South Africa War Memorial, Thames New Zealand

With ANZAC day recently past it is timely to remember the often 'lost memorial' of Thames, that of the SOUTH AFRICA WAR MEMORIAL.  In 1954 many Thames residents were already in the dark about what this memorial stood for; which resulted in an article in the Thames Star newspaper 12 May 1954 (Copy held at the Thames Library) The article page 5 reads:

"How many people in Thames know what the memorial in Victoria Park is for, when it was erected and for whom? Today, old-timers who were present at the Central (Waiokaraka) School jubilee asked the "Star" about the fate of an old war memorial along Pollen Street. This is what they found out.

The memorial was erected in 1902 soon after the conclusion of the South African Boer War. in December of that same year it was unveiled by the Mayor Mr G Trembath, before a crowd of approximately 3000 people.  It was erected by the residents of Thames Goldfields in memory of Fred W D Forbes, a gunner of the Fifth Contingent, Robert Farquhar, trooper of the H Squadron and William Donkin, trooper of the Seventh Contingent.

Central Spot.  The first resting place of the memorial was on the corner of Mary and Pollen Streets and an old resident explained this morning that it was by public request that it had been placed on that corner.  The idea, he stated, was that for all those passing the street, which was when the centre of the town, to look at it and think of those who gave their lives in the "war at the turn of the century."

It is evident, however that there are few records kept of when the memorial was transferred from the centre of the town to Victoria Park where it now stands and in an interview with Mr Stan Danby this morning, he said that as far as he knew it was transferred between 1919 and 1920 as it was becoming a menace to traffic.

A place was then needed to put this memorial and the only worthwhile spot was Victoria Park, well used at that period for band concerts.  During the two years 1919-20 the transferring of the memorial took place and since then considerable care has been taken, by the bodies concerned with its upkeep, to keep it in a good state of preservation"

The 'Wakatere' and ships to Thames NZ

In the pre-1900s travel to Thames was principally by water, as the roads (tracks) were few and far between.  The wharves of Thames and further along the rivers were kept busy with a large number of boats (of all sizes) bringing passengers and cargoes to the busy goldmining town.

From the time the first miners arrived on the Enterprise 2.  "The Thames goldfield was opened to the world from 1st August 1867...A code of regulations was hastily drawn up, to meet the first requirements of the rush, and Mr Mackay left Auckland on the 1st of August in the ps Enterprise No 2, with his policemen and about 40 other persons, the pioneers of the goldfield." (Thames Diamond Jubilee 1867-1927 by F Weston)

An excellent resource on the Northern Steamship Company that operated many of these ships that came to Thames is "The Servants of the North" by Cliff Furniss, 1977.  For years the Thames playground has had a model of one of the most famous ships - the Wakatere.

The picture below of the Wakatere, shows what a magnificent picture she must have been steaming down the firth. The paddlesteamer was built 1896 by Napier, & Bell, at Yoker in Dumbartonshire.  The book noted above, records that the Wakatere was employed on the Thames run until 1926.  Sadly suffering damage to the bottom of the ship from dragging over the shelly bottoms off the Thames.

On the 16 December 1896, the maiden voyage took place of the Wakatere, from Auckland to Thames. The full report is at bottom of the page.  There were 700 passengers and the voyage took 3 1/4 hours, which was deemed as being very impressive.  There were many reasons that led to the decline of these services, but the constant silting of the Thames harbour area, always caused major problems given the tidal nature of the firth.  What great days they must have been as the Thames wharves truly made Thames a very busy port of call.

"The Wakatere racing into Auckland Harbour from the Thames NZ"
pg 115 "Servants of the North"



Maiden voyage to Thames from Thames Star 16/12/1896

Early shops Shortland, Thames

Continuing on the business theme, this would be one of favourite photos of early Thames.

Maybe you had an ancestor that had a shop on the Thames,and imagine something like a corner dairy today.  When the goldfields opened many shops were quickly opened to meet the needs of the rapidly growing town (as mentioned in previous article), many were merely shacks; with little in the way of interior space.  What a lively place it must have been - as shopkeepers walked the streets selling their goods; such as these butchers with the meat proudly hanging from the lean-to roof.

