*The Early Days of Thames Goldfield “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage" Part II

Interior of Thames Hauraki Pumping Plant and formerly Queen of Beauty mine shaft , in 2021 called Bella Pumphouse
  - photo 2010 Chris Ball  

201  First writing, 2021 update  By Anne Stewart Ball

To see   Part I go to The Early Days of Thames Goldfield   “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage" Part I

This is The Early Days of Thames Goldfield   “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage" Part II

“Mines, Batteries and Stampers Galore” 

The Thames Goldfields, found to be auriferous instead of alluvial, meant prospectors turned to industrial machinery to crush the “hard rock.” The following charts have been compiled from across a number of sources to show the extent and development of the industrial mining processes – the batteries and stampers - on the Thames Goldfields. There were plenty of these.

Thames-Hauraki pump and level shaft. Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 :Collection of post card negatives. Ref: 1/2-001558-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22576601

    THAMES GOLDFIELDS: BATTERIES & STAMPERS 1869 – 1870’S (APPROXIMATE ONLY)

The following chart records batteries opened in the 1880’s during an era when the Thames Goldfields was undergoing significant changes.

THAMES GOLDFIELDS UPGRADED OR NEW BATTERIES IN THE EARLY 1880’S

Reference Source to Charts: 

1. Daily Southern Cross 20 September 1869 p 5 and 29 September 1869 p6.

2. Also various other newspaper reports from Daily Southern Cross, Evening Post, and Thames Star 

3. Weston, Fred (compiler). Jubilee Souvenir –Thames Goldfields-A History From Proclamation Times To 1927. Thames: “Thames Star”, July, 1927.

4. Thames Miners Guide 1868

5. John Isdale, NZHPT Thames School of Mines, Thames, NZ 

Reference sources for 1868 – 1869 generally referred to the batteries in the areas Grahamstown, Kuranui, Karaka and Tararu. Subsequent reference sources of the 1870’s had introduced describing by Creek location.

Tararu

 From the Chart, the four batteries in the Tararu area of the 1870’s, although few in number of batteries, were large in the number of stampers employed. Men of practical skills and knowledge managed these batteries – Mr. James Steedman (JB) for Messrs Brown, Campbell & Co, Mr. James Darrow for Flora MacDonald and Mr. William Thorburn for Wild Missouri. Typical of this era, these men also involved themselves in the community life of Thames. Messrs Brown, Campbell & Co’s battery was also known as the Tararu Creek Battery – named practically for the creek which it operated beside.

Machinery for Russell’s battery was shipped aboard the Hero from the company of P.N. Russell and Co of Sydney. (G Russell being one of the proprietors of Russell’s battery). It was also P.N. Russell and Co. who built the steamer p.s. Rangiriri to the order of the New Zealand Government in 1863, shipped to New Zealand in prefabricated parts and reassembled at Port Waikato. (Today in 2021 p.s. Rangiriri, restored relic in Hamilton, is New Zealand’s second oldest iron vessel existing.) Mr Steedman had also formerly assisted James Stewart (designer of) in the steamer construction operations at Port Waikato. The Daily Southern Cross reported in 1871 the purchase of Russell’s battery by Messrs  Stannus Jones and J.S. Macfarlane. 

James Darrow, typical of many of the Battery and Mine Managers, was to go on from Flora MacDonald Battery to the Queen of Beauty Battery and then to the timber industry – Darrow & Kilgour. According to the Hawkes Bay Herald in January 1870, the Flora MacDonald Battery owned by Messrs Gibbons & Co was christened by Lady Bowen. This when Governor and Lady Bowen visited Thames on an Official Occasion in 1870.  

Goldmine (Sylvia Reduction Works) beside the Tararu Creek, Thames-Coromandel District, including native bush and mine structure. Beere, Daniel Manders, 1833-1909 :Negatives of New Zealand and Australia. Ref: 1/4-034283-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22422377

Later years at Tararu – the late 1880’s early 1890’s - saw the purchase of the Little Agnes Claim and the formation of the Sylvia Goldmining Company with a syndicate of Thames, Auckland and Melbourne owners. The New Zealand Directors being Captain Colbeck, Messrs Seymour , George, J. S. Macfarlane, E. McDonnell, and Dr Scheidel. - This J.S. Macfarlane of the 1890’s not to be confused with the J.S. Macfarlane of the 1870’s. (different persons) Under the management of Dr. Scheidel a new cyanide process for extraction of gold was developed. Dr. Scheidel published a book on this in 1894. Scheidel, heading the New Zealand Mines Trust Ltd was to establish the Commonwealth Portland Cement Co Ltd in Australia and today in 2021  he is regarded as the “ father” of the Portland Cement industry in Australia.

