Thames (NZ): The Wahine Disaster 10 April 1968

New Zealand 10 April 1968, the day the Wahine sunk on its way into the Port of Wellington.
On the day 51 lives were lost.

In Thames, a storm had raged overnight that bought flooding and road closures. The Topical Depression had caused 'severe gales.' Land around town, such as Rhodes Park was flooded. (photo below)

Rain fall in the area was measured at various locations over the last 24 hours: Upper Kauaeranga Valley 6.47 inches; Whangapoua 4.60 inches, and at the Tairua Forest 1.43 inches.

News came, that a Thames resident had been on the Wahine and was one of the survivors. 72 year old Thames widow, Mrs A M Dyer was on the inter-island ferry Wahine.

In a later edition of the Thames Star Newspaper, there is a full account from Mrs Dyer. Sadly my copy is not readable, so when we are released from lockdown, I will get a better copy from the Treasury, at Thames.

Thames (NZ): COVID-19 Update & Thames 75 Years Ago - 4 to 6 April 1945

Thames Covid-19 Introduction:
Thanks for the feedback on your 'project' progress. Several readers are taking the challenge of these lockdown weeks, and a few chapters have been written for upcoming books. Gardening and odd jobs are top of the list for others. Locally the walking numbers appear to have dropped recently, or maybe people are exploring different areas.

The local supermarket appears to be handling the numbers / restrictions, but it is near impossible to get a 'click & collect' time-slot at Pak'nSave or a delivery time for Countdown Paeroa.

Who would have believed the latest development, police are manning random roadblocks at Tararu, Kopu-Hikuai and on the Waihi-Whangamata Road. For once the message is GO HOME out-of-towners, our services can not cope with the holiday makers.

It has been confirmed that there are cases of Covid-19 in the wider district, but the Waikato District Healthboard refuse to (at this stage) to give statistics on specific area.

Our medical centres' reassure us that they are still open for 'other' illnesses, but initially all consultations are done via telephone, and medication is dispensed in monthly lots. Apart from that life continues at the Thames! While Thamesites try to keep up some level of normality to their day.

Dogs. My interesting observations on Thames dogs is that a) I didn't know there were so many, and b) Many couples have matching dogs!!!

Today has been a busy day, it was rubbish day - the anticipation of getting ones rubbish into the big recycling bin and out by 7.30am. Anyway, that has been and gone, and just to make doubly sure, yes I wore gloves to get the bin back into my 'compound' and have disinfected it just to make sure. Oh what times we live in.

Almost forgot to record the most pressing need, and preparation slip-up that I made. I didn't stock enough variety of food for my cat and he is not impressed with all I have on offer, consequently is on a hunger strike!! On this note people are amusing themselves making captions for animal pictures showing they are equally fed up with LOCKDOWN.

We await to hear what tomorrow brings.

PS. Late update. The sulking cat won! (photo right) So we had to brave leaving the 'compound'.

Wow, reality hit, as we hadn't ventured out to the mall, and only once prior to The Green Grocer. The long lines, waiting patiently, many with masks, even more with gloves, you realise just how serious the situation is and how seriously everyone is taking the restrictions. What a relief to get home, back to the bubble - no more excursions hopefully necessary!

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Thames in the Thames Star 4 to 6 April 1945:

Thames Star Newspaper April 4:

• The Silver Fern Fruit Shop was open for business, near the corner of Richmond Street, the proprietor was Mr Jack Collins.
• If you wanted a drink, there were seven hotels to choose from in the advertisements (there were none filed for the Lady Bowen or Park Hotel in Brown Street; and the Exchange Hotel or the Warwick Arms Hotel at the south end of Pollen Street. Those advertised were: The Royal (H W Tindale), Salutation (J Mahoney), Post Office Hotel (D Craigie), Junction Hotel, Twohill's Brian Boru Hotel, Cornwall Arms Hotel (J Alwinger) and the Kopu Station Hotel (Jack Smith). The Kopu Station Hotel had a catch-cry motto: "Where all good sports and Farmers foregather."
• It was going to be a busy day at Kopu on the 12th April as a Special Heifer Fair was being held with over 500 cattle already booked in. [The sale-yards were located on the north side of the road opposite the hotel.]
• Reports of good fishing just off Te Puru, a 40lb Kingfish had been caught plus snapper weighing about 12lbs.
• Thames High School 'forms' [the yearly grouping of classes], were all raising money to purchase something for the school. Such as books, pictures and other equipment, for which Principal Dorrington was most appreciative.
• On the previous GOOD FRIDAY, the Methodist Church held a sacred concert, which included Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique. Mr Sutcliffe played the cornet solo, Miss Helen Twentyman was the vocal soloist and all joined together to sing 'Abide with Me'.
• War news took up at least half a page in each edition.  Captain E J Wilton from Thames had been promoted to Major - son of Mr& Mrs E J Wilton of Moanataiari creek.

