Chronology of Events relating to the Bella Street Pumphouse

 Chronology of Events

1884    
The government decided that a subsidy not exceeding $50,000.00 be granted  towards the erection of machinery to exploit the Thames low levels.
              
1886 Feb.          
Thames-Hauraki Goldfields Co. Ltd. floated in London. Capital $600,000.00 of which shares totalling $360,000.00 issued to the public. Float was oversubscribed.

1886 April    
Contractors commenced to strip, enlarge and re-timber the Queen of Beauty shaft.

1896 Nov.    
Sandycroft Foundry & Engineering Works UK dispatched first shipment of machinery

1897 Jan.    
Machinery arrived in Auckland per SS Pakeha, SS Indrohiri, and SS Tokomaru.

1897 March    
Construction of the chimney stack commenced.

1897 Sept.    
Messes Price Bros. completed assembly of the tenth and final boiler.

1897 Oct.    
38 tons of machinery arrived.

1898 Oct.    
A trial run of the machinery was made. Only 3 boilers used. No water pumped.

1898 Dec.7
Premier Rt. Hon R J Seddon and others visited. The plant was set in  motion.

1898 Dec 19   
Hon. A J Cadman, Minister of Mines, officially opened the pumphouse.

1900    
Thames-Hauraki Company taken over by the Standard Exploration Co.

1902-1907    
Under protection.

1908    
Connection made with a crosscut from Queen of Beauty shaft 244m below the surface to May Queen shaft to improve ventilation in both workings.

1909    
Government subsidy to the May Queen Quartz-mining Co. To assist in deepening the Queen of Beauty shaft to 310m.

1909
May Queen Goldmining Co. Drove towards their ground at 305m level of the Queen of Beauty Shaft.

1910    
Thames Deep Level Crosscut commenced at 305m level of Queen of Beauty shaft.

1914 Oct.    
The Inspector of Mines ordered that the pumps cease operating due to the continued influx of gas from the Thames Deep Level Crosscut. An official of the Mines Department  then took over control of the plant.

1918    
Auction of plant and machinery ordered by the Mines Department.