Thames (NZ): Another great photographer - Toss Hammond

An old  Thamesite who is considered to have been one of the authorities on Thames history is without question Mr T.W.G.H. (Toss) Hammond MBE. While most of us have only seen just a small amount of his research collection, the Auckland War Memorial Library holds boxes of treasures. Thanks to their digitisation programme, a new facet of Hammond's research is able to be viewed via the Internet.

Mr Hammond was a prolific photographer, and now we can see a growing selection via the online catalogue. Here are a few that are available as at 20 June 2018.

View from Irishtown 1906. The view is looking along Campbell Street, the Waiokaraka School is centre left. The Burke Street Wharf in the distance.

[Thames from Irishtown],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1906,PH-ALB-357-4-P30-1

 Waiomu 1906. Looking north, back along the coast to Thames. Present day Waiomu Domain on the right.

Waiomu,Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1906,PH-ALB-357-4-P36-1

Thames 1917 Flood - Mackay Street. Where is the photo exactly taken, Could that be the old Lush residence in the distance at the corner of Mackay and Mary Streets?

[Children and unidentified man on Mackay St. after the flood in 1917],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1917,PH-ALB-357-4-P32-1

May Queen Mine. View down Waiokaraka Valley, towards Mackay Street and Pollen Street. St James Church far left.

[May Queen Mine - Thames],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,1900's,PH-ALB-357-4-P29-1

Moanataiari - Caledonia Mine 1906. View down the Moanataiari Valley towards the foreshore, now the reclaimed land known as the Moanataiari.

[Caledonian Mine - Kuranui/Moanataiari],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1906,PH-ALB-357-4-P31-1

Loo Autridge gathering Mussels 1905.

[Loo Autridge gathering mussels on the Thames coast],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,1905 - 1906,PH-ALB-357-1-P15-1

Cattle on Thornton Bay Beach 1909.

[Cattle on Thornton's Bay beach],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1899 - 1909,PH-ALB-357-4-P17-1

Shortland Wharf.

[Shortland Wharf - Thames],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, compiler,ca. 1898,PH-ALB-357-10-P2-1

Fishing Rocks, Tararu 1898.

[Man sitting on the rocks - Tararu],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1898,PH-ALB-357-3-P14-1

Kauaeranga River  - Davies Cows Crossing 1898.

[Davie's Cows crossing the river - Kauaeranga],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1898,PH-ALB-357-3-P8-1

R R McGREGOR and J B MASON at the Shortland Wharf. The fishing nets are being dried on the left.

[R.R. McGregor and J.B Mason],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, compiler,1900's,PH-ALB-357-10-P1-1

Tararu from Rocky Point 1898. This is my new favourite!! This must be the side of the Cemetery entrance on the left and Tararu Point as we know it in the distance.

Tararu from Rocky Point - 1898,Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1898,PH-ALB-357-3-P10-1

Cadet Camp Omahu.

[Paeroa Squad, Cadet Camp - Omahu],Hammond, Thomas William George Howard, 1868-1967, photographer,ca. 1909,PH-ALB-357-4-P6-1

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS:
There are many more including a series on the carvings in the Hotunui Meeting house. As well as photos of Eruiti Wetea (Ngati Maru) and numerous photographs of local iwi which require copyright clearance to save and copy.

We look forward to more photographs coming online from the wonderful collection at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.