Parsnip the vege that keeps on giving

There's something very old-fashioned about parsnips. I have great memories of cold winter evenings and warm comforting broths in the home of team Hawkes of Harvey St. Often referred to as white carrots, they are from the same family. They have grown in Europe since Roman times. The word parsnip is from the Latin 'pastus' meaning food and 'sativa' meaning cultivated. Parsnips have a delicate, sweet and slightly nutty flavour. Parsnip varieties have subtle taste variations and slightly different shapes. The sweet flavour comes when the starch is converted to sugar in cold weather. It is said the best parsnips come after the first frost, not too dissimilar to swede. During the Middle Ages parsnips were the main starchy vegetable for ordinary people (potatoes had not yet been introduced). They were easy to grow and were a welcome food to eat during the lean winter months. They were also valued for their sugar content. Sweet parsnip dishes like jam and desserts became a part of traditional English cookery; they were also commonly used for making beer and wine. Parsnip wine has a beautiful golden colour wand a rich sherry-like flavour. Parsnips are a good source of fibre and potassium, and contribute folate, calcium, iron and magnesium. They also contain small amounts of vitamin C and E. Farcarinol, (a natural pesticide) mostly associated with carrots, is found in higher levels in parsnips. You don't need to peel young parsnips. You might like to peel or scrape the older and tougher ones. Parsnips are often thought of as a winter vegetable but pretty much available all year round. Smooth and firm parsnips are the best along with being small to medium sized. They should be stored in plastic bags in the fridge, make sure the bag is not completely sealed to prevent condensation. When I was a lad my grandfather dug a pit in his garden, lined with sacks then filled with the winter vegetables - great for parsnips. Parsnips are useful in many dishes. In salads, cut into chunks, steamed or roasted and bound with your favourite dressing, nuts and salad greens Omelettes and frittatas Soups Peeled into ribbons, and shallow fried to form a crispy snack or garnish Parsnip puree Roasted with peppers, red onion and carrots and drizzled with oil, balsamic and finished with honey Steamed and mashed with carrots and swede to make marble mash, served with plenty of cracked black pepper and butter Ad Feedback This week lets make some tasty croquettes, to be served as is or with a green salad PARSNIP AND CHICKPEA CROQUETTES (makes 12) 450g parsnip, peeled and chopped 115g chickpeas, canned or cooked 25g butter 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander 1 egg, beaten 50g fresh bread crumbs vegetable oil for frying salt and freshly ground pepper Place parsnips in a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until completely tender. Drain the chickpeas and roughly mash. Melt the butter in a small pot and cook the garlic for 30 seconds. Drain the parsnips and mash with the garlic butter. Stir in the chickpeas and chopped coriander, then season well. Take about 1 Tbsp of the mixture at a time and for into small croquettes. Dip each croquette into the beaten egg and then roll in the breadcrumbs. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the croquettes for 3 to 4 minutes until golden, turning frequently so the brown evenly. Drain on kitchen paper and then serve at once, garnished with fresh sprigs of coriander. GRAHAM HAWKES Last updated 11:33 05/09/2014 http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/features/10464441/Parsnip-the-vege-that-keeps-on-giving

An unsung musical hero

Johnny Cooper, musician, b 1928, Wairoa; d Septemer 2014, Lower Hutt. Johnny Cooper, who died in Lower Hutt this week, may have not only been one of the most unsung, but also one of the most modest heroes New Zealand popular music has ever had. As a country singer in the early 1950s, billing himself as "The Maori Cowboy" he had big hits, and one, "Look What You've Done", which he wrote himself, became the quintessential Kiwi party song until "Ten Guitars" arrived. It's the song Jake and Beth Heke duet on in the movie "Once Were Warriors." In 1955, with a group of Wellington jazz men, he became the first singer outside the United States to record a rock and roll song, cutting "Rock Around The Clock" in HMV's Lower Hutt studios. His follow-up, "Pie Cart Rock and Roll", wasn't such a big hit, despite the magic chorus "Rockin' to the rhythm of the pea, pie and pud". He turned his hand to promoting talent quests, where his discoveries included the country's first rock and roll idol, Johnny Devlin, Midge Marsden (who played in Bari and The Breakaways as a backing band for contestants) and the Fourmulya, whose song "Nature would be judged the greatest New Zealand rock song of all time. Johnny himself was a friendly, deeply modest man, with a beautiful Billy T James laugh, and a good line in self depreciation. His pie cart song, he'd claim, was written in the hopes of free feeds while he was living in Whanganui. As a promoter, working in a field not famous for people with generous spirits, he was decent and honest. Those of us who had any dealings with him hold fond memories, and mourn his loss. http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/10468041/An-unsung-musical-hero PHIL GIFFORD Last updated 10:52 06/09/2014

