John & Naomi Hutchinson
Tinakori Road Storekeepers
John Coates Hutchinson was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England in 1865. The town was well known for its many cotton mills. John’s father was a coalminer and by the time John was 5 years old, most of his older siblings were working as cotton rovers, drawers or weavers in the mills. His father died when he was 12 and by the age of 16 he was working alongside his family, including his mother, in the mills.
By 1891, five of his siblings had died at relatively young ages, and not presumably not wanting a life worked in the cotton mills, he decided to make his move. He had long been fascinated by the scenic wonders of New Zealand and so he set sail on the S.S. ‘Ionic’ from London in 1892. John eventually settled Wellington and in 1896 we find he is working as a cook at the Royal Oak Hotel.
His holiday excursions at the time included climbs of Ruapehu, Egmont and Ngauruhoe. Full accounts of these were sent back to Burnley and occasionally contributed to the Wellington newspapers.
In 1897, John had struck out on his own and opened a shop on Tinakori Road. It was described as located next to the Jubilee Hotel. He opened a telephone receiving office and bureau. In 1899 he was gazetted as postmaster and telephonist at the Tinakori Road Post Office. The building became known as Manchester House and also had a barber shop, telegraph office and store. The building still stands although the upper story has been altered.
John and Naomi Hutchinson, with their children, outside their general store Manchester House, Tinakori Road, Wellington. Hutchinson, Horatio Aston, 1904-1987 :Photographs of Manchester House, Tinakori Road, and the Hutchinson family. Ref: 1/2-147537-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23015941
Naomi Ellen Aston was born in Wellington in 1871. She was the daughter of Josiah Aston who was one of Wellington’s earliest settlers. Naomi was secretary of the Foresters Friendly Society: Court Lady Glasgow. She married John Hutchinson at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1902. Their son named Horatio Aston was born in 1904 and a daughter named Ida in 1906.
In 1903 the couple were burgled at their store which was also their home. Early on a Sunday morning, the thieves broke a back window to unfasten the latch and gained access. Without disturbing anyone they entered the bedroom where John and Naomi were sleeping and took the safe and office keys from Mr Hutchinson’s trouser pockets. The burglar removed the drawers from the safe and emptied their contents. About £40 cash was taken, of which £20 was to have been paid to old age pensioners. The keys were left in the lock of the safe. The newspapers provide no further updates.
‘Manchester House’ as it looks today. The upper storey has been altered but the storefronts remain largely the same.
Naomi remained the secretary of Court Lady Glasgow A.O.F. during her marriage only retiring from the role in 1925 after 30 years of service. Her daughter Ida became a member too but died in 1926 aged only 20.
John traded the store right up until 1927 when he decided to retire. Dunbar Sloane held an auction to sell off the remaining stock: plating cards, beads, hosiery, dungarees, braces, camera, developing paper, electric globes etc.
Manchester House in Tinakori Road, Wellington, with John Coates Hutchinson and Naomi Hutchinson standing outside. Ref: 1/2-147538-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23120529
Early in 1931, John’s descriptions of his trip around the North Island were printed in the ‘Evening Post’. He thought a good motto for New Zealanders is ‘See New Zealand first’. This trip was his fourth visit to the National Park. He wrote that they had sent their push bikes ahead to Rotorua from Wellington by train. He hoped the new magnificent hostel would not suffer from insufficient patronage [Chateau Tongariro].
Naomi died a few months after this trip aged 59. John died in 1940. His funeral service was held at St Paul’s. Naomi, John and Ida are all buried in the same plot, along with Naomi’s sister Rebecca Aston.
Horatio married Gladys Campbell in 1935 and he is buried in Nelson.
Karori Cemetery: Plot: *Ch Eng 2/H/147
Evening Post, 20 August 1940
Detail from: John and Naomi Hutchinson, with their children, outside their general store Manchester House, Tinakori Road, Wellington. Hutchinson, Horatio Aston, 1904-1987 :Photographs of Manchester House, Tinakori Road, and the Hutchinson family. Ref: 1/2-147537-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23015941
Detail from: John and Naomi Hutchinson, with their children, outside their general store Manchester House, Tinakori Road, Wellington. Hutchinson, Horatio Aston, 1904-1987 :Photographs of Manchester House, Tinakori Road, and the Hutchinson family. Ref: 1/2-147537-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23015941