“I am the butcher of renown, and I dwell in Shortland Town.”
Thursday, 14 May
Thomas Morrin, while stooping at a creek at Kennedy's Bay to drink, picks up a handful of gravel from the bed and on washing it in his hands finds specks of gold in it. Forty miner’s rights have now been issued at Kennedy’s Bay and as many more transferred from Shortland. There are a butcher and baker already established and provisions can be had at a reasonable rate.
Thomas Morrin, while stooping at a creek at Kennedy's Bay to drink, picks up a handful of gravel from the bed and on washing it in his hands finds specks of gold in it. Forty miner’s rights have now been issued at Kennedy’s Bay and as many more transferred from Shortland. There are a butcher and baker already established and provisions can be had at a reasonable rate.
At the Thames, business is not so brisk these last few days
owing to the talk about the new discovery even though some rumours about Kennedy’s Bay
do not appear to be very favourable.
The Lucky Hit claim, Karaka, get out some splendid specimens of golden quartz. Being too far from the machines now at work they have determined to put one on their own ground, to save themselves the trouble and labour necessary to get their quartz down the creek from such a distance.
The Lucky Hit claim, Karaka, get out some splendid specimens of golden quartz. Being too far from the machines now at work they have determined to put one on their own ground, to save themselves the trouble and labour necessary to get their quartz down the creek from such a distance.
An invention has been designed which promises to perform all
that is required for the peculiar character of the Thames quartz. The inventor is a practical engineer who has
been employed in London and Scotland, but
like many inventors has not the capital to carry out his plans. He is seeking the assistance of some man
with capital, that each may derive a
mutual benefit by the patenting and manufacture of a machine which would supply
the great want now felt at the Thames. In America especially and often in
England, the most useful and clever inventions are those of mechanics. There is just now in Auckland, in reference
to gold mining machinery, a wide scope for the exercise of mechanical genius.
The Shortland Post Office is appointed to be an office for
the transaction of money order and savings bank business.
There are no less than 27 vessels, of a tonnage varying from
12 to 69 tons, lying at anchor opposite Shortland and Waiotahi today.
Twenty year old Matthias Whitehead, a boot maker and
salesman, has arrived at the Thames to take charge of a boot and shoe store. He came to New Zealand as an eleven year old. His
father, William Whitehead, was one of the first settlers at Mangonui, Northland. Matthias, who arrived at night after a five hour trip on the Tauranga, has his first view of the Thames, which reminds him of a small fishing
village, dimly lit by a few shanties and
tents. He walks ashore on a narrow plank. The first light shines from an oil lamp hung at the front of
the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, at the landing place. A few yards further is another lamp – this one being the
hotel of Rosie’s spacious public
house. A large room at the back of the
premises is used as a dancing hall, where men have to be content with partners
of their own sex, for there are still very few females on the field.There is still one more lamp and public house, kept by the
popular Kate Regan. He turns Adlam’s store corner and is in Pollen Street. He passes Renshaw’s General Store and
Barnett’s spacious dining rooms. A few
yards further on are a new hotel, then the branch of the Bank of New
Zealand. A few more paces and he comes
to the small boot store which is to be his future abode for some time. His employer, with keen business insight, has leased three
shops – they are just erected and mere
shells, no lining – the walls of the partitions are left open at the top, and
the rats have free access at all hours. Next door is a
boarding house and restaurant – one can hear distinctly every word spoken by
the owner, Mr Otto, who always supplies with each meal a fair slice of the
politics of the day. All meals are one shilling and good beds – mere shakedowns
– are 1s 6d. On the other side of the
partition is an auction mart where Mr Schultz wields the hammer on several days
of the week. Jim Gerrish acts as store
man and general bell ringer for the town. On investigating the town Matthias discovers several shops of
various sorts. A boot shop, a jeweller
and watch maker, a dressmaker, a bowling alley and a butcher of renown, so the
proprietor terms himself. This is Thomas