Te Papa taonga on the move north

Te Papa taonga on the move north NIKKI MACDONALD Last updated 05:00 06/09/2014 Te Papa plans to move up to half its treasures out of Wellington in the long term, according to documents obtained by The Dominion Post. The national museum announced last September that it would move some collections north to reduce earthquake risk, as part of a plan to build a new South Auckland collections and exhibition centre. Te Papa chairman Evan Williams said no decision had yet been made about which collections, or how many, would move. Consultation begins in the next few weeks. However, documents obtained by The Dominion Post show the museum plans to move up to half its treasures out of Wellington, and has considered housing them in Christchurch and Hamilton, as well as Auckland. "Substantial work has been carried out over the last year to better secure buildings and collections for seismic events, but in the longer term the board has determined that the safest course of action is to mitigate some of the risk by relocating up to half of the collections outside of Wellington," a July 2013 ministerial briefing says. The documents also reveal further details about the South Auckland plans. Initial estimates put the capital cost at $30 million, with a $3m annual running cost. The new centre would provide 8000sqm of shared storage and a second venue for major international exhibitions. Visitor numbers are projected at 670,000 a year - about half Te Papa's declining Wellington visitor numbers. The planned collection and exhibition centre's South Auckland location means some of Te Papa's Maori and Pasifika taonga are likely to move north. But scientists are worried the fragile natural history collection will also be shifted, as it is housed in the less earthquake-safe Tory St complex. That collection - which spans century-old insects to giant fish tanks - is used by scientists, university researchers and government agencies for everything from identifying biosecurity invaders to charting sea temperature changes before written records began. Biologist Mike Rudge, who managed the collections from 1994-98, said moving or splitting the natural history collection and its scientists would "cut the guts out of the scientific base in Wellington". Critics have also questioned the wisdom of Te Papa taking on a $30m new venture when visitor numbers are falling and the museum has just made an $8m loss. It is also looking for a new chief executive after the premature departure of Englishman Michael Houlihan. Former Te Papa birds curator Sandy Bartle said New Zealand already had too many "small, underfunded, understaffed, little parochial efforts", and no new museums should be built without a national review. Ad Feedback Williams conceded that the South Auckland project would draw some Te Papa staff north. However, he was adamant it would not weaken the Wellington museum. The board also planned a $12m redevelopment of Cable St and the planned 2015 Anzac Day centenary exhibition being developed with Weta would be a game-changer, he said. - The Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10466643/Te-Papa-taonga-on-the-move-north

