A Tribute to George Herbert Stubbs
Mr. Stubbs came to Mangatangi in l9l2 to take up his block of land, an area of 7213 acres.
ln the early 1930’s an attempt was made to establish a Tennis Club in Mangatangi. Mr. Frank Shuker even made a start with horses, plough and scoop on the present Hall site, owned by the Ratepayers Association. Unfortunately the depression of the times proved too much, and the project lapsed for want of support.
Tennis was played however on a private sealed court, and another grass court had been inexistence for some years. The war delayed any further efforts and it was not until 1948 that the Mangatangi Progress League, an Incorporated Society, formed in 1940, purchased the site of the present of the present Mangatangi Tennis Courts.
A generous response from the community in the following year resulted in three tennis courts, constructed, sealed and complete with pavilion, being available to the Tennis Club free of debt. 620 pounds was collected or donated, and all labour and equipment were lent or given free of charge.
Valiant service was given by many and the organising by Mrs. Meryle Bath and solid effort of Mr. Bob Hamilton are worth remembering. The names of Shuker and Cummings keep appearing in the records and it is no surprise that descendants of these two have figured prominently in local tennis.
The Mangatangi Tennis Club has kept going while all the surrounding clubs namely Miranda, Kaiaua, Maramarua and Mangatawhiri have long gone.
It is interesting to note that after the courts were opened in 1949, they were first resealed in Pinhead shingle in 1957 for 158 pounds. ( $316 ). ln 1966 the courts were resealed at a cost of 232 pounds ( $464 ). The money being obtained mainly through Debentures. Jan 1978, at a cost of $3675-OO, they were resealed again. The money being raised by picking up hay. Then in Jan 1988 costing $18,942-00 and the money was obtained by a Franklin District Council loan and by Billeting.
Finally in Dec 2003 the three tennis courts were laid with Astrograss, with new fencing surrounds with wheel-away tennis nets and stands at a cost of $ 78,000-00, this time from different grants — ASB, FDC, Mangatangi School and several smaller ones.
The present tennis pavilion was placed there in 1972-73 and has served the club well.
K Banks 2004.
Exploring the journey: a comprehensive look at our origins, key milestones, and evolution through the years, celebrating the stories and achievements that have shaped our legacy.
Mr. Stubbs came to Mangatangi in l9l2 to take up his block of land, an area of 7213 acres.
Little did I think at the time that I would be returning in 1924 and spending most of my life…
ln the early 1930’s an attempt was made to establish a Tennis Club in Mangatangi.
Captain William Field Porter arrived in Auckland in 1841, having embarked with his family in his own brig, the “Porter”…
In December l927 we did our first shearing at Mangatangi. In those days we relied on the Maori.
Maori had long used the gum for making torches, lamp black for tattoo pigments and mixed it with sow thistle…
In 1957 the Smith family purchased from Mr. Ted Waller, a block of land comprising 956 acres of hill country…
John Cummings was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1869 and came to New Zealand in 1874, on the ship…
Richard A Henderson was the sole charge teacher at this (Mangatangi) school when it opened in July 1923.
The Barton family arrived from England in 1885 and after a period in Auckland, farmed in Onewhero and Pukekawa before…
A virgin country such as ours in the l9th Century had to rely on its natural resources. Our district was…
In 1915 Mr. George S Johnston, set off from Auckland with a wagon drawn by two horses to Mangatangi.