OLD AUCKLAND: THINGS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6213, 15 October 1881, Page 6

OLD AUCKLAND: THINGS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN.

[FEOM TH E JOTTINGS OF A DECEASED SETTLEK.] The first land ploughed near the city, of Auckland was a piece in the Government Domain, and done by Messrs. Murray and Dacre. The first saw-mill was erected at Karangahape, Manukau, in 1841-2, by Captain Heale and Mr. Sinclair, who forwarded some shingles to Auckland, but they did not suit so well as split ones. Very rough pottery was made by a Mr. James Grimley, on the south side of College road, Freeman's Bay, in 1843-4. Beer was manufactured by Mr. Hellyer, at Hellyer's creek, on the Waitemata, in IS4I, and sent to Auckland, where it was sold at £4 10s per hogshead. It was reported by connoisseurs as being "not very bad, but rather new." The first fresh butter sold in Auckland came from the farm of Mr. J onathan Thorpe, at the Thames, who disposed of it at 3s 6d per lb., and eggs at 2s 6d per dozen. In 1841 Mr. Kendall manufactured bricks I for the Colonial Government on a piece of land on the Parnell side of Mechanics' Bay. They were also made on an allotment near the present site of the Auckland Gas Works by a Mr. Parker, for Mr. J. Joseph, who paid £6 per thousand for them. A detachment of the SOth subsequently manufactured bricks in Victoria-street, near the site of the Union Bank of Australia. Gas was first made in Auckland in 1843 by Mr. A. McPherson, for Mr. "YV. Smithson, at the Ship Inn, Queen-street, near the premises of the Bank of New Zealand. Stone lime was first burnt in 1547, on the site of Firth's mill, by a cabinetmaker, for a Mr. Whytelaw, who afterwards started a flax machine, but failed in his experiments, after losing a large sum of money. Very fine bricks and tiles were made near St. Patrick's Cathedral by the father of Mr. Joseph Craig for a Mr. James Walker. The first stone building was put vp in Mechanics' Bay, for a blacksmith's shop, on the spot now occupied by the Swan Inn. The stone was so soft that holes were speedily made in the walls, and it crumbled down. In an old number of the Southern Cross a suggestion is thrown out that the building should be protected by boarding it outside.

The first scoria-built cottage was put up in Victoria-street by a man named Cunningham. The troops erected a barrack for the SOth on Point Britoniart in IS4I-2, the last vestige of which point is now being removed. Beef was brought from the Bay of Islands at Christmas, ISil, and sold in Auckland at Is 4d per lb. by Jones, the ratcatcher. On June 25, ISII, the first regular baker's oveu was used, and bread sold at Is 3d the 21b. loaf by Mr. James George, baker. Flour was, at that date, iMO per ton; bricks, £7 per thousand ; lime, 5s per bushel. Dorkiue fowls were brought to Auckland by Mr. George Graham, Clerk of Works, Royal Engineer Office. He also brought honey bees from the Bay of Islands in December, IS-tO. Flax was made into drill for trousers by Messrs. Bradluy and James Sims in 1544, at a place near Symonds-street. The manufactory was burnt down one afternoon. Governor Fitzroy patronised their manufactures, aud Mr. Crowther, a tailor, made pants of the drill for the Auckland swells. The first ropewalk was established iu Mechanics' Bay by Mr. James Robertson, sen., now of Mangerc. The first war-steamer iu Auckland harbour was H.M.S. Driver, and the first merchant steamer the Juno (IS-17), owned by Mr. Benjamin Boyd, of Sydney, carrying passengers, horses, &c.