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https://kitwithers.substack.com/p/descendants-of-edward-withers-1788
formerly
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/withersnz/withersnz.html
DESCENDANTS OF EDWARD WITHERS (1788-1870 Berkshire)
& JEMIMA TUBB (1803 Baydon,Wilts-1882)
CONTENTS
1. The family of Edward WITHERS (1788 Lambourn-1870 Newbury)
and Jemima TUBB (1803 Baydon,Wilts-1882 Newbury,Berkshire)
Appendices:
2. Aramoho cemetery records, Wanganui
a. Abbreviations used
b. Dates
c. Numbering systems used
d. Some letters to me from Mum and Dad
e. Index of place names -where they appear
f. Index of family names -where they first appear
g. Some web links
h. A few of my songs
PRIVACY ISSUES
The primary purpose of these family trees is to preserve the history
of the families and to enable contact between members. So I include
living members and a method of contact if I can. If for any reason you
would like your contact details excluded please let me know.
All references to freepages below are files yet to be uploaded to substack.
1. The family of Edward WITHERS (1788 Lambourn-1870 Newbury)
and Jemima TUBB (1803 Baydon,Wilts-1882 Newbury,Berkshire)
SUMMARY:
0 Edward WITHERS (1788 Lambourn-1870 Newbury)
m2 1844 Jemima TUBB (1803 Baydon,Wiltshire-1882 Newbury)
5 Edward WITHERS (1845 Newbury-1921 Wanganui)
m1 Agnes Mary NEWTON (1840 Pangbourne,Berks-1886 Wanganui)
to NZ 1884 on the RUAPEHU
52 Edward Stroude WITHERS (1871 Donnington-1922 Auckland)
m 1900 Lisa WHITSON (1872 Auckland-1936 Auckland)
521 Captain Trevor WITHERS 1901 Auckland-1981 Suva, Fiji
523 Maurice S WITHERS (1906-1942 Tripoli) m Dweena FOOTE
525 Wynn WITHERS (1914-1982 Auckland)
m Laurette RUSSELL 1918 Auckland-2010 Auckland
5251 Russell WITHERS 1942 Auckland
5252 Kit WITHERS 1943 Auckland (me)
5253 Peter WITHERS 1946-2018 Auckland m Judy
54 Ida WITHERS (1875 Donnington-1946)
m Lt.-Col. William MALONE (1859-1915)
These are from malone.html
541 Denis MALONE (1906 New Plymouth-1983) m Anita WOLFERMANN
543 Mollie MALONE (1910 New Plymouth-1979) m Richard YOUNG
5431 Tessa YOUNG 1939 London m1 John ASHTON, m2 Wm KEEGAN
5432 Clare YOUNG 1946 m1 Graham LYONS, m2 David ATKINSON
[5 Edward WITHERS (1845-1921 Wanganui)] m2 Gertrude MCEWEN
57 Roy S WITHERS (1897 Wanganui-1970) m1 Rosamond RATHBONE
571 Ted WITHERS (1925 Wanganui-1995) m Elspeth SIMPSON
5711 Peter Roy Douglas WITHERS 1951 Wanganui m Jennifer PEMBERTON
5712 Andrew Edward WITHERS 1961 Wanganui-2020 m1 Lufi SILA, m2 Jenny
5713 Timothy Swainson WITHERS 1964 Taumarunui-1991 Budapest
572 Shah WITHERS (1927 Wanganui -1992) m Janet ROBERTSON
5721 Margaret Anne WITHERS 1958 Wanganui m John BARNETT
5722 Nigel WITHERS 1959 Wanganui m Anne MATHEWS 1958 Sydney
5723 Diana WITHERS 1962 Wanganui m Robert HENNIN 1960 Dunedin
573 Ida WITHERS (1929 Wanganui) m Jock Morgan VEITCH
574 Robert James WITHERS (1932 Wanganui) m Jacqueline BOUBEE
[57 Roy S WITHERS 1897 Wanganui-1970] m2 Bruce Helen VEITCH
DETAILS:
0 0-Edward WITHERS bp 29.11.1788 Lambourn, Berks d 14.1.1870 Newbury
Farmer at
Bayley Hill Farm, Baydon. He married twice: see m1 and m2 below. Death cert.
"gentleman, of Mount Villa, Newtown Rd, Newbury" Will made 6.11.1862 at
Newbury & proved in London 25.2?.1870 left his estate to his 2nd wife Jemima
& their son Edward. Re his family bible, see 5. He inscribed the Foxe's
Book of Martyrs (2nd edition c1730, now held by Manu 52511) "Edward Withers,
Hillgreen, 1857". Hillgreen is a hamlet 2m SE of Leckhamstead on B4494. Its
manor has gone now & only 9 homes remained in 1994. See pink photo of
Hillgreen House. For more info write Mrs SUTTON, the parish clerk,
Leckhamstead, Newbury.
See also http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/fox116.htm
- I don't see WITHERS or STROUD there.]
Here is a photo of him in his latter days.
He has ID 3(10)428 1 in WITHERS OF BERKSHIRE AND HAMPSHIRE 1666-present, formerly at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/withers/withersberks.html
a branch of withers.html - yet to load these freepages to substack.For Edward WITHERS' other family trees in England, descending from
John DYSNER (b 14xx) who held the Free Chapel of Winterbourne Monckton,
Dorset of the Abbott of Glastonbury, Somerset,
Nicholas SLOPER (d between 1530 and 1538) of Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire
William WITHERS paid subsidy 1550 at Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire,
John NASH of Devizes (d 1502)
Stephen KING (b c1603 Bishops Cannings-1664 All Cannings, Wiltshire)
Thomas QUELCH (-1733 East Garston,Berkshire) and Ann CLARK (b 16xx) of Newbury,
DOBLE, HOPKINS, PALMER, STROUD, TARRANT, and TUBB, see
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/sloper/sloper.html
</pre><A HREF="../nash/nash.html">
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/nash/nash.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/king/king.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/quelch/quelch.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/stroud/stroud.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/hopkins/hopkins.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/palmer/palmer.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/tarrant/tarrant.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/tubb/tubb.html
m1 30.11.1812 Uffington sp-Sarah THATCHER (27.3.1794 Uffington-30.6.1823
Baydon) 4 children. The 3 surviving children moved to AUSTRALIA.
For this branch see THE AUSTRALIAN BRANCH at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/withersoz/withersoz.html
m2 17.10.1844 Baydon sp-Jemima TUBB bp 14.8.1803 Baydon, Wiltshire
d 18.11.1882 bur 24 Nov 1882 aged 79 at St John the Evangelist, Newbury, Berks.
Jemima WITHERS nee TUBB 1803 Baydon, Wiltshire-18.11.1882 Newbury, Berkshire. ex RA
1861 census Hill Green, Leckhampstead, Berkshire:
Edward WITHERS Head 72 b 1789 Lambourne, Berkshire
Farmers Of 93 Acres Employing 4 Men 2 Boys
ID 3(10)428 1 at withers/withersberks.html, ID 0 here
Jemima WITHERS Wife 57 b 1804 Baydon, Wiltshire Farmer's wife
- She has ID 2 at tubb/tubb.html
Edward WITHERS Son 15 b 1846 Leckhampstead, Berkshire Farmer's son ID 5 here
Mary PAGE Servant 18 b 1843 Fawley, Berkshire House Servant
1871 census, 2 Mont Felks??, Newbury Berks:
Jemima WITHERS head wid 69? 1824 Retired Farmer's wife? b Wilts, Baydon
Lucille TANCREEN?? Serv U 12? Domestic Servant b Stroude?? (county), Cocsmsa??
Next door is her brother? [?7 in tubb.html above]:
Schedule 57, 1 Mont Felks??, Newbury Berks:
James TUBB Head M 65? 1806? Retired Farmer b Wilts, Barrick Bassett
Caroline TUBB wife M 65 1806 b Hants, Bullington
Jane COOK Relation? U 69 b Wilts, Marlborough
Next door again is the father of Jemima's daughter in law Agnes Mary NEWTON:
1871 census, Belle Vue Villa??, Newbury Berks: [My NEWTON ID]
Thomas NEWTON head wid? 67 Agricultural Value?? b Oxon, South Stoke [0]
Robert NEWTON Son U 24 1847 No occupation b Berks, Pangbourne [6]
George D NEWTON Son U 30? 1841 No occupation b Berks, Woodspeen [7]
Elizabeth LENT? stewardship?? W 34? Domestic Servant b Berks, Denshworth?
1881 census a widow living with her son (ID 5) Edward and his family at
Earlstok Villa, London Rd, Batheaston, Somerset. For more details see
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/withers/withersberks.html
5 1-Edward WITHERS b 23.7.1845 Hill Green, Newbury, Berkshire d 11.9.1921
Wanganui) Buried 13.9.1921 at the old Wanganui cemetery at Heads Rd & Guyton
St, Wanganui in plot LS 10 (43 feet from aisle) with son Jason & his 2nd wife
(assuming that RS 10 and LS 10) are the same site.
Death Certificate: Edward WITHERS miller, d 11.9.1921 at Wanganui Hospital
from "343 [Victoria? missing name] Avenue,
Wanganui of chronic endocarditis 5 yrs & corchiac? syncope 5 minutes; son of
Edward WITHERS farmer and Jemima nee TUBB; buried 13.9.1921 at Wanganui
Cemetery by AO WILLIAMS Church of England; born in Newbury,England; 37 years
in NZ [so to NZ 1883/84]; m1 at Newbury, England aged 23 to Agnes Mary
NEWTON; m2 at Wanganui aged 52 to Gertrude Annie MCEWEN; leaves no widow, M
issue aged 49,47,23,3 and F issue aged 45 & 1; J MARTIN undertaker Wanganui).
1861 Newbury Rd, Leckhampstead, Berkshire: My ID
Edward WITHERS Head M 72 1789 Lambourne, Berks Farmer of 93 acres employing
4 men 2 boys 38428 1
Jemima WITHERS Wife M 57 1804 Baydon, Wiltshire
Edward WITHERS Son U 15 1845 Leckhampstead, Berks 38428 15
Mary PAGE Servant U 18 1842 Fawley, Berks House servant
1872-79 living with family by m1 at Donnington, Berkshire -see 1881 census.
Edward WITHERS 1845-1921 c1913 with son Jason, ID 58. ex Ted or Shah.
In 1880 he & his mother owned the Cross House in Eastbury near Lambourn,
Berks built by his grandfather Jason WITHERS in 1789 (ID 38428 at
withersberks.html); his address was Bailbrook Lodge, London Road, Bath &
his profession miller.
Until the 1960s Bailbrook Lodge was a "Lunatick Asylum"; it is now a
conference centre - see http://www.sundialgroup.com/BailbrookHouse/ for a
photo. I think he gave this as his address as he just living close by.
withers/BailbrookHouseProspectus1840.txt typed by Kit WITHERS from BailbrookHouseProspectus1840.jpg sent by Daniel BROWN danielbrown001@hotmail.com 2003.BAILBROOK HOUSE, NEAR BATH Bailbrook House, near Bath, has been filled up with every judiciousarrangement for the convenience & comfort of those patients whose aberration of mind renders a seclusion from the ordinary intercourse of society a matterof necessity. An eminent physician is in constant attendance & a surgeon resides in the house. The Female Department is entrusted to a lady of great experience whose attention is especially directed to the comfort & happiness ofthose under her charge. The great extent of the building makes it particularly advantageous for theseparation of male & female patients in the different wings of the establishment & also conduces to a more regular classification of diseases thanwould be possible in more confined premises. The house is situated on an eminence commanding extensive views of the countryin every direction; & from the cheerfulness of the prospects & the salubrity ofthe air, cannot but essentially contribute to the recovery of the afflicted.These advantages at the same time make it a most suitable retreat in those cases where the hope of relief may not be so promising; & as the gardens &grounds are unusually extensive, every advantage is derived therefrom that can arise from exercise & properly chosen recreation in the open air. The medical & moral treatment of the patients is conducted on the most approved system. The most mild & soothing means are unremittingly pursued, & regular attention is paid to the religious duties of those inmates whose intellectual capacities are able to receive such consolation. The success which has attended the treatment pursued in this establishment hasbeen strikingly manifested by many patients having been restored to their families & friends, whose cases when admitted appeared almost hopeless. The Terms must necessarily depend on the description of apartments, attendanceetc required; the circumstances & wishes of the patients & their friends will, however, be met in the most liberal manner. Proper attendants, male & female, sent to any distance for the removal ofpatients, if required. For further particulars, address to Mr Terry, Bailbrook House, near Bath. There is quite a lot of information about Bailbroke House in theSomerset County Records Office (including some beautiful colouredplans showing rather grim looking rooms for the inmates) - DB. In the 1881 census he was living with his wife and 6 children and mother just E of Bailbrook Lodge at Earlstoke Villa; his birthplace is listed asHill Green, Berkshire. (Hillgreen is a parish near Leckhampstead in district ofNewbury subdistrict Speen). For details of 1871 & 1881 entry see below his m1. 
1888 Ordinance Ssurvey map showing Earlstoke Villa and Mill.Daniel BROWN danielbrown001@hotmail.com 2003 notes that Earlstoke Villa is still there at 172 London Rd, now in flats, & has sent this 1880 map showingit. Bailbrook House is just off the map to the left. Below about a mile? isBatheaston Flour Mill.In 2014 Bailbrook House is a hotel in Bath: seehttp://www.hotels.uk.com/details/aab230280/Bailbrook%20House,%20Bath.htm Here are photos of Earlstoke Villa taken by Daniel Dec. 2003:
Bath's Principal Archivist Colin JOHNSTON Colin_Johnston@bathnes.gov.uk 2003:
I have checked local directories which show Edward WITHERS was only in
Batheaston for a short time. Directories were published every other
year. He does not appear in the 1880 directory, when Earlstoke Villa
was occupied by George CLARK, gentleman, and Batheaston Mill by
Matthew COOMBES, corn-merchant & miller. In 1882 Edward WITHERS,
miller, is listed at Earlstoke Villa, with COOMBES still at Batheaston
Mill. In 1884 Edward is shown at Craven House, Newbridge Road, Bath,
and descibed as a miller. Edward is not listed in 1886 [as he came to NZ 1884
with his 1st wife Agnes nee NEWTON & their 6 children on the ship
"the RUAPEHU".] COOMBES is still shown at Batheaston
Mill, so if it was there that Edward worked briefly in 1881-82 he was
an employee and not the owner. I know of no surviving records of
Batheaston Mill, and am sorry not to be able to suggest any other
source which might give information on Edward's place of employment.
DB: The Mill burnt down in 1907, it has now been converted into a Hotel/
restaurant but bears little resemplance to the original.
www.oldmillbath.co.uk/history.htm is a link to the Hotel's website. The old
photo shows how the mill used to look. Earlstoke Villa is one of the houses to
the left of it up the hill.
3.10.2014 I got an email from Emma M-O in Wanganui:
"A couple of weeks ago we
were in the Red Cross bookshop in Wanganui and when browsing through the old
books I found one that took my eye for some reason. Upon opening it I had
to laugh because a young boy had written in the book back in 1905.
The names written in the book are 'Edith [51 b 1870] & Thomas WITHERS
[53 b 1874], Craven House' and 'Edward WITHERS [52 b 1871]'.
Being the curious women we are we came home and googled the names and it
brought us to your genealogy page.
The book is called 'Historical and Miscellaneous Questions, For the Use of
Young People' by Richmal MANGNALL. It is in excellent condition considering
its age - it was published in 1853!
We wanted to contact you because we thought you might like the book back ..."
Here is the frontispiece of the book.
Here are the signatures of Edith [51], Thomas [53],
Edward [52] & Edward added in pencil much later - in 1905. The 2nd Edward was
[521] Edward Trevor Stroude WITHERS b 18.9.1901.
The family may have also lived in Reading.
He came to NZ 1884 with his 1st wife Agnes nee NEWTON & their 6 children on
the ship "the RUAPEHU".
From the Comber Index - In 1884 the RUAPEHU made two voyages to New Zealand:
27.2.1884 Arrived Auckland
8.3.1884 Arrived Wellington
13.3.1884 Arrived Port Charmers
25.3.1884 Arrived Lyttelton
Departed from Plymouth 31.05.1884
(confirmed by http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Forest/2925/wellington3.html
off "Immigrant Ships to NZ" at
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Forest/2925/shipstonz.htm )
14.7.1884 Arrived Wellington
21.7.1884 Arrived Lyttelton
Departed from London 25.09.1884 - arrived when??
** I have not been able to find them on the PASSENGER LISTS at
the National Archives, Wellington. Nor at the site of dapw@globe.net.nz
namely http://members.nbci.com/denisepeter/OurPassengerLists1.htm
nor at http://www2.symet.net/whitehouse/nzbound/siteindex.htm
However the Auckland Public Library site
http://www.akcity.govt.nz/library/family/whatship.html states
"In the Auckland Research Centre you will find:
Passenger lists from newspapers indexed for 1840-1899. Almost complete."
Can someone have a look?
I shall contact them on Library_Webeditor@akcity.govt.nz
Auckland Passenger Vessels 1838-1885
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/vessels/vessels.html
gives the 2 visits by the RUAPEHU:
Vessel: RUAPEHU
Captain's name: W. C. CRUTCHLEY
Port of departure: London via Plymouth and Teneriffe via Hobart
Date of arrival: 27 February 1884
Port of arrival: Auckland
Vessel type: Steamship
Tonnage: 4162
Notes: 2 NZL IMM, NZShCo, 17, 10 January 1884
Source: New Zealand Herald, 28 February 1884
Vessel: RUAPEHU
Captain's name: H. E. GREENSTREET
Port of departure: London via Capetown, Hobart, Dunedin and Wellington
Date of arrival: 10 December 1885
Port of arrival: Auckland
Vessel type: Steamship
Tonnage: 2655
Source: New Zealand Herald, 11 December 1885
As noted in 1884 they came to NZ with their 6 children on the ship RUAPEHU
arriving Auckland 27.2.1884.
IMG SRC=Ship_Ruapehu_24353.jpg
This postcard of the RUAPEHU c 1886 held by the National Library, is from
http://family.kiwicelts.com/20_Shipping/Ship_Ruapehu.html
The RUAPEHU 4,200 tons was one of the first 3 steamers built for the
NZ Shipping Company. Launched in 1884 she had accommodation for 61 first class
passengers, 40 second class, and 205 migrants. She was sold in 1899 to make way
for faster vessels.
I emailed Library_Family_History@aucklandcity.govt.nz 2003 for more info.
She replied:
Our databases 'Auckland Area Passenger Arrivals 1838-1886' and 'Auckland
Passenger Vessels 1838-1885' is compiled almost entirely from newspaper
shipping announcements. The newspapers noted as the source will list the
passenger list of each ship.
You will find the 'Southern Cross' and 'New Zealand Herald' on microfilm at
the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington.
<!--
Auckland Library Database descriptions A-Z
http://www.aucklandlibrary.co.nz/general.aspx?id=2653
eg1
Auckland Passenger Vessels 1838-1885
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/vessels/vessels.html
Provides details of particular ships including information on the name of the
Captain, ship's tonnage and the port of origin.
Once you have used the Auckland Area Passenger Arrivals database, this
database allows you to follow up on details of the particular ship you
are interested in. Information includes the name of the Captain,
ship's tonnage, port of origin and the source for the
information. If you wish a copy of the full passenger list from the
newspaper you can do this in person at the Central Library, or through
the website. A charge will be involved for copies.
eg2 St Stephen's Cemetery Records
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/ststeph/ststephens.html
-->
Wise's NZPO directories: 1891-7 Nixon Place, Wanganui;
1901-4 flour-miller at Upper Tutaenui Rd, Marton: going N from Marton turn R
onto Somersal Lane (before Jefferson's Rd) & L immediately to
Fitzherbert's farm, Somersal, & mill location -no longer there. The
mill was started 1864 by farmer William GALPIN & sons Charles & William.
Maureen VELVIN, a researcher for the Marton Historical Society,
cmvelvin@xtra.co.nz has very kindly sent me some photos of the
HENDERSON Mill (see below) & articles, including a copy of p15-16 of ??:
'The Tutaenui Flour Mill.'
The GALPINs called it Sedgecombe Mill. In 1878 it was sold with 220 acres
on the S side of Jeffersons Line, to Arthur FITZHERBERT who renamed it
Somersal Mill. In the 1890s it was referred to by the local as FITZHERBERT's
Mill. 'Trouble in the Mill.
About 1900 the FITZHERBERTs put in a mill manager by the name of WITHERS -
& it was at this time that there was "Trouble at Mill" & finance became
something of a problem for the mill & for Mr WITHERS.
April 10 (diary of Agnes GALPIN??): Went to WITHERS (Fitzherbert's Mill)
to get cheque for wheat but did not get it.
Customer Oswald JEFFERSON: '9 Oct 1901 - Frank sold wheat to WITHERS at
Fitzherbert's Mill for 3/1 per bushel.' And 10 days later - 'Alf [son of
Charles GALPIN or bro of Oswald??] & I carted 100 bushels wheat to WITHERS
Mill & 5 bags of wheat to grind for ourselves.' 6 days later on Oct 25,
they picked it up. 'Brought flour from Fitzherbert's Mill' Oswald noted,
'2 bags flour & 1 bag wheat meal out of 5 bags wheat.' It was a pretty poor
result...' Soon Tutaenui farmers began to go right past their own mill
& take their cartloads of grain to Hendersons Mill in Marton...
'Mill Closed. The crunch came for th emill at Tutaenui in April 1902 when
the JEFFERSONs failed to be paid for wheat they had previously sold to
Mr WITHERS. "Went to WITHERS to get cheque for wheat but did not get it", wrote
Oswald JEFFERSON on April 10. 5 days later .. the mill was closed. .. failed
to re-open, WITHERS departed the district ... & the small building with its
waterwheel was abandoned. It soon fell into disrepair & was eventually
pulled down.
Now all that remains of the once busy Tutaenu Mill is the mill race, a half-
buried Mill stone - & scattered heaps of old bricks beside the Tutaenui Stream.
[photo]' hendersonbrosmill.JPG
This is the Henderson Brothers Mill on
Tutaenui Stream, corner of Wellington Rd & Kensington Rd, painted by Colin
VELVIN c1997. Pulled down c1954-60.
He has painted many historical buildings in Marton, including St Johns Chapel,
Tutu Totara, Porewa, Marton where C of E Bishop Octs HADFIELD is buried.
After the Waiou massacre, HADFIELD got TE RAUPARAHA off the hook. Maureen &
Colin can be contacted by writing to 8 Dunallin Av, Marton 4710 or calling
06 237 6104.
TutaenuiHall.JPG
This one by Colin is of Tutaenui Hall.
1908 flourmiller 225 Victoria Ave.,Wanganui; (this site opposite the
St John PO became the Red Pepper Inn and in 2000 is a gas station;
this is contradicted below.)
1912-20 settler 229 Victoria Ave. The mill was in Taupo Quay,
& later was Smith's Carrier yard opposite the old railway station. It had a
long roofline. It is now the site of K-mart. Most wheat he milled was grown
up river by Maori. Later the Maori established 2 small mills at Tokorima &
Pipiriki. The Wanganui Herald of 12.9.1921(?) p5 col.1 notes that after
retiring from the flour industry he was on the clerical staff of the Borough
Council, that he had played Poobah in The Mikado, & was a layreader at Christ
Church. Ted 571 had receipt for 3 pounds for a burial site dated 22.12.1906
bought by Gertrude. The Rangitikei Advocate of 12.9.1921 notes that he was
well-known in Rangitikei. They are both buried at the old cemetery at Heads Rd
& Guyton St, Wanganui. He is in plot Row (LS) 10 (43 feet from aisle) LOOK
FOR ROW 10 - Row numbers are marked in aisle/grass corridor)
with his 2nd wife Gertrude.
- see there for the grave inscription & a photo: it does not acknowledge
that he was buried there. In Nov 2005 I had erected a stone on their grave.
Nearby is this grave: graveEW2.jpg
Here is the gravestone I had erected. It reads:
Edward Stroude WITHERS 1845 Hill Green,Newbury,Berkshire-1921.
Also there not acknowledged is their son Jason 58
buried 26.6.1919 (46 feet from aisle - the same as Gertrude). (The graves on
either side are BABMBER & MCCORMACK.)
Wikitree ID Withers-870. FamilySearch ID LQ5Y-LNW.
m1 30.3.1869 St Johns,Newbury,Berks. sp-Agnes Mary NEWTON b1840 Pangbourne,
Berkshire d 1.11.1886 Wanganui buried 3.11.1886 Wanganui old cemetery in
plot Row 26 (32 feet from aisle) with Edith A 51 (30 feet from aisle).
I had a stone erected on her unmarked grave Nov. 2005. LOOK FOR ROW 26!
graveAMN3.jpg Her grave is part of the lawn in this photo taken 2005:
Here is the gravestone [LOST] I had erected. It reads:
Agnes Mary WITHERS nee NEWTON b1840 Pangbourne,Berks d 1886.
Also buried there is "stillborn of Mr WITHERS buried 28.10.1896" (22 feet from
aisle - sextant's notes). Perhaps this should read 1886 when Agnes died:
perhaps this birth killed Agnes. The sextant may be reached on ph 03 343 9412.
His office is beside the crematorium in the Aramoho Cemetery
aramohocemetery@clear.net.nz 2005: 37 Paterson St, Wanganui.
1871 census, Donnington Mill, Shaw-cum-Donnington, Speen, Berks: ID
Edward WITHERS Head M 25 1846 Leckhampstead, Berks Miller employing 6 men
Agnes Mary WITHERS Wife M 27 1844 Pangbourn, Berks
Edith Agnes WITHERS Daur 1 1870 Donnington , Berks 51
Ann SMITH Servant U 19 1852 Wootten Bassett, Hants General servant dom
Maria WICKS Servant U 16 1855 Vernham, Hants Nursemaid
1881 census, Earlstok Villa London Rd, Batheaston, Somerset: ID
Edward WITHERS Head M 35 1846 Hill Green, Berks Miller employing 2 men 1 boy
Agnes M WITHERS Wife M 37 1844 Kingbourne [trans. error], Berks
Edith A WITHERS Daur U 11 1870 Donnington, Berks Scholar 51
Edward S WITHERS Son 9 1872 Donnington, Berks Scholar 52
Thomas M WITHERS Son 7 1874 Donnington, Berks Scholar 53
Ida KJ WITHERS Daur 6 1875 Donnington, Berks Scholar 54
John T WITHERS Son 3 1878 Donnington, Berks Scholar 56
Jemina WITHERS Mother W 77 1804 Bayden, [ie Baydon] Wiltshire
Hannah M WILLIAMS Serv U 17 1864 Redwye, Wiltshire Domestic Servant
Death certificate: Agnes Mary WITHERS d 1.11.1886 Wanganui of phthisu 2 years,
medical attendant P CONNOLLY last saw her 31.10.1886; daughter of Thomas NEWTON
agricultural valuator and Emma nee DEANE; buried 3.11.1886 at Wanganui Cemetery
by GL TUDOR Church of England; born in Oxfordshire,England; 2 years in NZ;
married in Berkshire,England at age 25 to Edward WITHERS; living issue: M aged
15,14,8 and F aged 11; undertaker NJ WILD Wanganui.
In the 1881 census her age is 37, that is bc1844.
Our late Oz cousin RWP ASHLEY may have had a photo of her in Newbury.
#She has ID 24 on our NEWTON tree at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/newton/newton.html
After she died the family bible of Edward's father (ID 0 here) recording the
births of his 4 sons, and an envelope with a Penny Red Stamp postmarked Ventnor
(Isle of Wight) to "Mr Edward Withers, Hillgreen, Leckhamstead, nr Newbury",
passed to her sister Harriett & down to a greatgrandson who destroyed the
bible after mailing its Book of Revelations to the widow of 525.
The reverse of the envelope read "Edward Withers was born Wednes. morng 23rd
of July 1845 at 8 oclock in the morng." Later was added "2 foot 10 1/2 inches
when 2 years one month old."
………………………………………………………………..
