Thames (NZ): Transportation in the 20th Century

Previous Transportation posts:
Transportation - Getting around the Thames pre 1867
Transportation - Getting around the Thames from 1867
Transportation - Plans for getting the Railway to the Thames
Transportation - Industrial transportation on the goldfield
Transportation - More Railway plans and First Sod Memorabilia
Transportation - Moving buildings on the Goldfield

Getting around The Thames in the 20th Century

Thamesites were by the 1900s spoilt for choice regarding transport options. Here is a pictorial timeline of the changes in travel around the town of Thames.

· C1902-1904: First Cars seen at Thames Mr A H Brookes had the honour of bringing the first car Thames in February 1902.

There are accounts of early 1900s trips around the Thames area. In 1904, Mr J Adams travelled from Coromandel to Thames in 3¾ hours. A distance of 43 miles, travelling at an average of 13 miles an hour! Then in 1905, there was delight when Mr and Mrs Myers came to town in their car, after a trip to Rotorua. Their handsome car reportedly had met with much attention all along the way!

All transport options c1910s Grahamstown end of Pollen Street.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 35-R1460.

· C1903: First Motorcycle seen at Thames 

In May 1900, a motor cycle was seen in Auckland. It was described as having a speed of four to thirty miles an hour. 

There was ONE motorcycle in Thames in September 1903, the paper wondered why this improved method of transport had not caught on, in Thames. 

· 1910s: Bus services and service cars begin 

Service Car waits to collect passengers from the Wakatere at the Burke Street Wharf.

· 1920 February 17: First Airmail Service trialled 

The big day for Thames arrived on 17th February 1920, when the first airmail delivery of mail took place, by flying boat. The big event was reported in the Fielding Star 18 February 1920. “An aeroplane arrived at the Thames from Auckland carrying the first airmail received there. Later members of the Harbour Board and the pilot inspected the wharf with the view to erecting a permanent landing stage.”

George Bolt receiving mail from a Post Office Official for the first airmail flight from Auckland to Thames. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-A6252.

· 1922: First Airmail Newspaper Service. An honour that Thames shared equally with Whangarei, when the first seaplane newspaper service in New Zealand took place on Friday 8th December 1922.

The First Seaplane Newspaper Service in The Dominion: Last Friday's Issue of The New Zealand Herald, containing results of the General Election, being transported by air to Whangarei and Thames at 4 am. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19221214-38-2.

· 1924: Concrete road strip down Pollen Street. The concrete not only signalled better driving but was seen as a boom for the town and signalled that better times were ahead.

1937 view of Pollen Street, showing the 'concrete strip'.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19371124-49-3.

· 1924: ‘New’ Kauaeranga Road Bridge opened, old bridge destroyed in flood 

  The destroyed 'first' Kauaeranga Bridge. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19240529-40-3

· 1928 May 11: Hauraki (Kopu) Bridge officially opened 

The new Hauraki Bridge and the old ferry system. New Zealand Herald 28 May 1928

· 1930: ‘New’ Kauaeranga Rail Bridge built 

 

1930 New Kauaeranga Rail Bridge                               1947 View of Aerodrome

· 1936: Aerodrome established at Parawai / Totara 

· 1930s: Advances in bikes.

 

· 1930s: Companies had delivery vehicles for home deliveries eg butchers and bakeries

 

Colwill's Butchery Delivery Van (left) and Gleeson's Bread Van (right).

· 1930s Ambulances

· 1939-1945: Travel restrictions / petrol rationing 

 

Thames ration book - Mrs Richard's copy

· 1940-60s: Fishing boats lined the wharf 

New Zealand Herald 21 December 1938.

· 1951: Last passenger train, except for ‘specials’

· 1964: Campbell Industries car assembly opened

· 1965: The day there was an elephant race down Pollen Street

  

· 1967 March 23: Kopu-Hikuai Road opened 

The road connection went onto have a major impact on transportation and the settlement of the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. Details on the road:

Length - 17.17 miles (28.5 km), Original formation width - 27 feet (8 metres), Steepest grade - 1 in 10. Bridges - 7 with a total length of 950 feet. The longest 163 feet and the shortest 109 feet. Distances from Thames to Hikuai: Prior to the Highway - 53 miles, using the Highway - 22 miles. As the crow flies - 13 miles. Completed cost - £1,080.000.

