Thames (NZ): Nearby Waihi & Mining News

Many Thamesites moved to Waihi when the goldfields were struggling...as they searched for work, survival and still hopeful of finding the riches of gold.  Many of you will have a tie then to these and other townships around the Thames, Coromandel, Ohinemuri and Hauraki region.

The Ohinemuri Journal has a wealth of information on topics and people of the wider Ohinemuri area. The Waihi Museum has online and onsite resources.

Description
A NEW DEPARTURE AT WAIHI: WORKERS LEAVING THE MINE ON FOOT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS.
Source: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19121114-9-3





Last year, we all remembered the Waihi Strike of 1912 - this year 2013 will be remembered in history by many as another black day in history. The news today that mining can be extended under the town.
They say people never learn from history. Let us not forget the collapses around the town, such as in 2001. My ancestors and relations lived on Barry Road and surrounding areas - we remember the effects of underground mining!

Source: Te Ara The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand

Thames (NZ): Miner's Rights

Old copies of the 'butts' of the Miner's Rights book are available at Auckland Archives. A copy of numbers 47-97 are available to view  at The Treasury The file number at Auckland Archives is

Auckland Archives BACL 14345 A208 1a

Ranapia Mokena's Miners' Right taken out 23rd August 1867

There is a wealth of information on mining at the Auckland Archives, that stretches up to the 1970s.

There are card indexes available in the index room adjacent to the main reading room - that have reference details for each miner and mines they were associated with. Then in  Miners Index Books for instance, there are alphabetically listed names of mine applications by surname. The one below is for 1965.

 

December 2014 update:

Since writing this, The Treasury at Thames have been obtaining copies of many miner's rights

Also remember you can check Kae's Goldminers Index for the years: 1867 - 1872



Thames (NZ): Wilton Family Reunion March 2013

Posting on behalf of organiser:
A reunion for descendants and family of John & Elizabeth WILTON and Fred & Emma WILTON will be held in Thames weekend of 16-17th March 2013.

John Moore Wilton, b. St Neot, Cornwall 26 Aug 1844, Elizabeth Jones b. Wednesbury, Staffordshire 1856;   m. Thames NZ 4 Nov 1874 (8 children).

Frederick George Wilton b. St Neot 18 Mar 1857, Emma Amelia Jones b. Wednesbury 16 Apr 1865;
m. Auckland NZ 17 Mar 1882 (13 children).

 John and Fred were copper miners in Cornwall and gold miners in Thames.
Information on the family can be found in this article at The Treasury Journal:
John Moore Wilton, Miner of Cornwall and Thames

For further information:
Contact: David Wilton email d.r.wilton@massey.ac.nz

Overlooking Thames, looking south to Totara and Hauraki Plains
(Photo part of Cunningham Collection at The Treasury)

Thames (NZ): Thames Residents in the Old Colonists Register

The Old Colonists Association register is available via Auckland Library
"The Old Colonists' Association developed out of the reunion gatherings of those settlers who were passengers aboard the first two immigrant ships into Auckland - the Duchess of Argyle and the Jane Gifford. Membership was confined to colonists of fifty years' standing and their descendants.


It lists members of the association, including information relating to joining date, badge number, address at time of joining, when and where born, date of arrival in New Zealand, name of ship, and some miscellaneous remarks. It covers the period from 10 October 1919 to 16 November 1934.

It has a list of 13 early vessels with their arrival dates pasted on the register's front end paper, covering the period 1840-1842"

It can be downloaded for you to view at leisure. Arranged alphabetically, you need to search each page in the "letter" as there are additions, that mean the list is not always alpha sorted.
On the surface, there doesn't appear many Thames names, but remember...so many of these people will have spent some time living in Thames during the early boom years.

