EARLY DAY RELICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1940, Page 6

EARLY DAY RELICS

INTERESTING DISPLAY IN W.F.C.A. WINDOWS. MANY NOTABLE ITEMS. Considerable local interest is being taken in the historical displays in the windows of the Wairarapa 1-aimeis Co-operative Association. Ltd., a very largo crowd gathering last night to see the fine array of interesting old and valuable exhibits. One of the chief items of interest is a charcoal drawing by Miss Edna Bannister (.a great-grand-daughter) of the founder of Masterton. Mr Joseph Masters, who arrived in Masterton in 1853 and died twenty years . later. Amongst the early pictures of that period is one of the first house built in Masterton in 1854, the "Father of Masterton,” Mr Henry Bannister, pioneer storekeeper and Postmaster, who arrived here in 1857. and A. W. Cave, a pioneer wagon driver, who came to Masterton in 18G3. Among the largo number of valuable exhibits are an ancient. Bible of 1755. with all the old style typography, such as f’s; for s’s, and an old leatherI bound book over 200 years old. both in a good state of preservation. A splendid collection of war weapons includes a saw-edged German bayonet, bomb cases, and the less lethal, but effective swords, fowlingpieces, blunderbusses, pistols, etc. In other windows are an old roast-ing-jack for cooking pigeons, an old Edison-Bell phonograph, one of the first rugs made by the Bruce Woollen Mills, an old cutlass brought out in the Tory, in 1840. a wedding dress worn 85 years ago, made from striped alpaca, like ticking out of a mattress, and a shawl and ancient parasol over 150 years old. The bridegroom is arrayed in the finery of a dress suit brought to Masterton 85 years ago. Opposite the old styles are the modern bride and groom. A Paisley shawl over 150 years old, brought to New Zealand in 1839, takes a notable place. Beautiful and serviceable hand-made petticoats, of linen and line lace, and the first sewing machine used in Masterion. arc featured among the exhibits. A white quill, 100 years old, and still in use. a shepherd's cloak hand made from handspun wool, a bridal frock worn over 58 years ago and sampler work well over 100 years old. are interesting items. The early establishment of the W.F.C.A. is shown in a picture of the founder. Mi- M. Caselberg. a stull group in 1900. a photo of the granary and the Tiniii branch. Of particular interest are the splendid pictures of early Masterton. showing the old township, and some very good pictures of early places, such as the old Central School, the old "Wairarapa Star" building (Ninnes's corner) and many views of Queen Street. The five residences of John Perry, from a slab hut to the modern homestead. are also shown. An amusing exhibit is a procession of carls, drawn by a traction engine. at a Sunday School picnic in 1913. An interesting; picture of John Tuck's Prince of Wales Hotel, in 1863, with Mr Joseph Masters in the foreground, in a gig built of Kovvhai timber, is also shown. A splendid displaj' of native flora, with all the exhibits labelled with their Maori names, is featured in lhe W.F.C.A. florists’ shop window, and is attractin- 3 much attention.