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LAWRENCE ARCUS ? 1822-1905
Lawrence Arcus, born 1822 at Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland
Married Joan Smith at Lerwick, Scotland in 1848
They had children; Laurence, Thomas Smith, James, Peter, Janet, Joan, Elizabeth, Anne Barbara
About 1852 he inherited a boat building business in Lerwick from his father-in-law. Shortly he had this extended to become a profitable operation. His forte was fishing craft of all sizes. He specialised more in the heavy craft, than his contemporary (also Laurence Arcus) but when his sons, who worked with him, grew up they turned their attention to pleasure craft and built some excellent boats. This operation continued until the beginning of the nation-wide recession of 1873 and its impact was felt on the export of fish to the Continent, on which the fishing fleet depended for its work.
Laurence was also knowledgeable in the Psalms of music for he led the Psalmody in the Free Church of Scotland. His sons took after their father in musical matters as well as in handcrafts, for they were originals of the Pipe and Drum Brass band at the Institute in Lerwick. His tuning fork is still in the possession of Janet Ward.
Shortly after their eldest son, Laurence (1852-1929) had paid a visit to Montreal, Canada, after he had completed his apprenticeship as a shipwright he resolved to immigrate to New Zealand.
His mother, a woman of great spirit and enterprise insisted that the whole family do the same. Undaunted by the prospect of the voyage they embarked on the sailing ship, the ?Avalanche? with four sons and two daughters and arrived in Wellington, New Zealand in December 1875.
The vessel is described as being a well founded 3 masted ship of length 164 feet. It is written that ?In great grandfather?s day, when young men with their wives, families and all their worldly goods slipped into the unknown, they had the courage needed to walk aboard what is to us a mere cockleshell, and to take many months to reach they knew not what?.
Indeed many of them did not reach their destination, many were the wrecks on the NZ coast and great was the loss of life.
The lucky ones, and (I think they were lucky to reach land at all) were the people who pioneered our country. It is said that while the ?Avalanche? lay off Wellington waiting for a berth, wife Joan pointed to Oriental Bay and said ?I would like to live in that little bay?.
Indeed when they did settle it was at the corner of Oriental Parade and what was to be known as Hay Street after Mr W Hay of the Shetland Isles, a large employer of labour in Lerwick.
Wellington history records that Mr Arcus appears to have been the first resident of this street (I the typist of this article, a descendant of these Arcuses, have visited this property on the corner still owned and occupied by another descendant, some 90 years later).
After arrival in Wellington, little time was wasted before the family had another boatyard established on a waterfront site, not far from the site later occupied by the Bandstand in Oriental Bay and later still by the bathing pavilion currently in use.
Laurence died in 1905, Oriental Parade.
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1822 - 1905 (82 years)