by Peggy Butterfield
July 2017
5
Historical Happenings
OLD NEW BRIGHTON IDENTITIES — Bella Button , 1863-1921 Isabella Button was born in 1863 and at a young age acquired her love of horses . Her father gave her a white jack donkey that she trained and learned to ride . She had a natural talent with horses . Bella was described as a true pioneer ; she had talent for breaking in horses that other experienced horse trainers could not control , and she also drove and rode . One of her earliest successes was a trotter named Star , which won the first race at the inaugural meeting of the Ashburton Trotting Club on 16 October 1890 . Bella owned the horses she raced . Under the racing rules of the day , this entitled her to train , ride , or drive the horses . However she turned up to a race meeting in Christchurch and was informed that she was not allowed to drive . Women were barred from riding or driving . Two weeks later she drove and came second at a race meeting at the Geraldine Trotting Club but this was to be her last official race . In 1896 the newly-formed South Island Trotting Association brought in a rule that did ‘ not contemplate the riding or driving of ladies ’. This rule remained until 1979 . Undaunted , Bella continued breaking in and training horses , and competing successfully in shows and exhibitions . She also hunted at every opportunity and drove her pony teams for recreation . In 1907 she was presented with the ‘ Champion Lady Rider of New Zealand ’ trophy . Bella ’ s father Robert bought Brooklyn Lodge , a large estate that included a stud farm and racing stables , and also a full-sized race track that was leased to the New Brighton Trotting Club . Queen Elizabeth II Park is now on the land where Brooklyn Lodge stood . It is reported that some of Bella ’ s male relatives disapproved of her racing activities , but not so her father . Bella was in her element and made full use of the facilities , also becoming an accomplished trainer
Miss Bella Button pictured in a racing sulky with one of her trotters .
of steeplechasers . She was the most celebrated horsewoman of her time , and was known throughout New Zealand for her talents on the racetrack and as a trainer . On 8 February 1911 Bella married Augustus Frederick Lipscombe Moore , a 31-year-old Rolleston farmer . He was 16 years her junior and was known to have financial worries . Public opinion was that Gus had married Bella for her money . The marriage did not last long and there were no children . Bella ’ s father Robert passed away in the same year that Bella married . At the time of her marriage to Gus , Bella had her own home and farm at Bottle Lake , Burwood . She had to fight off bailiffs with a stockwhip when they came searching for her husband . Gus had mortgaged her farm without her knowledge ( as was his right in those days ) and spent the proceeds . She lost the farm and Gus moved on . Bella went to live with her younger brother John . He had bought a former ostrich farm and tea gardens in Lake Terrace Road , Burwood , and started poultry farming . Bella eventually managed to buy her own home again in New Brighton . Cats were also a passion and Bella would train them to successfully jump just like she did the horses . Often she would have a dozen or more , having collected all the neighbourhood strays . Bella died outside her New Brighton home on 7 February 1921 , aged 57 years . She was riding a new horse she intended to take to the upcoming Dunedin Show . The horse reared and Bella fell off , broke her neck and died instantly . She is buried in the Linwood Cemetery alongside her parents .
MONDAY MOVIES at the Museum 1.30pm every Monday .
Come early for a cuppa and a chat . $ 2.00 donation 3 rd The Children ’ s Hour 1961 Shirley MacLaine , Audrey Hepburn Drama 107 min 10 th The World ’ s Fastest Indian 2005 , Anthony Hopkins NZ true story of Burt Munro 2hrs 7min 17 th To Sir With Love 1967 Sidney Poitier Drama 1hr 45 24 th Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte 1964 Bette Davis Mystery 2hrs 13 min 31 st Pocketful of Miracles 1961 Comedy Drama Bette Davis , Glen Ford