Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 11, May 1969

WAIHI ARTS CENTRE AND MUSEUM ASSOCIATION.

Another busy summer holiday period with a 20% increase in attendance figures for January - in spite of increased admission charges – proves the growing popularity of the Centre. The luncheon for members and friends attending the opening of the excellent Summer Exhibition filled our galleries to capacity and Mr. R. Whitmore gave a talk on his conception of modern trends in techniques, using pictures from the exhibition to illustrate his points.

A members' "Wine and Cheese Evening" marked the opening of the present Handcraft Exhibition, a new venture which is proving most popular. Well known N.Z. Artists have contributed to this outstanding display of crafts such as pottery, wood-work, carving and weaving.

The most spectacular addition to the Museum collection is an old camshaft which has been mounted outside the front entrance. With considerable difficulty it was hauled from the scene of the Golden Belt Battery on the Kopu-Hikuai Road.

MARY MARTIN : HON. SECRETARY.


WAIHI HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Our Society has again made good progress, its membership now being 258 including 75 families and 4 life memberships. It has held well attended meetings on the second Monday of most months in the Waihi Arts Centre as follows:-

1968 September Mr. A. Anaru Traditional Maori Life.

October Mr. E.L. Adams Early Mayor Island (See This Journal)

November Week-end Outing Historical Auckland

1969 February Mr. C.A. Sutherland Maori adzes and axes.

March Miss V. McMillan Vesey Stewart and Early KatiKati.

March Visit to Mayor Island guided by Mr. L. Adams.

April Annual Meeting.

The senior Citizens' Get-together on 12/10/68 held in the Centre again proved to be a happy and successful event.


PAEROA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Membership : 230 indicates both losses and gains. Since our last Report we have had fewer meetings and more outings than usual.

1968 September - An outstanding address at Pai-o-Hauraki (Maori Meeting House) on the history and interpretation of Maori culture by Dr. D. Sinclair of Hamilton, followed by demonstration of Maori Handcrafts.

October N.Z. Slides shown by our photographer, Gary Staples.

November - Week-end visit to Auckland. (Reported)

1969 February - Launch Trip on Waihou River from Puke Wharf to Turua. A perfect day! thanks to Messrs. G. Morrison and J. Bennett. (to be reported).

March Bus trip to view Paeroa's points of historical interest (Mr. & Mrs. Silcock and Mr. & Mrs. F. Thorp). The story in detail later.

April Annual Meeting - Address on Ancient Maori Religion by Rev. L.M. Rogers, M.A.


HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Subscriptions for 1969 are now due and some members have already paid theirs. If yours is owing please remit to Treasurer.

Miss F. Clark, P.O. Box 82, WAIHI. or

Mrs. M. Beattie,15 Corbett Street, PAEROA.