Blacks Point

Date: [Circa 1880s to 1912]

By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967

Reference: PA1-o-531

Description: Very clear views of West Coast gold and coal mines (mainly in the Reefton subdivision), and mining towns, taken by unidentified photographers, except for one of "Wondrous Waiuta New Zealand" Jos. Divis Photo (p 27). Views on various roads include the Reefton to Blackspoint Road, Reefton to Westport Road, the Buller Gorge, the Maruia Road alongside the Inangahua River, Progress Road, and fording a river near Progress Mill. Images relating to mines include a winter picture of the old Wealth (of Nations) waterwheel covered in icicles; and gold batteries at various stages of development. Gold mines include the Progress Mine, Wealth of Nations Mine, Welcome Mine, the Mountain Battery at Boatman's Creek, the Blackwater Mine and the Globe Mine. Coal mines include views of Lanky's Creek Coal Mine, and the Lanky's Creek to Energetic coal tramway showing new bridges and coal miners. One photograph (p 9) shows several men "beach combing" for gold on the West Coast. There are a number of articles in The West Coast Times, Otago Witness and Otago Daily Times talking about the success or otherwise of seeking gold by this method in the 1860s to 1880s (see Papers Past paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, search under "beach combing" "west coast") Inscriptions: Album page - "To Messrs E & A Spencer with best wishes from D Turnbull, Reefton, N.Z., 13/10/1911, 2/6/1912" Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark grey cover, entitled "Photographs" in gold lettering; 19.0 x 27.5 cm

From: Consolidated Gold Fields of New Zealand Ltd. Gore Porter Plans Collection.

Reference: MapColl-CGF/JB299

Description: Quantity: 1 map(s) Surface Site Plan. Physical Description: Cartridge Paper 48cm x 38cm

Date: 2 Oct 2006 - 02 Oct 2006

From: Hidden Treasure mining on the Reefton goldfields oral history project

By: Johnston, William James, 1920-2012

Reference: OHInt-0850-02

Description: Interview with Bill (William James) Johnston, born Blacks Point, Buller, in 1920. Mentions his father, a miner, did not want him to work underground and none of his peers followed their fathers into the mines. Refers to the economic impact of gold mining on family life in Blacks Point. Mentions that local children all had gold claims in the 1930s. Recalls the 1929 Murchison earthquake and how miners underground did not feel it. Talks about quartz gold mining around Blacks Point in the 1930s, the quartz reefs having been distorted by earthquakes, the stampers, and assaying for gold. Discusses the aerial ropeways, mercury plates, cyanide tanks, and the introduction of water-driven drills. Refers to amalgam being washed off the mercury plates into creeks and the Inangahua River being a "sludge channel" with the cyanide affecting trout. Comments on miners' wages, the price of gold in the 1930s, and the Globe Mine closing during the Second World War because of a shortage of miners. Refers to gold being stolen by miners. Discusses the colourful names of mines in the region. Contents: Accompanied by photocopy of project list of references (2 p.) Interviewer(s) - Helen Bollinger Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015469 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 0.58 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5601. Accompanied by small colour photograph of Bill Johnston (2005) Search dates: 1920 - 2006

