THE DAILY NEWS, NEW PLYMOUTH 23 MARCH 1996
In the Features column the article by Chris Lonsdale is entitled:
Waitara’s Life Blood
(Third column and direct quoting)
Hip Fenton (77), who grew up in the town and remembers the childhood excitement of cattle mobs being herded over the bridge, through Wharf, Parris, Cracroft and High streets up to the holding paddocks in Tait Rd – “all barking dogs, bellowing cattle, dust, cracking whips and millions of flies” - grimly recalls the big strike of 1932.
His father had nine children to feed and for months had walked twice a week to New Plymouth looking in vain for work. He decided to return to the works and, like the others, had to endure the abuse of the picketers.
“Two young buggers went up to our home, about half a mile out of town. My mother was threatened because Dad and some of my brothers were working. She told them, “If you come up here again I’ll shoot you’. Three boys were in the Queen Alexander Mounted Rifles and their .303s were in the corner of the lounge and Mum was a bloody good shot.
“She told these unions lads, ‘You get down the road and don’t let me ever see you again. I’ve got three rifles here and there’s ten rounds in each’. And she never did see them again.”
The strike wounds festered for many years, pushed to the background but never out of sight by the war years.
“The company had the names of all the strikers. Most of them eventually got jobs again, but not the good jobs. And on the time sheets there used to be written “Two weeks holiday – striker”, the bare minimum, just to remind everyone that they knew who had gone out in ‘32”.
(Column 4)
Former engineering works foreman Hip Fenton says that apart from the odd punch-up at the pub, there was very little crime in the town – but it’s not just Waitara that’s changed; the whole country’s changed.
He can still smell the old works, and hear the yardsmen’s dogs, the bleating sheep, the confused calls of the cattle and desperate squeals of pigs, and chillingly human-baby cries of goats.
He remembers, too, the chimney that stood over the steaming, wheezing, clanking, works, a live thing. The chimney was topped by a whistle that controlled the lives of nearly everyone in Waitara, its mournful blast wakening households and sending them to bed, and issuing a handful of summonses in between.
Like other Borthwicks’ veterans, Hip Fenton sees generations of families marching through his seven decades in the town, queuing at the pay office of Tuesdays, with two other queues outside – one of the wives and another of shopkeepers with overdue accounts.
He sees Sam Raumati arriving at 5 am to spend two hours sharpening his prized knives that could shave dry whiskers. He sees the Baileys, Patus, Pirikahus, Tamehanas, Wharemates, Taylors, Matukus, Eriwhatas and Whites – “all of them contributing some incident which lives after them,” Hip wrote in notes prepared before being interviewed.
He sees men hauling herrings from the river by the sackful, under whirling, screeching clouds of seagulls – man, fish and bird all gathered at the blood chute.
Aubrey, Cain, Montgomery, Finnerty, Dowding, Kettle, Read, Hellier, Williams, Skelton, Nixon, Topless, Bertstein, Fuller, Bagett, Armstrong, Langman, Parker, Chadwick and Limmer.
He remembers “dead” cattle coming to life, scattering men and equipment; and Dave Carr running for his life ahead of a giant centrifuge that had sheared its dozen bolts; and electrician Graham Lutze’s instant sunburn when a switchboard blew up in his face; and Reg Whiting’s arm stripped in a belt drive.
There were the Manu, Tito and Watson families, and the railway men Easton, Donovan, Floyd and Tiaki.
And there was Rau Raumati falling through a roof, landing feet-first on the roof of a freezer, and, as he gratefully climbed a tall ladder down to floor level, declaring to his stunned workmates: “The Good Lord had me do this and I must thank Him by going to church this Sunday.”
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Thomas Michael Fenton, aka Ike or Tom - a timeline of military service
Statement of Service Summary pre 1942 and onward
Cadets – 6 years Until 1942 Rank/Promotions
Enlistment in New Plymouth Identity Card 9615 Rotorua 4.4.1942 LAG, Airman Pilot 4.4.1942
Posted New Plymouth 12.6.1942 T/Sergeant 5.3.1942
Embarked for Canada 2.10.1942 Pilot Officer’s Badge 5.3.1942
Edmonton Canada 6.11.1942 Pilot Officer 5.3.1943
Embarked Halifax 27.3.1943
486 Squadron 19.4.1944
Embarked UK 29.6.45
Statement of Service Summary 1950-1954
Kay Force Rank: Promotions
2nd Lieutenant Linton 1950 2nd Lieutenant Linton 29.8.1950
Waiouru 1950 Lieutenant Waiouru 1.11.1950
Lieutenant Lt. T/Captain Korea 7.12.1951
Embarked “Ormonde” Wellington 1950 Captain Korea 2.4.1952
Korea 31.12.50 Captain, T/Major Korea 1.12.1953
Coronation Contingent Captain,
Acting Major 18.1.1954
Emplanement to Japan
Emplanement to Sydney Korea, Japan, 25.3.1953
Australia
Pirbright Camp England 5.5.1953
Embarked ‘HMAS Sydney” UK 14-6-1953
Disembarked ‘HMAS Sydney’ Auckland 10.8.1953
Emplaned TEAL flight 852 from Wellington Sydney 9.03.1954
Cadets – 6 years Until 1942 Rank/Promotions
Enlistment in New Plymouth Identity Card 9615 Rotorua 4.4.1942 LAG, Airman Pilot 4.4.1942
Posted New Plymouth 12.6.1942 T/Sergeant 5.3.1942
Embarked for Canada 2.10.1942 Pilot Officer’s Badge 5.3.1942
Edmonton Canada 6.11.1942 Pilot Officer 5.3.1943
Embarked Halifax 27.3.1943
486 Squadron 19.4.1944
Embarked UK 29.6.45
Statement of Service Summary 1950-1954
Kay Force Rank: Promotions
2nd Lieutenant Linton 1950 2nd Lieutenant Linton 29.8.1950
Waiouru 1950 Lieutenant Waiouru 1.11.1950
Lieutenant Lt. T/Captain Korea 7.12.1951
Embarked “Ormonde” Wellington 1950 Captain Korea 2.4.1952
Korea 31.12.50 Captain, T/Major Korea 1.12.1953
Coronation Contingent Captain,
Acting Major 18.1.1954
Emplanement to Japan
Emplanement to Sydney Korea, Japan, 25.3.1953
Australia
Pirbright Camp England 5.5.1953
Embarked ‘HMAS Sydney” UK 14-6-1953
Disembarked ‘HMAS Sydney’ Auckland 10.8.1953
Emplaned TEAL flight 852 from Wellington Sydney 9.03.1954
John David Fenton, aka Jack, a timeline based on his military service
Unit or Corps Nature of Appointment, Promotion or Casualty Rank Date
Cadets 89 Company Taranaki Rifles Private 1926-30
Territorials Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles & Taranaki Regiment Private 1933-39
Special Forces NZ NCO - prospective Private 9.12.39
OCTU ASI Officers Cadet 11.1.40
Div AMN Col Platoon officer 2nd Lieut 14.5.40
Div AMN Col Workshop officer Lieut 27.8.41
6 NZ RES MT Workshop officer Capt 14.10.41
1 NZ PET COY Workshop officer Capt 2.3.43
6 NZ RES MT Workshop officer Capt 11.3.43
1 NZ SUP COY Workshop officer Capt 29.4.44
1 NZ SUP COY BC WOUNDED Capt 2.6.44
HQ COM NZASC Chief Maintenance Officer T/Major 20.7.44
HQ COM NZASC Chief Maintenance officer Major 20.8.44
HQ COM NZASC MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES Major 13.7.45
HQ COM NZASC AWARDED M.B.E. Major 31.3.45
Cadets 89 Company Taranaki Rifles Private 1926-30
Territorials Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles & Taranaki Regiment Private 1933-39
Special Forces NZ NCO - prospective Private 9.12.39
OCTU ASI Officers Cadet 11.1.40
Div AMN Col Platoon officer 2nd Lieut 14.5.40
Div AMN Col Workshop officer Lieut 27.8.41
6 NZ RES MT Workshop officer Capt 14.10.41
1 NZ PET COY Workshop officer Capt 2.3.43
6 NZ RES MT Workshop officer Capt 11.3.43
1 NZ SUP COY Workshop officer Capt 29.4.44
1 NZ SUP COY BC WOUNDED Capt 2.6.44
HQ COM NZASC Chief Maintenance Officer T/Major 20.7.44
HQ COM NZASC Chief Maintenance officer Major 20.8.44
HQ COM NZASC MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES Major 13.7.45
HQ COM NZASC AWARDED M.B.E. Major 31.3.45
John David Adlam - early historical notes - family, boat trip to NZ
NANA’S FATHER, JOHN DAVID ADLAM ARRIVED IN NZ IN 1874. The ship’s passenger manifest is housed in the National Archives, Wellington. There is also the Intention to Marry record whereby his recorded marriage to Rebecca Evetts is made in the Taranaki Street church in Wellington.
The following is an email from Pat Churchill whose father was William Graham Barber. Frances Barber, daughter of Joseph Barber and Hanna, nee Adlam. Hannah is the sister of John David Adlam and Alfred (George) Adlam.
Sun, 14 May 2000 18:05:48 +1200 To: Margret: From: Pat Churchill Subject: Re: Adlam. “Hi Margret, Although the Adlam is from my father's paternal line, my mother actually comes from Waitara and said she can remember various Adlams living in the district. She was Stacey COLE, b 1924. Her brothers are Tim (b 1922) and Leo (now deceased, b 1915). It wasn't Hannah Barber, nee Adlam who came out here, but her daughter Frances. Pat Adlam kindly sent me a copy of Laurie Ward's research; hence I managed to find your father's name in the database along with a note that he was also called "Hip."
Here are my notes on John, including details of his ship and its voyage which may interest you if you don't already have it. Have you any idea about Rebecca Evetts and where he might have met her?
I am in touch with a number of other Adlam researchers but I don't think anyone has got farther back that I have. But I do have the microfiche of the Westbury births. I made lots of notes on the Horningsham Adlams until discovering our Adlams were latecomers to Horningsham from Westbury. However, on John David Adlam's mother's side, I can take you back to the 1600s if you are interested. The Bullocks were from Yatesbury and I have researched them. Cheers Pat”
Here are my notes on John and a description of his voyage:
Supposedly married in England and had three children before coming out to New Zealand alone. He arrived on the Strathnaver Ship 1017 Tons Captain: Devey, Sailed London 1st June 1874 - arrived Wellington August 31st 1874. Within two months he was married to Rebecca Evetts and less than four months later their first child was born. This might suggest Rebecca was on the same ship, and yet there does not appear to be a Rebecca Evetts on the list.
Described on the manifesto as David Adlam, 27, (B 1847?) a farm labourer of Wiltshire. He and Rebecca Evetts had more children. She died and he married again and had 12 more children. A family story says a woman turned up from England with three children, but finding him married to Ramari Rona, returned to England.
A search of the British records yields a couple of likely marriages so there could be foundation to the story. The Diary of Henry Herringshaw Written on board the ship Strathnaver during a voyage from England to New Zealand 30th may 1874 to 31st August 1874 Henry Herringshaw and his wife Ann had been married in Saint Nicholas Parish, Warwickshire on Monday May 25th 1874 and had travelled to Gravesend where, on Saturday May 30th, they sailed for New Zealand,. Saturday 30 May 1874
Went on board ten o'clock. Stayed at Gravesend. Food and sleeping accommodation far better than on shore. Farewell to dry land for a long while. About 400 passengers of all breeds; English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh and Germans.
Sunday 31 May
One baby died last night. The children were all very cross, poor things. Service on deck in the morning. The girls were singing hymns all the evening. I was very sick after dinner. Dead baby taken on shore.
Monday June 1st
Still at Gravesend. Ship and passengers inspected. A gentleman came on board with books and tracts. Feel much better in myself but my wife rather poorly. Weather splendid
Tuesday June 2nd
Set sail at 2 o'clock, went on deck at 4, beautiful morning. Passed Dover at 9 o'clock. Anchored off Deal till next day. A concert in the evening. Everyone seemed intent on enjoying the voyage. Universal good temper amongst us all around.
Wednesday 3rd June
Weighed anchor and fairly off, very slow sailing up the channel. Saw Hastings and several places along the coast. The vessel rolled a little which caused some fun, several cases of sea sickness.
Thursday 4th June
Still very slow sailing. One of the sailors fell overboard, a lifebuoy was thrown to him and he was soon on board again. I am getting impatient at our slow rate, not reached Plymouth yet. A good deal of grumbling about the diet but we are not quite settled yet. Polly (Mary Ann) very poorly. Wishing herself back.
Friday 5th June
Still not wind. Some of the passengers very dirty in their habits. Passed the Isle of Wight. Nothing extraordinary occurred, our pilot still with us.
Saturday 6 June
Oatmeal porridge for breakfast with molasses. A general quarrel which I thought would have come to blows, but was stopped by the first mate coming on deck. We made some progress last night but are still again now. Pilot left us. We have seen the last of England now.
Sunday 7 June
Had a strong gale which is blowing now. The ship rolls fearfully, nearly everybody is sick. In the Bay of Biscay. My wife very ill. No services. Nothing to remind us it is Sunday. Was a little sick myself. Made a plum pudding.
Monday 8 June
Our ship careers along like a mad thing, the sea rolls over the side. A great many still sick. I am in good health, thank God, but my wife is still very poorly. She lies on the deck now with others.
Tuesday 9 June
The Captain now says we have come 247 miles in 24 hours. We overtook a vessel and passed her this morning. My wife still poorly. We made a nice butter cake for tea. We have a strong wind yet. It is laughable to see people stagger about when the ship rolls. We have to tie everything up or they would be all over the ship.
Wednesday 10 June
Thanks God my wife is much better. Strong wind. The girls are singing Home Sweet Home. The women are all busy washing and the men lying on their backs minding the babies
Wednesday 17 June
Met the mail steamer from the Cape early this morning. We all had our boxes up. Some of them were very much damaged but mine was alright. We saw a lot of young whales today.
Thursday 18 June
The weather very hot. We cannot bear anything on at night and scarcely and scarcely anything on during the day. We have been half starved today. We made a pudding of soaked biscuits and raisins. It was very good. One man lost his bed and we all had our berths searched.
Friday 19 June
It is very much cooler this morning and we are going faster than we have been yet. We have had no rain since we started.
Saturday 20 June
Three weeks today since we left London. There are a great many flying fish around this morning. We disturbed a shoal of porpoises and they came rolling after the ship like a lot of pigs.
Sunday 21 June
Weather very hot. Service on deck this morning. In the evening we sang hymns till nine o'clock. We had a tin of Australian meat, preserved potatoes and a plum cake for tea.
Monday 22 June
The heat is almost unbearable. We are getting near the Equator.
Tuesday 23 June
A child died last night belonging to the people who lost one at Gravesend. It was buried at half past 12. The Captain leading the funeral service.
Wednesday 24 June
Hotter than ever and sea very calm. In the evening a fully rigged ship bore down close to us and the Captains spoke to each other and then we gave a good cheer. Our musicians played Rule Britannia and "Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot" and away she went. It would have been a nice sight but it was nearly dark.
