Fourteen Prettily Illuminated 1915

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Prettily Illuminated

Eltham, just up the road from Hawera, was considered a town and district of great promise. The railway had improved accessibility, providing transport for commodities, people and produce for the communities surrounding this flourishing centre. The now long-established Eltham Co-op Dairy Company (1892) had made a considerable impact. George Buckeridge had, as we know, in 1915 offered to lease a front office on Bridge Street to the Society but was declined. The time had now arrived when a suitable home for the Society in the Eltham district was to receive full consideration by the board.

Eltham’s Farmers’ Co-op branch store still proudly stands adjacent to what was once the hub of Eltham, opposite the railway station and on the corner of Bridge and Railway Streets. The site has an almost legendary past with its connection to one of early Taranaki’s most distinguished Chinese gentleman traders. Taranaki’s Chew Chong was a purveyor and trader of almost every commodity. He bought the farmers’ produce and sold them almost all their basic requirements. It would of course have been surprising if Chew Chong had no connection to the Farmers’ Co-op’s history. An astute visionary trader, he opened his first Eltham store in 1882 in two rooms of a cottage owned by Tom and Mrs Lee. In September 1883, Mrs Emma McDonald purchased a section on the south corner of Bridge and Railway Streets, erecting a combined store and residence in competition to Chew Chong. In response, on 20 June 1884 Chong purchased a section on the opposite corner of Railway and Bridge Streets, Eltham from the Curtis brothers, whom he had had previous business dealings with: The purchase of this land and its subsequent development by Chong was to become another significant event in the commercial life of the infant frontier village and would lead to considerable changes in the character of Eltham. Don Drabble in The Life and Times of Chew Chong describes his premises: A fine second Eltham store was opened in December 1884. It was a commodious building of some 40 x 37 feet with a ceiling height of 12 feet. The building itself was of lasting appearance. The façade that looked upon Railway Street took in a sturdy verandah supported by six fine ornamented wooden posts. The store front faced west to Railway Street and along its parapet a bold sign read, 1884 – CHEW CHONG.

Chew Chong employed a 16-year-old boy, Charles Anderson Wilkinson, to manage his Eltham store. In time C. A. W., as he was affectionately known, became one of Eltham’s most distinguished residents and traders and later Member of Parliament for Egmont. He was regarded as ‘the father of Eltham’ and his reputation, innovation and energy were felt throughout Taranaki during his eventful life. C. A. Wilkinson terminated his employment with Chong in November 1889, the property was

Eltham’s first Farmers’ Co-op store c.1920, on the right, leased from Tayler and Scrivener, next to Harrison’s Paint Shop and the recently constructed Eltham branch store on the left, which is still occupied by Allied Farmers Limited.

COURTESY OF RUSSELL STANDISH AND ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY

subdivided and the shop and section sold to William Adamson, Joseph Pease and John Winks, who in 1892 sold it to Thomas, William and Henry Stanners. Buildings owned by Chew Chong suffered considerable damage in two major fires in the early 1900s on the corner of Bridge and Railway Streets, and it is thought that nothing was reconstructed on the section after the second fire.

On 19 October 1915, Messrs Hobbs agent/auctioneer and Judd, employees of Farmers’ Co-op at Eltham, attended a meeting of directors to assist in the deliberations regarding opening a grain and produce store at Eltham. Mr Hobbs explained that ‘the opening up of such a store would be of great assistance to him in connection with his stock department as he wanted them to have an office where clients could come and transact any stock business they might have, and this in turn would assist the produce department.’ He felt confident that it ‘would further the Society’s interest in every way’. He advised the directors of an office he had found, ‘in the principal street’, occupied by Tayler & Scrivener, that could be leased for a term of five years at a rental of 30/- per week. Mr G. W. Tayler had opened a general store opposite Chew Chong’s establishment on Bridge Street West. This appears to be the property alluded to by Mr Hobbs. Mr Judd supported Mr Hobbs’ recommendation, stating that, from his ‘own personal knowledge of the business to be done in Eltham ... the Society would be wise commencing in the grain and produce business at once’. It was resolved to lease the premises from 15 August 1915 to commence operating a grain and produce store, and that Mr H. H. Judd be appointed manager at a salary of £3 per week. With this further expansion into grain and produce the board discussed the question of engaging an ‘expert seed and general produce buyer’ to oversee this particular department of their business and resolved to write to other farmers’ co-operatives with a view to securing a suitable person.