Family claims Longden's lane

A descendant of the long-dead owner of a central Christchurch laneway has come forward. Lynette Mary Raymond, who lives in Australia, said she was the great, great granddaughter of Joseph Longden - who remains the registered owner of 151 square metre lane and surrounding land at Kilmore and Colombo streets despite having died in 1865. The mystery of his continued ownership was revealed in The Press last week. Raymond said a great granddaughter may still be alive, in her 90s, in the United States. If that woman has passed, she estimated there were about 50 potential heirs in her generation. Longden bought sections 178 and 180 on the Black Map of Christchurch in March 1856. He subdivided 178 and sold the sections separately while 180 was sold whole. A lane was established between them and for reasons unknown, Longden kept title to it. His name still appears on the land title 149 years after his death, in England, aged 37. The lane, now addressed 125 Kilmore St, is just west of the former Caledonian Hall near the corner of Kilmore and Colombo streets. The Public Trust has applied to "manage" the property and will sell it. The city council valued the land at $16,000 in November. Raymond is a nursing lecturer at an Australian university and a keen genealogist. She visited New Zealand to research her family tree. A distant relative spotted The Press story and alerted her to it. She has approached the Public Trust about claiming the proceeds. Longden arrived in Canterbury before the First Four Ships, set up several businesses in Lyttelton and built a home at 14 Oxford Tce in 1852. It survived the earthquakes and is today the oldest part of the The Pegasus Arms pub. A plaque outside credits Longden. He also owned several sheep stations and sub-divided Easdale Nook Station to create Mt Torlesse Station. Anthony Nixon lived at 802 Colombo St, which backed onto Longden's lane from 1955 to 1959. He recalled men and women taking time out from dancing at the Caledonian for "extra curricular activity" up the lane. He could not remember the date but "my finest hour was calling the fire brigade out to save Chas Luney's woodworking factory from burning down", he wrote in an email this week.Luney's company still owns the section 180 land and alerted the Public Trust to the lane's ownership. Luneys has drawn up concept plans for a new office block that appear to envelop the lane. Ad Feedback Long-dead landowners are found across the land titles records and sections in the Cardrona Valley, Otago, have recently been sold by the Public Trust. Many are clustered about the Cardrona Hotel, which survives from gold rush days. Andrew Tuohy, for example, is the registered owner of 329sqm in the Cardrona Valley. He died in 1923 after fathering 11 children with wife Hannah (Annie) O'Sullivan. One of them, Patrick Tuohy , changed his name to Fintan Patrick Walsh. He became "unquestionably the most important figure in the history of the New Zealand labour movement", according to Te Ara Encyclopedia, being a close ally of Prime Minister Peter Fraser. Walsh never married but had a daughter. Rebecca Bond died in 1904 and is still the registered owner of 556sqm at Cardrona. In 1885, she applied for a publican's licence for the The Prince of Wales Hotel in Queenstown, which she renamed The Mountaineer Hotel. She was later hostess of the Crescent Hotel in Invercargill. Four Chinese nationals are still registered landowners in Cardrona. Little can be found about them. Ah Hin had 1012sqm - a quarter acre. In 1882, a man of the same name was recorded to have taken an oath of allegiance and was said to be a 35-year-old storekeeper at Tuapeka Flat. Ah Lem's written history in New Zealand includes a title deed for 455 sqm at Cardrona, an 1872 application for a water race near Nevis and an 1890 application for residence at Manor Burn Flat. Wong You applied for an agricultural lease at Cardrona in 1878 and had title to 2808sqm in the area in 1877. Wah Leong had two titles at Cardrona of about 1000sqm. In August 1876, the Lake Wakatipu Mail reported that an Ah Leong was found "coiled up in the chimney of his hut, where probably he sought the solace of the warmth, and as the last dying embers ceased their comfort, the cold hand of death stole over him". Are these your ancestors? Contact will.harvie@press.co.nz - The Press WILL HARVIE AND PHILIP CREED Last updated 05:00 06/09/2014 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10466612/Family-claims-Longdens-lane

On the Stand BLANTON SMITH Last updated 10:56 01/09/2011

If whitebaiting was like flying, those fishing the stands would be sitting in first class. While they might not admit it, this type of whitebaiting is easy compared with scooping. Unless the tide is low there's no need to get your feet wet and, if you're smart, the shanty you're sitting in is kitted out with a gas cooker, transistor radio and any other comforts you might need. "Up here (Mokau River), with the set net in the water, it's a lot less work ... as you can tell by the beer," says Nathan Terrill, before taking a swig. "It's a relaxed style you know, it's out doors in the fresh air." It's easy because a set net is used and most of the time it's placed perfectly, well dumped, off a small jetty sitting on the edge of the river. Sure, there is some technique involved, don't get me wrong. Apart from dropping the net and picking it up every 20 minutes or so, there isn't much more to do except read or listen to the radio. But the fact it's easy doesn't excuse these up-river fisherman from being fanatics. A boat ride up the Mokau River offers a bewildering sight in itself - stands dot the river bank, every 50m or so, for kilometres on end. "There's thousands of them," the New Plymouth man says. "They go up to about the middle of the Awakino River," he says. Whitebaiting from a stand is first class for its expense too. "The one I'm fishing on cost $5000, but I've heard of offers of $100,000 for a stand, a little piece of wood on a box," says Nathan. The expense seems surreal when you consider the average stand is about the size of a closet (not a walk-in wardrobe), but the prices are more easily justified when you do the math on a well-positioned stand's earning potential. "We know a guy who caught 130kg-140kg within four days," say Nathan. With whitebait very rarely dropping below $100 a kilogram a stand can pay itself off in just a few years. However, the beauty of whitebaiting, like any sort of fishing, is the fact you can eat your catch. Whether you were dredging the river mouth with a scoop net or fishing from the comfort of your $100,000 closet, a whitebait fritter always tastes better when you've caught the ingredients. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/behind-the-passion/5546695/On-the-Stand

