History – Building Puhoi

From ‘Shipping Intelligence’ New Zealander 9 August 1865:
Cleared Outwards March 8 – Comet, cutter, 17 tons, Gometz, for Puhoi with 1 cask beef, 22 boxes spirits, 1 ton coal, 2 bags biscuits, 7 lbs tobacco, 1 bag clothes and 1 passenger.

This amount of cargo was unusual. Captain Gometz had sailed from Puhoi on 7 August carrying 24,000 shingles, 8400 feet sawn timber, and two passengers. Often the return trip was in ballast. Maybe this cargo was destined for Irishman, Michael Meaney who had set up his bush license around this time. In 1870, Mr Meaney was also named as the first postmaster. This was probably because he could read and write, and was a frequent traveller to Auckland.

The people met every Sunday in one of the large nikau whare to pray together and enjoy music and dancing. A priest came occasionally as he visited all the Catholic people between Auckland and Whangarei. In 1879, as Puhoi became the centre of this parish, the people built a presbytery for Father Adelaar, the current priest. He asked the people to build a church. John Wenzlick took up the challenge, raising money, materials and labour from the Bohemian people. Michael Meaney petitioned the businesses in Auckland and, in 1881, the Church of Sts Peter and Paul was opened at a cost of £264.

At an early stage of the settlement’s development it became obvious that a knowledge of the English language was vital to their survival. The people spoke the Egerlaender dialect of German. Captain Krippner’s wife, an English woman, came to teach the children in the second whare.

The Government offered £80 towards a school provided the Puhoi people could raise a further £80. After 18 months of fundraising, the shortfall was brought from Bohemia with the third group of emigrants so that in 1872, a school and school teacher’s residence could be erected.

In 1875, Mr Meaney obtained a liquor license for his four-roomed shanty which stood across the road from the church. After two years he sold to Mr Clark, another Irishman. Prosperity was beginning to come to the district. John Schollum and Vincent Schishcka also petitioned the authorities for liquor licenses and for three months, there were three hotels in Puhoi.

John Schollum bought Mr Clark’s premises, moved it to the centre of the village and converted it to a store. Vincent Schischka had also opened a store with his hotel. After a few years this venture became Schischka’s Boarding House and Store, leaving just the one hotel.

By 1883, Martin Rauner had set up a blacksmith premises, bush and farm products were sent by a regular shipping service from the village wharf and so, with a lot of determination and hard work, a complete village including a small hall, was formed in just 20 years.