 

Thames Star 4 April 1945

 Thames Star Newspaper April 5:

• The Thames Hospital had converted the adjacent St George's Parish Hall into an isolation ward. The Hospital Board asked for calm, that there was no need to worry and that the present number of Scarlet Fever patients in the hospital were being ably managed. The hall could accommodate 30 patients - parts of New Zealand were experiencing a Scarlet Fever epidemic.
• Local pig hunters had reported good catches, including from the Mercury Bay area nine boars and three sows. The largest was 300lbs.
• The Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade held a run for the Dr Liggins' Cup.The winner was C Cameron, with A Fleming second.
• The Easter Bowling Pairs Tourney had been won by M Morrison and H Hayward of Thames.

 Thames Star Newspaper April 6:

• Church Services were advertised for St George's and St John's at Tararu; St James, Baptist Church, Church of Christ, Salvation Army and the Mission at the Oddfellow's Hall.
• The residents of Tararu had raised money for a memorial trophy in honour of Private Dallas Howe of Tararu who had been massacred by the Japanese on Tarawa Island. The cup was to be given to the Thames Sailing Club as Dallas had been a foundation member.
• Thamesites were reminded that when they travel on trains to care and respect the crockery!

• A sign the war was ending, Used Motor Trucks were to be sold on the 13th April 1945.

More to follow as the month proceeds - Kia Kaha from Thames.

Thames (NZ): 75 Years ago - 3 April 1945

No more false starts! No more excuses! Since we published the 'Gold Mine to Firing Line' in 2014, my plan was always to do something similar for World War Two in Thames. Who knows the timeframe, but I will now start, and as part of that I will share something of the life in Thames thanks to our faithful old Thames Star newspaper.

The newspaper itself was reduced in pages, just four, this had been a result of paper shortages earlier in the war years. Here are some snippets:

TORCH BATTERIES: There was a plentiful supply of batteries which were now made in New Zealand. No metal cased torches were available, only alternatives such as plastic models.

SEWING MACHINES: Only 600 were allowed to be imported into New Zealand annually, but retailers had trouble getting hold of those numbers.

PRESERVING JARS: New methods for preserving were being used in New Zealand, and as a result, local companies were making these 'new' jars.

DRESSMAKING PATTERNS: There was an overseas shortage, and the special paper unobtainable. The paper reported the good news that New Zealand would be making their own patterns using local paper.

SUPPLY OF BLANKETS: Good news, the supply of blankets to civilians was going to be possible in the near future. Meanwhile "Service requirements [were] a priority." Any returned serviceman making a request  was to have his order promptly filled.

  

The war meant ongoing shortages. Montague's lack of staff had led to limited appointments. While advertisements for products such as Lux Soap featured overseas 'stars'.

SPORTS:

A large number of columns were devoted to sports results. Perhaps swayed by the fact the previous weekend had been Easter - a time traditionally used for several major sporting events.

The Thames Bowling Club held  their annual Easter Tournament - 47 competing rinks at the start of play. [Covid-19 has caused the cancellation of this event for 2020]

The cricket teams in the region competed for the 1944-45 Court Cup - in the final match, Thames beat Hauraki. First innings details below.

In the previous edition, Thursday 29 March 1945, the results of the Thames High School running sports were given. The top event was the boys' one mile, which was won by D Campbell, with E Heberley finishing in second place.

