Little Earth Model Village

Another Cousin!

2009-12-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

(I've got heaps of them).

No, not the Hobbit - the other guy.

Ken Hunt, and his wife Selina, came to see us yesterday. I've never met him before, I think, but he would be a 4th (?) cousins - our grandfathers were brothers.

Ken is an artist (http://kenhunt.org/) and so is his daughter Renee (http://reneehunt.org/) They live at Paraparaumu Beach, near Wellington.

I think that we both learnt some stuff and he had some great stories, the best of which was about the Lord of the Rings which he did some work for.

Ever wondered how they made the Hobbits look small while Gandalf etc were big? Apparently, there were two identical sets, one bigger, one smaller. They filmed the 'little' people in the big set and the 'big' people in the little set. The films were then blended together.

Ken was commissioned to paint portraits of Peter Jackson and his wife, done up as Bilbo Baggins and Belladonna Took. He had to show Peter without a beard, give him Hobbit ears and do two identical portraits, one bigger than the other, to hang on the wall inside the Hobbit's houses in the first movie.

He didn't enjoy the works because there was no inspiration involved, they had to be done as ordered and done twice. They were in the background in the movie and he thought that no-one would recognise who they were really of.

However, when Peter Jackson went up to recieve his award at the Academy Awards, there was a huge blow-up of the portrait behind the stage. Ken said that they were watching the awards on TV. His wife laughed but he cringed when he saw his work up there.

Great story!

I do like this game, never know who we're going to see next and the less in the mood I am, the more interesting the visitors are.

Who's next? Cheers

They Came Back!

2009-12-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, we had a barbecue at On Yer Bike for all the families who've been through Nuturing the Future parenting courses in the last 6 months, also combined with people from Sue & Mike's church group - about 200 in all, in the pouring rain!

That didn't seem to worry any of the kids though - thank goodness for Michael's big shed. Everyone got to visit the village, got fed, (except for me!), and had a ride on the Haglund, thanks to Michael.

Everything went smoothly, largely thanks to Warren and his team who were there all day cooking a whole pig, 6 chickens etc. A lot of the food was donated by New World Supermarket, which was great of them. Thanks.

Everybody went home by 7pm, which was also good.

cheers

Room 7,Murchison Area School

2009-12-04T20:06:00.001-08:00

Dear Waiuta Model Village People,

Thank you for letting us look at the Model Village and thank you for letting us look at the shantytown at your place. I liked how you were nice to us and let us look for the wedding party.

From
Cassandra

Dear Waiuta Model Village People,

Thank you for letting us see your model village. I like looking at your lake. It was very exciting.

I got all mixed up when I was counting the red houses.

Were you tricking us with the people in the pool because I couldn't find all the people at all? It was funny when I saw the man on the toilet. I like that model.

Thank you very much again.

From,
Bevalyn

Dear Waiuta Model Village People,

When we came to see the model village I saw the rocks with the writing on them. I saw insects on them as well. Some of them were spiders and some of them were grasshoppers. We were still on our way to Shantytown. I fell asleep on the bus on the way to Shantytown. I was impressed with your effort. Did it take a long time?

Can you write back please?

From,
Abby

Hello Murchison People!

Thanks for your letters, I really liked them. Thanks too, for coming to see the village. I'm glad you liked it. I've been building it for nearly 20 years now.

There used to some models of kids in the swimming pool, but they've gone. I think somebody must have pinched them!

Speaking of the wedding party, I copied that picture from an old photograph. There were 2 old ladies here one day, they were laughing and pointing when I walked up to them. They said that they were two of the girls in the photo, 60 years ago!

If you ever come back to the Coast, you should go and visit the real Waiuta. The town is not there anymore, but it's still a magic place, (and it's free!)

Thanks again. It was nice to see you and I'm not surprised that Abby fell asleep on the bus. It was a long day for you all.

Enjoy your holidays.

cheers

Glentunnel School

2009-12-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

So, 26 kids from Glentunnel School in Canterbury came to visit - in the rain, but they said that the weather was worse where they came from. I didn't take any pics, because i'm an idiot.

Their teacher said he used to teach at Totara Flat, West Coast, and knew Ena Griffin there well. Ena grew up in Waiuta (nee. Beckwith) and she was my wife's aunty. New Zealand really is a village!

From here, the kids were going on to stay the night in Reefton, and then going to Waiuta the following day. Hope the weather was kind to them. Waiuta is a magic place but it's not fun in the rain up in the hills.

cheers

Coromandel Area School

2009-11-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

A group of 20 year 6 to 9 kids from Coromandel Area School came to visit.

They're doing a tour of the top-half of the South Island, travelling in 2 vans. Half of them had seen Reefton on the way here, the other half hadn't because they took the wrong road and got lost. (North Islanders!)

From here they were travelling on the Tranz-Alpine train to Christchurch - a great trip and a great experience for them all. Lucky Beggars.

Anyway, the Waiuta Mine was the 2nd. richest gold-mine in New Zealand. It produced more than enough gold to pay-off the entire national debt at any time in New Zealand's history. The only bigger mine in NZ was the Martha Mine in Waihi, Coromandel, where this lot come from.

One of my Great-Grandfathers was killed in the Martha Mine, he fell down the shaft.

I'm not sure how it happened, but his widow, my Gran Healey, later came on a boat to Greymouth, married Ted Healey, a carpenter, and they and my 5yo Grandmother went up to Waiuta in a horse and cart. That was in 1905 and they lived there for a few years while Ted was helping build the town. He actually built the Red Huts, a long-time landmark.

My Grandmother, Mattie, was a pupil in the school on the day it opened. She later lived in Reefton and died there in 1997, aged 97 years, so she saw Waiuta start and finish.

She was originally born in Arrowtown, near Queenstown, so she spent her whole life on goldfields.

Today's history lesson concludes.

cheers

St. Canice's Came Back

2009-11-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

On a brilliantly sunny, but windy, day 20 kids from St. Canice's school, Westport came to visit. My favourite school!

Actually, it was the 4th time they've been here now - different kids/parents but same teachers. It is such a great idea - they come down the Coast Road from Westport, see the village and have lunch, and then go on, up the Grey Valley to Waiuta for their school camp for a couple of days. After that they go home via Reefton and the Buller Gorge.

Much better than going off to a city for their camp and learning about other people's regions & history. Waiuta is different to home but it's in their own backyard.

We give them a list of questions and things to look for in the village.

It helps to slow them down.

Always a joy - roll-on next year!

cheers

The Can-Man was Cole Parker, NOT Tony Anisy!

2009-11-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Visitors to the village are given a copy of the Souvenir Map/info sheet. These are quite handy because the map helps them find their way around and when i see someone with one in their hand, i know where they're going.

On the back of the map there are little stories about people in Waiuta and these correspond to the numbered stones dotted around in the village at relevant sites.