Peck who likes to stops outside pubs and recite “I am the butcher of renown,
and I dwell in Shortland Town.” (Come and have a drink!) The last and largest building on the west side of Pollen
Street is the grocery store of Tichfield, Osborne and Co, above this is 'The
Gentleman’s Club.' From Butt’s Hotel corner there is Hamilton’s bakery, next
Levy and Goldwater - wine and spirit merchants and clothiers. Then the Karaka Hotel, Mason’s hairdressing
salon, May the bootmaker, Barnett and Levy’s General store, Culpitt the
saddler, Wood the tobacconist, Culpitt’s fancy pastry shop, the Pembrook Hotel,
Wayte’s stationery and library, and Howell Williamson’s the draper – all book ended
by another pub at the corner of Pollen and Willoughby streets. Opposite corners are occupied by banks. One of the leading hotels is the Exchange. Alongside is Charley Cox, the chemist,
Bertram the tent maker, and Wilson draper, and nearby Hume, butcher. The roads are a mess. In Pollen Street empty drays lurch
drunkenly in the mud, while the footpaths are almost impassable. Other obstacles include diggers who accost Matthias before he has scarcely walked a dozen paces asking “Are you going to shout?” At Grahamstown several small stores have been hurriedly
erected in a rough colonial fashion. In
the main streets there, Brown and Owen, several public houses are doing a fair
business. A considerable amount of
mining is going on up the two creeks, the Moanataiari and Waiotahi. At the Shortland end mining is principally
confined to the Karaka creek and Murphy’s Hill.
11.30pm
Mr Higgins, Soap and Candle
manufacturer, of Auckland, is at present at the Thames, a fact of which two
intending burglars are aware. Mr
Higgins’ house off Ponsonby Road is occupied by Mrs Higgins, their children and
two other females. Two men with masked
faces come to the front parlour window and force back the catch with a knife. In their effort to raise the sash they wake
Mrs Coppell who is sleeping on a sofa under the window. She immediately screams and tries to hold the
window down. The robbers then coolly
strike a match but upon Mrs Higgins calling for her neighbour they decamp.
Footmarks left in the yard and broken woodwork indicate a similar attempt to
force the kitchen window.
Friday, 15 May
The roads at the Thames are in a most lamentable
condition, and Pollen Street more resembles a bog than the main thoroughfare. Three
or four gentlemen, at their own cost, have laid down a good shingle path on the
east side of Pollen Street, opposite their various places of business.
The Bank of Australasia intends building new and extensive premises, the present building being only a temporary office. The Union Bank of Australia have just
finished a very neat and commodious building eclipsing to some extent the Bank of
New Zealand, which before was thought by some to be the best edifice in
town.
The editor of the
Auckland Free Press, after an introductory article describing the
prosperity of the Thames goldfields,
favours his readers with his views on the loose population who follow the
diggers and who he compares to the camp followers of an army, as men who “do not
toil”, “who have an eye to the main chance” – in short, men who are loafers of
the first order.
Residents of the Thames are hoping for great things from their Improvement Committee which is strongly advocating the formation of narrow
gauge tramways up the various creeks, in preference to the heavy metal tramway
between the Waiotahi and Shortland.
The Kuranui Company are employing a number of men embanking
the beach in front of their engine house.
A substantial wall of boulders protects the space between the high water
mark and where the building is situated, which is filled in with rubble and
quartz, forming a good foundation for a carriage way.
The Caledonian claim, Moanataiari, which consists of four
men’s ground, has been working for four months.
Today carters commence taking away 20 tons of stuff for crushing
at Graham’s machine. Sixty pounds of
specimens were taken out of the claim yesterday. There are two shafts and two drives on the
ground, from which good stone of a bluish character has been extracted,
indicating deep sinking. The main shaft extends a depth of 12 ft below sea level and has to be kept bailed when not worked.
Miners are informed by public notice that those enrolled in any of the Auckland Volunteer Corps, who want to be present at the review and for inspection, can obtain protection for the purpose of proceeding to Auckland.
Miners are informed by public notice that those enrolled in any of the Auckland Volunteer Corps, who want to be present at the review and for inspection, can obtain protection for the purpose of proceeding to Auckland.
