Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 3, Issue 5, October 1979
The Nelson Historical Society
The Nelson Historical Society
This year, 1979, the Nelson Historical Society celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary and members can look back with pride to the developments which have taken place over the years. Many of the early members and office-bearers are no longer with us, but they laid firm foundations and we honour their memory.
The Society was formed in 1954, the year in which legislation was introduced to form the national body known as the Historic Places Trust.
In Nelson there were a number of private collections of historical material but no organization existed to see that these would be preserved for posterity. Two enthusiasts, Messrs L. W. Field and J. Stewart, were keen to see an Historical Society formed and when Mr James Jenkins retired to Nelson he felt that an organization similar to the one he had known in Dunedin should be formed here. A very representative committee was appointed when a meeting of interested people was held at the Jenkins' home in May, 1954. The main points agreed upon for the aims of the proposed society were "to collect, preserve and record for the citizens of Nelson all matters of historical interest, particularly those pertaining to the northern parts of the South Island…" A Records Committee was formed and its activities are well recorded in an article written by the late James Jenkins which was published in the Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 2, Number 4, produced in May 1970. This aspect of the Society's work is not dealt with in this article.
Those present at the first meeting were: Messrs H. F. Allan, H. C. Collins, A. N. Field, L. W. Field, A. G. Gould, C. B. Harman, D. F. Horler, J. A. Jenkins, J. E. R. Paterson and B. H. Wood, with apologies from Messrs W. R. P. Jaques, W. J. Glasgow and J. Stewart. A strong committee was formed. Mr D. F. Horler became President while Mr L. W. Field took up the position of honorary secretary. Dr F. A. Bett was the Society's patron. The new organization received excellent support from the Nelson Evening Mail and this publicity greatly assisted in securing members and in making the general public aware of the Society's activities.
Committee meetings were held regularly while public lecture evenings became a feature. The Society Journal, Volume 1, Number 1, was produced in November 1955 and Journals have continued to be an essential part of the Society's activities. Field trips were a later development and these have proved very popular.
Over the years the Society endeavoured to see that various buildings of historical interest were preserved. In particular the Provincial Council Buildings (which feature as the Society's crest) occupied a great deal of time and investigation in an endeavour to find a way in which at least part of the old building could be retained as a historic link. The Society was also active in its support of the Nelson City Council and the Historic Places Trust in the preservation of Isel House and Broadgreen.
The greatest achievement of the Society was the fulfilment of a dream when the Nelson Provincial Museum Trust Board was formed. Some stalwarts on the Committee had worked for years to secure this goal. The Society is represented on the Museum Trust Board and takes an active interest in acquiring any material of value especially for the archives. Some people expected that the Historical Society would disappear when the Museum took over the collecting and housing of all the material which was being assembled for a historical library, but it has continued to play an important part in promoting an interest in all things historical in the area.
Past Presidents of the Society are Messre D. F. Horlor L. E. H. Baigent, J. A. Jenkins, Dr C. R. Barnicoat, Miss E. F. Turner, Mr J. N. W. Newport and Mr I. D. Simpson is the present President.
The position of honorary secretary has been held by Messrs L. W. Field, G. H. Cole, B. E. Dickinson and Mrs N. L. Wastney. The late Mr P. B. Griffin was honorary treasurer and an able?? member of the committee for a lengthy period. Some members have given or are giving many years of service on the committee.
We honour the memory of those who are no longer with us. In July this year the death was announced of Mr A. G. (Geoff) Gould. He was a keen member of the committee in the earlier days of the Society, but had to retire for health reasons. His business activities included the valuation of many deceased estates and he was able to secure for the Society many papers and historical items which would otherwise have been destroyed.
Present activities include the repair and preservation of the old railway windmill at Belgrove which is one of only two of this type left in New Zealand. As this is likely to continue to be a costly undertaking we feel we must call for some public support.
As we go forward into our future it is heartening to know that our membership is now higher than at any time during the past twenty-five years.