Thames (NZ): Post Office Messenger Boys

Early 1900s Government Buildings, Queen Street, Thames
'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 35-R1451'

From the 1870s the principle Post and Telegraph Office was located at the north end of Queen Street. A grand set of buildings at the Grahamstown end of town - Police, Courthouse and Post & Telegraph located side-by-side. (photo right)

Today the old Police Station and part of the courthouse remain standing and are in private ownership.

The post and telegraph services were in high demand, even after the peak population dropped. Mail, banking and telegraph services a necessity. A large number of staff were employed at the Post and Telegraph Offices - as can be seen in the 1903 staff photo below.

Back row: A V Pearse, J F Craig, T G Swindells, H G Sanders, H C Bull.
Third row: F Arns, H J Pearse, J Davies, T E Mullins, R McDonnell, A L H Stott, J McLean, E G May, C K Edwards, F L Cunnold, C H L McLean, J E Childerhouse.
Second row: W B Teasdale, C W Jansen, J Thorne, T Aitken (chief clerk), W McHutcheson (chief postmaster), A H Turner (second clerk), E Clark, J T W Collier, T F Gibbons.
Front row: W Steward, W Sawyer, M Lannigan, R Quick, R Jury (messengers)
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19031112-5-1
 

The messenger boys at the front of the staff photo, were the equivalent of later telegram deliverers, in the days when it was quite customary to send urgent messages via the telegraph services. A telegram once received was hand delivered by the boys, by foot or by bike. Interestingly in the Thames Star 26 September 1911, a report about messenger boys was included. It stated: “No post office messenger boy in England is supposed, in the discharge of his duties, to walk more than ten miles a day, or to cover more than 24 miles on a bicycle.” Unfortunately they did not state what the norm was for the Thames messenger boys.

By December 1916, Thames had eight messenger boys employed at the Thames Post & Telegraph Office. They were: A Anderson, C Comer, R J Donnelly, L R Hancock, F M J McGuinn, W H McDonald, S E L McLean, and F Strange.

 

This wonderful Xmas card (above) belongs to John Strange, his father Frank Strange was one of the messenger boys named on the card. Frank went on to work 25 years in the Post and Telegraph service.

 

The card is fascinating, the business acknowledging the work of the messenger boys and giving seasons greetings to their customers. It is a tradition that New Zealand Post appears to have continued, each Xmas it remains one of the few businesses that send a card out delivered by their 'posties'.

POSTSCRIPT:
Some later background on Mr Francis (Frank) Strange (1900-1998).
Frank "was a sorter on the mail train to Wellington and would get off at Whangamomona and return sorting again back to Auckland. He attended the Ponsonby Post & Telegraph and became an experienced and sought after Morse code operator. In April 1928 he married and he was transferred to Whangarei Post Office until he became Post Master at Kamo. In 1940 he cashed in his Pension and bought a herd of cows and property at Hikutaia where he remained" until his death aged 98yrs.
Source: J Strange (son)

THAMES (NZ): Dickson Park aka The Tararu Gardens

DICKSON PARK - located at the east end of Victoria Street, Tararu, Thames.

View of the park September 2016

Remnants of the Tararu Gardens are signposted at the entrance to the Dickson Holiday Park.

c1868 Subdivision map of Tararu Garden area

From the time the Thames Goldfield opened, there was a special area at Tararu where Thamesites would travel to escape the noise and dirt of their mining town. The brainchild behind the Tararu Gardens was Mr Robert Graham, the Auckland property developer who subdivided Grahamstown and Tararu c1868.  Originally the gardens were run by Messrs Purdie and Wells under the name of Elysium Pleasure Grounds. (See end of article)

There was a major storm in 1874 that destroyed the Tararu Wharf, badly damaged Robert Graham’s hotel and his beloved Tararu Gardens. Following these series of events, Mr Graham left Thames, having his hotel shipped to his Waiwera Hotel site. Thankfully new of proprietors and owners kept the Tararu Gardens operational.

Sunday excursions to the Tararu Gardens were always popular. A place where families would picnic, swim in the river and play sports on the flat adjacent areas. Bands would play and dancing would continue on the green well into the night. Admission to the gardens cost sixpence and strawberries and cream another sixpence. School visits were also held to the gardens, such as end of year activities.  One such excursion took place on 14th December 1876. “A big day for all the schools of the Waiotahi District. Over 700 children from the five schools went to the Tararu Gardens for a day of music, fun and games. All up there were over 1000 people present. Everything went off satisfactorily, and the whole affair was evidence of the success of the educational system at present in force.”(1)

 

 Larger sports events were held on the main Tararu Flats where the Thames Hospital Board farm and Tararu Home was relocated (now Bupa Tararu Rest Home and Hospital).


