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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Waimangaroa

Waimangaroa.

Waimangaroa is on the south bank of the Waimangaroa river, one mile from Waimangaroa Junction, and about the same distance from Conn's Creek, at the foot of the Denniston incline; and three miles beyond, on the top of the hill, is the coal mining settlement, which is famous throughout New Zealand. The mine may be reached either by a picturesque horse track, which calls for good lungs in the traveller, or by the incline itself, which is a mile and a-half long. Waimangaroa is eleven miles from Westport, and has two hotels, several stores, a public library, and a public school. There is an Anglican church, with a resident curate, and Presbyterian and Primitive Methodist churches. Waimangaroa has up-to-date brick works, and a number of men are employed at Conn's Creek in connection with the working of the Denniston incline. The settlement is in the North Wareatea riding of the county of Buller, in the electorate of Buller, and in the provincial district of Nelson. It is situated on the south bank of the Waimangaroa river, on the Westport Coal Company's branch line from Waimangaroa Junction to Conn's Creek, and its population at the census of 1901 was 151, with an additional twenty-seven persons on the north bank. The Waimangaroa river became colonially famous on account of the extreme richness of the deposits of gold, which were found there by miners many years ago, but very little goldmining is now carried on in the place. There is a local Post Office and Telegraph Office, with Money Order and Savings Bank branches.

The Waimangaroa Post Office is conducted at the store of Messrs G. S. Finch and Co. (Henry Adolph Richards). A separate building is devoted to the postal work and the business of the telephone bureau, post office savings bank, money order office, and Government insurance department. Two mails are received and despatched daily, and letters are delivered by a postboy, and by the delivery carts of Messrs G. S. Finch and Co.

Mr. Henry Adolph Richards was appointed Postmaster at Waimangaroa in December, 1901, and is also Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. He was born in the year 1880, at Glentunnel, Canterbury, and was educated at Rangiora. Mr. Richards afterwards removed to the West Coast, and settled at Waimangaroa in 1893. He learned his trade with Mr. G. S. Finch, and acquired the business in 1901. Mr. Richards is secretary of the Waimangaroa Rifle Club, and of the Waimangaroa school committee.

Vinsen, photo Mr. H. A. Richards.

Vinsen, photo
Mr. H. A. Richards.

Mr. John Hart has been a ganger in connection with the New Zealand railways since 1882, and has resided for many years at Waimangaroa. He was born in Lacheleid, Gloucestershire, England, in the year 1849. Mr. Hart arrived in Nelson, New Zealand, by the ship “Adamant,” in 1874. Shortly afterwards he went to Westport, and was employed for some time as a surfaceman in connection with the railway until his appointment as ganger in 1882. Mr. Hart has taken an interest in local affairs, and has served as a member of the school and library committees. As a Forester, he is a member of Court Royal Oak, Westport. In the year 1865, he married a daughter of Mr. George Lockie, of Gloucestershire, England, and has, surviving, three sons and six daughters.

Vinsen, photo. Mr. And Mrs J. Hart.

Vinsen, photo.
Mr. And Mrs J. Hart.

page 191

The Waimangaroa Public School was established in the year 1880, and is built on an education reserve of three acres, on the banks of the Waimangaroa river. The building is of wood and iron, and contains two rooms and two porches, and has accommodation for 150 pupils. There are ninety-seven names on the roll, and there is an average attendance of eighty-one children. The headmaster is assisted by an infant mistress. The Waimangaroa school is one of the most successful primary schools in the Nelson district.

Mr. William George Mcdonald was appointed headmaster of the Waimangaroa public school in June, 1902. He was born in the year 1875, at Dunsandel, Canterbury, and was educated at the Dunsandel public school, Christchurch Normal School, and Canterbury College. Mr. McDonald holds a Dl certificate, and his special studies are science, physics and chemistry, in which he instructs his pupils.

Walker Bros ., Bakers and General Storekeepers, Waimangaroa. This business was established by Mr. Armstrong in 1895, and acquired by the firm of Walker Bros, in 1903. The building is of wood and iron, and contains a shop and three-roomed residence, and there is a detached bakehouse.

Mr. Alexander Walker , Senior Partner of the firm of Walker Bros., was born in the year 1879, at Westport, where he attended school. He was apprenticed at Waimangaroa to Mr. Armstrong, founder of the present business, and worked with that gentleman until his retirement in 1903, when he and his brother took possession. Mr. Walker is a member of the Waimangaroa sports committee, and of the local rifle club.

Mr. William Walker , Junior Partner, was born at Denniston, in the year 1883, and attended school at Waimangaroa. He is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars.

