Thames (NZ): Music in schools - another of John Grigg's achievements

Introduction

The Thames Goldfield was opened 1 August 1867, within months private then public schools were established.  A comprehensive curriculum was offered including singing instruction using a method known as Tonic Sol Fa.

     Tonic sol-fa (or Tonic sol-fah) is a pedagogical technique for teaching sight-singing, invented by Sarah Ann Glover (1785–1867) of Norwich, England and popularised by John Curwen who adapted it from a number of earlier musical systems. 

     A photograph republished in the Thames Star newspaper in 1937, aimed to record for future time an important aspect of Thames education. Special thanks to Dick for alerting me to the report.

Thames Star 20 August 1937 courtesy of PapersPast.

[I will try to get a better copy out of the newspaper]

The background to the photograph

Interestingly, Mr Grigg is not in the photograph, because he was the photographer - yet another skill and hobby of John Grigg's.

"OLD PHOTOGRAPH. NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS. EARLY THAMES TEACHERS. 

     The great interest being taken in the early history of Thames prompted the “Star” to inquire for particulars regarding the photograph which is published again to-day.
     As a result, we are able to publish the following interesting description, and thus preserve for the future one incident in Thames history which may easily have slipped into oblivion: —
     The photograph was taken at the old Kauaeranga School, which stood on the site of the present High School.
     It was taken one Saturday morning about 1887, by the late Mr John Grigg, who had a place of business in Pollen Street in premises now occupied by Edwin Brown and Co. Mr Grigg was employed by the Auckland Education Board as instructor in singing for the Thames primary schools, and on Saturdays, from 12 to 1, he gave teachers of the Thames schools instruction in the Tonic Sol-fa Method. It was after one of these lessons that the photo was taken.
     The teachers assembled every Saturday morning in the old Kauaeranga Boys’ School from 9 until 1 pm. Mr Horatio Phillips, the principal, gave instructions in school method and in drawing; then Mr W J Barlow, drill instructor, took over the teachers for physical and military drill. Mr Grigg followed with one hour for singing.
     The teachers are, reading from extreme left:—Fred Lough, pupil teacher, at back Wm. Elgar Johns, p.t., James Christie, assistant-master Waiokaraka school, later headmaster of Waiotahi Greek school, and Bayfield school, Auckland; Albert Gerring, assistant master, Kauaeranga Boys’ School; others in back row, Miss Wilson, Miss J. Paterson; then in centre, Mr. Horatio Phillips, headmaster of the Kauaeranga School,-, -, -, Miss Crowther, Miss Wolff, W. Hammond, p.t. (back row; in front, A. Chas. Hill, p.t., W. Simmonds, p.t., W. H. V. Hall, Mr. Taylor, assistant teacher at Parawai School. Middle row, from left: Miss Kate Fletcher, -, -, Miss F. Fletcher, Miss Gibb, Miss Ashman, Miss K. Mulvany, Miss Ryan, Mrs. H. Phillips, Miss Colebrook. Front row, from left: Miss Truscott, Miss A. Hall, Miss Murrish, Miss Brown, —, Miss Gibbons, Miss McQuade, Miss M. McLaughlin, —, Miss Goad. 

     One in the back row may be Miss Jessie Heighway. Among the males, Messrs. Jas. Christie, A. Gerring, H Phillips, M. W. Simmonds and Taylor are deceased. Messrs. F. Lough, W. E. Johns. W. Hammond, Chas. Hill, W. H. V. Hall are still living."

Thames Star 20 August 1937 courtesy of PapersPast.

Education at The Thames

Aucklanders were envious of the number of schools on the Thames Goldfield and the attendance records - Often questioning why Thames got so much assistance. The answer being that from the time the town was opened for pakeha settlement in August 1867, one of the things that was pushed by all residents was education. The schools introduced innovative teaching methods, and valued the education of both boys and girls. The examples in the passages above demonstrate the commitment shown by our early teachers to continually strive for better methods, which included attending Saturday lessons to advance their teaching skills.

     You can read more about education on the goldfield in Thames Goldfield Schools by A Barker.

The Tonic Sol Fa System at The Thames

The following are snippets from our local newspapers on the system:

• 1874 September 23 Thames Star:  When Mr J Sheehan MHR, Provisional Secretary visited the Waiotahi Creek School, the pupils under the guidance of Mr Brown sang several songs - having been taught in the tonic sol fa system. "Mr Sheehan said that if all schools under the Act were as well disciplined and so thoroughly organised, the money was well spent."
• 1874 September 24 Thames Star: Board of Education appointed John Grigg to teach vocal music in Thames Schools for six months - payment rate 150 Pounds per annum. "The Auckland Board of Education have adopted the Tonic Sol Fa method of instruction in vocal music in the public schools." [Remember schools in Thames such as Waiotahi Creek were already using the method]
• 1879 May 14 Thames Advertiser:  Mr G A Buttle advertised private lessons for adults wanting to learn elementary Tonic Sol Fa.

