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 1907 - 1979 (72 years)
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| Name |
Robert Wallace Hull |
| Born |
18 May 1907 |
Otaua, Waikato, New Zealand  [2] |
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| Christened |
11 Jul 1907 |
Holy Trinity Church, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand [3] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Occupation |
Schoolteacher |
| Reference Number |
WB12.1..SF |
| Died |
14 Dec 1979 |
Tawa, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand [4] |
- Death Certificate. Registered in Porirua, No. 14779. Place, In a car in Broken Hill Rd., Porirua. Cause, Acute coronary insufficiency. Residence at time of death, 11 Gonville St., Tawa.
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| Buried |
18 Dec 1979 |
Whenua Tapu Cemetery, Airlie Road, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand |
- Photo of Headstone from Porirua City Council Website
Click photo for larger image (use back key to return to this page)
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| Notes |
- RECOLLECTIONS.
(Robert Wallace Hull)
My early years at the Otaua Farm are a little sketchy due to my youthful age but certain memories remain.
CHURCH PICNICS or possibly DISTRICT PICNICS.
These were attended by most of the people living in the area. I have hazy memories of trips by launch down arms of the Waikato River (Awaroa or Aka Aka ) to various spots nearer the mouth of the river. The Lapwood, lingers in connection with the launch owner. Other launches were used but possibly these were private ones. There were memories of ladies, with their large rimmed hats, and laden with baskets containing the " goodies" for the picnic, clambering into the launches from the banks. At this time the rivers were lined with willows which interfered with the free flow of the water. There were also picnics to the West Coast where we could play in the sand hills.
SCHOOL.
We children attended the Otaua School some miles from our home. Usually we waited for the George Hull boys particularly Fred, Horace and Roy. I rode "Dart" a quiet old mare while Franklin rode "Spark" a daughter of "Dart". "Spark" being young and sprightly could keep up with the George Hull boys while I tagged along behind, the gap widening all the time. At school, my teacher was Miss Rodgers while Franklin was taught by a Mr. Selby.
TRIPS TO "TAPUIKA" (the Craig Home).
This was quite a long trip involving passing through Waiuku and on to Waipipi where the country was hilly.
"Adolphus", the horse, was harnessed into the gig and we set off early in the morning. "Adolphus" was a quiet old animal and just jogged along with a few minor "shies" to enliven proceedings. Quite often it appeared as if the old horse was looking for something to shy at. In the Waipipi area my father walked up the hills to ease the load on the horse while we sat forward. The gig was crowded, with 2 adults and 2 children. There was a rug with an oiled cloth on one side and a soft rug on the other to give warmth and keep off the weather. The last section of the road to Waipipi was through the paddocks for some distance while the road preceding this was of yellow clay so that fine weather was chosen for the trip if at all possible.
When we had visitors (perhaps ) Lillias Craig, Agnes Craig or Jemima Craig my Aunts) we had to bring out the buggy but this involved borrowing a horse to assist :Adolphus". The trip in the buggy was very exciting as we could sit in the rear seat with our Aunts.
A NEW HORSE.
As Adolphus was getting old my Father decided to purchase another horse. He bought "Lincoln" a fine strapping animal at a sale in the Pukekohe area. He was supposed to have been broken to harness. He was harnessed into the gig (a short shaft) . My Father gave him a short run then took Franklin and me with him. We were traveling along quite smartly for he had a long stride being a big animal. He took fright - possibly kicking the front of the gig because of the short shafts and bolted. My Father, using all his energy, was unable to hold him as he had what was generally known as a "hard Mouth". Probably he required a different "bit" on the bridle (the part in his mouth). When we came to a bend in the road we tipped out one after the other with the gig finally tipping over. The horse became free and bolted for several miles. We received minor injuries and Franklin a sprained ankle and I a cut on the foot. Fortunately none of us went into the drain. These were very common on what was referred to as the Otaua swamp. The horse was recovered and sold as unsuitable for a gig horse. However, I remember him as a handsome bay - very powerful and fast.
THE FIRST CAR.
My Father had been to Auckland to sell some bullocks - the farm was a fattening one noted for prime beasts. He arrived home from Pukekohe on Horse-back and a little while later a 1914 Buick car arrived driven by a Mr. Baylis. This was to be our first car. My had had an odd driving lesson but Mr. Baylis now had the task of teaching my father to drive. From memory he must have stayed nearly a week. In the early part of the proceedings my Father was driving but when he came to a gate near the house the car failed to stop in time with the result that several spars were broken. The learning process must have been far more difficult then as the people were not used to machinery. The horse would stop with a "whoa' but somehow the car did not understand this language.
Mr. Baylis also brought a football for we two boys. He was a very popular man at least with us but unfortunately the ball went through a coloured glass window on the verandah. My greatest concern was that the ball had receive a nasty cut on the leather casing.
The car was a tourer. If rain started to fall there would be a rush to put up the hood and clip on the side- curtains - a very awkward and lengthy operation. In the Cutting (steep hills near Waiuku where the road just went straight up and down) unless the petrol tank was fairly full the car had to reverse up the hill. The same thing happened in Upper Queen Street, Auckland, at a later date but at that time traffic was not heavy.
In those times the roads were metalled. Chains were usually carried. Even the main roads had unmetalled sections. This applied to sections between Pukekohe and Auckland, at the Rangiriri Hills on the way to Hamilton and also to Rotorua road. During the winter these sections became very muddy and well nigh impassable. At Mercer the main road could flood necessitating putting the car on a barge to get to get passed the flooded area.
FARM LIFE
Of the farm life I have few memories except possibly the one or two cows being milked in the open or if one happened to be a heifer, the bail was used.
There were two large nectarine trees in the house enclosure. The fruit was delicious. I also remember a Northern Spy apple with mouthwatering juice and a yellow ogan plum as well as Burbank plums in an over supply.
The grounds at Otaua were fairly extensive with a high Elaegnus hedge which was very dusty and therefore unpleasant to cut. The grass around the house was cut by hand mower. (Franklins job). Further out, used as a tennis court, it was cut in the Summer only, first by scythe and then by mower.
Later when we were living in Auckland I would sometimes travel from Onehunga to Waipipi or Waiuku taking my bicycle with me. The "Awhiti", a large launch, would cross over the mud flats at high tides (occasionally being caught and having to wait for the next tide to be free and continue the journey) but at other times had to keep to the Channels involving a much longer journey. Later a flat bottomed boat the "Waiuku" especially built for this run replaced the "Awhiti". Being of shallow draft it could proceed to Waiuku when the tide was lower but it did rock when opposite the Manukau Heads. The "Waiuku" was used later on the Waiheke run on the Waitemata Harbour.
The main thrill at "Tapuika" was to slide down the rat-tail grass covered hills in the bowl of a nikau palm. Since that time the rat-tail grass has been completely eliminated.
Homes of Robert and Jessie Hull.
OTAUA
Robert Hull took up land on the Otaua swamp. The kahikatea trees were felled and burned. After draining the land and installing flood gates the land was very fertile. Bullocks were fattened on the farm. The house was built of kahikatea and was still standing in March 1973. It was shortly to be replaced after that date. He was actively interested in the Otaua Church being a guarantor. The church is still standing (1974)
In 1915 the farm was sold to Mr. Crouch and Robert Hull his wife and family moved to Auckland. There the family stayed in a boarding- house in Nelson Street overlooking the harbour. Nelson Street, at that time, was a very different place from what it became in the 1930's and later. Then they traveled to Whangarie by streamer. (Hanson cabs were still plying on the wharves at that time). After a time there, the family returned to Auckland where they boarded with a widow in Inkerman St., Onehunga (possibly Mrs. Denize), while there house was being built at McKenzies Road Mangere.
MANGERE
Robert Hull assisted the builder with this house. An acetylene gas plant was installed for lighting and heating but as the carbide was difficult to get during the War it was seldom used for cooking. On the property (about 10 acres) he fattened a few bullocks.
Franklin Hull was at this stage attending Seddon Memorial Technical College while I (Robert Wallace) attended the Mangere Bridge School.(about Std2,3,4,). When Franklin left College he commenced work at the Devonport Power Station.
The trip from Mangere was a long one involving cycling to Onehunga, catching a tram to the Auckland Harbour and then a ferry boat to Devonport from where he walked a short distance to work. This trip to and from work each day was too strenuous so Robert Hull and family moved to 45 Epsom Ave where he bought a house from Mr. George Sayers. The move took place on Armistice Day, 11th November 1918. The end of the First World War. Franklin later changed his job to work for Turnbull and Jones in Wellesley Street. Robert Hull continued to live in Epsom Ave after the death of his wife until about 1950 when he moved to Matamata to live with his daughter, Muriel Burke and with his son Robert Wallace Hull in Tauranga. Robert Hull was a keen bowler while living at Epsom Ave - First at the Mt. Eden Bowling Club at the corner of Mt Eden and Valley Rd. When the club moved to their new site in Epsom Ave Robert Hull continued to play there usually as skip. He was also Ground Superintendent for a number of years.