Kauri at Tararu Creek, Thames Goldfield. (46 feet in circumference). By Hugh Boscawen, From a photograph by Messrs. Foy Brothers, Shortland. In Kirk, T. F.L.S. The Forest Flora of New Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889. No 79. next to p 142 

Kuranui

The Shotover No 1 battery on the chart was formerly called “Goldfinder” opened in October 1868 christened by Hunt’s daughter (Thames Miners Guide, 1868, p 80) This was also where the first “Bonanza” of gold on the Thames Goldfields was struck shortly after opening in 1867, by prospectors Hunt & others.

The Chart shows that the Kuranui Battery was the largest in the Kuranui area of the goldfields. The Thames Miners Guide wrote that Kuranui was the second claim pegged out on the Thames Goldfields and the first mining company registered in December 1868.

Kuranui, the largest battery in the Kuranui area – crushed in addition to their own, also for other claims, amongst them the Shotover (Hunt & others claim), Golden Crown and Queen of Beauty. This arrangement was typical of the goldmining companies and batteries of that era. It was at Kuranui that what became known as “ the Kuranui Boiler Disaster” occurred in 1874, an accident that became the forerunner of one of New Zealand’s first pieces of Occupational Health & Safety Legislation.

Sign in March 2010, marking the site of what was once Kuranui Battery, and the Shotover Mine where there was the “Goldfinder” Battery Thames, NZ. photo CRB collection 

Moanataiari, Waiotahi, Grahamstown

Batteries with their stampers were by far, in the greatest concentration near the immediate area around Grahamstown and no doubt a reason for the close location of “Script Corner”, where goldmining shares were bought and sold with a “frenzy” and “fever.’ From the chart can be seen the marked increase of stampers of the Caledonian Battery. The early 1870’s was the hey day of the Caledonian’s Mine “ Big Bonanza” and a lucky find for its many, many shareholders. Golden Crown

close by was also another “Bonanza” find and as Caledonian operated its own stampers. Both mines, also in addition to their own batteries crushing, sent parcels of quartz to the other batteries nearby. Thames historian A.M. Isdale wrote:-

“The greatest "concentration of these quartz crushing machines" was on or near the Premier lava flow from which 85% of the gold on the Thames came” ( Isdale, 1967 , p10)

Not all claims were “Bonanza” fortunate. Dayspring battery was typical of some of the smaller claims, running its own small head of stampers to crush its own parcel of quartz. Dayspring was typical of many, in the different picture presented in the 1870s of batteries which disappeared, added more stampers, or established. 1869 and 1870 saw a number of changes in claim and company ownership along with the amalgamation of some, disappearance of others and new finds discovered.

At a shareholders’ meeting of Dayspring Goldmining Company in July 1869 the interim directors – Dr. Fisher, Messrs Stewart, Low, Macfarlane, and Ritchie - decided on a capital of £12,000, in 12,000 shares of £1 each, of which 15s. per share is paid up. The Dayspring Goldmining Company was registered in 1869 and further activity in 1870

Sign in March 2010 marking the site of what was once the
 Caledonian Mine
Thames, NZ. Photo CRB collection

Sign in March 2010 marking the site of what was once the Golden Crown Mine Thames, NZ.
 p.s. Golden Crown named after this mine and one of the steamers transporting boxes of gold
Photo CRB collection

Karaka

The Chart shows a large increase in the number of batteries and stampers during the 1870’s in the Karaka Creek area. Weston wrote referring to growth of the Waiokaraka in the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Book of the Thames Goldfields in 1927. (Weston, 1927, p 72)

Queen of Sheba, registered 1869  and Mount Macedon, registered 1870.  By November 1870, Queen of Sheba was better known as Queen of Beauty.  Queen of Beauty (formerly Queen of Sheba) in the early days of the goldfield, used the batteries of Bulls, Vickery’s, Perry’s, Gows and Kauwaeranga for crushing. By July 1874, according to the Thames Star reporting on Queen of Beauty quartz crushing activity wrote:-

“This mine is now employing 83 head of stamps in the reduction of their stuff — 30 at the Kuranui,10 at the Manukau, 20 of their own, and 23 at Bull's battery; and (out of a mine owned by half-a[1]dozen men )” (THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY, Thames Star,24/07/1874: p.2 ) 

Showing the interior of a gold quartz crushing battery at the Queen of Beauty Mine, Thames goldfields  Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A1601

For this mine, while not the spectacular gold returns of what became the famous Caledonian mine, continued on towards the 1880s with steady returns. Salmon wrote that there were seven shareholders  These were William Thomas, William Barker, Ronald McDonald, James Stewart, James McCabe,  John McCabe and Patrick Walsh. William Tonks was also recorded as a shareholder. 

