[April 15, 1890 – New Zealand Herald] Scarcely had our citizens got over the shock of the sudden death of Mr. Locke, when we are called upon to record the still more sudden decease of a highly esteemed and respected pioneer colonist in the person of Mr. Allan Kerr Taylor, of Alberton, Mount Albert. Mr. Taylor was last evening, at half-past five, talking at his stable with his coachman, when he was suddenly seized with a fit of apoplexy, and died in a few minutes. The deceased gentleman, who was only in his 57th year, had been in his usual good health, and there was nothing premonitory of the seizure which carried him off.
Mr. Taylor came to Auckland with his father, the late General Taylor, H.E.I.C.S., of West Tamaki, over 40 years ago, and was the fourth son of the General. His brother, Mr. William Innes Taylor, died somewhat suddenly a few weeks ago. Mr. A. K. Taylor was formerly member of the Provincial Council, and also of the General Assembly. He was also at one time a director of the Bank of New Zealand, and the Loan and Mercantile Company, and interested in many of our mercantile institutions. Last year he was president of the Auckland Racing Club, and although he did not run horses, took considerable interest in sporting matters. He was at the Ellerslie races on Easter Monday. The deceased gentleman was greatly respected for his personal integrity and for his genial and unassuming disposition, and his sudden death will be deeply regretted by a wide circle of acquaintances. He had lived for a quarter of a century at Mount Albert. Deceased leaves a widow and eight children—four sons and four daughters —to mourn their loss. •The funeral will leave his late residence at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Paperspast
OUTSTRIPPING GUY FAWKES. MT. ALBERTS PERFORMANCE.
[November 6, 1924 – Auckland Star] Mount Albert surpassed all the other suburbs of the city in its celebration of Guy Fawkes’ plot by having several unforeseen fires. No less than four times was the local brigade summoned. The first call was a false alarm, the second produced something material in the nature of a burning shed, but it was not until after a further diversion at a gorse fire that the brigade got its real opportunity. It was a six-roomed house fully enveloped in flames to which it was hurried just after one o’clock when the celebrants of the notorious plot had abandoned their play. It was quite a spectacular fire, the glare being discernable for miles around, while it was a complete success in that it burnt the building to the ground.
The brigade was given its fourth alarm by a motorist who passed the station, and when it arrived at the house, situated on the Mount Albert-Onehunga road, more than two miles away, the fire was assured of victory. The roof went before the brigade arrived and it was impossible to effect a save, though the shell of an adjoining shed was saved. The cause of the fire is not known. Paperspast
COMMUNITY LIGHTING.
[November 28, 1936 – Auckland Star ] Seventy-eight lights were switched on last night at the Mt. Albert tram terminus as a result of a community lighting scheme being brought into operation by the business men of the district. The idea originated with the Mt. Albert Business Men’s Association, which arranged a scheme similar to that recently established in Newmarket. The lights have been installed in the main shopping area, and shopkeepers are well pleased with the result, which has turned the street into a splendidly lighted thoroughfare. Paperspast
MT. ALBERT WELFARE WORK.
[May 2, 1934 – Auckland Star] The annual meeting of the Mount Albert Welfare Committee was held on Monday, the Mayor, Mr. R. E. Ferner, presiding. The committee reported that 250 homes had been visited, and that there was great need for firing, groceries, clothing, boots, shoes and blankets. In all 668 sacks of coal had been distributed, also several tons of firewood. Groceries had been sent to the homes of nearly 200 people. Clothing also had been given. A “drive” held in May last resulted in a good collection of clothing, footwear and general goods. Toys were distributed to children in the district at Christmas. Paperspast
BABY FOUND BURIED. DISCOVERY AT MT. ALBERT.
[August 16, 1926 – Auckland Star] Another discovery under tragic circumstances was made at Mount Albert on Saturday, when it was found that a baby girl, born on Thursday morning, had been buried in the garden of a house. Today an inquest was opened before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., a post-mortem examination was ordered to be made, and the inquiry was adjourned sine die. Detective Nalder gave evidence of the discovery of the child. The mother of the child is a girl about 20 years of age and was employed as a domestic. Paperspast
EXPENSIVE LOAD OF SOIL.
[April 13, 1916 – Auckland Star] S. I. Grin admitted that he permitted a cartload of soil to be placed on the road at Mt. Albert without having previously obtained the permission of the Borough Council. It was stated that defendant had had a load of soil left in front of his house and had taken only half of it in before nightfall. Later a man was riding along the road and his horse stumbled on the soil and was somewhat injured. Defendant then placed a light out to mark the obstruction. Counsel for the local body stated that the leaving of obstructions on the street was becoming too common at Mt. Albert, and it was intended to prosecute offenders. Defendant was fined 10/-, and 38/- costs. Paperspast
TO SAVE THE CHILDREN.