1960s,the making of the Kopu-Hikuai Road

· 1969: A & G Price had manufactured over 239 locos 

· 1989: ‘New’ Kauaeranga Bridge & Demo old bridge 

  

Old and new Kauaeranga Bridges.

· 1990 March: Last Steam Train excursion comes to Thames

· 1991: End of Freight Train service  

· 1993: Toyota Car Factory produce 200,000th car

· 1996: Thames railway lines lifted

· 1998 October: Toyota stopped car assembly (last NZ)

· 2011 December 11: New Kopu / Hauraki Bridge opened 

Opening of the bridge. (photo from internet ?source)

· 2017 December: Thames Connector Bus Service introduced (left) and 2018 double decker buses come to Thames (right)

 

What's next? Maybe we will get our trains back!

Thames (NZ): Transportation - Moving buildings on the Goldfield

Was it a generational thing, or was it that our Thamesites were never prepared to be beaten?

Nothing seemed to hard! Want to move a building? Just say where to and it would be done!
Not to forget the moving of large / heavy mining equipment, that was achieved on a regular basis.

How were buildings moved?
There are a few reports of buildings being urgently removed to the goldfield, and the most accepted story is that the Wharf Hotel was ferried across the gulf from Auckland. There is no evidence to suggest that this is true, in fact the opposite is true as there are reports in the paper describing the erection of the hotel building at the corner of Albert and Brown Streets.

Around the town, the most common method to move a building was to literally put the structure onto skids / rollers and slowly move the building to the new location with bullock teams. The photo below is from North Auckland, but shows the principal of moving buildings that was employed at Thames in the early goldfield years.

Showing a bullock team moving the Aranga hall to be near the Aranga gum camps. It was moved again in the 1990s to the Aranga School.  Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19220817-41-3.

What did the Thames Pioneers move? Hotels, Churches, Schools and private residences. Here are a selection:

Graham Hotel

• Built for Robert Graham in 1868, moved to Waiwera about 1875. Sadly no photograph yet found of this, like all the other early building moves! 

Imperial Hotel

• The hotel opened early 1868 on the South-West wide of the Sealey and Pollen Street intersect. (below left) In 1884 it was moved to the opposite side (where a new building was constructed in 1936 - and still remains today (see below right))
•  Details of the move:"Messrs Ehrenfried Bros applied to council for permission to close the road, and the Thames Advertiser 14th March 1884 confirmed that this was approved. Experienced building contractor James McAndrew won the contract, and started on the two week task 19th March 1884. The building required turning around in transit to fit the new site. On 26th March the move across Pollen Street began. “The magnitude of the undertaking may be imagined when it is stated that the dimensions of the building are 40 feet by 40 feet, and its weight about sixty tons.” From Hotels of Thames

 

Kauaeranga Girls School

• The Kauaeranga Girls School aka Sandes Street School was built 1880 (below left) was closed in 1902 and in 1903 moved to the new Parawai School site in Grey Street (below right - later renamed Thames South School)

"The Sandes Street school closed at the end of 1902; Mr Fisher was headmaster at the time. In July 1903 the school buildings which had stood on the site were transferred to the new site at Parawai. This is the present South School site at the corner of Rolleston and Grey Streets. The children were in the interim schooled at the old Parawai School on the corner of Augustus and Banks Street. The newspaper reports stated: “The Sandes Street School, formerly known as the Girls’ School which has stood for twenty-three years, is now being transferred.”" (From Lost Landmarks)

St George's Church (1st)

• The first St George's Church was built in Rolleston Street in May 1868. (below left) Within a few years a new church was built and then in 1909 the 'old' church was moved to the present church site in Mackay Street - where it is still used as the Church's hall (below right).

  

St James Church (2nd)

• The first St James Church was located at the corner of Rolleston and Sandes Streets 3 May 1868. The second church (below top) was opened 29 January 1871. When it was decided to build a new church, this second church was moved east on the section and turned 90 degrees to face Pahau Street (c1897). This 'old' church is now used as the church hall. 

