A surprise visit.
Thursday, 9 April
12.30am
The new Governor of New Zealand, George
Bowen, leaves Auckland for Coromandel and the Thames in the government
steamer Sturt. His Excellency is
accompanied by Dr Hector - the government geologist, the Hon Mr Stafford- colonial secretary, Donald McLean Esq- Superintendent of Napier, F Whitaker
Esq, Captain Young ADE and others. After a rapid run of four hours the Sturt arrives at
Coromandel. At 10am the party embarks for the Thames.
Noon
The Sturt steams close along the shore to Shortland giving a view of many points on the coast where diggers are busy prospecting. The Governor’s arrival takes everybody by surprise. Being low water at Shortland it is impossible to proceed to the usual landing place, so His Excellency and suite are landed at the mouth of the Tararu Creek, near Tookey Town. Warden Baillie is sitting in court when he hears of the arrival and he hurriedly adjourns the session and rushes to Waiotahi to meet the governor. The township is thrown into a state of excitement and local luminaries race off to greet him.
The Sturt steams close along the shore to Shortland giving a view of many points on the coast where diggers are busy prospecting. The Governor’s arrival takes everybody by surprise. Being low water at Shortland it is impossible to proceed to the usual landing place, so His Excellency and suite are landed at the mouth of the Tararu Creek, near Tookey Town. Warden Baillie is sitting in court when he hears of the arrival and he hurriedly adjourns the session and rushes to Waiotahi to meet the governor. The township is thrown into a state of excitement and local luminaries race off to greet him.
The party, accompanied by Mr Baillie, take a look at the town
and visit the Kuranui claims including the famous Shotover. After proceeding through town Sir George visits the old raupo
courthouse and on leaving is met on the threshold by upwards
of 300 miners who welcome him with deafening cheers. To this welcome he responds with a few but
most appropriate words. He says that a more happy and contented community he
has never witnessed. He also expresses his satisfaction at the good feeling
prevailing between the Maori and European, and at the good order kept on the Thames goldfield. After three cheers at the courthouse he
proceeds to the residence of Mr Baillie for luncheon. The Sturt still being unable to reach the landing, Sir
George visits the residences of Mr Mackay and Chief Taipari. He expresses himself delighted with the view
from the terrace upon which the chief’s house stands. He meets with the chief’s wife and converses
with her for some time, complimenting her upon the beauty of her homestead.
The short time at his disposal prevents the governor from
landing at Tapu, as a visit to the mines there would consume a whole
afternoon. Great dissatisfaction is expressed that the expected arrival
of His Excellency was not publicly announced.
Rumour says word to that effect reached Warden Baillie last night. There
are grumblings that had the announcement been made, there would have a “roll
up” of at least two or three thousand men.
As it is Sir George Bowen will have a very inadequate idea of what his
goldfield is.
Avon for Shortland with 24 barrels ale, 11 hhds ale, 1 ¼ cask brandy, 1 ¼ cask wine, 1 case Old Tom, 3 tons potatoes, 4
tons flour, 20 packages groceries, quantity luggage and furniture, 32,000
shingles, 1,000 ft sawn timber.
Clyde for Tapu with ½
ton luggage, 6 passengers.
Spey for Tapu with 5,000 ft timber, 1,000
shingles, 1 box tobacco, 6 bags sugar, 2 cases gin, 3 cases spirits, 7 kegs
butter, 2 boxes biscuit, 4 casks beer, 2 casks spirits, 1 keg rum, 2 bags
potatoes, 6 bags flour, 3 cases luggage, 11 packages, 1 cask ale, 4 boxes
candles, sundries.
Mr McGregor writes to the NZ Herald regarding the regatta
planned for the arrival of Prince Alfred, who despite the assassination
attempt, is still expected to visit New Zealand. “ Sir – I have just returned from the Thames
and should like to know if there will be
a regatta and when it will take place as I have a boat at the Thames that
I will run against anything that Auckland can produce of her tonnage (5 tons),
from £50 to £100; or any amount. My boat
is named Prince Alfred. Mr R White is
the builder.” The Editor replies that it
is not yet decided when the regatta will come off.
The tender of Mr Felix Mack is accepted for the building of a wharf at Grahamstown, subject to approval of Mr Mackay. This is in addition to the proposed wharf at Shortland. A roadway is to be
constructed from the debris of reef and rubble, which will be protected by
piles of sufficient strength and size to resist the force of the sea. The quartz will form a good false bottom.
