Harold Crispe Mellsop
He was born on 12 December 1864 at Glenbrook, Waiuku East District, in the family home of 'Knockmaroon", the eldest son and second child of .John Thomas and Charlotte (nee Crispe) Mellsop. Very little is known about his education but as the Glenbrook school or Brookside as it was then known, was not opened until 1877, it is probable that he received his primary education at home. It is believed that he attended Auckland Grammar School for his secondary schooling. Harold started employment away from home. His first position was in the Bank of New Zealand in Auckland, while there he joined the St Georges Bay Rowing Club. Later he moved to Palmerston North, and was still with the Bank at the time of his marriage in 1893. It was after a period that went into partnership with a Mr Eliott to found the firm of Mellsop, Eliott & Co, Grain and Produce Merchants. They also had other interests including the Lockwood Estate farm on the outskirts of Palmerston North at Hokowhitu. Saw milling in the King Country and for a period they held the lease to farm Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf. His life was not all work, in time he met and
married Clementine Emily Margaret Harrison, who was born in Sydney, Australia and came to NZ at an early age with her parents who farmed
in the Auckland district for many years. She was educated in Auckland and was one of the first women to graduate with a Master of Arts Degree
Later she became the principal of Nelson Girls College. Leaving that position to become the first principal of Wanganui Girls College.
The College opened in 1891, with 47 students, 19 of them boarders. Emily was required to appoint a Matron and Domestic Staff along with
the teaching staff, and defray all costs. Boarding fee was set at 40 pounds a year, which was calculated to cover all expenses. Emily's salary
was three hundred pounds a year. Emily made it very clear she would take the girl's education very seriously emphasizing that her School
certainly was not going to be merely a It "finishing" institution. A University Scholarship y was won in the year of opening from WGC.
The following is a tribute to Emily on her death.
"Some of us were privileged to share Mrs Mellsops' friendship when she retired into private life. But we all have memories in common- a little woman, trim and dainty in person, a delightful wit, a cultured mind, a wise kindliness, practical ability to organize and control, absolute dignity — a woman to respect and admire and with greater intimacy to like and even love."
Emily resigned as the first Lady Principal of Wanganui Girls College to marry Harold on 27th December 1893 at Bishopscourt Chapel, Auckland. A highly respected and deeply admired first Principal. After her marriage she held appointments as examiner for certain girls colleges including WGC. Emily was a keen golfer becoming secretary not only of the Manawatu Ladies Golf Club, but also for thirteen years Secretary and then President of the NZ Ladies Golf Union.
Harold and Emily's names are perpetuated in New Zealand Golf circles with the Mellsop Rose Bowl which they donated. The cup is
the premier ladies trophy for golf in this country. The cup is competed for annually together with a silver miniature to the winner.
For a period of about five years Emily assisted her husband in the management of Brent's Hotel in Rotorua and was very popular with
the travelling public. Harold Mellsop was very proud of the family name and had plans for a family partnership to farm the Lockwood Estate. Will Orr and his wife Jane, Harold's youngest sister, did go there for a while as did his nephew, Percy Henry. Later his youngest brother Lionel was
also to go to the Lockwood Estate, but he died before arrangements were completed. Early in 1920 Harold and Emily moved to Auckland to reside at Cliff Rd, St Helier's, he became a member of the West Tamaki Road Board. Both joined the local Croquet Club.
About 1921 they acquired Brents Bathgate House and adjoining farm. He established his nephew, Trevor and his wife Sylvia on the farm. Emily and Harold lived at Brents until shortly before Harold's death on 2nd June 1930.
Harold was not always lucky in his choice of business associates, one, a partner of some sort in Brents, was involved in sly-grogging.
There was litigation after the association with this name was terminated and a press report of the Court proceedings described Harold as
arrogant and overbearing. There is also an amusing story of his clash with the Hokowhitu Golf Club. He had been warned to keep his dogs off the links, but insisted on continuing to take them there. Because of failing health he sold Brents at the end of 1929, just before the great depression to Mt Cook Tourist Coy of the "thirties', which had recently acquired the lease of the newly built Chateau Tongariro. However
Brents reverted to his Estate early in the depression and continued in family ownership until 1945 when it was sold to NZ Breweries
Ltd. At the time of his death they were living at the Mansion House, Kawau Island, where they had retired to after selling Brents.
