Jade River: A History of the Mahurangi

Ronald H Locker

First published 2001. Published online 2014—this online edition is a work in progress…

Pages xiii–xivin printed edition

photograph Mahurangi Regatta 1901 Henry Winkelmann Auckland Museum | linocut Mahurangi River Valerie Pendred | design David Livingtston CAPS Digital Colour | concept Cimino Cole

Part 2 Māori history of Mahurangi

Māori occupation of Mahurangi

Part 3 Pioneer Pākehā

The missionaries
Gordon Browne and his spar station

Part 4 Surveys and settlement

Introduction
Surveyor-general calls
- Consulted character of the land
The Mahurangi purchase
Squatters, surveyors and settlers
Founder of tidehead town
Last rangatira of Mahurangi and his hapū
Waikato war comes to Mahurangi

Part 6 Settlers and services

- - Introduction
  - Joseph Gard – a first farmer
  - The schoolmaster
  - The first doctor and others
  - Scott House – saving a landmark
  - The demon drink
  - The Mahurangi mails
  - The Great North Road
  - - Coastal path and the ferrymen
  - The gumdiggers
  - On the Hustings
  - Rodmersham
  - Motuora
  - The Point
  - - ‘Mountain Chief’
  - Growing up at the turn of the century
  - Rex and friends
  - Mahurangi Regatta 1865 –

Part 7 The entrepreneurs

- - Introduction
  - The Irish–Māori
  - Daldy and Combes and the Pulham family
  - The limeburners
  - The brickmaker and his family
  - Nathaniel Wilson cement maker
  - The Red Bluff Orchard
  - Parrys of the Pukapuka

Part 8 Passing parade of journalists

- - A view from the fifties
  - Views from the sixties
  - Fete days in the seventies
  - The turn of the century

Part 9 A personal view

- - My grandparents
  - My grandparents’ place
  - Two sons, two wars
  - Uncle Charlie

Part 10 Personal account of the river

- - The run of the tide
  - Window on the world
  - The Saddle
  - Preserving the Mahurangi

Appendix

References

Index

About the author »

4 comments

Cindy Glogoski on 6 July 2014 at 8.43 pm

Where can I buy this book and how much is it?

Cimino on 7 July 2014 at 4.51 am

Hello Cindy

I am sorry to advise that Jade River: A History of the Mahurangi has been out of print for some time now. Occasionally copies are available via Trade Me, and of course the book is held by Auckland Libraries. Beyond that, I will shortly publish all the chapter titles here, so that if there are particular chapters you wish to read, I will make publication of those a priority.

Ciao
Reply

Mori Flapan on 14 January 2017 at 10.58 am

Thank you for posting the Nathaniel Wilson Cement Maker webpage from the book. I am interested in Australian and New Zealand maritime history and this page was most helpful. See my webpage http://www.boatregister.net for details of my project. I look forward to seeing Part 5, A Maritime Community when the time comes that you can post it on the web.

Robert Cowan on 20 June 2019 at 12.15 am

Hi, I am very interested in the Mahu Mag, as my great great grandfather was Henry Cowan who was a farmer, sawyer, shipbuilder and brickmaker at Mahurangi. I am lucky enough to have R H Locker’s book Jade River – A History of the Mahurangi in my library. I often though how tough the men were back in the early days of Mahurangi, but how tough the women must have been too! Many many thanks for this online publication, as Mahurangi was certainly the early focal point of the beginnings of our family!

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Cindy Glogoski on 6 July 2014 at 8.43 pm

Where can I buy this book and how much is it?
- Cimino on 7 July 2014 at 4.51 am
  
  Hello Cindy
  
  I am sorry to advise that Jade River: A History of the Mahurangi has been out of print for some time now. Occasionally copies are available via Trade Me, and of course the book is held by Auckland Libraries. Beyond that, I will shortly publish all the chapter titles here, so that if there are particular chapters you wish to read, I will make publication of those a priority.
  
  Ciao
Mori Flapan on 14 January 2017 at 10.58 am

Thank you for posting the Nathaniel Wilson Cement Maker webpage from the book. I am interested in Australian and New Zealand maritime history and this page was most helpful. See my webpage http://www.boatregister.net for details of my project. I look forward to seeing Part 5, A Maritime Community when the time comes that you can post it on the web.
Robert Cowan on 20 June 2019 at 12.15 am

Hi, I am very interested in the Mahu Mag, as my great great grandfather was Henry Cowan who was a farmer, sawyer, shipbuilder and brickmaker at Mahurangi. I am lucky enough to have R H Locker’s book Jade River – A History of the Mahurangi in my library. I often though how tough the men were back in the early days of Mahurangi, but how tough the women must have been too! Many many thanks for this online publication, as Mahurangi was certainly the early focal point of the beginnings of our family!

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