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.

Thames (NZ):What can archaeology teach us about the history of Thames?

What archaeology reports or books have you read related to Thames?
Did you know they even existed?
To make it easier, there is a website that will make it easier to access and read this information.

The Heritage New Zealand newsletter featured news on the revamped Archaeological Reports Digital Library: 

"The digital library contains over 7500 reports dating from the 1950s until today, with more reports being added all the time.

This is one of the most important sources of archaeological information about places in the country, and a huge repository of information that will be of interest to many people including researchers, landowners, legislators, iwi, archaeologists, local authorities – and those interested in learning more about our amazing archaeological heritage. Images of kōiwi have been redacted from the reports.

The revamp of the library has made it more accessible, speedy, modern, and user-friendly. Users can now download the reports instead of emailing to request the reports they wanted.
The online library will be available to anybody who has access to the internet around New Zealand and the world, with the information available 24/7."

What's  available?

1. Visit the online Archaeological Reports Digital Library 

2. Browse or search different categories. Using the Term THAMES found over 440 results.

This can be further refined to Thames-Coromandel to reduce the number of reports related to other districts.

3. Click on reports of interest, and you are taken to a page where you can download the report.

The one below is for "Cook Landmarks at 'The Thames' (New Zealand), November 1769" by David Wilton.

Maybe you are interested in mining sites, then Neville Ritchie's report: A Survey of historic mining Sites in the Thames and Ohinemuri areas of the Hauraki Goldfield: Section 1 is worth a read.

What about learning about the midden site at the Tararu Cemetery? Read Tararu Cemetery: Final Report on Archaeological Monitoring at T12/942 and T12/1375 by Beatrice Hudson.

There is an interesting one on historic sites Tapu to Thornton Bay:

Tapu-Thorntons Bay Site Survey West Coast Thames 

Identifier:	Diamond2
Title:	Tapu-Thorntons Bay Site Survey West Coast Thames
Author(s):	Diamond, Larryn
Year Published:	1976

Western end of Sealey Street, Thames

Many of the reports have been prepared by Dr Caroline Phillips, well known for the work done monitoring sites at Thames Hospital when the new wings were constructed. One in the list relates to the earthworks done at the western end of Sealey Street. Maybe you remember the talk of a possible burial ground.

Read: Supplementary Report : Sealey Street Burials, Thames : burial Site T12/1091 by Dr Caroline Phillips. There are several other reports relating to the Sealey Street area.

Whats available via the New Zealand Archaeological Association site?

This is another site you can gain information on Thames, a search reveals several articles that can be downloaded, also I have found others can be requested via the contacts given.

One that makes excellent reading is:

Nineteenth-century European cemeteries in Thames By Dr N Twohill, and it can be downloaded.

ABOVE: Shortland Cemetery 1870s, from Dr Twohill's report.

Its hard to even imagine this scene, given the overgrown trees that exist on the hill today.

Closing Comments:

Which ever site you use, explore the papers/reports on offer and learn more about the archaeology of the Thames District.

Background Reading:

Dr Caroline Phillips - Waihou Journeys (2001)

Thames (NZ): Have you seen your Thamesite's signature?

Do you love to find new snippets on your ancestors who lived in Thames pre 1900?
Do you look for information? Photographs? Special mentions?
Well, do you know what your Thamesite's signature/s looked like?

I have seen a few signatures of my female line, on documents relating to the suffrage petitions, The signatures allow you to stop and imagine the circumstances surrounding the event.

Now thanks to the Kura Heritage Collection at Auckland Library you can see the signatures of possibly hundreds of Thamesites.

The resource in question is:
Addresses to Sir George Grey, K.C.B. on his seventy-fourth birthday. (Cover photo on right) 

Details given are: Addresses presented to Sir George Grey K C B by the European and Maori residents in the Provincial District of Auckland on his seventy-fourth birthday, 14 April 1886. Consists mainly of autograph signatures to the illuminated addresses. Illustrated by James Slator
Produced by Wilson and Horton, Auckland.

Creative Commons Attribution: CC BY

 

Pages from the book.

The good news is that you can search for the surname you are after, or you can merely browse and read each page. There are 307 pages in total. The bonus is that each person signs their name and also the date of their arrival in New Zealand. Tangata whenua and women also sign the book. The term native NZ includes those who were born in New Zealand of European parents.

Names from Kiri Kiri Hauraki on page 299.

Signatures of Priscilla Williams, Mary Paull, C T Quinn, and Annie Curtis. Page 158.

If you are unsure of the signature, each page has been transcribed. 

Well known Thames names on page 158 include:

 

James Adams, First Headmaster at Thames High School.

 

Colonel William Fraser, Mayor of Thames 1882-87.

Why am I interested in page 158? 