We're about to have the maps re-printed because we've run out, which is good because there's a mistake which badly needs fixing.

The last story is about 'the Can-Man'. Most of the toilets in Waiuta were long-drops, (seats over deep holes in the ground), but some at the top-end were short-drops and their cans needed emptying regularly. The guy who had this delightful job for a long time was an pensioned-off miner and he would change the cans in the middle of the night.

He didn't have a cart, just two cans on a long pole carried across his shoulders. So, of course, the locals all called him 'the Chinaman'. At home, he had a large garden and he grew a lot of strawberries, but even the kids of the town weren't interested in stealing them.

He couldn't sell his produce locally so he used to come down to Greymouth and sell on the side of the street - nobody here knew where they were from and what they were grown in.

Anyway, when the map was printed, through a printer's error, the Can-Man was named as Tony Anisy, which was not right, it should've said Cole Parker.

Tony was actually a dapper little man, of Lebanese descent, who had a small draper's shop in the village. He was always very neat and tidy and generally wore a three-piece suit, even in leisure hours.

His god-daughter, Gwen Poole, nee Jones, came to see us one day and she was mortified that we were telling people that Tony Anisy changed the poo-tins in the night. She said that he'd be spinning in his grave!

So, now we can fix it - the Can-Man was Cole Parker, not Tony Anisy.

Sheesh, politics!

cheers

Paroa School

2009-11-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

Not Kids.

Kids.

A Pre-schooler tagging along.

Paddy Heenan in Little Earth/Waiuta. (Green boarding-house at the foot of hill).

The new entrants' class from Paroa School, along with teachers and parents, came to visit us this morning - in the rain!

Actually, their teacher, Susan Smith, said that last time she brought a school group here, it was raining then too. So, we'll blame her.

The weather didn't worry the kids though, they were wet but they were out of school. From here they went on to visit the Brunner Mine site. It stopped raining this afternoon, of course.

I should've told them the story about Paddy Heenan, but forgot to.

The Brunner Mine, a coal-mine up the Grey Valley, was the site of NZ's worst mining diaster. Gas in the mine exploded killing 65 men and boys.

Paddy Heenan was the only survivor on his shift. He should have been down in the mine with them, but didn't go to work that day because of a hangover. For the rest of his life, he was a "dedicated anti-prohibitionist".

Years later, Paddy was working up in Waiuta. Staggering home, drunk, after a hard night in the pub, he lay down and "went to sleep" on the side of Top Road, in a rain-storm. His gumboots dammed the roadside ditch, the water washed out the road and streamed down the hill to flood the boarding-house at the bottom.

There was a huge panic there as they thought that the mine must have collapsed, or something. But, no, it was just Paddy in the ditch. Another miner coming along saw him there, pulled him out and that was the end of the flood.

The local road-man was carting mulloch from the mine to repair the road for weeks afterwards.

True story - I think.

Anyway, it was great to see the kids. Always a pleasure to see little 'uns.

cheers.

Sometimes It's Good. . .

2009-10-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

to just pause and 'smell the roses'.

Reefton People

2009-10-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

These are Peter & Dawn Short, (nee Hinton), with their grandson, August, from Wellington & down for a holiday. They came to see us yesterday, in the rain.

Peter & Dawn lived in Dunedin for 30 years and returned to live in Reefton a couple of years ago.

Dawn's brothers, Gavin and Peter, are two of Reefton's Bearded Miners. The second pic is of our Bearded Miners. Another brother, Tom, who I knew well as a kid, was the Forestry Worker who burnt the Waiuta Poppet Head down in the late 1960's. (The Swine!)

It was an accident really - they were cleaning-up the area, someone set fire to the gorse and a piece of history went up in smoke.

Still Here!

2009-09-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

These are the Christensen family, from Copenhagen in Denmark!

Anne & Jakob, Karoline 8yrs & David 3yrs.

(now we'll see if this works).

cheers

Eketahuna Kids

2009-01-30T19:26:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! After a week, we can finally upload this! Sorry you had to wait, Boys. It was NOT my fault!

These are (clockwise from back-left)Eli, Sam, Jesse & Jack - brothers from Eketahuna.
Jesse & Jack found the zebra. Maybe it needs a better hiding place?

Well, We got this far

2009-01-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

But it still won't upload pics!

Find the Zebra

2009-01-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

These are Monica and William-Jack who are over here, for the first time, from Rangiora. He found the zebra!

Well done. I think that makes 5 boys in 4 years have found the zebra now. Of course, the Hokitika Girl Guides found it too - but I think they cheated and told each other where it is - girls you see:)

And here is the zebra - not that hard to see really.

Pseudo Maori Boy

2009-01-14T20:05:00.001-08:00

Ted doesn't make a very convincing maori boy.

Of all the kids who've had their photos taken on the 'board', and there's been hundreds of them, this is the only one who insisted on having his head turned in the right direction for the running figure. Bright boy!

Visitors

2009-01-14T20:02:00.001-08:00

These are Peter, Ted and Immy - down here from wellington for a few days to enjoy our glorious weather.

Visitors

2009-01-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Kids!

2009-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

We seem to be forever posting pics of older people - because, well they're interesting. However, we do see a lot of kids, probably thousands of them. I like kids, especially when they behave & don't touch stuff.

I never expected it but, generally, kiwi kids are the best behaved of the lot of them.

The two girls in this pic are very similar looking and both are missing their front teeth. I asked their mum if they were twins, but they're not - they're triplets - brother Aiden is the other one. Don't think we've had triplets come to see us before. Very cool.

Faces from the Past

2009-01-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

Been getting lots of visitors lately. Summer holidays are in full swing. Not getting a lot of work done, too busy talking to people, but it's lotsa fun and you never know who's going to show up next.

The guy in the middle is Gil Cross whose father used to have the old 4 Square Grocery on Broadway, Reefton. He told me that i had the roof of my model the wrong colour - it should be blue not green. He would know, he painted it.

Funny what you remember about people. I remember Gil walking out of theCriterion Theatre after the screening of Mary Poppins and he was singing 'Just a Spoonful of Sugar'. sheesh!

And this is Suzanne McGeady, nee Mackay. People's appearances change over the years, but not their eyes, or voices. Delight to see them.

Reefton Girls

2008-12-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

These are sisters, Trish & Mary Roughan who were born & bred in Reefton. I was delighted to have them visit today. I used to work with Trish, 25 years ago! (good grief).

The blue building in front of them is the Bank of New Zealand. Mary used to live up the top floor.

Trish was probably the last girl ever to work in the Reefton railway station.

The guy with them is Chris Cowan. He married the Stationmaster from Reefton - but that's okay because it was Trish.

Great to see you Guys.

