Bang Chong

Premier Store Opunake 1898 - 1906

At Opunake on Wednesday Henry Flynn was committed for trial for the forgery of Bang Chong's signature to a cheque for £3 and with uttering the same. 

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3776, 19 February 1898, Page 2

LOST, from Opunake, on December 27, three horses, branded SB,and one chestnut horse. Reward paid on returning same to Bang Chong Opunake 

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXVX, Issue 5080, 6 January 1900, Page 3

At Opunake, last Friday, before Mr. R. L. Stanford, S.M., John William Briggs was charged with forgery (namely, the alteration of a New Zealand railway delivery note on Bang Chong of Opunake), whereby the said Bang Chong was defrauded of 10s. Sergeant Bernard prosecuted, and  Mr. T. S. Weston, of New Plymouth (with whom was Mr. McDavitt), appeared for accused. Evidence was given that accused, who is a carrier, carted goods for Bang Chong  from Hawera railway goods shed, and paid the freight, which was returned to him on delivery of the goods. On the 23rd December last accused carted some goods,and produced delivery note for £2 Is 6d, which amount was paid. Suspicion being aroused, the Railway Department was communicated with, when it was found that the charges were only £1 ls 6d, the extra 10s having been added, it is alleged, by Briggs. A similar occurrence took place, it is stated, on the 2Sth December. Accused was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. Bail was allowed, accused on his own recognisance of £6O, and two sureties of £25 each.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 23, 28 January 1902, Page 2

 FORGING A DELIVERY NOTE.

 John William Briggs a carrier at Opunake, was charged with forging a delivery note received from the Railway Department on December 23rd. A second count charged him with similar forgery on December 27th and a third count charged him with getting £3 6s 9d by false pretenses through such forgeries from a Chinese storekeeper, at Opunake. Mr Weston for the prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge of false pretences, which plea he believed the Crown would accept. Mr Kerr said the Crown was prepared to accept the plea. Mr Weston called evidence as to character.- Constable Hickman of Opunake, stated he had known the prisoner for 15 years. Up till now prisoner had borne a good character. The prisoner had a wife, seven children and an aged aged father depending on him. Recently the mortgages had seized the prisoner's horse waggon, and  cows under bill of Sale. There was a mortgage of £130 on the property. Since the committal of prisoner the Chinamen who were the prosecutors, had employed the prisoner to cart their goods. Constable Salmon also testified to the previous good character of the prisoner. His honour said he would like to ask Ah Hong, the prosecutor, some questions. Mr Chew Chong was sworn in as interpreter. Ah Hong, who took the ordinary bible oath, said he was manager for Bang Chong, storekeeper at Opunake He said prior to the cases he had suspicion about prisoner. Mr Weetan put in a letter he had received from Mr.H 1 Wagstaff of Pihama, testifying, to the prisoner's good character. Mr Weston then asked His Honor to apply the provisions of the Probation Act to the case, Mr O'Brien, probation officer, put in a report which was satisfactory. His Honor said that in these cases it was usual to order the prisoner to pay expenses, but in this instance the prisoner had been deprived of his means of living. Addressing prisoner His Honor said the prisoner had put himself in awkward position for the sake of defrauding foreigners of £1 in fact it might be said that he had ruined his character for life. It was an unfortunate position to be placed in. Under all the Circumstances ho would admit prisoner to probation for 12 months. 

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 11909, 6 March 1902, Page 2

 A fire was discovered on Tuesday morning, about 4 o'clock, on Bang Chong and Co.'s premises, in a storeroom attached to the stable. The fire appeared to have started at or under the floor against the wall, and behind a lot of fungus. The alarm was given by one of Bang Chong's men, and soon a bucket brigade was in action, and suppressed the outbreak very little damage resulting. 

