COROMIND ISSUE 18 JUN24 ONLINEVERSION - Flipbook - Page 24
Joyful Notes
How Music Shaped Thames
Music has the ability to entertain, provide comfort, lessen
anxiety and uplift the spirit. The importance of entertainment
was very evident during the heady gold rush days of the 1800s
in New Zealand, none more so than in Thames. Speculators
and large companies brought new prosperity to Thames,
and a rush of prospectors were lured to the newly opened
gold昀椀elds, hoping to make their fortune.
Mining was labour intensive and dangerous work, so it is no
wonder the miners crowded into town at the end of their shifts,
to enjoy the hospitality o昀昀ered by the 112 hotels, saloons,
dance halls and sly-grog shops of Thames, and to relax to the
sounds of piano, 昀椀ddle, accordion, 昀氀ute, tin whistle, Jew’s
harp and poetry as well as voices raised in song. During the
heyday of Thames there was purported to be one hotel for
every 200 people! Entertainment o昀昀ered respite for the early
settlers from the noise of the stamper batteries, crushing the
quartz to extract the gold, and the often very primitive living
conditions in the town, and on the gold昀椀elds.
Eager to be entertained, the town’s elite disembarked from
their carriages to attend the Theatre Royal and the Academy
of Music which were situated close to the shoreline, and
were favourite venues for musical groups and theatrical
performances. One of the biggest and busiest places was the
Shortland Hotel built in 1867 in Shortland, and still standing
today albeit as Fresho, a produce shop. In 1868, John Butt
took advantage of the town’s love of entertainment and built
the American Theatre seating 600 people on two levels, right
next to his hotel. International touring acts of musicians, along
with variety, vaudeville and theatrical performers, made it
seem as if the golden days in Thames would never end.
Church choirs were very popular, and military and volunteer
bands became an important feature of society in the early
days of Thames. From the 1870s, many workplace bands were
established, and Māori communities formed their own brass
ensembles. Auckland even had a Temperance Ladies’ Brass
Band c.1910.*
A rich fusion of music evolved in the new colony from the
blending of Māori music and the music of the many peoples –
whalers, sealers, sailors, traders and settlers – who visited our
shores, or made New Zealand their home. One such person
was John Grigg. Born in London, he moved to Thames in
1868. He taught singing and established the Thames Choral
Society and was also an organist and conductor. He composed
religious and popular music, one composition being a
contender for the New Zealand National anthem, My New
Zealand Home. Grigg was also an astronomer, and 122 years
later, his achievements are still being acknowledged.
Barton’s Circus was a regular visitor to Thames, and provided
a diversion from everyday life during the dark days of World
War I, and fund-raising dances and carnivals all helped to
raise money for the war e昀昀ort.
Poetry has the ability to help us express who we are, make
sense of the world and record history. Charlotte Lillian Lawlor
(born in Thames, 3rd October 1879) wrote under the pen
names ‘Bob’ and ‘Ruthlyn’ and left a record of Thames history
through her powerful and emotive expression.
Jane Whiteside, aka Jenny Anderson, who performed under
the stage names of Madame Cora, Mademoiselle Estella,
Madame Blanche, and Blanche Fane, performed throughout
New Zealand as a tight-rope dancer, gymnast, lady trapeze
artist and magician, 昀椀nally settling with the Oxford
Combination Troupe. Jenny worked as a barmaid in Thames
for a time, appearing frequently at the Academy of Music, the
Theatre Royal and the American Theatre.
It is quite extraordinary, the number of very talented creative
people who grew up in Thames, or found their way there
during the gold rush period. They added to the very fabric of
Thames, uplifted spirits, and made life much more bearable
for many.
A big thank you to all the wonderful past artistes, and the
talented, creative people who still entertain and enthral us
today.
*Clayworth, P. (20117, September 15). The Peoples Music: The
birth and growth of New Zealand’s brass band music. https://
natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/the-people-s-music-the-birth-andgrowth-of-new-zealand-s-brass-band-music#content
Words by
Robyn Pearce
Volunteer at Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga
o te Kauaeranga
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