A number of Queen of Beauty’s staff were sought by others such as Engineer Peter Jack, who was approached to assist with the development of the Taranaki steel manufacturing company’s new works. This was the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company, set up at Te Henui Beach, New Plymouth in 1873 to process iron sands, a second attempt to manufacture marketable steel in New Zealand.

The Piako Battery (formerly Bright Smile) with its 40 stampers was also typical of stampers when finished with. Stampers were expensive machines and iron a costly item to ship to New Zealand in those days. This one was recycled over to the Waiorongomai Goldfields, where both James Stewart and H.H. Adams (Harry) were involved in the preparation and construction of the Piako County or Waiorongomai Tramway.

Looking up Waiokaraka Valley in March 2010.
 Right foreground is Bella Pumphouse behind which is the site
of the old Queen of Beauty Mine Shaft, photo CRB collection

General

From the compiled Chart of the Batteries on the Thames Goldfields recorded is an approximate total of 615 stampers in 1869, with the highest concentration of these quartz crushing machines being in Grahamstown area and the second highest in Tararu area. In the 1870’s – the heyday of Thames mining – the chart shows an approximate total of 907. A growth in number of batteries in the Grahamstown and Karaka areas and reduction at Tararu.

“ The usual preparations having been made by swinging a bottle of champagne suspended by red, white, and blue ribbon over the fly- wheel of the engine, the machine was started, and Miss Whitson let the bottle fall against the rapidly revolving fly-wheel, and Mr. Burrall called for three cheers for the " Whau Detective Machine." The call was most heartily responded to by those who had been invited  to be present, and by the workmen who had been engaged in the erection of the building and  machinery.” 

Given 1869 was well before the age of ear muffs, machine baffling for noise reduction and dust control measures, the writer of this, can only conjecture what noise levels were then. Or read the early accounts of those early days. 

“They saw batteries both idle and at work, thundering away with a prodigious noise, and wished they would do their work quietly. For the first time got an inkling of the labour a sovereign represented precious yellow ore.” 

In this early era of steam machinery, the developments were many. The aim of crushing was to get the utmost amount of gold from the quartz, with new techniques and methods constantly developed.

The second “flush” of mining 

– 1880’s New mining companies were formed e.g. Alburnia Gold Mining Co headed by Chairman of Directors, Thomas Macffarlane e.g. Former batteries were bought and upgraded ( Alburnia in the instance of The Prince Albert and Greenvilles the Hape. In July 1885 Cambria purchased Queen of Beauty Battery. The Thames School of Mines opened November 1885, giving the Mining Industry opportunity of formally recognised qualifications and training in the roles of those managing and operating new technologies. Significant changes for this Goldfield and others.

1900 – 1910 Overlooking Thames. Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 :Collection of post card negatives. Ref: 1/2-001539-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22809377

From Disaster - Safety Legislation 

 This was what came to be known as the Kuranui Boiler disaster which occurred at the Kuranui Company in one of the battery machines. Campbell in 1987 was to write the following “However in 1874 the Inspection of Machinery Act was passed, it no doubt stimulated by a fatal boiler explosion that had occurred on the Thames gold field”. (Campbell, 1987, p.13) 

 The disaster occurred on 24 January 1874, causing the serious loss of three lives. The Daily Southern Cross, after the accident, and after some of the evidence given in the inquest reported 

 “The cause of the accident is briefly this, so, far, as it can be understood: The boiler had 'been repaired and cleaved about a week ago, land has only been at work five days. It was discovered today that a thick coating of saline deposit had crusted the iron in the crown of the boiler to a thickness of half an inch.This prevented the water from coming in contact with the iron, consequently the latter became red hot over the furnace, and owing to the pressure of the steam it collapsed, as much as the tension of the iron allowed, but when the utmost extent of its expansion - was" reached the iron rent along the seam." The consequence was that the steam and water together burst into the furnace and rushed through the flues, carrying death to the poor fellows.” 

A commission of three expert engineers were appointed, a number of interviews that identified cause and solution. A  report from the three expert engineers and: 

From Disaster - One of First Pieces Safety Legislation in NZ 

Into 1875 Thames goldfields saw the Machinery Act 1874 in place – and even though there were detractors, this was a first step in health and safety in the workplace and towards prevention of likes of a recurrence of such as the “Kuranui Boiler Disaster.”  Battery and stamper operators sat what was called The Stationary Engine Drivers certificate.