Well this is where I found my Great, Great Grandfather's signature - Clement Augustus Cornes. In the crop below, at the top of the left column is C A Cornes, he arrived in New Zealand in 1862.

Search or Browse and see if you can find your Thamesites in the book presented to Sir George Grey in 1886.

Part of Page 8, introduction dated 14 April 1886.

Summary:

In total there are 12, 919 Signatures.

European 12,780; Maori 106; and Committee 33.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE 7 July 2019

Special thanks to Helen at Auckland Libraries for information on how to just search the Sir George Grey Manuscript - GNZMS 275:

To search GNZMS 275 only:

- Go to Advanced Search

- Under Enter Search Term, type into the search box the image title with a wildcard asterix * after the item number, e.g. GNZMS_275*

- Then Add Row

- Type the name you want to search for in the search box. (sample below)

- Click on Search (sample result below)

Thames (NZ): Transportation - Getting around the Thames pre 1867

Description: View of the harbour and area from Mechanics Bay
to Smales Point. Printed by E Clark and Company (London). Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-623

Introduction:

The following blog, highlights the modes of transport around the River Thames pre 1867. The names of key ships are noted, as they were the prime means of 'getting around' for the settlers and visitors to the shores. The principal destination for settlers was back and forth to Auckland

Tangata Whenua travelled by foot and waka. They also played a vital role guiding the settlers to different districts over tracks they had identified. It was not long before surveyors were employed as the country was colonised, and land ownership became a priority for the new arrivals.

VISITORS & SETTLERS pre 1840

In Caroline Phillips' Waihou Journeys, the archaeology of 400 years of Maori settlements on the lower Waihou River is explored in depth.  It includes an interesting table (page 81) that summarises the European visitors and residents 1769 to 1850. Visitors famous and not so famous who came to the settlements that were scattered along the river. Captain Cook via the Endeavour in 1769; the Fancy 1794, the Hunter 1798 and 1799, the El Plumier and Royal Admiral in 1801 and Samuel Marsden on the Coromandel in 1820. The names of traders, settlers and others are given along with the purpose of their visit and the length of stay.

This 1848 sketch shows a kāinga (village) at Ōpita, Thames. Historically a kāinga would comprise a number of whānau groups. https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/30136/kainga

When the Admiral visited in 1801 they spent eight weeks in the Firth of Thames - during this time James Wilson produced a chart of the area. This and other early sketch charts / maps, were the forerunner to more detailed survey maps, that marked tracks and landmarks and in turn greatly aided movement around the district.

Part of Wilson's 1801 Chart of the River Thames - full copy details:
Ref: MapColl-832.15aj/1801/Acc.538. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22783019

TRAVEL 1840 to 1867

A variety of reports and advertisements in the newspapers provide an insight into the methods of transport and the ease of getting around the greater Thames area.

Boats were sailing around New Zealand with passengers and cargo pre 1850. For instance in November 1849, Mr Nicholas went from the River Thames to Auckland aboard the Alexander. A few of the other early commercial ships mentioned were: the Bon Accord, Charles, Forager, Mary and Piako Lass.

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS,  21 APRIL 1857

1850s: Land travel was possible over a limited number of 'tracks' but still required forcing through thick bush at times, and was best done with locals as guides. The Plains and River Thames was crossed on a trek from Auckland to Tauranga.

1854: the Gulf of Thames was described as being a commercial world in miniature. On a good day accessible by sea from Auckland by canoe or open boat. The rivers 'The Thames' and 'The Piako' "navigable for barges or steamers for a distance 50 miles at least." NEW ZEALANDER, 27 SEPTEMBER 1854

Local Iwi travelled around the country as required, in 1863 more than 300 Thames Maori were reported to have travelled to Wairoa, during the unsettled years of the 'Land Wars.' By foot and / or by waka, distance was not a problem. During the Land Wars, soldiers also travelled by boat around the Firth of Thames.

So far horses have not been mentioned, but they were around the greater Thames Valley, particularly at the large estates that were owned by men such as Mr McCaskill  (he had settled at Hikutaia in 1839).

   

Mr MCCASKILL's Estate was being sold with one horse.

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, VOLUME XI, ISSUE 756, 26 SEPTEMBER 1854

To conclude, early transport involved walking, use of waka / canoes and private boats; and an increasing numbers of commercial boats. Horses were mainly used on farms, and increasingly in the sport of racing!

Coming next: Transport to / on the Goldfield post 1867.

