GOOD OLD DAYS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7273, 6 November 1950, Page 4

GOOD OLD DAYS

WHEN COST OF LIVING WAS CHEAP OLD ACCOUNTS INTERESTING READING Glimpses into the past are contained in a number of old accounts that remained hidden in an old house in the Te Awamutu district recently demolished. Some date back as far as 1895 (55 years ago). In 1896, there was a chemist, Mr. C. A. Ogle, at Kihikihi. A statement from a Cambridge importer and merchant (per billhead), showed that candles were purchased by the box, the price being 12s 3d; six pounds of tea cost 11s and 56 lbs. of salt was invoiced at 3s 9d. While nylon stockings were not in vogue in October, 1895, those used by “my lady” cost 2s a pair. Two plugs of Derbv tobacco cost 2s, and axe handles were Is each. From an October, 1895 docket, a pair of boots 15s, six gents’ handkerchiefs 3s, three ladies’ ditto Is, packet of envelopes'3d, 56 lb. bag sugar No. 212 s 6d. The good old days are well and truly revealed in a docket of November, 1895, when a bottle of whisky cost 6s, and five bottles of wine £1 Is; two gallons of beer cost ss, Schnapps and gin cost 6s a bottle, so that headaches were cheap in those days. A demand from the Land and Income Tax Department on the Ist April, 1895, was for 5s Id, the taxable amount (after deductions) being £6l. There were no Walter Nash’s or Sid Holland’s in those far-off, distant days. Half-soling and heeling shoes cost 3s 6d, while a roll of wire netting was 10s 6d, with 6d discount. Rates on the property in 1894-5 were £2 11s. Taken at random from another invoice were felt hat ss, two scrubbing brushes 2s 4d, half-dozen dessert spoons 4s Id. two lbs. raisins Is, six lbs. currants 2s 6d, Kaipoi sox Is 6d.

In August, 1895, a letter was sent to the farmer enclosing a cheque for £l2 for 60 bushels of wheat. A pair of kid gloves was 3s 6d in those days, and shirts were 3s 6d each also. A subscription to the Te Awamutu Public Library was 10s a year. Rates to the Rangiohia Road District in 1895 amounted to £2 5s lOd. Way back in 1892 a ton of coal was20s.

The registered trademark of the Te Awamutu Full Roller Flour Mills in 1894 was “Snowdrop,” and they bought 52 bushels of wheat for £6 18s 8d (2s 8d a bushel). Bonedust in 1894 cost 9s per bag, and Kidney seed potatoes 8s 6d a cwt.

From the Ohaupo saleyards in 1894, pigs fetched 12s each, sheep 5s sd, and cattle £1 15s each. The farmer received 5d per lb. for butter sent to an Auckland -auctioneer in March, 1894.

A tweed suit was invoiced at 30s, while the urices quoted above are remarkably low compared with presentday prices, yet it has to be taken into consideration the fact that wages (as always) were lower than the prices, and there was no 40-hour week in the “gay nineties.”