A while ago I wrote about re-visiting old family history magazines; today I would like to bring your attention to a couple of local history magazine collections we have on our shelves n the Research Centre. They were published by the Auckland Historical Society which later became the Auckland – Waikato Historical Society and the Ohinemuri Regional History Journal.

If you have connections to Auckland, Waikato or the Thames, Wahi, Paeroa areas these will be of interest to you. The journals include articles about early days in the district, maps, many high quality photographs, lists of different historical society members with their addresses, material relating to both Maori and Europeans, early settlers etc.

For those of you unable to travel to Auckland you will be please to know that the Ohinemuri Regional History Journal has been digitised and is available on-line free of charge at http://www.ohinemuri.org.nz and extends from 1964-2012.

One of the photographs that caught my imagination is of the Waihi Golf Club members at Hollis Bush about 1913.

Image courtesy of the Ohinemuri Regional History Journal Journal 10, October 1968

Each person is named, including the boy milking the goat but what amused me was  the reference to No.1, “Cranwell’s Setter Dog.  (Had a gold tooth fitted by Mr. Cranwell, Dentist)…” 

Drawing identifying those photographed in the above image.

This brought to mind an image of the dog swanking it about town showing off his tooth or, alternatively, the modern incarnation of having attitude and going about nefarious deeds with his bling on display.

The Auckland – Waikato Historical Society Journal also covers a wide range of topics in its articles; some are about prominent people in the community, schools and places but there are also the more unusual.  There is a short article in issue 9, October 1966 about the Great Maori Bank; another in issue 6, April 1965 about a bed of 13,701 pieces that was given to Auckland Museum. One issue, No. 68 October/November 1996 is entirely devoted to St Stephens graveyard at Parnell.

If you have never used these journals, they are well worth considering.  You never know, the gem that breaks down the brick wall could be amongst the articles published within.

Marie Hickey

www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz

May is New Zealand Music Month!

This is part one of  a series of blog posts during May to celebrate New Zealand Music Month. Each week it will highlight Auckland Libraries heritage resources relating to New Zealand music, and its talented musicians, across all genres. So, if you have a "muso" in your family's history and are looking for information on them, these resources might just help you with your search.
Gareeb Stephen Shalfoon (1904-1953), "Epi"- a nickname from his family, was a jazzer who initially played piano but he taught himself how to play clarinet and saxophone  because he said at that time it was easier to hire a pianist than horn players. In 1924 he put together a band called the Melody Boys who went on to make New Zealand's first jazz recording. It eventually became a family affair - his daughter Reo, a very talented and popular singer in her own right, frequently performed with the band.

Epi Shalfoon and the Melody Boys, Filmcraft, 1930. Image from the Film Archive.

Sadly, Epi died at the young age of 48. He collapsed while dancing with his daughter at his favourite music venue, the Crystal Palace Ballroom.

Quackery Prevention
Pills & Potions at the Cotter Medical History Trust
By Claire Le Couteur
Otago University Press, 2014

This recent addition to the Central Auckland Research Centre's collection shares some of the bizarre and miraculous-sounding medicines sold in New Zealand before the 1942 Medical Advertisements Act restricted excessive advertising and false testimonials.

Medicine time in the Kindergarten, 1938  Sir George Grey Special Collections, AWNS-19381116-53-3.

Rather than gain a patent, manufacturers of the time trademarked their products in order to conceal their ingredients and method of production from competitors. When the 1904 government tried to curb their extravagant claims they were defeated by both the manufacturers and newspaper owners – who would have lost advertising revenue as a result.

Advertisement for Dr Ensor's Tamer Juice New Zealand Herald, 6 July 1911

Auckland Star, 1 April 1938

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 January 1907

Although the 1908 Quackery Prevention Act tried to restrict advertising, it too failed. It wasn’t until the 1942 Act that excessive claims had to be proved before being advertised, and fictitious endorsements ceased. Consequently, many remedies were taken off the market.

Fortunately, The Cotter Trust in Christchurch has a collection of these remedies whose history has been beautifully documented in this book.

Leanne