Transportation - New Zealand - West Coast Region

Date: [ca 1880s-1890s]

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939

Reference: PA7-51-08

Description: Shows a group of men standing on a pontoon on the banks of the Buller River near Lyell. Their horse and carriage is on the road waiting to be ferried across the river. Photograph taken by James Ring in 1880s-1890s Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom centre - Lyell punt on the Buller, NZ. 438 J.R. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: 140 x 205 mm

Date: [Circa 1880s-1900s]

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939; Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.); Lock, Henry Thomas, active 1885-1910?; Martin, Josiah, 1843-1916; Tyree Brothers (Firm)

Reference: PA1-f-013

Description: Views of New Zealand taken by various photographers including the Burton Brothers, Tyree Brothers, James Ring, Josiah Martin, and Henry Thomas Lock. Includes images of flooding in Blenheim, and a wire cable tram across the Taramakau River (West Coast). Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Red cloth bound folio album, 415 x 300 mm

Date: 17, 31 Mar 1996 - 17 Mar 1996 - 31 Mar 1996

From: Haast oral history project

By: Nolan, Desmond Joseph, 1920-2001

Reference: OHInt-0419/01

Description: Des Nolan was born in Hokitika in 1920. Describes how his paternal grandparents arrived in Jackson's Bay from Ireland. Comments that the community was a `fiasco' and they moved to Okuru. Recalls growing up in the homestead there, his father's vegetable garden, eating wood pigeon, and his first schooling at home being taught by his cousin. Recalls fishing and playing music for entertainment. Describes high school education at St Kevin's in Oamaru. Recalls riding out to Haast on a horse and then going by bus and train to Oamaru. Mentions that prior to this he had been out of Haast once to Hokitika on the `Gael' (boat) to go to the dentist. Notes that the `Gael' came up the Okuru River about every two months. Mentions that mail was by pack horse every fortnight and the priest and minister came every few months. Comments on trips made over the Paringa Saddle when people were sick and had to leave the area. Mentions that Mrs Nolan and Mrs McPherson helped with births. Comments on the difficulty for women moving in to the area. Describes changes with the air service which meant that conditions such as appendicitis were no longer so dangerous. Mentions Dr Jean McLean. Describes meeting and marrying Eileen in Hokitika and their honeymoon in Christchurch. Mentions movies once a week at Haast and occasional dances. Describes cattle farming as their main livelihood. Discusses the cattle being driven along the Paringa Track to market. Describes mustering. Mentions cattle were originally driven to Whataroa and later to Cromwell. Mentions the butter and cheese factory, cheesemaking and their 160 cows. Describes the difficulty of weather conditions and drownings in the area. Mentions the local roadmen and swaggers during the Depression. Describes the need to be a jack of all trades. Mentions the steam engine which ran the sawmill. Discusses local settlers including the Cron family, Donald and Jimmy McPherson and the Harris family on the Turnbull River, the Nisson family, and Mrs Cowan at the Okuru store and post office. Recalls Arawata Bill. Describes the beginning of the whitebait industry and his father's purchase of canning machinery in Australia. Recalls catching 130 kerosene tins of whitebait one day in 1944. Discusses the `whitebait wars', learning to fly and flying whitebait out for a number of years. Mentions his Tiger Moth and Miles Messenger aeroplanes. Describes stopping flying in 1970 after the road went through. Mentions that his wife Eileen nursed in Hokitika, ran a whitebait buying business and a motel in Okuru after the road went through. Comments on the benefits of the road. Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2905.

