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Tribute to Peter Munro Eadie
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DescriptionPETER MUNROE EADIE RIP
1926 – 2016
A tribute by Don Eadie:
Peter started work with Eadie Brothers in the mid-1940s, as an excavator driver. Eadie Brothers Contracting (started by Jack and Gordon Eadie in the 1930s) had purchased an English Smith Rodley 12 face shovel with a dragline attachment. Peter became quite expert at operating the dragline, and when my brother Pat Eadie joined the company in the late 1940s, another Smith excavator had been purchased. In the early 1950s a P&H dragline was also purchased. Peter became quite expert at operating this big American machine. I remember it particularly as it has full hydraulic controls and was, for its time, quite a sophisticated machine. (See attached photo).
Operating the P&H as a dragline, Peter worked at many places around the West Coast, mostly digging drainage channels across pakahi farm land. He dug many drainage channels around the Cronadun/Larrys Creek/Rorokohu areas, and channels for the Reefton water supply. He also dug drainage channels throughout the Kokatahi/Kowhitirangi area. The P&H had hydraulic operated controls it was ideal for precision crane type work, and among the many jobs Peter did with it was to raise the large fuel tanks at the Mobil Oil Co depot in Greymouth. (See attached photo).
In the early 1950s Eadie Brothers Contracting changed its name to Eadie Enterprises Ltd. About this time the company bought a Mk V Auster, and my brother Pat, who had a flying instructor’s licence, taught Peter to fly. Attached is a photo of Peter standing alongside the Auster.
Since the days of Associated Motorist Oil Company (started by Todd Brothers in the early 1930s), till the late 1980s (when Todds sold Europa to BP), Westland Transport held the Europa Oil Co franchise for the West Coast. This franchise operated out of the Smith Street (Greymouth) depot, and Peter frequently delivered petrol and diesel throughout the area driving the Europa tank-wagon. Another contract held by Westland Transport since the 1930s was for the delivery of beer from Westland Breweries in Lord Street (Greymouth) to hotels in the Grey Valley and Reefton areas. Originally Gordon Eadie drove a truck delivering the beer, and later Peter drove the ‘beer’ truck, continuing the service.
When Jack, (my father and Peter’s older brother) became ill and died unexpectedly late in 1962, Peter was left to run the transport company, as well as the earthmoving contracting side of the business. About 1959 Eadie Enterprises was incorporated into Westland Transport, after my older brother Pat departed for England in 1957 to fly for British European Airways, (later to become part of British Airways). To assist Peter in running the business, I left Airwork at Harewood, Christchurch, where I had qualified as an aircraft engineer, and returned to Greymouth.
About this time the NZ Forest Service, in an attempt to stabilise the timber industry, issued long term (20 year) cutting rights to the major sawmillers. Part of this was a condition that the sawmillers ceased using tram lines to recover logs from the forests, and instead built access roads. This enabled the Forest Service to have access to the forest areas for replanting. Westland Transport became involved with not only greatly increased log cartage, but in building the bush roads. Fortunately, Peter had much experience in earthmoving, and he used his knowledge and expertise in the construction of many bush roads. Many will recall the fleet of orange and white logging trucks that operated out of Hokitika and Ross during the 1960s and 70s.
Peter enjoyed playing around in boats, at both Lake Kaniere and Lake Brunner, and was also an enthusiastic member of the Hokitika Squash Club.
Peter did not have many regrets, but was always disappointed at not being old enough to accompany his older brother when Gordon went away to Europe during World War II. Gordon was conscripted into the army and fought in Egypt and Italy.
Peter was always interested in cars, and enjoyed discussing the merits, or otherwise of cars. In the mid-1960s he (Westland Transport) negotiated an India Tyre franchise for the West Coast, and stored stock at the Greymouth office in Smith Street. This resulted in Peter buying his first big Plymouth car, simply because he could get India truck tyres in the boot and shut the lid! At that time Westland Transport bought a number of Commer trucks from AR MacKay Ltd., (later to become Cooper Henderson Ltd.), the Todd dealer in Christchurch. We were there one day negotiating to buy another Commer truck when he spotted the Plymouth for sale. It was the size of the boot that finally convinced him to buy it! Peter subsequently bought a later model Plymouth before buying a Chrysler Valiant, the first of many!
