Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Finding out about Thomas
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday I uncovered a mystery. Actually Cousin Leonie did. Leonie is a librarian at the Christchurch Library. One of the first days I was there, I was just leaving and had a few questions. She happened to be manning the New Zealand history desk. As we began to talk, she started asking questions about why my ancestors immigrated to the US. I told her that three of the sister’s joined the Mormon Church. Well, she just smiled. She is LDS also; but she is part of the family that didn’t join the church and stayed in Christchurch. She has only been a member for about 15 years. We realized our families were in north Christchurch at the same time and probably knew each other; hence the name “Cousin Leonie.” She is sending temple names to her family in Utah because getting to the New Zealand temple is so difficult. Last Friday I checked in with Cousin Leonie. She has a Master’s in Maori Studies so usually works in the Maori section, but at a slow period one day she started looking for a few people I had asked her about. Wow! I found out about Thomas Johnstone Drake. Who is he? This is what I found out.
Thomas Johnstone Drake married Elizabeth Rowntree 1884. (Remember, Elizabeth is the oldest sister.) They moved to Lyttelton which is a harbor just southeast of Christchurch. Thomas was a constable. They had seven children. I think they moved to Wellington where Thomas was a Sergeant. So why was he buried in Whangarei (pronounced Fon-gurr-ray)? There are several articles about him if you look up “Papers Past” and put in the actual phrase, “Thomas Johnstone Drake.” But the one Leonie found was this:
SUDDEN DEATH OF A POLICE SERGEANT
Whangarei, Saturday. Today Thomas Johnson Drake, Sergeant of Police, expired suddenly in Dr. Ventry Smith’s surgery, which is attached to the chemist’s shop of Mr. H. C. Hemus. At the conclusion of a court case he complained of pain in the heart, and went to consult the doctor. He was in the surgery only a minute when he placed his hands on his heart, with the words, “I’m going,” and fell dead. He leaves a widow and seven children.
So on June 6, 1908, Thomas died of a heart attack, leaving Elizabeth to finish raising the seven children; the oldest was 23 and the youngest was 9. She lived another 43 years, dying in 1951. As Cousin Leonie said, “Isn’t that so sad.”
Friday I uncovered a mystery. Actually Cousin Leonie did. Leonie is a librarian at the Christchurch Library. One of the first days I was there, I was just leaving and had a few questions. She happened to be manning the New Zealand history desk. As we began to talk, she started asking questions about why my ancestors immigrated to the US. I told her that three of the sister’s joined the Mormon Church. Well, she just smiled. She is LDS also; but she is part of the family that didn’t join the church and stayed in Christchurch. She has only been a member for about 15 years. We realized our families were in north Christchurch at the same time and probably knew each other; hence the name “Cousin Leonie.” She is sending temple names to her family in Utah because getting to the New Zealand temple is so difficult. Last Friday I checked in with Cousin Leonie. She has a Master’s in Maori Studies so usually works in the Maori section, but at a slow period one day she started looking for a few people I had asked her about. Wow! I found out about Thomas Johnstone Drake. Who is he? This is what I found out.
Thomas Johnstone Drake married Elizabeth Rowntree 1884. (Remember, Elizabeth is the oldest sister.) They moved to Lyttelton which is a harbor just southeast of Christchurch. Thomas was a constable. They had seven children. I think they moved to Wellington where Thomas was a Sergeant. So why was he buried in Whangarei (pronounced Fon-gurr-ray)? There are several articles about him if you look up “Papers Past” and put in the actual phrase, “Thomas Johnstone Drake.” But the one Leonie found was this:
SUDDEN DEATH OF A POLICE SERGEANT
Whangarei, Saturday. Today Thomas Johnson Drake, Sergeant of Police, expired suddenly in Dr. Ventry Smith’s surgery, which is attached to the chemist’s shop of Mr. H. C. Hemus. At the conclusion of a court case he complained of pain in the heart, and went to consult the doctor. He was in the surgery only a minute when he placed his hands on his heart, with the words, “I’m going,” and fell dead. He leaves a widow and seven children.
So on June 6, 1908, Thomas died of a heart attack, leaving Elizabeth to finish raising the seven children; the oldest was 23 and the youngest was 9. She lived another 43 years, dying in 1951. As Cousin Leonie said, “Isn’t that so sad.”
History lesson
Friday, March 26, 2010
Here is a bit of New Zealand history. It is an amazing story. Some Polynesians came here about 1300 B.C. They came and went until about 1500 BC when a group stayed and the Maori were developed. About 1750, Captain Cook brought a ship of explorers and scientists and mapped the islands. For the next hundred years or so, people trickled in, mainly whalers. Unlike Australia, New Zealand was not started with convicts. Christchurch was established for the upper-class farmer. This didn’t go exactly as planned because many kinds of agriculturists came. In about 1850, four ship-loads of immigrants sailed into Lyttelton Harbor, and are said to be the “pilgrims” of Christchurch. This past week I found the ship lists of the “Mermaid”. She left England on 30 September 1862 and sailed into Lyttelton Harber 26 December 1862. On the ships lists were: George Farquhar, 26; Ann Farquhar, 23; Mary Jane Farquhar, infant; and Hannah Parks, 17. Ann was Hannah’s older sister. It seems amazing how early they were here, some of the first pioneers in New Zealand.
Here is a bit of New Zealand history. It is an amazing story. Some Polynesians came here about 1300 B.C. They came and went until about 1500 BC when a group stayed and the Maori were developed. About 1750, Captain Cook brought a ship of explorers and scientists and mapped the islands. For the next hundred years or so, people trickled in, mainly whalers. Unlike Australia, New Zealand was not started with convicts. Christchurch was established for the upper-class farmer. This didn’t go exactly as planned because many kinds of agriculturists came. In about 1850, four ship-loads of immigrants sailed into Lyttelton Harbor, and are said to be the “pilgrims” of Christchurch. This past week I found the ship lists of the “Mermaid”. She left England on 30 September 1862 and sailed into Lyttelton Harber 26 December 1862. On the ships lists were: George Farquhar, 26; Ann Farquhar, 23; Mary Jane Farquhar, infant; and Hannah Parks, 17. Ann was Hannah’s older sister. It seems amazing how early they were here, some of the first pioneers in New Zealand.