An editorial in the Eltham Argus on 25 January 1917 said:

The Eltham branch of The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation has a business announcement on the eighth page this evening. The society is going ahead very rapidly and caters for farmers in many directions, some of which are referred to in the advertisement. FARMERS’ CO-OP SHEEP DIPS Cooper’s, Little’s, Quibell’s, Primer – In Powder and Fluids BENZINE – Shell, Plume, Kalif. LAUREL KEROSENE ‘kerol’ The Renowned Disinfectant In 8oz. Bottles to 5 Gallon Drums. Bran, Pollard, Sucrosene, Barley Meal, Linseed Meal, Heggitt’s Linseed Meal, Flour, Sugar, Etc. ‘ZANDA’ TEA In 10 and 6lb. Packages. Large shipments just arrived direct from Ceylon. Write or call for Samples. PRODUCE STORES – Call or Write ELTHAM BRANCH – BRIDGE STREET.

As the Eltham operation continued to expand it became necessary to find additional space and in 1917 premises adjoining the Eltham store were leased from Smalley and Co. However this became only a temporary measure as the Eltham Argus newspaper reported in September 1919 that: ‘The local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op Society have been severely handicapped for some time past through having to carry on its business in unsuitable and inadequate premises.’

The now vacant former Chew Chong store site on the corner of Bridge and Railway Streets, and a short distance from the Eltham saleyards, was purchased in 1919 by Farmers’ Co-op to build a brand new grain and merchandise branch store. It was directly opposite the leased premises occupied for a number of years. In November 1919, plans drawn by Hawera’s Duffill & Gibson, Registered Architects, were presented to the board for approval. Construction commenced almost immediately. The building design retained the corner door feature of Chew Chong’s original store. It was constructed of concrete. Comments were passed that ‘the new store will improve the look of the town’, and that ‘it was imposing from the railway yards’. A temporary shadow was cast over the project when the Eltham Borough Council raised the concern that ‘no permit was obtained for the new Farmers’ building’. This oversight was soon corrected and work on the new structure continued with haste during the first months of 1920. Good progress was made and 20 April 1920 was scheduled as opening day for the grand new premises. The opening celebration was quite outstanding and a credit to everyone involved. It took the form of a social evening held in the new building. Attendance ‘totalled nearly 500, but despite the crowd everyone spent a most enjoyable evening’. Music was provided by Fox’s orchestra and the ‘onerous duties’ of Masters of Ceremonies were performed by Messrs Death, H. Burgess and L. Quin. All rooms were ‘prettily illuminated with coloured lights, the electrical installation proved most satisfactory’: ‘The manager (Mr H. H. Judd) and his committee had a very busy time, and are to be congratulated on the successful manner in which everything was carried out.’ The Society’s new premises met the full approval of all the locals. A dance was held in the large store at the rear of the building. The floor having been ‘excellently prepared for the occasion’. Card tables set up in showroom and offices provided convenient dressing rooms. It was agreed by all that ‘the building is a decided acquisition to the town and when the whole erection is completed, including the provision of a benzine and manure store, it should meet the Society’s requirements for some time to come’. The measurements of the store were 160ft by 35ft the showroom 125ft by 30ft, the offices being similarly commodious. Altogether the large block of concrete buildings occupied an area of 160ft by 65ft. The construction of this fine building was without doubt one of the most prudent investments the Society made in the early years as it has continued to serve the farmers of the district throughout the century with very few additions, alterations or renovations.

In mentioning the inimitable, dexterous and rather mysterious Chew Chong, it is important not to forget his son Albert, who farmed a property for his father, as manager, on Albert Road, New

Eltham branch store c.1920, Bridge Street, Eltham. Staff unknown.

Plymouth until 1915. He also managed the Albert Road Creamery for a period and was employed as a stock agent for the Farmers’ Co-operative. He became a very widely known and respected personality within the dairy industry of Taranaki at the time. Apart from being a stock agent operating in a number of districts, including Manaia, and factory manager, drover and horse breaker of some repute, he was a gentleman jockey and a judge of stock, ‘and in considerable demand as such’. Albert Chong was reputed to be a tireless worker throughout his life. Other members of the Chong family worked for Farmers’ Co-op over the years, including Robin Joyes, who worked as a stock agent for the company in the 1950s under the guidance of Harold Slater. Another grandson of Albert, John Pettett, along with his wife Anne, also later worked at the Hawera branch.

