Case 2
- Family and Youth
The Shaw-Savill steamship Arawa upon which the Reed family emigrated to New Zealand in 1887.
Alfred Hamish Reed was born on 30 December 1875 at Hayes, Middlesex, England, the second of four children of Elisabeth Wild and her husband James William Reed, a brick-field foreman. In 1881, James bought his own brickfield, but the business failed during the depression of the 1880s.
In 1887, the Reed family emigrated to New Zealand. They arrived at Wellington on the Arawa and proceeded to Auckland in search of work. There was little work in Auckland so the family moved north to the kauri gumfields. They settled at Parahaki, near Whangārei, where they bought a few acres of unimproved Crown land. Life was difficult but they were a close-knit, devoutly Baptist family. Alfred attended Whangārei School until he incurred a serious leg injury which incapacitated him for two years.
Reed family photograph, ca. 1890 (Bayne Photo).
Alfred’s father James was known among friends as Jamie, and his mother Elizabeth was known as Lily. Alfred’s older brother was Frank, his sister Marian and his younger brother Alec.
From left Jamie, Marian, Lily, Frank, Alec, and Alfred Reed.
Portrait of Alfred Reed’s father James William Reed, ca. 1920.
Lithographed card certifying that Alfred Reed was examined by Her Majesty’s Inspector at Maynard Road School, England, 18 July 1884.
Lithographed card certifying that Alfred Reed was examined by Her Majesty’s Inspector at Maynard Road School, England, 18 July 1884.
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Lithographed card certifying Alfred Reed’s quarterly attendance at Maynard Road School, England, 30 July 1886.
Lithographed card certifying Alfred Reed’s quarterly attendance at Maynard Road School, England, 30 July 1886.
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A page from Alfred Reed’s diary written while in hospital at Auckland, 1889.
In 1888, at age 12, Alfred incurred a serious leg injury after jumping a wide ditch while walking home from school. He was incapacitated for about year before being admitted to Auckland Hospital and diagnosed with ‘necrosis of the femur’. After three operations, amputation of the leg was recommended. His parents felt unable to consent so left the decision to Alfred who decisively refused. His leg eventually healed, and he was finally discharged in July 1890.
Bound in Yapp-style morocco leather, this little notebook contains Alfred Reed’s earliest surviving diary entry, which reads:
Tuesday Oct 1 1889. Was turned up by the night nurse at 5 o’clock to sit by a man kicked by a horse, had his skull broken, and was delirious. Afterwards cleaned nurse Steel’s boots for her. Then had my breakfast. Helped clear it away, did little jobs for the nurse, and received a letter from home during the morning, also had my leg dressed. It is nearly healed. After dinner I had about two hours sleep. Hardly any visitors came, none for me it being very wet. Got tea ready and helped clear it away and soon after tea went to bed and from thence into the Land of Nod.
