Politics and progress.
Thursday, 28 May
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
The day of Queen Victoria’s birth is 24 May but as it fell
on a Sunday this year the government has set aside today for the commemorations. In Auckland there is gloriously fine weather with a clear sky,
a bright sun and gentle breeze from the south. There are not such large crowds
of people as on previous occasions, due to the absence of so many at the Thames. Although today is pretty generally observed as a holiday
with many of the business places closed, at the Thames the protection to the claim holders is not taken advantage of and the men are hard at work on the
field. At Tapu the Queen’s Birthday is celebrated
by outdoor sports during the day. In front of the British Hotel
substantial refreshment is provided by the landlord, Mr Sceats, who freely welcomes
everyone on the ground to partake of it.
There are quoits matches, running, jump, and sack races, hurdle races, putting the stone and a half-mile race. Warden Baillie, who is on a visit, contributes towards the prizes which include cash, gold
lockets and gold pins. The quoits match is played for a silver watch.The sports are excellent and the
attendance large. Several
buildings are decorated with bunting and a considerable number of
well-dressed and orderly diggers amuse themselves in various ways, winding up
with a chase after a pig with a greasy tail, which culminates in a fair
stand up fight between two sturdy Britons.
A ring of considerable size is speedily formed by the diggers
and the combatants engage with much effort.
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| Queen Victoria with her grandson, Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, June 1868. |
Politics are now the only talk at the Thames. Mr Buckland’s address is looked upon interest, although he is not thought likely to get the support of
either the miners or the business people. As for Mr Brackenbury, he has never
displayed any special aptitude for political affairs. The Thames is so new a place that the
inhabitants can scarcely be expected to find a candidate of their own.
Building of stores at Grahamstown proceeds with accelerated
speed. There are concerns that the place
will be overbuilt; the general progress is astonishing.
Nothing very startling has happened at Kennedy’s Bay – a large number of men have
left without putting a pick in the ground, somewhat disappointed, having left
good claims at Shortland and Tapu Creek.
At Tapu the Queen’s Birthday is celebrated with
conviviality’s into the night.
At Otahuhu this evening a concert and ball, to celebrate the
Queen’s birthday and in aid of the Digger’s Hospital at the Thames, is
held. But due to either the great
attraction of the Vice Regal ball given by the Governor or the coolness of the weather, leading
settlers do not attend. The programme is excellently rendered and after the concert the hall is cleared and
dancing is kept up till an early hour. There is disappointment at so small an audience, for such a
worthy object as the Thames hospital deserves greater support especially as so many of Otahuhu’s young
men are at the Thames. Mr Allom, conducting the proceedings, says he thinks that as
country settlers are depending so much upon the success of the Thames goldfield
they ought to have patronised the event.
Friday, 29 May
During the past week upwards of 1,600 oz of gold has been
brought up to Auckland by the steamers Tauranga and Midge from the Thames, the Bank of New
Zealand receiving 860 oz, 660 being from the Kuranui, 160 from the Long Drive
and 40 in small parcels. About 100 ozs
is expected up today from the All Nation’s claim. The Bank of Australasia has received between
700 and 800 ozs from the Middle Star, Tookey’s and other claims. Many other claims are now crushing with very
good results.
A party of miners from Shortland including Messrs Hunt,
Barry and Goldsworthy, accompanied by Mr Murdoch of the Bank of New
Zealand, approach the Honorable Major Richard, Commissioner of Customs
in Auckland, with a view of soliciting a reduction in the amount of duty now
extracted from gold. The deputation, who
deserves the thanks of the miners of the Thames, set forth the excessive
charges made and the unfairness of this compared with other gold producing
localities. The result remains to be
seen.
Calendar of prisoners for trial at the Supreme Court Auckland,
commencing 1st June 1868
John Carpenter, per ship Tory in 1847, free, English, Labourer, 46 years, single, Church of England, can neither read nor write, committed March 4, 1868, by Resident Magistrate, Shortland, for stealing from the person.