Practical Gold-mining: A Comprehensive Treatise on the ...books.google.co.nz › books

Charles George Warnford Lock · 188

9

Reference Source: 

• Campbell, I.B,. Legislating for Workplace Hazards in New Zealand. Palmerston North: Stylex Printer, Massey University, 1987. 
• Cyclopaedia NZ, Auckland Province, 1902
• Isdale, A.M. History of " the River Thames" NZ. A.M.Isdale Publishing, 1867
• Salmon, J.H.M. A History of Goldmining in New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1963
• Thames Miners Guide,1868, p.72
• Weston, Fred (compiler). Jubilee Souvenir –Thames Goldfields-A History From Proclamation Times To 1927. Thames: “ Thames Star”, July ,1927. 
• NZ Gazette 1869/510. 1870/91, 1870/359
• NZ Gazette, 1869, p.454
• Daily Southern Cross, 10/11/1870: p 3
• Daily Southern Cross, 15 /07/1871: p 2
• Hawke's Bay Herald, 21/01/ 1870: p 3
• FRIGHTFUL BOILER ACCIDENT AT THE THAMES. THREE LIVES LOST Daily Southern Cross 26/01/1874, p.3
• Daily Southern Cross, 15/01/1875, Page 2
• Thames Star, 07/02/1893: Page 2
• Website Heritage: New South Wales accessed 27/05/2010
• Portland NSW - History  accessed 18/07/2021 

Wild Pigs - pig hunting, communities, this and that

Wild pig skin at beginning of one of Coromandel's forests - photo 2015 Chris Ball

 Tales of  wild pigs and pig hunting:

Wild pigs and pig hunting have been a part of our past New Zealand history for decades. No less Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui (the Coromandel Peninsula).

Tales of encounters with wandering wild pigs, on the Coromandel tracks and roads winding through the ranges of this rugged region of New Zealand. An ideal territory  for wild pigs in the wilds of the beautiful bush of the  Coromandel State Forest Park . Also  the Coromandel pine Forestry Plantations owners   who are usually members of  the Forest Owners Association NZ too. 

Pig hunting territory Wharekawa ,Whangamata, Whiritoa area - photo 2015 Chris Ball

Tales of a past time of those who worked and lived in the rural areas of New Zealand - time off  to take the dogs and " head for the hills" pig hunting. A good day's hunting would give time out and if fortunate, bring food home for the family - roast poaka ( pig). The decades of pig hunting have seen the  development of Pig Hunting Associations - three on the Coromandel belonging also to the NZ Pig Hunting Association  - Whitianga, Coromandel and Peninsula pig hunting clubs.  Pig hunters have also developed a relationship with the Department of Conservation and the pine Plantation Forestry blocks where their blocks are hunted in. Eight hunting blocks on public conservation land in this region of New Zealand, with wild pigs living in each block.

For many rural communities around New Zealand, pig hunting has become a way of life, even in 2021, for  locals living in those rural places. T.H. Anderson working in the bush back forty years  and reminiscing in the Press, 1900, on pig hunting wrote:- 

" One good flood would often bring as much timber out in twenty-four hours as we would drag out in as many weeks. When we had-used up all we had got out, and might perhaps be waiting for a vessel to take it away; and before we  had begun to drag in more from the bush, we might chance to get ,a holiday or perhaps it was too wet for the bullocks to work, for you cannot work bullocks in rainy weather, as you would soon knock them up with sore shoulders or broken, hoofs. We might, perhaps, get a day-off to go for a- pig hunt, and we would generally know a day or two beforehand, so that we could prepare our weapons, and by making inquiries among the bushmen, or some of the Maoris who might be visiting from other pahs, we could generally find out where were the most likely places to hit upon our game. Even the dogs soon knew there was something up, and you may be sure that there never were such good boys as we were just before the important day."  ( Press, O3/03/1900) 

HUNTING WILD PIGS ON THE MOONIE. THE ONLY TRE^ FOR HALF-A-MILE. From the Bulletin. courtesy National Library NZ Papers Past 

OTAGO WITNESS, 12 AUGUST 1903, PAGE 42

Over the decades various newspapers have carried accounts of rural pig hunters and the lives of their rural families. Pig hunting competitions have developed in many communities and around the sixties a greased pig competition was a popular fundraiser. One older resident of Whangamata relates a tale of the Annual Labour Day markets at Whangamata held in the sixties with the popular " greased pig in a barrow" organised by the local fire brigade. Popularity of the " greased pig" has waned and groups such as SPCA, advocating  possible stress on animals to be avoided. However pig hunting competitions around New Zealand continue - their strength in participation, rural community involvement and fund raising.  

At the beginning of July 2021 the annual fund raiser for rural Hikuai school was held –  the Hikuai School Pig Hunting Competition Fundraiser.  Said to be very enjoyable this year. Unfortunately in 2020 New Zealand was in Covid 19 lockdown with pig hunting, community gatherings and schools closed down for several weeks. There was no Hikuai School Pig Hunting Competition in 2020.

