New Zealand - Hokitika - St Mary's High School - Girls - 1955 Contributor: Clare Pierson Hokitika - A small town in the West Coast region - 40 kilometres south of Greymouth - Close to the mouth of the Hokitika River - Founded on gold mining in 1864, it was a centre of the West Coast Gold Rush. - 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. (Reference: Wikipedia)