Thursday 25 June
Very squally this morning, heavy showers and sunshine. Several cases of seasickness. There are a great many of us with a nasty rash all over our bodies. The doctor says it is harmless and calls it sea rash.
Friday 26 June
Fair wind. My wife very unwell consequently I had to make our pudding. I used gooseberries, raisins and butter. A welcome change I thought.
Saturday 27 June
Very calm. Saw a great many dolphins. First mate caught one. We also saw a fine shark. Very close in the hold. Remained on deck until 12 o'clock. Another baby dying.
Sunday 28 June
Strong wind but not fair. Baby dead. He was buried at 12 o'clock today. Buried when he had been dead but six hours.
Monday 29 June
We had a very rough night, heavy rain but a fair wind this morning. We crossed the Equator at about 10 o'clock this morning at an unknown hour. At the start of the voyage we had 110 children.
Tuesday 30 June
Very fair wind saw another shoal of porpoises. Buried two babies. They sew them up in a piece of canvas, tie a piece of old iron to their feet and sink them. 5 children all under 2 years have died since we came on board.
Wednesday 1 July
Wind favourable. We had fireworks last night. The Captain fired off rockets while we were crossing the line. It's a grand sight to see the moon rise here.
Thursday 2 July
I have been occupied in hanging up the clothes in the rigging, it being washday.
Friday 3 July
Our Captain is going to hang out a board each day to tell us what distance we have come in 24 hours. It is 122 miles today that is rather slow sailing. It is splendid to witness the sunset in the tropics and also to watch the moon rise.
Saturday 4 July
We have no twilight now. As soon as the sun sets it is dark, which is about seven o'clock. We have a very nice breeze today. The board will show a high figure tomorrow. It is 127 miles today.
Sunday 5 July
We had rough weather last night but it is very calm now. Strong breeze towards night. I have brought my concertina on deck and a large party of us sang hymns until bedtime. We had no service today. 184 miles in 24 hours.
Monday 6 July
Another child died this morning. The only child of very respectable people. 18 months old 12 o'clock. Since 12 o'clock yesterday we have run 246 miles. The ship rolls very much and the wind almost carries on off ones legs. It makes plenty of fun though.
Tuesday 7 July
We have an American vessel running along side of us in full sail. It is a beautiful sight. We shall leave her far behind. We are having our boxes up again for the Winter clothing. We find it is getting cooler every day. Distance 230 miles in 24 hours.
Wednesday 8 July
157 miles. We shall leave the tropics today. We made a beautiful pie with some Australian mutton and I begged a bottle of stout off the Doctor. So we are doing well today. The salt pork is very good, but I don't like the beef. Many a pound of it is thrown overboard.
Thursday 9 July
The Doctor gave my wife a bottle of ale and a tin of chicken broth. We had flour currants and suet served out to us which we have three times a week. The weather is getting cooler every day.
Friday 10 July
Distance 141 miles. The single girls are parted from us by a boarded partition and they make such a noise going to be that some of the married people made complaints and the Captain said he is disgusted with what he hears. Some of them are very respectable.
Saturday 11 July
6 weeks today since we came on board. The captain and some of the sailors say they have never had such a voyage in their lives. Such fine weather, but I should like it a little rougher if it would help us along faster. Some of these Irish or Scotch brought some very unwelcome companions and we are more or less lousy. A sheet was brought on deck smothered in lice. Another 5 or 6 weeks and I hope we will land in Wellington. Evening 191 miles in 24 hours.
Sunday 12 July
The roughest day we have had yet. Pots and pans flying in all directions. Plum cake and mustard, suet and sugar, all on the floor together. A man carrying a pale of hot water spilt some over a child and scalded it badly. Sleep is out of the question. We have seen some pretty birds today. 210 miles.
Monday 13 July
Very we this morning. Obliged to stop at home. A birth on board this morning. My wife is very unwell. She has stout and preserved soup. 138 miles
Tuesday 14 July
We have had the best run we have had yet. 251 miles and we hope to go faster yet. The ship rolls very much. Another little one died this evening.
Wednesday 15 July
Fine morning but the sea runs very high. We had a scene this morning down below. The ship rolled on one side and then the other and down went benches and tins. Women screaming, children tumbling, puddings and cake flying about. A baby lies dead and close by a group of men are playing cards. 242 miles. The seventh child buried today.
Thursday 16 July
251 miles. We have passed the Cape of Good Hope and we are in a direct course for New Zealand. It is bitter cold and we have lots of birds flying around us, some of them 4 feet across from the tips of their wings. One was caught and brought below the deck to show the passengers.
Friday 17 July
We have a large vessel sailing by us today but I expect we shall get before it tonight. It is bound for Calcutta. Very cold winds so no one cares to remain on deck long. We have always had perfect liberty to go on deck at any hour. A week ago we were grumbling about the heat and now the women are wrapping blankets around them when they go on deck. 281 miles. We passed a ship last night which left London 10 days before us.
Saturday 18 July
167 miles. 7 weeks today we came on board. Not seen land yet. I write this at 6 o'clock in the evening. It is about 2 o'clock in the morning in England. The weather is very cold.
Sunday 19 July
Very cold and wet. 200 miles. I made several attempts to catch one of those beautiful birds but no use
Monday 20 July
Still raining and it is very miserable to have to stay below deck for it is so dark one cannot read. Distance 220 miles.
Tuesday 21 July
160 miles. Kept to my berth with a violent cold.
Wednesday 22 July
165 miles. Very squally. 44 degrees South of the Equator. Clear away from the Cape.
Thursday 23 July
While we were all at tea the ship gave a lurch and over went cups and basins. The seat where my wife and I sat ran away with us and one woman rolled under the table. We had a good run of 272 miles in 24 hours.
Friday 24 July
Distance 190 miles. Scarcely and wind today. There are a great many birds with us yet. A few have been caught.
Saturday 25 July
146 miles. We all had to muster on the poop for inspection. We are all tired of this life, longing for land and fresh provisions.
Sunday 26 July
244 miles nearer Wellington. This is our ninth Sunday on board. No service on deck. It is very cold.
Monday 27 July
225 miles. We have an Irish family in our mess and a family from Hastings and we get out provisions served for the one table but it is a very bad arrangement.
Tuesday 28 July
223 miles. Very rough weather. We are tossed about from one side of the ship to the other. The butcher killed a sheep today but I am afraid none of it will fall in our share.
Wednesday 29 July
We are all in a state of great excitement today on account of the appearance of land. 3 large islands. They are all covered in snow and look very grand, about ten or fifteen miles off. Another little boy born this morning. 225 miles.
Thursday 30 July
227 miles. Very cold, snow falling. We have had no sleep for two nights. The weather is so rough. 46 degrees South of the equator. We are pitched from pillar to post. Everybody is falling out with everybody else. Some have lost pudding tins, some a brush and some a dustpan. It is a wretched life here.
31 July
The last day and men are snowballing on deck and snow still falling. The girls snowballed the Doctor and he fell and kicked his heels up in the air. We have run 287 miles. We have seen no kind of fish for about a fortnight.
August 1st
Thank God. We have been spared two whole months on the water. We hope to land in about 20 days. Salt beef and suet pudding for dinner. 176 miles.
Sunday 2nd August
Very cold and windy. We are going at a very fast rate. A baby has just been christened by the Captain. We passed an island last night, saw a comet but not very distinct. Polly has not been able to get her box so she has been obliged to make a dress out of a blanket. They are of a dark material so it answers very well.
Monday August 3
A great deal of snow is falling. My wife is unwell. She got a little port wine and some arrowroot. A child is stillborn.
Tuesday August 4
190 miles. Scarcely any wind until evening about 6 o'clock then we had a very heavy gale. I have never seen the sea look so angry. It lasted about 3 hours. Some of the ships tackle broke.
Wednesday 5 August
Wind dead against us. Only 10 miles in 24 hours. Pumping water for about an hour and a half. A large bird caught measuring about 10 feet across from the tips of its wings.
Thursday 6 August
100 miles. Dead calm at 8 am but some of the passengers not very calm, quarrelling. Somebody threw the Carpenter's bench overboard and a door that he had been repairing. Wind freshened up at 4 o'clock. 12 miles an hour.
Friday 7 August
Very rough night. Shipped a good deal of sea. Our bed got quite wet. 240 miles. The first mate and the Captain fell out. Captain drunk and burnt his bed.
Saturday 8 August
160 miles. A good deal of dissatisfaction among the sailors. They are not a good crew at all.
Sunday 9 August
Hailstorm at 7.30 am. Baking day for the married people. No service. Distance 232 miles.
Monday 10 August
203 miles. A strong wind blowing from the South East. A man was trying to light a charcoal fire. His heel tripped up and the fire flew about. No breakfast until nine.
Tuesday 11 August
We had a storm last night which carried away two of our sails. The ship looks like a ruin this morning. It has continued to blow all day dead against us. 97 miles. A piece of coal thrown at the mate.
Wednesday 12 August
Wind still unfavourable. It is a great loss to us. Only 67 miles. The last sheep killed.
Thursday 13 August
They are getting sails up now. Wind right behind us. We hope to sight land in 10 or 11 days. 240 miles. The deck covered in snow.
Friday 13 August
Very bright and clear morning. Wind fair. 200 miles. We are running 10 to 12 miles.
Saturday 15 August
11 weeks today on board. A ship in sight at 8.30am. The ship "Canterbury" with emigrants for New Zealand. 69 days out and beating us by one day. 228 miles.
Sunday 16 August
Strong head wind from 4 am till towards evening. Dead body seen floating by us today. Saw a whale. 202 miles.
DIARY ENDS
The last pages of the diary are missing but the "Strathnaver" arrived in Wellington Harbour on 31 August 1874, after narrowly missing going on to Barrett’s Reef.
Arrival of the Strathnaver
Evening Post, August 31st 1874
The ship Strathnaver, Captain Devey, with 391 immigrants, arrived in this harbour from London last night, after a good run of 86 days, having overtaken the Euterpe, which sailed weeks before her. Shortly after dark the ship was made out from the Pilot Station, standing rather dangerously close in under her topsails. Pilot Holmes boarded her at once, and setting the foresail and main topgallant sail soon got her into a safe position, and, on the Stormbird approaching sent his boat to the steamer with a bow-line. The report in this morning's paper that the pilot did not board the Strathnaver until after the Stormbird had her in tow, therefore is inaccurate. The Stormbird then towed the ship up to the anchorage. All is reported well on-board; the passengers are in good health, and express themselves entirely satisfied with the treatment they received. The ship is consigned to Messrs Johnston and Co. All Strathnaver's immigrants, except the single girls, will be put on Somes' Island for the present. There were six deaths, all infants, and four births during the voyage.
The following is an email from Pat Churchill whose father was William Graham Barber. Frances Barber, daughter of Joseph Barber and Hanna, nee Adlam. Hannah is the sister of John David Adlam and Alfred (George) Adlam.
Sun, 14 May 2000 18:05:48 +1200 To: Margret: From: Pat Churchill
Here are my notes on John, including details of his ship and its voyage which may interest you if you don't already have it. Have you any idea about Rebecca Evetts and where he might have met her?
I am in touch with a number of other Adlam researchers but I don't think anyone has got farther back that I have. But I do have the microfiche of the Westbury births. I made lots of notes on the Horningsham Adlams until discovering our Adlams were latecomers to Horningsham from Westbury. However, on John David Adlam's mother's side, I can take you back to the 1600s if you are interested. The Bullocks were from Yatesbury and I have researched them. Cheers Pat”
Here are my notes on John and a description of his voyage:
Supposedly married in England and had three children before coming out to New Zealand alone. He arrived on the Strathnaver Ship 1017 Tons Captain: Devey, Sailed London 1st June 1874 - arrived Wellington August 31st 1874. Within two months he was married to Rebecca Evetts and less than four months later their first child was born. This might suggest Rebecca was on the same ship, and yet there does not appear to be a Rebecca Evetts on the list.
Described on the manifesto as David Adlam, 27, (B 1847?) a farm labourer of Wiltshire. He and Rebecca Evetts had more children. She died and he married again and had 12 more children. A family story says a woman turned up from England with three children, but finding him married to Ramari Rona, returned to England.
A search of the British records yields a couple of likely marriages so there could be foundation to the story. The Diary of Henry Herringshaw Written on board the ship Strathnaver during a voyage from England to New Zealand 30th may 1874 to 31st August 1874 Henry Herringshaw and his wife Ann had been married in Saint Nicholas Parish, Warwickshire on Monday May 25th 1874 and had travelled to Gravesend where, on Saturday May 30th, they sailed for New Zealand,. Saturday 30 May 1874
Went on board ten o'clock. Stayed at Gravesend. Food and sleeping accommodation far better than on shore. Farewell to dry land for a long while. About 400 passengers of all breeds; English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh and Germans.
Sunday 31 May
One baby died last night. The children were all very cross, poor things. Service on deck in the morning. The girls were singing hymns all the evening. I was very sick after dinner. Dead baby taken on shore.
Monday June 1st
Still at Gravesend. Ship and passengers inspected. A gentleman came on board with books and tracts. Feel much better in myself but my wife rather poorly. Weather splendid
Tuesday June 2nd
Set sail at 2 o'clock, went on deck at 4, beautiful morning. Passed Dover at 9 o'clock. Anchored off Deal till next day. A concert in the evening. Everyone seemed intent on enjoying the voyage. Universal good temper amongst us all around.
Wednesday 3rd June
Weighed anchor and fairly off, very slow sailing up the channel. Saw Hastings and several places along the coast. The vessel rolled a little which caused some fun, several cases of sea sickness.
Thursday 4th June
Still very slow sailing. One of the sailors fell overboard, a lifebuoy was thrown to him and he was soon on board again. I am getting impatient at our slow rate, not reached Plymouth yet. A good deal of grumbling about the diet but we are not quite settled yet. Polly (Mary Ann) very poorly. Wishing herself back.
Friday 5th June
Still not wind. Some of the passengers very dirty in their habits. Passed the Isle of Wight. Nothing extraordinary occurred, our pilot still with us.
Saturday 6 June
Oatmeal porridge for breakfast with molasses. A general quarrel which I thought would have come to blows, but was stopped by the first mate coming on deck. We made some progress last night but are still again now. Pilot left us. We have seen the last of England now.
Sunday 7 June
Had a strong gale which is blowing now. The ship rolls fearfully, nearly everybody is sick. In the Bay of Biscay. My wife very ill. No services. Nothing to remind us it is Sunday. Was a little sick myself. Made a plum pudding.
Monday 8 June
Our ship careers along like a mad thing, the sea rolls over the side. A great many still sick. I am in good health, thank God, but my wife is still very poorly. She lies on the deck now with others.
Tuesday 9 June
The Captain now says we have come 247 miles in 24 hours. We overtook a vessel and passed her this morning. My wife still poorly. We made a nice butter cake for tea. We have a strong wind yet. It is laughable to see people stagger about when the ship rolls. We have to tie everything up or they would be all over the ship.