Ringing Bells
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I wanted to share a fun experience Jack and I had last week. I teach three youth at church organ lessons on Wednesday night at about 6:00. That night I was coming down with a cold and I didn’t feel my best but went into town anyway. Afterwards, I said to Jack, “Let’s go listen to the bells at St. Paul’s church.” They practice bell-ringing on Wednesday night at 7:30 and ring them at 9:30 Sunday morning. St. Paul’s church is where Hannah Parks and Charles Watson Rowntree are buried, and where they were married and the girls were christened. This was about the 5th church established in Christchurch. The original building was never intended to be permanent. It was built soon after the town was founded (early 1850’s). A new church was built in 1873 which still stands today. (Remember, Great Grandmother Jane Rowntree was born in 1868.) In about 1880, a prominent family donated 5 of the 8 bells to the church. Now these aren’t the bells we are used to. There are now 8. You stand in the tower in a circle, eight people each holding on to a rope. We know this because on that night, there was a man who had come from England to experience ringing the bells in Christchurch. He just walked in, so Jack and I did as well. We climbed the steps to the tower room and the people just kindly let us in and showed us “the ropes.” (That’s a little bell ringing humor.) There is a pattern and everyone knows the different patterns. They may start with one pattern and then change to the next. The only pattern I could discern was a scale starting at the top and coming down, over and over again. The other patterns were not patterns to me. It was just fun and afterwards, Jack and I stood outside and listened. “Hey Jack?” “What.” “We’re in New Zealand.”
I wanted to share a fun experience Jack and I had last week. I teach three youth at church organ lessons on Wednesday night at about 6:00. That night I was coming down with a cold and I didn’t feel my best but went into town anyway. Afterwards, I said to Jack, “Let’s go listen to the bells at St. Paul’s church.” They practice bell-ringing on Wednesday night at 7:30 and ring them at 9:30 Sunday morning. St. Paul’s church is where Hannah Parks and Charles Watson Rowntree are buried, and where they were married and the girls were christened. This was about the 5th church established in Christchurch. The original building was never intended to be permanent. It was built soon after the town was founded (early 1850’s). A new church was built in 1873 which still stands today. (Remember, Great Grandmother Jane Rowntree was born in 1868.) In about 1880, a prominent family donated 5 of the 8 bells to the church. Now these aren’t the bells we are used to. There are now 8. You stand in the tower in a circle, eight people each holding on to a rope. We know this because on that night, there was a man who had come from England to experience ringing the bells in Christchurch. He just walked in, so Jack and I did as well. We climbed the steps to the tower room and the people just kindly let us in and showed us “the ropes.” (That’s a little bell ringing humor.) There is a pattern and everyone knows the different patterns. They may start with one pattern and then change to the next. The only pattern I could discern was a scale starting at the top and coming down, over and over again. The other patterns were not patterns to me. It was just fun and afterwards, Jack and I stood outside and listened. “Hey Jack?” “What.” “We’re in New Zealand.”
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Getting a little behind
Sunday, March 21, 2010
There has been a delay in my blogging. It was time to feed the CSU students, I caught a cold, I was asked to speak in church and I had to teach a Sunday school lesson to 6 year olds.
We feed about 20 people on Monday. The hamburgers were a hit and I even found American Ketchup. Here they have what is called, “Tomato Sauce.” It is kind of like ketchup and I really like it. But the CSU students seemed to be missing American food. Since it is fall here, corn-on-the-cob is in the stores and I even set out two chunks of real butter to roll it in. It was a nice time hearing what everyone has been doing. Several of the students had gone over to the west coast to the “bug fest.” I don’t know what it is called, but they cook a lot of unusual things and everyone eats it. It seems gross to me but I guess about 20,000 people show up. Most of the students camped out on the beaches. I overheard one of the girls say she didn’t shower all weekend. When I asked why, she said the lines for the showers were really long. “Gosh, wish I could have gone.” NOT!!!
Saturday March 13, 2010, Jack and I attempted to find Lake Coleridge. It is a beautiful lake and we took pictures when we finally found it. The maps weren’t exactly accurate and there aren’t many ways to get there. Meanwhile, as we are driving, we came across the Rakaia Gorge which was stunning. I took a movie. I will see if I can upload it to the blog. Apparently it is a great fishing spot. We are trying to get a few students to go there and try it out for us. Again, you are driving on two lane highways, which for the most part aren’t bad. There isn’t much traffic which saves the day. The bridges become a bit dicey. Usually they are only one lane. So who goes first? There is a rule and eventually you figure it out. One side of the bridge is marked with a line across the road before the entrance of the bridge. That is the side that yields to the other side. Sometimes it is well marked, sometimes it is not.
Yesterday there was a Relief Society (Women’s) meeting at the church in the morning. Jack came about noon to pick me up and we went to the Wilderness Exhibit north of Christchurch. It was a path through nature with a lot of animals. It kind of reminded us of Willow Park in Logan, Utah, but we did see a Kiwi (the bird, not the fruit). Kiwis are nocturnal so seeing one in the wild doesn’t happen very often. I’m not sure I need to go back again, but it was a beautiful day to wander through woods. Jack and I really enjoyed ourselves.
I will try to do better about keeping up with the blog.
There has been a delay in my blogging. It was time to feed the CSU students, I caught a cold, I was asked to speak in church and I had to teach a Sunday school lesson to 6 year olds.
