Makers and shakers: Motueka’s businessman - Part 1

Simon Buchholz, his wife and five children arrived in Nelson on the ship Abbey in February 1863, from Victoria Australia. It was not long before he had set up a business in Trafalgar St as a general merchant, but in December 1863, disposed of the business to settle in Motueka. Once there, he wasted no time in opening the business of S. Buchholz, grocer, draper, clothier and general merchant in High St.

In August 1869, he was approved to handle Post Office transactions, and in 1872 was appointed as an agent to act for the New Zealand Insurance Company.
Simon owned land in Collingwood, Ashburton. Rangitikei and Waimea and in June 1872, sold a going concern in Upper Moutere to W. Patterson.   He had a reputation as being an upright and honest man, and in August of the same year, he broke a scandal concerning members of the Motueka Road Board.

Through producing minutes, dates, accounts and names, he was able to prove that certain members had renumerated themselves of money to the amount of £29, 10sh.  This was done in front of a large gathering at a Road Board meeting, and while this made him unpopular with some, many others praised him for his actions. Following an angry discussion, it was agreed that the infringing parties would refund the amounts they had received.

By January 1873, Simon had obtained a licence to sell spirits, liquors, wine, ale, beer and port, and in 1875, he purchased an interest in a steamer to trade in Blind Bay, which angered some who were attempting to form a company for this purpose. In 1877 he became a licenced ammunition dealer.

In September 1883, he lost his son Morris, aged 24 to an accidental drowning at Tākaka, and a year later his second son, Soloman aged 26, also died.  Whether these events impacted on his next move is not known, but after 20 years of being in Motueka , Simon sold his properties.  The business was purchased by Abraham Manoy in June 1882, who took immediate possession.

The Buchholz family left New Zealand to move to Australia, where Simon Buchholz died in 1877. Abraham Manoy was born in Russia around 1837, but by 1861 was living in Wales.  In 1864 he emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Napier, where he operated a tobacco business, married and had three sons, Albert, Harry and Lionel. In early 1882 he, with wife Maria, sold up and moved to Nelson.

Two more children were born in Motueka, Ailsey and Reginald. Abraham had a reputation of being a man of integrity, possessing an energetic and enterprising temperament, and having a good measure of success.  Little would they know it then, but the Manoys became a prominent family in the Motueka district.