                          

• 1880 January 21 Thames Star: Mr John Grigg advertised night classes for instruction in singing of the Tonic Sol Fa Method. He planned to amalgamate his Teachers' and Private Classes - Ladies and Gentlemen would be charged a small fee.
• 1880 June 16 Thames Star: Thames High School appointed new Music and singing teachers - not everyone thought the Tonic Sol Fa method was achieving success and the Board was in a agreement to return to the old notation system.
• 1880 June 21 Thames Advertiser: The paper contained a long 'letter to the editor' from Mr John Grigg, who had taken exception to the comments made by the Thames High School Board regarding methods of singing instruction.  Grigg talked of the merits of using both methods, and the advantages of each. It was never the intention to do away with notation method, but due to time constraints the Tonic Sol Fa Method could and did produce great results. He also quoted the success of the system in many English schools.
• 1887 December 16 Thames Advertiser: Mr John Grigg resigned as itinerant teacher of music in Thames schools, having had the role for ten years. Teaching staff if the Tararu School who on this occasion thanked Grigg, and he praised their proficiency in the Tonic Sol Fa Method.

My Own New Zealand Home - written by Mr John Grigg of Thames

The Song above is written using the Tonic Sol Fa Method.

An interesting time, new methods versus old, or a mix of all systems. What is impressive, is that these old Thamesites continually explored new methods in education and kept up-to-date concerning developments around the world. 

     Thamesites were indebted to Mr John Grigg, (who died 100 years ago), there is no doubt he provided invaluable music instruction to hundreds of children during his ten year plus tenure as itinerant school music teacher at the Thames.

Thames (NZ): Thames South School revisited

Photographs of Thames - FREE!

Take a break from the chaos of Level Two Covid-19 breakout, and check out some photographs in the National Library Collection "free to download" section. Narrow the search to Thames, scroll past the ones for England, and you will interesting images for Thames (and surrounding areas), especially aerials taken by Whites Aviation.

Being somewhat biased towards Thames South School! I chose this one below taken in 1958 for us to look at today.

ABOVE Caption: Thames, Waikato Region. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-46330. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/32054638 Taken 19 May 1958

Part of Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs / Whites Aviation Ltd :Photographs

BELOW: An aerial thanks to Google maps - note that while street views are recent this view is a few years old!

The photograph in parts.

Did you spot any differences over seventy years? Take a look below for some hints (if needed)!

The top third of the photograph shows the area of Mackay Street, Jellicoe Crescent and on the right Grey Street. 

The large grassed area where the Thames Swimming Pool Complex is located today on Taipari Park - an old urupa area.

Any ex-South School pupil will immediately spot the "puddle" aka the swimming baths (bottom centre), where many of us learnt to swim and as primers thought it was so large and deep! 

The snip above focuses on the Thames South School buildings and playing fields.

• The top of the photograph is the old section of Alfred Street that went across the school grounds.
• The large playing field was host to many a game of rounders, football, softball, running events and much more.
• Tennis and basketball courts, which also doubled as places for 'four square'.
• In the centre section are the school buildings. Four prefabs (white roofs), equipment sheds and shelters. The 'murder house' aka the dental clinic at the Rolleston entrance. The concrete/brick Infant block on the right, and the old school buildings on the left (previously the Kauaeranga Girls' School that was moved from Sandes Street). full photo below
• Small oak trees by the dental clinic by the Rolleston Street entrance.

Note that the old Kauaeranga School building was reconfigured several times. Below is the 1920s version of South School, looking from Rolleston Street.

Background on South School (snippets taken from  Thames Goldfield Schools.)

The infant block was commonly known as the Kindergarten in the early years. When the Kindergarten Block opened in 1915, the reality of World War One was dawning on the town as their men left for service and news was regularly received of injuries and war related deaths. In October 1915, the South School children made 36 Xmas ‘billies’ for the soldiers overseas. “Each [billie] containing a Xmas pudding, pipe, tobacco, cigarettes, ointment, tooth brush and paste, face towel and wash, handkerchiefs, soap, etc.”

The school was initially known as Parawai School, until unofficially taking the title South School in late 1914, and the name ‘South School’ was made official 6th March 1915. Why the change? Several schools had been closed, and the remaining three primary schools in the town were then known as South, Central (old Waiokaraka), and North (old Tararu) School.

