The Wave Issue 79 | Page 5

by Peggy Butterfield
October 2017
5

Historical Happenings

More along the river bank
Beside the Avon , a little south of Bassett Street roundabout , stood an old cottage which was demolished after floods in 1993 . This was originally the home of Amelia Frances Rogers . Amelia was the daughter of a pioneer family the Inwoods , who came to New Zealand in 1851 . New Brighton Road was very sparsely populated , and the family farmed in Burwood . ( Inwoods Road is named for them ) Amelia ( known as Frances ) established a private school in the city , while her mother operated a post office from the family cottage on the banks of the Avon . When old Mrs Inwood died , Frances took over the post office and also taught the piano in the back room . She had large strawberry and asparagus beds and sold the produce . She was also a Sunday school teacher right up to her death in 1928 . Frances married a master mariner , Brent Rodgers , but he died only 18 months later . She was known as a kindly woman , always dressed in black . Before our river b a n k w e n t t h r o u g h t h e upheaval of the earthquakes , this memorial was quite an imposing sight . On a recent wander round the banks I found the stone , but not the plaque . The museum has written to the history department of the City
Council , and we have been assured all of the local memorials are in safe keeping . As we don ’ t want our history to be forgotten , we are hoping that one day these memorials will be re-instated .
MONDAY MOVIES at the Museum
1.30pm every Monday
Come early for a cuppa and a chat .
$ 2.00 donation
2 nd A Matter of Life and Death 1946 David Niven Fantasy- Romance 1hr 44min 9 th Folly to be Wise 1953 Alistair Sim Comedy 1hr 31min
16 th That Touch of Mink 1962 Doris Day , Cary Grant Romance Comedy 1hr 39min 23 rd The Band Wagon 1953 Fred Astaire , Cyd Charisse Musical 1hr 52min
30 th A Town Like Alice 1956 Peter Finch , Virginia McKenna Drama / Romance 1hr 57min