Louis Dihars has been
at Shortland for the last few days on a visit to Mr Mackay. He does not like the attitude the Hauhaus are
assuming at Matamata. Mr Frith’s cattle
are being killed. Louis, a very tall Frenchman now in his late 40s, came to
New Zealand in a whaling ship in the early 1840s. He settled at the upper end of the Thames
Valley. He did not speak English but
soon learned Maori and assimilated into their way of life. In 1845 married Erena Pareraukawa at Tauranga. While living among the Maori and cattle herding in the Upper Thames Valley around 1864 Louis Dihars was responsible for warning James Mackay of a pending ambush by the Maori when he was on his way to have peace talks.Louis acts as
a sort of negotiator between the Maori and Pakeha. He has done some mining
himself but is said to have never really worked for his living as he is a
remittance man.
The Shortland sharemarket report notes that mining property
has not changed hands during the week with the readiness it usually does. Several causes combined are to blame - the
approach of winter and the bad roads have had an effect on the market. The uncertainty of ownership, in the absence
of registration, has been a serious evil, as well as the exorbitant prices
asked by those who do not care to sell, but wish their share quoted. The amount of litigation and the purely legal
quibbles on which cases are taken to court are seriously harmful and have the effect of deterring many from purchasing
until leases of claims are issued and surveys made. Claims at the Puriri are fast rising in
public estimation. The opening of the
ground at Kennedy’s Bay has not produced as yet the expected rush. The population of Tapu Creek is rapidly
increasing and the energy displayed by the inhabitants in road making is a
credit to them. Shares in claims are generally valued higher at Tapu than at Shortland, the reason for which is unknown. Magnificent specimens are constantly being
shown from there and some of the claims lately opened, among them One Tree
Hill, promise as large returns as any in the district.
Senseless litigation is daily growing at the Thames. The
most frivolous grounds of action are made the causes of law suits from which
few obtain any profitable result except the legal practitioners employed on
either side. Long lists of cases tried
in the Warden’s court, which appears to be kept continually engaged in hearing
and deciding disputes between miners and other residents at the Thames, fill
columns of newspaper. A check needs to
be placed upon the litigiousness of the miners at the Thames.The situation is
fanned and encouraged by members of the legal profession, who have very
limited practices in Auckland. The miners work hard
for their money and are warned not to be so foolish as to lavish it away on “law”
as they have been only too prone to do. Formidable batches of lawyers start for the El Dorado to
take part in legal entanglements and like the eagles; they are not slow in
finding out where the carcass is and gathering together there.
A sample of alluvial gold brought up from Kennedy’s Bay by Mr Mackay is tested and proved to be far superior in quality to the usual run of Thames gold. It has 2 carat fineness.
The Tauranga takes 30 more miners from Shortland to
Kennedy’s Bay and a large number of others are preparing to leave.
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| DSC 15 May, 1868 |
A great rush.
Saturday, 16 May
Kennedy’s Bay is
proclaimed a goldfield by Superintendent Williamson. The
steady flow of miners from Shortland becomes a great rush.
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| Daily Southern Cross |
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Appendices to the Journal of the House of Representatives
Session 1869 (A.17)
|
At Kennedy’s Bay a township named St Andrew’s has been
marked off. Another township called Grant Town is to be surveyed above St
Andrew’s and a ferry boat has been laid on. It is said the Maori contemplate
throwing open the land as far as Cape Colville and that this tract of land will
be amalgamated with Coromandel district as one goldfield. There is now no longer any doubt as to the value of the
Kennedy Bay district as an alluvial goldfield.
The gold brought up by Mr Mackay – some 7 or 8 ozs in weight – is
satisfactory proof of the paying nature of the new goldfield. The energy and tact shown by Mr Mackay in
obtaining the right of mining over this large tract is applauded as another
instance of the zeal and ability shown by him in developing the Thames
goldfields, a work for which he deserves the lasting gratitude of the people of
Auckland.
At Grahamstown the contract for a new wharf has
been taken by Mr McNeill, and the wharf is to be completed in readiness for
traffic in two months time. It is to
extend a length of 540 ft, with a breadth of 10 ft, and will have a tramway and
footpath, affording every facility for the rapid discharge of vessels and the
accommodation of passengers.
