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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Ashhurst

Ashhurst.

Ashhurst is a rising township in the centre of a saw-milling district, nine miles from Palmerston North and ninety-six miles north by rail from Wellington, in the county of Oroua. The land is mostly level, and is suitable for both grazing and cropping. The chief industries are dairying, agriculture, and saw-milling. The roads in the district are good, there is native and imported game in the neighbourhood, and trout fishing may be obtained. The Manawatu Gorge is in the vicinity, and is the attraction of numerous visitors to the town. The township has several churches, a public school, a post and telegraph office, a public hall, two hotels, a branch bank, besides several fine business houses. A coach runs daily to Pohangina from Ashhurst.

Purcell and Ovenden (C. T. Purcell and G. A. Ovenden. Tailors and Costumiers, Main Street, Ashhurst. This business was established in May, 1907, and the premises comprise a shop, well-appointed fitting rooms and workrooms. Messrs. Purcell and Ovenden carry a large stock of imported materials, and have gained a reputation as first-class tailors. They are the local sole agents for the “Dominion” newspaper.

Mr. Charles Thomas Purcell, of Messrs. Purcell and Ovenden, was born in Wanganui in the year 1877, was educated in Wanganui and in Sydney, Australia, and then learned the tailoring trade. He subsequently gained further experience at his trade with Messrs. J. and W. Davis, leading tailors and costumiers, of Leicestershire, England. On his return to New Zealand he was employed for some time by Messrs. De Luen Brothers, and Mr. C. M. Ross, of the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, and then joined his present partner to start business in Ashhurst, Mr. Purcell married a daughter of Mr. John Hurley, of the Railway Hotel, Palmerton North.

Mr. George Arthur Ovenden, of Messrs. Purcell and Ovenden, was born in the year 1882, at Wickham, New South Wales, where he was educated at the public schools, and afterwards learned the tailoring trade. He was employed for some years in leading tailoring establishments in New South Wales and Queensland, in 1906 came to New Zealand, and found employment with Mr. C. M. Ross, of the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, until joining Mr. Purcell to establish their present business in Ashhurst.

Kirkham, A. J., and Company, General Provision Merchants, the Corner Store, Ashhurst. This business was founded many years ago, and was acquired by Messrs. Ashcroft, Kirkham and Company in the year 1906, Mr. Ashcroft withdrawing in January, 1907. The premises consist of an extensive two-storeyed wooden building. The ground floor is divided into several departments, which comprise
Messrs. A. J. Kirkham & Co.'s Premises.

Messrs. A. J. Kirkham & Co.'s Premises.

Bunting, photo.Mr. A. J. Kirkham.

Bunting, photo.
Mr. A. J. Kirkham.

page 717 the grocery, ironmongery, hardware, crockery, drapery, boot and shoe, brushware, fancy goods, wallpaper, and produce departments. Messrs. Kirkham and Company indent special lines of goods, and keep their stock thoroughly up-to-date. They have an extensive connection in the district, and six persons and three delivery carts are constantly employed.

Mr. Arthur James Kirkham was born in Napier in the year 1881, was educated at Taradale, and afterwards apprenticed for six years to the blacksmithing and coachbuilding trade under his brother at Petane, for whom he was latterly manager. At the time of the Boer war he went to South Africa as a member of the Eighth Contingent, and soon after his return to New Zealand he started business as a storekeeper, in partnership with Mr. George Christian, at Whetukura, near Ormondville. Two years and a half later he sold out, removed to Ashhurst, and established his present business. Mr. Kirkham takes an active interest in social and church matters, and is choir-master of the Anglican Church. He married Miss Beatrice Joll, formerly a school teacher at Hastings, Hawke's Bay.