Friday 23 June 2023

The McTainsh Family of Sandymount. "smoke coming through the kitchen roof"

 John and wife appear in 1883 with dairy and livestock entries in the Peninsula A and P shows.  The McTainsh children - eleven of them Alice, Christina, Dora, Peter - regularly featured in the prize lists of Sandymount School, and their father John was on the School Committee.


LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot,— I live on the Peninsula, and I go to the Sandymount School. Mr Balsille is our teacher. I am 11 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard. We have two pretty little kittens. One is grey and the other black. Please give me names for them. My best friend is Flora Balsille. We have 89 cows milking, and I milk five. Their names are Tiny, Fanny, Clara, Maggy, and Fiona. We are to have a Sunday school picnic shortly. — Yours truly, Dora McTainsh. [As we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another, call them Alpha and Omega.— Dot ]   -Otago Witness, 2/1/1890.


Christina, John's wife since 1877, was a signatory to the Female Suffrage Petition.



FUNERAL NOTICE.

The Friends of the late Mrs ALISON McTAINSH are respectfully invited to attend her Funeral, which will leave the residence of her Son, Mr John McTainsh, Sandymount, for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery THIS DAY (MONDAY), the 24th inst., at 1 p.m. 

HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets.   -Otago Daily Times, 24/12/1894.


Fires

An eight-roomed house, owned and occupied by John McTainsh, living at Sandymount, was destroyed by fire at three o'clock on Monday afternoon. Mr McTainsh was away from home at the time. Mrs McTainsh, who was the only person about, placed some firewood on the top of a colonial oven in the kitchen fireplace. She then went into the garden to pick black currants, and on her approaching the house about an hour later she noticed smoke coming through the kitchen roof. She rushed into the kitchen, and found the room in flames. The house was completely gutted, very few articles of furniture being saved. It is thought that the fire originated through a piece of lighted wood rolling from the fireplace on to the floor. The dwelling was insured in the Standard Office for £300, and the furniture and effects in the same office for £l50.  -Evening Star, 6/1/1898.

The fire did not prevent Mrs McTainsh, six months later, from winning first prize for "powdered butter" and second prize for "fresh butter" at the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Winter Show.


Marriages

SIMMONS — McTAINSH. — On the 8th January, 1902, at the residence of the bride's parents, by the Rev. J. Southern, Alfred Ernest Simmons, of Dunedin, to Dorothea Alison, eldest daughter of John McTainsh, Sandymount.   -Otago Witness, 5/2/1902.


SANDYMOUNT.

April 9. — At the invitation of Mr and Mrs John McTainsh, of Sandymount, a number of his old friends and neighbours met at his residence on Thursday evening, the 5th inst., the occasion being his "jubilee birthday." After all were assembled, the first part of the evening was passed very happily in progressive euchre. After three hour's had elapsed, the game being a time one, the cards were collected, the result showing that the players having won the greatest number of games were Mrs John McTainsh and Mr J. G. Lewis, whilst the least number turned up in Mrs Jas. Weir and Mr B. Moodie (Dunedin). Handsome prizes were presented to the respective parties, who acknowledged same in humorous replies. Supper being now announced, all adjourned to the dining room, where a bountiful repast was laid, the floral decorations of the table being exceedingly tasteful. After all were seated, Mr M. Davis rose and asked the attention of those present for a few moments, as a pleasant duty had been put into his hands. It was this — and he was sure he voiced the sentiments of all present when he wished Mr McTainsh very many happy returns of his birthday He was one well known to them all as a splendid neighbour and a real true friend. The speaker for one could speak of him as such, having been closely associated with him for upwards of 30 years. Indeed, he could go and sound his praises for another hour, but seeing the company were all casting a longing eye to the good things on the table, he would conclude by presenting "our host" with a handsome meerschaum pipe in case suitably inscribed with the fond hope that he would be long spared to enjoy the "pipe of peace" at his fireside, and continue to merit the good will of his fellows. "For he's a jolly good fellow" was then given with great gusto. Messrs David and Jas. Dickson, D. Seaton, J Lewis, and others also spoke, eulogising the recipient, while Mrs McTainsh and family were not overlooked. After supper the rest of the evening was spent in music, song, and reminiscences of early days, the company breaking up with the singing of "Auld lang syne."  -Otago Witness, 11/4/1906.


CLEARING SALE AT SANDYMOUNT. 

OTAGO FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED), 

favoured with instructions from Mr J. McTainsh, who has sold his farm, will offer as above 

The Whole of his Superior Herd of 50 Dairy Cows, Horses, Implements, etc., for absolute sale. 

Full particulars future issue. 

Luncheon provided. 

L. MCLEAN, Auctioneer.   -Otago Daily Times, 24/9/1908.


CLEARING SALE AT SANDYMOUNT.

 FRIDAY, 9th OCTOBER, 1908,  At 11.30 a.m.

THE OTAGO FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED), favoured with instructions from Mr John McTainsh, who has sold his Farm, will offer as above, 

The whole of his Live Stock, Implements, etc., consisting of: 

CATTLE. 

