DEATH OF MR. JAMES BRADLEY RECALLS OLD COACHING DAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 7

DEATH OF MR. JAMES BRADLEY RECALLS OLD COACHING DAYS

Old coaching days in the Taihape district are recalled by the i ecent death at Napier of Mr. Janies Bradley, who for many years drove coaches for the late Mr. R. T. Bailey, of Moawhango. He was engaged on the mail run from Moawhango to Waiouru in the early days and was later transferred to the Moawhango-Utiku run. Born in Taradale, the late Mr. Bradley came to the Moawhango in 1895, where he was employed in a saddlery business by Mr. Tom Houston. After remaining with Mr. Houston for a year or two, Mr. Bradley started repairing saddlery for the late Mr. R. T. Batley, and carried on tills work lor a few years. He was a good tradesman. In 1899 he started driving coaches for the late Mr. Batley, and used to take the mail from Moawhango to Waiouru, when Mr. Alf Peters conducted the post office there. Mr. Peters built a residence at Waiouru and catered tor tourists.

Alter being on the Waiouru mail run for some years Mr. Bradley took over the Moawhango-Utiku run, the southern terminus at that time being known as "Kiawora’ (near Mr. Fred Mickleson's present residence). He was a familiar figure on the MoawhangoTaihape mail run, and was recognised as an expert driver of a five-horse team.

He drove coaches for the late Mr. R. T. Batley from 1899 to 1913. He met with a very serious accident about 1910, when his horses bolted near the Taihape railway station and headed towards the old Hautapu River bridge. Mr. Bradley suffered a broken leg when he was thrown against a protruding stump. Mr. Jim Beiliss actually saw tile horses bolting, and vividly remembers the incident. Despite his broken leg Mr. Bradwley managed to turn the horses round near the old brick kiln (near the present camp site) and drove them into the yard at Pickering's stables. He was attended by Dr. Barnett and spent several weeks in hospital. Adjacent to Pickering’s stables was a cottage which was burnt down during the first war. The late Mr. Bradley was interested in sport and assisted with the organisation of the annual Moawhango sports on Boxing Day. When he was no longer able to drive coaches Mr. ■Bradley lived in semi-retirement on the Batley farm property at Moawhango. His ability as a coach driver is remembered by early Taihape settlers, who deeply regret that he has passed on. POWER FAILURE Several times on Monday evening the electric power supply failed ana Taihape was plunged into darkness, one black-out lasting for some 20 minutes. A meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was inconvenienced as the result of the power failures, but carried on in the dark. One member of the Wellington Council of the society was speaking when the lights failed, but he continued his address as though nothing untoward had happened. VITAL STATISTICS. The following vital statistics for the month of October have been kindly supplied by the registrar, Mr. E. L. Egarr, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses for purposes of comparison:—Births 20 (20), deaths 4 (5), marriages 4 (1). “THE MOST PERFECT COMMITTEE” “The most perfect committee is a committee of one, with power to act. We should go to committee meetings fully conversant with the main topics to be discussed. We should give the matter thought before going to a meeting and come fully prepared,” said Mr. Hampson Tindale, a member of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, at a meeting of the local branch on Monday evening. CONSERVATION OF FISH AND FOWL Mr. Hampson Tindale, a member of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, at a meeting of the Taihape society, gave an address on "Fish and Fowl Conservation.” He said he was opposed to sanctuaries of a permanent nature. If the Taihape Branch of the society approved of his paper he hoped that they would take some action and not let the matter remain in abeyance and do nothing about it. TWILIGHT SPORTS. The following handicaps have been declared for tonight's twilight sports meeting to be held under (he auspices of the Taihape Amateur Athletic Club: Seniors (75yds. and three-quarter mile): N. Pearce 1 and 65; C. Crimp 1 and 65; C. Brewer 3 and 50; B. Me-1 Sweeney 3 and 65; M. Wilson 4 and 70; R. Sinclair 4 and 70; R. Jenkins 4 and 10; S. Sinclair 4 and 75; L. Jensen 5 and 50; D. Bond 5 and 65; D. Walker 5 and 70; B. Gibbs 5 and 60; W. Dunn 6 and 6’; P. Marshall 6 and 65; L. Hutt 6 and 70. | Junior: E. Anniss 6 and 35; A. Goddard 3 and 30; B. Parkin 3 and 20; B. Robertson 5 and 20; C. Drysdale 3 and 20; R. Woodhead 3 and 30; P. Brewer 1 and 10; B. Tozer 5 and 20; A. Western 6 and 30; L. Ashton 5 and 20; G. Parkin 6 and 25. Ladies (75yds. and 100yds): M. Arrow 4 and 6; J. Thurston 4 and 6; J. Schrader 4 and 6; E. Edwards 2 and 3; J. Hamlin 3 and 6; Eaton 2 and 5; L. Finn 3 and 5; G. Whisker 5 and 8. A javelin throw for senior, junior, and ladies’ buttons will be held. TAIHAPE AGREES IN PRINCIPLE The chairman, Mr. J. H. T. Duncan, moved: “That this branch of the society consider the principles embodied in the paper by Mr. Hampson Trindale in a favourable light." The motion was carried. Ranger Andrews suggested that 1 some of the lakes and lagoons should be fenced so as to presserve plant life and so provide food for game. : Mr. W. A. R. Jones paid a tribute to Mr. Andrews for his efforts to conserve Mallard duck. Mr. J. B. Thomasen suggested that if dams or lakes and swamps were enclosed by fences, a ballot, should be held to decide shooting rights. Mr. Duncan thanked the member of the council for coming all the way to Taihape to meet the licence holders. He knew from experience that .that council had many problems to