James Lawlor, per ship Bennetta, 1865, free, Irish labourer, 36 years,
single, Catholic, can read and write, committed May 6, by JP, Shortland, for
stealing from the person.
James Rodgers, per ship Flying
Foam, 1864, free, English, carpenter, 42, married, Church of England, can read
and write, committed May 20, by Resident Magistrate, Shortland, for stealing
from the person.
A building has been erected at Shortland at the corner of
Pollen Street for the Union Bank of Australasia. The building has a 28 ft frontage, the front
elevation is 18 ft, and the height to the apex of the roof is 21 ft. The building is entered by two handsome doors
inside which are a passage and a lobby leading to the managers and gold buyers
offices. The smelting house is to the
rear, 12 ft by 20 ft, and approached by a covered passage. The windows and door sashes are of plate
glass – the windows being surmounted by a cornice, and supported byan ornamental
buttress, the front is topped by an entablature with ornamental brackets
supported by Tuscan plaster.
In the commercial sector many articles of hardware are
scarce, the demand for the Thames diggings having materially reduced
stock. Nails of several sizes are much
needed, although there is a fair supply of all kinds now on the way from
London. The need for all other kinds of goods for the Thames
diggings is causing much improvement in business. Bottled beer, bacon
and hams continue scarce. The demand for
coal is fully equal to supply. Candles are easier, coffee well supplied, chicory scarce,
flour is expensive, Canterbury wheat is available, oats are very plentiful,
malt is scarce, maize is declining in price, there is no barley offering. Hops are in good demand but stocks are limited. Stocks of oilmen’s stores have been
replenished during the week. Sago
continues scarce, starch, salad oil and bottled fruit are all available. Stocks of kerosene have been further increased;
Linseed colzo oil is sometimes scarce.
Rice stocks are very light. The necessity of importing soap is over, first class
Auckland soap is now available. Salt is
scarce and increasing in price, caustic and crystal soda are remarkably scarce
and will remain so until after the arrival of a vessel from England. Several kinds of spirits are almost entirely run out of
stock. Moist sugar the market is fairly
supplied with, loaf and crushed sugars are very scarce. Good Congo teas in half chests – stocks
continue heavy. Languid sales for
tobacco, cigars are somewhat scarce. Wool is now out of season and the market is depressed, none
is offered. Hides and sheepskins are available,
leather –the market is fully supplied with this, tallow – prices somewhat lower
than usual. The demand for bone dust is
almost nil – the season in which it is most in demand is now over. Dried fruit – the market is rather bare of
this, there are no dried apples but currants are overstocked. Pickled salmon is almost a drug in the
market. Starch is plentiful, pickle
prices up, no jams but parcels are on their way. Wines – all kinds fully supplied, there is a
good deal of inferior sherry on the market.
Nothing but the best port is saleable right now.
Avon for Shortland with 2,000 ft timber, 500 bricks,
15 chests tea, sundries
Spey for
Shortland with 9,000 ft timber, 3 packages sashes, sundries
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| DSC 29 May, 1868 |
Satin wood panels and maple stripes.
Saturday, 30 May
Two of the finest machines on the ground, Messrs Clarke and
Kesterman’s, on the Moanataiari, have made a start and there can be little
doubt of their success. Messrs Fraser and Tinne have had orders for no less
than nine machines within the last three months, and Messrs Vickery and
Masefield are also busily engaged in their manufacture. A powerful four stamper battery on the Karaka
creek has been completed by Messrs De Wolff.
A great number of Hamilton settlers are leaving for the
Thames, if the exodus goes on as it does, labour will be dear in the Waikato
next spring, but it will ultimately do much good for the district, as many of
those leaving express their intention, in the event of their making a pile, to
come back and settle permanently in the Waikato.
 | |
Hamilton 1860s
|
The Australasian comments with admiration “Late New Zealand intelligence enables us to congratulate our neighbours on the energy which is laying the sure foundation of an early and active prosperity to these fine islands . . . the efforts of explorers in several parts of Auckland province have been rewarded by the discovery of a productive field in the Thames district . . . nor is the Thames the most likely district of the North Island whose mountainous ranges are still unexplored and possibly some day may be found as auriferous as the highland of Otago or Westland . . .”
