Manhire Street – Formerly Johnston Street. Named after James Johnston (1830?-1907). Re-named Milne Street and later, Manhire Street. Named after Bethel Prinn Manhire (1865- 1915). Johnston is a resident of the street in 1884 when it is first mentioned in the Star in a report of a meeting of the Drainage Board. First appears in street directories in 1902. Re-named Milne Street by 1912. Re-named Manhire Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. Manhire was a paperhanger and glazier. He was also a justice of the peace and twice mayor of Sydenham.
A reasonable amount of from the library website. This street led to the back entrance of South Immediate School. They were all older houses here and mostly in good condition. Some were worker cottages and I would love to have got a photo of the one that has been painted purple. A couple had stippling style of plaster covering the original weatherboards. One house had Christmas decorations on the front lawn. There is a plaque to James Johnson in the Addington cemetery and also Bethel Manhire’s grave is here. It is possible that the former name of Milne St is after George Milne who is also buried in Addington cemetery
Today 29th December 2020 in Addington Cemetery I met a man called Simon who is the great grandson of Daniel Manhire. Daniel Manhire was Bethel Manhire’s father and Daniel had a mistress Edith Lawry. Edith had at least 3 or 4 children to Daniel Manhire and Simon is descended from her son Ira. Simon was visiting from Auckland and he was interested in the Manhire and Lawry graves in Addington cemetery.
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project 