EARLY RECORDS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17808, 6 July 1923, Page 6

EARLY RECORDS.

MR ELL'S ACTIVITIES. Some interesting facts connected with the early records of the province were given to a "Press" representative by Mr H. G. Ell. Mr Ell said that in T9Ol or 1902, while, searching in the Land Records Office he found on the floor of an attic a guard-book containing receipts for stores supplied Deans Bros., of Lower Eiccarton, for use in connexion with the surveying work carried 'out by Captain Thomas and Mr E. Jolly in the year 1819. The book was lying amongst a lot of debris. He also found a mortgage deed from the Bishop of Sumner and a number of other early provincial records, including an old' letter-book containing some beautiful handwriting. Mr Ell wrote to the then Minister of Lands, the late Hon. T. Y. Duncan, for permission to transfer the whole of the records not required by the Land Department to the Public Library for safe keeping. He also asked that the late Mr J. C. Anderson should be appointed to make a complete list of the documents, and the late Mr H. E. March was appointed with Mr Ell to go through the building and take what was required. This was done, and several cases of documents were transferred to the Public Library, where they now lie. Mr Ell also went to the trouble of collecting all the records he could find relating to the days of the old Provincial Government. He continued his search in the building, and found a quantity of the original furniture used by the Provincial (lorernment stored in cellars, and this he had restored to various rooms. The chair now used by the Canterbury Commissioner of Crown Lands Mr Ell resurrected from a coal cellar. Another of Mr Ell's activities in this connexion was the compiling of lists of the -Superintendents of Canterbury, the members of the Executive, and of the Provincial Council. He brought the matter under the- notice of Mr Massey, ivho issued instructions for the lists to be printed and framed under glass. The lists now hang in the Land Board room. Mr Ell is concerned for the safety of the original survey plans of the province, which show the position of dumps of vegetation and of water-courses, many of which have now been covered up. He asked for copies to be made of the plans for the use of the Land Board officials, but nothing has so far been done in the matter, with a result that the originals are rapidly deteriorating, and becoming more mutilated. Mr Ell commenced some years ago to collect photographs of the original Councillors, and was successful in getting those of the late Mr H. P. Murray Aynsley, Mr A. J. Allport, and Mr R. J. Hannan. These were framed, and are now hanging in the Land Board room. "I have endeavoured to get this room set aside for the purposes of a museum, in which to house such records," said Mr Ell, "but so far I have been unsuccessful." Some time ago Mr Ell had the privilege of showing Mr Massey over the old Provincial Council Chambers, the beauties of which are too little known to the general public. Mr Massey was struck bv the splendid architecture of the building, and said that to one who was familiar with the architecture of the Old Country it was astounding. He gave the assurance that it would never be. destroyed in his time.