Day 32. Lost and found trains in Auckland, New Zealand

Day 32, Lost on a train, found a train in Auckland

Today seemed sunny and I did get to sleep in as well, well until around 730am but it was a decent sleep. I decided I had to post several things before I left for the family history centre. I did get a cooked breaky at Maccas and ended up spilling my coffee into the scrambled egg and snags. I still ate the food as I was hungry and thought it would be better in than out. I didn’t mind, but this was the start of a very different adventure for today. I posted my book and had a lady at the post office who must be a  local of the Hokianga area as she had seen my book. I let her write down the title. One of the reasons I was posting more stuff was that the photo albums take up room and can be heavy.

I caught the train and jumped on the one going through newmarket as it was going inthe direction I was going in. Turns out it bypasses the whole area through a loop. Before I figured out I had gone too far, I had gone around 7 stations away from where I was supposed to be. Takanini looked a little low budget, very low budget and i only had a 2 min wait to get the right train. I got a train ride and seen a steam museum thing on the way. I am not touching trains on Saturday for a reason as they wont be running and you could imagine if I had caught a bus. No trains are running this weekend at all for maintenance for some reason. Luckily my plan is to do the family history centre and cemetery. I never cried when I found I was lost, I jumped off the train and shrugged. If I had been heaps younger then I would have problems with getting myself lost.

Once I was on the right track to the train station in Panmure, I found the whole place had changed since I was there and I did find my way to the family history centre without any problems. I partially remembered where to go, but they had changed the area around the train station. I don’t think it would have helped I remembered the hill behind me as anywhere you go the tree would be behind you. Once I was inside I was able to get some research done. What makes it easier was the fact I could use a CD with marriages right until 1956. I was correcting the dates I had been given and confirming many that I had, which I did not have certificates for. During this time I made some purchases of CDs that can help with my research including the burial locator. Another was a CD for the family history group that I can only use. I found it easier putting the information straight into my computer while I had the program up.

I had stayed there for several hours doing my data entry and then took off with my new CDs that will be useful for my family history stuff. By the time I got outside it was actually blowing really hard. I was lucky to get the train as I had just walked down the ramp. Another short trip later I had to get another ticket from Britomart and then be on my way to Glen Eden for the cemetery tour I was going to go on. I was taking myself on the tour and could someday go on a tour to find some people and have a longer time at it since last time I was there it had been getting dark. Hopefully this time around I wont be there for too long.

I remembered an easier entrance to the cemetery just off the train line on a street called Waikamete that would have been obvious as an entrance to the cemetery. I did notice a sign talking about there being an open day tomorrow letting people know about the cemetery reaching capacity in 2018. I wont go as the trains are not running and I have other things to visit. I did see the sextants office, who did everything including dig graves. I actually stopped at one headstone that were for Potters and I had to turn my computer on to see if they were actually the people I was after. They were actually and I was impressed. Next I went looking for Alice Gabolinscy’s grave, although last time I thought it had been destroyed by time as i couldn’t find it. Before going looking at the Wesleyan section I found the mass grave that was done for the 1918 influenza and the monument dedicated to them. I did find what was left of Alice’s grave and the only part that doesn’t exist is the cross on top. I can see why you could walk past as it had faded and had another little marker about her sister. I had to enter more data as it gave the full name of the husband of Alice’s husband. Another grave I was looking for was one of the people who supplied goods to the Gum diggers who were after the Kaori gum that were in the swamps, which were like gold. Another part I found was another Gabolinscy who was buried in the soldiers area, but couldn’t find last time either.

 I was very happy with my finds and knew it was tie that I had to go even though I could have stayed until dark. The body needs substance and I will do something for that. Tomorrow is my last day before I fly out on the Sunday. I plan on going to the museum and a bus tour with hope. When I got to the train station, I actually found the train was coming so had to rush putting money into the machine so I could get my ticket. Once on the train I was happy to have a bag off my back and relaxing on a trip back to the city. I think I have learned plenty on my trip so far and found many things that will help with my knowledge in New Zealand. I might go for a wander later on, although I did get back to the hostel around 830pm having dinner along the way which did make me feel better. I hope to do a bus day tour thing and we will see what happens in the morning to see what sort of day it will be.

