Thames (NZ): Bowen Street at the Parawai end of Thames

      Bowen Street ran from the Hape Creek in the north, to the Kauaeranga River in the south. Known now as Rolleston Street, this street was named after Sir George Bowen an early Governor of the colony. Banks Street ended at the intersection with Bowen Street, there was no need for it to run further west until the new Kauaeranga Road Bridge opened in 1924. 

Part of: Cleave's Streets Maps - of the Thames and Suburbs c1910.

Map 3577 Auckland Libraries

Photograph of Bowen Street area early 1900s.
     Imagine you are standing at the west end of Mount Pleasant, and look down over Heale, Fenton and Bowen Streets - look at the photograph below, this is the view c1900s.

View over Parawai end of Thames c1900s.

     A closer look at the left (southern) side of the photograph and the Kauaeranga Rail Bridge is open, which postdates the photo past 1898. The land beyond where Rhodes park is today is low lying and possibly covered by water in parts. Next to the river is Causley's Garden Nursery.

     The houses under the word 'Bridge' are at the southern end of Bowen Street. Note the closeness of the river - today there is the stop-bank structure. The land to the right of the houses is where the motels and garage are today, and further right the reclaimed land where Toyota car plant is sited.

     

     Moving further right (north) across the main photo, the shop is visible that for decades was at the corner of Heale and Fenton Streets. Next time you drive along Fenton and Rolleston Streets, look out for the houses that are in the photograph - with the exception of the large one in the centre (more on that soon).

     Mrs Grubb had the Fenton Street shop for many years. Out of view far right was the site of the Maori Meeting (Hotunui) house that now holds pride of place at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

     

Now to the large house at the centre of the 1900s photo. The house was located at the corner of Fenton and Bowen (Rolleston ) Streets, on the south-east intersect. 

     There are numerous outbuildings one of which housed the wash-house,  plus there was separate servants' quarters. Built in classic villa style with the large verandah, full length windows plus several bay-windows.

     While researching the house , it was suggested that it may have belonged to the Miller family. It was occupied in the mid 1940s onwards by Mr Rutherfurd who was Mine Manager at the Sylvia Mine at Tararu.  During the home's history it was a boardinghouse and later divided into flats. The ceiling height described by a past resident as 'exceptionally high'!

     

     In the 1923 Street Directory, the property is the residence of Mr Ernest Napier Miller, Solicitor. This confirms the recollections of later owners. Mr Miller was a partner in the law firm Miller & Poulgrain. Ernest joined his father's firm in 1900, it was then known as Miller & Son. Ernest's brother Selwyn lied in the same block on the corner of Banks and Heale Street.     

     Mr E N Miller was Mayor of Thames 1919 to 1923, both he and his wife were active members of the community. During the 1918 influenza epidemic, Mrs Miller was in-charge of the convalescent hospital in Queen Street. Mr Miller also helped staff Thames Hospital during the epidemic.

THAMES STAR, ISSUE 13836, 30 NOVEMBER 1918

THAMES STAR, VOLUME LII, ISSUE 13854, 14 NOVEMBER 1918

What became of the house at the corner of Rolleston and Fenton Street?

     The good news is that while it did not remain in Thames, it was sold in 1996, and moved north to the Wellsford area. 

Hauraki Herald 23 March 1996

Mr Ernest James Napier Miller's Death Notice & Obituary. Thames Star 15 Oct 1947

 

Thames (NZ): Take a Second Look in Colour at Grey Street

 Without doubt, this view east along Grey Street, Shortland Town on the Thames Goldfield is a classic! The photo gives us a glimpse of life on the goldfield. What do you see? Here are a few things...

• A woman dressed in a full skirt, cape and hat.
• The roads are clearly marked, the surface rough with some stone base.
• The Hape Creek crosses the intersect of Grey and Mackay Streets (centre of photo).
• Deep drains line the sides of the street.
• The Karaka / Una Hill is bare of vegetation, and pitted with adits and tracks.
• Grey Street extends up the hill to Mount Pleasant (present day Jacob's Ladder).
• The building on the left is the first Shortland Post Office.
• There is a goat at the door of the Post Office, there were a lot of goats on the Thames Goldfield!!!

c1868 Grey Street (above) and present day below

Source: Grey Street, Shortland, showing first Post Office. Ref: 1/2-096130-G. 

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23203364

A Second Look in Colour

Remember that the colour is not exact; but step back in time and take another look at Grey Street as 'our' Thamesites knew it.

On a closer look, the road between the Mackay and Bowen (aka Rolleston) Streets is busy with people. Maybe these men are clearing the road of rocks? Fixing pot holes? Digging drains or just walking back to their homes. Just imagine crossing Hape Creek after rain? There were predominantly only foot bridges going over the creek - as shown in the photo above. Pay attention to the details on the woman's dress - the hard life on the goldfield wasn't going to defeat these pioneers. Standards were maintained, a visit to the main business district required 'Sunday Best' clothing. 

Take the Challenge

Look at your favourite photographs of The Thames. What stories can you conjure up about the people on the streets.  

Let's see...maybe this is my Great-Great Grandmother who has been to the Post Office to send a letter to her grandmother back in Scotland or mother-in-law in Ireland. Perhaps her mother is coming for a visit from Auckland, the ship is due to pull in at the Shortland Landing on the next high tide. Or maybe she waits expectantly to see if her husband Clement will find some gold to put food on the table!   Oh no! Clement has been spotted - he is at the Court House speaking to James Mackay, (taking out yet another Miner's Right).  This time Clement is positive that he has found the next greatest claim!  The rest is History!

Thames (NZ): Then & Now Pollen Street - north of Sealey Street Intersect

Introduction

A 'new' photograph in my collection is featured in this post, but lets first look at Pollen Street (north of Sealey Street over the decades. The images in the first collage ranges from 1906 - 1937 - 2017. (From 1930s Thames: The Goldfield Revisited)

• 1906: A military parade proceeds along Pollen Street, heading south to the Shortland Cemetery. The signage of Hetherington's shop (where Farmers is today), can be seen a third in from the left.
• 1937: Many of the old buildings remain, interspersed with new premises such as Galloway's Store (where Noel Leeming is today). Wide gutter drains line the street, and in the 20s a concrete strip had been laid down Pollen Steet. The Depression still raged, while the threat of war was just around the corner - cars were few and far between, at The Thames in the 1930s.

POLLEN STREET - another view 1950s-60s

Thamesites regularly have one complaint about the main street. Lack of parking! Well, take a look at this photo from the late 1950s early 1960s - the street is lined with cars. Some things never change!!! Guess what, parking on the western side was challenge back in those days, just as it is today. The driver fourth from left has not managed to park within the white line - something many readers will sympathise with.

