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The site of the Coulthard Hall murders,Runanga.1917.
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DescriptionThe site of the Coulthard Hall murders Runanga 1917.PhotographerJ JensenDate of Photo1917Map[1]
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Location (city or town)GreymouthEventCoulthard Hall murders
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Category TagDisaster
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Linkhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?.....=o.796216413725000&type=3CommentsRoni Wright really
8 December 2014 at 21:21 · Like
Laura Mills Detlaff 1917. The Coulthard-Hall memorial near Runanga remembers this shooting.
8 December 2014 at 21:36 · Like · 2
Tony Williams The offenders were caught in Christchurch some time later and hung,,,
8 December 2014 at 21:37 · Like · 3
Tony Williams Underbelly Greymouth
8 December 2014 at 21:43 · Like · 3
Laura Mills Detlaff So true Tony Williams
8 December 2014 at 21:43 · Like · 1
Jason Boddy I can remember rein acting that story at runanga school in the 70s with Miss Greening
8 December 2014 at 21:47 · Like · 1
Roger Howell The target was the state mines payroll being transported out to the mine office on payday. Memorial is about 300 metres from Runanga towards Greymouth on the left hand side of the road. Shocking how the men in the car were effectively executed.
8 December 2014 at 21:52 · Like · 1
Frances McMillan Just up the road from where we lived!
8 December 2014 at 21:59 · Like · 1
Murray Voigt Shite, Always thought that was a train robbery
8 December 2014 at 22:39 · Edited · Like · 1
Jason Boddy Lol
8 December 2014 at 22:43 · Like · 1
Max Vicki Messenger (AKA Max Messenger) During the mid fifties the pay for the State Mines was prepared in the mines office on the wharf behind County Council building. Was driven to the mines to deliver the pays next morning. A police sergeant accompanied the pay clerk and a loaded revolver was in the glovebox. These precautions were set in place after that robbery.It was a very large cash and especially so at Christmas time where the pay was doubled. Funny how most people referred to the memorial as "the Eggers Memorial".
8 December 2014 at 23:34 · Like · 1
Lyn Wallace Hmm and now the roles have reversed. It's the Government ripping everyone off. Not by shooting people obviously, but still should be held accountable for some of their cover ups...only my opinion..
8 December 2014 at 23:38 · Like · 4
Roger Howell Yes the perpetrator put a ladder across the road supported by two boxes. Pretty crude. The car stopped and Eggers sprang out of the bush and opened fire. No questions asked. Hung in Lyttelton jail thank goodness.
9 December 2014 at 08:55 · Like
John Messenger For nearly six years that I was a pay clerk at Dumollie I drove past the so called Eggers memorial. Of course Eggers was the killer not the victim. I did refuse one time after a senior staff member disclosed the record value of the next days payroll to be taken out by car, to a newspaper reporter, to make headlines in that evenings paper. Was more comfortable on my motorbike half a mile behind. It was said that the victim was shot in the back , presumably by his escort so imagine how I felt driving with the armed cops behind me . Most of them were as nervous as I was , constantly handling their unfamiliar firearms. The poorly padded front seat of a Vauxhall car offered no protection. I still remember rather fondly, that period in the old State coal office.
9 December 2014 at 09:33 · Like · 2
Heather Falconer My father, then a 12 year old, was chief witness at Eggers trial. He was the only one who had actually seen Eggers as he prepared for the hold up. His hanging haunted my father all of his life.
9 December 2014 at 09:58 · Like · 1
Lynne Scott Bad eggers they were
9 December 2014 at 10:05 · Like
Bob Stewart I have actually written a booklet on the Runanga payroll robbery.
9 December 2014 at 10:08 · Like · 1
Bob Stewart I have researched every single aspect of the case. Earlier that year Eggers actually called into my grandparent's house with a puncture, he asked for a bowl of water and two spoons to repair the puncture.
9 December 2014 at 10:09 · Like · 3
Heather Falconer Bob Stewart, would be very interested in buying a copy of your booklet. This robbery has been very much a part of my life. There was a documentary on tv about it a few years ago and I was contacted to be part of it. My brother was brave enough to do it and we thought it was well done
9 December 2014 at 10:38 · Like
Lynn Turnbull Wow ...bad things happened back then as well ay ...did they blame bad parenting like they do now i wonder ?
Diana Mattingly I doubt it Lynn Turnbull haha. I think anyone over about the age of about 12 was probably expected to take responsibility for their own actions
Lynn Turnbull For sure Diana Mattingly ... for sure !!
Johannes Debreuk The young ones today are ok I think some of us have hot short memories. Interesting story about Eggers did they live or did he live in dunollie
Heather Falconer Eggers lived in the bush close to the holdup site, and close to my grandparents house, which is how my father got to know him.
