The Top of the Bay Steps, Caroline Bay, Timaru
POST=CARDS
No. 16. A shady retreat. A Muir and Moodie Postcard 1907.
F.G.R. postcard No.
1254. Mailed in 6th Nov. 1910.
Rustic Steps photographed by Wm. Ferrier 3/09. Mailed in the latter half of
1909. Effie's message reads:
"I am sending you a P.C. of the
steps at the Bay. I hope you will like it.
The weather is getting much cooler here now but it is still warm enough.
The cliffs at the Bay are nearly all covered with ice plant & it is so pretty
when flowering.
You can see a little of it in this picture."
Gibson's Steps
The Terrace, Caroline Bay, Timaru 1907
Otago Witness, March 1906, Page 79
Hazel Eyes spent part of her holidays at Timaru, and had a happy time with her little cousins. We went to Caroline Bay, were in the swinging boats, and on the merry-go-round.
Caroline Bay, looking North. 1907
Otago Witness, 1 February 1900, Page 61
LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.
Dear Dot, We have whooping cough, so we are staying in Timaru for change of air.
We don't like it very much, because we haven't our ponies with us. We go in the
sea every day to paddle. We have buckets and spades to dig holes with. There are
hundreds of children on the beach, but I haven't seen any badges. I wear mine on
my best hat. Thank you for putting my composition about a boy in the paper. My
godfather saw it, and sent me five shillings, to do what I like with. This is
how I spent it: — A measuring tape, a pineapple, a ruler, a lead pencil and pen,
a knife, some lolly billiard balls. We are going to stay in Timaru two weeks
longer. I wish daddy would come. We live next to the lighthouse, and we see all
the ships come in to "the harbour. — Yours truly, FAIRLIE GILLINGHAM. [That was
real good of your godfather, Fairlie, and it was well applied. — DOT.]
Caroline Bay Tea Kiosk, 1908. Arthur A. Ware, photographer.
Right above the Beach, between which & the cliff are lawns & pavilions and
seats etc.
Also the railway lines runs between. A good place for a quiet rest.
Frank Duncan Postcard. Caroline Bay, 1929
The Irish Times Saturday, March 7,
1931
My Dear Granny,
On Christmas Eve the main street of Timaru, which is about
five miles from Washdyke, was crowded with people, and crackers were being let
off in every direction.
On New Year's Eve Caroline bay was like fairyland, with its
beautiful coloured lights. There were hundreds of people who stayed on the bay
to see the old year out and the new year in. AT twelve o'clock the band started
to play "Auld Lang Syne," and an enormous bonfire was lit on the sands. We did
not stop till twelve o'clock, but we could see the fire from where we live in
Washdyke.
On New Year's Day some friends and my mother and I went down
to the beach which is about a quarter of a mile from our place. there is a
lagoon to cross before you get there, so my father drove us in the horse and
cart. there was only a foot of water in the lagoon so we arrived at the beach
safely. My father went home and then came back for us later on. Billy and I
paddled in the sea first of all. Of course, we could not paddle in very far, as
the beach has a sloping side, and the further we went the deeper it got. After
we had finished paddling we went and gathered sticks off the beach to boil the
kettle. We lit the fire, and it went splendidly, although there was a little
breeze blowing off the sea. The kettle boiled in about five minutes, and the tea
was not a bit smoked.
After our afternoon tea Billy and I gathered some seaweed and
put it on the fire. it went bang! bang! bang! just like the fireworks at
Christmas and new Year.
We went for a walk along the beach, and while were were
taking a rest we saw my father coming, so we had to hurry back to our camping
place and get our things.. We arrived home with our cheeks, neck and arms
sunburnt.
I am your loving grandchild,
Rita Peebles.
There was a foot bridge across the railway lines at the top of the Bay.
This photo is taken from the footbridge.
BAY FOUNTAIN TO SPRING TO LIFE.
4 September 2001 Timaru Herald
An historic drinking fountain on Caroline Bay is to be given a new lease of
life. The decision to reconnect the Palliser fountain was made by the Timaru
District Council Timaru ward committee during discussions about a water
connection for the new bronze fountain, donated for the Trevor Griffiths Rose
Garden by Albert and Maha Makary. "I thought it's a wonderful piece of history
that shouldn't be left behind," committee chairman Cr Terry Kennedy said. The
decision to reconnect the fountain has pleased David Palliser, the
great-grandson of the donor Frank Palliser, after the fountain remained dry for
decades. Mr Palliser said while it was important to keep making the city
attractive, it should not be at the expense of the past. "It's wonderful that
they are going to keep the history of Timaru alive." Palliser and Sons were a
familiar building family around the turn of the century, building a number of
notable houses and buildings, including the homesteads at Craigmore and Holme
Station as well as the old Temuka Post Office. Mr Palliser said his family were
known for development of their early solid concrete block, which was made using
a distinctive mould. "Many of the early houses around Timaru used it as a
foundation-type stone." The fountain is also built of the block but other
details about other details about it are sketchy. South Canterbury Historical
Society president Ray Bennett said it pre-dated the 1928 VC
War Memorial Parade and was likely to have
been donated around 1911. "I'm inclined to believe it was one of the earliest
structures on the Bay." Mr Bennett said it was possible it was given in
conjunction with the formation of the Caroline Bay Association. The fountain,
which originally had cast iron cups attached by chain for ease of drinking, has
been moved at least twice since being donated.