We feed about 20 people on Monday. The hamburgers were a hit and I even found American Ketchup. Here they have what is called, “Tomato Sauce.” It is kind of like ketchup and I really like it. But the CSU students seemed to be missing American food. Since it is fall here, corn-on-the-cob is in the stores and I even set out two chunks of real butter to roll it in. It was a nice time hearing what everyone has been doing. Several of the students had gone over to the west coast to the “bug fest.” I don’t know what it is called, but they cook a lot of unusual things and everyone eats it. It seems gross to me but I guess about 20,000 people show up. Most of the students camped out on the beaches. I overheard one of the girls say she didn’t shower all weekend. When I asked why, she said the lines for the showers were really long. “Gosh, wish I could have gone.” NOT!!!
Saturday March 13, 2010, Jack and I attempted to find Lake Coleridge. It is a beautiful lake and we took pictures when we finally found it. The maps weren’t exactly accurate and there aren’t many ways to get there. Meanwhile, as we are driving, we came across the Rakaia Gorge which was stunning. I took a movie. I will see if I can upload it to the blog. Apparently it is a great fishing spot. We are trying to get a few students to go there and try it out for us. Again, you are driving on two lane highways, which for the most part aren’t bad. There isn’t much traffic which saves the day. The bridges become a bit dicey. Usually they are only one lane. So who goes first? There is a rule and eventually you figure it out. One side of the bridge is marked with a line across the road before the entrance of the bridge. That is the side that yields to the other side. Sometimes it is well marked, sometimes it is not.
Yesterday there was a Relief Society (Women’s) meeting at the church in the morning. Jack came about noon to pick me up and we went to the Wilderness Exhibit north of Christchurch. It was a path through nature with a lot of animals. It kind of reminded us of Willow Park in Logan, Utah, but we did see a Kiwi (the bird, not the fruit). Kiwis are nocturnal so seeing one in the wild doesn’t happen very often. I’m not sure I need to go back again, but it was a beautiful day to wander through woods. Jack and I really enjoyed ourselves.
I will try to do better about keeping up with the blog.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Jack's Report
Field Trip #2 – Lincoln University – 18 March 2010
One of the great things they do here at LU is about five times during the semester there is a field trip day. On these days, all classes are cancelled to avoid class conflicts for students and everyone goes on a field trip. The instructors for the courses just build this into schedule. Today was the second field trip for me. Both of the field trips I have gone on are a combination of 3 classes – Animal Science 203, Farm Management 203 and Plant Science 203. A great way to get integration of topics and expertise. Today we visited a non-irrigated sheep farm near Darfield in Canterbury (Canterbury is a region/section of the South Island, I think it is a similar designation as county in the US.) – about 40 miles west and slightly north of Lincoln.
There were three buses, about 130 students and 5-6 instructors. The farmer we visited was named Peter. I did not get a handout and missed his last name, so it will be just Peter for now. I also missed the size of his property, but he runs 2100 Corridale ewes. He grew up on this farm so he knows it well and is a good farmer, it was apparent. The connection LU came a few years ago when one of the agronomists from LU, Derrick Moore (?) spoke at a field day that was hosted in Peter’s recognition for being named Corridale breeder of the year.
I’ll use a series of bullet points to give an overview of the day and Peter’s farming operation:
· Soils are light with little water holding capacity, therefore management to retain and use available moisture is key to success. We learned several things he does to accomplish this.
· Annual forage budgeting is key to balancing supply and demand. Perennial ryegrass/clover pastures make up 60% of the crops; 30% in Lucerne (that’s alfalfa for the non-British); 10% in a green feed crop like Kale or Rape for use during winter months.
· Use of brassica forage crops like kale, turnips, etc. for winter forage for both sheep and dairy cows.
· Pastures start to green up in late September – November and March are the best pasture months. June, July and August are forage deficit months. The green feed helps fill the void, and he feeds alfalfa hay and barley straw to make up the difference.
· Sub-Mediterranean clover is his choice of clover, it’s an annual, produces a hard seed, withstands hot summer sun better than white clover since the white clover has above ground stolons that are susceptible to desiccation by sun and Sub clover is deeper rooted.
· The group of students are diverse, but seem to have a pretty good grasp of production practices. Most of the Kiwi students come from farms here in NZ. About 40% are international students so they are learning how farming is done here in NZ. It is good for them.
As we rode back on the bus after the field trip, I got thinking how fortunate Robynn and I to be here. It’s a great learning experience and a chance to refresh and reflect on where I am in my career and vocation. I’ve been able to write 3-4 manuscripts thus far and revise and improve some of the things I used in classes and extension teaching. The only regret is that the time is going by so fast. Seems like we just got here.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Cemetery hopping
Thursday, March 11, 2010
What an amazing day! Jack and I woke up to rain. We had decided to visit the cemeteries of Jane’s three sisters who stayed here in Christchurch, but like they told us before we left for New Zealand, “if you wait for good weather to do something you will never do anything.” So off we went with our raincoats.
We first went to Waimairi (pronounced, y-e-mary) Cemetery. Jack and I had visited this cemetery before thinking some ancestors could be buried there because it was close to Papanui. Elizabeth Rowntree Drake was buried here, alone. Remember her policeman husband was buried way up on the north island.
What an amazing day! Jack and I woke up to rain. We had decided to visit the cemeteries of Jane’s three sisters who stayed here in Christchurch, but like they told us before we left for New Zealand, “if you wait for good weather to do something you will never do anything.” So off we went with our raincoats.
We first went to Waimairi (pronounced, y-e-mary) Cemetery. Jack and I had visited this cemetery before thinking some ancestors could be buried there because it was close to Papanui. Elizabeth Rowntree Drake was buried here, alone. Remember her policeman husband was buried way up on the north island.