Wednesday 10 June
Thanks God my wife is much better. Strong wind. The girls are singing Home Sweet Home. The women are all busy washing and the men lying on their backs minding the babies
Wednesday 17 June
Met the mail steamer from the Cape early this morning. We all had our boxes up. Some of them were very much damaged but mine was alright. We saw a lot of young whales today.
Thursday 18 June
The weather very hot. We cannot bear anything on at night and scarcely and scarcely anything on during the day. We have been half starved today. We made a pudding of soaked biscuits and raisins. It was very good. One man lost his bed and we all had our berths searched.
Friday 19 June
It is very much cooler this morning and we are going faster than we have been yet. We have had no rain since we started.
Saturday 20 June
Three weeks today since we left London. There are a great many flying fish around this morning. We disturbed a shoal of porpoises and they came rolling after the ship like a lot of pigs.
Sunday 21 June
Weather very hot. Service on deck this morning. In the evening we sang hymns till nine o'clock. We had a tin of Australian meat, preserved potatoes and a plum cake for tea.
Monday 22 June
The heat is almost unbearable. We are getting near the Equator.
Tuesday 23 June
A child died last night belonging to the people who lost one at Gravesend. It was buried at half past 12. The Captain leading the funeral service.
Wednesday 24 June
Hotter than ever and sea very calm. In the evening a fully rigged ship bore down close to us and the Captains spoke to each other and then we gave a good cheer. Our musicians played Rule Britannia and "Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot" and away she went. It would have been a nice sight but it was nearly dark.
Thursday 25 June
Very squally this morning, heavy showers and sunshine. Several cases of seasickness. There are a great many of us with a nasty rash all over our bodies. The doctor says it is harmless and calls it sea rash.
Friday 26 June
Fair wind. My wife very unwell consequently I had to make our pudding. I used gooseberries, raisins and butter. A welcome change I thought.
Saturday 27 June
Very calm. Saw a great many dolphins. First mate caught one. We also saw a fine shark. Very close in the hold. Remained on deck until 12 o'clock. Another baby dying.
Sunday 28 June
Strong wind but not fair. Baby dead. He was buried at 12 o'clock today. Buried when he had been dead but six hours.
Monday 29 June
We had a very rough night, heavy rain but a fair wind this morning. We crossed the Equator at about 10 o'clock this morning at an unknown hour. At the start of the voyage we had 110 children.
Tuesday 30 June
Very fair wind saw another shoal of porpoises. Buried two babies. They sew them up in a piece of canvas, tie a piece of old iron to their feet and sink them. 5 children all under 2 years have died since we came on board.
Wednesday 1 July
Wind favourable. We had fireworks last night. The Captain fired off rockets while we were crossing the line. It's a grand sight to see the moon rise here.
Thursday 2 July
I have been occupied in hanging up the clothes in the rigging, it being washday.
Friday 3 July
Our Captain is going to hang out a board each day to tell us what distance we have come in 24 hours. It is 122 miles today that is rather slow sailing. It is splendid to witness the sunset in the tropics and also to watch the moon rise.
Saturday 4 July
We have no twilight now. As soon as the sun sets it is dark, which is about seven o'clock. We have a very nice breeze today. The board will show a high figure tomorrow. It is 127 miles today.
Sunday 5 July
We had rough weather last night but it is very calm now. Strong breeze towards night. I have brought my concertina on deck and a large party of us sang hymns until bedtime. We had no service today. 184 miles in 24 hours.
Monday 6 July
Another child died this morning. The only child of very respectable people. 18 months old 12 o'clock. Since 12 o'clock yesterday we have run 246 miles. The ship rolls very much and the wind almost carries on off ones legs. It makes plenty of fun though.
Tuesday 7 July
We have an American vessel running along side of us in full sail. It is a beautiful sight. We shall leave her far behind. We are having our boxes up again for the Winter clothing. We find it is getting cooler every day. Distance 230 miles in 24 hours.
Wednesday 8 July
157 miles. We shall leave the tropics today. We made a beautiful pie with some Australian mutton and I begged a bottle of stout off the Doctor. So we are doing well today. The salt pork is very good, but I don't like the beef. Many a pound of it is thrown overboard.
Thursday 9 July
The Doctor gave my wife a bottle of ale and a tin of chicken broth. We had flour currants and suet served out to us which we have three times a week. The weather is getting cooler every day.
Friday 10 July
Distance 141 miles. The single girls are parted from us by a boarded partition and they make such a noise going to be that some of the married people made complaints and the Captain said he is disgusted with what he hears. Some of them are very respectable.
Saturday 11 July
6 weeks today since we came on board. The captain and some of the sailors say they have never had such a voyage in their lives. Such fine weather, but I should like it a little rougher if it would help us along faster. Some of these Irish or Scotch brought some very unwelcome companions and we are more or less lousy. A sheet was brought on deck smothered in lice. Another 5 or 6 weeks and I hope we will land in Wellington. Evening 191 miles in 24 hours.
Sunday 12 July
The roughest day we have had yet. Pots and pans flying in all directions. Plum cake and mustard, suet and sugar, all on the floor together. A man carrying a pale of hot water spilt some over a child and scalded it badly. Sleep is out of the question. We have seen some pretty birds today. 210 miles.
Monday 13 July
Very we this morning. Obliged to stop at home. A birth on board this morning. My wife is very unwell. She has stout and preserved soup. 138 miles
Tuesday 14 July
We have had the best run we have had yet. 251 miles and we hope to go faster yet. The ship rolls very much. Another little one died this evening.
Wednesday 15 July
Fine morning but the sea runs very high. We had a scene this morning down below. The ship rolled on one side and then the other and down went benches and tins. Women screaming, children tumbling, puddings and cake flying about. A baby lies dead and close by a group of men are playing cards. 242 miles. The seventh child buried today.
Thursday 16 July
251 miles. We have passed the Cape of Good Hope and we are in a direct course for New Zealand. It is bitter cold and we have lots of birds flying around us, some of them 4 feet across from the tips of their wings. One was caught and brought below the deck to show the passengers.
Friday 17 July
We have a large vessel sailing by us today but I expect we shall get before it tonight. It is bound for Calcutta. Very cold winds so no one cares to remain on deck long. We have always had perfect liberty to go on deck at any hour. A week ago we were grumbling about the heat and now the women are wrapping blankets around them when they go on deck. 281 miles. We passed a ship last night which left London 10 days before us.
Saturday 18 July
167 miles. 7 weeks today we came on board. Not seen land yet. I write this at 6 o'clock in the evening. It is about 2 o'clock in the morning in England. The weather is very cold.
Sunday 19 July
Very cold and wet. 200 miles. I made several attempts to catch one of those beautiful birds but no use
Monday 20 July
Still raining and it is very miserable to have to stay below deck for it is so dark one cannot read. Distance 220 miles.
Tuesday 21 July
160 miles. Kept to my berth with a violent cold.
Wednesday 22 July
165 miles. Very squally. 44 degrees South of the Equator. Clear away from the Cape.
Thursday 23 July
While we were all at tea the ship gave a lurch and over went cups and basins. The seat where my wife and I sat ran away with us and one woman rolled under the table. We had a good run of 272 miles in 24 hours.
Friday 24 July
Distance 190 miles. Scarcely and wind today. There are a great many birds with us yet. A few have been caught.
Saturday 25 July
146 miles. We all had to muster on the poop for inspection. We are all tired of this life, longing for land and fresh provisions.
Sunday 26 July
244 miles nearer Wellington. This is our ninth Sunday on board. No service on deck. It is very cold.
Monday 27 July
225 miles. We have an Irish family in our mess and a family from Hastings and we get out provisions served for the one table but it is a very bad arrangement.
Tuesday 28 July
223 miles. Very rough weather. We are tossed about from one side of the ship to the other. The butcher killed a sheep today but I am afraid none of it will fall in our share.
Wednesday 29 July
We are all in a state of great excitement today on account of the appearance of land. 3 large islands. They are all covered in snow and look very grand, about ten or fifteen miles off. Another little boy born this morning. 225 miles.
Thursday 30 July
227 miles. Very cold, snow falling. We have had no sleep for two nights. The weather is so rough. 46 degrees South of the equator. We are pitched from pillar to post. Everybody is falling out with everybody else. Some have lost pudding tins, some a brush and some a dustpan. It is a wretched life here.
31 July
The last day and men are snowballing on deck and snow still falling. The girls snowballed the Doctor and he fell and kicked his heels up in the air. We have run 287 miles. We have seen no kind of fish for about a fortnight.
August 1st
Thank God. We have been spared two whole months on the water. We hope to land in about 20 days. Salt beef and suet pudding for dinner. 176 miles.
Sunday 2nd August
Very cold and windy. We are going at a very fast rate. A baby has just been christened by the Captain. We passed an island last night, saw a comet but not very distinct. Polly has not been able to get her box so she has been obliged to make a dress out of a blanket. They are of a dark material so it answers very well.
Monday August 3
A great deal of snow is falling. My wife is unwell. She got a little port wine and some arrowroot. A child is stillborn.
Tuesday August 4
190 miles. Scarcely any wind until evening about 6 o'clock then we had a very heavy gale. I have never seen the sea look so angry. It lasted about 3 hours. Some of the ships tackle broke.
Wednesday 5 August
Wind dead against us. Only 10 miles in 24 hours. Pumping water for about an hour and a half. A large bird caught measuring about 10 feet across from the tips of its wings.
Thursday 6 August
100 miles. Dead calm at 8 am but some of the passengers not very calm, quarrelling. Somebody threw the Carpenter's bench overboard and a door that he had been repairing. Wind freshened up at 4 o'clock. 12 miles an hour.
Friday 7 August
Very rough night. Shipped a good deal of sea. Our bed got quite wet. 240 miles. The first mate and the Captain fell out. Captain drunk and burnt his bed.
Saturday 8 August
160 miles. A good deal of dissatisfaction among the sailors. They are not a good crew at all.
Sunday 9 August
Hailstorm at 7.30 am. Baking day for the married people. No service. Distance 232 miles.
Monday 10 August
203 miles. A strong wind blowing from the South East. A man was trying to light a charcoal fire. His heel tripped up and the fire flew about. No breakfast until nine.
Tuesday 11 August
We had a storm last night which carried away two of our sails. The ship looks like a ruin this morning. It has continued to blow all day dead against us. 97 miles. A piece of coal thrown at the mate.
Wednesday 12 August
Wind still unfavourable. It is a great loss to us. Only 67 miles. The last sheep killed.
Thursday 13 August
They are getting sails up now. Wind right behind us. We hope to sight land in 10 or 11 days. 240 miles. The deck covered in snow.
Friday 13 August
Very bright and clear morning. Wind fair. 200 miles. We are running 10 to 12 miles.
Saturday 15 August
11 weeks today on board. A ship in sight at 8.30am. The ship "Canterbury" with emigrants for New Zealand. 69 days out and beating us by one day. 228 miles.
Sunday 16 August
Strong head wind from 4 am till towards evening. Dead body seen floating by us today. Saw a whale. 202 miles.
DIARY ENDS
The last pages of the diary are missing but the "Strathnaver" arrived in Wellington Harbour on 31 August 1874, after narrowly missing going on to Barrett’s Reef.
Arrival of the Strathnaver
Evening Post, August 31st 1874
The ship Strathnaver, Captain Devey, with 391 immigrants, arrived in this harbour from London last night, after a good run of 86 days, having overtaken the Euterpe, which sailed weeks before her. Shortly after dark the ship was made out from the Pilot Station, standing rather dangerously close in under her topsails. Pilot Holmes boarded her at once, and setting the foresail and main topgallant sail soon got her into a safe position, and, on the Stormbird approaching sent his boat to the steamer with a bow-line. The report in this morning's paper that the pilot did not board the Strathnaver until after the Stormbird had her in tow, therefore is inaccurate. The Stormbird then towed the ship up to the anchorage. All is reported well on-board; the passengers are in good health, and express themselves entirely satisfied with the treatment they received. The ship is consigned to Messrs Johnston and Co. All Strathnaver's immigrants, except the single girls, will be put on Somes' Island for the present. There were six deaths, all infants, and four births during the voyage.
1942 and 1993 - two newspaper reports appertaining to the Fenton Brothers
TARANAKI NEWSPAPERS
Two newspaper articles from the Taranaki papers were clipped but not dated. It is believed that the one called Family affair was printed circa 1943, and in the ’50 years later’ column, circa 1993. The second article, titled ‘Family service was printed circa 1942. The spelling of Hip’s name should have been Fauntleroy. (Other proof error unity)
Family affair
WITH a father and four brothers serving in the armed forces, Frederick Fenton of Waitara told the Taranaki Manpower Committee that he wanted to be with them. He was opposing an appeal by Thomas Borthwick & Sons Ltd, which said it was short-handed in most departments, Fenton said he was only a labourer and could easily be replaced. The appeal was dismissed.
Family service
Six members of a Waitara family were serving in the armed forces. The father, Mr H.E. Fenton, was serving in a New Zealand Camp. Of his five sons, Captain Jack Fenton was in the Middle East, Tui Fenton, who had previously been with the Maori Reinforcements of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., was currently in an officer cadet training unity, Forteleroy Fenton was on active service in England, Fred Fenton, after being discharged from the army as a result of an injury, was in the navy and I.M. Fenton was in the air force
.
Two newspaper articles from the Taranaki papers were clipped but not dated. It is believed that the one called Family affair was printed circa 1943, and in the ’50 years later’ column, circa 1993. The second article, titled ‘Family service was printed circa 1942. The spelling of Hip’s name should have been Fauntleroy. (Other proof error unity)
Family affair
WITH a father and four brothers serving in the armed forces, Frederick Fenton of Waitara told the Taranaki Manpower Committee that he wanted to be with them. He was opposing an appeal by Thomas Borthwick & Sons Ltd, which said it was short-handed in most departments, Fenton said he was only a labourer and could easily be replaced. The appeal was dismissed.
Family service
Six members of a Waitara family were serving in the armed forces. The father, Mr H.E. Fenton, was serving in a New Zealand Camp. Of his five sons, Captain Jack Fenton was in the Middle East, Tui Fenton, who had previously been with the Maori Reinforcements of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., was currently in an officer cadet training unity, Forteleroy Fenton was on active service in England, Fred Fenton, after being discharged from the army as a result of an injury, was in the navy and I.M. Fenton was in the air force
.
2003 March -- Reunion memories from Mari and Jack
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.
Thanks to the foresight and confidence of Patricia (Trish) Fenton, what started off in July last year as a simple endeavour to make contact with all the Grandchildren of Nana and Pop Fenton, eventuated in a “Fenton Family Re-Union”, held in February at the Historic Owae Marae at Manukorihi, commandingly situated high above the Waitara River, with a view over the town, and the countryside to Mount Taranaki. The carved Meeting House dominates the courtyard of Owae and is without doubt the finest in Taranaki.
Right from the first contact with Trish, her mind was set on a Re-Union, well supported by Margret Brands, Aunty Mona and Aunty Ruby, things really started to happen, they checked with Roger as to the date that he could be here with Wife Sherrie and Son Rangi, the date was set by Roger for his arrival in Aotearoa and from there it was “all systems are go”.
