James Searle

Our second photo from the Berry & Co collection features the grave of James Searle (1872-1926).

James was born in Plymouth and had moved to Gisborne at an early age before moving to Wellington.He married Minnie Tattle in 1903 and at the time of their wedding it was reported that he was a well known tenor singer. Together James and Minnie had two sons and a daughter. At the time of his death in 1926 James worked as a commercial traveller and it was reported that he took part in the St Pauls Pro Cathedral choir, the Liedertafel, and other musical organisations.

Minnie Searle was also well known in Wellington. Her father (George Tattle) had been one of the Pakeha children born in Wellington. Her sister Rosina married Charles Norwood and subsequently became Lady Norwood. The rose gardens at Wellington Botanic Gardens bear her name. Minnie went on an overseas tour for two years and the party held for her upon her return in 1938 is reported in the Evening Post. Minnie died in 1957 aged 85.

The high altar at St Mark’s Church Wellington is dedicated to the memory of Minnie and James.

The photo of James’ grave in the Berry & Co collection was taken by his son Roland Searle.

Photo credit: Grave of James Searle (1871-1926), Karori Cemetery, circa 1926, Wellington, by Roland Searle. Purchased 1999 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (A.018569)

SS Penguin

On the evening of 12 February 1909, the SS Penguin left Picton for Wellington in fine weather.Conditions quickly deteriorated as the Penguin reached Cook Strait. After changing course again to ride out the storm, the ship struck rocks and began to sink in heavy seas.The evacuation did not go well as the lifeboats quickly capsized. No children and only one woman survived. Only 30 of the 102 people who set out from Picton made it ashore alive.It is widely believed that the SS Penguin hit Thoms Rock off Cape Terawhiti and the shipwreck was the worst New Zealand shipwreck the 20th century. Forty of the 72 victims were buried at Karori Cemetery.Wellington came to a stand still for a mass funeral procession that wended its way through the city and Kelburn on to the Karori Cemetery. A half day holiday was declared. Special newspaper editions were published, shops, offices and schools closed and the streets along the procession route were crowded with people.

A self guided walk is available through Karori Cemetery if you are interested finding out more.https://wellington.govt.nz/…/penguin-shipwreck-memorial…https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspa…/NZFL19090220.2.4

Working Bee Treasures

Two of the treasures revealed in the 14th February working bee – the plot with the checkerboard ledger has two other Masonic symbols, one being the compass and set square. It was completely obscured by long grass and other greenery which had formed a thick mat. The Blaxall family plot commemorates a 20-year old son killed on 12 October 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele – unseen under many layers of dirt and grime for many years.

JAMES FULTON

This month is the 119th birthday of our Cable Car. The Cable Car’s engineer, James Fulton, is buried at Karori Cemetery. He was born in Outram, Otago in 1854 and received his training as a cadet in the Public Works Department. After working on several sections of railway line, in 1897 he entered private practice and undertook the Cable Car, the first Kelburn viaduct and Balance Bridge in the Manawatu Gorge amongst other bridges. He died in 1928 and was survived by a wife and daughter. Happy Birthday Cable Car.

Cemetery Management Plan

Here’s an action shot of our Friends’ Chairperson, Richard Bentley, making a presentation on our behalf today to the Wellington City Council Strategy and Policy Committee on the draft Cemeteries’ Management Plan (that was a mouthful). We’ve attached a copy of his presentation. Let us know your thoughts below, we’d love to hear them.

You can watch the full meeting on Youtube here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYjsBTJgo34

Remembering the Buckley siblings

Lena Marion Buckley (known as Marion) and her brother Stanley were born in Greenwich, Kent, England. They left London on the Athenic on 4 March 1910 along with their mother Mary and sisters Nelly and Florence. Their father Harry, a stonemason, travelled to New Zealand separately.

On 21 February 1914 (107 years ago) Marion Buckley had travelled from her home in Ngaio to Tawa Flat for a Sunday School picnic. The boys in their party had been swimming, so Marion and her three friends borrowed swimming costumes from the boys and went for a swim. All the other girls except for Marion could swim. It appears that the girls all entered the water together and when they got to deeper water Marion’s friends warned her about trying to cross the stream but the current grabbed Marion and washed her into a deep hole. Her friends tried in vain to rescue her but sadly they were unsuccessful. Marion was 14 years old.

Following Marion’s death Harry and Mary continued to live in Ngaio but in 1922 their lives were struck by tragedy again.

On 16 August 1922, 18 year old Stanley Buckley left his home in Ngaio on his way to work at James Smith Department Store. In Lambton Quay he jumped onto the wrong side of the running board of the Lyall Bay tram. He stepped off the tram again and was hit by the tram. He initially survived his injuries but passed away on 24th August 1922.In their later years Harry and Mary lived in Ponsonby Road, Karori. Harry died in 1953 aged 83 and Mary died in 1956 aged 85.