The other graves we visited were nine rows away; Esther and John Clark, Jane’s youngest sister. Jack and I learned an interesting thing. They bury people on top of people. When we got to Esther and John’s head stone, we found out that they’re daughter, Lavinia and her husband had been buried on top of Esther’s parents. Lavinia is the only girl with three brothers. Now I knew her married name.
For some reason John’s information has been gold treated but not Esther's. The gravestone reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ESTHER
BELOVED WIFE OF
JOHN CLARK
DIED 18TH OCT 1945
AGED 73
ALSO JOHN
BELOVED HUSBAND OF ABOVE
DIED 18TH OCT. 1945
AGED 87 YEARS
The next cemetery was Bromley Cemetery in the south east part of Christchurch. It was more of a stark cemetery, not fancy or cared for. This is where Emily was buried. Her headstone was difficult to read:
REMEMBERANCE
GIDEAN
BELOVED HUSBAND OF
EMILY WILLIAMSON
BORN SHETLAND ISLANDS
1864-1945
ALSO HIS LOVED WIFE
EMILY
1869-1950
Emily and Gideon’s son Ernest is buried here as are both of his wives: Elsie Mary died at 44 years old. Ernest was buried with 2nd wife Mary above. Interesting.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ESTHER
BELOVED WIFE OF
JOHN CLARK
DIED 18TH OCT 1945
AGED 73
ALSO JOHN
BELOVED HUSBAND OF ABOVE
DIED 18TH OCT. 1945
AGED 87 YEARS
The next cemetery was Bromley Cemetery in the south east part of Christchurch. It was more of a stark cemetery, not fancy or cared for. This is where Emily was buried. Her headstone was difficult to read:
REMEMBERANCE
GIDEAN
BELOVED HUSBAND OF
EMILY WILLIAMSON
BORN SHETLAND ISLANDS
1864-1945
ALSO HIS LOVED WIFE
EMILY
1869-1950
Emily and Gideon’s son Ernest is buried here as are both of his wives: Elsie Mary died at 44 years old. Ernest was buried with 2nd wife Mary above. Interesting.
We ended our rainy day at the Linwood Cemetery where George and Ann Farquhar are buried. I was able to answer some date questions with this headstone. This cemetery might have been a prosperous cemetery as the headstones were large and ornate. What surprised Jack and I was the destruction of the headstones. It appeared the earth has settled on several, making the gravestones fall and break. But it was also evident that vandalism was prevalent. We also noticed for the first time graffiti all over.
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Working on loose ends
Tuesday, March 8, 2010
Today I spent the day in Christchurch. They are getting ready for the Ellerslie International Flower Show. They seem to be shutting down all of downtown. It is set up at Hadley Park so it makes it hard to park. I made an executive decision to get all the things I needed done in downtown Christchurch until next week. I first gathered some information about Christchurch at the Information Center. They have a trolley that take people around and explains the high points of downtown Christchurch. I guess they also have a tram ride and boating on a small river through town; something to think about.
Then I went to the Library. I worked on several loose ends and burial places. Elizabeth’s husband did die on the north island as a Sergeant in the police but I still don’t know why. The Kioreroa Cemetery is at the very top of the north island in Otaika. The information I read said, “..a few headstones still remain at the edge of the wooded area. Quite a few headstones are missing, some have been knocked over and could not be shifted and some are broken and scattered over a large area.” But googling the cemetery, it sounds like they are renovating it which is good. Thomas’s stone still seems to be there:
“Sacred to the memory of Sergt THOMAS JOHNSTONE DRAKE, beloved husband of Elizabeth Drake, who died 6th June 1908, aged 48 yrs. “In the midst of life we are in death.” Erected by his loving family.” I will visit cemeteries on Thursday.
Then I went to the Canterbury Museum. I am always up for a good museum and I was not disappointed. First I went to their research area. I was looking for the “G R Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies.” Macdonald was a man who went around talking to all of the early settlers. He would interview them or their families and write down something about them on a little piece of paper. He apparently had written something about Charles Watson Rowntree and George Farquhar. You probably don’t know who George Farquhar is. If you look in your genealogy Dad gave you for Christmas, you will see that Hannah Parks Rowntree had a sister. Actually she had two but I haven’t found the other one yet. Ann’s husband is “George Falkner” but it is actually Farquhar. So this is what I found about Charles and George:
“Charles Watson Rountree lab. man [labouror] Papanui ’63 Anna [Hannah] Parkes Papanui M.R.”
“Farquhar, George (1836-1912) was born in Co. Armagh and described himself as a farm lab. He arrived in N.Z. by the Mermaid 26.12.62 [26 Dec. 1862] with his wife Ann, 23 and his dau. Mary Jane. He [died] 13.5.12 [13 May 1912] at 83. Wife Ann 28.5.17 [28 May 1917] at 74. Only dau. Minnie [died] 23.1.23 [23 Jan. 1923] at 60.”
I was also able to go on a quick tour of the museum and found some pictures of several places. I will go back and see if I can get come copies of the old pictures: Harewood school, St. Paul’s Church, etc. Home late but a wonderful day.
I
Today I spent the day in Christchurch. They are getting ready for the Ellerslie International Flower Show. They seem to be shutting down all of downtown. It is set up at Hadley Park so it makes it hard to park. I made an executive decision to get all the things I needed done in downtown Christchurch until next week. I first gathered some information about Christchurch at the Information Center. They have a trolley that take people around and explains the high points of downtown Christchurch. I guess they also have a tram ride and boating on a small river through town; something to think about.