WAR NEWS: 

Private V L Noakes of Thames, was finally reported safe in Odessa, having been a prisoner of war since 1942. (details below left)

The Hetherington name was well known in Thames, firstly because of the long established store and for the regard the Drs' by that name were held in the town. The paper reported that Temporary-Captain Owen Hetherington was honoured with an OBE. Another Thamesite who had spent years as a prisoner of war. (details below right)

On the same day that Hetherington's award was reported, there was news that the Military Cross had been conferred on Second-Lieutenant G W H R Purchas(e) of Thames. (details lower centre)

    

It is interesting to read the news at this time and try and imagine what the reality was like, what the shortages were like? What did rationing mean to your daily life? 

Who would have thought it, 75 years later we are faced with our own restrictions - not just 'blackout' but 'lockdown.' Food shortages, in many cases caused by greed.

Kia Kaha, stay strong and take inspiration from our parents and grandparents & the hardships they endured.

PS. Of anyone has photos of Thames during 1939-1945 please can you let me know.

Thames (NZ): Appreciating The Thames - the Covid-19 journey

Day Seven LOCKDOWN: 1 April 2020.

APPRECIATING THE THAMES

All this so called time and what do you do with it each day?

How will history remember this time in our town?

I realise now I should have kept a diary from the start, and will begin one on a separate page, while concentrating the main blog entries on topics for some lighter relief. Why? Just to hide from the reality - so this will be my switch off time.

Take the Challenge: Keep a diary from now on if you have not already started it, and record life in lockdown. I have put this challenge to a group I am part of an, and all going well we will convert our thoughts to print when / if the pandemic ends!

Whats happening at Thames? People have interpreted 'walking in your neighbourhood' as taking treks from one end of town to another. The cyclists cruise the streets. You see people walking past you have never seen in your life! Cars full of people drive on by, some people have regular visitors.  People refuse to stop going fishing, or still indulge in mingling with non-bubble members. On-line shopping has increased so much, that it is booked fully, while the older members of our community are left wondering how to keep up a supply of food. Pak'n Save Supermarket continues to have long lines, especially on benefit days. Yes and flour has proved to be the product that everyone wants, as is the case throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Yes, I will record for history, that so far there are many who have have a very flexible interpretation of STAY HOME, SAVE LIVES.

WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE ABOUT THAMES:

Maybe this is a wake up call to stop and walk our lovely streets. I know for one I miss even the beach at Kuranui Bay - I cant walk there! In fact I don't leave the property for my walk.

There is one thing though, or rather a landmark that watches over me - the KARAKA HILL aka The Una. 

Have you ever done a pepeha?

It Starts With: Ko ____________ te māunga 

(The mountain that I affiliate to is _________________________)

For me having lived within a few blocks of the Una, and spent my childhood running up and down, collecting pine combs and blackberries - this is definitely 'my mountain'.

KARAKA HILL at PapersPast:

If you use this search term ("Karaka Hill") at Paperspast, there are 490 results.

The references principally relate to mining claims and their locations.

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, 22 JANUARY 1870

There was a report in 1870, that will be something many of you have seen - the Una / Karaka Hill on fire. 

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS,  29 JANUARY 1870

There are mentions of Karaka Hill as being the address in Birth and Death Notices. While many of these residences were no doubt in the area we today know has Karaka Road.

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS,  ISSUE 4093, 3 OCTOBER 1870

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, 5 JUNE 1871

By comparison, if you search 'Una Hill' there are 1577 search hits to explore.

CLOSING: What is YOUR Thames Mountain, that you feel most affiliated to - we have several to choose from Parawai to Tararu. Interestingly, for many old Thamesites, it is probably  Te Kohatu-whakairi-a-Ngatoroirangi aka Table Mountain - as you travel across the Plains it reminds you that you are nearly home!

A classic old view over Thames from The Una.

Kia Kaha - Stay Strong, Stay Safe Thamesites.

Day Four LOCKDOWN: 29 March 2020.

QUIZ NIGHT

Take the challenge! Do you know Thames History?

