Cape Saunders Lighthouse

Cape Saunders Lighthouse and the grave of the two children.

“Cape Saunders on the Otago Peninsula, was named by Captain James Cook after Sir Charles Saunders, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the commander of the fleet which captured Quebec in 1759.

Early shipping into the town of Dunedin via Port Chalmers was hindered because of the lack of lighthouses marking the harbour on the peninsula so often ships arriving from England sailed past the harbour entrance and headed further north. It was not uncommon during the 1850s for ships to spend days searching for the harbour entrance and the Otago Provincial Council recognized the importance of lights so in 1863 appointed James Balfour as Provincial Marine Engineer. It was not before time as in 1860 only 60 vessels had arrived at the port but by 1863 this had increased to 983.

Balfour arrived from Scotland later in 1863 with both the lantern forTaiaroa Head and Cape Saunders (the lanterns from Scotland and lens from France respectably). He immediately set to work designing his first lighthouse for the council at Taiaroa Head and this light was lit on 2 January, 1865. The original light was red to distinguish itself from the proposed light at Cape Saunders.

Meanwhile the Otago Provincial Council had begun planning the lighthouse at Cape Saunders, buying land off the local Maori at a place called Kaimata in 1862 but a lack of funds halted the project.

So the Provincial Government erected a 12 foot white stone beacon on the Cape in 1868. But this proved to be totally inadequate for the job as ships often steamed pass the harbour entrance not having seen the beacon.

The Otago Daily Times was to report on January 13 1865, that the Cape Saunders Light apparatus was displayed at the first New Zealand Exhibition in Dunedin.

After the Marine Board was formed in 1862, James Balfour was appointed Colonial Marine Engineer in 1866 when this board was changed to the Marine Department.

By now the light equipment for Cape Saunders was still idle so it was used at Nugget Point which was lit in 1870.

In 1875, the Marine Department led by John Blackett and Captain Johnson, decided to build a new light at nearby Matakitaki Point which had easier access and was not so exposed to fog. This 28 foot wooden tower similar in design to Akaroa was constructed in 1878 and the light was first lit on 1 January, 1880.

The first Head Keeper was James Nelson, who was transferred from The Brothers lighthouse.

Tragedy was to plague the lighthouse in it’s first few years. In December 1882 Mr. Nelson’s wife died suddenly. As the youngest child of the family was only 20 months old, the Marine Department granted the keepers request to transfer out of the Department into the Customs Department. But before he was transferred on March 19, 1883, the two year old daughter of the Assistant Keeper (Patrick Henaghan) and the youngest child of the Mr. Nelson died when the cow shed they were playing in caught fire. Later another child died of illness and six months later, the son of the new Head Keeper fell over the cliff and broke his wrist.

The wooden tower was replaced in 1954 by a steel latticework tower and a new mains powered electric beacon. However, this tower didn’t  last due to salt water corrosion and was replaced again in 1967 with the old lantern room from Kaipara Lighthouse.

The light was fully automated in April 1980.

In June of 2006, the lighthouse was again replaced, this time with a modern aluminum tower. The backup diesel generator was removed and new battery pack was installed to supply backup power if the mains power fails.

The old Kaipara Head lantern room has been sent back to Kaipara where it will be restored.

The lens and lighting equipment is displayed at the Port Chalmers Museum.

DIRECTIONS:

Situated on the Otago Peninsula. Currently a restricted area on private land.

A modern aluminum tower is now in use.

– Extracted from NEW ZEALAND LIGHTHOUSES, Cape Saunders (1880)  NZ Lighthouses Text and photographs. Copyright © 1999-2009  Mark Phillips. All rights reserved.

Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd, Jim Freeman

Click Ben Rudd Article for background information.
Click Pineapple Track for background information.
Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.
1/9/1999. Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd, Jim Freeman Tracks. Leaders: Diana and Ray, Shirley R.
25 Feb 1998 Bull Ring, Pineapple, Jim Freeman. Return by road? -Ian
16/10/1996.Hikers. Jim Freemans and Ben Rudd Hut. Average. Leaders: Les W, Doreen, Shirley R.

 

Annual General Meeting Minutes 19/8/1999

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Taieri Recreational Tramping Club held at 1.30 pm 19 August 1999 at the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church Hall.

 

The President Les Smith welcomed 33 members to the 12th Annual General Meeting.

 

Apologies:
P Chisholm, D and N Moir, M Vaughan, D McEwan, L Wiffen, G and D Such, J Roy, M Winefield, E Blackburn, J Allen, D Bennett, I McIntosh, S Cooney, P Jenkins, B McCabe, E Miller.
Moved that apologies be accepted C Gamble, 2nd B Harvey.
President Les Smith expressed the club’s thoughts for the recovery from illness of J Roy.

