ALBERT PARK HUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 10

ALBERT PARK HUT.

FIRST TELEGRAPH OFFICE.

VETERAN OPERATOR'S STORY

WORK DURING WAIKATO WAR.

The first telegraph office in Auckland was a one-roomed hut at the Albert Barracks. The buildings disappeared long ago, the old scoria wall was demolished, and a pretty park now occupies the site where the British troops were located. The story of Auckland's first telegraph office was related by the late Mr. Harry Hemus, who died this week. Born in Birmingham, Mr. Hemus came with his parents to Auckland in the ship Ironside, in 1864, when about eleven years of age. "Soon after we landed from lighters," said Mr. Hemus, "I started work in the 'Southern Cross' office. I remained there a couple of years, and then got a job at the military telegraph office. It was what is known as a closed line, being used exclusively for military purposes. Corporal Alexander Brodie, ■ of the Engineers, was sent out from in 1863 by the British Government to work the telegraph in Auckland. Incidentally, Mr. Brodie was afterwards Mayor of the Thames, and was known as 'the sturdy beggar' because of his frequent visits to Wellington to ask for grants from the Government. At first the telegraph line only ran as far as Drurv, but as our troops moved forward it was extended until at last Alexandra (now Pironga) was reached. Civilian Telegraphist. "When the Provincial Government took over the telegraph service in Auckland the office was removed from the hut in Albert Park to the old wooden building still standing alongside the Grand Hotel in Princes Street. In those days it was called the Masonic Hotel. Mr. James Doull was the first civilian appointed officer in charge of the telegraph here. However, he had a soldier as an assistant for some time. I was there two years as messenger. In the second twelve months I managed to pick up telegraphy. I was then about fifteen years of age. When the operator found I could use the instrument he let me do so frequently, which helped to perfect me in my work. After the seat of Government was removed to Wellington, an inspector, Mr. Alfred Sheath, was sent io Auckland t,o see about taking charge

of the telegraph office here. They were much further ahead with telegraph extension in the South than we were in Auckland. Mr. Doull left to take up a very good position in Australia, and Mr. Randall Lusher was transferred from the office at Queen's Redoubt to Auckland. A man to relieve was wanted, Mr. Sheath saw me acting as a full-fledged operator on a messenger's screw, and he wrote to Wellington asking for a relieving man to he appointed. In Auckland we were still using the Henley single needle system, and there was no one down South who knew that process, so they had no man to send. Mr. Sheath then recommended that I should be appointed, and received the following answer from Mr. Eliot, secretary: 'The Hon. Telegraph Commissioner regrets that it is contrary to the interests of the service to promote messengers.'" "I was so disgusted that I promptly gave notice, and quickly got another billet. It was not many months before Mr. Sheath asked the firm to spare me to take charge of the telegraph office at night. I refused to go back, but later I was advised to take the oiler, so I returned to the telegraph and remained at it for 37 years. There was some native unrest at the time, and Jim Hanna was on the premises at night to rouse me when there was a call. I used to take dog watch with him. Mr. Hanna was afterwards manager of the Assets Board. Dr. Daniel Pollen was then agent for the Government, especially for native affairs. A little later I was appointed assistant clerk in charge; what would now be called an operator. My work included the money-order and the Savings Bank department, as well as doing telegraph work. Mr. Livingstone, who was organist at old St. Paul's Church, was my chief. Next I was taught to make up the mail by the late Mr. W. Gray. The chief postmaster at that time was Mr. Corbett, and the office was perched on the section at the corner by the Museum. In Te Kooti's Time. "In December, 1869, I fared forth to be the architect of my own mistakes as a relieving officer. My first' station was at Cambridge. There were about 1000 men there. Te Kooti was at Matamata at the time, and only accessible to Mr. J. C. Firth, who urged him not to kill women and childr.en if there was any more fighting. The thousand men were mostly members of the Armed Constabulary under Commissioner St. John Brannigan. Colonel Lyon was also there and Major Jackson with some of his Forest Rangers. I had a militia guard at my ollice. He used to watch the instrument while I slept and wake me if there was a call."