Date: 16-17 Dec 1995 - 27-28 Jan 1996 - 16 Dec 1995 - 28 Jan 1996

From: Haast oral history project

By: Buchanan, Henry John, 1917-1997

Reference: OHInt-0419/03

Description: Henry Buchanan was born in Runanga in 1917. Recalls living in Ikamatua where his father trammed for the sawmiller A R Wallis. Mentions their shift to the Turnbull River in 1930 where his father cut timber for Mr Wallis, had a farm and built a sawmill at Okuru. Describes working for his family on a gold claim on the north Haast beach, growing vegetables, having dairy cows and making butter. Recalls other food eaten including wood pigeon, ducks and some beef. Recalls rowing from Big Bay for a dance and riding by horse to Haast and Jackson's Bay. Mentions fording rivers and going by the tide. Talks about mail brought in by pack horse and a launch between Jackson's Bay and Okuru. Comments on the beginning of the aeroplane service and being able to get emergency service when needed. Notes that previously when people were sick it had taken three or four days to get them to Paringa by stretcher. Mentions accidents in the area. Comments on Dr Jean McLean flying down from Hokitika each fortnight. Describes post offices at Okuru, run by the Eggeling family, at Upper Okuru, by the Nolan family, at Haast, by the Cron family and at Huhuka by the Harris family. Mentions Betty Eggeling was the first woman to drive through Haast Pass. Talks about marrying Mina McCrae at Greymouth and their honeymoon in Nelson. Describes life with radio and no television. Describes beginning a fishing venture about 1950, buying a freezer, starting whitebaiting and a `whitebait war' with the Nolans. Describes operating boats and an aeroplane while whitebaiting and crayfishing. Discusses fights about air space with Myrtle Cron, the airways agent at Haast. Mentions that Ivy Cron operated the ferry across the Haast. Notes that West Coast Airways began operating about 1930 and discusses weather problems and flying. Recalls deer stalking full time from 1955 to 1960, a venison factory built in Greymouth in the 1970s and a mussel farming venture in Marlborough. Discusses other work he has done including on the Haast aerodrome, goldmining, scrubcutting for W D Nolan in Cascade, droving cattle out to Whataroa, working on the road from Makarora and from Waiatoto to Okuru and being manpowered into the sawmill at Ikamatua. Notes that the Government gave subsidies for gold mining during the Depression. Talks about the Cowl and Harris families and mentions his mother remarried Joe Harris. Mentions camps at Jacksons Bay, Okuru and Haast and roadmen Joe Driscoll and Jack Farrell. Talks about brothers and sisters Ted, Bill and Myra Buchanan. Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2897.

Date: 25 Apr 1996

From: Haast oral history project

By: Cowan, Bernard Homersham, 1921-2003

Reference: OHInt-0419/04

Description: Bernard Cowan was born in Christchurch in 1921. Gives details of his family background. Mentions his mother met his father in Christchurch and went to live at Okuru. Mentions their farm was between Waiatoto and Arawata. Discusses their income from cattle and home made butter. Describes how his brother died when he was seven and his father was killed in 1935 when Bernie was fourteen. Describes attending school at the Nolan's household school. Talks about the other children and teachers. Recalls being carried out on a stretcher on the Haast-Paringa cattle track with appendicitis when he was twelve. Mentions his grandmother went with him. Recalls a difficult trip back from Hokitika, where he had been visiting his mother in hospital, in the boat `Elsie' as a nine year old. Recalls no hot or cold water during the Depression, eating wood pigeons and fish and having difficulty paying bills. Mentions his sister was educated at Hokitika and was training to be a nurse until the death of his father. Describes meeting and marrying Myra Roberts and getting a job with the Public Works Department (PWD). Recalls working at the aerodrome at Mussel Point and on road building. Comments on how the air service saved people's lives. Describes selling deer skins while working for the PWD. Describes selling the farm in 1947, buying a truck to cart gravel and having five trucks working at one time. Describes whitebaiting and selling the whitebait and a crayfishing venture with his son John. Discusses crossing rivers. Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2898.

Date: [ca 1880s-1890s]

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939

Reference: PA7-51-16

Description: Shows a team of horses and coach crossing the Otira River whilst in flood. Photograph taken by James Ring in 1880s-1890s Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom centre - Crossing Otira River N.Z. 1020 Ring Photo; Backing board verso - centre - Cowan Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: 205 x 273 mm Provenance: Source/donor - School Publications Branch, 22 Mar 1954

Date: ca 1890s

By: Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.)