Robert Wallace Hull was born while the family lived at Otaua, on 18th May,1907. He attended the Otaua School, Nelson St., Whangarie, Onehunga, Mangere Bridge, and Epsom Schools. Then he went to the Seddon memorial Technical College - at first in an engineering course but at the change of Principals George George to a Mr. Parks the courses changed. The Engineering Course became a very practical one so he took the Science Course and sat Matriculation. Due to these changes most of the pupils had to sit Matriculation French on one years instruction. Some passed but Robert Wallace gained a partial pass which he completed the following year. He was a Prefect in the last year of attendance.
From here he commenced his training as a teacher.
SCHOOLS.
He was a Probationer at the Epsom School under Mr. Iremonger. Then followed 2 years at the Auckland Teachers College - The Principal being Mr. Cousins and later Mr. Duncan Rae. The fourth year as Probationary assistant was at Cornwall Park School under Mr. Birdd - a man who was Vice Consul for Equador and noted for the array of flags which he flew on special occasions.
The first appointment as a certificated teacher was at the Ngaroma School a small sole charge country school some 30 miles from TeAwamutu. This was a soldier settlement but in the depression of the 30's many of the settlers had been forced to leave their properties. A section of the road was unmetalled while for a year a stream was not bridged and had to forded - not so easy on a motor cycle especially when the exhaust pipe went under water. During the winter the clay part of the road became very muddy. For a time this could be negotiated by putting two wheels of the Austin 7, to which he had now graduated, into a rut, leaving the car in low gear and pushing. Then the car had to be left at the far side of the muddy section.
Some of the settlers would catch the wild horses (brumbies) out on the plains. When broken these horses were very cunning. On one occasion one could not be found in the school grounds. He was ultimately found in tall fern standing quite motionless.
Timber milling kept the district going during the depression. the trucks would cart out the sawn timber from a small mill until the road became impassable to lorries. Then drays carted the timber to the metalled road. When the ruts became too deep for the drays, sledges were used pulled by teams of horses. These horses would lean forward taking the strain on their traces until the sledge began to move. There was no struggling or whipping - just a very smooth take off. Mr. K. J. S. McNaughton was at a neighbouring school.
From Ngaroma he moved to Hikumutu, a few miles out of Taumarunui. About this time he was asked to be Best Man at Ken McNaughtons wedding where he met Mavis Topham one of the Bridesmaids. They became engaged a year later and were married two years later in 1936. There were just a few settlers in this area after the depression but the school and children were delightful. It was one of the few schools in the Wanganui Education Board area with an excellent grading. (This type of grading was later discontinued.) A nectarine tree in the grounds was delicious. Gradually the roll numbers fell until he was transferred to Orautoha about 10 miles from Raetihi. This was a German settlement. He had excellent board with a Mr. & Mrs. Meyer. The school had an open fire and black maire was used as firewood. It was extremely hot. It was here the story went, that while at a local function a settlers horse was unharnessed from the trap, the shafts put through a wire fence. and the hose again harnessed to the trap. Imagine the position when the inebriated owner returned to go home.
Waipu North (Locally North River) came next. The school was a large sole charge with about 30 pupils. It was situated just out of Waipu about 26 miles south of Whangarei. Before taking up the position he was married to Mavis Topham. The school was situated among tea-tree covered gum lands. Most of the children were of Scottish descent and very independent as well as being bright. One boy Ian McKay, gained a scholarship at the Whangarei High School. Later he learned that of two other brothers, the Coopers, one had become a Doctor and the other a dentist. A Mr. Danny McKay (Danny Ferry" proved a great friend to the young couple. Jeanette was born in Auckland at this stage.
As the schools in this area were to be consolidated they moved to Auckland where he taught at the
Three Kings School - the Headmaster being Mr. Smell. Here he taught Form 1 classes. Again most of the children were bright. They brought a house at Budock Road for 750 pounds and lived there for some years. Graham was born here.
