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Green & Colebrook (Firm). Interior view of the Railway
Bridge over the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia, 1910 - Photograph taken by G
& C Ltd. Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 : Collection of post card
negatives. Ref: 1/2-000786-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22793341
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The “Turning of the First Sod “on 10 January 1874 with a shamrock,
thistle and rose placed ceremoniously upon the first sod which marked the start of construction. Along with a flax leaf. The flowers represented the nationalities of those who were to be involved
in the construction of this railway.
Ngaruawahia was the chosen venue for this ceremony. Principal Maori
Chiefs present were, Major Wiremu Te Wheoro, Sub- Inspector Hori Kukutai, Irihia Te Kauae, Rewiti
Waikato, Karaka Ngahiwi, Anuaru Patene, Hakiriwhi Te Purewa, Paora Te Ahuru, and Rev. Wiremu
Patene. Also present were those who had or would have Thames involvement in the future - Messrs
Charles O'Neill, M.H.R., J. Sheehan, Dr. Pollen, James MacKay, Thomas Macffarlane, Esq and those of
the Militia – Colonel
Lyon, Major Jackson, Major Cooper and Major
Mair. (New Zealand Herald, 12 January 1874, Page 3 )
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Portrait of
Wiremu Te Morehu Maipapa Te Wheoro (also known as Major Te Wheoro), Ngai Naho
Chief and Member of Parliament for Western Maori, 1879-1884.'Sir George Grey
Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-2736
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Major William
Mair photo courtesy
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Major Jackson,
M.H.R. photo courtesy
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The New Zealand
Herald reported that a body of 130 men had been enrolled in the Engineer
Militia by Major Cooper
to begin operations.
“About 60 men, known as the Auckland Corps, No 2,
are stationed at Rangiriri, under the command of Captain Howell, and the No 1 Company (from the
Thames), numbering 70 men, under the command of Captain Rowe, are stationed at Taupiri.” (New Zealand Herald 12 Jan
1874)
The Mercer
Ngaruawahia route of approximately 31 miles was organised into three sections :-
- Mercer to Rangiriri
- Rangiriri to Taupiri
- and Taupiri to Ngaruawahia
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Main street of
Mercer. Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 : Collection of post card negatives.
Ref: 1/2-001037-G. Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington, New
Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22519711
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Over relatively flat
land, the railway route ran across the Whangamarino Swamp, more swamp from Rangiriri
to Huntly including Toles Hill Swamp and the Taupiri Gorge along the Eastern
Bank of the Waikato River. The “lay of the land” necessitated a number of
bridges to be constructed, along with some heavy embankments and cuttings. The
largest of the railway bridges crossed the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia.
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Hochstetter, Ferdinand
Christian von. 1867. "New Zealand, its physical geography, geology and
natural history, with special reference to the results of Government
Expeditions in the provinces of Auckland and Nelson ... Translated from the
German original ... by E. Sauter ...With additions . Stuttgart. "British
Library HMNTS 10492.i.14."
Page 347
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For the Engineer
Volunteer Militia in their work of formation of the railway, fell the
preparation tasks of swamp drainage, earthworks, cuttings, embankments,
culverts, line formation and ballasting of the permanent way in readiness for
the rails. From newspaper reports it would appear the men were in three
Companies. No 1 E.V.M. with Captain Rowe ( from Thames), No 2 E.V.M with
Captain Howell in 1874 , followed by Lieutenant Eyre supervising in 1875 and No
3 E.V.M with Captain Schofield commanding. (Waikato Times 21 May 1874)
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Captain Samuel Charles Schofield
In New Zealand Militia The Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vol 2, Auckland
Province. Christchurch: Cyclopaedia Company Limited, 1902.
courtesy NZETC
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Messrs Briton and Martin
were the contractors for the Mercer Rangiriri Section. Mr. John Taylor contractor
with Mr. David Glendenning Manager of Works for the Ngaruawahia Railway Bridge
with first piles reported being driven, in January 1875. (Auckland Star 25 Jan 1875) This was the first railway bridge at
Ngaruawahia.
