Friday 17 November 2017

Turning First Sod Railways and Tramways Auckland Province NZ - Celebrations and Song

Rotorua Railway at Tukerenga - near spot of original Railway Survey Camp of Henry Roche and assistants, who saw eye witness of Mount Tarawera eruption 1886 from here  - photo Chris Ball 2009

Saw an article end of July 2016  in the Hauraki Herald, about the sod being turned for a new Council Library at Paeroa. Back in March 2016 according to a past newspaper, karakia/prayer and sod-turning ceremony officially launched construction of the Kopu to  Pukorokoro Hot Springs- Miranda  extension of the Hauraki Rail Trail. ( not that any railway had ever got properly completed on this stretch.)  Seems " first sod turning" have been busy occasions in 2016 , in local body election year, for local mayors and councillors :- a new subdivision at Ngatea; a Chinese owned ice cream factory at Kerepehi. Now, just over a year later, in November  2017, they are due to open the Kopu to Miranda extension of the Hauraki Rail Trail. Another opportunity for ceremony and celebration.

Pukorokoro Hot Springs ( formerly )Miranda Hot Springs and pools at  Pukorokoro- Miranda pool developed by Beddie Family and said to be largest thermal swimming pool in the Southern Hemisphere.Near the new
Kopu to  Pukorokoro Hot Springs- Miranda  extension of the Hauraki Rail Trail.
 
This photo courtesy -  Swimming pool, Miranda, Firth of Thames, Auckland. Ref: WA-79926-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22448227


All this sod turning, got me to thinking about back, when railways and tramways were first constructed, in the Auckland Province - the beginning being back in 1860. Then railways was the new technology of that era. For Auckland Province the occasion of the turning of the first sod marked an important milestone in the locality or community. First sod turning was also  an important occasion for those early railway engineers and construction labourers ,apart from the dignitaries and local people attending who generally also saw it as a milestone. Railways like steamers had occasions to mark the official “launching”. At these occasions speeches  flowed and the refreshments and company were enjoyed.

 The first of these was the first sod of the Waihoihoi Tramway, a tramway connecting the Waihoihoi coal mines ( Sir John Logan Campbell a director), with the sea at Slippery Creek, near Drury, Auckland. James Stewart, a civil engineer newly arrived to Auckland, designed this tramway, the first of many railways and tramways , he oversaw design and construction of in the Auckland Province.

Photo about 1860 - 1869 Showing the residence, general store, bakehouse and Post Office (run by Mr and Mrs J Middlemiss) opposite the Anglican Church at Drury. There is a poster advertising the services of photographer Charles Burton Hoare on the front of the building nearest the camera. Photo courtesy
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 7-A526' 
Opening two years later amid ceremony and celebration, the Daily Southern Cross, reporting on the Waihoihoi Tramway, wrote:- 

Daily Southern Cross 6 May 1862 Page 4 courtesy Papers Past National Library New Zealand


The very first railway of the Auckland Province was the, at first, ill-fated Auckland Drury Railway with Branch line to Onehunga. The first sod turning ceremony was held in Mr Dilworth's paddock, Newmarket on 16 February 1865. With three marquees set up and an estimated group of 200 people, Provincial Superintendent Mr. Graham having turned the sod declared the railway commenced. Construction ground to a halt in the beginning years of 1867.

First sod of the Waikato Railway (Mercer – Ngaruawahia) turned at Ngaruawahia on the townside of the Waikato River on 10 January 1874 by Hon. Superintendent Mr. John Williamson, Esq. A thistle, shamrock and rose was placed upon three sods before it was turned. (representing the nationalities of those who were to be involved in this railway’s construction)A number from Thames had enrolled in the Engineer Militia and were very much involved with the formation and construction of this railway ( see   Thirty years later a song  about the flower emblems was published in the Otago Witness:-

Otago Witness  29 June 1904 Page 90 courtesy National Library New Zealand        
 
First sod turning of the Kaipara Railway (Helensville – Riverhead line  ) took place  at Harkins Point 31st August 1871 by Hon. Deputy Superintendent Mr. Joseph May, Esq. It was reported that visitors arriving by steamer were greeted by a Maori Welcome, followed by many speeches led by Wiremu Rewiti. Following a luncheon the visitors travelled home via the steamer.

Locomotive from the Kaipara Line at Helensville. Locomotives back then had names - two of these on this line were “Schnapper" and "Kaihu"- photo March 2011 courtesy Chris Ball



The Thames Waikato Railway had first sod turning two ends. The first held at Thames on 21 December 1878 saw the first sod turned by Sir George Grey, the then Prime Minister. The other, the Hamilton end at the end of April 1879. At Thames  the little steamer Ruby bought Sir George Grey and party ashore from the New Zealand government steamer Hinemoa. It is said that 500 school children sun the anthem " My Own New Zealand home" penned by John Grigg - music shop owner, and who taught singing to schoolchildren at district schools along with establishing the Thames Choral Society.

