THE BAY OF ISLANDS...
Okiato, just across from
Paihia, was New Zealand's first Capital, albeit for
a very short time, but the main trading village was Kororareka,
now known as Russell.
In 1840, Felton MATHEWS, acting Surveyor for the area, surveyed and planned
a town at Okiato, as a prospective Colonial Capitol.
It was close to property owned, since 1832, by James Reddy CLENDON. Records
show that Okiato held this Title from February 1841
until January 1844, when
the Capitol was officially moved to Russell. A plaque which commemorates the
site was unveiled by Mr. Logan SLOANE, MP for Hobson, on the 5th. November,
1961.
The History books are full of the riotous doings
in the
This is not intended as a History Page.. Rather it
features the names of some early folk and their interests. Use the "find"
facility in Edit to search for Family Names.
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KORORAREKA... RUSSELL.
The first Resident Surgeon to the
Area was Dr. Samuel FORD, who arrived in 1837. One son, Ernest (from their family
of 10) was an original Councillor on the
On 22nd. April 1864, a letter was presented to the Superintendent
of the
John HILL George
GREENWAY John CALLAGHAN
John JOHNSON J.B.WILLIAMS John
PRIOR
Gregory S.NORRIS John DONALD George
MILLER
George COOK
E.H.SIMONS William
BAKER
S.STEPHENSON C. HARGREAVES.
( At least 6 of these families are still represented
in Russell
and the surrounding Area.)
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RUSSELL REGATTA
To be held on Russell Beach
Tuesday April 9th.1912
Patron, V.H.REED
Esq. MP.
President, H.G.SETH-SMITH.
Committee:- Messrs.LONGSTAFF, J.B.WILLIAMS,
G.COOK, J.HODGSON, E.G.HEWIN
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RUSSELL
(Town District, Bay of
Constituted 1923
Population 1st.April 1928 365.
Ratable Value (Unimproved) £29,271.
Area 1.066 Acres.
Russell is situated 128 Miles North
of Auckland, with which it has
communication by sea, twice weekly.
There is a daily Rail Service with with Whangarei and
The County Roads in the Town are
controlled by
the Town Board. Length of Roads and Streets
5 miles. Recreation Reserve: Domain of 7 acres,
controlled by the Kororareka Domain Board.
Library, erected in 1927,
containing 2,500 books.
Town Hall, erected 1922, by Public Subscription. Capitol Cost £1,2000.
Picture Theatre. Pictures are shown in the Town Hall
twice weekly.
Statutory Half-Holiday, Saturday.
TOWN BOARD
Chairman,
E.G.HEWIN.
Commissioners, J.ARMITAGE, A.E.BISSET,
T.R.CLOW
CHIEF OFFICIAL
Town Clerk & Treasurer, A.H.HITCHCOCK
(From Local Govt. Handbook. 1929.)
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KAWAKAWA
KAWAKAWA RACES
Monday, January 31st., 1881
At the Public Recreation Grounds,
TAUMARERE
President: T.P.MOODY Esq. JP:
Vice Pres: Dr. BOASE
Judge: Mr.F.McKENZIE:
Clerk of Scales; Mr. R.A.HALL
Clerk of Course and Scales Mr. John GRAY.
Stewards: Mr. D.MIDDLETON; Mr.R.GREY;
Mr.W.CALLAGHAN; Mr.G.BREWER; Mr.John Hall
;
Mr. R.A.HALL; Mr.J.SWINBANKS;
Mr. F. MACKENZIE;
Mr. J. HIGGINSON; Mr.G.SIMMONS .
KAWAKAWA VITAL STATS.1884.
Population 1,000:
Principal Industry Coal Mines.
Waiomio Caves (5 miles from Township). Res. of MAIHI PARAONE KAWITI.
Justices: T.P.MOODY, Captain HENRY.
Constable; W. COUGHLAN.
Councilors: Hon.H. WILLIAMS,
Chairman H. TRENCHARD, James SLATER,
(Waimate); E.FORD, J.B.WILLIAMS (Russell); T.P.MOODY,
W.SWIFT(Kawakawa).
Masonic: Lodge Northern Light, E.C: 30 Members.
