WESTLAND GENEALOGY GROUP (INC) February/March 2010

Newsletter February/March 2010

Newsletter Editor: Rachel Bruhn Telephone: (027) 429 7443 Email: [email protected]

From The Editor

Welcome everyone

I would like to remind everyone about our open day on the 24th of April which will be held at the Genealogy Rooms from 10 am — 3 pm and there will be a $5 - door charge.

We are still on the look out currently for a new premises for our library, so if you know of any one that has a office space etc to rent which is in a good location preferably central and reasonable rent, as we are a non profit organisation, please let us know. A reminder that the 2009/2010 subscriptions are now due and a notice was sent with the last newsletter.

A big thank you to Julia Bradshaw at Shantytown, Margaret Mort at History House, Peter Lawn at Blacks Point Museum, Mary Rooney at West Coast Historical Museum, Jackie Gurden and everyone for their contributions to this edition of our newsletter. Happy Easter and I hope you enjoy the holiday and spending this with your family and friends.

Also welcome to our new member: Rachel McAdams

Regards Rachel

Kete West Coast http://ketewestcoast.peoplesnetworknz.info

Don’t leave your memories in the shoe box – learn how to digitise them and store them on Kete West Coast.

About Kete West Coast

Kete West Coast is a site being developed as a partnership between the National Library, the Buller, Grey and Westland libraries and the West Coast ICT Uptake project. It is a site where people can upload stories, images, video, oral recordings/podcasts, relating to the West Coast. It is easy to use and free. Importantly, the site is part of the National Library and everything loaded on is backed up and stored within their archives. This means that this is a great way to ensure a record of the material is kept long term.

We would like to capture as many records as possible from people about our region - past and present. Those photos that are put into shoe boxes, end up discarded or sit in you family collection but that could tell a story about your family, community or a West Coast event, lets get them on the site with a short story. There are also lots of current stories and happenings that could be captured and uploaded. Clubs can use this site as their own website free. You can be set up with your own area or ‘basket’ and someone from your organisation can manage it.

The Launch Workshops and Uploading Information

The site is operational now however over the next few months it will be launched. We are planning to run workshops to teach people how to and put a short story around their photos and upload them onto the site. Also taught will be how to digitise photos. The Buller workshop is to be held on Saturday 17th and Thurs 22nd of April. Greymouth and Westland dates have not yet been confirmed but are proposed for May. If you are interested in joining these workshops or would like to know more please contact Jackie Gurden on 03 768 5444 or [email protected] or your local librarian. And remember – you can start uploading material anytime.

Jackie Gurden

Page 1 WESTLAND GENEALOGY GROUP (INC) February/March 2010 From Shantytown

Here at Shantytown we are busy with summer visitors and I am working on new displays. My main project at the moment is new interpretation for the gold-claim area with information about gold, the West Coast’s gold-rush story and some of the characters associated with that.

I am keen to get in touch with descendants of Sarah CHISNALL and her husband Louis LOUSICH who was maimed in a dynamite explosion near Kumara in 1884. I would also like to find descendants of Harriett and John Maunder LANGDON who arrived during the early days of the gold-rush. The couple’s only surviving son was killed in the Brunner Mine Disaster but of the daughters; Mary married Thomas GRAHAM, Julia married Charles SHANN, Patience married Thomas SMITHERS and Sarah married a Mr WINTER.

The children’s play area at Shantytown has recently been upgraded and we now have the blacksmith’s forge operating from Friday through to Sunday and Shire horse and buggy rides on Saturdays and Sundays through to April.

Julia Bradshaw CURATOR [email protected]

From Blacks Point Museum

Jack Lovelock Memorial

John Edward Lovelock (Jack) born Crushington, , 5 January 1910 and died in New York, 28 December 1949. Remembered for his Gold Medal, which he obtained for winning the 1500 metres running race at the Berlin Olympics. Jack Lovelock’s father was the Battery Manager of the old Globe/Progress Gold Mine at Crushington, the largest stamping battery in the area with 65 stamps.

On 5 January 2010, a memorial was erected to celebrate Jack, as it would have been his 100th birthday. The quartz stone used for the base of the memorial, came from the site of the old Globe/Progress Mine which is now Oceana Gold Mine. The wrought iron design on top of the rock showing a runner in front of a silver fern, was designed by Alun Bollinger, Blacks Point and made by his brother-in-law Danny Bass who lives at Crushington.

