Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

The Hereweka Harbour Cone block of 328ha where the Future Forest is, was bought by the DCC in 2008. Since 2015 it has been managed by the Hereweka Harbour Cone Charitable Trust Continue Reading »

Fire broke out at Seacliff Mental Hospital on 9 December, 1942. Ward 5, which housed 39 women patients, was quickly reduced to ashes. The fire killed all but 2 of the 39 women and was the worst fire in New Zealand until Ballantyne’s fire, five years later.
In 1884 the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum was opened at Seacliff, 28 kilometres up the coast from Dunedin. It provided housing for 500 patients and 50 staff, and at the time was the largest public building in New Zealand. At about 9:45pm on 8 December, 1942, fire broke out in Ward 5. This ward was a two-storeyed wooden building which had been added on to the original stone building when the hospital was expanded at the end of the nineteenth century. In Ward 5 were 39 women patients who had mental health problems. They were all locked into either single rooms or in the 20-bed dormitory. Most windows were locked, and could only be opened by a key from inside. It was during the Second World War, and there was a shortage of nursing staff. There was no nurse on duty in the ward at night, although checks were made by staff from other wards every hour. The fire was first noticed by a male attendant who raised the alarm and ran to bring the fire hoses and reels from the small hospital fire station to a fire hydrant near Ward 5. He was able to save one patient by pulling off the grating over her window and dragging her out. Another patient was rescued from the first floor. Both survivors were in rooms which did not have locked shutters on the windows. They were the only patients out of the 39 in Ward 5 to survive the fire. The hospital’s fire fighters tried to put out the fire, but it was too fierce, and within an hour only ashes remained of Ward 5. However they were able to stop the flames from spreading to other wooden buildings. 37 people died. A commission of inquiry found that the wooden building of Ward 5 was dangerous, and that, once the fire had started, it spread through the building very quickly. There were no automatic fire alarms in Ward 5, unlike in other newer parts of the hospital. Any alarm in the building had to be raised by unlocking a cabinet and pushing a button to start the fire alarm. The commission of inquiry criticised the design of the building and the way in which the windows were shuttered and locked from the inside at night. It recommended the installation of sprinkler systems in all psychiatric institutions. The commission also felt that there was not enough staff on duty to supervise the patients at night. The hospital fire brigade were praised for their action on the night, which prevented the loss of other lives. The cause of the fire was not discovered. A new mental hospital was opened at nearby Cherry Farm in 1954.The Seacliff Mental Hospital fire was the worst in New Zealand until Ballantyne’s fire, five years later.

Map of route. 3.3km ferry bridge to Wardell cottage; about 5km to seat; about 3km to track end; about half km to bus at T.M. bridge.

Millennium Track – combined trip Wednesday 5th October 2016-10-05

A dampish morning did not deter 40 intrepid club members who boarded the bus at the Bush Rd car park promptly at 9am.  Packs were stowed in the luggage compartment and our driver Richard transported the happy crew out to Highway 1 and along to Henley and the start of the track – well, almost the start.  24 hikers disembarked in persistent light rain and trudged along the road for 45 minutes to a morning tea stop on the veranda of the white house just over the style, at the true beginning of the track.

The remaining 16 bods (and  the bus) departed for Taieri Mouth.

 

Sheltering from the rain for morning tea in the old Wardell’s crib verandah.

The upward plod soon began and we were glad it wasn’t too hot.  The light rain continued but there was no wind and it was pleasant for tramping.  It was lovely in the bush with plenty of bird song and glimpses of the river below as we climbed.

A couple of solid hours saw us at the junction down to John Bull Creek, where it was unanimously decided not to descend, but to press on to the top for lunch.  Which we did, collapsing gratefully for welcome food and drink.  The rain had stopped and a pleasant break was had, with chocs to celebrate Alec’s recent birthday.

Lunch at the seat. Rain stopped at last.

Lunch stop viewed from another angle.

Then down, and down, with a few inadvertent sit-downs, and the loss of a couple of impatient members who tried to take the direct route….it was quite slippery.  No harm done, and we were soon back by the river for the last plod out to the road.  The bus parked by the bridge was a welcome sight.

Nine cheerful souls on the bus had had a pleasant few hours meandering round Taieri Mouth and catching up on gossip, and there was no sign of the hardy seven trampers.

Thanks to hiking leaders Bob and Doug and tramping leader Arthur.  It was a great day out, well-supported and enjoyed by all, and rounded off with a riotous session for coffee for 23 at Topiary.  – Judy.

Coffee at Topiary. 23 in the sun.

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Continuing on it was up and down, as the track flows, and then up to the high up seat where we stopped for a little while. This spot overlooks the river to advantage

Another river view. (Margreet pic and caption.)

and also views away to the north too.

View from the top. (Margreet pic and caption.)

For example, Mount Cargill stood out in all its glory, with its mast on top.

An hour after leaving the high up seat we reached the track’s end. We were invited to have our lunch outside at Jay’s nearby house (she didn’t have the key with her), which we found a most pleasant and suitable place. – Thanks, Jay.

Lunch on the verandah of Jay’s Bach at Taieri Mouth. (Margreet pic and caption.)

15. 9/9/2015. Trampers.  John Bull and Millennium from Taieri Mouth.
This tramp was done in place of the one scheduled, as I could not get permission from the farmer to do the tramp that was on the program.
Ten of us arrived at the Taieri Mouth car park, & set off along the riverside track. We had quite a late morning tea stop at the wooden seat at the top,…

Cuppa (Ken pic)

…before going down to John Bull Gully, where we had a short break. Then it was on along the Millennium track towards the Henley end. We arrived at the picnic spot down by the river, & had lunch there…

Lunch1 (Ken pic)

Lunch2 (Ken pic)

…before setting off to do the remainder of the track, though to Wardells Cottage, & the car park beyond. [just to do the full track distance]
After a short break here, it was back the way we had come. We stopped at the seat at the highest point again for a rest & refreshments, after climbing the quite steep track up from John Bull Gully. We then made our way back to the cars at Taieri Mouth.
The weather was fine all day, but the track was quite muddy in places, & care is needed on the downhill muddy slopes.
It was good to hear the comments from some, that they had enjoyed the walk.
Although many in the group had walked both tracks in the past, it was the first time that quite a few of us had walked the full distance, there & back.

Walked 16.4km; ave 3.8km/h; moving time 4h 15mins; climbed 760m. – Ken.

14. 21/12/2011. Trampers. John Bull and Millennium from Taieri Mouth.

GPS. Taieri Mouth John Bull Gully Millennium Track. Courtesy Ken.

Lunch. (Ken pic and caption)

Lunch2. (Ken pic and caption)

GPS of route, courtesy Ken.

Distant shot of inflatables on river

The hikers’ walk from Taieri Mouth on the John Bull track took a turn for the worse when 2hrs into the walk Elaine had to stop because of chest pains etc.
Leaving Elaine in the professional care of Bev, Lesley G and Neil, the remaining 10 carried on to higher ground to try and get cell phone coverage. This proved more difficult than anticipated and it took Lesley S to search for higher open area off the main track before finally making contact with the emergency service.
After the helicopter landed a paramedic ran down the track to where Elaine was lying. After her condition was checked and she was stabilized, she was attached to the paramedic and winched through a small gap in the bush canopy into the helicopter. – Fred

Morning Tea. Neil, Evelyn, Bob, Lesley, Chris, Fred, Margaret. (Elaine pic)

Calm Taieri. Lesley, Margaret, Evelyn, Les. (Elaine pic)

Taieri reflection (Elaine pic)

Update from Elaine.

Hello Ian