Thames (NZ): Queen's Birthday honour to Mrs Louisa Humphry of Thames

 A Thames name on the list of honours released today.

"To be an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

HUMPHRY, Mrs Louisa

For services to the Kiribati community and culture

Mrs Louisa Humphry helped set up a Kiribati community group in Auckland to ensure a support network and was part of the group who established some of the first Kiribati Independence celebrations and the body now recognised as the New Zealand Kiribati National Council.

In the 1970s Mrs Humphry was a key advocate for Kiribati’s presence in Auckland Pacifica festivals. She has been involved with the wider art community to preserve and share weaving practices to maintain Kiribati traditions. As an artist herself, she has exhibited throughout New Zealand and abroad, and has passed on her knowledge through workshops. She has exhibited with the Pacific Collections Access Project at Auckland War Memorial Museum, Artists of Pacific Heritage in Auckland (2012) at Auckland Art Gallery, the ninth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane in 2018, and ‘Names Held in our Mouths’ (2019) at Te Uru Waitākere Gallery. She helped support immigrant workers in the agricultural industry, ensuring they had adequate clothing and food on arrival and helping with translation. She continues to translate in New Zealand Courts and District Health Boards. She was a member of the group who established the first Pacific health clinic in Hamilton, K’aute Pasifika Trust. Mrs Humphry managed the combined Christian food bank from 2004 to 2019."

Source: https://dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/qb2021-mnzm#humphrylo accessed 6 June 2021

Mrs Louisa Humphry

Article and photo in The Valley Profile

A list of past recipients of awards is available - CLICK HERE

Thames (NZ): Memorial Service for Private Ngapo (c1892-1921) at Shortland cemetery

At a  chance visit to the Thames Museum today, I learnt about a special commemoration service that was being held at Shortland Cemetery today. On arrival at the cemetery, it soon became clear the mana and importance of the event.

Local iwi, kaumatua and dignitaries, gathered to welcome descendants of Robert Ngapa, along with members / leaders of the Cook Island community.

Great War Soldier Robert Ngapo Serial Number 16/1227, was working as a cook in Auckland when he enlisted 20 October 1915. He was born in the Cook Islands and gave his next of kin as: Mr Kapatian, Tauta, Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Ngapo served in the 3rd Maori contingent, they left New Zealand 4 February 1916. Bob, who signed his name only as Ngapo on enlistment, served overseas until 28 January 1919 - in total 3 years 139 days war service home and abroad.

Private Ngapo was transferred to the Rarotongan Company, and also served in Arras (France) as part of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company. He was Wounded in Action 10 June 1917, then during May-June 1918 was hospitalised in Egypt several times with bronchitis.

Private Bob Ngapo died of pneumonia 28 October 1921 at Thames Hospital. Ngapo is interred at Shortland Cemetery Thames, Plot 2958, at the southern end of the extension adjacent to Danby Street.

 

Thames Star Newspaper, 29 October 1921

Photos of the Memorial Service: 5 April 2021

 

Hon. Scott Simpson MP, with Her Majesty Queen Pa Upokotini Tepaeru Marie Ariki and 

Cook Islands Consul General Mr Keutekarakia Mataroa.

Source: Scott Simpson Facebook page

~~ Lest We Forget ~~

Thames (NZ): Big Pump area views

     Still thinking about the previous post and changes that took place on the land north of Coromandel Street.  Here a a selection of views that give us a timeline from the photograph that was found at Webb's auction site.

Grahamstown - Big Pump centre left.

1902 View

1902 View towards Big Pump

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19020227-10-1

1905 View 

1905 View towards Big Pump

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19050119-2-2

During the 1890s, 1900s the land was cleared of  old buildings - hotels, residences and mining related.

Lets take a look back to the 1870s and remember the 'glory days'. 

 

1870s Moanataiari - Kuranui, Grahamstown

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19170802-35-1

Below the Moanataiari area 2020

Thames (NZ): View to Grahamstown revisited

 Looking for 'new' old photographs of Thames?

Have you checked the auction catalogues?

This week we got a tip off that there was an old Thames photo for sale in a Webb's upcoming auction. (photo below)

You will have seen this view before,  the photograph captures early mining activity along the Kuranui - Moanataiari - Grahamstown foreshore.

 

In the first few years after the goldfields opened 1 August 1867, residences were built to accommodate the influx of miners and their families. 

What amazes me most about the two photos above is the reality that when the population left and the golden dreams subsides, houses literally disappeared.

 

Did you spot the little house in the foreground? I wonder who the occupants were, and what they thought of the changing landscape.

Keep looking at the auction sites and we may discover more photographs of early Thames.

Thames (NZ): New Website to help with Thames searches

 I keep apologising for not getting cracking on posts, I promise I will soon get back into the swing of things! In the meantime...

NEED HELP FINDING INFORMATION? 

Go and visit Diane Wilson's new website!

I was lucky enough to be on Diane's teams many years ago. With great efficiency, Diane organised groups of people throughout New Zealand to index records. Electoral Rolls, Marriages, Burials, the list went on and on. Now thanks to Diane's generosity the enormous database is available online for free.

Scroll down the home page until you reach the search area, enter surnames and see what information is available.

