RECORD OF HISTORY OF H.B.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 6, 30 September 1937, Page 9

RECORD OF HISTORY OF H.B.

Centennial Committee To Be Set Up PRELIMINARY MEETING Tho compilation of a complete record of the history of Hawke's Bay since the time of the earliest settlers will be the object of the Hawke's Bay Centennial Historical Committee, which will be chosen shortly. At a meeting in Napier, Mr E. H. McCormick, at present secretary of the National Historical Committee, explained what was required .by the provincial committees which are being set up in all districts of the Dominion, and it was deeided to call a further meeting with the object of forming the committee. The meeting was prosided over by the Mayor, Mr C. O. Morse, who explained that the purpose' of the meeting was to set up a committee in fconnection with tho Centennial celcbrations from the point of view of historical -records. The meeting had been called as the result 'of conversations with the Under-Secretary of Internal Afi'airs. "We haVe a very valuable committee in Hastings, who are looking nfter historical records," he continued. "Connected with that committee is the Bishop of Aatearoa, with Mr W. A. G. Fenlington, Principal of the Hastings High School, as secretary. They have expressed their wiilingness to eo-oper-ate in every way with the committee which is to be set up here, and they hope that the committee will not be for the Centennial celebrations alone. but will continue after the event in historical research Provincial Coanmittees The National Historical Committee was an. adjunct to the main centennial committee set up by the Governmont in connection with the centennial of New Zealand's entry into the British Empire in 1840, stated Mr McCormick. When the committee had commenced its work it had diseovered tbat not only were the exact circustances oi many important events of the early days of New Zealand shrouded in obscurity, but that it was necessary to carefully check records of the past to ensure accuracy. One mstance of this had been in regard 'to the date of the sailing of Captain Hobson from Sydney for New Zealand, it having been diseovered that the records at Sydney were inaccurate. It had, therefore, been deeided that similar historical committees should be set up in each provinee, to collect data on the history of their districts. They would be assured of the co-operation of the National committee for access to reeolrds in various ways, such as the reference volumes iu the Parliamentary and Tufnbull Libraries. lnformation in regard to places oi historical interest and their exact rites was also sought, Buch as the sites of any battles in the district. The spcaker suggested that an example oi wnat was wanted was the exact site of the old provincial council chambers m Napier, it was suggested that the co-operation of orgamsations or indivicluais in the smailer centres of the provinee should be sought. It was deeided, foilowing the explanatiou oi what was required, that a later meeting be convened ior the purpose oi seiung up a committee; and ihat in the nieuntinie, Mr A. M. lsdafe, who had interested huoseif in locai historical research, should be appointecl secretary to the organisation.