The following year the Thames Star 22nd April 1916, wrote that all the South School pupils gathered in the infant department, where Headmaster Wernham addressed the school on the subject of Anzac Day. “The Empire’s motto was the motto of the school: ‘Keep Honour Bright’. And that is why the nation is fighting today.” The school motto remains unchanged to this day.

In November 1916, the South School held their annual rose carnival. A physical drill exhibition was given, it was explained that this was to strengthen the muscles and impart gracefulness to the frame.Queen of the Carnival and Maids were crowned – needless to say Queen Carnivals were popular events at Thames for decades. Queen of the Roses was Miss Olga Jenkin (infant school), and maids of honour included the Queen of the Allies Miss Rachael Kerby (middle school).

Money raised at the carnival was to go towards a 25 foot ‘sand tray’ on which the names of the school’s heroes would be inscribed. “It was to be called the Gemming Memorial, in honour of a former scholar and teacher, who was killed at Gallipoli. In 1921 the school erected a World War One Memorial (and drinking fountain); this has moved several times, and is now located near the school’s entrance.

South School over the decades has often introduced new methods of teaching. In the Thames Star 14th November 1917, there was a full description of the system being used in the Thames South Infant School. Miss Ashman and her assistants were using teaching methods based on the Montessori system. Examples were shown how the alphabet was taught in a way that was play. The infants’ day had started with “simple athletic exercises in the playground, marching and simple songs with gesture movements.” The observer noted how bright and alert the children were, and that all teachers should be congratulated.

The South School held their sports day at the Parawai Racecourse 13th December 1920, a large number of children and parents were present. The Boys 7-8 years ran 75 yards and winning order was: Kerby, Battson, and Cleave. The girls in this age group ran 50 yards and finished D Causley, J Milne, and P Brown. There were longer races, relays and bike races – along with fun events such as sack, three-legged, and egg and spoon races. Something for everyone, even the parents were not left out. The married woman’s race of 75 yards was won by Mrs Strong.

The land the school occupied was only leased. In 1921 the 21 year lease was due to expire, after negotiations with landowner Mr E H Taipari, the sale was agreed to for a cost of £2000. Around this time the wooden classroom block was extended (teachers room and headmaster’s office). Then in 1925 a new classroom and cloakrooms were added to meet growing roll numbers.

The highlight of Parents’ Day 30th October 1934 was the opportunity to see the new wireless equipment in action. “The set is housed in the headmaster’s room, and from it speakers in other rooms are controlled.” The school was able to listen to the educational sessions on 1YA, including music lessons and singing. There were children’s displays in all the rooms, Headmaster Mr R G Crawshaw thanked the over 100 parents for coming along.

In the 1940s, while the war raged in Europe and the Pacific, measures were implemented in Thames to potentially protect the town and residents. This included ‘Air Raid’ drills that became a regular occurrence at all the Thames schools including Thames South.

In 1943, an acre section was purchased from Mr E H Taipari for extra playground space. This was still inadequate, which led to the purchase of the old road (Alfred Street) that had gone along the school’s western boundary. The Borough sold the land to the school for £100 in 1944, it was remodelled and thereby provided valuable playground space.

These pages have barely touched on teaching staff due to lack of space, but like most there were many favourites at the school. One such name was Miss J Liddell (Infant Mistress) who left the school in 1958. Thankfully these names and memories are recorded in the reunion booklets.

Like many schools in New Zealand, the South School reverted to prefabs for classrooms as space was necessary and building funds were limited. There were several of these scattered around the school in the 1960s onwards. This led to the final approval in May 1962 to construct four new classrooms at the school, which were built by Lee Bros of Paeroa.

More recent decades have seen many changes to the school campus, as improvements are made. Not forgetting major upgrades made to the playground areas – including climbing frames built and rebuilt to meet new standards. The school grounds are impressive and innovative.

An important part of the South’s more recent history concerns Te Reo in the school – which was outlined in the book Thames South School Reunion October 2001. The two key tribal groups of Ngati Maru and Ngati Whananga had supported the very first Parawai School, then the resiting of the school to the present location. In 1991 Te Tonga o Hoterini Kohanga Reo were granted land to the west of the school to establish the Kohanga Reo. Around this time Te Reo programmes were introduced at the school. Then in the 1990s the call for and implementation of total immersion became a reality. Hand-in-hand, the teachers in the mainstream classes enhanced their skills in Te Reo, so that they could implement changes throughout the school. In 2001 the roll was 300, with 50% of Maori descent – over half were attending bi-lingual or total immersion classes. These values have continued to be nurtured and grow at the Thames South School.

