Thursday, June 28, 2018

Thames (NZ): Long Drive Claim part Two

Following on from yesterday's post about the Long Drive Claim, a even older photo has emerged at Auckland Libraries in their Sir George Grey Collection. First though, some doubt was raised by some readers regarding the location of the photo in that post...was it further up towards the Shotover Claim, rather than the Long Drive Claim. WE can but take the information provided

The latest photo is by R H Bartlett, and is of the Long Drive Claim area August 1867!
The caption reads: 
"Camp at Long Drive, showing the mouth of the Kuranui Creek (centre), the path from Thames (Shortland) (left) along Kuranui Bay (left), the bluff leading up to Pukehinau Ridge (right), and Tararu Flat (left centre, distance). Hunt's claim is approximately 150 metres to the right of the camp."
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 589-317
***A high resolution scan sent by an interested researcher, shows a group of diggers centre right, under the trees** 
(Thanks Dick W for the info).

Another view of the area is available in an 1872 photograph.

Below the location of the Long Drive Claim, south of the Kuranui Creek.

The view today via Google Maps 2013.