Queens Wharf Auckland

The Wharf
In Perceval, Westby Brook, Sir, Pictorial New Zealand, Cassell, and Co. London, 1895, p110     

Queens Wharf, Auckland - A Part of  the Past NZ History

A site of much shipping activity over many years. The place where the cargo was unloaded and loaded on Auckland's earliest shipping line - Henderson & Macfarlane or what became known as the Circular Saw Line. Those tall ships of the past - Breadalbane, Kate, Alice Cameron, Novelty, and Constance.

Barque Breadalbane In the New Zealand Insurance  Company Limited. Bold Century The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited 1959

Before Queens Wharf - Way back then

When baby Christina Stewart ( nee Forsyth ) arrived with her family aboard Jane Gifford in 1842 there was no wharf. This saw the newly arrived immigrants "sloshing "ashore knee-deep in mud and water.

Arrival Duchess of Argyle & Jane Gifford 9 October 1842( from a painting by M.T. Clayton) In Story of Auckland in Pictures Revised edition 1982

 Certainly quite different, no doubt,  to the Port of Greenock, Scotland they left, for the about 600 passengers aboard Duchess of Argyle and Jane Gifford.

 The  First Queens Wharf 

By the time baby, Christina was ten years old in 1852, the Auckland shoreline was changing. What is now known as the original Queen Street Wharf could be seen jutting out into the harbour.

  

    Drawing by J. P. Hogan

The area near the wharf was what is well known today as Fort Street and Shortland Street. However, the streets look very different now in 2013. Hard to even recognize what was once the warehouses of James Buchanan Macfarlane, Robert Carr, and others. One can only just see part of what was once Northern Roller Mills - flour manufacturer - an integral part of the port in the early days.

                                           

When Christina's future husband, Andrew Stewart, arrived aboard the Joseph Fletcher in 1859,  Queens Wharf was evolving into what was considered a haphazard-looking structure by many. Timber, gum, and all manner of goods found their way into Auckland via Queens Wharf. 

 Papers Past National Library NZ Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 Daily Southern Cross, 14 October 1859, Page 1

Auckland Waterfront 1859 In The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959. New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century.Auckland:

By the early 1860s, Andrew Stewart had gone into partnership with John Buchanan, operating as merchants and importers. Their address for business was advertised as Queens Wharf.

     Papers Past National Library NZ   
Daily Southern Cross, 22 January 1862

Typical of the shipping agents and importers down on the wharves, all manner of goods were imported from overseas. 

                                                             Papers Past National Library NZ

                            Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Daily Southern Cross, 14 March 1862, Page 3

Into 1864. Extensions to wharves and new wharves were the order of the day for the growing township of Auckland attempting to cope with an influx of immigrants via the Port of Auckland and Port of Onehunga. Port of Onehunga provided a landing place for the West Coast shipping – the coasters from Wellington, the ships bringing cargo and coal for those “ newfangled steamers” from Newcastle.

The New Zealand Herald ( 11 November 1864 page 6 ) reported the written report from William Weaver, then Engineer in Chief to the Auckland Provincial Council. Weaver in submitting a plan for Auckland Harbour Improvements wrote:-

"First, The widening of the present Queen-street pier, and extending it to the water of sufficient depth to allow first-class vessels to come alongside a wharf (called " Queen's Wharf,") to be built at the end of the pier. . - Secondly,- wharfage accommodation along the inside face of the breakwater; and Thirdly, the entire front of the proposed " Commercial Road from Queen-street .to Mechanic's Bay (except where it crosses Point Britomart) to be available as a public wharf or quay. The-widening the present pier I consider necessary for two reasons, first, to provide increased facilities for the traffic along the pier itself and to and from the proposed new wharf; and, secondly, to preserve and strengthen the present structure as much as possible, and eventually to provide means for its gradual re-construction." 

Queen Street Wharf 1864 in Wilson & Horton, Story of Auckland In Pictures, Wilson & Horton Ltd. 1971 Revised edition 1982

 

 

At the end of 1865 newspapers reported the arrival to Port of Auckland on 4 December, of the coastal schooner Fancy from the newly opened Tairua Sawmills. The cargo loaded by Captain Mustard was 16000 feet of timber bound for the wharf extensions. Part of the past of those coasters - schooners and cutters bringing foodstuffs, timber, gum, livestock, and flax to and from the fast-growing town of Auckland.  

By 1870 Port of Auckland was sporting a different-looking Queens Wharf.

From Shortland Street across rooves to Port of Auckland  - Courtesy Auckland Star

The following view was part of the past of Queen's Wharf into the new century when the wharves were introduced to that new product - ferrous concrete. By then Queen' Wharf had seen many ships, many passengers, and many cargoes- an integral part of our past stories.   
   