The steamer Enterprise, undergoing a complete overhaul for
the winter, is announced to resume her traffic between Auckland and Shortland on
Monday.
Another new steamer
for the Thames trade, the Royal Alfred, is launched from Messrs Beddoes yard on the North Shore. The Royal Alfred is a beautiful paddle steamer of much
larger proportions than the Lady Bowen. She has very spacious fore and aft
cabins, and roomy holds, her saloon being beautifully grained with satin wood
panels and maple stripes and is fitted with stuffed cushions. The saloon will accommodate 20
passengers. Her boiler, which is of
great power, is on the wharf at Sydney awaiting the arrival of the Prince
Alfred, and may be expected at Auckland in about a
fortnight. The Royal Alfred, with a 60 hp
engine, is expected to steam at 14 knots an hour. If it had not been for the prosperity of the
Thames diggings many of the steamers which are now doing a brisk trade would be idle. The Royal Alfred will be completed in about six week’s time.
The Shortland share market reports that in spite of the undoubted richness of a large
portion of the ground, the supply of shares still continues in excess of
demand, but prices in most cases are maintained and continue to improve. The diggings are producing
wonderful results, but money for speculative purposes is most unusually
scarce.
 |
Sketch map of the Tapu-Creek diggings, Thames goldfield, 1867-1868. Surveyed by A. and H. Fisher Bros.
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 69
|
The unfavourable accounts which have been received at Tapu
during the past week from Kennedy's Bay have been most beneficial to the mining community, by teaching them that a bird in hand is worth
two in the bush and the reward of their perseverance has been the uncovering of
a number of fresh gold bearing leaders during the past week Numbers of diggers are arriving back at Tapu
reporting that they could not find the colour. There are now about 700 diggers engaged at various claims. The colour of the gold found at Tapu is
better than at Shortland and worth more an ounce. As yet no crushing machine is erected
although every claim has an abundance of stone ready for the mill.
The Tapu claims generally lie high, from 10 to 12 hundred
feet above sea level. The road is terrific, the first burst is a hill of about
700 feet, and by the time one has breathed freely there is another similar
steep hill to encounter. From a few straggling
tents there is now the appearance of a fine township. Where one trading vessel was sufficient now
two or three are barely sufficient to maintain the demands, several are seen at
anchor in the bay or moored in the creek at the same time. The Clyde, running daily between Shortland and Tapu, affords
an opportunity for Auckland visitors to go to Tapu without going in shore at
Shortland. The Clyde goes alongside, and
after receiving the Tapu passengers, proceeds there without delay. Passengers from Tapu are put on board the
Tauranga which conveys them to Auckland.
The convenience to passengers is obvious, there is no risk of delay, and
time is saved. The Clyde is now
established as a regular trader between Tapu and Shortland and judging from the
amount of patronage she enjoys, seems to be a favourite boat, no doubt owing to
her good natured and enterprising owner.
Fresh stores are being opened at Tapu as fast as the buildings can
be constructed, a large quantity of timber is now on the ground, scattered here and
there all over the township canvas is fast being superseded by wooden
buildings. A fresh spirit has been
infused into the settlement now that machinery is being erected and very few loiterers are to be observed. Labour is plentiful and supplies are well
kept up by schooners and cutters arriving from Auckland. Some articles have been reduced in price. Business has been brisk and numbers of miners have laid in good
supplies. Very good accommodation is to be had at the Tapu hotels. The cooking is undeniably agreeable. Everything is clean and the plates are brought
hot to the table. A bright future is
before this place. There are a great number of tents around the Fitzroy
claim. Building sites have been marked off on the flat, adjoining the mill site and large numbers of
claims have been pegged off. The magnifying glasses, which are so much used at Shortland,
are not required at Tapu at all, as the gold is coarser, brighter and generally in
greater quantities. There is much
distress, however, among many of the miners, by reason of which they have been
compelled to sell. It is expected that
this state of things will not last much longer, as crushing operations will
soon commence and then parties will be able to carry down small quantities, and
get a return sufficient to keep them in the necessaries of life, until other
machines are established in their neighbourhood. The Golden Valley has succeeded on hitting the leaders of
the Golden Point claim – more commonly known as Allen and Hall’s.
