New Zealand Memories Issue 151

APPETISER
Egmont Railway
Rail enthusiasts will appreciate the remarkable set of images depicting the building of a branch line up the side
of Taranaki’s mountain; this shows councillors at the water intake site of the crusher station. More outstanding
photographs, contributed by Barrie Smith, appear on page 34.
1

EDITORIAL
Dear Readers,
As with many of our readers, David and I have grandchildren living overseas.
Although the virus has prevented our frequent reunions, the likes of Skype and
inexpensive phone calls enable us to keep in regular contact. It was not always this
easy. I am reminded of my childhood when my parents emigrated from Britain
with two young children; I never saw either of my grandmothers again. With
the high cost of airfares in the late 1950s, and ship voyages taking 5-6 weeks,
there was no real expectation of a return visit. Even to phone ‘Home’, to listen
to a loved-one’s voice on a long-distance booked toll call, was astronomical. No
face-to-face communication then!
The US Marines stationed in New Zealand during World War II certainly had an impact on New Zealand
society, often with mixed feelings from local citizens. Wartime necessitated family separation: Mark Pacey’s
leading article looks at the Marines located at the Solway showgrounds in Masterton during 1943 for a period
of rest and retraining. Young men far from home.
I am always inspired by the stories of fortitude when we examine New Zealand history. Gordon Campbell’s
Fiordland road construction account offers a prime example of sheer determination where tools were picks,
shovels and wheelbarrows. Weather conditions brought added hurdles, “Ice picks were needed in the winter
when severe frosts turned the drums of drinking water into solid ice”. We reap the rewards of their labours today.
Readers will appreciate Jilleen Bradley’s charming story, Personal Reflections of Pahi. During a recent visit to
Dargaville, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a detour to the sleepy settlement where romance once
blossomed for a young fair-haired schoolteacher.
Special holidays are with us forever, and Beverley Bassett Broad holds fond memories of farming vacations on
Banks Peninsula. The wonderful cover photograph of milking at Onawe Farm immediately transports the reader
back to another era. Bruce Anderson’s camping adventures – and later caravanning – at Auckland’s Piha were
typical beach holidays with little in the way of luxurious trimmings but providing plenty of fun over Christmas.
God bless you until my next editorial, and may our shores continue to remain safe.
Wendy Rhodes,
Editor
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2

Editor
Wendy Rhodes
Graphic Design
Icon Design
Administration
David Rhodes
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Contributors
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ.
Anderson, Bruce
Barrington, Ernie
Bassett Broad, Beverley
Blundell, E.Doreen
Bradley, Jilleen
Bradshaw, N
Campbell, Gordon
Grant, Jeanette
Harter Family
Hewstone, John
Hickman, Hugh
Hill, David
Hocken Library,
Uare Taoko o Hocken, University of Otago.
Marlborough Historical Society
Mitchell, H
Nelson Provincial Museum,
Pupuri Taonga O Te Tai Ao
Pacey, Mark
Picton Museum
Russell, Tony
Seatter, Tony
Smith, Barrie
Stewart, Graham
Tait, Doreen
Taylor, Mike
Wairarapa Archive
Wickham, Alison
Wickham, Brian
Opinions: Expressed by contributors are not
necessarily those of New Zealand Memories.
Accuracy: While every effort has been made to
present accurate information, the publishers take no
responsibility for errors or omissions.
Copyright: All material as presented in
New Zealand Memories is copyright to the publishers
or the individual contributors as credited.
Contents
The Marines of Solway 4
A contribution from Mark Pacey, Wairarapa Archive.
Personal Reflections of Pahi 10
Jilleen Bradley writes this heart-warming story.
The Ready Reckoner 14
John Hewstone’s original copy of the book is dated 1814.
Farmyard Lost 16
Memories of Banks Peninsula from Beverley Bassett Broad.
DIY is in Our DNA 22
No shortage of jobs in a 1904 villa; Jeanette Grant remembers.
From the Regions: Taranaki 26
Centrefold: Delivered in Style 36
Mail delivery by horse drawn carriage near Otorohanga.
Building New Zealand’s Most Scenic Highway 38
Gordon Campbell explores Fiordland’s road and tunnel history.
Day of the ‘Flivver’ 46
Tony Russell pens an account of the Model T Ford.
Memories of Auckland’s West Coast 48
Bruce Anderson recalls childhood holidays.
Canterbury University Activism, 1959 52
Protestor Ernie Barrington’s eyewitness report.
The Finishing Touch 56
Hugh Hickman investigates the once fashionable ‘stick pin’.
From the Regions: Nelson / Marlborough 58
Mailbox 69
Index and Genealogy List 70
Editor’s Choice: Talk Softly Please 72
Ernest Rutherford in the Cavendish Laboratory.
ISSN 1173-4159
August/ September 2021
Cover image:
Eileen Kay milking at Onawe Farm
in the 1950s (article page 16).
Courtesy: Beverley Bassett Broad
3

