Ashburton Borough Centenary/Long Serving Families

That magic hundred years! Not often in a provincial town does a family continue in the same business so long, but Ashburton has an example in each of its principal streets and one in Kermode Street. Other businesses have records of long service to Ashburtonians, too, but they are not now actively run by members of the original family.

In Lanarkshire, Scotland, William Sparrow served an apprenticeship in the clothing and tailoring trade, followed this with five years in Dunedin, after which he came to Ashburton to open a branch of N.Z. Clothing Factory, now Hallenstein Bros., in 1867. Ten years later he started his own business where W. H. Collins’s shop is now, made two moves, including one to where Haywrights now trade, and then, in 1898, his last move to what became known as Sparrows’ Corner to a shop built for one, Zander, a grocer, by Friedlanders. The section contained the shops now occupied by Whitcoulls and U.F.S. Pharmacy. Men’s suits were made to measure, and at one time William Sparrow employed as many as 30 in tailoring alone.

His son, W. H. Sparrow, later took over, and as his sons became old enough, they too, entered the trade until three retired simultaneously very recently leaving the business in the hands of the fourth generation.

William Sparrow was very interested in volunteer military training and was a commissioned officer. Later members of the Sparrow family have contributed much to social services, usually very effectively and unobtrusively.

Born in 1845, in Devonshire, Joshua Tucker, after seven years’ work with a railway company, came to New Zealand in the ship “Zealandia.” Two years “on the land” preceded a busy year in 1875: he worked for W. Montgomery, timber and coal merchants, became manager and then took over himself. He took a partner on three occasions, but later the business bore his name; much later it became Tuckers Ltd. Two sons, Raymond and E. J., “Eddie” were in charge for many years, and the Chairman of Directors is again Joshua Tucker, the third generation.

Local Body Interests

The founder was a man of character who took a real part in development of the district, serving on the Ashburton Road Board for 28 years, the last three as Chairman; on the Ashburton High School Board for 14 years (13 years as Chairman during the period of growth and development); and on the A. and P. Association where he filled several executive positions. The Tucker family’s great interests in music, particularly brass bands (W. R. Tucker was drum-major of the Ashburton Silver Band for a number of years and led the band with distinction at many contests), and rifle shooting are remembered whenever the various Tucker Trophies are contested. The firm is especially noted for the long service given by its employees.

In September, 1878, John and Susannah Crum, and their family embarked at Plymouth, England, on the ship “Marlborough” of 1124 tons, bounds for Lyttelton “in the province of Canterbury, New Zealand.” John Crum was a bricklayer and it is thought he set up in that trade in the same year, in Ashburton. He is recorded as making bricks, a venture which must have been in opposition to the brick kiln, because in 1895, he bought this from Friedlanders or the Bank of New Zealand. It is sad that just 100 years after his starting the kiln has to close because of lack of clay.

Throughout the time the family business (John Crum was succeeded by two sons, Frank and Oliver, and now the third generation continue the management) has done much to make popular the use of bricks in building.

First Woman Member of Council

The first woman member of the Borough Council was Mrs Edith Jessie Childs, who served from 18th October, 1962, until 1964, when she resigned on leaving the district.