Finch, G. S. And Co . (Henry Adolph Richards), Drapers and General Merchants, Post Office Store, Waimangaroa. This business was established in the year 1882, and has been conducted by the present proprietor since December, 1901. The building is of wood, and has a frontage of forty feet. Goods are delivered throughout the districts of Denniston, Granity and Mokihinui. Mr. Richards is further referred to as postmaster at Waimangaroa.

Mrs G. S. Finch , widow of the late Mr. G. S. Finch, who died in the year 1900, performed the duties of postmistress at Waimangaroa for some time. Mrs Finch was presented to the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly, as being at the time one of the few postmistresses in New Zealand. She also acted as Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Mrs Finch was elected a member of the Waimangaroa school committee in 1896, and filled the chair with credit to herself and to the satisfaction of the public. She disposed of the drapery business with which her husband's name is still associated, to a nephew, Mr. H. A. Richards, in December, 1901.

Williams, William Joseph, Coal Merchant, Waimangaroa. Mr. Williams was born on the 14th of April, in the year 1846, at Rhymny, Monmouthshire, Wales. He attended school in his native land, and was sent at the age of seven years to work in the coal mines, and was employed there until he was twenty-nine. Mr. Williams came out to New Zealand in 1875, landed at Port Chalmers from the ship “Wellington,” and settled in North Otago, where he was engaged in coal mining at Papakaio. Afterwards he was employed on the Oamaru waterworks contract, and took part in the driving of three tunnels. In November, 1884, he removed to the West Coast, settled at Waimangaroa, and worked for a time as a coal miner at Denniston Hill. He commenced business as a coal merchant in the year 1892. Mr. Williams served for seven years on the Buller Licensing Committee, and occupied the chair for three years. He is chairman of the school and library committees, a member of the sports committee, and a member of the local Lodge of the Order of Good Templars, in which he has passed all the chairs. In 1892, Mr. Williams was placed on the Commission of the Peace, but resigned in 1905. He married a daughter of the late Mr. David Williams, of Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales, in the year 1870, and has six sons and two daughters.

Vinsen, photo. Mr. And Mrs W. J. Williams.

Vinsen, photo.
Mr. And Mrs W. J. Williams.

Post Office Hotel (Robert McFarlane, proprietor), Waimangaroa. This business was established in the year 1875, and was the first licensed house north of Westport. It stands on an acre of mining residential land, and was rebuilt about 1880. The building is of wood and iron, and contains seven bedrooms, two sitting-rooms, a dining-room capable of seating twenty guests, a bar, a kitchen and other rooms. There is also stabling in connection with the establishment, and saddle horses for hire.

Mr. Mcfarlane , Proprietor of the Post Office Hotel, was born in the year 1835, in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he was educated. In the year 1856, he went to Victoria, Australia, and followed most of the gold diggings in that colony, including Ballarat and Bendigo. Mr. McFarlane was attracted to Otago at the time of the Dunstan rush, and afterwards visited the Wakamarino diggings, where he was engaged in storekeeping and packing. He then went down the coast in the steamer “Nelson,” on her second trip to Hokitika, with Captain—Leech, and page 192 took a number of horses with him. Mr. McFarlane started a general store at Old Waimea, whence he went to No Town, opened a store, and took £350 in cash on his opening day. Later, he went to Greymouth; was afterwards in business at Bruce Bay, and finally removed to Westport, where he started a store and bakery at Caledonia Terrace. A few years afterwards he built an hotel at Westport, in the old township, which was washed away. He then re-built in Lyttelton Street, but this building was also washed away. Since that time, Mr. McFarlane has been associated with Waimangaroa. In the year 1868, he married Miss Quarterly, who died in 1899, leaving two sons and four daughters.

Vinsen, photo. Mr. R. McFahlane.

Vinsen, photo.
Mr. R. McFahlane.

Waimangaroa Brickworks (Neighbours and Son, proprietors). These are the only works of their class in Nelson, and were established in 1893. The industry is conducted on a very complete scale. The brick kiln is capable of holding 20,000 bricks in one single burning. The driving sheds cover 400 feet, and the bricks turned out are said to compare favourably with any others in the country, and are in use all along the coast. In fact, the demand for Neighbours' bricks is so great that it is only with the utmost difficulty the firm can keep pace with the orders pouring in from all sources. The plant, which is being improved from time to time, consists of large crushing pans, grinding wheels, engines and machinery capable of turning out 50,000 bricks weekly. The industry gives constant employment to six persons. The works at Waimangaroa are situated alongside the railway line, where large beds of fire-clay exist.

Mr. William Neighbours , the Senior Partner, was born in Middlesex, England, in 1838, and received a thorough training in the potter's art in London. He arrived in Sydney in 1855, and engaged in mining at Ballarat. About 1858, Mr. Neighbours came to New Zealand, and was employed in Christchurch in the pottery and brick trade.

Inangahua. Page 149.

Inangahua.
Page 149.