More Info →R.S.Stewart

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A Triple Tragedy

In early1943 the Palmer family, Bill, Lil, Raymond, and baby Gary
Departed Nelson and relocated to Levin, the breadwinner having secured the
Abattoir night watchman’s job. To augment his wage the family head did a
Bi-weekly rural delivery round for George Mann’s butchery.

At that time the Napier-Wellington passenger express daily passed through
Levin mid-afternoon and on Monday 24th. May 1943 wife Lil and the couple’s
Middle son accompanied Bill on his parcel run. With deliveries completed
The trio were returning to the Oxford Street shop via the Queen Street crossing
Where in those days a wig-wag warning system operated.

As many older readers will recall the incline to the railway was much steeper
then. The delivery vehicle was a Model A Ford, the forerunner of the glassed in
Sedan series and the fuel system of this was a gravity fed one. The car must
Have been low in benzine as it climbed the incline and the engine sucked air,
Spluttered and stopped, straddling the lines. Bill tried desperately to start the car’s engine as the train sped south at 2.25 p.m. The engine driver seeing the car across the tracks immediately applied the brakes
And blew the loco’s steam whistle but the train’s momentum carried it onward. Bill
Climbed from the vehicle and was endeavouring to push it free when the locomotive struck the Ford mid center killing both passengers. So great was the impact the car’s body
Was torn from its chassis, the wreckage ending up several chains from the impact point.

Critically injured Bill was rushed to Palmerston North Hospital but died that night.
The victims were aged thirty-seven, thirty-five, and ten and are buried in the Mako Mako
Road Cemetery.


Kita

Hector MacDonald’s forebears were pioneer settlers to the Horowhenua District
and the exploits of this well known local “character” was often the talk of the town.
To Maori friends Hector was known as Kita.

Once to prove a point to mates he rode a hack into the Public Bar of the Grand
Hotel. Then in the late 1950’s he caused quite a stir with shop owners when he drove
a mob of cattle through the business center of Levin. The animals were nervous traveling in the built up area and showed this by leaving a trail of their dung all along Oxford Street.

Not long after this episode Hector was heading home from up North and called into the
Gretna Hotel at Tihare to quench his thirst. Whilst there a fellow drinker enquired whether anyone present was travelling south. When Hector indicated he was, the stranger asked if he might join him. Hector said he would be delighted with company.

On finishing their drinks the pair departed the bar and headed south. After walking several chains from the pub the man enquired, “Where have you parked your car mate?”. “Car?” Hector replied, “I don’t have one. I’m hitch-hiking back to Levin”.


1940’s Paperboy

I acquired Bob Disher’s Levin Daily Chronicle round in 1944; paperboys
met at Kerslake & Billens premises at 3.30 p.m. schooldays; and at 12.30 p.m.
Saturdays.

It was wartime so restrictions were in force, this limiting the paper size.
First arrivals at work went to the printing room and uplifted two bundles of 24x18
inch printed sheets each being four paper pages. These were taken to a nearby room
which had a large trestle table. The stack of main pages were broken into four smaller
ones and placed face down at the table’s corners whereas the second lot containing
inside leaves were halved and placed adjacent the corner heaps.

Two paperboys stood at the table’s rear and another pair were positioned opposite,
each boy assembled and folded his own quota.
Firstly he pulled a sheet from the center pile onto the pages before him, neatly
folding these in half and creasing them by sliding his free hand along the fold,
the paper was folded and creased twice again, then it was ready for delivery.. Handling freshly printed pages our hands became grubby, putting together the edition. Once folding was done the papers were put into double-pouched paperbags which were slung over the bike’s bar and the paperboy was off delivering.
My initial chore was preparing eighteen papers which were posted to clients.
These were individually rolled in a five inch wide pre-addressed and postage franked wrap that was pasted secure. On completion, these were bundled up and bound with twine, this package being deposited at the Post Office as I commenced my round.

The paperboys were: Pat Cameron, Pat McMinn, Brian Waldron, John Salmons, plus others forgotten.
My delivery started at Wisteria Private Hotel, on the south corner of Exeter and
Oxford Streets. This two storeyed building was well back from its Oxford Street entrance and once after rain when turning into the bitumen driveway, my bike flipped under me and I ended up on the pavement. Luckily only the handlebars were twisted and needed straightening.

Then along the business area’s eastern side delivering papers en route, Thornley’s menswear being one.
Into Stuckey Street, Weraroa Road heading south, doing Saxton, McKenzie, and Keepa
Streets, Hokio Beach Road westwards to Everton’s. I backtracked to Bruce Road delivering in Boulton and Buller Roads my round taking me almost to the main road, again backtracking to C.D. Farm Road including Whelans. Then home the abattoir residence.

My round was a slightly over five miles, mainly metal surfaced, potholed, and corrugated rural roads. Once when almost home, my bike began behaving strangely, alighting I found the bar to the pedal crank had snapped near the steering housing. It cost a weeks pay to have that break brazed at Ken Douglas’s workshop then at the corner of Bath and Chamberlain Streets.

Quarterly subscriptions cost eight shillings (80c) and were collected from (mainly) country customers during a Saturday’s delivery. Occasionally tips were received whilst collecting dues. Our pay sixty odd years ago was 12/6d ($1.25) per week, plus a free paper.


G. I. Tales

In late 1942 the Americans arrived in this country and having camps at McKay’s Crossing and Foxton Race Course it was inevitable G. I.’s would spend leave in our town.
It wasn’t long before schoolmates with older female siblings said their sisters had American boyfriends and even our teacher, “Was going out with a Yank”.
One Levin Primary School playtime we observed a long double-column of fully equipped soldiers heading northwards, these troops were route marching back to thei Foxton base. Not long after word circulated around school there was a large body of Marines at Prouse’s Bush so after lessons us lads with bikes hurried to Weraroa to see the soldiers who were awaiting transport back to camp.

Most men were just laying about relaxing and talking while a few were in groups playing polka. What intrigued us onlookers was their playing cards which were like ours except for the centerpieces which displayed three views(from ground, approaching and silhouette) of friendly and enemy aircraft. What amazed us were the amounts of new one pound ($2) notes being played for.
Whilst talking to these soldiers one asked whether there was anywhere handy that sodas and cookies could be bought. I offered to cycle to Magnet Bakery and purchased two large bottles of fizzy drink, some iced buns and Sally Luns. The refreshments plus change from the one pound ($2) note was delivered to the soldier who said, ”Here’s a tip Sonny” and handed me all the 12/6d. ($1.25) change. This was a huge amount for a ten year old! .

Not long afterwards word spread around town that on Friday night(4th June 1943) the central span of the trestle bridge over the Manawatu River at Whirokino had collapsed whilst G. I.’s in a jeep were crossing. This major catastrophe was caused through flood waters scouring out the bridge’s central foundation piles. This structure was only four years old.

When marines were stationed at McKays Crossing a gang of Horowhenua Electric Power Board linesmen were erecting a line nearby. Some pioneers amongst the soldiers wandered over to where the crew were working to observe how New Zealanders went about the task.
The groups struck up a conversation the Yanks saying they knew a quicker method of erecting poles and were only tossed to show how this was accomplished and the Kiwi’s agreed to be shown.
Some Americans returned to camp and soon returned with gear. The linesmen were instructed to position a pole where it was required and brace it with guy ropes. The pioneers secured a part stick of dynamite to the pole’s base positioning the charge so it would implode and drive the pole into the ground. Then they electrically detonated the explosive but had miscalculated the charge for the ground was soft and the blast was so severe the Australian hardwood pole almost disappeared into the peat. It took the Yanks a few more attempts to get the quantity of dynamite correct, thus showing the Kiwi’s how they did things back home.


Car Racing Track

The first meet at Levin motor racing track, a modified version of the famous Brands Hatch course, was in 1956. This circuit was anti-clockwise and it’s length originally 1.1 miles. Viewed from the air this track closely resembled a pair of goggles Formula One drivers of that era wore.
In its heyday, enthusiasts in thousands turned up to the racing, traveling by bus, train, and car to see four hours of motor sports.

