Family History 1.114

Gaze History: NSG Memoir

Graduation and first employment

In 1925 Noel graduated Master of Laws, at that time the youngest person to graduate with an Ll.M. from a New Zealand University.  For some seasons he played soccer with a team at the Metro-College Club during these student years. He was, of course, like his family, deeply involved in the work of the church, in Bible Class, Sunday School, Choir and in social and sporting activities organised by the Bible Class Movement.  In the mid-twenties, a large group of Baptist young people who lived in the Mt Eden area got involved in the youth programme of the Grange Road Baptist Church, and Noel and Doris were part of this group.  At an Easter Camp at Milford Beach he was baptised in the sea on the Easter Sunday morning.  No warmed and sheltered baptismal tanks inside churches for that hardy generation!

In the mid-twenties, a sad event occurred: the illness of Noel’s best friend, Frank Crocombe. He was diagnosed with cancer, for which the treatments in those days were much less effective than they are now. One of those treatments was blood transfusion, which in those days was carried out direct from person to person.  Noel volunteered to provide the blood, and the transfer was carried out, but Frank died in spite of it.  Noel always felt he had contributed to the death; the whole family was devastated. 

On 6^th September 1926, Noel left his employment with the firm of Stewart, Johnston, Hough and Campbell (Whitaker Chambers, Wyndham Street).  His colleagues passed the hat around and bought him a present, and twenty-one signed this letter:

“Dear Mr Gaze,

                   We, the Staff of the firm of Messrs Stewart, Johnston, Hough and Campbell, with which you have for a good many years been associated, offer you the accompanying present as a token of our hearty goodwill on the occasion of your leaving us.  Your unfailing courtesy and good-humour have been as much appreciated by us all as, we are sure, your promptness and application to work have been by our principals.

                   May you have a really good time on your coming holiday trip and the best of luck when on your return you set up for yourself in business.

                   Yours very sincerely,”

The trip they mention was a holiday in Australia with Fred, Julia and Doris.  They saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge half finished, they toured the Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains at Katoomba. 

When they returned, Fred prepared to sell his business and retire, and Noel set up his law practice for himself in an office on the second floor (Level 3) of the Security Buildings in Queen Street, between John Courts corner (now Whitcoulls) and Whitcombe and Tombs.  It was directly opposite the big new Auckland Electric Power Board building built later, close to several banks and handy through a rear entrance to the Lands and Deeds Registry in High Street, and the magistrate’s court nearby.

 

 

Zaida Coad (nee Brown) remembers:

 

When I was about 6 and had been seriously ill, I went to Sunday School at Grange Road one Sunday when it was raining. Noel was secretary of the Sunday School.  He said I should go home because I had got wet. I said I wanted my ticket for learning my memory verse.  He said, “I will give you a ticket if you promise to go home.” For a young man he treated me very kindly and I have always remembered him.