Background Reading:

• Anne Stewart Ball has researched Coastal Shipping Tairua 1840 - December 1865
• Te Ara - Hauraki - Coromandel 1769 to 1840
• Downie, James, 1819-1822: A sketch of the River Thames in New Zealand; showing the coast explored in HMS Coromandel by J Downie [copy of ms map]. [1820]. Ref: MapColl-832.15aj/[1820]/Acc.1159. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23076823

Description: A drawing looking south across the Auckland Harbour showing the race of the Maori war canoes during the Auckland Anniversary Regatta of January 1862 with the flagships H M S Miranda left and the H M S Fawn right of centre, taken from 'Views in the Province of Auckland New Zealand' by F R Stack

                  Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 863-RB586

Thames (NZ): 150th Commemorative Sculpture Update - Te Tau Kōtare

On 12 March 2018, the statue to commemorate the Thames' 150, was placed on a site just south of the Kauaeranga Bridge, on the west side of the Ngati Maru Highway, just past Rhodes Park (and the WWI Commemorative Forest). (Full story on previous blog) 

A plaque has now been placed adjacent to the footpath that explains the details and meaning of the sculpture. (photo left)

The sculpture is called Te Tau Kōtare - The Sentinel.

The inscription reads: "Created in 2018 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Thames goldfields, this sculpture combines contrasting motifs: past and present, male and female, exotic and native, industrial and natural. But it tells one overarching story - of people coming together and making our land what it is today." (continued below)

PLAQUE for Te Tau Kōtare - The Sentinel

Located south-west of the Kauaeranga Bridge.

Transcription of plaque continued from above:

"Exotic and native timbers represent two cultures and reflect the region's logging history.

The crossed taiaha and pick reflect the mana (prestige) of Ngāti Maru who made local land available for infrastructure and goldfields.

The bounty of land and sea are both showcased in the sculpture's base, carved from local basalt in the shape of a black mussel.

The Pinnacles of the Coromandel mountain range.

Metal tools used by the industrious pioneers, men and women who helped shape Thames.

The kowhaiwhai pattern represents the spiritual (black) and earthly (red) existence of the people."

See plaque above for the 'pointers' to the sculpture diagram to aid identification

Thames (NZ): Ureia - the Taniwha

Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10862/ureia

In the latest Heritage Magazine (Issue 151 Summer 2018 ), is an article by Kennedy Warne entitled "The Taniwha's backscratcher".

The Taniwha in the article is Ureia - the Hauraki's Taniwha. Stories about Ureia abound, including the story that the taniwha escorted the Tainui waka when it arrived and anchored at Te Anaputu, a rocky outcrop north of Tararu, Thames Coast.

On the right is "This carving of the taniwha Ureia is in the Hotonui meeting house, formerly at Thames but now in the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Ureia was a powerful taniwha living at Tīkapa (Firth of Thames). The taniwha is in the marakihau style – with a serpent-like body and hollow tongue."

The 'new' Kopu Bridge also includes an etching of the taniwha Ureia on the piles. The essence of a taniwha is explained in Warne's article and explained that taniwha's can be seen as 'kaitiaki' "a deep concept that is approximated by ideas of guardianship and stewardship of the natural world.

BACKGROUND
Death of Ureia. Newspaper article 1927 and another in 1931.

Te Anaputa-o-Tainui. The name today is Tainui Cove, 6km north of Thames. It remained a place of shelter for centuries, but has mostly been destroyed following the goldmining and widening of the road. Further reading page 151-152 Te Takoto o te Whenua o Hauraki  by T Turoa and Te A C Royal.

Description of Ureia. The above book also has an appendix on Hauraki Taniwha and Tupua. Said to be a giant reptile that was said to be lured away from the Waikato River by a Hauraki tribe. At the entrance of the Hauraki Gulf, Ureia assumed the shape of a dolphin and guided the Tainui canoe and people to safety. Famed for his deeds, the Hauraki tribe are said to have become the envy of their neighbours, which later contributed to the 'death' of the legendary taniwha.

George Grahams translation regarding taniwha including Ureia. (Te reo with English translations)

A descriptive board at the east end of the Kopu Bridge features information on the Taniwha known as Ureia.

Thames (NZ): Korowai Display Thames Hospital

At 10am today, Tuesday 30 October 2018, a spectacular new display was added to the taonga that line the ground floor corridor at Thames Hospital Te Whare Hauora o te Kauaeranga. 

Weavers and supporters gathered, while the blessing was performed by Ngāti Maru Kaumatua Wati Ngamane. The five framed, miniature Korowai were then unveiled. (photo right) 

The next person to speak was Korowai Weaver and teacher Maata McManus QSM. Maata had been asked by Jacquie Mitchell (Thames Hospital Service Manager) to see if it was possible to provide a Korowai for the Thames Hospital 150. The result was that this incredible teacher of Korowai, gathered cloaks from women from Thames and wider district. One of them by Susan King (Kaitiaki at Thames Hospital) (Other names to follow)

Maata McManus standing left of the Korowai, and Wati Ngamane at the right end.