FOUNTAIN DONATED FOR ROSE GARDEN.
22 March 2001 Timaru Herald
A bronze fountain is to grace the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden, thanks to the
generosity of a Timaru family. Timaru gynaecologist Albert Makary and his wife
Maha have donated the two-metre high fountain, which features a bronze angel
holding a fish and a shell, for the garden. Joking that the fountain "was
difficult to mow around", hence the decision to give it away, Dr Makary said
Timaru was now the family's home, and this was a chance to acknowledge the
support they had received, and make the town a more beautiful place. Timaru
Beautifying Society president Nan Raymond said the fountain would be placed in
the middle of the large oval pergola, and would be included in a pond design.
The original design of the garden did not include a fountain, but Mrs Raymond
said Sir Miles had been happy to work it in, and beautifying society members
considered themselves extremely fortunate. The society is continuing to raise
money to fund the project, with the latest event a design and dance evening
being held tomorrow night at the Caroline Bay Hall. The evening will feature
designer clothing from local and national designers and cabaret dance
entertainment will be provided by leading Christchurch ballroom dancers.
Otago Witness, 11 February 1903, Page 71
Dear Dot,— We got six weeks' holiday from school, and I went to a number of
places during that time. I went to the Sunday school and school picnics. The
S.S. picnic was pretty stale, but the school one was not bad, only it was
raining all the morning. There were races for the children, and I won one and
sixpence. There was a dance at night, and I stayed for it, and got home at 3
o'clock in the morning, being very tired. I went to the New Year's sports in
Timaru, and they were pretty good. Lord and Lady Ranfurly were there, and they
got their photos taken. There were two spills the first day, but one picked
himself up and walked away, but the other one had to be helped up, and he was
all bleeding. Bill Martin was there with his ten-horse motor bike. The tyres
were three inches wide, and the spokes thick as a nail. He went three rounds the
first day, and ten rounds the second day. He did a mile in one minute and 38
seconds. Nearly all the crack riders were there, and I enjoyed seeing them
riding very much. I went away the second day of the sports for a holiday to
Albury, and I had a grand time up there, and was very sorry when I had to come
home. Coming down in the train it was awful, as there was such a crush. However,
we got back all right, and I went down to the harbour and went on the s.s.
Papanui, and had a good look through her. She was taking in frozen mutton for
the Home Country, and she was expected to reach therein the middle of February.
Then we went down to Caroline Bay, and had a look at the donkeys there, and they
did look such creatures. There has been a great quantity of rain up here lately,
and the crops are very heavy, and some of them are down. I can ride a bike now.
A new dairy factory has been built up here, and there is a good supply of milk
going to it. Will any D.L.F. please exchange autos with me. If they address them
to "Charlie, care, of Mrs Drinnan, St. Andrews," they will reach me all right. —
Yours truly, CHARLIE.
Otago Witness, 20 September 1905, Page 90
THE NEW ZEALANDER'S LONGING.
By Kenneth Young.
When gaily in childhood I romped on thy sands,
I little then thought of far-away lands;
But, longing, I think, when now far away,
Of thy loved, cool beach, dear Caroline Bay.
Chorus :
Zealandia! I love thee! My childhood's dear home!
Zealandia! I'll love thee wherever I roam —
Under Afric's hot sun or Australia's fierce glare !
Zealandia! I love thee, and long to be there.
'Tis absence that brings right home to the heart
The loved things from which I so lightly did part.
How I long, how I long, out here far away,
For a dip in thy waters, dear Caroline Bay.
Zealandia! Thy orchards, thy green-covered fields,
Thy birds, and thy flowers, and the plenty all yields, —
I think of them all, out here far away.
And longing to see thee, dear Caroline Bay.
Zealandia! I'm waiting to see thee once more ;
I'm living in hope for a pleasure in store.
Too long have I strayed from thee far away-
Zealandia, my loved one, and Caroline Bay.
I'm longing to hear thy ocean's loud roar;
I'm longing to see thy wave-dashed shore.
I see them in dreams, now far, far away —
Thy memory sands, dear Caroline Bay.
I'm waiting in patience for when the good day
That's coming will take me, no longer to stay.
Though age should have withered, though dull pass the day —
Never mind, I'll be near thee, dear Caroline Bay.
These lines were written after hearing a letter read from a South Canterbury native, resident for some years in South Africa, in which was expressed the passionate longing for the day of return to New Zealand and "dear old Caroline Bay."