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The burning and sale of charcoal in Whitford in the 19th and early 20th centuries
Alan La Roche
An account of the little-known practice of charcoal making in the Whitford area during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
About the author
Alan La Roche MBE, BDS, was the honorary director of Howick Historical Village from its opening in 1980 until 2007. His numerous publications include The History of Howick and Pakuranga (1991), An Introduction to the Howick Historical Village (1997), So Delightful a Parish: The Revd Vicesimus Lush at Howick, 1850-1865 (2002), and as co-author, The Royal New Zealand Fencibles, 1847-1952 (1997). In 2006 Alan was appointed by the Howick and Districts Historical Society as Howick Historian, and he is currently working on another major history of the area.
More information
Introduction
Charcoal is wood that has been subjected to slow smothering combustion, for instance, by being burned under a covering of turf. Charcoal gives twice as much heat as wood, is 15% the weight of wood, and is reduced in volume by more than 25%. Charcoal gives far greater heat than wood, without the smoke.[1]
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries charcoal burning was an important industry near Howick, especially at Whitford. The poor clay soils and poor quality bush cover made growing of crops, or grazing of cattle or sheep difficult, with poor returns. Most farmers in this area made a living by growing small areas of vegetables, oats, wheat or hay, especially on river flats, and by keeping a few cows to make butter or cheese. They also cut firewood, posts or rails, burned charcoal, picked up kauri gum and gathered pig’s ear fungus.[2]
“Coals!! Coals!!” (advertisement for charcoal), Daily Southern Cross, 13 July 1863, p. 2, col. 3
Their charcoal was made in kilns following the British and European tradition. It was sold at a few shillings a pound for domestic use as fuel in stoves and irons, and industrial use in blacksmithing, tinsmithing, brickmaking, in paints and for water purification.
Wagstaff’s blacksmith’s shop, Howe Street, Howick, ca 1880. George Wagstaff senior with beard at left, his son George in centre (Manukau Research Library, Howick Historical Village, Howick Collection, HOW III, E3)
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