1955 Businesses

     In the 1955 Wises Street Directory for Thames, the businesses located on the right (east side of the street) are as follows:

From Mary Street intersect. Lee, Chuck Yue (Fruiterer); Danby's Shoe Store; Taffe, W; Bond & Bond Ltd; Arbury Ltd; Self Help Co-op; McAllum (Jeweller); Presswood & Presswood (Optician); Hallensteins Bros; A J Brokenshire Bookseller; Judd Ltd; Muir, D J (Chemist); Bulmer (Jeweller); Hetherington's; Harris' Restaurant; Marriotts Store; Maxwell & Sons (Butcher); Galloway's; Modern Stores Ltd; Misses Donnelly (Dressmakers); Charlie Fay (Fruiterer); McPhail & Ganley Shoes; Gwynne's Garden House; Bongard's Chemist; Restaurant; La Fabrique Fabrics; C Hill (Jewellers); and D McL Wallace Ltd. Sealey Street intersect.

 

ABOVE LEFT: Signage includes 'Slaney's Radio Service; Knitting Service; Opticians. Further down the block can be seen the Regent Theatre sign before the Mary Street intersect. There is a barber shop (stripes on street post), tractors for sale (query part of Judd's that are located on the other side of the road) and the Bank of New South Wales and Post Office.

ABOVE RIGHT: McKenzies are centre left in Galloway's old building; and McPhail & Ganley Shoe Store is far right.

MCKENZIES

     The McKenzies department store was stocked a wide range of goods. Who can forget the chocolate & lolly 'pick and mix'? Or the coin operated spaceship / car that kept youngsters occupied while 'mothers' shopped inside. Later the store was taken over by DEKA. 

Further "Then & Now' Photographs CLICK HERE

Thames (NZ): Then & Now Beach Road

Introduction

      Beach Road, at the Grahamstown end of Thames - a quiet spot, with a narrow road, that has metal parking areas. 

     The south side of Victoria Park is on the western side, along with the Petanque area and Croquet Club. Travel further north and there is an access to the walkway that loops around the coast to the old Burke Street Wharf. On the eastern side you start at Albert Street, to Williamson Street, past A & G Price Foundry to the Burke Street intersect - then the road becomes Tararu Road.

 

Then & Now: 1900s & 2018 Corner of Beach Road and Albert Street.

Beach Road History (From Streets of Thames)

     "Named after the location, originally adjacent to the beach before reclamation was carried out.  

     On the 1868 map there is no Beach Road, although there is an unnamed road (where Brown street meets Cochrane Street and along to Pahau Street). 

     The 1910s Cleave’s map records Beach Road extending to Mary Street as well as a portion of road from Albert Street to Coromandel Street intersect. The road length was changed in 1938, today Beach Road only runs from Burke Street (north) to Albert Street (south)."

1868 map - Beach Road does not exist. The red line marks the location of Beach Road today.

Residents and business along the foreshore gave their address as The Beach.

1910s Map - the 'x's mark the two portions of Beach Road. Coromandel intersect to Albert Street intersect; and Cochrane to Mary Street intersects.

Collage View of Victoria Park south, on Beach Road.

In the 1900s, the view was unobstructed,

 and you could watch the ships arriving at the Burke Street Wharf.

Residents of Beach Road 1870 and 1923

     In the Thames Directory 1870, the road still does not formally exist, however a large group of businesses and residents record their address as "Beach". They included: Joseph Bargrove's Ladies' School, H C Lawlor, Joseph Faltt (carpenter), John McConnell, Charles Toft (store dealer), James Buchanan (stone-cutter), John Taylor (Bay View Timber Yard), William Anderson (architect), John Gwynneth, R N Smith (store dealer), M Rae ( Cornwallis Saw Mills, Miss Shepherd (actress), Richard Dodd's Boarding-house, Henry Phillips (boat builder), Holdship's Timber Yard, Wesleyan Chapel, Thomas Sharp (engineer), S Smale (legal manager), Thomas Keven's Boarding-house, John McColloch, Frederick Smith, Richard Richards, Marine Fmaily Hotel, Native Office (E Puckey), C F Quint, M Browne (coal merchant), Alexander Unthank (coal merchant), B Jones (actor) and George McAnnalley (telegraph linesman).

      In the Cleave's Street Directory 1923 the names recorded in Beach Road are: 

Right side from Haven Street: Thames Railway Station, John Arthur (stationmaster) ... nothing further is recorded until Mary Streets.

     On the left hand side from Haven Street: A & G Price Bulk Store, William Wells (labourer), Charles Fleming (moulder), John Coutts (boilermaker), Arthur Henderson (fitter). 

Burke Street intersect. A & G Price Ltd.  Abraham Street intersect. Rawiri Pearson (carpenter), Wm H Lucas (JP), Mrs Dunbar (Gwendon Boardinghouse), Thomas Dunbar (hairdresser - private residence), John Milner (boilermaker), Thomas McLeay (tailor), 

John Galloway (grocer). 

Williamson Street intersect. John Salmon (SM), Reg Williams (Manager A & G Price), James Parkinson (jeweller), Alf Lomas (carter), Park Hotel (back entrance). 

Albert Street intersects.  Cochrane Street intersects.

Richard Dovell (carrier), Wm Milne (foundry hand), Jas Frogley (store manager), Mrs Margaret Bayldon, Arthur Batchelor (machinist), John Judd (pattern maker). 

Amy Street intersects. Mrs Elizabeth Heard, Miss Alice Wishart, John Wells (labourer), William Skelley (labourer), Duncan McKenzie (bush contractor).

Walters Street intersects.  Mary Streets intersect.

Closing Comments

   Once a thriving street, Beach Road was full of businesses and residents. A popular place to live for those who worked at the foundry as evident in the Cleaves 1923 Street Directory. A busy and noisy place, close to A & G Price, and an area that once boasted a railway track, in the days of the trains being made and refurbished at the nearby foundry.

Take the Challenge

    Wander the streets - stop and imagine how it would have looked one hundred years ago.

CLICK HERE for further Street 'Then & Now" photos.

Thames (NZ): Mr Whitehead's Grahamstown Postcard featuring the Waiotahi Aqueduct

Another challenge - let us take a second look at a Postcard sent from Thames to Auckland. The goal as always to try and find out a) who the sender was and b) who was the person receiving the card.

The Card & Message

The Message reads:

"Dear Bert,

I am enjoying myself. Hoping you are also! (I might go to Rotorua if Annie can get away).

