Archives Auckland continues to hold a wealth of information about early Thames. The first businesses were required to get licenses from the Warden's Court. Several of these butt books remain at Auckland Archives.
A simple search at Archway will bring several results, for instance:
Thames Wardens Business License Butt Book (14414)
1867? - unknown range held: 1867 - 1871
Order details:
title years
Business Licenses Butt Book License No. 55-200 1867 - 1868
agency series accession box / item sep record no. part alternative no.
BACL 14414 1 / a
An example of one of the butts is below: