Northcote from 1905 to 1915, as seen by 'The Northcote Athenaeum Meteor'

The digitisation and online hosting of 'The Northcote Athenaeum Meteor' magazine was done by The Preserving Local History and Educational Trust at: preservinglocalhistory.recollectcms.com.


The Northcote Athenaeum was formed on 7 May 1903 and followed the format of similar athenaeums and mechanics' institutes across the British Empire and North America from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries.   It featured musical performances, talks, debates, plays and literary recitations by many of the locals in the Northcote area.   Starting with over 100 members, in 1907 the Athenaeum had 160 members, in 1909 it claimed over 250 members and in 1911 it had 214.   At the 1906 census the Northcote Riding of Waitemata County had 1116 residents.

The Athenaeum was originally based at the Gladstone Hall in Onewa Road.   Opened on 6 October 1886, that building was altered to become St Mary's Catholic Church from 19 March 1916.   From October 1905, the Athenaeum also began to meet at Tarry's Bay View Hall, at present day 73 Queen Street and 74/76 Princes Street, and continued to meet there until 1917.

Tarry's Hall was originally built around November 1884 by Edmund George Lind.   The Linds were very early settlers in Northcote, from at least 1876, and bought land between Queen and Princes Streets and Beach and Duke Roads.   Edmund died in California in 1921.   The Hall had a large strawberry garden attached and Philip and Mary Elizabeth Tarry purchased the property in late 1890.   The building was later extended with a stage and dressing rooms.   Philip died in 1906 and in 1917 the building became shops.   At the same time, Mary had a five-room bungalow built at present day 79 Queen Street, at first for rent, and then for sale.   She died in 1929 and the former hall burnt down on 18 August 1935.

The first issue of the Athenaeum's 'Meteor' was published on 22 September 1905, and the 11 annual issues offered eight, 10 or 12  pages of copy, for just one penny.   Along with some advertisements, largely for goods and services on the city side, the 'Meteor' also included local Northcote photographs from William Archer Price (1866-1948).
Arnold Edward Hunter Harrison (1877-1963) was the first 'Meteor' Editor from 1905 to 1907.   A lay reader at St John the Baptist Anglican Church in Northcote,  Arnold also served on the Waitemata Electric Power Board from 1931 to 1938.   He had been assistant town clerk at Auckland City and held other administrative and sales agent positions.
Robert Gordon Hunt (1884-1958) was then editor from 1908 to 1909, and Arnold was again editor from 1910 to 1911.   Ernest Gladhill D' Esterre (died 1954 aged 74)  edited the 'Meteor' for 1912, and from 1913 to the first 1915 issue, Herbert Jones Emyrs (1883-1948) and James Bernard Hunt (1888-1960) were joint editors.   For the second issue in 1915, it was just  Herbert, as James had volunteered to serve in the First World War.   Herbert served overseas from September 1916.

Horace Henry Hunt (1855-1926) and family came to New Zealand in 1891, and in 1901 moved from Napier to Princes Street in Northcote.   Working as an accountant, he was the first president of the Athenaeum and a life member from 1913.   Amongst other roles, he served on the Northcote Borough Council (1908-1917) and on the North Shore Scenic Board.   He was also a J.P. from 1916.   His wife Sarah Anne (1853-1934), sons Robert Gordon, James Bernard and Arthur Henry (1895-1972), and daughters Winifred Isabel (1890-1969 and Sarah Alice (1892-1975) were also all active at different times in the Athenaeum.   The family later lived in Woodside Avenue.

George Samuel Graham (1874-1952) worked as a native (Māori) agent and was an amateur ethnographer.   He was one of many speakers to members of the Athenaeum and a 'Meteor' contributor on Māori customs and the Māori history of both Northcote and Kauri Points.

By 1908, Northcote residents had a sufficient population to form a separate Borough, and the 1908 issue focused on the Borough's ceremonial launch on 8 August.   Local Māori contributed towards both a flag and flagstaff, and attended the planting of a memorial totara.   That launch also coincided with the visit of the American Navy's 'great white fleet' to Auckland.

After 1915, both the Athenaeum and the 'Meteor' went into 'hibernation', with a farewell meeting of the Athenaeum in July 1917, just before Tarry's Hall became shops.   The Athenaeum's property went to Arnold Harrison and Robert Gordon Hunt.   Nevertheless, in 1937, there was a short-term Northcote Athenaeum Dramatic Club, meeting in the then recently purchased Northcote R.S.A. clubrooms at present day 138 Queen Street.

Originally written for Channel Mag By David Verran

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Devonport in the 1920s, as seen by the 'Devonport / North Shore Gazette'