N.Z. ARCHIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1929, Page 3

N.Z. ARCHIVES

PRESERVATION OF RECORDS

VERY FEW MISSING

Dr G. H. Scholefield, Parliamentary Librarian and Controller of Archives, in a panes' read, before the Science Congress, dealt with the preservation of historical documents in New Zealand and the organisation of tlie archives. After referring to the records preserved in Great Britain and New South Wales (which was the Mother Colony until 1841 J, Dr Scholefield ventured the remark that possibly it was .-till easier to study New Zealand history in Great Britain than in New Zealand, owing to the bulk of the original records lacing preserved there. It was too early vet to say what was still in existence in New Zealand, but lie had been surprised so far to find how little that really mattered had been lost by tire. Hood or intentional destruction. The original seven sheets of the Treaty of Wailangi, after various vicissitudes, including the burning of the Government buildings m Auckland in 1844, were sale and sound.

Referring lo tlie debates of Parliament he stated that there was at first no official reporting stall' and in 1884. during the premiership of Sir Robert Stout, an arrangement was made with Maurice Fitzgerald, son of James Ed ward Fitzgerald, who in the year 1884-88 ioproduceTl from newspapoi files and other sources the lecord of speeches made in both houses I rove 1854- to 180(5. Including these four volumes. Hansard now amounted to about 220 volumes.

As regards provincial 'words, D*' p'holofiehl said that during the pro vineial period die ten provinces pub lished about 400 volumes of their do hates, minutes, gazettes and ordi nances. The only complete set of tli'r literature that lie knew of was hi the General Assemble library. Of the non-official records, the mosl imofirtant were the files of the newspaper press from 1849 to the presold time. No student of political, social or economic lilt* in New Zealand could possibly make any progress without constant reference to newspaper files, which were a most valuable source of historical information. Localities should interest themselves in tne pieservatiion of files of their local papers to prevent them from being entirely destroyed. As regards private records he hoped that as time went on more and more journals and diaries' kept by New Zealand colonists would come to light.