Keeping in Touch

Newsletter for New Zealand History Federation Inc Volume 8 Issue 4 November 2014 www.nzhistoricalsocieties.org.nz A New Name: New Zealand History Federation Inc.

As from 19 September 2014, the name for the Society has changed officially from New Zealand Federation of Histori- cal Societies to the New Zealand History Federation. This is the culmination of a process starting some two years or so ago, when it was raised that we all want not only historical societies to feel welcome to be part of our Federation, but also museums, history groups, and other institutions and organisations with a focus on our country’s heritage. The change of name was approved at the Annual General Meeting held in Te Awamutu in April this year. You will soon see the new name reflected on our website; the Legacy Editorial Board have already altered NZ Legacy .

2015 NZ History Federation

Annual General Meeting and Conference, in Wellington

Hosted by Onslow Historical Society

Lambton Quay, c.1906. Editor’s collection .

The 2015 Conference incorporating the Annual General Meeting will be held in Wellington 1st to 3rd May hosted by Onslow Historical Society. A fun and educational weekend mixed with networking is planned and attendees will be hosted to a guided tour of the new War Memorial Park (Opening ANZAC day 2015). Put the dates in your 2015 diary NOW.

Enquiries to Secretary, Neil Curgenven, [email protected] or 0272441348.

Calendar

2015 7-9 March Okato & Districts Sesquicentennial celebrations (Taranaki Anniversary weekend)

1-3 May 2015 NZ History Federation Annual General Meeing and Conference in Wellington

2016 Keep watch for commemorations of the HMS Buffalo, involving the Mercury Bay Museum. More info soon.

Next issue due out March 2015 Contact Lisa Truttman (editor) : 19 Methuen Road, Avondale, Auckland 0600,phone (09) 828-8494 or email [email protected] Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the New Zealand History Federation Inc. 2 November 2014

ranged as much as possible to gain sunlight or they Closing the Door on included a special room known as the sun room. The War, New Homes Casement windows that opened right out be- came a feature to let in fresh air and wide porches for a New Era referred to as sleeping porches offered a semi out- door environment. Moreover, roofs became less A review of the seminar held on October 9 this year, steep so they blended with the environment and front in conjunction with the Auckland Heritage Festival. doors opened into alcoves or living rooms rather than formal central hallways. Furthermore, art deco Jeremy Salmond is a well known heritage architect houses concentrated on colour by being painted in and a published author. He gave an interesting ad- soft pastels or terracotta, therefore, presenting a re- dress to a large audience during the recent Auckland laxing visual effect. Finally, it became important to Heritage Festival. This seminar was held in Saint have indoor facilities such as flushing latrines, Ninian's Church in Avondale and it was organised which were a healthier option to outhouses that by the New Zealand History Federation. required night soil attendance.