Vee-Dubs part and parcel of family life

It all started way back in 1967 when a young Hawera man, John McGlinchey, bought his first Volkswagen, a 1965 1200cc Beetle Type 1. And his love affair with the Vee-Dub continues to this day. That car was owned from new by Father Garty, a well-known priest of Kaponga, and is the first of many VWs that John has owned. They included various Beetles (Type 1), three Fastbacks (Type 3) and a beautiful 1971 411 Variant (Type 4). All except the Beetles were German-assembled. John and his wife Shirley went on their honeymoon in 1972 in a Fastback model and one of their daughter,s Claire, has a 1971 Beetle that she has owned for the last 14 years. "Claire's partner is a German named Timo Hummel. He comes in handy to read the German handbooks and the makers' plates mounted on the motor," said John, a Hawera meat inspector. In fact all John and Shirley's six children learnt to drive in a Beetle. John himself learnt in a 1958 Kombi (Type 2), taught by family friend Burt Tucker, who owned the Kiwi Dairy opposite the Opera House. "I couldn't get into much trouble in the old Kombi, it only had one speed, slow," John said. John's current Volkswagen is a 1966 Type 3 Fastback 1600TL, one of only three of that model in New Zealand. Five years ago at the Nationals in New Plymouth he won second place in Type 3 in his original blue VW. That car arrived in New Zealand in late 1966 with just 50 miles on the clock. It was actually brought out to New Zealand by a Dutch immigrant, who was a manager at the Kapuni Natural Gas Plant, for his wife. The TL stands for Touring Limousine and in the 60s it certainly would have been. Although the Type 3 was introduced at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show with a 1500cc motor, the 1.6 litre (1584cc twin carb) arrived in 1965. This model followed the Beetle, utilising a low-profile version of Volkswagen's rear-mounted, 4-cylinder air-cooled engine. Redesign of the engine reduced the height of the engine profile, allowing greater "boot space" and earned the name of the "pancake" or "suitcase" engine. The Fastback had two luggage compartments; the engine is located under a panel in the rear boot and the front, of course. The Type 3 was produced in Germany from 1961 until 1973 during which time 2.588 million were built plus a further 460,000 in Brazil. They were also built in Australia for a short time in Clayton, Victoria. Ad Feedback While the Type 3 was a more modern design, it never reached the popularity of the Beetle. "People were buying the Beetles because they were Beetles and not Volkswagens," John said. "For comparison over 21 million Beetles were produced and 5.1 million Kombis." Volkswagen moved to the water-cooled Golf in 1974 because of emission regulations and US safety regulations. "Whatever the reason, the decision to move to water-cooled vehicles, while unfortunate for the Type 3 fans, was a great decision for Volkswagen as the Golf soon sold in millions and still leads the world car manufactures for that type of vehicle," John said. For the last 33 years John has been the secretary/treasurer of the South Taranaki Club. Next time you are visiting the club and you spot him say you read it in the The Star - your shout John. - © Fairfax NZ News http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/south-taranaki-star/9372566/Vee-Dubs-part-and-parcel-of-family-life

Enjoying a much blessed' life Former mayoress turns 95

Peggy Taylor might be 95 years old but she's still young at heart. A Hawera resident for the past 58 years, she has watched society, technology and the environment change unrecognisably during her lifetime. "It's a different world," she said. "I'm not shocked. I think I have come to terms with it as it seems it's the only way to go." Families today need two working parents to survive and the former mayoress said there was no point in getting misty-eyed over days gone by. "People could be critical and find fault with a lot of things but you have to train your mind to think for the best and hope for the best." As a mother raising five children - two sets of twins and another son - Mrs Taylor said women had to conform to a traditional home-maker's role. A simpler time, women had to spend more time at home to get jobs done, raise children and help out in groups and clubs. She said World War II changed the role of women in society drastically, paving the way for a more equal society. "There was a new role for women, which many of them handled very well indeed," she said. With men away fighting, women had to take on provider roles, working on farms and helping with more physical jobs. "We worked hard, there was land to build." People worked to help others too, never thinking twice about it. She can remember volunteering to peel pears by hand at a business in her home province, Hawke's Bay, because it needed to be done and quickly. She said many worked at paying jobs during the week before helping others during the weekend. It was also a more social time. Mrs Taylor met her late husband, former mayor Alex Taylor, when they were both performing in a stage show. She still has the programme for Marama. Both were singers in a chorus. "He sang very nicely and I couldn't sing," she laughingly remembered. The couple hit it off and married in 1945. They moved to Hawera in 1955 to help establish a produce market. The couple settled in quickly and never looked back. "Taranaki became home. The weather was a bit different in Hawke's Bay of course but I got on with life," she said. Both became immersed in their new home town and its social activities. Mrs Taylor joined various groups including Red Cross, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the local women's club. She was a dedicated mayoress from 1971-77, when Alex served as mayor, and was surprised by how involved the role was. "There was more than one expected really," she said. "The people were very kind and you got into the role gradually." A gracious and selfless person by nature, Mrs Taylor, born Jessie Margaret, celebrated her 95th birthday on September 14 without much fuss. She has never had much time for that sort of thing. "I've become more and more thankful as I've got older," she said. "My life is not spectacular that I've done anything worthy or noteworthy but, on the whole, you could say it's been a good life and I've been much blessed." - © Fairfax NZ News PETRA FINER- SOUTH TARANAKI STAR Last updated 14:54 26/09/2013

