Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 18, June 1974
By C.W. MALCOLM, B.A.
I was asked by our Editor if I would undertake the compilation of our district's chronology so have been through all our Journals - a task full of interest. What a debt we owe to our Contributors! Further research involved some months of toil, groping through the musty files of the "Weekly News" and "N.Z. Herald" stored in the Institute Library at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This sounds exciting but one has to try it to realise how tedious the turning of old pages may soon become!
Note by Ed. - We can vouch for the above in connection with the valuable old "Thames Advertiser" and our own "Gazette", but tender our special thanks to Mr. Malcolm. It is fitting that we should review our local progress in relationship with the expansion of settlement of N.Z. as a whole. Hence we list first the important events which preceded the major one for Ohinemuri - "The Opening of the Goldfield in 1875".
PRE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT |
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850 - 1000 |
Discovery of New Zealand by Kupe. |
|
About 1100 |
Advent of Toi People. |
|
About 1150 |
Arrival of the "Fleet". |
|
1350- |
"Arawas" took over Hauraki. |
|
About 1560 |
Infiltration of "Tainui" people. "Ngati Hako" round Firth of Thames. |
|
1575 - 1650 |
Conquest of Hauraki by "Marutuahu" people. (Tainui). Ngati-Maru, Tamatera, and others. |
EARLY IMPORTANT EVENTS |
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1642 |
Abel Tasman discovered and named New Zealand. |
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1769 |
Arrival of Capt. Cook - Mercury Bay and Thames River. |
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1795 - 1800 |
Timber Ships and Run-away Sailors. |
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1820 |
Rev. Marsdon (Missionary) visited Paeroa. |
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1821 |
The Fall of Totara Pa (Heart of Hauraki). |
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1833 |
Puriri Mission Station established. |
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1839 |
Joshua Thorp purchased land near Coromandel. L.A. McCaskill & others - Timbermill at Hikutaia. |
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1840 |
Treaty of Waitangi signed. |
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1841 |
(Auckland became Capital of New Zealand). |
|
I842 |
Joshua Thorp & Family settled at Paeroa, near Puke Bridge. |
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1848 |
Donald McCaskill & Family settled at Hikutaia. |
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1852 |
Discovery of Gold at Coromandel. |
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1853 |
Captain A.J. Nicholas - Trader on Waihou between Matamata and Thames. |
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1860+ |
White Settlers round coast of Hauraki Gulf (Miranda, etc.) |
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1863 |
Waikato War. (Maori King Movement). |
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1864 |
War at Tauranga. (Missionary Difficulties). |
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1865 |
Sawmill at Turua - later Bagnall’s. Wellington declared Capitol [Capital – E] of New Zealand. |
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1867 |
Opening of Thames Goldfield. |
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1868 |
Rev. V. Lush visited Paeroa with James Mackay, who began negotiations with Ngatitamatera for opening of Ohinemuri for Gold Mining. |
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1869 |
Asher Cassrels set up Trading Station at Paeroa. |
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1870 |
John Buchanan purchased land at Tirohia. (The river the only highway). Flour Mill established near Pai-o-Hauraki Meeting House. |
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1872 |
1st Postal service (uncertain) to Austin’s Hotel. Shipping increased (always with tide). Hopeful Prospectors "camped" at Paeroa. |
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1872 |
Henry Alley purchased part of McCaskill’s Grant at Hikutaia. |
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1874 |
James Mackay conferred with very large Maori gathering at Whaketiwai [Whakatiwai – E]. |
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1875 |
New Landing Stage erected at Wharf Street, Paeroa. |
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12-2-1875 |
Signing of Deed of Cession at Meeting House. |
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27-2-1875 |
Sale (by Auction) of Paeroa leasehold sections surveyed by Alfred Thorp, and held by Russell & Jackson (Solicitors) |
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1-3-1875 |
Six Steamers left Thames for Paeroa. |
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2-3-1875 |
Ohinemuri Goldfield declared open at Mackaytown. Issue of Miners Rights and rush to stake Claims at Karangahake and Waitekauri. |
(to be Continued) [see Journal 19: Paeroa - A First Chronology (Part 2) - E].