 Auckland Wharves 1903  In The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century, 
      The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959

Reference: Papers Past New Zealand National Library is a wonderful resource for looking up shipping and is the source of the Newspaper articles referred to in this article.

Eastern Coromandel Coasters and Cargoes

The cutter Janet, a typical coastal trader from Auckland.
Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 110, 5 November 1938, Page 24
courtesy Papers Past National Library NZ

Beyond the white

Of Maria Light

Where the long, green seas go tramping in,

And the red of Columbia Shoal,

Tramping in, stamping in,

With slow, resistless roll —

                                                 W Lawson

Beating the Coastal Route

Despite of the lack of roading on the Eastern Seaboard of the Coromandel, settlers soon adapted. Just as always from when the first peoples came to this area, the sea and coastal transport was turned to. By the early 1900's coasters had become a lifeline for those farming on the coast.

A stone wharf  was built at Whitianga thought to have been built way back in about 1838 and recorded by IPENZ  Engineering Heritage NZ   as being  the oldest wharf structure in New Zealand. It is said that Gordon Davis Browne ( AKA Brown), an early merchant of Sydney was placed by Captain Ranulph Dacre to supervise the cutting of spars to fill a contract for the English Navy. Browne built a stone wharf and established a timber mill. The stone wharf from local material aided loading and unloading of cargo. The wharf is still there today in 2014 - used by the local ferry to pick up and drop off passengers - now called Ferry Landing.

Ferry Landing ( Early Stone Wharf ) Whitianga ( also called Mercury Bay ) - Photo by CRB 2012

By mid August 1865 another large saw mill  was newly opened at Tairua. During the first seven months of that year the 21 ton cutter, Ringdove,  Poulgrain her master, beat the coastal sea route to and from Auckland carrying cargoes of mill machinery, bush tools for the new mill being built and passengers. The return cargoes from reading the shipping lists (papers past )were gum, beef and passengers. From accounts the owners of the sawmill were up to date with the latest (for 1865) of mill machinery - 

"These  mills, the property of Messrs. Seccombe and Bleazard, were opened at Tairua about two months ago, and promise to become one of the leading mills in the province. The spirited proprietors have, at a great outlay, imported machinery on the newest principles, the most useful of which is the band saw, and we think it deserving of a few remarks. This saw is of unusually large size, in one entire piece, and in the, short space of twenty minutes will cut 550 feet, or at the rate of 2000 feet per hour, any size from up to 60 inches in width. The boiler attached to the mill is one of Harrison's patent, of 60 horse power, and takes up 8 feet square room. The bush surrounding these mills abound with the finest description of Kauri trees, and of easy access to the workmen. Yesterday we saw some specimens of timber from Tairua, received by the Mapere, and it now lies on the Company's wharf, Custom-house-street. It is from 1 inch in thickness up to 12 x 36, and it is certainly some of the best we have seen. Mr. T. W. Brown is agent for this Company, and he announces the timber for sale."

                                         THE TAIRUA SAW MILLS. New Zealand Herald,  19 October 1865, Page 4

Not long after the Tairua Saw mill opened, Captain White of the schooner Mapere reported the "commencement of the Tairua Wharf."

Looking towards Tairua and current wharf - photo by CRB 2014

The cutter Ringdove was typical of the coasters of the era - under sail and dependent on wind, sea and current. With the saw mills opened the coast saw cutters, schooners and brigantines beating their way to the small eastern seaboard Coromandel Peninsula settlements with cargoes.  

Coromandel Kauri gum was also considered good quality and in the early days   saw the cutters amongst them Mary Jane - Captain De Thierry; Tamatuiana - Captain Tamaki; Kate - Captain Nicholls; Margaret - Captain Kennedy; Ringdove - Poulgrain. Amongst the schooners were Boyd - Captain Neil; George - Captain  Ngakirikiri; Mapere - Captain White with cargoes of gum. The kauri gum coming from the valleys of Whangamata, Wharekawa and Tairua.

 Whangamata had no wharf built in those early days even though coasters were  bringing cargoes of kauri gum from Whangamata  and the first Whangamata store was opened in 1873. The  Whangamata Goldfields  opening date declared for 1873, saw enterprising J.S. MacFarlane, Agent for the Steam Packet Company announcing a special Anniversary Day trip of p.s. Enterprise up the Waihou River from Thames for the opening of the Whangamata Block. Throughout this year, J.S. MacFarlane also advertised that the steamer s.s. Southern Cross (by now doing a regular run Auckland, Whitianga (Mercury Bay), Tauranga, Opotiki return) would call at Whangamata (“if sufficient inducement offered “ ) 

Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIX, Issue 4811, 27 January 1873, Page 1

courtesy Papers Past, National Library New Zealand

 

His deal must have been taken up for there are oral and written stories of the area passed down of the goods, machinery and passengers unloaded on the beach near the harbour entrance ( still no wharf then). From there it is said they were taken up to the gold mining and logging settlements up the Wentworth and Wharekawa Valleys.

