Harold Richardson's Diary
Frank Nicol's Diary - October 1944
The week of 9/10/1944 - 15/10/1944
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, on 21 September 1944. 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.
Monday, 9 October 1944
Rang State Fire Office P[almerston] N[orth] re appointment.
Sent cheques to Jackson, Clarke and Ford for holiday pay
Arranged with Mr Stotts (N Z [Insurance] Coy) for one policy for all [cases?] and carriers.
Lunch with him.
On correspondence.
Sent airgraph to Rod McK[enzie]* – asked for cable.
Rang Chairman re F.G. – suggested £750 sufficient.
Lent 10/- [i.e. 10 shillings] [to] E.V.
Paid stamps a/c 10/- for [C..?..] Club..
Tuesday, 10 October 1944
Rang J McD re huts at Waiouru.
Put £43-15-0 in Pub[lic] Account.
“Nana” arrived 6 am.
R.D. ill
C[live] Richardson* returned key – is going to present photo of H.H [Richardson] to Council.
Spent most of afternoon with Mr Mewton of State Fire and Mr Mair* going into fire insurances.
Ordered from Roberts: inkwells and stapling machine and rubber pad stamp
J H Miller* called – f’scap 11/6 in 50 r[eam] lots, quarto 9/- in 50 r[eam] lots
Wednesday, 11 October 1944
Council room wanted at 9.45 am for Manpower Appeal Board.
Rang Native L[and] Court.
1. Reg[istrar says: No one is available to do searching
2. Would be pleased to go into Schedule of liens with me
3. County getting liens year after year in some hopeless blocks
4. Understood Council was getting O[rder] in C[ouncil] [to] have some blocks exempted.
5. Extension of time does not apply to l[iens]
6. Council should exhaust possibilities under section 77 before going under [section] 108 (Extension applies to 77).
7. C[our]t has difficulty in finding who is actually in occupation
8. In cases of occ[upancy] of N[ative] L[and] not necessary to be entered on Roll as occ[upied]
9. Considers Council has better chance of finding actual occ[upiers] than NLC through Councillors, Eng[ineer]s and Foremen.
10. Such squatters as Andrews and McCallum should be charged with rates.
Look up Waipawa C[ounty] C[ouncil] case re notice of rates on every owner.
H L Young called with Mr Clegg.
25 stock size 14” and 17” dup, 17” wide for Rate Book (Binder £7-0-0).
Wrote [to] C R Furlong re Imprest A/c; re Rural Housing Loan [to] Mrs M S Grice.
Sent reg[istered] letters – notice to G A Corp as M[or]t[ga]gee; documents to V[aluer] G[eneral] for report.
Thursday, 12 October 1944
Conference re Catchment Board at 10 am.
Present at Conference | Council members | Clerks | Engineers |
Manawatu County Oroua County Kiwitea County Rangitikei County Wanganui County Waimarino County Marton Borough Raetihi Borough Ohakune Borough Taihape Borough Bulls Town Board Hunterville Town Board Mangaweka Town Board | 3 3 6 5 2 2 4 2 5 2 1 1 1 | 1
1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 | 1 1 1 2 1 |
| 37 | 9 | 6 |
Press 2. Total 54 also 5 [from] P[ublic] W[orks] D[ept] 59. At lunch 49.
K W D[alrymple]* made alteration in letter to NZCA [Counties Association]. Re [..?..] he suggested advertising – others acting on trial – given a chance.
Letter to NZCA correcting reference to [voting?], to S.E. and R[angitikei] C[ounty]` Council with resolutions from meeting, to Ian Brown re sports. 17 Sand[…?..], F[ei]ld[in]g.
Wrote to F G Reid & Co Ltd, Petone, re dog collars.
Airgraph from RM[cKenzie] – coming home.
Friday, 13 October 1944
[Miss] J Raine left on week’s holiday.
Rang Auckland re balance sheets. Proofs in mail today!!
Mr Hudson rang saying Mr March is agreeable for Rang[itikei] to join in with Wanganui Area re Parl[iamentary] Committee. ASC* says Wanganui would suit him better. Mr Darbyshire* says meeting not yet called, probably one for Taranaki and Wang[anui] at Hawera.
Doing minutes most of day.
Saturday, 14 October 1944
Opening of Bowling Club.
On Rating Act.
Sunday, 15 October 1944
[No entry]
Notes* (in order)
Rod McKenzie had been Assistant Accountant – had left the County’s employment by 1941 (serving in North Africa).
Clive Richardson was a son of Harold Hastings Richardson
Sydney Mair was County Engineer
Miller & Springhall were typewriting and duplicating specialists in Wanganui
Ken Dalrymple was County Chairman 1929-1950 (first elected 1917).
ASC probably Cr A S Coleman.
E Darbyshire was Wanganui County Clerk.
30 October 2007
