Tawa Historical Society Incorporated
The Tawa Historian
Newsletter #34 – March 2014
Dear Members and Friends,
Your Executive have now met this year, and have a number of matters to report to you.
The Tawa Railway Station
As you will be aware, the new building on the platform has been completed, and looks very well. We are delighted that, though the old building was demolished, and a good deal of history went with it, the Wellington Regional Council has made it possible to incorporate panels into the new building that reflect some of the history of rail in Tawa, and others which feature things that are now part of the district’s life. A final panel has recently been added, and features Tawa’s original school, now nearly 160 years old. As well, there is a panel which explains what each image means. David Parsons, of our executive, and a railway enthusiast and historian of note, has taken a leading role on behalf of our Society in seeing this project through to its conclusion, and we should all be grateful for his time, talent, and expertise willingly given on our behalf.
Book Sales
Since 2005 we have published 12 books or booklets about Tawa, and by and large, these have sold well. In fact, a total of four are now out of print:
The Streets of Tawa – 2005
An Historical Atlas of Tawa – 2006
Best of Tawa, Vol 2 – 2008
Rails through the Valley – 2008
Almost out of print are:
The Takapu Road Ammunition Bunker – 2007 (7 left)
Brian Mexted’s Memories Of Tawa – 2013 (11 left)
Lest Tawa Forgets – 2008 (25 left)
Best of Tawa Vol 1 – 2008 (26 left)
If any members are wanting copies of any of these last four books, it might be wise to head down to the Library, where stocks are held, or to contact our Secretary, Ken Woodgate sooner rather than later.
Tawa Memorial
Your Society has recognised that the years from 2014 to 2018 are going to see a plethora of commemmorations concerning various centenaries related to World War 1. We are a little concerned that there is no public recognition of the 12 Tawa Flat men who died in the service of their country in the South African War (1899-1902), WW1 (1914-1918) or WW2 (1939-1945). We have advocated, a few years ago, that a memorial should be placed somewhere in Tawa to recognise these servicemen. It seems that, if a memorial is to be erected, then now is the time to do it, while our country is focussed on such matters. We have therefore made an application the the relevent authorities (WCC and the Tawa Community Board) for some funding from the Tawa Community Grants Fund to set things in motion. We have informed the local RSA; we have contacted an architect; we have had discussions with officers of WCC and with the Tawa Community Board; we have a preferred place for such a memorial, at the northern end of Oxford Street, adjacent to the RSA building; and, if we obtain funding, we will develop and put in place a plan which will hopefully see the necessary money raised so that a memorial may be unveiled shortly after ANZAC Day, 2015. In fact, we tentatively plan that the unveiling should be on 2 May 2015, the centenary of the death at Gallipoli of Corporal William Edward Earp, aged 22. His father was a pioneer settler in Tawa Flat who, among other things, planted the Bucket Tree about 150 years ago. Corporal Earp was his grandson, and before enlisting, was a young accountant, and a former pupil of Tawa Flat School and Wellington College. (We recognise that on ANZAC Day 2015 there will be major events occurring at the National War Memorial in Buckle Street Wellington.)
A History of Tawa Flat
Most of the writing work has been done. We await the latest material about Tawa’s population from the 2013 Census, due to be released on 25 March 2014. Once that information has been received, analysed, and incorporated where appropriate into the text, the draft can be sent to our design artist who will then get the draft ready for printing, including getting page numbers correct. That will allow an index to be produced, thus completeing the work necessary before printing. We will then get prices for hard covered and soft covered versions of the book, and will make prices known both to members and the general public. Feedback will then inform us as to whether a hard-covered version is viable, for which pre-paid orders will need to be made.
All of the above suggests that we are well on track for publication in October/November of 2014, in time for pre-Christmas sales.
Information Board, Willowbank Park
We have continued our consultation with WCC regarding the placement of an information board in this Park, for that area has a number of important and/or interesting features. For example, in or close by the park are the following: the Bucket Tree; a remnant of the original Porirua Road (Boscobel Lane); the site of McCoy’s Stockade; the 1937 Takapu Road Station and the Tawa Flat Deviation; the track of the original 1885 railway through Tawa Flat; the link with the Motorway opened in late December 1950; Arohata Borstal/Prison, opened in 1944; Boscobel Farm, cut from the bush and owned by William Earp Snr; some fruit trees planted by Earp in his farm orchard; and we note that the site may be responsible for the name Takapu. We recently submitted information to officers of WCC that could form the basis of an information board.
Annual Subscriptions
These subs are now due. We thank those who have responded to our Treasurer’s invoice, and gently remind those who are yet to respond that we appreciate (and what is more, we need) the financial support your subscription gives to our Society. Most importantly, it ensures that we are able to continue renting our current headquarters and safe storage room within the Tawa Community Centre. Such a base is vital to our work.
Kind regards
Bruce Murray
Chairman,
Tawa Historical Society
THS Contacts: P O Box 56-076, Tawa, Wellington 5249; Hon Sec. Ken Woodgate, 232 5901.