Tip

Make sure you know what the train map is like so you dont jump on the train that avoids the section you want to visit. What I should have done was get on the one that said it was going to Glen Innes not Newmarket.

Day 31 Off to the archives I go in Auckland.

Day 31 Off to the archives I go in Auckland.

The morning looked a little cloudy when I was wanting to leave for the archives. I had also gotten up early so that I could catch the bus up at Symonds road near K road. I had a longer name, but hard to say or spell. Locals call it K road for short for a reason. The bus I wanted to catch came around 730am in the morning and I only had a 5 min walk to get there. You have to be careful with the bus stops as there are several shelters for certain bus zones that stop in places. They can be several metres apart and is strangely weird. I wandered off to find another part of the local cemetery that is historic to the area. The one I found on the first day i was in NZ. This one was either jewish or middle eastern as the writing was Hebrew. Some nuts had spray painted some symbols on some, although I doubt they would understand what they had done. The people would have been better people in life.

 I was taking the bus to Mangare shopping centre so that I could walk to the archives. Last time I walked I had actually gotten lost as I ended up walking in the wrong direction and then on the wrong side of the road when trying to cross the main highway out to the airport. This time I had actually walked right past where I was supposed to turn off and wondered about the strawberry farm that I was now next to. I had my zenbook with me and checked the bus timetable map, which told me I had gone too far. An ipad might have been better, but then I would have too many gadgets coming out of my ears. Once on the right track I arrived at the archives in no time although I started at 1 and ended up at number 90 down the other end of the street.

The records were waiting for me when I arrived and I did get order copies of what I was wanting. I found one will to be contested due o some property having already been sold, A divorce paper that said once the couple were living separate that the husband had a child with another lady, the transfer of a company into the farmers name even though he was the sole owner, the lease of property between 1910 until around 1962 showing change of ownership and reports about payment of money being owed this went on for around 300 pages. One of the forestry books I found was particularly graphic as it involved two family members being murdered for the payroll and this book was actually better than a police report in the way that it had a sketch of the bedroom to the street showing where everything was placed, I thought this record would have been restricted like the court records. I did end up finding another family member who owned a hotel and needed licences for around 1882 in Auckland and even mention of the hotel that burnt down. I could have kept going on researching this ancestor, but had to go as I was hungry and wanted to visit the museum. During this time I had one bloke coming over and asking what I was doing as he was going through the records trying to prove that he was involved with a company and the other person was not. I wanted him to go away as he kept talking to me when I was counting pages to be copied. He thought every record I was looking at was to do with my great grandfather, although it would have had been more greats in that list. I don’t think he would have understood what I was after. He was annoying the archive staff as he wanted the records copied there and then as he had to do the lawyers work. When I took a folder up wanting to know what I was supposed to do with searching for hotel records, two men in suits had walked in and were official like. I asked the lady who they were and she relied either cops or lawyers. I responded that I should be nice to them. They acted as though they owned the place.

I asked the archive lady about where to catch the bus to Mangare and she told me after googling that I have to walk back up the road to number 40. I thanked her and walked off with my brolly out as it was now raining. The bus didn’t take too long to come and I had found a spot closer for the bus. I ended up at the shopping centre and had to eat before I caught the bus. Once I had returned I got confused over the bus time tables. I couldn’t figure out what direction I had to go in. I did get on a bus that was going downtown and asked to get off at the Auckland city hospital. This was where I could walk to the museum and I was hoping a Thursday night would be a late night opening like Te Papa. No such luck after walking in the rain, another day I have to look around.  There was only 15 mins left until closing and then I walked back to the hostel to drop my bag off.