There are tales of the 309 road on the Coromandel Peninsula, home of a wild pig haven. Over the years, under the protective Kaitiakitanga ( guardianship) of  Stu Edmondson, this property   has become a famous " must do" with domestic and overseas tourists. Braving the winding, metal, narrow road " wild pig haven" has become a stop off to spend time with the wild pigs.

Wild pig haven on the 309 Road, Coromandel Peninsula - photo 2009 courtesy Chris Ball 

Wild pig origins in New Zealand 

Wild pigs were  first introduced by French explorer Captain Jean François Marie de Surville. This, in 1769 when, it was said, two  pigs were given to Maori at Doubtless Bay in Northland. Captain Cook was said to be the next explorer to have introduced pigs to the Marlborough Sound in 1773 and Queen Charlotte Sounds in 1777. Here a sow and a boar were gifted to the Maori Chief. Sealers, whalers and traders followed the explorers to New Zealand shores bartering and trading with Maori for food which involved pig and spread the pig breeds.  Whalers are said to have introduced the breed of feral domestic pig known as Arapawa Island pig.  

Wild pigs in 2021 also go by the names of Captain Cooker’, razorback, te poaka (the porker) or kune kune.

Pig hunting territory on the Coromandel - photo 2014 Chris Ball

Wild Pig tales and poems of stormy times 

Tales of wild Coromandel storms sweeping and lashing the bush and pine forestry plantations. Cold and heavy rain driving the odd wild pig from the hills down to the coasts and small rural communities. One such community – Whiritoa – back in 2008, was exposed to one medium size wild pig. Poems and writings on the episode appeared in the local monthly Whiritoa Tidings – the community galvanised into action and discussion. The following is a poem written from a wild pig’s perspective about this incident: 

Historic Site re wild pig's journey  

           From a Pig’s Point of View

The wind it roared,
The lightening did crack.
The poor wee pig turned up his bacon hocks,
And ran to save this pig’s porkers.

Pig knew not whether it was North or South

East nor West.
Nor which way was home that fateful day,
Only that home was best.

The bush was dark and creepy,
Pig ran past Morepork so sleepy.
He ran and ran
To where he thought home base began.

That is when pig got a shock
Poor pig did shiver and shook.
What was this strange bush he saw
Where were the ferns and kauri tall?

Along this strange stone bed he ran
Down to the sea and back again.
Which way to go to now?
Oh where was mother, the old sow?

Past some strange monsters blue
And yellow,
Piggy was really a sorry fella.
Tired, wet and hungry too.
Pig thought fern roots over there grew.

Into the bush glen piggy ran
Hoping for a snack again.
Imagine his horror and amazement
As strange noises from the glen did rent.

Pigs heart was all a flutter,
Pig’s bacon fair turned to butter.
Now pig really did have to run
This really was no fun.

Towards dusk piggy found home
Up in the hills of Whiritoa,
Hidden away in a small tomo
Were grunts and snorts,
Oh! No! As piggy related tales and did rave
Of this day he was so brave.

Thus ends another pig of a tale
And one that is written down.
For future generations to see,
The day that Whiritoa Pig came for tea.

© Anne Stewart Ball 2008

coastal wetlands and forest on Whiritoa hills - photo 2010 Chris Ball 

Reference Source:  

• Davidson, J., 1984. The Prehistory of New Zealand. Longman Paul, Auckland
• C. M. H. Clarke & R. M. Dzieciolowski (1991) Feral pigs in the northern South Island, New Zealand: I. Origin, distribution, and density, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 21:3, 237-247, DOI: 10.1080/03036758.1991.10418181
• Beaglehole, J.C. (Editor), 1961. The journals of Captain James Cook on his voyage of discovery. The voyage of the Resolution and Adventure 1772-1775. Vol 2. Cambridge University Press, published for the Hakluyt Society. 
• Dunmore, J., 1969. The Fateful Voyage of the St. Jean Baptiste. Pegasus Press, Christchurch

• The Origins of Pig Breeds New Zealand Journal of Agriculture  15 October 1945  Page 391

• National Library NZ Papers Past Press  3 March 1900  Page 4  PIG HUNTING. A REMINISCENCE OF THE EARLY DAYS.
• NZ Pig Hunting Association NZ Pighunting Association | New Zealand Pighunting Association
• James Fagan History Blog

The Early Days of Thames Goldfield “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage” Part I

2010 First writing, 2021 update  By Anne Stewart Ball

 This is Part I  The Early Days of Thames Goldfield   “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage" Part I

 To see Part II  go to The Early Days of Thames Goldfield   “A Slice of Industrial and Transport Heritage" Part II

The Beginning

 As one drives into Thames in 2010, there is a reminder of those early days of mining, just over 140 years ago on the Thames Goldfields - a Welcome Sign and a reminder of this town’s past - stampers that once used to crush quartz. A town that is silent now, but where in the past, things were so different. A town that was humming with a “Gold Rush” and with, it was said, the noise of numerous stampers in batteries, crushing the quartz to extract the precious metals trapped within.

