WDCDistrictPlanReview–BuiltHeritageAssessmentHistoricOverview-Huntly&District

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HuntlyHuntlyhasbeenknownbymanynames:Rahuipokeka(variousspellings),CoalMines,HuntleyLodge,HuntlyLodge,andthen,in1877,simplyHuntly.PriortotheWaikatoWar,Rahuipokekawasheavily-populatedbyMaori,withpa,kaingaandcultivationsalongbothbanksofthisstretchoftheWaikatoRiver.Rahuipokeka(restingplace)‘waswhereNgatiMahutagatheredforgamesanddeliberations’.1Waahi pa, on the west side of the river, has been the homemarae for the Ariki line of the KingMovementsinceatleastthe1890s.Intheearlypartofthe19thcenturyEuropeanvisitorsandtraderstravelledalongtheriver;theCMSmissionswerejustupstreamatPepepeandKaitoteheanddownstreamatMaraetaiandKohanga.Inthe1850sJamesArmitagefarmedashortwaydownstreamatOhinewai.Thepresenceofcoalinthevicinitywasknownforsometimebeforeitwasminedcommercially;Rev.Ashwellreportedlygatheringsufficientcoalfromanexposedfaceforhishouseholdneeds.By1850KupaKupa[Kapakapa,Kupakupa]Mine,acrosstheriverfromHuntly,wasbeingworkedforcoal.FerdinandvonHochstettermadethefirstofficialrecordofcoalinthedistrictin1858.2DuringtheWaikatoWar,governmentsteamerswouldbere-fuelledwithcoalminedfromtheriverbanks.ThecolonialgovernmentusedtheriverduringtheinvasionoftheWaikatoin1863-64,butnomilitaryengagementstookplaceatHuntlyitself.ByDecember1863amilitarycamphadbeenestablishedatRahuipokeka,andinearlyMay1864‘wharebuildingwasbeingpushedonvigorously’andtherewasahospitaltreatingillandwoundedmen.3ThecampwasabandonedbyAugust1864.TheWaikatoSteamNavigationCompany,establishedbyDecember1864,builtawharfontheeastsideoftheriver.4ThelandalongtheeastsideoftheriverasfarsouthastheMangawaraRiveratTaupiriwassurveyedinto50-acreparcelsasgrantsformilitiamenofthe4thWaikatoRegiment.5Onthewestsidethelandwassurveyedintovarious-sizedparcels,mostlyof50acres,andgrantedtoMaoriowners.6Muchofthearea(westandeast)wasswampybutasthelandwasdrainedfarmsweredeveloped,primarilydairying.

Figure102:An1866surveymapofthestretchoftheeastbankoftheriver(northistotheleft)betweenKimihiaandHakanoaLakesshowingthe50-acreallotments,afewreservesandthelineofthetelegraphrunningroughlyparalleltotheGreatSouthRoad.PartofSO400.QuickMap.1DMEClarklettertoMrsRinger,August241978.2http://www.huntly.net.nz/history.html3DailySouthernCross9May1864,p.4.4DailySouthernCross22December1864,p.4.5SO398,400.6SO358.

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AnthonyandMargaretRalphandtheirfamilyshiftedtoHuntlyinc.1867andhadbuilttheCoalMinesHotelbyMay1873.7Alsoby1873AnthonyRalphhadestablishedtheRahupukeka[sic]BrickYardsandwasadvertisingitslease,statingthatitsproximitytotheWaikatoSteamNavigationCompany’swharfmeantthatbrickscouldbedeliveredatanypointalongtheriver.8TheRalphs’oldestsonRobertenlistedinthe4thWaikatoRegimentasasubstitutein1866andreceiveda50-acregrantfromtheCrown.Thelocationofthishasnotbeenverified,andhemayhaveswappedhislandgrantforanother,butitispresumedtohaveextendednorthfromtheRalphStreet-UplandRoadarea.RobertRalphhadminingexperienceandsobeganprospectinghisland,findingathickseamin1870.9RobertRalphmarriedMaryMuirofOhinewaiin1874andacquired200acresinthatarea.10HehelpedestablishtheKimihiacreamery.11AfterAnthonyRalph’sdeathinNovember1873,MargaretandRobertregisteredtheTaupiriCoalMiningCompanytominethecoalontheirlandandmanagedthecompanyandtheirlandholdingsinpartnership.ThepitheadofRalph’sMinewasinthemainstreetofHuntly.Thetownconsequentlydevelopedaroundthecoalminingindustry.