WORLD WAR II
When the Marines Came
to Masterton
Mark Pacey
The showgrounds in the town of Masterton have been the home of the Agricultural and Pastoral
Association’s annual shows since 1911. Located on the western side of the town, it was originally
comprised of two fields separated by a small section of forest. The larger southern one is the site
of the main show buildings and where the main show activities are held. The northern field has a
railway line running alongside and had been used as holding pens for animals during the agricultural shows. It
was later converted into a golf course which, after falling out of use, was sold for housing.
Queen Street, Masterton in the 1940s.
Courtesy: Wairarapa Archive
4

WORLD WAR II
US Marine Wayne Harter stationed in Masterton.
Courtesy: Harter Family
5

WORLD WAR II
By the end of 2019 the golf greens had gone, the
new roads had been laid and plots had been surveyed
for over fifty new homes. It was common knowledge
that during World War Two the grounds were used as
a camp for both New Zealand and American soldiers,
but this had begun to fade from memory. In honour
of the site’s military past the developers, Westwood
Property Group, named the new housing site The
Barracks.
In September 1939 the United Kingdom declared war
on Germany. Being part of the British Commonwealth,
New Zealand followed suit and began to recruit men
to help Britain in her war against Nazi Germany. For
two years young New Zealand men trained and sailed
for the European war. Meanwhile life continued back
home. Masterton still held its annual Agricultural and
Pastoral shows at the Solway Showgrounds. It wasn’t
until Japan’s entry into the war in December 1941 that
this began to change. With the war much closer to
home, more troops were needed for the Pacific to help
defend against the coming threat. New training camps
were set up across New Zealand to meet the demand
and the showgrounds at Solway were seen as an ideal
site. The 1942 show was cancelled and the Ruahine
Infantry Regiment of the New Zealand army moved
into the grounds for training and deployment to the
Pacific.
Half a world away, another group of young men
were involved in the same conflict. A month after
New Zealand declared war on Germany, the Third
Defense Battalion of the United States Marine Corps
was formed. This was in response to the actions of
Germany but also of Japan, whose expansion into the
Pacific was causing alarm.
In April 1940 the battalion boarded a ship and sailed
for Pearl Harbor. They remained there for ten months
and then sailed for Midway Island where they helped
build up the atoll’s defences. By September 1941 the
USMC were back at Pearl Harbor. They were there
on December 7 when the Japanese attacked and were
quick to join in the defence of the base. By the end of
the raid three of the attacking planes had been shot
down.
In May 1942 half the battalion was sent back to
Midway where they helped defend the atoll against
the Japanese attack on June 4. From here it was back
to Pearl Harbor to resupply before they were sent to
their next battleground, the island of Guadalcanal in
the Solomon Islands. The Japanese had been building
an airstrip on the island which would be a threat to
Australia when competed. For six months the Third
Defense Battalion was stationed in the Solomons,
defending against air and sea attacks by the Japanese,
who were determined to recapture the airfield. By
February 1943 the troops were exhausted and sick
with malaria. They were told they would be taking
some time off for rest and retraining, and they would
be doing this in New Zealand. On February 9 the
battalion boarded the USS George Clymer and sailed
for a safer world. 1
On February 16 the battalion arrived in Wellington.
From here an advance party went by train to the
Solway Showgrounds in Masterton. 2
The advance group was tasked with making
preparations ahead of the arrival of the rest of the
battalion. The New Zealand Ruahine Regiment had
left a few months before and tents and facilities had to
be put in order in the now vacant camp. In March the
remainder of the battalion arrived at the showgrounds.
Dressed as they were for Guadalcanal, their summer
uniform was inadequate for the much colder New
Zealand climate. One Marine recalled “the first chance
I had I went over the top and shot into Masterton and
picked myself up a nice double eiderdown. I didn’t get
cold from then on.” 3
For the first two weeks in Masterton, the Marines
settled in to their new home. Most stayed in tents, six to
each, which were warmed by stoves supplied by the locals.
Others utilised the showgrounds existing buildings. The
majority camped in the main showgrounds area but
there were several tents pitched on the northern field
which is shown on a wartime plan. Cook houses,
shower blocks and latrines had all been installed prior
to the Americans arriving at camp, although there were
complaints that the hot water in the shower blocks was
lukewarm at best.
After two weeks the troops were still without proper
supplies and began to grow restless. They had brought
some gear with them, which included a souvenir
Japanese bullet casing from Guadalcanal (rediscovered
during excavations), but they were still short of warm
clothes and luxury items. To appease the men, a supply
of 700 bottles of American beer and a large amount of
ice cream was sent up by train. 4 The main food supplies
were provided locally and included meat, vegetables,
fruit and tinned goods which had been brought in
from overseas.
1 Theodore R. Walker, History of the Third Defense Battalion, Fleet
Marine Force U.S. Marine Corps, p. 1-24.
2 3D Defense Battalion, 1265-leb, 1-3.
3 Wairarapa Archive, Oral History 484.
4 Ibid
United States Marine Corps site Solway just after US Marines left. November 1943.
Inset: USMC site looking over bush to northern field. Courtesy: Wairarapa Archive
6

