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Variety In Brief

I was interested to read in a recent issue of the “Railways Magazine,” in O. N. Gillespie's article “A Cluster of Jewels,” that the settlement of Car-lysle still exists near Patea. Carlysle was the original name for the settlement there and later as the town developed away from the river, the name was changed and for a time, Carlysle went out of existence. It is appropriate that the name has been revived now that a few baches have been built there.

Quite a number of towns have changed their names, among which are Waitara, near New Plymouth, which was originally named Raleigh.

Petone also was formerly known as Britannia and, incidentally, this settlement antedated Wellington by a few years. Should Hutt and Petone boroughs combine under the new legislation, Britannia might prove a suitable name for the combined city. This would constitute an interesting historical link and would solve the difficulty of local jealousy fighting against the city having the name of either borough. If the amalgamation takes place in Coronation year, the name would be doubly appropriate.—Katiti.

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In her article on Central Otago, “Old Days of Gold,” in the June “Railways Magazine,” “Robin Hyde” asks if any town, or townlet, in New Zealand, apart from Arrowtown, still depends on oil lamps as the sole means of street illumination. There is at least one other such town, and this also is in Otago. This is the town of Naseby, which lies in the shadow of the Kaka-nui Range to the north of the vast Maniototo plain. Electricity has not yet reached the Maniototo, and Naseby, for long proud of being the principal town of the county (an honour it held until 1936), upheld its dignity by illuminating its streets with oil lamps, and these are still in use. It is anticipated that electricity will be through to the Maniototo in two years' time, and when that happens Arrow-town may then have the distinction of being the only town in the Dominion where oil lamps are so used. It is interesting to note, in passing, that much of the paving and channelling laid down in the gold-digging era is still doing good service in Naseby streets.—C.H.F.

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In a recent issue of the “Railways Magazine,” under the heading “Variety in Brief,” a writer, C.R.G., commenting on the report of the dates of the opening of the several sections of the Kaipara Railway, “finds it difficult to understand why such a piecemeal method was followed in the opening stages of our railways.”

Possibly I could throw some light on the subject.

“1875, October 29th, Helensville—Kumeu Railway opened” should read Helensville — Riverhead Railway opened.

The distance from Kumeu to River-head is about three miles, and was connected from Riverhead to Auckland by a small steamer, running to a regular timetable, to suit the trains.

On the completion of the railway, Kumeu—Henderson in July 1881, thus giving railway connection between Auckland and Helensville, the portion Kumeu—Riverhead, being no longer required, was taken up.—J.W.

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The early locomotives attached to Wellington's first stations were painted green, picked out with thin black, white and red lines. Several of the smaller engines had names. Those I remember were “Belmont,” “Eel,” “Tui” and “Carrickfergus.” The first named was sold to the Manawatu Railway Co., and I believe was afterwards purchased for the Sandon railway. After leaving Lambton, the line kept close to the road now called Thorndon Quay. There was just room for the railway between the road and the sea. The Thorndon reclamation was not done till about 1883.

Maori passengers were much more in evidence in proportion to the pake-ha in the early days of Lambton Station. Their knowledge of English was not very good. Smoking on or about the platform was strictly prohibited. For the enlightenment of Maori travellers a large painted sign was hung from the roof of the station verandah. It bore these words: “Kaua i Kai paipa Kei Konei” (no food for the pipe at this place). I often wonder where that historic sign went to.—A.P.G.