Here is an example from the register for JOSEPH ROBERTS:

Section from Old Colonists Register

It reads: Joined 1-10-31, Joseph ROBERTS, Edward St, Thames. Born Gt Barrier in NZ, Born 17/12/1856. Mother arr in Wellington 1839 ex "Bolton" Father arr in Wellington ex Duke of Roxburg

Above: View from Edward Street Thames 2009:

Thames (NZ): Early business licenses

Archives Auckland continues to hold a wealth of information about early Thames. The first businesses were required to get licenses from the Warden's Court. Several of these butt books remain at Auckland Archives.
A simple search at Archway will bring several results, for instance:

Thames Wardens Business License Butt Book (14414)

1867? - unknown range held: 1867 - 1871
Order details:
title years
Business Licenses Butt Book License No. 55-200 1867 - 1868

agency series accession box / item sep record no. part alternative no.
BACL 14414 1 / a

An example of one of the butts is below:

Thames (NZ): Goldmining in the Coromandel

A good snapshot of the early documents available at Archives Auckland, are outlined in the online exhibition at Archives New Zealand. Entitled : GOLDMINING IN THE COROMANDEL.

The introduction starts with the discovery of gold in Coromandel, but has documents relating to the wider area. "This album illustrates goldmining in the Coromandel peninsula and shows what it was like to live and work in the goldfields."

There are three Albums: Early Days (18 items), Goldmining in the Tokotea (18 items) and Life in the Goldfields (20 items) Information includes sample pages from correspondence, court books, maps, hospital registers etc..

Block IV Thames Map

Remember if you are looking for mining information to check for Miner's Rights and other info at Kae's Goldminers database. The Treasury, Thames has a growing collection on mining and welcomes any contributions of documents or maps. The School of Mines at Thames, is also worth a visit.

Thames (NZ): Early teachers

A CD is available from Colonial Books, "NEW ZEALAND TEACHERS EXAMINATION 1880 - 1920"

The information is actual pages from the NZ GAZETTE's. (NB The books are available to view and research at The Treasury, Thames)
The information is often listed by district but other sections are special mentions or prizes that detail town, as the examples below show:
SPECIAL MENTION (NZ Gazette Mar 19 1903)
JOHNS, William Francis, Thames,elementary Science Class E
MAHONEY, Harriet Elizabeth, Thames, Domestic Economy

In 1 March 1913 publication, passes were listed for:
JOHNSON, May Oliver, Thames
VOYSEY, William Doran, Thames

A wealth of information, with many more Thames-ites listed

Thames (NZ) Records at Archives Auckland

It is easy to think that old records aren't available, but with time and a little effort, the material at Archives Auckland seems almost limitless.
Previously mentioned are the miners rights books, but there are many more.
You can search the catalogue via ARCHWAY

Here are but a few titles that may be of interest:
Thames Claim Plan Books (14352) - unknown - unknown range held: c.1869 - 1879, This series consists of books containing plans of mining claims administered by Thames Warden's Court.

Thames General Mining Records (15202) Holdings Dates 1896 - 1914, This series consists of general mining records kept by Thames Warden's Court.

Thames License Books - Grant of Special Claims (14398) Holdings Dates 1887 - 1899, This series contains Thames Warden's Court license books recording grants of special claims.

Thames Miners Right Butt Books (14345) Holdings Dates 1867 - 1868, This series consists of a number of butt books which contain copies of miner's rights which were granted by Thames Warden's Court.

Thames Resident Site Licences (15097) Holdings Dates 1879 - 1879, This series contains resident site licences issued by Thames Warden's Court.

Thames Wardens Butt Book Lost Miners Rights (14428) Holdings Dates 1868 - 1868, This series contains a butt book recording replacement certificates issued in place of lost Miner's Rights at Thames Warden's Court.

And so it goes on, for a wide range of dates, plus loads of court minutes, notes and letters.

A couple of examples below from one of the warden's books - water rights 1871 and 1868.

My special thanks to my 'archives-helper' Janette for sending me these; if anyone else finds anything interesting to share from archives....please email them to me (address top right of page)

Thames (NZ) Letters in the papers of Sir Donald McLean

The Alexander Turnbull Library has numerous articles related to THAMES and the people of Thames; an easy to search collection is searchable online - these are the papers of Sir Donald MCLEAN, with many digitised and available to read.
The Papers of Sir Donald McLean, 1820-1877 Donald McLean (1820-1877) was arguably the most influential figure in mid-19th century New Zealand history. He was a dominant figure in relations between Māori and the Government during this tumultuous period.

Search parameters can be easily set, for instance KEYWORD THAMES nets 251 results.
Names include:
Henry Freeman ANDREWS:
4 pages written 20 Feb 1875 by Henry Freeman Andrews in Thames to Sir Donald McLean.

