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

General Government Institutions

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General Government Institutions.

As the chief town of Taranaki, New Plymouth has a number of Government departments, which are domiciled in a block surrounded by four streets; namely, Devon Street, Powderham Street, Robe Street, and Silver Street. The largest building of the group is usually known as the Government Buildings. Its frontage is to Devon Street, but it also faces Silver Street and Robe Street. A substantial and imposing addition in brick and stone has lately been made to the block. The Post and Telegraph offices, Customs, Public Trust Office and Deeds Registry Office are on the ground floor; and the Department of Lands and Survey, and the meeting room of the Taranaki Land Board and Egmont National Park Board, as well as the offices of the Roads Department for Taranaki, are on the upper floor. The premises of the Supreme Court, District Court, and Magistrate's Court are at the corner of Powderham Street and Robe Street, and the Police Station is in Silver Street. The gaol is situated on Marsland Hill, at the back of the town, and the administration of bankrupt estates is conducted at the office of the local Deputy Official Assignee. The Agricultural Department's branches for its stock, dairy, and veterinary sections, are domiciled in the Union Company's buildings, in St. Aubyn Street. The Labour Department has recently established a branch for Taranaki, with its offices in Rowe's Building, Currie Street, and there also the local Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages has his office. The Department of Health, and the Public Works Department, have their central offices for Taranaki at Stratford.

Post Office,

The New Plymouth Post and Telegraph Office occupies the ground floor of the eastern end of the Government Buildings, at the corner of Devon and Robe Streets. The departments include Savings Bank, Money Order, Government Insurance, and other branches. The Telephone Exchange at New Plymouth has 320 subscribers, and there are sub-exchanges at Inglewood and Waitara, in addition to sixty-four bureaux. The chief postmaster, Mr. T. D. Holdsworth, is supported by a large staff of assistants.

Customs Department.

The Customs Department has been represented at New Plymouth since the forties. The office is in the Government Buildings, on the ground floor, and is entered from Silver Street. There are three bonds in the town of New Plymouth; namely, at the New Plymouth Express Company's buildings, and those of Messrs Burgess Fraser and Co., and of Mr. A. Goldwater. Besides the staff at New Plymouth, there is a coast waiter at Waitara. The principal exports are butter, cheese and meat. For some years the exports have been steadily increasing in value, and there was a substantial increase in imports in the year 1905.

Mr. John Hamilton Hempton has been Collector of Customs at New Plymouth since the year 1903. He was born in the town in 1863, and also educated in his native place. In 1874, he joined the Customs in Wellington, where he served for a number of years before he was promoted to his present position. Mr. Hempton married a daughter of Mr. A. McCrorie, in 1899, and has one daughter.

Lands and Survey Department.

The Taranaki Lands and Survey Department is domiciled on the first floor of the Government Buildings, in Devon Street, New Plymouth. The district under control extends from the Mokau river in the north, to the mouth of the Putea river in the south. From the sea coast it runs inland to a point on the Wanganui river, a little north of Pipiriki, and at the northern end of the district, inland to the Ongaruhe river. The land district is divided into thirty-seven survey districts, each with its own distinctive name—generally in Maori. Mr. F. Simpson is Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor; Mr. W. H. Skinner, Chief Draughtsman; Mr. H. M. Bannister, Chief Clerk; Mr. C. Cook, Land Transfer Draughtsman; and Mr. F. A. Cullin, Receiver of Land Revenue. There are also three district surveyors—Messrs H. M. Skeet, G. H. Bullard, and W. T. Morpeth, besides six assistant surveyors and six clerks. The members of the Land Board for the district are Messrs F. Simpson (chairman). Hislop, Rattenbury, Connett and McCluggage.

Mr. Francis Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for Taranaki, was born in the year 1846, in Lancaster, England. In 1853, he arrived in Auckland with his parents, and was educated at Wesley College, and at the Church of England Grammar School. During the Waikato war, Mr. Simpson held a commission in the 2nd Waikato Regiment, and saw service. He afterwards entered the service of the Auckland Provincial Government, and was subsequently transferred to that of the General Government. In 1875, he joined the Survey Department at Gisborne, and ultimately became a district surveyor. After serving in that capacity till 1892, he was appointed chief draug htsman at Napier, whence he was transferred to New Plymouth, where he was promoted, in June, 1904, to his present position.

Mr. John Strauchon, formerly Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Taranaki district, was born in Scotland and edurated page 64 at Edinburgh. He came to New Zealand with his father and brother, in 1861, by the ship “Pladda,” and landed at Port Chalmers. For a short time he was engaged on the staff of the “Otago Daily Times,” but in 1862, he received a Government appointment as timekeeper at Oamaru, and was afterwards moved to Hampden. In 1865, he joined the Survey Department, and after passing his surveyors' examination in 1868, was transferred to the head office at Dunedin, where he remained until the beginning of 1870, when he was appointed to take charge of the Martin's Bay Special Settlement. He received the appointment of district surveyor at Mataura in 1871, and held the position for twenty years. From May to December, 1877, he occupied the position of acting surveyor at Nelson, during Mr. Browning's absence in Australia, on sick leave. In 1892, he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Westland district, and two years later was transferred to Taranaki. Mr. Strauchon, who is a member for the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, is married, and has two sons and four daughters. He is now (1906) Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wellington district, to which he was transferred in 1902.