Joseph
Cochrane and party have been working on the Mata Creek and have discovered a
large body of stone bearing gold. The
spur on which the reef crops out is a continuation to the north of McIssac’s
hill. The prospectors have obtained
protection for the purpose of going to Auckland to negotiate for machinery. Joseph Cochrane is the brother of the entertaining
auctioneer Samuel Cochrane. Joseph is
also a favourite in Auckland, having tried auctioneering as well. Unfortunately the collapse of the Auckland
economy put an end to his ambitions and in late 1867 he had to file for bankruptcy.
Joseph, an honest, genial and kindly man, made his way to Tapu and a fresh start.
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| NZH 29 May, 1868 |
Wahapu for Shortland with 1,000 bricks.
Sunday, 31 May
At Tapu the Rev David Bruce, Presbyterian, preaches morning and afternoon to large and attentive
congregations, The reverend gentleman
announces that it is the intention of the different churches if possible, to
organise a weekly service, but this would cost money.
Mr D Lundon, landing
waiter at Shortland, writes his report for the fortnight ended 31 May. “The
population of Shortland, including Puriri and Hastings, is estimated at 9,000,
and the number of miner’s rights issued to date is 6,483. The number of miner’s rights is not a fair
estimate of the actual number of miners at work on the ground, for when shares
are sold the parties purchasing them have to provide themselves with miner’s
rights to enable them to hold their shares.
Now that the winter has set in a large number of the claims are being
registered to enable parties to return to their homes for a short time, and
until the necessary machinery in their immediate neighbourhood is completed.”
At Tapu this evening a meeting is held at Mr Bruce’s store
to discuss collecting subscriptions towards building a Presbyterian Church.
A controversial character.
Monday, 1 June
At an early hour this morning the inhabitants and miners of
the Thames are informed by placard that Hugh Carleton, member for the Bay of
Islands, will address them this evening in Captain Butt’s theatre on the
subject of a county separated from the province of Auckland. Mr Carleton is coming at the invitation of the
Thames Improvement Committee which to
date has obtained a mining and property registry office, had the Post
Office hours of delivery conveniently altered, corresponded with the proper
authorities connected with the roads, wharves and tramways, and also with the
Native Lands Court.
The Enterprise, having undergone a thorough overhaul,
resumes her traffic between Auckland and Shortland today.
Otahuhu for the Thames with 10 ton potatoes, 6 sheep
and 20 packages furniture
The Day Spring claim, situated about a mile and a half up
the Waiotahi creek, commences crushing today.
This claim is an example of what may be done by steady perseverance and
energy. The claim was taken up by a
party of Auckland mechanics. As soon as
they struck gold, some six weeks since, they came up to Auckland, bought an
engine, procured a battery of four stampers from Messrs Fraser and Tinne, and
these, together with the bricks and material for erecting their machinery, they themselves picked up
from the beach, a distance of nearly two miles.
Numerous rich leaders are said to have been struck and
several payable reefs discovered at Tapu.
The news causes considerable excitement at Shortland and a rush is
anticipated.
4pm
The Tauranga reaches anchorage and shortly after Mr Carleton
is received by the chairman and secretary of the Thames Improvement
Committee.
7pm
Punctually the doors to Captain Butt’s theatre are thrown
open to the public who fill the house in a few minutes. Besides the members of
the Thames Improvement Committee, Messers Buckland, Rowe, O’Keefe and other
champions of the Provincial Government are seated on the platform. The object of the meeting is to hear Mr Carleton’s
opinion of local self government. Mr
Beetham, chairman, apologises for the short notice given to the miners who live
outside the town. Carleton addresses the meeting at some length and offers his
services towards obtaining local self government for the Shortland district and
the administration of their own revenue.