Alexander GRANT:
3 pages written 21 Aug 1876 by Alexander Grant in Thames to Sir Donald McLean

Annie Caroline LAWLOR:
6 pages written 21 Sep 1875 by Anne Caroline Lawlor in Thames to Sir Donald McLean

Martin H PAYNE (Dr):
2 pages written 11 Jun 1875 by Martin H Payne in Thames to Sir Donald McLean in Wellington

Daniel POLLEN:
2 pages written 9 Jun 1870 by Dr Daniel Pollen in Auckland Region to Sir Donald McLean

Plus many more. A little more on Daniel POLLEN, given that his name remains firmly cemented in the town - our main street being named after him, POLLEN STREET.
A biography available in the Cyclopedia Of New Zealand, Wellington.




Daniel Pollen, [ca 1873]

Reference Number: 35mm-00132-f-F
Daniel Pollen, circa 1873. Photographer unidentified.
Alexander Turnbull Library



Deceased Estates: Thames (NZ) 1880-1928/1931-1950

A great new CD from Colonial CD Books, "Deceased Estates Listed under the New Zealand Public Trust 1880-1928/1931-1950." A quick look shows many Thames names.  There are over 2000 images taken from the NZ Gazette and the contents are fully searchable.

Below is an example that shows you the type of information that is available.

(Click to enlarge)

The Thames entry on this page is for JOHN JOHNS, entry No 9, British residence: St Just Penzance, Date of order: Sept 27 1888, value of estate: under 860 Pounds, Deceased date Sept 1 1888.

John JOHNS was buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames 3 September 1888; native of Cornwall. There is no headstone, the plot number is 1135, he was aged 59 years.

In the 1881 Thames electoral roll there are two JOHN JOHNS, both miners; one living in Pollen Street and the other  at Waiotahi Hill. The reference to St Just is common for many Thamesites in their genealogy. The cornish miners were a nationality that settled in Thames in large numbers during the gold rush. My Pascoe/Williams ancestors were from St Just in Penwith and they were just a few of the names that immigrated to New Zealand from this particular village.

Definetly a resource to add to your lookup list, for ancestors all over New Zealand.

NEW Newspaper CD: inlcudes Thames Advertiser and Thames Star

Jeni Palmer has a new CD out called:
AUCKLAND REGION, Births, Deaths and Marriages 1848-1920

It includes material from two previous CD's with new material. It covers Bay of Plenty Times (1872-1910, Waikato Times (1872-1900), The New Zealander (1846-1866) and records from Daily Southern Cross, New Zealand Herlad, Thames Star, Thames Advertiser and Te Aroha News.

You may well ask, well they are online..at least most; but I'm sure you have found like I have that the searches don't always work...especially for some names.

At first glance I have found 3 CORNES notices (see below), that do not appear when I do a search at Papers Past.

NEW THAMES HISTORY site - Te Ara webpages

Wonderful new history site with pages covering HAURAKI-COROMANDEL region.

A wide variety of topics covered
Overview,  Geology and landscape, Climate, plants and animals, Māori migration and settlement, Māori and European: 1769 to 1840, Māori society, 1840 to 1920, Kauri timber and gum, Gold mining, Drainage and dairying on the plains, Government and politics, Transport and communications, Population and society since 1910, Sport and culture, Facts and figures, Further Sources

Alot of material, click on the side links from the OVERVIEW page for quick access

The GALLERY page has a quick link to lots of pictures, videos and audio on a wide variety of topics.

So much to explore, there is also a quick link to places in the area including THAMES.

NEW CD RESOURCES

Have just got hold of 3 new CD's (from Colonial Books) full of information for Thames and the surrounding area.
I will be collating/printing some of these sections, then indexing and placing at The Treasury, Thames.

New Zealand Nurses Register 1903 - 1920:
an excellent resource that gives, Name, training and service details, plus residence.
Remember there is a major collection of NZ Gazettes at The Treasury, if you want to see the actual book and search other years.

New Zealand Medical Practitioner Register 1873, 1882-1920:
as with the Nurses register a great overview of service and current residence is given.

WWII Ballot Lists:
a great wealth of info on men throughout New Zealand, Thames names appear to under the Paeroa district.