There was a lot of organizing by these people, booking the Marae, menus to be set, food to be arranged, invitations to be sent out, program to cover the three nights and four days,(a top line program was enjoyed by all who attended).So much to do and so little time really to arrange it all, but with great credit to these People a first class Re-Union was arranged for us all. We send these people a great vote of thanks for a first class effort.
From a Personal point of view, I can say in all sincerity, that this was for Mari and I, probably the highlight of our lives, we both were very apprehensive, having never ever experienced living on the Marae before, not even for Mari, even though as a youngster she spent so much time with Nana Fenton and Aunty Tuppence.
On our arrival at the Marae on the Thursday afternoon, the first people we saw, and remember many of these people we had never ever met, having only seen photos of these people, as was the case here, the first People were Jackie and Michelle, followed by Vicki and Trish, Trish we had met a couple of days earlier in Auckland, Jackie, Michelle and Vicki had no idea who we were, however in a flash the introductions were made and a lot of hugs and kisses followed, this set the pattern for that afternoon.
.Then Margret and Aunty Ruby conducted the Powhiri, welcoming everyone onto the Marae, from there I felt everything change, filing through the Meeting House being greeted by Dennis, Uncle Hip, who had come from his Hospital bed, Aunty Mona etc, then to sit and listen to the words of welcome from Dennis, being there with the Family we were now in another world. Having collected our mattresses and set up our sleeping place we moved across to the other building to help with the forthcoming meal, or to just keep circulating meeting new Cousins and renewing old acquaintances, it was just so great, giving one a real “buzz”.
We had a most enjoyable meal, sitting at the long tables still meeting up with Family. After tea, a prayer from Dennis ,a hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, I do believe that this maybe Aunty Mona’s favourite. Then very well read by Margret, we had “Granddads Tale”. We then packed up and headed for the very part of the re-union that I was most concerned, to sleep, well this bloke just does not sleep at nights, due to a few health problems, sleeping at night has been a thing of the past for me. I sneaked into the Men’s toilets, changed into the sleeping gear, crept back to my bed, settling down for a long night, I gazed at the ceiling, now please excuse my ignorance, I looked at the centre beam which runs the full length of the Meeting house, then off that centre beam, either side were sixteen cross beams, my mind starting working immediately, is there a story here, are those sixteen cross beams meant to be ribs attached to the spine or backbone, however this was as far as I got because the next thing I knew it was 6.00am,I had slept all night, Mari could not believe it, this was not to be the only night as I slept like a log on each of those three nights, I cannot recall when I last slept like this. Some of the Cousins offered reasons for this, and I must say that I do believe what Vicki said to me, she told me” that you are feeling so relaxed, happy and comfortable being among so many people who love each other”. I am happy to accept that explanation.
It was great to get up each morning, shower, wander off to the kitchen, cook the toast, do anything that needed doing, so many willing hands, help with the dishes,(I can prove this as I have a photo),Mari took it as it something that she is not seen happen too often(that is according to Mari).
The visits to the Rona Road Homestead (where Mari was born), bought back many happy memories of Nana Fenton and my introduction to whitebait (this is another story, too long to tell).the visit to The Family Cemetery, along with the ancient sites, with most interesting stories by Dennis and anyone else who wanted to add to these commentaries, a really interesting morning.
The visit that night to the Pukekura Park for the “Carnival of lights”, didn’t everyone enjoy that, especially the “littlies”, Mari wouldn’t buy me an ice cream. Then back to hear the story of the “cunning” of Cousin Roger when attending the auction to buy the racing car previously owned by Paul Newman over there in the U.S.of A.
Saturday, following another good brekkie, the Church Service in that cute little Church at the Maori Mission, where we once again sung Aunty Mona’s favourite “What a friend we have in Jesus”. The timing of this Church Service could not have been planned better, because what followed was a wonderful visit to the Waitara Cemetery, to pay our respects to Pop Fenton and to the Parents of several of the Cousins, it was really a touching time, to hear Dennis introduce the Grave which we were now at, how members of the Family added additional comments, to see the Children make their own acknowledgements, it was a sad time and I on a couple of occasions had to step back a pace as emotion gathered. I watched one Cousin, her eyes fixed on, probably a tree, didn’t blink at all but I could see her body shaking, I really felt for her, this really got to me.
We then returned to Owae for lunch and some free time to gather ones thoughts after such a moving morning.
That night was another lovely Dinner and of course the “Cutting of the cake”, how lovely to see Uncle Hip there again, this time to cut the cake along with the oldest and youngest Cousins Mari and Vicki.
The evening concluded with a meeting of the Cousins, then a lot of chatter as this was our last night together after such a great Re-Union, talk went on deep into the night.
Sunday, out of bed and pack up the sleeping gear, clear up, make our sad farewells, this was once again a very emotional time, having found each other after so many years now it was time to say good bye again, lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses, tears in the eyes and lump in throat, I heard someone say “if they have all enjoyed themselves so much, why the tears”,
Mari and I stood there waving farewell as the cars departed, a truly wonderful time, but like all good things, they must come to a close, however lets all stay in contact, get those pens,e-mails and telephones going, we have all found each other, lets keep it that way, stay in touch with each other, doesn’t have to be every day but every so often,.
As I said at the beginning, this to Mari and I has probably been the “Highlight” of our lives.
Look forward to keeping in touch with you all, loved meeting with you,
Good health and Farewell,
Arohanui, Mari and Jack.
01.03.03.
Thanks to the foresight and confidence of Patricia (Trish) Fenton, what started off in July last year as a simple endeavour to make contact with all the Grandchildren of Nana and Pop Fenton, eventuated in a “Fenton Family Re-Union”, held in February at the Historic Owae Marae at Manukorihi, commandingly situated high above the Waitara River, with a view over the town, and the countryside to Mount Taranaki. The carved Meeting House dominates the courtyard of Owae and is without doubt the finest in Taranaki.
Right from the first contact with Trish, her mind was set on a Re-Union, well supported by Margret Brands, Aunty Mona and Aunty Ruby, things really started to happen, they checked with Roger as to the date that he could be here with Wife Sherrie and Son Rangi, the date was set by Roger for his arrival in Aotearoa and from there it was “all systems are go”.
There was a lot of organizing by these people, booking the Marae, menus to be set, food to be arranged, invitations to be sent out, program to cover the three nights and four days,(a top line program was enjoyed by all who attended).So much to do and so little time really to arrange it all, but with great credit to these People a first class Re-Union was arranged for us all. We send these people a great vote of thanks for a first class effort.
From a Personal point of view, I can say in all sincerity, that this was for Mari and I, probably the highlight of our lives, we both were very apprehensive, having never ever experienced living on the Marae before, not even for Mari, even though as a youngster she spent so much time with Nana Fenton and Aunty Tuppence.
On our arrival at the Marae on the Thursday afternoon, the first people we saw, and remember many of these people we had never ever met, having only seen photos of these people, as was the case here, the first People were Jackie and Michelle, followed by Vicki and Trish, Trish we had met a couple of days earlier in Auckland, Jackie, Michelle and Vicki had no idea who we were, however in a flash the introductions were made and a lot of hugs and kisses followed, this set the pattern for that afternoon.
.Then Margret and Aunty Ruby conducted the Powhiri, welcoming everyone onto the Marae, from there I felt everything change, filing through the Meeting House being greeted by Dennis, Uncle Hip, who had come from his Hospital bed, Aunty Mona etc, then to sit and listen to the words of welcome from Dennis, being there with the Family we were now in another world. Having collected our mattresses and set up our sleeping place we moved across to the other building to help with the forthcoming meal, or to just keep circulating meeting new Cousins and renewing old acquaintances, it was just so great, giving one a real “buzz”.
We had a most enjoyable meal, sitting at the long tables still meeting up with Family. After tea, a prayer from Dennis ,a hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, I do believe that this maybe Aunty Mona’s favourite. Then very well read by Margret, we had “Granddads Tale”. We then packed up and headed for the very part of the re-union that I was most concerned, to sleep, well this bloke just does not sleep at nights, due to a few health problems, sleeping at night has been a thing of the past for me. I sneaked into the Men’s toilets, changed into the sleeping gear, crept back to my bed, settling down for a long night, I gazed at the ceiling, now please excuse my ignorance, I looked at the centre beam which runs the full length of the Meeting house, then off that centre beam, either side were sixteen cross beams, my mind starting working immediately, is there a story here, are those sixteen cross beams meant to be ribs attached to the spine or backbone, however this was as far as I got because the next thing I knew it was 6.00am,I had slept all night, Mari could not believe it, this was not to be the only night as I slept like a log on each of those three nights, I cannot recall when I last slept like this. Some of the Cousins offered reasons for this, and I must say that I do believe what Vicki said to me, she told me” that you are feeling so relaxed, happy and comfortable being among so many people who love each other”. I am happy to accept that explanation.
It was great to get up each morning, shower, wander off to the kitchen, cook the toast, do anything that needed doing, so many willing hands, help with the dishes,(I can prove this as I have a photo),Mari took it as it something that she is not seen happen too often(that is according to Mari).
The visits to the Rona Road Homestead (where Mari was born), bought back many happy memories of Nana Fenton and my introduction to whitebait (this is another story, too long to tell).the visit to The Family Cemetery, along with the ancient sites, with most interesting stories by Dennis and anyone else who wanted to add to these commentaries, a really interesting morning.
The visit that night to the Pukekura Park for the “Carnival of lights”, didn’t everyone enjoy that, especially the “littlies”, Mari wouldn’t buy me an ice cream. Then back to hear the story of the “cunning” of Cousin Roger when attending the auction to buy the racing car previously owned by Paul Newman over there in the U.S.of A.
Saturday, following another good brekkie, the Church Service in that cute little Church at the Maori Mission, where we once again sung Aunty Mona’s favourite “What a friend we have in Jesus”. The timing of this Church Service could not have been planned better, because what followed was a wonderful visit to the Waitara Cemetery, to pay our respects to Pop Fenton and to the Parents of several of the Cousins, it was really a touching time, to hear Dennis introduce the Grave which we were now at, how members of the Family added additional comments, to see the Children make their own acknowledgements, it was a sad time and I on a couple of occasions had to step back a pace as emotion gathered. I watched one Cousin, her eyes fixed on, probably a tree, didn’t blink at all but I could see her body shaking, I really felt for her, this really got to me.
We then returned to Owae for lunch and some free time to gather ones thoughts after such a moving morning.
That night was another lovely Dinner and of course the “Cutting of the cake”, how lovely to see Uncle Hip there again, this time to cut the cake along with the oldest and youngest Cousins Mari and Vicki.
The evening concluded with a meeting of the Cousins, then a lot of chatter as this was our last night together after such a great Re-Union, talk went on deep into the night.
Sunday, out of bed and pack up the sleeping gear, clear up, make our sad farewells, this was once again a very emotional time, having found each other after so many years now it was time to say good bye again, lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses, tears in the eyes and lump in throat, I heard someone say “if they have all enjoyed themselves so much, why the tears”,
Mari and I stood there waving farewell as the cars departed, a truly wonderful time, but like all good things, they must come to a close, however lets all stay in contact, get those pens,e-mails and telephones going, we have all found each other, lets keep it that way, stay in touch with each other, doesn’t have to be every day but every so often,.
As I said at the beginning, this to Mari and I has probably been the “Highlight” of our lives.
Look forward to keeping in touch with you all, loved meeting with you,
Good health and Farewell,
Arohanui, Mari and Jack.
01.03.03.
2003 February - Margret's memories of the Fenton reunion
2003 AT OWAE WAITARA’S FENTON CLAN EMERGE
The idea of meeting the family of Nana and Pop was a bit scary to me. I made sure that the website was operating to the best of my ability and thought that would be my sum contribution. Then the fact that the movie films taken from 1956 to the 1970’s were on DVD format and VHS tapes became the next objective. I knew that there were scenes from the tangi of Nana’s brother-in-law, that of Nana herself were on the films and they became a goal to have the 8 mm films put onto disk and tape.
The quick glimpses of scenes of the swimmers at the Waiongonga River in 1962 was a reward when we would all view the exploits of the diving and swimming Aunty Tuppence, a sport in which she did well when she was a pupil at the Waitara Central School. At the funeral scenes we could see Hughie Taylor as a pallbearer and the grandchildren of Nana being flower and wreath bearers to her graveside. At the tangi of Jimmy Manu held at Owae on the same day as Nana’s burial, our fathers and mothers were evident having come from their mother’s urupa of Tokitahi. Uncles Jack, Fred, Tui and Hip gathered by the sleeping house and on the nearby lawn were Aunties Tuppence and Rita. A few metres away was their cousin Marj Harper and her husband Bill Bedggood, who had traveled from Auckland to attend Nana’s funeral. There was a short bit of Aunty Allison wearing her gumboots and holding one of her daughters whilst the others stood with Laura and viewed the camera in return.
THE pa becomes a place for many to turn up and see what’s going on and greetings were made to the many who came into the kitchen area. Belle Tupe, nee Bailey, made a huge batch of fry bread for our lunch even though she was not a whanau member and she let us join her in the cooking.
This kind of co-operation became the mainstay of our four-day stay at Owae. We learned to help each other.
The morning of Thursday, 6 February, and a bit tired after the 11.30 pm arrival from Auckland the night before of Roger, Sherrie and Rangi and Margret, Richard, Aynsley and Darryn and Mum answers the phone. ‘Here she is’, she says to me, a whispered ‘who is it”, a reply, ‘It’s Baba’. “Hello, Baba, whatsup?” ‘I don’t know if I can get up to the pa to do the karanga, I’ll try and make it, but I don’t think I can. Here’s the karanga, yeah, write it down on a card and hold it in your hand”‘ Baba recited a simple karanga and I wrote it on a used Christmas card, small enough to fit it into the palm of my hand. I asked Richard to accompany me to the back of the house to practice the calling on and he gravely saw me through the rehearsal. All through the rest of the afternoon, whether getting kai ready, waiting, wondering, and Baba, the youngest daughter of Aunty Polly Billy, younger sister of Nana, and still she didn’t come. I re-read the card time and again, forgetting the sequence and re-read it. The final moment had come and Mum, who went into the city with the borrowed van from cousin Marj Urwin’s son, Arthur Sadler, I was told that the Karanga had to happen now. So I went to the steps of the carved house and waited. I went into the kitchen, walked, back to the carved house. Spoke to Dennis; spoke to sisters Brenda and Gloria; back to the kitchen area and found out that the ‘visitor’ party was waiting for the arrival of Dad from his Rhapsody Home in New Plymouth. As soon as his van arrived, his wheelchair was lowered, and on the ground, he was whipped into the inside of the carved house and Baba hadn’t arrived! Waiting inside with Dad was Mum, and on the seat Dennis and Richard.
