OCTOBER 2020 ACTIVITY

                            November Outing – Kerikeri Markets

The Kauri Museum (front side) Matakohe, Kaipara District, Northland Region, North Island, New Zealand 

(Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany)

It was a grey, wet, cold Tuesday morning when 16 intrepid probus friends set out to visit the kauri museum at Matakohe. From the conversation in the minivan it became apparent that the weather was not going to spoil the day.

We arrived safely at the museum and the first thing we did was to gather together to listen to a brief talk about the Kauri tree given by one of the staff. We were reminded that the timber from the kauri tree was the first export and much of the kauri forests were cut down for spars, masts and timber for ship building and repairs. The gum was exported for varnish and used in the manufacture of linoleum. After the talk we wandered around the building looking at the things that interested us.

I looked at the machinery on display and realised that there was on OSH rules in the early days and accidents when they happened could be severe. The machinery was huge from my point of view and some of it would have had no safety guards. The kauri furniture was beautiful as was the jewellery collection. One of the staff demonstrated how to polish the raw gum using water sandpaper ,4 grades, and to finish the final polish was brasso. The gum room held beautiful sculptures -a ship, a cathedral clock ,fruit bowls, animals, lighthouse, angles and crosses, all beautifully carved.

We wandered around cheerfully talking and taking in the exhibits for about one and a half hours then it was across the road to the café. for a good lunch. The weather had not improved so out came the brollies and we quickly walked through the rain for food and a hot drink.
I think everyone had a good day there was good conversation on the way home. 

 - Margaret Strong

SEPTEMBER 2020 ACTIVITY

Our trip to Russell 

 Our group of 23 set off on a fine and sunny Tuesday September 15 at 8am. As we started our journey Peter Arlidge set us a challenge of guessing the distance between where we left from in Onerahi to Russell. The winner would have their trip fee reimbursed. We turned onto the Helena Bay turnoff and took the scenic coast road up to Russell. With some time to spare before our mini bus tour, we put our order in for lunch at the Russell RSA and bought a coffee before we set off again. Our mini bus tour guide Michelle, gave us so much information, and facts and figures that I couldn’t take it all down – so here is some of the information: 

In the 1830’s the town of Russell (formerly known as Kororareka) was a lawless town where drinking, brawling, and prostitution were rife. The town was also called “the hellhole of the Pacific”. Whaling ships from around the world would stop at Kororareka to resupply, and for their crews to have some rest and recreation. Kororareka was also the site of the flagpole famously cut down four times by the Ngapuhi chief Hone Heke, sparking the Northern War of the mid – 1840s. After the war the capitol was shifted to Auckland. 

The Duke of Marlborough was the first licensed bar in NZ: The Four Square, owned by the Baker family is the oldest in NZ: The Game Fishing Club is the 2nd oldest club in the world: The Gables (now a restaurant) was originally a brothel, and was built out of whale bones: Pompallier House is built out of rammed earth. The two-storied printery produced thousands of copies of Catholic books, mostly in Maori. The Norfolk Pine planted outside the house is 200yrs old: Christ church is the oldest operational church in NZ. You can see the musket holes in the side of the church. Charles Darwin raised the funds for the church to be built: The Morton Bay fig tree on the sea front was planted by the first Customs officer in NZ. The tree is now protected : The upmarket resort “Eagles Nest” charged $26,000 a night before Covid – now it is only $9,000 a night! Motu means island: Fraser Island is home to the Gannett birds: Manuka is used for its healing properties: Rats can swim over 2 miles to kill Kiwi and Weka: Under the Island Bird Song project the peninsular now has a population of 900 Kiwi and 1200 weka: There is a sundial in Russell that was built to celebrate 100 years of surveying in NZ: 

The following is courtesy of Bob Adam: While old Kororeka has been viewed disapprovingly because of its reputation for rowdy, licentious behaviour, its role as a marine re-provisioning and repair port is often overlooked. It even had a professionally-run timekeeping observatory run by one William Robertson, whose services included checks for ship’s chronometers. It is believed that his was the first astronomical observatory to be set up in NZ. The observatory was destroyed in1845 when the town was sacked and burned. 

 After our walks up Flagstaff Hill and Tapeka we headed back to the Russell RSA. The meals were beautiful and the service was friendly and welcoming. As we drove back to Whangarei Peter announced the winner of the mileage competition. Congratulations Fiona Smith. Our trip back was delayed by the construction of the roundabout at Kawakawa but none of us minded too much. The trip had been a great success 

- Annette Moncur