WORLD WAR II
7

MEASUREMENTS
The Ready Reckoner
John Hewstone
About 40 years ago I came across a Ready Reckoner in Wellington dated 1814 (the year before the
Battle of Waterloo). Once outdated it was seemingly given to a small child to practice writing on.
One is left with the unanswerable question, “When did the book arrive in New Zealand and to
whom did it belong?”
A page in the book is headed Table of Miscellaneous Articles; few people would be able to quote these
measurements nowadays.
Table of Miscellaneous Articles
12 Dozen make a Gross.
A Weight is 256lb.
A Ton of Lead 19½ Cwt.
12 Barrels make a Last.
A Quire of Paper is 24 Sheets.
A Ream of Paper is 20 Quires.
A Bundle of Paper is 2 Reams.
A Bale of Paper is 10 Reams.
A Dicker of Hides is 10 Skins.
A Last of Hides is 20 Dickers.
A Dicker of Gloves is 10 Dozen Pairs.
A Firkin of Butter is 56lb.
A Firkin of Soap is 64lb.
A Tierce of Rice is about 5 Cwt.
A Barrel of Gunpowder is 1 Cwt.
A Last of Gunpowder 24 Barrels
A Pack of Wool is 240lb.
20 Stones of Flour make a Sack
A Load of Timber unhewed is 40 feet.
A Load of Bricks, 500 in number
A Load of Tiles, 1000 in number
A Load of Hay in London is nearly 18 Cwt.
A Chaldron of Coals in London is 36 Bushels
A Chaldron of Coals in Newcastle is 53 Cwt.
A Cart of Coals in Scotland is 12 Cwt.
A Quintel of Fish is 100.
A Barrel of Herrings 500.
Cade of Red Herrings 500.
A Grain of Gold is worth about 2d.
14

MEASUREMENTS
15

36
Mail delivery by horse drawn carriage in the Te Rau-a-moa area, northwest of
Otorohanga. Photographed by William Archer Price in about 1908. The woman in
the forefront holds a mailbag Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ Ref: 1/2-001735-G