1. Which canoe c1350 from the 'Great Fleet', anchored north of Thames?

2. When did the 'old' Kopu Bridge open?

3. What month / Year was the Influenza Epidemic in Thames / New Zealand.

4. When was Jeanette Fitzsimons MP of the local Electorate?

5. What year was Thames gazetted as a Borough?

6. When did Thames celebrate 150 Years since the goldfield opened?

7. Where is the WWI Peace Memorial located - what road do you drive up?

8. Where is the John William Hall Arboretum located? Who was J W Hall?

9. When was the official opening of the Thames Railway Line?

10. When did the School of Mines, Cochrane Street, close?

11. Where was the first Thames High School building located? What building is on the site today?

12. Where was Eyre Street, Shortland Town?

13. Who was Mayor of Thames 1959 to 1975.

14. Name two All Black Rugby players who have come from Thames?

ANSWERS:

1.  According to legend it was the Tainui waka. 

2. The bridge also known as the Hauraki Bridge opened 11 May 1928.

3. The majority of cases were in November 1918.

4. Ms Fitzsimons was MP for Coromandel 1999-2002

5. In 1873.

6. The goldfield opened 1 August 1867,  on 1 August 2017 Thames held the 150 commemorations.

7. The monument is on the Waiotahi Spur, you drive up Monument Road.

8. Access via Mount Sea Road, Kororo Crescent or Brunton Crescent. Hall was a Chemist.

9. Official opening 19 December 1898.

10. Closed 3 May 1954, had inaugurated 1885/86 and first lectures 1890.

11. The first Thames High School building was on Baillie Street (1880), now part of Thames Hospital complex. Only part of Baillie Street remains south of Richmond Street.

12. The Southern section of what is now known as Queen Street was called EYRE STREET.

13. Wallace (Wally) Brunton. The last Mayor before the TCDC amalgamation.

14. There have been seven players: Jack (J K) McLean, Davie Stewart NZ Native Team 1888-1889, R (Dick) McGregor 1901-1904, H (Circus) Hayward 1908, A R (Mick) Lomas 1925-1926, L S (Lew) Hook 1928-1929, and G W (Red) Delamore 1949.

Well Done if you got to the finish, and even if you took the initiative to just read the answers!! Follow the links for further information.

PS. A few links are playing up, I suspect some maintenance is happening on Paperspast!

Thames (NZ): Looking back to 1970 in Thames

Day Three LOCKDOWN: 28 March 2020.

Take the challenge to remember what you were doing FIFTY YEARS AGO!

Okay, a difficult challenge for those not born before 1970, if so where were your parents living fifty years ago? What jobs did they do? Do you know what their lives were like eg Did they own a Car?

For many, this enforced 'lockdown' has meant we can't socialise and celebrate special events..

On this day, I was attending my sister's wedding at St James Church, Thames. The 'kitchen evening' held at the Osmond home. A good used car cost around $2000 (see advert below).

What else happened in March 1970 - as per reports from The Thames Star (TS) Newspaper:

TS 2 March: The National Party Rooms were being demolished to make for a new building (central Pollen Street).

TS 9 March: The new Coromandel State Forest Park had been opened Saturday 7 March.

TS 12 March: The Captain Cook Memorial was moved from the Kopu Bridge site to outside the Kopu Hall. (Photo right)

TS 16 March: A tramcar from Mr Newton's property at Kopu was taken to the Museum of Technology and Transport (MOTAT) for use in a display.

TS 18 March: Thames Shop-rite Supermarket owned by the Rolfe family, joined forces to become part of the New World Supermarket group. The business had originally started as William Scott's Bakery in 1880, before branching out into a grocery business in 1888.

TS 20 March: Twenty-four nurses and two radiographers graduated at Thames Hospital - this included Registered Nurses, Maternity Nurses and Community Nurses. (Photo below)

LOOKING BACK at January / February 1970

Major news was the production of the 1000th car at Campbell Industries Ltd. The Fishing Fleet reported Good catches. The new playground at Porritt Park was very popular over the summer months.

  

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: 

While the future at present is uncertain, take some time to think back. 

Even better jot down your memories! Who knows it may be the start of an article or book!

Thames (NZ): Building family connections at Findagrave

Day Two: LOCKDOWN 27 March 2020.

Take the challenge to explore and add information on Findagrave!

Yes, I do go on and on about this site, but I witness regularly the amazing connections that come from this site. The information is linked to the Ancestry, so when researchers hunt for information they get hints and links where their relatives are interred.

The Thames Findagrave sites are: Shortland, Totara and Tararu Cemeteries.

