FATHER OF NORTH SHORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 26

FATHER OF NORTH SHORE

HON. E. W. ALISON, IN WHOSE HONOUR CLOCK HAS BEEN ERECTED, HAS LIVED FOR 70 YEARS AT DEVONPORT . .

(Written for THE SUN by T. WALSH.)

EVONPORT is combining sentiment and utility in the provision of a monument to one of its most prominent citizens, the Hon. E. W.

Alison, in whose honour a clock has been erected. A lofty and gracefully tapering column carries four clock dials and is an ornament, standing at the gateway to the North. Mr. E. W. Alison, more generally known by his two initials, -can claim more than 70 years’ residence at the North Shore; his father, a yacht and boat builder, having moved his family in 1854 to the “suburban farm at North Shore,” to use the description given. at the auction of the land. Their house was the. first wooden building at Devonport. Ml'. Alison, sen., had carried on business in old Mechanics Bay from 1849. His son’s first recollections of the North Shore are of ti-tree, fern and scrub-covered common over which a dozen families farmed. Roads were represented by a few cattle tracks through the scrub, while the only route to the far North was along the sea beaches of the East Coast. Mr. Alison’s mother was a descendant of sterling Scottish stock; a Cameron of the clan Lochiel. The Alison home was near the only landing-place at the Shore. Consequently the family’s boat was requisitioned by all those whose business took them to the city, the kindly and ever ready “cup of tea and a bite,” and often a night’s lodging, cheered many a traveller making the best of his way on foot to areas farther afield. On Sundays, when opportunity offered, church was held in the “front” room, attended by most of the nearby families. Among the preachers in that humble chapel were two of New Zealand’s most famous bishops, Selwyn and Patteson, splendid specimens of manhood; God-fearing and zealous. They used to row across to Devonport from the mission station at Kohimarama, and Mr. Alison can remember waiting on the beach for them to arrive, and how he used to gaze with awe at the gaitered visitors. Young Ewen attended the first school at Devonport. Each scholar had to bring a shilling on Monday morning. At 12 years of age he changed school for the compositor’s bench in a newspaper office, where the shy Shore lad soon became a fast typesetter, eventually heating, in an open contest, Alan Wright, the champion compositor of the time, who was later shot as he left the New York “Herald” office early one morning. The monotony of picking type and the flare given to imagination by the setting up of headlines such as “Fortnight’s Gold Production,” “Half a Ton of Gold,” led to Ewen joining a party of six who took up a claim near the old Alburnia mine. Twelve months’ “unsuccess” in mining saw him return to Devonport and open business, in which he was joined, six months later, by his elder brother, Alex/ Both brothers were active in the few sports then available and both dreamed of the day when their native Shore would develop as had the city opposite. Both loyally sought to promote that end. Alex, followed the paternal calling and learned to build boats. When only 16 years old he was an expert in the handling of small craft. With a boat

that he had already built he carried on the cross-harbour ferry when the Government service lapsed owing to the wreck of the steamer. Years later, in ISSO, Bwen organised the Devonport Steam Ferry Co., Ltd., in opposition to the Auckland and North Shore Ferry Co., and subsequently acquired that company’s assets. As chairman of the new company Mr. Alison advocated a liberal policy, and under his capable administration the company prospered; six years later his brother Alex, was appointed general manager and the business continued to flourish. Ewen was early interested in polics and at the age of 23 years was

elected a member ot tlie Waitemata County Council. Since then he has been, in turn, borough councillor and Mayor of Devonport (each office for long terms) ; Mayor of Takapuna, member, with record length of service, of the Auckland Harbour Board, six years member of Parliament for Waitemata, and a member of the Upper House. He was among the first batch of New Zealand-born men tew make their way into public office. His has been an interesting and varied career, giving him a wide influence in many public affairs and an Intimate knowledge of public men from the Pro-Consul Grey onwards. Apart from politics, Mr. E. W. Alison has been active in a number of commercial enterprises. In addition to organising, against bitter opposition, the ferry company that has been a great factor in developing the four marine boroughs, he advocated and introduced one of the first motorbus services in the Dominion and now is chairman and managing director of the North Shore Transport Co., one of the finest and best-managed motor services south of the Line. Subsidiary i shipping lines, piloting and towing services, coalmining, all owe him much. A keen sportsman from his youth—he was a rider in horse races on the beaches—-he promoted and has for over 40 years directed the Takapuna Jockey Club. Regattas, carnivals, athletics are all indebted to him for ready assistance. The protection of the beauty of the island of Rangitoto by making it a domain was his scheme and the Devonport Borough took the responsibility, when no other body would, of looking after the sentinel of the harbour. The water supply from the lake—of outstanding importance to the whole North Shore —was propounded by Mr. Alison when councillor and Mayor. Despite intense opposition on the score that the water was not suited for domestic use and

that the scheme was mad, he carried it to success at a cost below the estimated one, and after 35 years it still remains the finest scheme of its kind about Auckland —a tribute to vision and ability to comprehend the necessities of the future.