Not Sure About This

2008-12-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

New entrance to the village. Think i like the way it was. Still, it's done now. Maybe it'll look better when we put some punga walls on it and make it look "maori".

Yesterday we discovered that the bike & trailer can't go up the track anymore - won't fit through the new entrance. Bugger!

Had a Few People Come to Dinner

2008-12-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

About 200 people actually. The end-of-year celebration for those who've attended this year's Nuturing the Future, parenting courses.

They came from all directions, all over the Coast, to On Yer Bike/Little Earth Model Village to see the village and have a barbeque meal. Most of the food was donated, by New World Supermarket and other anons.

The weather, for a largely outdoor event, was nothing short of miraculous. After 2 days of heavy, steady rain - including when Warren and his crew were all day cooking the pig on a spit over a wood-fire, it stopped raining about 1/2 an hour before they were due to arrive. The sun even broke through.

It was a great event and a huge success, thanks to everyone who helped. I didn't get any dinner though! The queues were too long.

Everyone there got a trip on the Haglund. Thanks Michael!

There was even a bus-load came down from Westport, thanks to a cheap deal by Cunningham's Coaches.

Each family was supposed to bring a Gnome for Gnomeland. Not everyone did, but the ones we got were great. Gnomeland's population has grown.

Reefton People!

2008-12-05T21:16:00.000-08:00

These are George, Haidee & Bayley Smith-Murcott, who came to see us today.
George works at Reefton Motors and used to be Treasurer of Friends of Waiuta.

cheers

The Other Model Village

2008-12-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Before and after shots of Bushy Steve's Model Village - Gnomeland's first model village - with and without weeds.

We called it that because it was set up in the first place by Steve, who used to work here - he died. Steve had bushy hair & a big beard, hence Bushy Steve (there was also Little Steve, on the bikes).

It gets very weedy because the water-spout over top of the walking track up the hill gets directed across it by the blessed winds! It will have to be moved - one day.

Oops!

2008-11-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

We had gale-force winds in the weekend - the sign broke!

Did i mention that i hate bloody boggery winds?

The Roadside Sign

2008-11-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

We've got a new sign up above the road. Now we just have to wait & see if the council, or anyone else, complains.

Actually, when I was up there, putting it up, an asian guy stopped his car & took my photo - so it must be eye-catching.

Red-Haired Maori Boys!

2008-11-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

Jarrad & Callum are over for a holiday and spent the day in the village yesterday. Jarrad says that when he leaves school, he's coming to work here. That won't be for a year or two.

Always great to see them.

This photo-board is proving to be a big hit. It gets pictures taken every day. We'll make another one, one day - when there's time.

cheers

A Waiuta Girl

2008-11-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

This is Naelane Dale who came to see us yesterday, (in the rain!) She lives in Temuka now. When she lived in Waiuta, she was Naelane Magee and had redhair & freckles.

She went to school with my mum! And knew Reefton as well.

Always a joy to see Waiuta people - they're a breed apart.

Fairies in the Garden

2008-10-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

It would appear that we've been visited by Good Fairies.

The other day i was walking past Gnomeland and saw that a gnome had fallen over - again! When i picked him up, i thought, 'Hello, I don't remember you.' Then i thought, 'Yes i do, i think. There's something different though?'

I put him down & carried on to what i was doing, i was busy.

Today, walking past again, i spotted the Rolling Gnomes and - hello! They look completely different! Obviously, some Good Fairies have been coming around and repainting the gnomes - they look great!

Maybe i should leave out a saucer of milk or something?

cheers

Reefton Girls

2008-10-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

These delightful young ladies are Astley Clough and Caitlin & Tiffany Hampton and they came to visit us on Thursday.

They are making a scale model of their school - Reefton Area School - which is to be used as a map for directing visitors around. They think they're stuck, I disagree, I think that they're doing great - a lot of work done so far, just finishing touches needed now.

Hopefully, they will have some new ideas now.

A Cousin Of Mine

2008-10-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Our kids have gone home, but it's still school holidays, so we're still getting visitors.

Today there were people from Christchurch, the Maldives and Hamilton and from Reefton. Also, this lady, temporarily staying in Westport, came to visit.

Clenda Wockmer, (hope i've spelt that right!), is a (3rd i think) cousin of mine - her grandfather was my great-uncle Bill and we had the same great-grandparents.

Uncle Bill had a grocer's shop, on Buller road in Reefton - now demolished. I actually made the model from a couple of old photos that Clenda's mother, June, sent down. The colours are from memory - i remember it well.

I put a garden out the front, complete with gardener and wheelbarrow etc., because Uncle Bill was a great gardener. Most of that generation of Hunts were - dunno what went wrong there!

Great to see you, Clenda.

One Little Saturday

2008-10-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

We went out the front and fed the birds this morning - not a good idea really 'cos that 'Tripey Tat caught one & killed it!

Warren came around and put a new letter-box up. I could've helped him, but he managed it himself.

Just me & my cousin

We went out to On Yer Bike, where Granddad's village is, and Michael gave us all a ride in the Haglund. Thanks Michael.

It was Cool!!!

Boys in the bath. where's the other one?

Oh yeah. In there - he's busy.

That's better.

We also went to the Warehouse so Kyle & Connor could spend their holiday money. Guess what I got? - Yeah, Heroes! (Mummy says we're going to need a trailer to take them all home).

Luke

Day Seven A'ready

2008-10-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

One Little Mytton, (Day whatever).

2008-10-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Fans! Here's my day from start to finish - they just made me hang around in bed all day.

No, we did get out & about really, but no-one remembered the camera. We went to town, to the Corrections Department. That was interesting. While we were there, i stood in the doorway and the door-bell kept going & going. A lady said, "I don't think you should be doing that, Little Boy". Hah! Some people think they can boss people around!

We walked over to town and back. Well, Fizzy walked - someone had to push the wheelchair. Vi and I rode in the chair. Very cool.

I did get out and walk for a couple of minutes. I told Vi to get out and walk now. She wouldn't! (How rude). She said something about "can't".

See that blood on my knee? The bad road hurt me. I quite like blood really.

cheers, Luke

One Little Mytton (Day 5)

2008-10-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another day. More rain, more sun, more fun. Ho humm.

We went to the park. There were no other kids there - wimps!

Hey Mum! Can you say 'Whangai'?

I do like this football game. Everyone has to play. (It'd be even better if we had a ball).

Connor has been very busy, but still found time for football.

I think I broke my Granddad!

That's all.

Luke

One Little Mytton (Day 4)

2008-09-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

So, today started off raining, but it got better as the day went on. (Not that I saw a lot of sunshine - i slept all afternoon).

We had an early start today. Fizzy had to get up at 3.30am to cook some spaghetti & eggs. Well, i was hungry! I had two yoghurts too.

We'll have to train Mummy better, i think.

