POROUTAWHAO Staff 1982

Back: June Sciascia, Grant Isaac, Wilma Ashton

Front: Clare Phillips, Barry Cross, Geoff Opie

Who are the people in this magic lantern slide? Where is this house? Why is there so much mud? And, most importantly, had anyone heard of firearms safety? The child in the picture must be hoping that the gun isn't loaded.

If anyone can answer these questions (or can decipher the writing on this slide) please let the MAVtech Museum know! In the absence of any answers we can see why this slide is important: many family photographs and postcards show groups outside of houses. With land needing to be broken in, families outside their properties were seen as a kind of colonial pride.

What they are holding also speaks volumes about how people saw themselves (or at least, how they wanted to be seen). The man is holding a gun and is seen as a powerful provider. The boy holds a hammer- has he been helping with the work? The lady holds a book (a Bible perhaps? This was common for womens' photographs in Western countries back then). And the young lady looks ready to go to school or church in her neat hat and tidy clothing. These themes were often used in professional photographs and subconsciously spilled over into many early snapshots. 

Mind you- this could also be a professional photograph.

Also, this is a lantern slide, designed to be projected onto a wall. Unlike a personal photo album, these  slides were usually viewed as a large group. Extended family? A soldier overseas in the First World War? (the Dunedin Photographic Society took photographs of families that soldier relatives could then view near the front. These were all magic lantern slides.)

Photographs are often seen as perfect windows into the past but this one holds more questions than answers! 

Every photograph is a window into the past- and sometimes what you see surprises you. Children singing a waiata about being kind to animals seems like a modern day school lesson, but the writing on this slide is from 1924! In the 1920s only a few private schools taught the grammer of Te Reo. Tragically, all the other schools saw speaking Te Reo as a caning offence. Was this slide of one of the private schools- or a smaller group or club? We just don't know.

Or maybe these children were located at Waiata Shores, near Auckland (although even then, few schools used Te Reo names for locations back in the 1920s).

Art historian Walter Benjamin coined a term called 'optical unconsciousness' and part of that is seeing a photograph in hindsight. The people in it do not know the future, but we do. Whatever this photograph depicted it seems like it belongs in our present than in it's past.

But the past is full of surprises!

From left:

• Laura George as Buttercups and Daisies
  
  
  
  



• Jack George as Pierot
  
  
  
  



• Joan George as Powder Puff
  
  
  
  



• Athol George as Lloyd George
  
  
  
  



• Lloyd George as matress

Three sisters Diane, Kathy, and Pirihira are pictured here with the 'Platters'.The Warren Sisters were known for their harmonious voices. The sisters come from a family that was very musical, as most of their brothers and sisters played and sang in bands.

Kipa Roera and family. Kipa is the oldest living descendent of the chief Te Ahu Karamu. He is the present leader of Ngati-Kikopiri hapu, Muhunoa W, Ohau. 7 June 1936. Adkin, George Leslie, 1888-1964 :Photographs of New Zealand geology, geography, and the Maori history of Horowhenua. Ref: PA1-f-005-403. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/23132075

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Back row Harry Whibley, Gwen Stuart-Forbes Lf to rt, 1920’s Jacky Charles, Clarry Satherly, Pearl Satherly, Sandy Logan, Athur Satherly & Brian Clayton”

NOTE – spelling: Satherly (on back of photo) but Satherley (on info sheet)

Eight children in fancy dress representing Ireland at Empire Day celebrations, c.1920. Harry's mother was a dressmaker (who owned a camera" and his father worked at flax mill. Harry was wearing a green waistcoat and Gwen wore a green dress and had shamrocks in her hair. Costumes made by Mrs Wibbley.

Photo taken behind present Fire Station Grey Street, Shannon.

The children pose with Harry Whibley’s six pet rabbits. Those in the photograph are from left to right:-

Back Row : Harry Wibbley and Gwen Stuart-Forbes. Front Row: Jackie Charles, Clarry Satherley, Pearl Satherley, Sandy Logan, Arthur Satherley & Brian Clayton.

1 Colour photo print, copy (of sepia tone original)

NOTE – spelling: Satherly (on back of photo) but Satherley (on info sheet)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

names on reverse of photograph

Foxton Marching Team 1947. Those in the photogrph are Z Betty, Audrey Burr, Joyce O’Rielly, Shirley Thompson, Anne Merriman, Dell Haycock, Pam Marshall, Joan Mounsey, Heather McKenzie. The male coach at the right of the photograph is unidentified.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

names on reverse of photograph

Foxton Marching team in 1940s Those in the photograph are from left to right:-

Back Row:- Zoe Calder, Beverly Barron, Francis Corlett, Dorothy Jackson, Marge Haycock, Melva Reid.

