Creating a Southern Railway
by Dave Hill
In this day and age we tend to ignore
the amazing manual accomplishments
carried out in early day New Zealand.
One such achievement is right at our
back doors in the form of the Otepopo
Railway tunnel.
It was nearly never begun as plans
existed to take the railway through the
area known as Glencoe, across the
north branch of the Waianakarua River
where Camp Iona is situated, via a
colossal viaduct using pillars made of
local stone and down the west side to
the already existing road bridge beside
the Phoenix Flour Mill (the Mill House),
on a top storey over the bridge, and
then on south.
A London decision went in favour of
piercing a tunnel through the hill just
south of the Herbert township and ten-
ders were called. In 1872 the English
firm of Brogden & Co with a sub-
contract to Mangan Brothers was let.
The following year the arrival of men
from England who became known as
Brogdenites, changed the Otepopo
district forever. On completion of the
contract many stayed on and numer-
ous descendants of these original
workers still remain in the district.
The tunnel was started at both the
Waianakarua and Herbert ends with
the men working with pick and shovel,
their spoils being taken away by horse
and cart. The southern end is in close
proximity to where the Herbert Sawmill
now operates.
Quite some time into the project it was
September 2010 Hamraki Rag
suddenly realised the design engineer
had badly miscalculated and the two
ends would never actually meet up
with one another. New plans were
drawn up and tenders were recalled.
The current contractor nominated a
heavy figure which would provide
them with a very generous profit. Two
other lower tenders were submitted,
the lowest of which was about to be
accepted when the original tenderer
advised they would see their contract
out and that the government could do
whatever they liked. The threat from
the cunning operator was successful,
his new contract accepted and by
1875 was completed, but not before
many of the workers walked off the job
in protest after first learning on arrival
that they were to pay for their, and
their family‘s, passage out from Eng-
land.
To line the tunnel 180,000 bricks were
made on site from excavated clay us-
ing a specially built kiln while the end
faces were constructed of Bedding Hill
stone, the same used in the construc-
tion of the Mill House. The Bedding
Hill Quarry is still visible on the hill
east of SH1 heading towards Maheno.
The 275 metre long tunnel was com-
pleted on 11 September 1875 and a
large celebratory dinner was held in
one of Herbert Township‘s many ho-
tels. Mr Mangan and his two sons
were present. They made enough out
of the contract to purchase 3000 acres
of land in the Ashburton area and in
1885, when the story on the question-
Continued on page 2
1
Continued form page 1
JACQUI DEANS
able second contract appeared in a
Taranaki newspaper, they were still MP for Waitaki
farming in Mid Canterbury.
In the 135 years since creating the
tunnel, only minimal changes have
been made. With the carriage of ship-
ping containers by rail, it was neces-
sary to slightly widen the tunnel and
while this was being carried out the
bricks were replaced with concrete
lining with the end stone facings being
removed.

HAMPDEN RURAL WOMEN 80TH

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. Please phone or e-mail my office for an
th appointment with me or talk to my
On Friday 13 August the Hampden
staff.
Branch of Rural Women New Zealand
42 Thames St, Oamaru.
held a gathering to celebrate 80 years Phone 03 434 7325 or 0800 6792 48254.
of activity in the community. Over the E-mail: waitaki.mp@parliament.govt.nz,
years this branch has had its ups and www.jacquidean.co.nz
downs with membership varying from
50 odd to five or six and is currently
standing at seven financial members
with a number of supporters who WAITAKI
come along to meetings and activities
as they are able.
There were 29 attendees at the cele-
POWER
bratory lunch which was held at the
Moeraki Boulders Restaurant. A lot of
ELECTIONS
memories were shared among the
past and present members, apologies
were received from those unable to
attend and the current President
To retain local own-
Leona Trimble gave a speech thank- ership of Network
ing those attending and proposing a
toast to those absent mostly due to Waitaki and receive
health and distance/transport reasons.
Margaret Johnston who has been a a good discount on
stalwart member of the Hampden
Branch for many years was presented
your power bill every
with Honorary Life Membership in rec-
ognition of her services to the
year vote
Continued on page 3
Helen Brookes.
2 Hamraki Rag September 2010
continued from p2
Hampden Rural Women 80th birthday
association and the community.
The meal was enjoyed by all and a
cake (made by Margaret Johnston)
was cut to mark the event.
Following the lunch most of the
guests went down to the beach
where a sweet chestnut tree was
planted as a reminder for the future.
In spite of the rain, or because of it,
there was a fair bit of hilarity at this
time and a lot of mud. However,
overall a good day was had by all.
At the moment the Hampden Rural
Women are holding a potato in a
bucket competition. The idea is to
grow a bucket full of potatoes that is
bigger, better and heavier than any-
one elses. If you want to have a go
please contact:
Ann Nicolson 4394-756.
September 2010 Hamraki Rag
SENIOR CITIZENS
On the 22nd July at the monthly
meeting of the Hampden Senior
Citizens, twelve members enjoyed
the old time musical film, 'Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers' in the
comfort of the Norton's home.
Popcorn and ice creams were
served at half time allowing mem-
bers to 'stretch their legs' before
settling back to watch the second
half of this excellent movie.
We would like to thank Elizabeth
and Trevor for their hospitality, as
well as for 'boiling the jug' so we
could have a natter over a wel-
come cup of tea.
3
 Hampden Market
The fourth Saturday of each month is the regular market, with stalls
inside and outside the hall. Reports say that this is one of the best markets
around.
Local stall holders have a great array of goods, and you will see your
friends and neighbours while looking out for that interesting, just what
you wanted bargain.