Love to all. Send me some writing paper ?next ?.W"

Addressed to: Mr A D Whitehead, C/- Abel & Dykes, Shortland Street, Auckland.

The year the card was sent is unclear, but postage is a half penny of Mitre Peak, similar to the one in the 1900 Pictorial set.

Who was Mr A D Whitehead?

It is likely that this was Albert David (Bert) Whitehead, born at Thames 22 December 1882 to William and Eleanor Whitehead. William was the brother of Mathias Whitehead, an early arrival on the goldfield who owned a bootmaker's business for many years.

     In 1905, Bert  Whitehead lived in Lichfield Street Auckland East and was working as a stationer. He married Agatha Garland in 1911 and they lived at 33 Grosvenor Street, New Lynn.

     The occupation of Stationer, completes the picture, for Bert's postcard was addressed to his place of work - Abel & Dykes, Shortland Street, Auckland. Abel, Dykes & Co were a general bookbinding and stationery manufacturing business located in Shortland Street.

     Albert David Whitehead died 16 September 1966 in Auckland.

The Waiotahi Aqueduct

The view in the postcard will be familiar to most readers. On the right is the site of present day A G Price Ltd, while in the lower left corner, is the site of the Hauraki Prospectors' Goldmine Experience.

For those of us less knowledgeable on mining matters, it is often confusing to look at the overhead structures that scattered the Thames Goldfield landscape. Were the structures carrying water from diverted creeks, or from or to a mining site. Or were they tramways carrying ore and waste away from a mine.

     An description of an early overhead structure at the Thames is provided for the Moanataiari Aqueduct in 1872. The culvert from the Moanataiari creek was causing problems, the solution was to take the water overhead, rather than underground. Starting at a point in the creek above the Caledonian Mine, the structure had a 1-in-40 gradient, down Coromandel Street to the beach. The aqueduct was five and half feet deep and built with supports to allow for deepening of the structure as required.

     The Waiotahi Aqueduct (in the photograph above) was another well known overhead structure - the following are snippets on its history.

• 1882 May 18, a special Borough Council meeting was held to discuss the building of the Waiotahi aqueduct. The contract was awarded to Mr McDermott the tender price was 1170 Pounds.
• 1882 July 10, concern was raised regarding the engineers plans for the aqueduct, as a set of the legs were located right in the middle of Owen Street.
• 1882 October 6, Thames Borough Council meeting discussed the delays in completion of the Waiotahi aqueduct and the lack of engineer supervision. Within a couple of weeks the contractors advertised for 20 pick and shovel men to work on the aqueduct project - wages were eight shillings a day.
• 1882 November 27, culvert work was underway in Owen Street by the Golden Crown Battery, water had flowed along the channel, "instead of wending its way across the flat to the beach as heretofore."
• 1883, talk continued in the newspapers regarding the completion of the aqueduct.
• 1884 March 7, the Waiotahi Aqueduct overflowed at the head, which led to a considerable run-off into the lower culvert.
• 1885 August 14, Mr Climo was given permission to cut into the aqueduct and take water for a nearby sluice.
• 1886 February 12, repairs had been needed to the aqueduct as the boards had deteriorated. Sadly heavy rain  had resulted in 500 to 600 feet of additional lining boards being washed away.
• 1894 February 10, tenders were called for extension work to the aqueduct.
• 1894 June 6, the Waiotahi Aqueduct was causing problems at the wharf end. Water, debris and tailings were running off - the harbourmaster had to organise clearing otherwise ships would not be able to access the wharf.
• 1896 November 20, there was a proposal to link the Waiotahi Aqueduct to the Cambria Battery tail race for the purposes of flushing.
• 1897 February 1, heavy rain resulted in a considerable amount of boulders going down the aqueduct resulting in damage to the structure along with considerable flooding on the land below. The following year in 1898, it was estimated after one heavy period of rainfall that 4000 tonnes of debris went down the aqueduct. Reports such as these were common, with the structure often damaged during heavy rainfall.
• 1898 February 11, urgent repairs were needed along the entire 1122 foot length of the viaduct. This work was completed by November of 1898.
• 1909 April 23, 2100 feet of planking was repaired and aqueduct's supports were strengthened. The ongoing repairs to the aqueduct were a regular necessity!
• 1915 November 13, yet again the need for repairs to the structure were needed, this time the cost was 1870 Pounds. Most of the structure was 22 years old, with parts considerably older.
• 1917 March 3, the great flood of 1917, was too much for the Waiotahi Aqueduct - it completely collapsed at the eastern end causing considerable flooding. Worst hit was the Governor Bowen Hotel, water rushed through the building, until urgent diversions completed.
• 1922 August 16, tenders were called to remove the Waiotahi Aqueduct structure. (copy below left) By October, there were still no takers for the demolition, so it was decided to sell the timber by auction. (Copy below right)
    
• 1923 June 20, news that the Waiotahi Aqueduct had been demolished.

ABOVE: The Waiotahi Aqueduct running left to right from the Waiotahi over Owen Street / Pollen Street intersect.

BELOW: The 1917 Flood - extensive damage to the aqueduct at the lower end of the Waiotahi Creek Road.

     Changes continued in the town as old mining structures were removed. In 1924 one old Thamesite returned and couldn't believe that the old overhead structures had been removed. 

Challenge

Keep looking at the old photographs and spot the landmarks, or rather look for the 'lost' landmarks.

     When you see an empty space or allotment, step back and identify what structure once stood on the land. 

     Its also an activity that you can do as you travel around the town today, stop and test yourself - do you know the locations of the old goldmining landmarks?

UPDATE 30 June 2020: Further photo of the Aqueduct

Thames (NZ): Asphalt arrives at the Thames Goldfield

Excitement at The Thames 12 October 1877, the first asphalt footpath was completed! Whats the big deal you may ask, and was it really the first? (Note variant spelling in the newspapers as 'asphalte')

THAMES ADVERTISER, 22 OCTOBER 1877

The first footpaths at Shortland Town and Grahamstown

   Mathias Whitehead came to Shortland Town in 1868 and described the state of the roads and footpaths at the time of the 1917 reunion. Whitehead recalled the town as the "City" of Board of Works [sic], "when a substantial wooden footpath was laid down" because most walkways were impassable in the early years on the goldfield.

 

 Left: Whitehead's report on the state of the footpaths. Thames Star 1 August 1917.  Right: 'Boardwalks' surrounded shops at the Thames Museum during 'Heritage Rescue' filming 2015. These have since been removed.

