Rotorua Railway at Tukerenga - near spot of original Railway Survey Camp of Henry Roche and assistants, who saw eye witness of Mount Tarawera eruption 1886 from here - photo Chris Ball 2009
Saw
an article end of July 2016 in the
Hauraki Herald, about the sod being turned for a new Council Library at Paeroa.
Back in March 2016 according to a past newspaper, karakia/prayer and sod-turning ceremony
officially launched construction of the Kopu to Pukorokoro Hot Springs- Miranda extension of
the Hauraki Rail Trail. ( not that any railway had ever got properly completed
on this stretch.) Seems " first sod
turning" have been busy occasions in 2016 , in local body election year,
for local mayors and councillors :- a new subdivision at Ngatea; a Chinese owned ice
cream factory at Kerepehi. Now, just over a year later, in November 2017, they are due to open the Kopu to
Miranda extension of the Hauraki Rail Trail. Another opportunity for ceremony
and celebration.
 | |
| Pukorokoro Hot Springs ( formerly )Miranda Hot Springs and pools at Pukorokoro-
Miranda pool developed by Beddie Family and said to be largest thermal swimming pool in the Southern Hemisphere.Near the new Kopu to Pukorokoro Hot Springs- Miranda extension of the Hauraki Rail Trail. |
This photo courtesy - Swimming pool, Miranda, Firth of Thames, Auckland. Ref: WA-79926-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22448227
All this sod
turning, got me to thinking about back, when railways and tramways were first constructed, in
the Auckland Province - the beginning being back in 1860. Then railways was the
new technology of that era. For Auckland Province the occasion of the turning
of the first sod marked an important milestone in the locality or community.
First sod turning was also an important
occasion for those early railway engineers and construction labourers ,apart
from the dignitaries and local people attending who generally also saw it as a
milestone. Railways like steamers had occasions to mark the official
“launching”. At these occasions speeches
flowed and the refreshments and company were enjoyed.
The
first of these was the first sod of the Waihoihoi Tramway, a tramway connecting the Waihoihoi coal
mines ( Sir John Logan Campbell a director), with the sea at Slippery Creek, near Drury, Auckland. James Stewart, a civil engineer newly arrived to Auckland, designed this tramway, the first of many railways and tramways , he oversaw design and construction of in the Auckland Province.
 | |
| Photo about 1860 - 1869 Showing the residence, general store, bakehouse and Post Office (run by
Mr and Mrs J Middlemiss) opposite the Anglican Church at Drury. There is
a poster advertising the services of photographer Charles Burton Hoare
on the front of the building nearest the camera. Photo courtesy Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-A526' |
Opening two years later amid ceremony and celebration, the Daily Southern Cross, reporting on the Waihoihoi Tramway, wrote:-
 | ||
| Daily Southern Cross 6 May 1862 Page 4 courtesy Papers Past National Library New Zealand |
The very first
railway of the Auckland Province was the, at first, ill-fated Auckland Drury
Railway with Branch line to Onehunga. The first sod turning ceremony was held
in Mr Dilworth's paddock, Newmarket on 16 February 1865. With three marquees set
up and an estimated group of 200 people, Provincial
Superintendent Mr. Graham having turned the sod declared the railway commenced.
Construction ground to a halt in the beginning years of 1867.
First sod of the
Waikato Railway (Mercer – Ngaruawahia) turned at Ngaruawahia on the townside of the Waikato
River on 10 January 1874 by Hon. Superintendent Mr. John Williamson, Esq. A thistle, shamrock
and rose was placed upon three sods before it was turned. (representing the
nationalities of those who were to be involved in this railway’s construction)A
number from Thames had enrolled in the Engineer Militia and were very much involved
with the formation and construction of this railway ( see Thirty years later a song about the flower emblems was published in the
Otago Witness:-
 |
Otago Witness 29 June 1904 Page 90 courtesy National Library New Zealand
|
First
sod turning of the Kaipara Railway (Helensville – Riverhead line ) took place
at Harkins Point 31st August 1871 by Hon. Deputy Superintendent Mr.
Joseph May, Esq. It was reported that visitors arriving by steamer were greeted
by a Maori Welcome, followed by many speeches led by Wiremu Rewiti. Following a
luncheon the visitors travelled home via the steamer.
 | |||
| Locomotive from the Kaipara Line at Helensville. Locomotives back then had names - two of these on this line were “Schnapper" and "Kaihu"- photo March 2011 courtesy Chris Ball |
The Thames Waikato
Railway had first sod turning two ends. The first held at Thames on 21 December 1878 saw
the first sod turned by Sir George Grey, the then Prime Minister. The other, the Hamilton end at
the end of April 1879. At Thames the
little steamer Ruby bought Sir George Grey and party
ashore from the New Zealand government steamer Hinemoa.