Figure103:‘ThemainstreetatHuntlyduringtheprogressofnegotiations.’AucklandWeeklyNews28January1909,p.9.AWNS-19090128-9-2,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.Formanydecadestransportforfreightandpassengersreliedontheriversteamers,aseventhoughtheGreat South Roadwas surveyed and formed throughHuntly by 1868 itwas usually impassable forwheeledvehiclesandsuitableonlyforhorseandrider.TheNorthIslandMainTrunk(NIMT)railwaylinewasbuiltthroughHuntlytoNgaruawahiaby1877.12AcombinedroadandrailbridgeacrosstheWaikatoRiverwascompletedin1913givingaccessfromthetowntothewesternside.Priortothat,peopleusedapuntorcrafttogetacross.AftertheopeningoftheTainuiBridgein1959theoldbridgebecamerailonlybutwithafootbridgeattached.Abypasstodivertnorth-southtrafficawayfromthemainstreetwasbuiltintheearly1980s.13

7WaikatoTimes3May1873,p.4.8WaikatoTimes4November1873,p.1.9Innes,p.77;NewZealandHerald21October1870,p.2.10Innes,p.78.11WaikatoArgus31October1905,p.2.12More,p.177.13Ibid,p.301.

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Figure104:‘SilentevidenceoftheHuntlystrike:emptycoaltrainsattherailwaystation’.HuntlyHotelisinthedistanceatright.AucklandWeeklyNews28January1909,p.50.AWNS-19131030-50-1,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.

Figure105: ‘The staffof theHuntlyRailwayStation,Waikato’.AucklandWeeklyNews 7November1901,p.7.AWNS-19011107-7-6,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries. In1884MargaretRalphsubdividednearly10acresoflandbetweentheriverandtherailwayintosmallparcelssuitableforresidentialandcommercialdevelopment.Someparcelsweresold,someleased.In1900anotherson,WilliamRalph,acquired15,000acresnearHuntlywhichheproceededtosubdivideintoparcelsofbetween40and1000acres.14

14NewZealandHerald26July1937,p.13.

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Figure 106: ‘Planof subdivisionof portionof Secs 52 and53… forMrsRalph.’ The area shownextends fromapproximatelyTaupiriBridgeRoadtoOnslowStreetandisboundedontheeastbytherailwayline.DP752(part)1884.QuickMap.

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In 1893 a visiting correspondent describedHuntly as ‘a straggling township of some 600 people…[whose]residentsareprincipallydependentonthestapleindustrywhichmadeit.…Huntlyhashadthereputationofbeinga lively township,but… theminerswere,asa rule,of the settledclass,havinghomes and families, and a number of them were not simply moderate drinkers, but pronouncedteetotallers’.15by2013thetownhadapopulationof6,954.16Unusuallyforthetimesandforaminingtown,therewasjustonehotel.Assuchithasalwayshadamonopolyonaccommodationandalcoholicrefreshmentsforlocalresidents,employeesontemporaryprojects,andthetravellingpublic.ThefirstCoalMinesHotelwaslocatedtothenorthoftheHuntlyHotel[EssexArms]site.ItburntdowninApril1875andwasrebuiltonthecurrentsiteandopenagainforbusinessbyJanuary1876.17From1880until1924thehotel,nowtheHuntlyHotel,wasownedandoperatedbyLewisBHarrisandhiswifeLouisa(neeRalph)and,later,bytheirson,alsonamedLewisBHarris.18AfteranunsuccessfulsharefloatbyHuntlyDevelopmentLtdin1927,thehotelwasacquiredbyDominionBreweriesintheearly1930s.The two-storey wooden building has been extended and modified over the decades so that thepremisesconsistnowoftwomaininterconnectedbuildings,datingfromc.1876and1939-40,withthemainfrontagefacingMainStreet.Oneoftheoutbuildings,believedtobethecoolstorefromthehotel’sdays as a ‘40-miler’ distribution centre,maybe theoldest buildingon the site. The changes in thebuilding’sorientationhavereflectedthechangesintransportroutes:fromfacingtheonlyroute,GreatSouthRoad(MainStreet),tofacingthenew,well-patronisedrailwaystationandthenbacktofacingtheroadwhencarsbecamemorecommonandtheroadsimproved.

Figure107:‘ThefirstmotorcarintheWaikato:MrandMrsHHainesatHuntly’infrontoftheeastsideofHuntlyHotel,enroutefromAucklandtoRotorua.AucklandWeeklyNews8May1902,p.12.AWNS-19020508-12-5,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.