The 1908 Posties
37

FEATURE
Workers outside the Homer Tunnel in about 1939.
38

FEATURE
Building New Zealand’s
Most Scenic Highway
Gordon Campbell
The construction of a road through Fiordland’s rugged terrain opened up one of
New Zealand’s scenic gems to visitors from around the world.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington NZ. Ref; 1/2-009020-F
Have you ever travelled the road to
Milford Sound? Did you give a thought
to the workers who built the road and
the Homer Tunnel? The opening of this
route is the result of hard work and sacrifice, by men
living and working in a geographically and socially
challenging environment.
The majesty and grandeur of Milford Sound has
attracted tourists since the late 1800s. It was initially
accessible only by sea. The discovery of McKinnon
Pass, by explorer Quintin McKinnon, led to the
opening of a walking track. McKinnon marketed the
area and guided parties along the 53 kilometre track,
from the head of Lake Te Anau, to Milford Sound. In
1890, Donald Sutherland, who had lived an almost
hermit-like lifestyle at the head of the Sound, opened
a hotel to accommodate the steady stream of tourists
who walked the track. Milford Sound’s reputation as a
tourist destination grew, and the government quickly
saw the tourism potential of this unique region. In
1901, the Government Tourist Bureau took over the
management of the walking tours along the track, and
established tour boats on the Sound itself. Milford
Sound’s increasing popularity led to pressure for road
access, originally intended to run from Lake Wakatipu
through the Greenstone valley to the Hollyford
valley. The Upper Hollyford valley ends at the Homer
Saddle, named after its discoverer, William Homer.
Homer promoted the idea for a tunnel, large enough
to accommodate a horseback rider, to pass beneath the
saddle and link the Hollyford valley, to the Cleddau
valley, which ran down to Milford Sound.
In the late 1920s it was decided to construct the
road from Te Anau via the Eglinton valley. Work
was organised by the Labour Department as a Public
Works Department project, set up to provide relief
work for the unemployed during the Depression. The
pay was meagre, but as an incentive, the workers on
these PWD relief schemes formed work gangs which
were contracted for sections of work, paid for on a
piecework basis. On good weeks, this system enabled
the workers to earn more than the standard 1/6d (15
cents) per hour that was paid to general labourers at
the time. However, these workers were required to pay
for their own fares to get to and from the work site,
as well as the cost of their electricity, coal and wood
fuel. These, together with canteen and store purchases,
were all deducted from their pay. If wet weather meant
work had to stop, then the men didn’t get paid. The
work consisted mainly of digging spoil out with picks
and shovels and wheelbarrowing it to form the road.
Extra barrows ensured there was no standing around
waiting for a barrow to be filled. It was heavy physical
work, six days a week. As the road progressed up the
Eglinton valley, tall beech trees were cut down with
crosscut saws, the trunks winched aside and stumps
blasted out. The trunks were milled, initially using
saw pits, but later sawmills, and the timber was used
to build bridges.
One of the most challenging sections of the road
was the descent from The Divide, at the head of the
Eglinton valley, to the Hollyford valley below. This
three-kilometre stretch had to be carved into the bluffs
of the steep valley wall. The workers drilled holes into
the rocks with sharp steel spikes and used dynamite
to blast a route. The blast debris was wheeled away in
barrows.
Work camps were set up at intervals along the route.
A large camp, called Marian Camp, was built where
the Lower Hollyford valley meets the Upper Hollyford
valley. The camp consisted of tent huts, a butcher’s
shop, bakehouse, cookhouse, Post Office, first aid
room, workshop and YMCA hut for recreation. This
was the main camp until Homer Camp, which also had
a bathhouse and a school, was built once construction
work began on the tunnel. The workers’ huts were very
39