The market is on August 28 and September 25 from 9.30 am to

12.30pm.
Plan to be there for a cuppa, with the funds going to local community
groups. See you there.

Software and hardware including com-

puters, printers and faxes for sale at
competitive prices.
Service and repair by experienced local and
mobile expert serviceman.
3 Otepopo St, Herbert
ph: 03 4395197/ 0274358983
email: jwing@sbytes.co.nz
4 Hamraki Rag September 2010
 COMMUNITY INFO
Hampden Library
Hours: 2 to 4pm (Thursdays)
2 to 4pm (Fridays)
10am to12 noon (Saturdays)
Landfill Transfer Station
Hours: 8.30am to 12.30pm
(Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) Phone: 4394 802
Medical Services
(Dr. McKirdy)
Thursday between 2.30pm and
4.30pm at the hall
Phone: 4394 625 (for appointment)
Emergency and
after hours: 4651 444
Hampden Motors
Hours: 7.30am to 5.30pm weekdays
8am to 12 (Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays
Phone: 4394 086
Toby’s Fish
Hours: 11am-6pm, Wednesday
through Monday
(closed on Tuesdays)
September 2010 Hamraki Rag
Hampden Super Store
second-hand shop
Hours: 12.30pm to 5pm
(Most Fridays)
10.30am to 5pm
(Saturday and Sunday)
Lockies Takeaways
Hours: 11am to 7pm (Monday to
Thursday, maybe closed between
2 and 4pm)
11am to 7.30pm (Friday to Sunday)
Phone: 4394 744
Hampden Mechanical
Hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm (except
on Wednesdays and Sundays)
Closed for lunch between noon
and 1pm
Phone: 4394 646
5
 Local Body Candidates Quiz Night
7.00pm, Wednesday
15 September
Hampden Hall
Come and hear what candi-
dates for the WDC and the
ORC think about the issues
that concern you. The idea at
this stage is to provide a pre-
prepared list of questions to
all candidates and atten-
dees. Candidates will then get
the opportunity to briefly re-
spond to each question and
attendees can mark down the
general response which they
find most agreeable.
After all candidates have spo-
ken on each issue there will be
a few minutes for general dis-
cussion. That way results can
be collated and provide feed
back to Councillors.
If you have any questions you
would like included, please
get them to Ken Wheeler.
(kjwheeler@xtra.co.nz or
RD2 Palmerston). Put the 15
Sept in your diary - should be
fun!

Mini bales of haylage

Meadow grass wrapped in convenient 30-
40kg bales.
Ideal for lifestyle farmer.
Horses, cattle, sheep and alpacas love it.
Quality guaranteed.
$16/bale.
Available from Hampden Motors and CRT
Oamaru.
Ring 4395211 for further information.
6 Hamraki Rag September 2010
 Moeraki Bayview Ltd
Great Deals on FUJITSU Heat Pumps

Till the end of September

For all your electrical services

Contact Peter

021 20 69 053

03 439 4550

Moeraki Bayview Ltd

104 Haven Street

Moeraki

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New Zealand's Favourite Air

September 2010 Hamraki Rag 7

 Hampden, Coastal Home &
Property Maintenance
“What I can do for you with professional results
every time.”
Weed eating & scrub bar
Large section clearing
Lawn mowing
Boundary line clearing
Hedge trimming
Large & small waste removal
Broom & Gorse removal
Weed control programs
Water blasting
Gutter clearing
Weed spraying
Plant supply
Tree pruning & removal
Contract maintenance
Landscaping maintenance & design
Qualified solutions
New lawn via seed or ready lawn
Exterior painting of fences & homes
Household interior & exterior maintenance
Unbeatable rates with a personal touch every time!

