OLD CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8667, 6 July 1906, Page 3

OLD CANTERBURY.

+ MUSTY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. DUG UP OUT OF ARCHIVES TO-DAY. A reporter who had occasion to step into the old Provincial Council Chambers to-day, found Mr N . H. G. ; Ell, M.H.R., fossicking among dusty, fusty old books, papers'and journals, which he had just dug up out of the archives, and which have proved to be of great interest and historical value.. It is surprising, indeed, that they have been allowed to remain in their resting place for 60 many years. TBiey had evidently been quite forgotten^ and had passed out of 'human, knowledge. Had not the movement to revive interest in Canterbury's early days been taken in, hand, it is probable that they would h*ive been left in their resting places until that diligent person, the " historian of the future," who is often spoken of, but who does riot receive much, consideration from living generations, came to disturb them and bring them to the light. . : Mr Ell explained to the reporter that about two months ago, when he was in the Landi Office, which is in the Provincial Buildings, he was told that there were some old records there. He found many books dealing with the events m 1850 and later years, and also important data in connection with the early ■history of Canterbury. Many other books were fbund in a disused fire-place in one of the rooms of tife building. On examining them, he came to the conclusion that they were of no use to theLand Office for reference purposes, and he at once wrote to the Minister of Lands, suggesting that those records that were not needed by the Lands Department should be handed over to the , Public Library, or some other institution, for safety. The Minister had no hesitation in agreeing to this, and Mr Ell then suggested that Mr J. E. March, a very old Government offioer, should confer with him and select the records that were to be taken away. < Mr Ell and Mr March began their work to-day. They were assisted by Mr G-. R. Hart, a member of the committee appointed by the Exihibition - Executive to obtain historical documente for the Canterbury court. The results of the researches of these three gentlemen are eminently satisfactory. In the first place they found, a number of bound volumes or the "Lyfctelton Times," including the first 'copy of that journal, issued at Lytteltan on January 11, 1851, and giving a detailed account of the voyages of the first four imamprant ships. That issue of the journal as very rare now, and this "find" is a valuable one. All the volumes of the " Times are in splendid preservation. The paper has yellowed slightly, bjjt the type ! shows up as clearly and" neatly as the - day the issue came out from the old Albion press, which, by the way, is still in existence. Several of the copies are -given a special interest on account of the fact that they bear the signature of " Thomas Case," Canterbury's first chief surveyor, who died some I years ago. There are four or five i volumes altogether, dealing with as many ye axis. Another discovery' is' a copy of the Timaru '^Herald " early in the sixties. | Mr Ell, however, is most delighted with a large voucher book of .the old Canterbury Association. Its record I commences with 1848, the first item being : "Captain Thomas for Canterbury Association, Dr to E. W. Stafford — a telescope, £3. Received, E. W. Stafford, 12th December, 1848." The next item is: " Akaroa, January 4, 1849. Received of Joseph Thomas, Esq.L the sum of Twenty Pounds for the chestnut Horse "Captain," brand "J.T." (Signed) Jean Preitnneyer. Witness to signature (signed), Alfred Willis." • Other vouchers are for work done by Maoris engaged by Captain Thomas, the surveyor employed by the Cantexr bury Association. Some of the Maoris have signed the Touchers and others have made their marks. Two of them received £1 12s between them for five and a half days' labour on the survey, carrying rations. ' Another voucher sets out an account by Messrs W. and J. Deans for mutton, flour, sugar, butter and other articles, the price being £30. 105. Probably the most interesting of all is the following, made out. in favour iof Captain Thomas himself: — 1849. January 6. — For half the amount of my expenses in Auckland, while arranging with, the Governor and Bishop as to the site of the ee+tiement — -viz., April 6 to May 23, 48 days, at 10s per day . . . £24 0 0 There are a large number of tabulated returns of the wages aaid rations of labourers employed by the New Zealand Company in 1849, all the signatures of the men having been obtained. The general rate of wages seems to have been 3s 4d a day, amounting to £1 a week. Rations were supplied by the company. , There are among the collection provincial records of Nelson. There are copies of the electoral roll of Canter- ! bury for 1873-74 foT the election of a I superintendent, and the searchers found a large folio of water-colour drawing, beautifully executed, of the West Coast-. They bear the date 1867. , Minute-books of the Canterbury Association in the early days, giving descriptions of pastoral runs and ofih«r information., have been brought out. ! Mr Ell has suggested that -a clerk should be employed to make. a list, and the chairman at the Public Library wall be able to make the first selection. After that t!he documents may be eubi mitted to the General Assembly j Library in Wellington. This pronpsal will be placed before the Minister of Lands to-morrow. In" the meantime an attendant is making an exhaustive eearcih in the buildings to obtain further documents of historical interest.