Major school reunions were held in 1967, 2001, and 2015 – booklets published for each. With the next planned for 2025 – which will celebrate the 150th year of the South aka Parawai School. Thames South School’s website has this message that sums up the school and their continued vision: “the Oaks standing tall in our entrance way are the whole basis for our whakatauki – kia tupu ai enei kakano hei rakau nui. May these tender seedlings grow into mighty trees.

Previous blog posts on Thames South School:

Then and now (2017)

Teachers 1967

Old Friends school site

Thames (NZ): Then & Now Thames High School 1920s-2020

Take another look - Then & Now Thames High School.

What's changed? While Thames High School is still on the same site,  the buildings have been replaced except for the old hall / part of the old Baillie Street School. The site started on just a quarter of the land that the school occupies today. 

Slowly over the decades the school grounds spread to cover most of the land between Sealey to Richmond and Rolleston to Mackay Streets. This was made possible by the closing of a section of Baillie Street.

ABOVE: A colourised version of a postcard view taken by Mr Dunnage of Thames.

BELOW: A google maps view from Edward Street over Thames High School.

Key to Numbers:

• 1. Rolleston Street
• 2. Thames Technical School
• 3. Thames High School
• 4. Baillie Street
• 5. Sealey Street
• 6. Richmond Street

Thames (NZ): Central School Swimming Pool

Are you old enough to remember swimming at the Thames Central School Pool? School swimming pools have been done away with by many New Zealand schools, but Thames has kept hold of theirs.

Central School Pool
The Central School pool no longer exists, the school closed at the end of 1971 and the land where the pool stood is now a residential site. The pool was located on Campbell Street, opposite the Central School back gate.

This photograph taken in 1945, it was just a year after the pool was opened. Spot the Bella Street Pumphouse top right.

The baths were officially opened 8 March 1944, by Mr Burns from the Auckland Education Board. Mr R M Rhodes from the School Committee explained that large numbers of men had willingly worked over many weekends turning a unsightly section into a valuable asset for the school. Rhodes went on to say "The pool was purely a learners' pool...here the young children could learn to swim with safety."  The total cost of the pool was 360 Pounds, and was opened debt free. The money for the pool was raised by the school committee and local businessmen; plus they received a 50% subsidy from the Ministry of Education.

Above: 1947 view of the Central School. 

The baths are centre left, opposite the trees at the back of the Central Schoolyard.

The children of Central School went on to enjoy 'their' pool for decades. As the 1966 photo below shows, young children were taught to swim, fulfilling the objectives of the original Thames Central school Committee who built the pool in 1944.

Thames (NZ): Panorama View of Thames pre 1900

Above: Three photographs taken by Burton Bros Studio, New Zealand

Left: Focus is the view from Upper Albert Street.

Centre: Looks south down Pollen Street

Right: South over Queen Street and the Beach.

The photographs are from Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), and the registration numbers are C.014006, C.014007, and C.014008. We recently looked at C.014008 and managed to find the Hazelbank Hotel.

What we see with these images, (thanks to Tom and others for the clues), is that while photographers over 100 years ago may not have had the fancy cameras of today, they were quite capable of taking images that could be later blended together to make a panorama view.

Panoramic View of Thames - From Burton Bros Studio

Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)

A Closer Look.
On the far left, the Waiokaraka School can be seen, with the Waiokaraka Flat to the South. Mackay Street leading to the hospital is hardly visible. At least we can see a few livestock grazing on the bare ground. Why is it that Thames scenes always look like a ghost town. Why did they never take photos at a busy time of the day!!!!  The Waiokaraka Flat was a popular sports ground for many decades, although historians such as Toss Hammond recalled it was hard on the knees when tackled! Due to the rocks and other mining debris.

Added 10/6/2019
** *Interesting comments on why scenes look like ghost Towns - it has to do with film exposure times - in the early photos this could be minutes, hence why moving objects will not be seen or merely as a blur. (Thanks Dick for the hint) ***

Above: Waiokaraka Flat. 

Present day this is the area of the Bright Smile Gardens, Mackay Street and Bella Street on the left.

Source: C.014006, Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)

The central view that looks down Pollen Street, shows a wonderful array of trees - the ones that we were talking about a few weeks back. The section below is the corner of Pollen and Cochrane Streets.

Above: North end of Pollen Street. 

Present day the area to the far left is the Thames Museum. The Grahamstown shops are centre left.

Source: C.014007, Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)

Another interesting view from the above full photograph shows a school and the Thames Gas Works.

Above: St Thomas Aquinas School (back - north wall), corner Walter & Queen Streets.

Present day the area top left is the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, and far right is the laundry and gym.

