Mining, forestry, farming and industry - The National Railway Museum of New Zealand

Rockies – Westport Granity Coal Mines Limited

NRMBrianW — Fri, 23 May 2025 05:05:52 +0000

Here is one of Buller’s best kept secrets. Situated between Millerton and Denniston, the Westport Granity Coal Mines Ltd constructed an incline of 1.3 kilometres long up a cliff face to the coal deposits situated on the coastal escarpment. At 564 meters high, the incline consisted of four separate jigs and was worked on the gravity principle of loaded trucks pulling empties up the incline. The brainchild of Carl Roskvist, the mining operation delivered over 177,000 tons of high-quality coal during its formative operation between 1925 and 1935. The remaining coal reserve and later day opencast production is also covered.

Written by Bev Fisher, Ian Fisher and Bruce Shalders.

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Our Own Correspondent – Waiuta 1906-1951

NRMBrianW — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:40:06 +0000

Our Own Correspondent – Waiuta 1906-1951. This publication is a 2001 reprint of the book that comprises research notes on Waiuta, taken only from the files of “The Grey River Argus” newspaper, and covers the years 1906 – 1951.

From 1920 the ‘The Grey River Argus’ had various correspondents who reported regional items on a regular basis. For this publication items concerning the area have been summarised, although especially important items are sometimes presented verbatim.

Included are photographs of people and places at Waiuta.

Author: Anne Hutchison. Reprint published by: Friends of Waiuta Inc

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Of Mice and Mining Men

NRMBrianW — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 03:46:41 +0000

‘Of Mice and Mining Men’ tells the story of Alborns Coal Mines at Merrijigs Reefton coalfield.

Alborns was more than one mine, it was a group of workings and its original name was Clele. Mining began in the late 1870s to supply nearby quartz mines and continued through much of the 20th century.

As is often the case, the terrain was challenging and some good old Kiwi ingenuity was needed.

Wooden flumes ran for several kilometres, and inclune systems were powered by old vehicle engines.

Authors: Jim Staton, Les Wright and Chistine Barnett. Publishers: Friends of Waiuta.

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Friends in Chains

NRMBrianW — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 03:21:02 +0000

Friends in Chains is an extraordinary book about the life of a teamster, written by Bob Henderson.

Bob was born in Greymouth in 1879. The family later moved to Taylorville around 1890 when Bob’s father contracted with the Brunner Mine to supply mining timber.

Bob was employed as a telegraph messenger when the Brunner mine exploded in 1896 and spent three days delivering telegrams to the large number of families affected by the explosion. He moved on to Reefton to work in various activities but became known as a teamster and this book is about his experiences as such, in the Reefton and Nelson areas. He was employed to transport heavy machinery to isolated mine sites, along narrow, winding and steep tracks with horses and wagons. His descriptions of these events evoke the hardship these men and horses lived through and his ‘chatty’ stories bring this all to life. Trips were also made to Nelson, Westport and surrounding areas.

This classic book was originally published in 1961, although it is based in the early 1900s.

Author: Bob Henderson. Publisher: Friends of Waiuta.

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Through the Eyes of a Miner 3rd Edition

NRMBrianW — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 07:47:02 +0000

A native of Bohemia, miner Jos Divis photographed life in New Zealand mining towns Blackball, Waiuta and Waihi, places where he worked between 1909 and 1935. Thanks to Divis’s graphic and sensitive work we have an extraordinary record of the isolated and often dangerous life in some of our mining communities – above ground and deep beneath it – seen through the eyes of a miner. This third edition contains additional photographs and more information on the life of Joseph Divis.

For nearly 100 years the name Jos Divis was missing from histories of New Zealand photography. Now a wrong is being righted. Some call him the ‘inventor of the selfie’. A street photographer ahead of his time he pioneered techniques to capture images of ordinary people and their working lives in a way no-one else could. Imprisoned for his beliefs, he lived his last years alone in the ghost town he helped bring to life, his family believing him dead. JOS is a journey of discovery following a historian, a photographer and a museum curator all working to give Jos Divis’ the recognition he deserves.

Author: Simon Nathan. Publisher: “Friends of Waiuta”.

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Tringamoot – The Story of the Taringamutu Totara Sawmills Ltd in the Taringamotu Valley

NRMBrianW — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 22:00:49 +0000

This book presents the story of the Taringamutu Totara Sawmills Ltd’s five mills and extensive tramways between 1903 and 1971. The Company was based based in the Taringamotu Stream Valley, about two miles north of Taumarunui. It is a story of sawmilling in the King Country as it pertained to one particular Company. The book details the various stages the Company went through to attain its ends.

Included are details of the milling operations, the building and operation of the tramways, and stories of the lives of those who worked in and around the Company.

Authors: Ken Anderson and Ron Cooke. Published: Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society

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Sparse Timber Sawmillers – Ellis & Burnand Ltd Ongarue

NRMBrianW — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 21:39:51 +0000

Ellis & Burnand bought the Taumarunui Totara Co mill and started to replace it with a much larger one at Ongarue in 1913. Ongarue mill closed in 1914 and reopened in 1920 with 10 mi (16 km) of tramway. By 1953 the tramway extended 25 mi (40 km) from the mill and had two locomotives. During the period of maximum output, the annual production was 16m feet of native timber.

This book covers the entire span of the years of bush workings, tramline and mill operations from 1903 until the mill closed in 1966.

Author: Ken Anderson. Published: Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society

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Maoriland Sawmillers – Ellis & Burnand Ltd Mangapehi

NRMBrianW — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 02:16:40 +0000

The book details the history of Ellis & Burnand’s operation at their large Mangapehi sawmill, tramway system and outlying smaller mills that operated from 1900 to 1968, including the negotiations for the rights to mill the land.

Included are details and photographs of the workings of the mills, the building and operation of the tramways and the lives of people associated with the operation.

Author: Ken Anderson. Published: Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society

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Waiuta – The Gold Mine, The Town, The People

NRMBrianW — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 07:26:30 +0000

This book tells the story of the gold mining town of Waiuta, on the West Coast of the South Island.

The discovery of the Birthday Reef near Greek Creek in November 1905 marked the beginning of a flourishing 45-year chapter in West Coast history. Waiuta developed as an industrial town clustered around an ever deepening mine shaft and went on to become New Zealand’s second biggest goldmine.

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Big River Quartz Mine

NRMBrianW — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 07:17:42 +0000

This book outlines the history of the Big River quartz gold mine and tells the stories of some of those who lived and worked in this remote and inhospitable region.

The Big River gold mine was located south of Reefton on New Zealand’s West Coast of the South Island. Intensive mining started in 1882 and carried on for 60 years, quite a long time in mining circles.

Author: Les Wright

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