51 2-Edith Agnes WITHERS (17.1.1870 Donnington, Berks.) Died at 14; buried
17.9.1885 in Wanganui old cemetery in plot RN 26 (32 feet from aisle) with her
mother & sister Edith 51 in an unmarked grave.
edith_withers.jpg
Edith WITHERS, 1870-1885, ID 51, aged about 5 taken by E.T. BROOKS at Newbury
from the collection of Denis MALONE, ID 3341 at malone/malone.html
1881 census above with father: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston,Somerset,
b Donnington,Berks.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
52 2-Edward Stroude WITHERS (11.11.1871 Donnington,Berks-29.11.1922 Auckland)
Edward left property in England: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar
Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1966:
Edward Stroud WITHERS Death 29 Nov 1922, New Zealand Probate Date: 26 Jul 1929
Registry: London
WITHERS, Edward Stroud of Auckland, New Zealand died 29 November 1922
Administration with Will (limited) London 26 July to Ida Katharine Jemima
MALONE [his daughter ID 54] widow attorney of Elizabeth WITHERS widow £102/10s.
- Info thanks to Jean.
Buried 30.11.1922 at Purewa Cemetery, Block F, Row 46, plot 103: the top of the
row is WATSON at 77A, OSBORNE 77, WILKINSON 78, MONTGOMERY 79, CUMMING 80 81,
... MCGINLEY 100, GIBBS/ATKINS 101, BUCKLAND 102, WITHERS 103 unmarked,
HALL 104 unmarked, CARTER 105, ... Get map from office: Row 46 is in F just
where the roads around E island rejoin to the SW. See their website.
In 2013 I put a plaque on his grave, reading
Sacred to the memory of Edward Stroude WITHERS 1871-1922 and his wife Elizabeth
nee WHITSON 1872-1936, loved parents of Trevor, Harry, Maurice, John and Wynn.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210287686/edward-stroude-withers
Here is a photo of the plaque and gravesite.
"Ted", Edward Stroude WITHERS 1871-1922, ID 52,
from collection of Denis MALONE, ID 3341 at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/malone/malone.html
B. cert. courtesy of J & M OSBORN: Edward Stroud WITHERS b 11.11.1871
Donnington, subdistrict Speen, reg district Newbury, Berks; father Edward
WITHERS miller master, mother & informant Agnes Mary WITHERS formerly NEWTON
of Donnington, regd 14.12.1871.
1881 census: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston,Somerset, b 1872 Donnington,
Berks.
Death certificate: Edward Stroude WITHERS deeds searcher died 29.11.1922
at Queen St,Auckland from 5 Takutai St,Parnell of myocardial degeneration
c3 months & heart failure 2 hours,seen same day by medical attendant RJ INGLIS;
son of Edward WITHERS flourmiller and Agnes Mary nee NEWTON; buried 30.11.1922
at Purewa by P JAMES Anglican; born 11.11.1871 Bath,England; 38 years in NZ
[so to NZ 1884]; married in Auckland aged 29 to Elizabeth nee WHITSON now 50;
leaves issue M aged 21 18 16 12 8; JN WINKS? undertaker Auckland. Attended
school for young gentlemen in Bath. Came to NZ 1883-4 with his parents.
Deed searcher and lawyer. He frequently visited the Maori Land Court in Thames,
receiving greenstone, clubs, spears and sacks of kumara as payment. He spoke
Maori fluently & knew Princess TE PUEA. A good artist. Had a token collection.
Lived with his family at 5 Takutai St, Parnell (1902-12 Domain Drive,
Parnell; 1917 44 Gladstone Rd, Parnell.) Office at 154 Queen St. 1917-22.
1922 at 2 (21?) Takutai St, Parnell. Marriage in Weekly News Supplement
14.12.1900 p9. See wedding photo below.
A notebook to his wife-to-be before they married:
RULES. For the use & observance of Peggy WHITSON during her sojourn in the
wilds of Papakura. To be well shaken before taken.
RULES.
1. That Peggy shall read over these rules every morning before rising, & shall
conscientiously follow them during each & every day.
2. That any infringement of these rules shall be promptly reported to
Headquarters.
3. The compiler of these rules is the Headquarters.
4. That during the whole of the period of her enforced absence she shall not on
any occasion think of any person of the male persuasion with the exception of
(a) The Compiler (b) Charlie MCKINNEY (c) her respective brothers.
5. That she must think of Charlie MCKINNEY in a platonic manner.
6. That should she feel inclined to think of Dog or any other obnoxious
animal, she shall at once take a cold bath, wear sack-cloth & heap ashes on her
head.
7. That should any dance take place at Papakura, she is not to dance more than
ONE dance with the same Johny & is not to go outside.
8. That should she break Rule 7, the Compiler will have that Johny's gore.
9. That she is to keep a reserved seat & some cream prunes in the Lollie Stall
on the 23rd inst.
10. That should the strain of keeping these rules prove too much for her mental
powers, as a last resource she may think of the Bibulous one.
11. That the Compiler is very tired & is going to bed.
<!-- FamilySearch ID 9KGG-4LS -->
m 5.12.1900 St Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland sp-Elizabeth `Lisa' WHITSON
b 27.8.1872 Auckland d 26.4.1936 Auckland at 21 Takutai St, Parnell, Auckland.
Crem. 27.4.1936 Ashes were in Niche H11 Waikumete Cem., now moved.
</pre><A HREF="../whitson/1900withers_whitson_mCertL.JPG">
The L of their marriage certificate held by St Mary's archives:</A> <pre>
</pre><A HREF="../whitson/1900withers_whitson_mCertR.JPG">
The R of their marriage certificate held by St Mary's archives:</A> <pre>
Edward Stroude WITHERS, civil servant, 29 & Elizabeth WHITSON, 28; witnesses
PC [Percy Clendon] GOULD clerk, Awatapu & Dora I WHITSON, Parnell [her sister
ID 3492]; by George MACMURRAY.
paperspast has a number of entries for PC GOULD. In 1895 he had shares in the
Central Goldmining Co. In 1919 he was the Returning Officer for Raglan for a
vote on National Prohibition of alcohol. He died 1928 at 61 at his
home at 27 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell; son of Canon GOULD.
../whitson/1900withers_whitson.JPG
Their wedding photo.
A hand-coloured photo of Lisa a few years before her death - now held by me:
"A fairytale" was written for her 1883, probably by Rev MCKINNEY, vicar at
Mahurangi. In the Great Depression she gave her wedding ring to John to sell
for food. Their home was always full of visitors.
1935 at 21 Takutai St, Parnell, Auckland. The home is still there
in 1999 with a great view of Hobson Bay where her 5 sons used to spear
flounder on the mudflats. In the early morning the brothers would climb over
the fence to swim in Parnell Baths, then with a tidal entry for the water.
Dad told how one morning a shark got into the pool!
** She has ID 3493 at our WHITSON tree (Scotland 1780-1850) at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/whitson/whitson.html
Obituaries. 30?.4.1936 NZ Herald: WITHERS on April 26 at her residence,
21-23 Takutai St off St Stephens Ave, Parnell. Lisa, widow of the late Edward
Stroude WITHERS & dearly loved mother of Trevor, Harry, Maurice, John & Wynn
WITHERS. A short service will be held today (Monday) in St Mary's Cathedral
Parnell at 11am, following which the funeral will leave the Cathedral for the
Crematorium at Waikumete.
28.4.1936 Auckland Star: WITHERS on 26.4.1936 at her residence,
21-23 Takutai St off St Stephens Ave, Parnell. Lisa, widow of the late Edward
Stroude WITHERS & dearly loved mother of Trevor, Harry, Maurice, John & Wynn
WITHERS. Cremated yesterday (Monday) at Waikumete. [This is at 4128 Great North
Rd, Glen Eden 0602; ph 09-818 5615. The main gates are on Great North Rd.
Her ashes were in Columbarium niche wall, old row H, Plot 11. Funeral Director
W M MORRISON. But this no longer exists. They are now in the Ash Vault
down the path from the Chapel of Faith. There is a plaque on the ground but no
names- 19.11.2013 helen.harwood@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz on 09 818 5615.
http://waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/cm/cemeterysearch See the maps at
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/cm/pdf/cem-page1.pdf
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/cm/pdf/cem-page2.pdf]
30.4.1936 Auckland Star: Mrs Lisa WITHERS. The death occurred in Auckland of
Mrs Lisa WITHERS who had for many years been widely known in Auckland for her
kindly & generous nature. She had for some weeks been convalescing from a
serious illness, her death following a sudden & unexpected relapse. Mrs WITHERS
was the widow of the late Mr Edward Stroude WITHERS who died in 1922, & is
survived by 5 sons, Messrs Trevor, Harry, Maurice, John & Wynn, all of whom
reside in Auckland. The funeral was preceded by a service in St Mary's
Cathedral Parnell, which was attended by a very large congregation.
In 2014 I found 2 items written by Wynn when his mother died. The 1st was in
a small wallet of Trevor & had contained a flower sent to Trevor "Gathered from
Grannie Withers' Garden by her hands on the day of her death, and sent to you
from her own dear hand. Wynn 26.4.36". The 2nd appears to be Dad's notes for a
eulogy: 'Mother would want me to (1) "Fight always for that which is right".
Love & stand by my brothers. Be a man. Always help others as she did. Have the
courage of my convictions. To always see the funniest & best side of everything.
To look for what is best in people - not the worst. Be courageous when
disappointed & brave in the face of danger. Think & consider before I act, but
never falter or hesitate. Be able to face ruin with a smile. Live up her
standards of life & practise all that she taught me & be all that she hoped
I would be.'
Earlier versions of the WHITSON tree (with photos) are available on interloan
from NZ public libraries:
Kit WITHERS, "The family of Thomas WHITSON & Agnes HOGG" 1978 (2 editions),
Kit WITHERS, "The Australian descendants of Robert WHITSON", 1989
Ian R JOHNSTONE, "The family of George JOHNSTONE and Agnes WATTS" 1989.
<!-- Her FamilySearch ID is 9KGG-4L4 -->
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
521 3-[Captain] (Edward) Trevor (Stroude) WITHERS b 18.9.1901 Auckland.
bp 5.12.1901 St Marys, Parnell son of Edward Stroude Withers, civil service
& Elizabeth by Rev JT MCWILLIAM; godparents Dora Isabel WHITSON [ID 3492],
Percy Clendon GOULD [a witness at his parents wedding], & Ernest Trevor GOULD.
d 5.5.1981 Defence Club, Suva, Fiji.
Trevor planted the 2 huge poplars at 5 Takutai St, Parnell, Auckland.
He attended Auckland Grammar & did university studies.
3 letters he wrote in 1923 aged 21-22 while a Searcher of Titles in Auckland,
to his uncle Roy WITHERS [ID 57 below:
Stationary 'Trevor S WITHERS, Searcher of Titles, 3rd floor, Short's Buildings,
Queen St, Auckland Tel 1768, Residence 4035, PO Box 948.'
10.2.1923 Dear Old Man, I have not heard from you since writing you at your
camp in the back blocks - but suppose you must me up to your neck in work,
as I am - I have not yet succeded in getting very much further as regards
fixing up Dad's matters. I finally got a letter from Christensen & S, in which
they gave me hell for not bringing matters to a head long ago - & stated that
they were most dissatisfied with my part in the business. They also stated that
a separate agreement agreement had been signed in Oct 1921 by the 4 trust
creditors in which they agreed amongst themselves that they were to pay cash
henceforth for all work done by Dad.
I knew nothing of this but Phillips' a/c had got up to P88. I told C & S this
& they have instructed me to collect their pro rata share of this amt
immediately - & alsp at least P25 of the book debts. I sent their letter on to
Phillips but have not yet had a reply. I had a letter from Phillips however
in which he stated he had seen C & S who had agreed to give either Phillips or
Downers authority to settle all trust matters in connection with the estate.
If this is so it should simplify matters a lot - I am acting on Kent's advice
& just waiting for definite instructions from Phillips before calling all the
creditors together.
Work has been simply pouring into the office - I managed to put over P30 on
the books last month - which wasnt bad considering it was a short month & that
I was absolutely on my own.
I am leaving for Te Kuiti on Monday night to prosecute a couple of important
Board applications there - & received instructions from Porrett this morning
to prosecute several of his at the Thames court next week. So that looks better
doesnt it?
But I cannot go on like this much longer - I am all nerves now - as I get
down to work before 9 & finish with the last car at 1130pm. I have been on this
stint for 7 long weeks now - & am feeling pretty dopey as a result.
If I could only Miss Phillipson back things would be better - but she cannot
be expected to come back until I can be sure of paying her screw(?) - which is
not yet.
I have not been able to able to brick(?) any of the registration for 6 weeks
& as a result there are piles of it in the Office.
Gilpillan gave instructions to an Auckland solicitor to prosecute unless
I settle his matters immediately. I went into things thoroughly with the chap
however, * I think I have squared him now.
Life is hell, old man, but I feel a better man for it all - And I've learned
more in the last 3 months than in the preceding 4 years.
So I'm going for my life to keep things going. You must not think I forget
to write if I am slow in answering letters. You really can have no idea of
what I have to do. Sometimes I feel that unless I chuck it all I will go mad -
but the mood passes & I go on again.
Dear old Mum is not too good. She has 7 people in the house now & works like
the devil. I hope she does not go bung.
The kids are all fine & Wynn asked me to send his love when I next wrote you.
Drop me a line old man when you get this - I need it. It's useless trying to
thank either you or Kent for all you have done for me - but I am grateful old
son. It's after 11 - I must go for my life.
Cheerio old bean, Trev.
Forgive this hellish scrawl - I've forgotten how to write decently.
.............................................................................
Stationary 'Trevor S WITHERS, Searcher of Titles, 3rd floor, Short's Buildings,
Queen St, Auckland Tel 1768, Residence 4035, PO Box 948.'
2.7.1923 Dear Roy, Have written to you on 2 occasions but suppose you have the
common complaint - overwork. I'm still up to my neck in it here. I spent the
whole of last week travelling & got as far south as Taumarunui where I
collected 3 fresh agencies. I also had a bit of luck in Te Kuiti as i got a
contract for 600 searches - Native & European - at a fee of 5/- per search.
This works out at P150 for the job but considering the work entailed is not
such a big fee as it sounds. They want me to search the whole of the Borough
in order to bring their rate rolls up to date. (Dad searched the whole Township
last year for 25 guineas!)
The day book total for June was a record - P80. But still I never seem to
have more than P20 or so in the bank & this soon goes. However I'm about 1oo
ahead of things on the books - & considering the capital? on which I started,
I suppose I should not complain. Kent has been laid up for 5 weeks with a
nervous breakdown but is now back in town & is drawing up a Deed of Release
from the old creditors.
It's as late as the devil, old man & I must go for the last car.
Mum is still up to her eyes in it & still on the 250 cakes per diem stunt.
Drop me a line & let me know how things are with you.
Roy, will probably leave again for Thames on Thursday. - Have 2 big
investigations of title cases down there - so wish me luck.
As ever, Yours, Trev
[On side: All this is not indended for swank old man - I have not forgotten
what I owe to you! Trev.]
.............................................................................
PO Box 948, Auckland. 21.9.1923
Dear Roy,
Just a line or two to see if you are still alive & kicking. You are presumably
going like the very devil as usual. I wish I had your continual energy &
initiative. Things up here are still fairly good. I have now come to the end
of the Waitomo County searches totalling about 800 & am waiting for the
Te Kuiti Borough Council staff to arrive. There should be about another 600 in
this lot. I am now waiting in the office to keep an appointment with the Town
Clerk & Mayor relative to this matter.
Last month was easily a record - my daybook total for the month reached the
amazing sum of P151.15.8 which is really quite good considering that only
Miss Phillipson & I were doing the work. I accordingly put Hilda's screw up to
P4. I still have the younger girl in the office at 30/- mainly to keep the
books & keep he office open when everyone is out. For some time past I have
been worried about my Deeds searching. It's rotten & very complicated work &
I have been unable to put in much time on it. I finally talked things over with
Kent & decided to advertise for another clerk. I did so & had several good
replies. After interviewing the most promising of the applicants I finally
selected your old friend Les Adams, who was chief conveyancing clerk with
Thorne & Thorne. He's a very good chap both peronally & at his work. He started
in with me on Monday & has turned out very good & difficult work indeed.
Providing the supply of work continues, things should now go ahead all serene.
This month should reach about P110 I think - last month's total also being
increased by the fact that I had 15 Board & Court cases in all of which I was
lucky.
The family are all well. Harry has a broken nose at present & I have a black
eye! Quite a handsome pair. Harry got his playing football on Wednesday against
the slaughtermen! and I was unwise enough to get in the way of a very straight
left at the gym where I occasionally do a bit of sparring in order to help
counteract the effects of this continual last car every night stint.
GP Finlay of Broadfood & Finlay has now commenced to practise as a barrister
in Auckland. I was successful in securing the whole Queen St frontage of the
1st floor below for his offices - 1 of the finest suites in town. He had a big
win for his 1st case here on Wednesday. 2 chaps - a boxer & a trainer - were
charged with running a bogus lottery. The trainer briefed TS Sullivan & the
boxer, Smith, came to me, thinking I was a solicitor. I took him to Fin who
finally agreed to take the case, which looked abashedly hopeless, as both men
were guilty as the devil. Finlay took 2 hours to deliver his closing speech to
the Court. It was absolutely wonderful. Smith was immediately discharged &
the other chap got P400 or 12 months! All the leading counsel of Auckland were
in Court & Finlay is now the talk of the town, which is good as he's a damn
fine chap. He uses my office & me quite a lot & I can use him in the same way.
So with luck I should be able to suck up quite a lot from him.
Drop me a line & let me know how things are going with you old man.
Mother & the boys send their regards & Mother asked me to send her love to
Rosemary. [Presumably Roy's 1st wife Rosamond Malvina RATHBONE 1898-1961.]
I must tear for it old son.
As ever, Trev.
.........................
In those letters Trevor was 21, here he is in the middle in Fiji in his 40s:
Trevor & 5 other men "riding" 6 tiger sharks taken c1960.
On the back: `To Helen & Margaret,
Here is a photo of your Uncle Trevor (in the middle) with some big and very
dangerous Tiger Sharks, & with his fishing buddys. The big shark in the middle
is over 17 feet long. We dragged them into shallow water & then rode them like
horses. It was great fun. Much love. Uncle T.'
1923-35 he is listed as a searcher of titles for WITHERS & WITHERS
(a partnership with his father) at 154 Queen St then 27 Shortland St, Auckland,
mostly dealing with Maori land claims. He represented his father after his
father's death at a big hui near Taupo after winning a case involving a lot of
land for a tribe there. (Tuwharetoa??) He knew Governor General JELLICOE and
once rushed up to him in a procession asking "Have you seen Margot?
(BLOOMFIELD)" recalls his cousin Gordon MURRAY. Joined RNZAF; his
1939 attestation sheet lists: calling - organiser & company director, last
employed by NZ Freedom Association, 4 years in cadets, 3 years in
Territorials 1st Auckland Regiment; in 1942 at Rukuhia as equipment
officer"; 1943 took sick leave from No 1 ACV, Otahuhu to Huka Lodge, Taupo;
1943 promoted from Flight Lieutenant to Squadron Leader in the Royal NZ
Airforce in WW2; in 1944 living at 23 Takatai St (in Wise's PO Directory?);
1945 sheet lists his civil occupation as share broker. 1946 release sheet
from Hobsonville gives station: NNEP, RNZAF Trade: EI, civil occupation:
company director; total service 6 years 191 days; home address: 7 Summer St,
Devonport; overseas service: nil. War Medal, NZ War Services Medal. 1946
Medical Board sheet lists his proposed future address as c/ Harold GATTY,
Pan Am, Suva as from 20.4.1946. In 1947 he moved to Fiji and leased a boat,
the ADI BETTY, and trawled for tuna from Nalauwaki village in Waya Island in
the Yasawas. A number of locals worked for him including Jone NORMAN (whose
grandson Trevor WITHERS 2 was named after him
- see family Y2 at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/fiji/wayafamilies.html
and Savenaca RATUMEALE. About 1947 he sent these 2 & 2 others to the US.
They brought back 4 fishing boats. (This was a joint
venture with aviator Harold GATTY who later started Fiji Airways.) They had a
total of 8 boats. An Englishman, Captain WRIGHT of the Fijian Army, joined
them. (These details came in 2000 from Mosese NACAKE (b1933) </pre><A
HREF="../fiji/wayafamilies.html"> - see family NL3</A><pre>
He founded a tuna business, the South Seas Marine Products, based at the Bay
of Islands, Suva with aviator Harold GATTY.
However this venture failed and GATTY went on to found Fiji Airways,
giving Trevor a free pass on it which Qantas (later Air Pacific)
still honoured when they took it over. Fiji Times 1.9.1976: "There were
only 2 such tickets issued & they were in pure gold sheets 3" by 4" with
hinges...The wording goes something like this: `Captain Trevor Withers, his
wives (in plural), his pets under proper care, shall travel gratis with Fiji
Airways all routes.'... in semi-retirement he operates from one of the outer
island resorts Plantation Village in Malolo Lailai. ... Capt Withers caught
the flying bug from none other than the Trans-Pacific champion Captain
Charles KINGSFORD-SMITH. `I learned to fly beside Smithy after we met in NZ
during his 1st Tasman Flight...'... He met Mr GATTY in Auckland when the
veteran of round-the-world flight was negotiating for Pan Am to have landing
rights in Auckland. `Harold GATTY was a navigator of a class of his own. He
was the hero of the book "Around the World in Eight Days" - he was a true
Tasmanian - he refused American President ROOSEVELT's offer for an American
citizenship.'... Capt. WITHERS before coming to Fiji with Mr GATTY, had
formed a company in NZ called Great Pacific Airways. It later became
National Air Corporation... He bought the 1st TURAGA LEVU (his 1st cruise
boat) a 42 footer used by Civil Aviation at Laucala Bay as a crash boat.
Thus the Blue Lagoon Cruises was born. It was Fiji's 1st..."
1950/51: MY TURAGA LEVU (the name of his boat), Box 5, Lautoka where he had an
apartment. His agent in Suva was Bob PARKES at the Defence Club. He built a
4 bedroom home at Yalobi on land of </pre><A HREF="../fiji/wayafamilies.html">
Timoci SAYABA (family WL2)</A><pre> looked after by Savenaca ULUIBAU (son of
Ratu Sir George CAKOBAU, Vuni Valu, Tui Kabu, Governor General) and his wife.
trevbure.jpg
Some photos of Trevor's bure.
After it was destroyed by Hurricane BEBE in 1972 he retired to Dick SMITH's
Musket Cove, Plantation Island in 1972.
Early photos of Trevor on Waya, & the TURAGA LEVU.
19.12.1956 The (NZ) Weekly News p8 'Man from Auckland is HIGH CHIEF OF TROPIC
ISLES. Just off the western end of Fiji there is a chain of islands so small
that they are only specks on a map of the Pacific. They are called the Yasawas,
& the Fijians who live there are rarely seen by outsiders. Only 1 white man,
in fact is allowed to visit the islands - a NZr Trevor S WITHERS, who runs a
weekly yacht there & takes a few passengers along, by permission of the Yasawa
king. Capt WITHERS has a unique relationship with the Yasawan people. He is
their honorary 'High Chief', entitled to all their ancient honours....
We sailed with Capt WITHERS the other week. It was the kind of trip that
people dream of, when they dream of the South Seas. The islands were incredibly
beautiful, the people were enchanting, & time counted for nothing. But the real
charm of the journey was the bond between the white chief & his adopted people.
Their friendship began in 1946 when [he] agreed to chart the reef-strewn area
& see if tuna fish fleets could operate in its waters.... He was warned that
the Y'n people were sullen & that some might even still be cannibals. (As a
matter of fact we met one old man renowned for eating a white sailor named
PHILLIPS 78 years ago [1878] when he was 12. He only ate the fingers but he
told us that they were a real delicacy when cooked in coconut cream - far
better than chicken.)
In any case Capt WITHERS found that the Y'ns had refined their idea of a
good meal. They were not sullen but they were very shy. He established a base
camp on one of the islands & hired Yasawa boys to work on his tuna clippers.
He held a 'medical parade' for them every day, & soon people came from all over
the Y's for 1st aid. In 3 years he came to know them well.
The project ended in 1949, & [he] told the old king that he was closing the
camp & pulling right out. The king said he could not just pack up & go. He
sent a msg to his people & they came in canoes from all over the islands to say
goodbye. The ceremonies lasted 3 days & nights, & everybody was close to tears
in the end. The king conferred on [him] the title of 'turanga levu', or high
chief. 'When you come back you will receive all the courtesies normally given a
visiting high chief according to strict Fijian custom. Also tomorrow we are
going to start building you a big house. Every day it will be swept & the grass
will be cut, so that your home in the Y's will always be ready.'
[He] spent 18 months closing down the project in Suva & was about to return
to his home town Auckland. Suddenly he hit on the idea of running a passenger
cruise to the Y's. He bought a motor yacht, hired a crew & announced his
cruise. Not 1 person showed up. For more that a year he stubbornly made regular
trips to the Y's, carrying only his crew & some mail. His 1st trip he planned
to last 5 days, but there were so many welcome-home ceremonies that it took him
17 days to make the circuit. He told the king that this sort of thing could not
go on every week - the Y's had more important things to do, & besides, it was
no way to run a cruise. At last the king agreed to omit every ceremony except
the 1st one -'You are Turanga Levu, & we would violate our custom if we did not
give u the traditional welcome each time u visit the Y's. I will always expect
u to call on me 1st.'
Consequently when we sailed with [him] from Lautoka ... he sailed 1st to
Yalombi, the senior royal village. He instructed us on our duties in the
ceremony, which is one of the most sacred in Fijian life.
When we came ashore, the king & men of the vlg were waiting in the main hut.
Outside [he] made the ceremonial request for permission to enter. The answer
came back in a low rumble from the men inside. We walked in between 2 rows of
seated warriors, all in ceremonial dress, with their eyes blackened. There
were about 30 men altogether. The hut was quite dark & eery.
We shook hand with the king, a handsome old man with a head that might have
been made of polished mahogany, & gave him the respectful greeting
'Bula, riki'. Then we sat cross-legged in front & the ceremony began.
It was a stunning ritual. It has a primitive grandeur as the warriors danced
& shouted their ancient chants, chants so old that many of their words are no
longer in the Fijian language. There was a tension in the hut as presents were
exchanged between the king & Capt WITHERS & the ceremonial drink of yangona
(kava) was mixed. In an intensely dramatic moment, the king's cup bearer came
forward in a rigid dance to the insistent beating of a drum, his eyes glazed,
& poured each of us a drink in a coconut shell. We all toasted the king & drank
in turn. Every action followed by a stylized pattern.
Finally the tension broke, the ceremony ended, & we walked about the hut
talking with the men. The king gave [him] the freedom of the Y's. The doors
of his domain were now open, & we walked around the vlg, which was full of
cheerful chn & women.
In the days that followed we went ashore in many small vlgs. [He] always
brought his present of yanggona root, as dictated by custom, & he was always
received by the local chief. He was always greeted with affection .. anchor,
kids would flock down to the beach to wave. The chn were enormously
attractive, with quick smales & warm nature." ... William K ZINSSER,
NY Herald Tribune.
Photo: The outlying village of Mataylevu in the Yasawas, is built under the
shade of spreading breadfruit trees.
24.4.1957 The Honolulu Advertiser: 'How to win a South Sea Island. [photo of
Trevor] The Pacific Area Travel Assocn is sponsoring a "Win a Pacific Island"
contest. Ava Ava (after Ava GARDNER) is the renamed island of Yawalu on the
fringe of the Yasawa group [where] Capt BLIGH sailed after being cast adrift
by the mutineers of the BOUNTY. Cutthroats & pirates once lay in wait in other
Fiji waters. 100 years ago the Fijis were known as the Cannibal Isles...
In Hawaii today is the man I've dubbed the Great White Father of the Yasawas,
Trevor WITHERS... All you have to do to win is complete a line in a limerick.
Winner will inherit a lifetime tax free lease on the island; a real little
house & outrigger canoe. Capt WITHERS will haul you out there ...
We both held a torrid dislike for the late Zane GREY, the frontier novelist
& deep sea fisherman... [TW], a NZ fishing champ, was one of those outraged &
once took the pleasure of telling off the great Zane GREY...'
In 1976 he retired & moved from his flat in Lautoka to Dicks Place on
Malolo Lailai Island near Lautoka. By 1979 he had moved to the Defence Club,
Suva.
