Stone store not always impressive
Visitors to the Kerikeri Basin today cannot help but notice the impressive stone edifice that is the Stone Store.
New Zealand’s oldest stone building, completed in 1836, combines Sydney sandstone with locally sourced basalt – and is without doubt one of the most photographed buildings in Northland.
The Stone Store was once the beating heart of the Church Missionary Society mission at Kerikeri, and along with neighbouring Kemp House, both today are cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. They are also tohu whenua.
The mission hasn’t always enjoyed such salubrious architecture, however.
‘‘When the fledgling mission was established in the early 1820s, the store was one of the first buildings to be constructed, and provided both storage for goods and temporary accommodation for missionary families before they were able to build their own houses,’’ says Kerikeri Mission Station property lead Liz Bigwood.
‘‘It was a simple weatherboard building constructed by Māori workers in late 1819,’’ Bigwood says.
‘‘Unfortunately, no trace of the original store survives except the missionaries’ hand-drawn pictures. What does survive, though, is some of the earliest records of transactions at the store recorded in meticulous detail – first by Francis Hall, and subsequently by James Kemp.’’
The day book and store ledger offer fascinating insights into the sorts of commodities that were available to the missionaries, Māori and secular settlers. Some of these transactions have been highlighted in Kerikeri Mission and Kororipo Pā – an entwined history by Dr Angela Middleton
‘‘These records are essentially some of the earliest recorded evidence of a commercial enterprise in New Zealand,’’ Bigwood says.
‘‘Trade was carried out all over the wider Bay of Islands and the Hokianga, but the Stone Store books give a detailed record of what was traded at this place, at this particular period of time, and by whom.’’
Blacksmith James Kemp – described as ‘‘a pious, admirable and judicious man’’ – took over the running of the store when original storekeeper Francis Hall left the mission. Like any good storekeeper, he did an inventory check soon after taking over.
‘‘We know, for example, that the stock included 123 broad axes, 284 felling axes, 1200 files, 140 sickles, a respectable 1500 fishhooks and a staggering 265,593 nails,’’ Bigwood says.
‘‘The fishhooks are particularly interesting as they were almost certainly offered to Māori children as incentives to attend the mission school regularly.’’
According to Kemp, Māori were discerning consumers and insisted that the tools on offer for trade were of a good quality. Kemp wrote to the Church Missionary Society in London asking them not to send ‘‘unsound’’ tools as Kemp put it.
He added: ‘‘The Natives are becoming very particular and they know a good tool as well as I do so that I should advise always to send good articles.’’
Kemp knew his customers – they didn’t buy crap.
Besides the relatively humdrum objects that were sent – things like ironmongery, hatchets, irons, scissors, knives and the like – in 1825 a new, and largely impractical item appears in the Stone Store ledgers; ‘‘Jews Harps’’. Missionaries Henry Williams and John King received 72 of these questionable musical instruments each and proceeded to distribute these to reward acts of ‘‘public service’’.
Blankets also began to increase in popularity eventually becoming the preferred trade item – though again quality was a prerequisite.
‘‘The records of transactions and stock are an important record of the sort of commerce that was taking place on a daily basis at the mission station in the 1820s, and in subsequent years,’’ Bigwood says.
‘‘This sort of information is gold for historians and can potentially tell us a lot about what was going on at the time socially and economically in this part of pre-Treaty Aotearoa-New Zealand.’’
Today, the Stone Store continues a two-century long heritage of commerce in this part of Northland, and still sells a range of authentic ironmongery, tools – and even Jew’s Harps.
‘‘And yes, people can be assured that these items are of the finest quality,’’ Bigwood says.
To learn more about the Kerikeri Mission Station and other historic places around the country cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga – and to plan your heritage road trip itinerary – check out visitheritage. co.nz.