Committee Gathers Historical Data on Lakes District

Lake County Mail, Issue 10, 30 July 1947, Page 9

Committee Gathers Historical Data on Lakes District

Considerable data had been gathered by members and those interested in the projected record of the Lakes District, said Mr D. H. Cockburn, chairman of the Lakes District Historical Record Committee, at a meeting of the committee held at Arrowtown on July 24. He suggested that ultimately a book of some 40,000 words be compiled, though in the meantime it was decided to defer decision on the size and quality of the publication until a later meeting. Those present at the meeting were — Messrs D. R. Cockburn, C. Inglis, J. Fletcher, D. W. Thompson, H. Veezey, R. Robertson, E. L. Thompson and J. H. Douglas. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Hopwood and

Sew Hoy. ’ The minutes of meetings held in F March and May 1947 were read and adopted, outward correspondence approved and inward received. The chairman reported on an interview with Mr F. G. Millar, of the Southland News Co., he suggested that a population basis be used in order to arrive at the liability of each local body for the initial costs in preparing and compiling the history. Messrs Thompson, Fletcher and Vercoe, were confirmed as members of the committee, Messrs Thompson and Fletcher representing Arrowtown, and Mr Vercoe the Rotary Club. It was left to tlie chairman to arrange for a representative from the Lake County Council to take the place of Mr Leo Lee. It was also decided to ask the W.D.F.F. to nominate a member to the committee. The Southland News Co. wrote making the services of Mr F. G. Millar (journalist) available to the committee for periods of not less than one week at a time, while writing up the history, conditionally on the News being given the sole right to publish extracts from the history from time to time, and also that their assistance be acknowledged in the book. Mr Millai was appointed journalist to the committee —The Southland News to be thanked for their offer. Mr Cameron, chairman of the Otago Centennial Committee, wrote regarding the cost of the printing and publishing, also requesting that the Lakes Committee make their historical records available to the Otago committee. Because of the cost of production and the financial liability it was thought the original allocation inequitable; and it was decided the allocation be, Arrowtown Borough l-12th, Queenstown Borough 4-12ths, and the Lake County Council 7-12ths. This proposal to be put before the local bodies concerned. A motion authorising the treasurer to open an account in the Bank of New Zealand, to be operated by the chairman and treasurer was passed. The Queenstown Progressive League wrote suggesting that spots of local historical interest be indicated by notices. I It was decided to approve of the sug- > gestion and to make the information available.

The secretary was instructed to arrange accommodation and means of transport for Mr Millar, and it was icsolved that the committee meet at Queenstown on Mr Millar’s arrival. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.