Arapohue memorial gate

Hi Pam

It's not possible to tell you where they are. You will need to go and look at old electoral roles for the district or contact the Dargaville Genealogists who I'm sure would be able to assist you in your enquiries

My grandparents, Lena & William John Ellison are buried in the Arapohue Cemetery. They owned a farm in the Arapohue/Mititai area from approx 1913 to the early 1940's. I'd like to know the location of their property please.

Date of the unveiling of the Arapohue Memorial Gates was Saturday 15 December 1923

The gates were designed by Dargaville based Architect Horace Hammond and constructed by Mr S. T. Price. They were unveiled by Mrs Montgomery the mother of Henry and Edward Montgomery. A marble slab was unveiled by Lieutenant (possibly John) Finlayson in memory of Henry and Edward Montgomery who were killed in action both in Ypres, Belgium.

According to the Cenotaph Database on the Auckland War Memorial Museum Website the records of the Montgomery brothers are as follows:

Edward Montgomery (Serial No: 44652) served in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. His last known rank was as a Rifleman. His occupation at the time of enlistment was a farmer. Date of death was 21 November 1917 at Ypres in Belgium. Listed as “Killed in Action”

Henry Montgomery (Serial No 12/3925) served in the Auckland Infantry Regiment. His last known rank was Private. Occupation at the time of enlistment was Storekeeper. Date of death was 31 July 1917 at Yrpes, Belgium. Listed as “Killed in Action.”

Private A.Finlayson is most likely Alexander Finlayson (Serial No: 46126) his last known rank held was as a Corporal with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 25th Reinforcements E Company. His date of death is listed as 10 September 1923 his former occupation was a Schoolteacher.

The designer of the gates Mr Horace Hammond according to his obituary printed in the Northern Advocate (9 August, page 4) was a prominent architect, surveyor and engineer. He was appointed as engineer to the Hobson County Council in 1889 and remained in this position until 1915.

Hammond had also been engineer and architect for the Kaipara Hospital Board and for the North Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company.

Amongst his works mentioned were the construction of the Mt Eden Reservoir, the Northern Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company’s factory building, The Kaipara Farmers Co-operative Lime Works and wharf at Whakapirau, Trounson’s railway to Kauri Park and numerous roads and bridges throughout the district.

Hammond died at the Te Kopuru Hospital on 9 August 1923 aged 59 years.

Sources:

“Memorial Gates unveiled at Arapohue” Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 302, Wednesday 19 December 1923, Page 8

“Obituary Horace Hammond” Northern Advocate , 9 August 1923, Page 4

Cenotaph Database Auckland War Memorial Museum
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/locations.aspx