Newton River (Buller River tributary)
| Newton River (Tasman) | |
|---|---|
 Newton / Buller River confluence in 1964 | |
.png)  Mouth | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Mount Newton |
| • elevation | 1,359 m (4,459 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Buller River |
• elevation | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Length | 20 km (12 mi) |
Newton River in the Tasman District (there is also a Newton River in Fiordland)), flows west and then south for about 20 km (12 mi) from Mount Newton to the Buller River, 17 km (11 mi) west of Murchison. Near its mouth it is crossed by SH6[1] on a steel truss bridge with a 120 ft (37 m) main span and two 30 ft (9.1 m) side spans.[2]
Newton River is an official name, gazetted on 27 May 2021. It was named by Nelson Province engineer, John Blackett, during an expedition in April 1863.[3]
The Old Ghost Road cycle trail runs along the north and west sides of the catchment.[1]
In 1873 the Provincial Council agreed to put a footbridge over the river[4] and from 1875 the road from Nelson was extended to Lyell. By 1880 a road and bridge had been built and gold miners were working the area.[5] By 1901 about 50 miners were at work for the Newton River Sluicing Company,[6] which was said to be successful in 1904,[7] but their 96 acres (39 ha) of mining lease, 6 water races and 3 tail races were liquidated in 1905.[8] Much damage was done by the 1929 Murchison earthquake[9] and the bridge was then swept away in a subsequent flood.[10] It was rebuilt in 1931[2] and enlarged for high sided vehicles in 2016.[11]
Red deer, goats and pigs live in the beech forest.[12] A groundbeetle, Bembidion bullerense, is found near the mouth of the river.[13] Wildlife formerly in the catchment include South Island piopio, probably seen in 1946, great-spotted kiwi (roroa) and whio, seen in 2004.[14]
41°46′36″S 172°10′41″E / 41.776753°S 172.178164°E
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Newton River, Tasman". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ a b "MAIN HIGHWAYS. NELSON EVENING MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 July 1931. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Place name detail: Newton River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. NELSON EXAMINER AND NEW ZEALAND CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 May 1873. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "No. III. COLONIST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 October 1880. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "STRIKE AT NEWTON RIVER. WEST COAST TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 September 1901. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Local News. GREY RIVER ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 May 1904. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "THE GOLDFIELDS. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 December 1905. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Two views of the big; slip .which dammed tho Buller River below Murchison en route to Newton, Flat. EVENING POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 June 1929. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Alpine Fault Earthquake Scenario & Lifelines Vulnerability Assessment" (PDF). Grey District Council. December 2007.
- ^ "Work on Newton River Bridge set to start". www.scoop.co.nz. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Lyell to Newton River hunting". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ André Larochelle and Marie-Claude Larivière (16 September 2016). "Taxonomic Supplement (2001 to 2015) to the Catalogue of New Zealand Carabidae".
- ^ Kate Steffens and Paul Gasson (September 2009). "A history of threatened fauna in Nelson Lakes area" (PDF). NIWA.