Taxis come to Wellington, circa 1909
Model of Zedel Car no. 90, the "Zedel" taxi cab, circa 1910, Photolithograph, Printed Ephemera Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Reference: Eph-B-MOTOR-VEHICLE-1910-01
An evocative advertisement from around 1909-10 with an art nouveau flavour explains the luxuries of the Zedel taxi cab. The driver, George Fernandos was likely from the Greek Fernandos family, Wellington fishmongers, and began work as a chauffeur in Wellington in 1909. The taxi-cab industry had barely begun late in that year.
From the Evening Post, 22 November 1909, Page 6:
"Constables, armed with stop-watches, have recently been stationed along the main thoroughfares of Newtown, in order to regulate the traffic and to detect any offences against the bylaws. As a result, the drivers of two motor-cars were to-day convicted in the Magistrate's Court for driving at a dangerous speed. One of the offenders — George Fernandos — was the chauffeur of taxicab No. 70, owned by Messrs Reid and Keene. According to the official timekeepers, he drove his car at a speed of twenty-three miles per hour from Constable-street to Riddiford-street, and twenty-seven miles thence to John-street, or an average of twenty-five miles an hour. In entering a plea of not guilty, Mr P. W. Jackson, who appeared for defendant, urged that the car was not geared up to such a high rate of speed. Sub-Inspector Norwood contended that, being on the down-grade, the vehicle had gathered the speed mentioned. Defendant was fined 40s, with costs 9s,- in default, seven days' imprisonment."
A year later, Mr Fernandos was adjudged bankrupt, owing to some business failures, first in Napier from 1906-1908 and then as a chauffeur in Wellington.
Taxis come to Wellington, circa 1909
Model of Zedel Car no. 90, the "Zedel" taxi cab, circa 1910, Photolithograph, Printed Ephemera Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Reference: Eph-B-MOTOR-VEHICLE-1910-01
An evocative advertisement from around 1909-10 with an art nouveau flavour explains the luxuries of the Zedel taxi cab. The driver, George Fernandos was likely from the Greek Fernandos family, Wellington fishmongers, and began work as a chauffeur in Wellington in 1909. The taxi-cab industry had barely begun late in that year.
From the Evening Post, 22 November 1909, Page 6:
"Constables, armed with stop-watches, have recently been stationed along the main thoroughfares of Newtown, in order to regulate the traffic and to detect any offences against the bylaws. As a result, the drivers of two motor-cars were to-day convicted in the Magistrate's Court for driving at a dangerous speed. One of the offenders — George Fernandos — was the chauffeur of taxicab No. 70, owned by Messrs Reid and Keene. According to the official timekeepers, he drove his car at a speed of twenty-three miles per hour from Constable-street to Riddiford-street, and twenty-seven miles thence to John-street, or an average of twenty-five miles an hour. In entering a plea of not guilty, Mr P. W. Jackson, who appeared for defendant, urged that the car was not geared up to such a high rate of speed. Sub-Inspector Norwood contended that, being on the down-grade, the vehicle had gathered the speed mentioned. Defendant was fined 40s, with costs 9s,- in default, seven days' imprisonment."
A year later, Mr Fernandos was adjudged bankrupt, owing to some business failures, first in Napier from 1906-1908 and then as a chauffeur in Wellington.