INDEX and GENEALOGY LIST
A
A & A.J. Caithness 63
A&P Shows 4
Akaroa 16
Albertlanders 10
alcohol 8
All Blacks 51
American Army 51
American food (WWII) 8
Anawhata 51
ANDERSON Bruce 49
Grandmother 51
ANDERSON Harold 40
ANDERSON Johnson 48
Ruth 48
apartheid 52
Arapohue 10
athletics 62
Auckland 48
avalanche (Fiordland) 43
Avro plane 51
B
Banks Peninsula 16
BARRINGTON Ernie 52
Barry's Bay cheese 21
BASSETT Betty 17
Beverley 17
Carol 17
Ken 17
BAXTER Mr G 68
BEVAN Mr V.D. 52
BOLLAND Rev. William 28
BRADLEY Alexander 10
Clare 10
Clarissa 10
Jileen 10
John 10
Mabel 11
Maude 12
Norah 13
Susannah 10
Washington 11
Brothers Islets 66
Brothers Lighthouse 67
Brown's Boarding House 48
building permits 25
BURTON Mr G 68
C
campground (Piha) 48
camping 48
Canterbury University 52
CANTWELL Mr T 68
Cape Koamaru 66
car catalogues 46
caravan (home built) 51
cattle 18
Cavendish Laboratory 72
Christchurch 52
Christchurch City Council 54
Church Hill (Nelson) 60
Citizens All Black Tour Assn. 53
CLARKE Jeanette 22
Reay 22
Cleddau Valley 44
CONZA Mr S 68
Cook Rock 67
Cook Strait 67
cowshed (herring bone) 31
CRAIG Selywn 51
CRAW Graham 51
CRUM Family 49
CURTIS Family 49
D
dairy farmer 30
dances (WWII) 8
DENT Mr and Mrs 51
do-it-yourself 22
Duvauchelle Show 17
E
EGGERS Bill 58
Pat 58
Eglington Valley 39
Egmont crusher station 34
engineering (viaduct) 63
Esson's Valley 63
F
FARLEY Family 48
farming 16, 30
fashion 56
FENTON Family 51
Fiordland 39
FRANCIS Mr C.F. 34
Friesian cows 18
G
gelignite 32, 41
GLASSON Steve 45
Glastonbury Thorn 28
Government Tourist Bureau 39
GOVETT Archdeacon Henry 28
H
HALBERG Murray 62
HAMLEY Joseph 29
HARGREAVES Ian 68
Helensville 10
HENNING George 51
Hollyford Post Office 40
Hollyford Valley 39
HOLYOAKE Keith 55
home decorating 22
HOMER William 39
Homer Camp 39
Homer saddle 41
Homer Tunnel 38
horse drawn carriage 36
HULSE Don 43
HUTTON Clarissa 10
I
ICKE P 64
immigration policy 39
Intellectually Handicapped Assn.
45
J
JACKSON Syd 53
John Brogen & Sons 64
JOHNSON Capt. Robert 67
JOHNSON Johnny 49
joy riding flights 51
jungle training (WWII) 9
K
Kaipara 10
Karekare 48
KAY Eileen 20
KETTERER Mrs 48
Reg 48
KIRK Norman 55
Kupe 66
L
LAIRD Mr and Mrs 51
Lake Te Anau 39
LAMBOURNE Family 49
Land Court 22
lighthouse (Brothers) 66
lighthouse keepers 68
Lion Rock 48
Lion Rock Cabins 48
LUCAS Family 49
Lyell 69
Lyell Postmaster 69
M
mail delivery 36
Mana Island 67
Manganui River 34
Manganui Road Board 34
MANGOS Alice 69
Demetrius 69
Greek 69
MANNING George 54
Maori (rugby) 52
Maori Organisation 53
Mapua Store 58
Mapua Wharf 58
Marian Camp 39
Marlborough 62
Marshland Hill 29
Masterton 4
McKINNON Quintin 39
McKinnon Pass 39
McLAREN Bruce 51
MEGENNIS Bill 68
MESSINGER Dick 51
Milford Sound 39
milking 20, 30
MILLS John 67
70