Whangamata From the Air 1988 photo B Williams

James and Andrew Stewart, invited guests of George Fraser aboard the steamer  Rotomahana attended the new and upgraded Mercury Bay Saw mill opening, end of March 1883. By then regular steamer runs along the eastern seaboard coast were the norm.
 

The NZ Kauri Timber Company Prospectus of July 1888 reflected the mix of types of  coasters part of the purchase from the various New Zealand timber companies:

From Auckland Timber Company Limited, the steamers Terror, Yankee Doodle and Hokianga along with the schooners Mariner, Kauri and Rata.

From New Zealand Timber Company Limited, the cutters Fanny, Nellie and Gypsy, the barges Progress and Waitemata along with some punts and boats.

From Union Steam Saw, Moulding and Sash Door Company Limited.   the brigantine Aratapu.

From Messrs David Blair & Son the barques Grassmere and Killarney along with several boats, punts and rafting gear.

Steamers continued to make regular calls to Whangamata  dropping machinery, supplies and passengers, their entry into the Harbour dependent on the tide. During this decade of great interest, out at sea, off the coast was the reported in the Bay of Plenty times of “the somewhat unusual sight of a waterspout was this morning witnessed by those on board the Waiotahi when opposite Whangamata.” Fortunately the Waiotahi was not in its path. (Bay Of Plenty Times, 6 October 1897, p2)

Into a new century and a railway was opened at Waihi in 1905. This gave settlers and itinerants on the other side of the ranges a choice (still no roads). Either pack horse to Waihi and the railway, or use what had now become a regular coastal steamer call to Whangamata and Tairua. These were the steamers of the Northern Steamship Company and amongst those calling were Ngatiawa, Waitangi, Waipu, Waiotahi, Chelmsford and Daphne.

Schooners and cutters were being superceded and steamers well established, by the beginning of this new century. Other coasters appeared as regulars along the east coast - the “workhorses” of the coast (their sails giving way to motors). 

Over the 20th Century these scows, able to haul heavy freight,  carried cargo of logs, shingle, sand, machinery and livestock. Leyland & O Brien who had a contract up the Wharekawa Valley found the scow useful for their needs.

Rangi - One of three owned by Leyland & Obrien

 The bar at the entrance to Tairua Harbour was treacherous at times, Whangamata little better, especially in stormy weather, bringing high swells crashing against the rocky cliffs.

 Looking toward Entrance to Tairua Harbour across the bar. In centre rear of photo Motuhoa ( Shoe ) Island
photo by CRB 2014

 Cliffs Northwards of Whangamata Harbour Entrance - Photo by H M Stewart 1988

                                        
                                 

The 1860's  saw the sea claim at Whangamata - the cutter Annie Laurie, at Tairua -the schooner Mapere.

The sea continued to claim on this coast in the 1870s  - the cutter Eclair, schooner Onwards, cutter Brunette, brig Syren, cutter Glance at Tairua.

The 1880's  saw the sea claim the cutter Half Caste at Boat Harbour near Tairua, a boat said to have delivered illicit liquor to Port Charles and Opotiki.

Into the 1890's it was the Kauri Timber Company's cutter ( AKA ketch ) Nellie wrecked at Whenuakite ( Hot Water Beach ) 4th August 1894 along with the brigantine Aratapu in May 1898 ashore near Whangamata.

Whenuakite - Hot Water Beach -  Photo by CRB 2012

   The sea was to claim the scow Surprise in 1907 with the loss of life and one survivor, who scrambled up the cliffs at Ohui to be rescued (exhausted) by local farming family, the McGregors’. Later years (1976) were to see the wreck of the scow Hipi at Papakura Bay (a rugged area between Whangamata and Whiritoa). 

Papakura Bay - Southwards of Whangamata

Photo by J M Stewart 1970's

On 3 February 1919 Captain Edward Sellars and his crew of six landed ashore safely but the s.s. Wairoa, a small steamer was run aground on the bar at Tairua. Newspapers noted that the bar was "at all times  treacherous." The engine block from s.s. Wairoa, today in 2014, remains at Royal Billy Point, Pauanui - a reminder.

Engine block of s.s. Wairoa wrecked on Tairua Bar 3 February 1919 - Photo by CRB 2014

In March 1926, the “locals “of Tairua awoke to find the biggest ship yet, run fast aground on The Slipper Reef. This was the s.s. Manaia, said to be 1100 tons. Shortly after this there was a change on this stretch of coast.