For all information please contact me.

Daron 0212958819 Home 034394907

Email: uniquehangis1@live.co.uk

8 Hamraki Rag September 2010

 The Future of the More Wacky Ideas
Hampden Presbyterian
Church
The Gallery at Moeraki
A meeting to discuss the future of will be reopening under
the Hampden Presbyterian Church
was held in the church on the eve-
new management on
ning of Wednesday 11 August. The Saturday 2nd October
community had been invited in an
attempt to establish local interest in
2010.
the future of the church, not only
whether it had a future, but what
shape that might take. Joan Suther-
Reywa and Anne look
land, representing the church man- forward to seeing you.
agement, convened the meeting and
the thoughtful, and at times very We hope you will enjoy
lively, discussion was facilitated by our selection of paint-
David Wilson. Some very interesting
suggestions for the use of the ings, art, jewellery
church and the adjacent hall were crafts and pottery.
put forward by the 31 attendees.
These included music concerts, chil-
dren‘s programmes, floral displays Our outside display in-
and craft activities and had, as an
underpinning theme, a desire for the cludes Tall and Short
church to be a place where a regular People, Fugglies,
form of united Christian worship
would take place. An informal net- Oamaru Stone Work
work of ‗Friends‘ was in place before Opening Hours - Friday,
the end of the night, with everyone
looking forward to a further discus- Saturday and Sunday
sion in early November, once the
Presbyterian Parish Annual Meeting
10am to 4pm
has had a chance to consider the
community‘s input into the future of
this beautiful historic building.

September 2010 Hamraki Rag 9

10 Hamraki Rag September 2010
 RECORD-BREAKING RESPONSE
TO WAIHEMO COMMUNITY AWARDS
Waihemo locals have really got in
behind their volunteers this year, with
32 nominations received for the
TrustPower Waihemo Community
Awards.
This means that 24 groups are in the
running for the 2010 TrustPower Wai-
hemo Community Awards, with some
groups receiving numerous nomina-
tions.
Nominations for the Awards closed
on Friday 6 August. The TrustPower
Waihemo Community Awards, which
recognise and reward volunteers for
the outstanding contribution they
make to the local community, are run
in conjunction with the Waitaki District
Council.
TrustPower Community Relations
Representative Melanie Tavendale
says this is the highest number of
groups that have ever been nomi-
nated for the Waihemo awards, and
she is delighted that so many selfless
volunteers will be celebrated through
this year‘s TrustPower Community
Awards.
―These outstanding groups are very
generous with their time and work
hard to make Waihemo a better place
to live. The volunteers never ask for
anything in return; but, it is wonderful
that through these awards we can
celebrate the fantastic effort being
put into this community,‖ says Mrs
Tavendale.
―Waihemo residents certainly punch
above their weight when it comes to
volunteering,‖ she said.
September 2010 Hamraki Rag
The Awards cover five categories;
Heritage and Environment, Health
and
Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport
and Leisure, and Educational and
Child/Youth Development. The
category winners receive $500 and
runners-up receive $250. The Su-
preme Winner will take home
$1,500, a trophy, framed certificate
and an all-expenses paid trip to the
TrustPower National Community
Awards.
The 2010 TrustPower National Com-
munity Awards are being held in
Tauranga and Western Bay of
Plenty districts in March 2011.
The Supreme Winner will also win a
six month subscription to Fundrais-
ing in New Zealand magazine, New
Zealand's only monthly publication
dedicated to all things fundraising.
Regional Supreme Winners will also
be filmed by a TVNZ 6 crew to fea-
ture in a new series called ‗Volunteer
Power‘.
The nominations for the TrustPower
Waihemo Community Awards are
currently being prepared for judg-
ing. The TrustPower Waihemo
Community Awards will be an-
nounced and presented at a function
at the Waihemo Lodge on Monday 6
September, to which all nominated
organisations will be invited.
For more information:
Melanie Tavendale
Community Relations Representative
Ph: 03 433 0054
11
 Bus Trip to the Future
by Alison MacTavish The pleasantly warm ambient tempera-
On Saturday 14 August, 24 people ture is largely maintained by clever cir-
made an odyssey south in Bill Hare‘s culation of sun-warmed air, although a
bus and a couple of cars to glean the wood-burning oven gives it a boost as it
energy secrets of three energy-efficient heats the water and cooks the
properties. With fellow passengers com- food. Lighting is all powered by a small
ing from most of the settlements be- photovoltaic panel wired up to a battery
tween Oamaru and Palmerston, the way bank feeding into strategically located,
down was spent happily catching up and highly effective LED lights. The fridge is
the way back exchanging observations an old chest freezer that will be kept at
and ideas. Of fridge tem-
the three prop- perature by a
erties we vis- pelton wheel
ited, one is cur- running on 1
rently trying to litre per sec-
generate elec- ond (a work in
tricity to feed progress).
back into the The simplicity
grid, and the and natural
other two are warmth of this
off the grid largely pas-
completely. We sively heated
wanted to find house ap-
out what living pealed to
like that entails. many of us.
The first house The third
we visited, in house was run with commercial photo-
Waitati, was a big, modern, orthodox voltaic panels, solar water heating and a
house occupied by a family of four. Me- wood-burning oven. But the interest of
ridian periodically visits to photograph the owners lies less in the house than in
their meter box, as they can‘t believe it their small farm, which since 1992 they
only costs $10 per month to run. They have converted from bare fields to a
are trying to feed back into the grid the property covered with blocks of trees for
electricity they generate from their proto- the future – for specialist timbers, fire-
type, one-vaned windmill in the back wood, and for nuts and fruit.
yard, but apart from that their solutions Each of these property owners is bravely
are not too unconventional – under-floor seeking their own solution to the energy
heating, solar water heating, lots of dou- and environmental challenges they
ble glazing, extensive insulation, and a see. It was inspiring for us to see first-
wood burner. hand their inventive approaches, using
The capital cost of the second house resources available to us all, and I, for
was about $60,000, with virtually no op- one, resolved to be more imaginative
erating costs. It is full of ingenious, and resourceful about meeting and man-
home-made triumphs. The walls and aging our own energy needs.
roof are made from cool store panelling
– structure and insulation in one.
12 Hamraki Rag September 2010
Last months article on the Breakneck Road bridge
provoked some discussion. Below is a letter re-
ceived from a reader filling in more history of
Schmoll’s dam.
The Editor,
Hamraki Rag.
Your magazine's article (front page) in
its latest edition re "Historic Bridge to
be Replaced" which references
'Grave's Dam' is in error.
Grave's Dam (named after its former
19th century owner-operator James
Grave, but originally built by Prussian
engineer Louis Schmoll circa 1870)
never serviced the 'Millhouse' - to
which your article refers as 'now a ho-
tel'.
This 'Millhouse' is the one named the
same and located on State Highway 1,
opposite the turnoff to the coast road
and also the beautiful stone bridge
built by Surveyor Thompson; several
kilometres away from the Grave's Dam
which is located on Breakneck Road. I
believe the SH1 'Millhouse' hotel was
formerly called the Phoenix Mill (in its
operational flour milling days).
Grave's Dam (built by Schmoll) pro-
vided water for a flour mill constructed
on the downstream side of the bridge
on Breakneck Road - and constructed
close to the location of this same
bridge (built circa 1926, currently
scheduled for demolition and never
officially named 'Grave's Bridge') - the
concrete emplacements for its mill's
water wheel (also gone) can still be
seen from the bridge (looking down-
stream, true left bank).
The mill serviced by Grave's Dam
(never officially called such in its short
operational era, then built and owned
by Schmoll) was badly burned by ar-
sonists James Gillham and George
Cooper in or slightly before October
1870, before it was even completed! It
September 2010 Hamraki Rag
was subsequently acquired and re-
modelled by James Grave in 1873.
The mill (name unknown) was not a
success, due to the intermittent and
low flow of the Waianakarua River. It
was eventually burned down yet again
and finally, sometime before 1880.
As a great grandson of local industrial-
ist and shipping entrepreneur James
Grave, it was my privilege to name
Graves Dam as such and record it as
a protected archaeological site; this
done in the late 1980s, in collaboration
with the New Zealand Archaeological
Association's Otago/North Otago
Filekeeper (a person who records and
maintains all records of archaeological
sites in their designated land district).
My mother Shirley Gillies (nee Grave)
helped to raise money for much-
needed stabilisation work on the Dam
and this was generously supple-
mented by the Waitaki District Council
as part of one of their 1990 projects.
Without this work Graves Dam would
most probably have finally been
scoured out and carried away by the
ravages of the infrequent but huge and
spectacular Colorado River-type flash
floods to which the North Branch of
the Waianakarua River is prone. A
really major flood sees the river raging
several metres over the top of the
dam!
It will be a great shame to see the
lovely old 1920s wooden truss bridge
demolished and replaced by a modern
concrete structure - such historic and
picturesque bridges are becoming in-
creasingly rare in the New Zealand
landscape (remember the huge one
spanning the Waitaki at Kurow).
Cheers,
Karl Gillies
PS. Trivia: it is a cartographic (map-makers')
convention to omit apostrophes in place names.
13
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Moeraki Services Limited
14 Hamraki Rag September 2010
 Hampden Community Energy AGM
Monday 20 September, 7 pm at the Hampden Hall.
Guest speaker: Dr Steve Earnshaw
Topic: Transition Town Timaru

