The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 8 (December 1, 1929)
Man Who Snagged the Waihou
Man Who Snagged the Waihou.
Auckland Commerce Train passengers recently saw a good deal of that placidly winding river, the Waihou, which flows through a populous rich country from above Matamata to the sea at the Thames. There was a time when it was the only way of getting inland in those parts. For many a mile about Te Aroha and the higher parts it was cumbered with snags, huge logs brought down by floods. That vigorous settler, the late J. C. Firth spent thousands of pounds in clearing the river, to give passage to his steamer, and the man who did the job is still living at Matamata. This veteran is Captain H. H. Tizard, one-time coasting trader, goldfields prospector, native agent, useful all-round settler. He lives not far away from that beautiful warm bathing pool greatly resorted to by the countryside folk. Mr. Firth engaged him to supervise the Maori toilers in the river work, and he found the active young sailor—he is an octogenarian now—just the man for that pioneering task.