Date: 22 Jul 2003 - 24 Jul 2003

From: Hidden Treasure mining on the Reefton goldfields oral history project

By: Watts, William Edward, 1935-

Reference: OHInt-0850-06

Description: Interview with Billy Watts, born in Reefton in 1935. Talks about growing up in Blacks Point, the basic living conditions, and after-school fishing and hunting activities. Mentions family vegetable gardens and cows grazing lawns. Refers to social activities in Blacks Point and making their own entertainment. Details the introduction of electricity to the area and helping wire up houses in the 1950s. Comments that Blacks Point emptied in the 1960s when coal mining declined, and 1968 was a black year for Reefton when State Coal Mines shut down. Discusses alluvial and reef gold and how alluvial prospecting led to reef exploration. Details the history of gold mining in the Blacks Point and Reefton area. Describes how mining equipment was taken inland and across rivers, and the use of steam (coal) and water power. Comments on the development of mining techniques from 1870 to 1920 and the histories of local mines. Talks about methods of sinking shafts, and about aerial ropeways linking mines and stamping batteries. Refers to compressed air drills, the dust in confined spaces leading to miners' phthisis or silicosis, and the introduction of water cooled drills reducing silicosis. Talks about chemical processes with mercury or cyanide used to separate gold from crushed rock. Mentions environmental accidents with toxic materials and the Inangahua River being regarded as a sludge channel. Refers to theft of gold at mines and holdups of alluvial miners and payrolls. Describes pre-European travel around Inangahua and a Maori garden at Inangahua mentioned in Thomas Brunner's journal. Mentions the few Maori residents during the 1930s and a Chinese settlement near the Golden Fleece battery. Interviewer(s) - Helen Bollinger Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015473 - OHC-015476 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 3.29 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5605. Accompanied by a colour photograph of Billy Watts and the winding engine at Big River (2000) Search dates: 1935 - 2003

Date: 1940 - 2009

Reference: Eph-A-SCHOOLS-B-1940/2009

Description: Includes: Baradene College of the Sacred Heart. Centennial music concert, 22 August 2009. Programme Belmont School presents "Reach for the rainbow". 2004. Programme Bethlehem School. Official opening of new classroom block by Right Hon. Walter Nash. 21 November 1959. Programme Blackball School 75th jubilee celebrations 27-29 March 1970. Programme Black's Point School eighty-fifth jubilee 1876-1961. 29 September - 1 October 1961. Souvenir programme Brandon Intermediate School. Brandon 77. "If you sell yourself to the Devil"; rock opera. Music by Chris Norton, Composer in Schools for 1977. Programme Branston Intermediate School. official opening by Minister of Education Honourable B E Talboys. 1 May 1971. Programme Brooklyn School. Souvenir jubilee programme 1883-1949 Brooklyn School centennial parade 1983. Cyclostyled flier Brooklyn School cushion concert 1991. Programme Brooklyn School. School handbook and directory 1999 Burwood School jubilee 1872-1947. Celebrations October 1947. Programme Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Pamphlets and fliers, sizes varying up to 240 mm.

Date: April 1986-February 1987

From: Electricity Corporation of New Zealand: Photographs

Reference: PA1-q-1239

Description: Colour proof sheets showing power stations, dams, and surrounding areas, as well as other images related to electric power production in New Zealand. Includes images of the salmon hatchery at Lake Coleridge, celebration of the centenary of electricity in Reefton, trainees at New Plymouth, scenic views of various locations in Canterbury and Otago, and portraits of Mary Ronnie and Peter O'Connor, who were contracted to research and write the history of the Electricity Department. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 album(s) 52 sheets. Physical Description: A4-sized black PVC-covered ringbinder containing plastic pockets holding colour photographic proof sheets. Top right front cover and spine have labels with sheet numbers; spine also has a label indicating colour prints ('COL').

Date: [193-?]

Reference: 1/1-004433-G

Description: Photograph of the township of Blacks Point, by the Inangahua River, Buller district, West Coast. Photograph taken circa 1920s. Photographer unidentified. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative

Date: [1910s]

From: Price, William Archer, 1866-1948 :Collection of post card negatives

Reference: 1/2-001898-G

Description: View of the gold-mining settlement at Blacks point, on the Inangahua River, 4 km south-east of Reefton. Photograph taken by William Archer Price Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - Black's point. No. 391.E Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 4.5 x 6.5 inches

Date: [Circa 1900s]

By: York Studio (Wellington N.Z.); Beattie, John Watt, 1859-1930; Muir & Moodie (Firm); New Zealand. Tourism Department; Dutch, F W, active 1900-1906; Bateman, J K, active 1945

Reference: PA1-o-035

Description: Album of views of Hobart, Australia, and of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Taken by a number of different photographers, some unidentified, but those identified include the York Studio (Christchurch), John Watt Beattie (Tasmania), Muir and Moodie (Dunedin), and the New Zealand Tourist Department. The New Zealand images range from Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri in the south, to the Rotorua area in the north. Inscriptions: Album page - "Presented to the New Zealand Government by J.K. Bateman, Esq., 12 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1, 10 October 1945" Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Provenance: Donated by J K Bateman, London