to be the person for she knew so much about the family and also about Hawke’s Bay. Early in June we had our annual meeting of F.B. Logan and Company (farm) and the result of the drop in wool and higher costs was a big drop in profit so we agreed that care was to be the order of the day. The dividends of the family were left in the company but I drew mine and gifted it to them as I did not require it for myself. Occasionally Dorothy visited a Hungarian dressmaker in Seapoint Road and while she was there I would drop in to see the Colin Bells in Hardinge Road. Ray came down for Queen’s Birthday weekend and Mardie and John were also in Napier and came to see us. Sue and the girls came for the Sunday dinner while Ray was here. Early in June the Arab States and Israel joined battle and after a week Israel gave the Arabs a terrific hiding and took over what land they wanted from Jordan and Egypt and captured an enormous amount of equipment. We went to a tea party at the Kent Johnstons in honour of Mrs. Hole who was 90 on the 13th – the guests were ourselves, the Dean and Mrs. Childs and the late Dean (Gibson) and Mrs. Gibson. I think Mrs. Hole was bewildered by it all – there was an enormous spread of food and much talk of Church work between huge mouthfulls of food and gulps of tea. A few days later Freda had a small party for her Mother at their own flat and this was very enjoyable. Louie and Betty came to see us during June, also the Burnells, Reg Bulls and Tom Mitchell. Another day Freda and Noel Dowling came. There was much excitement over David’s unexpected marriage with Barbara Chambers (divorced from Mason). They were to live in Barbara’s house in Birkenhead. Lucilla Grossmith was in Napier for a couple of weeks leave. Peggy McKenzie was back after flight to Rome and Copenhagen and came to tell us all about it. I still occasionally had a cup of morning tea with the staff at The Art Gallery and Museum (I am a Vice-President I think). The S.P.C.A. made me Patron of the local Branch. We went out to see Selby Palmer in Havelock – he seemed very unsettled and unhappy there all alone.

The A. & N.Z. Bank turned their sub-branch in Emerson Street into a full branch and I went to have a look at the alterations. Curtin was Manager and Pat Goudie was there too. On the whole July was a fine and warm month – as a matter of interest the temperature in Napier on the 2nd was 71 degrees for a time. The 2nd was Ivan’s 81st birthday and we went to see him at Westshore. Early in the month I was in bed for a few days with the usual bronchial trouble and Sam Turner came to see me. But I was soon up and about again. While in bed Boy came in one day, and we talked much about things in general. Wool prices were dropping and the Wool Board began its plan of subsidising the price by buying in wool that failed to reach the price agreed upon. By the end of the season (some months later) the Wool Board was left with 700,000 bales on its hands and the fund of £37,000,000 almost depleted. We also discussed the state of unrest in the world – at that time Hong Kong was under heavy pressure from China and there was chaos in

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Aden and the Congo and other black states of Africa. Tom Mitchell also came to see me. In July Decimal Currency was introduced and it was accepted quietly without trouble. Trevor Geddis and I had a long yarn too over things in general and a little later I took him and Harland out to spend a morning with Eddie. Mrs. Holder, a friend of Jennifer (Overseas House), was in Napier and we found her a very nice woman. We took her for a drive round the countryside and she came to tea with us. The Hallstroms came to see us after a few weeks visit to Fiji. The Cat Show at Memorial Hall was good and all sorts of nice cats were on display and all seemed happy. Hawke’s Bay held the Ranfurly shield by defeating Waikato by 35-9. There was much excitement over this match and quite a party at the Club.

Jimm and Ann came to say good-bye before leaving for England where they may stay for a couple of years. One day we bought Miss A.M. Anderson up and endured an hour or two of incessant chatter. There was a National Party lunch one day at the Memorial Hall and the guest speaker was J.H. Marshall (Deputy Prime Minister). He spoke well as did Jim Zohrab our local President. Dave Walker and wife came in one day – his firm had now amalgamated with Sherwoods to form the Hawke’s Bay Truck Carrier’s Company or some such name. Dave just wanted to have a yarn over days gone by. I was his first client when he started his concern with one old truck thirty-six years ago and the family were still clients. After tea he and I went to the Club for a short session. The ‘Port Nicholson’ was the first ship to berth at the Kirkpatrick Wharf. Now there is accommodation for six big overseas ships at a time. What a wonderful achievement after the struggle we had to get one wharf in the latter 1930s. Early in August Dorothy and I went to Poraite to see Zillah Averill – Cecil was away at Wairoa. Freda took me to the monthly meeting of the S.P.C.A., the first I had attended for a couple of years.

On Dorothy’s 79th birthday Freda came along with a lovely bouquet of flowers. Later, Cushla, Ivan and Mary came. Poor old Reg Bull died that day in Palmerston and on the 14th I went to the service at the Cathedral. He was wonderfully plucky throughout his long illness. After the service Lindsay and Evie Gordon carne up for a cup of tea. Hawke’s Bay still held the Shield beating Wairarapa 27-6. One day as we were going out we spotted Boy and the family in their car so we turned round and came home. I took the children to see the birds in the Botanical Gardens and then we all came home for fish and chips. One night at the Club I saw Dick Black of Gisborne whom I had not seen for some years.. He was much the same as ever and a nice fellow. David Fisher passed through on his way from Lincoln College to work on a dairy farm in the Waikato – part of his course. One day Mrs. Bestall asked us to her home to meet Adrian Coleman and wife. He is Jim’s son and Herbert’s grandson. We took Freda to The Tavern at the Port – a recently constructed bar but rather like an amphitheatre, out of the ordinary but lovely view of the old port. On Kay’s birthday – 52nd -we took her to La Ronde for lunch and later she and Dorothy went off to Hastings on a hat hunting expedition.

Sue took Tim and Muffet to the Chateau for ski-ing while Boy and Diana stayed at home as his work kept him at ‘The Cottage’. However, on the 30th Boy and Diana came in and, as it was Mrs. McCredie’s 60th birthday, we all lunched at La Ronde. Early in September I met Margot French’s son at the Club – he was out in New Zealand for a short visit (Margot Bloomfield who died last year she was a daughter of our friends the George Bloomfields). During September Hawke’s Bay defeated Southland 29-6, Taranaki 16-3 and drew with Wellington 12-12 so we retained the Shield – in the last match Hawke’s Bay were down by 6 until the last minutes of the game when a try and a goal from the field secured the draw. Boy took me to the Taranaki match which I enjoyed no end. Boy and family came to see us one day and Barbara and David were also here that day. One morning I had a cup of tea with Phil Giblin, Bob Rolls and Ted Burkitt came along. It was just like the good old days to be with them. One day Cushla and Dorothy went to a dress parade at Hastings and I went to tea with Mrs. Hole and Freda. Norah Hardy appeared out of the blue one day and we had a good old talk about many things. Robert Shone (Sir), a friend of Pat Goudie and at one

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time Director of the National Economic Development Council of England, was in Napier for a week. One day he and Pat came to see us – on another we took him to ‘The Cottage’ and Boy took him round the farm and told him many things that interested him. I took him to the Club to meet my friends and lastly we had a session with McLennan who was able to tell him much about our incidence of taxation etc. He is a mass of brains and knows most of Europe’s top level economists. Tim spent a night with us after his trip to the Chateau for ski-ing. Young Mary Logan was back from Europe where she had spent eighteen months or so, and brought her fiancé Max Devantier (something like this). I went to a party at the Club to welcome the newly elected members. I took Ken Pearson whom I had sponsored. Tiny and Bob Lawson were in Napier to see Madelene Wilder who was failing fast. They called in to see us. Their home is about thirty miles north of Dunedin. Ray came down for ten days and while with us we went to see Mrs. Bull. and the Dinwiddies – poor old Bernard is getting very blind. We went out to Hastings Hospital to see Bob who had had an operation on the muscles of his left arm following the laceration by a bump from a lamb in docking operation. He made a good recovery. Ray went to the Club Cocktail Party with Tony and Winifred Horrocks. Fortunately Hiraani was here while I was under the weather again. Some sort of virus seized me at a weekend and Tupp Will looked after me till Sam returned from Taupo. Then I was whisked to hospital for three days of heavy injections to which I responded well and was home again before the end of the month was out. Sam told us the injections were quite new and extremely expensive about three hundred dollars a pop but, of course, I got them under Social Security. I was soon up and about again.

While I was taking life quietly many came to see me and this helped considerably – among the many were Tom Mitchell (after), Jack Tattersall, the family, Freda, the Sweetapples, Mrs. McCredie, Ivan and Mary, Eddie, Pat Goudie, and Boy and Sue, after taking me to see Sam, took Dorothy and me to La Ronde for lunch. Then I took to my bed for another three or four days – I had been trying to be too well. After that Bob Stead and Rua came one day and M.S. Chambers. Wool prices continued to slide and I was reminded of the slump of 1929-32 -those grim days. Mardie came over at Show time – she and Doffles went out but we did not go again this year. Mrs. McCredie went off to Taupo and the Waikato for a holiday. The Fergussons were farewelled and he spoke very well and feelingly. He had been Governor General for five years. The asparagus season was here again and there were frequent visits to the Van Heysts gardens. Betty and Burr and family were over for a short time. News came of the death of my friend Jack Burnell in London. He and Nina were just about to leave on their return when he died fairly suddenly. He was a dear soul and much humour about him. He had known Dick and Maie Casey in his youth in Melbourne. A blockage occurred in our main drain and the plumber found roots had bought it about in a section just through the little gate to the Sweetapples. Bill Russell was staying with Sally and I went over to see them and Bill called to see us one day. Poor old fellow is very crippled these days. I had a shopping spree (not my wish) at Blackmores and then we lunched with Boy and Sue at the Club and we saw Charlie Giblin, Brunton Williams, Ted and Shirley Averill and others there. As the year advanced the economic position seemed to worsen and England too was in a mess and towards the end of November she devalued the £ which became worth 13/1d. New Zealand just had to devalue also and we arrived at a par with Australia and England. Australian currency had been at a discount of 25% since the 1930s so for years we had been at a great disadvantage for too long. The Family suggested a small rental T.V. (19 inch) for our bedroom -a great success. The older members of the Club now enjoy much more comfort on a Friday night by using one of the card rooms. We can be seated in comfort and there is no noise. The Ryans were very sad as their dear old cat had to be put to sleep. The excitement of the month was the dismissal of the Heresy Charge against Dr. Geering (Presbyterian Church). He had cast disbelief on the ideas of

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resurrection and other matters of dogma which had been handed down from century to century with so little thought or heed to the advance of science and the times. Jack Tattersall and I had an expedition to Eddie via devious routes and then to the Hastings Club for lunch. On the way home we went to see the proposed deviation of the Ngarororo river by Chesterhope. I had the best part of a morning with Mrs. Mooney (Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune) on local body history. Robert was twenty this month. One day at ‘The Cottage’ I helped Boy to muster a block containing about 700 ewes and their lambs (Gascoynes) and it took us about one and a half hours to get them through the gate. Another day Jack Tattersall and I went to have a look at what remains of the old Lascelles home in Clive and then to the Lindsay Gordons for a yarn and a sherry. As Mrs. Clarke was in hospital and unlikely to be able to come to us again we tried out two young men recommended by Beryl Mason. They cleaned all windows one day and tried their hands at house-cleaning another day. But we did not seem to like their style so it ended. And later a Mrs. Logan, whom Mrs. McCredie had employed, came to us once a week and was the answer. Bill Dobson showed me over Carlile and McLean’s new offices in Station Street – very modern. Boy and Sue called to see us on their way to a monster party given by Beryl Mason – one that must have made the Joneses shiver: It began at the Masons home and ended at La Ronde.

Ray arrived by car on the 24th November to stay for a few days. Bob went to the South Island to purchase some Border Leicester strains and had a wonderful time. On the night of the 25th I had a violent shivering attack and Tupp Will came along. After two or three days in bed I was as fit as ever and Sam just said on his return from Taupo ‘some bug or other’. Eddie came in to see me and, of course, Tom Mitchell came along. Ray returned to Auckland on December 2nd to take up her new job with two young doctors in Parnell. The new Governor General, Sir Arthur Porritt, arrived in New Zealand. He was at school at Wanganui, a Rhodes scholar, later surgeon to the Royal Family. The first New Zealand born man to become Governor General. We had a look at the motels which John had almost finished at Westshore. The All Blacks defeated Scotland but Colin Meads was ordered off the field and this took away a lot of the excitement of the unbeaten record of the team. One day Maurice Chambers came along and ‘out of the blue’ arrived Donald Bain of Christchurch and his wife. We had a pleasant hour together. Foot and mouth disease was raging in England and thousands of stock were being slaughtered daily. A meeting of the Lowry Trust held in Rainbow’s Office and we suspected much trouble ahead over some of Tom’s gifts but at a later date all was ironed out by a provision in T.H.L’s will which we had rather over looked. Bob Sweetapple took me for a tour of Gilberds works (cordial) -all very interesting. Selby Palmer came to lunch one day in December and later that day Phil Brock came laden with vegetables and the Christmas cake she had made for us yearly for over thirty years. One night at the Club I won the gallon bottle of whiskey. Next day I got it split up into whiskey, gin and sherry and I gave a dozen of beer for the Staff. Bets Hay stayed at the Sussex Motels for a few days and we saw a lot of her and had several drives around Napier and to ‘The Cottage’ one afternoon. She dined with us each day. Harold Holt, P.M. of Australia, was drowned while swimming in Port Philip Harbour – it was a tragedy for he was much needed where he was. Later his successor was Gorton. Ray came down for Christmas by car. The next day Beryl Mason brought Aubrey Humphries and his wife (from California U.S.A.) to see us. What a terrific bore he is. We sighed when they left. I called to see Leslie and Ursula Lovelock at the Holes – he is a very sick man I think.

On Christmas Eve we called at Westshore to see the Ivans and had a look at the motels just ready for occupation. On Christmas Day I called for a few minutes on our neighbours – the Brian Hills and Heathcote came in. Barbara and David came up late in the afternoon. Boy and Sue came for a happy dinner party, On Boxing Day Ray drove herself back to Auckland and rang up later to

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tell of her arrival. Bob, Hiraani and Lou came to see us late in the afternoon. Tom and Mrs. Mitchell came on the 27th for a drink – she was just back from South Africa. On the 30th Ray arrived by air for New Year’s holiday – she arrived at 9.30 a.m. In the afternoon Ray Sherning, who was out in New Zealand for a month after twenty year’s absence, came in from Whakarara and stayed till 10p.m. while the young people were at a party. It was good to see her and we had much to talk about. On New Year’s Eve Ray went to Whakarara and Pukekino for the day. We had a quiet day at home and later I looked in to see Mrs. Hole and Freda. So ended another year.

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CHAPTER TWELVE

1968

On the 1st of January each year for many years past I have made up my mind to write more legibly but it does not seem to happen.

Ray was with us over New Year and left on the 2nd on her return to Auckland. Margaret Donovan (cousin of Betty Sweetapple) was out for a fortnight and full of interest – she trained girls to be air hostesses and was located in Liverpool. When the holidays were over our normal life began again there were the visits to Muritai on Saturdays, to the Club on Fridays and so forth.

Rua and Bob Stead called in one evening with the most delicious trout from Taupo I have ever tasted.

Ray Sherning came in to lunch with us at La Ronde. We went to Longlands to watch the grass seed harvesting and had a picnic lunch with Boy. The family were at Taupo at the time.

We went over to the Pettigrews one evening to hear all about their trip with the All Blacks and were most interested to hear details of the tour.

Thomson (British Minister for the Commonwealth) was in New Zealand to try to explain Britain’s reason for withdrawing her forces east of Suez by 1971. It was a sad and grim story and one difficult to follow.

Labour has never yet been able to understand its responsibilities towards members of the Commonwealth. John Foley (who once worked for us at Pukekino under the Rehabilitation Scheme after the war) came to see us with four of his children and his wife. He farms near Rotorua. On their return from Taupo ‘The Cottage’ Family and Connie came to see us and looked as brown as berries.

Mary Logan was married at the end of January but we did not attend the wedding as they did not invite the boys and their wives for some petty reason. Ray went as she was a Godmother and had flown down for the occasion. Poor old Elespie Roberts died at the age of 90.

In February Eddie came to lunch with us twice -on one occasion Molly was with him. Another shopping spree in Hastings followed by lunch with Sue and Boy at the Club.

Mrs. McKeever and daughter came one afternoon and Mrs. McCredie also came along. Early in the month we called to see Ann Whyte in Clive who has undertaken to type this ‘story’ for me. I hope you will get some interest out of it. Before finding Ann we called at Bob Whyte’s home (The Kennells) and were glad to see him again after several years. When I was a boy I used to stay at The Kennells which was then owned by the Tennets (Tennet was accountant in the firm of Sainsbury and Logan in the 1890s). I heard over the B.B.C. of the death of Lady Victoria Braithwaite (formerly Lady Plunket) – she was 93. When she was in New Zealand as Lady Plunket (wife of Governor in the 1900s) I knew her well.

Unfortunately we could not go to the Hereworth Swimming Sports to see Tim win the Senior Championship by 27 points to 9. Young Smythe was runner-up – the boy who tied with him last year.

Jack Tattersall had a hernia operation in February and on his return to his home I visited him two or three times. One day we went to Glen Aros to see Ned and Sheila Nelson Smith. We were in the throes of a drought and the country was the colour of a straw hat and pretty bare. In March Ivan and Mary went to Taupo for three weeks.

Robin and Beryl and three boys came to say good-bye – Robin had been transferred to Lower Hutt (Public Trust). Early in the month Bob took me to Pukekino for three days it was the first time I had stayed there since leaving in 1953 and I did so enjoy it all and Bob and Hiraani were very kind and thoughtful. The weather was glorious and I had a great time. I was taken all over the farm which looked well in spite of the dry season and the stock all looked well. I had a morning with my old friends, the Kays, an hour with the Shernings at Whakarara. We had an afternoon with Dick and Anne Gaddum and Dick took me over the 3000 acre block – once a seething mass of scrub – now a garden of Eden. What a wonderful job he has done.

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Then Bob took me to the Mangleton Block -this was once a poor wilderness at the back of Poporangi just under the Ruahine Ranges. Roger Sherratt was drafting cattle on his block. When I returned to Napier I found Dorothy had not been well through the night and Mrs. McCredie had taken charge. All was well and Dr. Clarke was satisfied (Sam was away and likewise Tup Will). It was some sort of bug and she mended in a matter of hours.

Sally brought Molly Russell over to say goodbye as she was returning to London. We went over to see Girlie Amyes and the Jim Zohrabs were there too.

Among our visitors were Freda, Noel Dowling, the Gellerts. Mardie came over for two weeks and we took her to the Inter-School swimming sports at the new baths at Frimley where we were greeted by Boy, Sue and the Steads. Tim did well but did not actually win an event. It was a lovely day out there. John and Barbara Gordon were at Muritai one Saturday for lunch.

Then we had another lovely trip with Boy and Sue to Taupo – Mardie and Muffet came too. We took our car as well and it proved to be useful. While in Taupo we stayed at the Stead Family’s cottage and the weather was fine and warm. We pottered about Boy’s section where the trees and shrubs were thriving – we dined out each night at Echo Cliff, Wairakei and Beachaven and usually lunched at home. We had a day at The Chateau and went up as far as the huts. We looked in to see the Gilkinsons’ home at Turangi – they were away in England. Boy and I had a drive round the farms at the foot of Tauhara. We saw Joan Kay, Tom Price, the Ted Zohrabs and had drinks one evening with the George Sandersons. It was a most enjoyable week and we returned early on March 31st to face the winter in good form. Mardie and Boy left us after four days as there was some rain in Hawke’s Bay and indications of facial eczema. After our return Bob and Hiraani came to lunch with us and posted us up in the family news.

President Johnson (U.S.A.) announced his intention of stepping down at the end of his term in November.

Early in the month a tropical storm broke in the far north and much rain fell as far south as the Bay of Plenty – then the storm changed course and we got very little in Hawke’s Bay. However a couple of weeks later another of the storms truck and the wind reached 130 miles per hour in some parts, particularly Wellington and Christchurch, causing very severe damage to property. In Hawke’s Bay, though we experienced heavy gales, the damage was not severe but trees and fences were blown down here and there. During the gale the ferry boat ‘Wahine’ entered Wellington heads and struck Barretts Reef -this she floated off after losing her propellor and finally keeled over six hours later – the loss of life was fifty odd. The sea was very rough and rescue work difficult. After the shooting of the Negro Leader, Martin Luther King, in the U.S.A., terrible racial riots broke out in many places. And internal war in Nigeria was also raging.

A journalist with the Tribune is to write the story of Williams and Kettle and one day he interviewed McLennan and myself. Ray came down on Good Friday for the weekend and Bob and Hiraani came for dinner on Easter Sunday, Later Dorothy, Ray and I went to ‘The Cottage’.

The Festival of Flowers in the Cathedral was very attractive and thousands of people saw it during the three days. We had our first trouble with the Morris 1100 in over three years -the generator gave out – but this was soon put right. On the 26th Mrs. McCredie brought her cousin, Mrs. Gellert, to see us and later Bob Rolls turned up with a very acceptable parcel of grog from Williams and Kettle who never forget my birthday.

Next day, 27th April, I reached the 84 mark and the Family and many friends remembered me which made me feel more important than I should: However growing old is not really exciting as the things you would like to do seem to get further away. However the day was a happy one and a fine one. We went to the Mayfair to lunch with Greta Ritchie which was very enjoyable and we talked of old times until 3 p.m. Boy, Sue and Muffet met us there too but they could not stay for lunch as there was something at

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Hereworth. That night we took Cushla to dine at La Ronde, and so ended a happy birthday. The time now appears appropriate to bring ‘My Story’ to its close for I am now 84 and 70 years of diaries have been condensed. ‘My Story’ is somewhat carelessly written and there is much repetition but when I undertook the task time did not seem to be on my side. It was a strange experience to journey through one’s life again – naturally sadness and disappointment showed up at times but on the whole happiness abounded.

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

SOME OF HAWKE’S BAY’S PERSONALITIES

NAPIER 1970. F.B. LOGAN

During my lifetime I have met many men who contributed in varying degrees to the development of Hawke’s Bay and who were, in their time well-known in the community, some for what they actually did toward the well-being of the Province, others for, maybe, the fact they were much in evidence. I am confining my attention to men who were born not later than 1870 so I feel safe from attack, at all events in this world:

The men of whom I speak were all known to me, some well-known and others not so. It is largely due to my parents that I met many of these men. My Mother was a niece of Mr. J.B. Rhodes of Milton Grange and lived with him from 1874 to the time of her marriage in 1883. J.B. Rhodes settled in H.B. in the early part of the 1840s & was a member of the H.B. Provincial Council. So it was natural that my Mother would know very many of the early settlers. When my Father came to live in Napier at the end of 1881, and being a partner in one of the leading Solicitors’ firms (Sainsbury & Logan) and being intensely interested in all forms of sport he became well-known. Therefore, through my parents, it was my good fortune to meet so many of their generation and a, few of the generation earlier. I cannot say, exactly why I was prompted to write these notes, but having lived for 86 years in Hawke’s Bay and having met so many of the residents who, in my opinion, made their presence felt in one way or another, I thought it worthwhile to leave this record with you. Some of those I speak of were outstanding in the service they rendered and with a little research one could build up something more interesting. However, I have neither the time nor the ability to go further than what I have in mind to do.

A’DEANE, J.B.: was born “Tucker” but at an early age he inherited from his Grandfather a large property in the Takapau district and took his name. The sheep-run was named ASHCOTT and you may still see the huge rambling homestead & woolshed on the right hand side of the road about ½ way between Onga Onga & Takapau. A’Deane contributed much towards sport in his young days & as well as playing rugby football for H.B. likewise cricket. He was a good shot and keen follower of the hounds. Ashcott was always a home of hospitality & in the far-away days there was lavish entertaining. He was a very popular person & full of kindness, but unfortunately he indulged in fairly heavy drinking which produced unreliability in what could have been quite a useful citizen. He had two daughters, one married Tollemache and he added the name of A’deane before his own name. The other married a man named Marshall, and he also added A’deane. J.B. A’deane, I would think, was born sometime in the 1860s.

BROWN, J. VIGOR: was a very colourful and forceful man in the 1890s and early 1900s. My guess is that he would have been born between 1845 & 1855. He had many interests in Napier – wholesale grocery business, insurance, wine and spirits, hotel affairs etc, but he was most noted for his lengthy office as Mayor of Napier, his short membership of Parliament, his lengthy membership of the Napier Harbour Board and the grey top hat and morning coat he always wore. In my young days he could be seen every day of the week walking in town with John McVay (Saddler) and F. Moeller (proprietor of the Masonic Hotel). He was a man of decided views – he would never admit he could be wrong and he could quarrel in a flash. His particular enemy was A.E. Jull (for many years Chairman of the Harbour Board) – they hated each other and used to cause exciting scenes at Harbour Board Meetings.

BEAMISH, GEORGE: was a sheepfarmer of repute and owned Whana Whana Station which consisted of 12,000 acres or more situated at the head-waters of the Ngaruroro

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river. After his death his three sons each farmed his own block of the property. Beamish was a man of great integrity and foresight and during his life he turned this huge and rough station into a very desirable and profitable one. In my boyhood days Whana seemed to be at the back of beyond and it took almost a day in a buggy to reach it from Napier or Hastings. I believe the property was purchased by his father in the 1870s when he was manager of Okawa station, and George Beamish would have been in his teens at that time. I knew him when I was a, boy, and through the days that followed he always showed friendship towards me which I valued. He became member for the Okawa Riding of the H.B. County shortly after I joined in the 1920s and his practical experience was of great value. He followed Walter Shrimpton who I imagine must have been the original member. Two of Beamish’s sons were at Wanganui Collegiate School towards the end of my time there and were put under my care by their father.

COLENSO, WILLIAM: found a place in N.Z.’s history through being so closely associated with the early settlement of the country. I will not tell of his doings throughout his long life for they are fully recorded in the history books. When I was a school boy and attended the Napier Grammar School (1894 -1897) Colenso was then an old man, and lived in retirement in his home which was next door to the school (same site as Napier Central). At times footballs would be kicked over the fence into his property, and the boy who went to retrieve it always received a poor reception. I was one of the boys so you could say I met Colenso! We regarded him as a grumpy old man! I knew Mr. Purvis Russell (original owner of Woburn Station near Waipukurau) and he told me that Colenso had a habit of searching in the Lands Office the titles of early settlers and often when he discovered ‘Gridironing’ he would purchase blocks held under this system and then “Touch the settlers up”. T.P. Russell took a very poor view of this.

COLEMAN, J.H.: came to N.Z, sometime between 1850 & 1860 as a young man seeking his fortune and he found it, for he became an extremely wealthy man. When I knew him first I was a very small boy and I looked upon him with awe, and a young friend of mine told me that you always had to take your cap off while speaking to him as he was a very rich man! He was a little man with an irascible and intolerant nature and from my own observations I would not think he attracted towards himself many friends. In the early 1890s he returned to his native land England for a visit of about a year, and otherwise to my knowledge he rarely, if ever went outside Hawke’s Bay. He was a man of very fixed habits – each morning he would take the Hospital Bus from Selwyn Road into town where he would call at the Union Bank and Williams & Kettle’s and proceed to his solicitors (Cotterill & Humphries). After giving them a ‘Sally-up’ (so I am told) he went to the H.B. Club for lunch. He always occupied the same seat with F.W. Williams on his right, and after lunch one of the Billiard tables was always reserved for him and F.W. Williams. When the game was finished he took the bus back to his large & fabulous home, which was situated where Coleman Terrace now exists. He worked on Te Aute station in his early days in H.B. and later became Head stockman. He must have proved himself there for Archdeacon Samuel Williams (owner of Te Aute) at a later date financed him and Mr. Alex McHardy into Blackhead Station which used to be part of Pourerere Station. For some years J.H. Coleman was in-partnership in Longlands Station (at that time 10,000 acres) with John Farmer. He also leased Olrig Station for a period of years. After marrying the widow of James Watt, he lived in Napier early in the 1880s. Though I was always a little terrified in his company I suppose I knew him well for his son and daughter were among my early friends. J.H.C. told me many stories of the early days in H.B. when there was constant warfare against the wild pigs in the country and how the Ngaruroro river changed its course somewhere in the 1850s, and how the Napier beach was once one of golden sand. He was quite a ‘Land-mark’ in his day.

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CORNFORD, H.A.: was a Legal practitioner in Napier, and after A.J. Cotterill’s death he became the Crown Prosecutor (1901). He was a very well-read man but he led quite a secluded life. The firm he founded is now carried on under the title of Langley, Twigg, etc.