Steve has been the prime mover in getting the Timaru Transition Town group
going, which is making great progress promoting a more resilient, self-sustaining
community. Steve - a man of many talents - including orthopaedic surgeon and
former professional rock climber, is planning to reduce his medical work in order
to stand for Timaru Council and promote Transition more formally in the district.
Hope you can make it. A light supper will be served.

Transition Timaru Project Examples

Practical Projects Edible Garden Group – providing sup-

Timaru Farmers Market – weekly mar-
ket with 20-30 stall-holders
Community Stall at TFM – for sale of
surplus garden produce – manned by
Lions club.
Jar bank – at TFM
Harvest Group – harvest fruit from ne-
glected trees for community use.
Garden Share – matching unused gar-
dens with people looking for garden
space
port to new vegetable growers
Timaru Local Food Guide – listing of
local producers and outlets.
Local Food Challenge – cooking com-
petition with Aoraki Polytechnic.
Eco-open homes day – great success
and repeat event planned.
Future Plans
Future workshops planned – Pizza
oven building, preserving, bread mak-
ing.
Community Owned Energy Generation
– plans for solar/wind generation pro-
jects.

Subsidised energy audits for homes

and businesses.
Transition Together – community self-
learning program - in development.

September 2010 Hamraki Rag 15

 COMMUNITY CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER
Sunday Service at St John’s
When: September 5, 12, 19 and 26 at
10am.
Where: St John‘s at Herbert.
Gathering at St Stephens
A community church service is held at
St Stephen‘s on Ipswich Street at 4pm
every Sunday. On the fourth Sunday
of the month, there is communion.
Don‘t worry if you have not attended a
church before. Come along and ex-
perience what our 45 minute service
has to offer and feel free to stay for a
cup of tea or coffee afterwards.
St Stephens on Ipswich
Hampden
Special Events—All Welcome
Sun 5 Sept at 4pm—Ecumenical
Spring Service—Come along and
bring a spring flower.
Sun 3 Oct at 4pm—Ecumenical Bish-
ops service—The new Bishop Kelvin
Clark will be speaking at the service.
Local Body Candidates Quiz
Night
When: 7.00pm, Wednesday
15 September
Where: Hampden Hall
See page six for details
Film Appreciation Group
Thursday 2nd September at 7.30pm
the film appreciation group will appre-
ciate another fine older film.
Come along and be surprised
ph 4394 887
If you have any events, classes, work-
shops, garage sales, parties, anything,
inform the Rag so that the whole commu-
nity knows.
16 Hamraki Rag
For Sale
Shacklock Chef 24" 4 Plate Oven
Automatic, W/ Drawer. Std, Bake &
Grill ,Tidy Condition
$225.00 ONO
Ph 439 4550
Hampden Market
When: August 28, 9.30am - 12.30pm
September 25, 9.30am-12.30pm
Where: The Hall
It is time for the regular fourth Satur-
day of the month super community
market full of bargains. Stroll over and
see your friends and neighbours, have
a cuppa and soak up the community
atmosphere.
Hampden Community Energy
AGM
When: Monday 20 September, 7 pm
Where: Hampden Hall.
From the Library Shelves
Our favourite librarian Alison Mac-
Tavish reading a story from the
children's' book section in the
Hampden Library.
From left - Arianne Dennison
Whyte, Alison (librarian) and
Storme Dennison Whyte
September 2010