It is said that 500 school children sun the anthem " My Own New Zealand home" penned by John
Grigg - music shop owner, and who taught singing to schoolchildren at district
schools along with establishing the Thames Choral Society.
A
year later the Nelson Mail published a song said to be from Thames Electors.
Nelson Evening Mail 8 September 1879 Page 2 courtesy Papers Past New Zealand National Library
Twenty
years later at the opening of this railway, Thames newly elected mayor, Mr.
Greenslade was presented with a silver casket containing a piece of the first
sod.
 |
| Casket First Sod - courtesy family photo collection |
Also
in 1879 the first sod of the Kamo Whangarei Railway turned at Whangarei on 1st
March 1879 by Sir George Grey.
 |
| Whangarei from the heights photo February 2014 - courtesy Chris Ball |
Waiorongomai
Tramway, designed by civil engineer James Stewart and built by Piako County was
up up up and down with steep inclines on the slopes of Mount Te Aroha.
 |
| Waiorongomai Tramway built by Piako County Council - photo 2009 courtesy Chris Ball |
First sod of the
Rotorua Railway (Morrinsville – Rotorua) turned at Rotorua on 24 February 1887 by Petera Te
Pukuatua, assisted by three other chiefs -Paora Te Amohau, Ngakuruhuru, and
Urumutu, It was said school children
sang the National Anthem, and a banquet took place at night at Tamatekapua,
Ohinemutu. After this railway was completed finally, a cairn was placed near Rotorua lake side which carried the names of each and everyone involved in its survey, construction and completion of the permanent way. ( cairn now disappeared in 2017).
First sod of the
central section North Island Main Trunk Railway was turned at Ponui on 15th
April 1885. The central section was to be Marton to Te Awamutu a distance of
approximately 210 miles. Finally in 1908 the two rail heads met and there was a
through connection all the way Wellington to Auckland - what became known as the
Main Trunk Line.
 |
| Members of the Te Awamutu Cavalry at the southern bank of the Puniu River. Beere, Daniel Manders, 1833-1909 :Negatives of New Zealand and Australia. Ref: 1/2-096177-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23080523 |
The photo above taken on 15 April 1885 at the first sod turning was taken Daniel Manders Beere. Beere a civil engineer had had much involvement with the survey and construction of both the Auckland Waikato and Thames Waikato railways.
Back up to Northland area A local brass band
turned out on 29 November 1899 at Kawakawa to mark the occasion of ceremony at
Kawakawa. First sod turning for a railway extension to Whangarei.
Back to Hauraki Area
and the Thames Waikato railway. With a very large gold mine at Waihi and one of the
largest industrial processing plants in Australasia by the turn
of the century - the Victoria Battery - clamours came for a railway from Paeroa
to Waihi. The Paeroa Waihi Railway saw this occasion take place near the Crown
goldmine, Karangahake on 2nd March 1900. Sir. Hon Joseph Ward, then newly
appointed Minister of Railways turned the first sod. Attended also by the Prime
Minister Richard John Seddon. A banquet was held at Paeroa afterwards.
Into a new century
and new technology - electric tramways. The first sod of the Auckland Electric
Tramways was turned on 1 August 1901. The Thames Star reporting the event
luncheon , the next day wrote, quoting Mr. Hansen:-
"When I awoke
yesterday morning it was raining hard, but I did not mind, for I felt 'that the
angels were weeping with joy fit the commencement of the work of laying the
Auckland Electric- Tramways." ( Thames
Star 2 August 1901 Page 2)
Mr. Hansen was Paul
Hansen, Managing Director of the Auckland Electric Tramway Company.
 |
| Paul Hansen, Auckland Electric Tramways Ltd centre front holding the logo symbol - a lucky horseshoe - family photo collection |
Although seeing the successful beginning of Auckland Electric Tramways Ltd , neither Paul Hansen nor James Stewart Civil Engineer ( the gentleman with the flowing beard in photo) saw the Auckland City Council takeover of the electric tramway company in July 1919. Hansen involved in electric tramways until April 1916, was released after December 1919 where had been interred ( for parentage and birth ) as a WW1 alien prisoner - of -war at Motuihe Island. Stewart died in February 1914 ( three years after retiring from the Auckland Electric Tramways).
Reference Source:
- Leitch , David and Stott, Bob, New Zealand railways: the first 125 years, Heinemann Reed, Auckland, 1988
- Neil, H. J. Hansen and F. J. 1992. Tracks in the North . Auckland.
- Sheffield, C.M., Men Came Voyaging, Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd., 1963.
- Stafford, D.M., THE FOUNDING YEARS IN ROTORUA – A History Of Events To 1900, Ray Richards and Rotorua District Council, 1986,
- New Zealand Herald 6 September 1871 Page 3
- New Zealand Herald 16 April 1885 Page 4
- Thames Star 2 August 1901 Page 2
- Family papers
