Life on the NZ coast

[Jim Sargent]

G'day Des,
The "Bunch" in Sussex St? ...do I remember it?...I've spent the last 50+ years trying to forget it.
Never came across your mate Bamber, and certainly not in his official capacity I'm pleased to say but have certain memories of "Dickey" Bird when he was in charge of the Wharf police in Auckland
Cheers
Jim

[Jim Sargent]

Jeez Alf, you must have been crook Mate if you needed all those nurses to look after you.
Cheers
Jim

[Glenn Baker]

well when I was on the Kiwi Coast, these people were around Parachute Jock, The Mad Doctor Greasy Charley, Boxing Gloves Glover John Bigstick Lambchops, , Ghandi was the Dunedin scratary, Ronnie Black was an Auckland Delegate Adams in Wellington JohnnyRehu in Lyttleton, Cyil Fox another charature from Auckland and many more I did the Wahine Wiamea Kiatoke Parera Kiatuna, all many moons ago, Glenn in Australia.

[Neil Morton]

G'day one and all, you blokes bring back memories that I have endevoured to put into words. In '56 I was on the MV Huntingdon the happiest ship I ever sailed in. Unusualy all the main deck crew mixwd in well and we would go ashore mob handed. Auckland was the best, we would take over the Polynesian Club at the top end of Queen Street and dance our tootsies off.That place was never short of willing girls on the floor or elsewhere. We all so sozzled one night we too blocked off Queen St by sitting right across it.I later "jumped" in Napier and worked in Tokaroa in the timber mill.Needless to say I eventualy got caught.
Another good pick up joint was the Post Office Hotel in Wellington.The staff quarters at the top of the pub was known as the "Street of Twisted Faces", because that was the way we all looked first thing in the morning. Fantastics times.

Cheers to one and all Mort.

[Les Woodard]

Jim that reminded of the time that we where escorted back to the ship from Mount Eden prison and when we got to the ship, this bloke said. My name is Bird and I am know'n as Dicky Bird so do not forget it and yes I have never forgot it.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Jim.
I remember a story about Dicky Bird. He had picked up a bloke who had jumped in Auckland, the bloke asked him if he could go and get his gear, Ok he said be at the wharf station at such and such a time. Well the bloke did a ringbolt on the Monowai, he sent a telegram to Dicky Bird saying " The Bird has flown" Six months later he came back across the Tasman, as he walked along the wharf Dicky Bird picked him up, and said, it looks like the bird is back. They said he never forgot a face.
Anyone remember this bloke AB called Big Rudy I think he was Hungarian or something.
Cheers Des

[alf corbyn]

hi des.do you remember a nice looking woman in the florida milk bar called lois?. she was married to a six foot four norwegian docker. she owned a B&B and had her bedroom on the ground floor. he came home one day and as he passed the window i was frantically trying to get dressed and get out of the window at the same time. i liked wellington as there were lots of girls available. and you could always sleep in a railway carriage if neccersary. great days!. cheers.alf

[Des Taff Jenkins]

HI Alf.
Yep slept in a railway carriage once, another time I slept in a truck parked on the wharf, just as well the girl woke up in time otherwise we'd have been in Petone. ha ha.
cheers Des

[Des Taff Jenkins]

For all the blokes that sailed on the NZ coast, Try logging on to
" New Zealand Ship and Marine Society" Complete history of the Union Steam down to it's demise by a weak Govt.
Cheers Des

USS Coat of Arms

[Bob Petty]

All this talk about Dicky Bird.
Do any of you fine lads remember a Liverpool A/B by the name of Jimmy Bird??
He told a story about jumping a home boat, and getting shipped back to the UK on the same ship he had jumped some 12 months earlier.
In the story was reference to a winsome young lady and a bottle of whiskey.