4.40pm
A belated letter announcing the impending arrival of Sir George
Bowen is received by Warden Baillie, although His Excellency is already at the
Thames.
6pm
A stunning rumour sweeps through the Thames that Sir George
Bowen is about to proceed up the Thames, the Sturt is getting up steam and the Upper Thames is about to be opened up for gold mining!
 |
| DSC 9 April, 1868 |
No vexed or vexing questions.
Good Friday, 10 April
The Easter Holidays commence today, terminating on Tuesday morning
untill which time all claims at the Thames are protected.
Two men named Pilinger and Manley are in the harbour near
North Head, in a waterman’s boat, when a puff of wind suddenly capsizes her. The two men cling to the
boat for a considerable time before the steamer Midge, fortunately coming up
from the Thames, spots them. They are
rescued by a boat’s crew from the Midge and are greatly exhausted when brought
on board the steamer.
The steamers Tauranga, Enterprise as well as the Midge arrive
at Auckland from the Thames at an early hour this morning, crowded with
passengers, who come up to spend the Easter holidays there.
7am
Despite the rumours last night the Sturt has actually only
come up the Kauaeranga beyond the landing place. On arriving at Shortland Sir George Bowen is
told that Mr Mackay is absent at a Maori meeting. It is now decided to proceed to Ohinemuri to pay a friendly visit. A messenger is sent ahead to Mr Mackay to inform him of the impending visit of Sir George Bowen.
On arriving at Ohinemuri Sir George Bowen is well received,
both by the Hauhaus and the Queen Maoris.
He speaks a few words which are interpreted by Mr Mackay. He introduces no vexed or vexing questions of
land or gold. His speech does not
interfere with any arrangements Mackay has made with the Maori. Altogether Mr MacKay’s visit has been a very successful one,
several Hauhuas and Kingites shaking hands with him and talking quietly and
privately to him. Mr Mackay is highly
pleased with the reception and
anticipates good results although the immediate throwing open of the land for
prospecting is not thought to be likely. About 1,000 people
assembled, including the three or four hundred who went with Mr Mackay. Small mountains of potatoes in kits, eight
bullocks, and quantities of pork, sugar, biscuits, tobacco and dried fish are
all consumed.
Midday
The Tauranga and Enterprise leave Auckland for
the Thames goldfield taking down a number of excursionists. Around the same time, at Ohinemuri ,Sir George
Bowen, Mr Mackay, the chiefs and others board the Sturt. Sir George is heartily
cheered by Maori and the few Europeans on the river. A special cheer is given for Mr Mackay. They start for Auckland via Shortland and
immediately the large camp breaks up and a perfect fleet of small sailing
boats, whaleboats and canoes follow in the steamer's wake but the tide has
fallen considerably and on reaching the shallow immediately above the junction
of the Puriri stream with the Thames the Sturt grounds.
2.30pm
Auckland
Elizabeth Lane, a
female servant who works for George Taylor at his boarding house near Smale’s
Point, Auckland, is called by a little girl to help a man lying on a bank at
the end of Albert Street. Elizabeth gets him
up and into the house to lie down. The man is Samuel Galbraith who came up
early this morning on the Enterprise from Shortland Town where he has been mining. He has previously worked in fitting out
a schooner, in which he went as a mate to the south. He returned to Auckland four months ago and
after a few weeks at George Taylors’s boarding house, went down to the Thames
where he joined one of the claims. Since
then he has occasionally come up to Auckland and stayed at the same boarding
house. This morning after landing he
went to the Wharf Dining rooms, also owned by George Taylor, where he complained
of being ill but did not wish a doctor to be sent for, saying he would get
better shortly. He ate a breakfast of
bread, butter, beef sausages and tea but felt no better. He talked to George Taylor about selling a
claim. George gave him a glass of stout
after which Samuel sat on the vernadah until 2pm before making his way to the
boarding house. George Taylor arrives around 4pm
and gives Samuel a dose of castor oil. Elizabeth fears the man is dying and
hastens for medical assistance. Dr
Nicholson arrives at 25 to 5 but is too late and he pronounces life extinct. The
sum of £136 19s 1d is found in Galbraith’s possession. A master mason’s certificate is also found
among his effects, issued from a lodge in Scotland in 1858.
