Thames (NZ): 1930s Thames - a new book

Yet another booklet!!! This time the focus is on the Depression years of the 1930s at Thames.

Title: 1930s THAMES: The Goldfield town revisited

By Althea Barker

An A4 booklet, black and white print, 68 pages, ISBN 978-0-473-41067-4, published Nov 2017.
An overview of the town during the 1930s. Contents include: Businesses, Churches, Depression, Directories (street and telephone), Floods, Hospitals, Hotels, Lost Pioneers, Mining National and world news, occupations, parades, schools, shipping, sports, Trains and transport, and special visits. Plus a section on 'Then and Now' photographs around the town.

BELOW: Book cover front & back for 1930s Thames: The Goldfield town revisited

Thames was used to economic hard times, more so than many other towns around the country. The gold mining booms that mostly never eventuated - to the optimism that the next big 'find' was just around the corner. The town itself was deeply in debt, but businesses and residents alike worked tirelessly to ride out the storm and prepare for better times. Sound embellished? Not at all! Thamesites, as can be seen in the book were well used to supporting one another and meeting the challenges head on. Parades and fundraisers never stopped, despite the usual major flood or two.

Many will have grown up hearing of the hardships of the depression, this booklet looks at Thames during those years.

Thames (NZ): New book released at Catholic Church 150th

 A new booklet was published and released at the 150th celebration of the Catholic Faith in Thames, that was held 3-5 November 2017 (last weekend).

A carefully assembled A4 booklet, 44 pages on glossy paper in full colour. Co-ordinated by the Reunion Committee led by Mike Lander (Chairperson).

The sections covered include: The early years (Father Nivard Jourdain), parishes in the wider area, the early school years, Development of school buildings, Church building changes, the Convent, Parish Events, Passionists Family Groups, Catholic Mission Shop, School Memories, Sisters of St Joseph, List of Priests, and much more...

A comprehensive read. Contact St Francis School if you want a copy before they sell-out!

Thames (NZ): Sunshine 9 November 2017

Yes its actually a beautiful sunny day (for the moment) on the old Thames Goldfield.

A time to reflect how Thames Hospital went from a two roomed cottage,  to a multiple building campus. Below left is the view in 1869, and right November 2017.

 In the next view looking south from the WWI Peace Memorial, Mackay Street stretches to the Kauaeranga River. Named after James Mackay the first Warden on the Thames Goldfield and the chief negotiator who met with local iwi, to secure a deal to open the land for mining in July 1867.

 Next we turn slightly west to take in the main street of Pollen named after Dr Daniel Pollen.
St James Church can be spotted lower centre - both the second and third church buildings remain  on the site. (Now connected by a central span of offices and meeting rooms)

 Finally to the Firth of Thames and the Kauaeranga River mouth entrance. The Hauraki Plains in the distance, with lots of mangroves dotted along the way!

 Lastly, a reminder of the view in late 1868, with the Thames Goldfield Hospital circled on the left.

Thames (NZ): Thames Goldfield Residences December 1868

What were the houses like on the Thames Goldfield? Have you stopped and considered where and how your ancestors were living in the towns of Shortland or Grahamstown? Yes we know initially that many called a tent or raupo hut their 'home' but within a year residences were established in many parts of the town.

Think about what the houses may have been like, not just from the outside, but inside as well. An excellent book by Jeremy Salmon, "Old New Zealand Houses 1800-1940" provides an insight into the living conditions.

As soon as money and time permitted, men and their families built simple hut like structures - to more elaborate cottages. The richer even built villa type houses of a grander style, all within the first year of settlement.

On the right are floor plans from cottages, that match many of the Thames' first residences. From one room huts that served all purposes, to the two roomed hut with separate sleeping and kitchen/living area. With a door front and back. The really fancy style having four rooms. Of course, many were built in stages, and as money, timber were available, extra rooms and lean-tos were added.

The view below is of the flat area to the north of the Karaka Creek. All types of residence are represented. Spot the raupo huts, tents, one and two roomed cottages. A few even have a chimney and an out-house.

In the photo below (Block 27 from Rolleston Street on the right); there is a settlement of tents interspersed with small huts come cottages. The large building lower right is the first Anglican Church near the corner of Sealey Street. In the foreground in front of the church is a classic cottage, with windows either side of the front door. Well established it has an outhouse, another shed and is fenced! Look in the distance (top left) and you can see a much grander house in Hape Road. It appears to have four rooms, a lean-to and a verandah!!! The building to the right of it is the first St James Church, which was also used as a private school during the day.

