VALUABLE WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 22 December 1938, Page 10

VALUABLE WORK

CENTENNIAL FEATURES NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMITTEE S EFFORTS IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS | An important section of the prepara-I tions for the Centennial Celebrations is in ! the hands of that energetic body, the j National Historical Committee. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. \Y. E. Parry, reviewing yesterday the work of this section of the Centennial Organisation, said that there had recently been a meeting of the Committee. As this was the fii*t meeting since the return to New Zealaud of its chairman, Mr James Thorn, M.P., members present had been glad to welcome him back. Mr Thorn had kept Centennial Historical interests very much in view during his visit to Europe. He had, in fact, been the means of receiving for the Dominion some very interesting and valuable original material from the English descendants or people prominent in early New Zealand affairs, in particular from the families of Captain William Hobson and Captain Joseph Nias, both intimately associated v ith the signing of the Treatv of Waitangi. During MiThorns absence abroad, Mr J. T. Paul bad ably deputised for him as chairman. The National Historical Committee's work, Mr Parry said, fell into two main divisions: The supervision for the Government of various historical publications,

and its function as an advisory body on historical matters to all .branches of the Centennial Organisation. Probably the most ambitious of the publications the Government projected in celebration of the Centennial, and certainly the most aiduous in preparation was the Historical Atlas. Members of the staff of the Cen-

tennial branch of the Department of Internal Affairs who had been carrying on research for the Atlas had had the advantage of the very practical interest tak-

en in it by Professor J. Rutherford, of Auckland. The Atlas would be published in November, 1940. This monumental but attractive work would be the result of

the collaboration of the research worker with the officers of the Lands and Survey Department, who had been devoting much time to what the Government regarded as

a major cultural enterprise. The Government Printer would undertake the production of the Atlas. Another means by which members of the public would have the history of their country represented to them graphically was in the series of Pictorial Surveys the Government were bringing out with the assistance from the National Historical Committee. Several of the literary texts for these surveys had been completed and the Illustrations Editor was now engaged in assembling suitable pictorial material to accompany and amplify the texts, ranging from the earliest steel engraving to the most technically perfect of modern photographs. Mr Parry was satisfied that these Pictorial Surveys were in advance of anything that had | yet been done in New Zealand. In- j deed, nothing like them had ever been produced in the country. The difficult technical problems arising from the intimate inter-relation of the text and the illustrations in some thirty Pictorial Sur- j veys would be entrusted to New Zea- | land printers. Equally worthy of New Zealand's liuu- i died years of history, would be the his torical surveys the Government had com- , missioned acknowledged authorities to write on about a dozen historical subjects. These would he a definite contribution to the historical literature of New Zealand. Both these and the Pictorial Surveys would serve to inform the public of the full significance of the Centennial. It was an especial concern of the Government that the typography and binding ! of all these publications should be the Fortunes Are Made Daily.—People get simple ideas —and patent them! They protect their inventions against thelt! That is why they are rich! Guard your idea. Consult us now—fully and confidentially. Henry Hughes Ltd. (Directors, W E. Hughes and J. T. Hunter. Registered Patent Attorneys), 214-217 D.I.C. Building. Wellington. Local Agents: W. Rout & Sons Ltd.. Hardy-st

best that New Zealand could do in the way of book production. Another of the Centennial publications nearing completion was the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography which would bo ready next year. This would prove most useful to students as well as to the general public. The compilation of this informative dictionary was in the able hands of Dr. Guy 11. Scholefield, 0.8. E. The National Historical Committee was advising the Government in the arrange-

ment of the exhibits in the Government , Court at the Exhibition. The Govern- | ment now had the advantage of the ser- j vices of Dr. A. H. McLintock, an experienced artist, who had inspected the recent Glasgow Exhibition and who had recently joined the Centennial Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. The Government had made an appeal for owners of unpublished manuscripts t » make their possessions available at least for copying. There had been a gratifying response both from New Zealand and overseas. The National Historical Committee had dealt with this material as it came in. Subject to the consent of the owners, any of this material that was of sufficient interest had been copied for deposit in the libraries of the main centres, where it was available for research. It was to be hoped that all own* ers of old papers and oilier interesting relics of the past would realise that they had a national as well as a family responsibility in regard to it. The Provin- j ( i;il Historical Committees also were leav- j in : no stone unturned to unearth these picturesque and often forgotten pages | from the bygone life of New Zealand- I Horn.' of the of numbers of I 1 lie .National Historical Committee in the 1 I pursuit of early manuscripts and the col- ; j latiou of them had been, Mr Parry re- j j luted, as thrilling as anything in a det he National Historical Committee hail j

been active in the work of preparing Hie public mind for tHe Centennial by means of historical articles designed to awaken an interest in New Zealand history This had been achieved in historical propaganda regularly distributed to New Zealand newspapers who bad given it generous space. Articles would also appear m newspapers overseas and would help to draw attention to the coming of age of the youngest of the self-governing Doirinions. Another important vehicle of propaganda was the “New Zealand Centennial News,” which gave progress reports on different branches of the Centennial organisation and, further, included

a number of interesting historical essays A special effort was also being made to disseminate historical propaganda through the schools. Two associate members were recently appointed to the National Historical Committee, the Rev. J. A. Asher, chairman of the Hawkes Bay Provincial Historical Committe, and Mr \V. R. Allen, chairman of the Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee. The services of these gentlemen would be of great value to the Committee and the closer relationship between the Provincial organisation and the National would be to the advantage of both. The Government was satisfied that the* problems arising out of the Centennial publications it was undertaking were in capable hands. A great advance had been made during the year from nebulous good intention to practical achievement. Hard work still lay ahead in which the National Historical Committee could cooperate with the Government, but a sound foundation had been laid and the fruits would be commensurate to the effort involved. New Zealand's history would be brought before the people of the country with a greater degree of vividness and actuality than ever before.