6.15pm – 9.35pm
The steamer Sturt floats again and proceeds to Shortland.
Here several people land, including Mr Mackay, who returns to the steamer after
an hour and she gets under weigh for Auckland. In some quarters it is thought His Excellency’s visit to the
Thames will produce good results. It was
most opportune, coming immediately after considerable concessions had been made
by the Hauhaus to Mr Mackay.
Sceptics, though, note that it
was not anticipated when His Excellency left from Auckland for the Thames that
he would proceed upriver as far as Ohinemuri.
The decision to do so was because Mr Mackay was there holding a meeting
with the Maori. His Excellency probably expected
to do more than pay a friendly visit and create a favourable impression by his
assurances of a wish for peace. Of
course he was welcomed by the loyal Maori, but nothing beyond the merest
formality was uttered by any of them.
The real representatives of the Kingites in theThames district did not show
themselves. Some people doubt any impression
was made by the meeting held by Mr Mackay or the hasty visit of the governor.
Sixty three year old John Nolan, a widower, and the
proprietor of the Orpheus Hotel, Queen Street, Auckland, leaves for the Thames
on the steamer Enterprise, somewhat the worse for liquor. During the passage some of his friend’s keep
an eye on him. He drinks two glasses of brandy during the journey. Robert
Leikis, steward, notices Nolan about 4pm not quite sober. On the arrival of the
Enterprise at Shortland Town, Nolan goes ashore. Sometime between 6 and 7pm
Detective Patrick O’Hara picks an inebriated Nolan up and places him on the
beach alongside some timber. Nolan will
not tell him what he is going to do or where he is going to sleep. At 8.30pm Robert Leikis notices
Nolan lying down asleep on one of the hatches.
After the last of the passengers have been landed and the stage taken on
board, Robert Leikis goes to bed about 9.
He assumes that Nolan has gone ashore and there is no-one else
is on board but himself.
 |
| NZH 10 April, 1868 |
A body in the mangroves.
Holy Saturday, 11
April
Charlie Sykes, boatman on the cutter Annie, finds a body
floating in the mangroves opposite the landing place at Shortland. He tows it to the shore and
remains with it until the police take charge. The body is identified as John Nolan who
arrived drunk at the Thames last night. It is presumed that the unfortunate man
must have fallen overboard from the steamer during the night.
The initial issue of the first Thames newspaper, the Thames
Advertiser and Miner’s News, is published at Shortland Town today, despite some
mechanical difficulties.The paper is very presentable and contains much useful
information concerning a number of claims.
Under the heading of ‘Mining Matters’ it is intended to give reliable
intelligence about each claim, and a start is made in this issue with the
claims about Murphy’s Hill. The opening article rousingly says “The Thames goldfield is only in its earliest
stage as yet. It remains to be fully
developed by the energy and enterprise of those who are on the field, and of
the thousands who are yet to come. What
was the state of the district 12 months ago?
It was purely a native district, strictly shut against the Europeans . .
. there are now 4,778 miner's rights issued.
The population . . . now numbers about 7,000, many of whom are woman and
children. A large and populous town has
been formed and homesteads dispersed everywhere throughout the district open to
prosperity . . . When it is remembered that with very imperfect appliances, the
Thames Goldfield has produced over 15,000 ozs of gold, worth more than £35,000
in the last six months, it may be readily imagined what the yield would be if
adequate machinery were in the district.”
The proprietors, William Wilkinson and Claude Corlett, will
publish the paper at Shortland three times a week and it will be devoted to promoting
the mining and commercial interests of the Thames district – a great acquisition
to the mining community of the Thames.
A stung Warden Baillie issues a circular inviting inhabitants of the Thames to hear an explanation he wants to make in consequence of complaints that timely notice had not been given to the miners and others of the arrival of the Governor. Mr Baillie reads out a private letter from Dr Pollen which states that the Governor may visit Shortland on the evening of the 8th. An official letter is then read confirming that the Govenor would leave Auckland on the night of the 8th, and after a short stay at Coromandel, would probably be in Shortland about noon on the 9th. The Warden says this dispatch was not received in Shortland until 4.40pm on that day. As it is not too late to publicly address his Excellency, Charles Mitchell suggests that a committee be appointed to draw up an address to the governor. A public meeting will be held the old courthouse, Shortland, on Wednesday next at 4pm to do this. “Of course, in such a case, no blame whatever rests with Mr Baillie; he could not make public what he did not know,” concedes the NZ Herald correspondent.
