Alves 1942-1995

Rangiotu School 75th Jubilee 1957
1. Dolf Alve - 2. Eddie Alve - 3. Henry Alve - 4. Clara Purdom (nee Alve)

Rangitane Land

Royal Glen Regina Gypsy - a pedigree Friesian cow
purchased by Henry Alve in May 1954

Henry’s block, containing the homestead was enlarged by the lease of Charlie’s block which was later purchased in the late 1940’s, about the time Val began sharemilking with his father. After Val married and moved away, sons Ivan and then Harry share-milked with Henry, before Val returned to resume sharemilking in 1956. Ownership of the land passed to Val in 1963 after the river control scheme had reduced the farm in size from 110 to 78 acres. The money given in compensation for the river land was used to build a new house which replaced the homestead lost to the river control scheme. Val continued to dairy farm the land until the middle of 1970 when he sold it to the neighbouring Quinn Properties.

A feature of Henry's farming operation was the establishment of the Westfalia Friesian stud. From the late 1930's until 1960 about 75 pedigree friesian cows and bulls were purchased, bred and registered with the N.Z. Friesian Association. The last act of the Stud was the sale in 1960 of a young bull to the Awahuri artificial breeding centre. Westfalia I. N. Colantha was born on 21 July 1960 and was the progeny of Pukeroro Ireland Notary (sire via A.B.) and Westfalia M. E. Colantha (dam), the highest producing cow in the herd at that time. The sale price was one hundred guineas. The Westfalia stud was taken over by Val in 1963 until he sold his dairy herd in 1970.

Charlie Busch farmed Jersey Cows

Eddie’s block, containing two houses, was leased by Alf until 1942, when Eddie resumed farming it. He farmed it until his nephew, Charlie Busch, share-milked and then bought it during the 1950’s. Unlike his uncle Henry and cousin Val (see above), Charlie with Vera his wife milked Jersey cows on the block that was Eddie's. In 1963 Charlie converted to farming sheep in partnership with his nephew Ken Busch. They also leased land over the stopbank, within the river spillway, which included that part of Henry’s former block that was within the river catchment. Charlie sold this land about 1967, to Quinn Properties.

Eddie’s wife Ina and son Bill continued living in the second house, after Eddie died in 1965. Bill remained living there, the sole remaining Alve at Rangitane, following Ina’s death in 1993.

Dolf’s block was leased between 1952 and 1962, first to Neil Harvey and then to George Little. Jack Alve returned to the farm in 1962 and began cropping until 1967, after Dolf’s death, when it was sold to neighbour Ernie Southee. Jack and his brother Dennis then, in partnership, moved to establish a large cropping farm in Bryce's Line, Kiwitea. Later, after Dennis moved to Australia, Jack and Mary in partnership with children Peter and Julianne established a dairy farm on their Kiwitea property and moved to live in Kimbolton before retiring to Palmerston North in the 1990's.

"Alve Road" Cover Picture Background - 1963

"With the coming of the Moutoua drainage scheme, the days of floods are virtually over for the Manawatu. So this six-foot marker not far from the toll gate on the Palmerston North-Himitangi Highway is a picturesque reminder of dangerous days. The maximum level meant 15 feet of water in the lowest part of the Taonui basin..."

This is the Cover description for the Spring 1963 edition of, "Service - a review of agricultural and chemical progress" - produced and published by Ivon Watkins Ltd. - Weedone Distributors.

50+ years later this same Flood Levels marker stands as a reminder of the massive impact that flooding on the Manawatu River had in the area where many of the Alve family grew up from 1900-1963.

The lead article in this edition of "Service" was entitled, "Manawatu Farm Development in the Face of Natural Odds." It continued, "If there is a common factor in the agricultural history of the Manawatu Plain, it is bush and water. The bush had to go. The water had to be controlled. Between one and the other, those who broke the land in were under regular stress. Sometimes disaster came...." A description that describes, in a nutshell, the life and experience of the Alve farmers of Rangitane.

A Memorial (Cairn) Commemorating the Opiki Suspension (Toll) Bridge

A feature of life for those who lived between Rangitane and Opiki for much of the 20th century was the Opiki suspension (toll) bridge over the Manawatu River. From the 1920's until 1969 when the new road bridge upstream was constructed and opened, the toll bridge was an impressive reminder of the River as well as a convenient means of crossing it. The story of the susp[ension bridge is commemorated by the Cairn featured in the images below and is well recounted by Molly Akers in her book, "Suspended Access." Second generation Alve children from Rangitane regularly crossed the bridge to attend Rangiotu school from 28 June 1928 when it opened. In fact they were 'rounded up' by the Akers to justify the establishment of the school when it was planned in the 1920's. Phillip, Lisle and Elvene were first day pupils and Val began there a few months later when he turned five. While the Alves tended to go to Palmerston North for business and Rangiotu for milk delivery, Opiki was the closest settlement and with a dairy, garage, sports and school amenities it was often a place to visit, despite the toll charge. A few of us found occasional work on the Opiki side of the river, farm labouring, potato picking, etc.