Source: C.014007, Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)

From the photo on the right of the panorama, stop and take a look at a typical house and plot on the east side of Kirkwood Street, behind the Government buildings.It looks like someone could be working in the garden? The houses are typical of Thames. Notice how close they built to the boundary line. Many of these plots ran through to another street at the back - but whether the plot could be divided and was someone living in the small back sheds, afterall there is a door fronting the road. The larger houses consist of the gable roof. This could have been the original house, then later the lower slanted roof was added on.

Above: Property on Kirkwood Street (between Pollen and Queen Streets)

Source: C.014008, Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)

Next time you see some photographs by the same photographer, 

check to see whether you can combine them and make a panorama view.

Thames (NZ): Transportation - Moving buildings on the Goldfield

Was it a generational thing, or was it that our Thamesites were never prepared to be beaten?

Nothing seemed to hard! Want to move a building? Just say where to and it would be done!
Not to forget the moving of large / heavy mining equipment, that was achieved on a regular basis.

How were buildings moved?
There are a few reports of buildings being urgently removed to the goldfield, and the most accepted story is that the Wharf Hotel was ferried across the gulf from Auckland. There is no evidence to suggest that this is true, in fact the opposite is true as there are reports in the paper describing the erection of the hotel building at the corner of Albert and Brown Streets.

Around the town, the most common method to move a building was to literally put the structure onto skids / rollers and slowly move the building to the new location with bullock teams. The photo below is from North Auckland, but shows the principal of moving buildings that was employed at Thames in the early goldfield years.

Showing a bullock team moving the Aranga hall to be near the Aranga gum camps. It was moved again in the 1990s to the Aranga School.  Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19220817-41-3.

What did the Thames Pioneers move? Hotels, Churches, Schools and private residences. Here are a selection:

Graham Hotel

• Built for Robert Graham in 1868, moved to Waiwera about 1875. Sadly no photograph yet found of this, like all the other early building moves! 

Imperial Hotel

• The hotel opened early 1868 on the South-West wide of the Sealey and Pollen Street intersect. (below left) In 1884 it was moved to the opposite side (where a new building was constructed in 1936 - and still remains today (see below right))
•  Details of the move:"Messrs Ehrenfried Bros applied to council for permission to close the road, and the Thames Advertiser 14th March 1884 confirmed that this was approved. Experienced building contractor James McAndrew won the contract, and started on the two week task 19th March 1884. The building required turning around in transit to fit the new site. On 26th March the move across Pollen Street began. “The magnitude of the undertaking may be imagined when it is stated that the dimensions of the building are 40 feet by 40 feet, and its weight about sixty tons.” From Hotels of Thames

 

Kauaeranga Girls School

• The Kauaeranga Girls School aka Sandes Street School was built 1880 (below left) was closed in 1902 and in 1903 moved to the new Parawai School site in Grey Street (below right - later renamed Thames South School)

"The Sandes Street school closed at the end of 1902; Mr Fisher was headmaster at the time. In July 1903 the school buildings which had stood on the site were transferred to the new site at Parawai. This is the present South School site at the corner of Rolleston and Grey Streets. The children were in the interim schooled at the old Parawai School on the corner of Augustus and Banks Street. The newspaper reports stated: “The Sandes Street School, formerly known as the Girls’ School which has stood for twenty-three years, is now being transferred.”" (From Lost Landmarks)

St George's Church (1st)

• The first St George's Church was built in Rolleston Street in May 1868. (below left) Within a few years a new church was built and then in 1909 the 'old' church was moved to the present church site in Mackay Street - where it is still used as the Church's hall (below right).

  

St James Church (2nd)

• The first St James Church was located at the corner of Rolleston and Sandes Streets 3 May 1868. The second church (below top) was opened 29 January 1871. When it was decided to build a new church, this second church was moved east on the section and turned 90 degrees to face Pahau Street (c1897). This 'old' church is now used as the church hall. 

Wesleyan Church

• The Church started at the corner of Cochrane Street and Brown Street (built 1869). (photo left)
• The Church then in 1885 was moved to the corner of Pollen & Mary Streets (S-W intersect). (photo right) 

  

Details on the move of the Church from the Diary of G W HORNE (Source: Thames Museum)

1885, Oct 26 Mon: Six hands started this morning to get the Church divided into two parts, and bolting 6x4 under the center stringer and side wall plates to skid it on.

Tues 27: Got all ready to pull out side-ways on to the road with two winches.

Wed 28: Got it out on to the road side-ways about 50 feet, and pulled it end on about 150 feet, with ten hands.

Thur & Fri 29/30: Got as far as Judds. Three more hands started.