I looked over to the corner of the dining room, KoTamatane, and saw Aunty Ruby waiting. I glimpsed at the words and wailed out, ‘Haere mai Nga Uri ….a bit more, pause and hear Aunty Ruby replying and bringing on the party with her as I made a small retreat, the second call from me and from Aunty again. By this time, I was running out of words as their journey was longer than I thought, they should have been walking fast to lessen my agony. Kerry was the media watch and cameraman and his pictures and sounds will surely reveal my moments of bewilderment. I made the final retreat as the visitors came up onto the paepae and they seated themselves inside the carved house settling into the males in the first row. Dennis spoke for the welcoming party and the eldest grandson, Hugh, made the reply. Our ceremonies were simple, humble and a successful first time. The visitors came over to meet the home people with a hongi, a kiss, a hug and hello and went down the line to the next person. As Dad’s expected pickup time had been somewhat delayed his almost imperative departure had to take place within some 15 minutes of his arrival, with the speeches of welcome being succinctly put by Dennis.
Gaining a bed in the carved house was the first priority for me. Mum has said that she wanted one on the platform, on the edge, so that she could roll off the mattress and gain purchase without crunching her knees. Joining her on the platform were Roger, Sherrie and Rangi and I put the mattresses on the floor for Richard and me, near to the door to the toilets but far enough away for foot traffic not to be a problem.
In the adjoining corridor, the mountain of mattresses was like a magnet for imagination as the littlies used them tirelessly. At nighttime, the beds beckoned and the kids went to sleep comfortably in beauty of the carved house. On the second night of the reunion, I slept for first time in the carved house without the stress of a tangi, and the glowing light of the new day brought warmth into the beautiful room as it saturated the red carpet. The first night was spent in the kitchen dining room as Aunty Elsie Kearns, nee Nicholas, suggested that the computer be not left alone for security reasons. My considerable weight bent the leg of the camp bed and so I transferred my wriggly self to the sofa and listened to the night go by as the freezer/chiller room switched on and off, and the self-motivated interests of the refrigerators joined in with their cycles.
Kerry, an early morning riser, had checked the status of the toilets for everyone, before he came into the kitchen. The first morning’s breakfast included porridge, scrambled eggs, recycled sausages from the night before, toast, and hot beverages. All the cooks and waitresses worked like a team, the tables having been set in the main dining room the night before. The white china had the Owae symbol in blue set out properly and they added to the dignity of the meals.
Some casual meals were held in the kitchen dining room, mostly lunchtimes and one memorable fish and chip meal. First of all, the procurement of sheets of newspaper were straightened, second, the origami of making parcels was abandoned as those old enough to remember the satisfaction of ripping a hole in the top of the newspaper settled on the design. The cooks were lined up, Vicki on chips, wielding the scoop net to bring out the golden fries. Margret and Aynsley were the frying fishers cooking two battered fish pieces for each person whilst Hugh made up the requisite batter as the demand grew. His wife, Robyn, enjoyed seeing his work ethics in action Always, in the background, Aunty Mona kept an eye on the pace of things, more chips/no more chips, no more fish/more fish, new batter, etc.
We had our own areas of expertise and the knife hand experience of Malcolm played a part when he boned out the side of pork before Dennis added the stuffing and rolled the roast. Fish caught by Trish, kahawai from the Waikato near Waiuku, became the basis with unused fillets from the fish and chips dinner to make Poisson cru marinated raw fish salad and Lynn helped with the filleting done by Dennis.
The celebratory dinner, with the photographs of the siblings on the cake was a magic touch as Uncle Hip cut the cake and his eldest and youngest nieces, Mari and Vicki, joined him. Thereby hangs a tale as Val-Jane endeavoured to get the photos printed from disk, in her many attempts, her computer printers would not print the photos in the sequence she set and the photos would move. One of the hard copies had an untold amount of gibberish characters except where the outlines of two photos were meant to be. Two computer printers gave Val-Jane problems before things settled down and she could get the hard copy readied for the printing onto rice paper for affixing to the top of the cake. It was a successful cake.
The family appreciated the daytrips as they had the knowledge of Dennis, Roger and Kerry to draw upon at the stops made at Rona Road, Pukerangiora, Pekatu, killing rock, etc. Richard and I were kitchen mates for Mum and set out the tables and got things ready for the late in the day lunch. We greeted a visitor who, with his daughter, was making his first visit to the marae, seeking contact with the people’s he didn’t know. I think that he was lucky that Mum was able to tell him that she knew his grandfather, described him, what she knew of him, the visitor was the son-in-law of the head teacher of Waitara Central School. So, I don’t really know of what people enjoyed at the guided tour of Waitara and its environs except that every participant came back with glowing reports of their journey.
The Saturday was another day I stayed at the pa, thinking that Richard was around to help me with cooking or kitchen or whatever duties. I couldn’t believe that he managed to escape my clutches, but he did. He went to the St Saviour’s church where my Dad, Hip, our children and myself too had been baptised and the cemetery visits, everywhere, without a hat. I saw the evidence of Jack’s idea of a hatless day as he had a redhead and nose and Richard glowed as well. So, again, I’m reliant on others and to read of Mari’s and Jack’s feelings about the cemetery visits was a good sign that it was a moving experience.
Lorraine’s partner, Graham, had an adventure in the morning as upon his return from the town he related his surprise as to the reactions of the locals to himself. He walked downtown and back and in between, everywhere he went everyone smiled and said hello or asked how he was. It was quite a pleasant experience for him to have a greeting from everyone.
On Saturday evening, the whole family was called to the meeting to discuss a proposal regarding shares issued in the name of Nana Fenton of the Parininihi-ki-Waitoara Incorporation. Parininihi is known as the White Cliffs, north of Pukearuhe and the coastline from there to Waitotara includes property inland managed by the PKW. About 1982 I attended the AGM of the PKW held at Parihaka having been invited by Charlie Bailey to do so. The list of shareholders was read out and in the list of unclaimed shares was that of the names of Nana, her maternal aunts, my maternal grandmother as well. The shares issued in their names were made up to 20 years later in the case of Nana, perhaps 40 years in her aunts’ names and my maternal grandmother had died in 1970. The PKW had moved into issuing scholarships to the proven descendants of the shareholders and some families have created a trust to enable all the descendants’ access to funds. Val-Jane had been an awardee and Darryn had achieved the top prizes for two years. Darryn became the guest speaker as a recipient of the Charles Bailey Scholarship at the 25th anniversary Celebration of the Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation’s AGM in the latter part of 2002. Whilst the discussions were going on, the brothers of Lorraine and myself, Richard and Aynsley were looking around town for missing Graham, who, when found, didn’t know how to get back to the pa.
After the meeting, although quite late, there was the continuing reading of Granddad’s Tales, the childhood-based memoirs of Uncle Hip, read by myself. I had originally written the story from his notes done in 1995 when he was able to devote time to reminiscing, and re-working them into chapters was a challenge. The first night I read them, and the second night, when Roger read them he had enthusiastic participation from his listeners. His much more light-hearted approach was welcome.
During the three days we got to meet:
Children of Aunty Rita:
o Hugh, his wife Robyn, daughter Tracey, her husband and their baby Louis
o Bryan, his wife Pam
o Kerry, his wife Erlene, daughter Tanya and her three children
o Lynn
o Lorraine and partner Graham
Child of Uncle Jack
Mari and her husband Jack
Children of Hip
Margret, her husband Richard, daughter Aynsley
Val-Jane, her husband Malcolm, children, Keegan, Courtney and Fraser
Roger, his wife Sherrie and son Rangi
Darryn
Children of Ike
Michelle, her children, Amy-Cherie, Joseph, Cameron, Gina and …. Grandchildren Kahn and
Trish and her daughter Erana
Vicki and her children Nouatu and Ahumai
Jackie
Children of Tuppence
Dennis, his wife Irene, daughter Nicola and her children Serafin and Ferris
Laura
Rona
Children of Tui
o Gloria
o Brenda
o Grandson, Verban who is the son of Rosalie
Reporters from the ‘Taranaki Daily News’ and ‘The Waitara Angle’ visited the pa to meet family members attending the re-union.
There were many ‘firsts’ for most of us. It was our first reunion. It was first time that Jack has had more than one night’s complete sleep in three years. It was first time for many to sleep at Owae. It was the first marae stay for Mari, let alone Sherrie and Rangi from California. It was first time for many to meet the eldest grandchild, Mari. We were lucky not to have had a tangi interrupt our reunion; in fact, one of our first day visitors, Bobby, had to deal with the death of her partner a few day’s later. The last morning of the reunion, the very sad and incredulous news that Tony Nikora Patuwairua, the eldest son of Dennis and Irene, had died as a result of severe injuries sustained after his motorcycle accident in New Plymouth. Twenty-eight year old Tony’s tangi took place at the Hungaririki pa, up Kairau Road, the marae of the Pukerangiora hapu to which we all belong.
HERE’S SOME POSERS
1 Who was cruising on her Harley Davidson machine?
2 Who helped make the glass plates of jelly?
3 Who scanned photos for me, and if wasn’t Richard as he doesn’t know how to?
4 Who got to cut up Watermelon into pieces for the 60 or so eaters?
5 Who got parking three places away from the gates to Pukekura Park?
6 Who kept on wearing a hat in case she forgot her name?
7 Who is a current volunteer fire brigadesperson?
8 Who latched onto Fraser as a small shadow?
9 Who was the cool dude whose name starts with K who could fold away his jama’s neatly?
10 Who was the baby who was a gem inside the carved house when sleep time came?
11 Who was the first snorer who continued to make sound waves a problem?
12 Who was it that did not expect to sleep but couldn’t believe that he slept, first night, second night and, the third night, too?
13 Who was it that would not try kina when they were visiting in Waiuku?
14 Who was born up at Rona Road in Nana’s old house?
15 Whose middle name is after Nana’s tipuna?
16 Who travelled from California to the reunion?
17 Who was a mower boy of the pa during the 1960’s, mowing those huge lawns?
18 Who was involved in the creation of the bell tower next to the carved house?
19 Who got promoted from sandwich maker to Fish and chips shop owner?
20 Who called their first karanga?
21 Who organised the reunion?
22 Who brought their carpentry skills to the cucumbers in the salad?
23 Who has catered for 500 people as a matter of course?
24 Whose sister works for the newspaper ‘The Waitara Angle’?
25 Who once lived virtually streets away from each other in Wainuiomata?
26 Who became the speed merchant in the wheelchair?
27 Who thought that Darryn was a spunk whether you’re 42 years of 12 years?
28 Who fixed up the igniter gadget for the non-performing roaster after the official guy couldn’t do it at all?
29 Who was very proud of maker of the quilt used in the carved house?
30 Who enjoyed wearing the t-shirt with the nude babe right in the face of the lay minister?
31 Who wished that they could have re-arranged their work schedule and returned to Akarana on Sunday as they were having such a great time at the reunion?
32 Who provided the apparel for the lingerie display?
33 Whose great-grandfather has his photo up at the head platform area in the carved house?
POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
1 Erlene, HOG owner
2 Aunty Elsie
3 Keegan
4 Mari
5 Richard
6 Aunty Mona
7 Vicki
8 Gina
9 Kahn
10
11 Roger
12 Jack
13 Jack
14 Mari
15 Mari
16 Roger, Sherrie, Rangi
17 Roger
18 Dennis
19 Margret
20 Margret
21 Trish
22 Hugh
23 Robyn
24 Robyn, her sister, the reporter, is Rene Sharman
25 Rona and Mari
26 Irene
27 T and A
28 Darryn
29 Graham of Lorraine’s skills
30 Lynn
31 Gloria
32 Nicola
33 Aunty Mona
The idea of meeting the family of Nana and Pop was a bit scary to me. I made sure that the website was operating to the best of my ability and thought that would be my sum contribution. Then the fact that the movie films taken from 1956 to the 1970’s were on DVD format and VHS tapes became the next objective. I knew that there were scenes from the tangi of Nana’s brother-in-law, that of Nana herself were on the films and they became a goal to have the 8 mm films put onto disk and tape.
The quick glimpses of scenes of the swimmers at the Waiongonga River in 1962 was a reward when we would all view the exploits of the diving and swimming Aunty Tuppence, a sport in which she did well when she was a pupil at the Waitara Central School. At the funeral scenes we could see Hughie Taylor as a pallbearer and the grandchildren of Nana being flower and wreath bearers to her graveside. At the tangi of Jimmy Manu held at Owae on the same day as Nana’s burial, our fathers and mothers were evident having come from their mother’s urupa of Tokitahi. Uncles Jack, Fred, Tui and Hip gathered by the sleeping house and on the nearby lawn were Aunties Tuppence and Rita. A few metres away was their cousin Marj Harper and her husband Bill Bedggood, who had traveled from Auckland to attend Nana’s funeral. There was a short bit of Aunty Allison wearing her gumboots and holding one of her daughters whilst the others stood with Laura and viewed the camera in return.
THE pa becomes a place for many to turn up and see what’s going on and greetings were made to the many who came into the kitchen area. Belle Tupe, nee Bailey, made a huge batch of fry bread for our lunch even though she was not a whanau member and she let us join her in the cooking.
This kind of co-operation became the mainstay of our four-day stay at Owae. We learned to help each other.
The morning of Thursday, 6 February, and a bit tired after the 11.30 pm arrival from Auckland the night before of Roger, Sherrie and Rangi and Margret, Richard, Aynsley and Darryn and Mum answers the phone. ‘Here she is’, she says to me, a whispered ‘who is it”, a reply, ‘It’s Baba’. “Hello, Baba, whatsup?” ‘I don’t know if I can get up to the pa to do the karanga, I’ll try and make it, but I don’t think I can. Here’s the karanga, yeah, write it down on a card and hold it in your hand”‘ Baba recited a simple karanga and I wrote it on a used Christmas card, small enough to fit it into the palm of my hand. I asked Richard to accompany me to the back of the house to practice the calling on and he gravely saw me through the rehearsal. All through the rest of the afternoon, whether getting kai ready, waiting, wondering, and Baba, the youngest daughter of Aunty Polly Billy, younger sister of Nana, and still she didn’t come. I re-read the card time and again, forgetting the sequence and re-read it. The final moment had come and Mum, who went into the city with the borrowed van from cousin Marj Urwin’s son, Arthur Sadler, I was told that the Karanga had to happen now. So I went to the steps of the carved house and waited. I went into the kitchen, walked, back to the carved house. Spoke to Dennis; spoke to sisters Brenda and Gloria; back to the kitchen area and found out that the ‘visitor’ party was waiting for the arrival of Dad from his Rhapsody Home in New Plymouth. As soon as his van arrived, his wheelchair was lowered, and on the ground, he was whipped into the inside of the carved house and Baba hadn’t arrived! Waiting inside with Dad was Mum, and on the seat Dennis and Richard.
I looked over to the corner of the dining room, KoTamatane, and saw Aunty Ruby waiting. I glimpsed at the words and wailed out, ‘Haere mai Nga Uri ….a bit more, pause and hear Aunty Ruby replying and bringing on the party with her as I made a small retreat, the second call from me and from Aunty again. By this time, I was running out of words as their journey was longer than I thought, they should have been walking fast to lessen my agony. Kerry was the media watch and cameraman and his pictures and sounds will surely reveal my moments of bewilderment. I made the final retreat as the visitors came up onto the paepae and they seated themselves inside the carved house settling into the males in the first row. Dennis spoke for the welcoming party and the eldest grandson, Hugh, made the reply. Our ceremonies were simple, humble and a successful first time. The visitors came over to meet the home people with a hongi, a kiss, a hug and hello and went down the line to the next person. As Dad’s expected pickup time had been somewhat delayed his almost imperative departure had to take place within some 15 minutes of his arrival, with the speeches of welcome being succinctly put by Dennis.
