John William Rod (1856–1920) was a business man in New Zealand.
Early life John William Rod was born in Egham, Surrey, the son of John Rod (1827-1901), a carpenter, and Elizabeth Pickett (1829-1903). The Rod family lived in Langham Place until 1870, when they assumed the surname "George" and moved to a new home at Victoria Place, Egham. At that time, 14 year old John Rod (alias John George) was living with his parents and working as a labourer. Family historian, Shirley Ritchie (1984), suggests that he migrated to New Zealand around 1876.Ritchie S. 1984,The Life and times of the Rod and Bosher Families, 1878-1942, Wellington: Ritchie.
Migration to New Zealand During the 1800s, many of Britain’s workers were looking toward the developing colonies in the hope of finding a better lifestyle. The New Zealand Company (NZC) took this opportunity to attract agricultural labourers and mechanics to New Zealand by offering them free passage to their new homeland.Phillips J. 2013, "History of immigration - British immigration and the New Zealand Company", Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand The individuals who seized this opportunity appear in the 19th Century immigration records, unfortunately, most fare paying passengers are not recorded. The date and circumstances of John Rod’s arrival in New Zealand remain unclear; however, his new life in the colony is well documented including his close links with several other migrants including: Jabez Marks, Henry Saint, Thomas Bosher and Edward Llewellyn Jones
Later Life In 1878, John married Elizabeth Bosher (1861-1942). Initially, they lived in Porirua and then moved to Johnsonville in 1887.Ritchie S. 1984, 9. John and Elizabeth had one son, George William Rod (1878-1938) and four daughters, Elizabeth Harriet Rod (1880–1962), Annie Eliza Rod (1882-1962), Lilly Elizabeth Rod (1885-1967) and Ann Lucy Violet Rod (1887-1972).Ritchie S 1984, 20-21. By 1896, John's parents and his siblings had also migrated to New Zealand where they resided with him in Johnsonville. After using the alias "George" for about twenty years the family was again using the surname "Rod".Jones G. 2013, John William Rod: an accomplished life, 1856-1920], Brisbane: Ancestry, 1-2. In 1892, John became the guardian of his sister-in-law, Harriet Mary Jones' three young sons, moving them to his home and providing education in Johnsonville.Morris L, Nichols A & Nichols M. 1980, A Family Called Nichols, Petone: Apex Print, 20.
By 1909, John and Elizabeth had health problems and made the first of several overseas trips seeking treatment."Personal Matters", Evening Post, 3 November 1909, 6 John died on 13 January 1920 aged 63y in his home at Dr Taylor Terrace, Johnsonville and was buried in (the old) Porirua Cemetery.Ritchie S 1984, 12 John's obituary noted his civic contributions and his business life, describing him as "a well-respected…man of progressive ideas".Evening Post, 13 January 1920, 8
Business career About 1876, John Rod commenced operating a slaughter yard at Porirua Ferry (now Porirua) and Ritchie (1984) states that this was also the location of his first butcher shop. His slaughter yard was probably the source of meat for the butchers shop trading as Rod Marks & Co, in Adelaide Road. In August 1879, the directors of Rod Marks & Co; John Rod, Jabez Marks and Henry Saint, attended a creditors meeting and appear to have narrowly escaped bankruptcy."Meetings of Creditors", Evening Post, 29 August 1879. Subsequently, John continued to reside at Porirua Ferry, but using Thomas Bosher's address, he offered to lease a shop and also a slaughter house and paddock.Evening Post ,14 August 1879, 3. John’s brother, Henry Rod, arrived in 1884 and joined the staff of J Rod & Co later establishing his own butcher shop in Constable Street.Ritchie 1984, 8 In 1887, John took a lease to purchase a house and shop on the corner of Main Road and Railway Terrace, Johnsonville.Kenneally, J & B 1981, Johnsonville Yesterday: An Album from the past. Wellington: Colonial Associates, 18-21. By 1890, John's brother, James Rod, had joined him at Johnsonville and together they traded as "Rod Bros", eventually opening another butchers shop at 51 Courtenay Place.The Cyclopedia of New Zealand John acquired a modest butcher shop on the corner of Johnsonville Rd and Frankmoore Ave, later increasing it to two stories with the interior decorated with the same cattle themed tiles imported from England that also adorned his Courtenay Place shop.Ritchie 1984, 13Meyer R.J. 1990, Up in the hills. Wellington: Northern Suburbs Community Newspaper Trust, 22. John became Vice-President of the United Butchers Association during 1900.Evening Post, 22 Feb 1900, http://natlib.govt.nz/records/17986981
From 1900 to 1902, John was responsible for the construction of the first building of any importance in Courtenay Place. Situated on the eastern corner of Allen Street and Courtenay Place, "Rod's Building" is of brick construction; originally it had three stories, two large ventilators on the roof, a cellar and stables at the rear (now 23 Allen Street).Original plans and documentation, available Wellington City Archives However, John was frustrated by delays caused by his architect, Thomas S. Lambert, in the completion of the building and the increased building cost from an estimated £4500 to £8472.Evening Post 26 June 1902, "An Architect's Fees" He was further incensed by Lambert’s fees, an issue that had to be resolved in the Magistrates Court. The building is now heritage listed and by 1955, it had been reduced to two stories, probably due to earthquake damage.Photograph EP/1955/2687-F, Turnbull Library;List of Earthquake Prone Buildings as of 28 April 2015, available http://wellington.govt.nz
John built several houses in Aurora St and Dr Taylor Terrace, Johnsonville, one of which was situated on the corner of Burgess and Aurora Streets.Ritchie S.1984, 11; Building applications held by Wellington City archives. In 1903, John was appointed to the board of directors of the Wellington and Marlborough Cement, Lime and Coal Company"Wellington Cement, Lime, and Coal Company", Evening Post, 2 September 1903, 6. however, he remained a significant meat supplier operating two slaughter houses, one in Johnsonville and also at the Porirua site until it was destroyed by fire in 1908.Kenneally, J & B 1981, 20; "Slaughterhouse Burnt". Marlborough Express, 21 September 1908, 52.