 

Minutes:
Minutes of the 1998 AGM wer read and confirmed, moved P McLean 2nd C Williams.

 

Matters Arising: Nil

 

President’s Report:
The President read his report and moved its adotion, 2nd E Bennett

 

Financial Report:
The Treasurer presented his annual report and balance sheet. A surplus of $192.11 is in the trading a/c. A credit balance of $100.25 is in the ANZ Serious Saver aa/c which is left over from the 1999 Bus tour. This money will be used to help finance a future bus tour. A recommendation that the annual sub rmain at $5.00 was moved N Taiaroa, 2nd A Landrebe. M McGhie is available to Audit the accounts for 1999/2000 moved N Taiaroa 2nd E Bennett to be re-appointd. 10 copies of the audited balance sheet were available for all members. N Taiaroa moved that the financial report be adodpted 2nd L Smith.
Election of Officers:
President: L Smith. Pro B McIntosh, 2nd W Bathgate.
Vice President: C Gamble. Pro L Smith, 2nd M Young.
Sec/Treasurer N Taiaroa Pro C Gamble, 2nd J Shaw.
Committee L Wiffen. Pro L Smith, 2nd J Shaw.
J Hobbs. Pro M Deuchrass, 2nd D Wiggins.
P McLean. Pro C Gamble, 2nd D Taiaroa.
R Wiggins. Pro M Smith, 2nd B Harvey.
President Les thanked C Gamble and N Taiaroa for their support during the year and also paid a tribute to those committee persons who were retiring, B Harvey and J Shaw. He commended the contribution made by all members of the committee for their help in arranging weekly tramps and programmes also the collection of fees for camps and transport. The special outings were also acknowledge.
President Les Smith presented a gift voucher to Maria O’Brian for her work on preparing minutes and progorammes and members lists.

 

General Business

 

Twizel Camp.
Members were advised that this would e held from 19th-22nd November 1999 at  cost of $15 PPPN.

 

Xmas  Function.
To be held at Berwick Adventure Camp. Finger food and a walk.

 

1st Aid Kits.
The club 1st Aid Kits would now be used for annual camps. Members should make provision to carry their own personal kits.

 

Cell Phones.
Members who have cell phones should take these for emergency use on the weekly tramps.

 

Weekly Start Times.
D Moir moved that the start time should be 9am Winter and Summer.
Voted 17 for, 9 against. Programme committee to discuss.

 

Taieri River Track.
D Jenkins gave a report on the progress of this new development. Moved Les Smith 2nd N Taiaroa that D Jenkins be the clubs reresentative for this and report back to the ommittee any commitment or progress.

 

Track Clearing
C Wiliams advised of costs for this work and the club committee had agreed that this should be repaid to drivers.

 

Chain Saw and Scrub Cutters.
C Williams requested the committee look into the possibility of purchasing these items as clu equipments. D Jenkins advised that he would arrange application forms to sek grants to finance this.

 

Walking Magazine.
It was agreed to continue to circulate this until the end of the current subscription and then decide on renewal.

 

Age Limit.
W Bathgate asked if the age limit could be lowered from 55 to 50. The club constitution has an age limit of 55. President Les asked the meeting to give the committee discreteion to admit members below the age of 55 until the coonstitution was changed. A discussion re Social or Honorary members took place. The committee were asked to discuss both recommendations.

 

The meeting closed at 2.30pm.

 

Guest Speaker.
Les Smith introduced Malcolm Flett for St Johns Ambulance who gve a talk on emergency procedures and responsibilities while tramping. He emphasised the importance of using the 111 call system. His talk was acknowledged with a gift voucher presented by C Gamble.
Moved B Harvey, 2nd J Shaw. – Confirmed Les Smith.

Camp: Waimate

7-10/5/1999. Waimate Camp. Leader: Nelson T

On Friday March 7 36 members left Mosgiel by cars for Waimate and most had arrived at Hunter Hills Lodge, (a former Nurses Home)  by 1.00 p.m. After unloading, an interesting walk was made around Waimate. There are several lovely and very impressive churches for such a small community.

On Saturday we all walked from the lodge up a bush track to the top of Mt John (466m) and inspected the White Horse (clydesdale) on the side of the hill. There was an impressive view of Waimate and surrounding area. We then walked down the gravel access road, had lunch on the way and continued to a T junction on the Strawberry Trail. The group then split into two, with some taking the right fork and after about 8km arriving back at the lodge. The remainder, who had taken the left fork, had to walk over 16km and returned to the lodge much later.

Sunday, we all went to Gunns bush and about three quarters of the group opted to do a local native bush walk. The others climbed to the top of Mt Studholm (1085m) and arrived back at the lodge late in the day.