Sir George Bowen receives letters from Sydney
stating that the Duke of Edinburgh has been unanimously advised by the medical
men attending him that his health will not permit him to encounter the
fatigues of a visit to New Zealand and that he should go straight back to England. HRH writes that he long resisited this advice
and wishes it to be known that he deeply regrets being obliged to abandon his
visit to New Zealand. He looked forward
with deep interest to visiting the Maoris as well as Europeans and fully
intended to have carried out the programme that had been submitted to him
which included visits to all the principal places in both the North and Middle
Islands, including the Thames goldfield.
The letter is dated 21 March but only reached Auckland yesterday.
The inquest on the body of John Nolan is held in the large
room of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel at Shortland. Dr Hooper, who knew Nolan for some years
at Papakura, is satisfied no violence had been committed on him before his
death and although he had a skull fracture, it looks purely
accidental.
Robert Leikis, the
steward on the Enterprise, recounts the movements of Nolan the night before. He says he doesn't recollect Nolan going on
shore and heard no cry of man overboard. From the position Nolan was in when he
last saw him he could not have rolled overboard. Detective O’Hara testifies that sometime between 6 and 7pm
he placed a drunken Nolan on the beach.
He also says Nolan was capable of going back on the steamer unassisted. It appears that Nolan, sometime after disembarking, had
re-boarded the steamer and then somehow fallen off. The jury reaches a verdict “that the deceased John
Nolan was found floating in the Wai-Whakaurunga, Kauaeranga Creek, on the
morning of 11 April with certain marks indicating fracture of the base of the
skull, but how he came by such fracture there is no evidence before the jury to
show.”
 |
Looking west from Point Britomart, Auckland, showing Customs Street (left foreshore), Thames Hotel and Waitemata Hotel.
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-572
|
3pm
At the Waitemata Hotel, Auckland, an inquest is held on Samuel
Galbraith who died yesterday afternoon after coming up from the Thames and
being discovered quite exhausted. The verdict
is reached that death resulted from natural causes, Galbraith having a diseased heart and
liver. Samuel Galbraith was a seaman but had been
employed as a miner at the Thames, he came from Dundee and it was not thought
he had relatives in the colony. Samuel
was noted as a sober, steady man, careful with his money.
Alacrity for the Thames with ½ ton quicksilver, a quantity of
stores.
Tea and biscuit.
 |
| DSC 11 April, 1868 |
Easter Day, Sunday 12
April
At Auckland the popular Cremorne Gardens are largely
patronised during the day, despite the inclemency of the weather, by a large
number of visitors from the Thames. The pavilion is well filled with dancers tonight. Entrance
to the dancing pavilion, the largest room in the Province, is the only charge
made apart from refreshments.
At the Thames, in the way of entertainment, the American
Theatre has been crowded during the Easter holidays.
Constable Lipsey
apprehends John Holland after Holland steals £7 from a tent at the back of
Rose’s Thames Hotel, the property of Charles Peterson.
The body of the unfortunate John Nolan is brought up to
Auckland in the steamer Clyde this evening.
Easter Monday, 13
April
3am
In the darkness at Tapu a prospector quietly pegs off a claim. Intrigued by the small waterfall behind
Sceat’s British Hotel where natural
shower baths are had during the summer, the man wondered if there might be gold in the bush. After washing a
dishful of rubble several specks were obtained and further in a leader was
struck showing gold in the stone.
Later this morning, when it is known in the township that a
prospecting claim has been marked, every miner turns out and pegs off the
ground. During working hours today the town is deserted. Every man who can handle a pick and shovel is
on his claim and this too on Easter Monday, a holiday, when all claims are
protected by the Warden.
Thomas Quinn and Mr Cashell hold their place in the
front rank at Tapu. The gold in their
claim is abundant and likely to be permanent. Thomas Quinn is the holder of miner’s right No 3,
issued by Mr Mackay in early August last.
After six months labour he proceeded to Tapu Creek, where he met with success. Other men who lived on tea and biscuit for months have been
ultimately rewarded, whilst others are lucky enough to discover gold on the
first day they go out. The want of machinery
is still the general complaint at Tapu as it is at Shortland.