I went wandering into the southern part of Queen street as I was wanting a flash disk. I ended up with a small external drive that I will transfer my stuff I have gotten here like pics and send them over for safe keeping. I knew I needed clean clothes as I did have the thought I could wear the same ones twice, but I had been really sweaty for several days including trying to walk up the huge hill. Supposedly it is going to get cold tomorrow as there is a cold front moving in, but that wont stop me from going where I want to go. I know where I will be tomorrow. To the family history centre and the cemetery. I think half a day in the museum followed by a bus city tour as I want to visit one tree hill. I did learn that Mangare is supposed to be the bad part of town as the next area along is really dodgy. Identity crisis or not I have no idea as I just look the part.

Day 30. From Whangarei to Auckland

Day 30 Tripping from Whangarei to Auckland

I did get to sleep in for at least a little bit before I had to get up. I had gone to bed after midnight as I had been given a mystery box to have a look through. It had been hanging around for several days and I had only seen several pics in there. When I did rummage through I found many pictures and several documents that were of interest. There was too much for me to take in one hit home and I was interested in the books written by my great grandfather who was a farmer. They were about the stock they had on the farm, but still interesting. In the morning I had gone through many of the photos with granny and Claude to workout what was what or who were many of the people in the pictures especially when some said me underneath. At least it was easy to work out once granny and claude had their eyes on them.

I did get to go out to the one place I had not visited yet on my trip. Whangarei falls, which is the local water fall that is close to where Granny and Claude are within walking distance. I took a walk all the way down to the bottom, while claude looked from the top. By the time I returned by another route, he had already walked home. I knew he was going to do that and I walked back another way hoping I would remember my way back. I did remember and had nearly walked all the way past before realising I was at my destination. They did have a hot lunch when we finally ate after I was going through pictures and placing some into my bags. I did tell them that anymore mystery boxes appear, then I would like to lay a claim to them as anything is of interest especially files from the 1920s or 30s. I think my bag is now heavier and did feel it, although the stuff I have is bulky too like the photo albums.

I caught the bus on time and it was a nice trip back to Auckland with me worrying at several times if it was going to be wet when I reached the city. I never read a book the entire time and was listening to my ipod the entire time as I was listening to my podcasts I had. Several had NZ history including one about public servants that I still have no idea what it was about. Once the bus stopped in Auckland I knew I had to walk up Queen street to the YHA. I soon learnt that my bags were heavy and my normal bag was light though. The part that wore me out was having to walk up a very steep slope to the hostel and I was puffing and had a stitch. I was not the only one who got caught by this as the hostel people were telling me. They seemed to have over booked and I was upgraded to a two bed room that I have to stay with another guy, but thats all cool. Only one snorer and not a whole chorus with backup singers when you are in a hostel. I did go out and have a look around hoping to get hold of a timetable for the morning, but I couldn’t get that as the info centre at Britomart was shut being 7pm. I had all the stuff on my computer though. Through my wandering I did find the Auckland Council archives that I had not been looking for, but will visit to see what they do actually have.  In the morning I am going to visit the national archives in Auckland.

Tip

No internet or Wifi at the hostel, try Macdonalds for free wifi. Europe and UK seem to be superfast. Usually if the hostel doesn’t have internet or wifi you wouldn’t visit would you?

Day 29 The big easy in Wangarei, New Zealand

Day 29. Easy day in Whangarei

Today turned out to be one of no big amount of rushing around and relaxing while starting with the packing of my bags to head off to Auckland after an awesome time with grandparents. We did not truly leave the Whangarei area at all. I was happy to be up and the day turned out to be really nice, warm and sunny. This is the sort of day that I have been waiting for throughout my entire trip. I never needed a brolly or even a jumper. We did not leave the house early at all and I thought it was good to just sit around. Granny did show me some old family photos in an album that was in a box that I think we will eventually get to. I am going to have the folder on my person and is returning home with me.