A set of “mischievous persons” have removed the allotment pegs put down on Mr Graham’s
property at Waiotahi and rendered a re-survey of many portions necessary in
consequence. The parties have not
confined their efforts to Grahams Town alone.
An advertisement appears in the Thames Advertiser columns stating that the lands at Tararu Point have been leased by the Maoris to the
government and any effort to re-lease by private individuals will be opposed by
them.
At Kihikihi over 100 head of fat cattle leave for the Auckland stock market, it being the third draft of this kind this season. It is hoped that a
driving trade may soon be opened between Waikato and the Thames goldfields.
11am
Messrs Samuel Cochrane and Son hold an auction at the George
Hotel, Thames, of the valuable block of land at Waiotahi known as Grahamstown. The land is situated between the
Karaka Creek on the south side, and the Waiotahi on the north, intersected with
streets; the whole comprising over 500 allotments, with an average frontage
of 30 ft by 50 ft in depth. The main
street, which is named after Sir George F Bowen, is a continuation of Pollen
Street extending from Shortland. Abraham Street,
Williamson Street and Albert Street, which run from the beach to the base of
the range, will be the most prominent in the new township.
Before commencing the sale, the auctioneer is questioned
whether Mr Graham bound himself to carry out the construction of a wharf at his
own expense which is answered in the affirmative. Mr Graham would limit the wharf dues so that
the amount received would cover charges incurred in keeping the wharf in repair,
and no more. After replying to
several other questions, the sale is proceeded with, the prices obtained for
frontages of corner allotments averaging 25s per foot, the intermediate lots
realising 10s per foot. As a land
speculation this is one of the more fortunate to have taken place since the
foundation of the province. The locality is situated in the immediate vicinity
of the principal gold bearing claims, which are only as yet in their infancy,
when they are fully developed and afford work to a larger population, it must
increase and extend towards the government town of Shortland. The attendance is
large and the bidding very good. Samuel Cochrane
possesses a great fund of humour often exhibited while discharging his duties
as an auctioneer to the amusement of those assembled at his sales. About 50 allotments are sold in this very important
sale. Many people say this new town on
the Waiotahi will rival Shortland Town.
Mr Cochrane regards the result very
satisfactory, considering the competing attraction offered just now at Kennedy’s
Bay and the fact that there are some parties from Shortland who look with
jealousy upon the new township of Grahamstown as likely to supersede the older
settlement at Shortland.
5pm
Mr Warden Baillie holds a meeting at which he tells miners and inhabitants
that he has received His Excellency Governor Bowen’s reply to the Thames address which is read aloud
by Dr Sam. The Governor thanks the inhabitants of Shortland Town and the Thames goldfield for the address they sent him and for the
hearty welcome which they accorded to him on his recent visit. That welcome was more acceptable, as it was
so entirely spontaneous and unpremeditated. He congratulates them on the rapid growth of the town and the cordial relations
existing between the Europeans and Maori, and the good order and harmony
maintained in the pursuit of gold. He anticipates further pleasure observing increased development of the town
and goldfields which have already done so much to renovate the trade and
commerce of Auckland.
Mr D Lundon, landing
waiter at Shortland, pens his reports for the 1st to 16th
May. “The quantity of gold deposited at
the various banks within the above period is 924 oz. Some of the machines are at a standstill for
want of stuff to crush, the roads are so bad that carters are demanding £1 per
ton for cartage and the miners do not feel inclined to pay such high rates,
they prefer to do without crushing until the roads are in better order. “
The schooner Julia has been put on trade between Auckland and Tapu Creek and leaves on her maiden trip today with 32,000
shingles 5,500 ft timber and sundries.
