WHEN WAGGONERS FILLED TUAM STREET WITH NOISE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18900, 26 October 1929, Page 21 (Supplement)

WHEN WAGGONERS FILLED TUAM STREET WITH NOISE

By ROBERT NAIRN. The readers of the “ Star ” are deep- 1 ly indebted to Mr Selwyn Bruce for the very interesting matter relating to the early history of Christchurch supplied to your Saturday night’s columns. The last in respect to the early history of the west end of Tuam Street was very full and informative and suggests some memory and research. Will you allow some additional matter, which may add to the early history of this part of the city? Why Tuam Street, between Montreal and Tuam Streets, should have been such a busy centre in the ’sixties and early ’seventies is explained by the fact that here the trading in eggs, butter, bacon, and other foodstuffs was carried out, and this on a large scale to supply the needs of the West Coasters at that' period. At this centre on vacant sections the waggoners camped and loaded their freights. Most of them traded direct with the farmers and these farmers were from the districts on the Lincoln Road or Riccarton Road routes. Trading with the waggoners and others interested meant trading in return with the shopkeepers in the street, and thus a busy centre was created. Saturday was the market day when the farmers came to town, and the waggoners hastened with the packing of their purchases so as ft to start for the Coast as early as possible on the Sunday. As a very small boy I can remember one Sunday morning in St Andrew’s Church, the late, Rev Charles Fraser stopping in the middle of his sermon to complain very forcibly against the disturbing element from without in the noise created by the shouting of the waggon drivers and the cracking of whips as they were starting on their journey. The waggons were capable of holding a considerable amount of produce, and were set on high wheels so as to pass through the rivers on the journey without damage to the goods which, by the way, also included flour—not previously mentioned. This trading lasted for a number of years and when it petered out Tuam Street lost its prestige. It however has recovered its position and has become one of the busiest parts of the city, and its future cannot be threatened. The horse teams were of the quality that the trip demanded, an<J the drivers were men of nerve and resource. Mr Bruce, who mentioned that among the early traders of the district was a ’ Mr W. Cudden, apparently did not know that for a short period Mr Joseph Munnings, who afterwards for so many r years kept the store on the Lincoln * Road, was a partner with Mr Cudden r in the grocery business.