40 selected dairy Cows, just calved and coming to profit

7 superior Heifers

1 Ayrshire Bull. 

HORSES.

7 draught Mares, Colts, Fillies, and Foals by Shepherd Lad, Merry Morning, and Laudermark 

1 five-year-old Mare, in foal to Prince Alexander 

4 spring-cart Mares, 1 to 7 years 

1 trotting Pony, rising 6 years.

IMPLEMENTS. 

1 Wood's improved reaper and binder, 1 MH hay rake, 1 M.H. cultivator, 1 swing plough, h.s. plough, turnip grubber, roller, sledge, harrows, 5 wheel harrows (new), dray and frame, spring-cart, 2 horse-power and chaffcutter, 2 sets drills and a hammers, 3 new field gates, water trough, dairy utensils, 2 sets dray harness, spring cart and buggy harness, 2 riding saddles and bridles, back bands, chains, collars. — etc.; household furniture, 50 pair fowls, etc., etc. 

Luncheon provided. L. MACLEAN,  Auctioneer.  -Otago Daily Times, 3/10/1908.


DEATHS.

McTAINSH. — On September 11, at Christchurch, John McTainsh, late of Sandymount.  -Evening Star, 14/9/1909.


FUNERAL NOTICE

The Friends of the late JOHN McTAINSH are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, which will leave 7 Clarke street, Dunedin, TO-MORROW (WEDNESDAY), 15th inst., at 2 p.m., for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery.   -Otago Daily Times, 14/9/1909.


SOCKBURN FATALITY.

INQUEST ON THE VICTIM.

Mr T. A. B. Bailey, held an-inquest on the death of John McTainsh, who was struck by the first express at Sockburn on Saturday evening and killed. 

Eban Adams, driver of the first express from the South on Saturday stated that the train left Hornby at about five minutes to five. He blew the whistle about 300 yards from the Sockburn crossing, and the line seemed, to be clear. He did not like the crossing, and always gave a long warning signal when nearing it. He saw nothing of the trap until the engine struck it, and did not see deceased until he had pulled up the train. The man was then lying opposite the van, apparently dead. Witness considered the crossing a dangerous one. The train was travelling about 28 an hour at the time of the accident. 

John Hayward, guard in charge of the train in question, said he heard the engine driver whistle at the  crossing and then the train was pulled up. He saw deceased lying on the down line, and the horse and trap near by. Witness proceeded to the spot and saw that McTainsh was dead. Several of the passengers secured the horse, and as soon as that was done the body of deceased was placed in the van. The crossing was dangerous on Saturdays and race days, when there was a lot of traffic on it. 

William S. Wootton said he heard the whistle and then saw McTainsh, who seemed to have lost control of his horse, which had broken from a trot into a gallop. McTainsh was trying to pull his horse into a fence off the left. Witness frequently went over the crossing, and he considered it very dangerous. The view was bad from both sides, and he considered a crossing-keeper was necessary. This was the second accident he had seen at the crossing in three years. 

Mrs Exton, who lives close to the crossing, said she saw the trap travelling at a very rapid pace, and it was nearly upset when turning round the corner by her house. She called out to McTainsh to stop, but did not think he heard her. The engine appeared to strike the trap about the middle, and the man was thrown into the air. McTainsh was trying to pull the horse up. She was continually warning persons going over the crossing, where she had seen many narrow escapes. 

Robert Wallis, a photographer residing at Lincoln, who witnessed the accident, also gave evidence. 

William Twyneham gave evidence as to the sobriety of deceased, in whose company he was on the Saturday afternoon. 

A verdict of accidental death was returned, and a rider was added that the Department might consider the question of placing a crossing-keeper at the crossing.  -Press, 14/9/1909.

John McTainsh's estate was valued at L1334 - $235, 331 today.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.


FOR KING AND EMPIRE.

THE TOLL OF THE WORLD-WAR.

TROOPER A. E. McTAINSH

Trooper Albert Edward McTainsh, died of fever in Palestine, on October 18, was a son of Mrs McTainsh, of Sydenham. He was born at Sandymount, Otago Peninsula, 26 years ago. At the time of enlistment Trooper McTainsh was employed as engine-driver on a sawmill. He left with the 35th Reinforcement, and on arrival in Egypt was attached to the 10th (Nelson) Squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Regiment.  -Sun, 24/10/1918.



FOR KING AND COUNTRY. 

DEATHS.

McTAINSH. — On October 18th, 1918, at the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, Palestine, Albert Edward McTainsh (late of Papatowai), beloved son of Christina and the late John McTainsh, Hornby, Christchurch (died of malaria fever); in his 26th year.  -Evening Star, 9/11/1918.






Deaths

McTAINSH. — On September 10, 1938, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Pope, Southampton street, Christchurch, Christina, relict of John McTainsh; aged 82 years. “At rest.” — The Funeral will leave our Chapel, 78 St. Andrew street, on Wednesday, the 14th inst., at 1 p.m., for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery, (Friends please note alteration of time.) —Hope and Kinaston, funeral directors.   -Evening Star, 12/9/1938.


DCC photo.


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