YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 127, 2 June 1927, Page 9

YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY

WELLINGTON'S EARLY HISTORY FINE COLLECTION OF RECORDS Quite a number of Wellington citizens remember when Lambton quay was called "the beach!'; a still greater number remember when horse-trams ran up and down that stretch of road, and a great many know nothing about the rapid development of the town in which they live.; -For all three classes, yes terday'a exhibition at the Early Set tiers' Hall must have been of interest. There, from the sketches, cuttings, photos, plans, and documents of earlier times, a complete history of Wellington could be constructed link by link, from as far back as 1839 to the present day. The object of the exhibition was primarily to raise funds to restore the Bolton Street Chapel, but a certain result Of the display should be increased interest and enthusiasm in all who saw it for the preservation of records of earlier times. Most of the exhibits were lent by Mr. Louis Ward, and others were the property of Sir Douglas M'Laan, Sir Frederick Chapman, Mr. W. A. Edwards, and the Early Settlers' Asso-' ciation. Her Excellency Lady Alice I'ergusson paid a visit to the exhibition during the afternoon, and appeared deeply interested in all sho saw. She was received by the president (Sir Douglas M'Loan), who, with Sir Frederick Chapman and Mr. W. A. Edwards (secretary of the association), showed her the exhibits. Tho earliest "relic" is dated 1839, and shows tho low dwelling houses at Port Nicholson at that time, and the raised store houses necessary if potatoes were to be protected from rats. There were numerous sketches of the Hutt VaUey in the earlier''days, including an etching by tho late Mr. Barraud of the Wallaceville Blockhouse, and a sketch of tho Aglionby lines, Lower Hutt; also a wealth of drawings anil photos of Wellington streets in various stages of development. A photo of Thorndon showed the Thistle Iml (still standing) and tho sea where Lambton Station now stands. In the first days of tho settlomont every man was his own carpenter, and a right good one judging from a solid, yet comfortable chair made of rata on view yesterday. There was a lantern too, which had lighted many a wayfarer over the Port hills at Lyttelton, and a primitive flour mill which had seen much work in pioneering days. In the reminders of more recent years one noticed a tremendous development in the city. A stroll along the wharves to-day would make it seem impossible that in 1904 Glasgow Wharf looked like a jetty, but photos- show it as such; and they show Wellington Hospital in 1906 as a very differont place from what it is now. Mr. Warff, who is writing a book on Wellington City, has kept many old newspaper cuttings, including a special issue of "The Evening Post" on 28th January, 1903, which is filled with photos of tho early days. One could continue indefinitely naming and describing the valuable historical records, which the Early Settlors' Association had on view, but some space must be given to their good work and enterprise in saving so many links with the past. The old order changes, and giant buildings now stand where the children of the pioneers played not so very many years ago. As a child treasures memories of its early life, bo should a city remember its beginning and preserve, guard, and re.store those evidences of its heritage which onco lost aro never found again In this work of retaining tho past for the future tho Early Settlers 1 Association is doing a splendid work worthy of more support than it receives.