Gaining a bed in the carved house was the first priority for me. Mum has said that she wanted one on the platform, on the edge, so that she could roll off the mattress and gain purchase without crunching her knees. Joining her on the platform were Roger, Sherrie and Rangi and I put the mattresses on the floor for Richard and me, near to the door to the toilets but far enough away for foot traffic not to be a problem.
In the adjoining corridor, the mountain of mattresses was like a magnet for imagination as the littlies used them tirelessly. At nighttime, the beds beckoned and the kids went to sleep comfortably in beauty of the carved house. On the second night of the reunion, I slept for first time in the carved house without the stress of a tangi, and the glowing light of the new day brought warmth into the beautiful room as it saturated the red carpet. The first night was spent in the kitchen dining room as Aunty Elsie Kearns, nee Nicholas, suggested that the computer be not left alone for security reasons. My considerable weight bent the leg of the camp bed and so I transferred my wriggly self to the sofa and listened to the night go by as the freezer/chiller room switched on and off, and the self-motivated interests of the refrigerators joined in with their cycles.
Kerry, an early morning riser, had checked the status of the toilets for everyone, before he came into the kitchen. The first morning’s breakfast included porridge, scrambled eggs, recycled sausages from the night before, toast, and hot beverages. All the cooks and waitresses worked like a team, the tables having been set in the main dining room the night before. The white china had the Owae symbol in blue set out properly and they added to the dignity of the meals.
Some casual meals were held in the kitchen dining room, mostly lunchtimes and one memorable fish and chip meal. First of all, the procurement of sheets of newspaper were straightened, second, the origami of making parcels was abandoned as those old enough to remember the satisfaction of ripping a hole in the top of the newspaper settled on the design. The cooks were lined up, Vicki on chips, wielding the scoop net to bring out the golden fries. Margret and Aynsley were the frying fishers cooking two battered fish pieces for each person whilst Hugh made up the requisite batter as the demand grew. His wife, Robyn, enjoyed seeing his work ethics in action Always, in the background, Aunty Mona kept an eye on the pace of things, more chips/no more chips, no more fish/more fish, new batter, etc.
We had our own areas of expertise and the knife hand experience of Malcolm played a part when he boned out the side of pork before Dennis added the stuffing and rolled the roast. Fish caught by Trish, kahawai from the Waikato near Waiuku, became the basis with unused fillets from the fish and chips dinner to make Poisson cru marinated raw fish salad and Lynn helped with the filleting done by Dennis.
The celebratory dinner, with the photographs of the siblings on the cake was a magic touch as Uncle Hip cut the cake and his eldest and youngest nieces, Mari and Vicki, joined him. Thereby hangs a tale as Val-Jane endeavoured to get the photos printed from disk, in her many attempts, her computer printers would not print the photos in the sequence she set and the photos would move. One of the hard copies had an untold amount of gibberish characters except where the outlines of two photos were meant to be. Two computer printers gave Val-Jane problems before things settled down and she could get the hard copy readied for the printing onto rice paper for affixing to the top of the cake. It was a successful cake.
The family appreciated the daytrips as they had the knowledge of Dennis, Roger and Kerry to draw upon at the stops made at Rona Road, Pukerangiora, Pekatu, killing rock, etc. Richard and I were kitchen mates for Mum and set out the tables and got things ready for the late in the day lunch. We greeted a visitor who, with his daughter, was making his first visit to the marae, seeking contact with the people’s he didn’t know. I think that he was lucky that Mum was able to tell him that she knew his grandfather, described him, what she knew of him, the visitor was the son-in-law of the head teacher of Waitara Central School. So, I don’t really know of what people enjoyed at the guided tour of Waitara and its environs except that every participant came back with glowing reports of their journey.
The Saturday was another day I stayed at the pa, thinking that Richard was around to help me with cooking or kitchen or whatever duties. I couldn’t believe that he managed to escape my clutches, but he did. He went to the St Saviour’s church where my Dad, Hip, our children and myself too had been baptised and the cemetery visits, everywhere, without a hat. I saw the evidence of Jack’s idea of a hatless day as he had a redhead and nose and Richard glowed as well. So, again, I’m reliant on others and to read of Mari’s and Jack’s feelings about the cemetery visits was a good sign that it was a moving experience.
Lorraine’s partner, Graham, had an adventure in the morning as upon his return from the town he related his surprise as to the reactions of the locals to himself. He walked downtown and back and in between, everywhere he went everyone smiled and said hello or asked how he was. It was quite a pleasant experience for him to have a greeting from everyone.
On Saturday evening, the whole family was called to the meeting to discuss a proposal regarding shares issued in the name of Nana Fenton of the Parininihi-ki-Waitoara Incorporation. Parininihi is known as the White Cliffs, north of Pukearuhe and the coastline from there to Waitotara includes property inland managed by the PKW. About 1982 I attended the AGM of the PKW held at Parihaka having been invited by Charlie Bailey to do so. The list of shareholders was read out and in the list of unclaimed shares was that of the names of Nana, her maternal aunts, my maternal grandmother as well. The shares issued in their names were made up to 20 years later in the case of Nana, perhaps 40 years in her aunts’ names and my maternal grandmother had died in 1970. The PKW had moved into issuing scholarships to the proven descendants of the shareholders and some families have created a trust to enable all the descendants’ access to funds. Val-Jane had been an awardee and Darryn had achieved the top prizes for two years. Darryn became the guest speaker as a recipient of the Charles Bailey Scholarship at the 25th anniversary Celebration of the Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation’s AGM in the latter part of 2002. Whilst the discussions were going on, the brothers of Lorraine and myself, Richard and Aynsley were looking around town for missing Graham, who, when found, didn’t know how to get back to the pa.
After the meeting, although quite late, there was the continuing reading of Granddad’s Tales, the childhood-based memoirs of Uncle Hip, read by myself. I had originally written the story from his notes done in 1995 when he was able to devote time to reminiscing, and re-working them into chapters was a challenge. The first night I read them, and the second night, when Roger read them he had enthusiastic participation from his listeners. His much more light-hearted approach was welcome.
During the three days we got to meet:
Children of Aunty Rita:
o Hugh, his wife Robyn, daughter Tracey, her husband and their baby Louis
o Bryan, his wife Pam
o Kerry, his wife Erlene, daughter Tanya and her three children
o Lynn
o Lorraine and partner Graham
Child of Uncle Jack
Mari and her husband Jack
Children of Hip
Margret, her husband Richard, daughter Aynsley
Val-Jane, her husband Malcolm, children, Keegan, Courtney and Fraser
Roger, his wife Sherrie and son Rangi
Darryn
Children of Ike
Michelle, her children, Amy-Cherie, Joseph, Cameron, Gina and …. Grandchildren Kahn and
Trish and her daughter Erana
Vicki and her children Nouatu and Ahumai
Jackie
Children of Tuppence
Dennis, his wife Irene, daughter Nicola and her children Serafin and Ferris
Laura
Rona
Children of Tui
o Gloria
o Brenda
o Grandson, Verban who is the son of Rosalie
Reporters from the ‘Taranaki Daily News’ and ‘The Waitara Angle’ visited the pa to meet family members attending the re-union.
There were many ‘firsts’ for most of us. It was our first reunion. It was first time that Jack has had more than one night’s complete sleep in three years. It was first time for many to sleep at Owae. It was the first marae stay for Mari, let alone Sherrie and Rangi from California. It was first time for many to meet the eldest grandchild, Mari. We were lucky not to have had a tangi interrupt our reunion; in fact, one of our first day visitors, Bobby, had to deal with the death of her partner a few day’s later. The last morning of the reunion, the very sad and incredulous news that Tony Nikora Patuwairua, the eldest son of Dennis and Irene, had died as a result of severe injuries sustained after his motorcycle accident in New Plymouth. Twenty-eight year old Tony’s tangi took place at the Hungaririki pa, up Kairau Road, the marae of the Pukerangiora hapu to which we all belong.
HERE’S SOME POSERS
1 Who was cruising on her Harley Davidson machine?
2 Who helped make the glass plates of jelly?
3 Who scanned photos for me, and if wasn’t Richard as he doesn’t know how to?
4 Who got to cut up Watermelon into pieces for the 60 or so eaters?
5 Who got parking three places away from the gates to Pukekura Park?
6 Who kept on wearing a hat in case she forgot her name?
7 Who is a current volunteer fire brigadesperson?
8 Who latched onto Fraser as a small shadow?
9 Who was the cool dude whose name starts with K who could fold away his jama’s neatly?
10 Who was the baby who was a gem inside the carved house when sleep time came?
11 Who was the first snorer who continued to make sound waves a problem?
12 Who was it that did not expect to sleep but couldn’t believe that he slept, first night, second night and, the third night, too?
13 Who was it that would not try kina when they were visiting in Waiuku?
14 Who was born up at Rona Road in Nana’s old house?
15 Whose middle name is after Nana’s tipuna?
16 Who travelled from California to the reunion?
17 Who was a mower boy of the pa during the 1960’s, mowing those huge lawns?
18 Who was involved in the creation of the bell tower next to the carved house?
19 Who got promoted from sandwich maker to Fish and chips shop owner?
20 Who called their first karanga?
21 Who organised the reunion?
22 Who brought their carpentry skills to the cucumbers in the salad?
23 Who has catered for 500 people as a matter of course?
24 Whose sister works for the newspaper ‘The Waitara Angle’?
25 Who once lived virtually streets away from each other in Wainuiomata?
26 Who became the speed merchant in the wheelchair?
27 Who thought that Darryn was a spunk whether you’re 42 years of 12 years?
28 Who fixed up the igniter gadget for the non-performing roaster after the official guy couldn’t do it at all?
29 Who was very proud of maker of the quilt used in the carved house?
30 Who enjoyed wearing the t-shirt with the nude babe right in the face of the lay minister?
31 Who wished that they could have re-arranged their work schedule and returned to Akarana on Sunday as they were having such a great time at the reunion?
32 Who provided the apparel for the lingerie display?
33 Whose great-grandfather has his photo up at the head platform area in the carved house?
POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
1 Erlene, HOG owner
2 Aunty Elsie
3 Keegan
4 Mari
5 Richard
6 Aunty Mona
7 Vicki
8 Gina
9 Kahn
10
11 Roger
12 Jack
13 Jack
14 Mari
15 Mari
16 Roger, Sherrie, Rangi
17 Roger
18 Dennis
19 Margret
20 Margret
21 Trish
22 Hugh
23 Robyn
24 Robyn, her sister, the reporter, is Rene Sharman
25 Rona and Mari
26 Irene
27 T and A
28 Darryn
29 Graham of Lorraine’s skills
30 Lynn
31 Gloria
32 Nicola
33 Aunty Mona
2009 January 17 - two celebrations on the 15th January, and one birthday coming for Dennis
First of all Mum, aunty Mona celebrated her 79th birthday, with luncheon and 
birthday dinner with Va and family.
Mari and Jack had their 54th wedding anniversary.
The 60th birthday for Dennis is in a few days too.
1942 and 1993 - two newspaper reports appertaining to the Fenton Brothers
TARANAKI NEWSPAPERS
Two newspaper articles from the Taranaki papers were clipped but not dated. It is believed that the one called Family affair was printed circa 1943, and in the ’50 years later’ column, circa 1993. The second article, titled ‘Family service was printed circa 1942. The spelling of Hip’s name should have been Fauntleroy. (Other proof error unity)
Family affair
WITH a father and four brothers serving in the armed forces, Frederick Fenton of Waitara told the Taranaki Manpower Committee that he wanted to be with them. He was opposing an appeal by Thomas Borthwick & Sons Ltd, which said it was short-handed in most departments, Fenton said he was only a labourer and could easily be replaced. The appeal was dismissed.
Family service
Six members of a Waitara family were serving in the armed forces. The father, Mr H.E. Fenton, was serving in a New Zealand Camp. Of his five sons, Captain Jack Fenton was in the Middle East, Tui Fenton, who had previously been with the Maori Reinforcements of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., was currently in an officer cadet training unity, Forteleroy Fenton was on active service in England, Fred Fenton, after being discharged from the army as a result of an injury, was in the navy and I.M. Fenton was in the air force
.
Two newspaper articles from the Taranaki papers were clipped but not dated. It is believed that the one called Family affair was printed circa 1943, and in the ’50 years later’ column, circa 1993. The second article, titled ‘Family service was printed circa 1942. The spelling of Hip’s name should have been Fauntleroy. (Other proof error unity)
Family affair
WITH a father and four brothers serving in the armed forces, Frederick Fenton of Waitara told the Taranaki Manpower Committee that he wanted to be with them. He was opposing an appeal by Thomas Borthwick & Sons Ltd, which said it was short-handed in most departments, Fenton said he was only a labourer and could easily be replaced. The appeal was dismissed.
Family service
Six members of a Waitara family were serving in the armed forces. The father, Mr H.E. Fenton, was serving in a New Zealand Camp. Of his five sons, Captain Jack Fenton was in the Middle East, Tui Fenton, who had previously been with the Maori Reinforcements of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., was currently in an officer cadet training unity, Forteleroy Fenton was on active service in England, Fred Fenton, after being discharged from the army as a result of an injury, was in the navy and I.M. Fenton was in the air force
.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
2009 January 13 - Roger flying to Oregon State University to celebrate wrestling reunion
Roger was a member of the New Zealand school boys wrestling team that travelled around the state of Oregon during 1969 with dad Hip as the team manager. Roger is flying to get to Corvallis to meet with the members of the university wrestling team that he was a part of in 1973. A night stay with family in Portland before his return flight to Long Beach, Ca before driving direct to work.
http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/011209aab.html reports the reunion in a few words -
And members of the 1973 NCAA Championship Runner-Up Oregon State wrestling squad will return and be honored prior to the start of the meet.
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Arthur Adlam - a pen picture
NANA'S ELDEST SIBLING: Arthur was the first child born to Ramari Rona and John David Adlam. With great reference to the family tree written by Laurie Ward, Ramari and John were married at Bell Block on 27 February 1882. Both were previously married, the apparent third for John and the second for Ramari.
The Intention to Marry, BDM20/27 Page 321 said that John was a widower, a farmer, 34 years dwelling Waitara, Ramari, was spinster, 19 years, dwelling Waitara. Place to be married: St Mary's Episcopal church, New Plymouth. Person giving consent to a minor: Rona Minarapa, father, officiating minister, Archdeacon H. Govett.
1st) Hazel married Charles Litchwark, parents of: Olive, Caroline, Charles, Gloria, Elizabeth, Louise, Edward and Phillip
2nd) David married Ripene Stephens, parents of: Arthur, Richard, Hazel, Jack, Joseph, Linda and Maadi
David died on October 23 1982 at 10 Davis Street, Kaitaia, age 68 years. His tangi was held in the Mangamuka marae. Near the Mangamuku phone exchange was his family home and we visited his son. Richard married May, Hazel married Sam, Jack married Bev, Linda married Willy.
