May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 55 survey of the Waihi goldfield township; but, owing to the illness of the surveyor, and the multitude of residence sites granted and overlapping the streets in all directions, it was temporarily abandoned; but I hope to complete Waihi, and lay off before long a township at Waitekauri also.’196 Mr. Haszard was appointed to carry out further surveying of Waihi and his progress was related through the Paeroa Warden’s Court in May 1896: ‘Before the ordinary court business commenced, the Warden made reference to the long delayed plan of Waihi township, and mentioned that he had an interview at Thames with Mr Hazard, Surveyor, and Mr Wilson, Mining Inspector, and Mr Jordan, Clerk of the Court, and they had given Mr Hazard all the information in their power, also lending him two old plans of the Waihi township. Mr Hazard's intention is to prepare a plan in sections, and a tracing of each section, as completed, will be left at Waihi and Paeroa, so that residence sites, etc., may be applied for on these sections.’197 It is unclear when Haszard completed his survey of the Waihi Township; however, an Index Plan of Waihi, compiled from plans in the Paeroa Warden’s Court and dated 1899 (and corrected to 1901), shows the formation of the town to that date with reserves for goldmining purposes, special sites, sections granted and mining properties detailed. The plan also revealed the names of the main streets throughout the township, including: Haszard Street (likely after M.F. Haszard, the early surveyor of the town); Moresby Avenue (after T.A. Moresby, Mining Registrar at Paeroa); Seddon Street (after the Right Hon. Richard John Seddon; formerly Main Street and before that Waihi Street); Kenny Street (after H. Eyre Kenny, Warden and Magistrate); and Gilmour Street (after Thomas Gilmour, Mine Manager).198 At the turn of the century the Waihi Township was still regarded primarily as a gold mining camp, with huts and cottages spread out ‘over an area of about three miles each way’, poppet heads visible in every direction, and the main streets ‘intercepted at many points by the tramlines communicating between various mines and batteries’ (Figure 41 to Figure 44).199 Waihi became a separate Borough in 1902 and the first Mayoral election took place on 7 April that same year.200 Mr W.H. Phillips was appointed Mayor and Mr H.H. Morpeth as Town Clerk, with a further eight councillors completing the Waihi Borough Council.201 During its early years, the Waihi Borough was, in area, the largest in the North Island and contained more roadways than any other Borough (excepting Whangarei), with 160 kilometres of formed footpaths.202 The town continued to develop according to the vicissitudes of the mining industry, experiencing boom years from 1902 to 1910 and then more moderate growth (Figure 46 and Figure 46). An index plan of the Waihi Township, dated 1909, shows the spread of residential and business subdivision amongst mining sites by that date, and a sketch map 196 AJHR 1896 C-01, p.36. 197 Auckland Star, 5 May 1896, p.5. 198 Climie 1962, pp.123-124. 199 Cyclopedia Company Limited, The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District], Christchurch, 1902, p.917. 200 Ibid., p.16. 201 Ibid. 202 Ibid.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2NDg3