1.9.1976 Air Pacific Supplement. "2 men with one obsession in common. The
only person living in Fiji today who knows the inside story of how Air
Pacific came into being is 'Fiji's father' of outer island tourist cruises,
Captain Trevor WITHERS...' Sam BERWICK. For Photo & material see March 1981
below.
30.12.1978 Fiji Sun. Queen's honours list. "CAPT. EDWARD TREVOR STROUDE
WITHERS, MBE, 77, [photo] is one of the pioneers in opening up the outer
islands as a tourist resort. He has made an invaluable contribution to the
tourist industry in the country & in getting the Fijian people involved with
the industry. Capt. WITHERS is now retired & lives at Malololailai in the
Yasawas. He 1st came to Fiji shortly before the outbreak of WW2 to negotiate
with govt the establishment of a daily air service around Viti Levu & Levuka
using small flying boats & amphibious aircraft. Negot'ns were abandoned in 1939
owing to the then rapidly deteriorating international situation, the prelude to
WW2. Until the outbreak of the War, he had operated a specialized land agency
practice in Auckland, & was also Managing Director of the General Trust &
Investment Corpn. [He] had enlisted in the Royal NZ Airforce in 1939 & was
demobilised in 1946 in the rank of Squadron Leader. He then flew to FIji with
the late Mr Harold GATTY to establish South Seas Marine Products Ltd, a Fiji
company formed as a vehicle with which to organize & operate a large operation
in the country. Upon its winding up in 1950 [he founded &] operated the now
world-famous Blue Lagoon Cruises which run 3 day trips to the Yasawas.
Forced by a serious coral infection to retire from active management of Blue
Lagoon Cruises, he retired to Yaqlobi, Waya, Yasawas where the villagers built
him a magnificent bure-type home... demolished by Hurricane BEBE in 1972.
Capt. WITHERS has since moved to Malolailai."
The Pacific Island Monthly Nov. 1966 p121-125 "The man who put the Yasawas on
the map" has photos of Trevor and his luxurious bure in Yalobi.
trev672.jpg An article from the Pacific Island Monthly p51 August 1967 </A><pre>
"Fiji's Captain Withers is off to sea again" with a photo
"Captain Withers' new TURAGA LEVU shows off her paces in Lautoka in July."
14.6.1980 Fiji Beach Press p 20-21. "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BLUE LAGOON!
by Emelita WENDT." Photos: 1) A big moment during the 30th anniversary cruise
for Capt Trevor WITHERS, who was called on to cut the special cake. He got a
helping hand from Blue Lagoon crewman Ame NAULUTEGU. 2) After the traditional
welcome for the Governor General Sir George CAKABAU, Yasawa-i-rara villagers
gathered once more on the beach to say goodbye to their visitors from the
MARIEANDA. 3) Eroni ROKUA, matanu vanua (or spokesman) for the GG, accepts the
sacred tabua (whales tooth) from the Yasawa chiefs during special welcome
ceremonies at the start of the cruise. 4) At Yalobi village on Waya Island,
villagers presented gifts of food & mats for their honoured guests. Yalbi was
1st place of call for the MARIEANDA. 5) Blue Lagoon's anniversary cruise boat
MARIEANDA anchored off Yasawa-i-rara last Sat. pm to allow the GG & his party
to go ashore & be welcomed by the villagers. 6) The GG Ratu Sir George CAKABAU
& Capt Trev' W' sharing a quiet moment on deck during the 30th anniv'y cruise.
7) A cocktail party preceded the special Anniv'y Dinnear aboard the MARIEANDA.
Pictured are Adi Lady Lelea CAKOBAU, wife of the GG, Mrs Anna DIXON, & Mrs Pam
WILSON, wife of the Blue Lag's chair David WILSON. 8) Delightful children from
the Ratu Naivalu Memorial school at Yalobi gathered on the vlg green for the
special welcome ceremony. 9) Men from Naviti Island entertaining aboard the
MARIEANDA during the Anniv'y Dinner. 10) Ratu Vuki BELO, the Tui Naviti, & a
member of the Great Council of Chiefs, was an anniv'y guest. 11) Blue Lag's
chair David WILSON. He annouced a special payment of $15,000 for the Yasawa
people to mark the company's 30th anniv'y. "A CRUISE TO REMEMBER.
The satisfaction showed plainly on the gnarled faces of the elderly chiefs
as Blue Lag'n [ship] MARIEANDA, festive flags flying, slipped thru the
beautiful Yasawa islands last weekend. This was no ordinary cruise. But then
celebrating a 30th anniv'y isnt an everyday event. And BL wanted to make it a
party to remember - for the village elders whose islands have helped the
company provide 1000s of overseas people with one of Fiji's best visitor
experiences. So to share in the company's success & to forge stronger links
between the Yasawa people & BL, came a rare & dignified gathering of Y chiefs
& their wives, some to see for the 1st time other islands & vlgs of the Group.
Adding special significance to the occasion was the presence of their 'Momo
Levu', High Chief, the GG Ratu Sir GC, who is also Paramount Chief of Fiji. He
and Adi Lady Lelea CAKOBAU were main guests. ... the 'Cavu i kelekele', the
Fijian ceremony of welcome .. enveloped the tall white-haired ex-RNZAF pilot
who set out on a launch 30 yrs before on the very 1st Y cruise run -CTW (73),
now retired & living in Suva... 'I could never have made it without the support
of the Y people. They kept urging me on, particularly when in those early days
there were no fare-paying passengers in sight .. "tabu soro" was the saying,
"never give up" .. & I didnt.'
... When war broke out [Ratu Sir George] recruited some of the men from the
area for the Solomons Campaign. The dance leader, brandishing his club in
salute, was one of them... Remember the legend of the young lovers who sought
refuge in a secret cave on Sawa-i-lau [N of Waya - google it for photos!]
where the woman hid in a submerged grotto until they could escape? Or the story
of the enormous eagle who carried off & killed a woman who was fishing near
the Vanua Levu coast. The woman's fiance & his cousin followed it & eventually
found it sleeping in its lair on the Saw-i-lau - & killed it.
Anniversary cruise guests visited the famous cave on Saw-i-lau where
inscriptions, which have long puzzled archaeologists, are found on its walls.
'It was a very long time ago' the old Ratu from Tamasua & rightful owner of the
cave, croaked in his dialect, nodding with pleasure as some dived into the
clear chilly depths of the pool. 'Now nobody knows what [the inscriptions]
mean'."
March 1981, 'Fiji' volume 4 number 2, p8 Ministry of Information, Suva:
Photo of Captain WITHERS [CW] with (dog) Ringo waiting on the airstrip 1976.
"The Man With The Golde Ticket, by Sam BERWICK.
He saw the potential in outer island cruises for tourist. - More than 30 years
ago he bought a 42 footer crash boat, thus the Blu Lagoon Cruises was born.
Fiji's 'father' of outer island tourist cruises and one of 2 persons who knew
the inside story of how Air Pacific came into being, had died in Suva at .. 79.
He was Captain Trevor WITHERS, KCMC, as he was known to his close friends (I
will explain his title later in this story), was one of only 2 persons who had
a complimentary air ticket to fly by Air Pacific at any time & to anywhere the
airline lands. The tickets are in pure gold sheets 7.5cm by 10 cm with hinges.
The one given to CW is under safe custody with one of his banks.
He told me in 1977 that the wording of his ticket, 'Goes something like this:
Captain Trevor WITHERS, with his wives (in plural), his pets under proper care,
shall travel gratis with Fiji Airways all routes'. The gift was a token of
friendship given to him by Mr Harold GATTY whose brainchild Air Pacific is.
... Born in NZ .. CW came to Fiji with Mr GATTY more than 35 years ago. In
Partnership with Mr GATTY they formed & operated the South Seas Marine
Products, a tuna fishing company based at the Bay of Islands, Suba.
CW who up to 3 years ago when he came to Suva for a retired life at the
Defence Club, ... was still active in fishing the deep blue waters of Fiji
marline coast & operated from one of the outer island resorts, Plantation
Village on Malolailai... [In 1976] we drove up to the captain's bungalow on a
hill overlooking the then newly built island resort that was to be called 'The
Last Resort'. This was being built by resort developer veteran Mr Dick SMITH.
During our tour of the island & meeting some old friends like Fred CARTER
who for many years was manager of Cathay Hotel at Lautoka, Peggy BARRINGTON,
widow of Frank B'N, who was manager of Nadi Hotel during the 50s & 60s, & the
then manager of Plantation Vlg Resort, Fred VAN WILLES, I noticed that altho'
CW was a Kiwi, he carried the air of an English country Squire.
Now seated under the canopy of the bungalow, CW with his light grey jungle
suit & silk scarf knotted tightly round his neck & sipping a glass of dry
martini, spoke very quietly about the past & his association with Harold GATTY.
'Harold was more than just a friend to me. It is probably because we had 1
obsession in common - flying & operating air transport', CW said.
CW was a Squadron-Leader in the RNZAF during WW2. Before the war he had a
unique legal practice in NZ which he inherited from his father. The practice
involved court work for Maori lands handled by a special Court which had its
own Chief Justice & judges. CW caught the flying 'bug' from none other than
the Trans-Pacific hero Captain Charles KINGSFORD-SMITH. 'I learned to fly
beside Smithy after we met in NZ..'" End of page. I dont have page 9.
I had a 40 page booklet written by Trevor c1980, 'Your Blue Lagoon Cruise!
The story of how it started way back in 1950 & how its grown since then.'
Designed as a give away for passengers. trevsbookletp2.jpg
Here is p2 of that booklet.
Mentioned are 'the old Tui Waya, Ratu Jone
NAIVALU' p4, 1896-1956, who told Trevor via mime to get Epeli VOLI from Namara,
Waya Lailai, as he spoke English, Bauan and Wayan. Epeli was 17 & had piloted
the BULI. This was Tui Waya 2, with ID 1 at (a) of Y1 of
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/fiji/wayafamilies.html
See there for his family tree. p13 mentions the Lapida people whose
pottery shards from c2000BC are found in Fiji. Trevor's booklet mentions as
crew, the mate, Veniasi, the engineer Kitione, Peni 15, & the chef Babu Ram.
1st passengers were Colonel Stanley WOLFE & wife Elsie of Washington DC.
A different wife is given at
http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/mssfind/285/WolfeStanleywebpage.htm -
'... The 37th Infantry Division arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942...'
p29: '... 3 months passed - on 12 cruises of 4 days each, [only] 27 paying
passengers... Faced with bankruptcy... he sold his car, his few shares in
Australian companies, ... [for] 7000P. Then to his friend Grant MCCONACHY,
former bush-pilot & founder of Canadian Pacific Airway, .. he outlined a ..
plan... He then approached all of the airlines then flying the Pacific,
including Pan Am & BCPA [&] CPA. To the heads of each he said in effect "If
you will help me publicize & sell my new Blue Lagoon Cruise.. I'll .. travel to
North America to deliver lectures & slide-shows about Fiji .. all major west
coast.. cities.. invite all leading west coast travel agents.. This will be a
joint venture..' [With] 60 .. transparencies withers flew to North America on
his make or break mission. He gave 2 .. parties in Hawaii & then flew on to
Vancouver. In .. 5 weeks he gave 31 cocktail parties & slide shows.. Kitione
& the crew had .. kept TURAGA LEVU spotless..' p32 Don SIMPSON, copra planter
from Savusavu lent him 2000P at 5%. p33-34 he sells the 42' TURAGA LEVU for the
56' VITI 2. p35 In 1966 the people of Waya built him a magnificient bure &
guest home in Yalobi - destroyed in 1972 by Hurrican Bebe. p36 The takeover by
Capt Claude MILLAR & his 112' Fairmile LA RITA. Auckland's best boat builder
Jim YOUNG made him a boat. p37 In 1970 the ROMANDA, the 125' LYCIANDA bought by
Blue Lagoon, & 2 more in 1972 & 1976. In 1976 MILLAR had owned another
Fairmile motor-vessel, the COLVILLE, formerly a sub chaser, whaler &
lighthouse supply ship. It was refitted as the SAYANDRA.
p39 'The Company pays .. fees to the Fijians of the Yasawas - such payments
in 1978 exceding $31,000 apart from dividends paid upon a substantial parcel
of .. stock .. presented by the Company.' (Were these held by the Tuis?)
Sale of shells and artifacts bring the Yasawas c$20,000 pa... When Capt MILLAR
retired to NZ 1978, a new company, Marine Management Ltd, bought a controlling
interest in Blue Lagoon Ltd with chair David WILSON & Genl Manager Andrew
DRYSDALE. In 1979 the company was awarded a contract for LYSIANDA as a
'floating hotel' for .. filming .. BLUE LAGOON in the Yasawas, 21 years after
Capt WITHERS had watched the earlier filming of the story with Jean SIMMONS
as its star. p40 Trevor is awarded an MBE, & became a director of Blue Lagoon
Cruises Ltd.
I understood that Trevor was the 1st European to learn the Yasawa dialect.
But andrew.pawley@anu.edu.au wrote me 29.9.2014 "Two weeks ago I went to
the posthumous launch of a book by the late Aubrey Parke, which contains
information about the origins of the clans in all the Yasawa Is. and NW Viti
Levu, collected when he was a young D.O. in the 1950s. He wrote this up for his
PhD thesis, completed in 2007 when he was 81 and died soon after. ...
The best Standard Fijian-English dictionary is still Arthur Capell's 1941
A New Fijian Dictionary, though it is out of date ...
It's not quite true to say that your uncle Trevor was the first European to
learn Wayan. Sir Trevor's command of Wayan was limited to some words and a
few phrases. He used to speak humbug Wayan to impress passengers on his boat,
in cahoots with Dawai and other crew, who knew his routine. One of his
favourite humbug expressions was qwataqwata bogibogi, manumanu qwaqwa,
literally 'early in the morning, strong animal', shouted as a captain's
command. The first European to become fluent in Wayan was probably me, though
of course I can't be certain of that. Waya may have had its beachcombers."
Andy's Wayan dictionary of 1400 pages is nearly ready to publish.
Robert BROWN wrote me 15.12.2009: "I am one of the two partners to whom Trevor
sold his Game Fishing business, and the MV TURAGA LEVU, in 1976 at Lautoka.
My partner at the time, Jonathan WILLIS, died at sea in the early '80s, and the
business was sold... Trevor was a fantastic chap, and Jon and I spent many
hours with him listening to some of his outrageous adventures in the Pacific.
I always felt that his "Captain's logs" would have made the basis of a great
docu-novel, or even a movie script. I admired him greatly."
- Robert.Brown@parliament.nsw.gov.au
After Trevor died Dick SMITH showed my parents Trevor's tabuas (whales' teeth).
(His will made no mention of him or Dick SMITH.)
A street in Lautoka is named after him, Captain Withers Street. See Weekly
News 28.6.1971 p4. He loved trout fishing & deep sea fishing. His MBE was
announced in column 1, page 1 of the Fiji Sun for 30.12.1978.
Here is a cutting headed 13 PEOPLE HONOURED,with a photo of CAPT. WITHERS.
This same pdf also has a photo of Trevor
from the Fiji Times for 25.5.1968 with a black marlin: 'This 201lb black
marlin, king of the deep seas game fish, ended a 15 year quest for the species
in the Yasawas by Capt TS WITHERS. Although a baby of the family, it gave him
a scrap of over 2 hours last week as he fished from his launch TURAGA LEVU
15 m W of Yaqeta. It was taken on a 50lb line with a 50lb Tasma rod & 6/0 Penn
reel with a lure of Capt WITHERS' own design.'
trevor2.jpg
His letter on p4 of the Pacific Islands Monthly for May 1979 has a photo of
him </A><pre>
and explains his apellation KCMC: Kindly Call Me Captain! At that point he
had moved from Dick's Place on Malolo Lailai Island to the Defence Club.
5.5.1981: His death was front page of the Fiji Times
"CAPTAIN WITHERS IS DEAD ...He started Blue Lagoon Cruises ...
today is a multi-million dollar business. ... He mixed a stockbroking
business in NZ before WW2 with aviation ... Part of the cruise's earnings
were plunged into helping Fijian villagers in the Yasawas. He sold control
of the business in the 1960s to another NZer Mr Claude MILLAR who steadily
expanded it. Today run as a public company in local hands it runs 4 large
steel cruises to the islands. Capt WITHERS was a director of the company..."
Fiji Times for p3 6.5.1981:
"CAPTAIN WITHERS IS DEAD ... a New Zealander, had a varied career as a
stockbroker, pilot and cruise operator. He mixed a stockbroking business in NZ
before WW2 with aviation and was associated with the Oz airman Sir Charles
KINGSFORD-SMITH, in what was an unsuccessful attempt to float an airline meant
to cover NZ. He served with the RNZAF during the war, reaching the rank of
squadron-leader. [He] arrived in Fiji in the 2nd half of the 1940s to join
with another airman, Harold GATTY, in attempts to start a tuna-fishing venture
which failed because of poor catches. Mr GATTY turned back to aviation &
started Fiji Airways, now Air Pacific, while Captn WITHERS bought a former Govt
launch & turned it into a cruiser with which he began what became his
internatiolly known cruises thru the Yasawas out of Lautoka. He opened the
almost inaccessible Yasawas to tourism for the 1st time & made the cruise
one of the early attractions which helped tourism become established as one of
Fiji's major industries. Part of the cruise's earnings were plunged into
helping the Fijian villagers in the Yasawas. [He] sold control of the business
in the 1960s to another NZr Mr Claude MILLAR, who steadily expanded it. Today,
run as a public company in local hands, it runs 4 large steel cruises to the
islands. [He] was a director of the company. His death occurred at the Defence
Club, where he had been living in retirement for several years. [He] was
unmarried. His only surviving close relative is a bro' [Wynn] who lives in NZ.
Fiji Press 9.5.1981: Cruise pioneer dies - ... Blue Lagoon Cruises with a
staff of 3 took the 1st overseas visitors thru the Yasawa Islands in 1950 in
Capt Withers 2nd hand Govt launch Turaga Levu. Now with almost 120 staff & a
fleet of 5 modern cruise vessels carrying 13,500 passengers a year, it is
one of Fiji's most successful tourism enterprises ... Capt WITHERS was
awarded an MBE in the Queen's 1979 New Year honours..." See also Motoring
Today - June 1989 p45, Pacific Way - March 1992 p18. Founded Blue Lagoon
Cruises to the Yasawas, off Lautoka, Fiji. Member of the Defence Club in
Suva. When I stayed with him at the club in 1964 he introduced me to Sir
Ratu MARU - now Prime Minister of Fiji, & Sir Edward CAKOBAU - brother to
the late Queen Salote of Tonga. A great raconteur. Had an apartment in
Lautoka & a bure on .. Island, Yasawas. His eulogy at Suva Cathedral was by
the Governor General, Ratu Sir George CAKABAU who has a tabua (whales teeth)
necklace entrusted him by Trevor from the old TUI WAYA (High Chief of Waya
Island, Yasawas). Here is the text of that speech.
TEXT OF EULOGY OF GOVERNOR GENERAL AT TREVOR'S FUNERAL IN SUVA CATHEDRAL
We are here this morning to pay tribute to Trevor Withers - a man
whose death will leave a gap in the lives of all who knew him well. I
myself will miss him greatly for he has been a personal friend for
many years - and although I saw him infrequently after I left my
headquarters at Lautoka when I was Roko of the Yasawas, our subsequent
meetings, when he himself came to live in Suva, always gave me the
greatest pleasure.
Trevor was born in New Zealand 79 years ago. He had a somewhat
varied career as a stockbroker and aviator before joining the Royal
New Zealand Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War -
eventually retiring with the rank of Squadron Leader.
He came to Fiji in 1947 to join Harold Gatty - a well-known name in
the aviation world here in Fiji - and together they hoped to start a
tuna fishing venture known as South Sea Marine Products, but
unfortunately this proved unsuocesarul due to the reluctance of the
tuna to be caught!
Harold Gatty turned back to aviation but Trevor had been lured by the
call of the sea - especially the blue waters around the Yasawa Group -
and, trom a modest start with one converted ex-Government launch, he
began what has become internationally known as the Blue Lagoon
Cruises. As well as providing pleasure for those who sailed with him,
the fruits or his enterprise were liberally shared with the people of
the Yasawas, for his generosity was boundless. He provided financial
assistance in the setting up of schools and clinics, sharing much of
his earnings with the people of the various islands or the Group.
Blue Lagoon Crutses was eventually sold and today runs as a public
company operating four large steel cruisers, but the words 'Blue
Lagoon Cruises' and 'Trevor Withers' will, I feel, always remain synonymous!
Captain Trevor Withers - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire - is dead - but I do not think he would wish us to
mourn his passing, for he died as most of us would wish to die -
peacefully and with dignity and beyond one's allotted span. And his
earthly remains will go where he himself wished them to go - scattered
on the blue waters of the sea he loved so well.
His ashes were scattered in the sea in the Yasawas. For a
photo with Gov. General on Blue Lagoon see p14 Travelling Times Vol 2 No 4
Feb 1981. In 1991 Mum and my cousin Helen DUDER were invited by Blue Lagoon Cruises on a 4 day cruise on the Yasawa Princess. Here is an article on this with photo of them & Capt. FABIANO from the Fiji Times Tues. 16.7.1991.
Here is a photo of them from an article which ends:
... Helen met David WILSON, BLC chairman in Auckland: "We got
talking and he suggested a trip to the Yasawa Islands & I thought it was a
wonderful idea. I then told him about my aunt & later we received a telegram
from Merle MURRAY, the sales & reservations manager of the BL." This includes
a history of the BL & the growth of the fleet under Capt Claude MILLAR.
Other articles mentioning Trevor and the Blue Lagoon include "Mutiny
in mind" Evening Post 14.3.2000 p D1 with colour photo of a current Blue
Lagoon ship in the Yasawas, p99 of Travel (2000) - Auckland.
Manu WITHERS has his photo album for 1924-25 with a shot of Dad at about 6.
He also has a later album of Trevor's in Fiji including a shot of a manta ray.
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/SimpleSearchResults.do gives
19th January 1923. - From: Trevor S. Withers, Auckland. - Subject:
Ngahungahu Block. Registration of Memorial of ownership. ORDER DETAILS »
1923 1923 Department of Maori Affairs.
This is a letter he wrote to the Maori Affairs department in 1923.
I am sending Helen DUDER this photo that Trevor sent to his grandfather
Edward WITHERS (1845 Hill Green,Newbury-1921 Wanganui) c1915. On the back it
says `Wishing Grandad a very Happy New Year from Trevor, Harry, Maurice and
Jack.' John looks about 6 so this was c1915, before Wynn was born.
Will dated 11.1.1980 of Edward Trevor Stroude WITHERS b 18.9.1901 Auckland
d 5.5.1981 Defence Club, Suva, Fiji.
THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF Edward Trevor Stroude WITHERS.
SB PATEL & Co, Barristers & Solicitors, Lautoka, Fiji.
THIS IS THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of me, EDWARD TREVOR STROUDE WITHERS,
of Suva, in the Dominion of Fiji, Retired.
1. I hereby revoke all former wills & testamentary dispositions made by me,
& declare this to be my last will & testament.
2. I appoint Adam DICKSON of Suva, Chartered Accountant (Scotland),
& my brother Wyvern (Wynn) Stroude WITHERS, of Auckland, in the Dominion of NZ,
Insurance Broker, to be the executors & trustees of this my will.
3. I declare that in the interpretation of this my will the expression ...
4. I declare that my trustees shall have [the usual powers].
5. I direct my trustees to pay from my estate [funeral & estate costs].
6. I direct my trustees to arrange upon my death for the disposal of my body
in one of the following orders of preference:
a) for my body to be cremated & its ashes to be scattered upon or deposited
in the open sea beyond the shore-reefs of the island of Viti Levu [done]. ...
7. I direct that should I die beyond the Dominion of Fiji ,...
8. I give devise & bequeath in the following orders of preference & priority:
a) jointly to my aforesaid brother Wyvern Stroude WITHERS & his wife Laurette
WITHERS my framed Grant of the Dignity of an Ordinary Member of the Civil
Division of the Order of the British Empire dated 30.12.1978
[held by Manu 2014].
b) to my friend & Fijian 'tikoqe' Kolino BALE, son of Orisi BAWAGA, Head
Steward of the Defence Club in Suva, Student, all of the following ..:
1) my stainless stell Seiko wristlet watch ..., 2) my Pocket Fujica camera,
3) my Casio calculator, 4) all carpentering, engineering & other tools,
5) my [bbq] & my [fish-smoker], 6) my 6 drawer filing cabinet, 7) all crockery
& cutlery, 8) all photos excluding negatives bequeathed under 8w, 9) 2 of my
travel bags or suitcases, 10) my Parker pen, 11) my sanyo taperecorder, 12) my
... cassette recorder ..., 13) such of my footwear & clothing as suitable for
him and his father, [the rest to go to] Maciu WAQA, 2nd engineer in the Fiji
Marine Dept's vessell DIUYABAKI.
c) to my friend Robert Travis PARKES, Travel Service Manager of Suva, my
fridge-freezer.
d) to Kolinio BALE $500 [for his further education].
e) to Wynn & Laurette withers $5000.
f) to my niece Helen DUDER wife of F Ross DUDER of 4 Atherton Rd, Epson,
Auckland, agronomist, $1000.
g) to my niece Margaret BYERS wife of Peter BYERS of Valley Rd, Piha near
Auckland, tomato grower, $1000.
h) to by favourite if somewhat unofficial 'nephew' Gary DICKSON son of my
trustee Adam DICKSON & currently a student at the University of Sydney, NSW
$1000.
i) to Anna DICKSON wife of Adam DICKSON $500.
j) to Jane PATEL wife of Fiji's leading barrister-at-law SBPATEL $600.
k) to Margaret PATEL daughter of Jane & SB PATEL $300.
l) to Rebecca BROADLEY, infant daughter of my close friends James BROADLEY
& his wife Coralie (Cookie) of 212 Haldon st, Lakemba, NSW 2195 $400.
m) to my friend 'Lady' Peggy HARRINGTON widow of Frank, resident at 'Dick's
Place', Malolo Lailai, $300.
n) to Maciu WAQA, 2nd engineer in the Fiji Marine Dept's vessell DIUYABAKI,
in appreciation of his assitance in saving my vessel TURAGA LEVU from
destruction by Hurricane BEBE in 1972, $250.
o) to Epeli VOLI of Namara village on Waya Lailai island, in belated
recognition of his outstanding services as my interpreter, local pilot &
matanivanua upon my arrival in the Yasawa group in 1946, $300.
p) to Semi SIVO my friend & former tikoqe of Natawa, Waya $400.
q) to [his younger brother] Maikeli SIVO, crewman in FLYING SCOTSMAN, $100.
r) to Paula TINAI of Vio Island near Lautoka, employed in the game-fishing
vessel FLYING SCOTSMAN operating out of Denirau near Nadi under the command of
Capt Jonathan C WILLIS $200.
s) to Kuliniasi VASU son of Serupepeli NARAULOA of Nalalawa, Rawa, farmer,
for the last 2 years a patient in Lautoka Hospital [for his further education]
$200.
t) to my former crew member & tikoqe Ame NAULUTEGU employed by Blue Lagoon
as a crew member in SALAMANDA $150.
u) to Viliame WAQATABU the son of Epeli RATU of Tavukubu village near Lautoka
employed as wharf labour by the Ports Authority at Lautoka $100 .. in
appreciation of his services while employed as my tiqoge [at] Malolo Lailai
island.
v) to my friend Simione Nasau HALL, formerly of Natawa village, Waya, now
resident with Mr & Mrs Errol HALL at Nakilova, Tregeagle via Lizmore, NSW 2480
$150.
w) to my old friend Ratu Timoci SAYABA of Yalobi, Waya island, in inadequate
recognition of his help & guidance during my residence at Yalobi & in my
operation of the Blue Lagoon, $200.
x) to my good friend & counsellor over many years SB PATEL, Barrister &
Solicitor of Lautoka, all my photographic negatives & transparencies.
y) to the aforesaid Timoci SAYABA of Yalobi, Waya all my walking-sticks.
9. I give the rest of my property to Wynn & Laurette WITHERS of
18 Cathedral Place, Parnell, Auckland, NZ.
10.-12. [Legal provisions for Trustee.]
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11.1.1980.
Signed by ..Edward Trevor Stroude WITHERS as & for his last will & testament
in the presence of ...