CARNELL, S.: was, I would say the fashionable photographer of Napier when I was a boy, and his shop was in Shakespeare Road, close to Brewster Lane. He was Napier’s Mayor on two occasions at least. In those days one hated a photographer almost as one hated a dentist.

COOPER, S.E.: was a well-known watch maker of Napier and acted as Time-keeper at Race and Sports meetings.

COTTERILL, A.J.: was the eldest child of 17 -his father was Canon Cotterill of Christchurch Cathedral Christchurch. He was born in 1854 and after qualifying as a Solicitor he came to Napier about 1880 and joined with J.G. Wilson (the first solicitor to practice in H.B). When I was a boy the firm was Cotterill and Humphries – later Humphries & Humphries -but it does not exist now. Cotterill was Crown Prosecutor from the time I can remember until his death in 1901. He was a man of integrity and was respected by all, but his somewhat sombre attitude caused young people to have a little fear of him. His home in Lincoln Road was next door to my old home and my brother and I were close friends of his children.

CROWTHER, SAM: was among the most colourful of H.B.’s residents in the days of my youth and was the hero of all the boys. He and his partner McCauley (not certain of the spelling, it may have been McAuley) were the proprietors of the coach service between Napier, Taupo and Waiouru and there were no finer drivers in N.Z. than these men. Their handling of the teams of horses from two to five was superb. Their business was taken over by J.T. Harvey, on their retirement and later by the H.B. Motor Co. when the horse drawn vehicles disappeared. In those far-away days the service to Taupo was only a weekly one, it left Napier at 6.30am on a Monday and I can still hear the rattling of the Coach as it proceeded down Shakespeare Road. Then there was a change of horses at Te Pohui and Tarawera was reached at 5pm. Next morning it departed about 7, and reached Taupo at 4pm after a change of horses at the Rangitaiki. In summer time the journey was made more or less in a cloud of dust and most passengers walked up all the hills to save the horses. From Taupo to Waiouru the journey was of another two days with a stop overnight at Tokaanu. I could not tell you the number of times I drove with Sam – particularly to Taupo and of the many tense moments there were for in those days the roads were mostly unmetalled and narrow and many of the grades very steep. Sam became a very ardent fisherman and organised fishing expeditions and camps on the Rangitaiki, Tokaanu and Waikato rivers. The first of these expeditions I remember took place in the Christmas holidays of 1897 and we established camp about 20 miles below Rangitaiki, towards Murupara – it was a rough coach drive over precarious places and full of incident. It was a wonderful camp by the river side. We all slept in tents – there was a cooking galley and dining tent and a Maori cook by the name of Piripi Te Heu Heu. Further still there were occasions when a milking cow was installed.

CHAMBERS, MASON: was Chambers, Mason in 1860 and lived his life in Havelock North. His father owned the large station of Te Mata which after his death was cut up into three and Mason took over the Tauroa block which is now owned by Maurice and his two sons. He will be remembered by those who knew him as a man who devoted his life to all good causes and who served with distinction on many H.B. local bodies. He was a man of remarkable integrity and ability. Though he was 24 years my senior he and I became close friends from the first day I became a member of the H.B. County Council, of which he was Chairman, and later when he retired and I took his place as Chairman. His kindly help to

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me was freely given and always sound. He would accompany me on many visits to outlying ridings of the county and after the 1931 Earthquake he was appointed to help me and shoulder much of the responsibility that befell the county. He and I were associated in many things and were fellow attorneys for Mrs. Fountaine (daughter of Sir Douglas McLean) whose estate became considerable after her father’s death. During a long life Mason Chambers served on many local bodies & organisations in H.B. He was a versatile man and he had many useful hobbies which always kept him happy and busy. I often used to stay with him in his attractive home of Tauroa, and always enjoyed the company of the very pleasant friend. I would consider H.B. owes a debt to Mason Chambers for all he did towards its progress during his time – which was between the 1890s & 1930s.

CHAMBERS, JOHN: was the eldest son of the original owner of Te Mata and lived at Mokopeka. He was a man of much learning and was the first person in H.B. to harness water for electricity. He was a man of quiet disposition and good deeds.

CHAMBERS, BERNARD: was another son of John 1st, and was mainly responsible for breaking in the large property of Te Mata – at an early age it appears his father entrusted him to take charge. He was, like most of his family, well-read and interested in the development and well-being of H.B. He travelled extensively and in the Napier Art Gallery there are his diaries which tell much of interest. He built a very large and pleasant house on the hills of Havelock, but according to his brother Mason he neglected to see that the tying of this concrete structure was properly done and the building collapsed in the 1931 earthquake. My friend H.E. Sturge & I had visited ‘Te Mata’ only two days before the crash.

CLOSE, JOHN: was a Napier businessman of high repute and was in partnership with Mr. Neal in a grocery business. They also owned the Masonic Hotel in Napier until quite recently when it was sold to the N.Z. Close built a large house in Clyde Road and this is now a block of flats and known as Cluden Bank.

CROSSE, T.E.: originally farmed in the Wimbledon district of S. Hawke’s Bay, but during my lifetime he was located in Central H.B., where he was interested in land here and there, but he actually lived on the outskirts of Havelock North. He was a small man with rather scruffy side-whiskers and walked with toes turned well-in. He was a man of much ability in regard to local body administration and in his time served on many of H.B.’s local bodies. For many years, I think from the information from the H.B. Rabbit Board he was its Chairman and he did remarkably good work in controlling the rabbit pest. He was Chairman too, for a time of the H.B. County Council and the H.B. Electric Power Board. For a time I served with him on the first two of these boards and was able to form a high opinion of his grip of affairs. However, he seems to have failed on both his farming ventures, particularly in his venture into copra growing in Fiji. On the whole I would consider that during his time he rendered a good service to H.B. and I would rank him on the same level as Mason Chambers. He lived to be well over 90 and maintained a good brain till the end, but his eyesight failed.

CARLILE, J.W.: was a very early legal practitioner in Napier and was a man of high education and ability, having had a brilliant academic career at Oxford University. His irascibility was terrific and caused much amusement amongst his friends, and being of such an irascible nature he did not suffer fools gladly. He would have been born in the early 1850s I would think.

de PELICHET, Louis: would have been born in the 1850s and was the son of a Frenchman who came to N.Z. & took a prominent part in survey work in those far-off days. He was a½ brother of Spencer Gollan, the owner of Mangatarata Station (30,000 acres) adjacent to Waipukurau & when I first knew him, in the

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early 1890s he was the manager of the huge property. After the breaking up of Mangatarata about 1907, he & J.S. Mcleod founded the Stock & Station Agency Company of de Pelichet Mcleod & Co. of H.B. & Poverty Bay. He was a remarkably able Station Manager & had a keen Stock sense. He was vastly interested in most forms of sport and was highly respected by all. As a boy I used to spend much of my holidays at Mangatarata riding about the countryside, eel fishing & often helping, in a mild way in station work, & above all the hospitality & kindness of the SQUATTER (as he was called by all who knew him).

DONNELLY, G.P.: George came from southern Ireland as a young man sometime between 1870 and 1880 and made his presence felt by his driving energy and determination to climb the ladder of wealth. He was knowledgeable concerning horses and for some time was engaged in the breaking-in of horses. Then his opportunity of acquiring wealth came when he married a rich young Maori chieftainess by the name of Airini Karauria who owned vast acres of land in many parts of Hawke‘s Bay and lived at Omahu. Donnelly being a man who never let an opportunity pass, capitalized on his marriage to this influential woman and shortly became one of the richest men about. He had a distinct flair for breaking-in land as well as horses and he was a good judge of stock but in spite of his success and wealth he remained an unpopular man throughout his life, mainly on account of an insincere streak in his make-up. In the days of his youth he lived at Crissoge – just beyond Waiohiki, then when his daughter married he built a large house ‘Otatara’ just over the hill before reaching the Tutaekuri bridge beyond Taradale – where he lived. This house collapsed in the 1931 Earthquake. He was almost illiterate and as long as I knew him he always had with him a well-trained secretary who wrote his letters and read the papers to him. He also took great care to keep in his confidence his banker and solicitor. He was a very successful racehorse owner and was very fond of entertaining VIPs. He boasted his pedigree and on an occasion when he and Mrs Donnelly were staying in a large house in Scotland an argument arose between them and the hostess (who told) me heard Mrs D to Mr D – “George, if you say that again I won’t visit your ancestral home in Ireland”. GPD claimed to be a member of the Beresford family whose head was the Marquis of Waterford (Ireland).

de LISLE, F.: Ferdinand was what you might call the fashionable doctor of Hawke’s Bay when I was young. He was a stocky, shortish man with a thick beard and always wore a frock coat and top hat and drove a four-wheeled dogcart with a pair of horses. He had a terrific temper and jumped about and swore if things did not go his way. My family knew Mr J N de Lisle well and I remember my aunt telling me many stories of his tantrums -one I remember best was how on returning to his home and smelling something frying in the kitchen he marched into the kitchen thrusting aside the cook, seized the frying pan containing steak for dinner and the whole outfit over the fence. My mother told me she witnessed him performing a tonsil operation on a cousin of hers in about 1878. He withdrew a pair of pliers or some such thing from his pocket and snapped off a tonsil. Much blood and screaming, then he tested the girl and took out the other tonsil -wiped the instrument on his coat and put it back in his pocket. All over, he drove off and strange to say, the cousin lived. He always had two large dogs in his carriage and they kept up a constant barking. He had had time in the Navy in his early days and being the Napier Port medical man he often took the wheel of the SS Ahuriri – the tender for the ships that visited Napier. As time went on his practice seemed to dwindle and the last time I saw him must have been in the 1920s and he was getting old – and he used to accompany Brodie (H.B. vet) and administer chloroform for major horse operations.

DUNCAN, R.: Russell was a man of many parts and was a prominent merchant at the Spit (now Ahuriri) from early in the 1890s

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onwards and the firm was Ellison & Duncan Limited. He was a well-read man and had a flair for natural history and was a renowned tramper over hill and dale. He was outstanding for his powers of observation and general knowledge.

EDWARDS, C.: Charles – known as 11” Gassy” Edwards in the days of my youth, was manager of the Napier Gas Works and this was a very well run and profitable concern. Not so today! He was an owner of house property in a big way but towards the end of his life he confessed that investment in such a venture was his mistake in life.

GAISFORD, H.: Henry was one of Hawke’s Bay’s greatest authorities on horseflesh. He raced, hunted and took part in all to do with horses. He owned Oringi Station near Dannevirke together with his wife. I used to stay there as a child and loved the native bush that abounded there. He was a very likeable man. I would think he would have been born in the early 1850s or late 1840s and came to N.Z. as a very young man. As a matter of fact he did not actually own Oringi as it was his wife’s property- she was a daughter of Henry Russell of Mt Herbert commonly known as Lord Herbert R.

GOUDY, J.K.: Would have been born sometime in the 1840’s and came to N.Z. from Scotland as a young man to his uncle Mr Kinross who was a merchant on The Spit (Ahuriri today) and was owner of large tracts of HB but he crashed (financially in the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank). Sometime in the 1870s Goudy joined Dalgety & Co and became the first manager of that company for H.B. I cannot think he contributed much to the development of H.B. but he was a well-known identity in Napier.

GROOME, M.E.: ME was a typical English squire and was the owner of Te Onepu Station where he lived in my young days. He and his wife were among the most hospitable of couples in HB throughout their lives on Te Onepu and kept “open house” in a very big way. I had many a happy visit to their home particularly in the shooting season when quail and pheasants abounded there. M.E. Groome was an early Master of Hounds and until fairly recently the hounds were located between Paki Paki and Opapa.

GORDON, F.L.: FL with his two brothers owned a large station of Kidnappers and when this was subdivided his portion was called Clifton and it extended from Haumoana to the other end of the Cape. He was a very well-known figure in H.B. and during his time he served on many local bodies – and was for a time Chairman of the HBCC. His father was one of the early settlers and with Captain Hill took up the Kidnapper run originally. FLG was a man who was respected by all and his influence for good was undoubted.

GOLLAN, S.H.: Spencer H was born in Napier about 1860 and after his schooling at the Napier Grammar School he went to Cambridge University. He was the son of Donald Gollan who owned Mangatarata Station, that huge property of 30,000 acres just out of Waipukurau. His mother was the widow of de Pelichet (an early surveyor). His mother died when he was born and then his father died when Gollan was still a boy. So being left an orphan the thing was for his aunt (Mrs Furness of Longlands) to care for him. When the Furness’s returned to live in Scotland Gollan accompanied them and thereafter his home was Scotland but he used to visit N.Z. very frequently. He was a man of many parts and he excelled in many forms of sport, eg. golf, sculling, horseriding, billiards, boxing and he was in the Cambridge Rowing Eight. He retained Mangatarata Station until the early 1900s when he subdivided it among his family (there were four children) and at a later date the family disposed of one of their interests in the property. In 1904 Gollan won the Grand National in England with a N.Z. horse “Moifaa”. He maintained a racing establishment both in N.Z. and England. He was a close personal friend of my father and I knew him well too and at times stayed at his home in London and also at St Andrews (Scotland). I could tell much of his prowess in

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the field of sport and of his physical fitness but I shall only tell of how, while staying in Napier, he used to walk out to Waiohiki Golf Course, play 18 holes and then walk back -and this he did even at the age of 60. He lost the sight of an eye through an accident and his death came one day in London when he stepped off the footpath and was knocked over by a bus. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters. One daughter died when she was in her 20s and a very bright thing she was. The other daughter is stone deaf and speaks poorly as a consequence and likewise the elder son – this is probably the result of his marriage to a first cousin.

HUMPHRIES, H.: Herbert was a partner in the legal firm of Cotterill & Humphries. I would suggest he was a sadist for he loved executions and I am told he attended them. I never saw him smile. He hardly contributed to the well-being of H.B. but I mention him for his legal firm was “in the picture” once upon a time.

DR HUTCHINGS: He was the first medical man to practice in Napier. He arrived here in the 1840s and lived in a large house (now demolished) in Faraday Street. I only just knew him but I can still see him driving in a funny old Phaeton carriage on his rounds. It was at his home that my parents first met in 1881 or 1882. In a birthday book belonging to one of his daughters you will see my mother’s name “Louisa Taylor 27 December”. This entry may have been made in the late 1870s.

HOADLEY, C.B.: CB hardly left any marked impression behind him but during his life in Napier he was, I would suppose, a personality. It must have been sometime in the 1880s that he set up an auctioneering business under his own name – later it became C.B. Hoadley & Son, later still the firm joined with N. Stewart who was also a stock auctioneer. Then after his death the H.B. Farmers Co-op took over the business.

HARVEY, T.: Thomas was a police constable in my boyhood days and was a very well-known figure about Napier. His nickname was “Duckfoot” for he was a big man and had equally big feet. In those far away days it was quite “the thing” to farewell the express train to Wellington and old Constable Harvey would pace the platform saying “stand back from the train or I’ll tread on your feet”. In the 1890s there would not have been more than three or four police in Napier and I cannot recall that they ever were overworked!

HARVEY, J.T.: JT was a son of the former and for years he ran the Napier-Spit bus service which later became the H.B. Motor Company. He was a good horseman and a capable businessman.

SIR GEORGE HUNTER: Sir George was a large runholder in the Porangahau district and for many years was MP for Waipawa. This seat later was merged with H.B. He was a quiet dispositioned man and minded his own business but in so doing he was most generous. They say he never turned a “swagger” away and usually saw that they had good boots in which to walk away.

HUNTER, P.:
Paul was a brother of the last mentioned and a man of equally fine character and generosity. He owned a large property in the Porangahau area also. In the 1900s he was a successful racehorse owner and was among the top-flight racing men.

HINDMARSH, J.: John was managing director of Robjohns Hindmarsh & Co, merchants of Ahuriri for as long as I can remember until his death shortly before the 1931 Earthquake. He had been a very successful man of business. It would have broken his heart to have witnessed the wrecking of his business by the Earthquake. He was a very social little man and popular in Napier. It was his custom to ride a pony to work each day from the Bluff Hill to the Port. His family consisted of 12 or 13.

HOVELL, deB.: deB was Dean of Waiapu when I was a boy. He was a very well-known person about the town and well liked. He

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wore a long fair and silky beard and the small boys named him “Christ”. He was always dressed in a Dean’s conventional dress with leggings! He married my parents in the old Cathedral and I suppose he baptized me

JOHNSTON, S.: Sydney was well-known and respected, particularly in southern H.B. He was the owner of Orua Wharo which was a large run near Takapau. He was a staunch RC but he was generous and whatever he gave to his church he gave his wife (Anglican) a similar sum for her church. His father was the founder of Johnson & Co. merchants of Wellington.

JULL, A.E.: A E was a publican and brewer of Waipawa. He was a very dynamic person and made his presence known in dominating everybody and everything within range. For many years he was a member, and for some years, chairman, of the Napier Harbour Board and during that period the Harbour Board stood still because of the wrangle between the two factions – one in favour of the making of an Inner Harbour and the other in favour of the completion of the Breakwater (already begun). Jull was also the dominant figure in favour of the former scheme and thwarted progress in the development of the latter at every turn. However, the 1931 Earthquake altered the inner harbour for all time. He was MP for Waipawa after the death of Sir George Hunter. In the interests of the liberal party he was unshakeable. He was much involved in local body work too and for some time he was chairman of the County Council Association of N.Z. He was a man of much ability.

KENNEDY, C.D.: Charles was a very versatile man. Qualified in law and civil engineering and was musical, playing various instruments and singing and he was a good all-round sports man and played most games well. He mainly practiced law and was head of the legal firm of Kennedy & Lusk when I was younger. When I joined the H.B. County Council he was acting Engineer of the County (1920) and before that he laid out and planned many of the County’s roads and bridges. He was a member of the syndicate that set in motion the draining of the vast area now known as Napier South – Kennedy, Latham, W Nelson and George Nelson. The syndicate was making good but slow progress when the 1931 Earthquake completed the job in a matter of minutes by raising the level of the land by about seven feet.

KETTLE, N.: Nathanial was born in the 1850s and was the son of Charles Kettle, one of N.Z.’s earliest surveyors who laid out the City of Dunedin. He was born in Dunedin but came to H.B. about the mid 1870s to join Murray Roberts & Co. Then about 1881 he joined F.W. Williams and the stock and station firm of Williams & Kettle came about. He was a keen sportsman and an ardent supporter of the Volunteer horsemen in becoming Colonel of the HB Volunteer Force. He married the daughter of the famous Major F von Tempsky. He was well-known and highly respected throughout the county.

KNOWLES, E.W.: EW founded “The Daily Telegraph” and was a man of repute. He built a large house known as “Ben Lomond” in Clyde Road, Napier.

LANAUZE, R.: Richard was perhaps the most difficult stock agent of his time – around about 1894 and early 1900. Sometime in the 1890s he became a partner in the stock agency business of Wenley & Lanauze. In those far off days before the advent of the motor car he must have driven or ridden on horseback many hundreds of miles every month. He was a remarkably good horseman.

LOWRY, T.H.: TH was the only son of the original owner of Okawa station and was born in 1866. Though he was 18 years my senior I became a close personal friend of his, later with his son Tom and A.I. Rainbow as a trustee in his estate. From the middle of 1906 until mid 1911 I spent much time at Okawa and under THL’s guidance I learned the sheep farming business. During that time Okawa was a station of 14,000 acres. TH was of a shy and retiring nature but the possessor

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of great commonsense. He had quite a brilliant career at Cambridge University in the 1880s, excelling in rugby football and cricket and on his return to N.Z. he played rugby for H.B. and was captain of the XV for two or three years. No-one in H.B. had a better knowledge of the fattening of cattle for the market and the breeding of race horses. As a racehorse owner he enjoyed much success in the early part of the century and among the best horses were Bobrikoff, Egypt and Desert Gold. Okawa was almost a second home for me and I shall never forget Mr Lowry’s many kindnesses to me. He was a shy and retiring man and in spite of wealth and his position and success in the sporting world he never pushed himself forward.

LOGAN, F.: Francis was my father. He was born in Edinburgh in 1857 and shifted to Newcastle-on-Tyne with his parents in 1862. Later he qualified as a solicitor and lived there until 1881. During his time there he played rugby football and cricket for Northumberland. He came to N.Z. on a sailing ship in 1881 (Parramatta) on a health trip but he was so taken with N.Z. that he decided to stay for a few months – in the end he stayed on for his lifetime. He bought himself into a partnership in a legal firm in Auckland but the venture was a failure and he backed out within a week and lost the purchase price and this was very embarrassing. He then came to Napier in December 1881 and was taken on by Mr George Sainsbury as his managing clerk. Sainsbury went to England in 1882 for a couple of years and during that time my father was taken into partnership with the firm of Sainsbury & Logan. F Logan took a very real interest in all sports and was the first president of the H.B. Rugby Union. For 20 years he refereed without a break and was often called upon to act as referee in important matches outside of H.B. He and his friend Minden Fenwicke (also of Newcastle-on- Tyne) won the men’s doubles at lawn tennis for N.Z. in 1892. He married Louisa Taylor (niece of Mr Joseph Rhodes of Milton Grange) in 1883. He died in 1933 after a very full life.

LUSK, H.B.: Hugh was for many years a prominent barrister in Napier and likewise Crown Prosecutor. He was a fine cricketer and played for N.Z. on occasion. He was of a prickly nature and respected by all.

MCHARDY, A.: Alex was one of the early arrivals in H.B. and I believe he lived for a time at Meeanee and supplied meat to the troops located on Barrack Hill, Napier. Sometime in the 1870s he and J Coleman were financed into Blackhead Station which consisted of 22,000 acres of the Pourerere Station. Archdecon Samuel Williams was their sponsor. Blackhead, or what is left of it, still remains in the McHardy family. When I first knew Mr McHardy, about 1889, he was living at Longlands which he had leased from the James Watt Estate. This property consisted of about 10,000 acres in those days. After giving up Longlands, McHardy moved to Palmerston North and his sons took over Blackhead. I think he was one of the very early presidents of the H.B. A&P Society. You will see his portrait in their rooms. He was a very highly respected person.

McHARDY, L.: Leslie was a son of the former and when A. McHardy divided Blackhead into two portions, Leslie took over the Blackhead portion. He was a man of much ability and more than pulled his weight during his life. About 1906 he built the house, which is now McHardy Home, but he did not live there for long as his wife wanted to return to the country so Mr McHardy gave the house to the Hospital Board.

McHARDY, P.A.: Percy was the younger son of A. McHardy and took over the Aramoana portion of the original Blackhead Station. His death came tragically – he was journeying by ship to visit the grave of his son Forbes who was killed in Italy during the Second World War when a stroke overcame him and death followed within a day or two. Aramoana Station was subsequently subdivided between his family.

MOELLER, F.: Frank during the latter 1800s and early 1900s was host at the Masonic

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Hotel in Napier and was an extremely well-known and popular man throughout N.Z. and further, the Masonic Hotel under his control, never seemed to experience staff problems.

McVAY, J.: John was, during his time, the most efficient saddler in N.Z. and from one end of N.Z. to the other the reputation of his products was high. His shop was just about where the Commercial Bank is now located in Hastings Street. Every day of the week you could see McVay, Vigor Brown and Moeller taking a stroll in town together.

MOORE, T.C.: TC was one of Napier’s prominent GPs in the days of my youth and he was looked upon as the leading gynaecologist of the province. He came from Dublin and took his degree at Trinity. He was also versed in the Classics and well-read. In fact while being driven on his rounds his eyes would never be off the book he was reading at the time. He was one of the first of Napier doctors to own a motorcar and he was a menace on the road!

McLEAN, P.S.: I only mention him because he became a partner in the old established firm of solicitors in Napier some time in the late ’70s or early ’80s. The firm was Carlile & Mclean. Later Carlile McLean Scannell & Wood and now it carries on under the name of Carlile McLean & Co. He was one of H.B.’s earliest motorists and was the first President of the AA Society (HB). I would not suggest that his contribution to H.B.’s development was in any way outstanding but that may be a matter of opinion.

McLEAN, SIR R.D.D.: Was the son of a quite famous man (Sir Donald Mclean) who played a prominent part in the development of N.Z. and in particular, H.B. His name was spelt Mc until R.D.D. married and then his wife, as I am told, had the alteration made. Why? Douglas McLean’s mother died when he was born – at a very early age he was taken to England by C.G. Tollemache and educated there. When he was about 20 his father died leaving him Maraekakaho Station which was at that time a property of 60,000 acres. For many years Maraekakaho was perhaps the most up to date station in the North Island and the studs of horses, cattle and sheep were famous. But towards the end of its existence rot had set in through poor management and the station’s reputation dwindled. In fact at the time of the cutting up of the station in 1930 (it was then 14000 acres) it was in poor shape. McLean was a self-centred man, rather a poor mixer and inclined to be pompous. Those of us who knew him better, just thought he was rather a foolish fellow but he certainly was generous and kindly disposed. He did not “leave his mark” when he departed at the age of 74 or 75 for his life had been a fairly negative one. However for three years he was MP for Napier. His house was in Napier Terrace and there he lived mostly. There was also a house in Wellington and The Cottage at Maraekakaho where he stayed at times. His estate was a very considerable one and a few years after his death I was appointed a trustee for one had died, another retired and yet another lost his job after committing the error of purchasing some of Maraekakaho land at the sale. Eventually W.G. Wood and I were the only trustees and it was our job to wind up the Estate about 20 years after McLean’s death.

NELSON, W.: William was the founder of the freezing industry (livestock) in H.B. and maybe one of the pioneers in the industry in NZ. He was also much interested in land development – especially the reclamation of the flat land adjacent to Napier. This particular work was progressing rapidly by means of dredges or when the Earthquake in 1931occurred to complete the job by raising the levels by many feet. Nelson was also a landowner of much sheep country in H.B., in fact he was a man of many varied interests. His home was the old house at Waikoko and there he lived his long life and brought up a large family. In my youth I knew him well and often visited Waikoko as his son Lionel was a friend of mine. He was a man of abounding energy and ability no doubt but I felt he was overrated. He was obsessed with the idea of an inner harbour for Napier and was bitterly opposed to a breakwater scheme. In the

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1920s I was offered as a candidate for the Breakwater Party in the elections and Nelson tried to persuade me to “turn my coat” and support the Inner Harbour and he said if I did so he would see that I was elected but if I refused to turn he would see that I was defeated at the poll. This he did and I never saw him again. He could be a tough opponent. In my youth he seemed to me much like a patriarch of the Bible for he dominated his family completely and I would think his sons-in-law held him in great awe. Nevertheless he certainly left his mark in the progress and development of H.B.

ORMOND, J.D.: JD came to N.Z. as a youth of about 19 or 20 and became interested.in politics at an early age. Perhaps he played a more prominent part in the development of H.B. than any other of the early settlers. Had Sir Donald McLean lived longer I would have put him first. Ormond in his time was a MP, a member of the H.B. Provincial Council and was superintendant for most or maybe all through its existence, a minister of the Crown, member of many local bodies and other organisations, a large landholder and in later years a member of the Legislative Council. He ruled his family with a rod of iron – rather like W. Nelson, and the family submitted quietly to his rule. When I was a boy I occasionally shot quail with Mr Ormond at Te Onepu and I knew him better in my manhood years. I suppose I too feared him for he did not seem to smile and he did not appear to be interested in his fellow beings. He was generally regarded as a statesman and no doubt played a very prominent part in the development of H.B. but he was never able to capture the affection of his contemporaries other than Sir Douglas McLean and G.P. Donnelly – he appeared to be on friendly terms with them and one could say too that McLean and Donnelly possessed mighty few friends. Ormond was a man of simple tastes on the whole and dressed rather shabbily – he was completely wrapped up in himself and affairs of state that entertaining at his home was unheard of.

RHODES, J.: Joseph was one of four brothers who came to N.Z. in the very early days of its settlement. Joseph actually arrived in Napier in about 1860 some 10 years after the arrival of the oldest brother W B Rhodes) and he settled at Clive Grange (Haumoana) and proceeded to take up land in various parts of H.B. – some in partnership with his brothers and some in partnership with others and some on his own account. Sometime in 1860 he built Milton Grange and lived there. This home still stands and is on the corner of Lincoln and Fitzroy Roads – a large house about 100 yards back from the roads. Formerly the access to this house was from Milton Road opposite what is now Burlington Road. Rhodes was a member of the H.B. Provincial Council all through its existence and he played a prominent part in H.B.’s development. My mother lived with Mr and Mrs Rhodes from 1874 until 1883 when she married. Rhodes was a man of ability but he was autocratic and ruthless.

