BIRTH OF TE PUKE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIX, Issue 10614, 11 July 1931, Page 2

BIRTH OF TE PUKE.

EMILY DAYS OF THE SETTLEMENT.

In the course of our daily pilgrimage through the flies of the Bay of Plenty Times of half a century ago, it is interesting to note the many signs of the birth of a new town. We have previously given extracts referring to the arrival of the first settlers by the Lady Jocelyn, and their subsequent settlement on their holdings at Te Puke, and it might not be out of place to reproduce some of the business announcements appearing in the Bay of Plenty Times during June 1881. The first is a "Notice to Te Puke Settlers —David Lundon, Timber Merchant and Builder, Devonport Road, Taurauga—-Is prepared to supply all kinds of building material, namely, timber of all kinds and classes. Shingles, House Blocks. Doors. Sashes, Mouldings. Bricks. Lime, etc., etc. Also —framed and packed ready for shipment—HOUSES OF ALL SIZES. Plans. Specifications and all information given by the undersigned to intending purchasers gratis—DAVlD LONDON.” We wonder if any of those houses exist in Te Puke to-day!

Then we have an announcement of ''BARCLAY AND GALBRAITH. To Puke Pioneer Store. Groceries, Bread. Hardware. Implements, Soft Goods, Fencing Wire. Horse Feed and Grass and Clover Seeds. Agents for the South British Insurance Company, and Hesketh and Aitken. Seeds and Manures. Auckland. We are prepared to give estimates for Timber or the erection of Houses, Clearing of Laud, and Fencing. The following newspapers can lie obtained at our store, viz.. The Bay of Plenty Times, Auckland Herald (daily and weekly) and Auckland Star.” Then we find the advertisement of "CHAYTOR & Co., Maketu and Te Puke, Merchants and Importers— Fencing Wire, Grass Seeds, Ploughs, Harrows, etc., General Merchandise. Produce bought or sold on commission. Land, Estate and Commission Agents.'' The next notice to Te Puke Settlers is by ABBOTT and WHITE, builders and Contractors, who were “prepared to undertake work at Te Puke at reasonable rates, and expect to laud a large cargo of building material at the Canaan Landing in a few days - Estimates given free of charge.” It is not clear from the announcement whether the firm was located at Te Puke or Tautangu. The only other notice is that of “STEPHEN OVERINGTON, General Blacksmith, Te Puke.”