OLD RECORDS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17809, 7 July 1923, Page 19

OLD RECORDS.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS."" Sir, —From time to time I notico that I am referred to as a keeper of old records. My forte is a memory for bygone events, and I have been glad to assist in a humble way persons wlio forget, etc. But I wish to say my opinion is that old books and documents of any nature —.some of the old things arc not much account —should go lor deposit and cataloguing, lor reference, to the Public Museum, and not to private institutions. I have received some funny enquiries; to wit: Did 1 remember a • prize fight at White's Bridge about 1860? Did 1 know Bully iiavL't.? and so cm. But to save records in same instances is a delusion and a snare. For many years I made a hobby of Ploughing Matches, as 1 used to collect names of railway locomotives, and signatures of the great men of the day; but I came a regular cropper over the principal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, wnen its'office ami collection of some valuable portraits and records went up ono night in smoke. Next day I offered to supply duplicates of catalogues and reports of meetings, list of the leading officers, and details of the cattle, and sheep exhibits from its first shows fiom ISO 3. A fairly bulky parcel was accepted. Now, however, when it is time to publish a history, I am told it cannot be found. Whether the city destructor did for it -or someone has burned the papers Ido not know. I should say that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's historian would be glad to have those records. Memory is hardly strong enough to reproduce all that is wanted. This, and a certain rabbit club, which once flourished about Templar's Island, in the Waimakariri, prove how much real value there is in keeping records, and serves to discredit the old records cult. —Yours, etc., J.L.W. Kaiapoi, July sth.