Sat 31st: Wages for the week about 30. One horse dray & driver 5/35

Tues Nov 3: Got into Mary Street with(?) the Church Front part, 13 hands on this week.

Wed 4: Just got into the Ground this evening. We shifted it on sleepers 6x4 packed up leveal (sic) and well greased and pulled it along with a winch and one pully with a rope leading to the winch.

Everything as worked very well so far.

Thurs 5: We got the first section into its place. It has taken 12 men.

Time taken 8 days.

Fri 6: Started to take down the ? at the back of the other section.

Sat 7: Still on with the apes and vestry. Wages for the week about 35 with the cart.

Mon 9: Got the apes of and the skids bolted under and also braced the roof a bit better. We lost 1 hour through (?)wind.

Tues 10: Started to shift the second (sic) section got it turned end on to the road ready for a straight pull. I lost ½ hour weather.

Sat 14: Got as far as the Kraka (sic) Bridge. The wages and sundry expenses amount to about 30 pounds for the week.

Mon 16: Got on very well shifted it about 100 yards.

Thurs 19: We got the seckoned (sic) section in its place. We have had 12 hands on altogether shifting this peace (sic).

Sat 21: The wages for the month for shifting the church is about £130.

From Nov 23 to Dec 5: Four men been on shingling for the fortnight and finishing cost about £20.

Dec 19 Got the sack: We got the Church finished. Near enough to open it tomorrow.”

Mr Horn gave a summary of the costs and put the total contract at £373.

Map showing how far the Wesleyan Church was moved.

• The Church then was moved 1962 to corner of Sealey and Mackay Streets. (below left - leaving the Pollen Street site)

 

• The Church was then dismantled in 1987 and rebuilt at Gails of Tamahere as a wedding venue. (Above right, taken when the church was dismantled in 1987)

MISCELLANEOUS BUILDINGS MOVED:
There are many more buildings that were demolished and moved, or partially demolished in order that they could be more easily transported. This includes the Waiotahi Creek School and part of the Baillie Street Boys School - details record they were moved, but not where they ended up. Part of the Baillie Street School does remain on the Thames High School site.

Several people have claimed to have had buildings from Thames, but they have not been formally verified. This includes a hotel at Opotiki that is meant to have come from Thames - but it hasn't been identified back to Thames (as yet).

Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.). Hotunui Meeting House,
Thames. Ref: PA7-05-19. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington,
New Zealand. /records/22672514

One of Thames' most special landmark buildings was dismantled, restored and now has pride of place at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in Auckland - namely the Meeting House 'Hotunui'.

• The carved runanga house opened September 1878 at Parawai. It was reported “on the front of the pole there is a figure of Maratuahu, the ancestor of the Hauraki tribes, wonderfully cut and carved. The house has been built for a meeting-place for the council of Hauraki, and will be devoted to no other purpose.” (BOP 21/9/1878) 
• The meeting house Hotunui fell into disrepair over the years and in 1925 efforts were made to restore some of the carvings. After negotiations another option became available and the meeting house found a new life at the Auckland Museum,  restored at the museum, where it went on display in 1929.

We couldn't finish without mention the moving of our largest products. While the great kauri tree were cut and travelled down the Kauaeranga River, where they were often tied together as a raft and towed by boat to Auckland.

Thames Hospital has moved multiple buildings over its 150 years of existence. from an old morgue building (now at Goldmine Experience), to an old person's home, isolation block (below right), and old staff residences (below left).

 

What about a lighthouse! Chas Judd Ltd, the foundry on Queen Street, made some magnificent lighthouses that were then transported to a ship and taken to their destination. They would be partially dismantled for the journey! But it still was an amazing fete. In more recent years, Part of Judd's workshop and an old battery have been transported to the Hauraki Prospector's Goldmine Experience property in Queen Street.

• Cape Campbell Lighthouse: What a sight it must have been to see the construction of the lighthouse in 1903 - manufactured by Judd’s foundry in Queen Street. It weighed 95 tons and stood 75 feet high.The lighthouse was conveyed by boat to Wellington, where it was taken in parts to the Cape for erection. It still stands today at Cape Campbell – a testimony to the work of the foundry. (From Lost Landmarks II)

These are just a few of the many Thames buildings that have 'moved', and we haven't even got to residential houses. Not forgetting the town's beloved Red Pillar Boxes, that have been moved about the town! Also the Plunket Rooms built in 1933 was moved to the Hauraki Plains in 2000. It is the early pre 1900 'moves' that are the principal focus in the above blog - they herald the wonderful abilities of our early Thamesites.

