A Paragraph from Winifred MacDonald\u2019s delightful booklet, \u201cRecollections 1850-1920, A sketch history of early Remuera\u201d, helps to set the scene of rural Remuera.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs Robert Burns remembers Remuera Road between 1880 and 1890 as still very rough and covered in scoria. The footpaths had a finer kind of scoria but were not very pleasant to walk on. There were many lovely pieces of bush still and there was very little traffic and no shops at all. People did all their business in Newmarket and were well served, goods being delivered on horseback or in carts. When the first Remuera shops opened after 1890, the Newmarket shopkeepers were very indignant, and many Remuera people were also annoyed and would not switch their patronage.”<\/em><\/p>\n Both L.J. Keys grocer shop, and King’s Cake and Sweet Shop buildings (and up until recently the separate bakehouse oven at the rear) still exist.<\/p>\n Remuera had come a long way since the establishment of these first businesses, this was period of transition from rural to urban. The steady residential growth followed the connection to Remuera of the Electric Tram, in May 1904. By World War I, many more merchants were trading at Remuera.<\/p>\n L.J. Keys, the first shop at the Victoria Avenue and Remuera Road intersection, had an extensive product range, being a general store servicing relatively few households. There was a significant emphasis on stock feed including maize, oats, bran, sharps, chaff etc as described on the letterhead. As the shopping centre grew, no doubt the product range became a little more focused.<\/p>\n <\/b>I shall now use these old accounts and letters to provide and illustrate an economic history and the variety and range of products stocked; the merchants that supplied them, and the trade prices paid.<\/p>\n I have sorted the accounts in to the four main product headings, however one must remember that this bundle of invoices is not the total business accounts, as many more will have been destroyed.<\/p>\n Food stuffs<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Plants and Seeds General Merchandise Hardware I shall now quote passages from correspondence of some suppliers detailed above, as well as reproduce some of the most impressive graphic letterheads.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving purchased a Motor Lorrie, which requires a large amount of capital to finance, I will esteem it a great favour if my many customers will kindly forward the amount <\/span>of their alc\u2019s this month as early as convenient\u2026”<\/p>\n William H. Hazard<\/span> \u2013 Gun maker, 176 Queen Street writes on 1st<\/sup> September 1911<\/p>\n \u201cWe beg to advise that we are receiving ex \u201cKia Ora\u201d a large consignment of IMPERIAL FIREWORKS. The fact that Messrs. Pain and Sons have for many years been responsible for the world-renowned pyrotechnic display at the Alexandra Palace is sufficient proof of the quality of their goods\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSoliciting your orders and awaiting your pleasure. Yours faithfully\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sharland & Co. Ltd,<\/span> Lorne Street reminds retailers in August 1911 about Sharland\u2019s \u201cMoa Brand\u201d Egg Preservative. \u201cThe experience of ten year has proved it to be the best, most reliable, and cheapest brand on the market. We had a remarkable demonstration of its wonderful preservative quality the other day, when we were shown eggs which had been preserved with Sharland\u2019s Egg Preservative for two years, and which, on breaking, proved to be in perfect condition, both as to taste and smell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA Lady called at our office this morning for a bottle of Walkers Embrocation which she said was unable to get at your store, so came direct to us. In case the line has not been brought before your notice, it is manufactured by us and packed in bottles holding 2 ounces more than the well-known brand\u2026 Commending this to your consideration, we remain, Yours faithfully, Garland Limited\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n The pride of the suppliers, the obsequience in their correspondence and the enthusiasm to supply more products is obvious in these letters<\/p>\n As to product prices the following give an example on the wholesale prices in the pre WWI period:-<\/p>\n 1 \u00bd Dozen \u201cFertility\u201d Eggs producer 18 \u2013 0<\/em><\/p>\n Pair Onehunga Blankets \u20a4<\/span> 1 \u2013 2 \u2013 9d<\/em><\/p>\n China Tea \u2013 12lbs 15 \u2013 0<\/em><\/p>\n 28 pints of milk 4 \u2013 8d<\/em><\/p>\n 1lb tins Green Peas \u2013 dozen 5 \u2013 0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00bd doz Glaxo 4 \u2013 6d<\/em><\/p>\n Walkers Embrocation \u2013 Dozen 18 \u2013 6d<\/em><\/p>\n 18 packets Vege seeds 3d retail 2d cost<\/em><\/p>\n 2 Sides Bacon \u20a4<\/span> 2 \u2013 8 \u2013 0<\/em><\/p>\n 10 Christmas Hams \u20a4<\/span> 5 \u2013 1 \u2013 4d<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.terrysutcliffe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Leonar-J.-Keys-207x300.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/b>A while ago I was given a bundle of over fifty accounts, invoices and letters pertaining to the business of Leonard J. Keys, Clonbern Road store. They are all dated between 1908-1913 and provide a wonderful window into Edwardian suburban Auckland. Not only can we see old company names and products that have either lasted or disappeared, but also appreciate the beauty of some of the lithographed letterheads I have reproduced as illustrations.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.terrysutcliffe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Haslam-Cocker-210x300.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/b>The first Remuera shops were Leonard J. Keys, on the Clonbern Road corner, family grocer and tea merchant, and King\u2019s Cake and Sweet Shop, on the Armadale Road corner, which had a bakehouse behind it. The Sands family who lived opposite Ely House on a Dilworth farm supplied all Remuera residents with milk, pouring it into billies or jugs at the back door.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.terrysutcliffe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/E.Le-Roy-300x138.jpeg\")
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<\/a><\/b>John W. Andrew Eden Terrace <\/span>who already hired out a \u201cDaimler and Char-a-Branch which carries 30-35 passengers\u201d in memo of 1911.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.terrysutcliffe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Garland-Ltd-217x300.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/b>Garland Limited,<\/span> 200 Ponsonby Road was quick to extend their business when they wrote to L.J Keys directly.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/b>Another important business venture of L.J Keys was his freight carrying and then bus company, which ran from the city, through Newmarket along the Remuera ridge, past Purewa and terminating at St.Heliers. An interesting business account I have relating to this is from F.H Hall & Co addressed to Mr.Leonard J. Keys, \u201cI lease you my three paddocks in Victoria Avenue at the rate of 7\/6 per week from June 1st<\/sup> 1911 to May 31st<\/sup> 1912.\u201d Presumably this was used to pasture his horses for the horse drawn vehicles he used.<\/p>\n