Then I went to the Library. I worked on several loose ends and burial places. Elizabeth’s husband did die on the north island as a Sergeant in the police but I still don’t know why. The Kioreroa Cemetery is at the very top of the north island in Otaika. The information I read said, “..a few headstones still remain at the edge of the wooded area. Quite a few headstones are missing, some have been knocked over and could not be shifted and some are broken and scattered over a large area.” But googling the cemetery, it sounds like they are renovating it which is good. Thomas’s stone still seems to be there:
“Sacred to the memory of Sergt THOMAS JOHNSTONE DRAKE, beloved husband of Elizabeth Drake, who died 6th June 1908, aged 48 yrs. “In the midst of life we are in death.” Erected by his loving family.” I will visit cemeteries on Thursday.
Then I went to the Canterbury Museum. I am always up for a good museum and I was not disappointed. First I went to their research area. I was looking for the “G R Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies.” Macdonald was a man who went around talking to all of the early settlers. He would interview them or their families and write down something about them on a little piece of paper. He apparently had written something about Charles Watson Rowntree and George Farquhar. You probably don’t know who George Farquhar is. If you look in your genealogy Dad gave you for Christmas, you will see that Hannah Parks Rowntree had a sister. Actually she had two but I haven’t found the other one yet. Ann’s husband is “George Falkner” but it is actually Farquhar. So this is what I found about Charles and George:
“Charles Watson Rountree lab. man [labouror] Papanui ’63 Anna [Hannah] Parkes Papanui M.R.”
“Farquhar, George (1836-1912) was born in Co. Armagh and described himself as a farm lab. He arrived in N.Z. by the Mermaid 26.12.62 [26 Dec. 1862] with his wife Ann, 23 and his dau. Mary Jane. He [died] 13.5.12 [13 May 1912] at 83. Wife Ann 28.5.17 [28 May 1917] at 74. Only dau. Minnie [died] 23.1.23 [23 Jan. 1923] at 60.”
I was also able to go on a quick tour of the museum and found some pictures of several places. I will go back and see if I can get come copies of the old pictures: Harewood school, St. Paul’s Church, etc. Home late but a wonderful day.
I
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Ward Organist
Sunday, March 7, 2010
I have become the ward organist. A few of you have heard the story. The first Sunday I was there, after church the elderly woman who leads the singing in sacrament meeting asked me if I could play the piano. I told her I could and she was so excited, saying something like, “I have been praying for a piano player.” She asked if I could play for the choir and I said yes. They would start practice next Sunday.
The next week was our first time driving to church by ourselves. Jack and I had gotten lost but we knew we might so we left early. We walked in about 9:25 and people on the stand were worried. They motioned me to come up. I went to the stand and said, “Would you like me to play for sacrament meeting?” They said, “Yes.” As the meeting was started the bishopric member mentioned something about having the music people show up on time. So afterward, I asked if they had a piano player. They said no. I asked if they would like me to play every week? They said yes. I guess they thought someone had asked me. I’m kinda used to being called to positions, but I guess they do things a bit different. That’s okay, I can do different.
The next week I decided I should play the organ. I went about a half hour early because I couldn’t get into the building during the week. I am not a very good organist. In my ward in Colorado, there are several very accomplished organists, but they all have small children. I was called about a year ago to play the organ. So I sat down to look over this organ. It was very simple and after a few minutes, I was able to figure out a nice sound but I am still learning the pedals. The first song hardly anyone sang. It wasn’t a common hymn but I wondered if maybe they didn’t play the organ for some reason. Afterward, I mentioned something to the chorister, but she said it sounded great. An elderly Maori man came up to me and said that it had been a long time since someone had played the organ for sacrament meeting.
Yesterday, I got to church early enough to get a mellow sound for prelude and one for singing. Things went okay. I would surely like to get the hymns before 9:25 Sunday morning so I could practice, but I don’t think they do things that way. After sacrament they asked me if I could play for a baptism. I said, “Sure.” After church I went to the primary room to start some prelude. The bishopric member who was conducting put a men’s choir hymn on the piano and said they would be singing it. The hymn had been transposed, could I play it? I said, “Yes.” He said I just needed to play the introduction. Now this had happened the week before. A priesthood men’s choir had sang in sacrament meeting. It consisted of the Polynesian men and sang part of it in Maori. I played the introduction and they took over singing accapela. So I thought that is how they would do it this time. It came time for the song, I started the introduction. Half way through the introduction, the man singing said, “That’s not the one I’m singing, I’m singing hymn, 220.” So I quickly changed to hymn #220. He starts singing and I quit to let him sing. He stops and looks at me and motions for me to keep playing. So I played for him. Now my back is to him and he is singing kind of what I would call the “Don Ho” version, so the tempos are very liberal. I just have to follow closely to what I hear. Thus continues the experiences to this ward organist.
I have become the ward organist. A few of you have heard the story. The first Sunday I was there, after church the elderly woman who leads the singing in sacrament meeting asked me if I could play the piano. I told her I could and she was so excited, saying something like, “I have been praying for a piano player.” She asked if I could play for the choir and I said yes. They would start practice next Sunday.
The next week was our first time driving to church by ourselves. Jack and I had gotten lost but we knew we might so we left early. We walked in about 9:25 and people on the stand were worried. They motioned me to come up. I went to the stand and said, “Would you like me to play for sacrament meeting?” They said, “Yes.” As the meeting was started the bishopric member mentioned something about having the music people show up on time. So afterward, I asked if they had a piano player. They said no. I asked if they would like me to play every week? They said yes. I guess they thought someone had asked me. I’m kinda used to being called to positions, but I guess they do things a bit different. That’s okay, I can do different.
The next week I decided I should play the organ. I went about a half hour early because I couldn’t get into the building during the week. I am not a very good organist. In my ward in Colorado, there are several very accomplished organists, but they all have small children. I was called about a year ago to play the organ. So I sat down to look over this organ. It was very simple and after a few minutes, I was able to figure out a nice sound but I am still learning the pedals. The first song hardly anyone sang. It wasn’t a common hymn but I wondered if maybe they didn’t play the organ for some reason. Afterward, I mentioned something to the chorister, but she said it sounded great. An elderly Maori man came up to me and said that it had been a long time since someone had played the organ for sacrament meeting.
