Peter Go Go - Between Riverhead and Helensville

[mckha489]

The Okowitu thread https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=803387.msg6614884#msg6614884. Has inspired me to put up my own puzzle which I had given up on.

In about 1869   Joseph Hay Anderson walked from Riverhead to Helensville (to get the boat to the Wairoa). And said in later reminiscing “when we got to Peter Go Go I was quite done”. I’ve enquired at the Helensville museum as to where that might be. The general consensus is that it must be around Waimauku. But

[Fresh Fields]

Hi.

Are you referring to oral history, or a published account?  If a published account there may be further clues contained there in.

Alan.

[mckha489]

It's a piece of writing Joseph did in his 80s  which he filed alongside some diaries he kept in his later years. (Wish he'd started them sooner).

Going to look at early maps is one of the things on my long 'to do' list.

[Janette]

I wonder if it is his interpretation of a Maori named place

Edited

I doubt he would have gone through Waimauku as that would lengthen his journey,The Old North Road seems to be dated 1928 so I imagine it would have been tracks through the bush

Cheers Janette

[mckha489]

I wonder if it is his interpretation of a Maori named place

I’m quite sure it is. But blowed if I know what! Of course it’s not vital, as we can imagine the walk probably mainly  along the route of what became the old north road, with a stop off somewhere for rest.
(His legs weren’t working properly once they got on the boat!)

[Whenu]

Potoitoi was the name of the portage route from Riverhead to Helensville.

http://folksong.org.nz/he_tangi_te_kiwi/portages_of_early_auckland.html

Also is a Pitoitoi Dr. in Riverhead.

[Fresh Fields]

Hello again.

Interesting Whenu, thanks.

As this area is one I have not previously researched, re early pioneers, I had a bit of a look over the weekend. As I thought the early passages overland followed traditional cross country routes. Flood plains were dodged as much as possible. The portage route was very much the means of passage in the period referred to. Much was the debate about improving the means of connecting the commerce of Auckland with Helensville etc.

I could well see the point at which the waggoner, or teamster, had to really coax their animals to crest a high point on the portage road as being referred to as; "Peter's GO GO !" Then at the top look out back south or north.


Some reading for those also interested in the portage -

Riverhead to Helensville
RIVERHEAD  Portage point on the journey in the 1860’s but patronage declined with the advent of the Helensville railway line.

http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc02Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d63.html 

A journey through, July 1864. In 1865 accounts record a journey of three and a half hours between McLeods Helensville and Riverhead

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18640722.2.16?end_date=1880-12-31&items_per_page=100&query=Old+north+road+to+helensville&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

A 1865 four horse dray service twice weekly.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18650310.2.18?end_date=1870-12-31&items_per_page=100&query=Riverhead+to+Helensville&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

Forming a highways board. John McLoed maintained half the route at his own expense as part of his transport business. 1965

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18650210.2.15?end_date=1870-12-31&items_per_page=100&query=McLeod+Riverhead&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

Formation of Ararimu Highway Board. – Mr Issac McLeod.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680118.2.22?end_date=1870-12-31&items_per_page=25&phrase=2&query=Riverhead+to+Helensville&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

Canal verses Tramway, verses rail RIVERHEAD TO HELENSVILLE 1969

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18691014.2.10?end_date=1870-12-31&items_per_page=25&phrase=2&query=Riverhead+to+Helensville&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

Riverhead – Helensville portage impassable for freight. McLeod’s 12 Oxen can not get freight through, nor probably their regular four horse dray service.  Expected goods in transit over 8 to 11 weeks delayed. 1869

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18690904.2.33?end_date=1870-12-31&items_per_page=100&query=McLeod+Riverhead&sort_by=byDA&start_date=1839-01-01

Research becomes easier if you can familiarize yourself with the place and period.


Best of hunting.

Alan.

[mckha489]

Oh. Thank you both so much!  I’m going to have to add a post script to my file about him now!

[Fresh Fields]

Two more brief clips then to illustrate your footnote.

Alan.