Farming began to take the place of gum and gold – in the beginning days farmers using both the road/rail transport and sea transport for their produce. My own memories are of the farmers of Slipper Island (Normans followed by the Needhams) ran a barge backwards and forward ferrying livestock and supplies to and from Tairua.

Another group of settlers established themselves at Whangamata and Tairua, lured there by the bounty of the sea – fish. These harbours were to see in the place of schooners, cutters and steamers - fishing boats, the wharves (now there) useful places to unload the catch and bait up for the next trip. Many of these fishing boats, although a more recent coastal heritage of this area, in fact had a long heritage of their own and that is another blog.

Wharf, Whangamata Harbour 1970's - Photo by J M Stewart

Reference Source:

•   Cory Wright, Phyllis, “Jewel by the Sea”, Printcorp Ltd, Tauranga, 1988
•  Ingram, Chas.W.N. and Wheatley, P Owen. Shipwrecks New Zealand Disasters 1795 - 1936. Dunedin: Dunedin Book Publishing Association, 1936.
• Williamson, Beverley M, Whangamata – 100 Years of Change, Goldfields Print Ltd, Paeroa, 1988 Boat Day 
• The NZ Kauri Timber Company Prospectus of July 1888
•  Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 7, May 1967 Whangamata Stores by Jack and the Late Harry Watt Ohinemuri Journal
•  Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 1, June 1964 WAIHI TO WHANGAMATA "LUCK AT LAST", WHANGAMATA -- By the late Mr. Ben Gwilliam Ohinemuri Journal
• MERCURY BAY TIMBER COMPANY. New Zealand Herald, 3 April 1883, Page 6
• Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Auckland Star,  16 July 1888, Page 3 Papers Past National Library New Zealand
  
  
  
  
  

      

 

 

 

Coromandel Maritime Heritage Trail - Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel Peninsula )

Sailing ships and steamers at wooden wharves - p41 Bold Century 1859 - 1959 New Zealand Insurance Company 1959

Beyond all outer charting

We sailed where none have sailed,

And saw the land-lights burning

On islands none have hailed;

Our hair stood up for wonder,

But, when the night was done,

There danced the deep to windward

Blue-empty 'neath the sun!

                                                The Merchantmen, Rudyard Kipling 

Maritime Heritage is an integral part of the  Peninsula Heritage. The reality is that with no real roads across to the Eastern Seaboard coastline or into the hinterlands of Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( the Coromandel Peninsula)  until the 1900’s, Maritime Transport was the lifeline of  settlers and main method of goods, machinery and people movement. Associated also on the Peninsula – canoe and ship building, machinery and boilers for the later steamers. The maritime heritage timeline is long - crossing the peninsula backwards and forwards and the shoreline and surrounding ocean. 

Our maritime heritage  further than that, reflected in place names - Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui, Te Whitianga-o-Kupe and Taputapuātea - from the polynesian explorers such as Kupe and Toi who first touched the peninsula shores. Te moana nui a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean ) on the eastern shores with  Tikapa Moana-o-Hauraki    ( Firth of Thames ) and  Tīkapa Moana ( Hauraki Gulf ) on the western shores. 

Vaka - photo courtesy Te Ara - Cook Islands Museum of Cultural Enterprise, Muri Rarotonga,  2017

       A  Maritime Heritage  timeline 

Pre 1200 AD  Whitianga

Polynesian navigators came to and from New Zealand  over many voyages and many years. Their navigation, a skilled science and art was passed on and learned from one navigator to another. They navigated the pacific utilizing the sun, the moon,  the stars, bird flights, winds, clouds, ocean currents. Their stories are in the Archaeological studies of experts, the oral stories and knowledge passed down from generation to generation and today in 2021 this video:                          

How did Polynesian wayfinders navigate the Pacific Ocean?   

Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( the Coromandel Peninsula) from Google Maps 18/08/2021 

Migration  of Waka ( Canoe)  Arawa and Tainui

The migration of the waka (canoe)  Arawa and Tainui to New Zealand - Tamatekapua, Arawa and Hoturoa ,Tainui.  Both these waka are said to gave landed firstly at Whangaparāoa together. Both waka are said to have journeyed along the Coromandel coast. Tamatekapua is said to have sighted the mountain Moehau, later settled there and when died was buried on the summit of Moehau. 

 

Early to mid 1300's  AD Tairua 

Archaeological excavations undertaken by Professor Roger Green between 1959 and 1964 found a tropical pearl shell lure used in fishing  - a significant find- one of the earliest found in New Zealand. Further subsequent research of this significant find confirmed an approximate date- 1300 - 1350 AD,  that the lure came from Eastern Polynesia  on a waka ( canoe), found in what has been described as a temporary camp typical of the Peninsula.

