The Ponsonby Road Streets for People Project, organised by Auckland Transport in collaboration with community representatives, is said to be designed to “make Ponsonby more vibrant, safer and easier to travel on bike or foot, create more open space for people, reflect and protect Ponsonby’s unique history and culture.”
Ease of access to Ponsonby Road was provided by the first public transport service started on 8 November 1864 – as reported by The Daily Southern Cross: “The omnibus which Mr. Hardington announced would ply between Auckland, Newton, Ponsonby Road and St. Ann’s College, will commence running today.”
A New Zealand Herald article published 22 December 1864 was certainly keen to promote the horse-drawn service although realistic as to what its future might be: “Many persons in Newton, and many living a short distance back on either side of the Ponsonby Road are, we believe, not yet fully aware that omnibusses run regularly every day at stated hours between Auckland and the point where College Hill and St. Mary’s Road join the Ponsonby Road.
“The convenience thus afforded by the enterprise of Mr. Hardington is a very great one to the residents in this locality, many of whom, either in rainy or hot weather, and more particularly the feminine portion of them, will gladly avail themselves of it when the hours of arrival and departure become more generally known.
“The omnibusses leave Hardington’s Bazzar Yards in Queen Street, every day, Sundays excepted, at 10am, 2pm, and 5.30pm, and leave the top of College Hill and Ponsonby Road at 9am, 11am, and 3pm. The charge for the whole distance is only one shilling, and though the speculation at first must necessarily be a losing one, we trust that as the convenience afforded becomes better known, Mr. Hardington will eventually reap some reward for his enterprise.
“One thing is certain that throughout the whole suburb through which the omnibusses pass, houses are springing up in every direction and the population bids fair to be doubled in a short time. Meantime we think the residents of the locality may, with no injury to their own interests, endeavour as much as they can by using the conveniences, to render it worth the proprietor’s while to continue running them.”
As it does today, Ponsonby Road required constant maintenance: In January 1865, the Auckland City engineer, Mr Wrigg, reported that Ponsonby Road was among others, “required to be repaired, re-formed and metalled the length of 3300 feet at an estimated cost of £729 8s 10d.”
Unfortunately, by September 1870, parts of Ponsonby Road were so muddy that cart drivers found it easier to drive along what were supposed to be footpaths – as reported by The Auckland Star: “C. Duckinfield was charged with driving a cart on the footpath of Ponsonby Road, on the 6th inst. H. Foreman deposed to having seen the defendant committing the offence, and was cross-examined by Mr. Hesketh as to the existence or appearance of the footpath in question.
“Stannus Jones deposed to the formation of the footpath, and its separation by water courses. Henry Peckham, contractor for roads, called for the defence, swore that at this spot, on the 6th, the road was not passable for a horse and cart. The Court said that there was not sufficient evidence of the formation of the footpath, and dismissed the case.
“H. Sully was charged with a similar offence on the same road. H. Foreman deposed to having seen the defendant driving a cart on the raised footpath on the east side of Ponsonby Road; and that at that place the path is raised a foot high, and marked off by posts; that he had passed inside the posts; and that the road is quite passable there.
“J. Hogarth, called by Mr. Hesketh for the defence, deposed to the impassable state of the road at that place, and to having had his own cart bogged to the axle on the day in question. J. P. Hatley corroborated the statement as to the impassable state of the road. The Court held that the footpath was clearly defined at this spot, but owing to the bad state of the road, the mitigated fine of five shillings was inflicted.”
Sometimes an attempt to remedy the muddy conditions proved dangerous – as reported by The Daily Southern Cross on 15 May 1865: “On Saturday as Mr. Bacon, of the Odd Fellows’ Arms, was proceeding homeward on horseback along the Ponsonby Road, his horse stumbled and threw him heavily to the ground, but although much shaken, he fortunately was not seriously injured. The cause of the accident was a deep drain recently cut at the top of Hepburn Street, and which crosses one part of Ponsonby Road, neither the horse nor the rider observing the danger, owing to the darkness.”
However, the darkness was eventually beaten, as reported by The Daily Southern Cross on 31 December 1872: “The back parts of the city and suburbs are gradually being lighted up. In the Dedwood district, the four lamps which were procured from the City Council a short time ago are now in course of erection. One is being erected at the junction of Franklin Road with Ponsonby Road, one near All Saints’ Church, and the remaining two in the College Hill, near the Suffolk Hotel (now The Cav), and at the entrance to the Convent grounds. “If other suburban districts were as spirited in the matter of lighting their thoroughfares at night as the Dedwood people, a great benefit would be given to all having occasion to travel after nightfall, and the value of property would be considerably increased in consequence.”
As the people of Ponsonby Road await the improvements expected from their Streets for People Project, spare some thought for Mr Bacon who waited some seven years to see the light, and even longer for safer drainage. (Keith Mexsom)
About Keith Mexsom
Keith Mexsom has magazine and newspaper experience in both New Zealand and Australia as a publisher, editor, sub-editor, journalist, feature writer, and copywriter. He has a graduate diploma in journalism studies from Massey University.
Keith has been writing fiction and non-fiction for more than 30 years. His latest book ‘Gas Pedal to Back-Pedal: The Second Century of Auckland Transport’ is volume two of a trilogy. Check out Waka Paddle to Gas Pedal for the first century of Auckland’s transport history https://keithmexsom.pubsitepro.com/
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