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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

New Brighton

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New Brighton.

New Brighton is a seaside resort, within six miles of Christchurch. It is reached by two tram lines, on which trams run at intervals all day, and the main road is also much used by bicyclists, especially on Sundays and the weekly half-holiday. The settled population is about 1000, but it is increased by several hundreds during the summer, when many Christchurch people take cottages by the sea shore, so that they may enjoy the benefits of sea-bathing and the fresh, invigorating air. Formerly, New Brighton was a portion of the Avon road district. Its area of 1500 acres includes a public reserve of 300 acres, in which there is a domain, thickly planted with trees. Lately a Beautifying Association has been formed in the borough, and has already done a good deal of work. Sometimes the members set apart a day of the week, and go round the residences, planting trees in the gardens, close to the footpath. In this manner about 150 palm-lilies, popularly known as cabbage-trees, have been planted. When a few years have passed, these trees should be higher than the fences, and in ten years, probably, there will be a complete avenue of palm-lilies from the bridge over the Avon to the seaside, or close to it. The idea has been adapted from towns in the United States of America, and the object is the introduction of some uniform system of public gardening, which will add to the general effectiveness of the town's appearance. A fountain, in commemoration of the coronation of King Edward VII., on the 9th of August, 1902, has been erected at the end of the main street, opposite the pier, and is supplied from an artesian well.

New Brighton Borough Council for 1902 consists of Mr. G. McIntyre, mayor; and Messrs C. H. Winny, William Edwards, William Bellamy, Charles Foster, H. R. Walker, C. J. Clayton, A. H. Wyatt, James Glanville, and Dr. C. D. Greenwood, councillors; Mr. Walter Blake, town clerk. The district of New Brighton, which comprises about 1500 acres, with a seabeach frontage of some six miles by a depth of three-quarters of a mile, was incorporated as a borough in 1897. There are already about five miles of formed streets within the borough. The capital value of ratable property is £95,000, and the annual value £6,914. Rates are levied on the annual value, and there is a general rate of 1/4d, a separate rate of 2d, and a special rate of 6d. The revenue for the year which ended with March, 1902, was £891, and the expenditure, £1,202. It is proposed to spend £3,000 in concrete channelling, in sinking wells, and in other works within the borough.

The Pier, New Brighton. Photo by E. E. Wright.

The Pier, New Brighton. Photo by E. E. Wright.

His Worship The Mayor. Mr. George McIntyre, is a Canadian by birth. He was born in 1844 and educated in his native land, in England, and Tasmania, studied for his profession in the sister Colony, and became a qualified surveyor. Arriving in New Zealand in 1866, he was for a short time in Timaru, and for five years subsequently was on the Hansard staff in Wellington. After a short stay in Auckland, he settled in Christchurch in 1872, and held an appointment in the Survey Department for six years, when he established, in conjunction with Mr. A. J. Lewis, the firm of McIntyre and Lewis. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. Mr. McIntyre has taken an interest in the management of local governing bodies, and has been a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board since 1892, and of the New Brighton page 409 Borough Council since the incorporation of the borough. Mr. McIntyre was elected mayor for the year 1901–2. He has been continuously a member of the Diocesan Synod since 1873. Mr. McIntyre was married in 1870 to a daughter of Mr. James Smith, S.M., of Tasmania, and has three sons and four daughters. He is elsewhere referred to as chairman and managing director of the New Brighton Tramway Company.

Councillor William Bellamy was elected to the New Brighton Borough Council in 1900. He is a native of Canterbury. His parents arrived in New Zealand in 1859, and resided in Poverty Bay at the time of the Te Kooti massacres. Mr. Bellamy was brought up to the trade of a coachbuilder, and he holds a position with Messrs Boon and Co., of Lower High Street, Christchurch.

Councillor Charles John Clayton was elected to the New Brighton Borough Council in 1902. He was born in England, where, for twenty-two years, he was engaged in an extensive manufacturing business. Mr. Clayton arrived in New Zealand in 1892, and began business in Christchurch by forming the Reliance Boot and Shoe Factory, which was merged in 1898 into the Excelsior Boot Manufacturing Company, Limited, with Mr. Clayton as manager. Mr. Clayton is a member of the Federated Boot Manufacturers' Association.

Councillor William Edwards has for several years occupied a seat on the New Brighton Borough Council. He carries on a successful business in Cashel Street, Christchurch, under the style of Edwards and Son, pastrycooks and confectioners.

Councillor Charles Foster was first elected to the New Brighton Borough Council in 1899. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1851, and arrived on the West Coast of New Zealand at the age of sixteen. Since 1871 he has been connected with Oddfellowship, and has held every office open to members in connection with the order.

Councillor James Glanville has for several years occupied a seat on the New Brighton Borough Council. He is well known as an architect in Christchurch, where he has an office at 9 Cathedral Square. Mr. Glanville resides at New Brighton.