He urges the miners to apply to the Assembly to separate their district
from Auckland and form it into a county. Mr Carleton’s speech
is considered weak and he himself is regarded scornfully as somewhat a
controversial character. He is opposed by Mr
Richard Matthews (a correspondent for the Auckland Free Press) who is violently
abusive; by William Rowe, who is not much less so, and by Mr O’Keefe and Mr
Buckland.
Resolutions are put to the meeting by members of the Thames Improvement Committee. The first, that the people of the goldfields
ought to have the power of administering their own revenue, being
misunderstood, is lost. One of the miners jumps on the platform and says “Boys, you
did not know what you were voting,” whereupon there is a call to “put the
question again.” The chairman is of
the opinion that he cannot put it again, but an even stronger resolution
differently worded, is moved by Robert Graham and carried by acclamation. Several amendments are
negative, or withdrawn. Resolutions are carried to petition the general
assembly to constitute the Thames district into a county and that local boards be established under the provisions of a County Bill; also, that the Provincial
Government should be requested not to proceed with the construction of a
tramway until its utility has been recognised by the residents.
The meeting is confused and rowdy and a number of gentlemen
present seem thoroughly convinced Carleton’s presence is uncalled for and his
mission bunkum. There are hisses and
yells of disapproval. Carleton wanted to persuade the people of the Bay of Islands
to get out of the hands of Auckland and is perceived as having come to the
Thames to do the same thing. At the close of the meeting, the Thames Improvement
Committee invites Mr Carleton to an entertainment at Butt’s hotel. The viands and wines are of the choicest
character and on a liberal scale. Every
attention is paid to the wants of the guests.
Mr Beetham, Mr Swan and Captain Butt are croupiers. Mr Carleton’s
health is toasted with enthusiasm.
The steamers Midge and Tauranga arrive at Auckland tonight bringing reports of a very encouraging nature from Tapu Creek.
There is a crowded house at Auckland’s Prince of Wales
theatre this evening where the talented and promising juvenile artistes Miss
Katy Foley and Master Johnny Foley are performing. They display a natural aptitude and genius, developed by
careful and judicious training. They sing
comic songs, perform a nautical drama and act.
The boy is intrepid on the wire cord and rivals the most celebrated
acrobats. Katy possesses a voice whose
sweetness and power are most remarkable.
He promises to become an actor or comedian of the finest quality She is likely to take high rank as a
vocalist. She also performs on the wire
cord – unrivalled by any girl of her age in the colonies. At the conclusion of the performance two
envelopes are found on the stage addressed respectively to Miss Katy and Master Foley. Upon opening the
former it is found to contain a valuable gold watch and chain, with a slip of
paper on which is written “Presented to Miss Kate Foley, as a token of
respect, by a few of her admirers, for her youthful talent and ability. Auckland 1 June, 1868.” The other envelope contains a seal skin purse containing £5 for Master Foley and
a similar note. The generous donors are
unknown, but it is surmised that some of the Thames diggers are not altogether
unconnected with the gifts. Mr Foley, on behalf
of his children, replies with thanks.
Any amount of monkeys.
Tuesday, 2 June
The cutter Lizard sails in ballast for Shortland. One of the hands on board, Charles Farrow,
falls overboard in endeavouring to avoid a blow from the boom when jibbing, but
is promptly picked up in the dinghy. In
another mishap the gear of the jib of the steamer Tauranga runs afoul of the
Novelty when starting for Shortland, and
has to be cut in order to prevent damage, both to the Novelty and to the new
steamer Lady Bowen, lying alongside to ship her boiler, which has recently
arrived from Sydney.
Mr Foley’s Royal Menagerie Touring Company, a zoological
exhibition which has lately been in Auckland, is moved to the Thames today. The
animals include very fine specimens of the African lion, a lioness, a leopard,
two Himalayan bears and any amount of monkeys.
 |
| NZ Herald |
 |
| Daily Southern Cross |
The shareholders of the Grand Truck Claim, Waiotahi Creek,
strike gold of a very heavy character.