Early shops at Shortland, Thames
Orme Butchers, Bendigo Store and Smith Butcher

1947 Aerial Photos of Thames by V C Browne & Son

The wealth of information available via the internet never fails to surprise. Sincere thanks to Kim who passed this link on.  It is for photos taken by V C Browne & Son (an aerial photo collection 1932-1978)

Enter 'Thames' in the search box to see the selection of photos that extend from the Parawai/Kauaeranga area and Moanataiari to the south. On the surface you may think they are just another aerial photo but if you order a digital copy...you will soon see how special these photos are.  You can literally take a tour around Thames and zoom in and out on streets and houses.

These photos combined with the 1946 Wises Street Directory (copy available at The Treasury), will allow you to work out more accurately where you/your ancestors lived.

Below is a small example from the  photo (resolution reduced) TH1-46 V C Browne & Son Thames 1947, photo no 21.
The focus is the corner of Mary and Queen Street, Thames.  On the left is Lamb's timber yard and on the other side of the road, a large empty section. This is where the Thames Gas Works was located and the site of the future Thames War Memorial Hall (which was built in the early 1950s)

Part of Photo 21 TH1-46 VC Browne & Son Aerial Photo Collection
Corner Mary & Queen Streets, Thames 1947

New Thames articles on-line

The Treasury has a new article in the Journal:
ALFRED SHEPHERD: Hotelier, Postmaster and Miner by Christine Clement
Lots of info on the wider Thames area, including the Talisman Hotel at Katikati.

Also in the "Our People" section there is an article on the Flu Epidemic of 1918 and Sister Jessie Linton who died while nursing patients during this epidemic.  There are many newspaper reports outlining how serious the illness was in the Thames area and records of those who died.

On Timespanner's blog are two wonderful articles on Thames.
The first relates to HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH at Parawai.  Located to the North of the Thames-Parawai Playcentre, on Parawai Road, there is background information on this church in artcles on the Hauraki Mission Station article by David Wilton. (Treasury Journal)

The second article is concerning a marriage that took place at the Karaka, Thames in 1896.  The wedding between Ethel Margaret Redwood and Harry Ashby.

Thames Hospital - post 1900, taken from Mary Street; St George's Church to the left

The Thames Railway

After years of planning, the people of Thames turned out in their thousands for the opening of the Thames Line (Thames to Auckland) on the 19th December 1898.

A full report of the day and the history of the track are in a special Thames Star supplement put out on the afternoon of the opening."As soon as the train steamed into the station from Paeroa, and as the engine arrived at the platform, it breasted a broad length of blue ribbon which was held across the line by Miss I Scott (sister of the worship the Mayor) and Mrs T A Dunlop.  As the critical moment arrived, there was general and enthusiastic cheering."

This railway line would go onto to prove to be a vital link for Thames businesses, specifically A & G Price Ltd who manufactured many Steam engines; but also in later years the railway was used extensively for transport by the Toyota car assembly plant.

Good background reading on the railway is in the following books:
"The Thames Line 1898-1990" by R Brett Gree & Trevor J Lees
"Steam at the Rainbow's End" by K I Bullock, 1964
Articles at The Treasury by A Stewart Ball

Opening day at Grahamstown Station - 19 December 1898

Thames Hospital Pictorial History 1868-1987

Just a quick mention of this wonderful pictorial resource available on Thames Hospital.

In 1986 a display of historical photos took pride and place along the corridor adjoining the then main foyer and Ward One. Beautifully displayed in cabinets and with full details given where possible; many patient and visitor spent time looking at the photos.  During a time of renovation these displays were taken down and taken to Waikato Hospital where a historic photo database was developed.

These are available for sale as part of a set: "Thames Hospital - A Pictorial History 1868-1987," a catalogue that identifies the photo reference and a CD with the photos on.
Full details are here.

A copy is also available to view at The Treasury, Thames.

