May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 47 Other Industry and Infrastructure Laurie Bros. Brickworks Climie (1962) reports that brick yards and kilns were present on Kenny Street: ‘The works were owned by Laurie Bros., and were situated between Seddon Street Extension and Kenny Street, on the flat land beyond Gilmour Street. There was a track through the tea-tree past the brick yards and recreation ground to the Waihi battery. A small creek ran across this track, crossed by a 12in plank, and one had to be reasonably sober to cross it. Many times the writer found fellows looking doubtfully at the plank and gave them a hand across. I remember one who never would accept help, but crossed by walking through the creek, using the plank as a hand-rail. Usually he was so happy that he didn’t bother about wet feet and legs but I used to wonder what his wife had to say about it.’ (Climie 1962: 165) Research suggests that the brickworks were likely to have been present on the site from around 1897. The Thames Star reports in 1897 that ‘The following were granted :— J.S. Laurie, special site, 1 ½ acre, Waihi, granted subject to his using it for brick purposes and not as a residence site’.179 In 1901 the brickworks were evidently still operating. It was reported that ‘Our Waihi correspondent states that a horse and dray belonging to Mr. Laurie, brick manufacturer, capsized over an embankment going up Martha Hill from the main street, yesterday. The driver escaped injury. The horse and dray were somewhat damaged, but not seriously.’180 Evidently it was known that the ‘brick kiln at the end of Kenny Street flourished for many years, but the completion of the brickwork round the plant of the mines and batteries left the works without a market, and the prevalence of tin chimneys did not help.’ (Climie 1962: 19). The exact location of the brickworks is not confirmed; however, based on descriptions it is thought to be located in the block of the present-day Rugby Park between Kenny Street and the Martha pit. In the 1909 plan of Waihi two sections of land were present north of Kenny Street, within the present day rugby field (section number 90A and 90B) (Figure 35). The Waihi Past and Present Map (Clinie 1962) shows the ‘Old Brick Works’ in this location but immediately to the northeast of the rugby field. However, a 1910 image looking southeast across Kenny Street and the ‘No.1 Recreation Ground, Waihi, N.Z.’ towards Union Hill and the Waihi Battery shows what could be the brickworks site directly opposite Clarke Road on the northern side of Kenny Street in what is now the location of Rugby Park (Figure 32). 179 Thames Star, 26 June 1897, p.3 180 New Zealand Herald, 29 January 1901, p.4
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