RICHARDSON, G.E.G.: GEG was a brother in law of the late Mr J.D. Ormond and was the founder of the coastal shipping company (Richardson & Co) which served N.Z.er’s well, especially in the early days before rail and road communications were developed. I well remember many of the little ships (Weka, Fanny, Ruru etc) that used to ply up and down the East Coast, particularly to the North Island, calling in at all the bays. In the days of my youth most of Gisborne’s requirements were delivered by ship for there was no rail connection until early in the century and road access with the outer world was mighty poor. Richardson was a short, fat, little man with a beard and usually dressed in a black open shirt and no tie and he was always to be seen driving a low-set sulky trap drawn by a pony. He sat in the middle of his sulky otherwise it would overbalance on account of his weight. He was a bachelor and lived in the house which Mr Gleeson now occupies on the corner of Chaucer Road and Napier Terrace.

RUSSELL, SIR WILLIAM: Sir William Russell played a very prominent part in the settlement and development of H.B. and also a prominent part in the political life of NZ. He

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and his brothers took up land in various parts of H.B. but concentrated mostly at Tunanui which was a very large run of 30,000 acres or more but today the area remaining in the family is less than 2000 acres. Sir W.R. had retired from active farm life when I knew him in the days of my youth and he lived in the very pleasant home at Flaxmere about three or four miles out of Hastings. In his young days he was a British Army officer but he retired at a very early age and returned to N.Z. He was a man of commanding appearance and forceful character and his home seemed to be run after the style of an English manorial home. He was as MP for many years and held important portfolios in the Government; the most important was that of Minister of Defence. When in opposition towards the end of his political career he was Leader of the Opposition. I remember well the day of his defeat by a man called Dillon. This was in 1908 or 1909 (my diary will tell) and I drove a car for him on the day in the Petane area. His successor (Dillon) cut a very poor part in politics. He was one of the so-called 12 Apostles – there were actually only nine but they were called The Twelve Apostles because they purchased between them 12 shares of a block of land between Havelock and Fernhill (Heretaunga). This deal was not looked upon with favour for at the time (Aug 1860s or maybe a little earlier) it was only permissible to purchase land from the Maoris through the Government. However this attitude towards the deal was only temporary. Many young men, myself included, were more than grateful for his kindly understanding and helpful advice.

RUSSELL, T.P.: Thomas Purvis was unrelated to the Russells of Tunanui and Flaxmere. He came to N.Z. from Scotland with the early settlers late in the 1840s or early 1850s and shortly after his arrival he took up about 30,000 acres in the Waipukurau District and called the station, Woburn. The first homestead was burned down and the second was erected in the 1890s and still stands. It is a mile or so south of Waipukurau township. TPR became a man of importance and wealth in H.B. He was a member of the 12 Apostles who purchased a large block of land known as the Heretaunga Block from the Maoris – the purchase of the block was viewed unfavourably by many for at the time land could only be purchased from the Maoris through the Government. He had a brother, Henry, who was commonly known as “Lord Henry” and he lived at Mt Herbert, a very large station east of Waipukurau. After Woburn had been developed into a productive property TPR, towards the end of the 1870s returned to Scotland to live and only visited N.Z. on one or two occasions before his death about 1906. He became what is called an absentee landlord and so it was natural that Woburn should be among the first properties to be requisitioned under the “Lands for Settlement Act” – otherwise called “Dick Seddon’s Act”. Woburn was purchased by the Crown in the early 1900s and after long and tiresome lawsuits the price paid was, I think, £5.10 per acre or very near it. The property then became the Hatuma Settlement – one of the most satisfactory of settlements made under the Act. Another could have been Mangatahi. I once spent a week with Mr and Mrs T.P. Russell at their home “Warrick” in Kinross-shire, Scotland. That was in 1904. TPR told me many stories of the early days of the settlement of H.B. The grid-ironing method of acquiring land intrigued me especially the part played by W. Colenso. It was, Russell suggested, a game of “blackmail”. I would not suggest TPR’s contribution towards the development was as great as that of many others I have mentioned for it would appear to me that, after discovering his fortune had been made in N.Z., he returned to Scotland for the last 30 years of his life. Purvis Russell had only one child – a daughter. She married Henry Montgomerie of Haddon Hall who was heir to a baronetcy. It was said that Montgomerie was inclined to “lord it over” his father-in-law and it was for that reason that TPR in his will stipulated that those who inherited any of his fortune (which was very considerable) “must take the name of Montgomerie Purves-Russell” – hyphenated. Furthermore, they had to adopt his “Coat of Arms”.

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RUSSELL, SIR ANDREW H.: Sir Andrew was born in Napier, his father being Andrew Hamilton Russell, a brother of Sir William Russell. He was educated in England and graduated into the army from Sandhurst. At an early age he retired from the army and returned to N.Z. and took up the management of Tunanui Station. However he always retained his interest in defence affairs and was in command of the East Coast Regiment (volunteer) at the time of the outbreak of World War One. He served overseas and was in command of the N.Z. Division. His career was one of great distinction and he was made a KCMG. A.H. Russell was a man of many parts and interested himself in most things that pertained to the welfare of his country, particularly H.B. He and I became very close friends, I think he was about 17 years my senior and we had very much in common with one another. He was a man of high ideals and integrity and one who would stand by his friends and convictions through thick and thin.

SANDTMANN, J.W.: Julius was a very respected citizen of Napier and was much involved in the shipping business of H.B. He came from Germany at an early age and joined the accounting firm of Robert Dobson (which is still in existence). He was the first secretary of the shipping firm of Tyser later to become the Port Line. He took a prominent part in the Volunteer defence organisation. Though he never became a N.Z. citizen he was always loyal to the country in which he lived even though he was somewhat ruthlessly treated in World War I.

SHRIMPTON, W.: Walter was a very colourful man in H.B. for many years and served on many local bodies, particularly the Hospital Board, with distinction. He was a man of small stature and full of fun and bustle. He was the owner of Matapiro Station of 10,000 acres which was famed for its high productivity and appearance of careful management. He had a reputation of always keeping out of trouble by agreeing with all! I remember it was in 1906 PM Dick Seddon was staying at Matapiro. Shrimpton believed in keeping in with the powers that be. Seddon and Shrimpton were standing on the verandah at Matapiro upon which you enjoyed a panorama of rolling hills and sublime pastures and Seddon said “how much land do you own Mr Shrimpton?” The reply was “as far as you can see”. Well my advice is that you dispose of some of it before it is taken from you. So, Walter Shrimpton got very busy with settling blocks upon his family. But somehow or other the solicitor “fell down” on his part of the job and after Shrimpton’s death the estate duties dealt severely with the estate -this was all brought about by a silly mistake – that of allowing the giftor to retain an interest in what he had gifted.

STOPFORD, F.J.: FJ retired from the British Army at a very early age on account of TB and came to live in Napier. This was in the early part of the 1890s. His health improved and he was able to lead an enjoyable but quiet life until he was well into his 70s. He was a man of much reading and education and seemed able to answer most questions. He was fond of children and always appeared very interested in their wellbeing. I have a very affectionate memory of him and he was a staunch and helpful friend through my childhood and up to the time of his death when I was nearing 50. He was very interested in the progress of Napier particularly in tree planting. A very useful work attributed to him was the placing of the lane between Sealy and Cameron Roads. This shortened the distance for many children in the Cameron Road area to Miss Sutton’s little school in Sealy Road.

SWAN, G.H.: GH Swan was Mayor of Napier for a long period towards the end of last century and he was a very popular one. I believe it was in his reign that the Marine Parade wall was built with prison labour.

STEWART (BISHOP OF WAIAPU): When I was a small boy I remember he spent a few nights at Tangoio Station (managed by Kells) when I was there for part of the holidays. He

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was a very ugly man.

SUTTON, F.: Frederick should have left a much better mark in H.B. history than he did for he was apparently a very able man. He was ruthless, aggressive and unpleasant in many of his dealings. I only knew him in his old age when he had long ceased to take an interest in anything but standing on the Criterion corner in Napier ready to accept a drink. He began life in Napier as a trader at the Spit – mostly in wool but he later became involved in local bodies and politics -for a short period he was Napier’s MP. For the last years of his life you would always see Sutton standing outside the Criterion Hotel waiting for business to turn up. He was one of the very few JPs about and he would willingly accept 2/ 6 for witnessing a signature.

ST HILL, C.A.: CA was a very charming and the owner of the vast station Whangaehu on the coast of H.B. This property was a Maori Leasehold and I cannot understand why it was never free-holded. St Hill was a good athlete in his youth and fond of all sorts of sport. He was a good judge of cattle and I never saw a man more adept in the handling of them. He and his two daughters for many years did all the cattle work on the station -they never used a stock whip or a dog and the result was that the cattle never became excited or flustered.

TANNER, T.: Thomas came to H.B. from England in the 1840s as a young man. He must have been a man of ability for he seemed to have a finger in many pies in those early days. He also seemed to have owned large areas of land over the province of H.B. But it would appear that he was, perhaps, not a very good man of business as he lost his head through a quick acquisition of wealth. In the late 1890s his affairs were taken over by the bank and he never regained the position of affluence he once enjoyed. The house which he built at Riverslea was quite fabulous at the time and he and his family lived in much style. He was the organiser of what was known as “The 12 Apostles” – a band of men who purchased a block of the Heretaunga Plains from the Maoris after a ban had been imposed upon the purchase of Maori land except through the Government. He was not very popular among the early settlers so I was told by many in the years gone by.

VAUTIER, J.H.: JH was a wood and coal merchant in Napier in the early days and when I was a boy he owned all the land enclosed by Roslyn and Fitzroy Roads. Beyond being a successful man of business and a well-known figure, I would not think his contribution towards the welfare of H.B. was outstanding.

THE VENERABLE ARCHDEACON SAMUEL WILLIAMS: Was a son of Archdeacon Henry Williams, the early missionary in the Bay of Islands. He was a man of dynamic ability for apart from being “a man of God” he was a most successful sheep farmer and when he died he left an estate of £700,000 at least and today (1971) that sum would be over £3 million. He walked from the Bay of Islands sometime in the 1850s to H.B. and founded a Maori mission at Te Aute and the well-known school for Maori boys. The Archdeacon owned much pastoral land in H.B. at the time of his death. For a long time Te Aute Station was one of the model stations of N.Z. and it was famous for its shorthorn cattle and for its training school for many budding farmers and usually catered for at least eight cadets and I knew many who had their training there. There are many stories told of the Archdeacon taking part in the routine work on the station and always wearing his clerical garb. He always passed on his old clothes to the Maoris who lived in his locality and often did casual work on the station and it was a common thing to see a Maori, perhaps helping to fill the woolshed, wearing clerical clothing. I remember a friend of mine, who was a cadet, telling me of how he kicked what he thought to be one of their Maoris in clerical dress on his posterior for hindering the sheep from running freely into the woolshed and to his horror the Archdeacon himself turned around and objected to the treatment. The Archdeacon’s estate was administered by his two kinsmen F.W.

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Williams (of Williams & Kettle fame) and J.N. Williams (of Frimley) and they were given wide powers to give a helping hand to any member of the Williams family deserving of help in any way whatever So it came about that many were able to receive education beyond their own means and many were set up on farms and businesses.

WILLIAMS, J.N.: James Williams of Frimley was a son of the First Bishop of Waiapu and he was a man of wonderful quality. He lived most of his life in H.B. but it was he who pioneered and opened up the coastal lands north of Gisborne. His contribution to the development of H.B. was great and he took much interest in all things that were for good. He was a keen gardener and planted trees wherever he went. Frimley Park (in which his lovely red house stood) was given to Hastings by his family in his memory. I always remember him with affection for his kindly interest in me in the days of my youth.

WILLIAMS, W.L.: Leonard was the Second Bishop of Waiapu and brother to J.N.W. I only just remember him. He was a man of quiet ways and did not seem to mix much with the outside world as Bishops seem to do these days.

WILLIAMS, H.: Herbert was a son of the former and was the third of his family to be the Bishop of Waiapu. He took a degree at Cambridge University and later was a master at the well known school of Haileybury in England before taking orders and returning to N.Z. I knew him well and for a time I was on the Hereworth School Board with him and he was the Chairman. He was a Maori scholar of note and published a Maori dictionary. He was a very likeable person with a keen sense of humour.

WILLIAMS, F.W.: F W was a brother of the former. A man of ability but lacked the humour of his brother. He and N. Kettle founded the firm of W&K (stock and station agency). He was a remarkably straightforward man and regarded by all. He was a civic minded person but hated publicity particularly to the extent he only did one term as Mayor of Napier.

WILLIAMS, A.: Alan was the manager of Te Aute Station for very many years. He was a nephew of Archdeacon Samuel Williams and a man of outstanding ability and integrity. He commanded the respect of all especially those who worked for him and during his management of Te Aute he trained many of H.B.’s efficient sheep farmers. In the early 1860s he managed Kereru Station which was a vast and rough backcountry run in those days. I always enjoyed meeting him for he was a fund of information. He was a keen trout fisherman and loved pottering about Taupo with a rod.

WILSON, H.C.: HC commonly called “Denty Wilson”. In my boyhood days “Denty Wilson” was the leading dentist of H.B. In fact in those days dentists could probably have not exceeded half a dozen. In those faraway days I would say dentists were looked upon as torturers of the first degree for they seemed to take a delight in inflicting pain. At the time there were no local injections – there was only “laughing gas” or a general anaesthetic – but there was no help where the filling of teeth was concerned. “Denty” was quite a character and full of humour – sometimes his practical jokes were stretched a bit far. He was interested in Spiritualism and the Occult – at times I attended seances at his house.

WENLEY, G.S.V.: GSV came to Napier from Scotland in the late 1880s after training in the wool industry. After a short period with the North British Freezing Company and their work at the Port, while W Kinross White was away from the County, he started a stock and agency business in Napier taking in as a partner J.R. Lanauze. In 1908 the firm of Wenley & Lanauze was absorbed by the HB Farmers Association. Wenley was an athlete of note in his youth and always showed much interest in the sporting activities of H.B. For many years after the HBF had taken over he was their financial advisor.

KINROSS WHITE, W.: Came to live in Napier

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as a young man and was employed by his uncle (J. Kinross – one of Napier’s early merchants). Later he became manager of the HB Freezing Works and was an insurance and shipping agent. He also took up farming country in the Te Aute and Omaranui areas. He was of a somewhat egotistical and domineering character.

Photo caption – Excerpt from Olympic School Exercise Book titled “Some of Hawke’s Bays Personalities”. Image source: Stu Webster

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SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

ADDENDUM APRIL 1971

I can now mention another contributor to H.B.’s progress through the century whose 100th anniversary would occur this year. He is H.A. Russell.

RUSSELL, H.A.: Harold was the eldest son of Sir William R. Russell of Flaxmere and lived at Sherenden. When I first met him, Sherenden was his father’s portion of the Tunanui block. It was subdivided and sold in the early 1900s and H.A. Russell took over the Apley Station and this remained in the family until two or three years ago when it was sold. H.A. Russell was more interested in everything to do with horses than any other man I knew. For many years he was Master of the H.B. Hounds, he was an expert polo player and played for H.B. – he was a “gentleman rider” – not many would understand this term today. Gentlemen Riders were non-professional jockeys. He was a racehorse owner though not in the “big way” of his father. He played a prominent part in local body affairs – he was chairman of Williams & Kettle for many years and at the same time he was a member of the Upper House (Legislative Council). Like his father he commanded the respect of all.

PRICE, C.: Charles was a well-known member of the HB Herald staff. I think he was the editor for many years. This paper was H.B.’s oldest, but sadly went out of publication after the 1931 Earthquake. However, Charlie Price was, perhaps, better known for his great interest in sport and he was himself, a walking champion of note. To keep himself fit he acted as Lamp-lighter on the hills of Napier when I was a boy and every night you would see this tall gaunt man striding over the hills at a terrific pace carrying a long torch over his shoulders. Everyone knew Charlie well and loved him, especially the young.

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NAPIER 1981 (97 YEARS OLD)

In 1970 I made notes concerning men from not later than 1870 who contributed to the development of H.B. The year is now 1981and I am adding names of men born after 1890 who, in my opinion, continued to carry on helping to develop Hawke’s Bay still further and proving themselves very useful citizens.

I mention first my very old friend E.J. Herrick who was born in 1878 and died in 1971. He was the son of a pioneer, Colonel Herrick, who with Mr JN Williams, owned Kereru Station in 1860 and most of 1870. Kereru was a vast station and it then included Big Hill and Whana Whana and a large amount of the mountain range.

E.J. Herrick, known by many as EJ, was born at Forest Gate, Onga Onga on June 10, 1878 and died at Havelock North on 3 March 1971. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate and lived for some years at Forest Gate. In 1902 his family took over Tautane Station and Opurore and he lived on those properties till about 1911.

In 1912 when he came to live at Lindisfarne in Pakowhai Road, Hastings, EJ and I knew one another when we were young and often used to meet. But in the 1920s when we were both interested in local body work a friendship began which grew as time went on and for about 50 years, until his death, our friendship was very complete. It was a precious tie that was enjoyed and appreciated by us both. Eddy’s sense of responsibility was sound; he loved truth and was full of common sense. We had much fun and shared some sorrows. We tackled some problems together while we sat on the Hereworth School Board and Williams & Kettle directorships. We had many trips together around N.Z. and a delightful month in London in 1954. His courage in times of stress was wonderful and I remember in particular three occasions of great stress. One, when he attended to many who died of the Great Flu epidemic at Hastings Racecourse in the epidemic of 1918. Two, when he broke his neck in a car accident and was on his back for weeks and then when three of his sons lost their lives in WWII.

In the 1920s he became a director of W&K and a member of the HB Harbour Board and also a member of Hereworth School Board. He ultimately became chairman of those Boards and I was privileged to be a member of the same Boards for many years under his wise guidance. About that time he was also appointed to a seat on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Up to 1931 there was no harbour in H.B. capable of handling its exports as the ratepayers in the province were divided into two factions, one in support of the inner harbour and the other in support of a breakwater harbour and a huge amount of money had been spent on both harbours to no avail. The 1931 earthquake practically ruled an inner harbour out of the question. In 1931 and 1932 three members of the Harbour Board evolved a scheme of developing the breakwater harbour so as to cope with the needs of H.B. The members were T.M. Geddis, P. Higgins and E.J. Herrick. However the main worry was the opposition of the HB County and Hastings ratepayers to agree to borrowing a large sum of money to undertake further work. The two Hastings members of the Board agreed to work with the Hastings ratepayers and I, being chairman of the HB County, was asked to try to interest the County ratepayer. After much work and meetings and talk it was agreed that a loan proposal could be taken in July 1934 – this was done and the ratepayers’ approval was well above our expectation and work on the scheme soon began. Take a look at the breakwater harbour today and you will agree Messrs Geddis, Higgins and Herrick contributed something for H.B. that has already proved to be an asset. Years before 1931 many Harbour Boards had tried to provide a harbour for H.B. but had failed and now the present Board guided by Geddis, Higgins and E.J. Herrick have succeeded. These three members have done something for which H.B. will be forever grateful.

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E.J. (Eddy) retired from the Harbour Board in 1953 and W&K in 1956 after giving over 30 years of wonderful service. So ended his public life. In 1953 he sold Lindisfarne and bought Muritai in Havelock North where he spent his time in making a lovely garden – he was a horticulturist of high degree and how he loved his garden. He was also a deerstalker of much experience and possibly he knew more about deer and their habits than anyone else in N.Z. In 1961 his wife died and this was a great loss and grief to him for Ethne had been a tower of strength to him for 50 years. She was a very understanding woman and full of bravery and courage. Like Eddy she was a very dear friend of ours.

Photo caption – Excerpt from notes inserted in FB’s Olympic School Exercise Book. Image source: Stu Webster

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FB’S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE 1931 EARTHQUAKE

My personal impressions of the big earthquake that struck Hawke’s Bay on February 3,1931.

February 3 was a very hot and oppressive day and in fact you would have thought a thunderstorm was brewing but there was not a cloud in the sky.

At about 9am my son Bob, aged 12, Phil, a shepherd, and I set out to help muster Bill Whyte’s farm, which adjoined Pukekino, our farm. We crossed through Brown’s corner, that portion of Cecil Averill’s also adjoining ours, then we traversed a deep ravine to Bill Whyte’s property.

With the aid of our dogs we began to muster this large and somewhat difficult block. Bill Whyte joined us and we advanced in line driving the sheep before us. I was on the extreme right and covered a deep gorge.

All was going well and we had a considerable number of sheep in front of us when suddenly at three minutes to 11, I found myself falling to the ground and in the course of doing so my thought was a stroke had overcome me and that my life’s work was ending.

However, on reaching the ground I felt I had complete use of all my limbs and was perfectly fit.

It was only then that I realised we were in the throes of a severe earthquake for the ground was heaving and bumping considerably. I raised myself on my elbows and observed the earth movement and the crazy swaying of the cabbage trees and manuka bushes.

Then I looked toward the Ruahine mountain range about 10 miles (16km) distant and it may have been that imagination got the better of me but it certainly appeared to me that the mountains were in agitation – in any event clouds of dust were billowing from them at frequent intervals – the result, no doubt, of gigantic slips and landslides that were occurring.

My thoughts turned to a description I once read by Cortez of a huge earthquake in the Andes somewhere around the 15th or 16th Century. As soon as the major shock ended -it must have lasted three minutes – Phil, Bob and I converged upon one another. Bill Whyte had beaten it for home.

By then we decided to call the muster off – in any case there were no sheep in sight – and hurry home as quickly as possible. Phil had his horse so he galloped off. Bob and I were on foot and we were faced with a four-mile (6km) walk as we felt it unsafe to take a shortcut across gorges on account of landslides.

On the way home my dog must have been engulfed in a crack because we never saw him again.

We jogged along at a good pace only stopping here and there to look with awe at the enormous damage to fences, the landslides in the gorges and the occasional crack in the ground surface.

Just before we reached the homestead we beheld the total wreck of the water-storage tanks. All were much battered and lay at the foot of the hill on which they had once rested on their stands.

We duly reached home, exhausted and apprehensive. However, all was well. My wife, the other five children, Mrs Brock and her daughter and our companion-help were all on the lawn in front of the house while a gramophone was playing loudly. All five chimneys of the farm house had broken off at roof level and some of the bricks had punctured the roof.

The wallpapers looked as though someone had slashed them with a knife. The kitchen store was in the middle of the floor, the storeroom was knee-deep in jams, bottled fruit and all sorts of other things.

But the house and the cottage seemed to be on their foundations.

Of course our telephone communication was disrupted owing to the collapse of the Hastings exchange and the road was completely blocked by large slips in the

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Kereru and Olrig gorges. So we were completely marooned except that we could converse with our next-door neighbours on our party line. We had a battery radio and at intervals we got news from the outside world which was a mercy indeed.

Fortunately one of the house storage tanks was intact and some of the rainwater tanks around the homestead had a little water in them but the main supply was severed.

By early in the afternoon we learned over the radio of untold damage to Napier with loss of life and damage to a lesser extent in Hastings. We were desperately anxious concerning the plight of our parents and relatives in Napier but were powerless to do anything about it. By nightfall we, including the children, had made the house and cottage habitable. Where there were holes in the roof tarpaulins had been laid. All the mess in the storeroom had been cleaned and pictures that had not already fallen were taken down and, most importantly, a shack had been erected in the backyard and the small stove brought down from the cottage.

Here was the communal kitchen that served us for the next two weeks.

When all was shipshape we had an evening meal and were just ready to fall into bed when John Paton, a cadet on Averill’s farm, called in to say he had scrambled over slips and slides in the gorges with his motorbike and had been to Napier which he said was in ruins and parts were still burning.

He had found my parents who had had to leave their home. They were well housed in my brother’s garage in Gladstone Road.

But he had found little Ann Averill, aged six and a daughter of our next-door-neighbour, had been killed in the collapse of the isolation ward of the hospital. The day before I was to have brought her home but the sister in charge thought she should remain in hospital for another few days.

Before going to bed we could see fires raging in Napier from our verandah – it was rather a ghastly sight.

We made up our minds to sleep in the house in spite of very unpleasant shakes occurring at frequent intervals – some quite violent ones. As a matter of fact, I think there were 90 appreciable other earthquakes in the first 24 hours after the major quake.

Early on the morning of February 4, a team of employees of Olrig, Whanakino and Kereru stations under the supervision of local County Council surface man began clearing tracks through the slips in the gorges and by evening it was possible for cars to negotiate them but extreme care was needed.

During the 4th, while we were still isolated from the outer world, Phil, Jim, our eldest son who had just left school and was close on 18, and I made a comprehensive tour of the farm to assess the damage and plan for repairs. We found many fences had been severely damaged, the main water pipes severed in places and the pump engine at one of the springs was in a very precarious position owing to a big subsidence of the ground.

The farm buildings seemed in reasonable condition except for fallen chimneys and loosening of some of the piles.

The following day, February 5, my wife and I were able to motor to Napier for it was most necessary for me to get in touch with County Council officers, as I was [Chairman] at the time and also a member of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board. We had to drive very cautiously as there were many hazards to face, especially the approaches to bridges. We travelled via Hastings as the bridge over the Tutaekuri River at Redcliffe had collapsed.

Napier presented a sad and forlorn sight. It resembled a battle scene – the only buildings that appeared to be standing intact were the E and D Buildings, the PublicTrust, Dalgetys and the County offices.

Otherwise the rest of the town seemed to be in ruins and ravaged by fire.

We first of all visited my aged parents who were safely housed in Ivan’s garage, old Rose the housekeeper was with them. They were well but a little shaken as my father was in the Gas Company’s office at the annual meeting. He was chairman when the shake came and had to be carried out as the stairway had collapsed. My mother was nearly caught by a falling wall in Fitzroy Road.

Then I visited the County Office and Ferguson, the County Clerk, and I had a

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session and we arranged for an urgent meeting.

The County had suffered much damage by way of loss of bridges and big landslides.

Then I went to the hospital which was almost laid low and the three-storey new nurses’ block had crumpled like a pack of cards. Many night nurses who were sleeping had been killed.

By the time all patients had been transferred to hastily improvised wards at the Hastings and Napier racecourses. Napier resembled a city of the dead.

About 3pm a very unpleasant and heavy shake took place so we thought it wise to return home to the family in case of further trouble.

In the following weeks my time was very fully occupied and the days were not long enough. Three or four days a week were devoted to county work and there were numerous expeditions all over its territory with the engineer to witness the extent of the damage and to fix priorities in the way of repair work. The northern ridings seemed to have suffered most for the centre of the earthquake was just out to sea from the mouth of the Mohaka River.

The ravaging of the countryside, particularly to the Waikare Riding, was quite ghastly to witness. The County Council at an early date gave Mr Mason Chambers, my predecessor in the chair, and myself authority to act as we thought best.

Then there was quite a lot of sorting out to do on the Hospital Board and my diary tells me that at a meeting in early May the momentous decision was taken to rebuild and to continue to retain Napier Hospital as the base hospital.

Then, of course, the farm demanded urgent attention but for the first month after the earthquake I could not give it the time it needed.

However, Phil and my son Jim together with the help of neighbours, for there was a very helpful and co-operative arrangement between neighbours in our district, accomplished much in the months of February and March to restore order. For instance, the water supply and some of the more important fences, and it was not long before a bricklayer arrived in our district and set to work erecting vital chimneys for us.

I should mention something about Phil. He came to me 15 years previous to the earthquake. He was only 15 years of age but had the strength and ability of a man of 20. At the time it was only three years since I had taken up the outstation block of Olrig Station – just under 2000 acres (809ha) – and there appeared to be a lifetime of work ahead of me.

In most of the 15½ years Phil was with me we worked the place entirely alone. He loved work and was completely tireless.

By 8am he had milked two or three cows and breakfasted and was ready for the day’s work. His work included sheep and cattle work, scrub cutting, manuka grubbing, ploughing and all agricultural work, vegetable garden work and fencing.

He was an expert fencer and during his time with me must have erected many miles of fences.

In after years he managed a large station in northern Hawke’s Bay until its subdivision and then he developed and managed another large block for the Lands and Survey Department until his retirement. A close friendship still exists between us.

At the time of the earthquake Hawke’s Bay was in the throes of the worst drought of the century. That of the summer of 1914-15 was, in my opinion, less severe than that of1930-

31 and on top of this the worldwide slump was dealing a body blow to us. There was much unemployment and frustration throughout the land.

In the bleakest year of the slump the gross return of the wool from my farm was about £400 and the wethers netted about five shillings.

Actually, during the duration of the slump many farmers who shipped mutton and beef to London made losses on the venture.

Talking of the drought, it was most fortunate that not a drop of rain fell between February

3 and February 25 – this gave time for plugging of leaky roofs.

Within hours of the major shake in Napier it would seem there were organised parties at

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work searching for those trapped in fallen buildings.

