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Graham Stewart kindly set out the NZ Transport Agency’s rules for cyclists for Bay View and we published them in the Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016. In case they get updated, rather than reproduce them here, the link is below:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/cyclist-code/about-cycling/cyclist-responsibilities/
In our series on gardening in small spaces, we first looked at gardening on decks and patios. Then we wrote about windowboxes. Now we go even further down the scale and talk about planting a terrarium.
What is it? A terrarium is a glass container, often in the shape of a globe, which can be used for growing ornamental plants that require a high level of humidity. With tropical plants, the containers can be sealed. It is left open for other plants.
What you need:
A sizable glass vessel is needed. It could be either a fishbowl, cloche or large jar. Choose a container that's wide enough to get your hand into easily — mine was a bit too narrow making it awkward for placing the plants. Low maintenance plants such as baby ferns, ivy, cacti, succulents generally are the plants that work best in a terrarium and you need to have pebbles, course sand, all-purpose potting mix and charcoal.
Putting it all together:
1) Large pebbles look attractive at the base of the vessel.
2) Then, for drainage purposes, put about 5 cms of gravel, sand, small pebbles.
3) Mix about 1/4cup of charcoal (pinch some from your BBQ. Otherwise it's stocked by some nurseries and pet shops). This keeps the soil fresh but is not absolutely essential.
4) A layer of moss will soak up excess water. It also looks interesting too. Again not essential.
5) Next comes about 9 to 12 cms of soil. All purpose potting mix can be used.
6) Make a hole for your plants and poke them in. Since I used a tall not very wide glass jar, this was tricky and I only had room for three plants — two ferns and one little plant with multi-coloured leaves.
Frances, of California Garden Centre, Miramar, demonstrates growing plants in a terrarium
Watering guide: A spray bottle is best but tiny watering can with rose attachment will do. You're aiming for dampness, not wetness. Because condensation on the inside of the glass plays a part, spraying once a week or even less should be enough for an open jar. Every 3 to 4 weeks with a closed one.
Care guide: Place near a window where it can get some sun, but not all-day sun — it is easy to roast plants living in a terrarium. Avoid putting too close to a heater for the same reason. Be punctilious about removing dead or dying leaves or the whole plant if it looks diseased — plants are at close quarters and can be easily infected.
Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
The wishing well in Oriental Bay is one of the Bay's well-loved features. Tucked into the hillside below Oriental Terrace, it's a favourite spot for children to lean over its edge and examine the tiles depicting fish, crabs, starfish, sea snails, shells of many sorts and seagulls.
It was originally the gift of the Wellington Jaycees (this club no longer exists). Members built it themselves in 1960. A literary lot those Jaycees, as they commemorated the event with a Shakespearean quote in a plaque beside the well: "Sweet health and fair desires/Consort your grace,/Thy own wish—wish I thee/In every place."
But 36 years after it was built, the wishing well had holes in the fibreboard walls; water pipes that weren't working and rubbish had collected in the base. So in the mid-1990s, Oriental Bay Residents' Association undertook the challenge of renovating it. The project was led by Jane Aim, a committee member at the time and now a life member of OBRA.
The original concept had been designed by a local resident Belinda Reburn who then worked with the Wellington City Council but now lives in Nelson. The tiles were all handmade by Neville Porteous of Khandallah who had — and still has — a 'bolthole' in Oriental Bay. He is internationally renowned for his tiles, especially for those using art nouveau motifs. For the wishing well he portrayed Wellington's coastal marine life in exquisitely sculptured tiles. Half of them have a blue background and the other half sea-green.
Some of the tiles are flat and these were painted by artist Helene Carrol. The water flowing down one wall adds to the scene.
With the exterior of the wishing well transformed, the underground water system renewed and the wishing well lit at night, it has become a beloved part of the Bay again and will be, hopefully, for many years to come.
Renovations were possible thanks to generous donations from Jack Ilott and the Community Trust of Wellington. OBRA contributed but the main cost was borne by Wellington City Council under Peter Hemsley's direction. He said that the council undertook to clean the tiles recently — they tend to acquire a brownish stain over time — and that was a tremendous improvement.
With thanks to Jane Aim for the above information.
Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
Seventeen members of the Oriental Bay Walkers set off for the annual mystery walk and lunch on 7th December, in brilliant sunshine with no wind. There is great interest each year as to just where we are going to walk and where the lunch will be held, always highly secret. This year it was held at Percy’s Reserve in Petone followed by lunch at La Bella Italia.
Fifteen of us set off from Oriental Bay towards the station, a little early so there was plenty of time for a cup of coffee at the station. Two of us set off in cars to set up the festivities and be ready with bubbly and Christmas nibbles when the others arrived by train. There was another short walk to the reserve.
On arrival there was much frivolity, nibbling and drinking of bubbly. There was a very noisy Secret Santa game with varying ideas on the rules -a great time was had by all. The presents were to be unusual and fun ones, which they certainly were.
Walking around Percy’s Reserve, there is a lot to see, duck feeding, glow worms that didn’t glow that day, and lots of nooks and crannies to check out. Afterwards we walked up through the Reserve to Stanhope Grove and down London Rd looking at the view of our sparkling harbour then headed off to La Bella Italia. The lunch, with Christmas crackers, was very good indeed; the staff at Bella had been very helpful with sorting out a very good and delicious menu. The magic time to leave was 2:30pm to all get back to Wellington using our Gold Cards; after all if you’ve got them one must use/flaunt them.
Once again a wonderfully successful day all round.
Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
Pictured on the mystery walk (in no particular order) are Julie O’Connor, Kay Austad, Catherine Kennedy Good, Viv Callender, Linda Graham, Elizabeth Ellis, Sandy Jackson, Annabelle Leask, Linda Cowley, Susie Clarke, Philippa Larkindale, Marg Hogg and Yvonne Bacon. By Jillian Allen
There must be lots of Oriental rugs in Oriental Bay! If you have one that needs repairing then the name Anna Williams probably springs to mind.
For many years she lived in Grafton Road between Oriental Bay and the Iranian Embassy. This was a convenient location as she regularly went to the Embassy to get a visa to travel to Iran. Oriental rugs, Persian particularly, have been her passion — she has worked at the art of repairing them for 24 years.
"Iran is one of the world's best-kept secrets. I feel safer there than in many places in New Zealand," she says. "The hospitality is astounding. I can be in a teashop and have invitations from the people, on both sides of where I am sitting, to go to their homes. They are often disappointed if I refuse!" She knows many New Zealand Iranians which helps a little to ease her urge to go back to Iran as soon as possible, she says. "Some have gorgeous family rugs which I have been privileged to see."
ut there's one disadvantage to her career as a repairer of Oriental rugs. "Not having other repairers here is professionally lonely and I miss comparing techniques and seeing what finishes they are now using."
She's moved from Grafton Road now, but still lives close enough to the Iranian Embassy to apply for a visa in person which she hopes to do again very soon.
JCD, Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
Melanie Smith in the Doorway of Cre8iveworx
You may have noticed a cheerful little shop on the Parade opposite the Royal New Zealand Yacht club. In this small space, and outside as well, Melanie Smith has managed to squeeze an array of bright colourful items, arranged in such a way it makes a real picture.
This is not surprising given her arts background. She graduated at university in U.K in 2004 and wanted a business that uses her creative background. So Cre8iveworx was born, just before last Christmas.
Looking around, I see handmade silver jewellery; possum/merino hats, scarves, gloves and slippers (this is a very strong line); candles, creams and scents; chocolates, sauces and jams; ceramics; and children’s toys and accessories. Nearly everything is New Zealand made, many items handmade. Supporting artists throughout the country is her aim.
“My plan is to try and support as many artists as I can,” she said, “lots of people are busy making things and being creative.” She takes artists’ work in two ways: purchasing initially and payment upon sale.
“I also wanted a space where I could paint myself,” she said, pointing to a painting of hers. She works in oils and specialises in landscapes and cityscapes which are interpreted in abstract form. She specially enjoys painting large works. She likes making things too and will be bringing in her sewing machine over the winter months.
So when it’s raining and the shop isn’t busy, she will combine being a shopkeeper with being an artist --opening the door to her stock room to make a larger open space.