Yesterday, I got to church early enough to get a mellow sound for prelude and one for singing. Things went okay. I would surely like to get the hymns before 9:25 Sunday morning so I could practice, but I don’t think they do things that way. After sacrament they asked me if I could play for a baptism. I said, “Sure.” After church I went to the primary room to start some prelude. The bishopric member who was conducting put a men’s choir hymn on the piano and said they would be singing it. The hymn had been transposed, could I play it? I said, “Yes.” He said I just needed to play the introduction. Now this had happened the week before. A priesthood men’s choir had sang in sacrament meeting. It consisted of the Polynesian men and sang part of it in Maori. I played the introduction and they took over singing accapela. So I thought that is how they would do it this time. It came time for the song, I started the introduction. Half way through the introduction, the man singing said, “That’s not the one I’m singing, I’m singing hymn, 220.” So I quickly changed to hymn #220. He starts singing and I quit to let him sing. He stops and looks at me and motions for me to keep playing. So I played for him. Now my back is to him and he is singing kind of what I would call the “Don Ho” version, so the tempos are very liberal. I just have to follow closely to what I hear. Thus continues the experiences to this ward organist.
Taking care of Grandparents
Friday, March 5, 2010
On Friday I left the flat early. On the bottom left-hand corner of Charles Watson and Hannah Rowntree’s gravestone was written in small letters, “Robertson.” I had looked in the phone book and there was “Robertson’s Monuments.” I explained who I was and wanted to know if she had any record of making this replacement stone. The woman said her company had probably made it, but the man they bought the company from several years ago kept no records. But she did tell me how to clean it. So with hot water, a bucket and some soap, I went to St. Paul’s Anglican church.
On Friday I left the flat early. On the bottom left-hand corner of Charles Watson and Hannah Rowntree’s gravestone was written in small letters, “Robertson.” I had looked in the phone book and there was “Robertson’s Monuments.” I explained who I was and wanted to know if she had any record of making this replacement stone. The woman said her company had probably made it, but the man they bought the company from several years ago kept no records. But she did tell me how to clean it. So with hot water, a bucket and some soap, I went to St. Paul’s Anglican church.
It was a beautiful day. The church is set back from the road. The church is actually in the middle of the cemetery. The trees in the front hide the church a bit. I think it helps. The church is actually on a very busy street, just passed where Papanui Road turns to Harewood Road. The original church was built in 1851 but this structure was built in about 1874.
When I found this grave a couple of days ago you couldn’t even tell any of the words on it the lichen had grown so thick. I had scraped it off with a credit card some, but you can still see it needed cleaning. Robertson’s told me I could use a wire brush in the rough sides of the stone, but hot water and soap was what I needed to use on the front. It did take a while and the letters are painted in the cut grooves. I was kind of taking the white paint off as I washed, but if I didn’t scrub kind of hard you couldn’t see the words anyway because of the lichen growing in the groves.
You can read it much better now. There was a gardener who I spoke to afterwards…Julian…he is a retired school teacher (47 years in elementary school, and I thought Howd’s 33 years was pretty impressive.) He volunteers to keep up the cemetery. His grandfather was also buried here and he goes to this church. There are also bells that ring in the tower. I am going to try to get in to see them. Church is held on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00. and we are going to try to go to a meeting. I am playing the organ for the Cashmere Ward at 9:30 a.m. and as the elderly Maori man said, “We haven’t heard the organ play in this church for several years.” I feel a real pressure to be there to play.
Afterwards I drove my car to Hadley Park. I usually park on the northeast corner and walk to the Christchurch public library. It is about 3 miles round trip but a beautiful walk through the park. Today I spent four hours finishing up the Church Registry card file. I have found six children for Elizabeth, two boys for Emily, and four children for Esther. I was able to find one of Hannah Rowntree’s older sisters and where she was buried. At the last minute I just had to walk away because I was tired but I found where Elizabeth was buried but her husband was buried somewhere else. He died at a young age, 48. Could being a constable have something to do with it? I’ll let you know next week.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
An Emotional Day
Today is Wednesday, March 03, 2010. One year ago we lost Mom. When I mentioned this to Jack a few days ago, he said, “I can’t even think about that week. It makes me feel sick.” We really did push Jack that week and as much as I tried to get him to stay at his mother’s house, he wouldn’t. He paid the toll when his body started attacking the good red blood cells. Luckily we got through that.
So as I share with you my wonderful finds today, maybe it was a little understanding that I sobbed in the library and at a grave yard.
Today I went into Christchurch to the central public library. The library is in downtown Christchurch and for the first time I was in a metropolitan city. I think it is only about 10 blocks square. I parked on the north side of Hadley Park. In the center of Christchurch there is a park about the size of the metropolitan part. The park consists of a golf course and botanical gardens. They are busy getting ready for their annual flower show that starts next week. From my car to the library was about one mile.
There are several schools in the area and students were walking every direction. The schools here all have uniforms. Today I followed a group of 14-16 year old young men in white dress shirts and ties. They were wearing dress dark shorts with knee length white dress socks and dress black shoes. As I was listening to them talk, I began to imagine myself in Harry Potter land minus the Griffindore scarves and quiditch brooms.
I got to the library and immediately the assistant had me looking in the religious cemetery records. She got me the name of my Great Great Grandfather and mother and where they were buried. This was the first time a began to cry. I had actually found a place to look for them. She then showed me where the card catalogue was and I spent several hours looking up the names of all family members, getting births/marriages/deaths for most of them.
