The dead tell tales
Photo: Lyn Williams Historian Lyn Williams unearths the story of a prolific city administrator.
In 1891 he declared himself a bankrupt. Perhaps poverty was the reason he then attempted to sell two sacks of ‘‘native game’’, namely pigeons, without a licence. In court, his defence was ignorance of the law. It was perfectly legal to shoot native pigeons, just not to sell them. He was fined 10 shillings.
In August 1892 Conradi was appointed clerk and wharfinger to the Raglan County Council on a salary of £24 9s. Additional roles were returning officer for local elections, registrar of births, deaths and marriages, inspector of slaughterhouses, and collector of dog taxes. Cricket remained a major interest and he was at one time the captain of the Raglan cricket team. Travel as the county clerk had its difficulties − in 1894 while making the triennial assessment valuation, he was riding down the west coast on the Te Akau run when he dismounted to lead his horse over some dangerous rocks. The danger was to himself, however, as the horse slipped and the spikes on the bridle bit pierced right through his hand.
When the county office moved to Ngaruawahia in 1900, Conradi moved too, after 40 gentlemen attended a complimentary dinner in his honour. In 1902 he was appointed as town clerk to Hamilton Borough Council, and in December 1903 as secretary to the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He retired from the latter position for a further 23 years amidst praise for his ability, integrity and courtesy.
Conradi was one of the stalwarts of the racing industry, being secretary of the South Auckland Racing Club for several years and a founder of the Waikato Trotting Club.
William Conradi died in Hamilton in 1931; he was survived by his wife Rachel and their four sons and four daughters. Rachel died just six months later and was buried with him in Hamilton East Cemetery.