Backpacker going to buy a Lotto ticket after survival

A Chinese backpacker who survived three days missing in the bush says he might buy a Lotto ticket to test his luck. Cheng Chen, 28, went for a walk in National Park, Ruapehu, on Sunday but lost his way and spent three days in the bush, without food or equipment, as poor weather closed in. A search team found him on Wednesday afternoon on the outskirts of National Park. He was discharged from Taumarunui Hospital today after receiving treatment for exhaustion and exposure to the cold. Mr Chen acknowledged some people would describe him as lucky to have survived the experience. "I'm going to buy a Lotto ticket, if I win a prize that should prove if I'm lucky," he said. Now would be a good time, with tomorrow's Lotto jackpot standing at $32 million. However, Mr Chen declined to elaborate further on his experience, saying it was embarrassing. "I went to see a waterfall and got lost in the National Park without food, without water, no hiking gear, and nearly died," he said. The alarm was raised about noon on Tuesday by the owner of the accommodation where Mr Chen had been staying. He had not been seen since before he went for a walk in the Tupapakura Falls Track area on Sunday. There was concern for his wellbeing, with reports that he was unprepared for the stormy weather that struck the North Island earlier this week. After Mr Chen was rescued, search co-ordinator Sergeant Colin Wright, said he was lucky to have survived. - APNZ By Patrice Dougan @PatriceDougan By Patrice Dougan @PatriceDougan 6:12 PM Friday Sep 27, 2013

Early Morning in Grafton

Grafton - KookaChoo Hairdresser now gone

Mandarin speakers needed at the airport

More Mandarin-speaking volunteers are joining Auckland Airport's Bluecoat ranks. Because of the growing number of visitors from China the airport is recruiting more Mandarin speakers - and more are needed. Bluecoat volunteers help passengers with a variety of queries that arise when visiting the airport. Tourism New Zealand figures show in the year to May, 220,736 Chinese visitors came to New Zealand - an increase of 27.9 per cent on the previous year. Airport customer care manager Julie Berry says many of the 14 Mandarin speakers who have become Bluecoats are students. "For the younger ones like students, it gives them the confidence, self-esteem and customer service experience. "If they're looking at a customer service career, it's a good place to start." She says many of the tour groups visiting New Zealand are looked after by an English-speaking guide. But often the growing number of independent travellers from China need help. "There's quite a few elderly Asian travellers that have children that are here and they are now visiting more," she says. About 120 Bluecoats work a minimum of two four-hour shifts a week. They work between 5.30am and 11pm. "They're a very close-knit group of people - it's almost like a club. They support each other," Ms Berry says. New Bluecoat Peter Lum has been on the job a month and already faced a number of different queries. "Every time you go on a shift someone comes up with a question - it's not the same every day. "Sometimes people are waiting for passengers and they're not even sure if they're on the plane or of the flight number." One visitor approached Mr Lum just to warn him about travelling to Egypt because of security concerns. Pointing out where shops are, helping retailers with promotions and explaining New Zealand's departure card are just some of the other queries they deal with. "We are the eyes and ears - we can calm them down a bit if needed." The Auckland resident, who speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and Malaysian and has a background in hospitality, says he enjoys the experience of being a bluecoat. "If we're not able to help at least we can be a friendly face." If you are a Mandarin speaker and interested in becoming a Bluecoat volunteer email julie.berry@ aucklandairport.co.nz or bella. onekawa@aucklandairport. co.nz to register your interest. - © Fairfax NZ News SCOTT MORGAN Last updated 05:00 19/07/2013

