Thames (NZ): Shortland Cemetery

Do you ever feel that the town or powers to be just don't understand the value of Thames Heritage?
There are days when I just feel we are wasting time planning events for the elite, when important historic places and landmarks are ignored and/or given very little attention.

Take a look at the entrance to our historic Shortland Cemetery. Hope you weren't planning on visiting during the 150th Commemorations..come equipped with gumboots and a good walking stick!

Thames (NZ): Fifty years ago 1967

While thoughts are with the opening of the goldfield nearly 150 years ago, there was a lot happening in Thames as the town awaited their centennial commemorations in 1967.

The year started on 1st January 1967 with a celebration of Captain Cook's visit to the area, a massive re-enactment was held at the Shortland Wharf.

Then in February the town was reminded of it's vulnerabilities with yet another flood. There was the usual flooding around the town and several boats were badly damaged at Shortland Wharf.

ANZAC Day April 25th, there was a large turnout of War Veterans who marched down Pollen Street to the War Memorial Cenotaph in Mary Street.

In May, the Thames South School held their reunion, while the following month (June) saw the opening of the new Parawai School.

 

The town was in a state on development and advancement with old buildings such as Koefoed's (corner Pollen & Willoughby Street) demolished. New streets and parks were developed and named. Bowen Place was named at a new subdivision at Parawai, and Margaret Place at Moanataiari. The new sports ground on the foreshore (created from reclaimed land) was named Danby Field.

 

The new subdivision on reclaimed land at the Moanataiari was proceeding, with roads and amenities well established.

Next thing on the agenda was planning for the big centennial commemorations. The memorial cairn site was chosen at the south end of town and building was begun in July 1967.

Now fifty years later, the town prepares for the next commemorations for the 150th anniversary of the Thames Goldfields.

Thames (NZ): Decimal Currency Fifty Years ago

What are your memories of the change to decimal currency in Thames and New Zealand?

If you were at school, there were endless lessons on the change and how the new denominations matched our old currency.

The excitement the first day was everywhere. Like many of my friends we couldn't wait till lunchtime and a trip to the nearby dairy for our lunch order. Everyone excited about the change and new coins that they received!

Children weren't the only ones who needed teaching. Local banks held education days for businesses. The Thames Star had been doing their bit to prepare the town with regular updates. They printed photographs of how the two sets of coins would be in-circulation during the initial introduction period.

The Bank of New Zealand (photo below) held evenings to instruct business owners how to complete normal banking transactions such as deposits to fit the new decimal currency format.

The new coinage was secretly delivered to Thames banks on the 31st May 1967, in preparation for the big day. The Thames Star was not even allowed to publish a photograph of the event until the 10th July. With the new coinage the cost of a pint of milk was four cents; and a loaf of bread was 11 cents.

Source http://www.downies.com/aca/auction306/aca/images/lots/306/2692.jpg

An exhibition not to be missed is being held at the Bella Street Pumphouse during August.

A photographic Survey that was carried out during 1973-75 of Thames and Townspeople by John Fields. A few of these photographs are available online at different museums.

Saturday 5 August to 6 October 2017

Sat Sun Mon Wed Fri 11am to 5pm

Tues Thurs 4 to 7pm

Admission $10

Thames (NZ): Karaka (Una) Hill 150 years Then & Now

Not many sleeps now until the 150th Commemoration of the Thames Goldfield. The landscape changed overnight as miners hunted for gold. The land cleared for mining, but every bit of timber was also needed for housing. Boats were kept busy bringing supplies from Auckland and beyond.

 Then & Now: The Una Hill from Mining Days to Present Day

Many claims were dotted over both sides of the Karaka (Una) Hill, with important batteries such as Bull's, which was located not far from the house in the 2017 photograph above.
Below are some maps showing the claims in the area. The first from the 1868 Mining Illustrated Map, and the lower from Downey's book on the Thames Goldfields.

Thames (NZ): New Fire Truck 1912

Well, every once and awhile it pays to keep researching past sites. A new photo I had missed is on the Auckland Libraries website from their Sir George Grey Collection.