The goldfield appears to have always been a case of vast contrasts, the rich and the poor, successful to not successful. Compare the above scenes with the next where the heart of early Shortland Town is centred around Grey - Pollen and Richmond Streets. The buildings are grander, two-storey shops and hotels line the streets. While residences can be spotted of a generally grander nature. Is it any wonder that there were so many carpenters in the town!

Above: Thames Hospital which opened 2 November 1868.

Shortland Town and the Kauaeranga River in the distance.

Below: The full view from Bird-in-Hand Hill

Source:  Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-3681-84

Thames (NZ): Call for stories related to Thames Hospital

HELP!!! We need your stories. Did you work at Thames Hospital, maybe you still do...we would love to have a short story from as many as possible! See details and advert below.

This project is a joint venture co-ordinated by the Thames Hospital 150 Group, with the support of  the Treasury (The Coromandel Heritage Trust).

• BACKGROUND:
• The first True Tales written was ‘True Tales of Northern Coromandel’, published by The Coromandel Town History Research Group.  They had such a good response that they went on to publish two more books (see below).  It is a very easy way to collect stories which might otherwise be lost.  The Thames Hospital 150 Committee, with the assistance of The Coromandel Heritage Trust are using the True Tales format to collect stories about Thames Hospital – the book will be launched at the 150th Commemorations 2-4 November 2018.
• The Tales can be about anything to do with the Thames Hospital and related departments.  They can be a memory, about an event, about the hospital, about family who worked at the hospital, about you.  They can be stories from patients, especially those that highlight treatment changes.

THE CRITERIA:

·         Must be a TRUE Tale

·         No more than 1500 words – can be much less

·         Should include where possible 1-3 photos   

·         The story must have a link to the Thames Hospital

·         Can be about your memories of Thames Hospital, staff, events, related groups

·         Can be about the history of the Thames Hospital and key events

·         You don’t have to be a writer – just tell your story! 

·         The committee reserves the right to make changes or omit certain things (but if they do you will see the changes before it goes to print), or may not include the story (may be too many handed in, may not be suitable)

·         Up to 100 stories needed – get in early to be included

·         Can write more than one stor

ENQUIRIES TO:  thamesenquiries@waikatodhb.health.nz or Ph 078685410

Check out the Thames Hospital 150 FACEBOOK PAGE

Thames (NZ): New Lions Club Heritage Sign at Thames Hospital

The countdown begins for the 150th Commemorations of Thames Hospital. Opened 149 years ago on the 2nd November 1868. To kick things off, the Thames Lions Club have donated a heritage sign, part of their yellow historic signs dotted around Thames.

To keep up-to-date with news as it happens on the commemoration and reunion activities checkout the Hospital 150 facebook page. If you have any photographs please post them. We are still calling for short stories, and will telling you more about an exciting development (fingers crossed) in the next few weeks.

ABOVE: Thames Hospital 'Lions Club Sign' at Mackay Street entrance.

BELOW: Close-up of the sign that highlights the development of the site and hospital.

 

ABOVE: A smaller sign hangs in the verandah area, at the eastern entrance to Thames Hospital, south of the Sperry Lane cafe.

Special thanks to Steve at KMG; Bruce and team at Thames Hospital for getting the signs from design to site!

Thames (NZ): Celebrating 150 Years of the Catholic Faith at the Thames

Wow, another big occasion is about to hit the town. This weekend the local catholic parish and school are celebrating 150 years at the Thames.

The church has a history page which covers how the church and schools started along with the names of the parish priests. Father Jourdan was the first Parish Priest, he arrived on the Goldfield in October 1867 and had the first church erected three months later. Plus he was instrumental in the establishment of the Thames Goldfield Hospital, which opened 2 November 1868.

Over the years, the buildings have developed to suit the needs of the parish, which include in more recent years new school facilities. This weekend the memories of past decades will again be heard.

ABOVE: The Catholic Church in Willoughby Street, Shortland. James Mackay's house is centre left on the brow of the hill overlooking Bowen Street (now known as Rolleston Street).

ABOVE: A later view of the buildings on Willoughby Street. From Left to Right: The catholic Presbytery, Catholic Church and the Catholic School. There was also a catholic school in Walter Street.

