PIONEER RELICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1939, Page 12

PIONEER RELICS

CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

The Grey County Council, at its last meeting, received the following letter from the Department of Internal Affairs, and, in view of the possibility that suitable relics might be available in this district, it was decided to give publicity to the letter: — “From time to time, the Centennial Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs receives letters from correspondents in all parts of the Dominion, indicating the whereabouts of interesting pioneer relics, and suggesting that they be utilised for local exhibitions during the period of the Centennial celebrations. A good deal of thought has been given to this matter, and, in view of the interest which is being evinced, 1 am writing to suggest that your organisation might consider arranging such exhibitions during the Centennial year.

“It is known that in many countries overseas there are permanent collections, which are on display in cottages or houses of the period when the furniture, etc., was in use. One can well imagine the interest which would be taken by the younger folk in the inspection of out-of-date furniture, medical instruments, costumes, tools and implements which were used by their ancestors and of early pictures, documents, etc. Such displays have a direct appeal much more personal and universal than the academic interest which is evoked by the display of exhibits in a museum or ancient volumes in a library, or even rare pictures. For instance, the heavy and clumsy sewing machine used by our great-grand-mother would certainly be examined with interest by the modern young miss.

“The articles to be displayed would be those in common use, the ideal collection being those which would represent exhibits of historic interest and the worldly possessions of a pioneer family in . the Province or town where they lived. One doubts whether a complete collection could be got together at this date, but at any rate the effort entailed would assuredly be worth while, and with later discoveries, might conceivably form the nucleus of permanent collections in which posterity would delight. The foregoing notes are in the nature of a suggestion, and this branch would be pleased to Idarn in due course to what extent such exhibitions are being promoted throughout New Zealand.”