Wahapu for Shortland with sundries
Avon for Shortland
with sundries
Rosina for Shortland with sundries
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| DSC 16 May, 1868 |
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| NZH 16 May, 1868 |
Sunday, 17 May
5am
The Tauranga leaves Kennedy’s Bay. There are 200 to 300 people on the field who
have come overland from the Thames, Coromandel, Cabbage Bay, the Whangapoua
sawmill and other places. A large
portion of the ground is already pegged off and the diggers have commenced sluicing
with very good results, gold in small quantities having been found in all the
creeks. According to present prospects
there will be sufficient alluvial ground for about 500 persons, who, it is calculated
could make 12s a day. None of the reefs, however, which are expected to turn out very rich, have been searched for, the whole of
the diggers at present being engaged in sluicing. Captain Sellars says that vessels of any size
can obtain a good anchorage at Kennedy’s Bay and during spring tides the Tauranga
will be able to proceed up the creek.
Parties of diggers from the Thames and elsewhere are passing
through Coromandel enroute for Kennedy’s Bay although reports in the newspapers
are regarded as rather exaggerated by some. The exact locale of the works is about half
a mile between Kennedy’s Bay and Coromandel, just on the other side of the
dividing range. In all probability
Coromandel will become the high road to the new diggings. Possessing a good harbour, and being the
nearest point of approach, boats could come from Auckland and the Thames and
land their passengers there. It is only about
a four hours walk to reach the scene of the operations. The other route by Cape Colville is both long
and dangerous and sailing vessels cannot get round there at all times. At present there is only a foot track from
Coromandel to Kennedy’s Bay.
Tapu is visited by the Rev Mr Warlow Davies of the Congregational Union church. His audience listen to him with the
greatest attention. There is also a
probability of both a Sunday and day school being started, which is much needed, for Tapu has quite a crowd of juveniles, many families having
settled down and made this spot their home.
Thunder-like harmony.
Monday, 18 May
Good gold is being got from all the creeks at Kennedy’s Bay
but it appears that no-one has yet attempted reefing. A fortnightly protection has been granted to
the claimholders. The Maori of the area
have become considerably demoralised since the advent of the pakeha’s and have
indulged very freely in the use of spirituous liquors.
The Happy-Go-Lucky claim, Karaka, make a discovery of a
very encouraging character. The men are
engaged in cutting a track from the main road to a private house belonging to
Mr Chapman, one of the shareholders, when they come across a gold bearing
leader, from which they take 50 lb of specimens.
An offer of £1,000 is made for this claim and refused. The True Briton claim, consisting of six men’s ground, are
now working day and night in anticipation of coming upon the object of their
incessant search – the Manukau leader.
The men commenced this search four or five months ago but have so far been
unsuccessful. They are not
down on their luck yet and continue to work, as only True Britons can work,
with a single eye to the opening of this valuable auriferous ground.
The Puriri, which has been gradually engaging the attentions
of miners and speculators, is now entering into a position as a goldfield that
places it in the same estimation as the Tapu.
The formation of a Saloon Packet Company is in contemplation, and a fast and powerful steamer for passenger traffic between Shortland and Auckland is proposed to be built, her speed to be no less than 15 knots.
The formation of a Saloon Packet Company is in contemplation, and a fast and powerful steamer for passenger traffic between Shortland and Auckland is proposed to be built, her speed to be no less than 15 knots.
A man named Patrick Connelly is brought up from
Shortland this evening on the Midge, in charge of his brother, having been
committed as a lunatic on the testimony of Dr Sam and Dr Lethbridge.
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| NZH 18 May, 1868 |
Tuesday, 19 May
Away down in the Moanataiari Gully on the left, white and
yellow patches dot the hillsides, showing the numerous claims, while the sounds
of pickaxe and shovel mix with the deep droning monotonous tones of the various Berdans hard at work crushing specimens.
It sounds like the deep note of some cathedral organ running through and
through in an undercurrent of thunder-like harmony.
The orderly conduct
of the diggers is noticeable in the way in which strangers are admitted to view
many of the claims, and the pains even with which the shareholders will, in
many cases, explain to the uninitiated, the direction, depth, dip and other vagaries connected with reefs
and leaders.
There is a great deal of building going on at Tookey’s
Flat and there is little doubt that Shortland and it will, by the end
of next summer, be connected forming one large street.
There is a crushing machine about to be erected on the Deep
Lead by Mr Buckland and party. The
contract for taking the boiler and engine up to the claim has been given to
Daniel Tookey. This will be conducive to
the prosperity of three or four claims in that direction.