A Cairn adjacent where the old Alve homestead was, commemorating the Opiki Suspension Bridge. The deck was removed post the building of the new bridge in 1969. The concrete towers and steel cables remain.

Cairn Text about the Opiki Suspension Bridge

Click to enlarge these images and to read the Cairn Text

Other Farms

Jack & Dennis Alve were Potato Farmers

As mentioned above, Jack & Mary Alve in partnership with Dennis & Heather bought and farmed on Bryces Line, near Kiwitea. In the early days of this operation cousins Trevor and Terry Alve worked on this farm. The farm was converted to cropping from sheep - mainly potatoes, but also brussel sprouts, carrots and other vegetables. The land was high enough in altitude to be somewhat pest free enabling the growing of certified seed potatoes. During 1969 the brothers purchased a German bulk (Grimm) harvester which meant that potatoes could be graded under cover in sheds. Jack and Mary's children Peter and Mary were born in Kiwitea.

Ivan & Maree Alve purchased a dairy farm in the Tararua District at Rongokako during the mid 1960's. They had earlier been sharemilking on a block that ran from Highway 56 through to No. 1 Line at Tiakitahuna in the Manawatu, It was while there that their eldest child Peter died in 1960. Peter hadbeen born with a hole in his heart (blue baby) prior to surgical techniques being developed to treat such conditions. In retirement Ivan and Maree lived in Palmerston North. During 2013 Ivan moved into the Olive Tree retirement complex, where his cousin Thelma Avery was living, until her death in 2013 aged 99.

Ken Busch farmed with his uncle Charlie at Rangitane while having a sheep farm on the Saddle Road, near Woodville. He continued farming there after the Rangitane farm was sold, eventually moving to a new farm at Pio Pio in the Waikato which he farmed with his wife Alma until his retirement. Ken died in 2010 aged 86. His father Bill, who contributed with Ken, to the writing of "Alve Road," died the year after the 1995 Reunion aged 96, having himself been a sheep farmer.

Other New Zealand 2nd Generation Alves

In 1975 Clara Purdom died in Palmerston North aged 78. She was the last of Carl and Maria's children to pass away and was survived by her son Alve and his family. By this time several of the second generation were in or nearing retirement.

The Busch family were largely resident in the Wairarapa, except for Charlie most of whose family remained in the Manawatu.
Of Theresia's children, Marjorie and Micky went north and died in the 1970's, while Myra and Harold lived on in Palmerston North; Harold dying in 1991 and Myra in 2001.
Lena's family went north except for Gwen who farmed at Claremont near Timaru.
Of the Pedersens - Thelma retired in Palmerston North, Hazel in Levin and Russell emigrated with his wife Thelma and family to Vancouver, Canada in the 1965 where he worked as an architect.
All of Alfred's children attended the Reunion in 1995. Meryl and Colin lived in Palmerston North and Noeline in Ashhurst.
The eldest of Henry's sons, Phillip Alve lived for over 50 years in his home in Kelburn Wellington before spending his last days in Palmerston North, where his brothers Val and Ivan retired. Reclusive Harry remained in his parents home at Longburn until his death in 2004.
Eddie's children Lisle, Elvene and Hilton retired in Hastings, New Plymouth and Taupo respectively. Bill continues to live and work in the Manawatu.
Clara's Alve Purdom lives in retirement at Ashhurst.
Dolf's sons Jack and Dennis spent their last days in Palmerston North.

"Alve Road" and the 1995 Reunion

It was in the early 1970's that Terry Alve's interest in genealogy and family history quickened, as he left the Manawatu to study and work in Christchurch. He arrived in Christchurch early 1971 and had contact there with W. Alec Wallace who was Dolly Alve's younger brother. Alec knew the Rangitane Alve's from the time he began visiting, before Dolly's marriage to Charlie Alve in 1911. Terry did a formal interview with Alec in June 1974 which was transcribed. This interview provided key information about the Alve family's early years at Rangitane, some of which has been included in this history.

Terry was invited by Alec's daughter Margaret to be the minister at Alec's funeral in June 1994. He was aged 95 when he died. Terry was the vicar of the nearby St Martin's Anglican Church, Spreydon. That same month, Terry (who shared a birthday with Alec) moved with his family to Tawa, Wellington where his family research continued in preparation for the writing of 'Alve Road' and the 1995 Reunion. Helpfully, Wellington gave ready access to the National Archives and the National Library as well as being conveniently located near many of the family.

The biographies of 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation NZ Alves to 1994 are recorded in the Print Version of "Alve Road". Your help is invited to add new information, correct errors, advise of BDM's of family members, etc. Your encouragement is also appreciated even if you feel you have nothing to add. It is surprising what may flow from a conversation, such as I had with Alec in 1974!

Contact Terry Alve

Charlie & Ken Busch farmed sheep

Alve Rangitane Homestead about 1960

Clara Purdom helping her brother Henry Alve celebrate
his 50th Wedding Anniversary March 1967

1995 Reunion Organising Group

2nd Generation descendants of Carl & Maria
who survive late 2014