                                                                sign re fishing lure location at Tairua 

                                                                        - photo Chris Ball August 2021 

1769   Voyage  of HMS Endeavour, Captain Cook -   Coromandel Peninsula 

The voyage 1768 -1771 of HMS Endeavour ( previously named Earl of Pembroke - collier bark ) was a combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition .Early November 1769, Captain Cook sailed up the Eastern Seaboard to Te Whitianga-o-Kupe - on 9 November observed the transit of Mercury. Continuing voyage on the other side of the Peninsula ,the Waihou river aboard two long boats, landing about 12 nautical miles from the sea before  returning to HMS Endeavour.

In Sherrin, R. A. (1890). Early History of New Zealand: From earliest times to 1840. Auckland: H Brett Publishers.

1794, 1795  ship Fancy, Captain Dell  ship Fancy  Waihou River, Waiau (Coromandel Harbour) 

On a return journey from Sydney NSW headed for the Waihou River. Fancy lay for three months some  miles up the Waihou River, gaining what was considered good timber spars. Captain Dell also attributed with entering the Waiau and  leaving the name Brampton Harbour after ship Fancy owner William Brampton - the same Captain William Brampton who with Captain Dell, visited Dusky Sound 1895 on the East Indiaman Endeavour ( not to be confused with Captain Cooks ship Endeavour)

1798 – 1800  Java-built scow Hunter, Captain James Fearn, Waihou River

10th June 1798, a Java-built scow of 300 tons , the Hunter reached Port Jackson  from Bengal, and on 20th September sailed for New Zealand to secure a cargo of spars for the China  market. Captain James Fearn made for the Waihou River, where  cargo of timber procured  , transported to the water's edge with the assistance of Maori, sailed for China about the  middle of October.

1798 –1801 ship, Royal Admiral Captain William Wilson, Hauraki Gulf and Waihou River 

The East Indiaman Royal Admiral,  found a vessel to be the Plumier in sore straits. What help was  required the Royal Admiral gave and was directed to a forest about 20 miles distant where excellent  timber could be procured. Captain Wilson is attributed with a hydrographic chart showing the track of the Royal Admiral into and exiting the River Waihou ( then called River Thames). Missionaries also were onboard Royal Admiral - One Rev Youl was to find way to Tasmania.

1801 El Plumier, Thomas Fyshe Palmer , Waihou River 

Thomas Fyshe Palmer (Scottish Martyr  sent to NSW as a convict and served time, at end bought El Plumier and sailed for the Waihou River  Thames seeking a cargo of timber. El Plumier stranded and rescued by Royal Admiral.

1815  Brig Active, Rev Samuel Marsden 

Rev. Samuel Marsden and John Nicholas visited a large village on the western side of the Firth of Thames, possibly Whakatiwai, where the wife of 'Shoupah' (Te Haupa) lived. There was a pa on the hill nearby. The India built brig Active was purchased by Marsden in 1814.

 Brig Sailing Ship Vector Clip Art #ibbhP1 

1820 HMS Coromandel , Captain Downie  Coromandel Town 

 

HMS Coromandel previously HMS Malabar and before that the East Indiaman Curvera  called in for kauri wood for ships spars. Rev. Samuel Marsden was also

( CMS Missionary , Parramatta, NSW magistrate ,chaplain of the Penal Colony of NSW ), was aboard HMS Coromandel, Captain James Downie) Captain Downie did a sketch of the River Thames ( Te Waihou) entrance.

HMS Coromandel formerly   THE EAST INDIAMAN “MALABAR.”

The Old East Indiamen   Edward Keble Chatterton Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54561/54561-h/54561-h.htm#i_b_330fp

1826  Rosanna, Captain James Herd, Thames

Herd spent a winter in the Firth of Thames in 1826. Herd's the  first chart the firth appears on is JW Norrie’s ‘A New Chart of Part of The Pacific Ocean’ in 1829. Maps after this time use ‘Firth’ or ‘Frith’.

1830’s Whanganui or Beeson’s Island -Herekino Bay,- Waiau or Coromandel Harbour 

-Bill Webster AKA  “Big Webster” the American trader, had his store, timber  and shipbuilding on Whanganui AKA Beeson's Island - the largest among a number at the entrance of Coromandel Harbour.

1830's Barque Darling, Captain Dacre  Whitianga 

Captain Dacre of “Darling “ sent  1830- Browne to Whitianga ( Mercury Bay) and 1831- Harris to East Coast. Browne sent again to Whitianga in 1836 to set up timber and trading stations. 