It was this interest in cars and trucks that led Peter and Don to buy Haines Motors (Greymouth), in 1972. This was negotiated with Jim Haines at his house at Mitchells (Lake Brunner). They then flew to Wellington to finalise the deal with Todds. The 1960s and 70s were halcyon days for Peter & Don! The transport fleet expanded (see photos of Westland Transport on Recollect), and the car dealership prospered. (See photos of Haines Eadie on Recollect). In the early 1980s, with the expiry of the Forest Service long term cutting rights in sight, the native timber industry started a gradual decline. An astute businessman, Peter foresaw difficult times ahead for the West Coast timber industry, and it was decided to scale back the family’s involvement. This eventually led to selling the earthmoving equipment and much of the logging fleet. Rod Crossman bought Tancred Motors, (the Haines Eadie branch in Hokitika), Norm Bishop bought the transport company, and Joe Queen bought Haines Eadie in Greymouth.
For many years Peter lived with his sister Elizabeth in the old Eadie family home in High Street, Greymouth, before building a new home in Leith Cres., Greymouth. He moved to Hokitika when he married Margery Haddon (nee Renton) and lived on Bonnar Drive for a number of years. Subsequently they moved to Lincoln for family reasons.
After his retirement in the late 1980s, Peter once again took up his hobby of gold mining. For years he had a claim near Ross and liked nothing better than wading in a creek bed fosicking for gold! Always well read, he had a fondness for classical music, and at one time had a substantial collection of classical LP records.
Peter was always good company, had a delightful sense of humour and his dry wit will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.
Date of Photo1926 - 2016Map[1] ContributorDon Eadie
1926 – 2016
A tribute by Don Eadie:
Peter started work with Eadie Brothers in the mid-1940s, as an excavator driver. Eadie Brothers Contracting (started by Jack and Gordon Eadie in the 1930s) had purchased an English Smith Rodley 12 face shovel with a dragline attachment. Peter became quite expert at operating the dragline, and when my brother Pat Eadie joined the company in the late 1940s, another Smith excavator had been purchased. In the early 1950s a P&H dragline was also purchased. Peter became quite expert at operating this big American machine. I remember it particularly as it has full hydraulic controls and was, for its time, quite a sophisticated machine. (See attached photo).
Operating the P&H as a dragline, Peter worked at many places around the West Coast, mostly digging drainage channels across pakahi farm land. He dug many drainage channels around the Cronadun/Larrys Creek/Rorokohu areas, and channels for the Reefton water supply. He also dug drainage channels throughout the Kokatahi/Kowhitirangi area. The P&H had hydraulic operated controls it was ideal for precision crane type work, and among the many jobs Peter did with it was to raise the large fuel tanks at the Mobil Oil Co depot in Greymouth. (See attached photo).
In the early 1950s Eadie Brothers Contracting changed its name to Eadie Enterprises Ltd. About this time the company bought a Mk V Auster, and my brother Pat, who had a flying instructor’s licence, taught Peter to fly. Attached is a photo of Peter standing alongside the Auster.
Since the days of Associated Motorist Oil Company (started by Todd Brothers in the early 1930s), till the late 1980s (when Todds sold Europa to BP), Westland Transport held the Europa Oil Co franchise for the West Coast. This franchise operated out of the Smith Street (Greymouth) depot, and Peter frequently delivered petrol and diesel throughout the area driving the Europa tank-wagon. Another contract held by Westland Transport since the 1930s was for the delivery of beer from Westland Breweries in Lord Street (Greymouth) to hotels in the Grey Valley and Reefton areas. Originally Gordon Eadie drove a truck delivering the beer, and later Peter drove the ‘beer’ truck, continuing the service.