Graham Gollan of Blacks Point Museum, organised raising the necessary funds and also organised the day. Ally Caddy, Blacks Point Museum Committee Chairman, was the MC, Pat McManus, Buller Mayor spoke, as did the West Coast Historian, Les Wright, who gave an insight of the area as it was in Jack’s day.

Belle Watson, whose ancestor, Thomas Watson started and built the Wealth of Nations Gold Mine in Crushington and an Engineer for the Consolidated Gold Fields Company of New Zealand who owned the Globe/Progress Gold Mine, unveiled the Memorial.

The Memorial can be found at Lankeys Creek Car Park at the eastern end of Crushington. About 50 people attended the unveiling. Also in attendance were representatives from TV1 and TV3 as well as reporters from The Press and Grey Star newspapers. Radio New Zealand also interviewed Graham Gollan on the morning of the unveiling, so nationwide coverage was achieved and a high profile for the area accomplished. After the unveiling, everyone was invited back to the Blacks Point Museum for a successful afternoon tea with the wonderful spread being supplied by the local Community Board.

Peter Lawn - Blacks Point Museum

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Article From History History

In the dress of ladies, great latitude is allowed, but the aim of the gentle sex should also be simplicity and taste.

Dresses should always be suited to the occasion upon which they are to be used. In the morning, at home a lady may wear a loose, flowing dress, made high in the neck, with a belt at the waist, and with loose sleeves fastened at the wrist. On the street a walking costume should be worn, and the dress should clear the ground. Fashion may sometimes demand a trailing dress for the street, but no lady should submit to such a demand. There is nothing more disgusting than to see a rich dress sweeping up the dirt and filth of the street. The shoes for the street should be high, warm and easy to the feet, with a low, broad heel, and should be always neatly blackened. For ordinary street wear, a lady may use either a hat or a bonnet. This is a matter of taste.

The evening dress of ladies is governed by the fashion of the time. It always means full dress, but it is impossible to give any fixed rule regarding it. A competent dressmaker, or the fashion publications of the time, will give the neces- sary information. In Europe the evening dress requires the exposure of the arms and neck, but in this country the more sensible plan of covering these parts of the body is fairly the fashion.

The street dress of a lady should be simple and without display. To dress conspicuously or in brilliant colours for the street is a sign of bad breeding. In bad weather a light India rubber waterproof with a hood is more convenient and a better protection than a umbrella. To wear much jewellery on the street is vulgar. In large cities it subjects a lady to the danger of robbery. A lady should always dress neatly at home. She is then ready to receive a morning caller with- out having to change her dress.

A lady should change her dress for the evening. Some neat and dainty costume should be worn according to her taste, for it is in the evening that she is thrown most with the male members of her family, and is most likely to have visitors. In making evening calls upon her friends, a lady should wear a hood, or some light head wrap easily laid aside. A bonnet should always be removed at the commencement of such a visit.

For balls, or soirees, the dress should be of the richest and most elaborate description, with elegant jewellery. This is a matter of taste with the lady, who should avoid being over dressed. White kid gloves and white satin or kid boots are most suitable to a ball dress. If the overdress is of black lace, black satin shoes are worn.

For church the dress is simple and plain. Very little jewellery should be worn, and the costume should be of quiet col- ours. It is a mark of bad taste for ladies to attend church elaborately or conspicuously dressed. It shows a disregard for the solemnity of the sanctuary, and is calculated to draw off the attention of others from the duties of the place. In receiving the Holy Communion the hands should be ungloved.

For the theatre and other places of amusement, the ordinary walking dress is suitable. A rich and elegant shawl may be worn, as it can be thrown off when uncomfortable.

For the opera the richest full dress should be worn. This must be governed by the prevailing fashion. The head should be bare, and dressed in the most becoming style. Jewellery may be worn, according to taste, as there is no place where it shows to better advantage. A light or brilliant coloured opera cloak will add greatly to the lady’s ap- pearance and comfort. Gloves of white, or delicately tinted kid only are to be worn.

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For the country or sea-side simple and inexpensive dresses should be provided for ordinary wear. The bonnet should give place to a hat with a brim sufficiently wide to shield the face and neck from the sun.