Wesleyan Church

• The Church started at the corner of Cochrane Street and Brown Street (built 1869). (photo left)
• The Church then in 1885 was moved to the corner of Pollen & Mary Streets (S-W intersect). (photo right) 

  

Details on the move of the Church from the Diary of G W HORNE (Source: Thames Museum)

1885, Oct 26 Mon: Six hands started this morning to get the Church divided into two parts, and bolting 6x4 under the center stringer and side wall plates to skid it on.

Tues 27: Got all ready to pull out side-ways on to the road with two winches.

Wed 28: Got it out on to the road side-ways about 50 feet, and pulled it end on about 150 feet, with ten hands.

Thur & Fri 29/30: Got as far as Judds. Three more hands started.

Sat 31st: Wages for the week about 30. One horse dray & driver 5/35

Tues Nov 3: Got into Mary Street with(?) the Church Front part, 13 hands on this week.

Wed 4: Just got into the Ground this evening. We shifted it on sleepers 6x4 packed up leveal (sic) and well greased and pulled it along with a winch and one pully with a rope leading to the winch.

Everything as worked very well so far.

Thurs 5: We got the first section into its place. It has taken 12 men.

Time taken 8 days.

Fri 6: Started to take down the ? at the back of the other section.

Sat 7: Still on with the apes and vestry. Wages for the week about 35 with the cart.

Mon 9: Got the apes of and the skids bolted under and also braced the roof a bit better. We lost 1 hour through (?)wind.

Tues 10: Started to shift the second (sic) section got it turned end on to the road ready for a straight pull. I lost ½ hour weather.

Sat 14: Got as far as the Kraka (sic) Bridge. The wages and sundry expenses amount to about 30 pounds for the week.

Mon 16: Got on very well shifted it about 100 yards.

Thurs 19: We got the seckoned (sic) section in its place. We have had 12 hands on altogether shifting this peace (sic).

Sat 21: The wages for the month for shifting the church is about £130.

From Nov 23 to Dec 5: Four men been on shingling for the fortnight and finishing cost about £20.

Dec 19 Got the sack: We got the Church finished. Near enough to open it tomorrow.”

Mr Horn gave a summary of the costs and put the total contract at £373.

Map showing how far the Wesleyan Church was moved.

• The Church then was moved 1962 to corner of Sealey and Mackay Streets. (below left - leaving the Pollen Street site)

 

• The Church was then dismantled in 1987 and rebuilt at Gails of Tamahere as a wedding venue. (Above right, taken when the church was dismantled in 1987)

MISCELLANEOUS BUILDINGS MOVED:
There are many more buildings that were demolished and moved, or partially demolished in order that they could be more easily transported. This includes the Waiotahi Creek School and part of the Baillie Street Boys School - details record they were moved, but not where they ended up. Part of the Baillie Street School does remain on the Thames High School site.

Several people have claimed to have had buildings from Thames, but they have not been formally verified. This includes a hotel at Opotiki that is meant to have come from Thames - but it hasn't been identified back to Thames (as yet).

Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.). Hotunui Meeting House,
Thames. Ref: PA7-05-19. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington,
New Zealand. /records/22672514

One of Thames' most special landmark buildings was dismantled, restored and now has pride of place at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in Auckland - namely the Meeting House 'Hotunui'.

• The carved runanga house opened September 1878 at Parawai. It was reported “on the front of the pole there is a figure of Maratuahu, the ancestor of the Hauraki tribes, wonderfully cut and carved. The house has been built for a meeting-place for the council of Hauraki, and will be devoted to no other purpose.” (BOP 21/9/1878) 
• The meeting house Hotunui fell into disrepair over the years and in 1925 efforts were made to restore some of the carvings. After negotiations another option became available and the meeting house found a new life at the Auckland Museum,  restored at the museum, where it went on display in 1929.

We couldn't finish without mention the moving of our largest products. While the great kauri tree were cut and travelled down the Kauaeranga River, where they were often tied together as a raft and towed by boat to Auckland.

Thames Hospital has moved multiple buildings over its 150 years of existence. from an old morgue building (now at Goldmine Experience), to an old person's home, isolation block (below right), and old staff residences (below left).

 

What about a lighthouse! Chas Judd Ltd, the foundry on Queen Street, made some magnificent lighthouses that were then transported to a ship and taken to their destination. They would be partially dismantled for the journey! But it still was an amazing fete. In more recent years, Part of Judd's workshop and an old battery have been transported to the Hauraki Prospector's Goldmine Experience property in Queen Street.

• Cape Campbell Lighthouse: What a sight it must have been to see the construction of the lighthouse in 1903 - manufactured by Judd’s foundry in Queen Street. It weighed 95 tons and stood 75 feet high.The lighthouse was conveyed by boat to Wellington, where it was taken in parts to the Cape for erection. It still stands today at Cape Campbell – a testimony to the work of the foundry. (From Lost Landmarks II)

These are just a few of the many Thames buildings that have 'moved', and we haven't even got to residential houses. Not forgetting the town's beloved Red Pillar Boxes, that have been moved about the town! Also the Plunket Rooms built in 1933 was moved to the Hauraki Plains in 2000. It is the early pre 1900 'moves' that are the principal focus in the above blog - they herald the wonderful abilities of our early Thamesites.

Thames (NZ): Transportation - More Railway Plans & 'First Sod' Memorabilia

A quick follow-up on Railway plans and tramway posts:

Anne (blogger 'Part of the Past NZ History') has an article on:
Pioneer Railway and Tramway Survey & Construction Auckland Province , NZ 1862 - 1908

This gives background on the first railways / tramways and the Engineers and Surveyors involved.

One of those involved was James Stewart (Anne's Great Grandfather), there are many more plans online not just the ones I indicated yesterday. Just search different words such as "Thames Railway" or "Shortland Railway".

• Thames and Waikato Railway, proclamation, Grahamstown to Shortland, Jas. Stewart, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing. (R25268200) (Map below). There are others in this series: including R25268201
• 
• This is a very interesting plan, showing land required at the Grahamstown end of the railway. 
• Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], showing land required for Rly [Railway] purposes along foreshore between Grahamstown and Shortland, Jas. Stewart, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing Archway Item ID:R25268288 (Part below - the shaded areas (were green on original)

Another by W H Hales, showed the changes necessary to the railway line - so that it reduced the number of valuable town properties that would be required. Title: Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], re alteration of line through Shortland to avoid purchasing valuable town properties, through Shortland, W.H. Hales, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing. Archway Item ID:R25269609

Further information on Tramways are available at archives but not yet digitised

For example:

• Plan of Tramway and shoot 3012/71 - Tinker's Gully, Tararu - applicant City of Dunedin Gold Mining Company (R25292022)
• There are also time books and other similar information via letters. Time Book - Tramways (Moanatari, Tararu, Karaka, Waiotahi, Hape Creek, Te Popa) (R19164969)

The list of digitised goodies appears endless, go to Archives NZ and see what you can find.

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FURTHER INFO ON THE TURNING OF THE FIRST SOD.

Its been a day of special bombshells - We are lucky to have been given the opportunity to share a photograph of a very special 'tin' related to the history of transportation at Thames.

Isn't it amazing what treasures are around!  The names inscribed relate to Sir George Grey (who turned the first sod). H J Greenslade Mayor of Thames and Mr Samuel Alexander.

Photo Above right: Casket First Sod Thames Waikato Railway. photo courtesy family member

Casket First Sod Thames Waikato Railway

photo courtesy family member

This tin was presented to Mayor H J Greenslade on 21 December 1898. The special casket crafted by Mr Samuel Alexander contained a piece of the first sod. It was twenty years to the day when Sir George Grey turned the 'sod' for the Thames Railway (21 December 1878).  It was also a very special day for Mayor Henry Greenslade - who had just been installed as Mayor of Thames.

Thames Star 21 December 1898.

Thames (NZ): Transportation - Plans for getting the railway to The Thames

What an undertaking to get the railway to the town of Thames.

A town that more than most needed a transport alternative. Water transport was great, but being tidal, the estuary restricted the number of sailings per day.

Roading was still basic and subject to problems such as flooding. The number of stage coaches / horses was limited. Trains were to provide a link to the Waikato and Auckland and be able to carry greater numbers of passengers and freight.

The Thames Lions Club Heritage Sign at the Thames Goldfields Mall Carpark

Marking the turning of the 'First Sod' 21 December 1878.