Gossip at Shortland
says that a gentleman long connected with Coromandel - and one of the first who
acknowledged and foresaw the future richness of the Thames – has invented a
process of saving the finest particles of the precious metal, to release and
save even that fine gold dust imprisoned in the minute atoms of iron sand and
mundic.
In the Puriri
district there are six claims – the Golden Crown, the Waitemata the Ko-hi-noor,
the Prospectors, the Alliance and Matthies – these claims have an aggregate
length of seventeen hundred feet and gold is found throughout them. The quantity of quartz that these six claims
alone produce is enormous – 50 head of stampers could be kept continuously
going. There is already a large amount of stone packed on the ground, only
awaiting machinery.
At Tapu a meeting of residents is held this evening at
Messrs Allen and Hall’s store to consider the advisability of building a hall
for public worship and other purposes.
Tartar for the Thames with 16,000 ft timber
4pm
The Thames Improvement Committee meets, with Mr Beetham in the
chair. A letter from the Superintendent
is read acknowledging receipt of the committee’s letter requesting that no
further steps be taken in the formation of a tramway until its utility has been
recognised by the inhabitants of the district. Respecting a mining board, Mr Beetham says he has not
written to the Superintendent on the subject as Mr Mackay has told him he
thinks the petition has not been sent in consequence of some informality. Inquiries are to be made. With reference to the transfer of mining and other
properties the Superintendent has sent a Provincial
Government Gazette containing notification of the appointment of a mining
registrar for the district. Mr Beetham has seen Mr Mackay regarding the certificate of
native titles through the Native Lands Court. No application has yet been made to the land
court respecting the lands of the
township, but a special sitting of the court will be held shortly. The leases issued for the township would be from the general
government, but if desirable, the leases might be granted from the Maori
direct. The committee also resolves to write to the postmaster at
Auckland requesting that the hours of attendance of the Thames post office be extended to 8pm, and calling attention to the impossibility of one gentleman performing alone the duties of
the office.
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| DSC 19 May, 1868 |
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| DSC 19 May, 1868 |
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| DSC 19 May, 1868 |
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| NZH 19 May, 1868 |
Wednesday, 20 May
An extraordinarily
rich leader is discovered by Messrs Allen, Hall and Walker in a claim on Golden
Point, Tapu.
There is a marked and decided improvement in the rapidly
rising township of Tapu, which despite the name change to Hastings, is mostly
still referred to by its old moniker. Even those storekeepers who built at the first onset now see
the necessity of extending their business premises, while at the same time
there are plenty of new arrivals.
Several of the new claims have struck gold and the old claims are
briskly and steadily improving and shares are selling at very high
figures. The amount of quartz now waiting
for crushing is something astonishing and many of the claims are not doing full
work, owing to the want of machinery. The new rush to Kennedy’s Bay does not seem to have had much
effect on the population at Tapu. They all seem contented in every sense of the
word, and keep to the principle that a rolling stone never gathers any moss.
Some workmen engaged in the formation of a footbridge along Grey Street near the Maori burial ground find a valuable greenstone mere. The property is claimed by Chief Taipari as a relic of his ancestor which had been buried with the remains, and the finder having been rewarded, the mere is handed over to Taipari.
Some workmen engaged in the formation of a footbridge along Grey Street near the Maori burial ground find a valuable greenstone mere. The property is claimed by Chief Taipari as a relic of his ancestor which had been buried with the remains, and the finder having been rewarded, the mere is handed over to Taipari.
At the time of the census in December the population of
Raglan appears to have been 326 souls, but this number has since been
considerably reduced through many of the young men resident in the settlement
leaving for the Thames goldfields.
Avon for Shortland with stores and machinery
A man named Rogers is brought up to Auckland by the steamer
Midge this evening from the Thames, in charge of Sergeant Lipsey. The prisoner was charged yesterday
morning at the Shortland court with having stolen a silver watch, gold guard,
greenstone and gold key from G Brothwell.
He is committed to the Supreme Court.
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| DSC 20 May, 1868 |
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| NZH 20 May, 1868 |
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Sources
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Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018 when re-using information from this blog.