The Old Big Pump, Thames NZ. Tramways chute and in centre background a poppet In Weston, Fred (compiler). Jubilee Souvenir –Thames Goldfields-A History From Proclamation Times To 1927. Thames: “ Thames Star”, July ,1927. p 20 

According to Weston:- 

“at one time there were 693 head of stampers pounding away upon ore from the Thames mines. “ However Weston also was to write 

“Even this does not represent the whole battery strength, for after the date of the register ( early 1870’s) from which the above list were taken there were erected the 40-stamper Piako battery, at the foot of the Karaka Creek, between Mackay street and Baillie street, and the Imperial Crown battery, another 40, on Beach Road, opposite the Big Pump; the Herald, 20, also on Beach Road; and the Caledonian, 62 at the back of the lagoon now formed between Waiotahi and Moanataiari Creek.”

John Logan Campbell, at the time of writing on his early years as a settler in 1840, had seen and been closely involved with the development of steamer transport, railways and the changes to what is today called Thames. He took a keen interest in the developments. Apart from a business interest, it is known that he had long conversations on this “new technology”, with its uses and benefits for the wider community. He was to write: 

“Pulling against wind and tide in an open boat is one thing, steaming along at eight or nine knots an hour is quite another thing. I little thought then that I should live to see daily steamers crossing the Hauraki Gulf at more points than one. Passenger-laden steamers larger than petty ferry-boats were then almost an unknown quantity in Australian waters, quite unknown in Poenamo.” 

The years 1867 to 1874 – the beginning years of the Thames Goldfields – saw new developments with steam. It was used to run the engines and boilers of the multitude of batteries sprung up to crush the quartz. Later mining batteries used water power and a new technology – hydro electricity - as steam was an expensive process.

Steam in 1867 – 1874 provided a quicker means of transport to and from Thames and steamers with more ability to travel into shallower waters than sailing ships. Thames also saw the development of tramways and later railways, along with the rolling stock, to be used for transport on these. With the use of steam went development of the use of iron rather than wood for steamers and mining machinery.

Thames was a place that my first generation NZ family settlers of Stewart and MacFarlane came to, by nature of occupation and community, much like the many others who came to this Goldfield. In industrial mining, it was the infrastructures that went in to the mines and batteries. In the transport field it was with the steamers which provided the vital transport link to a newly formed mining town, the lighthouses a necessary navigation aid for what had become a busy sea route; the tramways and later railways that were to begin. 

Moanataiari Hill, early years of Thames Goldfields, NZ Those coming to and from Thames regularly by sea , including writer’s family forebears, would have seen a rapidly changing landscape such as this view in those years. 

Infrastructures for a Mining Town 

When the Thames Goldfield was declared open in August of 1867, many of the prospectors expected to find alluvial gold – the stuff that could be got through panning and which gave a nickname to a claim as that of “poor man’s ground “because not much capital was needed to work it and many had a chance of finding “a lucky strike” and perhaps a fortune.

Instead the goldfield was found to be auriferous – which carried a nick name “rich man’s ground” for it needed capital, batteries and machinery – the stampers to break up the quartz to get the precious metals within. The batteries being constructed needed water and the mining claims needed tramways to bring the quartz from their claim to the batteries. Not all claims and companies had their own batteries and relied on others to supply this need. The applications were many and it was a hard-pressed Provincial Engineers Office trying to meet the rapid growth of an industrial mining town. The Daily Southern Cross carried a report from the Provincial Engineer and Chief Engineer and Surveyor of the Goldfields to the then Superintendent, Auckland Province - in 1868 this was John Williamson.

“Sir, — I have the honour to report for your information that up to the present time one hundred and forty applications for water races, machine sites, roads and tramways have been referred to me for my opinion, by the Wardens of the Thames goldfield. This whole of these explorations have been personally examined, by me on the ground, be far as I have been enabled to reach upon them, but as several lie at considerable distances from here, and some of them are for leases which require to be surveyed, I have, up to the present period, been quite unable to find time to deal with them, notwithstanding exertions on my part that cannot be continued.” 

His report also said that there was a need to begin a trigonometrical survey at once, work on plans for other government offices and buildings and a need for a water supply for Shortland. In 1868 the collections of settlements on Thames Goldfields were Grahamstown, Shortland and Tararu at the Northern end – later called Thames that is seen today in 2010. 

