IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 21 July 1934, Page 21 (Supplement)

IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Memories of Fifty-five Years Ago. OLD VICTORIA STREET. (By A. SEL.YV YN BRUCE.) A. S A RESULT of having named the business people of Cashel Street, a letter has reached me from Mr Andrew Liddell, who says that, although in his ninety-third year, he is “ still alive and kicking.” Mr Liddell, who has been a resident of Wanganui for some years, was the saddler in the small shop next to the Rotherfield Hotel, being succeeded by Mr Travis, the well-known saddler and tanner. So far I have been able to find one of the old tradespeople of High Street, najjnely Mr Montague, one from Colombo Street, Mr W. P. Townend, and now Mr Liddell from Cashel Street. I wonder if any of those whose businesses were in Victoria Street are still in the flesh.

From Victoria Street bridge on the west side were:—W. A. Knapman, the grocer; J. Blight, the boarding-house keeper, who afterwards owned Bligh’s Gardens at New Brighton; Trent Bros., coffee and spice merchants; E. M. Mein, the butcher; C. Collins, the greengrocer; A. Adams, the grocer; H. Roberts, the hairdresser; J. Vincent, the confectioner; J. Baxter, the chemist; T. Hunter, the greengrocer; T. Partridge, the ironmonger; W. H. Payne, the bootmaker; F. Gabites, the draper; Rees William Walter, the undertaker; Watt and Co., grocers; W. Moor, the carriage builder; G. S. Husband, the fishmonger; R. M. Cresswell, the bootmaker; J. Rosewarne, the butcher; J. Merson, the grocer; T. Gapes, the painter; E. Thomas, the general dealer; J. Johnson, the ironmonger; Mrs Rowe, the dressmaker; T. J. Booth, the hairdresser; E. Spicer, the greengrocer; J. Fuller, the bootmaker; Mrs Cox’s registry office; J. Stanley, the whitesmith; j. Bowman, the general dealer; li. B. Grisbrook, the grocer; Pattrick Bros., the butchers; J. Anderson, the cabinet maker and undertaker; T. B. Whitfield, the baker; G. H. Morley, the grocer; Glanville and Co., the carriage builders; T. C. Dow, the cooper; J. Burt, the carrier; J. Greenaway, the seedsman; Allen and Sons, the sawmillers; J. Wallen, the painter; E. A. Lock, the grocer; W. IJ. Luff, the cabinetmaker, and R. Billens, the lamp-maker. And from the bridge on the east side: J. Steven, the chemist was opposite Knapman's, his fellow shopkeepers being Alfred White, the stationer; S. E. Ilorniman’s registry office; H. Rossiter, the watchmaker; II; Corrick, the bootmaker; Dan M’Guinness’s Britannia Hotel; Kytsen and Co., the painters; Wm. Harvey, the dyer; Wm. Garrard, the gunsmith ; J. Gamble, the tinsmith; J. Morrison, the butcher; J. Atkinson. the bootmaker; Mrs Atkinson’s fancy goods shop; Mrs Lloyd’s boarding house; W. White, the saddler; J. Ilorsfield, the bootmaker; Mrs Westfcn, the dressmaker; F. Hubbard, the butcher; A Moss, the general dealer; W. L. Leg-

gatt, the corn dealer; 11. Sharpies, the general dealer; S. Simpson, the baker; 11. B. Stevensen, the storekeeper; Mrs Scott, the dressmaker; 11. F. Schoenberg, the cabinet maker; W. Moody, the chimney sweep; and J. A. Berg, the coach builder.

I am interested to know if any of the foregoing tradespeople of 1879 are still alive. Mrs Johnson, who carried on her husband’s ironmongery and locksmith’s business, is, I think, still with us, and it would be something of a coincidence if she were the only person living who, fifty-five years ago, was in business in this once most important shopping neighbourhood.