Gladstone Road in the 70'S.

Gladstone Road in the seventies was a very different thoroughfare to the wide bitumen surface of to-day. The road, which was named after William Ewart Gladstone, Britain's. Premier at that time, commenced as now at the Turanganui river. It page break page 93 ran as far as Grey Street, then went through to Palmerston Road, as far as Disraeli Street, to Aberdeen Road until just past past Lytton Road, where it cut across and again joined the main road near the cemetery. The whole of Gladstone Road, or at least the route mentioned, was of pure sand, and horses had a hard time with the heavy vehicles then in use.

At the end of Capt. Read's wharf stood the house of Mr G. G. Mill, Captain Read's manager, and Mr. William Adair's dwelling was next. Then, at the present corner of Gladstone Road and Read's Quay was Mr Thelwall's butchery, with Capt. Read's bond at the back. A section about 80 yards or so wide separated the butchery from Bradley's Hotel-afterwards the Albion Club hotel, and next to this was the Albion Club stables, which may still be seen at the end of the Albion Club right of way. In the early days there was still a right of way, which led, of course, to the stables. On the town side of the right of way and in front of the stables, was Mr Arthur Cooper's bootmaker's shop, and then came Fromm's, booksellers, Nasmith's jewellers; Bests, drapers; Adams, booksellers, and the Bank of New Zealand, a small shed. Then on the site where Adair Bros, now stands was the old Court-house, which also included the Customhouse, the Armoury and the Public Library. At the back stood the residence of Major Westrupp, which was later occupied by the only medical man of the town, Dr. Nesbitt.

On the opposite side of what is now Lowe Street stood Teat and Robjohn's store, then came the dwellinghouse and shop of Mr Matthew Hall, saddler, and Parnell's store, which was on the site near where Mr Good's jewellery establishment stands at present. Further down the street was the Music Hall, in which entertainments and theatrical performances were given. This was on the site of the auction mart occupied a few years ago by Mr W. Samson, and the old building is still there, being built on in front by McKee's buildings. The first Masonic lodge in Gisborne, removed to the Music Hall from a room over Mr Thelwall's butchery. Later the lodge room was transferred to a hall near the back of the buildings now occupied by the U.S.S. Co. in Childers Road.

On the other side of Gladstone Road from the river, was the Post Office, then Horsfall's store, the Argyll Hotel, a barber's shop, and Mr Stubb's chemist shop, on a site ner where Mr E. D. Smith's chemist shop now stands.

The block-house, a two-storey building with loop-holes, and surrounded by a stout palisade of manuka stakes, was on the site between the present Police Station and the Opera House. From the block-house to the Courthouse ran an embankment five feet high, with a trench behind. For some considerable time all the settlers had to assemble every evening behind the embankment, outside of which a military patrol was stationed, and under no circumstances were civilians allowed to break bounds.

On the left-hand side of Gladstone-Road stood Steady's Post Office, a little shed, with a loft above in which the postmaster slept. That was on the site at present occupied by the Parcels Office. Then a few yards away stood McFarlane's house, which had attached to it a dairy run, with cowbails, yards, etc. The run extended some distance towards the sea, the next building being the house of John Harvey, Captain Read's storeman. Later a man named McKay lived in Harvey's house. Then came the Turanganui Hotel, kept in later years by Madame de Costa, who was a very popular hostess, and gave innumerable parties to the young folk of the district.