Six o'clock this morning, Kyle was delighted to find a Playstation in Belinda's room. I was allowed to watch him play. (Nanny thinks it's an X-Box. What would nannies know?)

We went to MacDonalds for lunch. I was far too busy too eat, so had lunch in the car afterwards. There were all these kids there to play with. See this girl? Don't know her name, but - nice butt eh?

Did you know that Church Shops have toys too? I got some more Heroes and this game thingie. Apparently this is real football, not stupid rugby.

I taught the Heroes & Monsters to play football.

Now, I've just got out of bed and i am GRUMPY! It's going to be a long night.

Luke

One Little Mytton, (Day 3)

2008-09-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

It was raining here today - oh, Boy! was it raining! apparently, that doesn't happen very often.

Nanny went to work. Kyle went to work with Granddad, (but they came home early). Connor went to a holiday programme thing and is staying the night with Tui. Fizzy & Belinda stayed home to amuse me. Here's some more photos, (because i'm gorgeous).

Like my new teeth?

They're good for scaring Granddads.

Kyle is very good at playing with Heroes.

He also makes a good bridge. (They've got the lounge set up like a dormitory with beds everywhere. It's great! Big TV, dvd's, cousins, what more could a boy ask for?)

But you have to help with the work. Nannies are bossy!

The bath is getting fuller. Still good though.

I'll bet Gracie is missing me.

Luke

One Little Mytton (Day 2)

2008-09-27T22:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's the first day of my holiday in Greymouth, in pictures - I've had a camera pointing at me all day long, like I was a celebrity or something. These are just some of them.

I had a big sleep, when I woke up this morning, Granddad had already gone to work.

We went shopping - to the $2 shop first, (of course!) I'll have more toys than Granddad soon.

Then we went to the Supermarket to stock-up on boy-food. Yay!

I took my Heroes and Monsters outside so they could play in the sun.

Chrissie came to visit, so she had to play with them too.

We went down to the fishing boats. Belinda came too.

You have to be careful around here.

Think I look lke a pirate? Maybe that's what I'm gonna be.

On the way back home, I did some tree-hugging.

Maybe I won't be a pirate - I might be a Greenie instead.

I showed Tui how to jump on the trampoline.

I think he can work it out for himself.

I got Vi out of her chair and told her to sit in the armchair so that I could have a turn, (It's a bit tricky).

I had a haircut while I was in the bath. Pretty cool, eh? I'm big now.

I'm so big I didn't want to wear a nappy. I told them, "I want to do it in the toilet!"

Nany's got no toilet seat. She said I might fall down the hole! I got out of there fast.

So now I'm watching Toy Story, with Tui, and we're waiting for my big cousins to arrive on the bus.

And that's enough.

Luke

One Little Mytton

2008-09-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

(Here is a quick look into a day in the life of Luke).

So, apparently, we're on holiday - just me, myself and I. Mummy, Grace, Kate and I got in the car this morning and we went to Murchison. Nanny and Fizzy were there! (that's funny).

We went to the Junk Shop and I scored some Heroes and Monsters. Mummy and the girls went somewhere and I got in Nanny's car and we went to Greymouth. We picked-up Granddad from his work and went to Granddad's House. That was cool.

(Granddad's a bit scared of the monsters - especially the 'scary spiders').

These crazy people had a whole lot of yellow and orange snakes in their living-room, but I saved them. I threw them into Fizzy's room.

After tea, which I didn't eat a lot of, we went to the Warehouse and I scored some more heroes. Then I had a bath - all by myself! (That doesn't happen very often), and we went to bed.

I think I'm going to like this being on holiday. They say that my big cousins are coming tomorrow - they're on holiday too! There's no kids here yet though - just me! Well, there is my Granddad, I'm not sure if that counts.

Luke

Interesting Visitors

2008-09-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

We had visitors today from Wellington, Brisbane, Byelorussia and - this couple, Lorraine and Gerald, were from Christchurch.(Whoop-de-do!)

However, they're almost relations. Lorraine's Grandfather married my Grandmother, 48 years ago. (Sheesh!) So, that means we're, almost, cousins.

Great to see you.

cheers

Visitors on a Rainy Day

2008-08-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

By now, we've seen people from all over the world - Australia, USA, Canada, England, France, China, New Caledonia, etc. etc. But these two people were the first from Tahiti! Sorry i didn't get their names - i'm a bit slow sometimes.

They were the only two visitors that we had all day, but they were such delightful people that it made it worthwhile being there. A real joy to meet them, even if i don't know their names.

cheers

Recent Reefton

2008-08-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

A recent pic of Broadway, Reefton, by night. (for the picky-people).

Should've used this first time around, but it might have been too hard to spot the difference.

cheers

They Say the Lights are Always Bright on Broadway

2008-08-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

These are 2 pics of Broadway. One is in New York, the other is in Reefton. Can you tell which is which?

Actually, Reefton's main street got it's name from Thomas Broad, the first resident magistrate in the town. When he arrived there, he got out of the coach outside Dawson's Hotel, looked up the mud-track and he said, "Well, it's not Broadway." So they changed the name so that it is.

Not quite the same, but at least they've got the same name.

Reefton Electric Light and Power Company Limited

2008-08-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

REEFTON

BIG RIVER TRACK

Time 1 night, 2 days
Grade moderate
Features Beech forest & mining remnants within Victoria Forest Park to the historic Big River gold mining township.

BOTTLED LIGHTING POWERHOUSE WALK
Time 40 minutes
Grade easy
Features Site of hydro station for the first public supply of electricity in the southern hemisphere. River views.

REEFTON GOLDIELDS JOURNEY
Time 3 to 5 days
Grade moderate
Features Victoria Conservation Park with beech forest & mining settlements of the past. Including Waiuta, Big River & Murray Creek goldfields.

Today is the 4th of August 2008. (Here it is anyway). 120 years ago today Reefton became the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to have a public electricity supply - it's actually debatable whether Reefton or New York came first.

There were big celebrations in Reefton all weekend - of course! It's their big claim to fame.

However, I always tell people that Reefton had electricity in 1886, because they did. Walter Prince came to town, with a small electric generator, hooked it up to the steam plant in the Monteith's Brewery, (which was Reefton's brewery btw - not bloody Greymouth's, as is claimed now), and he held public demonstrations of the electric power.

It caught people's imagination and some locals got together and formed a company and started building a power station - and that was in 1886. The company was registered on 6 December 1886. It was 20 months in the building of the actual power station - a hydro scheme in 1886!

Pretty impressive for a small town at the end of the world.

We have a New Baby

2008-07-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Not quite sure what his name is yet - but it might be 'Twink'.

Video : How to Confuse An Idiot

2008-07-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Don't You get Annoyed with Blogs that Don't Update?

2008-07-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Me too.