I finally had to leave and grab something to eat. I drove to St. Paul’s Anglican church, build in 1851…yes it is still there and a working church…I began wondering the grave yard. This was the church where Jane and her sister’s were christened. In fact, Emily may have been married there; still checking on that one. After walking all through the grave yard (the church was locked), I started looking at the list of people that were supposed to be buried by Charles Watson and Hannah Parkes Rowntree. Not all graves have stones on them or grave markers that could be read. I went grave by grave until the second to the last on the row. It was covered in lichen and unreadable. I grabbed a credit card out of my wallet and started scrapping it off and found “Rowntree”. I had found them…this was the second time a sat and bawled. Of course this was the day my camera battery went dead, but the grave marker said:
In Loving Memory of
Hannah Rowntree
Died 28th Nov. 1915 aged 74
Also her husband
Charles Watson Rowntree
Died 28th Aug. 1925 aged 85
At rest”
There was an interesting note in the bottom right hand corner. “Original headstone vandalized – replacement stone financed by descendants in NZ and USA.”
So tomorrow, March 3rd will be a beautiful day for those of you in the US. We get to remember Mom. I hope she would be proud of us and be pleased at how we have taken care of Dad and each other.
So as I share with you my wonderful finds today, maybe it was a little understanding that I sobbed in the library and at a grave yard.
Today I went into Christchurch to the central public library. The library is in downtown Christchurch and for the first time I was in a metropolitan city. I think it is only about 10 blocks square. I parked on the north side of Hadley Park. In the center of Christchurch there is a park about the size of the metropolitan part. The park consists of a golf course and botanical gardens. They are busy getting ready for their annual flower show that starts next week. From my car to the library was about one mile.
There are several schools in the area and students were walking every direction. The schools here all have uniforms. Today I followed a group of 14-16 year old young men in white dress shirts and ties. They were wearing dress dark shorts with knee length white dress socks and dress black shoes. As I was listening to them talk, I began to imagine myself in Harry Potter land minus the Griffindore scarves and quiditch brooms.
I got to the library and immediately the assistant had me looking in the religious cemetery records. She got me the name of my Great Great Grandfather and mother and where they were buried. This was the first time a began to cry. I had actually found a place to look for them. She then showed me where the card catalogue was and I spent several hours looking up the names of all family members, getting births/marriages/deaths for most of them.
I finally had to leave and grab something to eat. I drove to St. Paul’s Anglican church, build in 1851…yes it is still there and a working church…I began wondering the grave yard. This was the church where Jane and her sister’s were christened. In fact, Emily may have been married there; still checking on that one. After walking all through the grave yard (the church was locked), I started looking at the list of people that were supposed to be buried by Charles Watson and Hannah Parkes Rowntree. Not all graves have stones on them or grave markers that could be read. I went grave by grave until the second to the last on the row. It was covered in lichen and unreadable. I grabbed a credit card out of my wallet and started scrapping it off and found “Rowntree”. I had found them…this was the second time a sat and bawled. Of course this was the day my camera battery went dead, but the grave marker said:
In Loving Memory of
Hannah Rowntree
Died 28th Nov. 1915 aged 74
Also her husband
Charles Watson Rowntree
Died 28th Aug. 1925 aged 85
At rest”
There was an interesting note in the bottom right hand corner. “Original headstone vandalized – replacement stone financed by descendants in NZ and USA.”
So tomorrow, March 3rd will be a beautiful day for those of you in the US. We get to remember Mom. I hope she would be proud of us and be pleased at how we have taken care of Dad and each other.
Teaching Approach at Lincoln University
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Jack has been keeping some notes on what he is seeing here at Lincoln University. He put together this short message to his colleagues at CSU. Thought you would find it interesting.
We’ve been here 2 weeks, classes began on Monday. I continue to meet faculty and students. Lincoln is an interesting university; they have developed themselves as a place for students from all over the world to come for an international experience. Some spend their whole college career here; others come for a semester or two as part of an exchange with their home university. The entire student body is around 3,500 students, about 40% of which are international students. Additionally, Lincoln is a foundation agriculture college, started as Canterbury Agricultural College in the early 1900’s and has stayed close to its roots while evolving to address new issues and technologies. Research by the faculty seems to be a big thing too, at least the younger faculty. Research funding, though competitive, seems to be available from many sources.
Teaching is taken seriously here too. The system is very British – Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Professors: analogous to Assistant, Associate and Full Professors in the U.S. There is a first year diploma program for students who just want some basic courses. They refer to these as DipAg students. If a DipAg (diploma in agriculture) student chooses to go on, and if their grades are good enough after the first year, they can continue on to a bachelor’s degree which they can obtain in 3 years, this includes the DipAg year (I think – still a bit unclear on this). There seems to be a pretty good cadre of graduate students with lots of research projects going on. Many of the graduate students seem to be international students too. For instance, I met a young lady who is a PhD student from Brazil. She is in a program she called a “sandwich PhD” program from her university in Brazil. She has taken most (maybe all) of her classwork in Brazil, done most of her research there and has now come to New Zealand to do another small project at Lincoln, then will return to Brazil and finish her PhD there. Seems like a very good system to train students in more than just their home setting.
Another teaching approach that I experienced yesterday involved a sophomore level farming systems class (ANSC203). The class has about 100 students (includes two of our CSU students) and covers most facets of New Zealand livestock production. Yesterday the class rode busses to one of the LU sheep farms ( called the Ashley Dene Farm) where there were two flocks (mobs) of ewes of about 100 ewes each that had been designated for a class project. One mob is grazing Lucerne, the other a ryegrass clover pasture. Daylength is now shortening which is the cue for ewes to begin cycling ahead of the joining (breeding) season which begins in late March. A few of the ewes are starting to cycle now. There are sterile rams with marking harnesses with the ewes now. The ewes are Copworth breed a stabilized breed developed here at Lincoln in the 1950’s as a cross between Border Leicester and Romney. It has been a closed breed for many years. Lincoln produces rams for sale. They refer to the ewes as a “stud mob” because they produce seedstock.
