Matipo Street in the suburb of Riccarton, Christchurch

Matipo Street in Riccarton – formerly Cutlers Road. Ngaio Street was incorporated into Matipo Street. Formerly Cutler’s Road. Named after Henry Cutler (1834-1919). Re-named Matipo Cutler had a market garden and orchard on the east side of the road, a few chains from Riccarton Road. Cutler’s Road is first mentioned in The Press in 1874. First appears in street directories in 1900 Cutler is a resident. The section of road in between Henry Cutler’s property and Riccarton Road was called Ngaio Street, but not for long (only about two months) as it was considered too difficult to pronounce. Re-named Matipo Street in 1923A reasonable amount of information on the library website. I couldn’t find any information about the street ever being called Ngaio St and there was a Ngaio St in St Martins which would have been confusing. In Papers Past there were many entries in the 1910s concerning sports fixtures. I couldn’t work out exactly where they were held but possibly connected to the Wharenui School. Not a lot of information about the school about from a mention that it was a new school in 1907.In the enlistment notices in February 1917 Rewi Alley of 37 Cutlers Rd had enlisted. These days Wharenui School has a Rewi Alley Memorial Hall and I never realised that he had lived in Christchurch. Between the 1920s and 1940s there are a lot of articles about accidents at the level crossing including some fatal accidents. In February 1928 a goods train derailed here. Also between 1920s and 1940s there was a lot of articles about traffic because of the races and the A&P Show. In 1933 several men were charged with playing the game Crown and Anchor behind Addington Trotting Grounds. I had to google for information about this game and it is apparently an illegal dice game usually played by sailors. In 1927 there were lots of complaints about the state of the road and there were a couple of favourites for me. One complaint said that the road was so wet and muddy that a submarine would be required to navigate the street. The other complaint said that the street would be a suitable venue for the Lyttelton regatta. The same year someone complained that the road was too dry and dusty and needed watering. The council eventually fixed the road in 1931.There were a few fires on this street and in 1919 an unoccupied wooden house belonging to the estate of William Cutler was destroyed by fire. I am wondering if they got the name wrong as Henry Cutler lived on the street and had recently died. In 1928 the headline was Riccarton Landmark Destroyed by Fire. The house was on the corner of Riccarton Rd and Matipo St and was owned by the trustees in Henry’s estate and occupied by W Henry. A local resident said that it was one of the oldest houses in the area and was about 60 to 70 years old and used to be a brewery in the old days. In 1921 at 102 Cutler Rd a large house occupied by R Blackburn was destroyed by fire. An earlier fire in July 1890 destroyed bottling stores connected to R Blackburn’s brewery. The building was owned by Henry Cutler and leased to R Blackburn. The council don’t give any reason for changing the name from Cutlers Rd to Matipo St but a complaint about the name change gives a wee clue. The person objecting to the name change didn’t have a problem with the newer streets being given names connected to trees and plants but felt that there was no need to change the name of Cutlers Rd. A councillor in 1915 wanted the street name to be renamed Bowen Ave in honour of Sir Charles Bowen. This obviously didn’t happen. In 1920 it was proposed that the mayor’s name be engraved on the new bridge on Cutlers Rd. I have no idea where that bridge was on this street. In 1930 at least two properties were subdivided for housing. Henry Cutler died April 1919 at the residence of Mr W R Cant of Torrens Rd and he is buried at Upper Riccarton. I could find no evidence that he ever married. Henry is supposed to have owned a brewery but all records have him down as a farmer. This street has 114 properties and there are still a few wooden villas from 1910 and 1920 but most are more modern. Most date from 1990s and 2000s and they are multi dwelling style crammed onto the sections. A variety of styles ranging from OKish to ugly. At the Riccarton Rd end is Westfield (Riccarton) Mall and the older houses opposite mostly have businesses in them. Then there are the private dwellings for a couple of blocks before you come to Wharenui School and the Wharenui Swimming Pool. Once you cross Blenheim Rd it is only businesses including Toll and Kiwi Rail. Matipo St ends at the railway crossing and it becomes Wrights Rd. I found a map dated 1912 which has Wrights Rd going all the way to Blenheim Rd with Cutlers Rd being between Riccarton Rd and Blenheim Rd. All the entries on Papers Past regarding the railway level crossing has this crossing on Cutlers Rd. I actually walked this street twice in 2019 and once was when I was walking the 360 Trail with a walking festival group. I was very surprised when I realised that I hadn’t already researched and written up the street.