Thames (NZ): Old Friends and School site

1. Many people were devastated when the 'Old Friends' site was removed from the Trademe Group. A substitute for this is the Facebook site "Old Friends Aotearoa New Zealand Schools'.

You can ask questions, connect with other old school mates, browse and load photographs. Great for your own and genealogical research. Personally, I find it impossible to search for Thames School photos, but I am pointing out the site incase you can master searching through nearly 2000 albums.

2. There is a National Library project to save the information that was on the 'Old Friends' site.

See the progress of the project as at January 2019

To find Thames schools, click on Waikato on right hand side of map of North Island.

The next step is temperamental for now. CLICK on the yellow School label, Then click on T and scroll through till you get to Thames schools.

NB> For the following stage you will find it easier to always select open in a new window, otherwise you can end up going back to square one each time!!!

OLD FRIENDS for:
Parawai Playcentre - members and photos.

Thames South School - members, and photos. 

Thames Parawai School - members, and photos.

Thames North School - members and photos.

Thames Kindergarten - members and photos.

Thames Convent School - members and photos.

Thames Central School - members and photos.

Thames High School - members and photos.

EXAMPLES BELOW: (not sure if the links will all work?? It doesn't seem that at present you can enlarge the photos???

Home > Waikato > Schools > Thames Central Thames Central   Members (192)  |  Photos (28)  |  Lost & found (44)  |  Notices (8)  |  Reunions << Back Thames Central school (1936) Uploaded by Philip Quayle If you are in this photo then you can link your name to your profile Row 5  gibson dunlop  doug carruthers  morris preece  merv rhodes  jack dovell  colin camerom  brian McClloyh  rex lomas  selwyn robinson  desmond dickinson  Row 4  shirley wood  winnie nicol  phillip goldworthy  phyllis moody  kath nicol  pat nightingale  eva mathews  margaret douglas  marie royal  ida she cheang  Row 3  dorothy doven  ann thorn  nan nicol  john twentymen  audrey carruthers  nola roberts  dot johnson  flo jennings  pam kennedy  Row 2  owen sutcliffe  reg Mccarthy  les brown  colin hindman  earl ockley  philip quayle  barry jensen  daug sheppard  Row 1  ?  reg fronice  ken thorn  ?  noel spurdle  allan sutcliffe  lloyd gooder

This one for Thames South 1934 is a larger photo.

Parawai School Foundation Year 1967

Give it a go and see if you can find some old school photos - relevant to your schooling and your ancestors / family from Thames. Good hunting :)

Thames (NZ): Landmarks remembered in 1948

Each generation appears to regret not having listened to the stories of yesteryear...those memories that parents or grandparents shared. Each generation believes to some degree that important history and memories will be or have already been forgotten.

In 1948 the Thames Star published a series of articles to 'test' whether Thamesites of the day knew the important old landmarks around the town.

The Thames Chamber of Commerce planned to place signposts at places worthy of commemoration. Messrs W Hammond, J Kernick and F E McCullough were responsible for coming up with the places of interest. There is no evidence to suggest that signs did get erected! At least until the Lions Club took up the challenge several decades later.
Landmarks mentioned were as follows:

FOOT of KURANUI CREEK: “It was here that Messrs W A Hunt, W Cobley, G Clarkson and J E White discovered the first gold-bearing reef at Thames.”

ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE MOANATAIARI TUNNEL: “Left-hand side looking up the hill. The hill on the right contained the famous Caledonian, Golden Crown, Manukau and Cure Mines.”

Waiotahi Mine.

AT THE FOOT OF THE WAIOTAHI CREEK: “This is the site of the famous Waiotahi mine, which during 43 years’ existence, produced bullion to the value of £655,167.”

AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL IN POLLEN STREET NORTH: “Opposite  where Williamson Street connects with Pollen Street. This is the site of the famous Prince Imperial Mine which produced in five years 43,094 ounces of gold.”

IN FRONT OF THE BOROUGH ELECTRICAL POWER STATION: “At the rear of the building was sunk the deepest shaft in Thames – 1050 feet.  A short distance hillward on the left was the famous May Queen Mine.”

The May Queen Mine.

THE SITE OF THE CALEDONIA MINE: “Described by the later Colin Fraser …as the greatest bonanza of the field, and one of the richest in the annals of quartz mining.”

TOTARA POINT: “Scene of inter-tribal fights – one of the first recorded being an attack on the pa by the Ngati Maru about 300 years ago, when the District was held by the Ngati Nuarere and the Ngati Nei…In 1819, Totara Pa was attacked by a combined force of Nga Puhi and Waikato…In December, 1821, a powerful force of Nga Puhi, under Hongi Hika, with 1000 muskets, attacked Totara Pa, which fell, a massacre and cannibal feast following.”