INDEX and GENEALOGY LIST
Minister of Railways 34
Model T Ford 46
motorcycle racing 51
motoring 46
Mount Egmont (Taranaki) 1, 34
Mount Egmont Branch Line 34
Mount Smart 34
Mount Taranaki 1, 34
Moutere Hills 58
Mt Eden Borough Council 25
Muriwai 49
N
NASH Walter 54
NATHAN Family 49
National Park 34
Nelson 58
Nelson Hospital 61
NEOIA George 52
New Plymouth 28
New Plymouth harbour 34
New Year's Eve (Piha) 49
New Zealand Wars 28
Ngawhatu Kai-Ponu 66
No Maoris - No Tour 53
Northern Wairoa River 10
Northland 10
Nun Rock 49
NZ Railways 34
NZ Rugby Football Union 52
O
O'BRIEN Tiger 49
O'REGAN Rolland 51
Okahu 10
Onawe Farm 19
Otorohanga 36
OVENDEN Family 48
P
PAEWAI Mr M.N. 52
Pahi 10
Pahi Hotel 10
painting 24
painting apprenticeship 69
PALMER George 51
PARKS Family 49
pasture preparation 31
PAUL Mr G.N. 68
payroll 45
PEACOCK Mr C 68
PEARCE Tom 49
PHILLIPSON Family 48
PICKERING Mr B 68
Picton 63
Piha 48
Piha campground 48
Piha Hall 49
POATA Tamatekapu 53
Post Office Hotel 69
PRICE William Archer 36
protest (rugby) 53
Public Works Dept 34, 39
PWD relief schemes 39
Q
quarries (Mount Egmont) 34
R
racism 52
radio beacon 67
railway 1, 34, 63
railway viaduct 63
Ratapiko 30
RATCLIFFE John 72
ready reckoner 14
Red Cross Services Club 8
REDMOND Forbes James 69
Riversdale Beach 9
road construction (Southland) 39
Rolleston House 52
Rolls-Royce (1938) 51
ROSE Family 51
Rotoiti Timber Co. Mill 69
Ruahine Infantry Regiment 6
rugby 52
Rugby Union 52
RUTHERFORD Ernest 72
S
sand yacht 49
school banking 31
SCOTT Mavis 58
scrim 23
shipping: City of Newcastle 67
Cyrus 67
Enterprise 67
Kawerau 49
Luna 67
Minnie Casey 10
Schielthallion 64
Stella 67
USS George Clymer 6
SMITH George 51
SMITH Tom 43
SNELL Peter 62
SOLE Mr 68
Solway 6
Solway Showgrounds 6
Southland 39
Springbok Tour 52
St Mary's Catherdral 28
stick pin 56
Stratford Borough Council 34
surfing 51
SUTHERLAND Beryl 40
Donald 39
swamp land 3
T
table of weights 14
Taranaki 1, 26
Tararua Ranges 9
Te Rauamoa 36
TEMPA Mr 68
The 65th Regiment 29
Third Defense Battalion (US) 6
THOMPSON Laird 51
TIRIKATENE Eruera 52
Tory Channel 67
tourism 39
Trafalgar Park (Nelson) 62
tunnel (Homer) 41
tunnellers 41
U
URQUHART Lt. 29
US currency 8
US Marine Corps 5
V
VELLENOWTH Capt. 48
viaduct (railway) 63
Vickerman's Tasman Store 58
Vogel Scheme 65
W
Waitohi Viaduct 63
WALKER John 62
walking tracks (Fiordland) 39
wallpapering 24
WARNOCKS Family 49
wartime profiteering 22
WATSON Tim 68
WAY Hayden 49
Wellington Head 67
Wellington Town Hall 53
West Auckland 48
West Coast beaches 48
Whangamarino School 69
White Heather tearoom 51
WICKHAM Brian 30
Frank 30
Joy 31
Mrs 31
WILLS Charlie 68
WINIATA Mr W 52
work camps 40
World War Two 6, 22, 34
WRAY Johnny 49
WRIGHT Don 49
X
Y
Z
Each issue of New Zealand
Memories contains an index
and, in keeping with genealogy
ideals, all surnames of
individuals are listed in capitals.
71

EDITOR’S CHOICE
Talk Softly Please
Ernest Rutherford (right) and John Ratcliffe photographed in
the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, 1934. An
illuminated sign, “Talk Softly Please” hangs above Rutherford’s
head. Rutherford had a very loud voice and the particle counters
were microphonically very sensitive. The illuminated notice was
installed to prevent the counters being disturbed.
University of Cambridge Ref: 184, with acknowledgement to C.E Wynn-Williams.
Photograph via G. Stewart.
72