Thames (NZ): Nursing & Rest homes on the Thames Coast in the 1930s

We have previously looked at private healthcare at the Thames, Private hospitals such as Braemar and Sperry Maternity Home supplemented public health services during the early 1900s to the 1940s.

What about health services along the Coast?
The Thames Coast became popular for holiday breaks as roading improved. Also during the 1930s Depression and the 1940s War Years, the coast became a popular holiday destination. Not too far to travel, either by personal or service car.

While checking the details for the death of Ruth Pocock, the newspaper mentioned a private nursing home to the north of Thames at Te Puru. Where was it?

The Greenstone Door Rest Home was run during the late 1930s by Sister Ruth Pocock nee Ford. Ruth had trained at Christchurch Hospital and graduated in 1912. She advertised that her home offered rest and recuperation (no children allowed), and was under the supervision of a registered nurse.

New Zealand Herald 14 February 1938,

 In the book Coromandel Coast by Eugene and Valerie Grayland (published 1965), the Rest Home is mentioned. They note that there is a house named "The Greenstone Door" and that it was believed that a book by that name was written from that site. (Book cover right)

This myth was proven to be incorrect. Instead, "Mr A H Reed points out, the house was so named by a former occupant who was an admirer of [author William] Satchell's work. Satchell, however, did once live in the locality while employed as a clerk in Gibbon's sawmill at Kopu."

Boomerang Motor Camp, Te Puru 1965.

Maybe someone knows where the Greenstone Door House was located? Was it near the camping ground? Maybe it still bears the name  "The Greenstone Door"? Drop me a line if you know more.

I suspect there were more of these nursing homes aka rest homes down the coast. Was there one at Thornton's Bay? or was that just a boardinghouse. Thinking caps on everyone, lets see what we can remember.

Thames (NZ): Electricity reaches the Thames Coast 1939

Listen to the stories of generations who lived in the 1930s and earlier and you will hear tales of life without 'Electricity.' Coal ranges for cooking and heating water, coppers that were heated and used to wash the clothes. Ice chests and 'meat / food safes' to keep food stored, plus the many 'kiwi' inventions for helping prolong the useful life of food products.

Electricity had come to Thames before the Coast, the wait must have seemed endless!

Background:
From the early 1900s, changes happened at Thames, which would greatly impact on the lives of the residents. In previous years a few had known the wonders of gas, for lighting and other purposes, but the following years brought the introduction of electricity for domestic and industrial use. Thames Hospital for instance, had electricity installed in the surgical area from 1902 and in the remainder of the hospital by 1914. These early power supplies were provided from private generating plants. From 1906 the town debated whether to adopt a hydro power option as opposed to what was offered by the Thames Gas Company - it took until 1912 for the green light for the first option to go ahead. Thames Star 4 September 1944.

In 1914 the supply of electricity was nearly a reality for the town. The Borough of Thames had an Electricity Department, and was busily advertising various job opportunities. The local council was also offering a deferred payment scheme for people to have the electricity wiring installed in their houses. The Thames Star 10th June 1914, announced that the Thames Borough Council had successfully completed the construction of an electricity plant “of the most modern type for generating light, heat and power.” The technical specifications being: Two Diesel engines of the Hicks-Hargraves type of 160 h.p. each, with direct coupling of 105 Kilowatts Westinghouse sets. The plant had in fact started running on 27th April 1914. Thames Star 23/12/1916

Domestic consumers slowly came on board to the use of electricity in their homes. In June 1914 there were 87 consumers connected to the mains. It proved popular with businesses who changed from their old gas supply to electricity. By February 1920 the number of connections was 672.

Electrical supply was initially from dusk to midnight, with two extra hours on Tuesdays for domestic ironing. Reports in the paper, informed the residents of Thames of the benefits of electricity and that it was cost effective. Initially many felt it was going to be too expensive and also didn’t know about the wealth of uses that it had, apart from lighting. This was a big learning curve for the community as a whole.

