22 January to 28 January, 1868 (Week 26 - halfway there!)

Auckland Provincial Hospital
Sir George Grey Special Collections Reference: 4-305  

                                   
A bundle of clothes.

Wednesday, 22 January

The Tauranga reaches Auckland wharf early this morning with 800 ozs gold from the Kuranui Reef Company’s claim. Mr Rowe, manager, bears the parcel.  The Shotover claim is intending to send up 1,000 oz in a day or two for export by the next Sydney steamer.

James Mackay walks from Manaia to Tapu Creek and on arriving marks out a small 
township.  Once the allotments are pegged out, all 49 of them are promptly taken up for business sites. McIssac’s claim at Tapu is yielding gold in the casing and when the solid reef is met with there are expectations it will rival the Shotover.

Hugh Coolahan steps from the top of an oven now in the course of construction for him at Shortland, treads on some loose bricks and falls.  When picked up he is discovered to have two broken ribs.  Mr Coolahan is immediately attended by Dr Hooper and  prescribed a few days rest. Dr Hooper has also been continuously attending Kate Brown at Tapu but she is now in a dying state. 

There is another ill woman on the goldfields.  Dr Groth, on his way to the Waiotahi Flat, is called by several people to a tent. The Waiotahi Flat is a sort of sub-township which is springing up on some land that until very lately was supposed to have been reserved for Maori cultivation, but is now being leased

Dr Groth finds Mary Lapine lying on the ground with a bundle of clothes under her.  She is a Frenchwoman of about 25 or 26.  Since Saturday she has been vomiting and in great pain. Dr Groth concludes she has an inflammation of the bowels and recommends her immediate removal to the Provincial Hospital in Auckland.  He gives her an injection, prescribes some medicine and advises hot water poultices be applied to her stomach.  A woman with several children is also present.

The Wesleyan's are building a chapel at Shortland -  the timber has been purchased at a cheap rate and the nails etc have been contributed by several gentlemen in Auckland.

Willie Winkie for the Thames with one case bacon, five cases brandy, one package currants, one box candles, one case pickles, one parcel Vesta matches, one half chest tea, four barrels ale, two hhds ale, three barrels ale, one case ale, 4,500 ft timber, 5,000 shingles, one case glass, two packages sashes, five doors, two kegs nails, six packages.

The report of Auckland's Medical Officer for the year ending December 31, 1867 is published and makes grim reading.  Owing to the continued depression of trade and commerce, and consequently diminished demand for labour of all kinds, the number of patients who have applied for relief during the year again increased. The exodus of the labouring population from Auckland to the Thames goldfields does not seem to have alleviated the distress existing in the city, as in the great majority of cases the wives and families of miners are left in Auckland and are supported on government rations or by charity. 

Numerous cases of dyspepsia and debility have come under treatment, owing no doubt to the want of sufficient nutritious food; the staple diet of a large number of the poor being bread, tea and sugar.  Animal food in any form is quite a luxury to many. Amongst the dispensary patients there does not seem to be any case in which remittances have been sent to support the family of a Thames miner in Auckland. During the past year there has been no outbreak of disease of an epidemic character, with the exception of a slight one of scarlet fever.  There has been remarkable immunity from typhoid fever, due most probably to the lessening of the overcrowding of dwelling houses in Auckland which was so common until recently.

At Tapu a meeting of miners is held this evening in a large marquee adjoining Mr Sceats’ hotel.  John Chute, an old experienced digger, is unanimously called upon to the chair.  The object of the meeting is to secure due representation for Tapu Creek mining interests – the peculiarity of this place, consisting of both quartz reefing and alluvial sinking, require different regulations to what is applicable to the Karaka, where all is quartz reefing.  In many cases where a claim is struck at Tapu, it requires experienced diggers to say whether the claim should be defined as quartz or alluvial.

Thursday, 23 January

A crushing for Daniel Tookey is finished this morning at Goodall’s machine. There is some 47 lbs weight of amalgam – about 200 oz of smelted gold.  The gold is the produce of eight tons of quartz, most the result of fossiking in the claim during the Christmas holidays.

The Papatoetoe claim on the Moanataiari Creek has discovered some exceedingly fine stone -  as fine as flour. For the last four months auriferous quartz has been got out at Messengers claim, now a very rich leader has been struck, from which nearly 50 tons quartz have been taken and stacked ready for crushing.  The partners in Messenger’s claim are waiting for the completion of a crushing machine brought from Sydney.

Dr Groth finds Mary Lapine in a worse condition and she appears to have been drinking as a bottle is lying close to her. She has not followed his advice in taking the medicine he prescribed for her.  No-one appears to be looking after her.   

Otahuhu for the Thames with 10,000 ft timber, two cases port, case oil, three passengers.

  Rob Roy for the Thames with  two tons potatoes, 1 ½ tons hay, 2,000 ft timber, four hhds beer, eleven barrels beer, one bale, one cart and harness, four cases sundries, one fly wheel, ten drums oil, ten tins paint, one horse, one dray.

Sarah for the Thames with two casks ale, one box soap, six bags sugar, two cases drapery, one bale drapery, one cask rum, one box candles, one parcel, two boxes biscuit, three packages drapery, one keg rum, one passenger.

The rush continues to the diggings at Tapu Creek.  It is the opinion of experienced diggers that this place will turn out a good poor man’s diggings, the gold being more equally distributed than at Shortland, with a chance of turning out what is called by miners a “heavy pocket.”

Kate Brown is still living as the Fly leaves Tapu this evening with the newspaper correspondent’s reports.

An absolute necessity for a hospital.

Friday, 24 January

The Resident Magistrate and Warden’s Courts at Shortland sit for some hours today with a large number of cases.

A smart new customs boat is towed to the Thames by the Tauranga. It was built at Messrs Clare and Waymouth’s yard in Custom House Street, Auckland, for the use of the Acting-Sub-Collector of Customs at the Thames and on arrival is duly handed over to the Custom officer, Mr Lundon.

