Hockin House holds many memories
Amongst the archives of the Waikato Historical Society at Hockin House is a letter written by Nan Harris (nee Douglas). Nan described the layout of the house as she remembered it, having grown up in the house when it was on the Waikato Hospital campus, built for the first medical superintendent, Dr G G Kenny.
Nan’s father, Dr Hugh Douglas, was the second medical superintendent.
In the letter, Nan Harris mentions widow Christina Taunt, who lived with the Kennys and then the Douglases, as housekeeper or companion.
Research into just why Christina Taunt lived with the doctors has revealed that she was only there briefly, but her story illustrates the adversities faced by many women in late Victorian times.
Christina Taunt moved to Hamilton in early March 1893 when her husband James took up his appointment as the accountant for the Bank of New Zealand.
They moved into a house in Ohaupo Rd that Dr Kenny and his wife Minnie had just vacated, having moved into the new medical superintendent’s house.
Christina Speirs and James Taunt married in 1887, at the home of her parents in Toi-Toi Valley, Nelson.
Within four years she had borne four children; three of them died before they were one year old and were buried at Waikumete Cemetery.
The fourth child, James Gardner Taunt, died a year after they arrived in Hamilton; he was just over three years old.
That was in mid-April 1894, and three months later he was joined in his grave at Hamilton West Cemetery by his father’s body. James Taunt died of consumption (tuberculosis) on July 14 1894, aged only 37 years.
The Waikato Times wrote: “Although deceased had only lived amongst us for about 18 months he was held in high esteem by the customers of the bank for his courtesy and attention.
‘‘To those who enjoyed his more intimate acquaintance he had endeared himself by his cheerfulness under a heavy affliction and by his liberal and kindly disposition.
‘‘Very general sympathy has been extended to the bereaved widow in her sorrow and bereavement.”
Just 14 days later all the Taunts’ furniture and effects were put up for auction, with the auctioneer calling special attention to the sale as ‘‘the whole of the effects have only recently been purchased’’. Amongst the furniture was a child’s cot and bedding, and a perambulator, tangible reminders of the children they had lost. Also amongst the ‘‘first-class’’ furniture and effects were a sewing machine and a pianoforte.
Christina returned to Nelson, where for a fee of two guineas she inspected schoolchildren’s sewing in 1895 and 1896; the electoral roll notes her as a dressmaker, so she was having to earn a living. However she returned to Hamilton and is on the 1900 roll as a housekeeper – presumably this was the time she lived-in with Hugh and Lottie Douglas.
In December 1899 she was one of the women who “presided over” the tea tables at a soiree and concert in connection with the Presbyterian Church in Hamilton.
A few months later she attended the society wedding of Arthur Beale and Alice Jolly, dressed in a “blue silk blouse and black skirt” according to the Waikato Argus.
However, she returned to Nelson, and in October 1900 she purchased a house - she must have been okay financially.
She again inspected sewing and knitting in schools. She also contributed to patriotic efforts during WWI, making khaki handkerchiefs and ‘‘cholera belts’’, and monetary donations.
Christina Taunt died in October 1925. She was 66 years old, and had not married again. The auction of her property and effects included three houses.
Note:
The Medical Superintendent’s house was shifted to Graham Park at the end of Selwyn St in 1974 and is now owned and cared for by the Waikato Historical Society. It is a Heritage New Zealand Category II listed building, and is scheduled under the Hamilton City Council District Plan.