15NewZealandHerald13March1893,p.3.16http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-417WaikatoTimes3May1873,p.4;8January1876,p.3.18WaikatoTimes19June1880,p.2.

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TheRalphfamily’sTaupiriCoalCompanyprogressivelysubdividedmoreandmorelandforresidentialandcommercialpurposes.19In1910,forinstance,thecompanysubdivided‘TownofHuntlyExtensionNo.6’,comprising24acresinnorthernHuntlydividedinto76quarter-acre(approximately)sections,andsurveyedthenorthernpartofHakanoaandBaileyStreets.20

Figure 108: Hakanoa Street, Huntly, c. 1910. ½-001752-G, WA Price Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library,Wellington.Afurthersubdivisionandre-alignmentofboundariesinthecommercialareawasundertakenbysiblingsSarahandWilliamRalphin1913.Asurveyplanshowsthebuildingsatthattime,including(fromsouthtonorthandwestofthemainroad)housesinthesouthernstrip,therailwaybridge,threeshops,thehall,postoffice,thePressoffice,thelandingpunt.Ontheeastsideoftheroadonlyafewbuildingsareshown:abutcher’sandbaker’sbutnot thehotelor theRalphMinepithead, thoughRalph’sMinepropertyismarkedattopright.Onthewestsideoftheriver,LouisaJaneHarrispurchased102acresin1889andafurther50acresin1890;thesebecametheheartofa500-acreholdingbackingontoLakeWaahionwhichtheHarrisesbuiltalargehomesteadontheirfarm‘Harrisville’.21By1914LouisaHarrisownedover1000acresinHuntlyWest.22OthermembersoftheRalphfamilyownedadjoininglandandtheminingrightsundertheHarrisland.Underpinnedbythesuccessofthecoalminingindustry,Huntlydevelopedasatight-knitworking-classcommunity.Manyminers came from the South Island’sWest Coast, and thenorthof England andScotland.LocalMaorialsoenteredtheindustryinlargenumbers.

19E.g.DP1012,DP4860,DP7648.20DP6680.21Innes,pp.90-9322Ibid,p.97.

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Figure109: ‘PlanofTownofHuntlyExtensionNo.17’,drawnSeptember1913.Structuresareshownascross-hatchedshapes.‘BNZ’iswrittenbutnotshownasabuilding.DP8976(part).QuickMapEnterprise.TheRalphbrothersownedahall in the townby1891,whichwasavailable forpublicmeetingsandsocials.23In lateMarch 1898 a large huiwas held atWaahi, some 2000Maori gathering there forpoliticaldiscussions;afewdayslaterPremierRichardJohnSeddonarrivedatHuntlybytrain,visitedWaahithenintheeveningaddressedapublicmeetingatRalph’sHall.24TheMiners’UnionHallwasalsoanimportantvenueinthetown.FromOctoberthroughtoDecember1913over500Huntlyminerswentonstrike.InJanuary1914aminoritygroupofworkers,wantingtoendthestrike,formedanewarbitrationistunionwiththesupportoftheTaupiriCoalMineCompany.On6January1914,asthestrikebreakersstartedwork,mountedpoliceclashedwithstrikingminersfromtheolderunion.On14Januarythestrikingminersvotedtoreturntowork.Thenextdaystrikebreakers from the new union seized theMiners’ Union Hall, evicting striking members of the oldunion.25Inanothervainentirely,theLyceumcompanywasshowedmotionpicturesintheMiners’Hallin1915.26

23NewZealandHerald13March1893,p.3.24AucklandStar24March1898,p.5;AucklandStar2April1898,p.5.25http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/huntly-miners-union-hall26MaorilandWorker17November1915,p.7.

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Figure110: ThePremier’s visit toHuntly ‘TheDancingWarriorMaoriBand’outsideRalph’sHall, 5April 1898.HockenCollections,UniversityofOtago,Dunedin.On15November1958theHuntlyWarMemorialHall(alsoknownastheHuntlyMemorialCommunityCentre)wasopenedinWightStreet,adjacenttotheHuntlyDomain.ItwasdesignedbyWhite,Leigh,deLisleandFraserofHamilton.RollsofHonourlistingHuntly’sfalleninbothworldwarswereunveiledinthefoyerofthehall.Previouslythetown’sWorldWarImemorial,whichwasdesigned,built,andlargelyfinancedbymembersoftheHuntlyRSA,hadbeenunveiledbyGovernor-GeneralSirCharlesFergussonon27May1927.The5.5metreobeliskwasoriginallypositionedbetweenthemainstreetandthebanksoftheWaikatoRiver,notfarfromthepostofficeandthetownhall.27ItwasrelocatedtothegroundsoftheWarMemorialHallaroundthetimethenewbuildingwascompleted.