JCD, Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
For more than 13 years, soon after his arrival from Korea, Jay Park of Lower Hutt has been selling ice cream and coffee from the van in Oriental Bay. With Misong Lee, they have parked all that time across the road from the Wishing Well, beside the same Norfolk pine. They and their van have become an essential part of our beach culture, especially during this last glorious summer. There’s nothing like an invigorating swim in the bay, followed by a nice hot coffee!
Though Jay claims not to speak much English, he sure knows the multitude of ice cream varieties off by heart and the many coffee variations – whether short/long black, flat white, cappuccino, mocaccino, latte, chai latte, iced coffee and the various chocolate variations as well. A regular customer, I even get a “one sugar, is it?” when I order my coffee.
Jay says he likes working here because of the kind people and nice view (in that order). The only negative is the strong salty wind which confronts him on occasions as he serves his customers. But it never seems to ruffle him!
JCD, Bay View newsletter 67, May 2016
The International Catholic Programme of Evangelisation (ICPE) has a 2027 deadline for earthquake-strengthening St Gerard’s Church and Monastery. This could cost an estimated $20 million.
1 Oriental Terrace otherwise known as Joe’s place
To raise money towards this cost, the ICPE want to sell land they own at 1 Oriental Terrace. In order to enlarge this site, they have asked the Wellington City Council to allow the exchange of a strip of land right next door to the monastery with a Council-owned pathway which runs between that strip and 1 Oriental Terrace. On this site stands a historic old house.
With a larger site and the old house demolished, a property developer would be able to build a multi-storey building which could block iconic views of the Monastery. This was the main objection made to a WCC Environment Committee hearing in February by Maurice Clark and Judith Doyle, representing Oriental Bay Residents’ Association.
Developer Maurice Clark also strongly emphasised the need for adequate space around the monastery building to allow earthquake strengthening to be done. A large development built close to the monastery would not leave sufficient space for the job.
Amongst the other submitters at the hearing was Marian Evans who lives in Oriental Terrace below the Monastery. She has researched the reserve and the old house at No 1, and believes the house was built by carpenter Joseph Leadbetter in 1897 – hence its nickname of Joe’s Place. “It backs on to St Gerard’s park on the promontory in front of the monastery, Wellington’s most beautiful small reserve. Its red roof and chimney disrupt views of and from the park and down the zigzag reserve, but it contributes strongly to the little upper Oriental Terrace enclave,” she writes.
Marian Evans has researched the original plans of the house. She discovered that lots of totara and red pine/rimu was used to build No 1; the floors are all 6 x 1-inch matai/black pine. The specs are very detailed. For example, the chimney’s brickwork was ‘to be executed with sound hard-burnt bricks laid in well-made mortar, the foundation to be laid on a solid hard surface. To chimney openings, insert a wrought-iron chimney bar 21⁄2 wide by 3/8 of an inch thick, the bars to have 4 1⁄2-inch bearing, and to be turned up and down at the ends’.
This first book cover (1893) of Studio (ebook page 116) exemplifies the style of the Arts & Crafts movement. The Studio series is in our National Library.
Oriental Terrace resident, Ann Calhoun, has just produced an ebook on her specialist subject: the New Zealand arts and crafts movement. "Arts & Crafts Design: 'like yet not like' nature: sources for a New Zealand story" is Ann's most recent project on what is her long-standing passion. (In 2000, Ann's "The Arts & Crafts Movement in New Zealand 1870–1940" was published by Auckland University Press. This was a review of the movement in New Zealand).
Her aim in writing the ebook, she says, was to give "a tribute to beauty through nature... It is free in order to give all New Zealanders a chance to appreciate this aspect of their heritage and culture."
Ann loves the arts and crafts movement because it pays homage to materials and skills, such as woodcarving,stained glass, jewellery, art metal-work, art needle-work, appliqué, stencilling, illustration, tiles, ceramics,weaving and, most importantly, architecture. Many of these objects were decorated by designs from nature. Shealso appreciates the fact that the development of the arts and crafts movement in New Zealand is unique in its use of Maori motifs and designs.
Last century the concept of what craft meant changed, as traditional handicrafts were mechanised. Crafts became associated with leisure, instead of being a necessity. So a distinction emerged between "fine art" and "craft" — the latter often dismissed as merely "decorative."