Another Building Finished

2008-06-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

This one is for the English village - funnily enough. Actually the proportions of this one remind me of a barn that has been converted for living accomodation. That's okay, it's a pretty common sight.

This one was a collaboration - Benji designed it and started it, i modified and finished it.

Now comes the hard part - someone has to put it outside - in the weather - in the winter already! Wonder how long that will take?

Maori Boys in Little Earth

2008-06-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

We had a group of older Greymouth ladies come out to see us yesterday. One of them, Nita Soster, nee Read, lived in Waiuta as a girl. I did try to take a couple of pictures of them, but they didn't work, because - well i don't know!

Tui and his sons, Tui and Kaha, came out to give me a ride home at 5 o'clock - that's them in the pics. Kaha looked at the one of himself and said, "That looks real because I'm brown!"

A Bit of History

2008-06-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

When Life Reeked With Joy
One of the most hilarious forms of comedy, a favorite with most of us, is the blooper. And some of the best come from the pens of college freshmen. Following are some inspired examples:

During the Middle Ages, every body was middle aged. Church and state were cooperatic. Middle Evil society was made up of monks, lords, and surfs. It is unfortunate that we do not have a medivel European laid out on a table before us, ready for dissection. After a revival of infantile commerce slowly creeped into Europe, merchants appeared. Some were sitters and some were drifters. They roamed from town to town exposing themselves and organizing big fairies in the countryside. Mideval people were violent. Murder during this Period was nothing. Everybody killed someone. England fought numerously for land in France and ended up wining and losing. The Crusades were a series of military expaditions made by Christians seeking to free the holy land (the "Home Town" of Christ) from the Islams.

In the 1400 hundreds most Englishmen were perpendicular. A class of yeowls arose. Finally, Europe caught the Black Death. The bubonic plague is a social disease in the sense that it can be transmitted by intercourse and other etceteras. It was spread from port to port by infected rats. Victims of the Black Death grew boobs on their necks. The plague also helped the emergance of the English language as the national language of England, France and Italy.

The Middle Ages slimpared to a halt. The renasence bolted in from the blue. Life reeked with joy. Italy became robust, and more individuals felt the value of their human being. Italy, of course, was much closer to the rest of the world thanks to Northern Europe. Man was determined to civilise himself and his brothers, even if heads had to roll! It became sheik to be educated. Art was on a more associated level. Europe was full of incredable churches with great art bulging out their doors. Renaissance merchants were beautiful and almost life-like.

The Reformnation happened when German nobles resented the idea that tithes were going to Papal France or the Pope, thus enriching Catholic coiffures. Traditions had become oppressive so they too were crushed in the wake of man's quest for ressurection above the not-just-social beast he had become. An angry Martin Luther nailed 95 theocrats to a church door. Theologically, Luthar was into reorientation mutation. Calvinism was the most convenient religion since the days of the ancients. Anabaptist services tended to be migratory. The Popes, of course, were usually Catholic. Monks went right on seeing themselves as worms. The last Jesuit priest died in the 19th century.

After the refirmation were wars both foreign and infernal. If the Spanish could gain the Netherlands they would have a stronghold throughout northern Europe which would include their posetions in Italy, Burgangy, central Europe and India thus serrounding France. The German Emporer's lower passage was blocked by the French for years and years.

Louise XIV became King of the Sun. He gave the people food and artillery. If he didn't like someone, he sent them to the gallows to row for the rest of their lives. Vauban was the royal minister of flirtation. In Russia the 17th century was known as the time of the bounding of the serfs. Russian nobles wore clothes only to humour Peter the Great. Peter filled his government with accidental people and built a new capital near the European boarder. Orthodox priests became government antennae.

The enlightenment was a reasonable time. Voltare wrote a book called "Candy" that got him into trouble with Frederick the Great. Philosophers were unknown as yet, and the fundamental stake was one of religious toleration slightly confused with defeatism. France was in a very serious state. Taxation was a great drain on the state budget. The French revolution was accomplished before it happened. The revolution evolved through republican and tolarian phases until it catapulted into Napoleon. Napoleon was ill with bladder problems and was very tense and unrestrained.

History, a record of things left behind by past generations, started in 1815. Throughout the comparatively radical years 1815-1870 the western European continent was undergoing a Rampant period of economic modification. Industrialization was precipitating in England.

Problems were so complexicated that in Paris, out of a city population of 1 million people, 2 million able bodies were on the loose.

Great Brittian, the USA and other European countrys had demicratic leanings. The middle class was tired and needed a rest. The old order could see the lid holding down new ideas beginning to shake. Among the goals of the chartists were universal suferage and anal parliment. Voting was to be done by ballad.

A new time zone of national unification roared over the horizon. Founder of the new Italy was Cavour, an intelligent Sardine from the north. Nationalism aided Itally because nationalism is the growth of an army. We can see that nationalism succeeded for Itally because of France's big army. Napoleam III-IV mounted the French thrown. One thinks of Napoleon III as a live extension of the late but great, Napoleon. Here too was the new Germany: loud, bold, vulgar and full of reality.

Culture fomented from Europe's tip to its top. Richard Strauss, who was violent but methodical like his wife made him, plunged into vicious and perverse plays. Dramatized were adventures in seduction and abortion. Music reeked with reality. Wagner was master of music, and people did not forget his contribution. When he died they labeled his seat "historical." Other countries had their own artists. France had Chekhov.

World War I broke out around 1912-1914. Germany was on one side of France and Russia was on the other. At war people get killed, and then they aren't people any more, but friends. Peace was proclaimed at Versigh, which was attended by George Loid, Primal Minister of England. President Wilson arrived with 14 pointers. In 1937 Lenin revolted Russia. Communism raged among the peasants, and the civil war "team colours" were red and white.

Germany was displaced after WWI. This gave rise to Hitler. Germany was morbidly overexcited and unbalanced. Berlin became the decadent capital, where all forms of sexual deprivations were practised. A huge anti-semantic movement arose. Attractive slogans like "death to all Jews" were used by government groups. Hitler remilitarized the Rineland over a squirmish between Germany and France.

The appeasers were blinded by the great red of the Soviets. Moosealini rested his foundations on 8 million bayonets and invaded Hi Lee Salasy. Germany invaded Poland, France invaded Belgium, and Russia invaded everybody. War screeched to an end when a nukuleer explosion was dropped on Heroshima. A whole generation had been wipe out in two world wars, and their forlorne families were left to pick up the peaces.

According to Fromm, individuation began historically in medieval times. This was a period of small childhood. There is increasing experience as adolescence experiences its life development. The last stage is us.

(well, i liked it!)

cheers

The Good and the Bad

2008-06-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

Janet, Fergus and Mac, from Tapawera, came back to see us today and they brought the boy's father, Rob to see the village - that was the good part. Janet & the boys were last here about 12 months ago, (i put their photo on the blog then too). The boys have been growing - Fergus is a schoolboy now.