Councillor Cecil D. Greenwood, who was elected a Member of the New Brighton Borough Council in 1902, is a well-known medical practitioner. Dr. Greenwood resides at New Brighton, where he has a large practice.

Councillor Henry Rishton Walker, Member of the New Brighton Borough Council, is a native of Oldham, England. He was educated at King William's College, Castletown, Isle of Man, and afterwards apprenticed to the engineering trade at the Barrow engineering works. In 1885 he left England for New Zealand, and since 1893 has been a resident of New Brighton, where he has taken a very active interest in the progress of the district, and was elected to the Borough Council in 1901. Mr. Walker has recently introduced an efficient motor ferry service between New Brighton and Sumner, which adds to the attractions of these favourite seaside resorts. The twin screw launch “Tuariki,” which makes a number of trips during the day, has ample accommodation for sixty passengers. As the route taken is down the river Avon and across the Sumner estuary, a smooth passage is always assured. The launch is strongly built on modern lines. She is constructed entirely of kauri, and has a speed of nine miles an hour. Her dimensions are 40 feet in length, and 10 feet beam. She is fitted up with twin engines of eight-horse power each, and of the Sintz double cylinder two-cycle make. The journey between New Brighton and Sumner occupies three-quarters of an hour, and the trip is truly a pleasure one. During the summer, evening excursions are run at intervals. Mr. Walker's private residence is situated near the river wharf, and beside it there is a very fine engineering workshop, where any repairs can be easily effected. A large stable, which is constructed on the most modern and sanitary lines, is another feature of Mr. Walker's premises.

Standish and Preece, photo. Councillor H. R. Walker.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Councillor H. R. Walker.

Councillor Charles H. Winny, the senior Member of the New Brighton Borough Council, was Mayor of the borough for the year 1900. Mr. Winny is manager for the firm of Messrs William White and Co., timber and coal merchants, Christchurch.

Councillor Alfred H. Wyatt, who has for several years been a Member of the New Brighton Borough Council, is referred elsewhere to in connection with his store at New Brighton.

Standish and Preece, photo Councillor A. H. Wyatt.

Standish and Preece, photo
Councillor A. H. Wyatt.

Mr. Walter Blake, C.E., Town Clerk of the Borough of New Brighton, was born in 1832 in Hampshire, England, where he was also educated and brought up as a civil engineer. Mr. Blake came out to Australia in the fifties, and after some years in the sister Colonies crossed the Tasman Sea to Port Chalmers, in the ship “Aldinga.” After a short experience on the Otago goldfields, he settled in Christchurch about the end of 1863. He entered the service of the Provincial Engineers' Department, and was employed in opening up the West Coast, being one of the first to lay out and make roads during the great “rush” to the coast. Subsequently, he was engaged in telegraph and railway construction under the General Government, and has since had a general colonial experience. Mr. Blake was appointed town clerk of the Borough of New Brighton on its incorporation. He was married in 1868, to a daughter of the late Mr. C. B. Bishop, of Christchurch.

The New Brighton Public School, which occupies two acres of land fronting Sea View and Hawkes Streets, is a single-storey wooden building, with three classrooms. There are 275 pupils on the roll, with an average attendance of 240. This school was first opened in February, 1889, in a small building belonging to the Wesleyan church, with thirty-eight scholars. The headmaster is assisted by three certificated and two pupil-teachers.

Mr. George William Bishop, Headmaster of the New Brighton Public School, has been in charge since its establishment. He was born on Banks' Peninsula in 1858, was educated at various public schools, and is an undergraduate of Canterbury College, where he studied for two years. He served a pupil-teachership of four years at the Sonthbridge and West Christchurch schools, and after a year's training at the Normal School, gained his D2 certificate, and was sent to New Brighton to establish the school. Mr. Bishop is a member of the North Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. He is an old footballer and tennis-player.

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Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. See page 409 Mr. G. W. Bishop.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. See page 409
Mr. G. W. Bishop.

Burwood Public School, which was originally known as the New Brighton School, was opened in 1870, a side school having been conducted at New Brighton itself for many years. The school is a single-storey wooden building with two rooms and two porches, and is erected on three and a half acres of land. The headmaster is assisted by a lady teacher and one pupil-teacher. There are 110 pupils on the roll, the average attendance being ninety.

Mr. George Davidson, Headmaster of the Burwood Public School, who is a uative of Morayshire, Scotland, was born in 1859, and educated at Milne's Institute. He was brought up to a scholastic career. Mr. Davidson landed in Port Chalmers per ship “James Nichol Fleming” in 1873, and served a pupil-teachership of four years at the Oamaru Grammar School, and subsequently studied for one year at the Normal Training School, Dunedin, gaining a D1 certificate. He was appointed junior master at the Training College, Dunedin, and served for three and a half years. Subsequently, he was stationed at Teaneraki, where he was headmaster for fifteen months; for two years he acted as senior relieving-officer for the Otago Education Board, and was transferred to the service of the North Canterbury Board of Education in 1890. He was headmaster of the Annat public school for four years, and was appointed to his present position in May, 1894. Mr. Davidson is a member of the North Canterbury Educational Institute. As a tennis-player, he is connected with the New Brighton and Linwood Tennis Clubs.