McIssac’s and Cashell’s are the only two claims that have a
Berdan. This hand engine is very
valuable for testing small parcels of quartz and extracting gold, but large
quantities must be crushed by steam power. Quantities of quartz lie on the ground at present. The shareholders in the Bluenose Claim
freighted a boat with two tons of quartz to Shortland and crushed it at
Scanlan’s battery producing 7 ozs in all.
This would be a satisfactory return if the stone was crushed on the
ground at Tapu, but when the cost of carriage, transport and crushing has to be
accounted for it does not pay. Auckland
speculators are needed to place money in machinery.
Business has been brisk at Tapu during the past few days. Two promises of erecting powerful machinery
have emanated from a party of gentlemen visiting there. Claims have enhanced in value considerably. The Thistle, Shamrock, Hit and Miss and Perseverance have excellent prospects. In the Lord Nelson no less than 6 oz to the
dish have been obtained. Edward Sellars
and party have struck excellent gold.
Share buying is the order of the day and there is an influx of
visitors for that purpose. A government officer is wanted at Tapu Creek if only to issue miner's rights. Complaints are expressed that the distance
between Tapu and Shortland, where the Warden’s Court is held, is too far for
miners to carry their disputes to. Trades people working on credit are the only other grumblers at Tapu.
There is an impression that there will be 24 hours
protection of claims from 8 tomorrow morning.
This is a mistake. There will be
no such grace; the protection runs out at working hour tomorrow morning and
those who wish to avoid being jumped must look out.
A portion of the
machinery for the Break O’ Day claim is hoisted into its place on the claim
today with the assistance of a number of willing hands from the surrounding
claims.
One rickety old dinghy.
The steamers Enterprise and Tauranga leave for the Thames
crowded with passengers – mostly diggers returning to Shortland after enjoying
their Easter Holidays in Auckland. The scene is chaotic with the Enterprise in particular being
overcrowded. The Customs Officer,
trying to restore order, is abused and treated with the greatest disrespect
and contempt. The steamer is licensed
to carry about 122 passengers but as she leaves the wharf it is obvious she is
loaded with more than double this number. There is a recklessness about the whole proceedings and the
crowd of diggers, instead of being grateful for any care exercised on their
behalf and for their own safety, vociferously applaud the jam packing of
passengers. One bystander thinks the consequences of such a fearful
overcrowding of a river steamer on the sea are easily foretold. One roll too many and over goes the whole
crowd to a watery death. In the event
of any accident while crossing the Thames there is one rickety old dinghy to
save lives.
The new Thames newspaper, the Thames Advertiser and Miner’s
News, is received favourably by the competing Daily Southern Cross and NZ
Herald. The Cross says “there is no
doubt that a population of this size is ample for the support of a paper . . .
we therefore wish them every success.
The Herald notes “It is very creditable to the enterprise of the
proprietors Messrs Corlett and Wilkinson.
The news is carefully and judiciously selected, and when the difficulty
necessarily attendant upon the issue of a first number under great difficulties
is considered, the appearance of the sheet is very attractive and
readable. All mechanical difficulties
will doubtless soon disappear under the experienced management of the
proprietors.”
Avon for Shortland with 22 tons coal, 4 hhds beer, 1
½ tons flour, 10 bags sugar, 12 kegs butter, 20 packages groceries.
Spey for Tapu Creek with 5,000 ft timber, 2 tons flour, 1 ton potatoes, 7 packages sundries, 5 packages luggage, 3 hhds beer.
11pm
The steamers Enterprise and Tauranga arrive at the Thames
and return to Auckland without delay to bring back more miners who could not
get an earlier passage, so they may be on their claims from 8am tomorrow.
Tuesday, 14 April
Preliminary steps have been taken to build a wharf at the
new township of Grahamstown. The storekeepers and others in the neighbourhood are contributing
towards the cost and the steam boat proprietors have signified their intention
of assisting the work. Plans have been
prepared for Mr Felix Mack and the levels taken, pegs having been driven in at a
height of 4 ft 6 inches. It is intended
to extend the jetty 450 ft with a width of 15 ft.
The piles are to be 3 ft apart.
The centre will be filled with timber and stone, the latter taken from
Mulligan’s claim the Waiotahi, so that the obstacle of solidity to the erection
of a wooden wharf will be overcome. Two
plans were prepared, the one not approved of being for a wharf 300 ft by 21 ft.
Wahapu for the Thames with 3,000 ft timber, 1 bag
rice, 31 pieces galvanised iron, one box.