Anu PATEL, Solicitor, Lautoka,
DS PATEL, Accountant, Lautoka.
……………………………………….
522 3-Harry Stroude WITHERS b 29.1.1904 Auckland buried 29.1.1965 Aramoho,
Wanganui.
bp 29.1.1904 St Marys, Parnell son of Edward Stroude Withers, civil service
& Lisa by Rev JT MCWILLIAM; godparents Harry Thomas WHITSON [ID 3495], Adam
Maxwell KELLY, & Ida Katherine WITHERS [ID 54].
Auckland Grammar. See newspaper photo 27.10.1927 as captain of the Parnell
Swimming Club and ex-captain of the Tauranga Swimming Club with brother
Maurrie. Prominent radio personality in NZ & Sydney after WW2. His programme
in Sydney "Wake up to WITHERS" was very popular. Founding member of the NZ
Magicians Society formed 1920?: once when sawing a woman in half the coffin
was made of hardwood - took forever! (see Auckland SB May 1970 p120, Auckland
Public Library and photos 27.9.1933 in The NZ Home Journal and the Waipa Post
for 21.9.1933.) One woman he sawed in half was celebrity performer Freda STARK.
In 1935 manufacturer's agent at 20 Fort St, Auckland. 1939-40 he had a well
known radio program on Radio 2UE, the oldest radio station in Sydney.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2UE
Harry_Withers_2UE_221139letter2.jpg LOST
Here is a letter he wrote to a 19 year old fan Brenda KEEP in Canberra,
thanks to her daughter, Jackie ANDERSON, :and the signed photo he included with it
About 1946 he had a grand piano in his apartment in Oriental Bay, Wellington.
1946: publicity officer for United Artists recording studio, 55 Courtenay
Place, Wellington.
A skilled photographer. As Public Relations Officer for Rotorua about 1950
he thrilled me by flying in a helicopter over our holiday home at Holden's
Bay, Rotorua. Manu has his book when GM for "Round the World in 80 days"
- they brought us home cooked huhu grubs from the Auckland gala premiere at
the Peter Pan Cabaret.
Manu has one of his publicity folders with many photos. (I think this
is one with invites to Govt House etc 1937, ..., 1941 Sydney ...
Radio 2UE & 2GB ... Victor E LOWE using the alias Daly? ... 1948 NAC,
United Artists, letter from Mary PICKFORD, at 55 Courtenay Place
Wellington in 1950 ... Harry & Oscar, cuttings mentioning him from
Auckland Star 26.5.52, Wanganui paper, Napier paper, NZ Listener
9.5.52 [does not mention him], "Wake up to Withers" New Plymouth,
photo of him in Wellington Jose Ferrer's .." script for Movie
Magasine 13.8.52,... Goldies.)
His autograph album had the signatures of celebrities including LIBERACE,
Take It From Here radio personality Dick BENTLY, various premiers and mayors
including those for Adelaide, Hobart, Wanganui, Napier, Christchurch,
signatories to various banknotes, Admirals MUIRHEAD and BYRD, Lt Colonel
NICKERSON of the US Marine Corps, Victor LOWE, Guide RANGI, film-stars and
actors Bob HOPE, Jackie COOPER, Vivienne LEIGH, Sir Lawrence OLIVIER,
Dame Sybil THORNDIKE, aviator Harold GATTY, prime ministers Peter FRASER (NZ
1945) and Lord ATTLEE (UK), governor general? Lord and Lady Louis MOUNTBATTEN,
Lord NUFFIELD, US comedian George FORMBY, NZ painter Peter MCINTYRE, the 1950
British Lions Rugby team, violinist Yehudi MENUHIN, the governor of New York,
the President of Eire, the English singer Gracie FIELDS,
a page with 11 Victoria Crosses, Burl IVES,
a British Military Issue 5 shilling note with an Italian note,
a cartoon by MINHINNICK, a Japanese occupation of Malay note for 1 shilling,
etc. Southland Daily News 18.7.1949: "Dorothy's book of autographs is not for
sale. 5 years ago Mr Harry S WITHERS ... travelled? Australia with Jack DAVEY
in support of 1st Victory Loan .."
Buried 29/1/1965 Public Lawn Extension II, Row 2 p98 at Aramoho Cemetery,
Wanganui, 'caretaker' - ancestry NZ cemetery records.
I have his pocket dictionary.
…………………………..
523 3-Maurice Stroude WITHERS (1906/1908 Auckland-22.7.1942 Tripoli, Libya;
killed WW2 fighting ROMMEL's army; buried El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt, Plot
28, Row D, Grave 2) His death is noted on the War Memorial at Auckland
Grammar. See newspaper photo 27.10.1927 as treasurer of the Parnell Swimming
Club and polo captain with brother Harry. Storekeeper for Auckland Harbour
Board. His cousin Gordon MURRAY (see WHITSON tree) had to sample the spuds
for Dalgety's. When Morrie saw him coming they'd start throwing spuds at
each other. One hit a wharfie and made it rather unsafe for Gordon to
return! 5 years with Territorials Artillery. Enlisted 1940. In 1941 he was
Staff Sergeant at Papakura then acting RSM at Ngaruawahia then overseas with
24th NZ Battalion; Battery Driver; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, War Medal, NZ
War Service Medal. Called "Maurry with the kauri-gum hair" by cousin GM as
his hair was always brushed immaculately.
Letter about John WITHERS's death from Maurice WITHERS to Wynn 18.12.1941.
26437 Sgt. MS Withers
Northern (NZ) Training Depot,
2nd NZEF,
Middle East Forces
18/12/41
Dear Wynn,
I just got the news last night though I suppose as next of kin you
have had it some time. John's own platoon sergeant who was actually with him
when he stopped it, is down "from the Blue" on leave and very decently came
out here to tell me the story and though I feel more like going on a blind
bash than writing letters, I thought I had better get it off my chest while I
have all the details fresh. I am feeling exactly the same way as you are,
Bloke, so will skip that part of it and I will give you the details as they
were given to me, and they help a lot. John's sergeant was Sgt "Ted" THOMPSON,
24th Bn. MEF. (I give you the whole address in case you want to write to him)
and this is his story, confirmed by his Coy. Sgt. Major, who came down with
him and who also looked me up - John's Battalion have been in the thick of it
since the show started here and throughout the whole works John behaved
exactly as you would expect him to although the whole Bn. was being bashed
more than I like to think. His sense of humour never failed him & he kept the
whole section cheerful & in good spirits even during the most hectic periods
besides doing a grand job of work during the actual scrapping. In the CSM's
words, "It is eas enough to be cheery & bright when everything is going OK &
you are warm & well-fed, but it takes a damn sound bloke to raise a grin when
you are cold & wet & ungry & dog-tired & your pals are being shot to Hell all
over the bloody desert." It was always when the tension was greatest that John
would make some damn-fool remark that would make the boys forget for a moment
how tired they were & cheer them on. His section, evidently thought the world
of him & he knew his job like nobody's business. John stopped his packet in
Sidi Rezagh, which is only a few miles away from Tobruk. The desert there is
practically all rock with a few inches of soil on top, so it is almost
impossible to dig in there. On the night of the 25th Nov., John's section had
taken up a position in advance of the Bn. and were bombing a waddi up which
Jerry was bringing his reinforcements. The Hun was also occupying a position
on John's left flank where he had a machine gun post and a sniper. When dawn
broke on the 26th it was seen that Jerry had broken though on the right flank
also & had got between John;s section and his Bn. so they were completely
surrounded. At this stage their mortar was put out of action & there was only
Sgt THOMPSON, John, another Cpl. & 3 men left, so as the position was
obviously untenable they had a conference to decide whether to try & fight
their way back or surrender, & they unanimously decided to fight. Here John
insisted on lighting his pipe as he had been unable to smoke all night, &
when he was ready they made their dash. They had gone about 25 yds. when the
Hun machine gun post & the sniper opened up from about 80 yds. away, & the
only ones who eventually got through were Sgt THOMPSON & one private.
John was right alongside of Tommy when he went down with a bullet through
the head so at least we have the consolation of knowing that death was
instantaneous. Later in the day our reinforcements came up & the position was
retaken & John was found just where he had fallen. Incidentally our blokes
in retaking the position wiped out the machine gun post and the sniper. John
had only the one wound & was not badly marked. He was buried where he had put
up such a great scrap by Padre WATSON of the 24th Bn. who was a great pal of
his. The rest of his section lie alongside of him although they are not in a
common grave. I have a map reference of the spot & I will get there some day
& send you home a photo of the spot.
That is about the lot, Bloke - but as I said to Trev. he was luckier than
some - I know he would prefer to go the way he did than to come back mutilated
or maimed as plenty have done. I have applied to take his place in the 24th
& as school is now over I think I hav a good show. I only hope if my turn
comes I can put on the show John did. You can honestly be proud of him, Wynn
- I have written almost a duplicate of this to Trev. so there is no need to
forward this. I also want to scribble a note to Bub RAE. Poor kid, I'm afraid
she will take this badly. I hope to God you will be able to stay in NZ now
the Japs are in & look after things on the Home Front for us. The firm of
WITHERS Bros. has enough representatives overseas.
Give my love to Laurie & don't let her fret or worry too much. SHe has got
the kid to think of, thank God. You don't know what it will mean to you both,
Fella. Just now it is a pretty rotten time for you both, but once it arrives
it is worth it a thousand times over. I can't write any more now Wynn but will
when I settle down again. Don't let it get you too far down, old Son. He
would be the first to tell you to get that chin up.
God bless,
Maurie.
Note: Bub RAE was Loftus Bernard (Bus) REA's younger sister Dorothy - she
died not so long ago in Christchurch aged well into her nineties. -JR 2012.
Letter dated 18.12.1944 from NZ Military Forces Base Records, Box 3044,
Wellington </A><pre>
to "Squadron Leader TS WITHERS (Trevor), RNZAF Station, Wigram Aerodrome,
Christchurch. Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of Dec 9, I advise
that your bro' 26436 Corporal John Stroude WITHERS, who was killed in action on
26.11.1941, was buried originally at Bir Sidi Rezegh, but recently his remains
were moved to the Military Cemetery, Acroma, Cyrenaica, where his grave is No.
20 in Plot 6, Row B... 26437 Corporal Maurice Stroude WITHERS, killed in action
on 22.7.1942, is now buried in the Military Cemetery, El Alamein, Egypt, in
grave 2, Plot 28, Row D. ... Director." On the back in Dad's handwriting is
'Wynn, c/ General Assurance Corpn Ltd, M/C Building, Queen St, Akld C1'.
m Auckland sp-"Dweena" Edwina Helen FOOTE Died 28.3.1998 in Auckland aged
90 at Lady Ascot Rest Home, AscotRd, Remuera. Formerly a teacher, she lived
from 1943 to 1996 at 2 Merivale Road, Epsom, Auckland. 2 children.
5231 4-Helen Stroude WITHERS (22.4.1941 Auckland) Violinist for Junior
Symphony Orchestra at highschool, for National Orchestra c1959, lead
violinist for Sinfonia (now the Auckland String Players) c1963, Canterbury
University Orchestra, Teachers College Orchestra & Christchurch Orchestra
while taking speech therapy course, lead violinist in Rotorua Orchestra
while working as speech therapist there 1 year. 2 years working holiday in
England as governess to Count & Countess Kinsky in London. Rejoined
Sinfonia. Speech therapist at Mt Roskill Intermediate. Toured NZ with
English comedian Bruce Forsythe of "The Generation Game", NZ Radio Orchestra
to 1982. As the violinist & cofounder c1977 of the Savoy Trio she has played
to & met celebrities such as Kiri Te Kanawa, Sammy Davis Jr, & Governor
General Beattie. (NZ Herald 4.11.82 S3 p2.) Guest artist for TV shows "12
Bar Rhythm & Blues" 1981 & "Stars on Sundays" 1982. She switched careers
from speech therapist to manage Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. She is an
expert on sharks & travels a lot. In 1993 she went to Antarctica. In 1997
she left Kelly Tarlton's to develop an animated cartoon series "Wiggly Fin"
using underwater characters she created herself as puppets, taking a promo
film to the Cannes Film Festival. Until 1998 they lived at 4 Atherton Rd,
Epsom, Auckland.
m 12.5.71 Auckland sp-Ross DUDER b 5.7.1940 Buck.,England d 24.1.2024 Auckland
B Ag Sc, Dip Ag Sc, MNZIAS, MNZSFM, CPAg. An agronomist. He worked for Arthur Yates, the seed & garden company. He then became an independent agricultural consultant. He was on the NZ Council of Farm Management (1999). A keen yachter he had half share in a Townsend 26 keeler. 2 children.
WATCH THIS SPACE
…………………………………..
5232 4-Margaret Stroude WITHERS (30.8.1943 Auckland) Violinist in National
Youth Orchestra, Junior Symphony Orchestra, leader 1963 of Hamilton Civic
Orchestra. She was a senior teacher at Henderson High, N of Auckland.
115331.jpg Here is a photo of Margaret.
* 1992-2024: 37 Beach Valley Rd, Piha, Auckland 0772, NZ tel. 09 812 8806
Beehive@xtra.co.nz
m 5.10.1963 Auckland sp-Peter John BYERS d 8.10.2011 Auckland.
Peter comes from a well known Piha family. As a young man he buildt surfboards,
& grew tomatoes. Later he built houses & developed family property. He built
their large 1st home in Valley Rd, Piha to a highly original design & luxury
apartments overlooking Lion Rock, one of which they moved into. For photos of
him, his mother, grandmother and great grandfather see "Piha in images"? by
Sandra CONEY (1997). His mother was a LA TROBE, related to the Governor? of
Port Philip, Melbourne. Obituary: one of the original long board riders of Piha
1958; first manufacturer of the Malibu board in New Zealand; member of the Piha
Surf Club; past boat captain and sweep of Piha Boat Crew; he also rode surf
boats. 2.8.2014 Weekend Herald pA13 "Missing link bout for Hillary Trail"
tells of Margaret & Peter's brother Bruce selling the family land for $3m to
Auckland City to complete the western walkway. Bruce & Peter inherited it from
their mother in 1994. 'Owned by descendants of a pioneer family since the
1860s, the land reaches to the sea ... will give public access from the Tasman
lookout in Piha south to the ... Blow Hole...' It gives a photo of the land.
4 SONS - WATCH THIS SPACE.
…………………………..
524 3-John Stroude WITHERS b 16.2.1910 Auckland; killed 26.11.1941 in WW2 at
Sidi Rezagh, (a few miles from Tobruk), Western Desert; buried in Plot 6 B20
at Knightsbridge, 15m W of Tobruk - a town on Libyan coast c 60m W of Egypt).
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader.
For a photo of his grave see
http://nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/john-stroude-withers
His death is noted on the War Memorial at Auckland Grammar.
Harbour Board, warehouse manager for EA Broker Ltd, 24 Lorne St.
A stationary travellor for Collins. 6 years in Territorials as 4th Battery
Artillery Bombadier. Enlisted 8.7.1940 no. 26436 in 24th Battalion NZ
Infantry; Papakura Camp then Egypt; infantry instructor, Sergeant, 1939-45
Star, Africa Star, War Medal, NZ War Service Medal.
Obituary 5/5b v37 p73 & 92 Port p72 in Auckland Public Library. The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission publication "Knightsbridge War Cemetery,
Acroma -Register Libya Index No. LIB.1" gives cemetery details and notes:
"The defence against ROMMEL's drive across Cyrenaica towards Suez consisted
of a number of irregularly spaced strong points or "boxes" linked by deep
minefields. Those nearest the enemy were held by infantry, while those
further back served as reserve static positions and as bases from which the
armour could operate. The chief "box", known as Knightsbridge, was round a
junction of tracks about 12 miles west of Tobruk and 10 miles south of
Acroma, commanding all the tracks by which supplies came up to the front.
The 8th Army's advance fuelling stations and airfields were at Acroma, El
Adem, Sidi Rezegh and Gambut, while Gazala aerodrome, taken from the
Italians early in the campaign, by Feb. 1941 housed 2 British squadrons ...
Fierce actions were fought at all these places ..." A copy on request. On
18.12.1941 Maurie wrote to Wynn about John's death: " .. John's Battalion
have been in the thick of it since the show started here & throughout the
whole works John behaved exactly as you would expect him to although the
whole battalion was being bashed more than I like to think. His sense of
humour never failed him & he kept the whole section cheerful & in good
spirits even during the most hectic periods besides doing a grand job of
work during the actual scrapping. In the CSM's words `It is easy enough to
be cheery & bright when everything is going OK & you are warm & wellfed, but
it takes a damn sound bloke to raise a grin when you are cold & wet &
dog-tired & your pals are being shot to Hell all over the bloody desert.' It
was always when the tension was greatest that John would make some damn-
fool remark that would make the boys forget for a moment how tired they were
& cheer them on. His section, evidently thought the world of him & he knew
his job like nobody's business. John stopped his packet in Sidi Rezegh,
which is only a few miles away from Tobruk. The desert there is practically
all rock with a few inches of soil on top so it is almost impossible to dig
in there. On the night of the 25th Nov. John's section had taken up a
position in advance of the Bn. & were bombing a waddi up which Jerry was
bringing his reinforcements. The Hun was also occupying a position on John's
left flank where he had a machine gun post & a sniper. When dawn broke on
the 26th it was seen that Jerry had broken through on the right flank also &
had got between John's section & his Bn. so they were completely surrounded.
At this stage their mortar was put out of action & there were only Sgt
THOMPSON, John, another Cpl. & 3 men left, so as the position was obviously
untenable they had a conference to decide whether to try & fight their way
back or surrender, & they unanimously decided to fight. Here John insisted
on lighting his pipe as he had been unable to smoke all night, & when he was
ready they made their dash. They had gone about 25 yds when the Hun machine
gun post & the sniper opened up from about 80 yds away, & the only ones who
eventually got through were Sgt THOMPSON & 1 private. John was right along
side of Tommy when he went down with a bullet through the head so at least
we have the consolation of knowing that death was instantaneous. Later in
the day the position was retaken & John was found just where he had fallen.
... He was buried where he had put up such a great scrap by Padre WATSON of
the 24th Bn. who was a great pal of his. .. I have applied to take his place
in the 24th & as school is now over I think I have a good show. ... I hope
to God you will be able to stay in NZ now the Japs are in & look after
things on the Home Front for us. The firm of Withers Bros has enough reps
overseas. .. Don't let it get you too far down old Son. He would be the
first to tell you to get that chin up. God bless, Maurie." A photo of him
with Hector MACQUARRIE is in the latter's book "Round the world in a baby
Austin".
2. Undated letter from John WITHERS, describing Papakura to Sidney,
Freemantle & Perth, including Easter Monday.
xx indicates something cut out by the censor; he signs his name at the end:
HK SAXEN?
26436 Sgt. JS Withers
B Coy. Northern Infantry
5th Reinforcements Overseas
c/- CPO Wellington
Because of the strict censorship that must necessarily prevail whilst we are
en route to our destination, I can't give you any details about the voyage
in any letters that I post at way ports. We have been told however that a
fortnight after our arrival we will be able to tell you anything we like,
because by that time any information that might reach the enemy would be
valueless. I realise, however, that by that time many details will be
forgotten, and so that I can give you as clear a picture as possible, of the
whole trip, I'm going to describe each day and its happenings as it goes past.
Actually I'm starting on the fifth day out from Wellington - Good Friday -
so I've got quite a bit to catch up. Here goes, people.
We left Papakura on Sunday at about 3.55pm There was quite a crowd at the
approach to the station and of course the band played us away with the usual
"There always be ", "Sons of the Anzacs", etc. The trip to Wellington was
quite uneventful except that at every station, big crowds were waiting to
cheer us on our way, and I think that every person who lived within half a
mile of the Railway from Papakura to Wellington, was out to wave and cheer
as the Train roared past. Even in the early hours of the morning, they were
outside waving torches!
At Wellington the Train ran alongside the boat, and in a heavy drizzle we
embarked at once. Yours truly found himself sharing a two-berth de luxe suite,
with bath and doings attached, with five other blokes. Four temporary bunks
had been fitted to the room, but were anything but crowded. I should have
mentioned that our Boat was the xx - 21 months old, and in
more ways than one, a little "whopper". Believe me, a two-berth Main Deck de
Luxe Suite on that boat is "somepin"!
Opposite us at the wharf lay the xx, slightly bigger in tonnage but I
believe, a little smaller in size, and slower. It was amazing how quickly we
all embarked, and the last crowd marched on at about 11am. Then a farewell
from the Governor and numbers of the War Cabinet, and at 12 sharp we pulled
away into the stream, to the frantic cheering of thousands who had been
allowed on to the wharf as we started to move. Every boat and train and car
horn in Wellington must, I think have been tooting as we pulled out. I was
half-way out our porthole trying to pick up anyone I knew, but the only
person I saw was BETTY JOHNSON.
We lay in the harbour until 3.55pm and then "up pick" and we're on our way,
really, to War! We were led out by the xx followed by the xx behind us
came the xx followed by the xx. Those warships seemed very small and
harmless to us in Wellington, but when we were really out to sea you've got
no idea how good they looked! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We ran straight into a howling Sou-wester, and many of the lads soon began
to feel the effect. Most of them made dinner that night but in many cases,
that was the last we saw of them for a couple of days! In passing, just a
word about our meals. We dine in the First Class Saloon and are waited on by
the regular Cunard Stewards. Believe you me, they're Stewards! And the food
is super. I think, after this war is over, That I'll write a song about the
Hot Rolls and Coffee. But the surroundings make the meal so enjoyable. It is
the most beautifully furnished saloon that I've ever seen - nothing garish,
but everything so perfectly quiet and restful that you cant help but feel at
peace with the world, the moment you enter. Our Sargeants Lounge is like
that too - big armchairs and settees that you just ink into and never want
to leave, with little cocktail tables alongside, and stewards who know how
to be efficient while being unobtrusive. Some of the prices we pay will
probably interest you. Gin is 2.5', whiskey 6', bacardi 6', ordinary run 3',
beer 5' per 20 oz handle or 10' per quart and Bronx, Sidecars, etc 6' each.
Most cigarettes, such as Players, Capstan, Gold Flake, etc are 1/5 per 50,
while most Tobaccos, both pipe and cigarette, are 8' per 2 oz tin. But to
get back to the Trip.
We woke about 6am next morning and looking out the port, were just in time
to see the xx take to her heels and literally fly away from us to her
daytime position, about five miles away on our starboard bow. She was a
great sight, just carving straight through quite big seas. I say she was a
great sight, but thats not quite correct, because sometimes all one could
see was just a tremendous whirl of spray.
When we got on deck to find that the other xx (page deleted).
Wednesday passed, just a repetition of Tuesday, and then we awoke to Thursday,
with the sea like a mill pond, a glorious sunrise, and not a cloud in the
sky, and at 930am - Land!! Out of the morning mists Sydney's South Head
appeared about two miles away, and, accompanied by swarms of Lockheed-Hudson
Bombers tearing about overhead, we moved slowly up the Harbour. Cremorne
Point came into view and simultaneously we saw the steam of some colossal
ship. Soon we dropped pick just behind her , and there she was. xxxxx
In Sydney we were unlucky for although we were there for 22 hours we didn't
berth, and hence all our plans and hopes for there were bashed. However
"C'est la guerre", and although we were all bitterly disappointed, there was
nothing we could do about it.
Sydney's harbour is glorious and the day was perfact, so we spent the day
just watching the Ferries rushing round, and sunbathing. (We were sunbathing
not the ferries!) That night too I'll always remember Sydney hasn't got a
blackout, and as it was late shoping night - Easter Thursday - the City was
a blaze of light. The Businesss Centre looked just like a miniature New
York, the Bridge was a continual stream of carlights, xx was lying just
ahead - a blaze of light from stem to stem, and cruising round us were a
crowd of pleasure launches, yachts, water-taxis, and busy little Police
launches. It was an unforgettable and very beautiful sight.
Next morning we wandered out on our pre-breakfast stroll around the deck
just in time to see xx pull up her pick, and accompanied by literally
hundreds of pleasure craft and a most unholy racket of whistles blowing and
crowds cheering and yelling, move slowly towards the heads. Almost at the
same moment the xx pulled out from Circular Quay and followed her down the
harbour, and then we up with our pick and joined the line, followed in turn
by the xx which had berthed (much to our chagrin, although we've since found
out that the lads on her didnt get leave) to take on another xx troops.
That farewell from Sydney must remain as one of the highlights of the trip.
we thought that Wellington had given us a send-off, but you should have
heard and seen those Aussies saying "Goodbye" to their lads! Following them,
we came in for our share too, and I've never heard such a racket in my life.
All too soon we were at the Heads, and the pleasure craft were sent back by
the Police launches. Then the "XX" rushed up and took her place at the head
of the line, and led us through the minefields at the mouth of the Harbour,
straight out to sea. In an hours time we were out of sight of land, and
heading south - next stop Freemantle.
It was a perfect morning with the sea like a millpond, and practically all
the Troops were on Deck when at 11.30, way to starboard, a faint wisp of
smoke was seen. Soon we could distinguish three funnels, and within half an
hour our xxx no, sometime or other, had thought "Gee! Those Boats must be a
great sight!" and I think that had one of them berthed at Wellington, half
Auckland would have hopped the Limited and rushed down to see her. And here
we were with xxx on the other, while just about a hundred yards in near and
fifty yards out in xxx mix all that lot up with a full Easter moon, and you
can imagine what a sight it is at night. We never live if looking at it. xxx
at about 11am yesterday we sighted the NE corner of Tasmania and then we were
running down Bass Straight with the coast of Victoria about half a mile away
to Starboard. This part of the coast seemed very barren and uninhabited and
we didn't see a shack of any kind. Not even a kangaroo could be seen.
Since then we've been cruising steadily west and all we've seen has been a
big school of hammer-headed sharks, and mummie whale and baby whale cavorting
about like a couple of clumsy oversize elephants, spouting merrily.
Incidentally, I think that baby whale's spouting at xxx was the cheekiest
thing I've ever seen. It ws like some ragged little street urchin thumbing
his nose at a couple of staid old gentlemen.
We've run into a very heavy fog and visibility is reduced to practically
nil. We're still batting along at the same speed however, so I hope to Hell
nothing gets in our way! We're doing about xx knots, so we hear.
Well, that pretty well covers the trip so far. I'll just keep adding to this
day by day. Now I'm going to knock off and meet Sid MIDGLEY, Ron SUITER,
George PETERWOOD, Bill HARRIS and two or three others in the lounge for a
pre-dinner spot. Today is one of the lads - Jack STOKES - birthday, and he's
turning on chamagne at dinner, and it looks as though we're in for a bit of
a "do"! Incidentally, the most expensive champagne is 12/- a bottle! We'll
toast you! It's a fine way to spend Easter Sunday, isn't it? But I went to
Communion early this morning, and the morning service afterwards. Both
services, however, were peculiarly impressive and seem a lot more sincere
than the usual service.
Well Blokes, I've a confession to make. It's 9 days since I wrote the last
page! But as I've got a lot of ground to make up I won't worry about excuses
- I'll just get on with the story. So here we are back crossing the Bight -
the day, Easter Monday.
Last night was a very thick night, thank you, and we went to bed well and
truly sewn up. No more birthdays at sea for me! This morning , Death would
be enjoyable, and somehow we've got to fill in the morning until 11am before
we can get a reviver. It's as cold as charity too, and rough as hell. We
seem to be xxx
worried by the usual crowd. We still plugged along at over 20 knots, and
spent most of the day watching the xxx. She was heaving a very rough spin
and taking every other wave over green. That night was the worst I've had so
far, for we had a big side roll on, and twice during the night I was rudely
awakened by being chucked out of bed.
Tuesday was practically a repetition of Monday, except that we started to
head towards xx again, and in the afternoon, ran into much warmer, and
smoother weather.
Then Wednesday came along with one of the most perfect sunrises I've ever
seen, and the promise of land very close. Everyone was getting het up at the
thought of shore leave, because remember, we'd been at sea for ten days
without setting foot on land.
At about 8.20am we got our first glimpse of it - an island lying off
Freemantle, and very soon we were moving slowly up the channel outside
Freemantle's man-made harbour. xxx Frenchy xxx in, but they all anchored
outside in the Roadsted, while the xx and we slowly passed them and moved up
to our berths.