1831 - 1837 cutter,  Joel Samuel Polack Whitianga 

Polack - Merchant, Trader  voyage Thames  Whitianga ( Mercury Bay)  Trading expedition aboard cutter 

January 1832  brig Active, Henry Williams, William Fairburn missionaries, Mercury Islands, Tairua, Whangamata to Tauranga 

Brig Active and Karere - Expedition to Tauranga - peacekeeping  voyage 

WAR CANOES AND MISSION BOAT From a lithograph, based on a sketch by Henry Williams, 

Carleton, H. (1874). The Life of Henry Williams: Archdeacon of Waimate. Auckland : Upton & Co 1874. Also in  ENZB books The University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services

1833  brig Active, schooner Karere, Fortitude , Henry Williams & William Fairburn missionaries, Puriri & Waihou 

A party of Williams, Fairburn, Brown and Morgan set off this year looking to establish a mission station at Thames. Puriri was decided on. 

1837 HMS Buffalo at Kennedy’s Bay

HMS Buffalo previously Hindostan and in 1831 for a short time a quarantine ship.   At Kennedy Bay Kauri Spars for British Navy  - Kennedy's Bay named after John Kennedy who  arrived in New Zealand aboard  HMS Buffalo in 1836 to collect spars for the Admiralty.

Eastwood, William  12 June 1868   Showing a watercolour sketch of a sailing ship in Kennedy Bay, Coromandel, with a small rowboat in the foreground. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 3-698-74a    

1838 or 1839  Stone Wharf ,Browne, Whitianga

constructed by Gordon Browne , said to be oldest such structure in NZ - for inward and outward goods. 

Stones taken from the old Maori fortress to build a rudiment ar y wharf across the river at Whitianga. (Evening Post, 23 December 1939). Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/17186973

July 1840 HMS Buffalo, shipwreck, Whitianga

Shipwreck of H.M.S. Buffalo - this ship also has links with Adelaide having bought Governor and immigrants to Adelaide 1836. Both Browne and Stewart, were attributed with assisting Captain Wood  and  the crew of  HMS Buffalo, in the aftermath of the ship wreck. Gordon Browne of the timber station, trader and Captain William Stewart sealer, trader and pilot for HMS Herald going south with Treaty of Waitangi to be signed and visiting Gordon Browne helped secure shipwreck. 

H. M. S. "Buffalo" [B 4263] [On back of photograph] 'H. M. S. "Buffalo" / Copied from a pen and ink drawing by Lieutenant Y.B. Hutchinson, R.N. (One of the passengers, 1836)'. Courtesy State Library, South Australia

1840 Schooner Russell  Coromandel 

Built at Coromandel Harbour

1841 Schooner Terror, Coromandel 

The schooner  Terror was built at Coromandel Harbour, made throughout with local product  of New Zealand, independent of her rigging.

1842 HMS Tortoise, commander James Wood, Te Karo Bay (Sailor’s Grave) 

Young sailor- able bodied seaman ( AB) William Samson of HMS Tortoise -  lost his life in an incident with a ship’s jolly overturning in the surf. HMS Tortoise spent several weeks loading timber spars bound  for England. Onshore at Te Karo was a "timber camp." 

The type of boat which overturned in the surf at Te Karo - Ship's Jolly

Robert Pollard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Types_of_boats.jpg accessed 03/09/2021

The type of boat which overturned in the surf at Te Karo - Ship's Jolly

1840 - 1860 Coastal Trading  East Cape, Coromandel Peninsula - Auckland 

By 1858  ownership shipping  registered to Auckland recorded 53 belonging to Maori owners. Small schooners and cutters were responsible for a large freight business taking goods, food and produce to the fast growing township of Auckland. Shipping belonging to Maori owners also voyaged to Australia. 

1852 Stop over for trading vessels Harataunga ( Kennedy Bay), Ahuahu (Great Mercury Island)

originally belonging to Ngati Huarere ,who gave  to  Ngāti Tamaterā of Hauraki who gifted land at Harataunga to Ngāti Porou. For a shipping vessel stop over on trading voyages to Auckland.

 Also, the great ancestor of Ngāti Porou, Paikea, made landfall at Ahuahu (Great Mercury Island) from Hawaiki, and is said to have left descendants at Harataunga ( Kennedy's Bay) This gift was later recognised by the Native Land Court.

Eastwood, William  12 June 1868   Showing a watercolour sketch of a sailing  ship in Kennedy Bay, Coromandel, with a small rowboat in the foreground. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 3-698-74a     PLEASE BO NOT COPY

October 1852 HMS Pandora, Captain Drury, Mercury Bay - Bay of Plenty/East Cape 

Captain Drury moved operations to Mercury Bay for surveys of harbours, rivers, coast. Coast from Cape Colville to Mercury bay; Channel islet; Cuvier island; Charles cove; Kennedy bay; Wangapoa river; Mercury islands. Richard's rock; Koruenga islets; Mercury bay Cook's bay, and Mangrove river Castle island; Alderman islands; Mayor island; Tairua river; Slipper island, Whangamata river.