We took a drive out to the Maunu cemetery to visit my great grandparents, George and Hazel Lissington. They were actually pretty easy to find and I was with Granny and Claude when we went to visit. I cant remembering visiting them before and there is another family member buried in the same cemetery, but I think he was right up the back. I did take a wander and found several interesting people one who served in the boar, WWI and WWII wars, another part of K force and two family members who drowned on the same day. I am going to look them up some time when I do get home. A family who were cleaning one of the graves asked me if I was alright and I told them I was wandering around after visiting my great grandparents with my grandparents. They did ask if I wanted to take up a brush jokingly. I had no answer other than to escape.

Later on I went to town with Claude as I wanted to visit the main library to see what the Northland, Media and New Zealand rooms held. We did visit the itty bitty Tikipunga library that didn’t have much there. Once I was dropped off at the main library I went wandering towards the genealogy section to see what they did have. I ended up finding the military books and there were a few from the NZ side of perspective, which I thought was good. The geneaology section had old newspapers on microfilm and the usual BDM, IGI (international Genealogy Index) type fiche that I would eventually look at in Auckland. The media centre I was a little unsure about, but seemed to have a fair collection of movies from different parts of NZ. I was noticed wandering closer to a research assistant and I told her my next stop was the Northland room. Turns out I would be shut in the room with the assistance of the librarian and having to wear gloves. It was explained that many libraries had information like this specific to their regions.  The records I had at my disposal were books from areas like the Hokianga and Bay of Islands and other places that were inbetween. I found a folder that interested me about the Hokianga and there was at the end advertisements, which included one from a company owned by a family member during the early 1900s. I was thinking about taking pics, but had forgotten to ask about their policy. I later found I could and they had no problems with it. Other resources that were included were dairy farming and the milking companies, guides to tramping, Kauri logging and gum digging, Whangarei council minutes and train lines and photos of course.

I knew Claude would be looking for me, so I walked out of the room and found I could have taken photos. You didn’t need to sign out after once you signed that you were going into the room. I told the lady I will come back another day and have a proper look. I then decided to have a quick look through the New Zealand room that had books about the different areas in New Zealand and some you could borrow. Claude actually walked past me looking at the different books on Christchurch including an actual history. Before going home I had to post some stuff home by economy. It might take a little bit to get there, but at least I know there was a considerable weight loss from my bag. I now have two boxes that I have posted to myself with books. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and packing my bags. I did find a little problem that I never had booked my uplift from the hostel to the airport. Somehow I had forgotten and I did book it. In the morning I will print the email. Luckily I checked it out.

Tip

Triple check what bookings had been made as you maybe missing one. Luckily It was not left to the last minute and I found it while still staying with family.

Day 28 Mungaturoto days and Kauri museum

Day 28 Mungaturoto days and Kauri museum

The day started off cloudy and cold. I was not sure at all if I should take my brolly or rain coat with me at all. I did notice that my phone had plenty of charge for the day of I did not use it, but I think it was sitting on 70% since I had charged it the night before. I should have put it on charge before leaving the house during breakfast. I did learn pretty early in my trip that I could charge my phone either when my computer was turned on or when it was turned off and charging through the power. This is something that is good to know especially when power points are in short supplies. Not every hostel has plenty of power points in each room. We did leave just after 8am with granny in the car with us. We were going to head towards Paparoa, where we were going to see the final resting place of her young brother, George who died when he was 10. Then off to the Kauri museum that I had never been to before.

The drive was longer than I had expected especially when the GPS said we were going to Paparoa city. I was half expecting a large township that would have a decent sized shop. The country road was really nice to drive out there. The cemetery that George was buried in St Mark’s Anglican cemetery. There is another church across the road and holds another cemetery just down the road. I was told that one time the cemetery did have blackberries growing through it and had been removed afterwards. The grave was in a bad state of repair and might have to be repaired sometime in the future. Granny had given me a flower to put on the grave, which I did. One of the interesting facts I had heard about this cemetery were that unbaptised babies couldn’t be buried on the church grounds. This did include the priest, when his own twins couldn’t be buried. I think they were buried outside the cemetery grounds. While Granny was slowly walking to the car I did have a walk around the cemetery. It was not very big, but interesting all the same.

