Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 6, October 1966
WAIHI ARTS CENTRE and MUSEUM ASSOCIATION (Inc).
We are pleased to report the growing happy spirit which exists in our Centre where members and those of affiliated groups are working to maintain and build a cultural centre of which our town and members throughout N.Z. may be proud, We have 256 members; 20 junior members, 3 affiliated groups and several commercial memberships.
MUSEUM.
New exhibits are continuing to come in and plans are well under way for a small colonial room and also a display of early radio equipment. This latter display is at present being prepared by the Waihi Branch of A.R.T.
MUSEUM SCHOOL SERVICE.
This service has grown considerably. There are now 3 work-sheets in use.
dealing with life in Waihi in early 20th. century,Waihi Goldfields,a science worksheet which deals with rooks and minerals and the method of extraction of gold and silver from the quartz.
ART EXHIBITIONS AS FOLLOWS (a) from the New Vision Gallery in Auckland of paintings and graphic prints by prominent artists: Kees Hos, Noelle Palmer, Theo Schoon, Louise Henderson, Gordon Walters, Philip Trustum and Empedocle Amato.
(b) CHILDREN'S ART with the following district schools represented; Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Katikati and Waihi.
(c) a selection from the Barry Lett Galleries in Auckland.
(d) a local ARTS and CRAFTS exhibition in October.
The CAMERA CLUB will also hold their ANNUAL EXHIBITION in October.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to the Association of N.Z. Art Societies for the support from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for our exhibitions, the Mines Department for their generous grant towards Museum extension work and to P.Y.E. Ltd. for their grant towards the general funds, and to members for their continued support.
M.S. MARTIN (Mrs.) :: HON.SECRETARY
WAIHI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Since April last the Society has had some very interesting addresses by various speakers. In May Mr. E. Reisterer of Waihi Beach described a trip he and other historical enthusiasts made to Te Porere, the Maori stronghold south of Taupo, where in 1868 the Armed Constabulary fought Te Kooti. They also visited Tiroa, north of Taupo, the secret sanctuary of Hauhauism.
In June Mr. D. W. Heatley of Waihi Beach showed colour slides of the Pacific islands - Raratonga, Aitutaki, Samoa and Niue. His account of the life on these islands and of the problems a Resident Commissioner had to tackle was most interesting.
In July Mr. P. Williamson as a pioneer settler of Whangamata gave his hearers an amusing and instructive account of the difficulties of a settlers life and vividly described the town's early development. (Talks will be more fully reported at a later date).
In August Mr. Bert Middlebrook recalled the early history of Katikati and gave a lively and well informed description of activities in the early days of settlement.
In September members heard the strange and interesting story of Mrs. Ngoungou, nee Caroline Perrett, who was the grandmother of Mrs. Forsman of Waihi Beach.
Membership has increased to 187, the largest so far, and is a healthy indication of the community's interest in the Society.
SECRETARY :: JEAN H. CLARK
PAEROA AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Society now meets in the Presbyterian Hall, Mackay Street, (3rd Wednesday of month).
After the Annual Meeting on 20th April, the President, Rev. Rogers, suggested a discussion group and introduced the subject of Pakeha meanings of Maori Place names. In May, Mr. D. Howse continued his earlier interesting talk on Pitcairn Island, and in June Mr. Cyril Gwilliam came from Tauranga to discuss the finding of gold, with particular reference to the Karangahake Field, about which he had spoken on the occasion of the Waihi Field Day. He made good use of Mr. T. Gordon's map of the Talisman Mine which we are reproducing.
Mr. Howse concluded his Pitcairn series at the July meeting the highlights being the showing of some excellent colour slides which he took when a member of an Archaeological Party, and a beautiful film of the Island and its people.(Projectionist Mr. Brian Crosby). The texts of these talks will be used as space permits. In an inspiring address at the August meeting Mr. C. W. Malcolm of Auckland reviewed Paeroa from its early days, and especially as he has known it since boyhood, linking the history of the Volunteer Fire Brigade with that of the social activities and highlights of the town.
HON. SECRETARY :: R. W. HUGHES.
Typing and Duplicating by E. Barron, 1 Willoughby Street, Paeroa.