Above: This is the area of Shortland Town that Mathias Whitehead was talking about. Spot the wooden boxing used to separate road from footpath and to act as a drain. In some cases this was enough to keep the footpath in good condition, as the shop owners could afford it, a wooden board walk was added.

      Any alterations to the footpaths had to be approved by the local Highway Board. In April 1872, Mr Ehrenfried applied to the Waiotahi District Highway Board to build a wooden footpath in front of the Grahamstown Hotel.

      While initially a success, within a few years the wooden footpaths began to deteriorate. The cause varied from children deliberately vandalising the footpaths to mobs of cattle being driven through the town straying on them. One of the most significant was water damage from floods and high tides. Hence they soon became unsafe and a danger to pedestrians.

The Asphalt solution!

     There are reports in the newspapers around New Zealand in the 1860s about footpath construction and various methods of compressing rock, to the use of tar or asphalt.

     There are no mentions of 'asphalt' in the Thames Guardian newspaper 1871-1872.

From 1874 the Thames Star (Evening Star) and Thames Advertiser are online at Paperspast, below is a summary of the development and use of asphalt footpaths:

•  1874 24 Sept Thames Advertiser: The Union Bank of Australia (corner Queen & Albert Streets) were building a new brick premises and planned to have an asphalt footpath.
• 1876 13 March Thames Star: The Borough asphalters were busy outside the Academy of Music and Pacific Hotel in Brown Street.

Thames Star 13 March 1876.

• 1877 12 October Thames Advertiser: The report stated the first asphalte footpath at the Thames was completed in front of the Bank of New Zealand in Brown Street.
• 1877 26 June Thames Star: The Thames Borough Council suggested that the repairs to the footpath outside the Theatre Royal Hotel in Williamson Street, be constructed in asphalt.
• 1878 16 January Thames Star: It was not just footpaths that were being made in asphalt, the floor of the new fire engine shed at Shortland was being laid with this product.
• 1878 28 January Thames Star:  News that the Queens Hotel (corner of Albert & Queen Streets), and the Pacific Hotel (corner Brown & Albert Street) were both planning to put down asphalt footpaths outside their premises. In one month March-April 258 yards of asphalt were laid outside the hotel.
• 1878 6 April Thames Star: It was noted by a writer named 'Perambulator' that it was pleasing to see townsfolk showing faith in the town by making upgrades such as laying on water and gas, plus laying down asphalt footpaths.
• 1878 9 April Thames Star: The new footpaths were taking a bit of getting used to, painters were warned about the use of ladders in the newly laid asphalt paths as they were prone to leaving holes especially on hot days. 
• 1878 19 April Thames Star: All the asphalt work around the town, meant that the Council was busy trying to procure further supplies of stone or gravel - Tenders were called for 200 cubic yards.
• 1878 31 May Thames Advertiser: Problems were encountered with the new method of laying footpaths, the join between old and new was prone to causing problems. "An instance occurred last night. The respected incumbent of St George's was escorting one of the members of his choir home, when opposite the Queen's Hotel he was forced to his knees, and compelled to maintain a recumbent attitude for a few seconds, through the unevenness of the new path where it joins old."

What were the costs of the footpaths?

    As at March 1878 the average cost of footpaths per running foot was: Asphalt 3s 4d; common filling with water tables 2s 4d; common filling without water tables 1s 6d. A report to the local Council recommended that water tables and a footpath be completed the length of Pollen Street from Shortland to Grahamstown.  The cost 937 Pounds 8 shillings. For a 3 foot wide asphalt path laid along side the tables the total cost would be 1406 Pounds 16 shillings.

     As the months passed, more side streets were planned to have footpath upgrades. The costs were often under debate, Mr Soury for instance claimed 12 October 1878, that he could lay the new asphalt footpaths at a greatly reduced rate.

     The local cricket club saved some money by getting a loan of the asphalt roller to roll the cricket green for the new season. (Thames Star 27 August 1880)

     Ongoing costs ensued over the following years. Topdressing of the original footpath was needed as part of the maintenance routine, plus repairs to sections of the path due usually to sinking and subsidence.

Initially it was exciting to get a date for the first asphalt footpath at the Thames - 12 October 1877. However there appears to have been without question several sections of footpath laid during 1874 to 1876, along with the use of asphalt for floors in some premises. In the following decades, asphalt tennis courts make the headlines on numerous occasions! Regardless, the use of the asphalt process / material was a great improvement over the initial paths tread by the first settlers on the Thames Goldfield.

Above: Boardwalk sections can be seen top right outside the St George's Hall at the northern end of Pollen Street, along with boardwalk crossings to several hotels and businesses on the eastern side of the street.

Above: early 1900s view of Bank of New Zealand (centre right), the reported area where the first asphalt footpath was laid in 1877.

Below: Then & Now. The Pacific (left out of view) & Wharf Hotel on the left c1880, corner Albert and Brown Streets. The area where asphalt was reported to be laid in 1876. 

 

Thames (NZ): Albert Street view 1880s & Street Directories

Spot the Carriages!

Do you ever look at the photograph and dismiss it as "oh yes seen that one". Quickly moving on to another one or topic. I don't always follow my 'challenge' of take another look, so beware you never know what new things you will find. 

So when I looked at the Burton Bros photo of Albert Street yesterday, nothing really clicked until I saw the horse carriages centre left, parked on the west side of Brown Street. Look below, can you spot them?

Grahamstown, New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.014011)

I won't be surprised if you say "No", an enlargement is necessary. There they are far left in the photograph.

Why was it special to see those carriages? Well it reminded me that I had seen them a short time back - May 2019 when Tom alerted us to the fact that Burton Bros had made a panorama using three separate photographs. In C.014008, the carriages are parked, north of the Cochrane Street intersect.

While Te Papa Tongarewa have not labelled the photographs sequentially, the photographs have been labelled by Burton Bros as "3241" and 3242".

  

Left: Grahamstown, New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.014008) - 3241

Right: Grahamstown, New Zealand, by Burton Brothers studio. Te Papa (C.014011) - 3242

The wonderful result is that we have these four photographs compiling a panorama of The Thames from pre 1885 thanks to Burton Bros Photography!

