CLIPPINGS OF HISTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1939, Page 3

CLIPPINGS OF HISTORY

COMPILATION BY CENTENNIAL BRANCH. RECORDS FROM NEWSPAPERS. It is mentioned in “New Zealand Ccntcnijial News" that one of the many functions of the Centennial branch of the Department of Internal Affairs is the compilation of. historic records from newspapers and other publications of New Zealand. Thus will be saved much material which will be worthy of a place in the nation's archives when the Centennial event which has prompted its preparation has long passed. Many an almost forgotten yet important fact relating to a portion of the Dominion’s history has been retold by an old identity or pioneer, and recorded to form part of a valuable record for posterity.

It is from such reminiscences and chronicles of pioneers, some humorous, some tragic, that much of the material now in the course of being recorded is derived. A forgotten tale of the Otago goldfields or of the West Coast, recalled by a veteran of the golden days, is taking on a new significance. The Far North, rich in historical associations, is providing a wealth of material. Early activities in connection with rural development and other occupations are being set down to form valuable history.

The Maoris will have a definite place in the records of New Zealand's first hundred years. Many tales of adventures during the Maori wars are being brought to light from private sources and from the now almostdimmed memories of pioneers who were themselves participants, or to whom history has been handed down by word of mouth.

Practically every newspaper and periodical in the Dominion is publishing something of historical importance derived either from pioneers of the district concerned or from research into early history. Journalists and professional writers of the Dominion are devoting much of their time to research into New Zealand history, and their efforts are ap-

pearing in some cases in serial form. Whether the matter is from the pen of the professional or the amateur writer, it is all contributing to a necessary complete history of the Dominion.

The Centennial branch has a news-paper-clipping bureau, and the extracts from newspapers, now running into thousands of references, are being filed in their appropriate categories prior to being lodged in a national repository for safe keeping.