Deadly pandemic has been endured before
As we live through these Covid times in 2020, in October it will be 102 years since New Zealand went through something so similar.
The team at Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank this month has unearthed a photo that shows how the community back in late 1918 tried to deal with a virus that ended up taking 9000 New Zealand lives in just a few months.
According to nzhistory.govt.nz, there are similarities in reaction to the two pandemics. In 1918 many public facilities were also closed and gatherings postponed.
The Knowledge Bank’s historic photo shows preparations under way at Mahora School in Hastings, using a spray unit supplied by orchardist Mr Robertson (at right with horse) to fumigate the school.
Knowledge Bank Hawke’s Bay is a charitable organisation based at
Stoneycroft House in Hastings, committed to preserving Hawke’s Bay memories; the stories of its events, people, celebrations, tragedies and day-to-day life.
The work is predominately carried out by a large team of volunteers who scan books, papers and photos and record and transcribe verbal recollections, says Hawke’s Bay Digital Archives Trust chairman Peter Dunkerley.
“Coming across these memories, while in many ways tragic, remind us of how resilient we really are.
It is quite incredible to believe that we have been through something so similarly frightening before and, to date, with a much worse outcome.”
MChristian Fuller
ost companies in need of a new office would call in a builder.
But when Britton Housemovers in Hastings spotted Simon Taylor’s “iconic” two-storey Havelock North home, they decided they’d do what they do best and shift it to their premises.
The nine-metre tall building was transferred by road from Middle Rd to Britton Housemovers’ new yard on Irongate Rd, Hastings last week.
Britton Housemovers operations manager Elwyn Fryer said transporting the mammoth structure was an all-day job and came with significant costs, but it would be worth it.
Fryer said it was rare to see a building of its size moved by road due to the logistics and costs of moving and de-activating power lines in this day and age.
“We’ve been working closely with Unison and Chorus to manage the power lines, as well as the council in terms of weight permits and power outages,” he said.
“It’s not common to turn off power lines these days – 30 years ago you did it all the time, but with such a high volume of users, it’s a big deal because users don’t want to be affected.”
Fryer said the transportation alone had cost the company “tens of thousands of dollars”.
When the opportunity arose to purchase the property from Simon Taylor in Havelock North and turn it into an office space for Britton Housemovers, it was one the company couldn’t refuse, according to Fryer.
“It’s rewarding for us to own the building and by January or February we can have the public at the new yard to come and view it,” he said.
“It’ll be something a little bit iconic for us hopefully.”
Fryer said strong winds hadn’t caused the moving team any further issues.
“It did affect the guys up ladders and poles dealing with the power slightly,” he said. “But there has been a lot of planning to secure this move, so we were prepared.”