deal with. He also welcomed licence holders from Rangiwahia represented by Mr. A. J. Tompkins. Messrs. Hemingway, Jones, Hampson Tindale and Head (Council members) and A. J. Tompkins (Rangiwahia) responded. WOMEN’S LABOUR PARTY FUNCTION The women s committee of the Taihape branch of the N.Z. Labour Party held a social afternoon at the residence of Mr and Mrs F. Kearins on Tuesday as a wind-up to its activities. Competitions and musical and vocal items made the Lime pass all too quickly. During the afternoon tea interval the president, Mrs M. Wood, presented Mrs Kearins witii a shoulder spray and a cameo brooch from the committee in recognition of her work on behalf of the party. Mrs Wood also thanked Mrs Kearins for the hospitality she had extended to members of the women's committee. Mrs Kearins responded. Mrs F. Sisson presented Mrs Wood with a shoulder spray and I paid a tribute to her work as president. HABITS OF FISH "Fish go back to the river they were born in to hatch in,” said Mr. K. Mulvay, at a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society on* Monday evening. PERSONAL. A visitor to New Zealand from Wales, Miss Ella Waugh, was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. P. Kearins during the week-end. Mrs Mickleson, of Tiriraukawa, is an inmate of the Huia Street Hospital suffering from a leg injury caused by a horse" becoming frightened and jumping on her tool, injuring the ankle. DREW HORSE IN MELBOURNE CUP A ticket held by Mr. Albert Johnson, of the Burridge Estate, Moawhango, drew the horse “Hurry-Up" in the Melbourne Cup sweepstake, entitling the holder to a prize of £lO5. The nom-de-plume "Lucky Trio" was used and it is believed that the money will be shared by Mr. Johnson and two others. STEEI. PLENTIFUL "W.e can get al] the steel we want now but six months ago it was practically unprocurable and construction on a big dam being built for hydroelectric purposes nearly ceased owing to the then shortage of steel,” declared Mr. P. Kearins, M.P. for Waimarino, when addressing a meeting of electors at Utiku on Tuesday evening. Mr. Kearins added that the period of shortages was over.