Officers:- G. TURNBULL, J.WEBB, T.McCLINTOCK,
W. COUTTS, E.T.DAM, Treasurer,
F. MacKENZIE; Secretary, J.McNICOL:
E. HARROP, J.MOORE.
Loyal
Officers: G.W.BREWER, Joseph Whiteman,
Joseph McCREADY, Treasurer;
T.J.JAGGER,
Secretary; Rev. T.G. BROOKE, Chaplain.
I.O.O.F. (American Order) Kawakawa Lodge No. 37. Officers:-
J.WEBB, J.COOMBE, G.BREWER, T.JONES, T.McCLINTOCK,
G.CLIMO, J. McCLEAN,
W.WEISS, R. HUTCHINSON, A. BREWER, H.SMALLSHAW, R. HERON,
J.H. MARSHALL,
George GREENFIELD.
I.O.G.T. Black Diamond Lodge; 50 Members.
Officers:- John RUSSELL, H.HOLTON, M. HANSON,
B. NICHOLSON, Alex HISLIP,
T.J.JAGGAR, A. WILKINSON, Treasurer. Rev. BROOKE Chaplain, James MIDDLETON,
H. TOBY, J. RENHARDT, W. BLACK.
TRADESMEN ETC..
AUCTIONEERS: MARSHALL & HALL.
BAKERS: R.SMALLSHAW, D. LEARMOUTH.
BOOTMAKERS: J.McCREADY, W.TEACE.
BLACKSMITH: G.BREWER.
BRICK MAKER: J.HILL.
BUTCHERS: J.A.L. HALL, T.G.USHER.
BUILDERS: E.HARROP, J.REED, J.MOORE.
CARTERS: J.MIDDLETON, J.A.L.HALL
DRESSMAKER: Miss RAMSBOTTOM.
GUM BUYERS: W.CALLAGHAN, D.J.KIRKPATRICK, MARSHALL
& HALL.
HARMONIC SOCIETY: Conductor T.D.TRIPHOOK. Sec. James H. MARSHALL.
HOTELS: Star, W.SWIFT. Masonic: W.PIERCE. Junction: G.WHITE. Exchange:
(Taumarere) James McCAMMON.
KAWAKAWA BRASS BAND: H. SKELLERN, Bandmaster.
NEWSPAPER: "Northern Luminary". Frs. MacKENZIE
prop.
NURSERYMEN: C.GOODHUE, R.
PAINTER & PAPERHANGER: W.H.GODWIN.
POSTMASTER: A.W.MANN. LINESMAN: J. CROSS.
PRINCIPAL STORES: J.KEATLEY, G.TURNBULL, D.J.KIRKPATRICK.
SADDLERS: J. McCREADY, J.A.L.HALL
SCHOOLMASTER: J. ARMSTRONG.
TAILORS: Hugh McCREADY, T.McCLINTOCK.
WATCHMAKER: M. VOKES.
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After the KAWAKAWA
RACES held Tuesday, January 29th. 1884, there
was held a Grand Entertainment in the Public Hall. Entertainers were:
Mr.J.ARMSTRONG; Mr.B.ALEXANDER; Mr.H.McCREADY; Mrs.PHILP;
Mr.T.BOOTH; Mr J.REED; Mr.GEORGE;
Mr.HOOKER; Mrs.H.McCREADY.
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Committee Members of the KAWAKAWA Racing Club in 1892 were:
Messrs. W.WOODS; R.A.HALL; J.FLEET: J.A.L.HALL; S.NEIL; J.KEATLEY;
H.STEWARY; D.CULLETON; W.SWIFT; J.R.REED; W.STEWART; F.MACKENZIE;
H.PARKER; G.BREWER; V.E.BELGRAVE; R.MARSHALL.
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In 1898 Local Businessmen were:-
General Storekeeper, W.STEWART:
Blacksmith & Horse Shoer, Henry MIDDLETON:
Junction Hotel, Prop. P.O'CONNOR:
Star Hotel, G.H.BREWER: (Prop.since 1897)
Auctioneer, J.A.L. HALL:
Barrister & Solicitor, Mr.E.C.BLOMFIELD.
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This is the earliest photograph
I could find of the Bay of
It was taken in 1897 and shows:-
Back Row: H.C.BLUNDELL (Engineer); H.S.LUDBROOK; R.B.B.WILLIS;
W.STEWART; V.H.REED (Clerk and Treasurer.)
Front: J.B.CLARKE; P.McALESTER; Hon. H.WILLIAMS (Chairman);
J.A.L.HALL, Horace S.WILLIAMS.
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