Looking toward Thames from Tararu NZ March 2010, photo CRB collection 

Soon after the Daily Southern Cross reported a petition signed by 600 of the miners of Thames, presented by Mr. Grove to Provincial Council Meeting. The petitioners expressing dissatisfaction with delays, asked for improvements to existing wharves, a wharf at Tararu, a railway connecting Tararu with Shortland and tramways. Petitions and meetings on the problems of infrastructure were common occurrences in those early years of the goldfields.

Engineers and Surveyors

 Engineers and Surveyors were amongst the early pioneers of the goldfields involved in the early “pegging out of claims”, chartography, development of industrial mining and transport engineering. They played an essential role. For a number, it was uncharted territory they mapped, including underground and innovative new technology designed. A number were qualified in both the field of engineering and in the field of surveying.

Engineers and surveyors were kept busy with chartography of the goldfields, claim boundaries, the water races, machine sites, roads and tramways that the Provincial Engineer wrote about in his report of 1868 to the Provincial Superintendent. Charles O’Neill C.E. who had been appointed mining surveyor for the Thames goldfield in 1868 and Thames engineer-in-chief of railways, tramways and wharves was also active. 1871 saw a first legislative bill for control of town planning in New Zealand, introduced by Charles as an elected MHR for Thames Goldfield. Unfortunately the bill which included provisions for wide streets and public reserves did not make it through in 1871 but another passed in 1876, reflected Charles O’Neill’s first bill in 1871.

However in the beginning years of the goldfields and Thames as a town, apart from the cries for water races, wharves, tramways and railways, some were to observe the layout of the town. The Thames Miners Guide, 1868 wrote:-

“The township of Shortland is exceedingly well laid out, the streets are wide and very numerous, the houses are substantial, and in Pollen-street tolerably uniform. This is the principal street, and it can boast of containing the Court House, Post Office, and Custom House (all in a neat one-story building), four banks, a theatre, five hotels, five eating houses or restaurants, a local journal, and stores of all descriptions. There are four churches and chapels (one for each denomination), several small schools, and, to crown all, an American coach runs between Shortland and Tookey's Flat. The only drawback to Shortland is the mud; literally speaking, you cannot walk along the streets without danger of being swamped.” 

A number of Engineers, who were also Surveyors, were appointed Goldfields Surveyors. Amongst them Daniel Manders Beere, Edward Holroyde Beere, John Gywneth, Thomas Sandes and John Goodall. Samuel Harding was also appointed a Minefields Surveyor. 

Those Engineer / Surveyors also became involved in the survey and construction of the Auckland Provincial Railways along with their accompanying bridges, culverts, stonework and water towers. For several, this was not a new involvement in railways. Daniel Manders Beere had previously worked in an Engineering Practice with his uncle in Canada and as in Canada, continued his photographing of the Auckland Province “the way it was then.” 

Today in 2010 most of the railways are now closed. However there are some heritage relics of bridges, culverts, stonework and water towers remaining – a reminder of the work of those Railway Engineers & Surveyors back in those early days. 

Water – “Too Little or Too Much” 

Batteries in the early era of the Thames Goldfields relied on water to drive the stampers. Coal was an expensive commodity and this was pre electricity days. Water it seemed from accounts, at times was a dearth of, with batteries lying idle because there was not enough flow to drive the machinery. At the other end of the scale, at times there was too much, with both floods and storms wreaking havoc with mines, battery machinery, wharves and tramways. The early 1870’s from accounts was awash with floods, strong gales and high seas affecting the collection of settlements clustered against the hills of the range behind

Thames, NZ in March 2010 – A town still against the hills of the range behind Built up housing more restricted on the flats, photo CRB collection 

The Daily Southern Cross reported a March 1871 gale where “Lalla Rookh was deposited on the extensive pipi bank at the mouth of the creek” The creek being the Kauaeranga. p.s. Lalla Rookh was the popular steamer launched in October 1868. Other in this storm, was extensive damage to the Tararu Wharf.

 Creeks overflowing and a number of people’s homes awash with water in the floods of August 1871 also saw a large landslip at Shellback creek, taking with it, part of the roadway. From the reported account, batteries, mines and what men had laboured hard to build were also impacted upon. Damage to the fluming of the Tararu battery along with part of trestle work of a tramway up the Moanataiari Creek swept away. The Tararu, being an area with a small number of batteries but a large number of stampers amongst them. 

Less than six months later in February floods again wreaked havoc with mines and batteries. According to the Daily Southern Cross Una Company’s dam was swept away, along with some fluming of the Bulls and Vickery batteries along with a bridge at Tararu. Along with the usual “awash with water” for a number of mines, batteries, and parts of the town. 