Once we were on our way into the centre of Paparoa town, where we stopped to have a coffee. A book caught my attention called photos of Albertland. Turns out the area that we are in is called Albertland and I had heard of that before from a Northland New Zealand DVD. I had heard that the area was very tough to live in during the early days. At the park where the toilet was, a sign was standing showing us a walk to a mysterious Pa. The information told us that no one knew who belonged to it and even the Maori had no idea through their genealogy. The next location we were going to visit for the rest of the day was the Kauri museum, which tells the early lives of the gum diggers and the logging within the area. Something as we drove into the town caught my attention. The words Coates caught my attention and I knew this was an ex prime minister who had died on the job during WWII. Once entering the museum entry to wait for Granny and Claude to enter I paid for their entry especially when I found how much it would be. They had thought it would be around $8, but that was the last time they visited which would have been a while. I left them at the door and started my tour at my own pace.

I knew several family members worked in the timber industry in the early 1900’s and I found it would be interesting to learn more about the logging industry of the area especially when it seemed to mostly be Kauri in the bush. They started off with the Dalmatian gum diggers who either got the kauri gum from digging up the swamp land or bleeding the trees and hacking it all off months later. I had seen some examples the day before in another museum and there were more examples of the carvings including ships and lighthouses. There were many products that had been made out of the kauri tree. The trees grew large, tall and was excellent for use for ships including the spars and masts. The displays were excellent especially when they showed how the trees were transported including through the dams that were built exactly for washing the trees downstream towards the ships that would transport them to the mill. During this time I kept an eye on the photos of the workers to see if any of the captions mentioned a family member. None of them did except for a group shot later in the day that was on a Whangarei timber mill and said who was missing. One of the missing people was a family member who had not been present. The changing technology from bullocks to bulldozers and trucks, saws to chainsaws etc. One wall had rows upon rows of photos from different points in time through several different towns. Luckily many had captions with names of who the people were.

After lunch, Claude and I went back into the museum to finish off what we had not seen, while granny was in the car reading. This was mainly the working machinery part showing how some of the milling machinery worked and a little about the location of some mills in the area including one in The Hokianga. There was a map showing us where the logs ended up going after being chopped down. On exiting with Claude, I told them I was going to visit the cemetery to find Mr Coates the ex prime minister. He had actually been born in the area and was I think the first New Zealand born PM. He did die during WWII while in office if memory serves me right. A memorial church had been built in his honour. I quickly went through the cemetery and did find a few family members of the Coates and a family member of the Coates also appears on the war memorial. Being on the sly I re entered the museum with the intent on buying several books including two on the local school that Granny, George and Nola had attended. They were the Jubilee editions and a book about the museum including recipes. I knew they would be surprised once we got home.

On the way home we did stop at granny’s old place, where she lived when a young girl and stayed outside of the house reminiscing of what it was like and the changes that had occurred. Then we were off to Mungaturoto, where I visited the post office and then we went past the school, where granny had attended. Under one of the bridges on the way home 1021 I think the number was, she nearly fell out of the taxi on the way home from school. I was getting very good information on the way back to Whangarei especially on the hills when we passed a little waterfall that was used to top up the cars.  Did do some more backseat Oral History recordings, more of a memory thing and something for other family to listen to. These I will type out eventually once I get home, they do seem to work. There was a bloody idiot in a car in front of us that thought he was a hero on the metal road as it was being resealed I think. He was doing handbrake slides, spinning his wheels with traffic coming towards him. I think the fool would not have thought of the consequences and I did contemplate recording him, but didn’t. If only we had stopped near him, he might have been told he was stupid. We did get stuck in traffic on the way home as it was already late. Another full day being out and about, which was good and getting to see places I have never seen before.

Tip

There is a company called Tip Top in New Zealand and they do not make bread, but ice cream. Just something to screw with your mind when you walk into a dairy store with a sign saying Tip top.