Waihi Borough Council Diamond Jubilee Booklet 1902-1962
Over 100 years ago a venture was promoted by two families, the Haszards and the Morpeths, who built a brig to bring them from Canada to New Zealand. Many of their descendants have been closely identified with the Goldfields, both the Morpeth family and the Haszard brothers, Harry, Norman, Fen and Reg, and their families.
Fen was probably the best known, the whole of his adult life being spent in the Ohinemuri County until his death in 1949. He joined his elder brothers in the firm of Haszard and Johnston, Mining Engineers and Surveyors at Thames in 1896, the firm having as many as six to eight survey parties in the field at one time. They later surveyed and named many streets in the Ohinemuri towns.
When Norman, Harry and Reg Haszard were appointed overseas, and Walter Johnston became fully employed with the Waihi Coy., Fen took over the Waihi practice. Here he married Miss Kenrick and they raised a family of sons — Harry (Waihi), who has three sons, Moore (dec., Waihi), two sons and a daughter, Clive (Auckland), Noel (dec.), David (Waihi) two sons, and Tony (Auckland).
The whole Coromandel Peninsula is identified in the hundreds of plans etc., that had their origin in Fen Haszard's drafting room, and there is scarcely a spot that did not fall to the measure of his transit theodolite and hear the numbering call of his chainmen.
A good shot, a good fisherman and a keen golfer he left a legacy of stories for those he played with, principally round the old nine-hole course that wound round Hollis' bush. Never a good player, he scorned the innovation of steel-shafted clubs, and never used a wood from tee to green. Perhaps the richest picture of his game is in Tad Morpeth's description of "Fen Haszard etching his way round the course in a series of loops and pot hooks!"
Reg. Haszard returned to New Zealand from Chile with his wife and son, Gerald, who has made wonderful improvements on the farm at Beach Road, where he has continued to live since the death of his parents.