Also, within hours two warships, HMS Diomede and HMS Dunedin arrived in the bay of Napier and their crews, together with the crew of HMS Veronica which was in Napier when the earthquake struck and which made a wonderful escape form the inner harbour, did magnificent work in the way of rescuing the trapped, removing dangerous portions of buildings and guarding against looting. The bakery on the ship also supplied much of the bread for Napier.

The evacuation of elderly people, women and children, began the day after the quake and for a long time one could not accustom oneself to wandering around Napier hardly seeing a woman or child. The evacuation was necessary on account of the complete disruption of all the necessary services such as drainage, water, gas and electricity.

However, the shortage of food was acute too. I suppose it was by decree the Borough Council ceased to function and the affairs of Napier were run by a commission of two, Messrs Burton and Campbell.

The only women who remained in Napier were those who cooked and cared for the menfolk whose work had to be maintained. Most of them formed themselves into groups and lived, as it were, communally.

Very shortly shops, banks and offices were erected in corrugated iron in Clive Square and this became Napier’s business centre for at least 18 months or two years. I had a great affection for this area which had such a friendly atmosphere about it. It was called “Shanty Town.”

The work of demolishing and removal of what remained of Napier began forthwith. It was a colossal task and grim too.

In the meantime repairs were in full swing in the residential areas so that after a month or so many were able to drift back to their homes.

I do not mention Hastings, mostly because it did not suffer much damage and because it still existed whereas Napier did not exist and further, life there was not disrupted as it was in Napier.

They would think that the earthquake that occurred on February 13 was more severe than that of February 3. It certainly completed the job of bringing down the shaky and already damaged buildings that seemed to be holding on so crazily. On that day I was repairing the outer sheepyards on my farm, when the quake took place. I looked up just to catch sight of a plantation of black birch trees on the edge of a gorge quietly slide down into the creek about 100 feet (30 metres) below.

If you were to ask me what my outstanding memories were of the earthquake period I would suggest five were quite outstanding.

1. The remarkable courage of those, who, at the time, thought they faced utter ruin and this was not an irrational thought.

2. The courage of those who bravely accepted the loss of relations in the disaster. The timely arrival of the Navy which, apart from the actual work of rescue and demolition it performed, gave the people of Napier a feeling of security and confidence.

4. The friendly and co-operative atmosphere which prevailed. Everyone seemed interested in the well-being of others.

5. And lastly but not least was the overwhelming kindness and help given by so many people in other parts of New Zealand.

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CONVERSATIONS WITH HAMILTON LOGAN

A.   FB Broke Down the Barriers

I’ll tell you a story about FB. All his life – and he told me that I had to do the same – he would go on the factory floor, quite often before he would go into his office. When he was at Williams & Kettles, he always used to walk along the wool stores and talk to the pressers and people like that – grocers behind the counter -to see what they thought of Williams & Kettles and how things were going. He’d do that before he’d go talk to Burkitt. Then he’d say to Burkitt, there’s a little bit of a problem in the number 3 wool store or something like that and he’d know all about it.

He was exactly the same when he was on board ship. He’d go round and talk to the engineers and people helping him with deck golf and all those sorts of things. He’d be down there with the captain. So, he knew a lot of the personnel on the ship as well.

When they came back in 1939, war had been declared. So, they sailed through the Atlantic in convoy. It took quite a long time to come back because they went very far north to get away from U-boats, and then came on down. I think it took them about six weeks, instead of going through the Panama Canal. There was a certain clergyman on board by the name of Jeffrey Fisher who was the Archbishop of York. He and Dad were discussing philosophical things on deck and so forth. Dad said something about how he’d been talking to a person on the lower deck and this clergyman asked “Were you talking to him? What were the reasons for going and talking to that person? That was too much for old Frank. He said it is a duty of people like you and I to make everybody feel at home and I’m quite certain the Lord would be exactly the same. Th clergyman took a little bit of umbrage, and so Dad just said to him, well, if you take my advice, before you leave this ship, you’ll make a point of having talked to everybody – all the crew on board. That was him. He had no fear in telling the Archbishop that he wasn’t doing the right thing.

The big thing is that Frank had these contacts and he kept in contact with people all around the world all his life. I noted in my book [Fear Not Change] that David Logan and Michael Turnbull, they only got into Oxford because FB had kept in contact with the dons and people like that at Oxford and he was able to get them in. Oriel was considered the academic college of Oxford, and so it was very hard to get into. But he never really, what you call, “used” the system. He knew enough people “in” the system to just drop the odd hint.

He was gregarious, no doubt about that. My mother often used to say, when they went to a function, he’d hardly be through the door when there’d be half a dozen people around him wanting to talk to him. He was a magnet. Mother always said, it’s quite superfluous for me to go to functions with your father because as soon as he steps into a room, he doesn’t have to move. There are people around him.

Because he was so interesting, he could talk on any subject whether it be theology, or whether it be Greek or farming or county rates. He could do the whole gambit. So, he was an interesting man and he was always prepared to share his little bit of knowledge with people, whether they were a young age – he loved young people – or whether they were old and grizzly.

FB went on some pretty amazing tours of Europe, including with a woman and he went unchaperoned.

B.   Special Relationships with Animals and Pets

Ironically, FB was almost more affected by pets and working dogs who died on Pukekino than some of the human beings around. For example, [writing in 1946]:

On the 19th much trouble and sadness descended upon us. Poor old Mick (Boy’s first sheep dog and a wonderful dog too) had to be

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shot on account of a complete break-up and what must have been distemper. It was a sad blow to the whole family. But this was not the end of trouble for on that day we detected distemper among more dogs and from then on for a month or more we had a very busy and anxious time as the epidemic spread and we had to fight hard to save lives. As you will remember, several of our best dogs succumbed and the little pups of which we were so fond, all died. It was a very trying time. Among the dogs that eventually died were Tip, belonging to Bill, and Bruce and Ben, two of Boy’s mainstays. [61]

I remember going with him, when we was an old man, and we visited people that were living under that overhead railway bridge on the way to Wairoa. They were no-hopers, down and out. They were terrible people. The old man said, I want you to come with me. I’ve got an unpleasant job to do. He would’ve been in his late eighties then. He confronted these people. Wouldn’t have phased him at all. He said, “you’re going to hear more of this. You’re being absolutely, unnecessarily cruel to your animals. You shouldn’t have any animals.” That was the sort of man he was. He wasn’t afraid to go and do something like that. But that was his swan song. Of course, probably one of his greatest loves in life, animals.

He talked about one of his farmhands dragging two puppies by the scruff of the neck. He stopped and said no, I’ll help…I’ll carry one and you can carry the other. You don’t need to treat them like that.

It was June 1949, in the middle of winter:

As I was going out one morning, I overtook George Menzies, the rabbiter, dragging two little Labrador pups to his camp. So, I made him come over and I made him carry one and I carried the other. For several days after, I used to go out and give the little things milk etc. I was so upset over their loneliness that I induced George to give them to me. Bob took one for a friend in West Shore and I kept the other, who became my constant and faithful friend for six years. This was Winnie. How naughty he could be at times in leading whatever dog were willing into rabbit hunting. At the end of ’53, I took him to Napier, but after a few months, Boy gave him a home at The Cottage for he hated town. Each time I went out to The Cottage, he would give me a wonderful welcome. Then the day came when another friend of something or rather had to go.

The sad thing is that Winnie killed a lot of the neighbour’s sheep. I had to put him down.

He was a man of just so many parts. From the unmoveable chairman – if he had a point and people trying to take advantage of him, they had no bloody show – to the softest of people with animals.

Editor’s Note: Part of the index to this work contains an entry “Farm Animals & Pets” which contains a collection of names of the various dogs, cats, lambs, horses and cows that were part of FB’s life including his wider family. Such was his love of animals. His years of community service working with the dedicated volunteers at the local SPCA is testament to that. The following excerpt from July 1945 encapsulates that sentiment better than any editorial attempt to describe it: [62]

During the month Little Fly, a favourite sheep dog on the farm, was killed by a truck on the road and there was much sadness in the family. I note we had a great struggle to keep a little dairy calf alive – she went off her feed and appeared to be on the ‘way out’ – however we persevered and after a while her life was saved. I shall never forget the struggle we had for we always loved our pet animals.

And in another excerpt from 1914: [63]

Another death I felt was that of old “Don” – he was my first sheep dog at Okawa and as faithful as a human friend. Don was the first of

61   My Story, March 1946
62   My Story, July 1945
63   My Story 1915

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many faithful dogs to die in my lifetime. Outliving one’s pets is a sad business.

The irony here is that there appears to be no discernable difference between FB describing the loss of a pet and the loss of a human friend – FB regularly starts the sentence by saying the following or similar “poor old [name of pet or human] died on [date] at [location]…”! [64]

Not that further proof is needed but FB even included a very lifelike pencil drawing of a dog in the inside cover of his 1907 diary. [65]

Photo caption – Pencil drawing of a dog. Inside cover of FB’s Collins’ Royal Diary 1907. Image source: Hamilton Logan

C.   FB’s Morning Suit Tailored by Henry Corlett, Civil & Diplomatic Tailor

There’s a morning suit made by Corlett which is still in my possession. It was made in 1909. I’ve still got that morning suit hanging up in my cupboard. It’s got the odd piece put in it where the moths might’ve got at it.

For as long as I can remember, FB had his suits made by Henry Corlett of 9 Princes Lane, Hanover Square, London. He was Francis Logan’s tailor. When Dad and Uncle Ivan went up to Oxford, their clothes had to be made. So, Mr Corlett started making suits and dinner jackets and things like that. He made for Dad all his life. He’d just ring up and a telegram would come back or a letter would come back, have you put on any weight? Old FB would say I’m the same as I was last time.

Photo caption – Hamilton at Diana’s wedding to Gary Stewart at Woodford Chapel in 1984, wearing the Saville Row morning suit tailored by Henry Corlett. From left to right: Muff, Hamilton, Diana, Sue and Tim. Image source: Hamilton Logan.

64   If you search the electronic copy of the My Story using the words “poor old” you will immediately appreciate the irony
65   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907, inside cover

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Excerpt from the Army & Navy Gazette 27 December 1902. See advertisement left hand column, second from the bottom of the page – “Henry Corlett, Civil & Diplomatic Tailor, Hunting Coats a Specialite, 6, Princes Street, Hanover Square, London, W.”

D.   FB’s Names

He was called “Frank” by his close friends especially his school friends. He was called “FB” by the wider community. His children (except Hamilton) called him “Dids”. Hamilton called him “Mr Logie”

E.   Pest Control

There was a dog show at Olrig Station. Some of the best dogs there had consumed some poison and turned their toes up. 1947 – 49 was the height of the rabbit plague. It was all strychnine.

You’ll see in my book that I went rabbiting for months. Did nothing else. What we found on the line each morning, apart from just about every predator such as the stoats, weasels and ferrets, we found dogs, cats, possums, a cattle beast one day. Sheep. Very effective. The thing is that I used to sometimes sit up on the hill and view what the rabbits were doing and they could sit there and eat bait after bait if they didn’t move. As soon as they moved or got a fright or every now and again, a hawk would fly over and hawks were pretty prevalent then, the rabbit would go undercover and as soon as it got out of the starting blocks, it would just keel over.

F.   Smoking

At the time of Francis Logan’s death in 1933, FB wrote: [66]

On March 8, after a year of much sickness my father died in his sleep. I had spent the morning with him, and he appeared very weak but smoked a cigarette with me.

Stu Webster: So, was FB a smoker? Or was that a social thing? He smoked one with his father on his deathbed.

Hamilton Logan: No, he smoked a pipe. Pretty regularly too.

Stu Webster: What about Francis?

Hamilton Loglan: He smoked a pipe too.

They were all pipe smokers. Pipes are in that fishing photograph. They’re all holding a pipe. Frank didn’t smoke cigarettes, but he probably did share one with him.

Stu Webster: Which is what you do with your father when he’s on his deathbed.

Michael Fowler: Exactly.

We know from FB’s diary in 1907 [67] that amongst the items FB thought were important to pack on his trips to Sydney and to England were “light tobacco”, “cigarettes” and “cigars”.

G.   Potential Defamation

FB started his memoirs on Christmas Day 1965 and completed them in April 1968, 13 years before his death. He felt compelled several times to come back and revisit them. He made it clear he didn’t want them published until 20 years after his death.

He told me personally that he didn’t want them published because he didn’t want to cause distress or anguish for any of the family of those talked about. So, 2001 would have been the 20-year “clear-date”.

His original Biographical Notes only mention people born before 1870. They would have been 100 years old by the time of writing (1970).

I am confining my attention to men who were born not later than 1870 so I feel safe from attack, at all events in this world.

Then in 1981, (aged 97) he added names of people born after 1890. He didn’t feel he’d done justice to the major event of the century (earthquake) in his diaries.

In 1970 I made notes concerning men from not later than 1870 who contributed to the

66   My Story, March 1933
67   Collins’ Royal Diary 1907 on a page at the beginning of the diary titled “Memoranda from 1906” and 2 pages from the end
titled “Memoranda”. He packed “Light tobacco” and “Cigarettes” a “Meerschaum pipe” and “cigars” presumably for personal use

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development of H.B. The year is now 1981 and I am adding names of men born after 1890 who, in my opinion, continued to carry on helping to develop Hawke’s Bay still further and proving themselves very useful citizens.

H.   Later Life

He wrote latterly in an exercise book. Quite possibly, apart from sketch notes even in his 90’s, he was still writing. After completing his daily diaries in the journals he used, he wrote any important notes in an exercise book in ballpoint pen. I only ever got the one exercise book.

He probably considered what he wrote after he officially stopped writing diaries was more waffle. But he still did interesting things. He still went to the Hawke’s Bay Club. People took him places. Kel Tremain would always see him after a tour. FB was responsible for getting Kel a job at Williams & Kettle. Burkitt (W&K Manager at the time) said that Tremain would not be paid while away on tour. FB said “no, he would be paid full wages.” Kel would always say goodbye when he went away and would see Dad with photos when he returned.

Dorothy helped decipher FB’s handwriting. I could read his handwriting very well. He used to write to me most weeks when I was at school.

To a mere mortal I find his handwriting challenging.

Francis had reasonable writing. Ivan had small writing but more legible.

Dorothy was a virtual outcast at social occasions. She often felt that that no-one wanted to come and talk to her. In that respect she was long-suffering. Mother was a well-read, very intelligent woman in her own right. I witnessed it myself. As soon as FB came into the room there would be set-upon by half a dozen people.

What is it about getting older that makes you suddenly want to refer to the past and find out about your forbears? I think it’s possibly more the interest and inquisitiveness of life that makes you want to know. As parents and grandparents you see different things in your descendants. Characteristics coming through 3 or 4 generations. Not all physical. How they present, recall, how they interact. One little facet comes out in a grandchild.

As a former studmaster, I can fully appreciate the role that genetics plays in family characteristics.

I.   Academic Brain

My father’s brain was very different in many respects to mine. His was an academic brain and mine was more practical and down to earth. I could see that demonstrated in our differing approaches to farming. He made a very good fist of becoming a conservative farmer whereas I had the opportunity of growing up in that environment and noting what was right and what wasn’t. If he’d been in my position growing up and working on the farm he might have done things differently. His brain was wired quite differently to mine. Frank’s took a cautious approach. He took a different approach toward trading stock or seeing opportunities for better income. FB was much more public benefit/community service minded. He had the advantage of a higher education.

J.   FB The Farmer

Did FB ever begrudge the fact that he went farming? He accepted his lot. Never begrudged having left. He went into an occupation working with animals. He did his very best for them. He was a lover of all animals. Having to kill a sheep was almost purgatory. He did say to me one day “because of being unable to continue with what I was trained to do I have done my best to work amongst the community and help them.” He felt he’d been able to do more for people (a trait he got from Louisa, his mother). He was able to work with Mason Chambers on mortgage relief. If he’d been locked up at SLW he wouldn’t have been able to.

K.   Personal Traits

FB had a nice speaking voice. His father Francis was a very dominating character. Ivan simply

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did what Francis said. They did a lot together. “Ivan go and do this.” He would do it. Ivan didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps. Francis was a rugby referee, played union, tennis, was a good lawyer and went overseas, did a whole plethora of things.

I can see how Frank carved out a niche for himself. When he turned 80, it was the end of his public life. He said there were other younger people who could come forward. It was just another example of his selfless attitude. In his retirement he obviously remained active and was interested in going to the Club.

He made a huge contribution to the community. He could have been a professor.

He would go talk to the Mayo brothers and bring back their collective intelligence to the Hospital Board.

He would give a public speech, for example at Ewan Campbell’s wedding. He only had a few notes. FB had the place in fits of laughter. Clever man and witty. When he wasn’t in a serious mode he was a delight to talk to. There was no nonsense with him. If you crossed the line, you knew you had crossed the line.

I never once saw FB lose his temper. In fact, I can remember quite distinctly him saying “if you lose your temper, you’ve lost your argument.”

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GLOSSARY OF NAMES [68]

Name   Text for insertion   References

Allen, David
David Allen worked for Williams & Kettle for quite some time. He was a son of Malion and Marjorie. His wife was Mick Shand’s daughter from Wairarapa, who was the last man out of the Staleg tunnel of the 50 that got out. But Mick said that those who were rounded up, the Gestapo would come in, at random, to their compound and just point a finger. If you had a finger pointed at you, you’d be frog-marched out. Bullet in the back of the head. This was a reminder. Every week or every second week or every  three  weeks,  you  never  knew  when someone was going to be taken out. Mick Shand told me that story. Jimmy remembers it all so well.
Macgregor, Miriam Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, Reed, Wellington, 1970 p180

Anderson, Bob
Bob Anderson and his two sisters were from Poporangi Station. Bob Anderson was the son of  John  Anderson,  the  original  Anderson owner or Poporangi. John Anderson was a very successful merino breeder. Came up from the South Island.  Good  farmer. Used to entertain the Governor-General Lord Glasgow at Poporangi.

Anderson, George
George Anderson, was a rabbiter. The galloping rabbiter, we use to call him. He went very quickly.  We reckon he scared morerabbits away than he caught.

Anderson, Jim
Jim Anderson was from Puketapu Parish. He was our country parson.

Anderson, John
John Anderson was a man of prominence. He came from Otago, brought merinos up to Poporangi. It’s the place where the Governor-General used to come and stay. It kept great style, Poporangi. They tried to squeeze Whakarara Station out.   They grid-ironed Whakarara. Whakarara was 11,000 acres in the middle of Poporangi but they never squeezed the Duffs out. They hung on. Whoever was around Poporangi learned some bad habits off Thomas Tanner. John Anderson built the Ellis Whare as his retreat.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p180; as to Ellis’ Whare see Logan, Hamilton & McGregor, Ewan Fear Not Change, Hamilton Logan, Havelock  North, 2020  at p87

Archbishop Julius
He was the Bishop of Melanesia and a friend of FB’s.

68   Unless indicated otherwise the “voice” in this glossary is that of Hamilton Logan and is in the first person based on transcripts of conversations with him. Any views or opinions expressed by him are entirely his own.

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Armstrong, Hamish
Hamish Armstrong went missing in the Ruahines in his Gypsy Moth on a flight from Akitio to Hastings. He lost his life. His body was never found.

Austins
I stayed just down the road from the Miss Austins in Sydney in 1949. They were onstage. That’s where Dad met them. They were actors. Two Miss Austins and a brother. They weren’t ordinary, run-of-the-mill  actors.  They were pretty, a bit “up the tree” in the acting world as well. They got me digs with a friend of theirs who happened to have her Italian niece staying with her. The Italian niece was 19 and I was 22, or something like that.

Averill, Edward
Manager of Olrig in 1915. He was at Echills which was off the Pukekino Block. He and Dad did quite a lot of valuing and things together.
Echills; Fear Not Change p99. Pukekino was FB’s property.

Averill, Rochie
He is Edward Averill’s second son. Rochie Averill was a very competent farmer and, of course, he was leasing The Cottage for 20-odd years before I went there. I think he took up the lease of The Cottage around about 1931 or 1932. Rochie thought he had the right to buy it. Constance Fountaine had other views. She would’ve given the property to my brother Jim she told me, had he survived the war.
As to The Cottage, see Fear Not Change, pp140 – 142

Avery, Norman
He was a very keen equestrian and did very well. He had a farm up at Middle Road.

Barron, Winston & Lulu
Lulu was a Miss Roberts, one of Sir John Roberts daughters. She married Winston Barron, who was in the bank. They had three sons. Guy went into the family firm of Murray Roberts. Peter married a Knight and their portion was Oringi Station before that. Jack was a plastic surgeon. During the war, he practiced at East Grinstead with Archie McIndoe and Sir Howard Guinness. They were the three eminent plastic surgeons in the UK during the war. They worked out of his clinic.
Jack invented a quick cure for burns, which he discovered after the evacuation of Dunkirk. That was largely to do with saline exposure. Jack was an exceedingly nice person. Very modest. When I stayed with him last, he and the young Egyptian were writing the handbook for plastic surgery. They had then done over 1000 pages of diagrams and writing.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p163

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Battersby, Sir Harry
Sir Harry and Lady Battersby, High Commissioner. He was a nice guy, Sir Harry.

Beamish, Eric and Noel
They were junior boys when Dad was at Collegiate and he used to look after them. It was the year when Dad was probably prefect. Mrs Beamish said “my two young sons are going. You will look after them now, Frank, won’t you?” Dad recalls a little story that on the first Sunday, these little Beamish boys – new boys – came and knocked on the prefects’ door and asked if Logan was there. So, Dad came and when he saw who they were – they said we were wondering if we could come for a walk today, being Sunday. Frank being Frank, he said “yes, of course”. He said I’ll take you. So, the three of them went off walking.

Beamish, George
George Beamish was the father of Eric, Noel and Harold. He was the one that took up Whana Whana in the 1870s, I would think because Whana Whana was a big piece of Māori land. JN Williams leased it when he owned Kereru Station. How George Beamish got hold of this lovely piece of Māori land or was able to purchase it, no one really knew. We could only think it was his Irish charm. Of course, he was someone, that might need a little bit of a write up because you’ve got
descendants at Whana Whana and Awapai and things.
Simon Beamish owns Awapai, which belonged to his father Noel. He has bought most of Kohatanui that belonged to Eric Beamish. Eric Beamish’s son Dennis had two adopted sons. Simon had bought that land back. So, Kohatanui and Awapai now comprise, I would say at a guess, probably 7000 or 8000 acres. Whana Whana, who belonged to the younger
son Harold, and then to Michael, now belongs to Bill Beamish. His brother is Paul.
As to Whana Whana Station see Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay pages pp269 -272; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p202, 303

Beetham, Ralph
Ralph, was the owner of Branston in the Wairarapa and a good friend of FB’s.

Bell, Robin
The Colonel, Robin Bell. They farmed out at Omakere.

Bernau, Gladys
Gladys Bernau married Von Kettle. Von’s mother was von Tempsky’s daughter. He was Prussian. Johnny Campbell’s mother Pauline, was a daughter of Ngaire and Dudley Kettle. Ngaire was the eldest daughter. She was engaged to Michael Hoadley from Hastings. At 19 years old, they were engaged. Then

https://knowledgebank.org.nz/audio/thomson-gillian-interview/

As to von Tempsky, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_von_Tempsky

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Michael went overseas and he was killed in the really early part of the war. He was a fighter pilot. Michael would’ve been killed at 20, 21 something. Of course, then she, naturally was available. It wasn’t until after the war that she met Johnny’s father. His name was Ewan Campbell. To his friends he was known as Old Bones Campbell. Old Bones wasn’t that old. He would’ve been 15 or 20 years older than Pauline.
Anyway, Johnny’s an only child.
Nathanial Kettle married von Tempsky’s daughter.
So, Dudley’s mother and Von Kettle’s mother were von Tempskys.

Bettington, Reg
He married the youngest Lowry, Marion. Reg later practised in Napier as an eye, ears, nose and throat specialist. Clarrie Grimmett kept Reg out of the Australian starting 11, but he was captain of Victoria and also, the scratch golfer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarrie_Grimmett

Bidwell,
Bidwells from Wairarapa.
Bidwell was where Frank used to buy his lambsfrom. The Bidwells, of course, are householdnames in the Wairarapa. They’re very wellknown. They had the first sheep in theWairarapa. The name of the property is calledRototawai. But Ewan Bidwell was probably oneof the names that might resonate with you. Hewas a wonderful guy Ewan, and a wonderful benefactor and died two months before he
was 100. But anyway, the Bidwells were closefriends. Mrs Will Bidwellwas a relation of my grandmother. They livedin the big house that is reputed to have a curseon it. But he was a big racehorse owner, no children and Ewan Bidwell moved into hishouse. Two of Ewan’s three daughters didn’tmake it to 30 for one reason or another. So, Ewan ended up with no sons and no
grandchildren. It’s very sad.

Bisson, C
CH Bisson, lawyer from Napier. Don Bisson’s father.
https://www.bissonmoss.co.nz/history/

Bisson, Don
Don later became a judge. The only thing about Don that I can add to that is that he was on American warship when the Japanese surrender was admitted or signed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Bisson

Bloomfield, Mrs
Mrs Bloomfield in her lovely flat. Called also at the Rembrandt to see Aunty (a Mrs BadenPowell) who was in South Kensington. So,

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that’s from the scout movement. Mrs Bloomfield, she was a great old girl. I had a bedroom in her flat on and off that I kept going. So, it was always there when I came back to London.

Bone, Charlie
Charlie Bone. He established the business of Chas Bone Plumber.
FL Bone (who established FL Bone, Ironmonger on own account in 1900) was a relation of Charlie’s. He was, in his heyday, the largest plumber in Hawke’s Bay. Very reliable man, Charlie.
https://knowledgebank.org.nz/still_image/chas-bone-plumber-2/

Brimmer
Chauffeur for my grandfather Robert McGregor Turnbull. He would play golf at Monty Turnbull’s course at Kereru Station.

Brock, Phil
Phil Brock, he was a farm worker. He came to FB as a 16-year-old. He left after the earthquake, when he would’ve been about 40’ish, I think. Went and managed a big block up by Willow Flat.

Buchanan
Buchanan from Hereworth.
He was the second headmaster of Hereworth, taking over from Sturge.

Burbury, Ian & Bunty
Ian and Bunty Burbury were from West Raynham. Ian was the oldest son of Percy Burbury. He farmed in North Canterbury on one of the Riddiford properties called Sherwood.

Burbury, Percy
Percy Burbury came from the South Island and became the supervisor of Kereru Station. In fact, he was the instigator in purchasing Kereru Station for the Turnbulls. The two Miss Nelsons (Gwen Malden and Ruth Nelson) went on to purchase Kereru which is now owned by two charitable trusts. Gwen Malden was a Miss Nelson.
Shanahan, Mary Kereru Station: Two Sisters’ Legacy, Phantom House Books Limited, Wellington, 2015; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p303

Cahn, Sir Julian
Sir Julian Cahn was either captain or manager of the 1938 MCC team that toured New Zealand. I think Sir Julian Cahn may have been the manager.

Campbell, AB
Partner of Sainsbury Logan & Williams at a time when Francis Logan was a partner.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875 p280 – 282

Campbell, Hugh
They had a cottage at Waimarama that we went to on and off, even later, when his daughter, Mary Campbell was there at all the time. I remember Sue and I going and staying there after we were married.

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Canning, Bernard & Strat
Bernard and Strat Canning came from Oakbourne (22 miles south-east of Waipukurau). Their sister married Morris Averill.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, No 62, p148; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p90

Canning, Gwyneth
Gwyneth Canning, was the nursery governess.
She was Rachel’s Karatani nurse. Her family were the Canning people in Napier.
My mother ran a bureau because Morrie Averill’s wife was Rachel’s Karatani,
The Canning family that Gwyneth came from had the Morris Agency in Napier.
Their descendants came from Oakbourne.

Carlyon, Olga & Hudson, Herbert
Olga Carlyon and Herbert Hudson. Olga married a master from Christ’s College by the name of Hudson. They had one child, Michael. He lived at Gwavas for many years, but he employed a manager. He never did any farming. He was interested in horticulture and rhododendrons and keeping up the house. He and his wife, Carol, now live in Waipukurau in a retirement village. She was a sister of Rupert Carlyon. When Rupert died without issue, she inherited Gwavas and the English estate.
Gwavas Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, p71

Carlyons
Mr Carlyons had, I think, the first car in Hawke’s Bay. He built all the bridges between Gwavas
and Hastings on Highway 50. He built them just wide enough for his car. Then, of course, when trucks came along and other things, they all had to be widened. His nickname via his friends was Grubby Carlyon because he wasn’t known to ever take a bath. They owned tin mines in Cornwall. John Hudson, who Tim (Logan, Hamilton’s son) was at school with and knows well and plays tennis with. His brother is in the manor in Cornwall. He lives in the old estate house. I don’t know if they still mine tin or not. Gwavas was one of the properties in Hawke’s Bay in the early days, about 1000 hectares now. The boundary between Gwavas and Maraekakaho was that little stream that you cross just before you go up to where the Goodlands are and where Jerry Sainsbury was. That was the boundary between Maraekakaho and Gwavas. Then it went out the other way and it went right up the Tukino Road too. Totara Hills would’ve been Gwavas. All those properties, at a guess, would’ve been 20,000 acres plus.