Valuation Department.

Mr. Samuel Hill, Government Valuer for the districts of Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and part of Wellington, and for the boroughs of New Plymouth, Hawera, Patea, Stratford, and Waitara, was born in Corfu, in 1854, and is a son of the late Mr. James Hill, Hospital Sergeant of the 58th Regiment, who came to New Plymouth in 1861, died in 1897, aged seventy five, and was buried with military honours. Mr. Hill came with his parents to New Plymouth, was educated there, and afterwards engaged in farming. He filled many responsible positions, acting as clerk to several of the local bodies in the Egmont district. About 1895, he retired from farming, and entered into business as a commission agent. This business he conducted for three years, and had a large and influential connection; but in 1897 he accepted his present Government appointments. Mr. Hill has always taken a prominent part in all local matters; he was for seven years a member of the Taranaki Education Board, and for a considerable period property-tax assessor. He takes a keen interest in the iron sand industry, is secretary to Mr. E. M. Smith's Iron Sand Mission, and also one of the lessees of the foreshore from Tapuae to Waiwakaiho. Mr. Hill became secretary to the Moturoa Lodge of Druids when the Order opened in New Plymouth, and has filled the chair in the Egmont Lodge of Oddfellows.

Collis, photo.Mountain House, Mount Egmont.

Collis, photo.
Mountain House, Mount Egmont.

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Land Transfer Department.

The Office Of The District Land Registry Of Deeds at New Plymouth is situated in the Government Buildings. The local Stipendiary Magistrate acts as District Land Registrar, and the staff consists of the Assistant Land Registrar and three clerks.

Mr. Reginald Bayley, Assistant Land Registrar and Deputy Registrar of Deeds, was born in 1844, in Kent, England. He was brought to New Zealand in the year 1850, by his father, the Rev. George Bayley, served in the Maori war, and entered the Government service at New Plymouth in the year 1870.

Public Trust Office.

The District Agency Of The Public Trust Office and The West Coast Settlements Reserves Agency are domiciled in the Government Buildings, fronting Silver Street, New Plymouth. The Public Trustee has been locally represented since the commencement of the business of the department, and the West Coast Reserves Agency dates from 1883. This department deals with all Native Reserves, and West Coast Settlement Reserves throughout Taranaki, the lands themselves being vested in fee simple in the Public Trustee. They originally formed a portion of the confiscated territory, and now return a rental of about £26,000 per annum. There are about 1000 leases. The rentals are due half-yearly, and are divided twice a year among about 2500 native beneficiaries, to whom payment is made in the various settlements nearest to the native pas. The lands affected extend from White Cliffs in the north, to Waitotara, in the south. There is a sub-agency at Hawera.

Mr. Thomas William Fisher, J.P., has been agent for the Public Trustee and West Coast Reserves Agent at New Plymouth since the year 1895. He is further referred to on page 1466 of the Wellington volume of this. Cyclopedia.

Stock Department.

The North Taranaki Office Of The Stock Branch Of The Agricultural Department is situated in the Union Company's buildings, St. Aubyn Street, New Plymouth. The local Inspector of Stock reports to the principal office of the district, which is at Wanganui.

Mr. Robert Rowan has been Stock Inspector for North Taranaki since 1899. He was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, in 1857. In 1876 he arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Norfolk,” and had experience of station life in various positions before he joined the Stock Department as agent, at Gore, in 1897. A year later, he was transferred to Kurow, and thence, at the end of another year, to New Plymouth.

The Veterinary Division Of The Agricultural Department for Taranaki has its office in the Union Steam Ship Company's building, St. Aubyn Street, New Plymouth. The branch was established in the year 1903.

Captain Alexander Reid Young, M.R.C.V.S. (London), Veterinarian for Taranaki district, was born at Perth, Scotland, where he was educated, and studied at the Royal Veterinary College of Edinburgh. He afterwards became inspector for the Kincardinshire County Council, and local inspector for the Imperial Government, and was for over five years veterinary surgeon to the Public Health Department of Edinburgh. Captain Young came to New Zealand in 1900, and went to South Africa as veterinary lieutenant of the 4th New Zealand Contingent and veterinary captain of the 8th Contingent, and served with flying columns in active service. He returned to New Zealand, but retained his rank as captain, and entered the Agricultural Department in Wellington. He left the service, but subsequently rejoined and was appointed to his present position in New Plymouth.

The Dairy Division Of The Agricultural Department for North Taranaki dates from the year 1898, and has its offices in the Union Company's building in St. Aubyn Street, New Plymouth. The staff consists of the grader-in-charge and his assistant, a clerk, and a lady instructress. The district under control extends from Hawera, northwards through Taranaki.

