Thames (NZ): Mining Maps & Plans

Thanks to Dave for the alert regarding a site that specialises in mining plans - the details are below.

NZ Mine Plans
"NZ Mine Plans is a purpose-built database with an interactive GIS webmap. It provides free access to a catalogue of plans for recent and historic mines in New Zealand."
    Yes they are free! And the resolution of the downloadable plans are significant! Not all the plans have as yet been digitised but there are instructions about how copies can be obtained.
    A 'user guide' is available.

How the site works?
I searched with 'Thames' and received many hits for the wider area. Understandably many of them were for the Martha Mine at Waihi.
     I selected the 'Bendigo Mine' at Thames. Looked at the preview, then selected to download the file. At this stage I was asked for my email address - which I submitted. Immediately I received a verification code, that I entered and the file began downloading.

     The plans cover not just the Bendigo Mine, but adjacent ones and their workings. Drives, reefs, adits, crosscuts, different levels are also included.

     I am sure you will not be lost for plans to look at, and hopefully for those of us less familiar with the mine location details, it will help us come to terms with what was happening at The Thames, which included a lot more than just a name on a map!

Using the interactive Map

     

     An easier way to check out the plans is to use the map, zoom into to the Thames area and then select the mine of choice. In the example above I selected the Cambria Mine. If nothing else this feature allows you to explore the locations of several Thames mines.

Other Resources:
Remember also to go back and visit some of the previous sites we have looked at, as they are updated from time to time.

• Heritage maps available from Auckland Council Libraries Kura website. Use the advanced search option to select historical maps and the area you want to search "Thames"
• Heritage maps available via the Auckland Libraries Heritage Images site
• Digital NZ is an easy way to search across many resource providers. Here are the results for the terms "Thames Maps"

Thames (NZ): Shortland & Grahamstown on the Map

While the blog has featured maps in the past, the search for those specific to Thames is always of interest when trying to identify past and present locations.

There is a new book at Thames Library that looks at the development of maps related to Aotearoa New Zealand. Signing the Trail by John McCrystal is a magnificent book, although the weakness being the emphasis on the South Island...or maybe I was just hopeful for more related to The Thames!

Be prepared and have  a good magnifying glass handy when reading this book - otherwise you will find it impossible to peruse the information written / marked on the maps.

It was the cover map that intrigued me the most. It is
J. Stuart Reid's Bradshaw guide [cartographic material] : sketch map of New Zealand. The map is labelled 1885 and shows railways, coach roads, steamer routes.

In 1873, the Thames Borough had been formed, principally from the merging of Shortland Town and Grahamstown. Yet on this Bradshaw Guide map the towns of Shortland and Grahamstown are still marked.

Part of the Map:

J Stuart Reid's Bradshaw guide : sketch map of New Zealand. National Library

Searching for Thames Maps

• Search via the National Library and enter terms such as "Thames Goldfield"
• Search via DigitalNZ and enter required area of interest such as "Thames map"
• You may get duplicates, but search directly at sites such as: Sir George Grey Collection at Auckland Libraries.
• For maps from more recent time, The Auckland University has an amazing number of high resolution maps for download.
• Land Information New Zealand has an information page on 'finding maps'.
• The Treasury Archive & Research Centre, Queen Street Thames has a large number of maps principally relating to the Goldfield.
• The Thames Coromandel District Council have online SMART Maps portal that allows the researcher to view a variety of different base maps, while exploring the TCDC area.

This is just a few of the online sites where you can find great maps of the Thames area - if I have missed your favourite, let me know and I'll add it to the list.

Thames (NZ): Map of Native Blocks 1869

• Title: Thames goldfield - Native cultivation, native blocks - scale 20 chains:1 inch - Original, J. Mackay

• Source: Archway Item ID:R22822636  Archway Series Number:997

I am including a copy along with some section crops of this map that is available via New Zealand Archives. The real message though, is keep checking at Archives for the growing number of digitised items related to Thames (and New Zealand).

The map was the work of James Mackay, and details land reserved for native cultivation and residence. The wording may alarm some, but that is often the reference used for our tangata whenua at this time. Incredible really, given that a short two years previously, all the land was happily and productively in Maori ownership. What a difference two years made!

There are blocks of land identified: Karaka, Otunui, Kiri Kiri, Warahoe and Puriri. As well as the Church Mission Block.

 The above details were written by Civil Commissioner James Mackay Jr 30 June 1869, and includes some editing that was made at some stage (not re-dated).

It reads:

{Red Block} Denotes lands Tararu Township to the reserve in Shortland and the land south & east of the dotted line are reserved by the Natives for their own use for residence & cultivation. These are not subject to the Agreements with H. E. the Governor or to the Goldfields Act or Regulations.

{Green Block} Denotes lands reserved for The Townships of Shortland & Grahamstown are reserved, the rents whereof are payable to the Native owners.  These are available for Goldmining under the Agreements with H. E. the Governor but are excluded by His Honor the Superintendent’s Proclamation of April 1868.