The Freemantle Harbour is merely a wall built out to sea, running parallel
to a strip of land that juts out. The entrance, and indeed the whole "Harbour"
is not more than xx in width and it is about a mile and a half in length.
Freemantle itself is really very interesting. At night it is very pretty and
reminds one of Auckland's North Shore, from Stanley Point to North Head, but
in the daytime it is more like Freemans Bay with its gasworks, foundries,
wheat stores, and so on. And of course 25 pubs! We were not interested,
however, and, getting ashore at about 2pm smartly boarded a rattletrap
little train, and made for Perth, 12 miles away. A word about the train crews.
Instead of the blue overalls that we expect to see engine drivers dressed
in, these blokes seem to please themselves as to uniform. Head gear ranged
from kiddies sunhelmets to battered old felts, and for the rest, anything
from singlet and shorts to natty blue pin-stripe trousers, and some of the
most hideously coloured shirts that I have ever seen!
The run from Freemantle to Perth took about 35 minutes, and one was struck
with the dry and barren clay soil. There were hardly any gardens to be seen,
but in the residential quarter of Freemantle, one was struck by the very
tiny green lawns in front of each house. Apparently the people there
concentrate on their lawns, and they certainly did look good, for everything
else seemed so dry.
Running into Perth the line goes alongside Rose St, Perth's most famous, or
rather infamous, street. It is the centre of the houses of il-fame, and as
the Troop Trains moved into the Station, all the nice girls stood in the
roadway, waving and beckoning! There are about 15 houses, each with about 6
girls, and as there were about 7000 troops ashore, they looked in for a busy
time!
The first person I saw on coming out of the Perth station was the only man I
knew in Perth, Bob SKINNER. He welcomed me with open arms and wanted me to
have dinner with him that night, but unfortunately I had already arranged a
reunion dinner with some blokes off the xx. However I arranged to go the
following night. -Thursday
3. Letter from John WITHERS to Trevor WITHERS 15.9.1941
PASSED CENSOR
Flying Officer TS Withers, RNZAF Base, Hobsonville, Auckland
(On YMCA Hut Maadi stationary) 26436 Cpl JS Withers
Northern Infantry Training Depot
2nd NZEF
Middle East Forces
15.9.41
Dear old Basket
Sorry this letter is so much overdue, but I'm afraid I've
slipped a bit lately with my mail. Trouble is here to keep up with it. There
are such a helluva people I should write to. However I suppose I'll make the
lost ground sometime. Actually it should be easier from now on as the weather
has definitely got a lot cooler. It's still around the 100 mark in the
afternoons but that is comparatively nothing to what we've had during the
last 3 months. Incidentally we've got quite a record for our first summer in
this country. The day we arrived was the hottest in 22 years, that week was
the hottest in 18 years, and the whole summer, which ends officially today
has been thehottest in 12 years! With all this you can realise that after a
dys toil one's urge for letter-writing has been singularly lackin! But as I
remarked earlier, things have definitely changed for the better in the
weather department and last week I used a blanket for the first time. Prior
to that, we've mostly lain on our beds in a lather of perspersweat and hoped
for the best. It's so long since I've worn pyjamas that I honestly don't
even know whether I've got any! We live in a kitbag and haven't been down to
the bottom of it for a month or so.
Well, let's see if I've got any news for you. Actually, I don't think I've
much. Life seems to wander on from day to day in much the same old way. I'm
still on the Training Cadre, instructing, and while there's nothing doing up
in the desert, would just as soon be there as anywhere else. However I'm
expecting a move to a line battalion at anytime now. Seeing that I've been
here so long though, I'll be sore as Hell if I move up before Maurie arrives.
From what I can gather he should be here in a few weeks now.
Things are pretty quiet over here at present. We have pretty frequent raid
warnings but haven't seen a Gerry or wop plane for weeks. Here's rather a
funny thing. I'd just written that paragraph when the siren went - in fact
it's still going.Did I tell you about the first raid we saw? It was rather
good. We'd been out on a night march and got home about midnight pretty
buggered. Just flopped into bed, and died. Then at what I found out later to
be about 3am, I was awakened by a helluva noise going on. I couldn't make
out what the hell was happening, but wandered out of the tent to have a look.
There was a great show on. Five Gerry's had gone the cheeky way, and came
over to visit us, and what with the parcels they were dropping, and the
ack-ack fire from our batteries, the noise was bluddy terrific. It was a dam
pretty sight though. About 40 searchlights piercing the sky, and the ack-ack
shells bursting made the whole thing look like a sort of super Guy Fawkes
night. And of course being particularly unintelligent types we stood out in
the open like a lot of dumb clucks whereas it would have been a lot wiser if
we'd dived for our slit trenches! However, no one was hurt - Gerry is a
lousy shot - and we soon got tired of the party and wandered back to bed.
Since then we've had quite a few raids but I usually sleep through 'em all.
As a matter of fact I had one funny experience. I went up to Alexandria one
weekend just to have a look round, and tht night there was a fairly decent
sort of air-raid. We watched it from the window of our Pub fo a while, but
soon got bored and turned in. We were sleeping on the 3rd floor of a 4
storey building, and when we woke up next morning there was a nice large
lump of shrapnel ling in the middle of the floor - it had come through the
roof and the floor above and was stuck in our floor.
Isn't it great that Maurie was made RSM? [Regimental Sergeant Major] I was
tickled to death when I heard about it and only wish I could have been at
Papakura to see that basket LANDMAN's face - I'll bet it ws red! Maurie of
course will have to drop at least one rank when he gets here - that's
automatic - but he certainly won't drop below a Sargeant at the very
outside, and that means that he gets the privilege of the mess and whatnot.
Incidentally by the time you get this I will have again joined the ranks of
the glorious three stripers. It's been coming through since early July, but
I wasn't talking about it until it arrived. However I now know for a fact
that it will be in the next Part II Routine Orders and these will be out in
about a week. Not that it means a helluva lot, except that I'll be in the
same mess as Maurie when he arrives, and also will receive an extra 1/- a
day which is a big thing in this country! However as soon as I move forward
to the line, I'll drop again so what the Hell!
Saw Freddy MCCALLUM the other day - he's now manager of the Kiwi Concert
Party, so he's set for the duration! John RAY is now a private again in a
line batallion. So far haven't run into the CATOs but they're here
somewhere, because a pal of mine ran into them one day in Cairo. Laird
THOMPSON went through Greece and is now here in a Base job and Jack HEALY is
some sort of clerk at the NZ Club. Also ran into Jack INNES the other day.
Ralph HASLER is here too. Just as dippy as ever. He's another who applies
for every base job that's listed. They can have it for mine - I'd go dippy
if I was stuck in Base for the duration, though admittedly it would be a lot
more comfortable! This must be the last page old pal - we can only get 7
pages in a ninepenny letter, and I can't afford any more at present! As a
matter of fact I've been to town a bit on my mail the last couple of days
and I won't be able to post 'em till next payday! I've just worked it out
and it's going to cost me over 50 akkers (10/-) in stamps this week - not so
good!
Haven't heard from Wynn as yet - give him a kick in the pants next time you
write. I believe he was caught in the last Ballot - tough luck. Still, with
any luck we may have fixed this Hitler Bastard before he has a chance of
getting into it. Let's hope so, anyway.
Smallest (Bub) tells me you've been out there a couple of times - nice work.
She's a pet of a kid, and I miss her terribly. Wedding Bells for me
smartly when I get back!
Must away old son! Take care of yourself and stop worrying about not doing a
job of work in this war - you blokes are doing just as much as we are, and
someone's got to stay home.
All the Best, Basket
John S
4. Letter from John WITHERS to Trevor WITHERS 25.10.1941
PASSED BY CENSOR ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Flying Officer TS Withers
RNZAF Base
Hobsonville
Auckland
JS Withers
..HQ Coy,
..NZ Div. M.E.F. [MiddleEast Forces]
Dear old Basket,
Just a short note to let you know that I'm still in the land
of the living. You'll see from the above that my address has changed. At
long last I got my wish and a week ago was drafted to the line. There was
only one fly in the ointment, and that was that I left Maadi just 2 days
before Maurie arrived. Wouldn't it rotate you! I could have stayed back I
know if I had seen the Adjutant, but it might have meant staying there for
another 2 or 3 months, and much as I wanted to see Maurie I just couldn't
face the other. The chances are that things may move shortly, ...
be there when ... anyway, I'll be ... leave shortly, so I ... of seeing the
old ... If I have time, I ... Jerusalem, too, and have a look round.
Life up here is of course totally different from Maadi. There we had as many
showers as we liked each day, because the camp is very close to the Nile,
but here we live on one bottle per man per day for washing, shaving and
drinking. Yet though we'd give a whole lot for a decent hot bath, we get by
surprisingly well, and beside, although we're to hellandgone up in the
desert somewhere, our camp is so situated that we might well be at Muriwai.
In fact, the view from my dugout is exactly similar, looking West!
Yes we live in dugouts, and in accordance with all good warbook traditions
I'm writing this by the light of a single guttering candle. My particular
hole is ... and 6'6" high and ... a very decent bloke ... know in Papakura.
... Platoon, incidentally ... from civilisation ... to get by quite well.
Supples of beer come to hand every so often, but naturally it's rationed and
usually there's only one bottle per man. Most of our pay is spent on tobacco
and tinned food to supplement the eternal "bully and rice". Received a
parcel from the Firm last week which was very welcome and had a great spread.
The arrival of parcels is a great time here, and calls for general
celebration. I'm dropping the crowd at EAB's a note, but if you see any of
them you might say how much I enjoyed their gift.
Nothing much else to report old son. Keep your pecker up at that end - and
let's hope that it won't be long before we're mowing one down at the Central
again.
All the best,
John S.
The WW2 anniversary tribute of Sunday Star-Times 13.8.1995 has 2 WITHERS:
WITHERS, Maurice Stroude, Corporal, 24th Infantry Battalion, Western Desert,
July 22, 1942, aged 36.
WITHERS, John Stroude, Corporal, 24th Infantry Battalion, Western Desert,
Nov 26, 1941, aged 31.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Battalion_(New_Zealand)
The 24th Battalion. See Egypt. They drew back to the bridge 22 July.
This must be where our Maurice died. And John in Sidi Rezegh. -Adrianna Gebbie.
A copy of "Oliver Twist" (now in possession of 5252 1 Adrianna) has written on
it "John S Withers, 170 Manchester St, Christchurch".
John in foreground marching off to war:
https://digitalnz.org/records/43294163/corporal-j-s-withers-of-auckland-killed-in-action
is a photo of Corporal J. S. Withers, of Auckland, killed in action.
………………………………………
525 3-Wyvern "Wynn" Stroude WITHERS (24.6.1914 Auckland-31.12.1982 Auckland)
Death certificate: Wyvern Stroud WITHERS, Insurance broker (Ex serviceman),
of 18 Cathedral Place,Parnell, age 68,b 24.6.1914 Auckland; died 31.12.1982
at 18 Cathedral Place,Parnell; son of Edward Stroud WITHERS lawyer and
Elizabeth nee WHITSON; married in Auckland at age 26 to Alice Laurette
RUSSELL now aged 64, with M issue aged 41 39 & 36, cremated 4.1.1983 at
Purewa; cause of death bronchial adenocarcinoma left lung 1 year, medical
attendant DL RICHWHITE, funeral director LG RESNICK)
Manu sent me a pdf of the cert. 7.10.2010.
Dad as a baby. His father died when Wynn was 9. He attended Kings Prep. School.
Dad c6 held by his mother: IMG_3458.jpg
wynndog.jpg
Here is a photo of him aged about 9 with the family's dog sitting on the front porch.
Having won the science prize at Kings College, he had to leave school in the
depression & look for work.
Competing against a line of other boys that stretched halfway round
the block he got a job as an errand boy for the General Assurance Company in
Queen St. Served in WW2 at Wellington, living with his wife in 1941 near the
Bolton St Cemetery. About 1946 they built their home at 18 Cathedral Place,
Parnell opposite Laurette's parents at 19. The section is about 1.25 acres
and slopes down below the house crossing a stream to the backyards of houses
on Brighton Road. The stream mouth, Mataharehare (meaning brandishing -
referring to the brandishing of taiaha when 2 warlike tribes approach), at
the base of Ayr Street is of historic significance: it was the site of an
early Maori settlement with direct access to the top of Mt Eden. The mouths
of that stream and Cox's Creek in Ponsonby together with the top of Mt Eden
formed 2 straight lines which mark the boundaries of Captain HOBSON's
purchase of Auckland on 29.7.1841 from the Ngati Whatua at Orakei. (p50 of
[3] in "e." gives the S boundary as a line drawn through the Maunga Wau,
midway between the Manukau & Waitemata, in all about 3000 acres.) The
remaining boundary was the seashore. For more info see [1-3] under Auckland
in "e." above. By the 1950's Dad was Assistant General Manager for the
General Assurance Company, & set up as an independent insurance broker from
their offices. We had many happy holidays at our bach at 6 Holdens Bay Rd,
Holdens Bay, Rotorua - now subdivided with the old willow tree at the back cut
down. On 15.3.1962 Dad was elected as a vestryman at old St Mary's Anglican
Cathedral, Parnell Rd. on 20.3.1966 Dad was elected Peoples Warden there &
later at Holy Trinity Cathedral. When he developed lung cancer they refused his
resignation to honour him.
Here is his obituary from p3 of the Cathedral News for Jan. 1983 by Dean JO RYMER.
Cathedral News for Jan. 1983 p3:
OBITUARY
WYNN WITHERS - A RESPECTED CHURCH WARDEN
On January 4 a sad congregation gathered in the Cathedral to pay their
respects to Wynn Withers and to commend his soul into the hands of God.
The occasion was deeply emotional because Wynn had spent all of his life in
Parnell. In his early childhood he worshipped in St Mary's, married Laurette
there, and continued to worship there with his wife and three sons.
Such was his love for the parish that he was elected to the Vestry and in the
early sixties was made People's Warden. This position he held until his death
on December 31st at the age of 68.
Wynn served the Cathedral in the time of two Deans and three Bishops. During
that period he saw the laying of the foundation stone of Holy Trinity Cathedral
and the erection of the present building. In 1973 he, with Sir Gilbert Archey,
led the congregation from St Mary's to the dedication of the new Cathedral.
Further, it gave him great joy last year to see his beloved St Mary's moved
over Parnell Road to begin a new life within the complex of the Cathedral.
Toward the end of 1981 after a Council meeting, he advised that his doctor had
given him gloomy news about his future. The congregation was immediately
informed and from that moment hundreds offered daily prayer to uphold him and
his wife. There was a short time when there was a remission, but sadly towards
the end of the year his condition deteriorated until that moment on New Year's
Eve when we heard the dreaded news that he was to be parted from us.
As we thank God for all our Church Warden did in the life of the Cathedral, it
is natural to recall his gifts - his calmness, his common sense, his tenacity,
his human warmth, his willingness to give of his time, his love of order and
his willingness to listen, but above all his loyalty to the life within the
Cathedral.
For all these we are thankful but my greatest memory was his attendance at the
8am service on Christmas Day. He was very ill, his legs were bandaged and any
movement made him breathless. But he walked into the Cathedral, sat in front
of the Dean's stall, knelt at the altar rail, made his communion and then at
the end of the service triumphantly announced that as in every past year he had
made his Christmas Communion in the Cathedral. This was the last time he
worshipped with us but what a lesson he has given us of the Christian faithful
unto death.
Wynn was a dear friend to many of us and we will miss him both personally and
as a member of the congregation. However, it is of great comfort to know that
he did leave us the awareness that, the family in the Cathedral appreciated his
ministry, loved him and his wife for their great courage and had for many
months supported them both by prayer. He will have his rightful place in
heaven, leaving us an example that will have a treasured place in our hearts
and minds for many years to come.
J.O. RYMER
The Cathedral Minute Book for 15.3.1983 records that Mum was to be asked if
she preferred a bell or a stained glass window for his memorial. On 12.4.1983
it records her choice of a window. The Wynn Withers memorial window, on the
right of the communion rail at St Mary's was dedicated 10.3.1985 by Bishop Paul
REEVES. (Weekly newsletter 17.3.1985.) It was designed by Beverly Shore BENNETT
"St Peter standing on a rock with his fishing net over his shoulder & a fish,
symbol for Christ, in his hand. An angel at the top holding a scroll with Simon
Peter on it, above all are the crossed keys of the saintl The lower panel shows
the healing of the beggar at the gate called Beautiful." See Cathedral
Newsletters of 13.2.1983, 17.6.1984 & 10.3.1985: "... we dedicate a
stained glass window in memory of our revered late Churchwarden, Mr Wynn
Withers. A memorial in glass in St Mary's ... is a worthy tribute to Wynn,
as his life & example in this parish brought to us on many occasions
something of the presence & grace of God. One looked at Wynn & admired his
simple faith, his calmness & his strong will which was determined to see
right things done in the Cathedral. Just as he was an effective instrument
for God's working ..." Dad's ashes were in an urn under the sanctuary of
St Mary's, near his stained glass window. Dad's & Mum's ashes are now in the
Columbarium Remembrance Garden outside St Mary's consecrated 1.11.2009.
This holds a number of columns each containing about 4 by 8 lots of ashes.
In 2018 theirs is the lowest & is on the path past the Selwyn Chapel to the
archives.
Dad had a great sense of humour & loved telling jokes & shaggy dog stories.
He loved singing: Gilbert & Sullivan & Ilkla Moor Bar Tat were among his
favourites.
Manu now has his photo album with him at School Camp in 1928
at Narrow Neck in lemon squeezers, in Kings First 11 & First 15 1929,
in army uniform "Weekend camp 1934", shots of Mum in 1935 at Takapuna & Milford
Beach, a Rotorua WW2 camp 1936, Dad in Wellington with friends at their
boarding house "Bagan Hall" - now the site of the James Cook Centra Hotel.
Also in the album is a shot of "Mater & Aunt Dora" c1878.
Here is a photo of Bishop GOWING, Dad & Brother OLDHAM c1975
after the dedication in Holy Trinity Cathedral of a stained glass window
- NZ Herald.
Gowing
1.32MB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download
Here is a photo of him - he is the middle left pallbearer - at Bishop Gowing's funeral
from the NZ Herald 6.6.1981.
Mum and Dad and me on the couch at their home in 1982:
A photo of Dad at Oriental Bay c1982:
The following poem was written by his granddaughter Erica, ID 52531.
MY GRANDFATHER
My Grandfather was a man, who always cared for others.
He cared for all his family, and my father and his brothers.
My Grandfather left us memories, we will forever share.
My Grandfather was a great man, a wonderful man who cared.
Auckland Star & NZ Herald 3.1.1983: WITHERS, Wyvern Stroud (Wynn) -
On 31.12.1982 at his home, 18 Cathedral Place, Parnell, greatly loved husband
of Laurette & loved father of Russell, Christopher & Peter, father-in-law of
Frances & Judith & loving grandfather of Manu, Henry, Sarah, Rose, Sheba &
Erica, aged 68. The entire funeral service will be held at Holy Trinity
Cathedral, Parnell at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday). Watney Sibuns.
………….
m 12.11.1940 St Mark's,Remuera,Auckland sp-Alice Laurette RUSSELL b 6.2.1918
Auckland d 19.4.2010 Auckland Hospital. Attended St Cuthbert's College.
On 24.7.1931 at 13 she was awarded the Royal Life Saving Society certificate.
She achieved Honours in Trinity College piano exams. Hairdresser in various
places before her marriage including & Wellington, Invercargill, Christchurch.
16.2.1932 NZ Womens Weekly p22: 2 of our young things celebrated their 21st
birthdays last week. Pretty little Laurette RUSSELL who came up from
Christchurch for a short holiday, had her party on Monday at her parents' flat.
Among her old friends who gathered to wish her well were Dorothy THORBURN,
Beris SCHRAMM, Win MCMANEMIN, Ngaire WOODS, Peggy TRAYES [1st cousin] & Dorothy
LAWRENCE. Laurette returned to Chch last Friday.
13.11.1940 NZ Herald: EVENING WEDDING, WITHERS-RUSSELL, Bride's French lace
gown, Attendants wear organdie. The marriage of Miss Laurette RUSSELL, only
daughter of Mr & Mrs Rex RUSSELL of Marino Gardens, Mt Eden, & Mr Wynn Stroude
WITHERS of Wellington, youngest son of the late Mr & Mrs ES WITHES of Parnell,
took place last evening at St Mark's Church, Remuera. Archdeacon P HOUGHTON
officiated & Mr A PASCOE was the organist. The bride, who was given away by her
father, wore a beautiful gown of ivory French stiffened lace over taffeta with
full-topped sleeves tapering at the wrists, & a heart-shaped neckline. The
flowing skirt was fashioned to form a long train, over which fell the veil of
ivory tulle. This was worn over the bride's face as she entered the church &
was caught to the head with a cluster of 3 white Christata orchids & sprays of
lily-of-the-valley. A shower bouquet of white orchids, carnations, roses &
lily-of-the-valley was carried. In attendance as bridesmaids were Miss Wynn
MCMANEMIN & Miss Berris SCHRAMM, who wore frocks of pale blue self-patterned
organdie over delphinium blue taffeta. Circlets of small pink sweetheart roses
were worn on their heads, & bouquets of pale blue delphiniums & pink carnations
& roses were carried. The bridegroom was attended by Flying-Officer Trevor
WITHERS, Royal NZ Air Force, Hobsonville, as best man & by Private John WITHERS
4th Reinforcements, 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force, as groomsman. A sherry party
was afterward held at the Station Hotel where Mrs RUSSELL received her guests
wearing a frock of mist blue lace & coatee, & a blue floral toque. She carried
a bouquet of deep pink roses & green orchids. Mrs M COLLINS, aunt of the
bridegroom, was in a navy pebble crepe frock & hat with a shoulder spray of
autumn-tinted roses. PHOTO: Wedding at St Marks Church, Remuera: Mr & Mrs WS
WITHERS leaving the church after their wedding last evening.
14.11.1940 NZ Womens Weekly p14: Attractive Laurette RUSSELL has been
spending the past few weeks dashing form 1 party to another, & with each of her
many friends deciding that they simply must give a party for her, you can just
imagine how much spare time she has had. 1 of the 1st parties for her in the
pre-wedding rush was that given by Wynn MCMANEMIN at her home in Omahu Rd,
Remuera. The party took the form of a handkerchief afternoon, & Laurette was
looking very lovely in a grey dress worn with a fur cape & hat to match.
Another party was given for her by Beris SCHRAMM at Berisville Flats on Wed.
evening last week. This time Laurette chose a frock of blue & white floral lace
& looked really lovely. The guests included Joan FORVES, Wynn MCMANEMIN & Nesta
STAPLES. Last Monday week also found this popular lass partying again & this
time it was Nesta STAPLES who hostessed. "Something really different" was the
keynote of this party & the guests had a thoroughly exciting time having their
fortunes told. A luncheon party was given for her last THursday & she was
presented with everything for the well-dressed bathroom. Laurette wore a fur
coat over a grey frock for the occasion & among those who came to offer their
good wishes & gifts were Joyce NATHAN, Naida CARSIE, Wynn MCMANEMIN, Estelle
BOUCHER & Margaret DYSON.
And the great day arrived: Tues evening found Laurette looking lovelier than
any one person has a right to as she walked up the aisle of St Marks Church,
Remuera in her frock of cobwebby French lace that swirled its ivory stiffness
over a slip of matching taffeta. The bodice of the frock was heart-shaped & the
skirt fell into a long train. The bride carried a bouquet of roses, carnations
& lily-of-the-valley. Her 2 bridesmaids were Wynn MCMANEMIN & Beris SCHRAMM who
wore unusal frocks of striped organdie in delphinium-blue with floral lace
tucks in the front of the bodices. The bride's mother Mrs Rex RUSSELL received
the guests in a frock of mist-blue lace at the Station Hotel where a cocktail
party was held. Laurette's husband Wynn WITHERS hails from Wellington & the
newly-weds plan to make their home in that city.
For another wedding photo, see Weekly News 20.11.1940. Marriage cert:
Wyvern Stroude WITHERS 26 Insurance Clerk bachelor b Auckland Present
residence Auckland, Usual residence Wellington, son of Edward Stroude WITHERS
solicitor & Lisa WITHERS nee WHITSON;
Alice Laurette RUSSELL 22 spinster b Auckland Residence Auckland, dr of
Reginald Frank RUSSELL accountant & Vera Bessie RUSSELL nee HALL;
Minister Percy HOUGHTON; Witnesses Trevor S WITHERS, Hobsonville Air Base,
Auckland Flying Officer RNZAF & John S WITHERS, Papakura Military Camp, Private
Dad, John & Trevor arriving for the wedding:
Leaving the wedding:
Bridesmaids Wynne MCMANEMIN & Beris SCHRAMM:
In 1944 they lived at 1411 Great North Road, Auckland. This is the address in
my Plunket Society Baby Record.
ELECTORAL ROLL 1944 Auckland city 51631:
Laurette WITHERS wife of WS WITHERS State Tenant 1411 Great North Rd.
Here is a photo of her with Dad holding a pipe perhaps on their honeymoon.
Mum with her children at her 79th birthday, 1997 at Peter and Judy's in Waiheke:
5251 Russell, 5253 Peter, Laurette,5252 Kit:
1945-2010: 18 Cathedral Place, Parnell, Auckland, NZ.
24.11.1976 Auckland Star University Exams results: French 34.200 Cop (Cert.
of Proficiency) AL WITHERS.
A photo of her with friends appears on p11 of the Middleburg Life paper for
July 1994 on a visit to a school-friend in Virginia.
This photo of Mum by the fireplace at home was taken Feb 2011 by Alison WHEELER, the last photo taken of her before she died, and one of my favourites!
Laurette has ID 32254 11 in "The family tree of RUSSELL of Bristol (1840-present)" in
OUR RUSSELL TREE at
https://kitwithers.substack.com/p/russell-of-whitchurch-somerset
formerly at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/russell/russell.html
See there for more photos. Here is her will.
Alice Laurette WITHERS nee RUSSELL b 6.2.1918 Auckland
d 19.4.2010 Auckland will 23.3.2010, probate x.2010:
Will made by Alice Laurette WITHERS of Auckland, widow, 23.3.2010.
1. I cancel my earlier wills.
2. I direct that my body be cremated & the ashes laid to rest in the company
of my late dear husband.
3. I appoint as the executors of my will my 3 sons Russell John Stroude
WITHERS, Christopher Stroude WITHERS & Peter Stroude WITHERS (referred to in
this will as "my trustees"), & I give all of my estate to them on trust:
3.1 to pay any debts I may have at the date of my death;
3.2 to pay my funeral expenses & the cost of adminstering my estate;
3.3 to give $10,000 to each of my grandchildren, namely Manu WITHERS, Henry
WITHERS, Sarah WITHERS, Kelly WITHERS, Erica WITHERS, Adriana Rose WITHERS &
Sheba WITHERS;
3.4 to give the sum of $3000 to each of my daughters-in-law Fran WITHERS &
Judy WITHERS;
3.5 to give $1000 to each of Annabel REA & Rebecca REA [children of her
godson];
3.6 to give $2000 to Lillian ROBERTSON in recognition of her kind help over
many years;
3.7 to give $5000 to July REA [first wife of her godson];
3.8 to give $2000 to Sue REID [3323 at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/hall/hall.html, daughter of her
cousin Betty REID nee BRAMBLEY];
3.9 to give those of my personal & household effects in accordance with any
informal written directions I may have left;
3.10 subject to clauses 4 & 5 of this will, to divide the residue equally
between my sons Russell John Stroude WITHERS, Christopher Stroude WITHERS &
Peter Stroude WITHERS.
4. In relation to the gifts in clause 3.10 of this will, I direct that if any
of my sons is a discretionary or vested beneficiary of a family trust
established prior to my death, then clause 3.10 shall be deemed to be varied to
allow (at the option of the relevant son) that son's share of the residue of
my estate to be bequeathed direct to that trust.