Mr. John Johnston, Grader-in-charge of the Dairy Division in New Plymouth, was appointed in 1901. He was born in Taieri, Otago, in 1877, and had considerable experience in the management of dairy factories in the south, before joining the department.

Births, Deaths and Marriages.

The Registration Office For Births, Deaths, and Marriages at New Plymouth was established in the year 1901, and is situated in Rowe's buildings, in Brougham Street.

Mr John Charles Smith was appointed District Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Registrar of Medical Practitioners, and Vaccination Inspector, in the year 1901. He is the second son of Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H.R., and was born in Wellington, in 1871. Mr. Smith was educated at private and public schools in New Plymouth, and by tutors. Afterwards he learned the butchering business, and was for about five years manager of a local shop before he received his present appointment. He was a member of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade for eight years, was one of the founders of the Star Football Club; and is also a member and secretary of the New Plymouth Psychological Society. He married a daughter of Mr. Harry Rowson, of Stratford, in 1904, and has one son.

Police Department.

The New Plymouth Sub-District Of The Wanganui Police District was constituted in 1898. Originally, New Plymouth was the head of the district, but in 1898 Wanganui became the principal office. The sub-district includes Mokau, Waitara, Inglewood and Rahotu. The staff includes a sergeant-in-charge, five constables, and a detective, and the police office is in Silver Street, New Plymouth.

Mr. Walter H. Hadrell, Sergeant-in-charge at New Plymouth, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1850. He came out to Canterbury in 1866, and joined the police under the Provincial Government, at Christ-church in 1872. He was promoted to a sergeantship in 1898.

District Gaol.

The Gaol, at New Plymouth, was established in the old Provincial days. It stands on a site of eleven acres, on Marsland Hill, behind the town. The buildings are of concrete, the surrounding walls of stone, and were erected many years ago. There is accommodation for fifty male and ten female prisoners, and the average number in custody is twenty-five—mostly males; and these are generally employed in connection with local public works.

Mr. Bartholemew Lloyd O'Brien, Gaoler in charge at New Plymouth, was appointed in 1896. He was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1845, and entered the Imperial service, in which he served nine years in the United Kingdom. Before his appointment at New Plymouth, Mr. O'Brien had charge at Lyttelton for eight years, and at Hokitika for a similar period.

Official Assignee.

The North Taranaki Bankruptcy Department is located in the office of Messrs Medley and Rundle, in Devon Street, New Plymouth. Mr. J. S. S. Medley has held the position of Deputy Official Assignee since the year 1902.

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Mr. John Spencer Selwyn Medley, Deputy Official Assignee in Bankruptcy for North Taranaki, was born in Winchester, England, in 1868. He arrived in Wellington 1889, and was for some years farming in the Wanganui district before settling in New Plymouth in 1900.

Public Works Department.

The Roads Department For Taranaki is under the Public Works Department, and was opened on the 1st of April, 1901. The office is at the Governmemt Buildings, Devon Street, New Plymouth. Work in the construction and maintenance of roads in all parts of the Taranaki land district is supervised from the office. About 310 men are regularly employed, under the care of three inspectors and five overseers.

Mr. George Thomas Murray, District Road Engineer, is the officer in charge of the roads department in Taranaki.

Labour Department.

The Department Of Labour For The Taranaki District was constituted a separate branch in the year 1905. The office is situated on the first floor of Rowe's building, in Brougham Street; and the district under the control of the local inspector extends from the north of Taranaki to Patea, in the south.

Mr. Adam Donald, Inspector of Factories for Taranaki, was appointed in June, 1905. He was born in Lytham, Lancashire, England, and was educated in his native county, and brought up to the trade of a joiner and builder. In December, 1869, he arrived in Auckland by the barque “Santiago,” and soon settled at Featherston, in the Wairarapa, where he followed the trade of a builder, and erected many buildings throughout the district. In May, 1905, Mr. Donald was appointed to the Labour Department at the head office in Wellington, where he continued till taking up his residence at New Plymouth, in charge of the Taranaki district. Mr. Donald was a member of the Featherston Town Board for about twenty-five years, and was its chairman on several occasions, and up till April, 1905. He was also for many years a member of the Licensing Bench at Featherston and held office till June, 1905. Mr. Donald was, for several years, also captain of volunteers in that district. In 1873, he married a daughter of Mr. David Cadenhead, of Featherston, builder, and has one son and four daughters.

Railway Department.

The New Plymouth Railway Station was built in 1902. It is of wood, with an iron roof, and contains a public office, a parcel room, a ticket lobby, a waiting room, a ladies' waiting room, and apartments for the stationmaster, foremen and porters, and a lamp room. There is a very long asphalt platform, and the building is provided with a clock, which faces the town. There is a large goods shed with railway sidings and an extensive engine shed; and the station yard fronts Morley Street. The traffic on the breakwater at Moturoa is worked from the New Plymouth station. The staff in the traffic department numbers about forty. On an average, five trains arrive and depart daily.

Mr. Arthur Herbert O'Loughlen, who has been station master at New Plymouth since 1903, was previously for some years at Marton. He is further referred to on page 1312 of the Wellington volume of this Cyclopedia.