Handsome Temuka courthouse museum

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 21

Handsome Temuka courthouse museum

Museums are basically places in which we preserve items of significance relating to natural or cultural history, but some objects in those categories are too large or immoveable to be put in a conventional museum building.

Some of the most obvious are historic buildings themselves. Nowadays, efforts are often made to save buildings because of historical or architectural significance. Throughout Canterbury are a number of such buildings recycled as museums. Housing musec buildings themselves. Nowadays, efforts are often made to save buildings because of historical or architectural significance. Throughout Canterbury are a number of such buildings recycled as museums. Housing museum collections, they are museum pieces themselves.

One fascinating example is the old courthouse at Temuka. The interesting brick building opened as a magistrate’s court on May 2, 1903. The “foundation stone” (actually the first brick) was... "well and truly laid by Mr D. O’Donohue in the presence of an interested assemblage...

on September 21, 1900.” A report of the event also notes that... "Mr O’Donohue briefly

addressed those ... and ... after the ceremony those present adjourned to the Crown Hotel were several speeches were made...” The new building seems to have been a necessary replacement for an older courthouse which, if the following report of

July 7, 1896, is anything to go by, must originally have been a place of some character. ... “A great improvement has been made at the Courthouse, Temuka. The interior walls, formerly stained and varnished, have been painted a nice shade

of french grey with a mahoganytinted dado... The general appearance now is a great contrast to its former dinginess. There was a peculiarity about the old varnished walls that was a little trying. If it was necessary to put up a map or notice the clerk had only to dab it on the walls and it would stick there until scraped off. If anyone leaned against the wall it was quite on the cards that his only chance of leaving the court was to slip out of his clothes. This, by the way, was good for trade. The courthouse served another purpose, that of an entomological museum. Unwary flies and insects which settled on the walls remained there and formed a very interesting collection. This is now dispersed.” Not everyone, however, was happy with the new building. One writer observed that although... “judging from its design, its external appearance should be handsome... it is a matter of wonder to the public that what may be considered expedition has been observed in regard to the plans of the courthouse, when a building of more general public convenience, viz, the Post Office, seems to have received comparatively little attention.”

But Temuka’s handsome courthouse was built and remains standing to delight us today although it ceased to function in its original capacity in October, 1979. It was taken over by the Temuka and Districts Historical Society in September, 1981, and today houses the society’s museum collection that includes the original of New Zealand’s first airmail letter and some nice early pieces of the area’s own Temuka pottery. The building is still in its original condition, with much interior wooden panelling, while the outbuildings, also mostly of brick, are equally interesting. Early earthenware toilet bowls, basins, and urinals, in a variety

of colours and unusual designs, seem to be everywhere; I can only assume they were provided in such an abundance to cater for a considerable number of nervous prisoners. Down the bottom of the garden is the mortuary, where the ghoulish minded can let their imagination run riot as they view the bleak wooden table with worn neck block, stained concrete floor, coiled hoses and rubber aprons. The preservation of these things contributes more than all the written records in the world to our appreciation of an important slice of the history of a small New Zealand town.

By

BEVERLEY McCULLOCH