Know your town

The Chapmans (continued)
The Chapman’s first motor vehicle was a Daimler Charabanc, purchased by W Chapman before the Great Auckland Exhibition of 1912, , at a cost of one thousand pounds (2014 = $157,444). He ran a service from Grafton Bridge to the exhibition grounds – now the Auckland Museum – charging three pence a trip and soon recouping the purchase price before driving it home.

Being the first charabanc in the Wairarapa it was in great demand not only taking dignitaries to such things as the turning of the first sod of the Martinborough railway but taking people to picnics at Lake Ferry and the race meetings. In 1916 the army requisitioned it to use around the Featherston camp.

In 1919 and 1920 Chapman purchased new Thonycroft and Leyland lorries to have the area’s most modern fleet.

The old saying that ‘we have a ton of petrol’ is true. Petrol came in four gallon tins packed two to a box and was purchased by the ton or half ton. Town dumps were filled with these used petrol tins. Chapmans purchase their petrol from the Wellington merchants A S Paterson and Co.

As part of his business W Chapman also ran a local taxi service. This service would take Dr Webb to visit his country patients and also to act as an ambulance bringing them into Tiri Hospital.

Chapmans also ran a mail service which included collecting the town’s mail from Featherston station and also the Hinakura mail run.

Chapmans yard was always a place of interest for the young boys. There would be trucks with all sorts of loads, traction engines, draglines, and tractors. I always liked Critchen Waiwera’s truck as it always looked like new and I couldn’t work out why – but in later years was told many a story as to why.
The police were also regular visitors, sometimes just a social call, others for information on missing persons who may be ‘on the road’.

The Chapman family took an active part in community life from taking part in sports events to doing ‘civic duty’ as a Councillor. Business with Chapmans was always done on a handshake, ‘Gents agreements’ rather than contracts.