Bathing dresses should be made of blue or gray flannel. The skirt should come down to the ankles, and the sleeves should be long. An oil silk or India-rubber cap, fitting tightly around the head, will protect the hair from the salt water.

The costume for travelling should be simple and of quiet colours, such as will not show dirt. A very slight display of jewellery should be made, especially if the lady is travelling alone. A waterproof clock should be carried along, as no one can tell at what time it may be needed. In the summer a long linen duster should be worn over the dress. It should be belted at the waist.

From West Coast Historical Museum

The happenings here at the West Coast Historical Museum over the last few weeks have included:

On 20th December 2009, the Westland Visitor I-site moved out of the front room Carnegie Building, and the Museum has now spread its wings and we now have a reception desk at the main entrance! This is working well and visitor numbers are on the increasing!

Due to the staffing situation we have needed to restrict the Archives and Research area to the hours of 1pm – 4pm Monday to Friday To avoid disappointment an appointment is necessary. We do offer a written request service for researchers who are unable to attend in person.

We are adding to our indexes everyday, more records from the archives are being made ‘user friendly’ and our Obitu- ary Files are growing at a steady pace. Remember the Kumara Times are on microfilm and we have a very good re- liable reader printer for researchers to use. (These papers are not available on papers past).

Please do not hesitate to make contact. If we are unable to assist you we may be able to point you in the right direc- tion! Our contact details are:

Archives/Research West Coast Historical Museum Hamilton Street, P.O. Box 171 Hokitika 7842 Westland Phone : 03 755 6898 [email protected]

Kind regards Mary and Christine West Coast Historical Musuem

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2009-10 Committee Library Hours

Barbara Tibbles President 768 5513 1st Floor, Duncan Hardie Building Cemetery Mackay Street, Greymouth Jill Bennington Secretary 768 5450 Wednesday 1:00 - 2:45 pm Helen Sutherland SIG Treasurer 768 4114 Saturday 1:00 - 3:00 pm Pauline Langdon SIG Co-ordinator 762 6024 Librarian Other times by arrangement. School Records

Bev Dey Assistant Librarian 768 7578 Research Charges Craig Hartwig Treasurer 762 6743 $2 Members $5 Non Members

Linda Worthington Research 768 6549 Rooms upstairs, turn right at top of stairs, Rachel Bruhn Newsletter Editor (027) 429 7443 down hall to end, last door on the right. Elizabeth Passuello 768 0069 Jackie Pullan

Trustees: Helen, Jill and Pauline. Library Roster

Pauline Langdon has offered to help anyone with research, Saturdays, 1 pm - 3 pm especially new members, who can't come during regular hours. You can contact Pauline on 762 6024. If you can't take your turn, please notify KEYS may be borrowed from Jill at AMI opposite our library or Pauline or swap with someone else as we from any key holder. Membership cards must be shown when have had instances where people come to do picking up keys and using library. research and the library is not open.

All of the above committee members are key holders. April 2010

Greymouth Family History Centre 3 Apr Craig Hartwig (03) 762 6743 10 Apr Linda Worthington (03) 768 6549 1 Main South Road, Greymouth 17 Apr Anne McLaughlan (03) 768 5933 Telephone 768 0943 or 762 6011 24 Apr Colleen Charlton (03) 768 6923

The Greymouth Family History Centre currently have available: If no one comes by 2:30pm, you may lock up.

4 Film Readers • 1 Fiche Reader If you need a reminder nearer the time 3 Computers Online • 1 Resource Computer please let Pauline know. FREE access to selected areas of Ancestry.com

Pauline Langdon For Appointments to do any research, can be organised by Ph 762 6024 Fax 762 6442 contacting Sheryl Iraia, phone 762 6011. Email [email protected]

RAFFLE DAYS

The money raised for our raffle days held at New World and The Warehouse in February was $840.00 and thank you to every one who contributed their time.

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News from the Westland Genealogy Group Library

* We have newsletters from the Dunedin Family History Group covering Otago/Southland that are very informative.

* We have completed a pupil index for the schools in the A - L bracket & are now into the rest.