BACKGROUND THAMES 1880s: The townships of Shortland and Grahamstown amalgamated in 1873 to form the Borough of Thames. Below is a transcription of the Wises Directory for 1880, stop and see if you recognise any names of these old Thames settlers. New Zealand WISES DIRECTORY 1880
THAMES section
Page 266 - 268
Copy of complete Directory Available at NZSG Library (NZ.Dir.1880.FCH)
Transciber note:
As with all transcriptions, check originals if in doubt and/or for confirmation
Introduction, page 266:
THAMES, Auckland Prov. 49 miles SE by steamer from Auckland City; in Thames County - known also as
Grahamstown & Shortland - an important Gold mining centre & shipping port; 3 branch banks
(NZ Union & New S Wales); 2 daily newspapers (Advertiser & Evening Star);
Post town & Municipality & Te. Statn., Pop 6,463
SURNAME	FIRSTNAME	OCCUPATION	ADDRESS	Page No
ABBOT	James		Waiotahi	266
ADAMS	William		Waiotahi	266
ADAMS	Wm	Engineer	Waiotahi Creek	266
ADCOCK	William	Butcher	Pollen St	266
ADLAM	Joshua Walter		Grey Street	266
AIREY	Matthew Hy	Draper	Pollen St	266
AITKIN	Alex	Civil Engineer	Sealey St	266
AITKIN	Thomas	Dispenser	Mary St	266
AKERS	Mrs	Carter	Mackay Street	266
ALEXANDER	Hy	Blacksmith	Moanatairi	266
ALKEN	George		Waiotahi	266
ALLAWAY	Jacob	Boarding Housekeeper	Brown St	266
ANGOVE	Edward John	Hotelkeeper	Beach Road	266
ARNS	Frederick	Linesman	Karaka Rd	266
ARTHUR	John	Blacksmith	Irishtown	266
ASHMAN	Fredk	Tailor	Pollen Street	266
AVERY	William	Grocer	Grey Street	266
BAKER	William	Carrier	Pollen Street	266
BALCKE	Augustus	Grocer	Mary Street	266
BARTY	David	Hotel Keeper	Pollen St	266
BASHAM	George	Carpenter	Pollen St	266
BAWDEN	Saml	Battery Owner	Tararu	266
BAYLDON	Danl Hy	Surveyor	Owen St	266
BAYLISS	William	Carpenter	Tararu	266
BENNETT	Fredk	Gardener	Tararu gdns	266
BENNETT	Homora		Waiotahi	266
BENNETT	T A	Grocer	Pollen Street	266
BENNETT	Thomas Albert	Storekeeper	Waiotahi	266
BENNETT	Wm	Carpenter	Baillie St	266
BERTRAM	Richd	Tentmaker	Pollen St	266
BIRCH	John P	Painter	Richmond St	266
BIRMINGHAM	Henry S	Shipowner	Grey Street	266
BLOOMFIELD	Samuel	Carpenter	Willoughby Street	266
BOBBETT	William	Butcher	Pollen St	266
BORMAN	Gustave	Engineer	Tararu	266
BOXALL	William		Waiotahi	266
BOYER	Alfred	Carpenter	Mackay St	266
BRASSEY	Nathl G	Solicitor	Albert St	266
BRIANT	George	Battery Owner	Karaka Creek	266
BRIDGES	Mrs	Grocer	Karaka Road	266
BRILL	Michael		Waiotahi	266
BRODIE	Alexander		Waiotahi	266
BROWN	Charles		Waiotahi	266
BROWN	James	Dealer	Pollen Street	266
BROWN	John	Engineer	Tararu	266
BROWN	Robert Samuel	Poundkeeper	Mackay Street	266
BROWN	Thomas		Tararu	266
BROWN	Thomas	Milkman	Tararu	266
BROWN	William	Butcher	Albert St	266
BROWNLOW	Edward	Moulder	Tararu	266
BRUCE	Mrs Margaret	Boarding Housekeeper	Coromandel Street	266
BRYAN	John	Bus Owner	Willoughby Street	266
BRYNE	Patrick		Waiotahi	266
BUCKLEY	Tim	Bootmaker	Pollen St	266
BULL	Charles	Grocer	Pollen Street	266
BULL	Geo	Battery Owner	Karaka Rd	266
BURNS	Mrs	Baker	Karuka Creek	266
BURRA	Robert	Stationer	Brown St	266
BURTON	William	Publican	Pollen St	266
BUTLER	Albert	Contractor	Eyre	266
BUTTERWORTH	Chas	Pub	Pollen Street	266
BYSBROM	Mangus		Waiotahi	266
CAHILL	Matthew James	Amalgamist	Kirkwood Street	266
CAMPBELL	Alex	Carrier	Kirkwood St	266
CAMPBELL	Henry Elmes	Solicitor	Walters St	266
CAREY	Thomas		Waiotahi	266
CARNEY	William		Waiotahi	266
CARNIE	William	Engineer	Waiotahi Ck	266
CARPENTER	Wm	Gum mercht	Grey St	266
CARRAN	Henry	Contractor	Punga Flat	266
CARRICK	William	Manager Union Bank	Albert Street	266
CARTWRIGHT	John	Watchman	Karaka	266
CASELY	John	Engineer	Eureka Hill	266
CASEY	John	Baker	Tararu	266
CASEY	Maurice	Carrier	Tararu	266
CHALMERS	Mrs	Dressmaker	Tararu	266
CHRISP	William	Carpenter	Tararu	266
CHRISTENSON	Christen	Carpenter	Davy Street	266
CLARK	George		Waiotahi	266
CLARK	Margaret		Waiotahi	266
CLARK	Miss Minnie		Waiotahi	266
CLARK	Mrs		Waiotahi	266
CLARK	Thomas	Brewer	Waiotaha	266
CLARKE	James	Grocer	Owen Street	266
CLARKE	Thomas	Carter	Tararu	266
CLARKE	Thomas	Publican	Tararu	266
CLARKEN	James		Waiotahi	266
CLAXTON	Wm	Tailor	Albert Street	266
CLIMO	Noah	Mine Manager	Kararu	266
CLINKES	Henry		Waiotahi	266
CLOULL	Joseph		Waiotahi	266
CLOULL	Mrs sen		Waiotahi	266
COCHRANE	Alexander		Waiotahi	266
COCKS	James	General Dealer	Mary St	266
COLDICUTT	John	Carrier	Baillie St	266
COMER	Robert	Mine Manager	Moanatairi Creek	266
CONNON	Alexander	Gardener	Keddell Street	266
