A large crowd gathered at the Te Awamutu train station to farewell their popular stationmaster, Mr J T Long, who was moving on to Feilding. As the train moved out three hearty cheers were given for Mr…
A large crowd gathered at the Te Awamutu train station to farewell their popular stationmaster, Mr J T Long, who was moving on to Feilding. As the train moved out three hearty cheers were given for Mr…
Anna Bukowsky was a spritely 69-year-old, up early on an April morning in 1906. As the day began at the family farm at Ōhaupō her son left for the creamery and Anna told daughter, Bertha,…
If disaster struck, what would you take with you? As part of my preparation to go to the Canary Islands in a few months to work in an area that was decimated by lava flows…
I clearly remember my last night before I moved out of home to Hamilton for the start of my university education. I was terrified and struggled to get to sleep. Having lived in the same…
Some years ago I attended a history conference in Wellington. I wasn’t and still am not a historian, but I have always enjoyed reading history and biographies. The keynote speaker was a Professor of History…
A ferocious ferret found its way into the Pirongia hotel, having escaped its owner. It promptly attacked Mrs Finch, landlady, who ran into a room and perched upon a chair for safety. The ferret then…
Police had a busy week last week – here’s how it went day by day. Monday – police attended a ram raid in Cambridge and six family harm incidents with one of them resulting in…
John Rochfort ate his evening meal with great relish at the Star Hotel, Kihikihi. It was early March 1893 and the 60-year-old Government surveyor had come into the township a few days previously for fresh…
“Volcano spewing smoke” is my least favourite volcano headline phrase. Why? While the term ‘spewing’ is not my favourite, volcanoes just do not emit smoke (excluding when hot volcanic rocks and lava flows set things…
We are a family of animal lovers. Over the years our children have had pet rats, pet mice (not my favourite), rabbits, a dog, cats and chickens. I have written before about our Maine Coon…