While the turning of the sod was to herald the coming of the railway it would be another twenty years before that happened!

The plans for the 'coming' of the railway are now available to view at Archives New Zealand.

Some of the files are as follows:

• 1882. Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], Kauaeranga Contract formation and permanent way, drawing No. 1 (sheet 2) plan and section of line, No. 2 plan of pitching, No. 3 cross section cuttings etc standards, No. 4 bridge site, No. 5 to 17 standards, Grahamstown to Kopu 0 miles to 4 miles 40 chains, scale 3 chains and 30 feet to 1 inch, 21 lithographs - Spec [Specification] 9342. Compiled from PWD 8375, 9050

The Bridge Sites (No 4) above.

        Plan No 6 More detail on the Kauaeranga bridge

• 1882. Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], Hikutaia Section, showing plan of land to be taken by proclamation, at Shortland Wharf Kauaeranga River, W.H. Hales, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing . The plan shows land required to accommodate the railway line. (snip of plan below)

• Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], plan showing land handed back to Thames Harbor Board under the special Powers and Contracts Act 1884, at Kauaeranga River 0 acres 1 rood 33 perches, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing

Railway and general researchers should all find something of interest in these plans. 

For instance we get to see the streets as they were in the 1880s. Eyre Street named for the road now known as Queen Street.  

We also can see the foreshore line and start to realise just how much land has been slowly reclaimed, and understand the background behind the threats of sea level changes.

Well all the plans / modifications worked! and The Thames-Auckland Railway (Thames Branch) was opened 19 December 1898. The photograph below showing the train having left the Grahamstown Railway Station, heading along Beach Road to Matatoke (giving the children of Thames a ride).

Showing a train full of children en route for Matatoke on the Thames-Auckland Railway.
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-18981230-3-3

Thames (NZ): Thames Fire Brigade Photos at Archives NZ

Have you looked at Archives New Zealand of late? Well there are a heap of new digitised documents related to Thames which I will highlight over the next few weeks.

I couldn't go past these beautiful old photographs of the Thames Fire Brigade.

1898 Thames Fire Brigade

• Photograph Montage - Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade 1898 - individual studio portraits of 30 officers and men [named] and views of North Branch and South Branch Stations - photographer/source: Foy Bros., Thames - 304 x 356 mm

While the above photo may be small and difficult to view, take a look at the link given and you will see the resolution allows for the amazing look at the people and buildings in the photograph.

 

1898 The North Branch and the South Branch of the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade.

1898 Superintendent R R MENZIES.

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1904 Christmas Thames Fire Brigade

• Mounted Photograph - The Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade [ 27 firemen and one civilian] - join in wishing you the Compliments of the Season, Christmas 1904 - photographer/source: Foy Bros., Thames - 165 x 108 mm 

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1921 Christmas Thames Fire Brigade

• Mounted Photograph - The Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade - Join in wishing you the Compliments of the season - Christmas 1921 - 24 firemen and one civilian - photographer/source: W A Chester, Thames - 250 x 199 mm

A close-up of the above 1921 photo, showing the amazing detail

As the message goes, keep on checking, sites like this are putting new digitised information online all the time!!

Thames (NZ): Thames Museum ready for Heritage Week

The Thames Museum has a new theme in one of the galleries - looking at Transportation on the Thames Goldfield. Lots of photographs to complement the old bikes, shipping models, tramway model and the gig.

The Heritage Festival officially kicks off next week, with the focus on Friday 15 - Sunday 17 March 2019. But there are events from Monday 11 March.

The Thames Museum has been hunting for new volunteers so that the doors can be opened every day! Not bad for a group that is 100% voluntary, considering some groups are funded!

If you can come along on Sunday 17 March there will be guided tours and storytelling on offer - plus a chance for potential volunteers to have a good look at whats involved. See you there!

Thames (NZ): Industrial Transportation on the Thames Goldfield

While transport for the general public was of course imperative, the need to provide industrial transport was vital if the Thames Goldfield was to succeed. For those wanting to research the reports on the roadways and tramways, the Appendix to the Journals of House of Representatives provide an excellent overview.

Imagine you are mining high up in the hills above Thames, how do you get your 'rock' processed, how do you get rid of mining waste? The Tramways provided a vital access link. Some were privately built, while others were built or subsidised by the provincial government.

