Early City Buildings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 18

Early City Buildings

When the Christchurch Drainage Board vacates its Hereford street offices to occupy its new building in Cambridge terrace, it will leave two of the oldest surviving buildings in the central city.

The Drainage Board was constituted in 1876 and had temporary offices in Hereford street, owned by the New Zealand Insurance Company and occupied by the New Zealand Shipping Company. Fairly soon afterwards it leased 198 Hereford street, the site of the present main block. These offices were a twostoreyed brick house built by Mr William Dearsley. The building is still in use as rear

premises, the present front block being added in 1907. On the back boundary is a small wooden stable with iron roof and brick floor, apparently built with the house which preceded the brick one.

Mr William Dearsley was a farmer, who arrived in the Grasmere in 1855, and his grandson (Mr W. L. Dearsley) believes he built the brick structure as a town house. Mr Dearsley’s mother Mrs Emily Marae Dearsley, who will be 104 in October is believed to be the oldest white woman living in New Zealand. Mr C. F. Champion, now aged 79, recalls early use of the brick house and stable by the Drainage Board. He

joined the small staff in the house as a junior in 1906. Mr Champion remembers that Mr Thomas Tomlinson, the

board’s chief inspector used the stable for his horse. He also recalls the building of the board’s present front block in 1907. A photograph taken last century from Cathedral

square, looking toward St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, shows the brick house as the major building of the area. When the board leaves, it will give up its lease of 198 Hereford street from the Dearsley estate. The adjoining premises at 196 Hereford street, which it owns, will be sold. Today the old house is still used for storage and staff rooms and the stable, built for horses has scooters lined up on its brick floor.

The photographs show the old house at the rear of the Drainage Board offices and the old stable.