Thames did have limited gas street lighting prior to the municipal electricity supply. Once electricity was available, there was a rapid increase in the number of street lamps around the Borough. By 1916 there were 91 lamps, with a further 10 on the boundary line of the County and Borough. The total yearly cost being: £328 2s 4d.

For further information on Thames Power - visit the Thames Bella Street Pumphouse.

It was the photo below that reminded me about the story of the power coming to the Thames Coast. While the photo itself shows a general beach scene it is the poles along the beach that intrigued me most. As a child driving down the coast, I was often amazed at the poles in the sea! Now if the photo date is genuine, the maybe these lines were in preparation, or more likely for the telephone / telegraph service.

Te Puru 1933 (Source: www.trademe.co.nz)

Thames Coast Electricity:

1933 October: Mr Watson convened a meeting at Thornton Bay with the Thames Valley Power Board and the Thames County Council to discuss the proposal to get power from Thames to Waimio [sic].  It was decided to canvas the coast residents as to the question of installation - the proposed cost was given as three thousand pounds for the project.

1937 August: Further meetings of residents were held, now the people at Te Mata wanted to be included in the plans for electricity supply. Again a canvas of households was to be undertaken.
The cost now was over five thousand pounds for the scheme. It was reported that there were 189 ratepayers and ten residents in the area. Sixty-seven people had replied to the canvas - fifty-three of these had signed up for power. Another seventeen had signed up the day of the report.

1938 May: Further canvas undertaken to see if there were enough people on the coast to warrant installation. The Chamber of Commerce agreed to make up any deficits regarding the costs for reticulation to Tapu, Thames Coast.

1938 September: Excitement was building, it was a reality, electricity was coming to the coast. (photo right)

1938 October: Bad news, the plan for power was running six months behind schedule. Engineer Mr N G McLeod told the Thames Valley Electric Power Board meeting, "Owing to the rush of work and the fact that other lines were signed up and the whole lot of the constructional staff was engaged on services elsewhere." Thames Star 6 October 1938.

1939 January: Thames Valley Electric Power Board reassured the Thames Chamber of Commerce that work would soon begin on the reticulation of the Thames Coast Road with electricity.
During the installation period, the unrest and war in Europe led to limited supplies of items such as switches.

1939 December 10: Red letter day - POWER TO THE THAMES COAST!
Lucky residents up to Te Puru received the first electricity supply's and right to Tapu was due in the near future. Electrical appliances, lighting and hot water services were now available to the Thames Coast residents.

 

1941 January: Now the coast had power, it was foreseen that things would rapidly change. Holidaymakers were overwhelmed by the provision of electricity at resorts and felt it would help popularise the coast (if only the road could be tar-sealed as well!).

Well the coast and town now had electricity - while war restrictions would ironically bring many nights of blackouts, electricity would change their lives forever. Just imagine all the new appliances to revolutionise Thamesites daily chores. Money would have been tight, but I bet that iron or toaster were one of the first things the residents of the Coast and Thames enjoyed! (photos below)

  

1936 Electrical Appliances available at The Thames.

Miscellaneous Photos:

BELOW: Date not known but should be early 1900s - taken from the hill coming into Waiomu, looking back to Te Puru. Poles can be seen along the hill and road.

 BELOW: Closer look below at the 'poles' at Te Puru.

BELOW: 1970s view looking south back at Te Puru... Electricity and Telephone poles venture into the sea!

Thames (NZ): Thames Coast Road Postcard

The Thames Coast Road on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula has always been a challenge, but the past year saw storms continually wreck havoc along the narrow pathway. It was good news to hear that the reconstruction work had been completed, and Mayor Sandra Goudie recently took the opportunity to thank all involved.

A report by STUFF 20 June 2018 summarised events:
"It took six months and $18.9 million to repair what nature destroyed in one day on the Thames Coast Rd.  Repairs to the stretch of State Highway 25 since the January 5 storm include 3km of resealing, 4 km of new pavement constructed, 41 culverts repaired, four new crossings, 70 rock walls, and many kilometres of rock protection, using 1700 tonnes of rock brought in by truck, more than 65 contractors and about 70,000 man hours. The rebuild is now complete, apart from an additional 3km of resealing scheduled for finer weather next summer."