Figure111:‘ThestrikecentreinHuntly:TheMiners’UnionHall.’AucklandWeeklyNews30October1913,p.54.AWNS-19131030-54-1,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.

27http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/huntly-first-world-war-memorial

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Figure112:HuntlySouth,1910s.1/2-001753-G,WAPriceCollection,AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.GovernmenteducationalandcommercialbuildingsHuntlyCourthousewasbuilt,atthesouthendofMainStreet,in1905.ThebuildingwasthevenuefortheenquiryintotheRalphminedisasterin1914.Itwasusedasacourthouseuntil1967,thereafterasgovernmentoffices(untilc.1991),andhasbeenacafésince2006.

Figure113:Thecourthousein1911.WCMHM21,WaikatoCoalfieldsMuseum.

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Huntly’smilitarypostofficewasreplacedbyaciviloneon12August1864.28In1906itwasstillattachedtotherailwaystationbutinSeptember1909anewbuildingwasopened.29ItwasmadeofHuntlybrick,faced inside and out with cement and was considered so substantial that ‘other buildings in theneighbourhood seem dwarfed’. 30 Extensive alterations and additions were made in 1939 and thebuildingwaslaterdemolished.31

Figure114:MainStreet[GreatSouthRoad],Huntlywiththehallandpostoffice.½-001757-G,WAPriceCollection,AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.HuntlySchoolopenedin1879,withtworoomsaddedadecadelater.32Theschoolburntdownin1906butwassoonrebuilt,largerthanbeforeinacknowledgementofthetown’sgrowth.33Thenewschoolbuildingwasextendedin1926.34Anotherschool,HuntlyWest,openedin1956tocaterforthenewsuburbsonthewestsideoftheriver;today ithaseightclassroomsandincludesanearlychildhoodcentre.35AschoolopenedatKimihiain1897butlaterclosed.36AsecondKimihiaSchoolwasestablishedafter1966inTamihanaAvenuetoprovideforchildreninthesuburbsthathavedevelopedinthatarea.37HuntlyCollegewasestablishedin1953inHuntlyWest;itsrollhasfluctuatedfrommorethan800intheearly1980swhenthepowerstationwasunderconstruction,toapproximately350studentsin2015.38

28Drummond,p.2629AucklandStar18September1909,p.5.30WaikatoArgus20September1909,p.2.31NewZealandHerald23January1939,p.6.32More,p.159;Kellaway,p.52.33Kellaway,pp.52,129.34Ibid,p.178.35http://www.huntlywest.school.nz/1/pages/4-our-school36Kellaway,p.116.37http://www.kimihia.school.nz/main.cfm?id=823638https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntly_College

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Figure115:ThepublicschoolatHuntly,c.1910s.1/2-001750-G,WAPriceCollection.AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.TheHuntlySchoolofMineswasestablishedin1913,coveringsubjectssuchascoalmining,landandminesurveying,geology,chemistryandappliedmechanics.39ByAugust1913,32studentshadenrolled,althoughthebuildinghadnotthenbegun.40ItwasnearcompletioninAugust1914andstillinoperationintheearly1950s.41AhostelforminersopenedinNovember1948,withsingleroomsfor100men,plussomeroomsformarriedcouples.42Huntly’scommercialcentregrewwiththeadventoflargestoressuchasFarmers,WilsonandShaw’s,theKosooffamily’s‘TheEconomic’,andYarrow’s.Thetownalsohosteditsownnewspaper,theHuntlyPress (est. 1910), and the LyceumTheatre.By1951businesses includedPlumbingWorks, a funeraldirector,NZSolubleSlagsLtdandtheHuntlyEngineeringandWeldingCo.whichmadefarmmachinery.Therewereseveralretailstores,includingajeweller’s,electricalgoodsandrepairs,andvehiclesales.Inthepost-warperiodtherewereseverallocalsportsclubsforcanoe,bowling,croquet,tennis,andgunenthusiasts,aswellasaHorticulturalandBeautifyingSocietyandfiveMasonic lodges.43Peoplewould come to Huntly from outlying settlements and farming districts for their entertainment,meetings,banking,medicalanddentalappointmentsandshopping.ChurchesandhospitalFirehashadamajorimpactuponthetown’schurcharchitecture.In1893Huntlystillhadnochurches,although services were held by various denominations in the school. The Taupiri Extended CoalCompanydonatedaparceloflandforanAnglicanchurch,StPaul’s,tobebuilt.44ThewoodenchurchwitharoofofkaurishinglesandabelfryopenedinFebruary1894.45Itburntdownon17October1933

