Thames (NZ): Military photographs at the Thames Museum

It never ceases to amaze me, the many treasures that are in the collection at the Thames Museum. The exhibits are always worth a visit. Whether it be the models of famous buildings around the old town, the shops, house displays or the crockery items. Plus many more quality items.

 

When you visit, time should be taken to view the photographs available. If you have a specific area of interest, mention it to the staff who will probably be able to find something of note. Today I was looking at the World War One photographs and also viewed many relating to the early militia groups in the town. One example is of the 1910 Thames Rifles team that won the Kenny Cup.

 

The men are: Back row Private R Senior, Private Causley. Front Row Private Brownlee, Col-Sgt Amy and Private E Senior.

The No 1 Thames Rifle Group feature in many shooting competitions around 1910. And there are a number of cups mentioned,  including the Ensor Bros and Roger Cups. Color-Sergt Amy makes several mentions regarding his excellent shooting results.

The newspapers reported the 1910 shooting Kenny cup result, and in 1911wondered if anyone would be able to displace the Thames team?

Ohinemuri Gazette 2 February 1910

Ohinemuri Gazette 18 January 1911

Thames (NZ): 28th Oct 1913 (100 years ago)

A new theme looking at news and events of one hundred year ago.

Snippets from the Thames Star Tuesday 28th October 1913

Bereavement notice: from the family of Mrs Mary O'Brien

Houses for sale: Seven Roomed house, freehold for 250 Pounds

Vegetables for sale: Charles Johnson of Sandes Street (now 103), had Tomato Plants for sale

Wanted: A Smart boy to work at Hetherington's Drapery

Benefit night: Money was raised to help the treatment of Miner's Complaint, a magic performance held at the King's Theatre by Mr McEwan.

Holiday News: Miss Myrtle Trotter had returned to Waiomo after a holiday in the Thames Valley.

Baking: Edmonds were giving away a free cook book to anyone that wrote in!

 

Hotel News: The Cornwall Arms Hotel had a new publican. Mr Samuel Kahn had taken over the hotel after experience at Thames and Auckland. Phone number 98.

 

Below is a photo of the Cornwall Arms Hotel (now the Workingmen's Club, on the corner of Pollen and Cochrane Streets, Thames. This photo was just a few years before Kahn took over, c1907 when C Kasper was in charge.

Photo: Courtesy of the A T Brokenshire Collection at The Treasury

 

Thames (NZ): The Treasury & Archives 26th October 2013

It's a beautiful day in Thames, just what is needed for the new concrete entrance path at The Treasury. Remember if you are coming to Thames over the weekend, the research rooms are open on Monday.

Above: The view through the Archives from Queen Street - The School of Mines can be seen through the back window. Another attraction that is well worth a visit.

Thames (NZ): Billiard saloons

Source: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 35-R1462'

There were many billiard rooms in Thames, from the time the goldfields opened. Hotels like the Brian Boru boasted a fine, top quality, full size table. Private saloons continued on and were still in existence into the 1960s. The one on the right was George Cosgrove's 1940s-1950s, located just north of the Pollen and Walter Street intersect.

1967 Centennial Parade, the Billiard Saloon sign can be seen above the TAXI STAND sign.
This is just north of the Bank at the corner of Pollen and Sealey Streets.

The Billiard Saloon in the photo above was owned by R Hignett in the 1942-1950 Street Directories. Then the owner was Bart Willoughby in the late 1950s. Information on billiards at Thames is contained within many of the oral histories at The Treasury, including mention of representative players. Below is the 1966 Thames Billiards team, that won the 1966 George Cosgrove Cup. From the right: Fred Cornes, B Senior and C Sutcliffe. As a child, there was nothing more exciting than walking the corridor to take a sneak at the billiard tables and the games in progress.

 

More information on Thames businesses, is available at The Treasury, Thames

STOP PRESS

The Treasury is now open

MONDAY, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11am-3pm

Thames (NZ): Dead Cert Stories of Thames

A new blog on the block, that covers 'DEAD CERT' articles by Meghan Hawkes of Thames. Locals will remember Meghan's articles in the local newspaper - covering an insight into the lives of the people of the Thames-Coromandel area.