Constable John Wallace is at Waiotahi Flat when a person approaches him and says there is a woman dying in a tent and a doctor is attending her.  At the tent Dr Groth tells Constable Wallace that it is imperative Mary be removed to the hospital.  He gives the constable a certificate stating her disease and recommending her removal to Auckland.  Constable Wallace takes the certificate to Commissioner Mackay who gives him authority to have Mary conveyed to town.  Constable Wallace takes a spring cart down to the tent but on arriving finds Mary in a very weak state.  Wallace goes and gets Dr Groth who accompanies him back to the tent but within ten minutes, around 1pm, Mary dies.  A woman present scornfully says “Look at this poor woman.  It should be a warning to others not to drink.”  She adds she believes from marks she has seen on the body that she has been ill treated - Mary appears to have a black eye and her arms are blue.  Archdeacon Lloyd, of Auckland who is at the Thames, has been informed of the unhappy state of the woman, and though greatly fatigued, he rushes to visit her, but is too late.  Rumours sweep the gold field that Mary Lapine has been grossly maltreated.

The Venerable Archdeacon Lloyd is announced to preach at the diggings on Sunday,  and on February 2 the Right Reverend Bishop Pompallier is to open a new Catholic Church at the diggings, according to the Daily Southern Cross.

Avon for the Thames with 12 head cattle, nine tons flour.

    Rangatira  for the Thames with ten cases wine, 22 cases spirits, three kegs spirits, ten tons potatoes. 

Fly for Tapu Creek with 15 sheep, one cask beef, ten packages, two parcels, three cheeses, three cases, one cask etc.

DSC 24 January, 1868

Saturday, 25 January

An inquest on Mary Lapine, who died horribly in a tent on the Waiotahi Flat, is held at Frank Furlong’s Reefer’s Arms Hotel, on the corner of Pollen and Richmond Street’s. The jury views the body which has been removed to the outer portion of the hotel. Mary is described as being of slight build and middle height, with dark hair and features.  She seems to have been a person who had both education and position.  Mary was a single woman who had been living in a tent at the Thames  with the Kennedy family for about five weeks. She had been in New Zealand for two years.  Mary never seemed to eat but took milk and brandy in quantities of a cupful at a time.  She was addicted to drink and was always falling about and had recently been in a quarrel.  Dr Groth believes the cause of death was typhlitis brought on by constipation of the bowels and accelerated by the excessive drinking of ardent spirits.  Some evidence is elicited showing that she had been maltreated.

After more than two hours consideration the verdict is given that Mary died of typhlitis (inflammation of part of the large intestine) accelerated by excessive drinking and want of proper care and nourishment.  Contrary to gossip,  there were no marks of violence on the body.

Mary’s death causes outrage.  There is a gross want of humanity in leaving a fellow creature, and a woman too, to die alone and uncared for.  There is an absolute necessity for some hospital accommodation at the Thames.  Mary may have lived had she been cared for.  The Provincial Government will give some old beds and bedding towards hospital accommodation at the Thames but a building is needed, and a medical officer, medicines and attendants.

A sample of gold obtained from Thompson’s claim, Karaka Hill, is shown around.  The gold is of a very fine quality. Mr Thompson disapproves of the practice at present adopted of squeezing the amalgam through chamois leather - all the fine gold is lost.  The whole of his amalgam shall be retorted, without using the chamois leather.

 A great Maori meeting of the King tribe is held at Tokangamutu (Te Kuiti).  There are between 3,000 and 4,000 assembled.  The Kawhia people are still on their way, bringing up supplies of fish etc, anticipating a prolonged meeting.   Information leading up to this meeting has been vague and uncertain – evidently discussions on the question of peace or war will be carried out.  Thames tribes attend to discuss the goldfields boundaries.  However no discussion whatever takes place.  The assembled tribes form themselves into a circle – the King and his councillors in the centre.  The meeting opens with a religious service after which there is silence for some time - silence ultimately prevails for the rest of the day.

The company performing at the American Theatre at Shortland have had several very successful performances during the week and as the ‘rawness’  gets worn off, they are coming to their work very well.  Tonight they have one of best attendances yet.  In addition to the amateurs themselves the singing and dancing is of more than average order.  Each and every one connected with the theatre seem determined to pull well together.  A really enthusiastic audience tonight enjoys a very full programme opening with a one act drama – ‘The clock on the stairs', followed by a vocal, acrobatic and terpsichorean interlude. The farce of 'The four wheeler’ is well played and received capitally,  as is the burlesque opera. Captain Butt’s American Theatre is now open every evening.

DSC 25 January, 1868 

Labouring under great difficulties.

Sunday, 26 January

Archdeacon Lloyd preaches this morning in the American Theatre at Shortland before a crowded congregation.

The Rev Father Nivard officiates today at the newly opened Roman Catholic Church at the corner of Willoughby and Baillie Streets.  Matthew Barry has undertaken to have the church lined and provided with 28 seats before the end of this month at his own expense.  The body of the building is well lighted and passing through the entrance the appearance of the altar and rails is striking.  Adjoining the church is a four roomed cottage built as the residence of Father Nivard.   A large congregation attends.   The ceremony is very imposing and Father Nivard is praised for the efforts he has made to obtain a place of worship. 

Meanwhile the members of the Church of England at the Thames are in need of a church and still have to walk a long distance to the Maori mission station.

Kate Brown dies at Tapu this morning thirteen long days after shooting herself.  It is thought she too may have survived had there been a hospital at the Thames.

At Tokangamutu, on the second day of the great Maori meeting, another silent gathering is held.

This evening Archdeacon Lloyd preaches again to a large congregation in the American Theatre.  The theatre is nearly full to its capacity of 600.  The attendance on the previous Sunday for the Rev Mr Hall’s sermon at the American Theatre was 537. 

Archdeacon Lloyd
Webster, Hartley, -1906. Webster, Hartley (Auckland) fl 1852-1900 :John Frederick Lloyd. Ref: PA2-1475. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22893790

Monday, 27 January

10am 

Two raupo sheds in Grammar School Road, Parnell,  go up in flames.  They are the property of a Mr Anderson who is at the Thames diggings.   There is a considerable quantity of oats, hay and other inflammable material in the sheds.  Two pigs are burnt to death but several calves are saved.  The wife of Mr Anderson had left a few days before to stay with friends during the absence of her husband at the Thames.   The premises were temporarily in charge of a woman named McIndoo.  Just before the outbreak she saw a boy running across the gully from the direction of the shed. 

