McCarthy Street (Hāwera)

McCarthy Street, Hāwera, near the McDonald's outlet, connects Fairfield Road and Pūriri Street. It is named after a local identity from the early 1900s. Bernard McCarthy was born in Charleston on the West Coast in 1874 and attended Saint Patrick's College, Silverstream in Upper Hutt. He maintained links with the college for the rest of his life.

He was an ambitious young man with a determined work ethic. After moving to Hāwera he gained his qualifications as a lawyer, specialising in land transfers, and in 1903 started the law firm that became known as Welsh McCarthy. The firm, still in existence, has operated from the same building in Hāwera for at least 100 years.

McCarthy was prominent in sporting circles. He played cricket for Taranaki, a North Island team and, in the years when Taranaki was considered to be a first-class cricket association, he gained selection to the New Zealand team in 1902/03 for two games against the touring Lord Hawke XI from England. McCarthy was described at the time as "the best bowler on the (west) coast, medium pace with a jumpy off break."

For many years after his playing days ended he held various sports' administration roles in cricket, hockey, horse racing and rugby. In the 1930s McCarthy was president of the Saint Patrick's College Silverstream Old Boys' Association. He played a key role in organising the college's jubilee celebrations in 1935.

A man of some social prominence, on the occasion of his daughter's wedding in March 1937 a photograph of the wedding party, including McCarthy, was published in Wellington's Evening Post newspaper.

Bernard McCarthy died in Hāwera on 7 July 1948.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.