To obtain promotion, next they moved to a two teacher school at Te Uku seven miles from Raglan. There was a near new house but the grounds were subject to the Westerly Winds. Barbara was born at Hamilton at this stage. This was a very pleasant district but at this stage teaching regulations were not very helpful. He found he could not get further grading in this position and without further grading he could not get a higher position. This appeared to be a stalemate so he moved again to Auckland where they lived with his Father at 57 Epsom Avenue.
ROYAL OAK SCHOOL.
The Headmaster was Mr. Hewlett. At this time the family numbered three. After several years at this school regulations were changed so they moved to
MANGAPEHI. This was a three teacher school on the main Trunk Railway Line some 20 miles south of Te Kuiti. This was a saw milling district with a great deal of timber passing out from Mangapehi mill and the surrounding mills further back in the bush. Bush railways ran back to these mills - the bush manager using a car converted to run on rails. Long rakes of logs were shunted into the Mangapehi mills - the shunters working at the run. These lines were later discarded the logs being carried by road lorries.
The school was in a valley - the sun entering the valley at 10am and leaving it at 3pm during the winter. The boiler in the furnace was stoked late at night to, prevent freezing. Water supply was a constant source of trouble - too little in the summer and too much in the grounds in the winter. Later the mill put in a supply for the settlement and supplied the school.
Staffing was difficult - one teacher relieved for two years at the school. Mrs. Hull taught in the primer classes for some time taking Barbara then 3 1/2 years old to school each day. From here the favourite spot for camping was Mount Maunganui where the warm sunshine soon cured the Winter ills. Thus for the reason to secure promotion they moved to Greerton. This was a fast growing school in the suburbs of Tauranga. There were 4 teachers at first but as the district grew the number increased to six. Robert Hull spent some time living here and died while wiyh his son in Greerton. Regulations at the time required all teachers in up graded schools to be put on transfer so they moved to WASHDYKE about three miles from Timaru. This was near his wife's old home and so once again she renewed connections with the old farm. This was a stepping stone to secure removal expenses to the South Island.
HALSWELL was quite close to Christchurch so they built a home in the suburbs near the Airport. A five teacher school growing rapidly and a delightful spot but unfortunately it suffered from a shortage of classrooms and staffing. For this reason he moved to
SOUTH NEW BRIGHTON where he could be a walking Head. The work was much easier now with no class to teach but prospects of retirement with superannuation depending on the salary of the last five years of teaching necessitated a move to a top grade school. Hence he moved to
HORNBY an industrial suburb of Christchurch. The children were very friendly and with a splendid staff he remained here for six years at the end of which he retired in Dec 1968 after 43 years teaching service.
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| Person ID |
I634 |
Frost Family |
| Last Modified |
8 Dec 2008 |
| Father |
Robert Hull, b. 14 Aug 1869, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand , d. 24 Jun 1952, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (Age 82 years) |
| Mother |
Jessie Muir Craig, b. 5 Jan 1872, d. 19 Nov 1933, Mt Eden, Auckland City, Auckland, New Zealand (Age 61 years) |
| Married |
31 May 1900 |
| Family ID |
F1071 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Mavis Evelyn Fernah Topham, b. 16 Nov 1907, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand , d. Abt 2003, New Zealand (Age 95 years) |
| Married |
26 Aug 1936 |
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Temuka, South Canterbury, New Zealand [5, 6] |
| Children |
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| Last Modified |
31 May 2008 |
| Family ID |
F194 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Event Map |
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 | Born - 18 May 1907 - Otaua, Waikato, New Zealand |
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 | Christened - 11 Jul 1907 - Holy Trinity Church, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand |
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 | Married - 26 Aug 1936 - Trinity Presbyterian Church, Temuka, South Canterbury, New Zealand |
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 | Died - 14 Dec 1979 - Tawa, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand |
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 | Buried - 18 Dec 1979 - Whenua Tapu Cemetery, Airlie Road, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Pin Legend |
 : Address
 : Location
 : City/Town
 : County/Shire
 : State/Province
 : Country
 : Not Set |
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| Sources |
- [S261] Gregor family tree, Alec Gregor.
- [S21] Birth Certificate NZ, District of Awhiti, No 29 1907 D 5887 (Reliability: 3).
- [S23] Register of Baptisms, 64 (Reliability: 3).
- [S24] Death Certificate BDM NZ, 1979/14779 (Reliability: 4).
- [S61] Marriage Certificate, Marriage Certificate. 1936. District of Temuka, No. 432 (Reliability: 3).
- [S10] Marriage Register Index , 1936/09666 (Reliability: 3).
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