5. In relation to the gifts in clause 3.10 of this will, I further direct
that if any of my sons dies before me, the following will apply:
5.1 if the deceased son is married or in a relationship in the nature of
marriage at the time of my death, the sum which would otherwise have been
bequeathed to that son under clause 3.10 shall insted be held by my trustees
on trust (but not in a family trust as would otherwise have been permitted
under clause 4 of this will) to pay all the income therefrom to my son's widow
or surviving partner, for the balance of her life, & upon her death, the corpus
shall be distributed in equal shares between those of the deceased son's
children who shall survive the said widow or surviving partner;
5.2 if the deceased son is not married or not in a relationship in the nature
of marriage at the time of my death, the sum which would otherwise have been
bequeathed to that son under clause 3.10, shall instead be distributed in equal
shares between those of my deceased son's children who survive him, & if there
are no such children, then the deceased son's share shall be divided between
his grandchildren, but if there are no grandchildren the deceased son's share
shall be diveded between those of his brothers who survive him.
6. I direct that my executors shall be entitled to make all usual & proper
charges in connection with the administration of the trusts of this will, just
as they would have been entitled to make if not an executor & so employed.
Signed by Alice Laurette WITHERS in our presence & attested by us in her
presence: [AL WITHERS}
xx Solicitor, Auckland
R CEER?, Director, Auckland
From the maze dedicated to mum and dad outside Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell.
StMarysAtNight.jpg
On 19.6.2011 a memorial seat for Wynn & Laurette was dedicated & blessed by
Rev. Sarah STEVENS. It was paid for by sons Kit and Peter. At the same time
pages for them with photos were put into a book for viewing on the left of the
crossing before the choir. For the text on Dad, see dadmemorialpage.txt
Wynn WITHERS 1914-1982
He lost his father at 9.
He grew up at 21 Takutai St, Parnell, won the science prize at Kings College.
A self made man, he worked his way up from errand boy to the top at the
General Assurance Company.
In 1941 he married Laurette RUSSELL.
They built their home at 18 Cathedral Place and a holiday bach at Rotorua.
Dad was a vestryman and Peoples Warden at the cathedral.
In 1985 a memorial window and plaque were dedicated to him in St Mary's.
He had a great sense of humour & loved telling shaggy dog stories and singing.
He worked hard for his family.
The following poem was written by his granddaughter Erica.
My Grandfather was a man, who always cared for others.
He cared for all his family, and my father and his brothers.
My Grandfather left us memories, we will forever share.
My Grandfather was a great man, a wonderful man who cared.
Obituaries: Auckland Star & NZ Herald 3.1.1983; Cathedral News Jan. 1983.
mummemorialpage.txt :
Alice Laurette WITHERS nee RUSSELL 1918-2010
Determination, wit and friendliness Mum had in abundance.
Mum and Dad met in 1933 in the Depression and married in 1940 in WW2.
They lived at 18 Cathedral Place, Parnell 1945-2010.
Mum and Dad knew how to enjoy life - work then play
As a child Mum got honours in life saving and piano.
Later interests included cooking, making hats, sewing, yoga,
French (topping Stage 3 at AU in 1976), bridge, entertaining.
Her sparkle and wit were infectious. She was "the hostess with the mostest",
quick to joke and laugh, to offer wine and food.
All who met her, fell under her spell. She had great determination.
Mum walked through life proudly, her head high,
touching the lives of all she met, leaving a trail of joy and laughter.
Mum, thank you for your tenacity, your strength, your wit, and showing your
appreciation for every small thing. Most of all, thank you for your love.
MyEulogyForMum.txt
Alice Laurette WITHERS nee RUSSELL 1918-2010
The eulogy I gave at Mum's funeral:
Ah fill the cup. - What boots it to repeat
how time is slipping underneath our feet?
Unborn yesterday, dead tomorrow. Why fret about them if today be sweet?
family, friends - this was one of the verses Dad used to woo Mum.
Here's another he wrote in Mum's autograph album in 1936:
This life's mostly froth and bubble. But 2 things stand like stone -
Kindness in another's trouble, & courage in your own.
Courage & friendship were qualities Mum had in abundance. Mum & dad met in 1933
when he pushed her dingy off the rocks at Rocky Bay, Waiheke.
The world was sunk in the Great Depression, but they were teenagers on holiday.
She was 14. He was 18. 7 years later they married, hopelessly in love.
That's the way they stayed through thick & thin.
Right to her end Mum would say 'Dear Wynn'.
Dad was a self-made man. He'd dropped out of Kings in the Depression & found
a job as a runnerboy to an insurance company. He rose to the top before going
independent. Their success was due to their own diligence, not handed to them.
As a young child I remember Mum making her fancy hats on a mould & sewing with
her Singer.
She gave up her piano when I was very young. Later she took up yoga & flower
arranging. Mum & Dad took French together at university. Mum came top in
Stage 3 French. They loved playing bridge together. I was so sad when Mum had
to give up bridge & driving due to her failing eyesight & health.
Mum's entertaining was legendary. Our annual Guy Fox parties were renowned,
not least for her great spreads. After Dad died we continued to have many
family parties. The main one was the gathering of her growing clan of
descendants at Xmas. Then her birthday. When we dined out Mum would always
pay the bill.
Mum was born in one world war & had her babies in the 2nd. Her sparkle & wit
were infectious. She was 'the hostess with the mostest', quick to joke & laugh,
to offer wine & food. 4 oclock was Happy Hour at 18 Cathedral Place.
Any visitors around then were thrice welcome. It was her chance to shine again,
to share joy with others again, right to the end.
All who met her fell under her spell.
But she also had a will of iron - one that caused us sons much angst.
Mum would say to me: 'Christopher! You are not going out in my town dressed
like that!' When she called me Christopher I knew I was in trouble!
After Dad died we continued to have many happy times together. Mum loved
playing Double Patience & Scrabble with Peter & me. Mum & I hiked in
Switzerland, practised French on a trip to Versaille & the Louvre.
We visited a village in Kent where her ancestors had dredged oysters, probably
back to Roman days. We saw the names carved in the 1600s by Dad's ancestors
on the vestry wall & on a beam of the nave in a church in Wiltshire.
When we were kids our family had many happy holidays at our bach in Rotorua.
Mum & Dad knew how to enjoy life - work then play. Mum cooked. Dad renovated.
We kids caught kura in the lake, swam, climbed the old poplar at the back,
& trolled for trout.
From a young age we did our duties for our pocketmoney, thrippence or 6pence
a week. I cut down gorse, walked our goat Myrtle, fed Edward the rooster & his
harem, & played with our guineapigs & tortoise.
They encouraged our education. Russell & I went to university.
Peter changed his life with a Dale Carnegie course.
Mum walked through life proudly, her head high, touching the lives of all
she met, leaving a trail of joy & laughter. None of us will forget her.
Mum, we love you so much!
A sample of early pics from Mum & Dad's 1941 album
Kit Peter Russel
Mum holding Kit in christening clothese, Dad with army uniform holding Russell.
Dad watches Kit & Russell. This must be at their state house before they built 18 Cathedral Place.
Russell Dad Kit Mum
Peter in christening clothes with family at the entrance to 18 Cathedral Place
Kit and Russell
Dad built us a swing for 2. Below the fence is the orchard he put in. The 1st chook run was to the left. The houses must be Brighton Road. But they look wrong. I think it must be at the state house. A picnic - Mum and the Slomans:
……………………………………..
5251 4-Russell John Stroude WITHERS b 7.4.1942 Wellington d 4.11.2021 at
St Margaret's Rest Home, Te Atatu Peninsula. Dip. Arch. (Auckland University)
When he was c5 NZ schools shut down for 3 months because
of a polio epidemic. In 1984 he was a community architect. (1971-9 Stanish &
Withers Architects. 1979-83 Archangels-Architect Collective.) His practice
carried out a mixture of private architectural commissions. He did periodic
lecturing, tutoring & public speaking, consultancy & research work for Local
Bodies & central government, ran skills training programmes for the public
& professional sectors, community advocacy work & sundry writings. He has
lectured at Auckland University in the School of Architecture, the Town
Planning Department, the Elam School of Fine Arts, the Management Studies
Dept., Sydney University, Leeds Polytechnic, Carrington Tech., Victoria
University, etc. Of his 24 publications between 1976 and 1984 his titles
include "Architectural Values", "Professional priorities", "Community
housing alternatives", "Co-counselling a a comparative psycho-therapy",
"Helping skills", "Community architecture in NZ", "Basic facilitation for
cooperative groups", "Community & self-help architecture", "Personal & group
skills", "Community technology" & "Intentional communities". Nov'r 1977 Art
NZ p11. Cofounder of the Environmental Resource Centre providing
environmental information & skills. For examples of his community
architecture see Auckland Star 6.4.1990, North Shore Times Advertiser
16.4.1990 & 30.7.1992 p53, Auckland City Harbour News 19.4.1990 p4-5. Design
awards include 1984 AHI Environmental Design Award (for Mangere Centre Park
Sports Complex), 1989 Timber Design Society Award (for Fishing Boat Family
Restaurant), 1992 Waitakere City Council Residential Design Award.
Consultant facilitator: has facilitated over 90 training workshops &
courses; co-author of "Basic Facilitation Skills Handbook for Cooperative
Groups"; founding partner of The Main Street Company providing facilitation
to business associations & local authorities on setting up and managing
economic revitalisation projects. Counsellor/therapist: since 1980 offering
family & business relationship counselling; co-counsellor teacher; produced
training video on use of drawing therapy with children for Auckland College
of Education; teaches and drafting book on Interactive Drawing Therapy;
producing "A user's guide to comparative psychotherapies" for the NZ
Parent-to-Parent organisation. He ran Colour Therapy courses around the
country.
prk.pdf
Prk
441KB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download
Here is a photo of Peter, Russell & Kit c1956, the year Russell started at Kings College.
Russell is wearing school uniform.
On 4.11.2022 his children and grandkids met at Hot Water Beach to put his
ashes over the cliff in line with his wishes.
……………………………
m1 Auckland sp-Pamela STREET Descends from Mutiny of the Bounty stock & from
Joseph STREET who arrived New Plymouthj 7.11.1841: see p240 of "The
establishment of the New Plymouth Settlement 1841-3" by J RUTHERFORD & WH
SKINNER.
52511 5-Manu Stroude WITHERS (27.5.1971 Auckland) BE (Auckland University)
Has toured Japan & Australia rowing. Worked in London 2000 to August 2001
when he returned to NZ via overland in Africa etc. 1993: President of
Association of Engineers. 1996 Traffic engineer for Auckland Regional Council:
see Auckland paper article 9.10.1996. 1997-2005: working in London.
1993: 72 Shakespeare Rd, Milford, Auckland
1999 visited US, Central America, Nepal, India, ...
2014 83 Palmerston Rd, Birkenhead, Auckland 0626.
2023 stroude@icloud.com, stroudeltd@gmail.com
WORK Structural Engineering Consultancy NZ | Stroude Ltd www.stroude.co.nz
stroudeltd@gmail.com
2022 Airey Consultants Ltd (09) 486 4542, Level 8, Takapuna Towers 19-21 Como
St stroude@icloud.com
m 17.4.2004 Auckland sp-Kelly Anne WYNN b 27/10/73. Parents Beryil (nee GRAHAM)
and Mark WYNN. 3 children.
52512 5-Henry Kahu WITHERS (19.7.1973 Auckland) BE (Auckland University)
Has toured Japan & Australia? rowing. Was in Under 21 Rugby team? In 1997 lived
in London with Manu. 1999 visited US, Central America, ... In 2000 he began a
career with BNZ in Wellington covering Wholesale derivatives.
2009 Vice President, Institutional Banking & Markets, Commonwealth Bank.
2014 Commercial Royal Banking. 2020 General Manager | Corporate Banking.
* 2003: Castor Bay, Auckland. 3 children.
……………….
[5251 4-Russell John Stroude WITHERS (7.4.1942)]:
df sp-Heather SPENCE (Auckland)
* 1999: 22 John St, Ponsonby, Auckland tel. 09 376 3996 or 021 766 399
All SPENCEs in NZ descend from James and William SPENCE.
52513 5-Hazel Mary SPENCE (7.12.1979 Auckland)
In 1999 at dance-school in Melbourne, Australia. 2010 in London.
m sp-Ben 2015: Walton on Thames, Surrey hazelmaryspence@gmail.com 3 children.
…………
[5251 4-Russell John Stroude WITHERS (7.4.1942)]:
m2 1981 Auckland sp-Frances Patricia DARRAGH (14.2.1953) BA Hons,
NHP, HbT, MNZAC, MNZCHP, MNZHS, MNZIHb. Counsellor & natural health
practicioner. Author of homeopathic books eg "Healing your child" (1989,1999).
For a photo of her with her cousin Louise DARRAGH, see Sunday Star 4.6.1989.
*1980-2014: 57 Lincoln St, Ponsonby, Auckland.
2014-present: 7 Kelvin Crescent, Te Atatu Peninsula 0610
………………………
52514 5-Sarah Jane WITHERS (31.7.1981 Auckland) 2004: MSc in Biology,
Auckland University.
2005: Administration Assistant at the Bioinformatics Institute, Auckland
University. This info & photo is from their website www.bioinformatics.org.nz
2007. 2007 in UK.
withers.sarah@gmail.com
PhD in Biological Sciences, focussing on genetic and behavioural
variation of the North Island rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris granti).
See 'Austral Ark - The State of Wildlife in Australia and New Zealand'
- eds: A Stow, N Maclean and G Holwell- Cambridge University Press 2015.
Sarah's contribution is Chapter 9 (p405-421), titled "Isolation, Invasion and
Innovation - Forces of change in the conservation of New Zealand birds".
m 5.3.2010 sp-Daniel Gus FARROW 2 children
……………………….
52515 5-Kelly Patrick WITHERS b 9.10.1984 Auckland kpwithers@gmail.com
11.10.1996: A photo of him "Bubblegum bliss" appears on p3 of the Auckland
City Harbour News.
m 2020 sp-Daria 2 children.
…………………………………………………….
5252 4-Christopher `Kit' or 'Keeto' Maurice Stroude WITHERS (20.10.1943 Auckland)
I have been blessed by parents who sacrificed a lot in order to send their
children to Kings College. The 1st class education I was given there was my
springboard to my education successes together with a propensity for hard work.
In 1961 I came 5th in NZ in the Scholarship exams, winning a Junior Scholarship
(photo in the NZ Herald Dec.? 1961) to Auckland University.
On the board at Kings showing those who gained a University Schol., I am CMS WITHERS. M is for Maurice, Dad’s brother. Although I was baptised CMS, when I got my birth certificate, I found I was registered CS.
At Auckland I did a BSc
in Pure & Applied Maths, & in 1965 a MSc (1st Class Honours) in mathematics,
winning the Gillies Scholarship, the CSR Scholarship, the postgraduate Senior
Scholarship in Maths & other awards such as Fellowships to Harvard & U of
Chicago, a scholarship to Cambridge, (all declined) & a Fulbright Scholarship.
At U of A I was active in the Tramping Club, the International Club & the
Maori Club. While there I put out Auckland's 1st Directory of Social Services
c1965.
While completing my MSc at U of A, I was offered a job by the director of the
Applied Math's Division of the DSIR (Department of Scientific & Industrial
Research) at Victoria University, Wellington. I worked there in 1966 until
September when I left for Stanford University where I did a Ph D in statistics
1966-70. For a brief account of my participation in the Civil Rights movement
at that time see inform5.txt:
BRONZE MEDAL SPEECH TO GRACEFIELD TOASTMASTERS CLUB 7.3.2000
Speaking To Inform manual
Speech 5: the abstract concept 10-12 minutes
-Research & organise the though of experts on an abstract concept, theory or
social/political issue
-present the ideas in a clear and interesting manner
Chair, Guests, Fellow TMs: DEMOCRACY IN FLUX
Democracy. Is this, as one put it,
Election by the incompetent replacing appointment by the corrupt?
[Maxims for revolutionarists]
Or as another wrote "The refuge of cheap misgovernment"?
[ Man and Superman.]
I think at least we would agree that it is NOT - the tyrrany of the minority
by the majority.
The history of society is an account of the tumultuous forces that change
society, internally and externally, often in quite unpredictable ways.
What are these forces?
Regionalism, nationalism, religion,
commercial interests - including of course the multinationals, the media;
- and somewhere in there, labouring against these giants,
the minority groups, including indigenous societies,
fighting for their cultural and political survival
against the dominating majorities.
These competing forces are governed - more or less - by government.
Government OF the people, FOR the people - to some extent,
scarcely BY the people, but by their representatives.
Let us take a minute to look back into history & see how these
democratic systems evolved.
Some people like to say the Athenians gave us democracy, over 2000 years ago.
Anyone could stand up on the steps of the Forum and speak their point of view.
ANYONE?
Well anyone except slaves, women, maybe plebs, and the under age.
That is, anyone except 99% of the population.
Now lets fast forward to the British colonies in north America,
breaking away from Britain & forging the US of A & the Bill of Rights
beginning
"We hold it to be self-evident that all men are created equal."
So was born the first of the modern democracies.
It allowed anyone to vote. Anyone?
Well anyone except blacks, women, and the under age, that is about 20% of
the population could vote.
In the 1860s slavery was abolished in the US,
and the slow process of registering black voters began
- with very little progress in many states until the Civil Rights struggle
100 years later.
WOMEN were not given the vote in the US til the 1930s.
BRITAIN abolished slavery in the 1810s,
gave the vote to non-landowners in the 1830s,
and gave women the vote about 1920.
France, while officially proclaiming "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity",
kept slavery alive til the 1940s. Until then
a Kanak in New Caledonia could not even enter Noumea without a police permit -
unless that is their masters required a road gang from their reservation.
In Switzerland women were not given the vote until the 1970s.
On this issue NZ can be proud:
we led the world, giving women the vote in the 1890s.
Today most countries allow anyone of age to vote - about half the population.
In some countries voter turnout is low - sometimes due to
disillusion with the corruption of the leaders and their parties.
In other countries voting is compulsory
- even when only 1 name is allowed on the ballot!
There are of course many forms of democracy.
The First Past The Post system we had
could give a govt 100% of the seats in parliament
with say only 40% of the vote
- simply by getting coming in first with 40% of the vote in each electorate.
So 60% of voters could in effect be unrepresented.
This was particularly galling to the no. 2 party - labour or national.
So finally we changed to MMP - with the add on that people voting for parties
polling less than 5% did not get to be represented
- unless their constituent somehow could get elected.
This 5% rule is supposed to increase stability
- to the sacrifice of these minorities, leaving the 2 leading parties in a
rather cosy position at the expense of the other parties.
With Round 1 of MMP we saw the debacle of the leader of one of the 3rd
ranking parties seizing a huge portion of the power:
Deputy PM, Minister of Finance, & the new position of Treasurer.
Alas the snares of politics, Jenny eventually managed to give Winston the shove
- to his utter humiliation
and the loud cheers of 99% of the population.
With Round 2 of MMP, on election night the 4th or 5th ranking party, the
Greens, got only 4.9%, so could be disregarded in the divvying up of power
between Labour and Alliance.
But wait, a final count pushed it over the 5% threshold,
changing the balance of power.
To their credit, the Greens have not forced the issue,
rather have pledged not to bring down the Gvt,
- & remain locked out of the Halls of Power.
Just as leaders succomb to corruption, so do parties.
Last month saw revelations that arms dealers had secretly given money
to the German party in power.
Many are those who have been imprisoned in the struggle against corruption.
And I am proud to count myself one of them.
In the summer of '68, on my summer vacation from Stanford,
I joined the many thousands of hippies and peaceful demonstrators
protesting the corruption of the Democratic Party
outside their convention in Chicago.
I was part of the peaceful crowd attacked by lead filled billy clubs
wielded under the corrupt machine of Mayor Daley.
Yes I experienced first hand sadistic police and jailers.
And I am proud to have shared a cell with Jerry Rubin,
later picked out as one of "The Chicago 7",
who were gagged and chained in court and given long jail sentences
- later overturned by the Supreme Court - for "conspiracy".
I was CONVICTED on the perjury of a Chicago cop for "failing to disperse".
Of course NATIONAL gvt is not the end of the story of democracy.
Large countries have STATE govts, and nearly all have LOCAL gvts.
Last month WN households received a pamphlet from the council.
MMP legislation requires local govts to ask its citizens every 3 years
if they want to change their local gvt system from the ward system,
if we want to change the number of councillers,
if we want Maori seats set aside, and so on.
In China, they have yet another level of democracy - the neighbourhood block
committee. Here we only have the nbhd watch committee!
So how is Democracy faring?
Are the interests of the minorities being protected?
NZ now leads the way in protecting the rights of indigenous people -
trying to make up for its past.
And about a decade ago we gave some basic rights to homosexuals
- decades after such rights were given in some other countries.
But not without a tremendous fight put up by conservatives
and the Christian Fundamentalists.
(I must say the conservatives are over-rated. After all so-called
conservative Wairarapa elected a cross-gender MP.)
In today's WORLD the prime menace to our democracies is not
the call to save empires as in WW1,
nor fascism as in WW2,
nor a bid to cleanse the world of communism - as in Korea and Vietnam.
What is this menace? I put it to you, it is Religious Fundamentalism.
When fanatics face off, bloodshed is not far away.
Fundamentalism is endangering the fires of democracies around the world.
In INDONESIA and NIGERIA last month Christian and Muslim went on killing
sprees against each other, destabilising whole states within these countries.
The Taliban have destroyed all televisions and forced all women to quit work
in Afghanistan, stoning homosexuals and others that that oppose them.
In the US the anti-abortionists hold huge sway with congress.
But all is not bleak. Last month also saw the voters turning against
fundamentalism in Iran.
Let me summarise.
We looked briefly at the evolution of democracy.
Starting with votes only for aristocrats and landowners,
Last century saw the abolition of slavery, & votes for all males of age.
This century it has led to women having the vote.
In NZ the call for minority rights has gone a long way to redressing past
wrongs to the indigenous population,
it has ended persecution of homosexuals,
and it has given us the MMP system that allows proportional represention
- except for minorities under 5%.
We have seen that the rise of religious fundamentalism is at this very moment
threatening many fragile and fledgling democracies around the world,
as well as heavily influencing the US.
So what should we be doing?
As a nation NZ needs to continue its commitment to UN peacekeeping forces,
as it has in East Timor to our credit,
& to speak out against US attempts to control the UN by not paying its dues.
As individuals, we need to stand up and communicate with our MPs and City
Councillors about matters that are important to us:
as Wn did last month giving a resounding defeat to the plan to build highrises
downtown round our harbour.
So, Citizens, play your part!
After all, democracy can be like so many things: use it or lose it!
,,,,
Under the terms of my Fulbright Scholarship I was entitled to work in the US
for a year after my PhD. So in 1971 I worked as Senior Statistician at
University of California Medical Center before returning to the DSIR, with my
wife Mona whom I married at Stanford Dec. 1970. In 1973 we appeared on TV on
the Brian EDWARDS show. Sheba has a copy. And of
How I got put in a Chicago jail in the 1968 Democratic convention.
tu_chicago7_narrative.html
A court in 1973 found that the mass arrests of nearly 8,000 demonstrators
had violated the Fourth Amendment. So why wasn't my fine repaid?
Chicago Convention The Whole World is Watching 1968. HOW TO DELETE?
How I got put in a Mexican jail c1969. - Sheba has the soundbite.
Mona & I on the David FROST show .8.1973.
In 1992 I was awarded the DSIR Director's Award. That year Nightline rang
video clips for 2 nights on me and my dog SKIP who had gone AWOL. In 1992 the
DSIR was split up into crown research institutes: I worked for Industrial
Research Ltd., Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt until I retired in 2010.
I am still actively writing papers, & have published more papers than any
other mathematician in NZ history.
This culminated on 4.5.2012 when I was awarded a Doctor of Science by the
University of Auckland, the only one given out in 2012, the highest degree that
the university awards, & the so far the only one granted in maths. The "thesis"
was entitled "Some papers in mathematical statistics", & was based on 76
publications. Copies are held by U of A's library & the library of the
Callaghan Institute (formerly IRL), Lower Hutt.
As of 2021, I had 223 published papers in maths & stats journals.
At IRL I held the post of President (1999) of Toastmasters, as well as other
positions. (I think I was the first from our club to win a Gold Medal.) I also
sang in Graham Gainsford's barbershop quartet.
I love tramping, singing, playing guitar & harmonica. See my photo in the
Dominion Easter 1973 with baby Rosie playing the guitar at The Folk Festival
at Victoria University. I have been a member of a number of choirs, including
St Mary's Cathedral as a boy, the Orpheus Choir in Lower Hutt, Homophones in
Wellington, in 2014 in the Wellington Community choir, & now in 2016 I sing in
the Karori group Sing for your life, and in a similar group in Aro Street.
On 13.9.2014 we sang in Civic Square for the All Blacks.
Another highlight was singing the Messiah at Sydney Opera House.
Here is a photo of me climbing the Rudolph Glacier above De La Beche Hut
on the Tasman Glacier in 1990 - I'm down on lower left climbing an icecliff above a crevasse:
Hiking with my dog Skip (b1989) in 1991 at Otaki Forks:
I've made numerous submissions to Parliament. On the nuclear-free legislation
25.6.1986 I confronted Prime Minister Robert MULDOON.
Enter Kit Withers in the search bar here for some of my submissions.</A><pre>
<A HREF="2015submissionKoreaTreaty.txt"> On 28.4.2015 I presented this
submission on the trade deal with Korea to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and
Trade Committee.</A><pre>
After visiting the Phillipines during the tyrant Marcos's last days, I wrote
articles for Manila papers, I began a radio program in 1985 on Radio Access
"Phillipine Solidarity" with my then partner Erice FAIRBROTHER.
Here is a photo of us in 1966 at a friend Prue's deb ball in Masterton
- Prime Minister HOLYOAKE in attendance
and another about 1987 on the way to a family wedding.
Later we began another radio program, "Kanak Solidarity" supporting
the Kanak struggle for independence from France in New Caledonia.
I believe the world's most pressing problem is to reduce greenhouse gases.
They have taken us into a great period of extinction of species, with our
uncontrolled ravaging of the world's resources. I am in a photo on p1 of the
Dom Post for 27.10.2021 holding a sign C)2 kills, behind a banner urging more
action on climate change. This one was organised by XR, Extinction Rebellion.
I also try to attend the Fridays for Futures demos outside parliament.
We can point the finger at the empirebuilding of the great powers, their
emasculating the UN with their veto rights at the Security Council, & at the
multi-nationals who have no morals & buy off so many politicians. But it is up
to the individual to rise above self-interest & labour for what is right.
Religions will always kill in the name of God, & the arms manufacturers will
always benefit from war - see www.sipri.org/
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
I am a committed environmentalist. I was President of Action for the
Environment 1971-74 fighting to save Wellington's green skyline, against
get-rich-quick developers, and have planted thousands of native trees across
the road in Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park, where I love to do track
maintenance with my dog. I have created a forest of pungas, nikau, etc in
my back yard. The tuis, morepork & occasionally kaka visit me.
At Auckland Uni I became friends with Tevita HELU, who later named his son
after me, Kit Withers AISEA. I 1st visited Tonga in 1971 returning to NZ
from the US, & started building friendships there. From the 2nd hand bookstalls
at Victoria Uni I collected tons of books which the NZ Airforce flew to Tonga
for Atenisi University, started by Tevita's uncle Prof. Futa HELU, & also to
USP in Suva. In 1980 I became the NZ representative for Atenisi.
Later I sponsored Tevita's brother Langitoto HELU & Taniela VAO from Atenisi
to study at Victoria University. Langitoto later held the title of HELU til he
died. The 1st Pacific Island City Councillor, Tala CLEVERLEY, helped me
find housing for Langitoto when he came to Wellington. In 1980 I was a
volunteer teacher at the Wellington homework centre she helped start. See photo
of me in the Dominion 14.7.1980.
Erice & I sponsored 2 Cambodian refugee families c1987. My involvement with
the Cambodian community in Wellington has brought me much pleasure.
In 1964 my uncle Captain Trevor WITHERS, took me out of NZ for my 1st time,
to travel with him on the Teraga Levu, his Blue Lagoon boat, up the Yasawa
Islands, Fiji. It was a magical experience of a different world. In 2014
I returned from my 7th visit to Waya in the Yasawas, basing myself in
the home of my uncle's namesake or "aca", Trevor Withers DAWAII, whose dad was
a friend of my uncle. His dad named a daughter Lisa Peggy ofter Trevor's mother
- my grandmother, and one of his granddaughter's also holds that name.