Thames Star 31 December 1885

The gardens were not always smooth sailing financially over the years, resulting in many attempted sales and owners.  In 1876 Mr Fred Bennett was listed as the Proprietor of the gardens. While a note in the 1918 newspaper mentioned that the gardens were actually laid out by Mr F Bennett.(2) The gardens appear to have operated seasonally in these early years, for instance they opened Saturday 21 October 1876. Admission for six months was listed as giving the holder admission at all times during the day, including Sundays! The cost was: Family ticket (Two adults and children under 12 years of age) 10s 6d; and single ticket 5s. (3)

The strawberries that were so popular were grown at the gardens. In 1879, the paper reported that Mr Bennett and his assistants had been busy at the gardens which were in the full bloom of spring flowers. “The Strawberries are rapidly ripening, indeed a good number have already found their way into Grahamstown, and with seasonal weather Mr Bennett expects to be able to meet all the demands of his many visitors.” (4)

In the Thames Star 15 March 1888, Mr R R McGregor, auctioneer of Thames had been authorised to sell the Tararu Gardens by order of the mortgagees. The land described as being part of Block Kauaeranga E, No 14. In another section Mr Robert Graham Esq, was reported as the late owner, it is not clear whether this meant he was the current owner. At the auction the bidding reached 500 Pounds, the property was withdrawn as this was 90 Pounds under the reserve price set before the auction.

The next we hear is that the gardens are in the procession of the Thames Building Society, who offered them for sale in January 1890. A correspondent wrote to the Thames Star newspaper on 10 February 1890 and suggested wisely that the Borough Council should purchase the gardens as a recreation ground for the town. The matter dragged on. In 1891 the council was offered the gardens and surrounding grounds for 625 Pounds. The Thames Star 6 February 1891, had the news that the Thames Borough Council had decided not to buy the Tararu or Parawai Gardens as recreation areas for the town, deeming them not suitable. By 1892 the Building Society still had the mortgage on the property and wanted urgently to sell the Tararu gardens.


The news came at the end of 1892 that Mr R Comer had purchased the property for 300 Pounds, then immediately offered it to the council at that price, so they could be used as a recreation ground for the town.  In the end, a vote was held so that the people of Thames could decide whether the gardens should be purchased. The poll required 373 votes in favour, but sadly only 121 votes were for it and 48 against. So it was left to Robert Comer to continue to run the gardens, at the end of 1893 the entrance fee was reduced to entice customers. Then once again at the beginning of 1894 the property was yet again on the market. During all these years of continual for sale notices, the paper is still full of people going to the gardens to enjoy picnic and other events.

1954 view of the park

In 1896 the gardens were the property of Mr J W Walker, who proceeded to build a large villa residence shortly after the purchase was complete. (5) In the Thames Star 16 August 1907, the property was again for sale.  It was advertised as the residence of the late Mrs J W Walker, the land was 10 acres – formerly the Tararu Gardens. The following years are yet to be explored but by 1953 the garden area was the Thames Camping Ground.


In 1953 the Thames Improvement Society planted a tree and placed a plaque at the Thames Camping Ground to honour the work of the late Mr J Dickson.  (photo below) “It was felt that such a memorial would be most appropriate in view of all Mr Dickson had done as Chairman of the Works Committee to bring the Camping Ground into being and the great interest he had always shown in anything to do with the beautification of the town.” (6)  Mr A J Dickson had died 1 September 1953. (7)

The park/gardens have changed hands many times over the years. Today the camping ground is called Dickson Holiday Park and remains to this day a popular holiday destination. The plaque for Mr Dickson, is now located on a rock at the entrance to the park, as well as a sign showing the remnants of the famed Tararu Gardens.

Above: The Memorial plaque for Mr Dickson on the rock (left photo), closer view on the right.
Below: View of the park from the entrance, looking south-east 

References:

(1) Waiotahi Creek School, by Althea Barker.

(2) Thames Star, 11 March 1918.

(3) Thames Star, 4 December 1876.

(4) Thames Star, 20 October 1879.

(5) Thames Star, 28 July 1986.

(6) Thames Star, 9 September 1953.

(7) Thames Star, 2 September 1953.

Background Reading:

Old Tararu Gardens an Important part of early Thames, Thames Star, 20 June 1952.

**Opened 11 November 1872 by lessees Wells & Purdie, operated as Elysium Pleasure Grounds.

**Lease Sold March 1873 to Mr Wells. By 1874 known as the "Tararu Gardens."

THAMES STAR, VOLUME III, ISSUE 1665, 20 APRIL 1874

THAMES (NZ): Shortland Cemetery Biographies - Walter Alfred COOK

Driving up Danby Street, a grand new structure stands above the aged headstones at Shortland Cemetery. On closer inspection it is not a new tombstone, but a memorial seat, in honour of Walter Alfred COOK.

