William & Emma Haines
Holloway Road 1914
William Frances Lucas Haines followed his father into the butchery trade. William Haines senior lived with his wife Sarah (born Lucas) and their large family above Holloway Road, where they farmed pigs and poultry. A successful businessman, William senior owned a good number of the 92 properties in the Mitchelltown valley and so was a landlord to many. The population of the valley was large enough to sustain two grocers, a butchery and a school.
William junior married Emma Jane Johns in 1902 at St Peter’s church in Willis Street. Emma was born in Ashburton but her family moved to Wellington when she was 4. The Haines’ eight children were born between 1903 and 1921.
In 1905, Haines senior rented a property in Holloway Road from Henry Mitchell (of Mitchelltown) which he modified to create a shop area and cart shed. In 1906, he purchased the property outright. In 1911, the property was altered again with a freezer constructed and a new scullery and sitting room built above the shop. It was at about this time that William and Emma moved in to the building. The building still remains largely unchanged and is heritage listed by WCC. The Haines are photographed standing outside the shop, with their children Ida, William and Arthur.
In 1915, Haines was involved in a traffic accident when Daniel Anderson and Haines crashed on the Hutt Road. Anderson alleged that while driving towards Petone at midnight, Haines (who was on a horse and cart) appeared suddenly out of the darkness. Anderson claimed for £44 in damages to his car. Haines counterclaimed for £4 for the loss of 20 fowls and damage to his cart and lamps. Haines lost the case.
The family moved to Amritsar Street in Khandallah in the 1920s and in 1962, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They received telegrams from the Governor-General (Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson) and Queen Elizabeth II. At the time of their celebration, they had 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. William died in 1967 aged, 87, and Emma died in 1970, also aged 87. They are buried at Taita Cemetery.
References:
Magistrate’s Court. (1915, July 21). Dominion, 11.
Married For 60 Years. (1962, December 4). Evening Post, 14.
Local ad General. (1915, July 22). Evening Post, 6.
Emma, Raymond, Ida, William and Arthur (left to right) standing in front of their butchers business.
Reference: Emma and William Haines with their family outside their butcher's shop, Holloway Rd, Wellington, 1914, Wellington, by John Haines. Te Papa (B.016623)
Detail from above image.
‘Swensson House (Former)’, Holloway Road. Retrieved from https://www.wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz/buildings/1-150/148-6-swensson-house