1853  schooner Ngahuia ,Nicholas Waihou River, Hikutaia

Albert John Nicholas is attributed with building the schooner Ngahuia on the Waihou River ( then called the Thames ) Nicholas is said to have bought produce down the Waihou to be sold and was also  owner of the cutters Nimrod and William.

1865 Cutter Ringdove, Captain Poulgrain, Tairua

brings several cargoes to Tairua – including sawmill plant and machinery opened 1865. Tairua harbour. Next few decades many shipping vessels visit both the newly opened Tairua sawmill and the Mercury Bay  Sawmill. 

 1867 PS Enterprise No 2  Thames 

bought  first prospectors and others to Thames – opening of Thames Goldfield 

February 1867   p.s. Sturt, Captain Fairchild Otahu, Whangamata, Tairua

p,s, Sturt Captain Fairchild, made a trip along the coast to northward as far as Mercuries, calling at Tairua, Otahu and other places. Everything  said to be quiet in the rivers where she visited.

1868 Shortland Wharf, Thames 

 oldest wharf in Thames 

1868 Holdship Wharf, George Holdship,  Thames 

Holdship Wharf at what is now Cochrane Street – George Holdship being a timber merchant and eventually NZ Manager of the giant northern octopus - NZ Kauri Timber Company Ltd. (Incidently if one does the Maritime shipwreck trail, and Maritime Heritage of Victoria, Australia can find a number of links to Coromandel.)

 Same with Sydney – For NZ Dacre, Burns & Phelps, Craigs, P & N Russell Co and Hague Smith’s steamers Royal Alfred and Duke of Edinburgh. Of these the former was built at North Shore, Auckland, her machinery being taken from the Prince Alfred, and her boiler manufactured by Messrs. P. N. Russell and Company of Sydney from plans prepared by Mr. James Stewart, civil engineer, of Auckland. The Duke of Edinburgh came over from Australia to enter the Thames-Auckland trade. The same P & N Russell who manufactured gold mining machinery and gave a very large bequeath to start Engineering School Sydney University.

 October 1869 Thames declared a Port of Entry 

The first entry inwards of note since the declaration of the Port of  Thames was the  schooner Dancing Wave, Captain Brown, from Picton, entered with a large cargo of white pine, shipped at Pelorus Sound, consigned to W. S. Laurie.

shipping at a Thames wharf - the goldmining years 

 1869 Tararu Wharf, Thames

 

1870   Ship building, William White, Whitianga 

1873 the fine yacht Contrabantiere was launched with proper ceremony 

1872 Ponui Passage lighthouse, on maritime route Auckland - Thames

one of two wave washed lighthouses – this one built by Heron of Thames – can see area from Tararu – Both this and Bean Rock lighthouse essential for  maritime goldfields traffic to Thames.  

1874 Ship building, George Sharp, Tairua

 cutters Coralie and top sail schooner Belle Brandon built for Captain William Benjamin Jackson– Belle Brandon was eventually owned by one of New Zealands first major shipping lines ( Circular Saw Line – Henderson & Macfarlane – who also had many links with the Coromandel Peninsula) 

December 1876 s.s Rotomahana, Captain A Farquhar, Auckland - Thames run 

Following steam trials - a regular run Auckland - Thames

1877 - Shipping out of Port of Thames 

 Bagnall, Stone, Gibbons – “Timber Hey Deys”  Many brigs and brigantines found their way to Thames and the Waihou River for timber which was transported to other parts of New Zealand, overseas to Australia and to the Pacific. This included the Auckland built brigantine Defiance.

Munro, John Alexander, 1872-1947. Munro, John Alexander 1872-1947 :Brigantine "Defiance" built in Auckland 1883. [n.d.]. Ref: A-103-009. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23051399

1880  Waka arrives Thames from Whangamata

The arrival of a very large, ornately decorated waka canoe, paddled around the coastline from Whangamata to Thames. A gift to Hohepe Paronere, a “native “minister at Parawai, from the “native” settlement at Whangamata. 

1881 May 11th Northern Steam Ship Company formed. 

Thomas Morrin, David Cruickshank, Alexander McGregor, Thomas Ball, James Macfarlane and James McCosh Clark were appointed as the first directors. Northern Steam Ship Company was to become well known on the Coromandel Peninsula – a lifeline to the small settlements. The directors were those who had links to the Coromandel Peninsula via Gum, Gold, Timber and shipping. Northern Steamship regular runs to Thames, Paeroa, Ngatea, Mercury Bay, Tairua, Whangamata by 1900.