[December 7, 1918 – Auckland Star] A girl of twelve years, who was physically over-developed and mentally underdeveloped, was charged with being a child not under proper control. The application had been made because the girl had made serious complaints about a man which the police had found to be wholly imaginary, and investigation had revealed that her influence on other children of the same age in the neighbourhood was not wholesome. The girl was committed to the Mt. Albert Industrial School, where she would be subject to restrictive training. Two girls and a boy of ages ranging from seven to eleven years, came up as children having no means of subsistence. It was stated that the mother of the children had died of influenza, and that their stepfather was away at the front. The three youngsters were committed to Mt. Albert Industrial School. Paperspast
PROPERTY SALES.
[April 16, 1915 – New Zealand Herald] Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons, Ltd., will hold an auction sale at their land sale rooms, 87, Queen Street, at 2 p.m. today, when they will offer 170 sections in the Euston Estate, Mount Albert. This estate is a subdivision of a portion of the property held for many years by the Kerr-Taylor family, and has frontages to the Mount Albert-Onehunga Road, Fowlds Avenue, Taumata Road, and other roads. Paperspast
OLD BOYS’ REUNION. MT. ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
[November 16, 1923 – New Zealand Herald] The first reunion of old boys of the Mount Albert Grammar School was held in the school building last evening.
The headmaster, Mr. F. Gamble, complimented the masters. He had been in many famous New Zealand schools during his career as a master, and had known many weak links in the staffs, but he could safely say that no such link existed in the staff of the Mount Albert Grammar School. Mr. McBride proposed that an association should be formed, so that the old boys should keep together during the coming years. The motion was carried, the association to be called the Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys’ Association. Mr. C. C. Lamb said the old boys could greatly help the school. He also mentioned the school magazine, the Albertian, which was one of the best magazines ever published by a secondary school in the Dominion. Musical items were given by several of the masters. Paperspast
DANGEROUS CATTLE. (To the Editor)
[February 27, 1890 – Auckland Star] Sir,- Notwithstanding the serious accident which lately occurred to a lady through being gored by a cow in this district, the butchers’ cattle continue to be driven through the populous districts during ordinary working hours. This practice is so very dangerous that the safety of the public imperatively demands its discontinuance. Of course, we know that the abattoirs are in the wrong place, but they are there, and cannot be removed except by great loss to the owners; so the owners and those who use them should be compelled to either drive very early in the morning, if by the Mount Eden route, or else take the Epsom, Three Kings and Mount Albert roads.
I might point out a very direct road, and avoiding the thickly populated parts, viz., from either of the saleyards to Mr Paton’s, thence straight down the Epsom Road to Kingsland Road, thence (by arrangement with Mr Taylor) across his land already laid out in streets, coming out either by the Mt. Albert Church or at Morningside by the station, thence to the abattoirs. This would be a much straighter and more comfortable road for the cattle and drivers than the tortuous Mt. Eden Road with all its turnings. I commend the matter to those interested.—l am, sir, A RESIDENT of Mt. Eden. P.S.—ln any case the cattle should be driven before or after the children are going or returning from school. Paperspast
RIFLE SHOOTING. MT. ALBERT QUARRY. HOME GUARD APPLICATION
[August 13, 1941 – Auckland Star] “There are plenty of other places in the borough where shooting could be carried out,” declared Mr. H. L. Kayes at the Mount Albert Borough Council meeting last night when commenting on an application from the 6th Battalion of the Home Guard for permission to carry out rifle-firing practice in the old scoria pit on Mount Albert.
It was pointed out in the application that it was proposed to use .303 ammunition made for 25-yard ranges. Practices would be held on Sunday mornings and duty men would be posted to ensure that no unauthorised persons entered the danger area. “The most likely source of danger would be the possibility of bullets ricocheting off stone.” said the engineer, Mr. W. E. Begbie, who added that this could possibly be prevented by arranging sandbags at the back of the targets. Mr. B. Brigham mentioned that shooting on Sunday mornings might cause annoyance to sick and aged people. It was stated by Mr. E. O. Faber that the Mount Roskill guardsmen were using a quarry at Three Kings and the Kohimarama unit carried out shooting in its area. In his opinion the possibility of ricochets was remote. Subject to police approval, it was decided to grant the request during the pleasure of the council. Paperspast
RAILWAY DANGER AT MOUNT ALBERT.
[June 7, 1912 – Auckland Star] Sir, —The train from Auckland arriving at Mt. Albert at 4.15 pm. is not taken alongside the platform, but stops upon a loop-siding in the middle of the station yard, where a score or two of passengers (mostly women and children at that hour) are dumped down, to make their way across the main line in front of the incoming new Kaipara express, which does not stop here, but crosses the train from Auckland, passing between it and the platform, which the passengers have to reach and climb at the peril of their lives. The risk to infirm, nervous, or elderly people, or to ladies with children, is undoubtedly great, and whilst I admit that the local officials do their utmost to avoid an accident, yet the arrangement is so bad that it is only a question of time (probably not a long time) before something serious happens.—l am, etc., J. M. SMITH, Domain-road, Mt. Albert. June 6, 1912. Paperspast