The 1869 Mining Map (below) had an overlay of railway and tramway plans drawn by Engineer Charles O'Neill.

1869 THAMES GOLDFIELD Map with overlay of Railways and Tramways

ABOVE: A map of Thames and the surrounding area showing gold claims. It also has manuscript annotations by Charles O'Neill, showing the position of planned railways and stations.
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZ Map 7012

BELOW: Enlargement of Tararu Area - Plan of Tramways marked in red.

News on the Thames Tramways as reported in the local and National Newspapers:

1869 January 26, New Zealand Herald: Reports on the Thames Tramway Petition to the Provincial Council. Those who had signed - urgently wanted money spent on the erection of the Tararu Wharf and a tramway to be constructed from Tararu to Shortland. There was a new tramway under construction on the Waiotahi Creek from the Nolan's Claim to the Duke of Edinburgh Machine.

1869 December 8 Daily Southern Cross: Dignitaries had visited the Moanataiari Tramway. Chief Engineer Charles O'Neill was praised for accomplishing such a difficult task. The eighth level of the Moanataiari Tramway was said to be specifically spectacular, "built across the Moanataiari ravine." (part right)

These sections of the tramway provided a vital link for the mines that were scattered high up in the hills. The 'wire tramways' were said to be a great means to deal with the rugged ground around the Thames Goldfield and could carry large amounts.

1874, the Newspapers reported the passing of the Borough of Thames Tramways Act 1874. The Act allowed for improvement of transportation in many areas related to movement of mining material in particular. The Council had the power to do things such: Put down or give approval for tramways to be placed down over borough streets. These could be for passengers or mining activities, could be horse drawn or propelled. The Council could also approve overhead structures / trestles over the town streets, for things such flumes. The Act also stated that the Council could "permit any quartz mullock earth or water carried thereon or thereby to be discharged into the sea, or to be deposited in any other suitable place to be fixed by the Council."

1879, an example of the application process is shown below when William Souter applied for permission to build a line of tramway from Burke Street to Beach Road.,

Thames Star 21 February 1879.

The need for tramways to aid accessibility and transportation continued, and those up the Kauaeranga in relation to the Timber Industry are a topic in their own right.

EXAMPLES OF TRAMWAYS on the Thames Goldfield

ABOVE: Supposedly a view of the Long Drive Claim, but actually the Waiotahi Valley. Water race on the left running down from the dammed stream, and a tramway up to the middle of the valley. Messenger Hill is at the extreme top left.
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 536-Album-285-8-1
ABOVE: View at the south end of Tararu Bay, the tramway on the waters edge.

ABOVE: Moanataiari Tramway.

                ABOVE: In the Auckland Goldfields District, Trucking from the Hauraki Mine at the Thames to the Tip-Head. 

Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19100811-4-4

Closing:

The tramways of Thames provided an important transportation link on the Goldfield. While the emphasis has been on tramways, the use of horses came into their own as the town was developed - their worth in moving heavy machinery was essential.

Stop and think of all the machinery, timber and other items that had to be moved - and be in awe of what these pioneers achieved. The last photographs look at how the Hauraki Pump boilers were transported from Owen Street to Waiokaraka Road. Everyone working as a team, especially the horses! Next time we will look at Thamesites favourite project - moving buildings!

 

ABOVE: Closeup of the team of horses and their handlers - about to start the big move!

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Background / Further Information: 
Previous Transportation Posts

• Getting around the Thames pre 1867
• Getting around the Thames from 1867

AJHRS with reference to Railway and Tramways:

• GOLDFIELDS ROADS, WATER-RACES, AND OTHER WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING (REPORT ON). 1 Jan 1886 , 1 Jan 1887 , 1 Jan 1888 , 1 Jan 1890 , 1 Jan 1891 , 1 Jan 1892 (more years available)

**UPDATE 3 March 2019**  BACKGROUND on CHARLES O'NEILL:

A previous blog post featured Engineer Charles O'Neill, had how his name could possibly still feature in one of our streets. For many years a long section of Tararu Road, was known as O'Neill's Esplanade in recognition of the work done by Mr O'Neill at The Thames.