Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 26, 2018 15:33:57 GMT 12
Many will know that Ted Harvie was a record-breaking pilot, a CFI at No. 1 EFTS and then the Central Flying School of the RNZAF during WWII, and later was to become the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents in 1968, a role he filled till 1977. But he is also known for his two books, 'Venture The Far Horizon'and 'George Bolt: Pioneer Aviator". You can read all about him on my site here:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Edgar%20Harvie.htm
It seems his talents for researching history and writing were honed at an early age. When he lived here in Cambridge he won second place in the Waikato Independent newspaper's annual essay competition, when he was just 10 years old. The "Inde" published his essay on the 20th of December 1923. Here it is, via Paper's Past:
CHILDREN'S ESSAY
SECOND PRIZE.
NEW ZEALAND TOWNS AND CITIES.
(By EDGAR FRANCIS HARVIE, aged 10).
Auckland. — The city of Auckland is very finely situated on an isthimus, in the north-west peninsula, on the southern shores of the Waitemata Harbour, which is formed by an inlet in the Hauraki Gulf. The city has a beautiful port, and on the shores arc the suburban towns of Northcote, Birkenhead, and Devonport. Among the public buildings of the city may be mentioned the Governor’s House, the New Zealand Insurance Company’s buildings, St Mary’s Cathedral, and St. John’s Episcopal College lying above Kohimarama Bay, and about four miles distant from Auckland. The harbour, being very natural, may be described as the “Rio of New Zealand.’’ The population in 1871 was twelve thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, but at the present day Auckland has been estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand, including its neighbouring suburbs.
Wellington. — Wellington, the chief city of the Wellington Province, and the seat of the New Zealand Government, is situated on the shores of Port Nicholson, 80 miles east of Nelson. 160 south of New Plymouth, and 1200 south-east of Sydney. As a shipping port. Wellington ranks next to Auckland and Lyttelton, being followed by Port Chalmers and New Plymouth. Port Nicholson, which has lately been extended and improved, is one of the best harbours in New Zealand, and as before mentioned, ranks next to Auckland and Lyttelton. At the eastern entrance is a lighthouse on Pencarrow Head, opposite which is a pilot station. The town possesses foundries, ship-building yards, boot factories, sawmills, and a very extensive meat preserving establishment which exports large supplies of frozen mutton to the important ports in England.
Christchurch. Christchurch, the capital city of the province of Canterbury, New Zealand, is situated on both banks of the River Avon, about five miles from the sea. It is the centre of the large extending railway system of the province, and is connected with its port by a line eight miles-long, which penetrates the Port Hills, by means of a tunnel a mile in length. In March, 1876, the population numbered ten thousand seven hundred and fifty, but up to the counting of the last census, it was officially estimated at one hundred and one thousand, or in other words, one thousand more than that of Wellington.
Dunedin. —The city of Dunedin is finely situated about one mile west of the Otago Harbour. A fine anchorage for large liners is available about half way between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Nearly all the coastal craft and many sailing ships are owned by Dalgety and Company, whose offices are scattered about the Otago district. Last century, the general population of the city and suburbs of Dunedin, was from about nine to twelve thousand, but now it is estimated at seventy-two thousand. The city streets are beautifully paved, while even some are laid out in large concrete blocks. There are two fine Presbyterian Churches in the city, which are constructed entirely of this ferro-concrete and of the beautiful Oamaru stone, which is made in Oamaru, a few miles distant. There is between Dunedin direct communication with San Francisco, Sydney, London, and Tasmania. The city may be called the “city of the South’’ as many nations call it, as it is by far the most remote city of the globe. The city is supplied with electric light, and also which is a great advantage, has a waterworks, which procures some of the cleanest wafer in New Zealand.
New Plymouth. — New Plymouth, being situated on the shores of the lower North Taranaki Bight, has the best and most extensive harbour on the west coast in New Zealand. When Nature designed the country she failed to supply the west coast with good natural harbours, so a site was chosen and before long, the town of New Plymouth sprang up. At present Port Motorua (New Plymouth) has only three wharves, an explosives anchorage, and a temporary dock. When completed there will be twelve wharves, a dock, a ship-building yard and an explosives anchorage, which is outside the island of Mikotahi. Tall six and seven storey buildings line the streets, while noisy trams clang their bells on their way to the harbour, Strandon. Westown, and Waiwakaiho Falls. New Plymouth is the eighth largest town in New Zealand, bearing a population of about eighteen thousand, including Fitzroy, Westown, Vogetown, Te Henui, and Bell Block, which are its suburbs.
Napier. Napier, situated on Hawke's Bay, is the capital of the Hawke's Bay Province. The main part of the town, with the banks, hotels, churches and public buildings, stretches along the flat shore-land, while the suburban dwelling houses of the wealthier inhabitants scatter themselves over the hills to the north. The town (named after Sir Charles James Napier), is the seat of the Bishop of Waiapu, and returns a member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. A railway is now open to Palmerston North, so Napier has land, sea, and aerial communication with Wellington. The population of Napier is now nineteen thousand five hundred, while a few years ago it was only twelve thousand. This increase shows how Napier has grown in the last few years.