The bad part was that, while they were there, the weather turned bloody foul! My 2nd. biggest building - a group of English cottages, modelled on some in Blackpool, wrenched off it's foundations and blew into the lake. Bugger! Now i've got a week's work to fix it.

Thankfully, Rob was on hand and he saved it from sailing away. (so that was good too) Thanks Rob.

Nikita!

2008-05-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

"Oh, Nikita, is it cold - in your little corner of the world?" (Elton John's song).

This is Nikita. He was originally from Siberia but now lives in Christchurch, which he says is colder!

He and his family came to visit yesterday - i told him that he wouldn't find the Zebra - but he did.

Clever kid. Well done that boy!

Gnomeland Rebuilt

2008-05-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

We've finally finished putting the Gnomeland back together (Steve started it, but he went and had a heart-attack and is not coming back to work any more - very inconsiderate of him!)

Anyway, cutting the grass around all the gnomes & fairies etc was a pain and the gorse just wouldn't stop coming back (We have got a sign offering free gorse to anyone who wants to pick their own, but no-one ever does!) So, we picked-up everything in there, including about a million and twenty-one white stones that Isabella collected from the beach, (Thanks Issy!) The whole area was covered in carpet and then bark-chips and the figures (and stones!) put back on top. Looks much better now and will be easier to maintain.

Come Springtime, we'll plant nastursiums and fill it up with flowers.

Fair Trade Fiesta

2008-05-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

On Yer Bike's Gumboot Cafe sells Fair Trade products, (chocolate, coffee etc.), in support of worker/producers in 3rd world countries. Today they had a Fiesta to promote Fair Trade, with half-price admission to the village - which, along with the sunshine, made for a busy day. It's been dead-quiet lately now that schools have gone back and Winter has arrived.

Some of the helpers in the cafe were a bit - umm- different!

cheers

Kings of the Caribean

2008-04-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Here's Ben's video, (i hope!)

Naked Ladies!!

2008-04-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

We've got Naked Ladies out in the village - always nice to see them :)

Funny though, they always seem to turn-up when summer is over and Winter's coming on - Stupid Naked Ladies really.

cheers

Still Here!

2008-04-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

Life goes on - same old same old. We have had brilliant weather lately, weeks of sunshine but then 3 days of rain - 3 very long days.

NEway, had a nice surprise late this afternoon - The Hokitika GirlGuides came to visit. I always tell kids that there is a Zebra out there somewhere, in Waiuta, and i bet they can't find it. So far, in 3 years, only one boy has found it - these girls messed up the average though - they all found it.

The Other Notice Boards

2008-04-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

These boards only go outside sometimes - i don't want them fading away and, besides, they tend to blow over when a wind comes up - need to find a better way of displaying them.

Anyway, the photos etc on them are from an extended article in the old 'Looking at the West Coast' magazine - about 15 years after Waiuta died. They're a good picture of life & work in Waiuta.

The little round-faced girl (wrongly captioned Jean Walker), was my mother and the skinny tennis-player lady on the right in the other one was her mother. A year of two ago.

cheers

Photo Opportunity

2008-03-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, the Board's finished & up

Pose like this

Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist

Another Portrait

Cheers Ben - well done!

Waiuta People (Again).

2008-03-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is Ngaire Sibbald, with her son & daughter.

Ngaire was one of the Hocking sisters, i think that there were five of them. Their family had the main boarding house in Waiuta in the late 1930's.

They came to visit us recently, for the second time - so pleased that i recognised her!

cheers

Let the Sunshine In

2008-03-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

We've had a couple of very wet days, (which we needed - the trees drank it up), but today, Easter Sunday, the sun finally came out and the place went a bit mad - people coming from all directions.

Jarrod and Callum were back, spending the day with me, which was very cool. A family from Leeds, England but currently in Dunedin for 12 months, came up the hill and the boys gave them a guided tour. (Not sure what they were telling them!) When they left the father asked if he could buy the boys an ice cream - like they were going to say no!

That was very nice of him and - what a great score!!

cheers

I Bet You'll Put that on the Blog!!

2008-03-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

As if i would! (Hey Sue).

This is just a trial run of the latest project - a photo-shoot board thingie.

cheers

And Now For Something Completely Different!

2008-03-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyV-xi8jpg&feature=user&session=7m6jRXhI4qGopdYz9F2k8EkCUN5gziP8CzcIOlVuVgXXul3R6I1mjJVva3gF33lZXU7q1Kqqz2Ug1G5dnixMzESQjBjGv6sz7nR0F4Cu36y1N69X2hKHQt0sMueEGdD670HaHxIeb27PoVxeIDYXfUty6_Ih_b_wWFnkIC26NC3Iz9TVGa7yIa4qhUo2L0LGf6MtSzwAdDD4V_T21_xRY-bFaVCOPNGN7kJAN6qUgKyMpjS545N_bM2Icjem8ucyz6eUXxjcSWDK1Z8JR4WPJxL6bTVoGsPp for Benji's awesome movie - flmed entirely on location in Little Earth!

Noodle House

2008-03-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Brits are big on Asian food. We're thinking about putting a Vietnamese Noodle House in the English village.

cheers

Reefton People

2008-03-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

You learn something every day! This was my 5th form class at Reefton District High School. The teacher was Miss Janet ('Gyp') Archer. She was Deputy Principal and a scary little lady - she even had my sister, Cheryl bluffed and no-one else ever has!

The boy on the left of the 2nd row was Bernard (Barney) Archer - Gyp's nephew. The fifth girl in the 2nd row was Yvonne Archer - Gyp's niece.

In the 3rd row were, 4th from left, Terry (Turkey) Archer and Dennis (Sprog) Archer 8th from left - her nephews.

I knew all that - what i didn't know was that the boy in the centre of the 3rd row, Bryce Buckland, was also a nephew, of sorts. His mother and Gyp's father were brother and sister.

Bryce's sister, Bronwyn, came to see us today and told me lots of interesting stuff. Lotsafun! Damm, i love this game!

cheers

Optical Illusion

2008-03-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Click on the pic to bring it up full-screen and then stand up and walk back about 3 meters. What happens? Explain that then - i can't!

cheers

A Waiuta Wedding

2008-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

This is our version of the Thorn wedding party, standing outside Granny Cole's store, opposite the hotel, in the Top Road, Waiuta; and the photo that it was inspired by/copied from. Actually - it looks nothing like it! (But, at least it's in colour).

I once had two little-old-lady visitors. They were standing laughing at the scene. They were two of the little girls in the picture, 60-odd years ago. Funny.

The Lake Mess Monster

2008-02-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Michael went along the side of the lake & tidied it up, with his digger, making it wider, which was good. He threw the rubbish out into the lake, unfortunately some of the weeds showed above the surface of the water, which was not good - left alone they would've grown and spread across the lake.