Site of the old Totara Pa.

SHORTLAND:  Bounded by Grey Street, Queen Street and Pollen Street, was the site of an old Maori pa, Kauaeranga…The gunboats Esk and Miranda are said to have dropped shells in this pa about 1863.”

THE OLD AMERICAN THEATRE: “Stood on the eastern side of the Shortland Hotel, facing Grey Street in 1867. It was here that Johnny Hall, the actor, used to entertain the Thames public.  This building was pulled down in 1876 after being used for some years as a land court. The timber was used in making additions to the Shortland Hotel.”

Shortland Post Office (centre right) and Butt's Hotel and American Theatre (above Post Office). Courthouse (centre left and Kauaeranga Landing later Shortland Wharf (top centre).

THE OLD THAMES POST OFFICE: “At the corner of Grey and Mackay Street prior to the Post Office being on the site of the present County Council Chambers.”

THE OLD MAORI LAND COURT BUILDING:  “Situated at the corner of Pollen and Grey Streets, on the south-west corner.”

ANAPUTU, AT FISHING ROCKS at TARARU. “Here the Tainui canoe, bringing the immigrants from Hawiki [sic] about 1350 AD was fastened to a hole in a rock, and remained for sometime before proceeding on its journey.”

Tararu Fishing Rocks, north of Tararu.

THE SHORTLAND SAWMILL AND STONE’s SHIP-BUILDING Yards: Located south of the Maori Land Court building.

THE CHURCH MISSION STATION: At Parawai, on the hill opposite the old Maori Church, later years the residence of Warden Kenrick.

CLAIM PEGGED BY MAJOR VON TEMPSKY: In Hape Creek, just above the Water Race.

View back along Holdship's Wharf to Beach Road and Cochrane Street.

HOLDSHIP’s MILL: Corner of Beach Road and Cochrane Street. Previously the site of an old Maori pa, and where Mr R B Smith opened a store known as the “Pah Store”.

THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC: On south side of the Pacific Hotel, which was oon the south-west corner of Albert and Brown Streets.

 

LEFT: Theatre Royal Hotel and RIGHT: The Pacific Hotel.

THEATRE ROYAL: An early Thames Theatre situated on the northern side of the Royal Hotel in Grahamstown.

SITE OF THE TURNING OF THE FIRST SOD: “For the Thames-Waikato railway by Sir George Grey, a few yards to the south of the intersection of Mary Street and Queen Street.”

TARARU POINT: “Site of one of the earliest wharves in Thames, where the Golden Crown and other steamers landed passengers for the Thames Goldfields.”

NORTHERN TERMINUS OF THE TARARU TRAMWAY COMPANY: Near the district homes, one of the earliest of New Zealand Railways. It ran from Burke Street to Tararu, half-hourly trips.”

A 1980s postcard of the Hotonui Meeting house at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

HOTONUI CARVED MAORI MEETING HOUSE: Opened 1878 at the corner of Fenton Street. This meeting house is now in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.”

Kauaeranga Girls' School.

VOLUNTEER HALL: “Richmond Street, between Pollen and Queen Streets, closed in 1878.”

KAUAERANGA BOYS’ SCHOOL: “On site of present Thames High School.”

KAUAERANGA GIRLS’ SCHOOL: Corner of Sandes and Richmond Street, South-west corner.”

St Thomas' Catholic School.

SCHOFIELD’s GRAMMAR SCHOOL: Rolleston Street, St George’s Sunday School, about 50 yards north of Sealey Street.”

KARAKA SCHOOL: “Mackay Street east, allotment south of the ladies croquet lawn.”

THAMES SCHOOL: “Closed 1879, opposite Sarsfield’s butchery, Cochrane Street.”

CATHOLIC BOYS’ SCHOOL: Corner Walter and Queen Streets, north-east corner.”

SMALE’S FOLLY: A long corrugated Iron building extending from Pollen to Queen Street, the site of the present Post Office.”

Smale's Folly.

SHELLBACK SCHOOL: “On Tararu Road, north side of the Pukehinau Stream.”

Well, how did you go on those? Thankfully the Thames Lions Club has over the decades marked several of these spots, sadly in the town, the landmarks relating to Maori significant sites, have not been marked.

Background: The Thames Lions Club have a booklet available and map to highlight where the present day Heritage Signs are located. Available from KMG Printers, Pollen Street, Thames.

A report by J McEnteer and T Turoa "Nga Taonga o te Kauaeranga Maori Heritage of Thames" 1993, identified important Maori landmarks and recommended the locations be signposted in an acceptable manner.