Rangitaeki 1956?

[cmclayton]

Hi Charlotte

Found this .... it had a few spellings

http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document.php?action=null&wid=102

Check out my home town of Whitianga New Zealand on the google map

Do you have a death certificate for your Mr Hastings??

Thanks heaps Christine

[DotBrennan]

Hi Charlotte

If you google Rangitaeki you will find refences to the Rangitaeki River being near Galatea and Murupara, which by modern maps would mean the Rangitaiki River….

This area would have been part of the Kaiangaroa State Forrest back in those days and given that he was a “roadworker” that would fit…….

This is pretty REMOTE and rugged sort of country.

http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/rotorua/kaingaroa+north/


If you drag the map down, you will also find an area called Rangitaiki on the Napier Taupo Road, so this is probably where he “lived”.
No shops or any sort of civilisation in these areas.


Bren.

[charlotteCH]

So he probably was living in a road gangers hut that got moved along as the road was made.
What a change of existence- and he was older than the age he gave- born 1887 but apparently passed as 65 in 1956. Seems from what I have been told by the Napier archives that he had a roadman warrant [below].  Does anyone know what this means and how I might explore that further?
What would RSA mean?
"Occupation  Roadman Warrant No.  282
  R.S.A   "

No I don't have a death cert.  Has been suggested that as he died intestate there may not be one included in the probate papers. 
Am hoping for a newspaper death notice that may give a clue as to whether he had married in NZ and has descendants.

Thanks Bren and Christine,
charlotte

[cmclayton]

Hi Charlotte,

I will let Bren answer this one, but

RSA is an organisation that relates to and honours our returned servicemen, servicewomen and their families.

http://www.rsa.org.nz/index.html

Don't want to burst your bubble of finding Mr Hastings in New Zealand but is he your Mr Hastings.
Born 1887 arrived New Zealand approx 1927 aged 40 he might have been to old for WWII, so are just wondering how he became a Returned Serviceman.   I could be wrong.

Thanks heaps Christine

[charlotteCH]

Christine,
No bursting bubbles, so don't worry-- his headstone says his exact name and his emigration was in 1927.  All documented.   That the age is a bit out doesn't really worry me- maybe he put it down to get employment- he seems to have needed it.
The name Edward Blakey Hastings is distinct and all that I have learned fits with the causes for his emigration- a remittance man without the remittance. He was married to my aunt- played around with the local lassies  and got marching orders from her six older brothers- anyone of whom on his own I wouldn't have crossed. I guess I am also interested in whether he "married" in NZ before my aunt died young[at 45] in 1934.

Re War service- he was an officer in WW1- have photos showing him in uniform and their marriage in YKS had an officers' guard of honour- sword up etc.  One could say he was an officer but not a gentleman.
That RSA has army connections fits and explains his decent MI...bless them and their sense of duty and respect for those who served.

Thanks for your interest and help,
Further suggestions, advice very welcome
charlotte

[cmclayton]

Hi Charlotte

Have just found your other thread, with the headstone details.

Will place it here for reference

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,304890.0.html

Thanks heaps Christine

[charlotteCH]

Christine,  Thanks for that cross referencing.
The RSA website shows then to be just what I thought it would be. Thanks also for that link.

All this makes me feel very sorry for that poor foolish man.

charlotte

[Kea]

Hi Charlotte,

No I don't have a death cert.  Has been suggested that as he died intestate there may not be one included in the probate papers.

You can order his death certificate from the Department of Internal Affairs with just his full name and place and year of death.
NZ death certificates can provide a lot of information including marriage and number and ages of children - depending on who the informant was of course.
Ask for a "printout" - it's cheaper ($20 NZ) and has better information.
You can order by phone, fax or post.

Details and forms here: www.bdm.govt.nz
Also see the thread at the top of the NZ board about BDM certificates.

Cheers,
Stephanie

[Lucy2]

Hi Charlotte

Mmmm ... meant to post my findings on "Rangitaeki" earlier today, so by now some ground has already been covered.

My thoughts were similar to Bren's,  in that I suspect Edward was resident at the small settlement of Rangitaeki (now known as "Rangitaiki") on the Napier-Taupo Road,  and that he was possibly involved in a road maintenance role.    

This road (today known as State Highway 5), has long been in existence (from c. 1880's) - first motor vehicle to use it dates around 1902.     A description from 1950's states .... "a Napier-Taupo journey was still considered hazardous ... a traveller was likely to encounter, choking dust, potholes, washouts, corrugations in the road - as only about one third of it had been sealed".     Even today, the road is somewhat treacherous - often closed by snow, rockfalls, in winter - so always a need for maintenance people to be on hand.    It's scenic beauty - forests, rivers, mountain views - its saving grace.   So in Edward's day, yes, a rather remote, but beautiful, place.

Just can't find any info though, on "Rangitaiki - the place"  !
If you're wanting to learn more, the Napier Library may  be able to assist.   (See the City Council link posted on other thread).    The National Library catalogue shows two publications which may contain references to "Rangitaiki", and Napier Library should have copies of these.

>   "Coaches North" by Len Anderson (story of the Hawkes Bay Motor Company - covers the development of the Napier-Taupo Road).

>    "100 Years on the Napier-Taupo Road"  (compiled by the Historic Affairs Committee at the Hawkes Bay & East Coast Art Society (Napier NZ) :

Lu