The claim is next to the Lizard and next but one to the Great Republic,
which lies almost at the junction of the Waiotahi and Karaka
creeks. The shareholders in the Grand Truck have been working their ground since January with indifferent success but
as gold was being obtained in large quantities nearby they resolved to
persevere. They have now struck a gold
bearing leader over three feet thick and the gold can be seen running right
through the stone.
The various iron foundries in Auckland are unusually busy owing to the demand for the construction of crushing machinery at the Thames.
The continued development of the goldfields and the
necessity for increased shipping traffic between Auckland and the Thames has
had a beneficial effect on ship building. There have been two
launchings of steamers during the past month.
The NZ Gazette notes that the court house, Shortland, and Allen and Halls’ store, Tapu, are now polling places for the electoral
districts of Franklin.
A difficulty arises out of a case of gold stealing at the
Thames, which is tried today. The thief
sold the gold to the Bank of Australasia.
The manager of the bank gave the police every assistance when enquiries
were made and handed over the gold to the police that it might be identified by
the prosecutor. The gold was identified,
the thief convicted and the gold was restored not to the bank – but to the
original owner from whom it was stolen.
The bank manager says that this is not the usual custom in other
colonies. It is certainly a hardship
that either the original owner or the bank should lose the money, but no doubt
the effect of the decision will be increased caution in the purchase of gold.
The Bank of New Zealand ships, per ss Taranaki, two boxes of
Thames gold containing 1797 oz, 14 dwts, 12 grs, valued at £4,100.00. The gold will be transhipped at Wellington on
board the Panama steamer for England.
Auckland tradesmen and businessmen now regard their
prospects with more hope and confidence than for many months past. This is largely owing to the absence of
commercial failures and the stimulus of the increasing productiveness and rapid
development of the Thames goldfield.
Mining speculation is still carried on to a considerable extent. Already the yield from the Thames goldfield
has produced good results. The demand
for goods for home consumption is rapidly on the increase while a profitable
field for the employment of surplus labour has almost entirely removed the
commercial depression until recently hanging over the province. Still the want of machinery much retards the
rapid development of the goldfields and the yield of gold has been small indeed
compared to their known richness. Confidence however is firmly established and machinery is being fast
imported or turned out from local factories.
Firewood has become exceedingly scarce, the rates offering
for freight to the Thames district inducing most of the firewood boats to place
them on the line between Auckland and Shortland. The scarcity and high price of firewood will
doubtless induce many to burn coal who would not otherwise do so.
A public meeting of the electors of Franklin is held at the Governor Bowen Hotel, Thames, tonight, having been
convened in the interest of Mr W C Brackenbury whose address is before the
electors. But circumstances
over which he has no control have compelled him to withdraw his name from the
contest against Mr Buckland. Mr
Brackenbury’s name is not on the electoral roll for the district, although with
many others it was sent in for registration in due time. It is with profound regret that he has to
withdraw from the contest.
Another meeting is held this evening in Graham's building regarding the construction of a Presbyterian church at Grahamstown. The Rev David Bruce says that they are to
consider what measures should be taken for providing religious services for the
increasing community at Grahamstown and Waiotahi Flat. One of the first matters to be considered is
the securing of a place for the conducting of divine service. The Reverend had previously secured at sale certain
allotments at Grahamstown which could be held as a site for a church, but
since then Mr Graham has very kindly offered another site in an equally
eligible situation free of rent for 14 years and it was now for the meeting to
say which of these sites should be selected.
Mr Graham’s offer is accepted and a committee appointed to decide on the best possible arrangements for holding of divine service
at Grahamstown.
 |
| DSC 2 June, 1868 |
 |
| NZH 2 June, 1868 |
Wednesday, 3 June
The appalling state of the roads at both Shortland and
Grahamstown provoke a distressing scene. The streets at both places are in very
bad repair, and up some of the creeks the roads are very much worse. A few loads of sea sand on the top of the
clay would greatly improve the creek roads, and give much relief to the poor
horses and bullocks. A team of ten
bullocks are stuck fast in the mud and the poor things are smashed over the
nose, eyes and ears until they are quite stupid. A coloured gentleman, called 'Snowball', is
chief driver and to add to the tortures of one of the bullocks he gnaws its
tail between his teeth. The sledges used
for conveying the quartz are badly constructed for clay in wet weather, as the
bottom pieces are too deep and too narrow and instead of sliding over the clay,
they plough through it.
 |
| DSC 3 June, 1868 |
At
Grahamstown the buildings are so irregularly placed that they look as if
they have fallen from the clouds. Dwellings
are now occasionally to be seen at the very hilltops behind the Thames.