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Edgar%20Harvie.htm
It seems his talents for researching history and writing were honed at an early age. When he lived here in Cambridge he won second place in the Waikato Independent newspaper's annual essay competition, when he was just 10 years old. The "Inde" published his essay on the 20th of December 1923. Here it is, via Paper's Past:
CHILDREN'S ESSAY
SECOND PRIZE.
NEW ZEALAND TOWNS AND CITIES.
(By EDGAR FRANCIS HARVIE, aged 10).
Auckland. — The city of Auckland is very finely situated on an isthimus, in the north-west peninsula, on the southern shores of the Waitemata Harbour, which is formed by an inlet in the Hauraki Gulf. The city has a beautiful port, and on the shores arc the suburban towns of Northcote, Birkenhead, and Devonport. Among the public buildings of the city may be mentioned the Governor’s House, the New Zealand Insurance Company’s buildings, St Mary’s Cathedral, and St. John’s Episcopal College lying above Kohimarama Bay, and about four miles distant from Auckland. The harbour, being very natural, may be described as the “Rio of New Zealand.’’ The population in 1871 was twelve thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, but at the present day Auckland has been estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand, including its neighbouring suburbs.
Wellington. — Wellington, the chief city of the Wellington Province, and the seat of the New Zealand Government, is situated on the shores of Port Nicholson, 80 miles east of Nelson. 160 south of New Plymouth, and 1200 south-east of Sydney. As a shipping port. Wellington ranks next to Auckland and Lyttelton, being followed by Port Chalmers and New Plymouth. Port Nicholson, which has lately been extended and improved, is one of the best harbours in New Zealand, and as before mentioned, ranks next to Auckland and Lyttelton. At the eastern entrance is a lighthouse on Pencarrow Head, opposite which is a pilot station. The town possesses foundries, ship-building yards, boot factories, sawmills, and a very extensive meat preserving establishment which exports large supplies of frozen mutton to the important ports in England.
Christchurch. Christchurch, the capital city of the province of Canterbury, New Zealand, is situated on both banks of the River Avon, about five miles from the sea. It is the centre of the large extending railway system of the province, and is connected with its port by a line eight miles-long, which penetrates the Port Hills, by means of a tunnel a mile in length. In March, 1876, the population numbered ten thousand seven hundred and fifty, but up to the counting of the last census, it was officially estimated at one hundred and one thousand, or in other words, one thousand more than that of Wellington.
Dunedin. —The city of Dunedin is finely situated about one mile west of the Otago Harbour. A fine anchorage for large liners is available about half way between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. Nearly all the coastal craft and many sailing ships are owned by Dalgety and Company, whose offices are scattered about the Otago district. Last century, the general population of the city and suburbs of Dunedin, was from about nine to twelve thousand, but now it is estimated at seventy-two thousand. The city streets are beautifully paved, while even some are laid out in large concrete blocks. There are two fine Presbyterian Churches in the city, which are constructed entirely of this ferro-concrete and of the beautiful Oamaru stone, which is made in Oamaru, a few miles distant. There is between Dunedin direct communication with San Francisco, Sydney, London, and Tasmania. The city may be called the “city of the South’’ as many nations call it, as it is by far the most remote city of the globe. The city is supplied with electric light, and also which is a great advantage, has a waterworks, which procures some of the cleanest wafer in New Zealand.
New Plymouth. — New Plymouth, being situated on the shores of the lower North Taranaki Bight, has the best and most extensive harbour on the west coast in New Zealand. When Nature designed the country she failed to supply the west coast with good natural harbours, so a site was chosen and before long, the town of New Plymouth sprang up. At present Port Motorua (New Plymouth) has only three wharves, an explosives anchorage, and a temporary dock. When completed there will be twelve wharves, a dock, a ship-building yard and an explosives anchorage, which is outside the island of Mikotahi. Tall six and seven storey buildings line the streets, while noisy trams clang their bells on their way to the harbour, Strandon. Westown, and Waiwakaiho Falls. New Plymouth is the eighth largest town in New Zealand, bearing a population of about eighteen thousand, including Fitzroy, Westown, Vogetown, Te Henui, and Bell Block, which are its suburbs.
Napier. Napier, situated on Hawke's Bay, is the capital of the Hawke's Bay Province. The main part of the town, with the banks, hotels, churches and public buildings, stretches along the flat shore-land, while the suburban dwelling houses of the wealthier inhabitants scatter themselves over the hills to the north. The town (named after Sir Charles James Napier), is the seat of the Bishop of Waiapu, and returns a member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. A railway is now open to Palmerston North, so Napier has land, sea, and aerial communication with Wellington. The population of Napier is now nineteen thousand five hundred, while a few years ago it was only twelve thousand. This increase shows how Napier has grown in the last few years.