So, somebody had to get out there and remove everything showing above the surface. (not a bad job on a sunny afternoon).

He got a bit wet - not the hair though!

cheers

Big Day Yesterday

2008-02-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Benji finished a project that he's been working on; which happens all too rarely. (He's almost as bad as me!)

Oh - yeah. the Hagglunds arrived too - Michael's new all-terrain passenger carriers.

A Visitor to Reefton

2008-02-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

Guess who visited Reefton, and stayed overnight in Dawson's Hotel, in 1920?

No - not the one on the right. It was his friend, the one in the middle.

They put a flush toilet in his room - the first one in the town. Don't know where it flushed to, it was the only one in the town.

Louis Schmitt, grandson of Louis Schmitt who organised the Royal Visit sent us copies of the programme etc. Thanks.

(He also sent a copy of the blotter with the prince's signature on it - Granddad pinched it from the hotel room.)

cheers

New/Old Waiuta Photos

2008-02-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of photos from the memoirs of Louis John Schmitt who was the company accountant in Waiuta in 1911 - thanks to his grandson, Louis.

The poppet head - the tall structure over top of the mine shaft - was the one built by my great-grandfather. The one modelled in the village is much taller and is from the later era.

I think that's a line of nappies in the second pic - what a hard life! The men worked hard but i think the women worked harder, their day didn't finish after 8 hours.

Progress on New Bekonscot

2008-02-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

This scan, if you can read it, is of an article in the latest 'West of the Alps' - a tourist paper.

cheers

Waiuta Lodge

2008-01-29T16:29:00.000-08:00

Lodges, cabins & cottagesYou are here: Parks & recreation > Places to stay > Lodges, cabins & cottages > West Coast > Waiuta Lodge
In this section:
Lodges, cabins & cottages

West CoastMahinapua Cottage Waiuta Lodge Waiuta Lodge
See also:
Bookings:
Reefton Visitor Centre i-SITE Information Centre
Phone: +64 3 732 8391
Address: 67–69 Broadway
Reefton

Email:
Full office details

Getting there
West Coast, near Reefton. Waiuta turn-off signposted off SH 7 just before Ikamatu, 21 km south of Reefton.

Features
This historic lodge is ideal for school groups and provides a great base for outdoor activities and learning about local history. There is an education resource kit available with pre visit, on site and post visit activities and rangers can be booked to give educational talks. The area is rich in historic relics from its mining past and there are excellent short walks nearby.

Waiuta Lodge

Facilities
Sleeps 30 in bunkrooms. Separate rooms for teachers
Full kitchen with electric oven, pots, pans, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery
Fridge / freezer
Toaster, from zip (wall mounted unit)
Electric heating
Separate toilet block with hot showers and flush toilets
Fees
Adult: $15.00
Youth / child $7.50
School and education groups entitled to a 50% discount.

Hi Alan

Visited your Little Earth display on 16th Jan - absolutely brilliant! We'd stayed at the Waiuta Lodge for three nights the previous weekend as my wife has family connections there. I see you have connections too from your bootmaker display by the door. If Bob Walker was your step-grandfather, I'd pick that your mum was Jean (nee Lewis)?

My wife, Maree's parents both lived at Waiuta in the 1930/40s. Father-in-law Jack Chapman, is son of the picture proprietor (also Jack) and lived there from 1932 till the miners' hall burnt down in '41. My mother-in-law Daphne (nee McDonald) was daughter of Bob McDonald, a miner and lived there from about 1940-42.

Do you belong to the Friends of Waiuta? I've just written up father-in-law Jack's reminiscences of Waiuta and sent them a copy. Having done that, wandering around your model brought things even more to life.

I guess you get continually asked if you've finished the model? I'll ask too! Daph's house is there - the second from the right in the cluster of five heading east (in original Waiuta) from the Anglican Church on the Bottom Road. Jack's first house is there, the second one down the Side Road from the Top Road on the west side (next to Vi Lewis so Jack knew Tommy and Jean as neighbours) but his second one isn't. Going west along the Bottom Road extension after crossing the School Track, there were 4 houses in a group then Reids was a bit further along. I see you've got Wards house on the corner of the School Track and then you miss the next three - the last of these before Reids being Jack's second house. Have you any plans for making these three?

Keep up the good work.

Dave Grantham

Waikanae

Hi Dave,

I've received your note, (obviously!). Thanks for that - very encouraging & i'm pleased that you liked it. I must have been having a day off on the day you visited? Sorry to have missed you - i do stay home sometimes and always seem to miss the most interesting visitors.

Yes, you're right - my mother was Jean Lewis. She was born in Waiuta in 1930 and left there about 1942. All of my grandparents lived up there at some stage. My father's mother was there on the day school started in 1906. I grew up in Reefton but with continual stories about Waiuta and - well you can see what happened!

My mum still lives in Reefton and her brother, Tom - i'lll bet he hasn't been called 'Tommy' for a long time - lives in Westport. He has lived in the same house there for 58 years now.

I'm not a member of the Friends of Waiuta, maybe i should be, but i'm in close touch with some of them, especially Les Wright who is their secretary and a local historian. Les probably knows Waiuta better than the people who lived there and has been very helpful/encouraging too.

You're right too about the missing houses - the Bottom Road extension is still to be done and also the Skip Road houses. We'll get there - one day. The big project at the moment is getting the English Village sorted out.

It was really great to hear from you and thanks again. I've got a blog (website) about the village - i'll put your letter on there if you'd like to have a look.

cheers, Alan

Cheers Hendrick

2008-01-28T22:22:00.000-08:00

This is Hendrick, (i hope i spelt that right), he and his grandfather came to see us today. They are touring around New Zealand - down the east coast and now going back up the West Coast.

Hendrick was born in NZ and lives in Auckland, his granddad lives in the Netherlands and he doesn't have very good English, (though it's better than my Dutch!), so Hendrick was translating from English to Dutch and back - i was most impressed, he's a clever kid!

We Went to Waiuta

2008-01-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

This is now going to smack people in the eye when they're leaving the real Waiuta townsite.

Hopefully, we might see some more ex-Waiuta people now.

Who's a Dork then?

2008-01-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

There seems to have been a change in the demographics. (There's a cool word!)

The Kiwis have gone back to work and now we're getting more international visitors. The other day, in the rain, we had visitors from USA, UK and Weedon - well, i asked them where they were from and that's what i thought they said.

I was thinking, 'Don't know where that is - Warkworth? Wellesley? But - Weedon?'

I said that i didn't know that place.

The guy said, "It's a big place at the top of Europe - in Scandanavia."

Oh. SWEDEN - Who's a dork then?

cheers

Friday 18 January 2008

2008-01-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

At about 3.20 in the afternoon, Somebody had a bright idea.