CONOLLY	Cammeron		Waiotahi	266
CONROY	Michael	Painter	Waiotahi hl	266
CONROY	Michl	Painter	Queen Street	266
CONSTANT	William Joseph	Publican	Pollen Street	266
COOK	Henry	Engineer	Bella Street	266
COOK	William	Engineer	Baillie St	266
COOKSON	Andrew	Jeweller	Brown St	266
COOPER	George	Printer	Albert St	266
COOPER	Henry		Waiotahi	266
CORNES	Thomas	Carpenter	Waiotahi	266
CORNISH	George	Tailor	Tararu	266
COULLS	James		Waiotahi	266
COUPLAND	Edward		Waiotahi	266
COWAN	Henry	Cooper	Pollen Street	266
CRAIG	James	Auctioneer	Queen Street	266
CRAIG	James		Waiotahi	266
CROCKER	George	Bootmaker	Brown St	266
CROCKER	John	Bootmaker	Brown St	266
CROSBIE	Thomas	Dairyman	Waiotahi	266
CULLEN	John	Carpenter	Albert Street	266
CULPITT	William	Saddler	Pollen Street	266
CUMMINGS			Waiotahi	266
CURTIS	Charles	Publican	Brown St	266
DALZIEL	George	Butcher	Pollen St	266
DANN	Fredk	Cabinetma	Pollen St	266
DARE	William	Wheelwright	Waiotahi	266
DAVEY	Richd	Cabinetma	Kirkwood St	266
DAVEY	William	Blacksmith	Tararu	266
DAVIES	Edwd	Carpenter	Richmond St	266
DAVIES	Wm	Harbour Master	Baillie St	266
DAVIS	Hugh	Carrier	Amy street	266
DAVIS	Thomas	Engineer	Sealey St	266
DAYKIN	Francis	Mine Manager	Rallenston Street	266
DEEBLE	William	Grocer	Rolleston St	266
DENBY	George	Chemist	Brown Street	266
DIAMOND	Mat		Waiotahi	266
DODD	Charles Edwd	Publican	Grey St	266
DODD	John Eliers	Solicitor		266
DODD	Richard Newton	Contractor	Beach Road	266
DONNELLY	Patrick William	Publican	Beach Road	266
DONOVAN	Thomas	Carpntr	Mackay St	266
DOUGLAS	Robt	Baker	Willoughby St	266
DRISCOLL	Michael		Punga Flat	266
DRIVER	Henry	Ironmonger	Pollen St	266
DRIVER	Hy Dunn	Painter	Pollen St	266
DUNLOP	Thomas	Carrier	Tararu	266
DUNLOP	Thos	Mine Manager	Beach Rd	266
DUNN	Andrew	Publican	Mary Street	266
DUNN	Joseph		Waiotahi	266
EDMONDS	Peter	Moulder	Waiotahi Hill	266
EHRENFRIED	Louis	Brwr	Mackay Street	266
ELLIOT	John	Engineer	Waiotahi Hill	266
ELLIS	Chas Jackson	Grocer	Tararu	266
ELLIS			Waiotahi	266
EMMETT	John Henry		Waiotahi	266
ENDRES	Henry	Publican	Mary Street	266
ENSOR	Samuel	Publican	Mary Street	266
EVERITT	William, Jun	Cabinetmaker	Mackay Street	266
EVERITT	Wm	Cabinetmaker	Pollen St	266
FAGG	William	Plumber	Pollen Street	266
FARRELL	James	Builder	Richmond St	266
FARRELL	John	Dairyman	Irishtown	266
FARRELL	John	Builder	Richmond St	266
FARRELL	Robert	Builder	Pollen Street	266
FAULL	Wm	Undertaker	Owen Street	266
FERGUSON	Jas	Coal Merchant	Beach Rd	266
FERGUSON	William	Carter	Beach Rd	266
FIELDER	Robt	Boat Builder	Beach Rd	266
FINLAY	John	Jwllr	Williamson St	266
FISHER	Hugh	Blacksmith	Burke St	267
FITZGERALD	James		Waiotahi	266
FITZGERALD	John		Waiotahi	266
FLEMING	Andrew	Agent	Baillie St	267
FLETCHER	John	Grocer	Owen Street	267
FORGIE	James	Baker	Pollen Street	267
FORSAITH	Samuel Smyth	Draper	Owen Street	267
FOX	John		Waiotahi	267
FOY	Jas Jos	Photographer	Pollen St	267
FRANK	Henry	Hairdresser	Pollen St	267
FRASER	William	Magistrate	Tararu	267
FRATER	John	Agent	Eyre Street	267
FRENCH	John		Waiotahi	267
FRENCH	Mrs		Waiotahi	267
FRICKER	Walter	Painter	Tararu	267
GARRETT	Jas Alex	Engnr	Mackay St	267
GARRETT	Oliver	Messenger Government Offices	Queen Street	267
GARRETT	Thomas	Publican	Pollen St	267
GARVEY	James		Waiotahi	267
GELLION	D R	Broker	Albert Street	267
GIBBONS	John	Engineer	Eyre Street	267
GILLAN	Alex	Publican	Brown Street	267
GINN	Geo L	Bricklayer	Queen Street	267
GOLDSWORTHY	John	Mine Man	Davy St	267
GOLDSWORTHY	Thos	Mine Man	Waiotahi	267
GOLDSWORTHY	William	Mine Manager	Pollen Street	267
GOLDWATER	Meyer	Clothier	Pollen St	267
GOLDWORTHY	Thomas		Waiotahi	267
GRAHAM	Thos	Publican	Rolleston St	267
GRAIN	Peter	Grocer	Rolleston Street	267
GRANT	John	Drill Instructor	Eyre St	267
GRANT	Obediah	Baker	Pollen Street	267
GREEN	John	Shoemaker	Waiotahi	267
GREEN	William	Hatter	Pollen Street	267
GREENSLADE			Waiotahi	267
GREENWOOD	Benjamin	Corn Merchant	Pollen Street	267
GRIBBLE	John D		Waiotahi	267
GRIFFITHS	Owen	Carrier	Queen Street	267
GRIFFITHS	William	Engineer	Tararu	267
GRIGG	John	Undertaker	Pollen Street	267
HALL	John Wm	Chemist	Owen Street	267
HAMERTON	John	Draper	Willoughby St	267
HAMILTON	A	Teacher	Waiotahi	267
HAMILTON	Hugh Jun		Waiotahi	267
HAMILTON	Hugh Sen		Waiotahi	267
HANCOCK			Waiotahi	267
HANSEN	John Ernest	Grocer	Pollen St	267
HART	John Saunders	Gunsmith	Pollen Street	267
HAVERFIELD	John	Painter	Waiotahi	267
HAWKES	Henry	Bootmaker	Owen St	267
HAWKINS	John		Waiotahi	267
HAWKINS			Waiotahi	267
HEALEY	Thomas	Fruiterer	Pollen St	267
HEIGHWAY	John F	Engineer	Eyre St	267
HELDT	John Augustus	Cabinetmaker	Pollen Street	267
HENLEY	John	Agent	Albert Street	267
HETHERINGTON	Sam	Drpr	Pollen St	267
HIGGINS	Robt	Butcher	Karaka Road	267
HILL	Charles		Waiotahi	267
HILL			Waiotahi	267
HIRST	Daniel		Waiotahi	267
HODGE	James Henry		Waiotahi	267
HOGG	Alexander	Brewer	Baillie St	267
HOLLIS	Edwin Wise	County Clerk	Pollen Street	267
HONISS	Edward	Agent	Pollen Street	267
HORGAN	George	Teacher	Waiotahi	267
HORGAN		Schoolmaster	Waiotahi	267
HORSBRUGH	Thos	Legal Man	Tararu	267
HOUSELY	Henry		Waiotahi	267
HUME	Alexander	Agent	Albert Street	267
HYAMS	Mrs		Waiotahi	267
HYMAN	Henry	Bootmaker	Williamson Street	267
JACKSON	Thos	Shipbuilder	Baillie St	267
JACOBS	Wm	Bootmaker	Pollen Street	267
JAMES	Thos	Mining Man	Owen St	267
JARVIS	John Finch	Bootma	Pollen St	267
JEFFREY	James	Fruiterer	Pollen St	267
JOHNS	Edward	Publican	Tararu	267
JOHNS	John		Waiotahi	267
JOHNSON	Charles	Builder	Baillie St	267
JOHNSTON	Allan	Carrier	Mackay St	267
JOHNSTON	John		Waiotahi	267
JOHNSTON	Miss		Waiotahi	267
JOYNT	Charles	Grocer	Pollen Street	267
JUDD	Chas	Iron Foundry	Queen St	267
KAREY	Isaac	Messenger	Mary Street	267
KELLY	Patrick	Bootmaker	Pollen St	267
KENDALL			Waiotahi	267
KENNAN	Richard	Agent	Richmond St	267
KILGOUR	James	MD	Pollen Street	267
KINGSFORD	Richard		Waiotahi	267
KINSMAN	Edwin	Plasterer	Karaka	267
KITCHING	John Chadwick	Carpenter	Mackay Street	267
KITCHING	Thos	Draper	Willoughby Rd	267
KNEEBONE	Thos	Mine Man	Beach Rd	267
LAISHLEY	Rev R		Beach Road	267
LAMB	Peter & Alexander	Timber Merchants	Mary Street	267
LANGE	Henry	Tailor	Baillie Street	267
LAURIE	William	Turncock	Pahau Street	267
LAWLOR	Geo	Mill Man	Beach Road	267
LAWLOR	Hy Chas	JP	Beach Road	267
LAWSON	George	Engineer	Davy St	267
LEWIS	Louis		Waiotahi	267
LEYDON	John	Auctioneer	Pollen St	267
LITCHFIELD	Wm	Grocer	Pollen Street	267
LOISMAN			Waiotahi	267
LOUGHMAN	Mrs William		Waiotahi	267
LOVETT	George	Carpenter	Sealey St	267
LOWE			Waiotahi	267
LUSH	Rev	Church Of England	Mary Street	267
LYMBURN	James	Painter	Albert St	267
MAHONEY	Wm	Publican	Brown St	267
MANNERS	John		Waiotahi	267
MANNING	Thomas	Battery Owner	Baillie Street	267
MARSHALL	James	Draper	Albert St	267
MARTIN	William	Draper	Pollen St	267
MASON	John Brookes		Karaka Creek	267
MASON	Mrs	Stationer	Mary Street	267
MATHEWS	Charles		Waiotahi	267
MATHISON	David		Waiotahi	267
MAXWELL	Peter	Firewood Dealer	Pollen Street	267
MCCARRON	Ed	Mason	Irishtown	267
MCCAUL	George	Tinsmith	Brown St	267
MCCULLOUGH	Wm	Printer	Albert St	267
MCDONALD	John	Sailmaker	Beach Rd	267
MCDONNELL	Charles	Fruiterer	Brown St	267
MCDONNELL	Edward	Corn Chandler	Albert Street	267
MCDOUGALL			Waiotahi	267
MCDOWELL	Wm	Publican	Owen St	267
MCFARLAND	Robert James	Surveyor	Pollen Street	267
MCGOWAN	James	Grocer	Pollen St	267
MCGUIRE	Mrs Thomas		Waiotahi	267
MCILHONE	Hugh	Publican	Pollen St	267
MCINTYRE	Allan	Blacksmith	Waiotahi	267
MCINTYRE	Allen		Waiotahi	267
MCKENNA	James		Waiotahi	267
MCLEAY	Danl	Bootma	Pollen Street	267
MCLEOD	John		Waiotahi	267
MCMEICE	James		Waiotahi	267
MEACHAM	George	Undertaker	Owen St	267
MEARS	Abraham		Waiotahi	267
MEARS	Mrs		Waiotahi	267
MEARS	Samuel	Grocer	Pollen Street	267
MELHOSE	Louis	Agent	Albert Street	267
MENNIE	Alexander	Baker	Queen Street	267
MENNIE	James	Baker	Queen Street	267
MILLER	David	Grocer	Owen Street	267
MOLAM	John		Waiotahi	267
MONTGOMERY	Samuel		Waiotahi	267
MONTGOMERY	William		Waiotahi	267
MOOR	Robert	Carpenter	Waiotahi	267
MOORCRAFT	Thomas		Waiotahi	267
MORGAN	Eli Chas	Bootmaker	Grey St	267
MORONEY	Michl	Bootmakr	Pollen St	267
MORROW	Chas	Publican	Willoughby St	267
MORWICK	John		Waiotahi	267
MUIR	John	Tailor	Brown St	267
MULLIGAN	Michael	Publican	Pollen Street	267
MURRAY	Thomas L	Manager Bank of New Zealand	Brown Street	267
MUSKETT	John Henry	Cordial Maker	Eyre Street	267
NEAL	John	Butcher	Owen Street	267
NEWMAN	Wm	Plumber	Sealey St	267
NICHOLLS	John	Carrier	Pollen Street	267
NICHOLLS	John	Blacksmith	Karaka Rd	267
NICKS	John	Publican	Karaka Road	267
NICOLAI	Robt	Cradlemaker	Mackay St	267
NIXON	Gerald		Waiotahi	267
NODDER	John	Stationer	Pollen Street	267
OSBORNE	John	Grocer	Albert Street	267
O'SULLIVAN	Patrick		Waiotahi	267
OTTO	Andrew	Grocer	Brown Street	267
PALMER	Chas	Confectioner	Pollen St	267
PARTINGTON	George	Wheelwright	Abraham Street	267