Tauranga June 2013

Mt Roskill sites offer rare chance

Mt Roskill sites offer rare chance By Colin Taylor 5:30 AM Wednesday Jun 19, 2013 Properties in this busy centre are certain to attract keen interest. The property at 1001 Dominion Rd, which houses the Yong Fa restaurant, provides an annual rental income of $51,878. Expand The property at 1001 Dominion Rd, which houses the Yong Fa restaurant, provides an annual rental income of $51,878. Two retail properties in the heart of the Mt Roskill shopping strip at the top of Dominion Rd are for auction, with one of them, at 1252 Dominion Rd, vacated by the Westpac Bank. The other, a fully leased property at 1001 Dominion Rd, on the corner of Dominion Rd and Mt Albert Rd, is being marketed by Tony Chaudhary and Janak Darji of Bayleys Manukau in conjunction with Quinn Ngo of Bayleys Auckland. The two Dominion Rd properties will be among 20 to be auctioned on June 26 as part of Bayleys' Total Property portfolio. The property at 1001 Dominion Rd is a high-profile 1950s standalone building that houses the popular Yong Fa Chinese restaurant, which exercised a four-year right of renewal in December last year, plus a travel agency which renewed its lease for two years last August. Chaudhary says the property provides a passive investment for someone looking for a well-located opportunity in an affordable price bracket. It has a letting area of 138sq m and produces an annual rental income of $51,878. "Its location on two main arterial routes, Dominion Rd and Mt Albert Rd, gives the Chinese restaurant very good exposure to passing vehicle and foot traffic and the business also benefits from the large surrounding residential area, plus clientele from other established businesses nearby," Chaudhary says. The building has a council carpark at the rear and has been well maintained. It sits on a 225sq m freehold site in two titles. At 1252 Dominion Rd, the single-level former Westpac Bank premises was generating $68,485 a year rent. "This represents an opportunity for an owner-occupier or for someone who is looking for an add-value property," says Chaudhary, who is marketing this property with Janak Darji and Paul Dixon of Bayleys Auckland. The 290sq m well-presented building, which comes with high quality meeting room and office partitioning, plus a strongroom, could potentially have another storey added because its business 2 zoning allows a maximum height of 12.5m and business or residential use. Under the proposed Draft Auckland Unitary Plan, however, the property would be within a Local Centre zone where the height limit would rise to 16.5m, not taking into account height-to-boundary lines. "It could be possible under both zonings to put apartments or office space on top of this building, which has a site size of 390sq m, although the building itself takes up the whole land area," says Chaudhary. "A new owner could redevelop and revive the existing building with a new tenant or possibly divide it into two tenancies." The Mt Roskill shopping precinct has attracted some well-known service-based businesses in recent years, including many of the major banks and national businesses such as the TAB, Civic Video and Burger King. "There's never much vacant space in the Mt Roskill shopping area and it is well serviced by ample street and council car parking," says Chaudhary. "I only know of one other vacant retail space in the heart of the strip and it's another bank building." What's on offer For sale: Two Mt Roskill retail outlets Address: 1001 and 1252 Dominion Rd Agency: Bayleys Manukau and Auckland Sales method: Auction Wednesday, June 26 Features: Passive investment and add-value potential http://www.nzherald.co.nz/commercial-property/news/article.cfm?c_id=28&objectid=10891424

11 Alexis Avenue

Mt Albert: Family values By Catherine Smith 5:00 AM Saturday Nov 26, 2005 ✩Save Like on Facebook 0 Post on LinkedIn 0 +1 on Google+ 0 Pin on Pinterest 0 A Mt Albert home has grown with its family of 25 years. 11 Alexis Avenue, Mount Albert. Mount Albert’s Golden Triangle is a haven of tree-lined streets and classic 1920s and 30s Californian bungalows. Where other neighbourhoods have faced cycles of gentle rundown followed by frantic re-gentrification, this is a rare corner of Auckland that has remained gracious. One almost expects to see vintage cars and ladies in hats and gloves parading its streets. Marie and Geoff Dale’s restored bungalow may not boast the ladies in hats, but it does feature a vintage car in the garage. And when Geoff bought the house nearly 25 years ago, it still boasted a few too many other original features, like a loo on the back porch and one tiny bench in the old kitchen. "We had two toddlers and a new baby at that stage," says Marie. "I wouldn’t move in until Geoff promised to do the kitchen right away." Over time the couple added to their family - they have five children - and restored the house to its classic glory. The Dales had been drawn to the history of the house - they were only the third family to live there and planned to put down roots where their children could grow up with plenty of room, as the two earlier families had done. It reminded Geoff of the lovely old houses he’d grown up in around Remuera, where families all knew each other. The couple painstakingly sanded back architraves to their original woodwork, installed a period-style kitchen of tawa and recycled kauri and modernised the bathroom. Beautiful features remained - a wide welcoming front porch and hallway, big square bay windows in the living room and master bedroom, lead-light window glass, a bevelled glass front door. To the formal entry porch and living room at the front of the house, the Dales added more informal living and, at the back, afternoon decks. The family-sized kitchen has a new cooker and hood added only last year, and the dining space, which is warmed by a fire in winter, is a welcoming central gathering place for their extended family and friends. It opens through the back French doors to the deck for summer barbecues. Another fire is the cosy focal point of the formal lounge. The enviable wide flat front lawn features a huge mature tree, fruiting plums and feijoas and is a kid’s dream yard: plenty of room for the cricket and tennis games (miraculously, the leadlights have survived the odd ball) and bike riding.. As the kids grew to more space-hungry teens, Geoff and Marie added a second bathroom, a guest room and restored an existing basement storeroom to a large teen bedroom/games space. Geoff and Marie run their photography and gift card business from a pretty sun-room office opening off the formal lounge. With all but two of their kids now flown the nest, it is time for Geoff and Marie to downsize to a smaller house, freeing up their much admired classic home for its next family’s 20-year stay. Vital Statistics BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 2 GARAGE: 1+ SIZE: Land 696sq m, house 160sq m. PRICE INDICATION: CV $465,000. Interest expected in excess of $800,000. Auction November 30. INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.45pm. CONTACT: Anne Duncan, Anne Duncan Real Estate, ph 846 9470, 021 996 426 , or Greg Whitta, ph 021 992 612 . FEATURES: 1920s bungalow over two levels, with mature garden. Two living spaces opening on to porches. Ground floor storage and plenty of off street parking. Zoned for Gladstone Primary School. Within a stone’s throw of Ferndale Kindergarten, also walking distance to Mt Albert Grammar School, Marist College and Marist Primary School. By Catherine Smith http://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=10357009