Les Holmes Germanicus There was a short movie made locally about this in the late 60's or early 70's I remember seeing at the film festival at the Regent.
8 December 2014 at 21:21 · Like
Laura Mills Detlaff 1917. The Coulthard-Hall memorial near Runanga remembers this shooting.
8 December 2014 at 21:36 · Like · 2
Tony Williams The offenders were caught in Christchurch some time later and hung,,,
8 December 2014 at 21:37 · Like · 3
Tony Williams Underbelly Greymouth
8 December 2014 at 21:43 · Like · 3
Laura Mills Detlaff So true Tony Williams
8 December 2014 at 21:43 · Like · 1
Jason Boddy I can remember rein acting that story at runanga school in the 70s with Miss Greening
8 December 2014 at 21:47 · Like · 1
Roger Howell The target was the state mines payroll being transported out to the mine office on payday. Memorial is about 300 metres from Runanga towards Greymouth on the left hand side of the road. Shocking how the men in the car were effectively executed.
8 December 2014 at 21:52 · Like · 1
Frances McMillan Just up the road from where we lived!
8 December 2014 at 21:59 · Like · 1
Murray Voigt Shite, Always thought that was a train robbery
8 December 2014 at 22:39 · Edited · Like · 1
Jason Boddy Lol
8 December 2014 at 22:43 · Like · 1
Max Vicki Messenger (AKA Max Messenger) During the mid fifties the pay for the State Mines was prepared in the mines office on the wharf behind County Council building. Was driven to the mines to deliver the pays next morning. A police sergeant accompanied the pay clerk and a loaded revolver was in the glovebox. These precautions were set in place after that robbery.It was a very large cash and especially so at Christmas time where the pay was doubled. Funny how most people referred to the memorial as "the Eggers Memorial".
8 December 2014 at 23:34 · Like · 1
Lyn Wallace Hmm and now the roles have reversed. It's the Government ripping everyone off. Not by shooting people obviously, but still should be held accountable for some of their cover ups...only my opinion..
8 December 2014 at 23:38 · Like · 4
Roger Howell Yes the perpetrator put a ladder across the road supported by two boxes. Pretty crude. The car stopped and Eggers sprang out of the bush and opened fire. No questions asked. Hung in Lyttelton jail thank goodness.
9 December 2014 at 08:55 · Like
John Messenger For nearly six years that I was a pay clerk at Dumollie I drove past the so called Eggers memorial. Of course Eggers was the killer not the victim. I did refuse one time after a senior staff member disclosed the record value of the next days payroll to be taken out by car, to a newspaper reporter, to make headlines in that evenings paper. Was more comfortable on my motorbike half a mile behind. It was said that the victim was shot in the back , presumably by his escort so imagine how I felt driving with the armed cops behind me . Most of them were as nervous as I was , constantly handling their unfamiliar firearms. The poorly padded front seat of a Vauxhall car offered no protection. I still remember rather fondly, that period in the old State coal office.
9 December 2014 at 09:33 · Like · 2
Heather Falconer My father, then a 12 year old, was chief witness at Eggers trial. He was the only one who had actually seen Eggers as he prepared for the hold up. His hanging haunted my father all of his life.
9 December 2014 at 09:58 · Like · 1
Lynne Scott Bad eggers they were
9 December 2014 at 10:05 · Like
Bob Stewart I have actually written a booklet on the Runanga payroll robbery.
9 December 2014 at 10:08 · Like · 1
Bob Stewart I have researched every single aspect of the case. Earlier that year Eggers actually called into my grandparent's house with a puncture, he asked for a bowl of water and two spoons to repair the puncture.
9 December 2014 at 10:09 · Like · 3
Heather Falconer Bob Stewart, would be very interested in buying a copy of your booklet. This robbery has been very much a part of my life. There was a documentary on tv about it a few years ago and I was contacted to be part of it. My brother was brave enough to do it and we thought it was well done
9 December 2014 at 10:38 · Like
Lynn Turnbull Wow ...bad things happened back then as well ay ...did they blame bad parenting like they do now i wonder ?
Diana Mattingly I doubt it Lynn Turnbull haha. I think anyone over about the age of about 12 was probably expected to take responsibility for their own actions
Lynn Turnbull For sure Diana Mattingly ... for sure !!
Johannes Debreuk The young ones today are ok I think some of us have hot short memories. Interesting story about Eggers did they live or did he live in dunollie
Heather Falconer Eggers lived in the bush close to the holdup site, and close to my grandparents house, which is how my father got to know him.
Les Holmes Germanicus There was a short movie made locally about this in the late 60's or early 70's I remember seeing at the film festival at the Regent.
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West Coast New Zealand History (30th Nov 2023). The site of the Coulthard Hall murders,Runanga.1917.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 21st Apr 2026 20:14, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1648