The inquest on Kate Brown is held at Tapu in Mr Sceats’ marquee, Alan Baillie, coroner, having arrived from Shortland by the Midge.  Dick Taylor isn’t at the inquest having gone to Auckland with a view to getting Kate admitted to hospital there.  Dr Hooper says he considers the cause of death to be injuries received by a pistol shot.  Kate had a wound to the spine and spinal cord ending in extreme debility and fatal paralysis.

The evidence taken is withheld at the request of the coroner for the furtherance of the ends of justice, there being some suggestion Dick Taylor was involved.  The verdict reached though is that Catherine (Kate) Brown died from injuries received from a pistol shot by her own hand while labouring under mental anxiety caused by reasons unknown.

Arrangements had been made to remove Kate to the Provincial Hospital and the Midge was to have called at Tapu this morning for that purpose.   Kate is buried in the tapu ground to the north of Waipatukahu (Tapu) Creek.  Photos of her brothers and sister are placed in her coffin.

At Tapu a gully on the right bank going up the main creek has been rushed and the ground pegged out.  Weatherboard stores are going up.  Pumping gear has been sent for and Mr Sceats is building a substantial hotel, 40 ft by 24.  Trade at Tapu in general is very dull; business people are living in hope but diggers are apparently satisfied, many making more than average wages.

There are rushes towards the Manaia block where about 60 miners are on the ground.

At Waiomu, specimens of silver and copper ore are gathered from the lode of the indefatigable Walter Williamson and Joseph Smallman.  The lode is 3 ft wide and crosses the beach from the sea, passing up the hills.  The mine is leased for a term of years and it is the intention of the proprietors to commence operations at once.  About 30 tons will soon be ready for shipment to Auckland from where it will be sent on to Australia for more thorough testing.

By now the appearance of the Thames diggings has a striking quality which highlights the difference between them and other diggings.  On other fields, especially alluvial, there is nothing but calico shanties, but all doing a very brisk trade both day and night with constant arrivals pouring in, increasing the lively and business like appearance of the township.  At the Thames diggings though – a place of only five or six months standing - the calico shanty is the exception, and the wooden building is the rule.  The trading part of the community is not nearly so busy and work appears very dull.  A short distance from Shortland into the bush in any direction on the eastern side of the Karaka creek the claims generally are worked in a systematic manner. There is no doubt that many of the claimholders at present labour under great difficulties, some not knowing the proper way to work their claims and others suffer from the want of roads to a machine. Despite the difficulties there is strong anticipation that the Thames goldfields will last for years, and afford many a poor man a decent reward for his labour. The claims now producing gold bearing quartz have over two thousand tons weight waiting for machinery.  The labour employed is estimated at 1200 men. 

On the Kuranui Creek there is an area of ground worked extending over one thousand acres.  The miners have named the ground ‘Golden Hill’ and from the yield of gold in the Shotover, Barry’s, All Nation’s, Tookey’s, Levy’s and the Homeward Bound and other claims, the name is appropriate. 

The only machines in operation now is that at the mouth of the Kuranui and Mr Goodall’s, which crush together about 16 tons in 24 hours.  In a few days two more engines will be at work, one at the Waiotahi and the other at Karaka. Besides these there are several Berdan machines worked by single claims. 

A party of experienced miners who went to Hikutaia to prospect return to Shortland today without success.

A building is very rapidly being built upon Lot 28 Pollen Street and is intended as a branch of the Bank of New Zealand.

At Tokangamutu, on the third day of the great Maori meeting, silence again reigns. The meeting which was expected to last for weeks disperses in sadness, uncertainty and bad humour. Many are sorely grieved that not one subject out of the many which were to have been submitted to the meeting is settled, including the Thames tribes and the goldfield boundaries question.

Willie Winkie for the Thames with  30,000 ft timber, one box meat, one can nails, one case, two bags, four barrels, 3,000 shingles, four cases, four bags, six passengers. 

  Wahapu for the Thames with 11,000 ft timber, 3,000 bricks, one horse, one dray, 24 bags lime.

This evening a meeting is held at Captain Butt’s Shortland Hotel regarding raising funds for the construction of a church for the members of the Church of England. Archdeacon Lloyd takes the chair.  Chief Taipari has given a suitable site of a quarter of an acre of land situated beyond the Willoughby Hotel.   The burden of expense must rest with the Thames, although the Diocese has contributed £10 and around £4 have already been collected.  Twenty pounds have been promised from the church committee in Auckland.  It is estimated that a build 60ft by 30ft will cost £150. It is mooted that the inhabitants of Auckland should be canvassed for subscriptions but the meeting is unanimous in their opinion that no money can be got out of Auckland.  Subscription lists will be sent round among the diggers without delay. The Rev Mr Maunsell proposes a vote of thanks to Chief Taipari for his liberality in giving a piece of ground for the church.

Tuesday, 28 January

Among the visitors to Shortland today are Mr Corbett, Chief Postmaster, Mr Grey, Inspector of Post Offices and Major Cadell.

The Resident Magistrates Court at Shortland hears the case of James Doran v David Snodgrass.  Doran had been in the employ of Snodgrass, a baker, and had sustained a fracture of four ribs caused by the carelessness of the defendant in pushing a sack of flour while it was being carried to the bake house.  Doran is claiming eight weeks wages.  Evidence is called to show that Snodgrass was labouring under excitement from drink at the time of the occurrence.  David Snodgrass denies he was drunk.  He says he had discharged Doran that day before the accident happened.  Doran had volunteered his assistance and was told that he was not wanted.  Doran at that time was standing near the trough and as Snodgrass was lifting the sack of flour, the sack fell over and fell against Doran. Doran alleges Snodgrass was not quite sober.  The judgement of the court is that there is no doubt that Doran had suffered a certain amount of injury by the act of Snodgrass, but it is not proved that it was either wilful or negligent on the part of Snodgrass.  

Other cases are heard including John Murphy v Captain Seon with an action to recover the value of a chest of tea lost on board the steamer Enterprise.    Murphy exasperatedly states this is the fourth time he has attended this case, whereas Captain Seon never appears. This case is adjourned.  

As the court is about to rise Samuel Hamilton, William Hunt, William Rowe, Captain Butt and others well known to be interested in the first three claims on the Kuranui appear in court.  They state they are waiting on the reply of Commissioner Mackay regarding a tramway through Hamilton and Robert’s claim, for the convenience of the Shotover and Barry’s claim.

Mackay reads the document aloud and it appears that while the Shotover and the Kuranui Mining Company are anxious to have a tramway which has already been contracted for the Kuranui company, the two shareholders in Hamilton’s oppose it and are backed by 34 of the shareholders in the All Nations, Homeward Bound, Goldworthy’s and other’s claims up the creek.  They say the tramway would interfere with future operations. A line of tramway has already been contracted by the Kuranui Company, sanctioned by the Shotover party, to be tunnelled through their claim into Barry’s.  Considerable capital has been invested by the Kuranui Company providing employment to a large number of men, and they are aggrieved that their operations will be stopped after being led to understand that they were working in accordance with the lay of the goldfield.  Mackay states that he will hear the case at the ground in one hour.

On going to the ground there is a large muster of men from the upper claims.  A discussion is held and Mackay, having heard the evidence decides that there should be a public road pointed out and marked by the goldfields surveyor but that anyone or party wanting a tramway or other road, must make their own arrangements with the holders of the claims through which they wish to pass and pay for this if necessary.

 Henry for the Thames with  five tons sugar, three tons potatoes, 20 packages, three horses, two drays, 15 boxes tea. 

  Caroline for Hikutaia, Thames, with one box candles.

Of the party who went to Wairoa to investigate the story of the area being a gold bearing district,  one returns to Shortland today but reports having failed to discover anything payable.  Though the look of the country is very promising, only the colour in exceedingly minute specks was obtainable.  The remaining two men are still at work.

DSC 28 January, 1868

NZH 28 January, 1868

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John Frederick Lloyd had been a clergyman at St Paul’s, Auckland, for nearly twenty years and was Archdeacon of the Waitemata.  He was notable for his affectionate relationship with his parishioners.

The Daily Southern Cross report stating that Bishop Pompallier was to open a Catholic church on the diggings was an error. The opening of the church is misreported by the DSC twice giving two different dates - first saying it happened on January 9 – a Thursday. (DSC 2 March, 1868) then saying it was Sunday 9 January – when that Sunday was actually the 12th (DSC 11 February, 1868). The church actually officially opened on 26 January and Father Nivard officiated as above.

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Sources

Papers Past

E. R. Simmons. 'Pompallier, Jean Baptiste François', first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, vol. 1, 1990, and updated online in November, 2010. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p23/pompallier-jean-baptiste-francois (accessed 30 August 2017) 

© Meghan Hawkes / First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018

Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018 when re-using information from this blog.

15 January to 21 January, 1868

Alluvial gold.

Abundance in the ranges.

Wednesday, 15 January
Despite the initial negativity about Tapu Creek there are now hundreds of miner’s there. Parcels of alluvial gold from Tapu are appearing on the market. Mr Hogg, of Hogg and Co, Shortland Town, takes in to the NZ Herald office a fine sample weighing 33 ozs which has been purchased from miner’s arriving from Tapu Creek. Another sample of fine gold, of some 12 oz, is shown by Mr Sceats. The gold is at present chiefly obtained from gullies leading into Tapu Creek. The sinking varies from one to seven feet, and in some places the whole of the ground will pay for washing. The gold is worth considerably more money than that obtained from the Kauaeranga reefs. Quartz too, is found in abundance in the ranges. McIssacs has struck a very promising leader. A considerable amount of gold is in the hands of individuals - nuggets vary from half an ounce to a piece the size of a walnut. There is a large extent of country at Tapu which has every appearance of being auriferous and from which alluvial gold has been obtained, while for quartz reefing there is in the neighbouring hills a large field for exploration.

 Otahuhu  for the Thames with  2,000 ft timber, 5 tons stores.

12pm

A meeting is held at Butt’s Hotel for those interested in the establishment of the first newspaper on the Thames goldfield with the proposed name of the Thames Advertiser.   It is adjourned for a fortnight.

DSC 15 January, 1868

NZH 15 January, 1868

Thursday, 16 January

A yacht is being built on a corner of the Caledonian claim at the Thames. This is quite a novelty and the skeleton craft is well visited and not a little criticised by brother miners.  Mr Richard White, of Auckland, is the builder, and has made considerable progress in the work of her construction. The spirited owners of the claim, who have always taken a deep interest in the Auckland annual regatta, plan to put in an appearance this year with this brand new yacht, to be named the Prince Alfred. 

The Caledonian claim itself is turning out most satisfactory. The owners have this week struck a continuation of the leader at a depth of three feet.  Twenty seven ounces of gold from the claim, crushed at a Berdan, are sold to Mr Goodall.  The men have elected Alfred Pollard manager.

Thames tribes begin to leave for a great Maori meeting to be held at Tokangamutu (Te Kuiti) in a few days. They intend to discuss goldfield boundaries.

A new map of Shortland Town, drawn by Messrs Hamilton and Fisher, and lithographed at the office of the NZ Herald, is published.  The map is accurately drawn and the lithographic printing well executed.  It will be in considerable request as it is published by Messrs Wayte and Batger at the low price of 18 pence. The positions of the various reserves and creeks are plainly marked off, and the layouts of the different streets and allotments can be seen at a glance.

Cornstalk for the Thames with cattle.

  Avon  for the Thames with six tons flour, six tons potatoes, 1 ½ tons maize, 11 hhds ale, two casks beef, four bags salt, 10 packages, 30 bundles luggage, two passengers.

  Rob Roy  for the Thames with 4,000 ft timber, 9,000 shingles, two tons flour, five bags sugar, ten packages groceries, five packages furniture, three bags potatoes.

A miner named Wardle, passing along the same creek where Joseph Franklin was killed by a boulder, has a miraculous escape from a similar fate.  Wardle has not a moment to spare in his flight from a descending boulder.  The notice posted warning people of the danger is only legible on close examination.

NZH 16 January, 1868

Friday, 17 January

Kate Brown, at Tapu Creek, is still alive.  Doctors Hooper and  Groth say that it is possible she may live, but not probable.  She is being cared for by a Mrs Smith.

