Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 10
Chapter X.
BRIGHTON.
BRIGHTON, which it is said was once called Bright Town, was the nearest town southward of Charleston, and was a popular visiting place for Charlestonians, as many of the residents of the two towns were related. It was originally known as Fox’s River, being near to that stream, the Potikohua, where gold was discovered by William Fox in October, 1866—the same Fox who had opened up the Arrow River diggings at Wakatipu.
Woodpecker Bay nearby was named after the first vessel to enter it, the P.S. Woodpecker in 1866.
The first part to be worked was Welshman’s Terrace, so called because discovered by a party of three Welshmen.
Dawson’s Terrace, some miles north of Fox River, carried a “beach lead” about 1,100 feet above sea level, and is claimed to be the highest point mined upon the Coast. The main deposit of gold was found, however, at a height of about 150 feet.
The Provincial Superintendent in his address to Council on 22nd January, 1867, said: “The rapid formation of the new town called Brighton has been remarkable even in the annals of goldfields. In less than a fortnight a street longer than Bridge Street, Nelson, has been formed with houses both sides, and seven vessels were lying in a river not so large as the Maitai.”
Mr. Kynnersley reported that, at Brighton, for a fortnight there was a large crowd of men outside his tent from daylight to dark. “I used to give them,” he said, “three minutes each but even then persons used to declare that they had been waiting eight hours to see me. We have been very successful in keeping the peace, although at one time there were 5,000 idle and discontented about the place. I had at one time seventeen constables at Brighton and had a very strong lock-up built. The excitement of the rushes at Charleston and Brighton has now subsided, and both are in a tolerably orderly and satisfactory state. Brighton is quite a considerable township. I do not think it will last long, as there is nothing but one terrace to support it.” The township, he said, contained 53 public-houses.
On 21st May, 1867 (Nelson Gazette, No. 17, Volume 15) authority was granted to William Courtney to construct a tramway from Brighton to St. Kilda, and he was given protection for five years. It ran from “just above the beach and through the street.” The fares and freight charge were: Each passenger, from sunrise to sunset, 1/- each way; each passenger, from sunset to sunrise, 1/6 each way; goods, 20/- per ton. This tram was transferred to Rody Slattery in January of 1869, and was dismantled not many years later.
It was a pleasant spot for a day’s outing for Charleston folk; but as no road for vehicles existed, trippers had to walk or ride. The distance was about eleven miles, and horse-hire reasonable, 15/- per day for men and 20/- per day for women. The journey occupied about three hours on horseback when the track was in fair condition.
The places of main interest outside the town were St. Kilda, with a ride on the tram, and Meybille Bay, the latter named after a pioneer Jean Meybille. Brighton was a rich field while it lasted; it was not unusual for fortunate miners to make up to £70 per week, but its supply of gold petered out even more rapidly than did Charleston’s. In 1868 about 14,340 ounces of gold, valued at £58,038 were exported from Brighton. In its early days beachcombing was extensively carried on, and many women participated.
Plenty of life and gaiety marked the early times. There were large numbers of public-houses and dance-halls, several of which brought girls from Melbourne. There was also a town band, Mr. Rosenberg being conductor.
The first school was opened in the abandoned Hospital building, by Mrs. H. E. West, later of Charleston, who about 1875 handed it over to Mrs. Murphy. There were then about 50 pupils. Later a State school was established, of which Mrs. Murphy took charge. About 1889 Miss Lydia Mary Bradley assumed control, there being still about 40 or 50 pupils. In 1908 there were but 8 or 10, and Miss Annie W. McCarthy was teacher.
The population of Brighton, at its peak, probably was about 6,000. In October, 1867, Commissioner Kynnersley estimated it at 2,800, and the census of 1868 gave it as 1,293, viz., 1,042 males and 251 females. These figures, however, took no account of the floating population. In March, 1873, a parliamentary report gave the number as 110, and the census of 1874 showed it as 87. The Post Office Directory shows 53 persons in 1878; 23 in 1887-1888; and 18 in 1896-1897. It also indicates that the business of the town in 1878 was limited to 1 hotel, 2 stores, 1 baker, and 1 blacksmith. In 1896 it shows but 1 hotel and 1 store. This one store was Thomas Nevin’s, whereat the postal business was conducted. The census of 1911 gave the population as 29.
The birth, progress and decline of Brighton were similar to Charleston’s, and to other goldfields of the Coast; the field developed with astonishing rapidity and faded to extinction, or semi-extinction, almost as quickly. It is believed that the first white child born at Brighton was James Cook, and the first white girl Margaret O’Donnell, both it is said, in the same month, June of 1867; that the first marriage was of Thomas Kingston and Mary Anne McKee, the date not being ascertainable.
