:ULJJOHVZRUWK %LQQV<strong>The</strong> newspapers of New Zealand in the late 1800’sand early 1900’s would have looked very differentwithout the contributions of the photographers Wrigglesworthand <strong>Binns</strong>. For instance the WellingtonEvening Post of 11th May 1888, reported that the“most important match which has ever been playedin this city will take place tomorrow when the firstEnglish team that has visited the Southern Hemispherewill meet the best fifteen in Wellington.” “<strong>The</strong>teams will be photographed by Messrs. Wrigglesworthand <strong>Binns</strong> at 2.45, and the public whomay be on the ground at that time will be offered anexcellent opportunity of making themselves acquaintedwith the personal appearances of each ofthe visitors.”D J Wrigglesworth came from Melbourne, Australia,and started the business in Wellington in 1863.Shortly afterwards he was joined in partnership byFrederick Charles <strong>Binns</strong>, who came from London,and they established branches in Christchurch andDunedin. Both Wrigglesworth and <strong>Binns</strong> had eventfulpersonal lives. Wrigglesworth was a capableamateur actor and his daughter made a career onthe stage as ‘Kate Gair’. He was married threetimes, his first wife and family having drowned whenthe barque ‘Cyrus’ was wrecked at Happy Valleyshortly after leaving port in Wellington. His secondwife was the mother of the above daughter and histhird wife gave him a son. <strong>The</strong> family went back toMelbourne in August 1906 and Wrigglesworth diedthere, aged about seventy, in October the sameyear.As mentioned above, <strong>Binns</strong> was a Londoner and in1851 at 43 Trinity Square, Lambeth, Surrey, we findmarried head William <strong>Binns</strong>, age 36, born Lancashirewith his wife Mary Ann age 39, born Halifax;Frederick C., son age 7, born Lambeth and Emily,daughter age 5. Also present were Thomas Ellis,unmarried lodger age 19, an engineering student,born Hayes and an unmarried visitor Mary Ogden,age 21, born Halifax. <strong>The</strong>y had a 20-year old femaleservant.By the time of the 1861 Census the family appear tohave gone up in the world and are now at 15 EdithGrove, Chelsea, Middlesex, where the married headis William <strong>Binns</strong>, age 46, engineer, born Oldham,Lancashire with his wife Mary A, age 49, born Halifax;Frederick C., unmarried son, age 17, no occupationrecorded, born Southwark; and William H,son age 12, scholar, born Southwark. <strong>The</strong>y stillhave an unmarried female servant. Daughter Emilyappears to be a 15 year old pupil at Greenhill HouseSchool, at Church Street, in Stourbridge, Worcestershire.<strong>The</strong> school had about 21 pupils age 9 to 17and was run by Frances A, Rebecca H, andSusanna Sugden the unmarried daughters of FrancesSugden, age 69, the widow of a Wesleyan Minister.3DJH7+(%,116)$0,/
:ULJJOHVZRUWK %LQQV²FRQWGNot surprisingly, the family are notrecorded in England in the 1871Census in England and on 21 stJanuary 1871 it was reported thatFrederick’s his wife had given birthto a son at Haining Street, Wellington,New Zealand.Whether the <strong>Binns</strong>es were particularlyaccident prone we don’tknow, but we read in the WellingtonPost of 22 nd Jun 1879 :-An extraordinary explosion, whichoccurred this morning in the houseof Mr. F. C. <strong>Binns</strong>, College street,should be a lesson to our coalmerchants to take care that thecoal they sell is as free as possiblefrom explosive materials. <strong>The</strong> firehad been lighted as usual, the coalbeing from West Wanganui Mine.Suddenly, a tremendous explosiontook place, blowing the whole ofthe fire right out into the room, andbringing down all the plaster fromthe chimney. Fortunately, the twochildren, who were right in front ofthe fireplace a moment before,had just moved to one side, orthey must have been either killedor seriously injured, but as it was,they were out of the ‘line of fire.’Mrs. <strong>Binns</strong> received a severe blowin her face, and sustained somebruises, one of her eyes too, beinginjured. Mr. <strong>Binns</strong> himself wasslightly struck. When the smokeand dust cleared away the coppercase of a dynamite cartridge,which had evidently been intendedfor use in the mine and accidentallyleft in the coal, was picked upon the floor.Had the explosion taken place in aLeamington range, or under aboiler, or anywhere but in an openfireplace, the consequences mighthave been most disastrous.Again on 2 nd December 1898, it isreported that Mrs. <strong>Binns</strong> was gettinginto her trap when “the horseshied at some cement casks andbacked the trap causing her to fall,and fracture her ankle.”<strong>The</strong> bad luck continued when on18 January 1901 it was reported“Two three-storey warehouses inWillis Street- those of Wrigglesworthand <strong>Binns</strong>, photographersand the Singer Sewing MachineCompany-were totally destroyedby a fire which broke outat five this morning. It is presumedto have started on the middle floorof Wrigglesworth and <strong>Binns</strong>’, at theback. Luckily it was dead calm andthe Fire Brigade was able to preventthe spread of the flames tothe adjoining buildings.Bad luck finally did for FrederickCharles <strong>Binns</strong> in August 1915when his accidental death was reported:-(By TELEGRAPH - PRESS AS-SOCIATION)CHRISTCHURCH, 13 th August.While proceeding to business thismorning Mr. F. C. <strong>Binns</strong> of the firmof Wrigglesworth and <strong>Binns</strong>, wasthe victim of a collision which occurredbetween a motor car and amotor-cycle with a side-chair attached,in Victoria street. Mr.<strong>Binns</strong>, who is 71 years of age, wasby some means knocked over byone of the vehicles and sustainedsevere injuries which necessitatedhis immediate removal to theChristchurch Hospital, where heexpired as the result of the injurieshe had sustained.<strong>The</strong> late Mr. <strong>Binns</strong> was born in1844 in London, where he wasbrought up as a civil engineer, butdevoted most of his time to amateurphotography, and shortly afterhis arrival in Wellington in 1864 hebecame associated with Mr., Wrigglesworth,and established thepartnership which had continuedever since.Mr. <strong>Binns</strong> was one of the mostprominent Freemasons in New Zealand;he was initiated in 1873 in thePacific Lodge, Wellington, and wasMaster of the Lodge in 1878 and1880. Subsequently he became theZ. V. in the Royal Arch Chapter, wastwice Grand Senior Warden of theGrand Lodge of Wellington (EnglishConstitution) and for a time, was alsotreasurer.With the Pacific Lodge he came overto the New Zealand Constitution, andlater on, on coming to Christchurch,he affiliated with St. AugustineLodge. He was installed as GrandSuperintendent of Canterbury in1902 and on the inauguration of theProvincial Grand Lodge, as GrandMaster, an office which he held tillhis death. He was a foundationmember of the Civic Lodge. Mr.<strong>Binns</strong> was also Grand Master(honoris causa) of Grand Lodge ofNew Zealand in 1911, and he wasalso Pro-Grand Master in 1906-08.<strong>The</strong> funeral will take place on Monday,at 2.30 p.m.<strong>The</strong> driver of the motor car, Mr.Pearce Power, who knocked Mr.<strong>Binns</strong> down, was arrested and triedfor manslaughter.In his time Frederick Charles <strong>Binns</strong>had, among other achievements,been asked by the Wellington RiflesVolunteers to be second lieutenant ofthe D Battery of Artillery; had been acommittee member of WellingtonAmateur Operatic Society; and avestryman of St Peter’s ParishChurch, Wellington.7+(%,116)$0,/