In 1901 New Zealand had about 158,000 dwellings. Many of these were small houses, but they were of a Kenneth Stringer high quality. Most dwellings were stand alone build- ings, but there were examples of terraced houses in Dunedin. They were built of local materials, there- World War One, or fore, wooden structures were more common in the First World War? North Island, while those in the South Island were likely to feature brick or stone walls. These build- ings were predominately a combination of classical David Verran, as many of you will know, is one of and gothic designs. Hence, they had steep pitched the team who put together and distribute roofs in common with gothic architecture as well as NZ Legacy for the Federation three times a year. classical features such as being symmetrical with a The following was meant for inclusion in Legacy , hallway in the centre. Moreover, they were designed but space didn’t permit. I thought, though, that to make a statement, therefore, they faced the road David’s points would be of interest to our members, and presented their most decorative features in this so asked if I could publish them here. — Editor direction. For example, many had iron or wooden fretwork decorating their verandas as well as finials I recently learnt that WW100 is promoting the at the apexes of their gables. following terms for writing about the war: • ‘The First World War’, and not ‘World War There was an attempt to move in a different direc- One’ or ‘The Great War’. tion. The Liberal Government passed the 1905 • ‘WWI’ not ‘WW1’ Workers' Dwelling Act to make housing affordable • ‘Commemorate’ not ‘Celebrate’ to working people. The idea was to build 5,000 ar- chitecturally designed houses in suburbs such as • ‘Served’ not ‘Fought’ Petone in Wellington and Epsom in Auckland. ‘Ottoman Empire’ not ‘Turks or Turkish’. Unfortunately, the scheme failed, because only 126 houses were built and they were sold by the suc- I approached WW100, particularly about the use of ceeding Reform Government. Moreover, the rent ‘First World War’ as opposed to ‘World War One’, was 10 shillings 6 pence per week, which meant that and they pointed me to book titles from 1920 to only well paid workers could afford to live in these 2000. Their Ngram research on Google Books con- houses. clusively shows that while the phrase ‘The Great Many soldiers experienced terrible horrors during War’ predominated from 1920 to 1940, from then the First World War. Hence, there was a social reac- on ‘The First World War’ took over as the most tion towards: comfortable living, healthy environ- used phrase in relevant book titles. ‘World War ments, fresh air and sunlight. This was reflected in One’ was hardly used as part of a book title. the styles of housing, which gave birth to: bunga- WW100 also noted that New Zealand's War History low, arts and crafts and art deco designs. These Branch always used ‘The Second World War’ in houses were not primarily designed to make a visual their many post-war publications. New Zealand impression by facing the street with decorative fea- Legacy has hitherto mainly used ‘World War One’, tures. For example, their living quarters were ar- November 2014 3 but we are certainly willing to follow WW100 recommendations.

We can also agree, I believe, that the war wasn’t ‘Great’, that war is never something to ‘Celebrate’, that some ‘Served’ as for example stretcher bearers but didn’t actually fight, and that the Ottoman Em- pire was made up of many nationalities and not just Turkish people.

Interestingly, others have carried out similar re- search on Google Books and ‘New Zealand Wars’ certainly has the highest current use, according to http://historygeek.co.nz. However over the whole 1860 to 2013 period, ‘Maori Wars’ was used more often, particularly from the late 1950s to 1990. The latter was a term popularised by the late Professor Sir Keith Sinclair.

David Verran

Society News & Views

Franklin

(From the Society’s November newsletter.) Saturday 14 March 10.00am to 3.00pm Family Fes- tival 150th anniversary reunion of Bombay settlers. This will be held at the Bombay School grounds and will include a Farmers Market, formal welcome and “The organisers of this event have really put a fun run prize giving, photographs, fun & games, his- brilliant programme together and they can be very torical displays and meeting place and afternoon ath- proud of themselves. Three days of celebration are letics. The fun run is separate as it is a Lions Club planned on 13, 14 & 15 March next year. fundraiser.

Registration is $25.00pp. Anyone who registers will At 6.00pm on Saturday night there is a dinner & receive a name badge and their own registration pack dance cabaret at the Bombay School Hall. Cost is which will contain 150 th Anniversary keepsakes, the $60.00 per person and includes a delicious gourmet 150 th Programme of Events and other goodies and buffet dinner and dessert. Cash bar available. information about the weekend. Registrations close on 30 th January 2015. Sunday 15 March The local churches join together in a special thanksgiving service at the Bombay Below is a brief synopsis of the programme that has School Hall at 9.30am and will be followed by morn- been put together for the three days of celebrations. ing tea. For a copy of the full programme and registration form please contact Linton Stuart either by phoning From 11.30am to 2.30pm the Historical Bus Tour 09 2387299 or email [email protected] will take place. The cost is $25.00pp. Lunch will be provided at a brief comfort stop

Friday 13 March 5.30pm Mix & Mingle at the From 12.00pm to 3.00pm Bombay’s Amazing Race Bombay Rugby Club The cost is $25.00 per person and is restricted to per- will take place. Cost is $10.00 per car. Each team will sons aged 18+. Nibbles and a light meal will be be given a list of clues with destinations to find and served and there will be a cash bar available. tasks to perform in a set order. And then to wrap up

4 November 2014

from the Street now. It was an interesting exercise getting it from the old site to the new one … We used John [Fissenden]’s transporter to put the jail on, and Jill [Fissenden] as the lead vehicle for traffic control. Alistair [Brougham] for getting the jail pre- pared for the shift, and Richard [Wallace] for his crane work of putting the jail on the transporter & taking it off at the new site. Between them and other volunteers, we managed to get it under the bridge and into town.