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Casey, Dick
Dick Casey was at one time Governor of Bengal. He married Maie Ryan. After the war, I think, he went there before he became Governor-General of Australia. But he was Churchill’s private envoy in Egypt during the war.

Casey, Maie
Maie Ryan’s father was a surgeon in Melbourne. There’s an interesting story about Maie Casey. She had a lovely little terrace house in Melbourne in Gibb Street. Sue and I were having lunch with her and Sue, who loves those [small] houses said what a lovely little house and she said “I’ve had it all my married life”. My father gave it to me when we got married because he thought that Dick was a bit of a bounder. She actually flew her own aeroplane when she was in her seventies. She was a delightful person. FB’s nickname for her was “Chocolât Maie” because she loved chocolate. They had a special relationship but Maie was a Roman Catholic. FB was Anglican. That would have prevented them from marrying.
Maie helped Montgomery with the design of the Africa Star (proportions and colours). Her husband Dick Casey was Churchill’s Special Envoy. Montgomery was sitting under a tree in Mena doodling with a paintbrush. He was resting after the Al Alamein campaign. It’s at this point that Maie helped out with the design which included Airforce Blue (representing protection from the sky), Royal Blue (representing the Navy keeping supply lines open) and a background that was the colour of sand.
https//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maie_Casey_Baroness_Casey
See also Langmore, Diane Glittering Surfaces – A Life of Maie Casey, Allen & Unwin, 1997

Cashmore, Ray
Ray Cashmore was a surgeon in Hastings during the war. He worked himself absolutely to the bone. He told me that he could never sleep after he had conducted a big operation. He used to catnap. He’d have a book on his chest and he’d open it and he’d read it and he’d fall asleep and the book would go like that [fall off his chest]. Then he’d wake up again and look at his watch and sometimes go down to the hospital to see how his patient was doing. He was a big, tough, rough man’s man. But he was a very good surgeon.

Chamberlain, Neville
UK Prime Minister 1937 to 1940
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain

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Chambers, Mason
Mason Chambers was Chairman of Hawke’s Bay County Council. He was one of my father’s great friends. They did a lot together. The most notable of them, of course, was during the Depression years when they formed a two-man mortgagee relief committee. They were responsible for a lot of people getting mortgage relief. I knew Mr Chambers as well. He was a great man. Lived at Tauroa.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, p (No. 92: Tauroa)

Coates, Gordon
FB had quite a lot to do with Gordon Coates, particularly when he stood for the Napier National Party seat in 1935 and when Gordon Coates was PM. When I was very young, Coates stayed at Pukekino on his way up the coast. These was the Depression years. My father told me later that the reason Coates came and stayed was that he wanted to discuss with my father the implications if certain farming interests went bankrupt because AB & HB Williams had threatened to go bankrupt during the Depression. Coates came up and he talked to Dad and he talked to, I think, Mason Chambers and a few others. He went on up to Gisborne and he persuaded some not to go bankrupt because if AB & HB Williams went bankrupt, they’d take the whole coast with them. The government supported them and, of course, when they came out of the Depression they were in a very strong position.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Coates

Coleman, LH
Adrian Coleman’s grandfather (Herbert Coleman) was a very close friend of Dad’s. My father was very good to his widow after the war.
Coleman, Adrian Lust for Land, Printlink, Havelock North, 2011

Collins, David
David Collins played cricket for New Zealand. He was a unique double Blue at Cambridge. He was a rower and a cricketer. He lived in the Wairarapa. I speak about his son, Joe, in Fear Not Change. He was my fishing mate.
Fear Not Change pp63, 72, 73 and 77

Corry, May Wren
Wren Corry was the daughter of Sir H Corry of Port Line.
She was a very interesting character. She was an Englishwoman. She was our governess and she was a mountaineer. When she was climbing Mount Cook with a guide, the guide fell and broke his leg. She got him back. They had to sleep one night out in the open. But she rescued him. Got him down off the mountain. Then the rescue party, the next day. She was quite tall, but obviously, very fit and muscley.

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She knew she had to try and splint him in the Alps. She became quite famous.

Cotterill, Charlie
He was a manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Napier.

Crosse, Thomas
Thomas Crosse certainly was a big contributor to early Hawke’s Bay. He later took up Patoka Station. That’s where his son, Hugh, was born and his grandson, Thomas, who has done a lot in our time. Thomas Crosse was on the County Council with Dad as well. He was a good contributor to early Hawke’s Bay. A small man, and I mean small in stature, but certainly not small minded. He was hidden in the rushes to save him being devoured by the Hauhau uprising. Word got to Mrs Crosse that Te Kooti was on his way, and so she rushed out and hid the young Thomas Crosse in the rushes. They never found him.
Fear Not Change p284

Crowther, Sam
Sam Crowther was a coachman on the Napier-Taupo Road. When I was young the only trading store was Crowther’s Store and Sam Crowther started that up because it was at the end of his run.

Cutler, AB (VC)
Cutler later became the Governor of Australia.

Dasent, Gerald
The Dasents were very early settlers. They lived in Dasent Road, just west of Mangatahi. They had a golf course on their property as a way of making money during the Depression years.

De Pelichet, Louis
Louis de Pelichet was one of the founding partners of de Pelichet McLeod & Co Limited, merchants, auctioneers, stock, station and insurance agents.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22360464

Denniston, George
George Denniston was an ex-Naval man. His family owned a property called Peel Forest.

Donnelly, Airini
George and Airini Donnelly owned a lot of land including a property between the Golf Links and Fernhill on the righthand side. She had an audience with the Queen. When they arrived at Buckingham Palace, of course, GP was there too. A footman only ushered Mrs Donnelly in – Airini – and left GP outside because he didn’t have an invitation. When she got back, some of her friends said “how did you audience with the Queen go?” She said “oh, marvellous, lovely woman”. This would’ve been Queen Victoria. Lovely woman. “How did GP get on?” How did George get on? Oh, he didn’t see her. “He sat out on veranda.”
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay (Waimarama Station, page 261)

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Dove, Bet
Bet Dove was a very interesting person and I write a bit about her in my book. She was then married to a person by the name of Ronnie Harker. He was chief test pilot for Rolls Royce during WWII. He tested the American Corsairs and said they were underpowered. He recommended that they install Merlin engines instead. This helped win the war. But she was a close friend – both of them were close friends of Rachel (Hamilton’s sister) at Woodford.
Fear Not Change p188

Dowling, Hallam
I was on the Medical Research Foundation. Dowling was then Chairman of the Hospital Board. So, he chaired the Foundation. All I can say is that he was always very well informed.

Dr Bernau
He delivered me. So I know him quite well.

Eaton, George
George Eaton. He was a very interesting man. He was an Englishman and a civil engineer in India and he married Miss Duff, who became the owner of Whakarara Station when her brother Hugh was killed in World War One.

Elliot, Sir James and Lady
Sir James and Lady Elliot. Sir James was the famous surgeon in Wellington. His son, Randall, was an eye specialist.

Ellison
Mrs Ellison owned land at Te Aute which was subsequently taken under the Public Works Act. The Ellison property used to be on the right-hand side of the road before you went up the Te Aute hill. All that land on the right was owned by the Ellison family.

Roberts, Elespie
The Roberts lived in Thompson Road. He ran the wool side of the business over in Scotland.
He came out from Scotland and he settled in Napier. She was the wife of Charlie Roberts. So, he would’ve been a first cousin of St John.

Elworthy, Arthur
Arthur Elworthy was a very close friend of Dad’s. They were the Elworthys from North Canterbury.

Elworthy, Sam
Sam Elworthy became head of the Royal Airforce. I think he was in charge of the Armed Forces at one stage. He went right to the top.
Young Colin Williams was a son of Harold’s and became, probably, the most respected Angus breeder in the country.

Empson, Walter
Headmaster of Wanganui Collegiate.

Empson, Arthur
He was a son of Walter. He was in the Army. When I stayed with him in 1949, he was in the church. He was a very nice person, Arthur.

Faulkiner, Lucy
Lucy Faulkiner and Mrs Eric Nelson were both Faulkiners.

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They were both from Australia. Their brother was a huge benefactor of Sydney University. He gave them tens of millions. Their big property of absolute notoriety and a household word in Australia was called Hatton Rigg. It’s the most wonderful story about the Faulkiner family. The other branch of the Faulkiner family founded the Riverina. They had a chain of stations there. Boonoke South and Boonoke North were the two most famous. But if you ever go to the Riverina, there’s one place that you must go to and that is the Canargo Pub which is in the centre of the Faulkiner empire. It’s absolutely jam packed full of Faulkiner memorabilia. It’s the most amazing place to go to. You can’t go to Daliquin or the Riverina without going to the Canargo Pub.

Fenwick, M
Francis Logan’s doubles partner in tennis.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 p77-79

Fisher, Dr
Dr Fisher, onboard ship, gave quite an interesting talk. He was sitting on deck with the Archbishop of Canterbury and they were talking about different things. Dad said to Dr Fisher, I suppose you’ve gone down below decks to speak to all the crew. He said no, I haven’t. Do you think I should? Dad said certainly, you should. You should speak to all men. With that, Godfrey Fisher went down and spoke to the people in the engine room and everywhere.

Fountaine, Constance
Constance Fountaine was Sir Douglas McLean’s daughter. When I went there in ’49, she said I would’ve given The Cottage to my “third son” Jim Logan. But I have changed my mind now. I want to farm it during my lifetime. I want you to manage it, and then you can have it. I bought it quite recently. I paid not exactly market price, but pretty good price. Douglas McLean was the only child of Donald. Constance inherited The Cottage. FB was her New Zealand contact. He took care of her New Zealand property affairs and made sure there was no jiggery pokery going. In 1929, she expressed a wish that she could keep the original Cottage block of 1200 acres. Because she used to go to The Cottage with her father during school holidays, so had an affinity with that. Which she was granted. It was part of the
Fear Not Change p123-124; 140

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distribution of Douglas’ estate. Of course, she was a beneficiary with another sister, Beatrice, who was in an institution and had been for most of her life. She left her half. When Beatrice died, Constance got it. Constance married Admiral Fountaine

Freyberg, Governor General
7th Governor-General of New Zealand (1946 -52)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Freyberg,_1st_Baron_Freyberg#:~:text=Lieutenant%2DGeneral%20Bernard%20Cyril%20Freyberg,Zealand%20from%201946%20to%201952.

Gaddum, Dick
Dick Gaddum was married in Gisborne and I went up to the wedding. Ben Gaddum’s father. Bit rough around the edges and did a few rough things, but he was a mover and a shaker. He married Harold Williams’ daughter

Gallen, Sir Rodney
Partner of Lusk Willis, then Barrister and later a High Court and Court of Appeal Judge.
https://support.thomsonreuters.co.nz/product/training/updates-alerts/high-court-judge-rodney-gallen-dies

Gascoyne
I talked about Gascoyne, who was a manager of Maraekakaho Station for 18 years. During those 18 years, it is well known that Maraekakaho made more losses than profits.

Gilbertson, Ernest
Ernest Gilbertson (“Dick”). Dick was a great friend of mine. An amazing person, Dick. He was shot down in a Mosquito almost at ground level and survived.

Gilbertson, Ernest & Laurie
Ernest and Laurie Gilbertson. were at Claireinch Station. I was very friendly with his second son, Jack Gilbertson. His eldest son was killed, I think, at Casino. They were all psychic. Ernest was psychic. Dad told us some very interesting stories about what Ernest used to do. Especially after Ernest died – how he used to come and stand at the foot of Dad’s bed and tell him all about things. I’ll just elaborate a little bit. When John Gilbertson was killed, the youngest son, Nani, said to his mother the next morning, brother John was killed last night. Of course, she knew nothing about it. So, she teased him out a little bit more and said, where was he? He said he was fighting in a cemetery and he was trying to take cover behind tombstones and he was shot from the other direction. When it all came out, he was killed fighting in a cemetery in Italy.

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When Dick became a prisoner, he was flying Mosquitos. He was Garry Kain’s 2IC. I knew Garry well. He told me that they were only at tree top level because when he saw Dick shot down, he looked out temporarily and he ran into the tree and Garry Kain had one of his engines taken out. But he managed to limp home. He said the last thing he saw was Dick scampering away from the crash. So, he knew he was okay. But he was posted missing for months. That’s what the Germans did. Nani told his mother all the time, don’t worry. Dick is alive. I’ve been talking to him. I must tell you one other thing about old Ernest Gilbertson. He was a very good sportsman, a very good cricketer. He was a left hander. He held the record for years in throwing the cricket ball at Collegiate. He biffed it somewhere around about 109, 110 yards – my old man told me – and it hit a tree on the full. So take it from where it hit the tree. God knows how much further it would’ve gone.

Gillies, Sir Harold
Dad was sent to Trinity, Oxford with Sir Harold Gillies. He’s in the photograph of the dinner at the Trocadero restaurant in London in 1904.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p68

Gilray, Tosh
Tosh Gilray was a surgeon in Napier. Pretty prominent surgeon in the 30s and 40s. He put up that statue as you enter from the Hastings end of the Marine Parade (the Spirit of Napier). He left the money and the council decided on a statue.

Glazebrook, Howard
It was Howard’s father who bought Washpool from Maraekakaho, around about 1905. They were a successful and efficient farmers.

Gollan, Spencer
Spencer Gollan came out from England early in 1918 bringing his deaf and dumb son, Donald, who was about 18. Donald stayed with us at Pukekino for a while and we tried to keep him occupied.
Spencer had at least a couple of Cambridge blues. He was a gentleman rider. The day his second daughter was born, he attended the races at Hastings. Spencer was riding in the heavy weight and when he was coming past the birdcage, some wag said “only a filly after all’. Spencer was so incensed with his remark, he hit him with his whip and hit him across the face with his riding crop. He was in big trouble after that. I think it was then that he sold up and
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p255 – 260, 264

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went back to England. But Spencer, to my knowledge, had two daughters.

Gordon, Barbara
Barbara Herrick was the youngest daughter of CJ Herrick. So, Dorothy Gordon was John’s mother. She was very English and very direct and very capable. She lived many years after Frank Gordon died. I knew her well. She often came to Pukekino – or vice versa.

Gordon, John
John Gordon, he’s the father of Angus Gordon, Clifton Station. John’s father was Frank Gordon.
Fear Not Change p51; Gordon, Angus In the Shadow of the Cape: A History of the Gordon Family of Clifton, Angus Gordon, Cape Kidnappers, 2004

Gould, Derek
Derek was a very prominent person in Christchurch and, in fact, all over the country. He was a pretty good businessman and, obviously, had a lot of respect and was involved in different organisations. He was avery nice person, Derek.

Gould, George
The George Goulds were from Christchurch. George Gould would’ve been the Gould in Pine Gould and Guinness.

Gould, Natalie
That was Buck Amyes daughter from Sainsbury Logan & Williams. She married George Gould.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p291

Graham, Cara
Cara Graham was a South Island woman, friend of my mother’s.

Graham, Jack
Jack Graham was a very smart individual. His son-in-law was Jack De Gruchy. Jack Graham was a very nice person but had a very short fuse. He used to jump up and down and gobble a hat.

Graham, William
William Graham had come out from Canada. He came out on the Niagara. I think about 1929 or so forth. I don’t know how he knew Dad. He asked Dad if he could have a job at Maraekakaho. So, he lived at The Cottage, tended the gardens and worked on the station until it was sold. He used to go down and help with dipping and things like that.
Fear Not Change p55

Grant, Budge
Budge Grant. He was a partner in Napier with Sainsbury Logan & Williams.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p288

Green, Herby
Herby Green was a Hastings’ traffic officer and grew carrots on Pukekino. He was the terror of the roads. He had a motorbike when I first knew him, then he had a three-seater Ford, when those Coupe Fords came out in the early

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1930s. The local boys used to think he did sneaky things to catch them speeding. So, one dark night, a few of them lay in wait and looked to be committing some kind of misdemeanour so as to attract him. When they attracted him, Herby Green got out with his book and proceeded to say something. Well, these other guys all converged and manhandled Herby. They picked him up, took him into a paddock where there was a water trough and nearly drowned him. Herby took the message. He didn’t book them for aggression or assault or anything like that. He took the message and they gave him the message that they’re bloody well sick of him being sneaky and that made Herby into a better man

Grimes, Noel
Old Noel Grimes worked in Pukekino. Interesting old fellow. He was a paratrooper during the war and he ended up marrying a New Zealander, and then going back to England.

Groome, Mickey & Ernest
The Groomes were from Te Onepu. The Groomes were great friends of the Logans. Francis, Frank and Ivan used to go by train and get off at Opapa and old Mickey Groome would meet them in a horse and trap at the railway station. They’d stay at Te Onepu for about a week or ten days or longer shooting all sorts of things.

Harmond, Dicky
I was a friend of Dicky Harmond, who was one of the Aides-de-Comp in Wellington. I quite often used to pop in to see Dicky and would have a cup of tea. We’d sometimes have a drink. He said it must be about time the boss dropped in as soon as he knows there’s a visitor here. He always came and saw who it was. Lo and behold, we heard stomp, stomp, stomp and Freyberg came in just to see who the visitor was.
He said a few words, and then away he went.
But I can always remember one comment that Freyberg made. He said don’t be too concerned about Russia because Communism will destroy itself from within. Fifty years later, it did.

Harper, Tom & Doreen
Tom and Doreen Harper lived at Waiteo. Tom was the one that started the Harper empire over on that side of the river. They had all the land from Waiteo – which is up by Whana

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Whana – right down almost to Sherenden. Mostly gone now.

Hassell, Harry
Harry Hassell was a very well-known equestrian. He was Master of Hawke’s Bay for a long time. The Hassell house was down St Georges Road.

Hay, Trevor
Trevor Hay died in Auckland. He was only 56. We didn’t really talk about Trevor, who married Dad’s goddaughter, Bets. But Trevor was the civil engineer in Burma. He stayed behind and sent Bets and the three children down to New Zealand. Then, of course, when the Japanese finally arrived in Burma, he had to retreat back up into the hills and he escaped out through India. Trevor died. He was only 56, but the fearful experiences in Burma during the war had undermined his health.

Henderson, Alice
Mrs Henderson was the daughter of Dean Liddell of Christchurch and apparently the Alice in Wonderland of Lewis Carroll fame. That’s what he says. He was the Vicar at St Michael’s Mount and that’s where he lived. Dad used to spend vacations out there. They had a daughter who, unfortunately, was deaf and dumb, but she led a very full life. Met her in England in 1949 and she was a charming person.

Herrick, Bryan & Michael
Bryan Herrick, lost in the English Channel. He was from the elder sons of Mr and Mrs EJ Herrick of Lindisfarne. Michael Herrick, received a DFC during the Battle of Britain. He was later killed too.

Herrick, Colonel Jasper Lucas
Colonel Herrick was in partnership with JN Williams on Kereru station. I think he took over when JN sold some of it off. Then Colonel Herrick’s wife died and there’s an oak tree planted just down from the station, where she’s buried on the station in the paddock called “The Graveyard”. Loneliness got the better of Colonel Herrick and he went over to Forest Gate, where Peter Holden lives at Ongaonga. He married a widow who came from Wellington. There was a lot of money in the family and so they bought Forest Gate.
Three Herrick boys – Eddie, Arthur and Frank – and two daughters were born there.
Then they later sold Forest Gate and went and bought Tautane Station. He came out here in the armed constabulary. His son was Eddie Herrick. Eddie sold Lindisfarne to the
Kereru Station: Two Sisters’ Legacy;
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22360169
As to Eddie Herrick and moose hunting see: https://www.herrickcreek.co.nz/pages/history; and Tustin, Ken, A (Nearly) Complete History of the Moose in New Zealand, The Halcyon Press, Auckland, 2010; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p303

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Presbyterian Church about 1953, somewhere round about then. Eddie was also commissioned by the government in the 1920’s to survey the moose population in Fiordland. There is a creek there named after him (Herrick Creek). Frank Herrick managed Tautane and Arthur, the older brother, was killed in World War I. Colonel Herrick was quite a Hawke’s Bay identity. He was quite a good game hunter. He was at Angus Gordon’s place in the war. Angus’ mother was Barbara Herrick. She was Eddie Herrick’s youngest daughter. There were cherry trees out at the quarry, at Kereru which was right under the ranges. I can remember them. There were cherry trees where Colonel Herrick lived, just over from the woolshed and over the bank. I can remember them too.

Herrick, Larry
Larry Herrick. Royal Navy. He was one of EJ’s sons. He was a commander in a submarine all during the war and survived.

Herrick, Molly
Molly Herrick was Dennis’ widow. She had one son, that she called Dennis. Dennis, I think, had either been killed or was killed shortly after the baby was born. I have an idea it might’ve been before because the boy was born deaf and dumb.

Higgins, Pat
Pat Higgins later became Chairman of the Napier Harbour Board. Pat Higgins and Frank Logan and Eddie Herrick were the driving force behind the Breakwater.

Hill, Brian
Brian Hill was the only dermatologist in Hawke’s Bay for many years. I used to go and see him, he was in a rest home in Taradale. When I went in, he’d be looking at the front page of The Dominion and I’d have a chat to him. Then I’d go and see Sam Turner, who couldn’t talk at all – the doctor. When I came back Brian would still be looking at the front page.

Hill, Dudley
He lived in Fernhill homestead.
He was a very difficult man. He owned all that shingle country. Right up as far as, possibly, almost the hospital. Very close to it. He owned a lot on the other side of the road, of the better land. He was a very good athlete, and I don’t think he ever did much work. He had two sons, Finn and Roughan. They were both brought up with a silver

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spoon. Both wore at least a double blue at Cambridge. Both had boxing blues.
My brother Bob said they were very useful when they used to go out amongst the wilds of Cairo because he always felt safe. Dudley Hill, despite having two boys away, used to listen to Ron Hawthorne from Hamburg. He wouldn’t listen to the BBC. He was an eccentric old man. One day, an agent came and valued his property. He put a value on it that Hill felt was too high for rating purposes. It might’ve been three pounds an acre or something like that. Hill objected. So, the agent said, Mr Hill, if you think that value is too high, will you accept it? In a rage of temper, Hill said yes. He was left with about 60 acres and he sold all the rest. Of course, the agent went off and made an absolute killing.
He was married to Nina Tanner, Thomas Tanner’s daughter. He forbade her to sing because she was a very good singer. He wouldn’t let her sing. He kept her under the thumb. He was by all accounts, an objectionable man. The woman that was killed was Frank Gordon’s wife. She was a sister, I think, of his wife. She was killed. Frank Gordon, after that, married a woman by the name of Dorothy Holiday from England. She’s the mother of John Gordon. We saw a lot of them as kids. I remember him giving me a ‘mother and father’ of a thrashing one day for being rude to him.

Hill, Roley
Roley Hill was with the Department of Agriculture as long as I can remember. I think he made 100. I’m not quite certain what his designation was, but he was in charge of a Hastings area Department of Agriculture.

Hill, Rowan
Rowan Hill, son of Dudley Hill, was killed in action at Mincaquin. It was probably the second largest battle that the New Zealanders were involved in in the Western Desert. The Citta Rosaic in Minkaqun. Bob Logan was there when Rowan was killed. He was a brother to Vyv Hill. They lived at Fernhill.

Hillier, Rose
Francis and Louisa Logan’s housekeeper.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p82

Holden, Peter
Peter Holden is the grandfather of Peter, whom we both know. He was a wonderful man.
Fear Not Change p135.

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I could write a lot of things about him. I’ve written a little bit in Fear Not Change. His father, Isaac Holden, invented the wool loom. The Holdens married into the Ellingwoods. The Ellingwoods were the spinners. So, they had the wool and the spinners. They had the whole thing tied up. It’s an amazing story.

Holland, H St (Bart)
H St B Holland was Bishop of Wellington. He became very much a family friend. He used to camp up by Wakarara most Christmas’. Of course, he spent a lot of time at Pukekino and he and Dad were at Oxford at the same time…Rachel (Hamilton’s sister) and I gave him. his nickname. We called him “Bertie the Germ” because his name was Herbert St Bart. He was a great old guy. I stayed with him when he was Bishop of Norfolk in Suffolk. I’ve got a photograph of it and a description in my book. I remember one time, I think it might’ve been one evening, New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve or one of the other. Dad thought he’d better do the decent thing. He said, Herbert, “tell me, would you like a turn on the [funny old] wireless we had in those days. Would you like me to turn on a church service for you?” Bertie said “No, Frank. I’d much rather listen to the rugger match between Cambridge and Oxford”.
Fear Not Change p123

Holmden, Mary
Mary Holmden was the wife of a school friend of Dad’s – Trevor Holmden. He was a solicitor in Auckland.

Holmden, Trevor
Trevor Holmden up in Auckland. School acquaintance.
He was a lifelong friend of Dad’s. Trevor was a lawyer.

Holyoake, Keith
New Zealand Prime Minister from 1960 to 1972 and later Governor General from 1977 to 1980.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Holyoake

Horrobin, Horrie
Horrie Horrobin was with the Bank of Australasia. He was an ex-bank manager and he spent, to my knowledge, the last eight or 10 years of his life as a boarder at the Hawke’s Bay Club. He was affectionately known by all club members as Horrie. Instead of being a grumpy old man, he was a very nice person to sit down and have a chat to.

Jellicoe, Lady
Lady Jellicoe and Hilda Williams. FB knew Lord Jellicoe well when he was governor. I think it may be Jellicoe or Ranfurly who did a stint as an honorary aide-de-comp. I’m not certain
Fear Not Change p123

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which one was what. Of course, there was a big controversy between Jellicoe and Beattie as to who was right at the battle of Jutland. Admiral Fountaine was the youngest captain at the battle of Trafalgar. He was captain on the HMS Lion, which was a battleship. After the War, he took Beattie’s side because he reckoned Beattie was right and Jellicoe was wrong. So, Fountaine got axed, Beattie got axed and Jellicoe, who was considered to be in the wrong, reigned supreme and ended up being Governor of New Zealand. Fountaine, when he was axed stayed at home for a time, but then he went up and helped develop swordfish navy. But I write about him in Fear Not Change and you will see some of the interesting things that that man was. Including with Lord
Lubbock working out the landings at D-Day.

Johnson, Eru
Eru Woodbine Johnson was a brother of Lady Pomare and much loved by the whole Logan Family. He attended Wanganui Collegiate with Ivan and Frank Logan. He was Captain of the First XV in 1903. He died in 1913 as a result of a firearm accident.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p49, 51, 63, 73;

Johnston, Harold
Harold Johnston was a judge in New Plymouth. He was one of our brilliant barristers, but then the bottle got to him. He fought his way back and became a judge. Then retired to Opoutama, Mahia Peninsula. I took Dad up to see him in his later life. After bridge he said, “do you play bridge, young man?” Timidly I said, “no bridge. Chess”. “Do you play chess, young man? “I thought, God, that’s one of my worst dreams to play chess with him.

Jowsey, Bill
He had the property opposite Big Hill Station. He was a very loyal supporter of Dad’s. Actually, Dad did a lot for Bill. Helped him a lot. He was pretty rough around the edges, old Bill. When he couldn’t win a point, he gave a left hook. But he never did with Dad. He gave him utmost respect.

Jowsey, Tom
Tom Jowsey was on the Hawke’s Bay County Council. They lived almost next door to Big Hill. They took up a block of Kereru when WG Stead sold off bits of Kereru. He sold off Big Hill, he sold off the Jowsey block and two or three other blocks. Left Kereru at 6000 freehold, 6000 leasehold. He was the progenitor of the Jowsey family.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p303

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Jull, Albert Edward
Albert Jull was Waipawa Mayor and he was a member of parliament. He was a pretty prominent early citizen in the late 20s and 30s.
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc06Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d8.html

Kemp, Myra
Myra Kemp, now Bisson. That’s an old girlfriend of mine, so better not write too much about her. She and I were 24. Myra was young and sophisticated, but she knew nothing about rugby. I played most of my rugby during the war years. Dad didn’t have the petrol to be able to come in and see me. So, Ivan – Uncle Ivan – used to come in sit in the grandstand with me. Myra, who knew nothing about rugby at all, used to come and sit with him. They became very close friends. He loved telling her about rugby and about sporting life and things like that. She said, “I probably asked him the most frivolous and innate questions”. But he was just so wonderful and they became great friends.