The postcard below highlights the perfect day and drive down the Thames Coast Road to Coromandel. Pohutakawa cling to the rocks, while the driver of a few decades past, makes their way carefully around the narrow bends.

A Barker Postcard Collection

BACKGROUND:

Since the Thames Goldfield was opened, roading issues have been a priority. While the early miners relied on sea transport like the local iwi, slowly tracks were developed along the coast as we know it today.

Reverend Lush for instance recalls in his diaries travelling north to Coromandel and making use of the low tide to walk along the beach. Over the decades, tracks were widened to the extent that horse and gig could travel up the coast to the more popular destinations. Car travel brought new challenges.

Biking was a popular way to travel the coast road, 

while cyclists reported punctures were a frequent occurrence.

During one week Dec 1921-Jan 1922, 1172 vehicles passed along the coast road. The majority were cars; along with lorrys, buses, motorbikes - but there were still 103 horse drawn vehicles.

1931 view of the Coromandel to Colville section of the coast road.

In 1929, concern was raised over the speed limit on the coast road. Four motorbikes had been seen doing 45 miles per hour - it was felt this was highly unsafe and that the speed limit should be reduced to 15 miles per hour. Twenty miles per hour the maximum!! Well known coast resident Mr McMahon confirmed the problem and felt some were using the coast road as a speed track!

In April 1930, the coast road was widened in places with some corners removed. Despite heavy metalling, motorists had been advised to carry chains for use in wet weather.

In 1933, a travel writer to the Thames Star extolled the virtues of travelling on the Thames Coast Road, and in particular the beauty of the pohutakawa. "Road Royal - That is the name by which men will one day acclaim the beauty of the Thames Coast Road." Thames Star 13 December 1933.

During the Depression years of the 1930s, gangs of labourers worked on the road, metalling and maintaining the road. Sea walls were built at various locations to try and protect the road from the sea.

In 1936 the news was imminent that the coast road was to be tarsealed, prior to this large sections were metalled. The people of Tapu appealed for the seal to reach them and not to stop at Thornton Bay!

A similar event had happened as during the 2018 King Tide event; the road in 1936 had been covered with silt and sand and it was feared that no would be able to gain access to the coast over the summer months.

In January 1937, a large landslide blocked the road just near the Puru Point - an event that had happened countless times and still happens to this day along the Thames Coast Road.

In March 1937 came the long awaited announcement that work was to begin on the sealing of the coast road. the first portion to be undertaken was to cost 950 Pounds. On going maintenance of the road was always a concern. in the same year 30 men were deployed to work trying to keep the road open and a public works camp was established to house them.

In 1939, Civil Engineer Mr J H Adams, raised the theory that some of the slips and landslides along the Thames Coast Road were due to seismic activity - the area had several fault lines.

Another constant over the years has been the tendency for cars to leave the road! and crash onto the rocks and into the sea. As was the case in 1939 when Mr J H Battson was a passenger in a car driven by Mr C Marshall of Paeroa.

Car nearly off the road in the 1950s.

Godwin Collection

Oral history accounts reported that during the war years 1939-1945, men were set to work to build  different structures Instead of trying to keep the road open, traps were set along the coast road, whereby the locals could block the road should it be deemed necessary to hinder foreign invaders!

The history of the coast road continues. While locals often wonder whether in their lifetime will it ever really change?

Thames (NZ): Popeye's Corner, Whakatete Bay.

Lost Landmarks are something we often remark on. Without doubt one of the most popular and loved landmark of recent times was the Popeye figure that was in the house-window at the north corner of Whakatete Bay, Thames Coast.

The 'Popeye' character that stood in the window of Mr Wood's house for many decades.
Photo courtesy of the Doug Campbell Collection.

In the last year for instance, whenever there is a flood, people ask, "What's it like at Popeye's Corner?" Sadly this corner takes a battering and it is not uncommon for the sea surges to cover the road.