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Railway Bridge (Waikato
Bridge) over the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia, 1910. Price, William Archer,
1866-1948 : Collection of post card negatives. Ref: 1/2-001156-G. Alexander
Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22342850
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The Waikato Times
reported in December 1874, almost a year since formation had begun, no time being
lost in formation of this railway with No 1 E.V.M Company hard at work .With
the heavy clay and rock cuttings and preparations for a ballast quarry at
Taupiri along with another heavy cutting near the lake at the back of Rangiriri
(Lake Waikare) being worked with “dobbins”. (The Waikato Times 5 Dec 1874) Railway construction in 1874 was labour intensive and the use of
“dobbins’ would have provided some other assistance. (see Parkinson R.M., 1902 for description of a
“dobbin”)
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Lake Waikare in 1907 (ACIXG
DECOYS ON LAKE WAIKARE, THE NEAREST DUCK-SHOOTING RESORT TO AUCKLAND C. -Beattie.
photo Otago Witness , Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 25 Courtesy
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Another aid to less
manual handling and with view to getting ballast into the trenches at minimum cost
was the implementation of works at the quarry which included a self-acting
tramway and hoppers emptying direct into waggons beneath. Some of these were to
the designs of Stewart C.E., District Engineer, Public Works Department. (The Waikato Times, 29 Sep 1874)
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Huntly South, ca 1910s.
Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 : Collection of post card negatives. Ref: 1/2-001753-G.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23108296
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It would seem from newspaper accounts of
formation, construction by the Engineer Volunteer Militia was not all ‘hard graft”, with other events providing
light entertainment. The Otago Witness reported a visit from the Governor by a
welcoming party which included 60 Engineer Militia men with their band. (The Otago Witness 25 April 1874) The Daily Southern Cross reported the results
of a rifle match at Ngaruawahia between the Engineer
Volunteer Militia and Waikato Militia, the E.V.M. being the winners. (The
Daily Southern Cross, 23 Dec 1874) Also popular was the boat race between two crews (The Waikato Times 28 Apr 1874), and the Ngaruawahia Regatta. (The Waikato Times 1 Apr 1875 page 2)
By September 1875 the
Engineer Volunteer Militia were disbanded (The Waikato Times 2 Sep 1875) Some went on to other railway contracts working the unfinished formation
to Ngaruawahia and the Ngaruawahia - Ohaupo section of the railway. The railway
formation work and the manner in which the men conducted their activities were
spoken highly of including in the Public Works Statement. (Public Works Statement
1874)
As to the roles of James
Stewart C.E., district engineer and the resident engineers Breen, Clarke and
Beere of the Public Works Department , they were that of organising a railway “
ready to go” to be handed over to the Railways Department on completion. The
ensuring of plentiful timber sleeper supply- thousands of them. (tender
advertisements appeared regularly in newspapers to fufill the quota for 31
miles of railway) Also ballast sources, buildings and bridges.
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| Papers Past National Library NZ |
Stewart was to observe
the following on the sinking of cylinders for the Ngaruawahia Railway bridge in
a paper read to the Auckland Institute in 1875:-
“The other proof of subsidence now submitted was discovered only a
few weeks ago in sinking cylinders forming the piers of the Waikato Bridge at
Ngaruawahia, sixty miles from the sea. The bed of the river there is pumice
sand and gravel. A stratum of hard sandy clay underlies this, dipping to the
south. Below this is a hard and compact bed of shingle and coarse green-sand
without a trace of pumice. The cylinders were sunk into this shingle by the
pneumatic system, and reach several feet below extreme low water in Auckland
Harbour.”