A gale in August 1872 saw the Albion Company’s high tramway blown down; damage to the Grahamstown wharf where it seems a coal punt adrift carried away two piles. 

Reported in the Daily Southern Cross, yet more heavy gales and floods in 1874, said to be the most severe since Thames goldfield opened. This saw four cutters tossed ashore, - Captain Souter & Fernandez’ cutter Sydney, the Lady Ruth, a cutter belonging to a Mr. Hawkes of Tapu and George. According to the report George ended up “in the mangrove swamp on the Shortland Wharf “There was damage to the Grahamstown Wharf along with severe damage to the Tararu Wharf and the Tararu Grahamstown Tramway. 

As if this was not enough, further gales and high seas rolling over the tramway embankment in September 1874, bought more damage to the tramway.The Tararu Wharf under repair was also affected. Not long after the Grahamstown Tararu tramway operations were abandoned, a combination of several factors – severe storm damage ; a drop off in passenger traffic to Tararu; the sale of the Steamer Company’s paddle steamer Golden Crown; a restructuring of the Steamer Company and an upgrading of the steamer fleet from wooden to iron vessels.

Tararu in 2009 - photo ASB 

Despite the storms and damage digging for, crushing and extracting of that precious mineral gold, continued onward. While on the surface, water was either too little or too much, beneath the ground in the mines, it was too much in places. 

The New Zealand Freelance in later years, writing about experienced and veteran miner of the Coromandel Peninsula Goldfields, H.H. Adams (Harry), gave an account of an incident in the flooded Bright Smile Mine: 

"When nineteen years of age Mr. Adams was underground boss of the "Bright Smile," the' stones of which had fallen woefully on account of flooded workings. He and Clarke, his mate, descended the air shaft, the body of water preventing exit along the drives from the main shaft. As they had orders to go through the levels, they essayed to do so, but their candles went out, and they were in a wet mine and total darkness. There was 9ft. 6in. of water on the flat sheets that had to be crossed to get to the main-shaft, which couldn't be seen, and the two men swam about eighteen yards in the dark and went up the main shift by the ladder-ways 350 ft. They gave the waiting bosses at the top a shock. ” 

It was the Bright Smile Mine’s flooding problems that impacted on surrounding mines of the Waiokaraka - The City of London, Queen of Beauty, Bird in Hand, Queen of the May, Queen of the Thames, City of York and the Exchange. Meetings on the drainage question during 1874, Mr. Stewart voted to chair, occupied the attentions of the Mine owners over who was to do and who was to pay, along with the activities of the United Pumping Association. Wardens Court and Mediation solved the debates and arguments. However by October 1875, Bright Smile had overextended itself a little in the flurry of new pumps, a new 40 stamper battery, still the water problem and ceased operations. There followed the usual creditors meetings and eventually new owners of a new company formed. 

Queen of Beauty and Bright Smile In Weston, Fred (compiler). Jubilee Souvenir –Thames Goldfields-A History From Proclamation Times To 1927. Thames:

The first half of the 1870’s saw the formation of the Thames Pumping Association and the Waiokaraka Drainage Association to address the problems of water seepage in a number of the mines. The attention of those on “too much water” beneath was to be occupied into the 1880’s, alleviated with the opening of the Kauaeranga water race and the Big Pump once more in action. 

Kaeaeranga Creek water race works on side - early 1970's photo taken by H.T. Gorrie courtesy from Gwen Buttle photo album. PLEASE DO NOT COPY - seek permission to use 

© Researched, compiled and written by Anne Stewart Ball, 2010

Reference Source : 

• Weston, Fred (compiler). Jubilee Souvenir –Thames Goldfields-A History From Proclamation Times To 1927. 
• Campbell, John Logan. Poenamu. London: Williams and Norgate, 1881. also on websitehttp://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/ accessed 22/05/2010 
• The Thames Miners Guide, 1868
• COUNCIL PAPERS. – THAMES GOLDFIELD., Daily Southern Cross, 23/12/1868: p4)
• Daily Southern Cross, 12/02/1869: p.3
• Auckland Provincial Gazette 1868
• Daily Southern Cross 27/03/1871: p3
• Daily Southern Cross, 31/08/1871:p3
• Daily Southern Cross, 22/02/1872, p.3
• Daily Southern Cross, 12/08/1872: p 2
• Daily Southern Cross, 02 /06 1874, Page 3 
• All Sorts of People, New Zealand Free Lance, 20 /04/ 1907: p 3
• Thames Star, 01/10/1875:p2). 
• Website, City of Toronto Archives, accessed 27/05/2010