Tawa Historical Society Incorporated
The Tawa Historian
Newsletter #13 – February 2006
Dear Members,
WE held our first executive meeting on Monday 20th February 2006, and there are a number of matters that are very encouraging about which we want to inform you.
Financial Report
Our current bank balance stands at a healthy $10,570. Having said that, there are a number of projects for which we have been making provision. These include:
• A commitment to the plaques marking the line of the Old Porirua Road through Tawa.
• The proposed publication of a second book (Tawa’s history through maps) to be ready for sale in October / November 2006.
• Provision for information boards to be placed in the Tawa Cemetery.
• The possible reprinting of a series of 1914 newspaper articles written by Elsdon Best.
The Streets of Tawa
Bill Hinkley presented the Executive with a report on both the sales and the financial position regarding this first publication from the Society
Only 42 copies remain unsold from the original printing of 600. Major sales were through:
(Approximate figures only)
Books and More 250
Members 200
Tawa Library 70
In addition, a number of copies were presented to libraries, and people or organizations closely involved with the provision of information relevant to the content of the book, or who had made a significant contribution is some other way to the publication of the book.
The surplus on sales, including the original seed funds of $1,000 provided by the Wellington City Council is $2,952, which will be reinvested in future projects. We are rather astonished at the volume of sales, and delighted with the financial results, and the positive comments received regarding the book.
At the stage we do not propose a reprint, though if members can demonstrate a clear demand, we would reconsider this. Please let us know if you believe there is such a demand.
Gift of Maps / Photos
WE are very grateful to Shirley Mexted who has donated a good number of photos of Tawa and Titahi Bay in the 1920’s and 1930’s, together with some early maps relating to the subdivisions of the 1920’s – 1950’s. It is hoped that some of these will be used in our next book on Tawa’s history via maps.
Tawa – History through Maps and Photographs
As noted briefly above the next publishing venture will be a book looking at Tawa through maps (1849 – 1999) and photographs both oblique and vertical.
The following has been done in pursuit of this project:
• We have applied to the Wellington City Council for seed funding to help us get this project moving. Given that this book will be more expensive to produce than the Streets of Tawa because of the need for extensive use of colour we have applied for more seed funding than last year.
• Discussions have been held with the Cartographer of the Alexander Turnbull Library, and all maps relating to Tawa held in the Library have been viewed.
• Discussions have been held with NZ Micrographic Services, a Tawa firm dedicated to the preservation of the history of New Zealand.
• Core material is being gathered.
• Our printer has given estimates as to cost, and advice on publication.
We expect to hear the result of our application for seed funding from the Wellington City Council during March
Projects by Members
The Executive is anxious not to limit the work of the Society to annual productions of historical interest for the Christmas market. We believe there is also a place for smaller papers / pamphlets / bulletins similar to those produced by historical societies such as the Onslow Historical Society.
We would like to encourage members to take up matters of research on topics related to Tawa’s past, and to gather information with a view to writing these topics up for publication. If assistance is needed for the actual writing of the papers there are a number of members of the executive who would be very willing to help.
We on the executive would like to suggest that there is much scope and variety in Tawa’s history on any of the following
Buildings:
• The Greer homestead, Middleton Road
• Harrison’s Cottage, 7 Willowbank Road
• The Bucket Tree
• The Woodman House, 282 Takapu Road
• The Olde Bull and Bush, 101 Main Road
• The Old School House, 14 Oxford Street
• The Bartlett House, 26 Oxford Terrace
• The Mexted Farmhouse, 8 Rewa Terrace
• The Brown Farmhouse, 294 Main Road
Other:
• The Elsdon Best Memorial, Grasslees Reserve
• The site of the original Tawa Railway Station
• The current Tawa Railway Station
• Leigh’s Stockade Site, Main Road / Oxford Street
Reserves:
• Grasslees
• Willowbank
• Arthur Carmen
• Lyndhurst Park
• Duncan Park
• Linden Park
• West \ Linden Park
If you are interested in any of these projects please let us know.
Old Porirua Road – Plaques
Progress, though slow, is being made:
• The design of the plaques is almost finallised
• They will be cast iron
• A foundry is pricing the mould making and casting
• 600mm holes will be drilled in footpaths and the plaques installed flush to the surface of the path with epoxy resin
• About 12 – 15 plaques will be installed.
We continue to try to see that this project makes progress.
The Tawa Cemetery
Progress continues here also:
• The cemetery has been surveyed prior to completion of the fencing of the area
• Some trees and unnecessary weeds/scrubby bushes have been removed
• A contract is being let to clean and paint the front fence
• With agreement of the owners of the land adjacent to the cemetery, access has been created for grass cutting and other machinery.
We are hopeful that during 2006 we will see the installation of information boards in the cemetery
Charles Duncan Reserve
In conjunction with the Friends of Tawa Bush we have suggested that the reserve area given to Tawa Borough in the 1960’s when the Duncan Estate subdivision was created should be called the Charles Duncan Reserve to commemorate the work and generosity of this early settler and farmer and his son Stuart.
The matter remains before the City Council
Porirua and They Who Settled it
A series of articles under this banner were published in the Canterbury Times from March 1914. It has never been published in book form.
We have now put the entire text on to disk, and will, in the fullness of time, consider how best to publish this material written by one of Tawa’s most famous sons.
As the above tells you, there is much going on, and much to be done. If any members can assist in any of these matters please contact any of the executive.
Kind regards
Bruce Murray
Chairman