In brief, the students are to monitor the cyclicity of the ewes on both pastures over the next month as the ewes begin to show estrus, keep the marking harnesses functioning, collect and analyze the data, then develop a paper that addresses factors affecting sheep reproductive rates and a management scenario where they act as a consultant to a group of farmers. The teaching approach seems to be very hand’s on with direct application. One aspect that I think has a bearing here in general is that the attitude of New Zealanders is very pro-agriculture. It is not uncommon while watching television to have advertisements for fertilizer, seed dealers, etc. The base population of students seem to come from an agricultural background, likely this is more prevalent here at Lincoln with its Ag history, but I sense that the pro-agriculture attitude is widespread.
Jack has been keeping some notes on what he is seeing here at Lincoln University. He put together this short message to his colleagues at CSU. Thought you would find it interesting.
We’ve been here 2 weeks, classes began on Monday. I continue to meet faculty and students. Lincoln is an interesting university; they have developed themselves as a place for students from all over the world to come for an international experience. Some spend their whole college career here; others come for a semester or two as part of an exchange with their home university. The entire student body is around 3,500 students, about 40% of which are international students. Additionally, Lincoln is a foundation agriculture college, started as Canterbury Agricultural College in the early 1900’s and has stayed close to its roots while evolving to address new issues and technologies. Research by the faculty seems to be a big thing too, at least the younger faculty. Research funding, though competitive, seems to be available from many sources.
Teaching is taken seriously here too. The system is very British – Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Professors: analogous to Assistant, Associate and Full Professors in the U.S. There is a first year diploma program for students who just want some basic courses. They refer to these as DipAg students. If a DipAg (diploma in agriculture) student chooses to go on, and if their grades are good enough after the first year, they can continue on to a bachelor’s degree which they can obtain in 3 years, this includes the DipAg year (I think – still a bit unclear on this). There seems to be a pretty good cadre of graduate students with lots of research projects going on. Many of the graduate students seem to be international students too. For instance, I met a young lady who is a PhD student from Brazil. She is in a program she called a “sandwich PhD” program from her university in Brazil. She has taken most (maybe all) of her classwork in Brazil, done most of her research there and has now come to New Zealand to do another small project at Lincoln, then will return to Brazil and finish her PhD there. Seems like a very good system to train students in more than just their home setting.
Another teaching approach that I experienced yesterday involved a sophomore level farming systems class (ANSC203). The class has about 100 students (includes two of our CSU students) and covers most facets of New Zealand livestock production. Yesterday the class rode busses to one of the LU sheep farms ( called the Ashley Dene Farm) where there were two flocks (mobs) of ewes of about 100 ewes each that had been designated for a class project. One mob is grazing Lucerne, the other a ryegrass clover pasture. Daylength is now shortening which is the cue for ewes to begin cycling ahead of the joining (breeding) season which begins in late March. A few of the ewes are starting to cycle now. There are sterile rams with marking harnesses with the ewes now. The ewes are Copworth breed a stabilized breed developed here at Lincoln in the 1950’s as a cross between Border Leicester and Romney. It has been a closed breed for many years. Lincoln produces rams for sale. They refer to the ewes as a “stud mob” because they produce seedstock.
In brief, the students are to monitor the cyclicity of the ewes on both pastures over the next month as the ewes begin to show estrus, keep the marking harnesses functioning, collect and analyze the data, then develop a paper that addresses factors affecting sheep reproductive rates and a management scenario where they act as a consultant to a group of farmers. The teaching approach seems to be very hand’s on with direct application. One aspect that I think has a bearing here in general is that the attitude of New Zealanders is very pro-agriculture. It is not uncommon while watching television to have advertisements for fertilizer, seed dealers, etc. The base population of students seem to come from an agricultural background, likely this is more prevalent here at Lincoln with its Ag history, but I sense that the pro-agriculture attitude is widespread.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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A trip to the mountains
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The excursion for the weekend was to the mountains. Arthur’s Pass is the summit if you are driving over “the Alps” to the west coast. You can supposedly drive from the east coast to the west coast in about four hours. We went about an hour and a half, as far as Cave Stream, which is a cave that goes through a hill, about an hour hike in water…in the dark. We were scoping it out for the CSU students but both admitted that we probably wouldn’t do it. I think those days are over for Jack and me. We did see some pretty country and they say the battle scene from “that witch movie” as Jack calls it (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) was filmed somewhere in this area. There is also a train ride over the mountain to Greymouth which sounds like something we might try some time.
On our way to the mountain, we kind of got lost scoping things out but came across a wonderful river gorge which to me looked like “tubing paradise.” Jack and I thought this was the best find of the day.
We only traveled about an hour and a half from Lincoln but took a picnic. We want to go back to Lake Coleridge the next time and take the back way. It’s definitely on the agenda for another time.
The excursion for the weekend was to the mountains. Arthur’s Pass is the summit if you are driving over “the Alps” to the west coast. You can supposedly drive from the east coast to the west coast in about four hours. We went about an hour and a half, as far as Cave Stream, which is a cave that goes through a hill, about an hour hike in water…in the dark. We were scoping it out for the CSU students but both admitted that we probably wouldn’t do it. I think those days are over for Jack and me. We did see some pretty country and they say the battle scene from “that witch movie” as Jack calls it (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) was filmed somewhere in this area. There is also a train ride over the mountain to Greymouth which sounds like something we might try some time.
On our way to the mountain, we kind of got lost scoping things out but came across a wonderful river gorge which to me looked like “tubing paradise.” Jack and I thought this was the best find of the day.
We only traveled about an hour and a half from Lincoln but took a picnic. We want to go back to Lake Coleridge the next time and take the back way. It’s definitely on the agenda for another time.
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