Harold Wellman, one of the greatest ever scientists to work on the West Coast.

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DescriptionHarold Wellman was one of the greatest ever scientists to work on the West Coast. Originally a gold miner in and around Ross, a black sander at Gillespies Beach, he later became a surveyor, then a Geologist.

Later 1943-45, he was based in Greymouth as a Coal geologist and discovered many new coal fields in and around Reefton and Westport. He was sent on top-secret work to South Westland during the war to search for Mica which was needed for radio components.
He later led oil exploration teams on the West Coast during WW2. He had incredible respect for Charlie Douglas and used the big map that was with Lands and survey in Hokitika when he was searching for Mica.

A practical field man with a distaste for bureaucracy, he developed the outrageous theory of a huge 480-kilometre horizontal displacement along the Alpine Fault in the South Island. Working with other geologists he later learned that this structure is the boundary between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, which slide past each other at about 35 millimetres a year, causing New Zealand's most destructive earthquakes. Drinking was one of his favourite pastimes and he and his wife Joan, used to compete at making the best homebrew.

He knew most of the West Coast pubs and recalls drinking over-proof rum in one and having the worst hangover of his life the next morning. If you want to read more about Harold Wellman, read Simon Nathan's Book - Harold Wellman A Man Who Moved New Zealand. There will never be another Harold Wellman.
Date of Photo1909-1999Map^[1]^[2]External LinkTe Ara EncyclopediaContributorBob McKerrow

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Location (city or town)RossGreymouthPersonHarold Wellman

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Category Tagart,craft,literature

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Date Created28th May 2019

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Harold Wellman, one of the greatest ever scientists to work on the West Coast.

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