39AucklandStar9June1913,p.2.40NewZealandHerald9August1913,p.541NewZealandHerald12August1914,p.11.http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/science-and-technology42Bradbury,1951,p.47.43Bradbury,1951p.47.44NewZealandHerald13March1893,p.3.45NewZealandHerald21February1894,p.6.

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and services were then held in the parish hall across the road. 46 The replacement church wasconstructedinbrickonthesiteofthevicarage,atthecornerofGlasgowStreet,thevicaragehavingbeenmovedtomakeroomforit.47

Figure 116: First St Paul’s Church, c. 1910s. ½-001761-G, WA Price Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library,Wellington.

Figure117:SecondStPaul’sAnglicanChurch,6May1935.4-6051,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.

46AucklandStar18October1933,p.10.47NewZealandHerald9July1934,p.11.

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Huntly’sAnglicanchurchwasnottheonlyoneof thetown’searlychurchesdestroyedbyfire.KnoxPresbyterian Church was dedicated in December 1899. 48 It burnt down in December 1924. TheMethodistChurchopenedonMainStreetinJuly1898,againonlanddonatedbytheRalphfamily.49Itwasalmostburntdownin1916.ThetimberbuildingwaslaterreplacedbyabrickchurchinOnslowStreet, which is now the home of the Huntly Co-operating Church, serving both Methodist andPresbyteriancongregations.ThefirstCatholicChurchestablishedintheHuntlyareawasfoundedbyAntoinePompallier,whosetupamissionin1861-62atNgaruawahiabutvacateditin1863inadvanceofthegovernment’smilitaryforces.AftertheWaikatoWarachurchwasbuiltatNgaruawahia,butitwasnotuntil1903thatapriestwasstationedthere.50Masswascelebratedatthepublicschool inHuntlyuntilthesameyear.On3August 1903 Bishop Lenihan laid the foundation stone for St Anthony’s Church, which opened inDecemberof thesameyear.51The foundationstonewas later incorporated in to the footingof thesecondchurchsituatedtothenorth.Margaret Schlinker(formerlyRalph)hadearlier‘sold’aparceloflandtotheAucklandCatholicDioceseforfiveshillings.ACatholicpresbytery,intheformofatimbervilla,wasbuiltin1909onthesiteofthecurrentchurch.52In1914Margaret’sdaughterSarahRalphgiftedaconventandschooltothechurchandfourSistersofOurLadyoftheMissionsarrivedfromChristchurchtoliveintheconventandteachattheschool.53StAnthony’sConventSchoolopenedforthenewtermon2February1914with62pupils.SarahRalphhadequippedtheschoolwithkauridesksandotherfurnitureandequipment,andhadalsofurnishedandstockedtheconvent.54Attheofficialopeningon22FebruarybyBishopCleary,itwasstatedthatthis was the first time the Auckland Diocese had received from one donor the unsolicited andunconditionalgiftofaschoolwithitssiteandfurniture.BishopClearybestowedanEpiscopalblessinguponSarahRalph.55TheconventinHuntlywasalsoknownasStGenevieve’s.TheschoolparticipatedinthewareffortduringWorldWarI,includingenteringapupilintheQueen’sCarnival.Duringtheinfluenzaepidemicin1918theschoolandroomsintheconventwereusedasahospitalwiththenunstendingthesick.56On20June1931,whilstfiveSistersandtheMotherSuperiorwerelivingthere,thewoodenconventburntdown.57BySeptember1931thefirstdraftofthreesetsofplans for anewconventhadbeenpreparedbyarchitectHenryE.WhiteofAuckland.58The churchbuildingwasmovedtothesouthandtheconventbuiltoverthesummerof1931-32.In1967anewchurchwasbuilttothenorthoftheconventandtheConventofStGenevieveclosedon15January1979.59In1986StAnthony’sSchoolshiftedacrossHuntlytoBaileyStreet,witharollof140pupils.TheoriginalschoolbuildingswereremovedandanewpresbyterywasbuiltinRussellRoad.Theconventisnowprivatelyowned.

