Bowling Shield To Honour Kamo Pioneers

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1948, Page 3

Bowling Shield To Honour Kamo Pioneers

WHEN Mr H. Whitelaw, of Qranga Road, Whangarei, presented a magnificent puriri shield to the Kamo Bowling Club at the official opening on Saturday, he said the trophy was to honour the memory of the district’s pioneers. It would be known as the “PI. Whitelaw Pioneer Memorial Shield” and would go to the club’s singles champion each year.

“The shield will remain the property of the club to keep alive the memory of the old people who first came to Kamo and made it what it is today,” said Mr Whitelaw. The following names of early Kamo residents recalled by Mr Whitelaw will bring back memories to many Northlanders:

Some “seconds” were Messrs Bill Murphy (carrier), William Redshaw (mine manager), and Bill and Charles Burroughs (butchers).

Tom Wakelin was an auctioneer—he built the. first saleyards and Mr Crane also “knocked them down.”

Mr Whitelaw’s grandfather, Mr Matthew Whitelaw, was the proprietor of the Star Hotel. Brothers of Matthew were Thomas, a painter, and James, of Whitelaw and Barnes, a storekeeper. Robert Whitelaw. another storekeeper, was a cousin of Thomas and James and the father of Mr R. Whitelaw, the present town clerk. AMONG THE FIRST Mr Malcolm Mclnnis was Kamo’s first blacksmith. Mr Sam Hoey started the first aerated water factory, and Mr R. Elliott owned the first bakery. Mr Meldrum started the first coal mine. Other “firsts" recalled by Mr Whitelaw were Messrs Buaquest (bootmaker), Ramsbottom (postmaster), Pruehess (tailor), William Carruth (lawyer), George Kerr (mine manager), John Cork (butcher), John Dennis (carrier). Constable Hogg (policeman), Dr Sissons (medical practitioner).

EARLIEST FARMERS Pioneer farmers were Alex Campbell and his two sons. Messrs A. and R„ Messrs Lilley, R. Howie, John McMillan, Captain Going and Mr Heap, who was also a storekeeper. Messrs Charles Fulljnmes and Donald McGregor were bushmen and William Carter was a timber worker. The district's outstanding fencer was Mr Ted Jenkins. Mr Murdoch McPhee was a bridge builder of note — he built the old Titoki bridge over the Mangakahia River—and an influential Maori chief, was Mr J. Pohe.

Captain Phillips imported tea and Mr James Henderson was one of Kamo’s first miners. Other names Mr Whitelaw mention- j ed were Captain McQueen, Messrs John Munro, John Mulvaney, John j| Mulgroves and John Dunsmore. [j