When Jack, (my father and Peter’s older brother) became ill and died unexpectedly late in 1962, Peter was left to run the transport company, as well as the earthmoving contracting side of the business. About 1959 Eadie Enterprises was incorporated into Westland Transport, after my older brother Pat departed for England in 1957 to fly for British European Airways, (later to become part of British Airways). To assist Peter in running the business, I left Airwork at Harewood, Christchurch, where I had qualified as an aircraft engineer, and returned to Greymouth.
About this time the NZ Forest Service, in an attempt to stabilise the timber industry, issued long term (20 year) cutting rights to the major sawmillers. Part of this was a condition that the sawmillers ceased using tram lines to recover logs from the forests, and instead built access roads. This enabled the Forest Service to have access to the forest areas for replanting. Westland Transport became involved with not only greatly increased log cartage, but in building the bush roads. Fortunately, Peter had much experience in earthmoving, and he used his knowledge and expertise in the construction of many bush roads. Many will recall the fleet of orange and white logging trucks that operated out of Hokitika and Ross during the 1960s and 70s.
Peter enjoyed playing around in boats, at both Lake Kaniere and Lake Brunner, and was also an enthusiastic member of the Hokitika Squash Club.
Peter did not have many regrets, but was always disappointed at not being old enough to accompany his older brother when Gordon went away to Europe during World War II. Gordon was conscripted into the army and fought in Egypt and Italy.
Peter was always interested in cars, and enjoyed discussing the merits, or otherwise of cars. In the mid-1960s he (Westland Transport) negotiated an India Tyre franchise for the West Coast, and stored stock at the Greymouth office in Smith Street. This resulted in Peter buying his first big Plymouth car, simply because he could get India truck tyres in the boot and shut the lid! At that time Westland Transport bought a number of Commer trucks from AR MacKay Ltd., (later to become Cooper Henderson Ltd.), the Todd dealer in Christchurch. We were there one day negotiating to buy another Commer truck when he spotted the Plymouth for sale. It was the size of the boot that finally convinced him to buy it! Peter subsequently bought a later model Plymouth before buying a Chrysler Valiant, the first of many!
It was this interest in cars and trucks that led Peter and Don to buy Haines Motors (Greymouth), in 1972. This was negotiated with Jim Haines at his house at Mitchells (Lake Brunner). They then flew to Wellington to finalise the deal with Todds. The 1960s and 70s were halcyon days for Peter & Don! The transport fleet expanded (see photos of Westland Transport on Recollect), and the car dealership prospered. (See photos of Haines Eadie on Recollect). In the early 1980s, with the expiry of the Forest Service long term cutting rights in sight, the native timber industry started a gradual decline. An astute businessman, Peter foresaw difficult times ahead for the West Coast timber industry, and it was decided to scale back the family’s involvement. This eventually led to selling the earthmoving equipment and much of the logging fleet. Rod Crossman bought Tancred Motors, (the Haines Eadie branch in Hokitika), Norm Bishop bought the transport company, and Joe Queen bought Haines Eadie in Greymouth.
For many years Peter lived with his sister Elizabeth in the old Eadie family home in High Street, Greymouth, before building a new home in Leith Cres., Greymouth. He moved to Hokitika when he married Margery Haddon (nee Renton) and lived on Bonnar Drive for a number of years. Subsequently they moved to Lincoln for family reasons.
After his retirement in the late 1980s, Peter once again took up his hobby of gold mining. For years he had a claim near Ross and liked nothing better than wading in a creek bed fosicking for gold! Always well read, he had a fondness for classical music, and at one time had a substantial collection of classical LP records.
Peter was always good company, had a delightful sense of humour and his dry wit will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.
Date of Photo1926 - 2016Map[1] ContributorDon Eadie
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West Coast New Zealand History (22nd Jun 2016). Tribute to Peter Munro Eadie. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 18:33, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16264