In the days leading up to lockdown, we had several requests for photographs from descendants of Thamesites interred at Shortland Cemetery. Plus a challenge to check out the status of Thames war graves as part of The NZ Remembrance Army nationwide project.

We came across some long forgotten graves, where it was suspected WWI soldier #14655 Wellington Infantry Rifles  John Miln was interred.

What happened next was amazing, Graeme stepped in to find and clear the plot area. On the same day another request came for the adjacent grave, and soon this too was cleared.

Above: The area surrounding Plots 4142 and 4143. The challenge about to begin!

Below: John Miln's grave cleared, then some more work and John James Lee's plot revealed.

 

What is today's Challenge?

Do you have a relative interred at one of the Thames Cemeteries? 

Go to the Cemetery (Shortland, Totara and Tararu) and enter the SURNAME you are connected to.

Select the memorial for a relative. 

Do you have some more information? Where they were Born, Deceased, a photo. Are they linked to their Spouse or Parents?

For example, Here is a screenshot for JOHN BARKER's Memorial.

If this memorial wasn't under my management (Yes you need to register to be able to suggest changes), I could Click EDITS or SUGGEST EDITS and add some new information. For now for John I have updated a few things.

The other day I tried to match up some relatives of the PRICE FAMILY the REDDISH FAMILY

The list goes on, so even if they are not "YOUR FAMILY" you can still match known relatives, or I make use of ancestry trees or other family sites to add further "MATCHES".

Okay, if Thamesites aren't your thing to follow up on, Go to the main page of Findagrave and search by Surname/Memorial or Cemetery and find some names to "adopt" and add information to.

Go to it! Make one addition and you are doing your bit to help preserve the memories of those who walked this Goldfield town before US. Plus for another moment in time, they are not forgotten.

Stay Strong, Kia Kaha from The Thames

Thames (NZ): Journal Articles at JSTOR

Day One: LOCKDOWN 26 March 2020.

Take the challenge to read or explore a new source on the internet!

Have You ANY Read Articles at JSTOR?

Thanks to Tom for the alert on articles related to Thames at the JSTOR site.

Due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, an increasing number of articles are free to read / download.

Searching Thames New Zealand, there are hundreds of results, covering a wide range of topics, and of varying relevance.

EXAMPLES:

One of the first articles I looked at was an article that mentioned our astronomer John Grigg: Source Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Vol. 11, No. 66 (February 1, 1899), pp. 48-50 (3 pages) Published by: Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Here are some snips of the details of just a handful of interesting topics:

DALMATION SETTLEMENT:

Page link at JSTOR

TEN POUND POMS:

Page link at JSTOR

MAORI on the HAURAKI PLAINS:

Page link at JSTOR

ADDING the term mining to the search terms reduces the number of hits:

Page link at JSTOR

With this one you will see that you can read FREE online, 

if you register you can read SIX articles free a month.

You can also limit your searches to the FREE ACCESS articles.

KAURI:

Mabberley, David J. “THE COMING OF THE KAURIS.” Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 19, no. 4, 2002, pp. 252–264. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/45065558. Accessed 26 Mar. 2020.

NATIVE NURSING: Nurse Dawson gets a mention during her time nursing on the Hauraki Plains.

 Bryder, Linda. “‘They Do What You Wish; They like You; You the Good Nurse!’: Colonialism and Native Health Nursing in New Zealand, 1900–40.” Colonial Caring: A History of Colonial and Post-Colonial Nursing, edited by HELEN SWEET and SUE HAWKINS, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2015, pp. 84–103. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt18dzrdn.10. Accessed 26 Mar. 2020.

See what goodies you can locate, for Thames and other topics - Happy & Safe Reading

Thames (NZ): Grahamstown shop closures

Reality hit for many today, the once vibrant Grahamstown end of Pollen Street, a literal ghost town, as shops had predominantly closed.

  

The Junction Hotel aka GBD: Left Sept 2019 (Google maps) and Right 24 March 2020

The iconic hotel closed for business, ready for lockdown.

  

Left September 2019 (google maps) and Right 24 March 2020. The shops closed and sidewalks and cafes empty.

We pray that the life and spirit of the town returns in the near future.

Keep safe everyone.

1910s gathering Pollen Street North.