All Saints Church, Burwood, Parish of New Brighton. This church is a pretty little wooden building, and was erected in 1877 at a cost of £500. There is accommodation for one hundred worshippers, and services are held twice on Sunday. The church is beautifully situated; it overlooks the Avon, and stands in the midst of a well-kept cemetery. The parish has a scattered population, and is about five miles long and four wide. New Brighton township, which forms a part of the parish, possesses a church which was erected about 1880. It is capable of seating 150 persons. Two services are held at New Brighton on Sunday, and also one on Friday. The vicar is assisted by lay readers. There is a Sunday school, with about one hundred scholars.

All Saints' Church, Burwood.

All Saints' Church, Burwood.

The Rev. F. R. Inwood, Vicar of New Brighton, is a son of the late Mr. D. Inwood, one of the pioneers who arrived in Canterbury in 1850, by the ship “Sir George Seymour.” Mr. Inwood was born in Surrey, England, in 1849, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand. He was educated at Christ's College, and ordained by the late Bishop Harper in 1877. His first charge was at Flaxton and Ohoka, where he served for one year as curate, and for eleven years afterwards as vicar. He has been in charge of his present parish of New Brighton since 1889.

Rev. F. R. Inwood.

Rev. F. R. Inwood.

Greenwood, Cecil Danforth, M.R.C.S., Eng., and L.S.A., London, Surgeon and Physician, New Brighton. Dr. Greenwood is elsewhere referred to as a member of the New Brighton Borough Council.

McKinney, Andrew Wilson, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Sea View Road, New Brighton. This business was established in 1897, and was the first pharmacy to occupy permanent premises at New Brighton.

Wyatt, Alfred Henry, Grocer, Carrier, and House Agent, New Brighton. Mr. Wyatt was born in Christchurch in 1861, and was educated partly at St. Luke's, and partly at Mr. T. M. Gee's Grammar School. After serving an apprenticeship of seven years with his father (the late Mr. M. M. Wyatt) he started in business on his own account in the latter part of 1882 in Colombo Street North, Christchurch. He successfully carried on his business for five years, when, owing to illhealth, he was compelled to remove to New Brighton, where he has been in business ever since. Mr. Wyatt was married, in December. 1862, to Isabella, only surviving daughter of the late Thomas Langhorn, of Brighton, England, and has five sons and three daughters living. He is a member of the New Brighton Borough Council, and also of the local school committee.

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Mr. Horace Daniel Pine was born in Dover, England, in 1856, and arrived at Lyttelton with his parents by the ship “Cameo,” in 1859. He was educated at the St. Albans school under the late Mr. John Broughton, and at Durham Street school, and served an apprenticeship as a printer with the Lyttelton Times Company, with which he remained for twelve years. Subsequently he had charge of the jobbing department of the Telegraph newspaper office, and afterwards of the business of the Union Printing Office. In 1890 Mr. Pine accepted his present position as manager of the printing department of the Press Company, and since then the business has grown at a remarkable rate. Mr. Pine is at present (1902) chairman of the New Brighton school committee. He served for three years as a member of the St. Albans Borough Council, and was for one year on the New Brighton Borough Council. He was also a member of the St. Albans school committee for about ten years, and chairman during the latter portion of that time. Mr. Pine helped to establish the Christchurch and St. Albans Money Club, of which he was president for several years. For the past ten years he has been chairman of the Industrial Building Society of Canterbury, and has been on the directorate of several other build ing societies. He was one of the original promoters of the New Brighton Pier Company, of which he was chairman of directors for several years, and is still a director. As a Forester he has been a member of the Court Star of Canterbury since 1887. He was for one year chairman of the Canterbury branch of the Association of Master Printers, and has for the past three years been warden of the Beach church at New Brighton. In 1882 Mr. Pine married Miss Elizabeth Hunt, of Hull. Yorkshire, and has a family of two sons and six daughters.

Standish and Preece, photo. Mr. H. D. Pine.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. H. D. Pine.

Scene in the Public Gardens, Christchurch.

Scene in the Public Gardens, Christchurch.

Mr. J. W. Walshaw was born in 1840, in England, where he was educated, and apprenticed to the engineering trade. He came to New Zealand in 1864, and worked as a mechanical engineer with Mr. John Anderson for thirty years. Mr. Walshaw owned the Sheffield hotel at Sheffield for some time. He now resides at New Brighton.