Kettle, Audrey
Daughter of Gustav von Tempsky

Kettle, Dudley
He’s my godfather. Dudley, was probably a bit of a disappointment to Nathaniel because he didn’t have the ability to follow on in his footsteps at Williams & Kettle. Dudley got small branch jobs to keep him out of mischief, which was sometimes difficult. He later bought a little farm at Poraiti. But he was a hell of a nice guy, Dudley Kettle. His daughter, Pauline, married Johnny Campbell at Horonui.

Kettle, Nat
Nathaniel Kettle was born in 1854, the son of Charles Henry Kettle, chief surveyor for the New Zealand Company. He joined FW Williams in business in 1884 which led to the formation of Williams and Kettle stock and station agents. He married Lena in 1880, a daughter of Gustav von Tempsky.
Anderson, Len Throughout the East Coast: The Story of Williams and Kettle Limited, Pictorial Publications, Hastings, 1974;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_%26_Kettle;
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400928.2.17.1?query=nathaniel%20kettle;
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 p234

Kettle, Randall
Before Randall Kettle joined the Royal Navy, he worked for six months on Pukekino with me. We were very close school friends, and all through life. But I haven’t seen much of him. He joined the Royal Navy, he’s got his life over there. But Randall was a great guy. Son of Von

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Kettle and a very good athlete. We used to get up to quite a few antics.

Kettle, Von
Son of Nathaniel. A school friend and lifelong friend of Frank’s. He worked in Williams & Kettle.

King Edward & Mrs Simpson
King Edward abdicated from the throne in 1936 and took up with Mrs Simpson, an American divorcée.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallis_Simpson;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII

King George VI
King George was the father of Queen Elizabeth the Second and reigned from 1936 to 1947.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI

King, Cocky
Bert Cocky King was the manager of Ellison & Duncans.

Kirker, Peter
Peter Kirker was an orthopaedic surgeon.

Kirkpatrick, Alec
Alec Kirkpatrick became chairman of the Harbour Board. He was a pretty able man.

Lee, JA
Member of Parliament for the New Zealand Labour Party
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Lee

Lesser, Bishop
He was a Bishop of Waiapu. He and Dad were good friends. There’s a story about AB Williams and Bishop Lesser. He left a note that he wanted to come and see AB. So, AB, in his old farmer’s way says, “Oh, that’ll be the little Lesser bugger that wants to come and see me”. Then it got back to the Bishop and Archbishop Lesser rang up AB and said, “AB, it’s the Lesser bugger here”. He was a great guy. He was a serving soldier before he went into the church.

Lindeman, Bruce
Bruce Lindeman came out from Australia. He’s one of the Lindeman’s Wines family in Australia. He came out to Napier and took up the management of McWilliams Wines. He really developed McWilliams Wines. I knew Bruce and Nan well and in my single days I used to go and stay with them.

Logan, Francis
FB’s father, Hamilton’s paternal grandfather and one of the foundation partners of Sainsbury Logan & Williams.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, Chapter 2

Logan, Hiraani
Bob Logan’s wife; Hamilton’s sister-in-law
Fear Not Change, pp36 – 37, 100; Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p73n361

Logan, Jim
Eldest son of Frank and Dorothy. Constance Fountaine would’ve given The Cottage, she told me, to my brother Jim, had he survived the war. She looked upon Jim as her third son. He stayed with her quite extensively in 1937.

Fear Not Change p32; Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p71

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When he was in the air force, he was stationed out in East Anglia and he used to go to Narford quite a lot. He went to see her the night before he was killed. He had a premonition. He said, just thought I’d pop around and see how you were because we’ve got some pretty nasty stuff coming up and it might be quite a long time until I see you. She told me that herself. I know Rochie Averill didn’t take it very well about The Cottage. But then he must’ve thought twice about it because he later became my next door neighbour and was very friendly and helpful.

Logan, John
Ivan Logan’s son; Hamilton’s cousin
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, pp69, 286, 330

Logan, Louisa
FB’s mother and Hamilton’s paternal grandmother.
Fear Not Change, p19; Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, pp40,43,48, 51-52, 83

Logan, Rachel Bannerman
FB’s paternal grandmother who lived in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p37

Lowry, Marion
She was the youngest daughter of TH Lowry. She married Reg Bettington, who later became an ear, nose and throat specialist in Napier. He was captain of the New South Wales cricket team. He was at Cambridge in the same team as Tom Lowry, when Tom was captain of Cambridge. Had it not been for Clarrie Grimmett, the great Australian spinner, Reg would’ve been in Australian team. But Grimmett kept him out. Grimmett was a magician. The way he could bowl that ball. So, Reg never played for Australia. He, I think, won the New South Wales golf championship and things like that. Very good ball player. I knew Reg well, nice guy.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/38298/clarrie-grimmett

Lowry, Ralph
Ralph Lowry from Ohinewairua Station on the Napier-Taihape Road.
But he was the third son of TH and Mrs Lowry. A very colourful character. Quite unpredictable. Cambridge Blue. I’ve known Ralph and done quite a lot with Ralph. When he asked me if I’d supervise his properties, I turned him down. He was too close a friend and I knew that if things went wrong, it would damage the relationship.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p294

Lowry, Tom
Hawke’s Bay farmer, first class cricketer and owner of Okawa Stud
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4l17/lowry-thomas-coleman; The

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Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p345

Macgregor, Miriam
Miriam Macgregor wrote a history of early stations in Hawke’s Bay. She came to me to see what information I could give on a few points she was not conversant with.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay

Mackay, WNJ (Norman)
WJN Mackay. He was a longtime employee of Sainsbury Logan & Williams. We used to call him “old Mr Mockiebones”.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p331

Mackenzie, Betty
Betty Mackenzie was a daughter of Sir Clutha Mackenzie, who was a founder of the Blind Foundation. He lived in Auckland. He lost his eyesight after the war ended. A shell came in, right in front of him, and the concussion of it or the suction of it literally pulled both his eyes out.
He did wonderful things for the blind.

Mackersey, JC
Founder of JC Mackersey Limited. My cousin John Logan’s first job was with Mackerseys after he came out of rehab building the woolshed at Pukekino.

McLean, Lauchlan
Lauchlan McLean was from Glencoe Station in Queenstown. He was the son of, I think, Donald McLean, who was an ex-manager of Maraekakaho station. His perk was Glencoe Station, 3500 acres of beautiful land. So, that’s how Lauchlan McLean got into Glencoe Station. Likewise, Green Hill Station.

Mahoney, Brian
Brian Mahoney was a caring guy. They had a big fleet of trucks – Mahoney’s Trucks.

Mannering, Guy
Famous fisherman. He was a bank manager. Very friendly with Francis Logan. He was in the fishing parties. His wife was drowned in the Aratiatia Rapids (near Taupo).
Guy tried as he did to get a line for her to hang onto, she just went round and round and was sucked down.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p48 – 50

Martin, W (Bill)
They lived just out of Martinborough. There were three families of Martins. They were very early settlers at Martinborough. WB had a very sad life. He had two sons and a daughter. The two sons were killed in the war and the daughter died young from cancer. She was married to Stuart Devine (lawyer) who lived in Hastings. Her name was Hillary.

Mason, John
John Mason. He was from Arapata. He later owned Morrison Industries. He was up at

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Kinleith which he had a big shareholding in.
He was watching a big saw below him. He was up on the gantry watching the big saw operating. Whether he tripped or whatever he did, he went straight overboard onto that saw. I never knew him. But I know that he lived at Arapata, down Middle Road. He had big interests. He was a very good businessman and an entrepreneur. His son I knew pretty well – Ian Mason. He didn’t really measure up and thank God he got out of business because they were just going under. He got out of that and he went and bought Sacred Hill. His son David Mason turned it into a winery – Sacred Hill at Dartmoor.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p58

Mayne, Tony
Tony Mayne was a Napier in the 1930’s and 40’s. He died tragically in a boating accident on Lake Taupo.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p271 – 272

Mayo Brothers
The Mayo brothers were from Rochester in the United States. They started the Mayo Clinic.
Ivan was having gastric problems that possibly started during the war. FB and Ivan went to America to consult the Mayo brothers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayo_Clinic

McCredie, Athol
He was the editor for The Daily Telegraph and he wrote two or three books one of which was a little book about the history of the Hawke’s Bay Tennis Club. I think he wrote the first book about Williams & Kettle. Athol McCreedy and FB saw a lot of one another. They used to have huge discussions. When Dad was getting a little bit older, Athol used to come and see him. They’d have a couple of whiskeys and talk. Athol had such a breadth of knowledge, being a journalist.

McDonald, Jack
Jack McDonald of Taradale. He owned McDonalds supermarket.

McGlashan, Alex
He was manager at Poporangi, then he went from Poporangi to manager Matawhero.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p179

McHardy, Alexander
Blackhead Station was originally part of Pourerere Station which Alexander McHardy and JA Coleman purchased together.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p25; Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p59

McHardy, Forbes
Forbes McHardy was a son of AlexanderMcHardy from Aramoana. Originally black haired. He was one of my father’s, not exactly protégées, but a young man that he looked to be a future leader in Hawke’s Bay. Forbes was very perceptive and a good mixer amongst people and would’ve been an excellent MP.
But unfortunately, he was killed on the banks

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of the Sangro River in the Italian campaign. Forbes was the father of Neil and Hamish McHardy and Stuart – who died young in life – and his daughter was Fiona, who married Peter Elworthy, who also did a lot for New Zealand in the farming community.

McIntyre, Duncan
Duncan McIntyre was a National MP. He was a pretty approachable person. A good minister and a safe pair of hands. Muldoon, experiencing what had happened to other people when they were out of the country, put McIntyre – who he thought he could trust – in as deputy PM and there’d be no hanky panky when he was away about a coup. The interesting thing is that Duncan was a colonel and Muldoon was a corporal.

McIntyre, Jimmy
I wrote an article about Jimmy McIntyre in Fear Not Change.
Fear Not Change p102

McLennan, John
He was an accountant with Robert Dobson. Old John McLennan was really the new generation of the trusts and tax avoiders and all those sorts of things. He and Win Sandtmann were the two shareholders/partners of Robert Dobson. Robert Dobson began the company. He was the foundation partner, and then McLennan and Sandtmann would’ve come in, probably, late 30s, early 40s.

McPhee
They bought Mason Ridge along – the two McPhees, Duncan and Johnny and their father Sween was the head agricultural guy on Maraekakaho Station back in the early 1900s.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p122

McSporran, Malcolm
Malcolm McSporran joined the Meat Board and became a director. He was a director based in Tokyo for a number of years. Then he resigned from the Meat Board and became a general manager of Western Farmers, over in Perth. I knew him very well.

Meissner, Frank
Frank Meissner was an Austrian who worked at Wakarara. He later became an orchardist.
Moore, Francie

She was an amazing character. I knew her by the fact that, because she knew my father, I was one of the ones that was invited to afternoon tea parties at Francie Moore’s place when I was at Wanganui Collegiate. She was a household name in the Collegiate family.

Mussolini
Italian Prime Minister from 1922 to 1943.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini

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Nairn, Eric
Eric Nairn was a great friend of FB. Frank, Eric and Eru (Johnson) would’ve all been at school together.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, p50 – 51

Nash, Walter
New Zealand Prime Minister from 1957 to 1960.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Nash

Nathan, Sybil
Sybil Nathan was a sister of George Nathan, who started Nathan’s Real Estate. I know that George Nathan was the one that started it because his father said to him “I will only advance you the money to go into real estate providing you spend no less than five per cent of your gross profit on advertising.”

Nilsson, Douglas
Douglas Nilsson was famous for the fact that when he was shot down in the North Sea, the life expectancy was a maximum 70 seconds. He wasn’t picked up for about four minutes. He was a tough Dane.

Neilson, Podge
Podge Neilson was an interesting character. He was the younger son of the Neilsons off Cape Kidnappers. He rose to a pretty high level in the British Army – and also, a very good equestrian guy. After the war, he went into acting. I used to stay with Podge Neilson and Michael Ormond. They had a flat down in South Kensington and it was always interesting because you never knew who was going to be showing up for breakfast.

Newman, Dr A
I don’t know much about Dr Newman, but his grandson, Gavin, was one of my closest friends at Collegiate. I write about him in Fear Not Change. Unfortunately, he was the most talented boy that I was at school with. Probably one of the most talented I ever knew. He could play any game. He was in the sixth form in his second year at school. He should’ve been at university, but instead of that, he rotted away. Did nothing. Did very little. No social life and drink got the better of him. Dead before he was 60.
Fear Not Change pp63, 70, 71, 76 and 78

Norrie, Willougby
The Willoughby’s were friends with Sue Logan’s parents. They had him for lunch one day, and so they asked Sue and I if we would act as waitress and barman. At one stage, I was going to plonk the soup down on the wrong side of Willougby and I went around the other side. He just looked at me, said “don’t worry, Hamilton old man” he said “it tastes exactly the same whichever side it comes from.”

O’Connell, Pop
Pop O’Connell was Hawke’s Bay County Clerk.

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Palmer, Mary
Mary Palmer married Douglas McHardy, of Te Aratipi (Okaihau Road). I think Dad spoke at that wedding. I think he proposed a toast to the bride. She was a daughter of SM Palmer, who was an old school friend of Dad’s.

Palmer, Selby
They were pretty close friends. Selby owned Te Aratipi at the top of Maraetotara. His son was John Palmer. His grandson is Selby, who’s now living on Te Aratipi. Selby was a very reliable, good friend. Dad always said he never let you down. I was a friend of John’s and he was exactly the same.

Paton, Henry
Henry Paton was John’s brother (see below) and surgeon on SS Port Wyndham. Henry was a doctor on the Norfolk and he was a very lively doctor and good company. I met him a few times when I was staying at Narford because he was the Fountaines’ doctor.

Paton, John
John Paton came to New Zealand under the Public School Plan. Dad and Sir Russell started that scheme. They were sons of farmers who were killed in the war in New Zealand. He was one that came out and he was cadeting on Echills, immediately opposite Pukekino. He was the one that rode in on his motorcycle to see whether Francis and Louisa (FB’s parents) were alive after the 1931 Earthquake. He later farmed up at Sherenden and married one of the Deans from Canterbury.

Pearson, Ken
Ken Pearson was the father of David and Andrew. He was an accountant in Robert Dobsons, later Ernst & Young. He would’ve been the senior partner in the Napier branch of Ernst & Young.

Pettigrew, Sir Russell
Sir Russell was a businessman and philanthropist, Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union president and patron and founder of Freightways transport company.

Pinkney, Peter and Lowry, Anne
Anne Lowry and Peter Pinkney’s wedding was a huge affair. FB proposed a toast to Anne Lowry, but Anne Lowry and her husband, Peter, they were killed in a helicopter when their children were, perhaps, both under 10. On their farm Glenaray down in Southland. Peter’s brother brought those two children up. Did a great job.
Glenaray 1898 – 1998 by Terry Brosnahan; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p337

Plummer, Peter
Peter Plummer was a regular visitor at Pukekino because he was managing Wakarara at one stage.
Fear Not Change p278

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Poett, Nigel
Nigel Poett was, I think, a brigadier at the end of the war. He was a commander of the Paratrooper Regiment and the first solider to parachute into France on D-Day. Later he became a general and he was in command of the Far East forces, which included Malaysia.
My sister, Rachel, went out when they were stationed in Singapore, which was then part of Malaysia. She helped them with the children for two or three years. She had a wonderful experience there.
They travelled all over Southeast Asia.

Porritt, Sir Arthur (G-G)
I was host to Sir Arthur for lunch when he was Governor General. I was president of the Collegiate Old Boys’ Association in Hawke’s Bay. So, I thought the proper thing to do was to host a luncheon for him. We had pretty good attendance, I can tell you that. A few of them came that had been to school with him, which made it all the better.

Rathbone, Cyril
The Rathbone family owned Waipawa and all the land around it was Rathbone. They were very early settlers. They set up the Rathbone Home and Hospital. Great benefactors.

Reverend Waugh
Reverend Waugh was the Presbyterian Minister that used to travel to Kereru.

Rhodes, Sir Heaton
Sir Heaton came from Papanui. He was one of the four Rhodes boys. Two went to the South Island, two came up here. Joseph (third Commissioner of Hawke’s Bay) was one of the two that came up here.

Riddiford, Dan & Meta
Dan was the elder son at Longbush. Meta’s father was Sydney Johnson and they lived on the outskirts of Palmerston, in the Kairanga. Later they built Orua Wharo, just out of Takapau where they lived. I think there were only two daughters. One, Meta Riddiford and the other one was a Mrs Rolsten. She had a son, and I think a daughter, but the son (Christopher Rolsten) was regular army. I think he was in the Hussars or one of those. Then he came out and farmed at Orua Wharo. One night when he was driving back, in a little Fergie tractor, he tipped it up and killed himself. He would’ve probably been under 30. He was a hell of a nice guy. Sue and I knew them well. We used to go over there and have dinner with them. That’s a long time ago. That’s 55 years ago I’m talking about.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p165

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Riddiford, Eric
Eric was one of the Riddiford boys. He was the son of the one they call “King Vic”. He owned all those multiple stations – Onga Onga and so forth. He owned half of Wairarapa. His son, Daniel Riddiford lived at Longbush in the Wairarapa. He was head of the family and a very good one because the other two – his other two brothers – coasted a wee bit. But Dan was the one who really did things. Made things happen.

Ritchie, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Ritchie, who married David, was an only child of George’s who owned National Mortgage. National Mortgage, of course, was a very wealthy company. But it was having its shares raided by an English company by the name of Vavasour. Vavasour was buying in quite heavily. Muldoon put Ron Trotter onto it. He said to Trotter “you’ve got to amalgamate, otherwise Vavasour will take National Mortgage.” That’s why National Mortgage and Wrightsons amalgamated. But this was way back. This was Jim Ritchie. Jim Ritchie was a retired Royal Navy captain. He came from the South Island. He was obviously retired and back in New Zealand. Because he would’ve joined the Royal Navy around about 1902. So, he would’ve done 30-plus years.
For a brief history of National Mortgage see https://knowledgebank.org.nz/audio/wrightsons-brian-james/

Ritchie, George
George Ritchie was the founder and the engine behind National Mortgage. He had no sons, and so when he died, his nephew, Jim Ritchie, took over National Mortgage. George Ritchie’s daughter, Elizabeth, married David Ritchie and they were mother and father to the David Ritchie (of Drumpeel Farms Limited).

Ritchie, Jim
He was one of the South Island Ritchies. One was in the Royal Navy, the other was a clergyman. Jim and Willy Ritchie. They both went off to England. All those Ritchies attended Collegiate.

Ritchie, Willie
Willie, I think, went in to National Mortgage. Jim Ritchie went into the Royal Navy and the third Ritchie boy became a vicar. He was the personal vicar to the Queen. Willie and Jim were FB’s close friends. The other one was younger.

Rolls, LC
LC Rolls was manager of Williams & Kettles. He and Bob Logan used to go swimming at lunchtime.

Roosevelt, FD
FD Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

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Roskill, Steven
Steven Wentworth Roskill was Captain of the HMS Diomede. He was actually captain on the Lusitania when it was blown up. But I can remember an interesting little side ditty there. We were shearing at the time and our dad and Eddie Herrick and Captain Roskill came into the woolshed. He had a great, big black beard down to about here. One of the shearers called out, catch that sheep and I’ll shear his beard off. Steven was a very precise naval man. Very strict, I would think.

Russell, Andrew & John
Andrew and John Russell were the sons of Sir Andrew. Andrew farmed up in Gisborne and John farmed at Tunanui. John, unfortunately, stepped out of his Land Rover onto a land mine. I sought him out and went and had a word with John in Al Alamein Cemetery when I was there. So, I’ve seen his resting place. He was a big man. He was such a nice guy and a future leader. He would’ve done things for Hawke’s Bay.

Russell, Harold
Harold was probably a cousin of Sir Andrew Russell (see above). He lived at Apley, which is up near Rissington, in the big homestead there. Harold was a very keen horseman, he was master of hounding for a long time. I think he had race horses. I think he did more recreational work than farming.

Russell, Thomas Purvis
Thomas Purvis Russell was owner of Woburn Station at Hatuma just south of Waipukurau. He married George Sainsbury’s sister. George had encouraged Russell to come out to New Zealand.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 pp7, 23, 35

Russell, Sir Andrew
I knew Sir Andrew well. He was a wonderful man and never probably got the kudos he should’ve. He was a very good leader of troops in the First World War and he stood up to the English command, at the risk of being court marshalled. But in the end, they listened to him. He just couldn’t tolerate the thought of what they directed the men to go through.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Hamilton_Russell;
Vennell, Jock The Forgotten General: New Zealand’s World War One Commander, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell. Crow’s Nest, New South Wales, Allen & Unwin 2011; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p323

Russell, Violet
Violet Russell. She was a sister of the Major General. She lived in London in 75 Cheyne Court in London. She was an amazing woman

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and she just loved New Zealanders going there. You could go and stay there and she’d say, “yes, I’ve got a spare bed. No more than two nights.” You knew exactly where you were. That stopped people camping. It was always very interesting when you stayed there because it was either Australians or New Zealanders staying there. She was just so good to me when I was in London on and off a lot in ’49, ’50. If I was utterly stuck, she’d say, yes. No more than two nights. Anyway, she did a lot of funny little things. She got David Ormond and I a ticket to go to the Dorchester Ball where Princess Margaret was the hostess. She didn’t only get us a ticket to go to the ball, but she also got us partners as well. She was absolutely brilliant woman. She never married and she had a slightly deformed hand. But she was like a general. Decisive and knew everything. She was an exceptional person.

Savage, Michael Joseph
New Zealand Prime Minister from 1935 – 40.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Joseph_Savage

Scannell, Penn
Hastings lawyer in the early 1900’s and a colourful character.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35831720; Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875 p269

Schooler, Dr
Dr Schooler was an ears, nose, throat specialist. If you go past the Napier Girls’ High School and there’s a road that goes up to the left, which is Gladstone Road, Sherwood Hospital was almost where the road goes up to Gladstone Road. It would’ve closed down probably 20 or 30 years ago.

Seth Smith, Betty
Betty Seth Smith was Dad’s goddaughter and lived at Silvermere. She was a very interesting woman. She married a man by the name of Trevor Hay in Auckland. He was a civil engineer and they lived their younger life in Burma. During the invasion of the Japanese, he sent her and the children out of Burma and she came back to New Zealand. He stayed in Burma, and then later escaped just in time.

Shrimpton, Walter
Walter Shrimpton was a very prominent person in Hawke’s Bay in early days. He owned
Matapiro Station, which was a considerable size. The one mistake that Walter Shrimpton made in life was letting the Prime Minister stay with him in 1900. When Dick Seddon was staying with Walter Shrimpton he was standing
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p126

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on the veranda at Matapiro and he said, “Shrimpton, can you please describe to me where your boundaries are?” Walter Shrimpton said “as far as the eye can see.” Dick Seddon’s reply to that was “too much land for one man”. That was pretty well one of the forerunners of properties affected by the Lands for Settlement Act. But he was very prominent. He was, I think, Chairman of the County Council. Also, Chairman of the Hospital Board. It was on the Hospital Board that Dad had a lot to do with him.

Shuker
They were a hard-working family. I think possibly of German extraction. They did a lot of the hard work, like scrub cutting and things like that. Not only Pukekino, but on many properties.

Slingsby, Philip
Philip Slingsby was at Hereworth. He was probably one of the better post-World War headmasters. Slingsby was a very keen scout man. He started the scouting movement at Hereworth and, he probably had much to do with its formation in Hawke’s Bay. He was very popular with the boys and very good with them.

Smith-Guthrie, H
I remember Guthrie Smith. I remember going up to Tutira with Dad and he was a very upright, tall man. I knew his daughter quite well too. She married Archer Absolom. I think she was an only child.
Dad and Guthrie discussed a lot of things. He was a very smart guy, Guthrie. His perception of grass in New Zealand and farming in New Zealand was extraordinary. I remember meeting him. He was an elderly man and couldn’t get over how tall and upright he was.
Guthrie-Smith, Herbert, Tutira: The Story of a New Zealand Sheep Station Reed, Wellington, 1969.

Smith, Hylton
Hylton Smith became Chairman of the Harbour Board. His wife was the stevedore that controlled the stevedore business. She was a Puflett from Gisborne. The Pufflets have a stevedoring business in Gisborne and Napier.

Smith, Ian
Ian Smith became the owner of Whanakino. His father was Hector Smith. He was one of the original Smith owners of Olrig Station. Whanakino was hived off an original 5500 acres. Ian Smith was Hector Smith’s only son, but he had four daughters. That’s old HJ Smith. Ian had hardly come back to get his feet under the table when the war broke out. He was killed. That’s how the Rentons came to
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p156

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Hawke’s Bay. Because Rachel Renton inherited Whanakino Station. Two were married and two were single. Ian left Whanakino to his sister, Rachel. So, that’s how the Rentons came into Whanakino.

Smith, Sydney
When the homebrew went a bit wonky and he threw it out to the pigs, the antics as the pigs went through were, apparently hilarious. He used to take the Kereru shepherds over to the Tikokino pub. Mr Johnson always knew when they went with Sydney Smith, they wouldn’t get back that night.
Fear Not Change p102; (Mr Johnson was their driver)

Smuts, General
2nd Prime Minister of South Africa from 1939 to 1948
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts

Spite, Frank
Frank Spite was the GM of New Zealand Shipping Company.

St Hill Warren, Dumpy
Dumpy St Hill-Warren was originally a Miss St Hill and, like many families when there wasn’t a male, the women took the family name. She was a daughter of old Harry St Hill. Then when she married a Warren, she took the name Warren.

Stalin, Joseph
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1922 – 1952
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin

Stead, Edgar
Edgar Stead was a son of GG Stead, who I talk about in Fear Not Change. He was progenitor of the Stead dynasty in New Zealand. Edgar was a bit different. He wasn’t involved in racehorses and all those sorts of things. But he was much more involved in botanical things, and in particular, birds. He was a naturalist and ornithologist. But his great specialties were rhododendrons and azaleas. He owned a lovely property in Christchurch called Ilam and when he died, he gave Ilam to the University. When Tim Logan was at Hereworth, Sir Bernard Ferguson’s son, Geordie was there at the same time. Sir Bernard and his wife, and Sue and I, were chatting and Sir Bernard happened to say, “who were you before you married Hamilton?” She said “I was a Stead; I was born a Stead.” Any relation to Edgar? Sue said “he was my great-uncle.” He said “when I was coming out to New Zealand with my father when he was Governor General and we called in at Bombay on the day, there were huge boxes full of precious plants from the Himalayas of very special varieties that your great-uncle had been up collecting. It had all come down to Bombay and I was given the job
Fear Not Change pp192,

196

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of watering those precious plants.” He said “I often wondered who the person was that they went to and how they did.” They are now in Ilam.

Stephenson, Louis
Louis Stephenson was the founder/owner of Stephenson Trading Company in Napier.

Stopford, FJ
FJ Stopford was an interesting character. He was an Englishman who came out for his health. TB I would think. He was an English academic. He lived in Sealy Road. Dad spent a lot of time with Mr Stopford and one of their hobbies was talking about the derivation of words and things like that. I’m never quite certain what he did, but he was a very clever man. I never knew whether he’d been in the university or whether he’d been in business. But I knew him. My second name “Stopford” came from him. He was godfather to mybrother Jim Logan.

