Thames (NZ): 150 Commemorations - New video by Thames Museum

Congratulations to Tom Webb and Rosalie Steward for producing a wonderful video on the opening of the goldfield - which contains a considerable amount of background history.
(Written and narrated by Rosalie Steward with Video editing by Tom Webb from Inlet Technologies)

Take a few minutes to checkout the video, and subscribe to future ones in this history series.

TITLE: OPENING THE FIELDS OF GOLD  CLICK HERE

Find out and hear more, at the Thames Museum, Cochrane Street, Thames.

Thames (NZ): 150 Years - Photo Slideshow Thames Then & Now

The town of Thames is currently celebrating and remembering the history of the area during the 150th Commemorations. The goldfield was first opened 1st August 1867. Since that time, a lot has changed.

Land that was occupied and cultivated by local iwi was quickly transformed into a noisy, busy, and crowded industrial town.  Based on a small booklet, there is now a slideshow that highlights the changes in the town. Step back in time and see for yourself the changes to the town they called 'The Thames'.

The slideshow is available on Youtube

THAMES THEN & NOW: 150 Years in the Making

Below is a selection of photographs from the Slideshow

 

 ABOVE: Mary Street Then & Now, looking east to the Una Hill

BELOW: Pollen Street Then & Now, looking north from Grey Street intersect

 

Thames (NZ): Thames Xmas Parade 10 December 2016

The sky was overcast with a light drizzle of rain, but Thamesites lined the mile long Pollen Street eagerly waiting for the annual parade. From the time the goldfield opened 149 years ago, the townsfolk have always turned out for a parade. There were floats featuring young and old, that kept the crowd in place for nearly forty minutes.
Some highlights shown in the photographs below and a slide show is available on You Tube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thames (NZ): School of MInes Video

A video from The New Zealand Herald:

Mining historian's battle to keep heritage alive

4:00 AM Thursday Jan 2, 2014 

CLICK HERE to WATCH THE VIDEO. Includes old photos & video of Thames and the Thames School of Mines.       

Thames (NZ): YouTube Videos of A & G Price's trains

Your chance to see the great trains that were produced by A & G Price of Thames. Maybe your ancestor worked on these trains, sit back and enjoy seeing them in action. Remember the stories of steam train trips - don't forget to put the window up before you enter the tunnel!!!

Lions' Heritage sign on Burke Street, Grahamstown, Thames.

 NZR No. A 428
 'A 428,' an A & G Price Steam Loco at the Weka Pass rail, Waipara, north Canterbury
 'A 428' a return trip, Another view of the Weka Pass express. A night train special. A tour of the train.

A&G Price 197: Shunting at Whakatu

V148:  was built by A&G Price in 1943 and features in this 2014 Steam extravaganza at 4min 45sec and in this 5 minute clip. Another view of the V from Prices of Thames.

Price Loco at Beaver Station.

Ab 699: In August 1922 A & G Price of Thames NZ delivered another new steam locomotive to the New Zealand Railways. It was of the Ab class numbered 699. Another video at Pleasant Point.
NB. There are a lot of train videos from Pleasant Point featuring Ab699 - search at YouTube.

Thames (NZ): Te Kauaeranga the history of the Thames

A MUST WATCH. A two part video on YouTube that gives the history of Te Kauaeranga, the area we know today as Thames. The commentary is fittingly in te reo Māori, but the English sub-titles are a full transcript which adds to the story being told.

Key points to watch for and learn more about are:

• From Moehau to Te Aroha - there were 12 tribes of the Marutuahu
• Settled the land pre-European times
• Tainui canoe visited the coast
• Te Kauaeranga name for area known as Thames
• James Mackay appointed to purchase tribal lands
• Chief Taraia Ngakuti Te Tumuhia was against sale of the land (photo right)
• 1852 Gold at Kapanga
• Gold found at Thames by Tangata
• 1867 Thames gold rush
• Maori land leased for mining, was to be returned
• Chiefs allowed early Kauri logging for ship building
• Matai Whetu Marae history and relationship to Kopu and Meremere
• Importance of Whakapapa, and local maori customs
• Need for oral history library for Hauraki

THE VIDEOS are:

Part 1 of 2 Te Kauaeranga the history of the Thames

Published on Apr 17, 2012

 

Part 2 of 2 Te Kauaeranga the history of the Thames

Published on Apr 17, 2012

Part 1 and 2 Te Kauaeranga the history of the Thames Waka Huia TVNZ 17 April 2012 - 'Te Kauaeranga' is a 29'00" documentary on the history of the Thames area Southwest of Coromandel during Thames Heritage week - "A week-long celebration of the rich history of Thames."

Further information:
The Treasury Journal - CHIEF TARAIA NGAKUTI TE TUMUHUIA and JAMES MACKAY
Also The Hauraki Mission Station.
The Treasury and Thames Library have a large number of books about the local tangata whenua.
Hauraki iwi website

Thames (NZ): More Mining related videos found on YouTube

When researching the golden rule appears to be relook, relook and relook again. As search engines develop there appears to be a never ending number of finds to be made when using the web.

Today's find relates to a great mining video, showing the School of Mines, Thames and a miner at work. Watch the YouTube video called "The Mining Heritage of Thames." Well done to everyone involved!

There are many others relating to the wider district. Including:
Karangahake Gorge and the railway

A walk inside the Coromandel Success Mine

Waihi Gold Mining Take a tour around the present day mining operations.

If you find more that you think  would be of interest, send me the links and I will add them to the list.

Thames (NZ): Gold mining related videos on Youtube

When you visit old goldmining towns like Thames, it is well worth the visit to go and see examples of the mining process. Whether it be to the Goldmine experience, the Thames School of Mines or the Bella Street Pumphouse - you will learn a little of what the town was like and what the miners did at Thames.