EXAMPLE

I searched for my mother's Marriage - and the results give spouse and year (1949).

YOUR TURN!

Search Diane's Wilson Collection and see if you can find some helpful hints.

Best of all - FOR FREE!!!

Thames (NZ): Dunnage Postcard of Kuranui Bay

 Its no secret that I love Dunnage postcards! The postcards published by Mr Dunnage, stationer / bookseller of Thames during the 1913-1920s capture a period overlooked by many other photographers.

Background:

DUNNAGE's VARIETY DEPOT: Pollen Street, Established 1913 and continued through to 1925, when W H Richardson took over the business. While a seller of books, Dunnage appears to have specialised in Stationery plus other variety items.

Dunnage Postcard No 36

The card is labelled as Tararu, Thames - the view is of Kuranui Bay. Interesting to note that Auckland Libraries Sir George Grey Collection make mention that it can be called Mission Bay.

Looking south along the Thames coastal road at Kuranui Bay (Mission Bay), near Tararu.
Showing houses and a hotel.
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 35-R1443

Ironically I was on this very beach today! The land has been reclaimed where the Kuranui Reserve stretches out from the point back to the reclaimed land of the Moanataiari subdivision.

Google Maps view of Kuranui Bay, Thames 2020

I am awaiting a higher resolution copy from Auckland Libraries, so that we can explore the houses and locate the hotel mentioned in the caption! I assume it is the two storied building left of centre and opposite the net drying area.

Interestingly, a search for 'Mission Bay' references in the Thames newspapers draws a blank - the only ones relating to Mission Bay in Auckland.

My Great, great, great grandmother Susan Timmins lived on these hills and herded goats in the early 1870s. Here are a few other early photos of the Kuranui Bay area.

Source: Thames Diamond Jubilee Book 1927

1877 Tararu Road Thames - view of south end of Kuranui Bay, Tararu.

Thames (NZ): Te Apuranginui Urupā

 While visiting the Thames Small Gauge Railway, I noticed a beautiful old photo of the Thames School of Mines, on an information board.

The heritage sign in the carpark opposite the west end of Cochrane Street.

The text reads:

"This photo from 1900 shows, from left to right, the Mineralogical Museum, the Battery Room and the classroom buildings of the Thames School of Mines.

The site is a Māori urupā(burial site) part of which was gifted to the Wesleyan Church in 1868.  In 1886, the School of Mines bought the land and the 1869 Sunday School building.  Over time they added the buildings shown here.  Two additions after 1900 created the complex you see today."

The description is interesting considering the uproar that was caused when the Church sold the land to the School of Mines, considering the courtcase/s to try and stop the sale and return the land to the tangata whenua.

Te Apuranginui Urupā

On the Thames Thames School of Mine website the background to the name of the land is given. 

Chief Te Apurangi's descendants lie in the sacred urupā.  Te Apurangi was a most respected chief, and is represented in a carving in the House of Hotunui which is now housed in the Auckland war Memorial Museum.

Tarakonaiti Urupa

In a report written by John McEnteer and Taimoana Turoa in 1993 (Nga Taonga O Te Kauaeranga Maori Heritage of Thames) the name of the site is given as: Tarakonaiti Urupa. A summary of the points given in the report are:

• The Urupa was located at the corner of Cochrane and Brown Streets.
• The Urupa was the burial ground for the Tarakonaiti Pa.
• The nearby roads and several houses, as well as the School of Mines are located on the Urupa.
• The area covers blocks Te Kauaeranga 12A and 13A.
• The land was surveyed in 1868 and no roads were to be laid in the area.
• The land was gifted by the Maori landowners to the Wesleyan Church, for that purpose.
• In 1877 the church tried to sell the land to the Auckland Education Board.
• Hohepa Paraone and Hone Te Huiraukura petitioned Parliament to try and stop the sale.
• The petition was unsuccessful and after ten years of legislation the land was officially sold in 1886 for the purpose of the Thames School of Mines.

There are multiple reports regarding the 'land sale' that can be found online. Here is but one of the justifications reported for the sale:

Report on Petition of Hohepa Paraone and Another.

Petitioners, who are Natives of the Thames District, state they conveyed a piece of land at the Thames to the Wesleyan body, as they understood, for religious purposes only, but that they learn now with deep regret that it is proposed to sell it to the Education Board in Auckland, and they pray for such relief as may insure that the land in question shall be devoted to the purpose originally intended.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That, while the Committee have some reason to think that the proposed sale or transfer of the land in question is not in accordance with the intention under which it was originally given, the Committee do not feel able to recommend any course to the House which would have the effect of depriving the trustees of legal rights which are not denied by the petitioners.

 E whakaaro ana ano te Komiti he tika kahore i whakaritea kia taea te hoko te tuku ke atu ranei taua wahi i runga i nga whakaritenga i te tukunga o taua wahi i te tuatahi. Engari e mea ana te Komiti e kore e taea e ratou te mahi he tikanga ma te Whare e kore ai e taea e nga kai-tiaki te mahi i nga tikanga kua hoatu kia ratou e te ture kaore nei i te whaka hengia e nga kai inoi.

John Bryce,

Chairman.

30th October, 1877.

Source: REPORTS OF THE NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, 1877.