“We are all very busy at the Museum, making sure we have all our items catalogued and photographed. Bernard Harmon has sand-blasted the whale pots, anchor, flax-stripper & a plough. In years gone by they had all been painted with silver paint, which at the time was perhaps a good idea, but water has got behind the paint and big chunks that have rusted Has anyone keep coming off, and if left they would disintegrate seen the over the years. Once they have been exposed to the weather for a week or two they will be coated with a Howick calf? rust killer, and be ready to go to the new Museum.”

Otahuhu

(From the Society’s November newsletter) the celebrations the Final Gathering will take place from 2.00pm onwards at the Bombay Rugby Club.” “Earlier in the year the Society was asked to assist with the location of the graves in the Otahuhu Howick Historical Village Catholic cemetery in order for some drainage work and a general tidy up to be carried out to On the night of 3-4 November, someone stole the restore some damage that had occurred two model calf used at the village for display. A call years previously. The contractors have went out on Facebook for information as to the transformed the cemetery by clearing away the calf’s whereabouts. jungle of wild ginger, planting trees, installing seats and putting up a new fence. A stone www.facebook.com/pages/Howick-Historical- conservator was also commissioned to repair the Village damaged headstones, and I happened upon her at work while I was in the cemetery doing some Kaikoura research on the Fencible graves.

According to the Society’s August newsletter, they “Ana Machado is a stone conservator, trained in had received the welcome news that they had re- Portugal, she has been in New Zealand for ceived a grant from the Lottery World War I ten years. She has worked on a number of projects Commemorations & Environment and Heritage throughout the country including the Committee of $1,872,000 + GST for funding to fit rebuilding of the beautiful Honeyfield Drinking out the inside of their new museum. “It was a lot of Fountain in New Plymouth. Built in 1907 it work getting the application together, and we was almost completely destroyed by a drunk driver couldn’t believe the email that they sent to tell us in a stolen car. Ana was also earlier this year com- the amount we would get. We kept looking at the missioned by Tainui Holdings to give a new lease of 000s to make sure we were reading correctly. Our life to the old weathered Post Office Coat of Arms architect Rick Pearson will now be able to do all the in Te Awamutu which she restored to their former drawings for the interior design … glory.

