DEIRDRE ROELANTS: LANDMARK BUILDINGS
RACHAEL TE AOTONGA: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS
Queens Hall
June is a special time for New Zealanders as we welcome in the Maori New Year.
The imposing brick and cement building on Paget Street has an intriguing history and is still an object of curiosity to passers by. The street was originally part of a large block extending to Ponsonby Road that was divided into lots, one of which auctioned off to a Mr Knapp in 1886.
Matariki takes place at different times each year according to the star cluster known as the Pleiades or The Seven Sisters. Celebrations start with the new moon that follows the rise of Matariki. Matariki is also an indication that winter is beginning. Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). According to myth, when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tawhirimatea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
The street itself is named after the redoubtable Earl of Uxbridge, whose family name was Paget. Alexander and Bessie Thorne married in 1880 and moved to Paget Street as well. Alexander was born in Auckland in 1848, and must qualify as one of New Zealand’s New Zealand’s earliest European citizens. The Thornes were both active members of the Methodist Church and Mrs Thorne was a foundation member of the Women’s and Christian Temperance Union’s local branch.
Traditionally, it was a time for remembering those who had departed this world, and celebrating new life. But it was also time of joy and prosperity as crops had been harvested and seafood and birds had been collected in preparation for the cold season ahead. On completion of all this hard work, Matariki was commemorated with lots of singing, dancing and feasting. This year, Matariki starts on 18 June.
Sometimes in the early 1900s Bessie and Alexander were the registered owners of two wooden buildings on Paget Street. Bessie decided to have a hall built adjacent to her property where the family lived. The apocryphal story is that she had an ambition to provide a recital hall for her two daughters’ musical talents. She engaged Alexander Wiseman, the son of James Wiseman who came to New Zealand with his brother, Alexander from Tasmania, to set up a saddlery business like their father had back at home. The younger Alexander trained as an architect and had designed the Ferry Building, one of Auckland’s significant landmarks. He designed an impressive brick building for Bessie with a cement stucco front that had a hall, gallery, dressing rooms and all the up-to-date amenities.The building was constructed in1906 and a description of the opening was published in the New Zealand Herald in August that same year.
Kite flying is another special way to mark the occasion according to ancient custom, as kites flutter close to the stars. Enjoy one of our lovely local parks on a windy day and have a go!
The article describes the Queens Hall as a welcome addition to Auckland’s public halls and it was intended to serve as a meeting place for various social purposes, which gives lie to the story that it was solely for her family’s use. The hall provided enough chairs to seat 170 people and the gallery had a handsome serpentine front and polished rail, which was reached by a broad flight of stairs leading from the street. The stage and gallery combined to accommodate an additional 120 people. Ante rooms behind the stage were designed as dressing rooms and above them was a photographic studio. The large basement was turned into a well-equipped kitchen. The Mayor, Sir Arthur Myers, in declaring the hall open said that a small charge for the hall’s use would only be sufficient to cover expenses because Mrs Thorne’s chief object was to provide a suitable place for “musical, literary and social evenings of an elevating character and for religious work.” Phew, a worthy goal indeed! He wound up his address by declaring that Mrs Thorne’s efforts would result in great benefit to the locality. Applause followed and on the motion of the chairman a vote of thanks was tendered to the Mayor. The Misses Thorne then had the opportunity to contribute a duet to a short musical programme and all present enjoyed an afternoon tea dispensed by a ladies’ committee.
Here at Leys institute Library on Tuesday, 16 June at 6pm, we invite all budding astronomers, young and old, to attend a special presentation by an expert from Stardome Observatory. Learn about celestial navigation and other fascinating features of the stars. Bring along your binoculars if you’d like to do some stargazing afterwards. In honour of the event, a cup of tea and a chocolate fish will be provided. RSVP would be appreciated.
Next month, during the school holidays, we have some exciting activities planned to celebrate Matariki. Details can be found soon on our Facebook Page and the Auckland Libraries website as well as July’s Ponsonby News. Auckland Libraries has many fabulous resources on Matariki if you would like to learn more. And while you’re at it, why not read a novel written by one of our excellent Maori writers this month? Patricia Grace, Witi Ihimaera, Paula Morris and my all-time favorite, Kerry Hulme’s ‘The Bone People’ are some outstanding New Zealand classic authors to choose from. Pop in and see us or check out the Auckland Libraries’, website to make PN a request. (RACHAEL TE AOTONGA) F LEYS INSTITUTE, 20 St Marys Road, T: 09 374 1315 www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz
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Interior alterations were carried out in 1922, which were overseen by Bessie whose husband had died the year before. Mrs Thorne died in 1944 and the property was transferred to her daughter who, two years later, sold it to a young businessman, Alick Wilson, who had established an upholstery business with Lionel Nicholson in 1938. They ran a highly successful enterprise from the Queens Hall for three decades. When they eventually retired the building was sold to the well known restaurateur of the 70s, Tony White who converted the building into a four bedroom dwelling with a British pub-style bar in a corner of the living room. Aucklanders Gwen and Don Bowman were the next purchasers and the brilliant acoustics attracted the next owner, pianist Barry Margan who installed his Steinway piano.
L to R: The Iko Iko team; Maiko Miyazaki, Thomasin Bollinger and Kirsten Pleitner
Margan sold Queens Hall to its current owner who prefers to remain anonymous. She fell in love with the building and sees herself “growing old in it”. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) F PN
Iko Iko, the K'Road gift store has just relocated to 53 Ponsonby Road where Shell Shock were once based. They held their opening party last month.
28 PONSONBY NEWS+ June 2015
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)