Wife Caroline Makawe of Maniapoto Caroline Makawe Hazel's first married Peter Paki or Te Kuiti, second to George Litchwark, third to Thomas Te Maru, marrying in Kaitaia on 8/5/1963. When she died, in Waitara on 8/5/1965, Edward and Phillip came to stay at 27 Blake Street for a short time. Edward and Phillip participated in amateur wrestling in Waitara. Charles married Patty, same class as me in Waitara High..
1st) Jean married Thomas Perkins, parents of:
Jeanette, Adrian, Charles, Bruce
2nd) Betty married William Marshall, parents of: James, Alice, Beverley, Claire, Graham, Heather
3rd) Irene no family,
4th) Royce maried James Crawford, parents of: Ian, Nevile, Allan, Jennifer
5th Eric married Colleen Woller, parents of Jaye, Veronna, Wade.
6th) Malcolm married Eileen Shute, no family
7th Pauline married Eric Bull, parents of: Robin, Trevor. Pauline and Trevor in Taumarunui in 2003 and Robyn in Auckland
8th Valentine. 2003 lives in Waitara
9th Nancy married Bill Vernon. 2003 lives in Andorra.
10th Neil married Lesley Campbell, parents of: Wendy and Phillip Philip, in 2003, in Australia..
3rd wife: Clara Elnor Wallace who died at Taumarunui Hospital on March 4 1985 aged 88 years.
At this time, Jean lived in Westport, Betty lived in Paeroa, Rene in Invercargill, Royce in Wanganui, Eric in Wanganui, Pauline in Taumarunui, Valentine in Christchurch, Neil in Wellington and Nancy in Madrid, Malcolm in Stratford
Pauline Kettle, previously Bull, has furnished the following about her father: He was known as Arthur Adlam. He enlisted for WWI, his name is in the Nominal roll Volume 2, his number 34306, Private; next of kin, his wife, Caroline Adlam of Te Puru, Waiomia, Thames.
Arthur was a contractor. Pauline has his framed certificate of service - he received medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, served Western European 1917. 161 days NZ service, 231 days overseas, served from 22/8/1916 and discharged 17/9/1919.
As Laura, his sister idolised her eldest brother, my dad, Hip, was to receive the names of Fauntleroy and Aldershot in memory of where he had served or camped.
The Intention to Marry, BDM20/27 Page 321 said that John was a widower, a farmer, 34 years dwelling Waitara, Ramari, was spinster, 19 years, dwelling Waitara. Place to be married: St Mary's Episcopal church, New Plymouth. Person giving consent to a minor: Rona Minarapa, father, officiating minister, Archdeacon H. Govett.
1st) Hazel married Charles Litchwark, parents of: Olive, Caroline, Charles, Gloria, Elizabeth, Louise, Edward and Phillip
2nd) David married Ripene Stephens, parents of: Arthur, Richard, Hazel, Jack, Joseph, Linda and Maadi
David died on October 23 1982 at 10 Davis Street, Kaitaia, age 68 years. His tangi was held in the Mangamuka marae. Near the Mangamuku phone exchange was his family home and we visited his son. Richard married May, Hazel married Sam, Jack married Bev, Linda married Willy.
Wife Caroline Makawe of Maniapoto Caroline Makawe Hazel's first married Peter Paki or Te Kuiti, second to George Litchwark, third to Thomas Te Maru, marrying in Kaitaia on 8/5/1963. When she died, in Waitara on 8/5/1965, Edward and Phillip came to stay at 27 Blake Street for a short time. Edward and Phillip participated in amateur wrestling in Waitara. Charles married Patty, same class as me in Waitara High..
1st) Jean married Thomas Perkins, parents of:
Jeanette, Adrian, Charles, Bruce
2nd) Betty married William Marshall, parents of: James, Alice, Beverley, Claire, Graham, Heather
3rd) Irene no family,
4th) Royce maried James Crawford, parents of: Ian, Nevile, Allan, Jennifer
5th Eric married Colleen Woller, parents of Jaye, Veronna, Wade.
6th) Malcolm married Eileen Shute, no family
7th Pauline married Eric Bull, parents of: Robin, Trevor. Pauline and Trevor in Taumarunui in 2003 and Robyn in Auckland
8th Valentine. 2003 lives in Waitara
9th Nancy married Bill Vernon. 2003 lives in Andorra.
10th Neil married Lesley Campbell, parents of: Wendy and Phillip Philip, in 2003, in Australia..
3rd wife: Clara Elnor Wallace who died at Taumarunui Hospital on March 4 1985 aged 88 years.
At this time, Jean lived in Westport, Betty lived in Paeroa, Rene in Invercargill, Royce in Wanganui, Eric in Wanganui, Pauline in Taumarunui, Valentine in Christchurch, Neil in Wellington and Nancy in Madrid, Malcolm in Stratford
Pauline Kettle, previously Bull, has furnished the following about her father: He was known as Arthur Adlam. He enlisted for WWI, his name is in the Nominal roll Volume 2, his number 34306, Private; next of kin, his wife, Caroline Adlam of Te Puru, Waiomia, Thames.
Arthur was a contractor. Pauline has his framed certificate of service - he received medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal, served Western European 1917. 161 days NZ service, 231 days overseas, served from 22/8/1916 and discharged 17/9/1919.
As Laura, his sister idolised her eldest brother, my dad, Hip, was to receive the names of Fauntleroy and Aldershot in memory of where he had served or camped.
Johanna Connor married Thoma Fenton in Ireland in 1860 - Eugene's parents
Married in the Church of Ventry, by banns, by Thomas Moriarty, on 14th August 1860.
Johanna Connor was full age, a spinster and the daughter of John Connor, a labourer.
Johanna and her groom Thomas were resident in Ventry Town and Thomas's father, John Fenton was a Steward.
Their marriage was registered in the Ventry/Kildrun register 1845/1939.
Johanna Connor was full age, a spinster and the daughter of John Connor, a labourer.
Johanna and her groom Thomas were resident in Ventry Town and Thomas's father, John Fenton was a Steward.
Their marriage was registered in the Ventry/Kildrun register 1845/1939.
Meeting my Cousins at the Reunion
Meeting my cousins
Jack and I are now settling back in Brisbane after a wonderful 3 weeks in Kiwi land. Our highlight was of course “the reunion”. We both were wondering how it would all go. Meeting cousins we had never met and how many would be there?
We were thrilled when arriving at the Owae Marae to be greeted by so many of the Fenton family.
Our first time sleeping in the marae was a real experience for us both.. We had fun dragging our own mattresses out, making our beds, lots of talk and laughter about.
So many beds either on side of the meeting house.
I must tell you, jack never sleeps at night here in Brisbane, I just couldn’t believe for the three nights there he slept so soundly…. So suggested that we should get rid of our bed and keep the mattress when we get back to Brisbane!!!!!!!!!!!The weather was perfect for the weekend, so we were able to visit many places, such as the Rona Road homestead, Uncle Hip’s historical findings, nana Fenton’s grave, the smallest and loveliest church i have been in. A very peaceful feeling laying flowers at the Waitara cemetery. The trip to Pukekura Park to see the “lights”. The children had a happy time laughing all around the park that evening.
Back to the meals which were well planned by Auntie Mona, just loved the way that we all pitched in with the preparation and cooking of these, we sure ate well… it was lovely to see uncle hip there at most of the outings,, also dear Auntie Ruby, it must have been wonderful to have the Fenton family around them.
The dinner on Saturday night was great,,, a lot of preparation , there was pork, beef, chickens, vegetable, and salads, followed by a steamed pudding and pavlovas…the huge cake organised by Val was very cleverly done with photos of Nana, Pop, Fred, Jack, Tui, Rita, Hip, Ike and Tuppence on the top of the cake,.
Margret and Richard were very busy with the computer, and loved “Granddad’s tales”.
Roger was hilarious with his visit to the auction to buy Paul Newman’s racing car…
Kerrie was always busy rolling the video camera. Dennis was very interesting with the knowledge of history around the area. So, sadly it all had to come to a end, it was hard saying cheerio to all my lovely new found cousins.. Please keep in touch; having been an only child, I now have that lovely feeling that I have many brothers and sisters…
Much love Mari. Xxxxxxxxx
Jack and I are now settling back in Brisbane after a wonderful 3 weeks in Kiwi land. Our highlight was of course “the reunion”. We both were wondering how it would all go. Meeting cousins we had never met and how many would be there?
We were thrilled when arriving at the Owae Marae to be greeted by so many of the Fenton family.
Our first time sleeping in the marae was a real experience for us both.. We had fun dragging our own mattresses out, making our beds, lots of talk and laughter about.
So many beds either on side of the meeting house.
I must tell you, jack never sleeps at night here in Brisbane, I just couldn’t believe for the three nights there he slept so soundly…. So suggested that we should get rid of our bed and keep the mattress when we get back to Brisbane!!!!!!!!!!!The weather was perfect for the weekend, so we were able to visit many places, such as the Rona Road homestead, Uncle Hip’s historical findings, nana Fenton’s grave, the smallest and loveliest church i have been in. A very peaceful feeling laying flowers at the Waitara cemetery. The trip to Pukekura Park to see the “lights”. The children had a happy time laughing all around the park that evening.
Back to the meals which were well planned by Auntie Mona, just loved the way that we all pitched in with the preparation and cooking of these, we sure ate well… it was lovely to see uncle hip there at most of the outings,, also dear Auntie Ruby, it must have been wonderful to have the Fenton family around them.
The dinner on Saturday night was great,,, a lot of preparation , there was pork, beef, chickens, vegetable, and salads, followed by a steamed pudding and pavlovas…the huge cake organised by Val was very cleverly done with photos of Nana, Pop, Fred, Jack, Tui, Rita, Hip, Ike and Tuppence on the top of the cake,.
Margret and Richard were very busy with the computer, and loved “Granddad’s tales”.
Roger was hilarious with his visit to the auction to buy Paul Newman’s racing car…
Kerrie was always busy rolling the video camera. Dennis was very interesting with the knowledge of history around the area. So, sadly it all had to come to a end, it was hard saying cheerio to all my lovely new found cousins.. Please keep in touch; having been an only child, I now have that lovely feeling that I have many brothers and sisters…
Much love Mari. Xxxxxxxxx
Rona Patuwairua - a pen picture
Rona and her husband Gerald have two children, namely Eugene and Terri. They have lived 'just over the hill' from Lower Hutt for more than two decades.
Eugene is a New Zealand representative in the Inline Hockey Team Under 20. He will compete against Australia of which there will be five test matches. Currently, Anzac weekend 2003 the team is at Surfers Paradise.
Mari and Jack McDonald walked a few metres down the road from their Ascot home to welcome and meet Eugene. Jack has said that he is a fine looking young man, tall, smart looking in his Kiwi representative travelling out. His parents are no doubt extremely proud of this achievement
Eugene is a New Zealand representative in the Inline Hockey Team Under 20. He will compete against Australia of which there will be five test matches. Currently, Anzac weekend 2003 the team is at Surfers Paradise.
Mari and Jack McDonald walked a few metres down the road from their Ascot home to welcome and meet Eugene. Jack has said that he is a fine looking young man, tall, smart looking in his Kiwi representative travelling out. His parents are no doubt extremely proud of this achievement
Teri Patuwairua - a pen picture
Teri's wife, Marlene was born in Waitara and did her schooling in southern Taranaki, particularly in the areas of Patea and Hawera. They have now been married 28 years living some 18 years in Australia. Their two daughters are Australia domiciled. Teri has been described as a shy man, a trait you could see in the website album for him. Daughter Jasmine lives in Victoria with her husband Bradley and their son Phoenix. Teri and Marlene's second mokopuna, Rhys, lives with his mum, Eleanor, in the same state as the others. Teri works an overnight shift for PuraMilk. Terry's sister's as they know him by, me, too, are delighted to see their brother and his wife om the photo. I await Teri's contribution that he is indeed interested in the culture of the North American Indian such as the dog soldiers, the shaman or of shape shifting. It should be an interesting insight into his hobbies.
Jasmine and Eleanor, glean some stories from your Dad about his parents. Even a few little notes make up a bigger picture. If you read the message section, your Aunt Rona is 'stoked' by reading the comments and contributions made. This message will be temporary on this page
Jasmine and Eleanor, glean some stories from your Dad about his parents. Even a few little notes make up a bigger picture. If you read the message section, your Aunt Rona is 'stoked' by reading the comments and contributions made. This message will be temporary on this page
Eleanor Decima Fenton (Tuppence) - a pen picture
Laurie Ward's whakapapa says that Tuppence was born on 3 September 1926 and died in 1962. She was buried in the Waitara Cemetry in Plot 1507. She married Moki Patuwairua and they had five children: Dennis Tama, Teri Temoko, Laura Maurerangi, Rona Pikitu and Joanna Moana.
Anecdotes:
Aunty Tuppence featured in lots of photos at the Waitara Central School reunion display in 2000. She seemed to be in every possible sports team.
Mari's memories about her aunt: As for Tuppence, she tried to teach me at 10 years old to drive the old truck on the main road, and one time she took me to the Waitara flicks and we saw Hoppalong Cassidy and came back to the farm covered in fleas. Tuppence taught me the tune of ‘In the Mood’ on the old piano, you know it’s the only thing I can play. Tuppence also taught me to chop the heads off the chooks, pluck them and pull the innards out, she used to laugh at me. I think it was the faces I pulled.
I heard that Aunty was a gung-ho driver and perhaps drove with or for Chattertons of Waitara, a young woman driving 'artics'
She had an autograph book and coveted the signatures of New Zealand's wrestlers, including Lofty Blomfield, Earl McCready. There were some comments made by friends and siblings too.
Her eldest son, Dennis, was a candidate for the Te Hauaruru seat during the previous elections and campaigned very hard. He attended the campaign meeting at Eden Park, Auckland with wife Irene and son Adam and myself. Quite exciting to see politics in action and how the hecklers interjected and were rejected, that's when MP Gerry Brownlee did some pushing down the stairs.
A very good schoolfriend for Tuppence was Maraea Bailey who just lived around the corner on Pennington Road
Anecdotes:
Aunty Tuppence featured in lots of photos at the Waitara Central School reunion display in 2000. She seemed to be in every possible sports team.
Mari's memories about her aunt: As for Tuppence, she tried to teach me at 10 years old to drive the old truck on the main road, and one time she took me to the Waitara flicks and we saw Hoppalong Cassidy and came back to the farm covered in fleas. Tuppence taught me the tune of ‘In the Mood’ on the old piano, you know it’s the only thing I can play. Tuppence also taught me to chop the heads off the chooks, pluck them and pull the innards out, she used to laugh at me. I think it was the faces I pulled.
I heard that Aunty was a gung-ho driver and perhaps drove with or for Chattertons of Waitara, a young woman driving 'artics'
She had an autograph book and coveted the signatures of New Zealand's wrestlers, including Lofty Blomfield, Earl McCready. There were some comments made by friends and siblings too.