A very beautiful sample of gold is to be seen at Tapu – it has evidently undergone a process of friction as it is perfectly smooth and water worn.  There are now between 700 - 800 miners on the ground and fresh arrivals daily.  Cutters arrive by almost every tide and the steamers bring a good number of passengers from Shortland.  The flat is dotted with the tents of storekeepers.  A party arrives today with baking apparatus and flour, so there will be a bakery started in a day or two. It is difficult to arrive at any conclusion as to the quantity of gold that is being found there; the diggers generally are very reserved and keep things extremely quiet.

Diggers are cautioned not to rush to Tapu Creek – there are a great many challenges there.  The nature of the country renders it almost inaccessible  with its steep ranges and undergrowth of timber.  The labour needed is considerable and none but experienced miners should undertake this kind of work.  Nothing short of the greatest perseverance can ensure the diggers' success here.  Despite the reservations, the cutter Fly is today laid on as a regular trader between Auckland and Tapu Creek,  and McIssac has a Berdan machine conveyed to his claim. All the ground in the neighbourhood of this claim has been taken up.

Fly for Tapu Creek with two casks ale, one case soap, one case pickles, one case jam, one bundle bags, two parcels, one ream paper, eight cheeses, seven bags potatoes, two tents, three bags coals, 4,000 ft timber, eight cases, three kegs, one cask, three dozen pannikins, one bundle pans, two cases bitters, four passengers.

A settler from the Miranda Redoubt has come this week to see Mr Mackay, in company of a clergyman, and states that in digging a post hole he has come upon gold.  He wishes to put in a claim for the reward.  Mr Mackay and Mr Heaphy leave today for the Miranda Redoubt to investigate the matter.

Gold has been found at Kaipara, and some quartz from Waitakare, when placed alongside a Thames specimen, is found indistinguishable from it.  There is also a report that gold has been discovered in the Waikato district, 100 miles south of Auckland.    Prospectors at Mercury Bay find rich shotty gold in a creek but as soon as the Maori, who live lower down the creek, discover the water discoloured, they approach the diggers and send them away, threatening to kill them if they come back. 

Kaipara Maori.

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 661-144

NZH 17 January, 1868

Saturday, 18 January

At Tapu there are several men out on the reefs who have not been seen for the last 10 days.  Others are looking for them.  The country between the Tapu Creek and the Mata, barring smoke, could conceal a hundred men for some time.

Thomas Sandes, government surveyor, is instructed to survey a piece of land to form a township at Tapu.  A pier is planned to extend from the landing place there - at present coasters are driven up and at low water freights are discharged into waiting drays. 

Kate Brown is defying the odds and is rapidly recovering.  She is said to have repented of her rash act.  A good constitution and the careful attention of Dr Hooper have carried her through.

 Rangatira  for the Thames with five bags maize, four bags bran, one cask sundries,  one parcel pepper, one axe, one package handles, one case Vesta matches,  two dozen tins, ten bags, five cases biscuit,  nine packages,  three cases whisky, two casks ale, one cask wine.  

 Bessy  for the Thames with 15,000 ft timber, 5,000 shingles.

The Waterlily arrives at Thames with 16,000 ft timber from Whangapoua then returns for another load.

The Tauranga is floated off Mr Niccol's patent slip at Devonport after a thorough overhaul and will leave for Tapu Creek and Shortland Town on Monday.   Niccol’s slip is extremely useful and beneficial to the shipping trade.  In shipping, the coastal business is brisk and most of the small craft are doing well.  About 15 cutters, in addition to the regular steamers Tauranga, Enterprise and Midge, are kept constantly running to the Thames with timber, provisions and passengers.

A party of three diggers leave Shortland to test the truthfulness of a report of the Wairoa being a gold bearing district.  

NZH  18 January, 1868

DSC 18 January, 1868

Sunday, 19 January

The Reverend Mr Hall of the Wellington Street Presbyterian Church,  Auckland, preaches at Shortland Town in the American Theatre. The congregation is the largest indoor attendance seen there yet and the reverend gentleman is listened to with the greatest attention.

Monday, 20 January

At Tapu, gold has been struck in McIssac’s reef and other miners, of whom there are now between 800 and 1,000,  appear to be generally doing well.  Large offers for shares have been refused.  Stores and buildings are going up rapidly and the place is swiftly increasing in size and population. For the benefit of ingoing vessels, Mr Sceats, with his customary enterprise, has devised a kind of lighthouse on a small scale, by erecting a pole with a lamp at the top of it.  Although there is at least 10 ft of water in the mouth of the creek at high tide, it is not a safe anchorage - when the water subsides vessels are left resting upon the boulders.

Cornstalk for the Thames with horses.  

Henry for the Thames with six head cattle, two horses, one ton bran, one ton potatoes, eight packages, two passengers.

Tuesday, 21 January

Things are looking a good deal livelier at the Thames than they have done since the holidays.  A NZ Herald correspondent visits the claims of Edinbro’ Castle, the Star of the South, Flying Cloud, Carpenters and Dixons.   In all these claims he finds the men well satisfied.  Not more than six weeks ago only one-sixth of these claims were known; now the men are talking of having some ten years of work on hand.

Dr Seth Sam is approved as a medical officer under the Vaccination Act, 1865, for the district of Franklin, to attend at Shortland and such other places, for the purpose of performing vaccination from time to time, as required.

Tay for the Thames with  ½ ton flour, ten cases bread, eight boxes candles, six boxes soap, three tons furniture, four cases sundries, ½ ton sugar, six boxes tea, 23 packages furniture and ten packages for Tapu.  

 Fly for Tapu with  one hhd ale, one box, one parcel, one bale leather, one tent, three parcels sundries, two bags bran, two passengers. 

 Avon  for the Thames with  one case drapery, four cases spirits, 15 tons coal, 2 ½ cases potatoes, 22 mats sugar, five tons general stores.  

 Albert for the Thames with 38 Maori passengers (the Albert is a Maori owned cutter)

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Dr Julius Groth was a qualified medical practitioner, trained at the University of Kiel, Germany. He appears to have been an Auckland doctor who was sometimes at the Thames. His horse – a plucky little animal - raced in the hack race of the Thames Caledonian games in the New Year.

