AN OLD BUTCHERY WHERE THE PARA RUBBER COMPANY NOW STANDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 23 (Supplement)

AN OLD BUTCHERY WHERE THE PARA RUBBER COMPANY NOW STANDS.

This very interesting photograph of the north-western corner of Cashel and Manchester Streets has been lent by Mrs G. Bull, of Lytton Street, whose late husband was then in_ business there in a large way from 1871 to 1877. Mrs Bull states that the photograph ■was taken probably in 1872. She and her husband were there till 1877, when thev left, as Duncan, the owner of the corner, was then talking of rebuilding, and erected what was known as Duncan's buildings a year or two latef. In the interval MPonald, a butcher, had the shop. On the opposite Corner, where the Queen's Hotel stands, was the Warwick Hotel, then came the American bond, where Pyne's building now' stands, and on the next corner Matheson's agency. At the back of Matheson's was Page's stable, which vame out into a right-of-way opposite the White Hart. |im Stark, a horse or cattle dealer, had tile shop before Mr Bull. lie was

a bachelor, and died worth plenty of money. Mrs Bull was able to give some personal notes about the picture. The man on the cart on the left worked for Hogg, the corn dealer in Tuam Street, right at the back of the Royal Hotel. On the second cart is a young man named Slade, who failed to make the fortune he expected, and went back to England. At the horse’s head is George Barlow, who used to drive a one-horse coach to Papanui, and afterwards had thfe Papanui Hotel. To the right, is one Parrott, who came from Tai Tapu. way, and near him is Whalen, the shopman. Mr Bull, is standing by the post, and near him is Bob Cliff, who was clerk in the business.

Gay’s stables are seen to the left of the picture. Near the stables Captain Westenra had a right-of-way leading to his house, which fronted on Hereford Street, and the fire-bell stood in ' the right-of-way. Mrs Bull recalls th< fact with much amusement that on

night, when there was a big Are in Cashel Street, not far away, she and her husband slept soundly through the noise of the alarm, and only learned of the fire in the morning. T. S. Duncan's house (no connection of the Duncan who owned the building) stood close to the shop in Manchester Street, and further on v. as Nalder, the lawyer, and Dr Prins, the tops of whose trees are seen in the picture. Mrs Bull, who is now aged seventysix, came out in the Greyhound, landing in 1865. She left the. Old Country in snow and rain, and found the. same conditions on landing The late Mr Bull came out in the Queen of the Mersey, which reached Lyttelton on October 22, 1862. He was one of six boys who came out with their father and mother. Mrs W. Stewart, of 75, Division Road, Mrs Bull’s daughter, was born leon the premises shown in the photolegraph.