 

Ever wondered about the people behind the names? Many of the gravestones are in a terrible state, but truly remarkable and amazing stories exist of the early settlers. Meghan brings these tales together and helps us remember the past residents of The Thames.

 

The first blog is entitled: Demoniacal possessions. George Maxwell, 1879. 

A doctor mentioned in the article was Dr Payne, his photo is below.

 

Dr Payne is buried at Shortland Cemetery

Full photo available at The Treasury, along with full burial and other details

 

 

Thames (NZ): Treasury Archives 20th October 2013

All was quiet at The Treasury & Archives today, some restoration work completed on the footpath leading to the main front doors. We eagerly await the next finishing touches...

Below is a view of the rooftops from Broad Street, of the two buildings that make up The Treasury and the new Archives building.


Above: View from Broad Street. Looking across the Waiokaraka Village (old Waiokaraka School site), over Pollen Street to the Treasury (old Carnegie Library) with the Archives building to the left.
Below: Close-up of above, with the School of Mines to the back left

 

Below is a reminder of the past, from further north looking across at the Queen Street & Cochrane area. The Wesleyan Church marking the site of the present School of Mines.

Pollen Street on the left and Queen Street on the right running past the Government buildings.

Thames (NZ): Historic Karangahake

When mining started on the Ohinemuri Goldfield, many miners from Thames went south towards Paeroa, Waihi and Te Aroha - ever hopeful of the riches that gold promised. At the least they hoped for regular employment in the big mines that were established. From the late 1870s onward, many of our Thamesite families settled in these areas, while some stayed many would later return to Thames and find alternate employment.

 

Looking at the Karangahake Reserve area today - it is hard to believe that this was once a busy, bustling mining township.

Karangahake Township with Talisman Battery on the right
Photo courtesy of: L Gleeson

Details of Karangahake that appeared in the 1902 Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Auckland Edition:

Karangahake is situated on the bank of the Ohinemuri river. The main road to Waihi passes through the township. On the opposite side of the river are the batteries of the New Zealand, Talisman, Woodstock, and New Zealand Crown mines. Like Waitekauri, Waihi and Waikino, Karangahake is under the jurisdiction of the Ohinemuri County Council. A street water supply has been laid on, and the township has a public hall, two hotels, and a fair number of stores and business places. Numerous coaches run daily through the township, which is situated in a gorge formed by the Ohinemuri river, the hills on each side being close and fairly high. Karangahake is five miles from Paeroa, and four miles from Waikino.

The area is busy today with holidaymakers and tourists, who can pause and enjoy the heritage walks in the area.

Thames (NZ): Waiokaraka School 1954 plus gems

Special thanks to Lloyd for sending some photos that will be passed on to The Treasury in Thames. A reminder to all, if you have some old photos of the Thames area - please consider sharing a digital copy or taking them in so a copy can be made.

 

A great view looking at the western side of the old Waiokaraka aka Central school that was in Cochrane Street, Thames. What a grand old school it was - the area now the site of the Thames Historical Museum and the Waiokaraka Retirement Village. This photo was taken in 1954 at the time of the school's 75th anniversary. The road to the left (up the hill) is Broad Street and the houses all remain today.

 To gather an understanding of the lives of parents, grandparents and other relations, it is interesting to focus in and look at things such as dress and other themes. The men for instance are all mostly dressed in suits and the women are wearing a hat. Several other items will bring back memories to the older reader. What a fine buggy, pram the child below has. A far cry from todays pushchair models. Plenty of room to sleep and for the older child, a harness was employed to stop them falling out!!

The boy on the Tricycle, with its strong metal frame, would have been proudly riding his bike around the grounds! No need for trainer wheels here!

 

Thames (NZ): Historic Photos

The Treasury at Thames are busy cataloguing photographs that have been donated and in the future these will be accessible for viewing. In the interim there are photocopies of many items in the reading room.