Symes, Alf
He lived in a big house at Longlands with Bob Stoddard. Bob Stoddard married his daughter, Rua, who was my mother-in-law. Alf Symes came over from Waverley and his brother Burt said, “I’m not going to buy you out completely. I’m going to give you a little bit, leave you a little bit of the farm because I know that you’ll go bung over in that drought-ridden area of Hawke’s Bay.” So, Alf came over and it wasn’t very long before he owned 4000 acres around the Longlands area. The Borthwick’s freezing works was the end of his property going down Highway 1. The stock used to walk through until they got to the last paddock, and then they just drove them in. One year he killed over 100,000 lambs. Of course, he was a very successful racehorse owner too. So, he didn’t have to go back to Waverley.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p105

Tahau, Charlie
When Francis Logan was up at Taupo on one of the sessions of the Native Land Court he was sitting outside the Spa Hotel. This young man came up to him – obviously when he was unoccupied – and introduced himself as Charlie Tahau. He said I live at Waitahanui and there’s no work there. I’d like to ask you if you could help me if I came to Hawke’s Bay, which was pretty brazen. Francis must’ve been pretty impressed. He said I don’t think that I can help you much, but I’ll get my son Frank to help you.
So, Charlie Tahau came down from Waitahanui and met Frank and Francis. Frank

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took him under his wing, got him into a shearing gang and it wasn’t long before he had his own shearing gang and a pretty big one too. Then he came to Dad and he said I can’t keep all of my men. There’s no work in the winter. Dad said well, we’ll see what we can do about that.
He got him into scrub cutting, he got him into wood and as a coal merchant. Not so much the
coal in Hastings. So, Charlie became a pretty big businessman. The thing that intrigued me was he still wanted Dad to do all his accounts.
The last week before Christmas, he used to come and have dinner on a Sunday with the Frank Logans. Of course, all the kids would be back from school by then. We just used to sit – I was very small in those days, this is going back into the early 30s – absolutely in awe. I probably didn’t know very much about what was going on. This man, by this time, he’d expanded and he was pretty large. He used to sit at one end of the dining room table with his arms out like that, his manners weren’t crash hot, as you can imagine. He used to hold the floor. He had the most beautiful speaking voice. Dad used to say, if you closed your eyes, you’d think you were speaking with one of the
most cultured Englishmen you could find. Charlie had you spellbound about life growing up as a youngster in the Māori way. It was absolutely intriguing. Then he and Dad would disappear for a few hours and look at what he’d been doing and what he hadn’t been doing. But Dad kept an eye on him for life, which was a great benefit. When he died, the family carried on, but they weren’t a patch on
Charlie. Eric took over. Eric was a very nice person. But he didn’t have the same business acumen as Charlie had. What I was going to say – at the age of 15, Mr Johnston of Kereru Station, asked me if I would run the Kereru woolshed. That was in my school holidays, which was quite an undertaking. But Charlie was always there, and so if there were any problems, I just used to – he was usually sitting on a wool bale playing with a grandchild or something like that – I would just say, I think it’s a bit too much and Charlie would wander up. He’d say a couple of words and that was that. But our response was making certain there were sheep in the shed and sheep counted

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out, which was great because war time, no shepherds, hardly any drovers. So, Mr Johnston, the manager, was one man with what must have been 6000 acres.

Tahau, Eric
In 1953 I held an impromptu birthday party. It was after a bowling tournament. You can imagine there was a pretty willing crowd there. I rang up Eric and I said can you bring a couple of people that can blow something. They brought three. Eric had a beautiful singing voice. He played trombone. They were all brass. There was a clarinet and a trombone. Eric’s son, Nana, was a professional singer in Australia. But Eric sang with the Tabernacle Choir over in Salt Lake City.

Te Heu Heu, Piripi
Piripi drove the carriage and looked after the stores and was in charge of pitching tents. He was usually by Francis’ side when he was fishing. But the amusing story about Piripi is that the packhorse carrying the whiskey en route to Taupo ran amok. He was sent all the way back to Napier to get some more.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, pp50-53

Teschemaker, Jack
Mr Teschemaker was an Englishman and he lived in Dasent Road just after Mangatahi. The Cullwick family now occupy the property. Jack was a very interesting character. He fired from the hip a bit. But Dad used to enjoy his company because he was one of those interesting Englishmen. Well-educated, clever. Dad used to go down there quite a lot because he always had a laugh and they were always able to talk about interesting things. To my knowledge, he had no family. Mrs Teschemaker ran the farm and Mr Teschemaker occupied the dwelling and enjoyed the odd brandy now and again.

Thompson, Jimmy
Jimmy Thompson was from Mackinlay’s Whisky. When FB retired as chairman of Williams & Kettle, the staff and management got him a case of McKinley’s Whiskey. FB drank his whiskey with water or soda, but usually water because in the countryside soda wasn’t so available. But he liked a couple of good whiskeys at night and that was it. Nothing more after that. No wine in those days or anything like that. But when I was a kid, he used to get his whiskey by the two-gallon demijohn. Might’ve been even more. That’s a lot of whiskey, isn’t it? That demijohn, they used to fill the decanter. The demijohn was

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kept down underneath the sideboard and the whiskey decanter was the only thing from which he drank whiskey. Never drank it from the bottle.

Troutbeck, Mr and Mrs
The Troutbecks donated the land where the community college (EIT) is at the southern end of Taradale. They owned the land that went right up to Otatara Pa. The husband also owned a big property up near Murupara called Galatea. That was a big property and he had to walk off because of Morton’s disease. They didn’t know how to cure the mortality on the stock. So he left that and came back to Otatara.

Tucker
He was a farmer just out of Waipukurau. His son Brian carried on. The other son, John – JP – he was at the rail for a time, but he had a pretty famous air race during the war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pattison_(RNZAF_officer)

Tucker, Bill
Bill Tucker was from Tucker’s Wool Scour.

Turnbull, Janet
Janet Turnbull was another of those Turnbulls from the South Island. She was a granddaughter of Charlie Turnbull. She had quite a sad life, really, because she was a nurse and she was engaged to a solider who went overseas. She stayed in New Zealand. She told me at a later date that she had a bit of a premonition that she wouldn’t see him again and did quite a risky thing for those days. She allowed herself to become pregnant, so at least she had a son to remember him by, which I think made a lot of sense. It was very hard in those days.

Turnbull, Monty
Monty Turnbull married Cora Lee. He was commissioned in the Auxilliary Service Corp. Monty Turnbull was my uncle.
Fear Not Change pp41 -42

Turner, Sam
Sam Turner was responsible for the establishment of the Medical Research Foundation. He was, I believe, the first really serious cardiologist that practised in Napier. He specialised in cardiology. He did a lot of lecturing around the world and he was highly regarded by overseas visiting personnel such as the ones that used to come out with the Sir James Wattie Foundation. He was instrumental in getting the Sir James Wattie Foundation set up. Sir James Wattie was in Taupo and he had a serious heart attack and Sam was summoned. When he saw the state he was in, he said there’s only one way that you’re going to go to hospital and that is in an
Fear Not Change p270

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ambulance. Sir James said “no, I’m not going in an ambulance. I’m going with you.” So, he got his chauffeur to drive him back to Hawke’s Bay. Sam kept him in the back seat and had to resuscitate him on a number of occasions before they got back to Hawke’s Bay. Sir James – when he recovered sufficiently – said “I can’t thank you enough, but how can I thank you?” Sam’s reply was “you can set up a foundation so that we can have the most eminent speakers, not only in cardiology, but other aspects of medicine visiting Hawke’s Bay every year.” When that was set up, the condition was that they gave the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board a fortnight, and after that, they were free to tour New Zealand and be paid for it. That was the condition. During my time, there’d been some excellent speakers. At least excellent physicians, surgeons, everybody. The whole gambit. You may recall in Fear Not Change that, on one occasion, I had to give a paper about the nutritional value of lamb. The visiting professor that year was Professor Kanal from Boston and he was an eminent cardiologist. So, it was quite a nerve-wracking experience. But anyway, the rest is in
Fear Not Change. So, that’s a bit of a genesis of the Sir James Wattie Foundation for medicine.

Twigg, Jock
Jock Twigg was a good friend of FB’s. He was at Sainsbury Logan & Williams, of course, and then Jock Twigg would come and pick up the mail for Francis? He lived opposite Francis. It was a little, single storeyed house. He lived there with a couple of aunts.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p183

Van Asch
Peter Van Asch founded Aerial Mapping. The Van Aschs as a family were very innovative and talented.

Vigor Brown, John
John Vigor Brown was Napier Mayor from 1907 to 1917, 1919 to 1921; and 1927 to 1933.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigor_Brown

Walker, Dave
One of the questions that FB asked Dave Walker was, “have you got a truck?” David said “no, I haven’t got a truck. But I thought I’d better get a licence before I got a truck because I may not get a licence.” So, the old man was quite impressed with that rationale. He said, “have you got enough money to get a truck?” He said, “well, it’s like this, Mr Logan. There’s a truck coming up through my

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brother’s auction yard, Gordon Walker Auction Mart. You probably know all about it?” He said, “there’s an old Stewart truck coming up through the Auction Mart next week. I think I’ll probably be able to buy it.” Little did he know that Gordon Walker had already done a deal for £60. So, whatever it sold for was phony. But Gordon had already secured it. So, Dave got his first truck for £60. Dave always dined out on that story.

Watt, Eddie
Eddie Watt, he was a brother of Mrs TH Lowry. He was a big property owner, and then he left and went to Australia and took up considerable land holdings there. One of which I have visited, called Darr River Downs, just out of Longreach in Queensland. I spent a week there with the manager. Sue and I had done a trans-Australian trip and it was an interesting experience in that sort of country.
Fear Not Change pp206

Webb-Johnson, Lord
Lord Webb-Johnson looked after John Logan’s appendicitis. John was on military service in England. He damn nearly died from peritonitis. He was in and out of the Navy. But Webb-Johnson was brilliant with him. He wasn’t his official doctor but Dr Harry Wilson from Hastings was a friend of the family. When John was so ill, he said to Ivan [Logan, John’s father], “look, I’ve got a close colleague over there. I’ll get him to go and have a look.”

Wenley, George Seton
GS Wenley was a nice old guy. I knew him well. He was a great friend of Frank’s. He was a bit older than Frank and I think Frank used him as a bit of a sounding board. His son Seton bought the homestead, station and buildings out at Maraekakaho.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams – Lawyers Since 1875, p51

White, Hugh
Hugh White was the father of Larry and Tom White at Sherwood. It was a big property. Then it was divided by two into Sherwood, where Tom was, and Barnsdale, where Larry was. Now it’s all one, run by young Larry White and his sons. It’s a beautiful property. They’ve got a very efficient operation. They have a large dairy unit. They’re setting an example to the rest of the dairy industry as to how to contain pollution and things.
Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay p199

Whitneys
The Whitneys made munitions. They had the Colonial Ammunition Company. That was the Whitney company. There was only one of my generation, called Chisholm Whitney and he never married. He did wonderful things with

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charitable organisations. I know there’s a big Whitney Foundation up in Auckland.

Wilder ET
The Wilders went to Haywood School. One was Tony. He would’ve been eight, I think. One was Perry, who was Nick Wilder’s father. The other one was the General and he had no children. They were the only three Wilders up there in Dad’s time. Tony Wilder’s son, Beau, his initials were ETG (Edward Thornton). ET is my contemporary. I know Dad was very friendly with Tony because he got Duncan Holden a job as a cadet on Atua Station when he came out in 1928.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p62

Wilder, Tim
Tim Wilder was at Gallipoli. He was a general – General Tim Wilder. Apart from being a school
friend of dad’s, he became a Major General in the Second World War and took the Third Echelon over to Egypt. He farmed in the Wanstead area. Tim Wilder contributed a lot to Hawke’s Bay.

Williams, Athol Sam
Athol was a son of Archdeacon Samuel Williams at Te Aute. They lived up on the hill,
just as you go in on the right. There’s a churchup there too.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p135

Williams, Cedric, Chris & Cyril
Cedric, Chris and Cyril were killed in the influenza epidemic 1918. They were brothers of HB and AB Williams. Cyril Williams owned Atua Station (near Elsthorpe). It had originally been bought by JN Williams. Percy owned another property that later came down to the two Miss Williams who ended up living at Frimley. They were orphaned because their mother died with flu as well. So, Mrs Cyril Williams had Tim and Barney and Jim and Betty (who married Bevan Williams). They lived at Atua because Atua belonged to JN Williams, when he owned Eton station. Tim got Aramutu; Barney got Papahope; Jim stayed at Atua; Tony got Springbush. Pat married a Swinburne-Kelly and lived at Rotoma. Mrs Jones married a doctor and lived in England. Cyril only had two daughters. One was Chrissy. They lived in the big house in Frimley Park that JN Williams built and was burnt down at a later day. As I say, they were orphaned when mother and father died from
flu. AB and HB were the two elder brothers. Of course, they went up the coast. One died in the Erebus crash, the wife, she was HB’s daughter. Her husband, Bill, was a cousin.
The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p62

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He was a William Williams, I know that much. Of course, Bill’s sister Jane, she died in that crash too because Bill and Jan were booked on the flight. There were a few seats left and, of course, Jane had all the money in the world. So, they decided to take sister Jane and they also decided to take Marjorie and Mallion Allen. They were living at that lovely home that belonged to Lindsay Gordon, just on the other side of Clive.

Williams, Samuel
Archdeacon Williams was an early settler, landowner and was responsible for establishing Te Aute College.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1w25/williams-samuel; The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand p135

Williams, Tim & Tripe, Phillipa
Philippa was a daughter of the Dan Riddifords and Tim Williams’ family owned The Dominion.
Tim, although he was a doctor, he was alsoChairman of The Dominion.

Willock, Rex
Rex Willock was manager of Williams & Kettle in Gisborne, but he was a friend – a school friend – of Dad’s. Rex was quite a big noise in Gisborne.

Wilson, Denty
Denty Wilson was Napier Dentist and a close of Francis Logan. His son Harry was a general practitioner, mainly a surgeon. He lived in Lyndhurst Road. Every ailment that anyone came to him with he put Mercurochrome on it. He had a spaniel dog, so the local yobs called Harry’s dog “Mercurochrome Harry”. He was a nice guy, charming individual. His son was my head of house at Collegiate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin

Wilson, Miss
Rae Wilson was a secretary at Sainsbury Logan & Williams
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, pp180, 330 – 333

Woodhouse, Airini
Airini Rhodes became a Woodhouse, and lived at Bluecliffs, South Canterbury. She was a wonderful person. Sue and I have stayed there on three occasions that I can remember. Dr Woodhouse gave up medicine and went out and ran the Bluecliffs (Timaru), property. The Rhodes were very old family friends of the Logans because of Louisa’s connection. JP Rhodes’ wife was an aunt of Granny Logans.

Woodhouse, Sir Owen
Sir Owen was a Judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, pp65, 144;

386

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Woodhouse

Wood, WG
WG Wood was in Carlile McLean Scannell and Wood. He was a trustee, in the RDD McLean Estate.
Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, pp267 -270

Wright, Phil
Phil Wright was a son of the founder of Wright Stephenson. They came from the South Island.
His wife was Fay. I remember them well.

387

LIST OF IMPORTANT STATIONS

The physical location of most of these stations can be found on www.topomap.co.nz
No. in Early Stations 69   Page No. Early Stations   Station Name   Comments

3   17   Aramoana   McHardy
6   22   Ashcott   A’Deane
7   25   Blackhead   McHardy
9   29   Braeburn   White
12   36   Clifton   Gordon
13   39   Clive Grange   Rhodes
15   45   Cricklewood   Harlow
18   51   Elsthorpe   Hardy
21   56   Fernhill   Morris
22   57   Flaxmere   Sir William Russell
24   61   Forest Gate   Holden
25   63   Frimley   Williams
29   71   Gwavas   Carlyon
39   96   Kereru   Turnbull
44   105   Longlands   Percy McHardy
48   115   Mangatarata   De Pelichet/Gollan
50   120   Mangawhare   Waterhouse
51   122   Maraekakaho   McLean
52   126   Matapiro   Shrimptons
55   133   Moeangiangi Gordon/Finlayson
56   135   Mohaka Critch Price
57   137   Mokopeka   Chambers
60   143   Mt Herbert    Russell
62   148   Oakbourne   Canning
64   153   Okawa   Lowry
65   156   Olrig   Smith
66   159   Omakere   Nairn
67   161   Omaranui   Kinross White
68   163   Oringi  Gaisford/Winston & Lulu Baron
69   165   Orua Wharo   Riddiford
75   179   Poporangi   Johnston
76   182   Porangahau   Hunter
78   186   Pourerere   Nairn

69   Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, Miriam Macgregor, AH & AW Reed Limited, Wellington, 1970

388

81   192   Rissington   Martin/Bull
82   195   Riverslea   Tanner
84   199   Sherwood   White
85   201   Smedley   Howard/Hilton
86   203   Springhill   Rhodes
90   212   Tamumu   Johnston
92   216   Tauroa   Chambers
93   217   Tautane   Herrick
94   220   Te Apiti   Chapman
96   226   Te Aute   Ellison/Coleman
99   233   Te Mata   Chambers
100   235   Te Onepu   Groome/Ormond
104   245   Tunanui   Russell
106   249   Tutira   Guthrie   Smith
110   259   Waimarama   Donnelly
111   262   Wallingford   Jack   Ormond
113   267   Whakarara   Eaton
114   269   Whana Whana   Beamish
115   273   Whangaehu   St   Hill
117   278   Woburn   Russell

Others   &   Farther   Afield

Rototawai   Bidwell   (Wairarapa)
Hatton   Rigg   Faulkiner   (Queensland)
Canargo   Faulkiner   (Queensland)
Crissoge   Donnelly
Dare River Downs   Watt   (Queensland)
Atua   Wilder/Williams
Aramutu   Williams
Papahope   Williams
Spring   Bush   Williams
Whanakino   Smith/Renton

389

Brace of quail, pheasant, pigeon (including kereru) at Blackhead Station in 1902. In this image, Francis Logan (on the right) is holding the Welsh Springer Spaniel and a Leeston Side-By-Side shotgun which is still in the Logan family. Image source: Hamilton Logan

390

EARLY STATIONS OF
HAWKE’S BAY PROVINCE

Image source: Macgregor, Miriam Early Stations of Hawkes Bay, Reed, Wellington, 1970

STATIONS

1   Abbotsford
2   Anaroa
3  Aramoana
4  Arapawanui
5  Arlington
6  Ashcott
7  Blackhead
8  Bloomfield
9  Braeburn
10   Burnside (Frasertown)
11   Burnside (Takapau)
12   Clifton
13   Clive Grange
14   Clyde Bank
15   Cricklewood
16   Edenham
17   Elmshill
18   Elsthorpe
19   Evertree
20   Fairfield
21   Fernhill
22   Flaxmere
23   Flemington
24   Forest Gate
25   Frimley
26   Glenbrook
27   Glenross
28   Greenmeadows
29   Gwavas
30   Hawkestone
31   Hedgeley
32   Herberts of Herbertville
33   Homewood
34   Huramua
35   Kahuranaki
36   Kaitoki
37   Kakariki
38   Karamu
39   Kereru
40   Kiwi
41   Knights
42   Kumeroa
43   Lake Station
44   Longlands
45   Mahia
46   Mangakuri
47   Mangamaire
48   Mangatarata
49   Mangatoro
50   Mangawhare
51   Maraekakaho
52   Matapiro
53   Maungaharuru
54   Milbourne
55   Moeangiangi
56   Mohaka
57   Mokopeka
58   Motuotaraia
60   Mt Herbert
61  Mount Vernon
62  Oakbourne
63  Ohinepaka
64  Okawa
65  Olrig
66  Omakere
67  Omaranui
68  Oringi
69  Orua Wharo
70  Patangata
71  Patoka
72  Pendle Hill
73  Petane Grange
74  Pipi Bank
75  Poporangi
76  Porangahau
77  Poukawa
78  Pourerere
79  Putorino
80  Raukawa
81  Rissington
82  Riverslea
83  St. Lawrence
84  Sherwood
85  Smedley
86  Springhill (Mohaka)
87  Springhill (Onga Onga)
88  Springvale
89  Taheke
90  Tamumu
91  Tangarewa
92  Tauroa
93  Tautane
94  Te Apiti
95  Te Aute College
96  Te Aute Station
97  Te Haroto
98  Te Mahanga
99  Te Mata
100   Te Onepu
101   The Brow
102   Tourere
103   Tuki Tuki
104   Tunanui
105   Turiroa
106   Tutira
107   Wai
108   Waihua
109   Waikiri
110   Waimarama
111   Wallingford
112   Whakaki
113   Whakarara
114   Whana Whana
115   Whangaehu
116   Willow Flat
117   Woburn

Yellow highlight denotes Stations referred to in My Story

391

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following people have made a significant contribution to the publication of this work:

Louis Daysh who had the arduous task of proof-reading the electronic text against the original hard copy version of My Story to fix the many bugs and glitches that inevitably cropped up in the scanned version

Michael Fowler for his input into the shape and form of this work and the hours spent asking the relevant questions that made the Glossary of Names a valuable and comprehensive resource

Pacific Transcription NZ who had the challenging job of producing a transcript of our oral sessions with Hamilton Logan from which the Glossary of Names was distilled

Michael Drake and Tonya Dunn of Taupo District Libraries and Museums for their assistance in identifying the location of FB’s fishing spot which graces the front and back covers of this work

Nikki Brown for printing and binding early prototypes of this work

Kat Hellyer who assisted with the imaging and layout

Timmie Logan, Tim Logan and Carl Knapp (Hamilton’s wife, son and son-in-law) for their encouragement and hospitality during the oral history sessions

Jessica Knapp for her assistance with image selection and critique

Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank for agreeing to host the electronic copy of this work on its platform

Mary Egan and Sophia Egan of Mary Egan Publishing for their sage advice on printing options

Chloe Knapp for her help with imaging including the photograph of Hamilton and Stu at the end of this book

392

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Len Throughout the East Coast: The Story of Williams and Kettle Limited, Pictorial Publications, Hastings, 1974

Brosnahan, Terry Glenaray 1898 – 1998, W Pinkney Limited, Waikaia, 1998

Coleman, Adrian Lust for Land, Printlink, Havelock North, 2011

Conly, Geoff A Case History: The Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board 1876 – 1989, Hawke’s Bay Area Health Board, Napier, 1992

Gordon, Angus In the Shadow of the Cape: A History of the Gordon Family of Clifton, Angus Gordon, Cape Kidnappers, 2004

Guthrie-Smith, Herbert, Tutira: The Story of a New Zealand Sheep Station Reed, Wellington, 1969.

Langmore, Diane Glittering Surfaces – A Life of Maie Casey, Allen & Unwin, 1997

Logan, Hamilton & McGregor, Ewan Fear Not Change,  Hamilton Logan, Havelock North, 2020 Macgregor, Miriam Early Stations of Hawke’s Bay, Reed, Wellington, 1970

McBain, Hugh The Plough, the Chalice and the Sword: Stories of the Williams Family in New Zealand, Hugh McBain, Havelock North, 2022

Shanahan, Mary Kereru Station: Two Sisters’ Legacy, Phantom House Books Limited, Wellington, 2015

Tustin, Ken, A (Nearly) Complete History of the Moose in New Zealand, The Halcyon Press, Auckland, 2010

Vennell, Jock The Forgotten General: New Zealand’s World War One Commander, Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, Crow’s Nest, New South Wales, Allen & Unwin 2011

Webster, Stuart Sainsbury Logan & Williams: Lawyers Since 1875, Sainsbury Logan & Williams, Napier, 2011

393

INDEX

NOTES TO THE INDEX

In a work of this length it was always going to be important to have a comprehensive index, at least in respect of the hardbound printed version. With over 7400 separate index entries (and more than that in individual page references) there had to be a trade-off between too many and too few. In approaching this task it’s assumed that someone reading the memoirs might skim the index to get a sense of the range of names, events, placenames, vessels and other subjects covered, almost as a touchstone that draws the reader into a particular person or subject mentioned in the text.

Every single page of text was reviewed to establish what items should form part of the index.

However, when using the index the following points should be borne in mind:

1.   Index collation is an art and not a science.

2.   Not all of the information on a given page is correct or has been independently verified.

3.   In the memoirs, sometimes names are spelt differently on later pages either as a result of an earlier mistake or a revision after FB has spent more time with the individual or written about them or to them. Where a mistake is obvious, a correction has been made. Otherwise the text has been left as is.

4.   It’s not known what proof-reading of the original memoirs was done. In the age of electronic typewriters any corrections would need to be done by correcting tape or handwritten interlineation. Although there is some evidence of this, the manuscript has been left largely untouched.

5.   It is well-known that FB’s writing could be a challenge. He says as much part-way through the exercise in January 1966: On looking over the story of 1965 it appears to me there is much that cannot be of great interest to you so I shall try to cut down considerably on 1966 but if you are at all curious you can refer to my original diary -that is if you can read it. 70

6.   This work spans 84 years (1884 to 1968). There are additional years on account of the supplementary material which has also been included in this work. Over that entire period of time individuals are born, grow up, get married. Some change their names or take on different careers that might provide a different nomenclature. For instance, JG Coates went from being a parliamentary candidate to an MP, a Minister of the Crown and Prime Minister returning to being an MP and then an ordinary citizen in his latter years. Some individuals received a knighthood (for instance, Russell Pettigrew became Sir Russell following his knighthood) or inherited a peerage title. All of this presents a challenge when making entries in the index for one individual over time. The general rule has been to make reference in the index to the title that the individual had at the time he or she was being written about or described in the text. As a consequence, you will find a variety of different references to the same individual. That is intentional, given that anyone researching a particular individual might only know them according to the identifier that was used at a particular place and time.7. The memoirs also group individuals together from time to time. For example, Eddie Herrick is variously referred to as a friend, a businessman, a farmer, a colleague, a co-trustee, and a co-director with FB. He and his wife Ethne were very close friends of FB and Dorothy and so, on

70   My Story, January 1966

394

occasion, they are referred to as “Eddie & Ethne Herrick”. At other times, that’s reversed and they are referred to as “Ethne & Eddie”. More commonly, FB would simply say that the “Eddie Herricks” had called around for tea. Sometimes this would just mean Eddie and Ethne, but it could also refer to their children commonly, Jasper, Julia and Barbara. On those occasions, the index simply refers to them as the “Herricks” – pluralising the surname without providing Christian names or initials. In order to get a sense of who exactly is being referred to, the reader will need to look up the actual text of the memoirs to discover that.

8.   FB started this exercise on Christmas Day 1965. You can imagine him, armed with his diaries and other notes, about to start this daunting exercise (rather than fold and put away the Christmas wrapping paper that Dorothy probably wanted him to do) he did not have the full names of every character that he was about to mention in his memoirs. Often he would simply refer to people by their surnames. We’re in fact fortunate that in some cases he could recall just the surnnames because the memoirs are a rich source of identities who came within FB’s orbit over the 80 or 90 years that he has chronicled. For that reason, there is frequently a reference in the index to just a surname and nothing more. Sometimes he would add some, or all, of the initials with the surname. At other times, FB would refer to individuals simply as “Mr”, “Mrs” or “Miss”. For that reason, the particular individual will have to be identified from the text of the memoirs where possible. Rather than second-guessing and trying to connect individuals by the same or a similar name in other parts of the text, it is left for the reader to make that connection – if one can be made at all.

9.   Some locations, stations and homesteads are given a variety of references which make it difficult to index in a comprehensive yet economical way. For example, reference to Kereru could mean the district of Kereru, the farm known as Kereru Station, the Kereru Homestead, the Kereru Estate that was administered following the Turnbulls’ death, Kereru Hall which was a physical building that formed part of the community, Kereru Hall Trust Board which administered the Hall on the community’s behalf and Kereru Sports which was an annual event held at the Kereru Grounds. Some of the references in the memoirs are simply to “Kereru” without an explanation of precisely what about “Kereru” is being specifically referred to. Similarly, “Lindisfarne” was the homestead owned by Eddie and Ethne Herrick but following their generous offer of the land for a school and their relocation to “Muritai” in Havelock North, the name has taken on a new and different meaning in more recent times. All the references to “Lindisfarne” in the memoirs is to the Herricks’ homestead and not to the school. The approach taken in these circumstances is to adopt the word or phrase as it appears in the text of the memoirs and, again, it is up to the reader to discern where the reference fits, in terms of relevance.

10.   For those using this work as a reference text for historical research on another project, it is hoped that the combination of the index and the ability to word-search the electronic copy will provide a dependable resource. However, the words of FB have been faithfully rendered using best endeavours and the technology available. Because we are all human beings (and that includes FB, Annie Whyte his typist, Dorothy who helped decipher her husband’s writing, Hamilton (to a lesser extent) who assisted FB with passages of text and the editor of this work) there will be errors in the memoirs and the index. Anyone using this material should be mindful of that.

11.   It should also be noted that the memoirs appear just as they were first produced according to the language and social parameters that applied at the time of writing (namely, between 1965 and 1968). They are uncensored. Some parts of the text use words and touch on topics and

395

describe events and individuals in a way that we would probably now (and undoubtedly in years to come) criticise. I include here matters of ethnicity and gender. Rather than (metaphorically speaking) tearing down historical statues that some revisionists would have us do, the reader is invited instead to view this work in the context of the social mores and colonial influence that prevailed for all of the period covered and to take anything said that might (now) seem offensive in the spirit of the unquestionable good intentions of the memoir’s author.

12.   It may seem trite, but there is little to no reference in the index to FB himself. That is because the whole of the memoirs are written by him speaking in the first person and everything said is connected somehow and in some way to him. Otherwise there would be twenty references on each page of the memoirs to FB and the index would be four times longer than it is.

13.   Ocean-going vessels, books and plays are in italics. Everything else (including the names of pets and farm stations) is not.

396

1

1 Clyde Road, Napier, 303
10 Clyde Road, Napier, 222, 225, 250
12 Apostles, 326, 328
15 Connaught Square, London, 37, 39, 44, 232
18 Fitzroy Road, Napier, 31
18 Lincoln Road, Napier, 162
1886 Tarawera Eruption, 114
1931 Earthquake, 4, 14, 73, 79,88, 98, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 117, 119, 123, 125, 131, 163, 169, 318, 319, 321, 322, 324, 331, 332, 334, 337, 371

4

4 Gladstone Road, Napier, 164
45 Grant Road, Wellington, 160
45 The Broad, Oxford, 10, 44

5

5 Bentinck Street, London, 57

6

6 Evelyn Gardens, London, 54
6 Princes Street, Hanover Square, London, 341

7

73 St. James Street, London, 284
75 Cheyne Court, London, 374

8

8th Germany, 166

A

A Day by the Sea, 232
A Prayer for Owen Meany, 3
A. & P. Society Committee, 272
A.M.P., 275
A.N.Z., 279
A.N.Z. Bank, 287, 288, 307
A.N.Z. Bank (London), 232
A’bear, 271, 273, 277
A’Deane JB, 315
A’Deane, 107, 387
AA Society (Hawke’s Bay), 324
Abadare, Lord, 34
Abbot, Harry, 30
Abbott, H, 25
Abingdon, 38
Abraham, Harold, 23
Abraham, Ritchie, 23, 57
Absolom, Archer, 376
Abyssinia, 123, 145, 146
Acclimatisation Society, 115
Achilles, 149
Acland Family, 25
Acland, Mrs, 25
Aclands, 25, 49
Acts of the Apostles, 37
Adair, Sir Alan & Lady, 232
Addington Stock Yards, 185
Adelaide, 21, 54, 64
Aden, 21, 54, 57, 308
Admiralty, 205
Aerial Mapping, 269, 382
Africa, 214, 273
Africa Star, 350
Agricultural Department, 131
Ahuriri, 123, 319, 321
Ahuriri Lagoon, 20, 82, 105,126, 148, 161, 163, 176, 183, 198
Ainsworth, Nellie, 165, 186, 237
Ainsworth, W, 73
Air Force, 147, 169, 212
Air Force Board, 140
Air Training Camp, 146
Airforce Blue, 350
Akaroa, 132
Akitio, 345
Al Alamein, 350
Al Alamein Cemetery, 374
Alan, James, 69
Albany, 21, 47
Albemarle Street, London, 200
Albert Hall, 205, 234
Albert Park, Auckland, 59
Alderman of London, 283
Alderton, Judge, 112
Alexander, 150
Algies, Don, 190
Alice in Wonderland, 10, 44, 359
All Blacks, 36, 41, 47, 130, 268, 299, 310, 312
All Saints, 65
All Souls, 33, 42, 44
Allard, Jim, 188
Allard, Shirley, 188
Allen, 83, 121, 126
Allen, David, 344
Allen, J (Hoppy), 95
Allen, Malion & Marjorie, 344
Allen, Mrs, 168
Allen, Sister, 121
Allen, Stephen, 122
Allies, 6, 147, 157, 160, 161
Aln, 35
Alnwick Cattle Fair, 229
Alpers, Judge, 87
Althorp, Lord, 229, 232
Alverstone, Lord, 44
Alvis Car, 215
Ambler, Pam, 61, 62
Amery, Banks, 159
Amos Atkinson (Bootmakers), 203
Amsterdam, 231, 245, 247, 304
Amyes, Buck, 273, 275, 276, 277, 278, 295, 300, 357
Amyes, Girlie, 304, 313
Amyes, Mrs, 254
An Australian Story, 289
Ancient Castle, 40
Ancroft, 62
Ancroft, Taupo, 292
Anderson Family, 113, 184, 227
Anderson, Alec, 175, 180, 219, 221, 238, 252
Anderson, Alec & Betty, 249
Anderson, AM (Miss), 290, 308
Anderson, Bessie, 113, 159
Anderson, Betty, 175, 217, 220, 222, 223, 246, 263
Anderson, Bob, 82, 175, 207, 344
Anderson, Budd, 175
Anderson, George, 144, 167, 168, 212, 216, 344
Anderson, Jim, 177, 184, 344
Anderson, John, 289, 344
Anderson, Len, 4, 143, 313
Anderson, Miss, 244
Anderson, Misses, 82
Anderson, Mrs, 82, 175, 184, 216
Anderson, Rev J, 216

397

Anderson, Tiny (Miss), 113
Anderson’s (Pukekino), 179
Anderson’s Corner (Pukekino), 156, 171
Andersons, 20, 189, 207, 209, 213, 218, 236, 240, 245, 247, 253
Andersons, Alec, 254
Andes, 108, 334
Andover, 148
Andrews Hotel, Dannevirke, 248
Andro, Aunt, 54
Anglican Service, 180
Angus breeder, 353
Annett, 228
Annual Floral Fete, 231
Annual Ram Fair 1950, 205
Anson on Contracts, 42
Anson, Anne, 60
Anson, Dolly, 58
Anson, Fred, 38
Anson, Mr & Mrs, 44
Anson, William, 38, 42
Anthony Eden Cup, 246, 263
Antwerp, 39, 47
Anzac Parade, 159
Anzac Service, 129
Aorangi, 145, 196
Apley, 77, 82, 112, 374
Apley Station, 331
Appeal Board, 167
Apsley House, 233
Arab States, 307
Arabs, 187
Aramoana, 192, 297, 323, 368, 387
Aramoana Station, 323
Aramutu, 384, 388
Arapata, 367
Arapuni Hydro, 102
Aratiatia Rapids, Taupo, 367
Arawa, 19, 178, 180
Archbishop Averill, 114
Archbishop Julius, 26, 344
Archbishop of Canterbury, 42, 206, 354
Archbishop of New Zealand, 61, 276
Archbishop West-Watson, 164
Archdeacon Gowing, Christchurch, 272
Archdeacon Samuel Williams, 316
Archduke of Austria, 70
Archer, Geoffrey, 263
Archibalds, 199, 244
Ardlussa, 25
Argentina, 62
Argyll, 261
Arizona Desert, 90
Ark Royal, 147
Arkwright, Dorothy, 163
Arkwright, John, 163
Armstrong Whitworth Limited, 94
Armstrong Whitworths, Tyne, 23
Armstrong, Hamish, 122, 345
Armstrong, Lord, 33, 35, 39
Armstrong-Jones, Anthony, 272
Army & Navy Stores, 22, 233
Armytage, Miss, 223
Armytage, Mr, 57
Armytage, Oscar, 57
Arnheim, 231
Arnold, 247, 294
Art Council, 270, 276
Art Gallery, 273, 274
Ash Family, 229
Ash, Frank & Mrs, 283
Ashburn Hall, 258, 271, 297
Ashby de la Zouche, 203
Ashcott, 315, 387
Ashes of Narborough Hall, 282
Ashington, 33, 34
Ashington Colliery, 33
Ashley Clinton, 243, 244
Asquith Cabinet, 94
Asquith Government, 32
Assembly Hall, Hastings, 198
Assembly Room, Hastings, 97
Athenaeum, 105
Athenic, 263, 284, 285
Athens, 302
Athletic Sports, 164
Athletic Sports Meeting, 171
Atkins, 244, 248
Atkinson, 61, 80
Atkinson, Harold, 185
Atlantic, 119, 135, 142, 146, 200, 338
Atlocide, 134
Attiki, 33
Attwood, 112
Attwood, G, 112
Attwoods, 204, 229
Atua, 101, 210, 384, 388
Atua Station, 384
Auckland, 18, 21, 28, 36, 50, 52, 59, 60, 61, 64, 67, 76, 80, 92, 105, 117, 118, 121, 129, 136, 137, 140, 145, 147, 149, 154, 155, 159, 160, 165, 166, 169, 174, 175, 176, 178, 179, 181, 186, 196, 206, 210, 211, 216, 218, 219, 220, 225, 234, 244, 255, 256, 258, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 268, 271, 272, 277, 278, 280, 285, 286, 287, 291, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 301, 302, 303, 304, 306, 310, 312, 323
Auckland Harbour, 235
Auckland Harbour Works, 166
Auckland Hospital, 176
Aunt Andro, 19, 28, 76, 245
Aunt Bess, 142
Aunt Helen, 94, 107, 136, 202, 212
Austin, 192
Austin Family, 64
Austin Seven Truck, 216
Austin, (Misses), 345
Austin, Elsie, 129
Austin, Family, 58
Austin, Ken, 185, 215
Austin, Win & Elsie, 206
Austins, 129, 144
Australia, 57, 58, 65, 71, 95, 96, 111, 123, 129, 131, 132, 141, 142, 149, 154, 177, 187, 188, 214, 223, 227, 237, 251, 252, 261, 275, 276, 277, 288, 300, 309, 310, 353, 383
Australia House, 165
Australian Ambassador to U.S.A., 140
Australian Bight, 21, 206
Australian currency, 309
Australian Elections 1949, 197
Australian Father and Son, 177
Australian Forces, 72
Austria, 69, 132, 369
Autumn Show, 253, 261
Auxilliary Service Corp, 381
Aveling, Bruce, 276
Avelings, 266, 276
Averill, 80, 85, 110, 112, 121, 167
Averill Family, 73, 92, 103, 104
Averill, Ann, 335
Averill, Anne, 104
Averill, Archbishop, 165
Averill, Archbishop & Mrs, 166, 186

398

Averill, AW, 61
Averill, C, 115
Averill, Cath & Rochie, 174
Averill, Cecil, 73, 79, 84, 108, 144, 148, 163, 184, 188, 189, 192, 199, 213, 221, 222, 227, 244, 275, 278, 279, 286, 308, 334, 335
Averill, Coley & Rochie, 153, 192
Averill, E, 79, 94, 111, 181, 182
Averill, Edward, 72, 345
Averill, Edward (Mrs), 142
Averill, Eric, 174
Averill, Family, 93
Averill, Gwynth, 111
Averill, Hansen [Hanson], 267
Averill, Joan, 190
Averill, John, 158
Averill, Michael & Joan, 287
Averill, Morrie, 79, 105, 220, 349
Averill, Morrie & Cecil, 159
Averill, Morris, 94, 294, 349
Averill, Mr, 154, 155
Averill, Mrs, 114
Averill, R, 113
Averill, Rochie, 73, 79, 81, 85, 88, 101, 103, 111, 127, 177, 178, 189, 198, 199, 213, 217, 253, 258, 345, 365
Averill, Rochie & Coley, 159, 160, 187, 192, 220, 260, 265
Averill, Ted & Shirley, 309
Averill, Zillah, 308
Averill, Zillah & Mary, 257
Averills, 130, 218, 266
Avery, Norman, 141, 242, 286
Avonbank, 93, 183
Avondale Mental Home, 269
Awahuri, 61, 72
Awanga, 116, 168, 184, 192, 207, 224, 247, 249, 253, 258
Awapai, 346
Awapawanui, 117
Awatea, 132
Awatea (U.S.S. Company), 129
Awatoto, 126, 187
Awatoto Shingle Company, 262
Aymes, Buck, 294
Azores, 136
Azores Islands, 157

B

B & O Capitol Train, 91
B.B.C., 312
B.B.C. News, 148
B.M.A., Wellington, 302
B.O.A.C., 268, 291
Baden Powell, Lord & Lady, 121
Baden Powell, Mrs, 204, 347
Bahama, 281
Bain, Donald, 252, 262, 267, 276, 292, 293
Bain, Donald & Mrs, 310
Bain, Nancy, 189
Baines, Bishop of Wellington, 280
Baker, 256, 257, 258
Baker, Freddie, 38, 54, 63
Baker, Racy, 303
Baker, Rodney, 258
Balboa, 135, 200, 228, 235, 280, 284
Balclutha, 293
Balfour, Allen, 212
Balfour, L.W., 19
Balfour, Lady Eva, 267
Balkan, 144
Balkan States, 144
Ballantynes, 272
Ballantynes Department Store, Christchurch, 185
Balmoral Castle, 202
Balruddery, 170
Baltic, 231
Balvraid, 54
Bamburgh, 68, 71, 135, 136, 203, 205, 229, 230, 265, 278
Bamburgh Castle, 34, 35, 39, 45, 56, 233
Bamburgh Hall, 205, 233
Bank House, 18, 32, 33, 34, 35
Bank of Australasia, 161, 171, 362
Bank of England, 32
Bank of New South Wales, 19, 28, 76, 175, 234, 240, 284, 352
Bank of New South Wales, Berkeley Square, London, 247
Bank of New Zealand, 86, 161, 169, 176, 275
Bankes, Conrad, 35
Bannerman, Rachel, 18
Barbados, West Indies, 116, 266
Barbers, 229
Barbizon, 204
Barham House, 32, 33, 284
Barker, 112, 119, 258
Barker, John, 115, 161, 255
Barkham Gardens, 234
Barley Grass, 219
Barlow, 32
Barnard, 111, 124, 125
Barnard, WC, 114
Barnard, WE, 97, 102, 124, 140
Barners Street, 35
Barnett, 125, 158, 164, 184, 218, 277, 286, 288
Barnett By-pass, 228
Barnett Family, 121
Barnett, Capt, 137
Barnett, Dr, 118, 128, 130
Barnett, HA, 125
Barnett, Harold, 158, 162, 173, 207, 238, 246, 255, 290
Barnett, Jocelyn, 294
Barnett, Louis, 92
Barnetts, 242, 244, 257, 279
Barney, 199
Barnicoat, Mrs, 26
Barnsdale, 383
Barrack Hill, Napier, 323
Barrett, 149
Barrett-Boyes, 88
Barrett-Boyes, Dr, 295, 297, 304
Barretts Reef, Wellington, 313
Barromean Islands, 56
Barron (Government Purchase (Officer), 52
Barron (Government Purchase Officer), 52
Barron, Gay, 118
Barron, Guy & Zoe, 137
Barron, Jack, 132
Barron, Jack & Joan, 233
Barron, John, 203, 271
Barron, John & Joan, 203
Barron, Lulu, 115, 197, 217, 219, 242, 246, 256, 259, 262, 265, 267, 269, 271, 272, 274, 276, 277, 279, 285, 286, 288, 289, 292, 294, 295, 300
Barron, Lulu & Winston, 67, 96, 111, 121, 125, 153, 154, 157, 158, 159, 176, 181, 186, 189, 193, 195, 199, 200, 203, 204, 207, 209, 214, 216, 222, 226, 237, 239, 240, 241, 243, 245, 247, 252, 254, 257, 258, 345
Barron, Peter, 274
Barron, Richard & Simon, 280
Barron, Winston, 203, 217, 222, 225, 227, 241, 246, 256, 259
Barrons, 121, 154
Bartlett, 224, 260
Barton, 105, 114, 118,

399

Barton (Commissioner), 109
Barton, Elspeth, 200, 221, 228
Basic Slag, 70
Basle, 56
Bates, 249
Bates (Chief Officer of a British Oil Tanker), 249
Bates, Captain, 80
Bates, Dennis, 251
Bates, Ed, 295
Bath, 33, 46, 116, 202, 282
Batt, 267
Batten, Jean, 116
Battersby, Sir Harry & Lady, 168, 346
Battle Abbey, 32, 284
Battle of Britain, 143, 155, 160, 359
Battle of Waterloo, 56
Bay of Biscay, 57
Bay of Islands, 220, 306, 328
Bay of Plenty, 13, 173, 294, 313
Bay View, 223, 224, 242, 246, 255
Bayley, 175
Bayly, Humphrey, 277, 291
Bayly, Orme, 102
Bayswater Road, London, 228
BBC, 360
Beachaven [Beachhaven], 313
Beachy Head, 63, 202, 284
Beamish, 28, 120, 130, 191, 388
Beamish, Bill, 346
Beamish, Dennis, 346
Beamish, Eric, 28, 29, 298, 346
Beamish, Eric & Noel, 346
Beamish, G, 75
Beamish, George, 123, 315, 346
Beamish, Harold, 346
Beamish, Michael, 346
Beamish, Mrs, 346
Beamish, Noel, 28, 29, 102, 346
Beamish, Paul, 346
Beamish, Simon, 346
Bean, Mrs, 206, 215
Beaths, 215
Beatson, 123
Beatson, George & Muriel, 243
Beattie, 362
Bedford County School, 227
Bedfordshire Middle Class Public School, 3
Bedingfield, Lady, 283
Beere, Rordon, 263
Beeston-Humber, 53, 58
Beetham, 114, 288
Beetham, R.F., 41
Beetham, R.F.R., 29
Beetham, Ralph, 191, 242, 346
Belfast, 136
Belford, 203, 205, 229, 233
Belgian Front, 163
Belgium, 39, 139, 140, 163
Belgrade, 63
Bell, 179, 196
Bell Family (Wellington), 51
Bell Television, 295
Bell, Cohn, 245
Bell, Col Robin, 346
Bell, Colin, 303, 307
Bell, Dorothy, 169
Bell, Major General Harvey, 165
Bell, Robin, 209
Bell’s Distillery, Scotland, 232
Bell’s Whisky, 202, 224, 296
Belle, 71
Bellerby, Beth, 182
Bellingham, 35
Belstone, 92, 107, 136, 202, 212
Ben Lomond, Clyde Road, Napier, 174, 177, 267, 304, 322
Bence-Pembroke, 37
Bendall, Osmond, 257
Benghazi, 148
Benmore Hydro Electric Works, 293
Berendson, Sir Carl, 89
Beresford, 319
Berkeley Square, London, 234
Berkhamstead, 229
Berkhan, 92
Berlin, 43, 166
Bermuda, 281
Bernates, 33
Bernau, 26, 86, 94
Bernau Family, 58
Bernau, Dr, 53, 75, 76, 202, 353
Bernau, Ernest, 298
Bernau, Gladys, 83, 346
Bernau, Hope, 221, 257, 260, 269, 290, 291, 298, 300
Bernau, Mrs, 59, 248, 300
Bernaus, 25
Berry, Alan, 84, 101
Berry, Dr A, 95
Berwick, 62, 229, 230
Berwick-on-Tweed, 205, 284
Berwickshire, 284
Bess, 72
Bestall, Leo, 200, 241, 251, 252
Bestall, Mrs, 232, 287, 308
Bestalls, 253
Bethell, Thyra, 240
Bettingham, Vicky, 304
Bettington, Hobbs & Marion, 132
Bettington, Marian, 294
Bettington, Marion & Reg, 97, 214
Bettington, Reg, 97, 129, 300, 347, 366
Bevan, 160, 188
Bevin Capt, 276
Bevin, Capt, 123
Bexhill, 32
Bickton, 126
Bidwell, 139, 347
Bidwell (Wairarapa), 388
Bidwell Family, 60
Bidwell, Cappy, 206, 306
Bidwell, Carne & Cappy, 217
Bidwell, Carrie, 207
Bidwell, Ewan, 347
Bidwell, Mollie, 58
Bidwell, W, 75
Bidwell, WE, 77, 110
Bidwell, Will, 75, 76
Bidwell, Will (Mrs), 347
Bidwell, Will & Millie, 58, 59, 83
Bidwill, Charlie, 19
Big Brother, 94
Big Hill, 79, 181, 236, 238, 252, 271, 332, 363
Big Hill Station, 110, 171, 363
Bigge, Miss, 46
Biggs, AC, 101
Bight to Adelaide, 57
Billingsgate Fish Market, 205
Binnie, 160
Binnie (Port Line), 191
Birch, Capt, 57
Birch, Charlie, 95
Birch, Maai, 57
Bird Cage, 51
Birdcage Walk, 229
Birkenhead, 80, 307
Birkenhead, Lord, 44
Birmingham, 232, 260
Birrell, 55
Bishop Holland, 164, 165, 170
Bishop Julius, 44
Bishop Lesser, 181, 241
Bishop of Auckland, 272
Bishop of Christchurch, 44
Bishop of Liverpool, 42
Bishop of London, 38, 42

400

Bishop of Melanesia, 26, 344
Bishop of Norfolk, 362
Bishop of Stepney, 38
Bishop of Waiapu, 36, 61, 108, 125, 159, 164, 224, 247, 276
Bishop of Waikato, 293
Bishop of Wakefield, 42
Bishop of Wellington, 174, 362
Bishop of Whitby, 81
Bishopscourt, 26
Bishopscourt Napier, 166
Bismark, 145
Bisson, C, 142
Bisson, CH, 347
Bisson, Don, 173, 255, 275, 347
Bisson, Don & Myra, 226
Bisson, Myra, 182, 364
Bissons, 227
Bitchener, 114
Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, 114
Black, 194
Black and White Minstrels Show, 305
Black Bridge, Te Awanga, 247
Black Country, 202
Black Influenza, 76
Black, Capt, 158
Black, Dick, 221, 308
Black, Don, 179, 206
Black, Donald, 206
Black, Gavin, 174
Blackhead, 27, 47, 51, 58, 62, 323, 387
Blackhead Station, 316, 323, 368, 389
Blackmores, 309
Blackstone Engine, 71
Blakeley, 44
Blakeway, 42
Bledisloe, Lady, 114
Bledisloe, Lord, 103, 179
Bledisloe, Lord & Lady, 115
Bledisloes, 121
Blenheim, 42, 145, 215
Blenheim Palace, 38
Blenheim Palace Lake, 42
Bley, Robert, 230
Blickling Hall, 283
Blind Foundation, 367
Blom’s Antique Shop, Napier, 296
Blood, Mrs, 34
Bloomfield, George, 118, 308
Bloomfield, Margot, 308
Bloomfield, Mrs, 204, 347
Blowhard, 102
Blue Bell Inn, 205
Blue Coat School, Hartford, 284
Blue Cross Kennels, 242
Blue Mountains, 59, 129
Bluecliffs, South Canterbury, 75, 385
Bluff, 23, 54, 227, 293
Bluff Hill, Napier, 160, 161, 240, 247, 321
Blundell, EA, 214
Blundell, Pen, 242
Blythe, 190
Blythe Family, 186
Blythe, Mrs, 221
Bob’s Paddock (Pukekino), 192
Bobby Calves, 240
Bobrikoff, 59, 60, 323
Boer War, 26, 27, 51
Boers, 27
Bognor Regis, 234
Bois de Bologne, 204
Bologna, 63
Bolton Family (Oulton Hall), 55
Bolton, Walter, 35
Bombay, 377
Bombers, 146
Bone, Charlie, 172, 189, 227, 348
Bonn, 56
Boonoke North, 353
Boonoke South, 353 Boots, 220
Border Leicester, 310
Borlase, Mrs, 84
Borthwick, Pat, 271
Borthwick’s Freezing Works, 378
Boston, 381
Boston Bombers, 6, 150, 151
Botanical Gardens, 64, 281
Botanical Gardens, Christchurch, 293
Botanical Gardens, Napier, 308
Botherway, 213
Bothoway, 177
Boulton, Mr & Miss, 46
Bourgeanviller Club, 89
Bournemouth, 45
Bousefield, Roy, 299
Bovey Tracey, Devon, 201
Bowness, 202
Boy’s Paddock (Pukekino), 165
Boyd, 128
Boyden, Maud, 95
Boyes, Brian, 179
Boyle, David, 185, 200, 228
Boyle, Phyllis, 59, 240
Brackenbury, 33, 34
Bradfield College, 44
Bradley, 247, 268
Bradley, Arthur, 288
Bradley, Trevor, 280
Braeburn, 82, 387
Braemar, 202
Braithwaite, Lady Victoria, 312
Bramley, 282
Brampton Oratory, 282
Bramwell, 156
Brandon (Stud Groom, Okawa), 162
Brandon Family (Wellington), 51
Branson, 144
Branston, 346
Brazier, Mitchell, 229, 236
Braziers, 233
Breakwater, 88, 119, 154, 156, 168, 263, 273, 303, 322, 360
Breakwater Harbour, 18, 115, 119
Breakwater Party, 325
Breakwater Road, Napier, 246
Bremen, 231
Brewster Lane, Napier, 123, 253, 317
Brick Works, Napier, 97
Bridge Estate, 241
Bridge Pa, 69, 265
Bridgeman, Lord, 279
Bridges, Betty, 302
Brig, 11
Brighton, 202
Brightwell, Mrs, 49
Brigue, 12, 56
Brindisi, 22, 63
Brindisi Express, 63
Brinier, 95
Brisbane, 272
Bristol, 202
Britain, 132, 141, 153, 157, 158, 167, 187, 229, 247, 248, 312
Britannia, 231, 302
British Armies, 140
British Army, 19, 72, 96, 166, 327, 370
British Cabinet, 159
British Elections, 168
British Elections 1959, 269
British Elections 1966, 302

401

British Expeditionary Force, 139, 140
British Food Ministry, 205
British Government, 300
British High Commissioner, 246
British Industries Fair, Olympia, 229
British Isles, 130
British Linen Bank, 40
British Minister to Serbia, 63
British Royal Family, 63
British Service Men, 204
Brittany, 146, 147
Broadway, 91
Brock, Frances, 133
Brock, Fred, 84
Brock, Mrs, 334
Brock, Phil, 73, 74, 76, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, 93, 98, 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 108, 299, 303, 310, 334, 335, 336, 348
Brock, Phil & Mrs, 105, 300
Brocklehurst, Dean, 125, 159, 162
Brodie, 160, 161, 319
Brodie, Malcolm, 229
Brompton Road, London, 234
Brookes, Lady Mabel, 54
Brookes, Norman, 42
Brookes, Sir Norman and Lady Mabel, 59
Brooke-Taylor, 274
Brooks, 296
Brossmith, Aline, 253
Brown trout, 24, 50, 59
Brown, J Vigor, 315, 324, 382
Brown, RA, 192
Brown, RD, 184, 198
Brown’s Corner (Pukekino), 334
Brown’s Corner (Olrig), 77
Browne, 239, 267
Browne, Capt, 272
Browne, Col & Mrs, 304, 305
Browne, Fred, 264
Browne, FW, 174, 186, 187, 190
Browne, Sir C, 32
Browne’s Hotel, London, 233
Brownes, 306
Brownes Hotel, 200
Brownhill, 40
Brownhills, 40
Brownlie, 88
Browns Hotel, 228
Bruce, Hew, 180, 191, 199, 216, 217, 224, 290
Bruges, 39
Brummell, Barty, 32, 45
Brussells, 39, 47, 56
Buccaneers, 281
Buchanan, 123, 125, 130, 348
Buchanan, Sir Walter, 75
Buenos Aires, 62
Buick, 83, 98, 109, 143
Bull Bros., 82
Bull, Alma, 237, 268, 269, 271
Bull, Keith, 175, 196, 220, 280, 289
Bull, Mrs, 309
Bull, Reg, 258, 259, 298, 303, 304, 305, 307, 308
Bull, Reg & Sally, 238, 258, 291, 302
Bull, Sally, 282, 288
Bulldogs, 37
Bullen’s Circus, 271
Bullers Wood, 42, 227
Bullerts Wood, Chislehurst, 57
Bulli, 59
Bullock, Joan, 165
Bullocks, 25
Bulls, 62, 286
Bulls, Reg, 296, 301
Buntings, 201, 204
Burbery, Bunty, 175
Burbery, Ian, 175
Burbury, 173, 174, 175, 189, 223, 275
Burbury Family, 177
Burbury Girls, 217
Burbury, Ian & Bunty, 348
Burbury, Mrs, 239
Burbury, Percy, 172, 175, 213, 215, 219, 263, 348
Burburys, 245
Burke, Ella, 27
Burke, Mabel, 118
Burkes, Dr & Mrs Ronald, 25
Burkitt, Cyril, 264
Burkitt, ES, 165, 166, 167, 173, 180, 183, 187, 192, 207, 216, 224, 241, 242, 246, 251, 257, 258, 260, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 289, 299, 300, 308, 338, 342
Burkitt, Mr & Mrs, 237
Burkitts, 226, 235, 244, 265, 266, 279
Burling Gap, 63
Burlington Hotel, Eastbourne, 63
Burlington Road, 27
Burma, 6, 147, 151, 166, 178, 298, 359, 375
Burnell, Jack, 274, 276, 280, 291, 301, 309
Burnell, Jack (Mrs), 252
Burnell, Nina, 221, 309
Burnells, 290, 297, 300, 303, 305, 307
Burnes, A.G., 31
Burnley (Commissioner of Crown Lands), 148, 159
Burns, A.G., 28
Burns, Charles, 160
Burns, Sir Charles, 295, 302
Burroughs, 201, 204, 230
Burton, 133
Burton (Earthquake Commissioner), 337
Burton, F, 133
Burton, Lady, 200
Bush, 235, 283
Bush, Mrs, 235
Bustalls, 249
Butler, McCulloch & Spence, Accountants, 99
Butler, Stoney, 142
Buttery, 36
Button, Lady, 200, 201
Buxton, Lady, 203
Byfleet, 36, 67
Byrne, 80
Byrne, Barry, 133
Byrne, Leila, 118
Byrne, R, 113