Henry Niccol, a Scotsman, arrived at Auckland on the Jane Gifford on 9 October 1842. With other members of his family, Niccol established his first rudimentary shipyard at Waiheke Island and in 1843 completed the 16 ton schooner Thistle, which was soon sold for a little over £60. With the benefit of this money Niccol moved his yard to Auckland, where, on a site now well inland, at the corner of Queen Street and Vulcan Lane, he built three yachts for the sheriff of Auckland, Percival Berry. For his next contract, the government schooner Albert, Niccol moved to a site in Mechanics Bay, further away from the growing town, and there he remained until 1865 or 1866, when he moved his yard to Garden Terrace (Queens Parade), in Devonport. Niccol was famous in his day: the launching of a ship from his yard became a social occasion, where crowds gathered and prominent citizens officiated.

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SOURCES
Papers Past
W. A. Laxon. 'Niccol, Henry', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990, updated June, 2015. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1n13/niccol-henry (accessed 15 September 2017)

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© Meghan Hawkes / First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017

Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 when re-using information from this blog.

8 January to 14 January, 1868

A good voyage on his present ship. 

Shortland, looking north from the landing place, Butt's Shortland Hotel and American Theatre, centre.

Sir George Grey Special Collections 4-857

Wednesday, 8 January

7.45am 

In her tent 42 year old Mary Townsend starts to feel unwell. Dr Clarence Hooper is in immediate attendance and applies the necessary remedies, but the poor woman sinks rapidly and in less than half an hour she is dead.  Mary, the wife of a Thames baker, had only arrived by steamer last night.

All who have visited Shortland recently have been struck with amazement at the rapid advancement of the town which is now most decidedly established.  Many enterprising individuals have erected stores on the Waiotahi Flat and are doing a thriving business, both in a legitimate and illegitimate way.  There is a great want of a hotel on the Waiotahi Flat - men are not travelling a couple of miles for refreshment but are being supplied with liquor in secret there.

 A meeting of over one hundred of the Thames business community is held at the Shortland Hotel regarding the building of a wharf, something which is sorely needed at the Thames.  Some of Shortland’s most respectable and influential citizens are present.  Captain Butt is voted to the chair. Superintendent  Williamson is told that the inhabitants are willing to subscribe towards the construction, but need the assistance of the Government in the matter. The Superintendent promises that assistance will be rendered.

Mr Mackay says that the government are prepared to construct a wharf that would provide for, say, two steamers and four or five cutters to lie alongside at the same time, but that the people of Shortland must find a subsidy of £200 towards the cost.  The Superintendent having offered to bear a portion of the expense,  a committee is appointed to collect subscriptions. Some discussion takes place as to the desirability of the general government constructing a wharf, as Dr Pollen stated that when 1,000 oz of gold had been obtained from the Thames goldfield the government would bear the expense.  The next official business involves the choosing of a site for a Resident Magistrate's Court and gaol by Mr Mackay, Dr Pollen and Police Commissioner Naughton.  It is expected that Shortland will be declared a port of entry and a building set apart for a custom house without delay.

The butchers at the Thames raise the price of meat to nine pence per pound.

At Tapu Creek people are arriving in numbers.  Last night the Tauranga landed a number of passengers and during today men are arriving by way of the beach.  Among the arrivals are gentlemen looking for business allotments.  The flat is pegged out and about 20 tents are pitched. Three or four stores are doing business.  Mr Sceats, of the British Hotel, Auckland, has chartered a vessel with provisions and is providing stores to the diggers.  A West Coast party are working a large creek with systematic energy. At No 1, No 2 and No 3 gullies on the left bank of the creek  there are over 50 sluicing claims at work.   At No 3 gully, which is most fancied, claims are taped off by the newcomers.  Every available foot of ground is taken up as far as this point, and though the weather is against mining in water, the diggers are doggedly pursuing their work.  The Warden’s office in Shortland is crowded all day with applicants wanting to have their miners rights transferred to Tapu Creek.

3pm
The inquest on Mary Townsend is held before Allan Baillie, coroner, and a respectable jury.  Dr Hooper certifies the cause of death as being accelerated by heart disease and the verdict is death from apoplexy. 

The new theatre of Captain Butt is almost completed.  It is capable of holding 600, while the bar has a ‘liquoring up’ capacity to the extent of 200.  The cellar underneath has room or 60 hogsheads of beer or any quantity of iced drinks.  The Pollen Street frontage is very handsomely fitted for private apartments and is in every way suitable for either wealthy diggers or other well to do people.  Behind the theatre is an elaborate kitchen range, suitable to supply a table for 200 persons.  The scenery of the theatre is from the well-known pencil of Mr Monkhouse and some by the popular George Fawcett.  The ventilation of the building is fully secured by large louvre lights, and what is now the correct thing to call the 'vomitories', or means of egress, ingress or regress to the building, are suitable for a crowd.

It is astonishing that this building, which on the 1^st of August, 1867, was being built as a Maori whare to be occupied by Chief Taipari, is today enlarged and extended into a handsome hotel, with extensive accommodation and a theatre.  The theatre will be opened on Saturday by a company of 14 now on their way from Auckland.  As one of the Thames’ very earliest and still the most enterprising of men, all wish Captain Butt a good voyage on his present ship.

George Fawcett

https://ozvta.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/fawcett-george-wsu.jpg

Rob Roy for the Thames with timber, furniture and sundries.

9.30pm 

The plucky little Maori Chief comes into the Thames having made her voyage in some 10 hours from Auckland.  She has a certificate to carry 138 passengers and will be employed landing passengers and cargo from the steamers Tauranga and Midge on the beach opposite the township.

10.30 – 11pm

The government steamer Sturt arrives back in Auckland from the Thames with the returning officials.  Also on board is Mr Murphy, suffering from two fractured ribs, caused by being knocked over by a horse at the races last week. At the time of the accident it was not thought that he was severely hurt.   He will be taken to Auckland hospital tomorrow.   Dr Seth Sam is on board as well; he has recently moved to the Thames from Cambridge. Dr Sam is also a member of the Masonic Lodge  and was instrumental in the formation of the Alpha Lodge at Cambridge.  He had steadily persevered in his work and was always willing to impart instruction to new workmen in the mysteries of the craft of Masons. At his farewell in mid December at Cambridge it was predicted that "it is not improbable that the goldfields at the Thames  may in a short time be considered by you and others of the brethren as a suitable site for the erection of another temple." 

