OLD MEMORIES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11118, 19 May 1933, Page 2

OLD MEMORIES

MRS A. H. NORRIS'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Mrs Amelia H. Norris, who has resided in Tauranga for sixty-six years, celebrated her eighty-seventh birthday on May 1. when a large number of relatives and old friends assembled at her residence, "Rawhiti," Devonport Road, and extended to her many happy returns of the day. A feature of the occasion was a large birthday cake, round which were eighty-seven candles which were lighted by the four grandchildren and one great grandson present. All (he members of the family attended, viz., Mr Gregory Norris and Mrs C. J. Millar, Mrs G. H. Bell and Miss R. Norris, The toast of Mrs Norris's health was proposed by Mrs E. Jordan, widow of the late Rev. Canon Jordan. who extended to Mrs Norris the best wishes of all present for a continuance of good health. Mrs Norris was horn in Selwyn Terrace. Parnell, Auckland, her parents being Captain and Mrs Colin Campbell. Captain Campbell was harbour master at Auckland for some years, and while going out to meet a large vessel his yacht was capsized and Captain Campbell and his two native assistants were drowned. Mrs Norris was an infant at the time of her father's death. Mrs Norris was educated at two private schools in ducted by Mrs Glover and Mrs BrasParnell conducted by Mrs Glover and Mrs Brassey, respectively, and remembers the very extensive trade done in Auckland in the early days with the Maoris, who used their canoes for transport purposes, and-with their aid brought to market great quantities of peaches, potatoes and kumeras.

At the age of twenty-one Miss Campbell was married in St. Mary's Church, Parnell, to Captain Ebenezer G. Norris, who was in business in Tauranga as a general merchant, shipping owner, and later was also Captain of, the local volunteers. The marriage took place not long after the Gate Pa battle and the position generally in Tauranga was then very unsettled. Captain and Mrs Norris made the voyage from Auckland to Tauranga in the steamer Star of the South which was specially diverted on the way South by arrangement with Captain Norris. The landing here was difficult, as there was no wharf. A right royal welcome was accorded Captain and Mrs Norris by the Armed Constabulary, who formed up in a double line along the waterfront. Every precaution had to be taken at that time for the protection of the women and children in Tauranga. The members of the Constabulary took up picket duty at night along the waterfront, on the Waikareao Estuary, and towards Hairini, to guard against any surprise attack at night by the Maoris. On numerous occasions the women and children took up their quarters in a very large building within the Monmouth Redoubt, which was dismantled many years ago. There were numerous scares, especially during the time that Te Kooti was raiding, but no attack was launched by the Maoris. In those days the Strand was known as Beach Road. There were only about half-a-dozen shops and three hotels, the Tauranga Hotel and the Masonic Hotel on the present sites, and the Victoria Hotel, opposite the Post Office where the Kiteroa boardinghouse now stands. There were no footpaths and only tracks connected the town with The Camp, which was occupied by the Constabulary, their habitations extending from Harington Street right round in a semi-circle to Hamilton Street. Mrs Norris attended the Church of England services which were conducted in the Mission Chapel on The Elms property by the late Yen. Archdeacon Brown, the hour of service being three o’clock in the afternoon. The old Catholic Church on Cameron Road, on the section on which St. MaryVs Church now stands, was the only other church in the place. Many years afterwards the present Church of England was built and Mrs Norris remembers the selection of the site for Trinity Church being made by the Yen. Archdeacon Brown, the Rev. Canon Jordan, Mr Henry Clarke, Captain Norris, and others.

Some time after Mrs Norris arrived, the Armed Constabulary was disbanded. Then the Volunteer Force was formed, and Mr Norris was its Captain for some years. Mrs Norris liberated the first sparrows in the Tauranga district. The birds were sent down to Tauranga by the Auckland Acclimatization Society and were given their freedom from the upper storey of “High Trees,’’ a large residence where Mrs Norris lived, which stood on the site where Mr E. T. Baker’s home now is. Mrs Norris has always taken a keen interest in birds and up till a month ago kept an aviary, the birds being tended by her daily.

Mrs Norris remembers the first coach that was driven through from Rotorua to Tauranga, Cameron Road being specially flagged for the occasion. which was a red-letter day. The tourist traffic for many years made Tauranga a busy place. The steamer Clansman brought hundreds o.f tourists and they made the journey from Tauranga to and from the Hot Lakes district by coach. Despite her advanced years Mrs Norn’s is blessed with splendid health. She rises before six o'clock and takes a full interest in the duties pertaining to the household. She is Rale and hearty and surprises her relatives ami friends with her alertness and activity. Her memory is clear and the little incidents recited here were fold by her to a Press representative without reference to any note whatever and without, any hesitancy.