OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1942, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

IN THE EARLY DAYS (To the Editor.) Sir,—The experiences of the late Mrs Murray Jackson, published in the “Times-Age” made most interesting reading. Ludlam’s gardens were wellknown for the beautiful trees and plants growing there. The earthquake Mrs Jackson mentioned, in 1855, occurred when I was two years old. My father’s store was on Lambton Quay, near Luxford’s butcher shop (now Gear’s) and when the earthquake took place all residents on the beach made for The Terrace. My brother Joe had to carry me up Bolton Street, where we lived in a tent for a fortnight. The earthquake brought down all on the shelves in the shop. Two hundredweight sacks of flour were thrown down and the tidal wave went through the building and destroyed all the flour on the floor. Mrs Murray Jackson mentions Mr J. G. Cox. Well, Sir, he kept a store on one side of what was known as Mason’s Steps (now Mee’s Corner, Lambton Quay). Mason’s Steps were so named because Mr Mason, an ironmonger and iron founder, had a shop on one corner and Cox’s shop was on the other. When Cox moved to Featherston, another Mason leased the premises and had a draper’s business there. (One of the sons was afterward a well-known chemist in Masterton for many years). I well recalled “Ike” as he was called, driving over the Rimutakas and also Mr Jas Macara, who afterwards took over Hastwell’s coaches. Both these drivers were wonderful “whips,” and drove down the Hill with a free rein, going round the corners of the road with great confidence. I came over with both of them. The Thoms mentioned, I think, was a person who was called “The Wild Irishman.” Pakuratahi Hotel was kept, in my time, by a well-known Featherston man. The Pakuratahi Hotel was kept by a Mr Hodder. He married a Miss Mason, whose father left Wellington and resided in the Wairarapa. The Wairarapa, I was told, means shining water, the name of the Lake at Featherston. When residing in Masterton in 188283, I was on the “Wairarapa Daily” (now the “Times-Age,”) it was owned by Messrs Payton, Roydhouse and McKenzie. I bought a property in Cole Street. After returning to' Wellington, a general election took place, and some 20 of us who had dual votes went up to vote for Mr Beetham. This was the last time dual voting was allowed, and I sold my property there shortly afterwards. —I am, etc., MARK MAXTON, J.P. Greytown, February 5.