Harold Richardson's Diary
Richardson's Diary July 1934
Harold goes to Wellington
The work diary of Harold Richardson, County Clerk, Rangitikei County Council:
Harold Hastings Richardson, 1872-1944 was appointed County Clerk in 1893, and he continued in that role until his death, 51 years later.
Monday, 23 July 1934
Busy getting away copies [of] letters etc to Mair* and Chairman [Dalrymple*].
Wet day and evening.
Tuesday, 24 July 1934
Mair in for most of the day and discussed with him at length the matter of finance for new works in the Upper Ridings.
Dukeson* in, also Fowler*.
Discussed with Mair, Fowler and Jackson the matter of keeping stock accounts for materials stores etc apart from the workshop stock.
Fowler went through to Wanganui re borrowing[?] in car for Mair while Mair’s car was being overhauled.
Rang Chairman in the evening but his line [was] out of order.
Wednesday, 25 July 1934
Ring from Cr Stuart MP asking Mair and Clerk [i.e. Richardson] to go to W[ellin]gton on Thursday re grants etc.
Rang Chairman and he consented.
Rang Mair and arranged we leave by [the] Express [train] on Thursday morning.
Preparing data for Wellington.
Office in evening and rang Mair re final arrangements.
Arranged taxi to call for me at 3.15 am.
Thursday, 26 July 1934
Joined Mair on the Express [at] 3.49 am.
Arrived Wgtn 7 am. Royal Oak for breakfast.
Proceed[ed] to Parliament Buildings.
Long conference with Minister [of] Public Works, District Engineer and Assistant Secretary to the Treasury and arranged matters.
Lunch with Mr Stuart and then proceeded with him to Parliament Buildings and arranged to take [the] pension matter re Mrs Phippen[?] at Marton Court [on] Friday morning.
Interviewed Mr Aitken re loan conversion and consolidation.
Interviewed Acting Valuer General re valuation matters concerning the county.
Left Wellington for Marton [on the] 7.15 [pm] Express; arrived home 11 pm.
Friday, 27 July 1934
General matters attended to and represented Mrs Phippen’s case for Mr Stuart before the Magistrate and the Registrar of Pensions.
Court day – Inspector [Fowler] brought several charges [of] breach [of] motor regulations.
Cold day.
Office in evening.
Saturday, 28 July 1934
Busy day with unemployment etc.
Office in evening. Rang the Chairman and had conversation on several matters.
Home in afternoon
Sunday, 29 July 1934
[No entry]
*Sydney Mair was County Engineer, retiring 1947. He began his employment with the County in 1899.
*F J Fowler was the County’s Traffic Inspector
*Leslie Jones, Clerk
W J Taylor, Engineer’s Assistant
*A V Brown was Assistant County Clerk
C F Marshall-Smith was Assistant Engineer
*Olive Oldfield was Office Typist
*Frank Nicol, Accountant
*Rod McKenzie was Assistant Accountant
*Richard Dukeson was the County’s Overseer in the Southern part of the District
*Ken Waring Dalrymple was County Chairman 1929-1950. He was first elected to the County in 1917.
25 July 2007