Alfred was an amalgamator to the Kuranui Company, and had been employed by them for six years. He had a grownup family, his wife Martha had died the previous year. Walter Alfred Cook was just 43 years of age when he was killed in the mining related accident.

The inscription on the plaque at Shortland Cemetery reads (photo below):

In Loving Memory of Walter Alfred Cook
My Great Great Grandfather born 1823 Scalded to death 24th January 1874
When the boiler exploded at The Kuranui Battery
Loving Husband of Martha, Who was called home 11th May 1873
And Loving father
God’s Greatest Gift Is Remembrance

On the Tararu Road today there is a yellow Lion's Club Heritage sign that marks the area where the Kuranui Battery was located. Said to be the first steam battery with six stamps, that later increased to twenty. "Built to crush ore from the rich Shotover Mine and later from many other claims."

In the early hours of 24 January 1874, occurred what was described as one of the worst accidents to occur on the Thames Goldfields.  Three men died as a result of injuries received when the Kuranui Battery boiler collapsed – Alfred Cook, Richard Watson, and Matthew Paul.  The three men were seated in front of the boilerhouse when “suddenly a low rumbling noise was heard, and then with a frightful hiss the steam and fire burst out of the furnace full on the unfortunate men, who were driven back by its force with great violence into the yard.” Taranaki Herald, 28 January 1874.

Mr Cook was dangerously injured and Mr Watson severely scalded but appeared quite sensible. Mr Paul was walking about. The men were taken to Thames Hospital, where little could be done, and all three men died within seven hours of the accident.

The funeral of Messrs Cook and Paul was held on 25 January 1874, with over 600 people in attendance. When their coffins were removed from Thames Hospital, a crowd had gathered outside to farewell the men, as the procession made its way to the Shortland Cemetery. Auckland Star, 26 January 1874. The men were buried in Plots 81 and 83 respectively. The shaded location in the photo below, gives the approximate location of the graves of Alfred Cook and Matthew Paul at Shortland Cemetery, Thames.

 

The Kuranui Boiler Disaster led to the passing in 1874 of the Inspection of Machinery Act. A full report of that event is in an article written by Anne Stewart Ball, entitled From Disaster - One of First Pieces Safety Legislation in NZ.

THAMES (NZ): Shortland Cemetery Biographies - Edmond Twohill

SHORTLAND CEMETERY BIOS: EDMOND TWOHILL.
The grave of Edmond Twohill stands upon the hill at Shortland Cemetery along with several of his children. The Twohill family, remembered on the Thames Goldfield for their years at the Brian Boru Hotel, corner Pollen & Richmond Street. Edmond Twohill the owner and landlord of the Brian Boru, was from County Cork (Ireland), he died 21 September 1896 aged 62 years.

The hotel was then managed by his wife Catherine, children and descendants until 1974. The hotel was rebuilt following fires in 1904 and 1905; the hotel building we know today was opened in 1906.

 

The hotel, is today the Brew Café and Bar.

 

Thames (NZ): Thames Olympians

With the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio, it raises the question:
Have any Thamesites represented New Zealand at an Olympic Games?

Good news, we have at least one!
Maurice (Moss) Lane Marshall (12 January 1927 – 16 May 2013), was Olympian No 70. He attended Thames High School 1940-1944. "At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland he won a bronze medal in the mile run and then participated in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in both the 1500 m and the 800 m."

In his last year at Thames High School, Marshall helped the school to win a senior relay event.
The team went to Hamilton in Headmaster Mr Hoult's car, as there were train restrictions because of the war. The team won several awards, including the Country Championship. They also won the Senior Relay - when Marshall took over the baton the team was lying third, but he ended up first by 15 yards. In the 1944 Athletics team, photo (right), Moss Marshall is in the centre. (Source: Thames Haurakian 1944-1945, Thames High School)

Mr Marshall was headmaster of Southwell School in Hamilton for sixteen years and a street in Hamilton is named in his honour.  "In the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours, Marshall was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to education and sport.^" Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Marshall

THAMES (NZ): Tararu Cemetery at Findagrave

At last! I have added all the missing names to the collection at Findagrave for Tararu Cemetery.

If you are not aware of this site it is a free and excellent way to add a memorial for your ancestors.

• You can add background information, headstone photographs and portraits.
• You can lay flowers with captions for your family member/s.
• You can request photographs of graves, which will be taken by a team of volunteers.
• If the grave entry has been made by someone else, you can get permission to manage that entry.
• Ancestry.au also utilises the databases in its searches.

 ABOVE: Front page for the Tararu Cemetery at Findagrave

BELOW: You can search names or browse all entries. This is Charles Ludwig's.