"The Rocks" - 707 New North Road

"The Rocks" - 707 New North Road The house at this address, in its original form, a 5 roomed cottage, was built by James Arthur Penman in 1886, soon after his purchase of 2 ½ acres of rock-strewn land and in anticipation of his marriage. Mr. Penman had been born in 1865 in Albertland, and brought up mainly at Te Arai in North Auckland. After his father’s death in a sawmill accident in 1879, his mother came to Auckland with her two sons, where James found employment as a builder’s apprentice. James married Maria Ross in April 1887. Not long after the wedding, they were visited at their Mt. Albert house by Maria’s father, who looked with dismay at all the boulders on the property. Subsequent to the visit, he wrote a letter to the couple, and addressed it to them, simply, at “The Rocks”, Mt Albert. The letter got through and the house has carried that name ever since. At that time, New North Road turned down what is now the entry drive to “The Rocks”, in order to avoid a large outcrop of volcanic rock in front of St Lukes Anglican Church. It was not long afterwards that the road was straightened and James acquired the ‘front paddock’, enlarging his property by an acre. Rocks were cleared and used to build rock walls surrounding the property and a grass tennis court was constructed on the expansive front lawn. James and Maria had 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters, who were all born at “The Rocks”. One son died in infancy and another was killed at Gallipoli. To accommodate his growing family, James enlarged and altered the house substantially in 1903, converting it into a classic villa. The original verandah was replaced by an extension forward of a bedroom, which was given a large bay window. A new verandah was constructed in front of the original bay window (which is still there) with a return verandah down the side of the house to a new extension. Being a builder by trade, he undertook the design and building work himself. Later, James worked in partnership with his son Ross under the name: ‘J. A. Penman and Son’. James and Ross were sincere Christians by conviction, and built many churches, houses and other buildings from their base in workshops on the property. After Maria’s death in 1917, Mr. Penman continued to live at “The Rocks”, cared for by his daughter May. She married Roy Thompson in 1926 and that event prompted a further extension to the house in the northwest corner. Then in 1937 the side part of the verandah was enclosed. That was necessary because as well as having their own 4 children, they had offered to 'foster' the 2 sons of friends while those friends were on missionary service in India. James continued to be cared for at home until his death in 1955. Over the years, various parts of the land around James’ original 3 ½ acres were subdivided and sold or transferred to members of James’ family, so that the house is now surrounded by other dwellings. From May and Roy Thompson, ownership of “The Rocks” itself passed on to their daughter Gwen and her husband, Dr. Raymond Windsor. In 1981, the house was purchased by their eldest son, Dr John Windsor and his wife Christine. John, Christine and their 5 children are the current occupiers. Over the 124 years since 1886, “The Rocks” has been home to 5 generations of the one family. About 1976, when the house was being repainted, the original decorative trim below the verandah roof was removed. However, that action was later regretted and in 1986, to mark the house’s centennial, new decorative trim was put in place. It is however, not of the original design. During their ownership John and Christine have undertaken a major renovation of the house, with new roof, foundations, lining and wiring. They extended the house in 2 directions but have taken great care to retain the character and appearance of the house. The mature trees which surround the house, some of them originals, add dignity to this family home. Arnold R. Turner May 2010 http://mtalberthistoricalsociety.org.nz/The_Rocks.php