Dr Seth Sam is in his mid-thirties and took part in the Crimea around the same time as Florence Nightingale, and has been decorated by Queen Victoria. In 1864, in New Zealand, he worked at the Maori prison camp on Kawau Island. From there he enlisted as a substitute in the 3rd Waikato Militia as surgeon in 1865 in Cambridge. By1867 he was in charge of the Military Hospital.

Dr Seth Sam 
Courtesy Cambridge Museum
http://cambridgemuseum.org.nz/

Thursday, 9 January

There are heavy winds and violent rains all day, 

Rangatira to the Thames with sundries.

Friday, 10 January

Bush licenses are issued to Francis Furlong for the Reefer’s Arms, Shortland, and William Smith and Frederick Lyster for the Willioughby Hotel, Shortland.

The remains of Mary Townsend are brought back up to Auckland on the Enterprise for interment.

A meeting is held with Mr Mackay this evening at the Shortland Hotel  to discuss the alteration or amendment of the licensing on the Thames Goldfield.  Only four men are present, owing to a misunderstanding of the time.  No business is transacted and the meeting is adjourned to next Friday.

8pm

Another meeting is held with Mr Mackay regarding the raising of £200 towards the costs of a wharf at Shortland.  Mr Mackay says that a question has been raised as to the title of the beach frontage at the landing place.  If this title rests with the Maori he has made an arrangement with them.  If the title is in the Crown, as claiming the land between low and high water marks, then there is no objection on that side.  If the title is vested in the General Government then he is prepared to say that a lease for 21 years will be granted.  The meeting agrees that a loan of £200 will be raised and a committee of six is appointed to carry this out.

Spey  for the Thames with  two casks lemonade, six boxes candles, ½ chest tea, four mats sugar, two bags biscuit, one keg butter, one bag salt, seven bags potatoes, 43 tents and poles, one parcel, thirteen bags potatoes, ½ ton hay.

NZH 10 January, 1868

Saturday, 11 January

In the Resident Magistrates Court, Shortland, James Wells is charged with stealing two bottles of whisky from the premises of Mr Love, publican, but is acquitted. He pleads guilty though to having assaulted a Maori policeman and is fined £3 and  sentenced to one month’s hard labour.   Among other cases today two have no appearance of the plaintiffs, two are adjourned and a case is heard in which cows are alleged to have damaged a tent to the amount of 3 shillings.  Half a crown is paid to the court to cover damages. A discussion is held on the most convenient times for the meeting of the court for civil cases.  It is arranged that the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays in every month should be the sitting days of the court. 

Warden Baillie is approached by a member of  party who have been working a claim for about three months and, having run short of cash, wish to have their claim registered for two or three months in order to enable them to collect some money for carrying on their work.  They know of other claims who have got protection for this time but when approached,  Mr Baillie says he will not grant it.  When asked why, he turns around and snaps   “I’ve told you ‘No’.”  The stunned man leaves thinking that an official might be little more civil to a novice, who is attempting to get a little insight into the manner, customs and regulations of the goldfields.

Captain Butt’s American Theatre opens under the auspices of Mr T E Jones, manager and lessee.  The company is composed of the following artistes:  Ladies: Madame Fanny Neveedah, the celebrated operatic singer, Mrs Pool, Mrs Cecelia Crawford and Miss Annie Phillips.  Gentlemen: Messrs Charles Pool, Baker, Herbert, Dunn, Riley, Monsieur Donnetto, the breakdown dancer; the McCormick Brothers (acrobats) and the youth Eugenie, with Mr J H Parker, late of the Nathan Troupe as pianist.   Madame Neveedah, a lady well known in the Auckland Philharmonic Society and other musical societies, sustains her well earned reputation with great success.  Her voice is soft and melodious and this, combined with her knowledge of music, enables her to rivet the attention of the rather noisy but good humoured audience.  Mrs Poole also plays some exquisite pieces on the piano.  The Theatre is well and tastefully got up.

A rumour sweeps through the Thames tonight that a large nugget has been obtained by a party who have been out prospecting at Tapu.

 Avon for the Thames with eight tons flour, one ton bran, seven hhds beer,  2 ½ chests tea, one case coffee, ½ ton potatoes, one bag sugar, one steam engine and carriage, ten passengers.

Grey River Argus 11 January, 1868

West Coast Times 11 January, 1868

Strong arms and stout hearts.

Tapu, c 1868
John Kinder, Hocken Pictorial Collections d269

 http://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/5830

The same image ingenuously coloured by Tom Webb
Used with kind permission.

Sunday, 12 January

A stampede of diggers from the gullies of Shortland to the new ground at Tapu takes place and the ground is pegged out for a considerable distance.

Monday, 13 January

Midday
A digger at Shortland, on finding that the wind is a ‘dead muzzler’ and no vessels are sailing to Tapu, straps on his swag, flings his billy on his back and starts walking with his dog.  He has been told the name ‘tapu’ refers to some five hundred chiefs buried there.

The road is about 16 miles along the beach all the way and very hard to travel, but still pleasant for those who, like himself, enjoy a good long walk now and then.  On the road he passes two or three Maori settlements and a few inhabitants.  At some parts of the track along the beach there are immense boulders to be clambered over. It is necessary to start as near low water as possible, or be delayed some hours  as the water is 12 ft deep in some places, making a track along the ranges impossible. 

Mr Mackay, accompanied by Mr Baillie, arrives at Tapu by the cutter Emma.  Mr Baillie remains to watch the progress of the place, while Mr Mackay goes on to Cabbage Bay (Colville) with a party of prospectors.  On his return, Mr Mackay will see Te Moananui, with a view to having the tapu taken off the southern side of the creek. 

