Plexakraft Studios





Photographers - General
Plexakraft Studios, 121 Manchester Street

Christchurch Telephone Directory 1970


reverse inscription " "Carolyn Claridge, aged 15 months"

reverse inscription "Martin Claridge, 12 months old"


HILLSDON, Richard Walter


 

Richard Walter Hillsdon
 
 
Richard Walter Hillsdon [known as Walter Hillsdon] born 11 March 1887 Auckland, reg. 1887/18914 son of the Lyttelton photographers George Henry James Hillsdon and Elizabeth Annie Woolley. [Richard's WW1 military records incorrectly give his date of birth as 11 March 1888], died 24 July 1955, Kingseat [1] aged 67 years, reg 1955/24963 (unmarried). 

 
Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14301, 12 March 1912, Page 1
 
 
France
1918-1919
 
Advice has-been received that Sergeant Hillsdon, of Lyttelton, has been promoted to company sergeant-major, and is in charge of a number of photographers who are photographing the graves of New Zealand soldiers who have fallen at the front.
 
Prior to enlisting, Sergeant Major Hillsdon was in business as a photographer at Lyttelton. He left New Zealand with the 11th Reinforcement as a driver in the artillery, and after a number of months in that position he joined a light trench mortar battery. A few weeks before, the armistice was signed he was appointed assistant photographer to the New Zealand Forces. After travelling over Belgium and France taking photographs he returned to London and then received his present appointment.
Sun, Volume VI, Issue 1593, 22 March 1919
 
 
 
Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18596, 24 December 1920, Page 1

 

Hamilton
 King's Building, Victoria Street
 July 1921 - October 1923
 

Art Portraiture
 Hamilton's New Studio.
Modern, Scientific Appliances.
Great Lighting Effects.
Those who doubt that photography is an art need only visit the new studio of Mr R. W. Hillsden (sic), in King's Buildings, adjoining the King's Theatre, to have their doubts dispelled. To get an art photograph it is, of course, necessary in the first place that the photographer should be an artist, for the purely mechanical process of developing and toning gives a very stereotyped result unless the artistic ability of the photographer is brought into play. The photographer is, therefore, the first consideration when seeking a good portrait. It is next necessary that the very best appliances should be available to enable the artist to give expression to his ideas. Mr Hillsden in fortunate in possessing both the ability and the facilities, and he holds a distinct advantage over most photographers in that his studio was erected especially as such and was not merely converted. By a very elaborate system of blinds he can produce just whatever effect he fancies, the system of light diffusion being worked out both scientifically and artistically. The workroom and dark-room are fitted with the very latest, devices for turning out work quickly and well, with patent developing tanks, print driers, dry mounters and cutters, and the studio is probably the most complete and modern in the province. The waiting-room is very nicely fitted up and replete with the facilities for the preparation of sitters and the town is fortunate in having so modern a studio.

Mr Hillsden himself has made a close study of the scientific side of photography, and as official photographer to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, had unique opportunities for extending his experience. While in England, he made a point of visiting the the wholesale houses and choosing the finest equipment procurable, including several lenses improved as the result of scientific, investigations for aerial photography. Mr Hillsden is prepared to take sitters at any time during daylight hours, one feature of his studio being the absence of the formalities which one has usually to undergo when sitting for a photograph. One feels immediately at home in Mr Hillsden's presence, and the quality of his work is undoubted.
Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14707, 23 July 1921
 
 
Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14729, 22 August 1921, Page 1
 
 
Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14734, 27 August 1921, Page 4
 
 
Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15257, 6 June 1923, Page 4
 
 
 Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15365, 15 October 1923, Page 2
 


Drove Without Due Care
Visiting Motorist Fined
Richard W. Hillsdon came to Timaru on Wednesday for the Christmas holidays, had some liquor, drove his car, was arrested and appeared in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of being intoxicated while in charge of a car and with driving without due care and attention. Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M.. dismissed the intoxication charge and fined Hillsdon £2 (costs 10/-) on the other charge. Sergeant E. J. C. Hay prosecuted and Hillsdon pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Inspector W. J. Tait, of the Transport Department, said that he saw defendant driving his car in Canon Street at 5.35 p.m. Witness was satisfied that the defendant was not in a fit condition to drive and the defendant’s condition appeared to have been caused by intoxicating liquor. He saw the defendant cut the corner, called on him to stop without success and then drove in front of him forcing him to stop. Detective S. W. Cunningham said he saw the defendant earlier in the afternoon. Hillsdon was standing on the footpath talking to himself and to anyone who went by. He was verging on the condition of being locked up for drunkenness. His condition was improved when he was brought to the police station and improved further while he was there. Witness described defendant as being “very garrulous.” A report by Dr G. H. Ussher, who examined defendant 20 minutes after he was arrested, was in favour of the defendant.

Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. he had three “handles” and three glasses of beer, said the defendant in evidence. “I was as sober as a judge. I never get intoxicated,” he asserted, adding that the beer was not very strong nowadays. He had tea at 5 p.m., took his car from the garage at 5.30 p.m. driving successfully through the half-closed doors of the garage and up Stafford Street. He had given way to a truck at the corner of Canon and Sophia Streets where he claimed the truck should have given way to him. He heard someone call out but as he knew no one in Timaru he did not stop, but shortly after the inspector drove in front of him and witness was forced to stop in a short distance, which he did.

“I don’t think that there is sufficient evidence to convict on the charge of being intoxicated,” said the Magistrate, “but at the same time I must convict on the charge of driving without due care and attention.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23082, 22 December 1944, Page 2
 
 
Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27927, 26 March 1956, Page 22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 












 
 
[purchased July 2023]


 
(Massage) Albert Steele's 105 hrs World's Record
W. Hillsdon Photo

(Shaving) Albert
Albert Steele's 105 hrs World's Record
 W. Hillsdon Photo
 
 
The world's record of 104 hours for continuous piano playing was broken by Mr Albert Steele at the Queen's Theatre [Tuam Street, Christchurch] on Saturday evening. Mr Steele, who commenced playing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday last, bettered tho record, which was recently made by an American, by one hour two and a half minutes. As the time for the completion of the test drew near, large crowds gathered, filling the theatre and vestibule, and extending right across the street. An impromptu concert was given to help the pianist over the last stage of his task, one of the items being a club-swinging act by Mr C. Buckett, world's champion endurance club swinger. Mr Steele showed no sign of fatigue at the completion of the time he had set out to play for, and continued for an extra few minutes. He was wrapped in a blanket and carried to a car, being cheered en route by the crowd. Before being allowed to make up his arrears of sleep he was exercised in the open air for two hours.
Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16908, 9 August 1920, Page 6
 
 
[1] Probably at Kingseat Hospital, a psychiatric hospital.