LINKS WITH PAST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 150, 25 June 1929, Page 8

LINKS WITH PAST

OLD AVENUE HOUSES NEWSPAPERS ON WALLS Within a few days the work of demolishing two old houses in Victoria Avenue, between Guyton Street and Ingestre Street, will be completed, and thus a link with the early days of Wanganui will be destroyed. The buildings are some seventy years old, yet, despite this age, their timbers, mostly of heart matai, are in good condition. An interesting feature was disclosed when tearing off the wall-paper in one of the back rooms of the house, as yet, s ’ll standing. The wall was found to be pasted over with newspapers, a common substitute for wall-papers in the early days. These are dated 1867 and 1868 and include the Wanganui Evening Herald, the Melbourne Herald and Argus, and the London City Press. These papers, for the most part, have supplied meals for generations of wood-borers, as numerous little holes in them testify, but the local sheets are fairly well preserved and make entertaining reading. Amongst a page of advertisements of the issue of June 14. 1867, is a humorous challenge to “Mr William Scott, bootmaker, Tyler’s Flat, Wanganui,” couched in the following terms: “It having come to the notice of the undersigned that Mr William Scott is in the habit of stating (in public) that he is the best cornet player in Wanganui town, I therefore challenge him, from one pound to five, that he is neither a first or second-rate player of the said instrument. The above to be decided by two competent judges of music if this be accepted.—William Middleton, Wanganui.”

Among the public notices is one calling for tenders for forming and metalling roadways in parts of Ingestre Street and St. Hill Street, and is signed by William Kells, “chairman of the Town Board.” Yet another notice informs lovers of really good music that they may 4 4 enjoy a treat by calling at the Steam Packet Hotel any night before 12 o’clock, and hear the harp, guitar and violin, the two performers being young ladies.” The old houses, which are on the Tingey estate, will be replaced with business premises planned by Mr R. G. Talbovs.