PATTERSON	William Keddy	Engineer	Davy Street	267
PAYNE	Martin H	Surgeon	Pollen St	267
PEARCE	John	Publican	Albert Street	267
PEARSE			Waiotahi	267
PEARSON	Edward		Waiotahi	267
PERRY	J R	Battery Owner	Willoughby Street	267
PETERS	John	Cabinetmaker	Karaka Creek	267
PHELAN	Mrs Patrick		Waiotahi	267
PHILLIPPS	John	Oil Merchnt	Pollen St	267
PHILLIPS	Alexander	Bus Owner	Mackay Street	267
PINE	Charles		Waiotahi	267
PITKETHLEY	Geo	Blacksmith	Grey St	267
PLANT	William	Dispenser	Pollen St	267
POPE	Robert Aug	Grocer	Baillie St	267
PORTER	James		Waiotahi	267
PRICE	Alfred	Ironfounder	Beach Rd	267
PRICE	George	Ironmoulder	Beach Rd	267
PRICE	Thomas	Tailor	Davy St	267
PULLEINE	Fredk	Seedsman	Albert St	267
QUADRI	Antonio	Bootmaker	Pollen St	267
QUEALY	Thomas		Waiotahi	267
QUIGLEY	John		Waiotahi	267
QUIGLEY	Thomas		Waiotahi	267
QUINT	Charles		Brown St	267
RAFFERTY	John	Aerated Water Manufacturers	Pollen Street	267
RAWDEN	Thomas	Overseer of Works, Borough Council		267
RAWDON	Thomas		Waiotahi	268
READ	John	Timber Mer	Brown St	268
READ	William	Builder	Kirkwood St	268
REGAN	John	Publican	Brown Street	268
REID	William	Grocer	Campbell St	268
REID			Waiotahi	268
RENNICK	James		Waiotahi	268
RENSHAW	Jas	Ironmonger	Owen St	268
RICHARDS	Richard	Publican	Owen Street	268
ROACH	Henry		Waiotahi	268
ROBINSON	David		Waiotahi	268
ROBINSON	Henry		Waiotahi	268
ROBINSON	John	Baker	Beach Road	268
ROSS	Alexander	Grocer	Pollen Street	268
ROWE	Wm	Mine Man	Moanatairi	268
RUSSELL	James	Engineer	Tararu	268
SAUNDERS	Jsph	Grocer	Richmond St	268
SAWYER	A W	Miner	Owen St	268
SAWYER	Mary Ann	Publican	Tararu	268
SCHOFIELD		Teacher	Rolleston Street	268
SHOOT	Thomas	Grocer	Mary Street	268
SIMMONS	Daniel		Waiotahi	268
SINGILL	George		Waiotahi	268
SKEEN	B		Waiotahi	268
SKELTON	James		Waiotahi	268
SMALL	S J		Waiotahi	268
SMEATON		Teacher	Waiotahi	268
SMITH	James		Waiotahi	268
SMITH	Robert Sen		Waiotahi	268
SMITH	Robt Nesbit	Grocer	Beach Rd	268
SNELGAR	George		Waiotahi	268
SNOWLING	Frederick	Grocer	Pollen Street	268
SOUTER	William	Agent	Beach Road	268
STEADMAN	Jas B	Engineer	Tararu	268
STEPHENSON	Samuel	Publican	Beach Road	268
STEPHENSON	William	Builder	Mackay Street	268
STEVENSON	William	Patternmaker	Davy Street	268
STOCKWELL	James		Waiotahi	268
STONE	Robert	Shipbuilder	Pollen St	268
SUTHERLAND	Jack		Waiotahi	268
SYMINGTON	Geo	Publican	Owen St	268
TAYLOR	Geo	Blacksmith	Mackay St	268
TAYLOR	John	Tailor	Walters Street	268
TAYLOR	Richard		Waiotahi	268
TAYLOR	Richard	Dairyman	Punga Flat	268
THOMAS	Rchd	Blacksmith	Moanatairi	268
THOMPSON	John	Builder	Eyre Street	268
TOOKEY	Daniel	Native Interpreter	Beach Road	268
TOWNSEND	John	Butcher	Pollen St	268
TREANOR	Alexander		Waiotahi	268
TREMBALT			Waiotahi	268
TREZISE	Henry		Waiotahi	268
TUCKER	John		Waiotahi	268
TURRELL	Lewis	Dyer	Rolleston Street	268
TWOHILL	Edmund	Publican	Pollen Street	268
VAUGHAN	Mtthw	Publican	Albert St	268
VEALE	Thomas	Grocer	Pollen Street	268
VERNON	Henry	Valuer	Grey Street	268
VICKERY	Geo	Blacksmith	Pollen St	268
VIDALL	George	Busowner	Davy St	268
WADE	John Wm	Tinsmith	Pollen St	268
WALDRON	Henry		Waiotaki	268
WALKER	J W	Mine Manager	Kauranui Hill	268
WALKER	Robert		Waiotahi	268
WEBB	James		Waiotahi	268
WEIR	Peter		Waiotahi	268
WEST	John	Blacksmith	Willoughby Street	268
WESTON	Jesse	Engineer	Beach Road	268
WHITEHEAD	Mathias	Bootmaker	Pollen Street	268
WILKES	M J	Jeweller	Pollen Street	268
WILKINSON	William	Newspaper Proprietor	Albert Street	268
WILLIAMS	Joseph Cornwall	Publican	Queen Street	268
WILSON	John	Agent	Brown Street	268
WILSON	Robert	Manager Gas Works	Mary Street	268
WILSON	William	Draper	Pollen St	268
WISEMAN	Richard	Tailor	Albert St	268
WISHART	Robert		Waiotahi	268
WOOD	Theodore	Tobacconist	Pollen Street	268
WOODWARD	F G R	Agent	Queen St	268
WOOLCOCK	James		Waiotahi	268
WOOLFE	Bernard	Amalgamist	Tararu	268
WYLIE	Richd	Engineer	Rolleston St	268

Further Directories can be found at my old Thames site, some links work, while others dont!

Ancestry.au has New Zealand City & Area Directories 1866-1954 online (some are indexed, while others you need to browse to locate your Thames folk). Remember the library edition of ancestry is free to use until the end of May via the Thames-Coromandel District Libraries website.

Challenge:
When you see a photograph, stop and check some street directories and ask who lived at The Thames during the time the photograph was taken. Maybe it was your ancestor!