During proceedings Mrs McManus revealed that it was a very special time for her, as just the day before she was in Wellington and had received the great honour of being awarded a Commonwealth Point of Light Award for her inspirational work teaching the traditional art of Korowai.
"Maata McManus, representing New Zealand, is a pioneering health worker who is using the ancient Maori art of weaving traditional feathered cloaks to reach local women in need of care and support." UK Prime Ministers Office.
The women recalled that they had made many cloaks since the being taught the art of cloak making by Maata. The feathers came from several species of birds including pheasant.

Two of the Korowai in the new collection.
The photographs above of the Korowai weavers and their supporters.

Thames (NZ): Thames Hospital unveils carving - 'Te Tirohanga'

The carving ready to be unveiled,
foyer Thames Hospital

Thames Hospital was established 150 years ago, today at the hospital, the unveiling of a carving recognised the relationship between local iwi and the hospital.

The carving was blessed and unveiled at 9am, 2 October 2018. Present were local iwi led by Kaumatua Wati Ngamane and Dr Korohere Ngapo.

The carving is named 'Te Tirohanga' and is the work of local carvers.

 

Top left: The blessing begins. Top right: The carving is unveiled.
Above: There ceremony continues in the foyer of Thames Hospital.

Master carver Darin Jenkins, gave a full description of the carving, which has been done using locally sourced kauri.

In the centre are photographs of the Thames Hospital c1900, that give the impression of having been etched into the wood.

A full description of the carving is available online.
"Master carver Darin Jenkins created the piece, together with several other carvers.
He said the Pare-Lintel wall furnishing, which hangs in the hospital's main entrance, represented the coming together of two peoples for the benefit, health and wellbeing off all.

This relationship is shown in the piece by the acknowledgement of each other by the hongi, the pressing together of noses enabling the merging of "Hā ora" the breath of life, the life essence, as expressed in the saying "Tīhei mauri ora".

"The beauty of this uniting concept is reinforced by native Huia and introduced pheasant birds on either side representing the gift of trust between peoples."  Between the central photo and bird figure are spiral patterns known as takarangi representing hononga joining – unity in the realm of enlightenment, Te Ao Marama, the world of light." Source: Stuff.co.nz

ABOVE: Full view of the carving  'Te Tirohanga'.

BELOW: Closer look at the central carving of the Maori Chief and the Nurse,

  

ABOVE: Closer look left at the central photos of the hospital that have been incorporated into the carving, And right the kiwi and query huia combined to represent the native birds of Aortearoa.

Thames (NZ): 150 Years Commemorative Sculpture erected near Kauaeranga Bridge

Back on August 1 2017, there was talk of a sculpture to be erected to represent the opening of the goldfield and the partnership that developed between local Iwi and the new settlers.

On 12 March 2018, the completed statue was placed on a site just south of the Kauaeranga Bridge, on the west side of the Ngati Maru Highway, just past Rhodes Park (and the WWI Commemorative Forest). At dawn, a blessing was performed by local Iwi Ngati Maru and  on Wednesday 14th the public dedication was held.

The 150th Commemorative Sculpture. While it is initially hard to even spot, as it blends against the trees behind it. Maybe this is not a bad thing and depicts a blending of the cultures and the merging of peoples on the goldfield. When you get closer to the sculpture, the detail and colours are very distinct.

A full report appeared in today's Hauraki Herald and is reprinted on Stuff.co.nz. Snippets below:

"A new sculpture at the Kauaeranga River bridge near Rhodes Park celebrates the cultures and history of Thames. The Thames southern gateway sculpture marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Thames goldfields.

Master carver Darin Jenkins created the sculpture, which is embellished with Maori and Celtic design and large cogs and gears made from the A&G Price foundry. He was helped by Jason Tanna, Jackson Jenkins and Tyla Hart.

The piece shows two stylised figures embracing, standing on a rounded piece of stone that resembles a mussel shell. The base was carved from Katikati basalt by Tapu stone sculptor Jocelyn Pratt, and the metal work was completed by Thames artist John McKeowen.

The sculpture represents the region's past, present and future, merging the cultures, industry and history of the area. Thames Community Board commissioned local iwi Ngati Maru to complete the piece with $50,000 the board had put aside to recognise the town's 150th."

A selection of photographs, showing the statue from various angles follows.

 

The Statue sits on a piece of basalt from Katikati (by Jocelyn Pratt) and resembles a mussel shell.

The iron work is from cogs and gears from A & G Price (by John McKeowen).

The carvings were overseen by Master Carver Darin Jenkins, and is of two figures embracing.

 

ABOVE: Each aspect of the statue reveals a new interpretation, and shows different detail of carving, ironwork and stone work. 

 BELOW: A closer look  at the 2nd 'face' that is angled to the north-east and closest to the Kauaeranga River.

 

A view looking from the back of the new carving/statue towards Totara.