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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Kaikohe

page 575

Kaikohe.

Kaikohe is situated in the Bay of Islands County and on the coach road from Kawakawa to Taheke (Hokianga). The journey is a very interesting one, as the traveller passes through Pakaraka and Ohaeawai en route, and, besides, Kaikohe itself is one of the finest settlements in the north of Auckland. The land is first class, and consists in beautiful level country to the extent of about 100,000 acres, but its being locked up by the natives is a bar to the progress of one of the finest inland towns in New Zealand. Kaikohe is about 135 miles from Auckland. It has a telephone office and mails twice a week, a European school, a native school, and a first-class hotel. It is surrounded by gum fields, and the gum industry is its principal trade. The population consists of about 100 whites and 300 Maoris.

Carved Maori House, Kaikohe.

Carved Maori House, Kaikohe.

The Kaikohe Post Office receives a mail every Tuesday and Saturday from Auckland, and closes a return mail for that city every Thursday and Saturday evening. It has a telephone service and a savings bank department.

Mr. Edward Routh Coxhead, Post-master and Telegraphist, was born in Chard, Somerset, England, in 1867, and is the son of Mr. W. R. Coxhead, now of Hokianga. He was educated at the Devon county school, with a view to following the banking profession, and joined the Somerset Bank, in which he served for two years. In the year 1886, the family emigrated to Auckland, and settled in Rangiahua, where they have resided ever since. In 1894 Mr. E. R. Coxhead joined the telegraph service, and has been stationed at various places. In March, 1899, he took charge of the Kaikohe office.

Mrs W. H. Wallis took charge as Postmistress at Kaikohe when the office was first opened, and occupied the position for a number of years.

The Late Mr. W. H. Wallis and Mrs Wallis.

The Late Mr. W. H. Wallis and Mrs Wallis.

Purdy, James, Farrier and General Blacksmith, Kaikohe. Established in 1889. Mr. Purdy's connection is a wide one, his trade for the greater part consisting of the manufacture of agricultural implements and vehicles of every description. He was born in Morpeth, Northumberland, in 1829, and followed his trade from his earliest days, working at Earsden, near Morpeth, for seven
Mr. J. Purdy.

Mr. J. Purdy.

page 576 years and for some time as a journeyman Mr. Purdy came to Victoria per ship “Eagle” in 1856 at the time of the gold discoveries and worked at Ballarat, Bendigo, and Black Forest. After eleven years' experience in Australia. Mr. Purdy came to New Zealand in 1867 and tried his luck on the Thames. Giving up gold-mining he proceeded to Kawakawa as engineer for the coal company. Mr. Purdy next spent two years at sawmilling in the Hokianga district, then returned to Kawakawa to take up his former occupation with the coal company. After other changes he finally established himself at Kaikohe. Mr. Purdy takes no part in public affairs. He is married and has two daughters and two sons.

Guerin, Thomas, Saddler and Harness Maker, Kaikohe, Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. This business, which had been established in 1877, was taken over by Mr. Guerin in 1884. The premises have a floor space of 400 square feet where the manufacture of saddlery and harness of every description is carried on. Mr. Guerin makes a specialty of horse-rugs with which he does a very good business. He was born in Sydney in 1865 and learned his trade from his father, the late Mr. John Guerin, a well-known saddler, came to Auckland in 1881, and before establishing himself at Kaikohe was for twelve months with Mr. Hogan. Mr. Guerin gives his ready assistance to all athletic, sporting, and theatrical movements. He is married to a daughter of Mr. C. Alderton, of Remuera, and has one son and two daughters.

Mr. T. Guerin.

Mr. T. Guerin.

Dickeson, G. F., Gum Buyer, Wool Broker and General Merchant, Kaikohe, Mr. Dickeson's premises rank amongst the largest and most commodious in the Far North. The general store has a frontage of 40 feet, and is stocked with everything required in a country business, down to patent medicines. There are also, in addition to the main building, large gum-sorting and storing premises, fitted for doing a large trade in the staple article of the north. Close by there is a spacious hall, which Mr. Dickeson lets for dancing, theatrical performances, and public gatherings. Mr. Dickeson is the principal stock auctioneer of the north, and holds monthly sales on the last Thursday of each month, at Ohaeawai.

Hanna, photo. Mr. G. F. Dickeson.

Hanna, photo. Mr. G. F. Dickeson.

Tiki Tiki Falls, Lake Omapere.

Tiki Tiki Falls, Lake Omapere.

Edwards, Alfred William, General Storekeeper and Gum Buyer, Kaikohe. Branch stores at Rakautoa and Whate-whateanga. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. The business was established by Mr. C. E. Smith in 1885 and taken over in 1888 by Mr. Edwards, who has since extended its operations and opened two branch stores. He keeps several packhorses, besides two bullock-teams employed in carrying provisions to the gumfields. Mr. Edwards is a capital man of business and has made himself thoroughly popular throughout the district. He was born in London in 1853, and followed the trade of a house furnishing salesman for ten years in the City and on the Edgware Road. He landed in Australia per ship “Lusitania” in 1880 and crossed over to Auckland, where he started as a grocer in Newton Road and afterwards at Newmarket. Mr. Edwards settled at Kaikohe in 1888, when he took over his present business, and, later on, he acquired that of Mr. G. W. S. Patterson. He is married to a daughter of Mr. Charles Alderton, of Remuera, and has two sons and one daughter.

Hanna, photo. Mr. A. W. Edwards.

Hanna, photo. Mr. A. W. Edwards.

Mr. Arthur Holyoake Morrison, Accountant to Mr. A. W. Edwards, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1855, and is a son of the late Mr. William Morrison, merchant, of New York. At the age of seventeen he went to India, where he followed mercantile pursuits. Later, he was for six years in the employment of Messrs. J. T. Simes and Co., of Coleman Street, London, an old-established firm of colonial wool brokers. At the dissolution of their partnership, Mr. Morrison came out to New Zealand, landing at Auckland per ship “Dorie” in 1886. After various occupations he finally took up his present employment. page 577 Mr. Morrison takes no part in local affairs.

Wright, Albert, General Storekeeper and Gum Buyer, Kaikohe. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales, Auckland. Mr. Wright established his business in 1895. His shop has a frontage of twenty-four feet, and though of unpretentious aspect a good steady business is carried on therein. Mr. Wright has energetically worked up a capital trade in gum and general supplies of stores to the fields. He was born in Suffolk, England, in 1863 and followed farming pursuits there during his younger days. Arriving in Auckland per ship “Carnatic” in 1874, he came to the Bay of Islands and entered the employ of Messrs. Goffe and Co., remaining at Waaitangi Falls for three years. He was subsequently transferred to Kaikohe for five years, when he established the present business on his own account. Mr. Wright has reaped the reward of his perseverance and his fine home is among the best to be found in Kaikohe. He is married to the eldest granddaughter of Mr. H. T. Kemp, of Kerikeri, and formerly Civil Commissioner of Auckland.

Mr. A. Wright.

Mr. A. Wright.