“The headstone Ana was working on had been com- “The jail has been moved; it looks so small sitting pletely flattened by one of the many inside the new building, and it can hardly be seen trucks, that two years previously, had turned the November 2014 5 cemetery into a dumping ground. The headstone had Te Aroha & District to be lifted into place by a crane to be reset and then Ana filled in the chips and cracks in the stone face. From the Museum’s September newsletter. The grave was that of Mary Molloy who died in Waiuku in 1905. The fact that she was brought back Time Siren at Terminus Street here to be buried could mean she is possibly related “Te Aroha’s time siren at the corner of Terminus to one of the Fencibles who first settled the area. Street. and Lawrence Avenue, was built in Balclutha, South Island by Mr. Bill Kean and his son Verdon, “The Society committee had only recently been for use by the E.P.S. (Emergency Precaution discussing a plan to obtain some funding to promote Scheme) a N.Z. wide organisation set up during the Fencible heritage of the cemetery, restore some 1939. While at Balclutha it was powered by a 4 cyl- of the early graves and put information signs out for inder Chevrolet engine. the public. The recent work by the Church to restore the damage and regular involvement by the parish- “The Kean family came to Te Aroha in 1946, bring- ioners in maintaining the cemetery provides a ing their siren with them and had it erected in either good opportunity for us to work together. The late December or early 1947. This was achieved with chance meeting with Ana with her expert knowledge the guidance of the Borough Engineer, Mr. Norman of heritage conservation has provided a great Annabel, after suitable wooden power poles were impetus to this newly proposed project. obtained through the Thames Valley Electric Power Board and a small “deal” was made with Mr R “Ana often gets work restoring headstones in the Sprague the Engineer. Mr. Sprague wanted to pur- inner-city cemeteries but this is the first time she has chase a new car from Thames Valley Motors which worked in Otahuhu, even though it is such an old Bill Kean now owned. part of Auckland. She said she enjoyed the quiet of the suburbs and felt the cemetery to be a peaceful “The siren then needed to be wired so Mr. Keith place. She has played an important part in the ongo- Brimblecombe was engaged to complete this task. ing transformation of the cemetery from being an The actual time signals were triggered from the overgrown eyesore into a holy and historic place. Borough Electrical Department Substation nearby. The cemetery has once again the respect it deserves. Many years later the siren broke down and was not God moves in mysterious ways.” in use for some time. A great number of people had strong thoughts on whether it should be repaired or not. The repair lobby won the day and Mr Don Workman of Te Aroha Tractor and Small Engines got it working again however there was a small hic- cough when nesting birds once again stopped our siren. Now, like before, it is sounded five days a week at 8am, 12 noon 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.”

Left, a detail from a postcard in the Editor’s collection, showing three First World War servicemen, one with an amputated arm, a woman with her baby perched on a boat, and a man seated behind. All at Queens Gardens, Nelson. Frank Duncan photo.

SHARE THE MESSAGE

If this issue of Keeping in Touch came to your society by email , why not forward it to others in your society so they can read it too? 6 November 2014 Parnell Heritage Journal Issue 4 Out Now

Into its fourth year of publication, the Parnell Heritage Journal , brought out by Parnell Heritage in Auckland, covers another range of topics from the past of the oldest Auckland suburb and its surrounds:

• “Parnell and World War I”, by Gabrielle Fortune • “Charles Heaphy’s Parnell Years”, by Iain Sharp • “Bishop Selwyn’s Buildings”, by John Stacpoole • “William Garden Cowie, First Bishop of Auckland”, by the Reverend Frank Wright

Below: Vernon Tava, Waitemata Local Board, Greg Moyle Waitemata Local Board, Joanna Boileau, editor Parnell Heritage Journal and Rendell McIntosh, Patron, Parnell Heritage.

All images courtesy Parnell Heritage

• “Paddy’s Puzzle”, by Joana Boileau • “Growing Up in Parnell in the 1940s”, by Les Greer • “Parnell’s Protestors and Peacemak- ers”, by Warren Limbrick • “Auckland’s Maori Hostelry”, by Lyn Savill

To order: $15.00 per copy, include Postage: $3.00 per two (2) copies. Email: [email protected] for bank account details By cheque payable to: Parnell Heritage Post to: P. O. Box 37479, Parnell, Auck- land 1151. Include your name, postal ad- dress and copies required. November 2014 7