1 Ethel Street

1 Ethel Street I draw to your attention that we have added a Mt Albert Heritage Listing page We hope to provide further information to you for each listing over a period of time. There were three categories of listings, A B and C, when handed over to Auckland City on amalgamation in 1989. Auckland City promptly dropped any C listings. It is one of these C listed buildings that is the subject of this article. In 1851 Elihu Shaw paid Thomas Holmes £42 for Allotment 153. In 1855 Shaw sold just over 5 (five) acres of it to James Gribble. The portion sold to James Gribble was sold again by him to John Matthews, a customs officer in 1860 for£87. Matthews sold the property to confectioner Alfred Herbert in 1869 for £270. This large increase in value would seem to indicate a building had been erected on the site, further confirmed by the notation on the deeds “along with all the buildings thereon” of the next owner from 1876, John Nichol Crombie. Our assumption is that Matthews was an occupying ratepayer in the initial years of the Mt Albert Highway District built and lived on Allotment 153. This dates the house at 1 Ethel Street from between 1860 and 1869. Certainly some of the features of the house could reflect architectural features of the 1860s. In 1889 Allotment 153 was sold to Mary Ann Taylor who had the property surveyed in 1909 (see photo 4806 above) Photo 4879 above shows the 1910 plan for subdivision showing the house in place on lot 5 as it still is today. (Note also the stable which has become part of lot 6.) It is sad to see the deterioration of one of the few 1860s farmhouses we have left in Mt Albert. It’s not “fancy’’ or ‘’high class’’ but it reflects a part of our Mount Albert architectural history of which we have next to nothing left compared to other pioneer suburbs. In February 2009 I supplied historical data to Auckland City requesting that it be reconsidered for heritage protection. In nearly three years nothing has been done. Have they put it in the too hard basket or are they hoping it will be demolished before they are required to take the matter further? Do you know of any other C listings of the Mt Albert City Council, at as changeover to Auckland City in 1989, that still survive? Are you aware that you do not need to be the owner of a property to apply for Heritage listing of it? You simply download the form from Auckland City website. BUT you must be prepared to supply historical research as to why it should be added to the heritage list. Mary Inomata December 2011 http://mtalberthistoricalsociety.org.nz/Ethel_St.php

The First Mt Albert Primary School

The First Mt Albert Primary School Our first Mt Albert primary school opened its doors in 1870 as a result of the Common Schools Act to remove education from church responsibility. Mr McElwain presented 1 acre to the Auckland Education Board from his farmland between Kingsland and Morningside. The Mt Albert school roll of 1879 classes one and two, mention very familiar names in Mt Albert- Sadgrove, Woodward, Garlick, Kelly, Walters, McGeehan, McDonald, McBride – the list goes on. The first wooden school building was erected by local residents at their expense on the site. In 1880, this first building was removed, and replaced by a two-roomed wooden building. The school roll grew rapidly and the building underwent a number of additions and remodelling over the years. From 1903 – 1906 attendance grew from 248 to 323 on average with 5 teachers who in fact had to share classrooms. This was an unsatisfactory state of affairs and in 1912 the addition of two classrooms were made to accommodate sixty pupils, though the Chief Inspector noted that “I do not think the accommodation thus provided will be able to meet the rapidly growing needs of this suburban district” The school was remodelled again in the 1920s but a request for a rebuild denied , as it was pointed out that the Auckland Education Board owned another site on the corner of Mountain Rd(now Kitenui Ave) and Alexandra Ave (now Alexis Ave) and it was considered better to build there than add to the present site. The school was however never built on that site as by 1936 the Education Board was looking at the site occupied by the Morningside Quarries (commonly referred to as Wilson’s Quarry) on Salisbury Rd ( now Sainsbury). Tenders were finally put out for the building work in 1939 and the Mt Albert School was relocated to Sainsbury Road in 1940. The Auckland Education Board held onto the School Rd property until 1954. It leased the building to the RSA for 21 years . The crown split the building from the rest of the site in subdivision and the reserve was vested in the council. It is still crown property under the Ministry of Maori Development. The school these days is in a disgraceful state . Neglected and unloved and yet such an integral part of the history of our suburb Mt Albert. It would make such a wonderful community building for Mt Albert of which we are sorely in need and some questions need to be asked. http://mtalberthistoricalsociety.org.nz/Mt_Albert_Primary.php