Historian of Lake County Meets Committee

Lake County Mail, Issue 12, 13 August 1947, Page 7

Historian of Lake County Meets Committee

Compilation of History To Be Begun Mr F. W. G-. Miller, chief reporter of the Southland Daily News, who is to write the early history of the Lake County and district, met members of the Historical Committee of the Lake County and Internal Boroughs at a meeting in the Lake County Council Chambers, Queenstown, last Thursday evening. The chairman, Mr D. H. Cockburn, introduced Mr Miller. In his opening remarks Mr Cockburn gave an outline of the activities of the committee since its inception, and trusted now that the real task -was beginning that the committee members would enlist the support of everybody and help Mr Miller in the work that lay before him.

Mr Miller congratulated the committee on the organisation of the body and stated that the work that lay before him, when completed, would be one of the most interesting and romantic histories in New Zealand. He hoped to make the book colourful with a foundation of romantic mining happenings of the early sixties and although a complete record of events would be included in the publication, the book would not be a mass of statistics. Mr Miller stated that it was

Chairman of Historic Committee,

a great pity that this work had not been started 20 years ago, but no doubt many of the first settlers’ old family letters would be secure, and a wealth of knowledge would be still available.

Mr Miller also advised the committee ' on several questions regarding cost of publication, size of type and binding, and stated that part of the success of the sale of the book would rest on this question. Preliminary Arrangements The County Council, said Mr Cockburn, would make available a portion of the council’s strong room so that valuable documents could be kept safely when on loan. Mr Miller would be also granted the use of the council chamber on his visits to Queenstown. Mr Miller said it was his intention to visit the oldest identities at the earliest possible moment.

Considerable discussion took place over the matter of size and the publication of the book. The Mayor of Queenstown, Dr W. A. Anderson, said he hoped the committee would not make the mistake of publishing too big a work as had been the case in many books written by fine historians. These . books, he declared, became boring if too long. Dr Anderson considered that a wealth of glamorous and romantic happenings lay in this historic area.

It was resolved on the motion of

Messrs C. M. Inglis and Douglas that Mr Cockburn be authorised to make inquiries from the Internal Affairs Department regarding the financial assistance for publishing a book of approximately 150,000 words. It was decided to include the happenings of the whole, area of. the county in this history. The secretary, Mr M. T. Robertson, was instructed to write to Mr F. W. Bailey, a former member of the committee, who secured valuable data from the files of the old Lake Wakatip Mail. Each member of the committee advised of the success that he had to date in the way of data gathered, The members were responsible for the collection of data under the following headings: — Mr B. A. Yercoe, Government Departments, press research; local bodies, to be appointed; Mr Cockburn, farming and personalities; Mr Warren, schools, press, diarchies; Mr Inglis, legal and banking; Mr D. W. Thompson, merchants; Mr Douglas, Mr Fletcher, and Mr E. L, Thompson, Mining, industries, war services; Mr H, W. Sew Hoy, Local organisations, sports bodies, etc.; Mr Hopwood, transport, accommodation; W.D.F.F, representatives, women’s organisations.

It was left to the chairman and secretary to make arrangements for the next meeting of the committee to coincide with Mr Miller’s visit.

The action of the chairman in instructing a letter to be written to the Queenstown branch of the W.D.F.P. asking the branch to nominate a representative on the committee was approved.

On the motion of Messrs D. J. Douglas and J. Fletcher, it was resolved to invite members of the various ridings of the Lake County Council to become members of the committee ex-officio.

Present at the meeting were Mr Cockburn (chairman), Messrs Douglas, E. L. Thompson, Sew Hoy, Thompson, Fletcher, Vereoe, Inglis, the treasurer, Mr E. R. Hopwood, the secretary, Mr Robertson, and the Mayor, Dr Ander-

At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman thanked the committee and stated that he personally felt that real progress had been made, and asked members to help Mr Miller to the utmost to accomplish the task before him.