Then there were the
people management issues, some needing tact and diplomacy, typical of a District
Engineer’s tasks. The Waikato Times reported the following:-
“ Mr Whitaker appeared
on behalf of Mr W H M Lovell, who had applied for a license for a house at Taupiri,
and asked leave to withdraw the application in consequence of a letter signed
by Mr Jas Stewart the
district Engineer, in which that gentleman objected to the opening of a
licensed house in consequence of the number of men employed by the Government
on public works some of which, such as blasting men were of a dangerous
character, and that it might be a serious inconvenience to the Government were
a license granted in the neighbourhood. Mr. Whitaker stated that though the
letter had not been formerly lodged as an objection his client would withdraw
the application in deference to the opinions expressed in it.” (The Waikato Times 9 Dec, 1875) - Note:
This after the disbandment of the E.V.M.
Successful tenderer for
$16888.6s.1d, (The Waikato
Times 2 Sep 1876) was contractor
Daniel Fallon who made rapid progress in laying the rails for the permanent
way. Finally with John Taylor completing Ngaruawahia Railway Bridge
construction, this was opened with a Public ceremony in December 1876 (The Waikato Times 30 Dec 1876, page 2) and the Railway to Ngaruawahia on 13 August
1877. (New Zealand Herald 14Aug1877, p 2)
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| Image sourced from the New Zealand Electronic Text Centrehttp://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/Gov03_09Rail-fig-Gov03_09Rail044a.html |
"MacCallum
Mhor" was driven across at the opening of the Ngaruawahia Railway Bridge -
The other two engines being "Jeanie Deans" (driven by Stewart) and
" Madge Wildfire" ( driven by Fallon) Railway Locomotives, in those
early days of railway construction in New Zealand , were named - sometimes for
place names.
Two years and eight
months from start of formation by the Engineer Volunteer Militia for the approximately
31 miles of railway. Across swamp and rivers needing bridges; through areas
needing cuttings and embankments; and through bush in parts.
What could be said, in
hindsight, to be fast Auckland Provincial Railway construction then by all, including
Captain Rowe and the Engineer Volunteer Militia from Thames.
Reference Sources:
- Parkinson, R.M. Light railway construction. 1902. (accessed November 05, 2009).
- In Transactions and Proceedings NZ Institute, Volume 10, 1877: By James Stewart, C. E. “Art. III.—Observations on the Evidences of recent Change in the Elevation of the Waikato District.” Also on Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868 1961 - on National Library New Zealand website
- In Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives , 1875 Session I, E-03 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWARD RICHARDSON, 3RD AUGUST, 1875.
- In Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, E-01 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWARD RICHARDSON, TUESDAY, 25TH JULY, 1876.
- In Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, H-36 CHARGES MADE BY MR. J. S. CRAIG AGAINST CAPTAIN ROWE, ENGINEER VOLUNTEER MILITIA, (PROCEEDINGS OF COURT OF INQUIRY INTO). TOGETHER WITH EVIDENCE TAKEN BY THE PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PETITION OF J. A. SMALL AND J. BARLOW.
Newspapers:-
Papers Past, National Library NZ
- NZ WAIKATO RAILWAY. New Zealand Herald, 12 January 1874, Page 3.
- Telegrams. Otago Witness, 25 April 1874, Page 18
- BOAT RACE. Waikato Times, 28 April 1874, Page 2
- NGARUAWAHIA AND MERCER RAILWAY. Waikato Times, 21 May 1874, Page 2
- THE WAIKATO EXTENSION RAILWAY. Waikato Times, 29 September 1874, Page 2
- WAIKATO RAILWAY EXTENSION. Waikato Times, 5 December 1874, Page 2
- THE Daily Southern Cross. Daily Southern Cross, 23 December 1874, Page 2
- AUCKLAND. Star, 25 January 1875, Page 3
- NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA. Waikato Times, 1 April 1875, Page 2
- PUBLIC WORKS IN WAIKATO. Waikato Times, 2 September 1875, P 2
- PUBLIC OPENING OF THE NGARUAWAHIA RAILWAY BRIDGE. The Waikato Times 30 Dec 1876, page 2
- OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO NGARUAWAHIA. New Zealand Herald, 14 August 1877, Page 2
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