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7406, 7 March 1902, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

A nice cottage has just been completed to the order of Mr Bang Chong, who is at present on a trip to China. It is in Fox-street, facing the sea, and has a very cheerful outlook. The ground has been nicely laid out, and planted and fenced. The house contains nine rooms. The parlour is 15 x 12, and the end the full width of the room forms a bay window. The ceiling is of fancy embossed paper, tinted, and a handsome mantelpiece and grate finish the fireplace. On the same side of the passage as the parlour are two bedrooms, each 13 x 13. On the other side there is the front bedroom, 12 x 12. Next comes the dining-room, 18 x 12, with bay window. This room has a dado of panel oilcloth, and handsome cardinal wallpaper, and a grate in the fireplace, finished with a good mantelpiece. The kitchen is 13 x 9, and has a range set in. The scullery is 9 x 7, and is fitted with a sink, table, cupboards, and water tap. A pantry is next, and then the bathroom, with good bath, lead floor, etc. The front passage is nicely finished with oilcloth dado, and the back passage has a dado of kauri and rimu, varnished. The ceilings are panelled, and together with the cornices and other mouldings, are painted to harmonise with the papers. Going to the outside, the overhanging gable of the parlour is finished with fine corrugated iron, and the projecting corners are supported by turned brackets. The verandah on the front and side has turned totara columns, and cast iron brackets and fringe and bull-nose roof iron. There are two large tanks, also well and pump. The waste water is taken away in earthenware pipes from the gully traps. The chimney tops are nicely finished with cement brackets and mouldings. There is every convenience in the way of outbuildings. Mr Sims had the contract for the labour of building, and the cost of the building is about £450. Messrs Wallace and Broughton did the painting and decorating, and Mr Jas. Hodgson the plumbing, and all are to be congratulated on the excellent results produced. Mr O'Brien was architect for the work.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7564, 17 September 1902, Page 4

TENDERS are invited, for the purchase of Stock-in-Trade and Working Plant in the premises known as the Premier Store, Opunake (late Bang Chong and Co.). Tenders close at Opunake on Monday, 4th June, 1906. The highest or any tender, not necessarily accepted. Full particulars on application to  J. L. HARWOOD, Opunake. 

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9101, 25 May 1906, Page 1

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. AN OPUNAKE CASE.

The only defended action heard before Mr H S. Fitzherbert, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday was that of A. O’Brien v. C. A. Trotter, an Opunake case, in which the claim was for £4 9s 9d, being £3 2s 6d for plans and specifications, and Sundry items. Mr. G Grey appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. F. R. Wilson for the defence. The plaintiff said that in July, 1902 he received instructions from Trotter to make alterations to his shop, occupied by Bang, Chong, and Co. Tenders were called, and submitted to defendant, who decided not to accept any. He charged his commission at the rate of 2 ½ per cent, on £125. He had regularly sent the accounts in, and up to six months ago the claim had not been disputed. In September, 1902, the defendant went Home to England to exploit a patent, and asked that the account should stand over till his return. Trotter first disputed the account about six months ago, and offered to compromise for £19 9s. Plaintiff refused.

To Mr. Wilson: Plaintiff left Opunake in this year. Defendant kept putting him off. He did not know he was bound to sue in Opunake. (Ledger produced.) Trotter paid him a prior account before leaving for England. This work was to stand over until he came back from England, hence the non-payment of it. Trotter would be billed for the amount in 1903. He absolutely denied having been instructed by Bang Chong. Bang Chong and his manager had left the colony. The defendant's evidence, which had been taken at Opunake, denied liability in respect of the alterations to the shop, and stated that Bang Chong and Co. had given the instructions. It had been agreed that if Bang, Chong and Co. would make certain alterations, they could obtain a lease of the premises. He admitted owing £19 9s for other work.

The Stipendiary Magistrate said he could well understand the delay in suing, for that was usual enough. It was a very unusual thing for a tenant to pay for alterations made to a freehold. Two rather strong bits of evidence in support of the plaintiff were that the tenders were advertised for alterations to a shop for Mr. Trotter, and doubtless Mr. Trotter saw the notice, and made no protest; and that in October of this year the defendant asked for the items of the account. If he had not owed the money, he would not have done that. Under all the circumstances, he thought the plaintiff was, entitled to judgment, which would be entered accordingly for the amount claimed, less £9 9s paid in, and costs amounting to £1 12s

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 4 December 1907, Page 2