Not long after the track opened my Dad was engaged in fencing on the horse race course when several saloon cars arrived at the car track to practice so he wandered over to look at them. Whilst viewing the machines a driver asked Dad if he would like to go for a ride with him. He readily agreed. It took no time to get around the track, this journey being the fastest Dad had ever traveled in a car and he was mightily pleased the driver didn’t suggest a second circuit.

We lived in Hokio Beach Road, the southern entrance to the meet at the time. On race day our two oldest sons were out bright and early, pads and pencils in hand to record racing car numbers as they passed.
One day as cars flowed by heading to the venue entrance a vehicle pulled to the roadside just past our house and a couple of young men alighted, went to the car boot and clambered inside. Non- payers I thought as the vehicle pulled out into the queue again.
The sequel to this incident was revealed in the Chronicle the following week.

Someone had seen what was happening and tipped off the gatekeepers who admitted the car charging was visable. As the vehicle headed to the parking area it was followed by an official who kept it under observation. That day was hot and the perspiring and red-faced pair soon emerged, were confronted - and paid up.

On race days we usually had afternoon tea on the front terrace of our house as at about 3;00p.m. the racing concluded and patrons headed home.
To ensure race traffic merged smoothly and quickly into the Main Road flow traffic officers were on point duty at the Hokio Beach and Mako Mako Road intersections but even so periodically there were slight delays for those leaving the races.
One afternoon while watching the passing cars we observed a friend going home. Bob’s side window was wound down and on seeing us he confidently gave a big cheeky grin and waved. In that split second distraction the traffic ahead was pulling up due to a holdup at the Main Road intersection and for a moment we thought there was going to be a pile up but fortunately our friend braked hard and stopped in time and all was well.


Remember When

Most town folk walked or cycled to work, their children doing likewise going to Levin or St Joseph’s schools, then the towns only primary schools.

“Old Mrs Patu Watson” resided at the rear of the dilapidated shop opposite Levin School. Access to her accommodation was via steps leading up from the gravel pit. There stood a plum tree nearby and nobody dared go near this for fear of the old lady. It was rumoured amongst pupils that in her youth she had tasted piccaninny.

The borough having gas works in Cambridge Street, it’s manager Alf Kennerley icing cakes with intricate decorations for a hobby.

Milk costing four pence a pint, vendor (Charlie Palmer) using a pint measure when transferring from his large can into your billy.

Regent Picture Theatre having a female manageress (Jean Hudson) the current and future screenings being displayed on the large green hoarding between the Arcadia Hotel and (I think) Giles’s London Pie Shop.

The present film having a large “NOW SHOWING’ sticker displayed across it and future showings having ‘COMING’ pasted on them.

Bell’s theatre shop where one stocked up with nibbles prior to attending the movie. During the intermission a white-coated lad (Roy Spooner) walking the aisle with a tray selling ice creams and confectionary items to patrons.

Biking home after pictures on a dark Friday night and hearing the clip-clop of the horse-drawn night soil cart in a nearby street. Or coming upon this vehicle unexpectingly, holding your breath and peddling furiously to get away from the offensive odour.

When Levin had three greengrocers, Young’s (Peter and Rosie); Leong’s where three young sisters served; and Wong Shee’s this latter having an extra “e” in “green” in the sign writing on the shop’s veranda fascia.

Salvation Army’s Major Elsie Ward driving her immaculately kept Model T Ford about town.

Adam’s Bruce Tearooms where two small ice-creams could be purchased for a penny, this same applying for three penny ones. Then there were mouth watering Queen Anne Chocolates sold at this shop

Revellers congregating at the Post Office to see in the New Year. The Horowhenua Highland Pipe Band arriving just prior to midnight to liven up the atmosphere. When this venue became dangerous because of through traffic the site was relocated around the corner to in front of the Power Board building in Queen Street.
Two cordial factories, Lester’s in Kent Street and O’Connor’s in Oxford Street.

The aroma of freshly baked bread when passing Weraroa’s Magnet Bakery or Phelp’s Oxford Street premises.

These are a few of my reminisces of growing up in Levin during the 1940’s and 50’s - now only memories.

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Identification

Date

2006