* Currently, in our library, we have searchable school records to date for the following Schools:

Ahaura Arahura Awatuna Bell Hill Blackball Blaketown Bruce Bay Brunner Camerons Cobden Dobson Evans Creek, Fox Glacier/Weheka Greenstone Grey Main Humphreys Inchbonnie Jacksons Jacobs River Kaiata Kakapotahi Kumara Kumara Junction Marist Brothers Marsden Moonlight Ngahere Okarito Marist Primary Kowhitirangi , Upper & Lower

Cheers Pauline— Librarian

* Also, the Archives NZ office in Christchurch also holds school records from the West Coast. These schools include the following:

Ahaura Aickens Berlins Birchfield Blackball Corbyvale Fairdown Convent Granity High Granity Primary Greenstone Hatters Terrace Hector Inangahua Millerton Westport Primary & High

I would like to thank the Riccarton Brach of the NZ Society of Genealogists for this article which came from there newletter.

NOTICEBOARD

If, you have any notices, news or upcoming events, you can place this in our noticeboard section and by e-mailing myself.

Does anyone have Funeral Sheets that they have kept as we would like to start a collection & index them. Please forward on to Pauline Langdon or leave at the Library.

ENQUIRIES

* Rachel McAdams is researching the following surnames: INGLE, MCADAMS, ROBERTSON, BLACKBEE, HASSELL and MOYNIHAN.

* Sandra Levey is researching the following names: James ROWLEY and Elizabeth SALVIN. Louisa bc 1867 Brighton (Tiromoana) Harriet bc 1864 m ?Peter MCGOWAN. Please contact Pauline about this.

The Brick Wall

If, have a problem or need help with your genealogy, maybe one of our members could help. Just e-mail your brickwall problem to Rachel Bruhn and perhaps we can solve this via our brick wall page.

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FAST FOOD

Someone asked the other day, 'What was your favourite 'fast food' when you were growing up?' 'We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,' I informed him. 'All the food was slow.' 'C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?'

'It was a place called 'home,'' I explained! 'Mum cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table and if I didn't like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.'

By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal dam- age, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I'd figured his system could have handled it:

Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore Levis, set foot on a golf course, travelled out of the country or had a credit card. My parents never drove me to school. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow).

We didn't have a television in our house until I was 10. It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at 10 pm, after playing the national anthem and epilogue; it came back on the air at about 6 p.m. and there was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, featuring local people…

I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.

Pizzas were not delivered to our home... But milk was. All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers - my brother delivered a newspaper, seven days a week. He had to get up at 6AM every morning.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. There were no movie ratings because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without pro- fanity or violence or most anything offensive.

If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they bust a gut laugh- ing. Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?

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MEMORIES from a friend:

My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother's house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it... I knew immedi- ately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to 'sprinkle' clothes with because we didn't have steam irons. Man, I am old.

How many do you remember?

Head lights dimmer switches on the floor of the car. Ignition switches on the dashboard. Trouser leg clips for bicycles without chain guards. Soldering irons you heated on a gas burner. Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.

Older Than Dirt Quiz:

Count all the ones that you remember, not the ones you were told about. Ratings at the bottom.

1. Sweet cigarettes 2. Coffee shops with juke boxes 3. Home milk delivery in glass bottles 4. Party lines on the telephone 5. Newsreels before the movie 6. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (There were only 2 channels [if you were fortunate]) 7. Peashooters 8. 33 rpm records 9. 45 RPM records 10. Hi-fi's 11. Metal ice trays with lever 12. Blue flashbulb 13. Cork popguns 14. Wash tub wringers

If you remembered 0-3 = You’re still young If you remembered 3-6 = You are getting older If you remembered 7-10 = Don't tell your age, If you remembered 11-14 =You're older than dirt!

I must be 'older than dirt' but those memories are some of the best parts of my life.

Thank you to Pauline Langdon for both these articles.

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Westland Genealogy Group

Open Day

Greymouth

Date: 24 April 2010

Time: 10 am — 3 pm

Place: Genealogy Rooms, Duncan Hardie Building (upstairs), Mackay Street, Greymouth

Door Charge: $5.00

Come only for a day of researching your family tree and history

A collection of resources will be available including:

NZ Births, Deaths and Marriages on microfiche, NZ electoral rolls, NZ cemetery re- cords. School records, pioneer family registers and many other resources available.

For, more information— you can phone: Pauline Langdon on 762 6024 Or E-mail [email protected]

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