48NewZealandHerald18December1899,p.7.49WaikatoArgus28July1898,p.4.50Latta,pp.213-4.51TurangaNgatahi:StandingTogetherp.43.NewZealandTablet,17December1903,p.6.52“ABriefHistoryofNgaruawahia-HuntlyParishes”msonfileWaikatoCoalfieldsMuseum.53“Huntly.StGenevieve’s,Jan.281914”msnotesfromHouseHistoryonfileStAnthony’sParishChurchCentre.54EveningPost4February1914,p.7.55“Huntly.StGenevieve’s,Jan.281914”msonfileStAnthony’sParishChurchCentre;handwrittenmsWaikatoCoalfieldsMuseum.56Notesonfile,WaikatoCoalfieldsMuseum.57EveningPost24June1931,p.10.58Threesheetsoforiginalplans,includingablueprint,areintheWaikatoCoalfieldsMuseumcollection.59Smithp.73;“Huntly.StGenevieve’s,Jan.281914”msonfileStAnthony’sParishChurchCentre

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Figure118: StAnthony'sCatholicChurchatHuntly,ca1910s.Thepresbytery is totherightofthechurch,theconventbehindandtotheleft.1/2-001755-G,WAPriceCollection,AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.In1909alargeconferenceformembersoftheChurchofJesusChristoftheLatter-DaySaintswasheldatWaahi;over500localandvisitingMaoribeingpresent.AMormonchapelwasalreadyatWaahi,butitwastoosmallforthemeetingswhichwereheldinalargemarquee.60ThereisalsoanLDSchurchonRiverviewRoadinHuntlyWest.

Figure 119: ‘The cult ofMormonism inNew Zealand: the big tent inwhichmeetingswere held at the recentcongressatWaahi.Photographer:FHExon,AucklandWeeklyNews,18February1909,p.14.AWNS-19090218-14-1,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.Approval for the establishment of a cottage hospital at Huntly was given in August 1919. 61 ThegovernmentagreedtosubsidisetheWaikatoHospitalBoardtoallowforawomen’swardforurgentmaternitycasesbutfundingremainedanissueandthehospitaldidnotofficiallyopenuntilApril1926.60NewZealandHerald11February1909,p.6.61KingCountryChronicle28August1919,p.7.

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TheHuntlyCottageHospitalandMaternityHomeincludedaccommodationforthematronandnursesandfivewards.Itcost₤12,000andwasdesignedbyWarrenandReidofHamilton.62OnceagainthelandwasdonatedbySarahRalph.63Extensionsand further facilitieswereadded in the1940s; from1995itwasrunbyBirthcareAucklandforabouttwoyearsbutwaseventuallysold.In2006itunderwentrenovationsandbegananewroleasManorViewsHotel.64

Figure120:FormerHuntlyHospital.Huntlywasconstitutedatowndistrictin1908andin1931itbecameaborough.Fromabut1943HuntlyWestwasbeingsubdividedintoresidentialparcels,and200statehouseswerebuilt.HuntlyWestwasinitiallywithinRaglanCountybutin1944itwasofficiallytransferredtoHuntlyBorough.65In1944theboroughboundarieswerealsoextendedtoincludeStarrtownandKimihia.66CoalandclayBy April 1864Waikato Coalwasworking drives situated about halfway betweenNgaruawahia andRangiririand‘about500yardsbackfromthewestsideoftheriver’.67Atramwayonan inclinetookloadedwagonsheldbyadrumandropedowntoachute,thenintoadepotontheriverbank,andfromthereasmallerchutedeliveredthecoalintothesteamer.‘Associatedwiththeminewasacampwithamanager’shouseandfourhousesfortheapproximately30menworkingthereinAugust1864.

62NewZealandHerald24April1926,p.13.63NewZealandHerald26April1926,p.6.64http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/459404/Hill-top-hospital-ity65Vennell&Williams,p.238.66Bradbury,p.47.67NewZealander6August1864p.3.

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Figure121:‘SurveyofcoalminesatKupaKupa’,1865,showstheWaikatoRiverattop(northistotheleft),minersdwellings,oldworkings(centreleft)andworksinprogress(lowerright).Thetramwayisthelinefromtheworksinprogresstotheshoot[sic]ontheriver(topright).AreaistothewestofRotowaroRoad,notfarsouthoftheTainuiBridge.SO1336(part),QuickMap.

