An exhibition not to be missed is being held at the Bella Street Pumphouse during August.

A photographic Survey that was carried out during 1973-75 of Thames and Townspeople by John Fields. A few of these photographs are available online at different museums.

Saturday 5 August to 6 October 2017

Sat Sun Mon Wed Fri 11am to 5pm

Tues Thurs 4 to 7pm

Admission $10

Thames (NZ): Karaka (Una) Hill 150 years Then & Now

Not many sleeps now until the 150th Commemoration of the Thames Goldfield. The landscape changed overnight as miners hunted for gold. The land cleared for mining, but every bit of timber was also needed for housing. Boats were kept busy bringing supplies from Auckland and beyond.

 Then & Now: The Una Hill from Mining Days to Present Day

Many claims were dotted over both sides of the Karaka (Una) Hill, with important batteries such as Bull's, which was located not far from the house in the 2017 photograph above.
Below are some maps showing the claims in the area. The first from the 1868 Mining Illustrated Map, and the lower from Downey's book on the Thames Goldfields.

Thames (NZ): New Fire Truck 1912

Well, every once and awhile it pays to keep researching past sites. A new photo I had missed is on the Auckland Libraries website from their Sir George Grey Collection.

The caption reads: "A MOTOR FIRE ENGINE FOR THE THAMES. Last week the Wakatere shipped a motor fire engine for the Thames Brigade. The motor driven engines are replacing the horse-drawn vehicles in nearly all the up-to-date brigades in the country, and, in fact, they have entirely ousted the horse in Auckland city."

Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19120724-23-2

On the 19th July 1912, a large gathering assembled at the Thames Central Fire Station to celebrate the inauguration of the new motor reel service. The chassis had been imported from England and fitted out by Dexter and Crozier in Auckland. Money had been principally raised by members of the public, the cost of the machine was 518 Pounds and 19 shillings.

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UPDATE 1 April 2018
If you read the comments below, you will see that I was alerted to the fact that the old fire truck still exists and has been adapted back into a tourer. The following image comings from the Palmerston North Boys High School website - please respect the possible copyright requirements of the photo.

Thames' old 1912 Fire Truck now restored.

Source: http://www.pnbhs.school.nz/old-boys/obituaries/

Thames (NZ): New booklet "Then & Now: 150 Years at the Thames"

A new booklet, instead of written snippets, this one shows Thames through the eyes of our ancestors. Then and Now views around the town.

• THEN & NOW: 150 Years at the Thames

A5 size, 40 pages, ALL photos. Published June 2017, covering then and now photographs of Grahamstown, Shortland Town and The Thames. A simple setup of mostly three photos a page that compare how the town has changed from 1867 to 2017. ISBN 978-0-473-40093-4

Thames (NZ): Hotels of Thames booklet

A booklet on Thames Hotels is now available.
HOTELS OF THAMES: The A to Z of Hotels on the Thames Goldfield.
In the usual format used for Streets of Thames and Schools of Thames.
Name of Hotel, location, time period open, names of publicans and a few snippets of history.

Thames (NZ): WWI ROH Commemorations June 1917-2017

The Battle of Messines had begun one hundred years ago. Between 7 June - 9 June 1917, the New Zealand casualties were 3700, 700 of these were fatal.

These are the Thames WWI soldiers (so far identified) who lost their lives in June 1917.

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GLESSING John Polton Hicks; 31990; Pte 2nd Batt AIR

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCKEE Arthur Barry; 32040; Private 2nd Batt AIR

4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PORTER  John Valentine; 12/1769; Private 2nd Batt AIR

6/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; ENSOR Charles Hedley; 17853A; Rfn 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; COX Robert James; 25/740; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; FINDLAY Thomas; 3263; Private 45th Batt AIF

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GRIFFIN Joseph; 4/901; Acting Sergeant NZE No 3 Coy

7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; LOGAN John Stuart; 2423; Private 36th Batt AIF

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCONIE Colin; 26661; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; TREWHEELA Joseph; 8/1881; Corporal 2nd Batt OIR

8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PAUL James Coutts; 23760; L/Corporal  2nd Batt WIR

8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WHITEHOUSE Cyril Hale; 12/3193; Private 1st Batt AIR

9/06/1917 In the Field, France; BUTTERWORTH Henry B; 30739; Private 1st Batt AIR

9/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; NICOLAI William; 39670; Private 3rd Batt  AIR 3rd Coy

10/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WILTSHIRE Frank William; 12687; Sapper Div Sig Coy

14/06/1917 England; CORIN William Bennett; 2524; Private AIF 45th Batt

14/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MOLLER Gilbert Victor; 13/2857; Gnr 1st Batt 1st NZRB

25/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; TORRENS Walter Edward; 1458; Private AIF 33rd Batt

Lest We Forget

Thames (NZ): Postcard from a Waikino visitor.

This is the story of 'Gertie' from Waikino, who came to Thames for a holiday in 1903. The postcard features the Thames Band Rotunda at Victoria Park, with the Grahamstown Railway Station in the distance.
Poor Gertie wrote to her friend (Mrs W Reid) that she thought she might stay at the Thames, as she dreaded returning home "to the bush & that miserable home on the hill" at Waikino.

Closer look at the path and women, standing on the path leading to the Grahamstown Railway Station.

Thames (NZ): TCDC WW100 Messines Forest axed!

WW100 MESSINES FOREST  AT THAMES 'CANCELLED'

If you were like me and wondering when the planting of the Messines Forest was happening in Thames - well the answer from TCDC today is that it isn't. Lack of funds has meant it is on hold for the foreseeable future.

So the Great WW100 Memorial Forest Project has ground to a holt.

Below is the sign that has been at the Thames Peace WWI Memorial for the last two years - marking the intended 'Messines Forest.'

 
Left: The 'Messines Forest' sign by the Albert Street Walkway to the Monument. Right: the signage leading to the Peace Memorial.
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN OCTOBER 2015

Thames (NZ): View from Zion Hill to Grahamstown

Always a surprise to find something new in a photo, this one taken overlooking the hospital towards Grahamstown is no exception. For the first time I have noticed the reference from "Zion Hill".

Searching at Paperspast, I can see no reference to the name or can't recall seeing it on any local papers. Did the photographer name it such because it overlooked the St George's Church? Was it a name that all locals of the time knew? Maybe you know the answer?

 
Below are some of the landmarks that can be seen in the photograph.
1. Post Office Hotel     2. St George's Church     3. Corner Mary and Mary Street
4. Foy's Boarding House     5. Thames Hospital, Baillie Street     6. Thames High School
7. Medical Superintendent's House     8. Bella and Pahau Street intersect    9. St James Church
10. Junction Hotel     11. Burke Street Wharf

Thames (NZ): COMER FAMILY BOOK LAUNCH

Exciting news of a Family history book that is being launched in time for the start of the Thames Goldfield 150th Commemorations.

TITLE: The Comer Family: A family with a Heart of Gold

Authors: Jennifer A Comer & Sharleen M Comer

WHEN: 5 August 10am to 3pm

WHERE: Thames School of Mines

Free Admission

"As part of the Thames 150th Anniversary Celebrations we decided to write a book on our family history. Sharleen and Jennifer are descendants of two brothers Robert and George Comer who came to The Thames & its goldfields for a better life for them and their families. This book and their stories as told by Sharleen and Jennifer."

Source:  https://www.facebook.com/The-New-Zealand-COMER-Family-Page-284085195076095/