Her eldest son, Dennis, was a candidate for the Te Hauaruru seat during the previous elections and campaigned very hard. He attended the campaign meeting at Eden Park, Auckland with wife Irene and son Adam and myself. Quite exciting to see politics in action and how the hecklers interjected and were rejected, that's when MP Gerry Brownlee did some pushing down the stairs.
A very good schoolfriend for Tuppence was Maraea Bailey who just lived around the corner on Pennington Road
Thomas Michael Fenton (Ike) - a pen picture
Laurie Ward reports: Thomas Michael was born 8 April 1924, known as Ike, he died in December 1969 almost two weeks after his brother, Jack. (Ike's service was held in Waitara)
Ike married Allison MacRae of Tikorangi, born 30 September 1934, died in May 1980. They had four daughters, namely: Michelle Suzanne, Jacqueline Cheryl, Patricia Ann and Vicki Lee
.
Anecdotes:
Uncle Ike flew with Pierre Closterman. He flew in a helicopter, the first foray over the 39th parallel in Korea. Ike joined Hip in the NZ Army Coronation Contingent to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Uncle Ike showed me how blue vein cheese could be made with copper wire in his laboratory at the Waitara Road Dairy Factory. He drove taxis in Waitara having been also been employed as a inspector of lifestock in the Tirau area. He attended St Stephen's School, an Anglican school for Maori boys situated at Bombay, Auckland. Uncle Ike was a quiet man
In the book 'Wild Winds" by Paul Sorthaug, in the chapter called The Pace Intensifies (April 1945) on page 239 a photo of Uncle Ike has the caption: "Captain Ike Fenton, one of four pilots from 486 who had an inter-Service change after the war. He served in Korea with 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, and is also reputed to have flown spotting operations.
In 1953 he represented the Army at the Queen's coronation and received the Coronation Medal at Buckingham Palace. (Fenton family)
Continuing from the same source: " Ike, who was the squadron's second Maori member, likewise returned back home to his native Taranaki. In 1950 he applied for re-entry into the RNZAF, but before his acceptance came through he joined a NZ Artillery unit training at Waiouru, and left for Korea as an officer with 161 Battery, 16th Field Regiment, RNZA. When it was learned he had flying experience he was quickly grabbed for helicopter work, spotting for both the American and Commonwealth forces."
"In 1953", same source says, "as a Major, Ike represented the New Zealand Army at the Queen's coronation and was Captain of the New Zealand guard at Buckingham Palace. That and receiving his Coronation medal from the Queen on the lawns at Buckingham Palace, were very much the highlights of his career. He then returned to New Zealand before doing another tour of duty in Korea."
The chapter, "The Wild Winds', page 212 shows Ike as Flying Officer Fenton in the snow at Volkel, January 1945 along with other flight crew. Chapter Flak-filled Skies (January 1945-Narch 1945) page 207, photo with caption says: Kiwis from 122 wing in the snow at Volkel January 1945 with Ike in front row, third from the left.
"In Defence of London (June 1944-September 1944) page 167, shows a photo of people 'Relaxing in the sun at Byways - another bed and breakfast house frequented by the squadron during time-off while on the marshes.' Ike is sitting first left in the accompanying photo wearing aviator glasses.
During WWII, with 486 Squadron, he flew the following aircraft: Tiger Moth, Harvard Yale, Master I and II, Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest. The latter was in Operations, the former in training.
He served in the following theatres of WWII: England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Trained in Canada.
Awarded the following medals and campaign stars: 1939-45 Star (Air Force), France & Germany star, Defence Medal (England), War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal; Korea Medal, UN Service Medal with Korea Clasp, Commonwealth Korea Medal, Coronation Medal.
Anecdote: I work with the greatgranddaughter of Andrew Petersen who lived down the junction of Pennington and Rona Road, and she spoke with her aunt, Nola, who had a childhood crush on Uncle Ike, but he was known as Tom.
Ike married Allison MacRae of Tikorangi, born 30 September 1934, died in May 1980. They had four daughters, namely: Michelle Suzanne, Jacqueline Cheryl, Patricia Ann and Vicki Lee
.
Anecdotes:
Uncle Ike flew with Pierre Closterman. He flew in a helicopter, the first foray over the 39th parallel in Korea. Ike joined Hip in the NZ Army Coronation Contingent to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Uncle Ike showed me how blue vein cheese could be made with copper wire in his laboratory at the Waitara Road Dairy Factory. He drove taxis in Waitara having been also been employed as a inspector of lifestock in the Tirau area. He attended St Stephen's School, an Anglican school for Maori boys situated at Bombay, Auckland. Uncle Ike was a quiet man
In the book 'Wild Winds" by Paul Sorthaug, in the chapter called The Pace Intensifies (April 1945) on page 239 a photo of Uncle Ike has the caption: "Captain Ike Fenton, one of four pilots from 486 who had an inter-Service change after the war. He served in Korea with 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, and is also reputed to have flown spotting operations.
In 1953 he represented the Army at the Queen's coronation and received the Coronation Medal at Buckingham Palace. (Fenton family)
Continuing from the same source: " Ike, who was the squadron's second Maori member, likewise returned back home to his native Taranaki. In 1950 he applied for re-entry into the RNZAF, but before his acceptance came through he joined a NZ Artillery unit training at Waiouru, and left for Korea as an officer with 161 Battery, 16th Field Regiment, RNZA. When it was learned he had flying experience he was quickly grabbed for helicopter work, spotting for both the American and Commonwealth forces."
"In 1953", same source says, "as a Major, Ike represented the New Zealand Army at the Queen's coronation and was Captain of the New Zealand guard at Buckingham Palace. That and receiving his Coronation medal from the Queen on the lawns at Buckingham Palace, were very much the highlights of his career. He then returned to New Zealand before doing another tour of duty in Korea."
The chapter, "The Wild Winds', page 212 shows Ike as Flying Officer Fenton in the snow at Volkel, January 1945 along with other flight crew. Chapter Flak-filled Skies (January 1945-Narch 1945) page 207, photo with caption says: Kiwis from 122 wing in the snow at Volkel January 1945 with Ike in front row, third from the left.
"In Defence of London (June 1944-September 1944) page 167, shows a photo of people 'Relaxing in the sun at Byways - another bed and breakfast house frequented by the squadron during time-off while on the marshes.' Ike is sitting first left in the accompanying photo wearing aviator glasses.
During WWII, with 486 Squadron, he flew the following aircraft: Tiger Moth, Harvard Yale, Master I and II, Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest. The latter was in Operations, the former in training.
He served in the following theatres of WWII: England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Trained in Canada.
Awarded the following medals and campaign stars: 1939-45 Star (Air Force), France & Germany star, Defence Medal (England), War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal; Korea Medal, UN Service Medal with Korea Clasp, Commonwealth Korea Medal, Coronation Medal.
Anecdote: I work with the greatgranddaughter of Andrew Petersen who lived down the junction of Pennington and Rona Road, and she spoke with her aunt, Nola, who had a childhood crush on Uncle Ike, but he was known as Tom.
Darryn J Fenton - a pen picture
In the early 1970's Mona visited the Fortune Teller's tent where she was told that she would have a fourth child. On 11 June 1975, Darryn was born to Val-Jane at the Waitara Maternity Annexe, one of the last of his generation to be born at the 'home' synonymous with Sister Adlam, Hip's first cousin
.
Anecdotes:
As Darryn continued through his education at Waitara Central School the wallpapered bedroom walls were smothered with his educational achievements. These awards did not make much of an impression on him., they just came naturally to him.
What mattered more to the young Darryn was Watties Baked Beans, lots of baked beans, plenty of baked beans, and only baked beans, please. At 8 years he wrote a challenging story about the invasion of Waitara from the sea and it was well-written. No matter what this young soldier did to save the town, when a forced evacuation had to occur, he made sure that his truck was filled with baked beans and the much needed can opener. Aged 11 years, Darryn was fortunate to travel Europe for one month with Mum and then a three month trip touring the USA, Their adventures included a stopover in Japan and a fuel stop in Anchorage, Alaska.
He did two years full-time study at Unitec in Auckland, followed by three years work-experience full-time employment with the BecaCarter Group in Auckland before attained the NZ Certificate in Civil Engineering. The NZCE qualification gave him one year's exemption for the four year Degree in Civil Engineering at Canterbury University and he graduated in Easter 2001 and was employed again by the Beca Carter Group. He was in a unique position as having been 'both sides of the employment fence, from chainman to a graduate engineeer.
Darryn gained two Charles Bailey Scholarships awarded by the Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation for his university studies and gave a presentation of the 2002 AGM of the PKW, one of four invited guest speakers celebrating 25 years of the Incorporation's existence.
He spent much of his teenage years affixed to his motorbikes and gained the nickname of Petrolhead. He won places in the Auckland Motorbike Trials Team, burning up the countryside. He intends burning up the turf in the 2003 season.
His tastes range from Atomic Cafe products through to 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Absolut! and Julie.
.
Anecdotes:
As Darryn continued through his education at Waitara Central School the wallpapered bedroom walls were smothered with his educational achievements. These awards did not make much of an impression on him., they just came naturally to him.
What mattered more to the young Darryn was Watties Baked Beans, lots of baked beans, plenty of baked beans, and only baked beans, please. At 8 years he wrote a challenging story about the invasion of Waitara from the sea and it was well-written. No matter what this young soldier did to save the town, when a forced evacuation had to occur, he made sure that his truck was filled with baked beans and the much needed can opener. Aged 11 years, Darryn was fortunate to travel Europe for one month with Mum and then a three month trip touring the USA, Their adventures included a stopover in Japan and a fuel stop in Anchorage, Alaska.
He did two years full-time study at Unitec in Auckland, followed by three years work-experience full-time employment with the BecaCarter Group in Auckland before attained the NZ Certificate in Civil Engineering. The NZCE qualification gave him one year's exemption for the four year Degree in Civil Engineering at Canterbury University and he graduated in Easter 2001 and was employed again by the Beca Carter Group. He was in a unique position as having been 'both sides of the employment fence, from chainman to a graduate engineeer.
Darryn gained two Charles Bailey Scholarships awarded by the Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation for his university studies and gave a presentation of the 2002 AGM of the PKW, one of four invited guest speakers celebrating 25 years of the Incorporation's existence.
He spent much of his teenage years affixed to his motorbikes and gained the nickname of Petrolhead. He won places in the Auckland Motorbike Trials Team, burning up the countryside. He intends burning up the turf in the 2003 season.
His tastes range from Atomic Cafe products through to 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Absolut! and Julie.
Val-Jane - a pen picture
Val-Jane was born on 4 November 1957 at Motootua Hospital, Apia, Western Samoa. Educated in Waitara at Central School, Waitara High School, and began her tertiary studies at the Western Institute of Technology and gained her degree in applied information systems. Her first born, Darryn, gained his degree in Civil Engineering at Canterbury. She married Malcolm Lodge and they had three children, Keegan Te Hera, Courteney Jane and Fraser Fenton.
Swimming was one of Val's interests and she got to do well in local competition and as high as the Age Group competitions which were a nation-wide level of ability. Badminton, as an adult, gave her ranking in the province.
Swimming was one of Val's interests and she got to do well in local competition and as high as the Age Group competitions which were a nation-wide level of ability. Badminton, as an adult, gave her ranking in the province.
Roger A Fenton - a pen picture
Born 8 March 1951 in Waitara, married to Patricia Bright in Australia. Later married to Sherrie Price in USA, mother of their son Rangi.
Raised in Waitara, his primary education via Correspondence School sent to Western Samoa and admission to Waitara Central school on 20 July 1957, and approximately in March 1959 when his return to permanent domicile at 27 Blake Street, Waitara.
His employers at Rosemead in 2003
Anecdotes:Sportsman who excelled at school level and inter-school level at swimming, diving, uneven-parallel bars, soccer. He won the consecutive titles of Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cross-country champion at Waitara High School.
He worked very hard to attain University Entrance and then passed the Scholastic Aptitude Tests for entry into an American university, at a time when there were not scholarships available. Dad worked crazy hours to pay for his tuition and housing, etc.
Achieved representation at amateur wrestling at the Sydney Games in 1966? gaining a silver medal, City of Sydney and next year competed with the Taranaki team at the
Australian Championships
Achieved NZ representation at amateur wrestling in the inaugural Hands-Across-the-Sea exchange with Oregon State University where he later made the university team
Achieved Taranaki titles as he entered various divisions. Later gained NZ titles. Attended the trials for the Commonwealth Games Christchurch in 1974. Politics entered the foray. He won the division but a mature wrestler gained the representation and Roger returned to the USA.
Attained degree in Bachelor of Science (Physical Education) at OSU Taught on a year-exchange program set up between USA and Australia at Geelong High School in 1976 and married Patty.
Gained a degree in Electronic Engineering and worked for Southern Edison, California.
Married Sherrie Price, who is working hard to gain certification in aviation airframes.
Son, Rangi, was named after a mentor of Roger's, Rangi Martin of Waitara.
Back to his youthful years, Roger had an agreement with Waitara shopkeeper Alan Ellis. Assemble and paint and display model aircraft in the Quay Street shop, later moved around by Choc Eriwata's shop and get some models as a payment.
Along with Peter Priest, they made the pah lawns look beautiful as they were the mower boys during the late 1960's.
Raised in Waitara, his primary education via Correspondence School sent to Western Samoa and admission to Waitara Central school on 20 July 1957, and approximately in March 1959 when his return to permanent domicile at 27 Blake Street, Waitara.
His employers at Rosemead in 2003
Anecdotes:Sportsman who excelled at school level and inter-school level at swimming, diving, uneven-parallel bars, soccer. He won the consecutive titles of Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cross-country champion at Waitara High School.
He worked very hard to attain University Entrance and then passed the Scholastic Aptitude Tests for entry into an American university, at a time when there were not scholarships available. Dad worked crazy hours to pay for his tuition and housing, etc.
Achieved representation at amateur wrestling at the Sydney Games in 1966? gaining a silver medal, City of Sydney and next year competed with the Taranaki team at the
Australian Championships
Achieved NZ representation at amateur wrestling in the inaugural Hands-Across-the-Sea exchange with Oregon State University where he later made the university team
Achieved Taranaki titles as he entered various divisions. Later gained NZ titles. Attended the trials for the Commonwealth Games Christchurch in 1974. Politics entered the foray. He won the division but a mature wrestler gained the representation and Roger returned to the USA.
Attained degree in Bachelor of Science (Physical Education) at OSU Taught on a year-exchange program set up between USA and Australia at Geelong High School in 1976 and married Patty.
Gained a degree in Electronic Engineering and worked for Southern Edison, California.
Married Sherrie Price, who is working hard to gain certification in aviation airframes.
Son, Rangi, was named after a mentor of Roger's, Rangi Martin of Waitara.
Back to his youthful years, Roger had an agreement with Waitara shopkeeper Alan Ellis. Assemble and paint and display model aircraft in the Quay Street shop, later moved around by Choc Eriwata's shop and get some models as a payment.
Along with Peter Priest, they made the pah lawns look beautiful as they were the mower boys during the late 1960's.
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