{Mauve Block} Denotes lands The lands lying both northward of the dotted line ?both Northward of the Church Mission Block and of the Township are open for Goldmining under the Agreement with H. E. the Governor and also by His Honor the Superintendent’s Proclamation of April 1868.

Memo. The Tararu Township is not in any way subject to any of the Agreements with H. E. the Governor it having always been a Cultivation Reserve until the Natives procured Crown titles for it through the Native Lands Court.  There are some small Native holdings on the Tararu Stream which are not shown on this Map but which are excluded from lands available for Goldmining.  Position about spots marked this *. The boundary of the Native cultivation reserve at Puriri has been altered but the new lines are not cut on the ground; position shewn approximately by dotted lines.  Some land has been granted to the Church Mission on the S.E. side of the Puriri Stream but the boundaries are not known by me.

James Mackay, then certified the correctness of the map, dated 30 June 1869.

Thames (NZ): New 'Sun Dial' Direction Finder at the Peace Memorial

Awhile back we wrote about the sun dial that once stood proudly in front of the WWI Peace Memorial on the Waiotahi Spur - accessed via Waiotahi Creek Road - Monument Road.

1972 View of the Sun Dial/Direction Finder at the WWI Peace Memorial

https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24805249&digital=yes

Due to vandalism, the 'object' was removed a few years back and the base has been standing incomplete for sometime. There was talk at last years Armistice Day, that a replacement top plaque may be imminent.

2016 view of the base where once the Sun Dial stood.

 Well, this Armistice Day (2017), a new dial is in place, and looks magnificent. I would say more correctly these days we would have to label it a 'Direction finder'. While the photograph was being taken, there were several family groups at the memorial and all were fascinated with the direction finder. Interesting to hear everyone checking locations and distances and other facts that are recorded on the 'plaque'.

 

Special thanks to everyone who was involved in getting this project from planning to completion :)

Thames (NZ){ The Moanataiari - Pre Subdivision

Following a comment from facebook, thought it was timely to remind folk of how the town looked before the reclamation. The beach area long filled and extended with mine tailings, rubbish and landfill, have us with the area known as the Moanataiari today.  Who can remember back to going to the 'dump' and seeing it move places until finally all the land was filled.
The land was developed and before you knew it houses began to appear!

 Description: Showing the Thames Goods Wharf with the Moanataiari Flume in the middle. The large building in the centre is the Kuranui Hotel. All of the are containing shipping is now reclaimed.

Source:  'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-A11453'

 Description: Thames - 29 December 1961

Source: Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library: Ref WA-56845-G

 

From this:

To this:

Source: Google maps

 

Thames (NZ): Mining Map showing land acquisition

Having looked at the videos in the previous post, it is interesting to see this map showing the land ACQUIRED by James Mackay for mining. A lot of land!

Sketch showing the extent of the acquisition of land by M. Macky for mining purposes between Manaia & Kirikiri
Source: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 3573'

Below is a crop of the Thames area - note the maori names for the places around the town.

Further information:

The Treasury at Thames has a large collection of mining maps and access to maps of the Thames township area.

Thames (NZ): Gold Mine locations

For those researchers wanting information on goldmines of the Thames Goldfields, the first port of call is usually the Thames School of Mines and The Treasury. There are detailed maps of mine location and information on production, directors and shareholders. Along with in many cases, photographs of old workings.

 

With the help of the GeneaMap webpages, it is now possible to view the location of some of the major goldmines that were centred around the main confines of the townships of Shortland and Grahamstown (Thames).

 

Start at the GeneaMap entry page, unclick all the icons on the far left - except for the gold mining icon (Crossed pick-axes), put THAMES in the top left search box. Now press SEARCH.

The display will now look like the image below. You can now use the scroll on your mouse to zoom in to look closer, also click on the screen to drag the map to different views. You can click on the different location icons to view possible photos/info and a link back to The Treasury.

Special thanks to Murray and Dave for developing this new resource for Thames.

 

Above: screenshot of the search results at GeneaMap and Below: expanded view of map

Click link for more information

 

Search The Treasury Index for possible mining entries, for indexed resources.

 

Thames (NZ): The Genealogy Place Map for Thames

Years of work at the kiwicelts website has led to the development of a comprehensive mapping system for New Zealand. Called the GENEALOGY PLACEMAP (GeneaMap), it provides a comprehensive map for New Zealand. Initially used to identify cemeteries throughout New Zealand - it is a quick way to find out more about a cemetery and how to access available records.

 

The GeneaMap now has landmarked key historical sites such as schools, war memorials and museums.

 

Below is the map that came up when I entered THAMES in the search box. The street view facility also exists as with other mapping systems.

Sample from the GeneaMap site for Thames

The other important mapping site to be used, that is specific to the Thames-Coromandel area is via the TCDC (Thames Coromandel District Council) online mapping facility. As well as general map modules it allows the researcher to search for cemetery details at any of the TCDC cemeteries.