In 1870 theWaikato SteamNavigation Company underwent a change of name; the newly formedWaikatoSteamNavigationandCoalMiningCompanyboughttheWaikatosteamboatsandplantandleasedthecoalmines,solvingtheproblemofgettingthecoaltoitsmainmarketbydeliveringitbyrivertoPortWaikato.68ThecompanyminedtheKupakupaMine,laterrenamedWaikatoMine,whichwastakenoverbyRoosein1916.69

TheRalphfamily’sTaupiriCoalMineCompanyexpandeditsoperationstothewestside(andunder)oftheriver,withdrivesandshaftsconnectingtothepitheadinMainStreet.On12September1914,43minerswerekilledinanexplosioninRalph’sMine.Huntly’spopulationatthetimewasonlyabout1000andthelossofsomanymenhadagreatimpact;100childrenlosttheirfathers.TheHuntlyTownBoardlaunchedapublicappealforfundstorelievethehardshipsofthewidowsandfamilies,andcommunities,institutions,businessesandlocalbodiesfromaroundthecountryrespondedwithcontributions.

68NewZealandHerald28May1870,p.2.69Vennell&Williams,p.217

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Figure 122: ‘The Taupiri Extended CoalMine, Huntly’AucklandWeekly News 7 November 1901, p. 7. AWNS-19011107-7-4,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.Thestrongunionswentonstrikefromtimetotimeaskingforbetterandsaferconditions,notablyin1909and1913.Asmentionedearlier,Huntlyminersstoppedworkforthreemonthsduringthe1913generalstrike.70

Figure123:‘SomeoftheunemployedminersfromtheTaupiriCoalCompany’smineatHuntly’AucklandWeeklyNews28January1909,p.9.AWNS-19090128-9-4,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries.In1883 theWaikatoCoalandShippingCompanywas formed; itwasamergerof theWaikatoCoalCompanyandtheWaikatoSteamNavigationandCoalMiningCompany,with itsdirectorsbeingthe

70http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-4

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Hon.FWhitaker,ThomasRussell,JamesWilliamsonandothers.Atthetimethecompanyowned14,202acresonthewestbankplus150acresadjoiningHuntlyrailwaystationandtheTaupiriCoalMine.71AnundergroundminewasopenedatKimihiainabout1887bytheWaikatoCoalCompany,withabout45menemployed.72AnopencastmineopenedatKimihiain1943isstilloperatingonEastMineRoad,andanother,SunnyparkatKimihia,operatedfrom1957to1964.73

Figure124:‘TheKimihiaCoalMine,nearHuntly,Waikato’AucklandWeeklyNews7November1901,p.7.AWNS-19011107-7-5,SirGeorgeGreySpecialCollections,AucklandLibraries. LakePuketirini,previouslyknownasWeaversLake,islocatedwestofHuntlyandisanewlyformedlakedeveloped fromadisusedcoal-minedpit; itwasopened for recreation in2007.TheHuntlyRailwayStationbuildinghasbeenplacedthereaspartofplanstorelocatetheWaikatoCoalfieldsMuseum.LakeHakanoaonthetown’seastispopularforboatingandhasawalkwayaroundit.On the west side, Pukemiro, Glen Afton, Rotowaro,Waikokowai and Renownwere established asundergroundmines.OpencastminingbeganwestofHuntlyduringtheSecondWorldWar.74In1966there were both underground and opencast mines along the branch railway at or near WeaversCrossing,Mahuta,RenownSiding,RotowaroandatGlenAfton.Coal isminedbyopencastmethodsfrom thedrainedportionsof thebedof LakeKimihia (about7milesnorth-east).CarbonettesweremanufacturedatRotowarofromslackcoalbetween1931and1987.HuntlythermalpowerstationisNewZealand’slargestpowerstation,situatedonthewestbankoftheWaikatoRiver.Commissionedin1983,thestationbelongstoGenesisEnergy.Itrunsonlocalcoalandgas,anduseswaterfromtheWaikatoRiverforcooling.75

71NewZealandHerald19February1883,p.8.72NewZealandHerald13March1893,p.3.73More,p.146.74http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-475http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-4

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Figure125:AsketchmapoftheRotowarominingdistrict,showingtheseveralminesinthedistrict.GwynethJonesWhenCoalWasKing,p.28.TheotherimportantnaturalresourceatHuntlywasfireclay.TheRalphswereutilisingtheclayontheirpropertyby1873.Earlyin1893WilliamCollinstookovertheplantusedbytheOnehungaIronWorksforatime,andmadefireandordinarybricks,pipedrainsandtiles,andlargearchedfirebricksforthefireboxesoflocomotives.76IsaacCoatesofHamilton,tradingunderthenameCoatesLtd,usedRalph’ssite from 1904 with newmachinery imported from England, until the clay source ran out. CoatespurchasedCollins’sitewhichhadanamplesupplyofcoal,but involvedmorecartageofcoaltotheplantandofthebrickstothestation,whereasRalphs’brickmakingsitewasadjacenttotherailwayline.77Coatessoldupin1911toaHuntlysyndicate.

