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James Alexander Grant Goldmining at Mahinapua
My Story
DescriptionThe Mahinapua Gold Mining Company was owned by a Mr Ewen McGregor of Mangaonoho. The company registered a claim of 87 acres in 1909, between the lake and the Hokitika-Ross Railway. Six men were employed by the company. To work the claim a high pressure water pump and dredging system was used to extract material from the tunnel. A trial in 1910 provided a worthwhile amount of gold. In February 1911, three and a half miles of piping was delivered to improve the water supply. The company was wound up in 1915.
James Alexander Grant was my Great Grandfather. He is in both photos wearing a cap and a dark waist coat. The date maybe about 1909 or 10. The same men appearing in the photos are possibly all from Wellington. He wrote a poem about going to the diggings to look for a fortune and mentions the names Robert, Gradie and Will who may be some of the other diggers. Another photo of the same event has been submitted previously.
The photograph is signed by Ben Thiem, a photographer well known in the West Coast district. Born in Germany, he came to the Wellington from Melbourne in 1905, age 24. He moved to Greymouth in 1906 where he set up his business.
James Alexander Grant
James Alexander Grant, born 1866, was the eldest of five children to James and Helen. James Grant Snr was born 1825 in Cromdale in the Strathspey Valley, Scotland. He emigrated to Dunedin, NZ in September 1858 on the ship Jura. His future wife to be, Helen Brown was also a passenger on the same ship. They were married on 14 September 1860 in Dunedin and settled in the farming community of Highcliff.
James Alexander hiked around Dunedin as a young boy. Later he visited various parts of the country which he recorded in poems and sketches. It was about 1891 or '92 when he met Marie Lucie Clolus. She had come from France to Rangiora with her Uncle and two cousins. She married an Irish man and had three girls and a boy. After the marriage broke down she found herself destitute in Wellington. The two older girls were placed in St Mary's Home in Wellington and the boy in the notorious St Mary's Boy's Orphanage in Nelson where he died. She met James in Wellington who brought the family back together. At the time they were unable to marry but remained in Wellington, and had eight more children. They were eventually married in 1924.
James was a Corporal with the Wellington Highland Rifles, and some of their family were involved with the pipe band.
ContributorSteve Jones
James Alexander Grant was my Great Grandfather. He is in both photos wearing a cap and a dark waist coat. The date maybe about 1909 or 10. The same men appearing in the photos are possibly all from Wellington. He wrote a poem about going to the diggings to look for a fortune and mentions the names Robert, Gradie and Will who may be some of the other diggers. Another photo of the same event has been submitted previously.
The photograph is signed by Ben Thiem, a photographer well known in the West Coast district. Born in Germany, he came to the Wellington from Melbourne in 1905, age 24. He moved to Greymouth in 1906 where he set up his business.
James Alexander Grant
James Alexander Grant, born 1866, was the eldest of five children to James and Helen. James Grant Snr was born 1825 in Cromdale in the Strathspey Valley, Scotland. He emigrated to Dunedin, NZ in September 1858 on the ship Jura. His future wife to be, Helen Brown was also a passenger on the same ship. They were married on 14 September 1860 in Dunedin and settled in the farming community of Highcliff.
James Alexander hiked around Dunedin as a young boy. Later he visited various parts of the country which he recorded in poems and sketches. It was about 1891 or '92 when he met Marie Lucie Clolus. She had come from France to Rangiora with her Uncle and two cousins. She married an Irish man and had three girls and a boy. After the marriage broke down she found herself destitute in Wellington. The two older girls were placed in St Mary's Home in Wellington and the boy in the notorious St Mary's Boy's Orphanage in Nelson where he died. She met James in Wellington who brought the family back together. At the time they were unable to marry but remained in Wellington, and had eight more children. They were eventually married in 1924.
James was a Corporal with the Wellington Highland Rifles, and some of their family were involved with the pipe band.
ContributorSteve Jones
West Coast New Zealand History (23rd Nov 2024). James Alexander Grant Goldmining at Mahinapua. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 23rd Mar 2026 14:24, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34258