It was poignant for me to see one of Trevor's boats with the name Peggy
near his home on Waya 2 weeks ago. Trevor also has a son c6 named Christopher
after me. I've taken my daughters & 2 eldest grandkids to Waya, but fear the
strong link with Waya may be broken when I die. I urge my grandkids to go to
Yalobi village, Waya, & rekindle it.
I have had the privilege of visiting many countries, often during the course
of visits to model climate change. These include
Australia, New Caledonia (Kanaky), Samoa, Tahiti, USA, Mexico, Canada,
Iceland, England, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Germany,
Switzerland, Holland, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, India,
Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Guatemala, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic,
Nepal, Myanmar, Peru, Venezuela, Turkey. '03: Korea,Hongkong,China.
1998 just back from Turkey: FIND
2003 Jeju Island, Korea. - I gave a paper at a Stats conference there.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/submissions-and-advice/document/51SCFDT_EVI_00DBSCH_ITR_68247_1_A494761/kit-withers
My submission on the Trans Pacific Partnership to the Foreign Affairs & Trade Committee 10.3.2016.
My Wikitree ID is Withers-867
* Since 1980: 101 Allington Rd, Karori, Wellington 6012, NZ
2023: Whatsapp tel. +6422368 5905 email: kit.withers@gmail.com
m 23.1.1971 Stanford Chapel, Palo Alto, California 1970 sp-Mona Annette
WILLIAMS (26.7.1943 British Guiana) BA in Communications (Stanford) div. c1978.
2 children.
…………………………….
5252 1 5-Adrianna Rose WITHERS b Wellington
m1 14.1.1996 at Wellington Bot. Gardens hot house sp-Joshuahn JACKSTONBURG
(17.12.1969 Ashford, Kent, England) Div.
m2 6.1.2004 at the Chateau, Mt Ruapehu, NZ sp-Ewan GEBBIE.
5 children Rewa, Hugo, Alan, Zac, Zoe.
………………………………
52522 5-Sheba Williams WITHERS b Wellington. 2 children Iris & Monty.
……………………………………………..
5253 4-Peter Stroude WITHERS (7.7.1946 Auckland-24.3.2018 Auckland)
After leaving school Peter worked for Motor Traders before beginning a long
career at Air New Zealand retiring in 1997. Previously with. See photo in 1978?
AIR NZ magasine "Fast fingered Pete". They haD a home on the beach at Waiheke.
He enjoyed fishing in his boat & commuting to his friends in Los Angeles!
Here is Air NZ CEO Jim MCCREA awarding Peter a silver salver for 25 years
with Air NZ, Judy standing by.
L to R: Kit, Prime Minister Helen CLARK, & Peter - 8.8.2005 </A><pre>
at the unveiling in Parliament's Grand Hall of the plaque commemorating
the death of Dad's uncle, Col. Wm MALONE after he led the Wellington Battalion
in the taking of Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli, 8.8.1915:
Peter Burn's eulogy: Good afternoon for those of you who don’t know me My name is Peter Burn .. I have known Peter for nearly 50 years . We were both employed by Air New Zealand . My employment number was 22932 and I think Peter was 22876 .He joined a few weeks before me . We were both employed in the Finance Division and have been friends from the time we met in 1970 .
We you think about life and what it is all about I believe there are two things that are important < the experiences you have and the friends and relationships that you form along the life’s way .. They are the important things in life . I believe that Peter had similar views.
I am drawn to the analogy that one’s life it like the making of a Patchwork Quilt … You start with a large blank cloth and over time you select pieces of fabric of different colours and texture .. these represent experiences and relationships that you have over the years .
Sadly Peters patchwork quilt is only about *0 % complete ,some people don’t get this far in making it and some people get their quilts substantially complete before death takes them away ….
I want to give you all my impression of Peter
He was a loving husband to Judy .a son a father ,brother ,grandfather .uncle and friend to many over his lifetime …
He loved his family , Judy Erica Stanley , Heidi ,Jack and Abby … I want to acknowledge the dedication that you Judy had to looking after peter in these last few years .. In spite of his predicament you nursed him and made his life as comfortable as you could . In such a caring manner .. You are to be admired for the way you selflessly dedicated yourself to him ..
He would often tell me of the family popping in to see he and Judy and how the family was growing up .. He was proud of you all
Russell and Kit .. He would always mention to me when you called or came to see him ..
I want to give you an insight to Peter from my perspective over the years
He worked in the statistics dept ,all the information about passengers on the flights . in the manual days before computers and over time they were computerised . He was known as the expert in the compilation of the data . He had to ensure he had all the tickets from around the world .. I was talking to an ex manager from Los Angeles this morning and he remembered Peter chasing up for information .. He was very conscientious … He worked considerable overtime ,often six days a week , for years . He also worked at other jobs outside AIR NZ. He and his Air NZ friend Rudi worked in the evening at the ASB head office .. they were well known there and I have heard many tales of what they got up to when they were cleaning the offices .. Can’t tell you of these today however .. !
Judy and he lived in Park Hill Rd Birkenhead ,then Kaipatiki Rd Glenfield and then moved to Waiheke in the days of the slow ferries at least one hour each way to the city .
Both He and Judy enjoyed Waiheke , he fished in the bay at Blackpool ,he was a member of the RSA played darts ,had may friends .. I think for him it was one of his happiest times
When he retired from Air NZ and Judy retired at this time they moved South Of Whanganui and later to Whanganui for a time . I was so pleased when they could back to Auckland to be closer to the family… A great Move ..
He enjoyed being back in Auckland until he had his massive stroke which changed he and Judy’s lives .
I want to tell you about his trips to Los Angeles where I worked For Air NZ .. He travelled to see us many times in our 17 years there . My wife ,Joy reminded me yesterday of the time we went to Mexico with him ..many margaritas .. him taking over a singers guitar and playing it better than the local !
We always went somewhere new when he was with us and Peter and I spent many hours talking of life , politics and other things .. I knew him well
His intense views on Politics always intrigued me .. he would ask who I was voting for .. Why I never knew because he knew I was consistent .. Then he would say he was voting for Winston .. Next election he wasn’t voting for Winston but someone else due to something that had annoyed him in the last few months !
He moved all over the Political spectrum .. I think he voted Labour once at my behest But he told me after not before .
He read the Herald from Cover to Cover Everything in there he had read . He had little time for Local Government and we had many discussions over the years regarding the inconsistencies of the administrations etc
Many well founded arguments .
He loved Rock Music .. The Rolling Stones .. Has every record they have produced .he loved to have the newest Computer5 and equipment Had to have a technician around often to sort out problems . God know what he did to annoy the machine ,but he used to ask Stanley to help him often but probably too frustrating and the technical would come to the rescue .
So many memories come back to me , his phone calls ,his emails and just talking to him .. It makes me sad thinking there will be no more communications with him ..
Peter was a family man , an enquiring man a friendly man and a lover of life , a man of opinions .. And He was my Close Friend .
Judy .. Again you have been an inspiration.. with the intense care and love you have given Peter over the last few years
While we celebrate his life today I believe we also Mourn his Loss as his Patchwork Quilt is only 80 % Complete .. However his pain , anxieties and severe debilitation are now behind him .
There will always be a hole in my Heart and Memory of My Friend Peter Stroude Withers.
m 23.1.1969 Rotorua sp-Judith Marcia Gieles KENNEY b 6.2.1939 Judy was the
top Karitane nurse for her year. She managed an old people's home on Waiheke
Island until Peter's retirement from Air NZ. 1 daughter.
c1985-1998/6: 2 The Esplanade, Blackpool, Waiheke Island,Auckland.
1998/7-2000: 6 Wanaka St, Parkdale, Wanganui
2000-2003: Rakaupiko Rd, RD 1, Patea (last house on L before farm at end).
2008: 107 London Rd, Wanganui
2011: 2/15B WaitangiRd, Onehunga, Auckland 1060 tel 06 347 9588
……………..
52531 5-Erica Kate Stroude WITHERS (26.4.1970 Auckland) Manager of a
private nursing home and several dogs!
1993: 13 Rehia Road, Massey, Auckland
2005: 61 Simpson Rd, Swanson, Auckland
2018 Te Kauwhata ericawithers01@gmail.com
m1 (df) sp-Sean BATT
52531 1 6-Stanley James BATT (1.11.1998 Waitakere Hospital,Auckland)
Stanley held by Kit at Laurette's, Xmas Day 1998:
021024 85937 sjamesbatt@hotmail.com
m (df) sp-Kahlia
52531 11 7-Skyler Jaxon BATT b 13.9.2021.
52531 2 6-Heidi Louise BATT (5.15 am 7.3.2001 Waitakere Hospital?,Auckland)
Studied at Unitech Inst of Technology, Mt Albert.
52531 21 7-Daniella Joy STYLES b 630pm 10.6.2018
[52531 5-Erica Kate Stroude WITHERS (26.4.1970 Auckland)]
m2 2003 (df) sp-John WARWICK
52531 3 6-Abigail WARWICK (14.11.2004 Waitakere Hospital,Auckland. 2005:
52531 4 6-Jonathan Jack WARWICK (3am 3.3.2005 Waitakere Hospital,Auckland)
WARWICK Jonathan Jack arrived Thursday 3 March 2005 at 3am weighing 6lbs 4oz.
John, Erica, Stanley, Heidi and Abigail happily welcome ...
- NZ Herald Friday, March 11 2005.
…………………………………………………………………………
53 2-Thomas Newton WITHERS b 2.5.1873 Donnington, Newbury [1881 census] or
Newbury [d. cert.] Drowned 5.10.1921 at Mangakino River Camp, Shannon. Buried
8.10.1921 at grave 38, block 18, Shannon 'age 44' - ancestry NZ cem. records.
<IMG SRC=tom.jpg> "Tom", Thomas Newton WITHERS 1873-1921, ID 53,
from the collection of Denis MALONE, ID 3341 at malone/malone.html
1881 census: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston,Somerset, b Donnington,Berks.
Death certificate: Thomas Newton WITHERS laborer died 5.10.1921 at Mangakino
River Camp, Shannon by drowning at Mangakino River Camp (verdict of coroner);
son of Edward WITHERS flourmiller and Agnes Mary nee NEWTON;
buried 8.10.1921 at Shannon by J C ABBOTT Anglican; born in Newbury,England;
37 years in NZ [so to NZ 1883-4]; married
in Wellington aged 41 to Charlotte Jane BAIN; no widow [so she had died
earlier]; no issue; Alf FRASER coroner of Forctone(Foxton?). Station hand for
B COLEMAN at Greta Peak, Motonau, S Island. On 8.1.1902 he volunteered from
Addington, Christchurch as Private 5716 in 8th Contingent of NZ Military
Forces in the South African (Boer) War. This was a S Island Battalion. He
was "formerly in Royal Horse Artillery China". Listed as a gunner for 5 yrs
6 months. Completed service 4.7.1902 with the 2nd Boer War Medal, with
Clasps S Africa 1902 Transvaal & Cape Colony - sent to his father Edward;
he listed his address as 5 Kent Terrace, Wellington. His discharge paper signed
by Major General NUSS?, Commandant of the NZ Forces, lists him of good
character. (There was also a Private T WITHERS 5.1.1901 Died Of Disease -
South Africa - Boer War 5th Contingent
http://www.angelfire.com/az/nzgenweb/diseaseboer.html
Presumably this is Grenadier T WITHERS listed in Roll of Honour
for the South African War at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/SearchFrameset.html )
Those who served in New Zealand units can be checked at the New Zealand website
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/SAW/Database.htm This gives him as
WITHERSThomas Newton 8th Contingent, South Island Regiment - Battalion
Regimental staff, Rank: Regimental-Quartermaster-Sergeant
Occupation: station-hand Next of Kin: WITHERS Mr Edward, brother [52 above] at
Manukau Road Parnell Auckland
County/City: Christchurch 5716.
Jo CLEMENTS emailed me 17.8.11 his record in 4 sheets from National Archives,
London via www.findmypast.co.uk stored at Thomas_N_Withers.zip:
Page 1/4: Army Form B 265.Attestation of Royal Regt of Artillery (Royal Garrison Artillery)
Thomas Newton WITHERS No. 2691, b Newbury, Berks Age 24 y 11 mo. Seaman stoker.
Has resided outside his father's house for 3 years. Single. Agrees to serve 7
years in army then 5 in Army Reserve. Signed at Gravesend 24.2.1900
Page 2/4: Description on enlistment. 5'10", 161 lb, chest 37-39",
complexion fresh, eyes grey, hair lt brown, C of E, Dagger piercing right
forearm. Skull & crossbones & butterfly on leftr. Fit for army.
Page 3/4: Joined at Dover 26.2.00.</A> <pre>
Depot East'n D'n RGA attested fn 24.2.1900.
30 battn/depot Posted gunner 28.4.1900. Adjt 1 depot East'n d'n RGA.
25 battn/depot Posted gunner 15.9.00.
side Pro of RCM - awaiting trial 10.1.01 16 days.
Tried & imprisoned & fined 1P 17.1.01 28 days.
To Duty Gunner 14.2.01 14 days. Imprisoned by CO 25.3.01.
To Duty Gunner 8.6.01. 1 dep posted Gunner 29.6.01.
Imprisoned by CO 4.6.01 14 days.
To Duty Gunner 18.6.01.
Discharged at Woolwich as incorrigible worthless 20.8.01. 1 yr 178 days.
Pension Nil
. Page 4/4: Military history sheet. </A> <pre>
Home 24.2.00-4.9.00 203 days
Hongkong 15.9.00-17.8.01 337 days
Home 18.8.01-20.8.01 3 days. Total 1 yr 178 days.
Certificates of education: 3rd class 2.5.00, 2nd class 2.7.00.
Next of kin: Father Edward WITHERS, Wanganui, NZ.
Character "Very Bad"
Intended residence: c/o Mr FRANCIS, 25 Bondburgh St, Rengent Park NW [London]
For 40,000 names of men who served in the 2nd BOER WAR + a few personel records
of some veterans who served in the Crimea, India etc.:
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/KevinAsplin/ kevinasplin@aol.com
The WITHERS there are
WITHERS, Albert Thomas 23590, Sergeant Cook 56th Coy., 15th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Charles 28037, Trooper 6th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Ernest Shaftsbury 32488, Corporal 109th Coy., 3rd Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, F.R. 33297, Corporal 110th Coy., 2nd Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Frederick Ernest 42412, Trooper* 34th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, George Edward 29385, Trooper 38th Coy., 10th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Henry John 36311, Trooper 41st Coy., 4th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Herbert 8183, Private 31st Coy., 9th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Leonard 32087, Private 39th Coy., 10th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Richard Mansergh 3953, Private 24th Coy., 8th Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Thomas 26840, Trooper 4th Coy., 1st Bn. I.Y.
WITHERS, Walter William 43533, Trooper* 34th Bn. I.Y.
Where are Thomas Newton WITHERS
& Paki WITHERS of http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/major/major.html ?
Also no WHITSON are recorded. I guess they all served in the 1st Boer War.
One can subscribe to BOER-WAR-D-request@rootsweb.com
- see also http://freespace.virgin.net/anglers.rest/BWInfo.htm
& http://freespace.virgin.net/anglers.rest/BoerWar.htm
m c1914 in Wellington aged 41 to sp-Charlotte Jane BAIN (d by 1921) No issue.
………………………………..
54 2-Ida Katharine Jemima WITHERS (18.3.1875 Donnington,Berks.-1946 London)
1881 census: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston,Somerset, b Donnington,Berks.
29.1.1904 godmother to 522 Harry Stroude WITHERS.
Known as Aunty Trot by her niece Ida LOUGH[ID 561].
1914?: 57 Upland Rd, Wellington;
1915: c/National Bank of NZ, 17 Moorgate St, London;
m 11.9.1905 at Christchurch Cathedral by Bishop GRIMES sp-Lt-Colonel William
George MALONE (24.1.1859 Rushey Greene,Kent-killed by a Turkish sniper at
ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, the Dardanelles, Turkey in WW1 8.8.1915)
She was his 2nd wife. For his biography & their children Denis, Barney & Mollie & and descendants,and for his first wife & their children, see 3 on THE MALONE FAMILY TREE at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/malone/malone.html
55 2-Beatrice Emma WITHERS (5.11.1876-3.2.1878)
1881 census: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston,Somerset, b Donnington,Berks.
Buried 8.2.1878 at 15m at St Mary the Virgin, Shaw cum Donnington, Berks.
56 2-John "Jack" Tubb WITHERS (24.4.1878 Donnington,Berks.)
1881 census: Earlstok Villa,London Rd,Batheaston, Somerset, b Donnington,Berks.
He changed his name to John Talbot WITHERS.
Mrs AL WITHERS [525] gave his book of cartoons & paintings "In Lighter Vein"
dated 1909 to Henry WITHERS [52512].
According to his daur's bio below he was a decorator living at Duvauchelle on
Banks Peninsula.
m sp-Elizabeth ROBINS
561 3-Ida Mary WITHERS (1.5.1903 Wellington-1985) "Honeypot". A well known
tapestry worker, she did tapestries for the Catholic Cathedral in Christchurch,
where she lived. Visited 28.6.1970 by 56321 Lisa Gregory aged 6.
The Dictionary of NZ Biography at
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5l16/1
(WAS http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=5D15)
has a photo of her but prefers I do not quote from it. A long biography is at
MCKERGOW, Fiona. 'LOUGH, Ida Mary 1903 - 1985'. Dictionary of New Zealand
Go to http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/ then Biographies in line 2. Scroll down to
L. Then scroll down to Lough.
m sp-John LOUGH of Christchurch
……………………………………………………………………………………..
[5 1-Edward WITHERS (23.7.1845 Newbury-11.9.1921 Wanganui)]:
m2 sp-Gertrude Annie MCEWEN (Scotland?-1916) She is buried 1.4.1916 at the old
cemetery at Heads Rd & Guyton St, Wanganui in plot RS 10 (46 feet from aisle)
with her husband and son Jason ID 58.
The stone reads: Sacred to the memory of
Anne Stantiford MCKENZIE late of Auckland who died 22.12.1906 aged 70
"I know whom I have believed". Also of Gertrude Annie WITHERS, daughter of the
above & wife of Edward WITHERS d 30.3.1916 aged 53" - transcription 927.
Also buried there but not acknowledged until Nov 2005, is her husband Edward,
ID 5 here, my greatgrandfather.
56a 2- WITHERS still born child of Mr WITHERS
buried 28.10.1896 in Wanganui old cemetery in plot RN 26 (32 feet from aisle).
…………………………………….
57 2-Roy Stuart WITHERS b 11.9.1897 Wanganui d 13.8.1970 Wanganui at 71, cremated 14/8/1970 Aramoho Cemetery; ashes
scattered; 'solicitor of Beechcroft, Gt North Rd'. Wanganui Collegiate
- see his listing. For part of the time when his parents lived in
Marton, he boarded in Wanganui with a Scottish lady behind where St John's
Hill Post Office was. He wanted to do engineering but his father insisted he
do law. He had to sell his lathe & engineering tools to pay for his brother
Jason's funeral. Public Service exam 1913. Called up "Order to Parade"
19.12.1918 6am at Wanganui. Matriculated from University of NZ noted in the
Rangitikei Advocate of 21.1.1920. Ll. B. 1920. Discharge on transfer to
reserve 1923. Solicitor. A "rabid" fisherman. Responsible for Latin being
removed from NZ law entrance exams. A prominent Wanganui figure. In 1925-27
he lived at 5 Oakland Av, St Johns Hill. In the Depression they moved in
with the RATHBONEs (his in-laws). In 1940-55 they lived at Great N Rd [Ted].
He built "Beechcroft" (now Virginia Lodge Rest Home, 134? Great North Rd) in
1936 with 25 acres: look for Wanganui's highest Norfolk Island Pine!
They lived there until he died in 1970 [Janet]. He was the first person in
NZ to transmit by radio. Roy made a valve & transmitted the first radio
waves in NZ sending music from a music-box from his workshop at Victoria
Avenue, Wanganui, where a big motel now stands.
His son Shah 572 had the radio-set he used. Roy did a lot of Maori work &
had many clients up the river. They'd bring down kitbags of lemons & oranges
for Roy's family. As a child Ted went up the river with his father to Hui &
tangi at Hiruharama (Jerusalem). A waka at the Wanganui Museum: The Maori
got cheesed off that HATRICKS were charging so much to carry stuff on their
riverboats. So they started taking their produce to Wanganui in this waka.
But they got into financial trouble & Roy & others acting for the creditors
seized the waka at night - [Ted.] Cremated 14/8/1970 at Aramoho Cemetery,
Wanganui - ashes were never collected by the family and some after, the
Funeral Directers sold their business enquiries were made and it was discovered
that the ashes had been disposed of.
m1 sp-Rosamond Malvina RATHBONE b 1898 Kaipara d at 63 28.2.1961
crem & bur Wanganui; of Great N Rd, M. She was known locally as
the Racing Grandmother for her love of vintage cars. Her red ash-frame
1950s Singer 9 convertible Sports car -now owned by son Bob, is in storage
in Wanganui. Reputed to be first NZ woman to have a motorbike licence. She
wrote a book (unpublished) about her tour around the S Island by
Motorbike. Painted watercolour of Wanganui River with grandson Peter -
Andrew (below) has it. Illustrator of the book "New Stories of Old
Whanganui" by Flora SPURDLE - 2nd edition 1959 (HP WILLEMSEN, Wanganui)
connected to William SWAINSON, who came to NZ c 1830, farmer, artist (her
son Ted has some of his paintings as does his wife Elspeth, a
granddaughter (?) of SWAINSON). Botanist, Fellow of Royal Society, author
of book on conchology - shells). May be related to Basil RATHBONE the actor.
Cremated 1/3/1961 at Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui - ashes scattered.
…………………………………
571 3-Edward "Ted" Sydney WITHERS (25.9.1925 Wanganui -c1.12.1995 Taumarunui)
Ted was born at 5 Oakland Avenue. At age 3 or so when the slump hit, Roy's
family moved in with his wife's parents at Number 3. They lived
there until he was about 4 when Roy bought Beechcroft - named by an earlier
owner. It is on Great North Rd opposite & past Friends School, & is now
subdivided & surrounded. Head N on road to New Plymouth 2m from PO up St
Johns Hill past Virginia Lake the road swings L, then a long straight, & on
Left. Attended Wanganui Collegiate. He moved to Taumarunui 1951 as a survey
cadet under Arthur SANDEL, one of the first surveyers resident in the
central N Island. T. Borough Councillor, President of Taumarunui Aero Club.
He was a keen aviator from 1960 and had a Commercial Pilots licence.
He was a Steward with Motorsport Association of NZ: raced cars & motorbikes.
He had a Scott Flying Squirrel motorbike - Hamish. He was a surveyor and in
charge of Search & Rescue, as he knew the countryside better than anyone else.
President of Intellectually Handicapped Children Society. He painted
watercolours. (Can anyone send me a photo of one of these for this site?)
He had a collection of home movies since the 1940's eg going up Wanganui River.
See "NZ's Who's Who". They lived at 23 Hikurangi Terrace, Taumarunui.
m 28.5.1949 [where?] sp-Elspeth Mary McCallum SIMPSON d 8.7.2011 Pukekohe.
Daughter of Daniel SIMPSON who had Ongo Farm, Hunterville & was Wanganui
Hospital Board Chairman. His grandfather bought Rangitikiland which was broken
up into Soldier Rehab. Farms in 1918. After Ted died she and Andrew's family
moved to Palmerston North.
<!-- * 1997: 17 Montrose Place, Palmerston North ph 06 358 8514 -->
5711 4-Peter Roy Douglas WITHERS (30.11.1951 Wanganui) New Plymouth Boys
High. MA Hons in Pol Science (Canterbury) Formerly at 139 Orangi Kaupapa Rd,
Northland, Wellington. Formerly NZ Trade Commissioner to Turkey then Greece
and then to the Americas living in Los Angeles. Later resigned this position
and began a "green NZ" company and began lecturing at UCLA. In 1993 Regional
Manager for Americas in LA <!-- Suite 1530, Tishmen Building, 15th Floor 10960
Wiltshire Bld, Los Angeles, California 90024 work 310-477.1873 secretary 310
479 8139 or 213-477 1899 home ph/fax 310 472 5366,1257 -->
Tigertail Road, Brentwood (A magnificent home, spreading over about 6 levels down a hillside
to the swimming pool, with floor to ceiling angled glass windows & beautiful
furnishings from Turkey & Greece.)
2011: Owen Glenn management school at Auckland University.
2018 Tauranga p.withers@xtra.co.nz
m sp-Jennifer Naomi PEMBERTON (1952 Auckland) Studied at Auckland
University? Did a PhD in psychology from UCLA? Practising as a psychologist
in Los Angeles. Cook Islands.
2018 temptravel2@gmail.com
57111 5-Hamish Kim WITHERS (26.2.1972 Christchurch) Rathkeale College, BA
in Pol.Sci., Post Graduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching. Since c1998
teaching English in Japan.
m sp/df-Yumiko 2018 No children. yhwithers@hotmail.com
57112 5-Calem Peter Edward WITHERS (1973 Christchurch) Rathkeale College,
Masterton; member of Alpha Romeo Club. BA in Social Policy.
chwithers@xtra.co.nz
m sp-Heather LANGLEY
Calem & Heather live on a farm in the country & run a panel shop in Pukekohe.
57112 1 6-Lachlan WITHERS b 28.2.2000 2018 studying Comp Sci at Auckland Uni
lachlan.withers@icloud.com
57112 2 6-Vincent WITHERS b 2001. 2019 Head Boy, ACG Strathallan, Papakura.
See his movie on FB.
57112 3 6-Madeleine WITHERS b 2004 A Cook Islander.
57112 31 7-Te Mataiao WITHERS b 2.2.2023
57113 5-Aaron Hayden James WITHERS (b 27.4.1977 Wellington) 1991 at school
at Tunbridge Wells, England. 2003 a doctor at Wellington Hospital.
2018 living in Island Bay with 3 daughters.
57114 5-Shannon Christian Daniel WITHERS (11.10.1979 Washington DC)
2003 with parents. Enjoys Tai Kwan Do.
2018 a lawyer in Auckland with 1 daughter. Shannon@vulcanchambers.co.nz
5712 4-Andrew Edward WITHERS (b 20.11.1961 Wanganui d 15.12.2020 Bunnythorpe)
Attended New Plymouth Boys High. A diesel mechanic & contractor.
2018 in Bunnythorpe.
m1 1983 Taumarunui sp-Lufi SILA (Samoa) She was Chief dietician, Taumarunui
Hospital. In 1997 she ran the Palmerston North museum cafe. Divorced.
1997: Palmerston North
57121 5-Sonia Elspeth WITHERS (1990 Taumarunui)
She worked with Pacifica textile fabric at Te Papa then Auckland Museum.
Facebook: 2008 Palmerston N Girls High.
2012 Bachelor in Design, Massey Uni.
2013 Postgrad diploma in Visual & Material Culture with merit, Massey Uni.
2014 Masters in Design, Massey Uni.
2022 Wellington.
57122 5-Alastair WITHERS b 28.9.1991 Taumarunui. 2018 in Napier. A personal
trainer and a boxing coach or cornerman. 1 son.
[5712 4-Andrew Edward WITHERS (b 20.11.1961 Wanganui d15.12.2020 Bunnythorpe)]
m2/df sp-Jenny
5713 4-Timothy Swainson WITHERS (1.1.1964 Taumarunui-21.6.1991 Budapest)
New Plymouth Boys High. BA (Victoria University) in linguistics, 1986-7
Health Department Advisory Officer. Language teacher. Spoke Polish, Russian,
Italian & Hungarian. Taught at various language institutes in Europe. He was
killed on a pedestrian crossing.
……………………………………
572 3-Frederick Roy "Shah" WITHERS (16.7.1927 Wanganui - cremated 19/2/1992
Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui)
Bachelor of Engineering (Victoria) Founded the engineering company FR WITHERS.
For 1959-62 he was at the Air Station, Civil Aeronautical Administration,
Aitutaki, Cook Islands. Deputy Chairman of Wanganui Harbour Board. He
invented a process for recycling paper as pellets for burning. Started
a vinyard at Papaiti. He and his family lived at The Grennan, Papaiti
on the corner of Waireka & Papaiti Roads, Upper Aramoho, on N bank of
Wanganui River. This wonderful old house belonged to Janet's
father who did the Maori carvings around the fireplace. One room is a
museum of his collection.
