History – Dignitaries travel by rail

Lord Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand from 1897 to 1904, travelled around the country visiting small settlements where he liked to meet veterans not long returned from the South African war. He personally chose the site of the Ranfurly Veterans’ Home in Auckland, esuring that it was “not too near a public house yet not too far”. He laid the foundation stone on the first Empire Day of May 25, 1903. Some 10 days later, on a fine winter’s morning, the vice-regal party left Auckland by special train for a day devoted to the children at schools en route from the city to Ahuroa.

His Excellency was accompanied by the bishop, the mayor, a private secretary and his usual attendants. Stops were made at Henderson, Swanson and Woodville, and in honour of the visit all the stations were decorated with flags and greenery. Lord Ranfurly spoke to each group of children assembled to meet him and granted them a holiday.

At Helensville, which was reached about noon, there were 140 children with their headmaster Mr Whittaker and at Kaukapakapa the visit was commemorated by the planting of an oak tree in the school grounds.

Tahekeroa was the last school on the trip, but on arrival, no inhabitants could be seen. The line passed through some picturesque bush scenery, which was greatly admired. The terminus of the railway was reached at Ahuroa about 3pm and here a surprise awaited as some 200 people had assembled to give the Governor a true settlers’ welcome. Miss Amelia Berger presented Lord Ranfurly with a bunch of native ferns and Miss Sainsbury gave him a buttonhole. The guests were entertained by the residents under a fine clump of kauri trees. Amid cheers from those assembled the visitors boarded the train for their return journey to Auckland.

The day Lord Ranfurly came to Ahuroa would have been a talking point for many years but now, 110 years later, there is no-one left with personal memories. This illustrates the importance of photographs and written accounts as a record of local history. Reaching an age when we belong to the oldest generation there is no more valuable legacy we can leave our descendants than a written account of our memories. Whether it is hand written or recorded by a family member, it will be treasured by future generations.