ABOVE: The catholic church in Grahamstown was called St Brigid's. It is lower centre in the view above - the front faces Queen Street, the rear is on Pollen Street.

ABOVE: The present St Francis Church at the corner of Baillie and Willoughby Street.

Thames NZ: Pārāwai School 50th Jubilee and booklet

This weekend the Pārāwai School celebrates their 50th Jubilee. The weekend starts with an open afternoon at the school, followed by a 'mix and mingle' in the evening.

Tomorrow, Saturday 28th October is the official ceremony, morning tea, decade photos and a buffet lunch.
Check out the facebook page for updates.

A limited edition booklet is available at the school/reunion for $15. There are 48 pages, which include a selection of memories, photographs and past details on the school. A great read for anyone interested in Thames history.

The Pārāwai School  is located in Lowe Avenue, an area that was home to market gardens and sports fields following the opening of the goldfield in August 1867.
The school was built to meet the needs of families in the southern end of town in the late 1960s, as the land was subdivided and houses built all along the hills leading to the Kauaeranga Valley.

Thames (NZ): Book - William White pioneering bus & coach operator of Thames

Photographs of Thames streets in the 1900s-1940s are fascinating for the images contained within the image. Of particular interest are the modes of transport that are glimpsed. Whether it be a horse and cab, an early bicycle, the first cars or buses that travelled the streets of Thames.

There is a 22 page booklet written by Clive Otway and Sean Millar in 2014 that covers the history of the buses that were operated by William White of Thames. A name that will be familiar to many old Thames families who will no doubt have had relatives who travelled on one of William White's fleet of vehicles.

The full title of the book is: William White pioneering bus & coach operator of Thames; A4 soft cover, ISBN 9780908726967.  There are several 'never before seen' photographs from the White family collection. (Cover right)
Purchase details are online.

BACKGROUND: Mr White was educated at Waiokaraka School in Thames and in the early days set up a cab service around 1902.  (Notice below) In 1907 White sold the cab business to Mr Meehan.

 

Thames Star 10 March 1947

Mr William White started back in business at Thames around 1910, after a stint in Coromandel as the proprietor of the 'Star and Garter Hotel'. In 1913 Mr White advertised he had purchased a beautiful Cadillac and that his garage was by the Karaka Creek, telephone number 40.

Then in 1914, the business was purchased by Mr Bowles, but soon after Mr White again has the business as Mr Bowles was leaving to go to the war.

The business grew until 1920 when a large concrete building was erected at the north end of Pollen Street, which would in 1947 be purchased by New Zealand Railways. A full history of the bus services are contained within the book by Otway & Millar.

Mr William White died 9 March 1947 at Remuera. The Obituary in the Thames Star 10 March 1947 heralded the amazing service given by Mr White to the town. Once the road was established to Auckland in 1924, White's provided an invaluable transport link to the city. Mr White was also a chief supporter of sport in the town, and had presented several rugby championship cups (Centennial and White cups).

Mr White's funeral took place at the St Paul's Church, and the burial at the Hillsboro Cemetery, Auckland. Mr White's obituary notice stated he was survived by three daughters (Mrs A Dovell, Mrs S Steele, and Mrs A R Johnston), and three sons (Messrs Roy and Ralph White of Auckland and Mr Leo White of Thames). William's wife Mary Ann had died 19 December 1944.

Thames (NZ): 12 October 1917 - Eight Thamesites amongst the ROH

An earlier post on Thames' darkest month in WWI, gave the names of twenty-two men known to have been Killed in Action or classified as a war death in October 1917.

New Zealand today commemorates the Battle of Passchendaele -  On the 12th October 1917, 843 New Zealand soldiers were Killed In Action or mortally wounded at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium.

Today, 12 October 2017, a cross stands outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre in honour of those men who never made it back home. (photo above)
Names of those men who died on this day 100 years ago are: (date of death, place, name, link to Cenotaph, service summary)

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; AUTRIDGE Charles; 40271; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GRAHAM Albert Edward; 24/769; L/Corporal  2nd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GURNETT  Thomas; 15364; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; HANNA William Henry; 26611; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JORDAN Sydney Carl; 24/482; Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PATTON William Charles; 25/1198; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PEARCE William; 5/894; Private NZMG 3rd Coy

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; WHITE William Campbell; 26726; Rifleman 4th Batt 3rd NZRB  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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