Above the town Gibbon’s machine is going full speed while up
the Waiotahi a machine, based upon the principle of the Chilean mill, with four
edge runners, is being drawn by a horse. Up the Moanataiari a body of men are
at work excavating a site for Smart’s Thames Crushing Company and on the flat
Grahams machine is thudding away. The
Kuranui battery is going full steam, hot water being applied to the one stamper
with the Berdan. Shalder’s machine is suffering from paralysis and Ellis and
Scanlan’s machine is also in a state of palsy, while Goodall’s machine is
enjoying a rest.
A collection of massive machinery from the Great Barrier is
accumulating at the Kuranui. The Ballarat Star, on the Moanataiari Creek, a party of four
men who have been working this claim for
about five months, have sunk two shafts through very hard rock, but without
finding gold bearing quartz. Now
however, when clearing a site for their tent they discover the long sought for
reef within a few inches of the surface.
The claim is bounded by the Carpenters and Clyde on one side and Bendigo
Independent and El Dorado claims on the other.
Avon for Shortland with 4 horses, 2 tons hay, 1 ton
maize, 4 ton flour, 1,300 bricks, 2 tons doors and sashes, 15 cases kerosene,
20 boxes candles and sundries
Whitby
for Shortland with miscellaneous cargo of stores
Julia for Tapu Creek with a full cargo of stores
The botanic beauties of Tapu catch the eye - on the
beach is one of the finest puriri trees that can be seen – it is a great
ornament to the place, as well as providing good shelter from the sun and
rain. There are also at Tapu some
extremely beautiful shrubs and mosses which have not been seen before in the
neighbourhood of Auckland.
 |
Auckland Supreme court 1868
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-2645'
|
The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at Auckland are
opened today, at their new buildings, before his Honour Justice Moore who comments
on the very marked increase of crime which has lately taken place. Auckland, having “turned the corner” shows an
increase of crime nearly two thirds greater then when she was most
depressed. The Thames goldfield has
contributed a little to the criminal statistics of the last three months, but
when the population of the district, temptation to crime and the inducements to
dishonest acquisition are considered, the wonder is rather that more cases have
not been sent up from there.
John Carpenter is charged with stealing 23 banknotes, value
£48 and one pocket book from Peter Guilfoil at Shortland. He is found guilty and sentenced to one years imprisonment. James Lawlor is charged with stealing 2 oz
gold, £4 and two miner’s rights, the property of Alexander Smith at
Shortland. He is sentenced to one years imprisonment. The prisoner hands up a number of
certificates testifying to his good character – the judge comments that it is
lamentable to see a man with such certificates of good character in this
predicament. James Rodgers is charged
with stealing a watch, chain, key and greenstone, the property of James Rotherell, at Shortland. He is sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard
labour.
Midnight
The Tauranga arrives in Auckland with a parcel of between
300 and 400 oz Thames gold for the Bank of New Zealand.
 |
| NZH 3 June, 1868 |
******************************************************************************************************************
Croupier is a historical term for the
assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.
Many thanks to Wanda Hopkins, great granddaughter of Samuel
Cochrane.
You can read more on Wanda's research into Joseph Cochrane
here - https://www.facebook.com/notes/nz-family-social-heritage/a-little-home-grown-detective-work/771271966369393/
Sources
Papers Past
https://www.facebook.com/notes/nz-family-social-heritage/a-little-home-grown-detective-work/771271966369393/
NZ Family &
Social Heritage face book page
© Meghan Hawkes / First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018
Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018 when re-using information from this blog.
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