Ōtautau - Later Township & District Settlers, Laurie Family:; Laurie, Harry; c19... on eHive

Photo of Harry Francis Laurie, born 24 Feburary 1916, at Ōrawia. It is interesting to note how in infancy, children of all sexes were all clothed in "dresses", until at least around age 2-3. Harry appears about 2 here. Harry was the only child of Olive Catherine née MOFFAT (another early Ōtautau family) and "Jim" James Nelson LAURIE. Harry then married Jean Mary née BAKER in 1938 and they had four children, who all grew up in Ōtautau. The siblings have great memories of their childhoods, and of all the neighbours and friends they had and made. At just 21 years of age, Harry Laurie bought out the local carrying business of Harry Bone's, back in 1937, Over the next few decades, he built the business up to eight trucks, shown in entry CWA.159.139.015 The depot for HF Laurie Ltd, was at Sorn St, where second of the old Thomson & Georgeson Woodware factories was situated in days past, opposite the Railway Station, backing onto the railway tracks behind the township. It was said that Harry would cart anything... all except sheep!! I have not heard why this was, but maybe because they were too obstinate? One of Harry's old Commer Trucks is now part of the current Bill Richardson "Transport World" Museum in Invercargill, if anyone wishes to go and there see this. It was purchased by them and restored. You can also see a photo of this truck in the place notes below, there is a link to their entry of this fabulous old vehicle. In 1971 on retirement, Harry sold up his trucking business to Basil Jackson, who was father of Kerrin Jackson, of Western Motors in Ōtautau. The Jackson's renamed the business "Western Haulage". Harry and his wife spent their retirement years at Queenstown but apparently the whole retirement thing did not last long. Family has recalled how Harry soon got himself a job at a local building supplies firm, John Edmond's, in the machinery department and before long he was building trailers for them, which are believed to have lasted in the area for many years. Harry was quite the engineer, with many skills, And we are also told that when Harry joined the local bowling club, he started creating machinery for them too! One of these was said to be a vertical mower, which involved quite a bit of "lateral thinking". And this was not the only piece of machinery that Harry had built or tinkered with to help the Queenstown Bowling club maintain their grounds/greens. It seems Harry was a handy guy to have around. Jim was the kind of father who obviously had an influence on Harry growing up. Being an engine driver and traction engine owner, who had started the first commercial extraction from the Clifden Limeworks back in 1915, it appears as if it was from his father that Harry obtained his particular brand of skills, as he became known as a great inventor. In chatting to locals in the district about Harry Laurie, I found a lot of them remember well his great creations. For both fun and farming. One elderly gent recalls an open-topped car that he put off-centre wheels onto, using it to hump and lurch its way along the Main Street in the VJ Day parade, much to the amusement of onlookers. Another more useful piece of equipment that Harry engineered and invented, was the bulk spreading gear he was known in the area for. This consisted of a bulk bin with a "removable Munro topdressing box under it, with another larger 4-axle bulk bin following that, which was able to hold 20-30 tonnes of fertilizer." I was told how Harry's trucks fitted with this amazing gadgetry were the only ones around able to continually refill the large bulk bin that kept the small bin going, without anyone having to stop work to fill it, which was wonderful. At Harry's Eulogy, a friend and son-in-law commented that Harry had an unreal capacity for inventing gadgets of both machinery and other structures. He recalled that Harry also invented what was believed to be the first bag loader for getting grain onto trucks, but said that as Harry never patented it, others who were more financially able to do so, saw the opportunity and copied it, producing a profitable piece of machinery and gaining from doing so. This account is backed up by daughter "Bonny", who told me that her father had made the first wheat bag loader in New Zealand, which was later manufactured by Hamilton Engineering. So what a wonderful legacy Harry left us all. Also mentioned to me by many people around the town and district, was how Harry was a father figure to those who worked for and with him over the years. Many of the men and their families have the best memories of their time in his employment, as he was known as a great encourager and supporter. Some of the families have said they did not know how they would have got through life without Harry as boss. What a great fitting remembrance of Harry and his kindness to others. He is well remembered as one of the truly great gentlemen of his age. Harry passed away in Queenstown at age 95, on 29 March 2011. He is also buried there. Sadly in 2020 his lovely wife Jean, who was also well remembered and loved by many, followed him to the grave. RIP to them both. I hope their memories here are a fitting tribute for them. NOTE: I am indebted to the Laurie family descendants, who have so generously and willingly shared their fascinating family history with us. More information about both the Laurie family and Harry Laurie's trucking business itself will be added shortly. In the meantime, please do share your memories and stories of the family and this long-standing local business. You can do this by adding a comment, at the bottom of this page under the images and information. Also, if you have any photos to share of either, can you please let us know, by using the contact details on this archive front page, or also leave a comment. Thank you.