Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 14, October 1970
Your Publishing Committee is most grateful to loyal supporters who continue to add chapters to our over-all story, and also to the occasional members who, though not making a contribution to the Journal, yet express their appreciation of the efforts of others. For writing is not always an easy task and time to do it so often entails the sacrifice of what might be much needed leisure moments.
It has been mentioned before that we exchange Journals with Whakatane, Auckland, Tauranga and Te Awamutu and it is interesting to note the diversity in our unity. We are each aiming to preserve the record of our past but each district has a distinctive story to tell. The older Societies such as Whakatane have already covered a very wide field, and Auckland which includes Waikato has ready access to sources of research e.g. Museum and Library, Provincial Council Journals and old Minute Books. We gratefully acknowledge Auckland's "Suggestions" compiled by W. Macdonald, Enid Evans and P.M. French. Te Awamutu is steeped in Maori History concerning which Dr. Roberton who edits that Journal is an authority and enthusiastic recorder, and Tauranga has been concentrating on establishing its wonderful Museum.
What can we say of ourselves, we who have not yet reached a century of European settlement and whose early Maoris became scattered owing to tribal wars? Yet this district has continued to witness remarkable changes and it has been our task to chronicle these and the people who wrought them both early Maoris and the two or three generations of pioneers who blazed a trail for us. At the risk of seeming parochial we have felt the necessity of concentrating on these practical and simple folk-tales which undoubtedly form the basis of our Ohinemuri history.
In an article in the Auckland Herald of 13-6-70 Mr. Frank Simpson made this comment - "Something of a minor social and cultural phenomenon during the past 10 or 15 years is the growth of local Historical. Societies. A consequence of this has been the concept of a wider organisation embracing the activities of all bodies and the Auckland Society is planning a meeting of representatives from all parts of the province to further the idea of a federation".
This meeting took place in Hamilton on August 22nd both the Waihi and the Paeroa Societies being well represented. Mr. Cartwright, the Auckland Pres. presided over the large enthusiastic gathering and details will be reported in our next Journal.
The valuable Art Centre and Museum at Waihi rightly continue to flourish, providing a cultural nucleus and now the Paeroa Historical Society has taken a step in this direction. With the help of the Borough Council and particularly of his Worship the Mayor, Mr. Graham Lee, a glass fronted Show-Case has been installed in the Municipal Library with a view to housing small relics which have some bearing on our past. Mr. Charlie Murdock, whose Museum at Hikutaia is outstanding, is responsible for a shelf of Maori Artifacts while other shelves will feature Mining Days, Old Books, Pictures and articles of historic value. This is just a small beginning but it is hoped that it will grow, and gifts or loans of material will be welcome and appreciated.
S.O.S.
Because many of our members are pensioners we have endeavoured to "balance our budget" on a very low subscription, but must reluctantly point out that rising costs make this extremely difficult. Those who pay a "family membership" of £1.50 are definitely helping us to carry on, especially if this is paid at the beginning of each year.
PICTORIAL BOOKLET
We are pleased to recommend a Lions Club project that is likely to appeal to members who are interested in the reproduction of local historical pictures. The Paeroa "Lions" have sponsored a well-produced 10" x 8" book of scenes of early Paeroa and Karangahake contrasted with recent photographs of the same areas today. This is now available from local Booksellers or from the Lions Club, Paeroa.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
DR. ALLAN NORTH writes, "As an old boy of Paeroa I was very interested to come across your Journal and. learn of your Society. Would it be possible to enrol me as a member and to send me as many of the old editions are available?" (Yes, with pleasure! Ed.)
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I very much enjoy the Magazine and so do the Bonnici boys for whom I still work. They often see references to people they used to know when in Waihi. - Hazel Bishop (nee Holmes).
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Did you know there was a coal mine just above a waterfall up Reservoir Road (old Waitekauri track)? (See Journal 10 article by Mary Treanor [see Journal 10: Reservoir Rd, Paeroa - E] and Journal 9 Page 42 re Wick. [see Journal 9: Tale of Two Families, though I see no connection - E]) - F. Harold Farley.