It has 2 cannons from the Land Wars, & a flagpole overlooking the
Wanganui River. This was later the home of the family of their
daughter Margaret Anne until it was sold in 1999. Shah was a great
amateur radio enthusiast; his call sign was 2BBG. In this capacity he
did a lot of work for Search and Rescue. Shah spent his last 2 weeks
before he died in a caravan at the familycamping area at Nuhumaru, 18m
N of Wanganui where Roy's family had camped since the 1920s.
John DAISH of UNICEF recalls Shah's visits to Wellington in a 3 wheeled Morgan
car with no reverse!
m Wanganui? sp-Janet Frances ROBERTSON (31.3.1930 at Papaiti, Wanganui)
Daughter of Archibald Campbell ROBERTSON and Roi nee RICHARDS. Janet's father
was the 1st child baptised in Upokonaro Church, Wanganui. She trained as a
nurse in New Plymouth then did Maternity training in Wanganui. She then spent
2 years in England private nursing and seeing Europe. Returning to NZ she
worked at the Maternity Annexe, Wanganui Hospital. From 1980 to 1995 she was
matron of Kowhaianui Rest Home and Hospital, Virginia Road, St Johns Hill,
Wanganui.
Her grandfather built The Grennan, Papaiti, Wanganui where she and Shah and
their children lived. Her grandfather was a collector of European art. The
collection was augmented by Janet's father with curios, mainly from Africa
and the Pacific. The property was known as Waireka Estate & featured in the
Shell guide for NZ c1985. For photos of the museum enter by famous NZ
photographer Brian BRAKE, enter Waireka Estate at
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/images/
Who is the young man behind the rail talking to the visitors? Janet's
father was a sculptor of note and had an extensive collection of birds and
animals that he did the taxidermy. He had an interest in entomology and
ornithology.
From L to R c1998: Kit 5252, Peter 5253, Judy 5253w, Steph 5722, Libby 5722, Janet 572w,
Margaret-Anne 5721 WITHERS.
…………………
5721 4-Margaret Anne Robertson WITHERS (2.12.1958 Wanganui) She trained
as a nurse in Christchurch then took up rowing, winning the National Double
Scull Champs with Stephanie FOSTER c1985 in Dunedin? She worked for 3 years
with the drug company Merckshaft & Dorne as a rep. then as a supervisor. She
then had a family, did catering at Papaiti, became Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of Churton School where their children attended. She then became
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Area Association (covering Taranaki,
Manawatu and Wanganui). She joined the NZ Training Company in Palmerston
North. c1999 she joined the Ministry of Education, Wanganui as the policy
analyst and liason officer to the Minister of Education From c1992 to 1999
they lived at The Grennan. 2008 working in Lower Hutt.
* 2000: email margaretanne.barnett@minedu.govt.nz
m 20.12.1980 Upokonaro Church, Wanganui sp-(Arnold) John Gilmore BARNETT
(24.3.1955/56 Hereford, England) 1999 Manager of conferences and events at
Massey University. Runner. Toastmasters. 2008 working in the Treehouse in the
Botanic Gardens, Wellington as WWF's fundraiser, saving dolphins and
supporting the campaigns to halt global warming.
2009 Self-employed contract fundraising contractor. john@barnettemail.com
Kit and John 2008 at John's work.
…………………………..
57211 5-Peter Robertson BARNETT (29.1.1986 Wanganui) Theatre sports,
hockey and tennis. 2008 to Toronto University for 6 months for some 4th year
law papers before he returned to Otago University, with 6 weeks of
volunteering on a remote island in the Phillipines.
2015: Peter graduated LLm from Harvard University and is now with a law
firm in London dealing in Foreign affairs like border disputes. His job
at present is in Greece. nzguy@hotmail.com
2018 He is now in London with a Practice specializing in Climate Change.
57212 5-Elizabeth "Libby" Robertson BARNETT (29.7.1987 Wanganui) Netball
and cricket. 2008 doing a BSc at Otago University.
57213 5-Stephanie Mary Robertson BARNETT (20.1.1991 Wanganui) Gymnastics.
2009 doing BBusStud Massey University P.N.
5722 4-Nigel Robertson WITHERS (17.12.1959 Wanganui) Wanganui Collegiate.
He did an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner, then worked in Darwin in an
engineering workshop, then as a receptionist in Diamond Hotel there, then as
senior auditor, second in command of the hotel. Then trained as a croupier
at the hotel. He became partner in a pest control firm (obtaining the
necessary qualifications). 2009 Franchise holder for workplace confectionary
& snacks distributor, Stacks of Snacks.
m 9.1.1993 Goffs Harbour, NSW sp-Anne MATHEWS (27.5.1958 Sydney) She worked
for Social Welfare in Sydney and now works with computers at the university
in Darwin. In years to 2009 worked for Carlton Breweries.
*2000: 5 Varney Crescent, Jingili, Darwin, Northern Territory 0810 Australia.
tel 0061 8898 51178.
5722 1 5-Kathleen "Katie" Mathews WITHERS (29.8.1993 Darwin)
5722 2 5-Jacqueline "Jaqui" Mathews WITHERS (16.5.1996 Darwin)
5723 4-Diana Robertson WITHERS (13.5.1962 Wanganui) She obtained her ATCL
(Associate of Trinity College, London) in speech and drama. In 1985 she
worked at Databank, Wellington, then Bible College at Whakatane. 1986 worked
at Evening Post & Miramar Christian Centre, Wellington.
B.A. English, creative writing & Drama Massey University.
m .2.1987 sp-Robert William HENNIN (1960 Dunedin) Marketing Director for
VISA International, major sponsors for the Sydney Olympics. They lived in
Wellington, then in Auckland (in 1992 at 23 Saspara Place, Beachhaven).
Currently they are in Sydney but move dto Singapore 30.6.2000 where he is
responsible for 13 countries for VISA. to 2009 Working for American Express.
57231 5-James Shah HENNIN (2.11.1988 Wellington)
2015: James graduated from Springfield University in Boston MA in economics
and is now assistant Manager of a Gymnastics Academy. (He is a Gymnast and
won a scholarship to USA.) james_hennin@hotmail.com
57232 5-Rachael Jane HENNIN (20.7.1991 Auckland)
5724 4-Rosamond Robertson WITHERS (30.4.1965 Wanganui) She obtained an MD
and Dip. Obstetrics with distinction from Otago University, Dunedin then
studied psychiatry for 1 year and did her GP training. Lecturing in
Christchurch and locum work in 1999.
m .11.1991 sp-John BRIDGMAN (3.11.1966 Auckland) He obtained a Masters in
Dentistry, his MD and ChB from Otago. House surgeon. Oral surgeon.
In 2000 they lived in PalmerstonNorth. They went to England in 2001 for 2 years
where John worked at St. Mary's Hospital, East Grinstead. He also spent several
months at a Maxilo-Facial Hospital in Freiburg, Germany. He is now in practice
in Tauranga as a Maxilo-Facial Surgeon. 15 Brown St, Tauranga 07-578 8847.
Work 021429045.
57241 5-Frances Ann BRIDGMAN (10.10.1997 Christchurch)
2018 3rd year Medicine in Otago.
57242 5-Catherine Rosamond BRIDGMAN (13.1.2000 Palmerston North)
2018 studying Engineering at Canterbury (first year) .
57243 5-Rebecca Roimata BRIDGMAN (13.3.2001 Palmerston North)
57244 5-Sophie Emma BRIDGMAN (1.11.2006 Tauranga)
…………………………………
573 3-Ida Gretchen WITHERS (9.11.1929 Wanganui) Moved to London.
2018: in my Karori singing group is LornaSMcCullagh@gmail.com who was in
Ida's class at Wanganui Girls College & also knew Janet.
m sp-Jock Morgan VEITCH Separated. d 5.4.2009 France. (Janet has his address.)
5731 4-Harriet VEITCH
5732 4-Sarah VEITCH (10.8.1957)
*1994: Sydney
5733 4-Emma VEITCH (3.8.1959 at home, Beauty Point-17.8.2001 Katoomba
Hospital)
* 1994-2000: 7 Camelia Grove, Gymea, Sydney, NSW 2227
m sp-Sean TURKINGTON
57331 5-Rosamund TURKINGTON (29/9/1987 Darlinghurst Hospital)
……………………………….
574 3-Robert James WITHERS (5.4.1932 Wanganui) Wanganui Collegiate.
* BP 1064, Papeete, Tahiti; he was manager of AIR NZ there. Then manager for
for Avis Rental Cars.
m sp-Jacqueline BOUBEE
5741 4-Roy WITHERS B.Eng. (1985 Auckland). 1986 French military service.
1987: doing MSc in Environmental Studies, Social Sciences Dept, Waikato
University, Hamilton. His thesis took him to S America. Author of
`Perceptions and responses to hurricanes in French Polynesia', Proceedings
of the .. 13th NZ Geography Conference 1985. In 1993 Ted told me that Roy
may be at language school in AK. He & his Indian wife were in Singapore
where she taught linguistics.
m ?
5742 4-Michelle WITHERS
m sp-Graham AG MCMILLAN He trained pacers at his father's studfarm. In 1986 at
Hampton Crescent, Matamata. Then to Te Kawhata.
57421 5-Jason MCMILLAN (NZ)
……………………………………………
[57 2-Roy Stewart WITHERS (1897-13.8.1970) above]:
m2 sp-Bruce Helen VEITCH b 1901 d 30.10.1974, Wanganui, at 27 Parsons St.
Cremated 1/11/1974 at Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui - ashes scattered.
58 2-Jason Wellsman WITHERS b 1904 bur 26.6.1919 Wanganui with parents.
A very good swimmer. Died of pneumonia after competing in the annual Wanganui
River bridge to bridge race. familysearch ID L78Y-KFY
2. ARAMOHO CEMETERY RECORDS, WANGANUI for WITHERS my ID no.
at Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui -
Joseph Henry WITHERS buried 27/12/1927 Blk B 1 22
Stillborn of Mrs AJ T buried 13/121935 Blk G 16
Harry Stroude WITHERS buried 29/1/1965 PLE II 2 98 522
Violet Emily Annie WITHERS buried 6/2/1973 Blk B 1 22
May WITHERS cremated 17/6/1952 ashes scattered
Rosamond Malvina WITHERS cremated 1/3/1961 ashes scattered m1 of 57
Roy Stuart WITHERS cremated 14/8/1970 ashes scattered 57
Bruce Helen WITHERS cremated 1/11/1974 ashes scattered m2 of 57
Frederick Roy WITHERS cremated19/2/1992 ashes taken by Dempsey & Forrest 572
received 26.8.05 from Gary GLEESON - Manager,Aramoho Cemetery & Crematorium,
Wanganui Phone 06 3439412 Fax 06 3439413 WAS aramohocemetery@clear.net.nz
War Monuments there are discussed by Mark Twain (SL CLEMENS) in
'On the damned human race' 1962 on p234-236. It concludes:
"Sacred to the memory of the brave men who fell 14.05.1864" etc. On one side
are the names of about 20 Maoris. ... It invites to treachery, disloyalty,
unpatriotism. Its lesson, in frank terms is, "Desert your flag, slay your
people, burn their homes, shame your nationality - we honor such."
a. ABBREVIATIONS USED
b born, bp (or chr.) baptised, bur buried, d died, m married
Q=384281
sp- spouse (usually used in front of the name of the spouse marrying into the
family
c. NUMBERING SYSTEMS USED
Everyone gets an ID number and a generation number.
These make it easy to search up for parents, grandparents & sibs,
& down for sibs & children.
The number at the start of the line indicates the order of descent from
the initial couple who have ID 0, in this case
0 0-Mary WITHERS daughter of Thomas WITHERS & Elizabeth COLLETT.
m 12.9.1713 Chichester,Chester/Delaware, PA. sp-William Parson HUGHES/HEWES
Their children are 1 1-..., 2 1-, ...
So their ID numbers are 1, 2, ... and their generation numbers are 1.
Similarly the children of say ID 52 are 521 3-..., 522 3-..., 523 3-,...
and so on. For ease of reading, a space is inserted after the 5th digit.
So the number before their name, for example 2- ,
is their generation number, counting that of the initial person as 0.
So if u want the parents of person ID 496 3-xx, search upwards for 49 or 2-
or 49 2- Warning: the number of blanks between 49 and 2- may vary.
d. Some letters to me from Mum and Dad
1966, 1969, 1973 from 525 Wynn & Laurette Withers to me 5252 Kit.
26.11.1966 18 Cathedral Place, Parnell, Auckland C4.
Dear Kit, Congratulations! Tonights Star has the glad news! CS Withers MSc
with 1st (FIRST) (PREMIERE) Honours in Maths! I'll enclose the Star cutting
with this. We are all delighted with your success & Nana & Poppa send their
love & congrat's.
I was going to cable you today but as there's an Air-mail leaving tomorrow
at 530am this will be just as quick.
I have at last decided with due modesty that your brains (?) must come from
me as it is obvious that if your mother had any at all she would not have
allowed me to engage all at one time A a painter, B an electrician, C a
carpenter, D carpet layers, E floor sanders, so that the place at present has
no floor coverings, blinds, lights, furnishings or any other comfort apart
from a thick layer of dust over what remains. You dont know how lucky you are
to be away!
Must stop this as will have to take this into town tonight to get it away &
also to leave room for Mum to say Hullo! Congrat's again.
Love, Dad
……………..
Darling, darling darling arent you the most wonderful thing. We are so
pleased for you & wish you all the nicest things. I hadnt even really started
to look for it so was most exciting. We are living in the utmost squalor sans
carpet, sans lights sans everything with all furniture in a little dusty heap
in middle of floor. Love you my pet & miss you horribly.
Love Mum.
……………………..
3.4.1969 (to me when a PhD student at Stanford.)
My Very Dear Kit, Your old man is a BF [bloody fool] apart from being old &
doddery. Here I am starting a letter after so many beginnings & throwings away
over the moths, when I literally have only a few moments left to write you
before getting away. All I want to put down would take hours so the rest will
have to wait & I must content myself with the trimmings on the side of the
plate. (Not a very good metaphor!)
You've probably wondered why I stopped writing & have been hurt over it.
I blame myself for this very bitterly but every time I started to put down
words in a letter to you I realised that I could be doing more harm & only
increase any feeling of estrangement so I'd screw them up & put it off until I
had more time. Here I am again with no time but Easter is nearly upon us & its
particularly at these family festival occasions when we were all together in
the past, that we miss you so very much. So I feel that I just had to write
even if no time is left for a long discourse.
It's so very hard to put into words all that I felt about you. When a stranger
offends you, you become annoyed. When a friend does the same you become hurt
& when someone you love very deeply hurts not only you but someone else that
you also love deeply, the hurt is very bad. Mixed up with all this is the
foolish quality of pride & I was (and am) so very proud of you that the hurt
was very deep indeed. If you could have seen the endless tears & almost
hysterical emotion from Mum when some of your letters arrived I think you
would understand how I felt. We had always thought of you as something terrific
- someone very special & I suppose like all parents had such high hopes of the
future. Not for us, but for you as we don't really matter very much now. I'm
not talking of brains when I mention pride - it was you, the person that we
thought (& think) so much of. Your idealism was good, your feeling for those
lessw fortunate, your sense of humour & ability to tackle anything at all
all added up to someone very special & I'm not exaggerating to say that hardly
an hour has gone by when you've been out of my thoughts. Mum of course thinks
of you as being next to God himself! I hope you realise how much love she has
for you. Without being the slightest sorry for myself I think You're darn
lucky to have 2 parents continually emitting love waves to you over the
thousands of miles rather like a high-powered radio transmitter! At you age I
had neighter & I'm quite sure that love from others can sustain you during bad
times.
What hurt so much Kit was your apparent change in values. Sleeping around
(good therapy I suppose in moderation) but experimenting with drugs, indulgence
in your Free University activities, some of which seem so way out & decadent,
your attraction to the worst side of the Hippie cult & your complete loss of
any spiritual faith really shook us! Your scorn of the "middle class" way of
life & the things we have come to accept as decent moral standards in which to
bring up a family & oh hell, a hundred other things all added up to a
bewildered sense that we had lost you & that you had created a gap that
couldn't be bridged. Coupled with this of course was the hopeless feeling that
you were doing yourself such immeasurable harm that it was almost unbelievable
in one who could have the world at his feet & become one who could do so much
good in this sick world. Over a long time I've realised that modern thinking is
that parents no longer have the right to criticise or guide & like an ostrich I
put my head in the parental sand & became silent.
This was of course a mistake & didn't do much to help mum. She worries so
dreadfully over you that sometimes it's hard for me to calm her down & try to
make her think rationally. Incidentally she doesn't know how long it is since
I've written & as this would only hurt her even more the less said the better.
Try & realise how we have felt Kit. Forgive me for not writing & believe me
when I say that our love has never lessened.
I'll write again when i do have some time but at the moment I still have a
hell of a lot that must be done before I go home in an hour when the Veales are
picking us up to go to Kawau for Easter.
We'll be thinking of you & hoping that your holiday is happy. Don't quite know
how I'm going to do it but we'll be over in July to see you for a month. It's
unfortunate that I have Synod from 23.6.69 to 20.6.69 & with a one man business
it's very hard to work out ways & means of keeping the show going while I'm out
of it for a month. Without proper arrangements you can put a client down the
drain financially & every other way so I have a moral responsibility to make
sure all is well before I go.
Hell I MUST go.
Don't be hurt by what I've written but it's better I should tell you. If you
want to say things to me which would only upset Mum more, write to me c/- Box
4098 Auckland.
We don't have secrets but I don't want her hurt. You can imagine our
excitement just thinking of being with you again!
Love dad.
…………………
2.10.1973 The De Vere, Hyde Park Gate, Kensington, London.
Dear Kit,
We love England & Scotland. Have just returned from Perth where we were given
the red carpet treatment - cars with chauffeurs - dinners in beautiful manors
& lunches too. Drove back through Stirling & Carlisle - everything so exciting
& people all marvellous. Glasgow with its huge broken buildings & acres of dark
ugly houses is a nightmare that has to be seen to be believed but still all the
people were clean & clad in warm & good quality clothes.
Last night we stayed at the beautiful & incredibly old Shakespeare Hotel &
were lucky enough to get 2 wonderful seats for 'Loves Labour Lost' at the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre. The production was quite wonderful. We spent some hours at
Oxford & quite overwhelmed by its beauty & antiquity. Henly-on-Thames - Windsor
- huge & like a fairy tale. Brett [Sloman] was so kind to us. The day after we
arrived he borrowed a car & spent the whole day & evening showing us London!
the next night 4 of us (Brett & a nice girl law student) went to a play 'Say
goodnight to Grandma' & afterwards walked among the fruit stalls at Covent
Gardens & all around. Tuesday we trained to Canterbury & Brett met us there &
we looked at Canterbury with awe & respect - never having seen anything so old
or so big & magnificent.
Brett drove us to Dover & we walked up & down stairs at the castle - didn't
know castles were so big. We had a wonderful day - had beer & sandwiches at
tiny crazy ancient pubs. One had been re-built in 1420! And eventually went
home to Bretts nice flat above an antique shop at a beautiful little village.
Up at 7 & he took us to the station & deposited us on the 8am train for London.
A truly magnificent godson thing to do. And he seemed to enjoy it which was
even more important. I know we did.
I was badly in need of a little cosetting. Brett (Sloman) is maturing & developing
well - but still gentle & kind & thoughtful.
Head Office really put the red carpet down for Dad & everywhere in England &
in Scotland were were met by cars with Chauffeurs & dined & wined. Dad was
thrilled to be shown Lloyds & we were taken to "the Room" where 3000
underwriters conduct their business in the same way as they did in the coffee
shops in the 17th century. Of course I laughed & there was a startled stir.
We were taken to the Captains Room for a magnificent lunch - a male stronghold
until recently & I think I was the only woman there.
Great to see the respect accorded to Dad. Perth was marvellous. We were cared
for every moment by gen. managers & charming Scottish wives. They really are
nice people & sophisticated. I only wish you could have been with us
- remembering a little of your New Zealand courtesy.
Much love, Mum xxx
e. INDEX OF PLACE NAMES -WHERE THEY APPEAR
* ENGLAND - to update!
-BERKSHIRE 0 1788 Lambourn-1870 Newbury, 5 1845 Newbury, 5 m1 b1840
Pangbourne, 52 1871 Donnington
-EAST ANGLIA (East Anglia is the regional name given to the lump of land
sticking out into the sea between the Wash and the Thames. It includes the
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk plus some of Essex and Cambridgeshire.-DW)
5431 4 c1992-,
-SOMERSET In 1881 5, mother & family Earlstok Villa, London Rd, Batheaston
http://www.batheaston.net/historic/ One can logon to this site & check links.
<!-- posted query 20.11.03 see at bottom -->
-WILTSHIRE 0 m2 1803 Baydon
* FIJI 521 Lautoka & Yasawa Islands, d 1981 Suva
* GERMANY 541 m 1936 in Heidelberg
* ITALY 542 k 1943 Monte Comino, buried at Casino
* LEBANON 523 d 1942 Tripoli; buried in EGYPT
* LIBYA 524 bur 1941 at Knightsbridge, 15m W of Tobruk on coast 60m W of Egypt
* NEW ZEALAND
Auckland [1] A field guide to Auckland : exploring the region's natural and
historic heritage / Ewen Cameron, Bruce Hayward, Graeme Murdoch.
Publisher: Auckland, N.Z. : Godwit, 1997. Description: Book
280 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 22 cm. ISBN: 1869620143 (pbk.) :
[2] The lively capital, Auckland 1840-1865 / Una Platts.
Publisher: [Christchurch, N.Z.] : Avon Fine Prints, 1971. Description: Book
271 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 29 cm.
[3] "Understanding the treaty" by Nelson BLAKE p50
3842 2628 42(1-2) c1964,
3842 8126 742 1978,52 1872-36,521 1901-46,522 1904-70,
523 1908-1998,523(1-2) 1941-93-,5231(1-2) 1972-present,
5232(1-4) 1964-present,524 1910-c39,525 1914-present,
52511942-present,5251(1-5) 1971-present,52521943-65,
52531 946-present,52531 1970-present,5711-m 1952,
5723 1992-present,5741 1985,
Christchurch 38428126742 ,53 1902,541 ,54 1905,56? 1905,
5711(1-2) 1972-3,
Dunedin 52312 1992,
Hamilton 52522 1993,5742 1993,
Henderson, N of Auckland 5232
[Hunterville 57-m c1949,
[Kaipara 57 c1900,
Kerikeri in Bay of Islands near Russell, N of Auckland 561-1983,
Lower Hutt 52521992-present,3842812674(2,4) c1980-present,
Newton-331 1900,
Marton 5 1901-4. For a history see
"They called it Marton" , by Paul Melodie (1979) GPH Print, Broadway,
Palmerston North; 10 Hunia St. (This does not mention WITHERS.)
Masterton 5711(1-2) c1984,
Matamata 5742 1986-,
Motonau, S Island (near ChCh?) 53 1902
New Plymouth, Taranaki on W coast of N Island 56 1911,56(1-3)
1906-10,571(1-3) c1965-79,
Palmerston North 5252-m c1984-present,56 WW1 memorial,5712
1994?,
Piha N of Auckland 5232
Rotorua 522 c1950,
Stratford SW of New Plymouth 56-m 1890-1914,
Taumarunui 571 1951-present,5712 -1993,5712(1-2) 1990-1993,
5713 1964,
Wanganui 5 1883-1921,57 1897-1970,571 1925-c1950,5711
1951,5712 1961,572 1927-present,5721 -present,5721
1986-present,572(2-3) ,573 1929,574 1932,58 1904-22,
Wellington 522 c1942,525 1941,52521971-present,
5252-1 1973-91,-2 1973-present,53 1902,56 c1914,
5711c1980,5711-1 c1980-1993,-2 c1980-present, -3 c1980-c1990,
5723 1985-6,57231 1988, Newton-33 1899,
Whitianga 52311 1992,
* TURKEY 54 sp k 1915 ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, the Dardanelles
f. INDEX OF FAMILY NAMES -WHERE THEY FIRST APPEAR
Those in [] are not related. Maiden names are indented.
[ANDERTON, Jim,MP] 56
ASHTON 5631 c1963
BARNETT 56311 c1985, m 1980 5721
BASSETT 5633
BOUBEE m c1984 574
BRIDGMAN m 1991 5724
BYERS 5232
[CAKOBAU, Ratu Sir George, Governor General of Fiji] 521
DARRAGH 5251
DICKINSON 52521 1969 Ashford,England
DUDER 5231
FOOTE 523
[GALPIN] 5
HENNIN m 1987 5723
KENNEY m c1969 5253
LOUGH 561
LYONS 5434 c1973
MATHEWS m 1993 5722
MCEWEN 5 m2 m c1897 Wanganui
MCMILLAN m c1990 5742
PEMBERTON m c1972 5711
RATHBONE 57 m1 c1924
ROBERTSON m c1958 Wanganui 572
ROBINS 56 c1900
SILA m 1983 5712
SIMPSON m 1949 571
TUBB 5
TURKINGTON m c1987 5733
VEITCH m c1954 573
VEITCH m c1960 57
YOUNG 543 m c1937
WITHERS 5
g. SOME WEB LINKS
** AUSTRALASIAN GENEALOGY http://home.vicnet.net.au/~agweb/agweb.htm
** NEW ZEALAND
I need to try
http://archway.archives.govt.nz/SimpleSearchResults.do
So far only tried for Trevor. See result under his name above.
Since 2009 bmd registers can be searched (from 1841-1960 for b's) at
www.bdmrecords.dia.govt.nz or
http://bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/search/
Certs can be ordered online costing $26.
http://archway.archives.govt.nz contains wills, military & other records
NZ census info has been destroyed: see
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/nzcensus1881.html
Pre-1839 Foreigners in New Zealand are at
http://sites.google.com/site/pre1839settlersinnz
1881 and 1893 Electoral Rolls are on CD. 1881 does not cover females.
Judy BERNTSEN <johnbb@clear.net.nz> can do look ups.
For passenger lists (currently 1855-88 or 1871-1915?) go to
http://beta.familysearch.org
Select NZ.
For info in NZ by location, try
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.oceania.newzealand/mb.ashx
The following is the contents with A4 page numbers on 11.11.2003 of
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/withersnz/withersnzother.html
*1850-52 The NZ Journal, Volumes 10-12 2
*23.10.1855 John WITHERS and 3 children arrived Nelson 3
*1859-1920 NZ BIRTHS 3
*1860-2001 Wellington cemeteries 3
*1872-1971 excerpts of WITHERS in Wise's Post Office Directories 5
*1881 Christchurch 9
*1882 WITHERS in "Return of the freeholders of NZ" p70 10
*1883-1970 Turnbull Biographies Index 10
*1886 Nelson 11
*1889 Wadestown,Wellington 12
*1890, 1902, 1944 North Island Electoral Rolls, Volume 1 12
*1900-1917 NZ BIRTHS of NZGenSoc (Welington) microfiche 13
*1914-61 Lands Registry 14
*1972 Electoral Maori Rolls 15
*2003 White Pages 16
*Undated 19
NOTE. The family of Major Edward WITHERS (1804 Marylebone,London - New Zealand) son of Ralph WITHERS (c1779 Wiltshire), is available at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kitwithers/major/major.html
** Some NZ newspapers 1840-1915 are at www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
# You can subscribe to NEW-ZEALAND-D-request@rootsweb.com
** SHIP PASSENGER LISTS
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/passengerlists/index.htm eg
Robert WITHERS 22 c1827 & Helenea/Ellen WITHERS 25 c1824 to Adelaide 1849
on the EMILY.
DD WITHERS 1847 to New Orleans
h. A few of my songs
written for the Radio Access programme Climate Crisis Action Aotearoa.
Mick Hillman from Fridays for Futures helped with them & is playing guitar.
Around the world, forests are in flame from greenhouse gas emissions heating the planet. This song is How long have we got before our forests flame?
1×
0:00
-2:05
The next song is Methane, one of the deadliest greenhouse gas, one emitted by cows,
but excluded by our governments bowing down to the farming lobby.
1×
0:00
-2:21
Another on methane, Fonterra:
1×
0:00
-2:05
This is a more desperate song. Not so gentle on my mind:
1×
0:00
-5:54
Listen to recent programmes at
https://www.accessradio.org.nz/climate-crisis-action-aotearoa.html
Thanks for reading Kit’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
