Family photograph album gives a picture of Guy Menzies' days on the West Coast.

Family photograph albums can often contain material that throws light on interesting historical events. Sometimes they lie forgotten accumulating dust or worse still are thrown out in the rubbish. Luckily Molly Clarke (nee Cox) and then her son Peter preserved carefully photos which give a glimpse of life on the West Coast and the arrival there in 1931 of Guy Menzies, Peter has made these photos available for publication in NZine and has supplied captions for them. Here is a selection of the photos.

Transport in 1929

Newmans Motors service car and driver, Harihari, 1929 Click here to view a larger version

Guy Menzies in Hokitika

News of Menzies' historic flight is sent to Australia.

Hokitika postmaster Ralph Cox with pioneer aviator Guy Menzies, notifying Menzies' parents of his arrival in New Zealand. Click here to view a larger version

This call from the Hokitika Post Office on 7/1/1931 was the first direct phone link between Hokitika and Sydney.

Guy Menzies relaxing at the Hokitika Post Office residence, second floor Post Office building, Hokitika, 7/1/1931 Click here to view a larger version	Guy Menzies at supper, Hokitika Post Office residence, 7/1/1931 Click here to view a larger version
Photo Source: Peter Clarke

Pictured at this function with Guy Menzies are the Newmans bus driver, Harry Newman (founder of Newmans Motors), three members of Newmans staff, Bert Kelly, cream truck driver, Colin Cox, Ralph Cox and his wife Eva, Molly Cox, Geraldine Strachan and others.

Back to Harihari the following day.
Guy Menzies returns to La Fontaine swamp to inspect the damage to the upturned aircraft.

Inspecting the damage - 8/1/1931 Photo Source: Peter Clarke Click here to view a larger version

Removing the plane from the swamp
The Newmans Motors logo was attached to the plane prior to the removal of the plane from the swamp by Newmans truck.

The crashed aricraft with the Newmans Motors logo attached - Molly Cox to the left. Photo Source: Peter Clarke Click here to view a larger version

On Sunday 11 January 1931 the Newmans lorry transported the plane to the Hokitika depot of Newmans Motors.

Menzies' aircraft 'Southern Cross Junior' arriving at the Hokitika dept of Newmans Motors, in sections on top of Newmans lorry, Sunday, 11 January, 1931. Photo Source: Peter Clarke Click here to view a larger version

The government office building and a statue of earlier local Member of Parliament and Prime Minister, Richard John Seddon, can be seen at the right.