Front Row:- Marge Podmore, Joan Goodwin, Evelyn Podmore, Melvie King.

The coach is Trevor Terry and the mascot is ? Johnston.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Ten scullers and an official pose during the Manawatu Sculling Handicap 1909.

Photograph is in fair condition – torn at edges

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Inscription on reverse reads: “First Day Pupils and Staff of Fairfield School 5 Feb 1963. Original in Fairfield School Album”

First day pupils and staff at Fairfield School 1963.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Staff North School 1st Year 1954. Back Row D T Gardner (Head), W O’Donnell, J Norton, R J Rankin Seated Misses E Hooper, N O’Neill, J Robson, H Mowatt, F Wiloughby

Staff at Levin North School in 1954, the year the school opened. From left to right in the Back Row – D T Gardner (Head), W O’Donnell, J Norton, R J Rankin. In the Front Row – E Hooper, N O’Neill, J Robson, H Mowatt, F Willoughby

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back: “Shannon Family In front Mrs T. Brown nee Newton ? Mrs Jas Hallam”

An unidentified family group beside a river. Four girls are standing and sitting in the branches of a small tree. The woman sitting on the left, holding toddler on her lap, is believed to be Mrs T. Brown (nee Newton). The woman standing at the right of the group is believed to be Mrs James Hallam.

1 B&W photo print {Fragile, slightly damaged}

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

The family of Charles Henry and Matilda (nee Symons) Collins. Their children are from left to right:- Edith, Charles Henry Junior, Fred, May, Annie, Gordon and Hilda. Adeline sits in the front of the group.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Wedding of Gemima Howan and Augustus Walsh at Foxton around 1894. Samuel Howan, (father of Gemima), on right with beard. He jumped a navy ship and changed his name to Howan from Hambleton. Ran the “Ivy” and “Sunbeam” up the Manawatu River. Homestead (bottom half) is in Howan Street. He (Samuel) was alay preacher with james Duncan – we have a Bible given to him from James Duncan. Augustus Walsh and Gemima Howan. They had 6 children, including George Augustus (born 1899 – died 1978) who was M P of Tauranga for many years (he was the eldest). Gemima’s eldest sister, Mary (1864 – 1943) also married a Walsh (top 2nd from right)

The wedding of Gemima Howan and Augustus Walsh at Foxton c1894. Gemima’s two sisters were bridesmaids. Samuel Howan, the father of Gemima, is the man on the right of the photograph with a very full beard.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Penciled on back: “PNPL / D46 Opening of Reikorangi skimming station c.1902 -[but opening given as 1904 from Massey archives] Adjacent to P.O. site. From here, cream sent by horse transport to Waikanae and then by rail to Otaki. Back row 2nd from left, white beard, Alf Monk. Front row 4th from left : R. Stubbings. 3rd from right : Byron Brown.”

Reikorangi Cream Skimming Station Opening, c.1902-04. From here the cream was sent by horse transport to Waikanae and then by rail to Otaki.

1 B&W photo print copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “C J Pownalls sons.”

Three young men, two standing and one sitting on a bench in a studio setting, who are described on the reverse of the photograph as “C J Pownalls sons.”

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Back Row: Mavis Mudgway, Ernie Gates, June Buchanan, Lesley Wong Shee

Middle Row: Alan Armstrong, Mary Potter, Phillip Meagher, Judith Todd, Margaret Miller;

Front Row: Mr Ian Ramsden, Heather Read,John Norton, Gillian Nyberg, Patricia Rolfe, Mr George Ball

Ernie, David, Norman (father) Dawne Gates & Ivan Lawton, who was from the USA 7 was based at Kimberley Air Force Base in Levin, had a delayed action Camera which was used for this Picture.

Donated by E M Grimwood of Linton and Fred Allerby.

Poplar flaxmill cutters pose in front of a stand of flax c.1919. Those in the photograph are from left to right Jack Rountree, Fred Rickerby, Fred Allerby, Charlie Morgan, George Rankin, Harry Morgan (son of Charlie), Jack Bradbury and Carl Lumquist.

2 copies

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink – P 41

Written with blue ballpoint pen on piece of paper glued to back: “Meeting between Flax Miller’s and County Chairman, G.F. Monk (centre bottom). Bottom Left : A.A. Brown – His Father-in-Law.

This photo used in book – ‘Horowhenua County and its People’, page 158, and acknowledged to – Brown Coll.

Flax Millers with the County Chairman, G.A. Monk, 1919. Mr Monk sits in the centre of the front row , with his father-in law Mr A. A. Brown, seated to the far left in the front row.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”