Civic appointments John had a keen interest in civic matters and became a JP in 1889 and in September 1898, he was elected as one of the five commissioners for the Town District of Johnsonville. He served several terms becoming Chairman of the Town Board. In 1909, he presided over negotiations to have electric lighting and power for public and private use installed in Johnsonville by Norman Heath & Co."Johnsonville Improvements". Dominion, 17 July 1909, 6. In 1910, Rod considered proposals to provide water and drainage to the district.
Sport During the 1800s, Joshua Prosser promoted horse racing on the southern tidal flats of Porirua Harbour resulting in race events that became of national interest.Joshua Henry Prosser John Rod was the first secretary of the Porirua Jockey Club"Old time Racing", Evening Post, 10 August 1918 and by 1894, he was the secretary of the Johnsonville and Hutt County Trotting Club. In 1909, he was vice president of Wellington Kennel Club."Kennel Club", Evening Post, 2 April 1909
Court appearances
As a defendant After the Christmas celebrations of 1901, John Rod appeared in Court. He was among several Johnsonville residents, including James Wareham the hotelkeeper, who were prosecuted for conducting an illegal pig and goose lottery. Their defence lawyer argued that the practice was an ancient Christmas tradition, a hereditary custom with Englishmen; however, the Judge imposed "New Zealand" fines upon all the accused."The Christmas Goose" Evening Post,13 January 1902, 6. In a separate matter, John was fined for illegal operation of his Johnsonville slaughterhouse.Meyer R.J. 1990, 24
As a witness In July 1902, Frances Thomas Moore threatened to kill the acting Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. Moore had been appointed by the government to report on the frozen meat industry. He became irritated when vice Premier would not meet him and uncharacteristically, sent letters containing various threats similar to "remove Sir Joseph Ward as [US] President McKinley was removed.""Threat to Assassinate the Acting-Premier", Auckland Star, 28 August 1902, 3. At the trial of Moore, John Rod was called as a witness. He told the Court that he had known Moore for twenty five years in business and socially. Rod was perplexed by Moore's actions testifying that the defendant was a quiet, temperate man. After reading the letters he concluded that Moore "had been studying too much and that his brain had become affected.""Threatening the Acting Premier", Evening Post,19 August 1902, 2. Moore was sentenced to three years exile from New Zealand.
Reported accidents John and Elizabeth Rod with some family members were driving their trap past the Johnsonville Railway station when "the engine was started almost under the nose of their horse." The horse bolted and the trap overturned. As a result, Elizabeth, her sister and John's ward, Roy Jones, were "considerably bruised".Evening Post, 28 February 1893, 2 On 7 June 1905, he was knocked down by a tram in Courtenay Place, sustaining a fractured jaw and several broken teeth. Police stated was heavily intoxicated and that when he regained consciousness he asked if he had been fighting.James G .E.1905, Memorandum to the Engineer, Wellington Corporation Tramways 12/6/1905
Associated migrants
Thomas Bosher Thomas Bosher (1836-1921) and Harriett Beauchamp (1826-1895) lived in Egham, Surrey. They produced two sons, George and Thomas Bosher and four daughters, Elizabeth, Emily, Harriet and Catherine Bosher. Thomas (senior) was a miller's foreman; however, prior to leaving Britain, he became a professional gardener. The Bosher family were NZC sponsored passengers aboard the Waipa when it left London in December 1875. They arrived in Wellington on 2 April 1876Waipa passenger list, available NZ Archives and took up residence in Buckle Street. Thomas continued in his adopted profession as a gardener and word spread that he had been a senior gardener at Buckingham Palace. By 1891, he had been appointed to the Committee of the Wellington Horticultural and Florists' Society. For a period of time, Thomas became Jabez Marks' debt collector and John Rod's property agent. After Harriett's death in 1895, Thomas moved to Auckland and lived with Jabez and Emily Marks until his death in 1921. The remains of Thomas, Emily and Jabez share grave 121A at Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland.
Jabez Marks