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
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.”
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
Ivy Eveline Green
born 1890, reg. 1890/7436 daughter of Louisa Jane and Morris Gananoque Green
married 1913 Albert William Cousens
born 1890, reg. 1890/7436 daughter of Louisa Jane and Morris Gananoque Green
married 1913 Albert William Cousens
born 1888, reg. 1888/3563 son of Louisa Jane and Morris Gananoque Green
[purchased August 2024]
Lyttelton
W. Hillsdon Photo
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.
Did Richard Walter Hillsdon sign his prints W Hillsdon? See https://ehive.com/collections/5362/objects/1136202/view-along-sumner-road-in-1912
ReplyDeleteDid he work alongside his father in Lyttelton or in a separate business?
yes, W. Hillsdon is Richard Walter Hillsdon, he was known as Walter. More research would be required to determine if Walter worked with his father, or if he had a separate business in Lyttelton.
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