A bonus of this site, is that it is a way of connecting family researchers, allowing you to see who is researching the person buried or remembered at a particular cemetery. If you leave flowers for an entry and add a caption, you may find some new relatives!

How did I enter the names?   I added names based on the old NZSG transcription available via Ancestry.au, while checking names alongside at the TCDC online Cemetery search site. To add death dates, I searched the name at New Zealand BMD online. In many cases there were discrepancies in spelling of names, burial dates, and monumental inscriptions. I checked newspapers in many cases to confirm details. Still I know that there will be still variances, but it is a start!

If any of the entries I have made, are for your family members...contact me and I can transfer the control of the entry to you to alter/correct as you desire.

Check out the Tararu Cemetery site at Findagrave.

***Shortland Cemetery and Totara Memorial Park Cemetery are also online at Findagrave***

THAMES (NZ): Famous visitors to The Thames

The Thames was a popular destination for thousands once the goldfield opened in August 1867. During the years to follow many famous people came to see the famous gold town. Three such people were: Miss Jean Batten, Mr Zane Grey and Sir Kingsford Smith. Read about their visits in a new article in
The Treasury Journal.
 

Thames (NZ): NURSES OF THAMES Version 4 Booklet now available

Version 4 of the booklet on Thames Hospital Nurses is now published and has lots of new information, names and photographs.
Summary of Contents:

NURSES OF THAMES:

A History of Registered Nurse Training at the Thames Hospital

Page/s CONTENTS

1 - 3 INTRODUCTION: Thames Hospital History

4 - 8 NURSING BEGINNINGS – New Zealand & Thames
9 - 30 NURSE TRAINING THROUGH THE DECADES
31 - 34 ASSORTED NURSING TOPICS
35 - 37 NURSES’ ACCOMMODATION
38 - 39 NURSES’ UNIFORMS
40 - 45 MEMORIES & SPECIAL TIMES
46 - 48 MATERNITY & MIDWIFERY NURSE TRAINING
49 - 54 OUR WAR NURSES
55 - 59 OUR MATRONS & TUTORS
60 - 62 GRADUATION DAY & THE MEDAL
63 MEDICAL STAFF & OTHER DEPARTMENTS
64 - 65 HOSPITAL PAST & PRESENT
66 - 67 REUNIONS & ROLL CALL
68 - 69 THE FINAL TRAINING YEARS
70 - 72 References & Endnotes
THAMES HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING:
73 - 94 Appendix One: Nurse Graduate Photographs
95 - 103 Appendix Two: Register of Nurse Graduates (by Surname)
103 Appendix Three: Miscellaneous Nursing Register
104 - 105 Appendix Four: Graduation Day Summary
105 Appendix Five: School of Nursing Graduation Prizes
106 - 109 General Index
110-111 Autographs & Memories

THAMES (NZ): DANBY STREET NAME

New information found today in the Thames Star newspaper confirms the naming of the street adjacent to the Shortland Cemetery. It was known by many as cemetery Street, but this was found to be not so desirable. The Council in 1976 agreed therefor to change the name officially to DANBY STREET in honour of Mr Stan Danby.

Thames (NZ): TCDC new Cemetery Search by SURNAME

Continuing on from the previous post:
When using the new Cemetery database, you will have noticed that entering a SURNAME in the top search box doesn't always give you all the possibilities. Also, if you enter only part of a person's name they will not show.

For example...if I enter "DOUGLAS BARKER" there are no results. Change it to full name "DOUGLAS OWEN BARKER" and a result appears.

Thanks to Graeme for finding out how to get a full SURNAME SEARCH for all TCDC cemeteries.

Steps to finding all names of a given SURNAME:

1. Click the LAYER list on the left-hand side (like stack of 3 papers)

2. Left click on down arrow at end of CEMETERY NAME SEARCH, click on OPEN ATTRIBUTE TABLE

3. Go to map area and left click the drop down arrow to right of OPTIONS. Select FILTER. A new box opens, select ADD FILTER SELECTION.

4. There are different Search options. Choose SURNAME. Then type in the surname you are searching and click OK.

You can also add more search options by clicking ADD AN EXPRESSION set...to add first names or combinations. But this is just an extra, stick to basics first till you have found your way around this complex search engine!!!

5. Now you will have some names in the bottom table. To get full list click on FILTER BY MAP EXTENT. I now have 24 Surnames to scroll through - to view any double left click the chosen name and they appear in the main map area.

6. Downloading A CSV file of your search result. Click on first name in the list, then scroll down to the last. Holding the SHIFT key, left click on the last in the list. Go back to the OPTIONS button and click the Drop arrow - Select EXPORT SELECTED TO CSV. Sample of a file below.

Keep experimenting and I'm sure we will find ways to make this process easier!!!