 

Always keep checking back at online collections as new photos are continually coming available. An example today at the Auckland Museum collection of Edward Street and a view that looks straight at the old Kauaeranga Girls School. The school was located at the corner of Richmond and Sandes Street. Previous views posted on this blog)

Source:  Auckland War Memorial Museum

Call Number:

DU436.156 T36

Call Number:

DU436.156 T36

 

Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum

Call Number:

PH97/2 env8

Call Number:

PH97/2 env8

The above scene is from the corner of Pollen and Grey Street. The building is the Shortland Hotel, which still stands, modified now and the lower floor is a fruit shop. The publican at the time of the photo was W CANNER. He was at the hotel in the late 1910s, so the photo above could be of the 1917 Thames Jubilee Parade (1867-1917)

For reports: Thames Star 1 August 1917



Thames (NZ): Sir George Grey Collection

Sir George Grey had a strong connection with The Thames, and always took an interest in the activities on the goldfields. There is a growing collection of digitised items in the MANUSCRIPTS Collection at the Auckland Library.

 

The original Auckland City Library opened in 1880, thanks to the generosity of Sir George Grey who had the foresight to gift his diverse book collection to the people of Auckland. This collection included some 14,000 items including rare books, manuscripts and letters, which today has both national and international significance.

 

The collection has letters relating to Thames. One of interest relates to the donation of books to Sir George Grey for his collection, and the Auckland Library. In 1898, Rev S J Neill of the Manse, Thames, donated several books to the collection. One was a four volume set  called the Latin Thesaurus by Robert Stephen, which was published in 1735.

Source: Manuscript number: GLNZ N4.2
Auckland City Libraries

Many old books ended up down the mine shafts around the town, so it is pleasing to note that at least these books (among) others survived. Today the book can still be found at Auckland in the Special Collections at the Library. 

TITLE:  Roberti Stephani Thesaurus linguae latinae.

Publish info: Londini : Typis & impensis Sam. Harding ad Bibliorum & Ancorae in vico St. Martin's Lane, 1734-1735.

Sir George Grey died in 1898

Obituary Thames Star 21/09/1898

'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-18980930-1-1'

 

Thames (NZ): Treasury Archives 5th October 2013

Plenty to report today, most noticeably that the construction fence is down. The ground has been cleared and just some wood remains stacked at the south end, by the Queen Street road frontage. The final touches are being added to the inside of the building.

Above: looking from the Southern Boundary along the Treasury buildings, Queen Street, Thames



Above: From the North-east corner of The Treasury archives
Below: looking west between the buildings, connected via the glass walkway

 

Past photos available here

"Past and present"



Thames (NZ): Te Aroha's World War One Soldiers

The WW100 Project at The Treasury has begun. We have already had some generous donations of material relating to the JENKINS, MILNE and MCCALL families.

 

Updates have been made to the main WORLD WAR ONE Treasury webpage by Webmaster Kae. There are still a few men to identify so please contact the site direct, if you can help.

 

The area currently being researched for WWI involvement, stretches to the south - TE AROHA. Over the years the mining activities in the area have kept the bonds strong between areas such as Coromandel, Te Aroha, Thames and Waihi. For instance many Thames families have strong links to Te Aroha, mining families that moved from the goldfields to mine or farm around Te Aroha.



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A new blog has been launched by Andrea, that features the men from the Te Aroha area who fought in World War One. Called TE AROHA - GENEALOGY & HISTORY. Other information will be added over the next months. There are for instance some births for the area.

 

Check the blog and see if any of your Thames relatives or their descendants are included, One of my relatives is on the list - My Great Grandfather Alfred's nephew:

WILLIAM CLEMENT AUGUSTUS CORNES

William Cornes was the son of William John and Charlotte Cornes, of Muirs Reefs, Te Puke, Auckland. Native of Te Aroha, Thames

Click here for: Cenotaph Record

 

Thames (NZ): Treasury Archives update

All was quiet outside The Treasury and Archives today, as final touches and painting are being undertaken within the building. The view below is of the North-East corner of the new building.

 For past photos click here