There are also videos on 'youtube' that demonstrate and explain some of the mining equipment used by early miners. Below are some wonderful examples from Kae and Evan:

Berdan Grinder

Five Head Quartz Battery

How to use a gold pan

Pelton Wheel Operation

Water sluicing used in gold mining

There is also a copy of a talk given by Kae on "Thames Goldfields Now and Then."
This is well worth a look, as it takes you on a walk to the mines in the hills behind Thames, you have the chance to hear what it would have been like for the miners and their families who lived in places like Punga Flat, Moanataiari Creek and up the Karaka.

Moanataiari Valley Batteries, mines, shops and residences
Source: Alexander Turnbull Library Collection PAColl-7395-1

 I couldn't resist adding this crop of the centre of the photo. Query the Mine Manager's house - fully fenced, a small garden and a wonderful little bay window to attract all the northerly sun.

Further information on mining also available: at Kae's Gold Miners database and at The Treasury.

Thames (NZ) NZE Tunnelling Company - TCDC update

An update from the first post, still hopeful of finding new information and names of WWI soldiers who were with the New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company on the Western Front during World War One.

The list of names is growing, and thanks to everyone involved who has helped with information and the 'helpers' around the country who have gone and taken grave site photos.
*****Update 5/5/2013: Men from the Thames-Coromandel now have their own link at NZETC*****

For further background on the tunnellers and their stories, take a look at the following videos available via the New Zealand Tunnelling Company Website.

NZ TUNNELLING Company related videos:

• Bluey and Billy return to Komata: Zoe Brown talks about Bluey (John Frederick) Wells and Billie (William Edward) Patterson of Komata, coming home after the war.
• NZ Tunnelling Company from a TV3 report: Excellent overview of the tunnellers and their work
• ARRAS pilgrimage 2012: Descendants journey back to Arras
• New Zealand Tunnelling Company: Programme that appeared on Maori Television Channel

PART OF A FINE BODY OF NEW ZEALANDERS WHO HAVE DONE USEFUL WORK ON THE WESTERN FRONT: SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TUNNELING CORPS. PHOTOGRAPHED IN FRANCE.
' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19170412-44-3 '



KOPU BRIDGE, Thames NZ - opens today

A big moment for Thames, or more importantly the thousands of Aucklanders' that flock to the Coromandel Peninsula over the summer months.  The one lane Kopu (Hauraki) Bridge is coming to the end of its life for car transport!

The big new concrete, two lane structure is open today (10 December 2011) for pedestrians and later in the week for vehicles. Prior to 1928 people relied on boats and ferries to quickly access the Hauraki Plains. The large one way, wooden bridge was built 1926-28 and was opened in May 1928 by the Prime Minister, Gordon Coates. The Kopu Bridge is on the NZ Historic Places Register as a Category One. "The Kopu Bridge is nationally significant as the only surviving road bridge of swing span type in the country. It makes a valuable contribution to the history of both motorised road transport and shipping, and is particularly significant for demonstrating early central government involvement in the development of highways. It marks the last stages in the history of major river transport on the Waihou, used by both Maori and Captain Cook."

Todays transport figues give 9000 crossings per day and 18,000 in the summer months - thus stretching the one way structure and the driver's patience to the limits. Full details and gallery of photos, for the new bridge is available at the NZ Transport Agency website.

The Coromandel Heritage Trust has for sale at The Treasury, a DVD covering the history of the Bridge - "Over Troubled Water, The Story of the Kopu Bridge."

DVD available at The Treasury, Thames

You tube videos of the Kopu Bridge:
The Kopu Bridge by Bailey and Jacob
Kopu bridge opening and Kopu Bridge closing and new bridge by The Connelly53
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NB. A group has been set up to SAVE THE OLD KOPU BRIDGE, there are details and a petition that can be signed on line.
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Thames (NZ) Postcards at Youtube No 2

Just another short collection of postcards at YouTube.

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


Dunnage Postcard - Mata Beach, Tapu

Thames (NZ) Videos at Youtube - Trains

I hadn't explored Youtube for Thames information, until I needed a place to put my Thames Postcards Video, but already today I have found a couple that may be of interest, particularly to the rail enthusiast.

Two videos back in the 1980s of a train from Paeroa to Thames, then pulling in and leaving Thames Railway Station. They bring back alot of memories and will be of interest to show newcomers and younger folk, just how important trains were to Thames!

When Thames had a railway Part 1 - At 5.30 min you cross the Kauaeranga River Rail Bridge into Thames, past Toyota Car factory and stop at the Shortland Wharf.

When Thames had a Railway Part 2 - shows coming into the Thames Railway station and then views back from the wharf. Later showing the train heading back out of town.

Dunnage Postcard showing a Train leaving Price's Foundry, Beach road, Thames

Thames (NZ) Postcards at Youtube

Well, fingers crossed that this works
and you should be able to view a selection of postcards

Click link below
THAMES POSTCARDS NEW ZEALAND

DIGITAL STORIES of Thames & Coromandel Peninsula

With the ice in the air today and talk of snow possible on the ranges, I am reminded of the times when snow has been sighted in the district. Many of you will have seen snow on Mt Te Aroha and on other ranges around the district over the years.

There is a wonderful digital story "Snow on the Tokatea" by A Rowe that recalls the day in 1939, that snow fell in the Coromandel ranges.

This is just one of many digital stories that were completed as part of the 'Coromandel Community Digital Storytelling Project.'  There are several that are specific to Thames, but I'm sure you will enjoy watching them all!

Recordings for Thames include:
"Osborne's in Thames" by J Rowe
"Tararu and Shortland Cemeteries" by M Nankivell
"Why Thames?" by D Legge

Early Postcard of Thames