The first newspaper was the Brighton Times, published by Mr. Charles Mirfin, who later had the Charleston and Reefton papers. There were in all four newspapers published at Brighton.
The first Resident Warden and Magistrate was Charles Broad, later of Charleston. His daughter was a notable singer, and the star attraction when she assisted at local concerts.
After a short period of Commissioner control, the first Clerks of Court were James Payne 1866-1867, Lovell Moffett 1867, William Lynch 1868. The first Police officers were Sergeants Walsh and Connelly, who had a force of 8 or 9 constables.
It is believed that the first postmaster was James Duigan, who was appointed on 17th June, 1868. He was succeeded by Henry Day, 1st February, 1870; W. G. Sampson, 10th December, 1870; Thos. Finch, 12th February, 1873; John A. Crawford, 1st July, 1874; H. T. Keeley, 1st June, 1875; Thos. Nevin, 1st July, 1877.
Probably Mr. George Kirton was the first Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and Mr. D. Walmsley, of the Bank of New South Wales. Mr. W. K. Johnson was gold-buyer and smelter for the Bank of New Zealand.
A brewery was early established by Mr. Garsides, later of the Standard Brewery at Charleston.
In October, 1867, Commissioner Kynnersley reported “the Brighton Hospital is now completed, and only requires internal fittings to make it serviceable.”
The rough foot-track of 1866 between Brighton and Charleston was early replaced by a good pack-track.
On 17th September, 1867, the Provincial Engineer reported: “Charleston to Brighton, 11 miles, consists of a good horse-road, metalled over the Pakihi, which is made up of ground partly level, partly undulating and hilly, and much of which is covered by bush and scrub. The road crosses three rivers of considerable size, one of which is bridged. It emerges on the beach about one and three-quarters or two miles north of Brighton, the latter portion being through scrub and very wet ground, which has been well and solidly paved with stone.”
On 23rd October, 1867, Commissioner Kynnersley reported: “South of Charleston and North of Brighton the coast road has only been made wide enough for drays for a short distance from the town, for the convenience of the neighbouring diggings; and the intermediate hilly country is traversed by a good bridle-track; which is now in an excellent state of repair.” The “short distance” referred to was from Charleston to Candlelight. On 30th October, 1867, a deputation of residents of Brighton waited upon the Commissioner asking for “the conversion of the horse-road into a dray-road.” The request was not granted, and the road remained a six-foot-wide pack-track.
An event that awakened great interest in Charleston and sent many of its people posthaste to Brighton as sightseers, was the wreck on 18th January, 1902, of the steel barque Alexandra at Hatter’s Beach. This ill-fated vessel of 610 tons, Captain Ankerson, was bound from Sydney to Westport in ballast. All hands were saved, but the vessel became a total wreck. Some of her bones are visible to-day. The wreck was sold by auction on 24th January, 1902, for £20.
Besides the sightseers, several business men from Charleston gave attention to the wreck. One of them contemplated salvaging it, maybe refloating it, at least obtaining from it sufficient material to build another but much smaller craft. His hopes did not materialise. Another Charleston tradesman purchased her stores and fittings for resale. The vessel was but three days out from Sydney, then a record passage to New Zealand, and apparently the master, belittling his vessel’s sailing capability, found himself on a lee shore while believing himself well clear of land; the weather had been very thick. She went ashore stern first, the head pointing seaward; and the crew found little difficulty in laying planks from stern to land, and walking ashore. It may be mentioned that the signal gun of the vessel is now an ornament upon the verandah of Mrs. Henry Nahr’s residence at Westport.
All supplies for Brighton were seaborne; vessels lay offshore and cargoes were landed in boats. In 1867 the Provincial Council negatived a motion to provide wharfage accommodation for this port. It, however, was declared a warehousing port in that year.
An early, probably the first, Harbourmaster appointed was Thomas Bradby, he being given charge of “Woodpecker Bay and Fox’s River.” Mr. John Grant was appointed Signalman in February, 1881, and William Stephenson about 1886, though there was then only occasional shipping.
In 1868 the Customs revenue included spirits £234 at 12/- per gallon; tobacco £68 at 2/6 per pound; wine £5 at 4/- per gallon.
The name of the Post Office at Brighton was, on 1st December, 1908, changed to Tiromoana in order to avoid confusion with an office of the same name near Dunedin. Similarly the name of the Post Office at St. Kilda was, on 16th December, 1910, changed to Powellville to avoid confusion with an office of the same name in a suburb of Dunedin. It was renamed Powellville after a prominent resident of the district. It was closed on 1st April, 1916.