                          

s.s. Waiotahi in supplement 1 December 1898 pg 15
Papers Past National Library NZ 

1881 - 1888 , ship building, John Alfred Murray AKA Alfred John Boradale , Boat Harbour / Te Karo

These were the cutters Half Caste built at Boat Harbour, near Tairua in 1881  The  Tararawa AKA Te Rarawa was built in 1885, also at Boat Harbour.

1889 Cuvier Island lighthouse lit 

first cast iron light tower manufactured in New Zealand – by Charles Judd, Engineering firm  at Thames.

 1894 Junction Wharf Paeroa

this was an important Wharf for was where goods, machinery and equipment delivered for Ohinemuri Goldfields Goldmining and Waihi companies.

1897  Wharf , Coromandel 

Renewed “anticipation “goldmining bought transport to   at Wharf Coromandel 

1918 granite wharf , Paritu 

 

constructed from large blocks of granite worked at Moehau Quarries on name Cape Colville Road. ( note need to be specific where this Paritu is for also other of this  on Peninsula.) 

1919 Steamer Wairoa , Tairua Bar and Pauanui 

The steamer Wairoa severely damaged when she ran aground on Tairua Bar. (Relics at Royal Billy Goat Reserve, Pauanui) The relics are a reflection and reminder of the dangers of the Tairua Bar - Plenty of ship wrecks along this Eastern Seaboard of the coast. Eg biggest vessel of all s.s. Manaia.

Engine Block of s.s. Wairoa wrecked on Tairua Bar 3 Feb 1919 
Photo courtesy Chris Ball 2014

May  1928 Old Kopu Bridge across River Waihou opened

Sole remaining example of a swing span bridge in New Zealand. Allowed vessels to pass underneath when opened including river steamers.

1928  Recreation Fishing , Zane Grey , Mercury Bay 

American western writer Zane Grey, Mercury Bay companion Captain Laurie Mitchell arrived to sample the abundant Mercury Bay waters before heading to Tahiti. Such were the fish numbers they vowed to return. It was Zane Grey who introduced ‘proper’ game fishing to New Zealand.

SUCCESSFUL DEEP- SEA FISHING WITH ROD AND LINE OFF MERCURY BAY, COROMANDEL PENINSULA: FURTHER PICTURES SHOWING MR. ZANE GREY'S ACTIVITIES.  Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19330125-32-2

March 1992  Clio celebrates 100 years old at Whangamata Wharf 

Not always does a vessel reach 100 years old and still be working. 

In 1992 ,by then a fishing boat , Clio  originally built by Edwards Brothers as a top sail cutter in 1892 turned 100 years old.  Fisher folk from up and down the coast  between Whangarei and Whangamata came to the celebration. Many had either owned or been with this " boat called lucky". Many were the tales of this kauri boat that worked the coast for 100 years. 

Reference Source:

•          McNab, R. (1914). From Tasman To Marsden: A History of Northern New Zealand from 1642 to 1818. Dunedin: J. Wilkie & Company. The New Zealand Provincial Histories Collection   New Zealand Texts Collection
•          Polack, J.S. (1838). New Zealand: being a narrative of travels and adventures during a residence in that country between the years 1831 and 1837 [Vols. I and II]
•         Project Gutenberg's The Old East Indiamen, by Lieutenant R.N.V.R. Edward Keble Chatterton LONDON  T. WERNER LAURIE LTD. P330 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54561/54561-h/54561-h.htm
•         Green, R. C. (1967). 'Sources of New Zealand’s East Polynesian culture: the evidence of a pearl shell lure shank'. Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania 2: 81-90
•      Smart, C. and Green, R. C. (1962). 'A stratified dune site at Tairua, Coromandel'. Dominion Museum Records in Ethnology 1 (7): 243-266
•           Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'First peoples in Māori tradition', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/first-peoples-in-maori-tradition/print (accessed 16 August 2021)
•          G. S. Parsonson. 'Marsden, Samuel', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990, updated May, 2013. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1m16/marsden-samuel (accessed 19 August 2021)

• COMPILED BY CAPTAIN G. H. RICHARDS and MR. F. J. EVANS, R. (1856). THE NEW ZEALAND PILOT. FROM SURVEYS MADE IN H.M. SHIPS ACHERON AND PANDORA, CAPTAIN J. LORT STOKES AND COMMANDER BYRON DRURY. London: PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THEADMIRALTY. http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=1719&action=null accessed 05/09/2021 

•          Daily Southern Cross  3 January 1854  Page 2

•            Daily Southern Cross,  9 October 1869, Page 4 

•               Bay of Plenty Times  20 May 1880  Page 5       By NORTON WATSON  By Way of Puriri Mission  Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 14, October 1970

•            Ponui Passage - Lighting the Way  Part of the Past NZ History: Ponui Passage - Lighting the Way (partofpastnzhistory.blogspot.com)