Photo showing history & Photo book and the Pictorial CD

Women on the Thames Goldfields - Part 2

Along with the picture previously posted from The Thames Star Newspaper 11/9/1926; there were small paragraphs on the following women:
Mrs Oldham, Mrs Woolley, Miss Stewart, Mrs Steadman, Mrs Fairgray, Mrs Watson, Mrs Cahill and Mrs Murray. A summary of a couple of these follows.

Mrs Alfred OLDHAM, eldest daughter of W D REID, born in Auckland and bought to the goldfields as in infant in 1867. Educated at Thames High School, she married Alfred Oldham who was assistant master at Waiokaraka School. [Mary Jane Reid married Alfred Oldham 1890]

Mrs WOOLLEY was the daughter of Mr A LAMB, cousin of Mr J LAMB timber merchant of Thames.  She was a teacher at Tararu School and married Mr Woolley in the Willoughby Street Baptist Church; for which she was an enthusiastic worker. [William Richard WOOLLEY married Margaret Rebecca LAMB 1886]

Miss STEWART - information on Matilda STEWART can be found here.

Mrs FAIRGRAY, "was the first white baby born at the Thames.  She is the second daughter of the late Mr James RENSHAW, and was borne in March, 1868.  he married Mr J FAIRGRAY, of the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, and since her marriage has resided at Devonport."

Mrs CAHILL was born at Thames, daughter of the late T B WILLIAMS. After her marriage she helped run a grocery business in Thames near the Post Office.

Mrs STEADMAN came to the goldfields when they opened with her husband, they resided at Tararu. Later they moved to a farm at Waikawau.

Mrs John WATSON and her husband came to Thames just after the opening of the goldfield in 1867; and took a keen interest in all philanthropic and church work in Thames.

Mrs T L MURRAY came to NZ in 1860 and married her husband in Auckland; Mr Murray came to Thames as the manager of the Bank of New Zealand.

The women of Thames soon learned to cope with many hardships; walking the streets was often challenging in muddy weather (Alexander Turnbull Library)

Women on the Thames Goldfields

The majority of the Thames history books are filled with the men who founded and worked the Thames Goldfields with sparse mention of the women of Thames. There are two books of note that focus more on the women.

"Diggers Hatters & Whores" by Stevan Eldred-Grigg has a few brief mentions of Thames women including MARY RODGER and ESTHER KEESING who had miners rights/claims on the goldfield.

"To find a Fortune, Women of the Thames Goldfield, 1867-1893" by Rosemary Killip holds the most information on the lives of early Thamesite women. Chapters include: Founding Mothers, Helping Hands, Educators and Mentors, Entertainers, Outspoken Women, Enterprising Women and The Dissenters.

Below is a picture (poor quality) part of an important doument that is in The Thames Star Newspaper 11 September 1926 on Pioneers of the Thames Settlement - Old Thames Girls. Next post I will place a transcription of the details that appeared for some of the women pictured. (The microfilms of this edition are available for viewing at The Treasury)

Below picture: Top From left. Mrs Fairgray, the first white girl born at Thames, Mesdames Roke, Woolley, Dewar, 92 years of age, Oldham, Watson, Steadman.  Bottom, from left: Mesdames Smith, Murray, Brodie? Cahill?, Pearceor Plenda???,  Matron Stewart, first matron of the Thames Hospital, and Mrs Starkey.

Salvation Army Church history at Thames

In 1954 the Salvation Army in Thames celebrated 70 years in the town. They reported that at the time the people of Thames did not think they would last the year.  This was 1 February 1884, the Thames Advertiser reported on the meeting: "The control of the meeting was mainly in the hands of Mr Wright (staff captain), who, after the singing of the old hymn 'Rock of Ages,' read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah in a manner which showed no lack of either education or religious fervour."

Initial worship was in the upstairs of a leased building, culminating in the opening of the Army Barracks in Pollen Street (Grahamstown end) on the 26 June 1886.

An excellent resource is "Thames Corps History" by Cadets K & S E Trebilcock written in 1987. It contains many names, including the Corps Officers.

For Genealogists looking for church records of BMD events the Salvation Army archives are available via email.



Thames Star  Newspaper: 11 Feb 1954
(Click to enlarge)