The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]
Kamo
Kamo.
Kamo is a considerable agricultural settlement in Whangarei County, and is also a large coal producing district. It has a number of business places and a good hotel. Cattle sales are held periodically, and there is a post and telegraph office with a bi-weekly mail.
Mr. Taylor, the Proprietor, was born in London, in 1848, came to this Colony in 1865, and five years later purchased and settled on his present property. He holds many vaulable testimonials from prominent men of the benefits derived from the baths; His Excellency Lord Glasgow spoke in high terms of the springs.
Sissons, Richard, M.R.C.S. (Lond.), Physician and Surgeon. The late Dr. Stssons was a native of Hull, England, and was born in 1819. He graduated as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1842, came to the Colony in 1866 and commenced practice in Kamo. Dr. Sissons, who was highly respected in the district, was chairman of several road boards and was for many years a member of the Whangarel County Counell. He took an active interest in church affairs and in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the district, in 1868, Dr. Sissons was married to a daughter of the late Mr. Gilbert Mair, and died in 1803 leaving no family. Mrs. Sissons has erected a pretty villa in Kamo, which is one of the landmarks of the neighbourhood.
The Late Dr. R. Sissons.
Meinnes, Murdoch, Farrier and General Blacksmith, Kamo. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Whangarel. The business was established in 1874 and taken over by Mr. MeIunes in 1874. His premises have a total floor space of 600 square feet, and are favourably and centrally situated on the main road, and having resided in the locality for some years, Mr. McInnes is Widely known as a good tradesman. He was born in Kaurihohore in 1873. After farming for some years he joined his father under whom he served five years and learned his trade, eventually taking over the business when the former retired, Mr. MeInnes is an enthusiastic cricketer.
Barnes And Sissons (Thomas Barnes and —— Sissons), General Storekeepers and Produce Merchants, Kamo, Branch Store at Kiripaka. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Whangarei. Established by the original partners (Messrs Bessell and Barnes) in 1893. This firm's business in acknowledged to be the largest in Kamo. The premises are situated on the Bay of Islands and Grant roads, with a frontage of sixty-five feet, embodying a shop well and methodically stocked with groceries, drapery, boots, ironmongery, etc. Adjoining is the crockery and glassware store, which forms a specialty of the business, and contains all the latest novelties and fancy designs. All articles are sold by this enterprising firm at city prices, therefore a targe trade is carried on with the town and surrounding districts. Mr. Walter Bessell was born in London in 1856, where he spent several years in an accountant's office. He came to New Zealand per “Rimutaka” in 1875 and was accountant for Messrs. Whitelaw and Day, of Kamo, for eleven years, on the conclusion of which period the present business was established by himself and Mr. Barnes. Mr. Thomas Barnes halls from Dublin and was educated at Strathallen, Isle of Man, where he followed the occupation of a draper in Douglas for four years. Mr. Barnes landed at Auckland per ship “Fern Glen” in 1879, was in the employment of Messrs A. M. Rust and Co., Kamo, for two years, and subsequently with the firm of Messrs. J. Mitehelson and Co., for a like period, followed by a term of ten years in the employment of Messrs Whitelaw and Day.
Whitelaw, James, General Storekeeper, Gum and Produce Merchant, Kamo. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Whangarel. Mr. Whitelaw established his business in 1880. His shop has a frontage of fourteen feet to the main road and does a very steady trade. Formerly he had a very extensive business, but through the Bank of New Zealand crisis, he had the misfortune to lose the larger portion of his property and connections. Mr. Whitelaw is now gradually re-building his fortunes.
Tremaine, George, settler. Mr. Tremaine is a native of Devonshire, England, and was born in 1853. Shortly after his marriage he came to New Zealand by the s.s. “Northumberland,” landing at Wellington in 1880. After visiting Christchurch he lived for twelve months in the Waikato, then went to Kamo and took up 200 acres of land on which he worked for eight years, spending a considerable amount in improvements, in 1890 he bought the Kamo Hotel to which he made large additions and two years later he became his own landlord with a perfectly free business; but he has since left the hotel. Mr. Tremaine was for some years a member of the Kamo town board, and also of the school committee.