New Zealand - Hokitika
- Hokitika township
- Circa 1870s
- James Ring Photo
Hokitika
- The land where Hokitika stands was purchased in 1860 from Māori when Poutini Ngāi Tahu chiefs signed the Arahura Deed.
- This was the sale of the whole of the West Coast region, apart from small areas reserved for Māori.
- It was 7,5000,000 acres and sold to the Crown for £300 or £0.00004 per acre.
- Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush and grew very quickly.
- By late 1866, it was one of New Zealand's most populous centres. On 16 September 1867, there were 41 vessels alongside the wharf at Hokitika, in some places three and four deep. In 1867, the port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of vessels entered inwards and in the total value of exports; principally gold.
The West Coast
- A region of New Zealand on the west coast of the South Island
- Administered by the West Coast Regional Council
- It comprises the territorial authorities of Buller District, Grey District and Westland District.
- The principal towns are Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika.
- The region is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country.
Reference; Wikipedia
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Image source: Reference No. PA7-51-05-1 Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationallibrarynz_commons/3056775009/