The caption reads: "A MOTOR FIRE ENGINE FOR THE THAMES. Last week the Wakatere shipped a motor fire engine for the Thames Brigade. The motor driven engines are replacing the horse-drawn vehicles in nearly all the up-to-date brigades in the country, and, in fact, they have entirely ousted the horse in Auckland city."

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19120724-23-2

On the 19th July 1912, a large gathering assembled at the Thames Central Fire Station to celebrate the inauguration of the new motor reel service. The chassis had been imported from England and fitted out by Dexter and Crozier in Auckland. Money had been principally raised by members of the public, the cost of the machine was 518 Pounds and 19 shillings.

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UPDATE 1 April 2018
If you read the comments below, you will see that I was alerted to the fact that the old fire truck still exists and has been adapted back into a tourer. The following image comings from the Palmerston North Boys High School website - please respect the possible copyright requirements of the photo.

Thames' old 1912 Fire Truck now restored.

Source: http://www.pnbhs.school.nz/old-boys/obituaries/

Thames (NZ): New booklet "Then & Now: 150 Years at the Thames"

A new booklet, instead of written snippets, this one shows Thames through the eyes of our ancestors. Then and Now views around the town.

• THEN & NOW: 150 Years at the Thames

A5 size, 40 pages, ALL photos. Published June 2017, covering then and now photographs of Grahamstown, Shortland Town and The Thames. A simple setup of mostly three photos a page that compare how the town has changed from 1867 to 2017. ISBN 978-0-473-40093-4

Thames (NZ): Hotels of Thames booklet

A booklet on Thames Hotels is now available.
HOTELS OF THAMES: The A to Z of Hotels on the Thames Goldfield.
In the usual format used for Streets of Thames and Schools of Thames.
Name of Hotel, location, time period open, names of publicans and a few snippets of history.

Thames (NZ): WWI ROH Commemorations June 1917-2017

The Battle of Messines had begun one hundred years ago. Between 7 June - 9 June 1917, the New Zealand casualties were 3700, 700 of these were fatal.

These are the Thames WWI soldiers (so far identified) who lost their lives in June 1917.

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GLESSING John Polton Hicks; 31990; Pte 2nd Batt AIR

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCKEE Arthur Barry; 32040; Private 2nd Batt AIR

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PORTER  John Valentine; 12/1769; Private 2nd Batt AIR

6/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; ENSOR Charles Hedley; 17853A; Rfn 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; COX Robert James; 25/740; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; FINDLAY Thomas; 3263; Private 45th Batt AIF

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GRIFFIN Joseph; 4/901; Acting Sergeant NZE No 3 Coy

7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; LOGAN John Stuart; 2423; Private 36th Batt AIF

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCONIE Colin; 26661; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; TREWHEELA Joseph; 8/1881; Corporal 2nd Batt OIR

8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PAUL James Coutts; 23760; L/Corporal  2nd Batt WIR

8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WHITEHOUSE Cyril Hale; 12/3193; Private 1st Batt AIR

9/06/1917 In the Field, France; BUTTERWORTH Henry B; 30739; Private 1st Batt AIR

9/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; NICOLAI William; 39670; Private 3rd Batt  AIR 3rd Coy

10/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WILTSHIRE Frank William; 12687; Sapper Div Sig Coy

14/06/1917 England; CORIN William Bennett; 2524; Private AIF 45th Batt

14/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MOLLER Gilbert Victor; 13/2857; Gnr 1st Batt 1st NZRB

25/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; TORRENS Walter Edward; 1458; Private AIF 33rd Batt

Lest We Forget

Thames (NZ): Postcard from a Waikino visitor.

This is the story of 'Gertie' from Waikino, who came to Thames for a holiday in 1903. The postcard features the Thames Band Rotunda at Victoria Park, with the Grahamstown Railway Station in the distance.
Poor Gertie wrote to her friend (Mrs W Reid) that she thought she might stay at the Thames, as she dreaded returning home "to the bush & that miserable home on the hill" at Waikino.

Closer look at the path and women, standing on the path leading to the Grahamstown Railway Station.