The dead tell tales

photographer. In 1894 he built a studio on land leased from St Peter’s Church. He advertised ‘‘his new and commodious studio’’ describing himself as ‘‘artist photographer’’ and quoted prices by the dozen for cabinets (prints about 6 x 4 inches) and C.D.V.s (cartes de visite). The studio still exists at 55 Victoria St, next to St Peter’s Hall, and is scheduled on Hamilton City Council’s District Plan. As well as the studio, Reid’s legacy to Hamilton includes several photographs of events and places: for instance, Reid took the commemorative photo of the veterans of the 4th Waikato Militia on the occasion of the planting of trees in Sydney Square, now Steele Park, on August 25, 1889.

When the Hamilton Orchestral and Choral Society gave its first concert in December 1893, James Reid played the drum, the lone percussionist amongst strings, brass, harmonium and piano. He also served on the council, from 1890 to 1893 but seems not to have made much of a stir.

Perhaps that was because he was too busy on the parade ground with the Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteers that he formed in 1887. The corps’ name was changed in 1897 to the No.1 Waikato Mounted Infantry. Reid also formed the second and third companies of the Waikato Mounted Infantry. In 1900 his military service became paramount, with a shift to Auckland as district adjutant to the New Zealand Staff Corps; at one time he had the rank of lieutenantcolonel.

Isabella died in 1902. By 1903 he was back living on his farm at Hamilton, but he continued to take an interest in military matters, including training recruits about to depart for service in WWI. Reid died in 1939 aged 89, was survived by his second wife, Annie (died 1959), six sons and three daughters. His mother, both his wives, and two of his sons, are buried with him in Hamilton East Cemetery’s AA2 Block.