Thames (NZ): Electorate History

As Aotearoa New Zealand awaits the results of the 2020 Election it is timely to revisit the names of our past parliamentary representatives and the electorate names. The majority of this post is from a blog dated 19 September 2014.

     Over the years the boundary lines have varied as population fluctuations cause changes to all New Zealand Electorates. The present Coromandel Electorate has had boundary changes for the 2020 election: "The electorate includes many townships encompassing Coromandel, Whitianga, Thames, Whangamatā and Waihī among others. Recent boundary changes saw the electorate grow east to take in Ōmokoroa, and lose Te Aroha, which is now in the Waikato electorate." (NZ Herald)  NB.The Maori electorates are not recorded.

EARLY HISTORY

     Once the goldfields were established, the first Thames eligible males, were on the 1869 Franklin Election Roll.

The Thames Electorate existed 1871 to 1946. The Members of Parliament were:

• 1871: Charles Gordon O'Neill (Independent) - Results
• 1876: William Rowe and George Grey
• 1879: John Sheehan and George Grey
• 1881: John Sheehan (Independent)
• 1884 & !887: William Fraser (Independent)
• 1890: Alfred Cadman (Liberal)
• 1893 (By-election), 1893, 1896, 1899, 1905, 1908: James McGowan (Liberal)
• 1909 (By-election): Edmund Taylor (Liberal)
• 1911, 1914, 1919, 1922, 1925: Thomas William Rhodes (Liberal then Reform)
• 1928, 1931: Albert Samuel (Reform)
• 1935, 1938, 1943: Jim Thorn (Labour)
• The Electorate was abolished in 1946

     

   Left to Right: Sir George Grey - Alfred Cadman - James McGowan

     Then the people of Thames were included in the Hauraki Electorate. This existed 1928 to 1987 and 1993 to 1996. The Members of Parliament were:

• 1946, 1949, 1951: Andrew Sutherland (National)
• 1954, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1966: Arthur Kinsella (National)
• 1969: Leo Schultz (National)
• Seat abolished 1972-1981
• 1981, 1984: Graeme Lee (National)
• Seat abolished 1987-1993
• 1993: Warren Kyd (National)
• Seat abolished 1996

     The Coromandel Electorate was in existence 1881 to 1890, 1972 - 1978, 1987-1993, 1996-present day. NB. Thames may not always have been included. The Members of Parliament were:

• 1881, 1884, 1887: Alfred Cadman (Independent)
• Seat abolished 1890-1972
• 1972, 1975, 1978: Leo Schultz (National)
• Seat abolished 1978-1987
• 1987, 1990: Graeme Lee (National)
• Seat abolished 1993-1996
• 1996: Murray McLean (National)
• 1999: Jeanette Fitzsimons (Green)
• 2002, 2055,2008: Sandra Goudie (National)
• 2011, 2014, 2017-: Scott Simpson (National) Incumbent.

    

  First Thames Election result of 1871  and the first MP Charles Gordon O'Neill

Thames (NZ): Electoral Rolls & Early Pakeha Settlers - Part One

 Introduction

Electoral Rolls are an invaluable resource for family genealogists and historians in general. While the pre 1893 are restricted to only some members of the male population, they are better than nothing. They can provide an indication to location, occupation and financial status. The qualifications varied from year to year. An excellent summary of qualifications can be found in a New Zealand Society of Genealogists help sheet.
     Just as the boundaries change today, the people of Thames have often found themselves in a variety of electorates. An excellent resource is New Zealand Electoral Atlas by Alan McRobie. (GP Books, Wellington, 1989.)
     A previous blog post in 2014 discussed the electoral history of the Thames.

Electoral Rolls for Early Settlers at the Thames 

The following section has names from early electoral rolls 1853 to 1868. While we know there were a limited number of Pakeha settlers before the goldfield opened in August 1867, there were certainly more than are named on the rolls. The reason could be that they appear on a different roll, or simply they did not meet the qualification of the day. Also note that spelling of place-names varied and that 'Thames' could stretch the length of the old Thames Valley Region.

1853 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 179-191

Name – Place of Abode – Calling or Business - Qualification
BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaea, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder

1855 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 70-90

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hikutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hekutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, Farmer, Freeholder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1856 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 73-99

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, Timber Merchant, Leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hikutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, Settler, Householder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, Farmer, Freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1857 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 79-107

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, Millowner, Leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, freeholder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1858 Auckland Southern Division Electoral Roll Page 87-117

BAINES, William Mortimer, Hekutaia, timber merchant, leaseholder
BROWN, Alexander, Hikutaia, labourer, householder
DIXON, Peter, Hekutaia, carpenter, householder
HAY, George William, Hikutaia, mill owner, leaseholder
MACASKILL, Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MACASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Thames, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Donald, Hekutaia, farmer, freeholder
MCCASKILL, Kenneth, Thames, settler, householder
MCINTOSH, Duncan, Thames, settler, householder
REED, William, Thames, sawyer, householder
STEVENS, William, Thames, labourer, householder
THORPE, Joshua, Thames, farmer, freeholder

1865-6 To 1867-8 Franklin Electorate page 1-25

MCCASKILL, Lachlan Allan, Hekutaia, Thames, Freehold, Cook’s County; 2176 acres
THORP, John Wullanora, River Thames, 1. Freehold, River Thames, Cook’s County, farm and premises on which he resides. 2. Household River Thames; Dwelling

During the above years, Coromandel residents feature in the electoral rolls as settlers headed there to undertake mining and seek other opportunities.

Thames 'hits' the Electoral Rolls in 1869

A considerable change is found in the Franklin Electoral Roll of 1869, as the number of voters eligible and enrolled has dramatically increased. A transcription of names for the greater Coromandel region is available.

Sample - Thames entries in the Franklin Electoral Roll 1869

Full transcription available HERE

Closing Comments

Don't despair if you can not find your relatives in the early electoral Rolls. At Ancestry.au (free access at the Library) a simple search does not always work, as not all are indexed. You may have to resort to the old method of scrolling through the pages. If you still have no luck, try the directories, old rating lists and school records to find out more about your Thamesites.

    Part Two (coming soon) will look at the early pakeha settlers named in the early rolls.

Further Resources:

• Thames Electoral Roll 1876 and objections
• Thames Electoral Roll 1879 Surnames A to C
• Coromandel Electorate 1885
• Thames Burgess Roll 1887
• Ancestry.au has New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1853 to 1981 - many of the years are searchable
• The Thames Branch, NZSG has Electoral Roll CD's that can be borrowed and used at monthly meetings CONTACT