DOMINION’S HISTORY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 335, 16 January 1937, Page 6

DOMINION’S HISTORY

Importance Of Caring For Records. Auckland, January 15. The importance of taking care of historical records was stressed by Dr G. H. Scholefield, Dominion archiI vist, in a paper* read yesterday bere the Science Congress. Dr Scholefield said that a survey of local repositories* in New Zealand disclosed the fact that there had been considerable losses of historical documents through water, fire, and rats, as well as by deliberate destruction because of the need to make room for current records. It was due, however, to the intelligent interest shown by certain departments that there had been so few losses in circumstances by no means favourable to the safety of records. Arrangements have now been made, he said, which it is hoped will obviate 1 ses in future. Owing to the approaching early completion of the first 100 years of F- w Zealand’s history, an effort is being made to hasten the preparation of material which will be of service in the historical work associated , with the centennial. In this confteci tion attention is being paid particu- ■ laily to Governors’ dispatches, the New Zealand Company’s papers, British papers relating to New Zealand, shipping records, both mercantile and naval, and immigration records. Most of these have already been, roughly listed, and a start has been made with, the preparation of nominal and subject indexes and calendars in order to make the contents more easily available. Gaps in I New Zealand records will be made I good by copies of originals in other archives. The most important of i these is the Public Record Office, but here are also noteworthy holdings |of New Zealand documents in the | Mitchell Library, Sydney, and else--1 where in Australia, in South Africa, i France, Germany, Danmark, the Unitj cd States, Canada and Hawaii. ! Another task which requires atten- : ti m is the listing of official and State ‘ aners in the hands of private indii- * vid ils or local institutions throughJ out New Zealand.