Allison Street (Ōpunake)

Allison Street in Ōpunake was named after a Christchurch-based businessman who once owned two sections in the town and may have briefly served with the local Armed Constabulary.

In June 1948 the Opunake Times published an article titled “Opunake Street Names: Tribute to Great Men”, one of whom, Henry Allison, was described as “a member of the A.C. [Armed Constabulary] force who took up land in Ōpunake but later left the district”.

However, it has proved difficult to verify his military service. His name does not appear on a database of A.C. members compiled by researchers from Archives New Zealand enlistment rolls, nor is he mentioned in local newspaper reports on Constabulary activities.

Although Allison Street appears on the original Crown Grant map for the township of Ōpunake, Henry Allison’s name is not amongst the original owners. Adding to the uncertainty is that after his death in 1924, an obituary published in the Press makes no mention of any military service or connection with Taranaki, instead stating that after his arrival in Canterbury he “lived here ever since”.

Henry was born in Nottinghamshire, England in 1847, arriving in Lyttelton with his parents aboard the ship Isabella Hercus in 1856. He married Elizabeth Jane Kiver in 1880 then spent his entire career working for the firm Harman & Stevens Ltd. and was still with the company at the time of his death. Allison also possessed a keen interest in literature, having five sonnets published posthumously in A Treasury of New Zealand Verse.

It is his last will and testament that confirms the Taranaki connection. Along with detailed directions for his other assets, he requested that his two Ōpunake sections and a Stratford farm be leased for terms not exceeding 25 and 10 years respectively.

While it seems clear that the Allison Street was named after Henry Allison, the lack of any documentary evidence of his presence in Taranaki is odd. Perhaps his military service was brief, but notable enough to be honoured with a thoroughfare in the small coastal settlement.

It could be that the surveyor responsible for naming the streets of Ōpunake is the only person who knew the real answer.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.

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