Call for hand-coloured Other Organisations

photographs (From the November e-newsletter from Heritage New Zealand). Author Peter Alsop is seeking interesting hand- coloured photographs for his latest book on the genre, which has until now been sidelined as “dangerously Possible recognition for close to the category of kitsch”. Peter is the author of Featherston Camp site two recent books on New Zealand’s advertising in- A Wairarapa farm site with a strong military connec- dustry - Selling the Dream and Promoting Prosperity, tion to two world wars is being considered for recog- and says hand coloured photography is now being nition as a historic place with Heritage New Zealand. reappraised. His book will feature examples from public and private collections. “We are keen to know The Featherston Military Training Camp was a of any images which may illustrate (a) good, average prominent feature in the area from 1916 to 1918 examples from across the whole historical genre or when more than 60,000 men passed through the camp (b) the very best examples artistically of portraiture, before seeing active service. In World War II it was landscape, still life or other categories.” used as a prisoner of war camp, and was the site Contact: [email protected]. where 48 Japanese prisoners and one New Zealand soldier were killed following a riot in 1943. Kennedy Park WWII Defensive Installation Preservation Heritage New Zealand is inviting the public to make written submissions on the proposal for a Category 1 Society — appeal for WWII ar- listing by 3 November. A full report is available here tefacts. (http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/notified- proposals-and-reviews) detailing the values of the The picture was taken in the Battery Observation Post site. in 1944 and depicts the telephone communications equipment we would like to source. I do hope that the “The report supports the view this site should be con- picture is clear enough to jog someone’s memory! sidered for inclusion on the New Zealand Heritage We are also after any Field Artillery sighting instru- List given it has special or outstanding historical and ments that may be gathering dust in some shed some- cultural significance or value,” says Heritage New where... Zealand's Central Region Acting General Manager David Watt. As with any organisation involved in historic reserva- tion, we are not exactly awash with money but can “This is a poignant time in our history with this year always consider amending our fundraising objectives! marking the centenary of World War I starting and next year the Anzac landing at Gallipoli. Both world John Pringle, ror: Kennedy Park WWII Defensive wars shaped our identity, particularly World War I Installation Preservation Society which many consider forged our identity as a nation PO Box 102-101, North Shore, Auckland 0745 in our own right. To have this site in the heart of the Wairarapa is special.” Phone: (09) 410 5700 Fax: (09) 410 5712 Mob: 021 047 0557 In 2011 parts of the camp were declared an archaeo- logical site, reflecting their significance. Memorials and plantings in the council reserve opposite the camp’s main entrance include international links with Belgium and Japan.

Do YOU have an important event coming up in the next 12 months (or longer)???

Let us know, so we can include YOUR EVENT on the newsletter calendar. “The camp has national and international signifi- cance as well as being particularly sacred for those whose loved ones died here. As well as the riot a number of returned servicemen died at the camp as a result of the 1918 flu epidemic.

“The camp is a rare location in New Zealand used as a military training camp and a prisoner of war camp. Few places can be associated with the story of New Zealand’s war efforts in such detail.”

The Heritage New Zealand Board will consider the proposal and review public submissions at its meeting in December.

Christchurch Clock Restoration The Victoria Street clock tower was designed by ’s restored Victoria Clock Tower (http:// to sit atop the first wooden sec- www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/3670) was offi- tion of his Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers. cially unveiled on 22 October by Mayor Lianne Dal- The tower was made by Skidmore and Sons in Cov- ziel. entry, England and sent to New Zealand in 1860 in 142 packages. Over the years it was placed in various The clock was damaged in the February 2011 earth- spots around the city until it was moved to the present quake and the clock face’s motionless display of site in 1930. 12:51 was for many months a sobering reminder of the events of 22 February. But now the clock has As part of the unveiling Mayor Dalziel, along with been brought into the present with its newly repaired local school children, buried a time capsule to be mechanism keeping accurate time. opened in 100 years’ time.

Heritage New Zealand Southern General Manager Rob Hall attended the opening.

“It was a lovely sunny day and the clock tower looks really good,” says Rob. “There’s a bit of a heritage precinct in that area with the retention of the Harle- quin Public House, behind the clock, and the .”

Heritage New Zealand supported the early proposal for restoration and was part of the resource consent process. The primary restoration was organised and funded by the Christchurch City Council. The clock tower’s legs were deconstructed and reinforced with a new internal concrete structure. The foundations and spire were strengthened and original stone was used in the tower’s veneer.

Heritage New Zealand Conservation Advisor Dave Margetts is pleased with the outcome. “We at Heri- tage New Zealand regard the clock tower as a signifi- cant Category 1-listed landmark which is an impor- tant part of Christchurch’s heritage.”