On a happier note, children (now adults) recall that a trip down the coast was never complete without a glimpse at "Popeye" waving in the window, and if you were really lucky the owner would also be present beside the cartoon icon!

Times change, the ownership has changed and all signs of 'Popeye' are gone, but the name and memories remain!

BACKGROUND:

Mr Milton Wood, standing outside his house at Whakatete Bay.

The man behind 'Popeye" was Mr (Lewis) Milton Wood, the son of Claremont (Clarry) Africa Wood, and grandson of William Wood, an early shopkeeper on the Thames Goldfield.

Milton attended Tararu School for a short while, before leaving for Auckland in 1902. He was a soldier in World War One (#74259), a letter carrier in Devonport on enlistment. He was part of the 38th Reinforcement Medical Corps that left on the Remuera 5th June 1918 for Liverpool, England. Wood was finally discharged 24 October 1919, after having served in New Zealand and overseas.

Sadly Private Milton Wood, is yet another WWI soldier we have not included previously in the Thames Register, if anyone knows of any others, please can you let me know, or contact Kae via The Treasury.

Totara Memorial Cemetery RSAL Plot 0423

Mr Lewis Milton Wood passed away 23 August 1991 at Thames and has a plaque in the RSA section of the Totara Memorial Park Cemetery.

Out of interest, just north of the main section of Whakatete Bay where Mr Milton Wood lived, was Wood's Bay. The family owned houses in the bay, and hence the small beach and cove became known by the family name.

ABOVE: 1920s view of Wood's Bay. BELOW: Google maps view of the bay 2013.

Thames (NZ): The 'Fishing Rocks'

The Thames Coast Road has been a challenge this year, with ongoing slips and road blockages. Yes, nothing changes. The road has been a challenge from the time it was first opened. Developed from the tracks that were used by the first settlers.

In the early days of the goldfield, many a Thamesite made the trip to Tararu as part of their precious Sunday 'day of rest' activities. In 1898 contractors such as Mr Hawkes, took loads of Thamesites to the area in his brake - weather permitting!

In the early 1900s, a bike ride to the Fishing Rocks (aka Rocky Point) just north of Tararu township was a regular excursion. Consequently, many postcards were published of this familiar place. Simply captioned in most cases as the 'Fishing Rocks' - no more explanation needed.
(various photographs below)

 

ABOVE: 1907 View of the Fishing Rocks at Tararu

Source: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19070704-12-1 

ABOVE: The classic view of cyclists at Tararu.

BELOW: The Fishing Rocks today via Google Maps

In 1882 the road past Tararu to Rocky Point was damaged during a storm, a scenario that was repeated countless times of the decades. The Thames Advertiser 18 May 1882 contained further letters of complaint regarding the state of the road in the Tararu area. (see right)

The Fishing Rocks got their name it appears because they were a great place to fish. Sadly in 1899, John Randle was drowned while fishing on the landmark. He was found in the water, while on the rocks above were two fish and fishing gear. It was therefore surmised that Randle must have slipped while fishing.

In 1884, the Thames Borough Council acknowledged the work and assistance required to maintain the roads in the area. Several men had been working north of Tararu and it was seen as imperative that they be kept on. The job was so big it was felt that Government assistance was required.

In 1905 it was advocated by many that the Fishing Rocks area would make the ideal deep water harbour accommodation and that a breakwater should be built off the rocks. The water free from silt and the sea depth considerable as one moved out to sea. This plea had been heard previously in the 1880s with no action taken.

As transport changed from horse to cars, and more lived down the coast, it was necessary to make improvements to the road. In 1922 the Thames County Council considered a toll gate on the coast road as a way of gathering revenue for road maintenance.

In the Thames Star 10 January 1935, a survey was reported on data collected on New Years Day. The objective was to highlight the need for tar-sealing of the Thames Coast Road north of Thames. It was found that in the 12 hours between 7am to 7pm, the traffic numbers were: 867 cars; 91 trucks; 49 buses; and 70 motorbikes. Gradually the road surface was improved and sections were sealed.