When the term Arts and Crafts was born it became a happy composite description. The spiritual and social value of handicrafts was recognised. It also gave particular scope to women, as it valued their talents and offered possible financial gain.
JCD, Bay View newsletter 66, November 2015
Good timing for this latest Grantham House book!
For Graham and Anne Stewart 2015 has been a big big year. Grantham House, their Oriental Bay Publishing House, turned 30 this year and in August they moved from their long-time home up the steep hill of Wilkinson Street off Oriental Parade, into Market Lane opposite Amora Hotel in Wakefield Street. The move was prompted by Anne's eye health and involved very considerable downsizing. Graham's enormous collection of books was just one of the problems to be solved.
I've always followed Graham's career with interest. I met him (more years ago than I care to remember). I was a cadet reporter on the Auckland Star (a now defunct evening paper) and Graham was a photographer on the New Zealand Herald. He was obviously 'going places' then. And he did — Royal tours of the 1950s; Sir Edmund Hillary's wedding to Louise Rose; the last TEAL flying boat taking off for Sydney; the last tram from Oriental Bay; the visit to New Zealand of Nat King Cole and also Vice-president Nixon...
He was appointed illustrations editor for the Herald and held that post for many years. He moved to Wellington in 1975 for a position in the old publishing house of A.H. & A.W. Reed. In 1985 he founded Grantham House which he describes as a boutique publishing company which has certainly made a real contribution to pictorial history in New Zealand.
His subject range has included antique furniture, art, architecture, early Colonial toys, New Zealand wars, cricket, New Zealand birds... He published a series on New Zealand tragedies: aviation, earthquakes, fires, railways and shipwrecks and another series on colourful transportation: tramways, merchant shipping, railways and harbour ferries... The transport focus has been enormously popular.
In 2012, the Wellington City Council awarded him with an Absolutely Positive Wellingtonian Award for his advocacy for Wellington charities such as the Wellington City Mission and Ronald McDonald House. He was chairman of the Wellington City Mission Anglican Trust board in the 1990s. Bay View has reported on some of Graham Stewart's career highlights from time to time. One was the occasion when he received the National Press Club's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 — the seventh recipient of this award and the first cameraman.
At this event Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown outlined some of his career highlights as a press photographer. They included his coverage of the 1951 waterfront strike, the pivotal post World War II labour relations and the terrible Tangiwai disaster. In his reply, Graham gave a fascinating description of the early days of his 60 plus years career, well before television and hourly radio news. He described the cameras back then, which were "as large as a six-pack of beer". Glass negative plates were used and, when on out-of-town assignments, changing bags, with holes for the arms to be inserted, had to be used. One of the most amusing historic events he covered was when he was present at the signing of the contract to build the Auckland harbour bridge. "I was sitting in the co-pilot's seat when daredevil Freddie Ladd flew (illegally) under the bridge before the official opening."
In his early years in book publishing, book designers had to cut and paste with a scalpel every strip of typography on to each page of a book over a light box. They worked with long galleys of type produced on the old linotype machines. "Technology has certainly brought unbelievable changes to all forms of the printed word — and photography — since I started on the road." Over the next few months Graham will consider the future of Granthan's. Like so many booklovers, he laments the alarming reduction in the number of bookshops. In Wellington alone, Parsons, Capital Books and Dimocks have gone; while Whitcoulls now gives more prominence to children's games and toys than books.
Nonetheless this year will still be an exciting one for Grantham's. "I have a number of books coming out," Graham says, "We've just published two rugby books, for instance. One is called Black Jersey, Silver Fern, and tells the little known story of Tom Ellison — the first Maori to captain the All Blacks." In the early days of rugby, Ellison went to the New Zealand Rugby Union and suggested players should wear the black jersey with the silver fern.
Another book, called Just to let you know I'm still alive, brings a new angle to World War I publishing. It shows an amazing collection of postcards sent back to New Zealand from those fighting overseas. There's also a book coming up on the Otago Rail Trail, one of New Zealand tourism's success stories.
So it's difficult to imagine Graham Stewart hanging up his publishing hat just yet!
JCD, Bay View newsletter 66, November 2015
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