Emily, his widow lived another seven years, returning to Brents after it came back to her through a default payment. They are both buried
in St Andrews Anglican Church yard Epsom, Auckland. They had no children and under the terms of the wills many nephews and nieces, particularly those who had lost a parent at an early age, benefited.
Harold's dates: Born 1864, Died 1930
married Clementine Emily Margaret Harrison, who was born in Sydney, Australia and came to NZ at an early age with her parents who farmed
in the Auckland district for many years. She was educated in Auckland and was one of the first women to graduate with a Master of Arts Degree
Later she became the principal of Nelson Girls College. Leaving that position to become the first principal of Wanganui Girls College.
The College opened in 1891, with 47 students, 19 of them boarders. Emily was required to appoint a Matron and Domestic Staff along with
the teaching staff, and defray all costs. Boarding fee was set at 40 pounds a year, which was calculated to cover all expenses. Emily's salary
was three hundred pounds a year. Emily made it very clear she would take the girl's education very seriously emphasizing that her School
certainly was not going to be merely a It "finishing" institution. A University Scholarship y was won in the year of opening from WGC.
The following is a tribute to Emily on her death.
"Some of us were privileged to share Mrs Mellsops' friendship when she retired into private life. But we all have memories in common- a little woman, trim and dainty in person, a delightful wit, a cultured mind, a wise kindliness, practical ability to organize and control, absolute dignity — a woman to respect and admire and with greater intimacy to like and even love."
Emily resigned as the first Lady Principal of Wanganui Girls College to marry Harold on 27th December 1893 at Bishopscourt Chapel, Auckland. A highly respected and deeply admired first Principal. After her marriage she held appointments as examiner for certain girls colleges including WGC. Emily was a keen golfer becoming secretary not only of the Manawatu Ladies Golf Club, but also for thirteen years Secretary and then President of the NZ Ladies Golf Union.
Harold and Emily's names are perpetuated in New Zealand Golf circles with the Mellsop Rose Bowl which they donated. The cup is
the premier ladies trophy for golf in this country. The cup is competed for annually together with a silver miniature to the winner.
For a period of about five years Emily assisted her husband in the management of Brent's Hotel in Rotorua and was very popular with
the travelling public. Harold Mellsop was very proud of the family name and had plans for a family partnership to farm the Lockwood Estate. Will Orr and his wife Jane, Harold's youngest sister, did go there for a while as did his nephew, Percy Henry. Later his youngest brother Lionel was
also to go to the Lockwood Estate, but he died before arrangements were completed. Early in 1920 Harold and Emily moved to Auckland to reside at Cliff Rd, St Helier's, he became a member of the West Tamaki Road Board. Both joined the local Croquet Club.
About 1921 they acquired Brents Bathgate House and adjoining farm. He established his nephew, Trevor and his wife Sylvia on the farm. Emily and Harold lived at Brents until shortly before Harold's death on 2nd June 1930.
Harold was not always lucky in his choice of business associates, one, a partner of some sort in Brents, was involved in sly-grogging.
There was litigation after the association with this name was terminated and a press report of the Court proceedings described Harold as
arrogant and overbearing. There is also an amusing story of his clash with the Hokowhitu Golf Club. He had been warned to keep his dogs off the links, but insisted on continuing to take them there. Because of failing health he sold Brents at the end of 1929, just before the great depression to Mt Cook Tourist Coy of the "thirties', which had recently acquired the lease of the newly built Chateau Tongariro. However
Brents reverted to his Estate early in the depression and continued in family ownership until 1945 when it was sold to NZ Breweries
Ltd. At the time of his death they were living at the Mansion House, Kawau Island, where they had retired to after selling Brents.
Emily, his widow lived another seven years, returning to Brents after it came back to her through a default payment. They are both buried
in St Andrews Anglican Church yard Epsom, Auckland. They had no children and under the terms of the wills many nephews and nieces, particularly those who had lost a parent at an early age, benefited.
Harold's dates: Born 1864, Died 1930