The landmark 'Fishing Rocks' remain. No longer a destination due to inpart to the lack of parking in the area, just a landmark to pass as travellers venture north along the coast. Today the point is more commonly known just as Rocky Point.

Thames (NZ): Thames Scouts' trek to Coromandel 1921

There are reports of the Dominion Boy Scout movement in Thames from 1909. Details of packs were outlined in the paper, the leaders at that time were: A Conway, H Adams, E Morman, and A Casey. (see below)

Thames Star 21 May 1909

Over the following years the boys participated in a  wide range of scouting activities, helping with WWI activities in the town and during the influenza epidemic of 1918.

 

One thing they looked forward to each year was the annual trek to Coromandel. Some details of the 1921 event were provided in the Thames Star during January 1921. Some Snippets are below:

Thames Star 8 January: “Whilst every Scout undertakes the trek with the understanding that he is expected to walk, it was very funny to see the eagerness with which they accepted the offer of lift as far as Puru, on a motor ‘bus which happened along.” There were about thirty boys and they sang a song with a few word alterations:

“It’s a long way to Coromandel, It’s a long way to go; Good-bye dear old Pollen St, Good-bye Grahamstown, It’s a long long way to Coromandel, And my heart’s right there.”

The first night was spent at Tapu. Tea was cold pickled pork, potatoes, bread and butter, and cups of tea. Breakfast was at 6am and they set out for Kerita at 7.30.

They arrived at lunchtime and spent the afternoon swimming and involved in scoutcraft. For tea they had irish stew.

Thames Star 11 January: News of arrival at Coromandel on the third day – from Kerita 15 miles and two high hills. The Coromandel Boy Scouts met the group and led them into town. (details right)

Thames Star 12 January: While in Coromandel, the scouts played sports and undertook other activities. A cricket match against the Coromandel boys, was a close match but Coromandel won 57 to 45. There was a church parade as well.

On the Monday there was to be a football match and scout concert. Tuesday was to be sports, then the following day the trek back home. Planned stops were Kerita, Puru and back home in Thames!

Thames Star 18 January: Good news reported, the Thames boys won the football! The sports day went well, with the boys winning t tug-of-war and some relays. The Coromandel Brass Band played on the day. On the way home they stayed in Mr Jamieson's barn at Kerita and at Mr Paul's property at Puru. Some boys wanted to create a record and push on to Thames, but many were exhausted so the decision was made to rest and go home the following day.

 

PHOTOS of the GREAT TREK FOLLOW:  

Description 1921 - THAMES BOY SCOUTS HOLIDAY MARCH TO COROMANDEL: THE LAST BREAKFAST ON THE ROAD.
Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 10 February 1921 p041
Source:  ' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19210210-41-1 '

Description 1921 - THE COMPANY ON THE MARCH.
Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 10 February 1921 p041
Source:  ' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19210210-41-2 '

BACKGROUND ON SCOUTING MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND:
At Wikipedia - Dominion Boy Scouts: Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) David Cossgrove centrally organised Boy Scouts in 1908 and formed the Dominion Boy Scouts. The Dominion Boy Scouts and Robert Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association affiliated in 1913 in an uneasy relationship. Cossgrove's Dominion Boy Scouts introduced "Junior Scouts" in 1913 with "Bull Pups" programs. After 1916 some Junior Scouts operated "Wolf Cub" programs. Cossgrove died in 1920 and in 1923 the majority of the executive of the Dominion Boy Scouts reconstituted themselves as a branch of The Boy Scouts Association.

Thames (NZ): Bike Ride to Tararu - Second look

 The Fishing Rocks just north of Tararu, feature on many postcards. Sometimes they are coloured, sepia or greyscale. Usually they have some folk on bikes, or walking along the rode, maybe a buggy passing by.