Mr Herbert H. Judd, Eltham’s branch manager, had a good team and was well supported by Mr J. C. Hobbs as agent and auctioneer. In fact Mr Hobbs, auctioneer, had shown exceptional promise during the first years of the company’s establishment at Eltham and as a reward for his effort was appointed to the position of agent in charge of the Farmers’ Co-op Stock Department at Head Office, Hawera at a salary of £450 per annum.

Inglewood’s first stock and station agents appear to be Messrs Vickers and Stevens in the 1880s. This firm’s stockyards were in Matai Street. Newton King was known to also use these yards to sell stock and it is reported that Newton King’s first sale was on 7 June 1881. Vickers and Stevens’ premises in Matai Street comprised a small office and grain and seed store. Newton King eventually established his own branch in Inglewood in 1916 through the purchase of ‘the commission and merchandise business of Matthews Gamlin and Company’. Mr H. L. Cutfield was the first manager. Farmers’ Coop was, however, committed to making its presence felt and to establishing a branch at Inglewood that would provide farmers with a top-class saleyards complex and fully supporting merchandise

operation. To this end their high-profile local member of the board Mr A. Corkill, with Mr D. Todd and Mr W. Jones, provided local knowledge to enable the company to acquire the very best trading situation and opportunity for the area. Farmers’ Co-op’s presence at Inglewood in the north was seen as a priority. It had until now all been the territory of Newton King, but for this new kid on the block finding its feet, jumping into someone else’s puddle was not a problem. First-hand accounts are always reassuring. Robert M. Brown, MBE CM JP, wrote in his Te Moa – 100 Year History of the Inglewood Community 1875–1975: They bought my grandfather’s (Mr Murdoch MacKay) property on Junction Road [now Rata Street] adjacent to the Borough. I well remember the saleyards being built, as they were considered very modern, with all concrete floors and posts, and Australian hardwood rails and gates. Produce was sold from a small tin shed at the back of the present shop. In 1924 they built a general grocery and hardware shop facing Rata Street where Noble King had a small cabinet making shop. This little shop of Noble King’s was moved over close to Winfield’s grocery, now Elm’s, to make room. The retail shop has been added to a number of times and Clough’s buildings, previously McMillan’s Shoe Shop, purchased. About the first manager would have been R. M. Hardy (the retail shop now sells his indigestion remedy), followed by Clause Twist, and Bill Silson. Fred Partridge was the firm’s first Stock Manager. Indigestion remedies were not a commodity sold by all managers of Farmers’ Co-op branches. However, one early branch manager, R. M. Hardy of Inglewood, ‘used to make up a mixture of baking soda, sugar, milk and ‘bishurated’ magnesia as an indigestion remedy, which he sold locally from his office premises’. After his death the recipe was taken over by a pharmaceutical firm who then marketed the product for a number of years. Perhaps this medication had a soothing affect on the district because throughout the past 100 years it has remained a loyal supporting partner to the company in every way.

Rimu Street, Inglewood. (Photographer F. G. Radcliffe.)

COURTESY OF COLLECTION PUKE ARIKI. PHO2009-164

MacKay’s property was chosen as the site for the saleyards and was now in a state of transformation. In mid May 1916 it was reported that, ‘The Farmers’ Organisation Society’s saleyards are now well under way, and are a credit to those responsible for their construction’. This was a new breed of saleyard. The ground plan covered an area of 180ft by 99ft with concrete flooring throughout and all posts were ferro-concrete. At the eastern and western ends receiving pens were built, subdivided into two, ‘making drafting extremely easy’. There were two rows of pens, varying in size and between them the flooring was ‘well-channelled’ ensuring the yards would be kept in a, ‘perfect state of cleanliness’ with very little labour. At the eastern end of the cattle yards, pig pens were erected, and on the southern side sheep pens and drafting yards were constructed also with concrete races. A ‘commodious’ ferro-concrete shed, 36ft x 90ft, was also constructed for selling dairy stock. Practically all the timber used in the yards was jarrah.

Focus of the stock and station industry in Taranaki was now centred on the town of Inglewood. A committee from the board of Farmers’ Co-op met in Stratford at the request of Newton King in connection with the question of his use of the Society’s new yards at Inglewood. The decision was ‘negative’, with no action to be taken. The opening sale at Inglewood on 28 June 1916, was another milestone in the company’s history and for the inhabitants of Inglewood. A free lunch was arranged for all attending the sale. Although a cold day, it was not raining and the very large turnout saw a good selection of entries: OPENING SALE INGLEWOOD SALEYARDS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 THE FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATION SOCIETY OF N.Z. LTD., Will hold their opening sale in their new saleyards as above. Present entries include: 80 3 to 3½-year bullocks 25 2½-year steers 30 20-month steers 25 20-month steers 30 yearling steers

The Inglewood saleyards, built by Farmers’ Co-op, opened on 28 June 1916 at Junction Road (now Rata Street).