John Holland who stole £7 from a tent at the back of Rose’s Thames Hotel is brought up before the court house today, but Constable Lipsey has to ask for a remand until tomorrow on the grounds that the prosecutor is lying drunk at this time. The prisoner is consequently remanded.
A few of Thames’ inhabitants meet this evening at Captain
Butt’s hotel with the intention of eliciting public feeling concerning the
attempted assassination of Prince Alfred. A desultory conversation passes between
several gentlemen, the subject of which is quite irrelevant to the object of
the meeting. Some personalities are
indulged in. The
diggers are busy on their claims and are not represented. The meeting expresses
indignation at the dastardly attempt made on HRH’s life. The only motion brought is that those present
should assemble in the same place on Tuesday next, when the speakers will have
an opportunity of expressing their sympathy and indignation. The bulk of the population on the Thames goldfield is Irish, most who feel they should defend their loyalty to the Queen. Every newspaper teems with the denunciation of
Fenianism. In every settlement of the
colony meetings have been held to express sympathy to the Prince and the
unswerving loyalty of the colonist to the British throne, but it is thought by
many present at the Thames meeting that the matter is getting rather stale.
 |
| NZH 14 April, 1868 |
Wednesday, 15 April
Overnight, cooking
utensils and other effects, valued at £4, disappear from outside a tent in the
paddock at the back of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Grey Street. The articles are the property of Charles Mitchell and were left in their usual place outside his tent last evening. This morning the articles are missed and
information lodged with the police.
Some ground on
Cashell’s range has purportedly yielded as much as 8 oz of gold to the dish. Old miners view this with some doubt. Gold bearing claims are being opened up on
the Upper Moanataiari and there are hopes that from Tookey’s claim at the mouth
of the creek to three miles up the country are auriferous.
At the Auckland Police Court Hugh McVey, a strong able bodied looking man,
is brought up and charged with a breach of the Destitute Person’s Relief
Ordnance, by having unlawfully and without reasonable cause for doing so,
deserted his wife and six children, leaving them without means of support.
Information was laid some days ago by Hannah McVey, who stated that for a long
time past she and her children had been left without support. McVey, who had been apprehended on a warrant
at the Thames by Constable McGinn, pleads guilty, but says the children are not
his. His Worship barks “Here you are a young
man married to this woman and what means she had – you spent, then deserted
her. Now, sir, see what a disgraceful
position you place yourself in. It is a
most horrible case and I wonder how many men could do such things . . . Go,
sir, to your home and see what you can do for your wife and family – go.” McVey leaves the court.
The date of the
long talked of regatta for 1868 has been definitely fixed, At a meeting today of the Royal reception
committee, Superintendent Williamson
invites the inhabitants of the Province of Auckland to observe the 29th
April
as a day of public rejoicing for the
recovery of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Warden’s Court
at the Thames sits from 11am to 6.15pm on the usual matters of encroachment and
illegal occupation – these are such an everyday occurrence now as to be
commonplace.
7.30pm
A man named
McSwaine, a passenger on the Midge from the Thames, has a very narrow escape
from drowning as the vessel comes alongside the Auckland wharf. The night being very dark, McSwaine misjudges
his way and walks into the harbour. Fortunately a large number of people are near
and a boat belonging to the schooner Eugenie, manned by a crew from the Midge,
is promptly on the scene, and McSwaine, who is clinging to the wharf, is saved.
 |
| DSC 15 April, 1868 |
****************************************************************************************************************
Prince Alfred soon recovered from his injury and was able to
resume command of his ship and return to Engalnd in early April 1868 without visiting
New Zealand. (He was to be however the first member of the Royal Family to
visit New Zealand, arriving in 1869.)
Sir George Ferguson
Bowen was a British author and colonial administrator whose appointments
included postings to the Ionian Islands, Queensland and New Zealand.
William Wilkinson, born in Derbyshire, England, arrived in Auckland on the Nimroud in 1863. He joined the Southern
Cross newspaper, acting as a ‘war correspondent’ during the New Zealand Wars,
notably at the battle of Gate Pa, Tauranga, in late April 1864. For more on William Wilkinson -
Claude Corlett, from Manchester in England, a
compositor by training, also worked at the Southern Cross.
********************************************************************************************************************
Sources
Papers Past
http://partofpastnzhistory.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/wilkinson-shipping-yachting-and.html
© 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.
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