Reference: 1/2-003390-F

Description: 'Tram' held aloft by wire cables across the Taramakau River, circa 1890s. Photograph taken by the Burton Brothers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: [1880s to 1890s]

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939; Radcliffe, Frederick George, 1863-1923; Spencer, Charles, 1854-1933; Tyree Brothers (Firm); Bulpin, I, active 1974

Reference: PA1-o-078

Description: General views of New Zealand taken in the 1880s and 1890s by various photographers including James Ring, Frederick George Radcliffe, Charles Spencer and the Tyree Brothers. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Tan coloured album, 24 x 31 cm Provenance: Donated by I Bulpin, Surbiton, England, 1974

Date: 1890s

Reference: 1/2-004413-F

Description: Two unidentified women crossing the Buller River in a 'tram' held aloft by wire cables, 1890s. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: 1917

From: Ryall, Denis James, 1909-1982:Photographs ,including postcards, of Barrytown and members of the Ryall family

Reference: PAColl-4641-05

Description: Men on horses, and in horse drawn carts, by the All Nations Hotel (on right, out of frame) at Barrytown, West Coast, before leaving on a return journey to Runanga and Greymouth. Photograph taken in 1917 by an unidentified photographer. Inscriptions: Mount verso - Picnic Barrytown 1917 Outside All Nations Hotel before leaving on return journey to Runanga and Greymouth had to traverse beach according to tide Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 10.7 x 15.3 cm, on mount 20 x 25 cm

Date: [189-?]

From: Tyree Studio: Negatives of Nelson and Marlborough districts

Reference: 10x8-0931-G

Description: Cable tram crossing the Buller River. Shows the tram hanging halfway above the river, with two women on board. There are two men standing on the bank on one side of the river. Photograph taken by the Tyree Studio, possibly during the 1890s. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative

Date: ca 1910

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

Reference: 1/2-022139-G

Description: Side view of a Cobb and Company horse drawn coach on board a punt (ferry) on the Buller River. Photograph taken circa 1910 by William Archer Price. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative

Date: ca 1890s

By: Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.)

Reference: 1/2-025241-F

Description: 'Tram' held aloft by wire cables across the Taramakau River, circa 1890s. Photograph taken by the Burton Brothers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: 1999-2006

From: Farrell, Damer, 1943-: Photographs of the West Coast

Reference: PADL-000243

Description: Photographs relating to commerce in the West Coast region. Includes photographs various industries such as shipping, mining, transportation, breweries, electricity, wildlife conservation, retail, refuse, coast guard and banking. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: These files were originally delivered to the library within a folder called "Commerce" Quantity: 77 digital photograph(s).

Date: [ca 1910]

From: West Coast Mining album

Reference: PA1-o-531-35

Description: Scene on a road leading from West Coast bush, showing a team of horses hauling a boiler to a (Reefton?) gold mine. Photograph taken circa 1910 by an unidentified photographer. 1/2-C-010831 is a cropped version of the original Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Shifting machinery in the mountains Possibly shows the boiler described in Friends in chains / by Bob Henderson. Wellington [N.Z.] : A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1961, chapter 4 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 20.3 x 15.5 cm, on album page

Date: ca 1890s

Reference: 1/2-104424-F

Description: 'Tram' held aloft by wire cables across the Taramakau River, circa 1890s. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: ca 1890s

By: Williams, H, active 1914

Reference: 1/2-025352-F

Description: Transporting goods across the Taramakau River, circa 1890s. Photograph taken by H Williams. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: [ca 1938]

From: Junge, Norman Earl, 1916-1989 :Negatives and photographs of Reefton and Inangahua districts

Reference: 1/4-022970-F

Description: Railways road service truck stuck on a snow covered road, Reefton or Inangahua regions, West Coast, circa 1938. Photograph taken by Norman E Junge. Other - Note on back of file print reads:" Photo shows the new Railways Road service in operation with the truck well bogged in snow with a tree stump (unseen) in front of the rear axle. At that time the road was not much more than a gravel track." Source of descriptive information - Notes on file print Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: ca 1890s

From: Heinz, William Frederick, 1899-1976: Photographs and negatives of gold mining and other facets of the West Coast

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939

Reference: 1/2-044224-F

Description: 'Tram' held aloft by wire cables across the Taramakau River, circa 1890s. Photograph taken by the James Ring. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - Teremakau tramway NZ 245A; Photographer's title on negative - bottom right - Ring photo Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative