Pioneering in the 1950's
My story goes back to the late 1940’s when I met Nell Fisher who worked at Nurse Jory’s Maternity Home. I looked upon her as a ministering angel and the more I got to know her, the more I admired her. Little did I know that in less than eight years that she would be my sister-in-law.
To cut a long story short, it so happened that I had some special plants I had brought back from the South Island and as I lived in a flat I didn’t have anywhere to plant them. On hearing this, Nell suggested I should see her brother Bill who she was sure could help me. This came as quite a surprise to me because I knew the two of them lived a very secluded existence – a far cry from the days when Grandfather Fisher was alive, for he encouraged young people in the district to come down to the property where he endeavored to direct their energies into the right channel. In the summer they were taught to swim in the swimming pool which Bill and his brother Vic carved out of the hillside. They were also taught astronomy and encouraged to become acquainted with the indigenous flora.
As long as I live I will never forget my first visit to the old cottage down Kauri Road. Here I should explain that I was a widow with two young children aged 5 and 3. It was explained to me that the house was down a long track through very high teatree. I must admit I wondered if I would ever make it with two small children who needed coaxing all the way.
Bill, Vic and Nell Fisher
Finally we reached our destination and there was the little old cottage surrounded by the biggest camellia trees I have ever seen, and beyond them, a forest of Pseudoacacia (rebinia) trees. I was duly introduced to Bill who was very shy. He busied himself with the old Shacklock range which required constant attention, as there was a roast in the oven. I was amazed at the lack of conveniences in the home. A Tilley lamp was used in the living room and a hurricane lamp in the kitchen. At least there was a tap over the sink and I gathered that was a fairly recent introduction. Poor Nell, I thought to myself – she had endured these conditions all her life.
Bill’s shyness gradually dissipated when we got immersed in the subject of native plants and I was invited again and again to Kauri Road. The sequel to all this of course, our marriage. However, before moving to Kauri road I had to insist that the run-down old house would have to have certain things done to it especially as there were two small children to consider.
Washing clothes was a major chore necessitating lighting the chip heater in the wash house, and rubbing everything by hand.
Likewise, to have a bath, buckets of water had to be carried across the yard from the chip heater. The toilet was part of the wash house and the whole shed was clad in ivy – and in that ivy were some of the biggest spiders I have ever seen. From the forgoing description, my readers will agree with me, the prospect of moving to Kauri Road was daunting.
Children from Frank Fisher's
Pioneer Club in his backyard
swimming pool, c1920
Pioneer Club in his backyard
swimming pool, c1920
Bill understood and agreed to have improvements made. A step in the right direction, but it was two years before power was installed and ten years before a proper road was made.
For the first five years our life was very simple – There was a long trek up through the high teatree to catch a bus. In the winter the track was so muddy, I wore gumboots until I got to the top, then changed into street shoes. Sugar works ash was obtained to try and improve the track from time to time.
At the top of the track there was a Maori family who had a pack of fierce pig dogs. These were deliberately tied up on the side of the track, so every time we went by we had to encounter these snarling creatures. No doubt it was a protest for I suppose the Maoris thought it was an invasion of their privacy when people walked through what they considered was their back yard, but in actual fact was a dedicated unformed road.
After we painted the house and concreted the backyard I became very interested in rearing day old chickens. With a bit of Kiwi ingenuity I rigged up an incubator under the house. Using a hurricane lamp under flat iron, I reared dozens of chickens. This grew to be quite a little enterprise until one morning I went down the hill to find a lot of sick pullets – they had caught the dreaded fowl disease, coesideosis. To overtake my losses, I then reared cockerels. These had to be caponised (to make them lethargic and thus increase their weight) so one day my friends Marjorie Denvers and Doreen Bush came to help in the operation. Doreen was good with the injector, so Marjorie and I did the chasing. One poor creature was on the point of exhaustion and I can still see Doreen standing there with its beak in her mouth, giving it the kiss of life. Two years went by before power was connected to the house – and only then because we cut a line through the bush to Waipa Street.
For the first five years our life was very simple – There was a long trek up through the high teatree to catch a bus. In the winter the track was so muddy, I wore gumboots until I got to the top, then changed into street shoes. Sugar works ash was obtained to try and improve the track from time to time.
At the top of the track there was a Maori family who had a pack of fierce pig dogs. These were deliberately tied up on the side of the track, so every time we went by we had to encounter these snarling creatures. No doubt it was a protest for I suppose the Maoris thought it was an invasion of their privacy when people walked through what they considered was their back yard, but in actual fact was a dedicated unformed road.
After we painted the house and concreted the backyard I became very interested in rearing day old chickens. With a bit of Kiwi ingenuity I rigged up an incubator under the house. Using a hurricane lamp under flat iron, I reared dozens of chickens. This grew to be quite a little enterprise until one morning I went down the hill to find a lot of sick pullets – they had caught the dreaded fowl disease, coesideosis. To overtake my losses, I then reared cockerels. These had to be caponised (to make them lethargic and thus increase their weight) so one day my friends Marjorie Denvers and Doreen Bush came to help in the operation. Doreen was good with the injector, so Marjorie and I did the chasing. One poor creature was on the point of exhaustion and I can still see Doreen standing there with its beak in her mouth, giving it the kiss of life. Two years went by before power was connected to the house – and only then because we cut a line through the bush to Waipa Street.
The big paddock 1955 - now Hebe Place
With the opening of the Harbour Bridge in 1959 things changed – the land between Fisher’s house and Waipa Street was subdivided, the old rubbish tip on the left of Kauri Road was filled in, the Maori family moved away, and a proper road was formed. At last we had caught up with the 20th Century!
Postscript 27.11.99: As the 20th Century draws to a close, I am glad to report that the old Camellia trees (well nigh one hundred years old) are still here and the swimming pool has remained all these years.
Steps have been taken to ensure that the property is saved for posterity. In this connection, I would like to thank the Birkenhead Rotary Club and the North Shore City Council for their support.
Muriel Fisher 1997
With the opening of the Harbour Bridge in 1959 things changed – the land between Fisher’s house and Waipa Street was subdivided, the old rubbish tip on the left of Kauri Road was filled in, the Maori family moved away, and a proper road was formed. At last we had caught up with the 20th Century!
Postscript 27.11.99: As the 20th Century draws to a close, I am glad to report that the old Camellia trees (well nigh one hundred years old) are still here and the swimming pool has remained all these years.
Steps have been taken to ensure that the property is saved for posterity. In this connection, I would like to thank the Birkenhead Rotary Club and the North Shore City Council for their support.
Muriel Fisher 1997