Harold Richardson's Diary
Frank Nicol's (Acting Town Clerk) Diary for the week beginning 1st October 1944
Frank Nicol was appointed acting Town Clerk for a one year period after the death of Harold Richardson.
The work diary of Frank Nicol, Acting County Clerk, Rangitikei County Council:
Harold Hastings Richardson, 1872-1944 was appointed Rangitikei County Clerk in 1893, and he continued in that role until his death, 51 years later. Work diaries supplied by Miller and Springhall in Wanganui survive in the Council’s archives for 1934-35 and 1937-39. Richardson stopped his entries abruptly (and without explanation) on 20 June 1935, and there are sporadic entries only in 1937 and 1938. He wrote nothing in the 1939 diary, but it was put to use by Frank Nicol, the County’s Accountant, who was appointed Acting Clerk to succeed Richardson after his death.
Sunday, 1 October 1944
Church in morning.
At office 1.30 – 3 pm.
Afternoon tea Dukeanis
Meth[odist] Church with G Smith.
Supp[er] G & Min.
Monday, 2 October 1944
On pay.
Ring from Manpower Appeal re map of Council Room on 12th; arranged 9.45 on 11th.
[Marton] Town Clerk arranged to make cups etc and teapot available for 12th.
Rang A[rmy] S[ervice] C[orps] re Tutaenui Pit and [SC ? ]. Mentioned testimonials.
Ring from Gilding re prices. Agreed to reduce Rolls a/c and paper a/c 12/-[i.e. shillings] each.
Tuesday, 3 October 1944
Letter received from J A Lawrence, 214 Queen Street, Hastings re holiday pay.
Rang Labour Dept Wanganui – not under A[nnual] H[ealth] Act – not in employment 1 August 1944 – received all entitled to.
Rang Native Land Court Wanganui re Ratana dogs. Registrar says:
- position should be cleaned up from legal point of view;
- one body should interest itself – Maori War Effort Committee
- Tirikatene elected Ratana representative – previously he had stated Ratana Trust Board had not been able to function officially as no regulations gazetted.
Health Inspector said [a] Trust B[oar]d meeting [on] 23 Oct[ober]
Shock! 2 y[ea]rs does not apply to liens.
Wednesday, 4 October 1944
Ring from E Darbyshire re Ward meeting re Order of References. Said Wanganui City included with all Taranaki in Ward meetings. Holding one in Stratford, another in Wanganui. Arrangement of counties made by Counties Ass[ociatio]n, Mr Marion[?] said. Rang[itikei] should have been in with Wang[anui].
M[ental] H[ealth] Districts ignored.
Thursday, 5 October 1944
Meeting Day.
Appointed Acting Clerk for 12 months from 1/9/44.
Requested to initiate Imprest A/c.
S[pecial].O[rder]s put through for gorse and sale of Dalziell’s Pit.
Went through Order of Reference for Park Committee.
Meeting terminated 6 pm.
Friday, 6 October 1944
Fixed appointment with M Stott re vehicle insurances
Saw Mr Ladley re Dalziell’s Pit – gave him authority to go ahead, also re Utiku Metal Pit land.
Saturday, 7 October 1944
At Terrace Street
2 M G for tea & pictures
1st Pipiwhareora at Terrace Street.
Sunday, 8 October 1944
[BC ?] Tea Gabites for aft[ernoon] tea.
CF – “On my toes” again.
15 October 2007