HuntlyBrickworks,latertheHuntlyBrickandFireclayCompany(from1911),wasestablishedbyIsaacCoatesofHamiltoninc.1905.Thecompany’sproductsbecamesynonymouswiththetownship.78ThecompanywastakenoverbyWinstonesin1961andrenamedWinstoneRefractoriesin1975.Itisstilloperatinginthe2010sasShinagawaRefractories.79ManybuildingsinthetownwerebuiltfromHuntlybrick,includingtheformerHuntlyHospital(1924-25),theMasonicLodge(1930),andStPaul’sAnglicanChurch(1934),anditisawidely-usedbuildingmaterialthroughouttheregion.80

76NewZealandHerald13March1893,p.3.77Coates,pp154-157.78http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-479More,p.344.80http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-4

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Figure126:‘AviewofCollins’Mine,Huntly,fromwhichsplendidclayisobtainedforpotterymaking’.AucklandWeekly News 1 November 1906, p. 14. AWNS-19061101-14-1, Sir George Grey Special Collections, AucklandLibraries.

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PukemiroProspectingwasunderwayinearnestatPukemiroby1909and,thishavingbeensuccessful,PukemiroCollierieswasformedin1910withsharesbeingadvertisedinJanuary1911.81PukemirowasthefirstcoalsettlementestablishedonthewestbankoftheWaikatoRiver.In1913therailwaylineoverthenewbridgelinkedPukemiro(andnearbyminingsettlements)toHuntly,thegovernmentassistingwiththecostoftherailway.Miningceasedin1967.82In1905aschoolwasestablishedinwhathadpreviouslybeensolelyafarmingdistrict.Itwasenlargedin1950.83

Figure127:PukemiroCollieriesinSeptember1967atthetimeofthemineclosing.PhotocourtesyofJATTerry,reproducedinGwynethJonesWhenCoalWasKing,p.41.

Figure128:‘TownofPukemiro’,subdivisiononbehalfofPukemiroCoalCo.July1912.DP8585,QuickMap.

81AucklandStar14January1911,p.10.82http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-483Kellaway,p.128,203.

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Figure129:AnaerialviewofPukemirotakenon5April1955showsresidentialhousing,thecoalminingareaandfarmlandbeyond.WA-38774-F,WhitesAviationCollection,AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.GlenAftonThesmallsettlementofGlenAftondevelopedclosetoPukemiro inordertoservicetwocoalmineswhichopenedon25July1923‘inthepresenceof2000interestedfarmershareholders’84.ThemineswereownedbytheNewZealandCo-operativeDairyCompany,whichneededcoaltopoweritsWaikatodairyfactories.Thecompanybuiltamodeltown,includingminers’houses,aboardinghouse,schoolandroads.On24September1939,11GlenAftonminersdiedofcarbonmonoxidepoisoningcausedbyaminefire.85ThelastundergroundmineatGlenAftonclosedin1971.86

84Jones,p.25.85http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-486Jones,p.59

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Figure130:RuralsettlementofGlenAfton,Huntlybetween1945-1950.WA-05022-F,WhitesAviationCollection,AlexanderTurnbullLibrary,Wellington.RotowaroLandintheRotowaroareawaspurchasedbytheRalphsafterthe1914disasterinRalph’sMine;theyshiftedplantfromthereandbeganminingatRotowaro.87Asettlementdevelopedfrom1915.In1930theWaikatoCarbonisationfactorywasbuilt theretoprocesscoalslack intoheatingbriquettes.The‘Carbo’,asitwascalledlocally,closedin1987,andisnowlistedasanindustrialheritagesite.

In1979StateCoalMinesannouncedplanstodemolishRotowarotownshiptocreateahugeopencastmine,andby1987alltheresidentshadbeenrelocated.Thiscausedgreatbitterness,asmanyhadlivedtherealltheirlives.Inthe2010stheRotowaroopencastminewasrunbystate-ownedSolidEnergy.88

87Jones,p.26.88http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waikato-places/page-4