The Parade - Tennis Courts

The Parade

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A story from Sue Masters
The Parade

Regarding Sections at 66, 68, 70 & 72 The Parade

I found the sections were first subdivided in 1907, and 70 was subdivided again in 1971 into 70, 72 and 74.

74 was built on first I think from photos, and in 1978 an application was made to the Borough of Kapiti to move an existing house in Whitemans Valley to number 72 by Mr D Scott. Mr Scott advised us that the house was chopped in two and bought over Haywards on the back of a truck. Later in my search I was told by a Paekakarikian that they could recall coming down the drive and seeing half a house on the section… Primarily it was interesting to me that 72 is built on an old asphalt tennis court, indeed our whole section is pretty much underpinned by this hard layer, the lawn is only 5cm deep and we are warmed when the asphalt holds its summer heat.

Then I heard that there had been a tennis court next door as well!

At 66/68 The Parade. I thought that’s odd. Side by side??

I was familiar with the iconic Paekakariki photograph below of the two chaps in togs rolling a grass tennis court, so I looked it up.

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Online Collections to the rescue! I learned that the photo was taken by George Leslie Adkin 1888 -1964 on Boxing Day 1924, and that the men were William Mowbrey Barraud and Ramsey Mansfield.

Further delving found that Adkin, according to the National Library Archives was a well-known photographer, geologist, explorer, archaeologist, ethnologist and regional historian.

William Mowbrey Barraud and Ramsey Mansfield

Leslie Adkins farmed at Cheslyn Rise outside Levin. Te Papa holds 7000+ of his negatives, diaries, and artifacts; the Alexander Turnbull Library holds many albums, manuscripts, maps and drawings.

I was drawn in by his scenes at Levin, Hokio, Plimmerton, and all over the district, and loved his photos recording the construction of the Mangahou Power Station near Shannon, but mostly, by those of his family, particularly his wife Maud, herself an accomplished violinist, pianist and painter, and their adventures around the Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast. There were many Boxing Day photos showing picnics at various beaches, seems it was a regular Boxing Day occurrence for the Adkin whanau and friends.

Here is a shot of Paekakariki by Adkin taken in 1907 just after the first sections were auctioned.

A recent visit to Te Papa made me understand the significance of Leslie Adkin and this pushed me on.

There I found an exhibition of his photographic work and a book about him, Leslie Adkin: Farmer Photographer, written by Athol McCredie, Curator of Photographs at Te Papa. Te Papa advises it is “a superb selection of the work of one of New Zealand’s finest early photographers.”

Farmer Photographer includes of many of Adkin’s photos, and both the book and the Te Papa exhibition includes one of his friend Winnie Walker, taken at Paekakariki on Boxing Day 1924. The day of the tennis court rolling…

I found the Barraud/Mansfield photo came from a group of about a dozen photos of that day, accompanied by the following handwritten diary note…

Beyond Otaki the main road narrows & becomes a winding country road with only just room for cars to pass but there are numerous pretty stretches & spots. Between Waikanae & Paraparaumu the road runs on the eastern side of the railway & from one spot a very fine view of Kapiti Is obtained. ¼ pl. photo (1) of coastal lowland with railway line & passing train. Kapiti in distance & car on road in foreground. A little further on I took ¼ pl. (2) of car & party on a pretty stretch of road overarched with trees. We arrived at Paekakariki at 11.25, the run down taking 1 hour 50 mins including stops, and parked car under a tree near post-office. The sea was magnificent, fine big breakers rolling in, but today there were comparatively few people about. We walked along to Barraud’s house & found W. Barraud, Nell & Hugh, Gwen Barraud & Ramsay Mansfield on the premises. We were invited to stay so Hugh & I went back for the car. After morning tea – ½ pl. photo (3) of group on verandah – we all went for a bathe. ¼ pl. (4) of row of bathers sitting on beach. The water was splendid, warm & the breakers just the right size. ¼ pl. (5) & (6) of Winnie, Nell & Gwen in surf. ¼ pl. (7) of Winnie reclining in bathing costume on bank of ice-plant. Then partook of lunch indoors & I took various snaps :- ¼ pl. (8) of Barraud & Mansfield in bathing rig rolling the tennis court. ¼ pl. (9) of group on front steps, the tablecloth being shaken. ¼ pl. (10) Maud with parasol. During afternoon the Lynch party arrived & an adjournment was made to the tennis court & play indulged in. This court is a fine grass one, lying at the foot of an encircling sand-ridge which has been planted with flax, shrubs & ice-plants, etc. ¼ pl. (11) group corner of tennis-court. We left for home at 3.20 pm & arrived after depositing Winnie at her home, without mishap at 5.25. The distance covered was 78 miles & the benzine consumption about 3 1/3 gallons. A splendid day’s outing, most successful & enjoyable.