Seatoun 1907

‘Seatoun was in a very festive mood yesterday, when the tramway tunnel was formally opened by Mrs. C. Crawford, Mayoress of Miramar.’

After declaring the tunnel open, Mrs Crawford received a bouquet from Miss Molly Fabian on behalf of the Seatoun residents. The two tramcars carrying the distinguished guests from town then drove through the ribbons and passed through the tunnel to Seatoun.

Ella Crawford (born Anson), was the wife of Charles Crawford, the Mayor of Miramar. Charles was a son of James Coutts Crawford who purchased most of the Miramar peninsular in 1839.

Mr and Mrs Herbert Rawson offered the use of their gardens in Seatoun to host a celebratory tea on the occasion. Herbert Rawson was a dentist who had a practice on the corner of Woodward Street and The Terrace (the brick building still remains and is now offices).

Among the guests were Councillors from the Miramar Borough, Mrs Annie Hislop (Mayoress of Wellington, the Mayor being absent), John Palmer (Town Clerk), John O’Shea (City Solicitor), William Morton (City Engineer, Stuart Richardson (City Electrical Engineer) and Archibald Pearce (Mayor of Karori).

Tea was served in a large marque on the lawn, organised by Mrs Mary Fabian. A month later she opened tearooms in Seatoun at the tram car terminus, perhaps capitalising on the new connection.

Speeches were made in the marquee, but as most of the men had escaped the hot marquee, the assembled ladies listened to speeches that ‘took a light and pleasant tone, statistics being spared.’

The guests later wandered about and ‘admired the flowers and picturesque nooks in the grounds.’ At the conclusion of the party, the tramcars took the visitors back to town.

References:

By Car to Seatoun. (1907, December 18). Dominion, 8.

Social and Personal. (1907, December 18). Dominion, 3.