50 yearling steers (in lots) 25 yearling steers 45 fat and forward cows 10 fat cows 5 fat cows 35 store cows (in lots) 75 yearling heifers (in lots) 12 grade Jersey yearling heifers 20 empty 20-month heifers 6 empty 20-month heifers 2 20-month Jersey bulls 40 3-year springing heifers 12 2-year springing heifers 1 cow (September calver) 1 fresh-conditioned bullocks 150 fat and forward woolly hoggets 160 good skinned ewe hoggets (one ear mark) 50 fat and forward empty ewes 160 4 and 6-tooth wethers (off turnips) 20 fat ewes 25 hoggets 6 pigs Sale at 1 p. m. sharp. Luncheon provided. NOTE: We have provided special accommodation for the handling of pigs. Entries Invited.

The saleyards proved a great success. Signboards were erected and due to the extent of traffic and stock in and out of the yards the Taranaki County Council was requested to lay metal from the stock gates to the main road.

Approval to build a store in Rata Street was granted on 8 July 1916. It was specified to be 40ft long and 40ft wide, concrete walls both sides and at the rear. The front and roof were to be iron and the floors wood with ‘three piers end to end’. The work was undertaken by Mr Lockhart, builder, of Hawera under the supervision of directors Messrs Corkill, Jones and Todd. The local press reported that:

The new Farmers’ Co-operative Society building is in the course of construction. When completed, it will make the town a little more substantial. The operations of the two firms (Newton King’s and Farmers’ Co-op) make a noticeable increase of people in the place on sale days and Saturdays, and on these occasions quite a display of motors is to be seen in the streets. October arrived and the Farmers’ Co-op held their first bull fair in the Inglewood yards. Good, well bred bulls were in fair demand, but inferior stock was neglected. Other stock were also disposed of, cows close to calving produced good bids up to £14.10s, while heifers ran up to £15. There was a good demand for fat sheep. The increased activity in the district prompted the appointment of a female staff member for the Inglewood office, ‘at a salary of 15/- per week’, and the company ‘acquired a dwelling house’, on the Inglewood property. Popularity within the trading operation increased to such an extent over the next year that in September 1917 it was reported that it was found necessary to make substantial additions to the business premises – a 47ft by 20ft addition to the front and 30ft by 20ft to the side. The improvements provided a front entrance for customers, with a verandah, on Rata Street and a new unloading stage on the side of the building, ‘thus avoiding the present

congestion due to factory carts near the loading stage’. A manager’s office was also included. The construction was being completed by Mr H. Peterson and Co. ‘Mr Press, the manager, informs that the business done by the Farmers’ has doubled within the past two years’. Again in June 1919 a report stated that: The Farmers’ Co-op Society contemplates erecting bigger premises in Rata Street. The shop adjoining Robb’s store has been sold and pulled down, while the cottage nearby will be removed to a fresh site in the side street. The full front will be greatly extended, and when finished, should add greatly to the business aspect of the town.

Speaking at the opening of the Farmers’ Co-op store at Inglewood on 1 September 1925, Mr A. Corkill, a local director representing the Society, remarked that ‘the district had the reputation of being the home of blackberry and ragwort, but the settlers were not only getting rid of the weeds on their land, but were also cutting out the weeds from their herds, commonly called ‘the robber cows’, and this policy, coupled with the use of a little more fertiliser, would make their district one of the best dairying centres in New Zealand’. He went on to say that one settler was milking 48 cows with his herd testing returns showing an average of 412lbs and another farmer was running a small herd at the rate of ‘a cow to the acre and keeping them on the farm the whole year round’.

The interests of the Inglewood shareholders were also kept well in hand with the addition of a new sheep dip at the ‘old Dudley Road yards’. One striking feature of the scheme was illustrated in a lengthy editorial that elaborated most eloquently on some of the facilities of this idea, ‘reputed to have been introduced from Argentina’: The means adopted for getting the sheep into their vermin proof destroying bath with the least possible waste of time and application of violence …. There are other details of contrivances, water supply, drainage etc, which would be more easily understood by inspection than description; in fact to anyone interested in such matters, a visit would prove interesting, and if made on sale day, profitable.