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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Awanui

Awanui.

Awanui is an important trading and distributing centre in Mongonui County, and in touch with the extensive gum and timber industry of that extreme portion of the north. Its total distance from Auckland is 218 miles by sea and land. There is telephone connection with Mongonui, and a weekly mail service with Auckland.

The Awanui Public School was opened as it has school about 1875, but since 1889 it has been a Board school for both Maori and European children, and the former are nearly equal to the latter in numbers and general ability. The school grounds occupy an acre and a half, and the building will accommodate fifty-six scholars. There are forty-nine on the roll, with an attendance, varying from thirty in the winter to forty-five in summer. Two scholars in 1898 did well in scholarship examinations; a European obtaining a certificate of proficiency in the Board examination, and a Maori was placed fourth in that for the Te Maharini.

Mr. J. H. Hudson, Headmaster, is a son of Mr. J. H. Hudson, J.P., of Kaipara Flats. He was born at Kaukapakapa in 1866, and was educated mainly at the Warkworth school. After a short trial at farming, during which he was following up his scholastic studies, Mr. Hudson began teaching at the Port Charles school, from which he was transferred to Waiheke Island in August, 1894, and was appointed to his present position in October, 1897. He devotes his leisure to University study and literature. Mrs. Hudson, who conducts the local post office, is a daughter cf the late Captain Beckend, well known as a trader to the South Sea Islands.

Subritzky, Ludolph Anton, Gum Merchant and General Storekeeper, Awanul. Branch store in California. Mr. Subritzky has a property of about seventeen acres, adjoining the wharf, where he has erected commodious business premises, including a store 24 x 18 feet. He carries a heavy stock of general provisions, and owing to his being a cash purchaser and having an interest in the boat “Medora,” is enabled to supply his customers with the best of goods at fair prices. He has an extensive connection amongst the gum-diggers and settlers of the district. He is a son of Mr. J. A. Subritzky, and was born at Mount Maldon, Victoria, in 1856, and first came to page 600 New Zealand in the old barque “Prince Alfred” in 1867. He engaged in cattle-farming and flax-milling at Hohoura; afterwards he followed a seafaring life for about fifteen years, during which time he was skipper of the “Venture” and the old “Medora;” and in 1888 he commenced business, Mr. Subritzky has large property interests in the district, but takes no part in public affairs. He is married to a daughter of Mr. William Lloyd, and has two sons and one daughter.

Glaudet, Lionel Henry, Awanui. Mr Claudet was born in San Francisco in 1861 and is the son of Mr. F. Claudet, assayer at the Bank of England. His grandfather, Mr. George Antoine Claudet, worked with Daguerre, and was one of the first to introduce the art of photography. On his mother's side he is a grandson of Mr. Stone, famous as one of the leading members of the Beefsteak Club, London, is a cousin of Messrs. Martin Bros., well-known bankers in Lombard Street, and is also cousin of Rear-Admiral Crozier, of the Isle of Wight. Mr. Claudet was educated at Highgate College, and was with his father for four years in the assay department of the Bank. He landed in Auckland per ship “Oxford” in 1880, and served a cadetship at Katiknti with Mr. V. Stewart: afterwards he went to the goldfields at Te Aroha, where he remained for twelve months and then went to Cambridge and Piako for eighteen months. His next move was to Mongonui, where he was for a time an employee of the Auckland Timber Company as tally and shipping clerk; then he joined Mr. S. Yates of Parengarenga in whose store he served twelve months. About this time he became interested in the gum trade and was connected with it, off and on, for about ten years, visiting the various gumfields at intervals and gaining practical knowledge of the business. He served as a special constable during the time there were some native disturbances. In 1889 he went to England for about twelve months, returning to New Zealand in 1890. Mr. Claudet is very fond of athletc sports, especially cricket and football. He was a member of the Mongonui County Coun cil for six years, and during two years of that time filled the office of chairman; he was at one time chairman of the licensing bench, and is at present a prominent member of the Kaitaia Agricultural Society, of which he was one of the first committee. He is married to a daughter of Mr. George Richards, of Awanui.