A letter is published in the Cross from F B Woodham, a successful digger at the Thames.  After driving a tunnel at great elevation above Tookey’s claim over three weeks, he and his party initially felt there was little chance of success.   Up the Moanataiari Creek they pegged off claims for five men, as well as three claims below the Prospecting claim.  After three days work, two of the party struck a fine leader, took some specimens, picked out the quartz and had it crushed just as it came.  They got an ounce of gold from one cwt.  “I really think, during the next three months there will be great success generally on the diggings.  The miners are not afraid of work, and, although many have not succeeded they have strong arms and stout hearts and feel hopeful; trusting to the future to reward them for their toil.” 

About 5pm 

The digger and his dog walking from Shortland Town make it to Tapu having traveled for six hours, stopping for one hour to boil the billy for tea.   When he reaches the small flat which is the site of the township flags are waving, dogs are barking and men are shouting.  He feels a little disappointed – having been told that this place would beat Shortland Town - a ‘township’ has yet to be formed, although many are already pegging off their allotments. He thinks the site of the town must be something like what he has heard of Wellington. In a straight line there is not more than 200 yards of level ground from the sea beach to the foot of a high and most precipitous range which shuts in the little flat.  All who have been along this coast are aware that the ranges dip abruptly into the sea and that Tapu Creek is one of the exceptions on a small scale. There are a number of stores on the flat and the corrugated iron and bricks for a bake house and oven are being landed from the cutter Catherine.

Several men return to Shortland from Tapu dissatisfied and report that the rumour is much exaggerated.  Gold has been discovered but not in larger quantities than found six miles down the creek.

Tay for the Thames with  9,000 ft sawn timber, 4,000 shingles, ½ ton flour. 

Wahapu for Tapu Creek with  4,000 ft timber, 6,000 shingles, sundries.

NZH 13 January, 1868

Tuesday, 14 January

Early this morning the digger and his dog start up the creek at Tapu.  There are not many men visible but this is because of another rush yesterday.  There is very little sign of work done because the alluvial claim which has turned out best – McIssacs - is at the top of one of the highest ranges.  The digger goes in search of this claim but cannot get to it.  His dog had persisted in coming with him from Shortland, and it can’t walk along the side of the range which is as steep as a wall. The digger goes however along a good many of the creeks with a small prospecting party.  They try many prospects but he only sees the colour in one case.  The digger sees no reason to believe that the Tapu Creek is an alluvial field - there are certain signs and tokens and these signs and tokens are absent here.

Maori Chief for Tapu Creek with passengers.

 Henry for Tapu Creek with  eight cases  stout, two cases gin, one keg, two cases brandy, three cases ale, one ton flour, one case sardines, eight cases cheese, six drums oil, five tons other stores, four passengers.

Despite small quantities of gold being found at Tapu, the rush has done some good, as more than one party have remained behind with the intention of giving the creek a thorough prospecting.  The sluicing claims are yielding wages. Diggers approached by the Cross correspondent do not like to have their names published.  Other claims are being worked very quietly.  Stores are being built and Messrs Sceats, McMahon, Levy and others are at present supplying the necessities of the diggers. 

Afternoon, Tapu Creek

Catherine (Kate) Brown places a loaded revolver in her mouth and fires it. Kate is the desperately unhappy one-time paramour of Australian bush ranger Frank Gardiner, who ten years earlier was captured and sentenced to 32 years for highway robbery.

Kate is at Tapu Creek with Dick Taylor, having arrived on Friday 10^th from Auckland where they had been at a boarding house.  They had arrived in Auckland about a month previously on the ss Auckland from Sydney.   Dick Taylor had some idea of starting a butchers shop at Tapu.  They had been having words a few minutes before Kate picked up the revolver.  Now Dick runs from their tent crying “My wife has shot herself!”   He appears to be greatly agitated and distracted; to others he appears drunk.

Dr Clarence Hooper is soon on the spot. The bullet, after knocking out Kate's teeth, passed under her tongue and lodged in the spine.  Her lips are severely burnt by the explosion. Warden Baillie, who is at Tapu, takes the depositions for a coroner’s inquest if required. Kate indicates to the Warden she was driven to the desperate act by a lowness of spirits.  When questioned as to why,  she places her hand first on her head then on her heart.   She indicates that Taylor drove her to it but later implies extreme trouble was the cause. She seems perfectly sane.

Dr Hooper is assiduous in his attention, but very little hopes are held for her recovery. The optimism at Tapu is marred by this awful event. 

NZH 14 January, 1868

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George Fawcett was an artist, theatre scene painter and actor.   His father was the artist George Rowe. George Fawcett joined his father in Bendigo, Australia, after leaving England in 1852. HIs father had been  appointed as official artist to the goldfields in Australia.  George Fawcett  signed his works 'George Fawcett' to distinguish himself from his father.  In Bendigo  he became part-owner of the Princess Theatre. In the early 1860s he  followed  the gold rush to Otago, New Zealand. His real name was George Curtis Fawcett Rowe. 

Vomitories were a series of entrance or exit passages in an ancient Roman amphitheatre or theatre. According to popular misconception, the ancient Romans are supposed to have vomited during feasts to make room for more food.

In the book 'The Wild Colonial Boys' by Frank Clune, Dick Taylor is described as a "drunken quarrelsome blackguard". The book also states that Dick and Kate went to New Zealand and lived on the Hokitika gold diggings for a few months leading a very unhappy life and always quarrelling. The above account of Kate and Dick only being in NZ a month after coming from Sydney is taken from the inquest. It is possible they went to the Hokitika  diggings and returned to Auckland within that month.

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Many thanks to Tom Webb.  You can view more of Tom's creativity here - 

Apia, Samoa Postcard 1899 Animated in After Effects - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY-5sMu7Ih0

Opening the fields of gold - the Native Agreement -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qCUZArJNRkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qCUZArJNRk

Many thanks to Cambridge Museum for information on Dr Sam http://cambridgemuseum.org.nz/

Sources

Papers Past 
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-PlaNine-t1-body-d1-d400.html George Fawcett 
https://ozvta.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/fawcett-george-wsu.jpg

http://cambridgemuseum.org.nz/andrews-francis/ -Historic Cambridge residents

Queensland Desperadoes by Cyril Grabs

The Wild Colonial Boys by Frank Clune    
Dead Cert - Stories from Thames, Paeroa and Waihi cemeteries by Meghan Hawkes

© Meghan Hawkes / First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018

Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017- 2018 when re-using information from this blog.