Source: A Barker Collection

What does a SECOND LOOK, tell us about the scene. The people riding the bikes are often women, riding in small groups. In this example there are three women, smartly dressed, with beautiful wide hats. There long hair, secured under their hats. Women on the goldfield were an adventurous lot, and very independent. Often they had to be, their boyfriends/husbands/fathers working long hours in the mines. They did things that women in other areas may not have had the opportunities to tackle. It was quite normal to set off on a ride, the bicycle was liberating for both men and women alike, allowing them to travel so much easier.

 Have they stopped because they are tired? Was this the traditional turning point? Lets ride to the fishing rocks and back. The lady on the left has something on her handlebars, has she taken a drink? Something to eat?? Or something to repair the bikes if required??? The road appears relatively smooth, although there are still loose rocks which would have to watched for, or an accident could have easily happened. All in all, it looks like it was a great day out! Shall we come back again next Sunday? I hear them call.

The fishing rocks area today - the wide still not very wide!
Source: Google maps

There were many cycling clubs in Thames during the late 1800s, and races and rambles were popular for both men and women. Opening day of the cycling season was a major event for the town, as shown in the 1898 photograph below.

Description: 1898. Looking east up the Waiotahi Valley, from the corner of Williamson Street where it meets the beach (now Beach Road), Thames, showing the Royal Hotel on the corner Williamson and Owen Streets (centre) and Messenger's Hill (left rear horizon), and a crowd of cyclists gathered for the opening of the cycling season.
Source: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-18981125-1-1'

Description: 1899. Group portrait of members of the Thames Cycling Club and their bicycles. Source: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-18991208-5-5'.

Further information:
PLAYING SPORT on the THAMES GOLDFIELDS: 1867 - 1920, by Althea Barker

To Find A Fortune, Women of the Thames Goldfield 1867-1893 by Rosemary Killip, Victoria University of Wellington, 1995

Thames (NZ): Thames Coast Camps

It may seem strange to younger readers today, that the people of Thames would often travel to Te Puru or or Waiomu for their holidays. To get even that far was an adventure! Maybe the entrepid holidaymakers went by bus, or service car (taxi); few would have been lucky enough to have their own car.

 

Many would have then camped on the open reserve areas, yet undeveloped with the housing as we know it today. An account from 1945 reads: There are more holiday-makers at Thames coast resorts than for several previous years. Roads to the beaches have seen an almost continuous procession of campers over the last few days. The most popular of the areas near Thames is Lower Puru, and Waiomo has greatly increased in popularity. Sites at these places are well occupied. Tapu and Thornton's Bay also have a good number of holidaymakers, who to date have had ideal summer weather, although until today the sea has been rough. Added numbers are at Waiomo this year because of the opening of the summer camp of the Y.M.C.A., Hamilton, which will last for six weeks accommodating 150 boys in each of three periods of a fortnight. (Auckland Star 28th December 1944) The war was drawing to a close, but rationing would still have been in place.

 

Above: Waiomo Reserve, where many would camp along the foreshore area
Below: Later photo of The Boomerang Motor Camp at Te Puru - an area that has been ravaged by floods over the years, which has led to large-scale redevelopment of the river area (to right of photo)

 For details on the Te Puru flood protection work, visit the TCDC site. (Click here)

 

While staying down the coast, fishing played a big part in feeding the hungry holiday-makers and bringing hours of pleasure. Fish was plentiful and boat loads of snapper were a common occurrence - even the larger shark was bought ashore for display.

Source: Auckland Weekly News 17 January 1924 p041

 Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19240117-41-4





Thames (NZ): The story of Ngarimu Bay

The original name of the bay was Ō-Tohi. At the end of WWII the European settlers of this new community were looking for a name acceptable to all. Lieutenant Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu of Ngāti Porou was “awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.” The residents got the approval of his parents to name the bay after their son to commemorate his bravery.


The Maori Television Channel had a programme on Ngārimu VC -- if you missed it, take the time to find about the man behind the name of our popular Thames Coast bay.   Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu from ‘C’ Company, 28th Māori Battalion, was killed in action in North Africa and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – this is his story.

Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, c1940

The Treasury at Thames has an oral history recording by Mr Toss HAMMOND MBE, who tells the story of the naming of the bay..a snippet follows:

..."So one day Mrs Young, the wife of  Mr John Young who was on the committee, she came to me and said “I have an idea about naming that domain. What about calling the thing Ngarimu Domain? There’s that young fellow Ngarimu Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa that’s just been awarded the first Victoria Cross that’s been awarded to a Maori. What about naming it after him?”

Mr Hammond goes on to explain the process that was involved and the contact with the relatives. The rest is history - now we know the place as Ngarimu Bay, but let us not forget the man and the story behind the naming of the bay.

Thames Coast (NZ): Tapu Cemetery photos

Wonderful site that has cemetery photos from around the world. I did a search for a BARKER family member and the grave photo for Waikumete is available. These Photos are taken by volunteers all around the world, and you can also submit photos.

Great news for this area; special thanks to Caroline who has taken photos and indexed the TAPU CEMETERY, Thames Coast. There are 47 grave photos, with 109 names mentioned. "In the Tapu Cemetery, rest many of the early pioneers of the district, and on the headstones read the names of those whose descendants still live in the area. Many graves are unmarked. Apparently this place was always a Maori burial ground, and in the early days it was agreed between the local Maori and Europeans, that any residents could be buried in this sacred ground [this may indicate why the area is known as ‘Tapu’] generally in family plots."

The Tapu Cemetery page is accessed here - with a summary of surnames and details given.  Click on the far right column labelled GPR to view the headstone photo. You can then click another link to obtain a higher resolution photo.

Top: Earlier photo of Tapu
Bottom: Tapu Camping Ground on left and Tapu Point and Cemetery on the right

You will find information on the families buried at the Tapu Cemetery, at The Treasury, Thames. There are many relevant family trees, family pioneer forms and related material for the old families of that area. Plus some wonderful oral history recordings about life at Tapu, in the 1900s.

Thames (NZ) Postcards at Youtube No 2

Just another short collection of postcards at YouTube.

This covers views along the Thames Coast towards Te Mata; as well as a selection from Thames. Enjoy.


Dunnage Postcard - Mata Beach, Tapu

TAPU, Thames Coast - genealogy resources

Introduction:
Many Thamesites have links with the small coastal bays along the coast. Bays such as Tapu (previously known as HASTINGS) were home to miners, farmers and kauri workers. The land rugged and hard, but a challenge met by many immigrant families. The isolation and challenges of getting to Thames for supplies and help, all taken in the stride of the early european settlers. Many families eventually moving to Thames, while many descendants of those pre1900 settlers remain in the area, to this day.


Below is just a small sample/suggestions of places where you can gain more information about the lifes of the families who settled the Tapu area.

Early Maps and Photos:
In the Auckland City Libraries map collection, there are several early land maps for TAPU (WEST HASTINGS). Just enter TAPU in search box. The Heritage collection has many early photos, others can also be found at TIMEFRAMES (Alexander Turnbull Library).

School records:
Tapu-Kereta School 1874-1899 are online
Further school records are available at The Treasury Thames and for sale on a School records CD
ARCHIVES Auckland has many files and attendance registers for TAPU School, the preliminary details can be seen online and viewed at the Auckland office.

Burial records:
TCDC Cemetery online database does not include the Tapu cemetery but the council can be contacted for further information
Thames Library and The Treasury Thames have burial record details. There are Monumental inscriptions -which include the names of many of the early settlers. Families such as: HAWKES, JAMIESON, MCMAHON, PLUMMER, TROTTER and WENZLICK.

The WENZLICK family history site has info on the TAPU CEMETERY plus extensive family history inforamtion

Tapu Cemetery Headstone Photos:
Available at The Treasury and online thanks C Church.

General info:
The Treasury, Thames has: local books on the coast, reunion books, local family histories and oral history recordings on Tapu (by D Jowitt), Directories and Electoral Rolls, photos, mine and battery details.


Dunnage postcards c1920: Tapu (top) and Mata aka Te Mata (above)