JOHN ARCHIBALD MCINNES was born 19 Jun 1896
in Temuka to parents Lucy and Daniel McInnes. His childhood
was spent in Temuka where he was enrolled at the Public
School
School Temuka; Name
Archibald John MCINNES; Reg. No. 491; Admission Date - 2 Sep 1901; Parent / Guardian Daniel McInnes; Address Temuka; Birthdate 19
Jun 1896;
From a young age, he attended the Salvation Army, and
learnt to play a baritone brass instrument. Music became a
large part of his life and he played in the Temuka Salvation Army band,
later joined the Temuka Municipal brass band, then later was
with bands in Dunedin and Invercargill.
He left school and with the advent of cars and
mechanics, Archie found work in various towns finally settling in a
garage in Invercargill, and here he joined the local Dunedin
and Invercargill bands, until the outbreak of World War 1
NZ Gazette Entries; Name MCINNES John Archibald; Date 1916; Place Wallacetown; Invercargill Occupation Chauffeur; Source NZ Gazette 1916; Page 3682; Record Type Stationed at the Trenthan camp,
Archie played in the Trentham Military Band and then with the
Featherston Military band - he did not serve overseas.
After the war he went to a garage in Balclutha and from there became a commercial traveller for Adams Limited of Christchurch and later was transferred with them to Wellington. He was appointed manager in 1926 of Adams Ltd in Auckland. Mr Adams died in 1928 and left in his will that all branches should be closed within 6 months so one of the Studebaker dealers Archie had worked with offered him manager of his business in Paihiatua. . He
married 15 Jan 1929 at Auckland to ETHEL FLORENCE SHARP. She was born 18
Jul 1892 in Geraldine, the daughter of JOSEPH SHARP (1849-1916) and
HENRIETTA CLARKE Other siblings were: George William; Rosina Evelyn; Robert Frazer; Ivy Rita and Eva Sharp
The Rev. Joseph Sharp, Minister in charge of the
Primitive Methodist church at Waimate, was for three years stationed at
Geraldine before being appointed to Waimate in 1903. Mr. Sharp was born at
Maidstone, Kent, England, on the 12th of May, 1849, and is the eldest son
of Mr. Joseph Sharp. He was educated at private schools in his native
place, entered the ministry in 1871, and left England for New Zealand in
August, 1873, to accept the charge of the church on the Thames goldfields,
where he remained eighteen months. Subsequently he was stationed at
Christchurch, Ashburton, Geraldine, Timaru, Greendale (North Canterbury),
Taranaki, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and in 1891 was appointed to
Auckland. He was elected President of the Conference in 1893, and he has
also acted as secretary on several occasions. Mr. Sharp takes an active
interest in the cause of education and temperance. He joined the Order of
Orangemen at the Thames in 1875, and has held the rank of Grand Chaplain
of the South Island Grand Lodge. Ethel was a music teacher in Auckland and had her studio in
the Lewis Eady buildings. She was a brilliant pianist and
helped Archie to study singing. Archie sang in choirs wherever his
work took him - Temuka Wesleyan and Presbyterian, Timaru Chalmers Church
Choir and Timaru Congregational, St Pauls Invercargill and St Pauls
Oamaru; the Wellington Central Baptist and in Auckland, the Radio
Choir at 1ZB - here he became the deputy conductor. He was also
associated with the "Friendly Road Choir" on radio in the days of "Uncle
Tom Garland and "Uncle Scrim" and was deputy conductor of the Sunday
night choir. When Mr Adams died all his branches closed and Archie moved
to a position in Pahiatua. - this only lasted a short time because of the
depression. He joined the Colonial Motor Company and moved to Auckland.
After 18 months in Auckland he was transferred to the Wellington head
office and later when the Ford Motor Company took over the agency, he
became General Manager and later Managing Director of the Wellington
Dealership and had 150 staff.
During his life, Archie worked in the motor car
business and he sang in a
choir wherever his work took him - Temuka Wesleyan and Presbyterian,
Timaru Chalmers Church Choir and Timaru Congregational, St Pauls
Invercargill and St Pauls Oamaru; the Wellington Central Baptist and in
Auckland, the Radio Choir at 1ZB where he became the deputy
conductor. He was also associated with the "Friendly Road Choir" on
radio in the days of "Uncle Tom Garland and "Uncle Scrim" and was
deputy conductor of the Sunday night choir. Archie worked in the motor car business for 21 years
until his own health concerns forced retirement and the
couple retired to Waikanae in 1967 and two years later to 31 Karaka
Cresc. Levin. Ethel died 20 Feb 1970 at Palmerston North aged 77
yrs. Crem. 23/02/1970 at Kelvin Grove Cem. Palm Nth . Archie passed away 10 Feb 1980 at Horowhenua Hosp.
at Levin Age 83 yrs. Crem: Kelvin Grove Cem. Palmerston Nth.
Ethel and Archie had no children Research is by McInnes Historian Bev McInnes
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The Primitive Methodist
Church, Rhodes Street, Waimate, was erected in 1877; services had been
held for two years previously in the Temperance Hall. The building, which
is of brick, and has seating room for 200 persons, stands on a quarter of
an acre of land. A Sunday school is held in the church, and the minister
in charge preaches on alternate Sundays at Waimate and Oamaru,
periodically at Morven and Nukuroa. The parsonage, a convenient
seven-roomed house, built on a section of half an acre of land in
Parsonage road, was erected in 1898. 