The first group at mid-day drove to Kelsey’s Bush, had lunch, did several small bush walks and were back at the lodge by mid afternoon. We had a happy hour each night and on Sunday a pot-luck dinner to celebrate Mothers Day.

President Les Smith thanked Secretary Nelson Taiaroa for arranging the comfortable accommodation &c and after a successful weekend everyone headed for Mosgiel and home.

– From Taieri Herald

Bus tour Kaikoura, Motueka, Hanmer Springs.

Taieri group goes on a ten-day tour of South Island walking spots

by Les Wiffen

36 Taieri Recreational Tramping Club members including the driver left Mosgiel last February for a 10-day South Island bus tour.

On the first day they left Mosgiel for Kaikoura and arrived at Dusty Lodge in the early evening after stopovers at Oamaru, Ashburton and Cheviot. Two members also did the trip in their camper van, but took part in all the activities.

Each evening there they held a happy hour, with entertainment provided by members which included two pipers. The group was hosted here by Mr Allan Eastwidonel who showed an impressive range of fine crafted timber furniture.

On day two most members did a long and interesting hike around the rugged rocky Kaikoura coast. Norfolk pines were very different from what they had seen before. Some seals and part of the whale-watching operation were seen by the group.

The bus left Kaikoura on day three for Motueka with stopovers at Blenheim’s Pollard Park, an attractive setting for morning tea, and lunch was at Richmonds Craft Habitat where there were plenty of crafts to inspect or boy.

They stayed at Abel Tasman Lodge, Motueka where their hosts Andrew and Isobel Furness made them very welcome. With 36 people to look after they did a great job in making everyone comfortable and also making arrangements to use the RSA next door.

A day’s hike to Abel Tasman Park was the highlight on day four, with a few members taking a water taxi from Kaiteriteri to one of the coastal bays and walking back.The remainder walked from Marahau, a four-hour walk to Torrent Bay, Anchorage Hut. Some enjoyed a swim in the sandy bay and others returned to Marahau by boat. Some members returned along the coastal route, with a few walking inland via the hill route. The many sandy bays made many cameras click and most felt a little tired after a great day’s walk.

After the previous day’s hiking and due to some welcome rain, the group was decided to take the bus to Nelson where one of the members’ sister, June acted as a guide around the Nelson suburbs and hills for the day. One of the day’s highlights was a visit to Hoglunds, a famous glass-blowing factory in Richmond where they produce a wide range of goods, some of which are exported.

Pupu Springs
Pupu Springs

On day six they drove over the very steep Takaka Hill, through Takaka to the Pupu Power Station, where a short walk was made up to the dam and then on to Pupu Springs with another walk and lunch. The water which bubbles up into the pool is the clearest in New Zealand and it was interesting to discover that it takes between 2-10 years for the water to reach the Springs.

After lunch the group went to the Begonia Gardens near Takaka and then finally to the Caves which several members visited.

On day seven the group left Motueka for Hanmer Springs with a stopover at the Motueka Sunday market with a very interesting variety of goods and foods.

Next stop was Kamatiri with a short walk through the railway tunnel and morning tea afterwards. Lunch ws had in Murchison and a short stop to view the falls at Maruia. That they they arrived at Hanmer Springs Forest Trust Camp (YHA), on Jollies Pass Road just out of town.

On the next day they drove to Jack Pass Road where members commenced the climb up to Mt Isobel at 1319m. However at 892m several members decided to return to camp via the Dog Stream Waterfall (a few energetic members carried on to Mt Isobel). The track to the waterfall was very steep and it took a little time in getting some of the ladies down.

After the waterfall there were two tracks back to camp. The Waterfall Track was fairly flat and running closely to a stream. Some members took this route. The other track – Spur Track – was over a hill climbing to about 800m. About a dozen people took this route and had lunch at the top with a magnificent view of Hanmer Springs area. Later on in the afternoon the Hanmer Springs hot water pools became a popular spot to relax in.

Several members on day nine did forestry walks during the day while most took advantage of a trip to the Hot Springs. A farewell dinner ws arranged by their Secretary, Nelson Taiaroa at the Hanmer Springs Golf Club where members formed into column of three some 500m from the club and then marched to the golf club lead by two pipers and the RSM for the day.

On the last day the bus left for Mosgiel with morning tea at Amberly, lunch at Ashburton with a short walk around the town, a quick stop at Temuka to view the pottery and crafts and finally ice creams at Oamaru and home.

The group had a fantastic 10-day trip which could fill a book with incidents and happy times.

– From Taieri Herald

Leaders:

22/2/1999-3/3/1999 Les & Margaret. Tour included rosters of Bus Monitors, Judge/Juries, and Happy Hour hosts.