Sir Stephen Allen (CMG, KBE, DSO, military leader, administrator of Western Samoa and former Mayor of Morrinsville 1927-1928) talks about his memories of early Morrinsville from 1892, early identities of the district and prominent political figures he knew.
He describes how his family came to New Zealand, with his father arriving in 1885 with some of his children and then Stephen and the younger members arriving in 1892. He bought the Annandale Estate near Morrinsville, which was 6,000 acres bought from Māori by W.A. Murray in 1874.
In 1893 when he arrived, Morrinsville consisted only of two main streets Thames St and Hamilton Rd, crossed by Studholme and Canada St. there was only one store, Clifford’s and Marshall’s butchery and a blacksmith’s.
He talks about the Morrin brothers who bought the Lockerby Estate in 1874, but like many, fell on hard times in the depression of the 1880s and 1890s when most of the big estates went to the Bank of New Zealand and were later broken up. He describes the work that had to be done to develop the land for farming.
He talks about John Turnbull, the first white man to bring his family to the district and his daughter Mary, the first Pākehā child born there.
Sir Stephen then describes conditions in Morrinsville when he first came there: the school with one teacher Miss fortune, the railway station, which was also the post office, the Nottingham Castle hotel and the houses of several early residents; the Cliffords, the Marshalls, William Pickett, the Fry brothers and a carpenter called Hogan. He says the population was about 100 people at the time.
Supplies were delivered by river to Te Aroha and then by cart to Morrinsville, until the railways opened from Hamilton in the mid-1880s. He talks about the labourers in the town and their rates of pay and describes entertainment of the day: concerts, a few dances and Māori race meetings.
He lists some of the ‘old identities’ he knew personally: Mr Chipnall, Drummond Hay, Mr Jenkins, Mr Hobble. He then talks about politicians of the era: the local M.P. was Sir Alfred Cadman, who was Minister of Railways in Seddon’s government, and later, Sir William Herries. He says he knew (Prime Minister) Massey well and describes (Gordon) Coates also. He says he heard Richard Seddon speak once in Hamilton and describes him as a very able and convincing speaker. He tells an anecdote about Seddon and denies that Mr Coates was a heavy drinker.
Sir Stephen discusses his experience in local body politics and how the Piako County council used to meet at the Nottingham Castle Hotel, where liquid refreshments would help keep meetings harmonious. He talks about Sir James Parr who grew up in Waihou and Morrinsville, and further stories about Sir William Herries and Richard Seddon introducing the old age pension in a speech.
Sir Stephen commanded the local Territorial Company when compulsory military training began in 1911, until the start of World War I in 1914. His sub-altern was Bernard Freyberg.