A year later the Nelson Mail published a song said to be from Thames Electors.


Nelson Evening Mail 8 September 1879 Page 2 courtesy Papers Past New Zealand National Library

Twenty years later at the opening of this railway, Thames newly elected mayor, Mr. Greenslade was presented with a silver casket containing a piece of the first sod.

Casket First Sod - courtesy family photo collection

Also in 1879 the first sod of the Kamo Whangarei Railway turned at Whangarei on 1st March 1879 by Sir George Grey.

Whangarei from the heights  photo February 2014 - courtesy Chris Ball

Waiorongomai Tramway, designed by civil engineer James Stewart and built by Piako County was up up up and down with steep inclines on the slopes of Mount Te Aroha.

Waiorongomai Tramway built by Piako County Council - photo 2009 courtesy Chris Ball
  
First sod of the Rotorua Railway (Morrinsville – Rotorua) turned at Rotorua on 24 February 1887 by Petera Te Pukuatua, assisted by three other chiefs -Paora Te Amohau, Ngakuruhuru, and Urumutu,  It was said school children sang the National Anthem, and a banquet took place at night at Tamatekapua, Ohinemutu. After this railway was completed finally, a cairn was placed near  Rotorua  lake side which carried the names of each and everyone involved in its survey, construction and completion of the permanent way. ( cairn now disappeared in 2017).

First sod of the central section North Island Main Trunk Railway was turned at Ponui on 15th April 1885. The central section was to be Marton to Te Awamutu a distance of approximately 210 miles. Finally in 1908 the two rail heads met and there was a through connection all the way Wellington to Auckland - what became known as the Main Trunk Line.

Members of the Te Awamutu Cavalry at the southern bank of the Puniu River. Beere, Daniel Manders, 1833-1909 :Negatives of New Zealand and Australia. Ref: 1/2-096177-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23080523
 
The photo above taken on 15 April 1885 at the first sod turning was taken  Daniel Manders Beere. Beere a civil engineer had had much involvement with the survey and construction of both the Auckland Waikato and Thames Waikato railways.

Back up to Northland area A local brass band turned out on 29 November 1899 at Kawakawa to mark the occasion of ceremony at Kawakawa. First sod turning for a railway extension to Whangarei.

Back to Hauraki Area and the Thames Waikato railway. With a very large gold mine at Waihi and one of the largest  industrial  processing plants in Australasia by the turn of the century - the Victoria Battery - clamours came for a railway from Paeroa to Waihi. The Paeroa Waihi Railway saw this occasion take place near the Crown goldmine, Karangahake on 2nd March 1900. Sir. Hon Joseph Ward, then newly appointed Minister of Railways turned the first sod. Attended also by the Prime Minister Richard John Seddon. A banquet was held at Paeroa afterwards.

Into a new century and new technology - electric tramways. The first sod of the Auckland Electric Tramways was turned on 1 August 1901. The Thames Star reporting the event luncheon , the next day wrote, quoting Mr. Hansen:-

 "When I awoke yesterday morning it was raining hard, but I did not mind, for I felt 'that the angels were weeping with joy fit the commencement of the work of laying the Auckland Electric- Tramways." ( Thames Star  2 August 1901 Page 2)

Mr. Hansen was Paul Hansen, Managing Director of the Auckland Electric Tramway Company.

Paul Hansen, Auckland Electric Tramways Ltd centre front holding the logo  symbol - a lucky horseshoe - family photo collection

Although seeing the successful beginning of Auckland Electric Tramways Ltd , neither Paul Hansen nor James Stewart Civil Engineer ( the gentleman with the flowing beard in photo) saw the Auckland City Council takeover of the electric tramway company in  July 1919. Hansen involved in electric tramways until April 1916,  was released after December 1919 where had been interred ( for parentage and birth ) as a  WW1 alien prisoner - of -war  at Motuihe Island. Stewart died in February 1914 ( three years after retiring from the Auckland Electric Tramways).

Reference Source:
  • Leitch , David and Stott, Bob, New Zealand railways: the first 125 years, Heinemann Reed, Auckland, 1988
  •  Neil, H. J. Hansen and F. J. 1992. Tracks in the North . Auckland.
  •  Sheffield, C.M., Men Came Voyaging, Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd., 1963.
  •  Stafford, D.M., THE FOUNDING YEARS IN ROTORUA – A History Of Events To 1900, Ray Richards and Rotorua District Council, 1986,
  •  New Zealand Herald  6 September 1871 Page 3
  •  New Zealand Herald  16 April 1885   Page 4 
  •  Thames Star 2 August 1901 Page 2
  •  Family papers





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