"Is today the day we put the Star Hotel out?"

So, we did - it took until 5 o'clock exactly. What a mission!

So the English Main Street is (slowly) happening.

We had to stand it on the trailer & screw it down so it wouldn't move.

Finally got it in place.

This is who made me do it!

It's a big building - probably the biggest of the lot of them.

Well, it's out there now.

cheers

The Reefton Workingmen's Club

2008-01-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

Once again, these are Lex Blackadder and Val and Gerald Bray, when they came to visit a couple of weeks ago.

Val was the Assistant in the Bookshop on the main street and I used to work with Gerald in the railway station. (See http://web.mac.com/pjan12/Hometown_Reefton/1960pg5railway_1965-67.html) A year or two ago.

After they returned home, to Christchurch, Gerald sent me this poem/story about some of the characters in the Reefton Workingmen's Club in about 1980. (Some of the language etc here is a bit eccentric, but i love it! It is very "West Coast".)

The Reefton Workingmen’s Club

On the corner of Bridge and Shiel Streets, the Eastern part of town
There stands an elaborate building where everyone goes when they’re down
The building has many amenities and ‘tis built on modern lines
It has the best beer in the country and the best sparkling wines.
So if the geography disturbs you and you give your head a rub
The name of this stately building is the Reefton Workingmen’s Club.

Given a start by the local Miner’s Union the Club has never looked back
It pulls publicans into line for the barmen are never slack.
They work to quench the Reefton thirst of volume drinkers
You would wonder don’t burst.
The Club plays host to many a debate such as Muldoon and the mess of the State
No question too big nor yet too small, amicably they are settled by all.

John Payn is our genial Bar-Manager, a man of quiet repute,
He’s the fastest barman in Westland on that there’s no dispute.
He can handle two hundred on his own; This is truth – No flash in the pan
His swiftness of foot has dubbed him “Reefton’s Six Million Dollar Man”.

Gerald Bray is our President and full marks; He is first class
You’ll find him at the Railway station in uniform of braid and brass.

At Working Bees he’s one of the boys and gets into it with vigour
While his future outlook for the Club is to see it progressively bigger.

Ruth Cooper is our Secretary, none better found as good

Her efficiency’s renowned New Zealand wide, her presence is good.
If any bouquets are to be thrown guide them in Ruth’s direction
As the statement I’m about to make needs no further correction.

Ruth Cooper is to business as bacon is to eggs
Although she wears a serious look she can still pull your leg.
She makes the position of Secretary look like the work of a kid
To you, Dear Ruth, all members, “We doffs our lid”.

Johnny Brown comes from Ireland – somewhere near Navoureen
He believes if you put a cow cover over a horse there should be milk in the
mornin’.

Standing next to Johnny is a shearer, reputedly first grade
Topping six feet in his socks it can only be Bert Bade.
For Bert Bade is to shearing as wool is to a sheep
They say that he can shave a rat when it’s asleep.

Now to Tommy Chandler, from Aussie he did come
It could have been from Iron Bark as he has taught to some
For his rating as a pugilist extends as high as moon
There’s only one man got him bluffed – That bloke called Rob Muldoon.

For vegetables and flower plants in the Club we have a cracker
The man who supplies these needs bears the name of Taka

He’ll supply your plants from Iceland and orchids from Guyana
There’s only one plant dodging him – You’ve guessed it – Marijuana.

The Rosstown Robbies raised by Dinny and Stell
A wonderful family all will spell
George though smallest of them all has plenty of guts to make him 10 feet tall
He’ll face the charging bull as though it was a flea
But a nurse’s needle is another cup of tea.

Then to Danny Stewart our golden voice of song
Quiet in his manner and respected by the throng
A voice like Nelson Eddy doesn’t mean a thing
When John Cooper meets him in the bowling ring.
They attack one another with snide remark and sneer
But when the game’s with a drink they call ‘Good Cheer”.

So if you’re feeling down a bit meet a Hunt called ‘Joe”
He loves to see people happy be it friend or foe.
When he was a carpenter he was the fastest ever seen
Hammer so swift in either hand; just to see him was serene.
He built houses for many years for all who came along
He vows he can remember when 4 inch nail were 6 inches long
The first prize all are sure, must be won by the Hunt called Joe.

Indoor bowls was the game the night a strange person came to town
Three quick beers he swallowed when on his face there came a frown.
From the hall inside the building a woman’s voice rang clear
“Jack, get it up. No good ‘til it’s up” were the word that upset in fear.

He leapt for the door like a deer in flight
Collided with Bob Hide and was arse of kite.
Jim Wearne gave him the ‘Kiss of Life’ and from Jumbo a rum to drink
Thus revived and the words explained it was clearly then he did think.
“These words are part and parcel of Indoor Bowls the Man of the Cloth thought
“But I thought it was a house of ill-fame on a Reefton saying, I’m caught”.

The annual fishing trip each year goes to the Marlborough Sounds
Les Nicol suggested a ‘Hare Drive’ as there were miles of hares around
We never had any given proof nor was there a name for a winner
One must assume it’s a fishy business or was it ‘Hare’ for dinner?
Bill Maxwell explained the ‘Hare’ were an awful sight and had large scars
So evil-smelling and salty were they we refused to take them in cars.

One could go on forever mentioning Tony Shutt and ‘Mack the Knife’.
Jim Etheridge, Spaniard and Athol who almost took himself a wife.
But there’s one man I must not forget as this verse gets steeper
He is grey of hair like Santa Claus and his name is Bert Neiper.

As a sailor in the war years he was at the River Plate
He helped sink the Graf Spee on that historic date.
Today he is still sinking through the years it’s not a ship
You’ll find him at the ‘Mulken’ mine with Big Mike sinking a dip.

So Stranger as you read these words from your holidays you can boast
Of the pleasantries you encountered at Reefton on the Coast.
You don’t hear a Coaster moaning but he respects the ‘Man of the Cloth’
For moaning and critics of religion should be lost in the ocean’s froth.

For when morals are lacking all honour is dead; Pray, what is the worth of Parole?
A small bit of preaching may turn a man’s head but it sure won’t alter his soul.

Return to your concrete jungles to your city’s flashest pub
I bet you won’t find friendship like THE REEFTON WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

Unfortunately, Gerald didn't say who wrote it. Thanks Gerald, very cool!

cheers

It's a Small World

2008-01-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

On 14 April 2007 i posted on the blog about how Lex Blackadder, ex Reefton plumber, and his friend Rob Brown, ex Reefton resident, had been to visit us.

Lat week, Lex came back again with his houseguests, Gerald and Val Bray. I used to work with Gerald, 40 years ago. (Good grief!). More on that, next time.

Today, Lex came back again with his other houseguests - Robb & Eleanor Brown, and their boys, Vaughan & Jacob, they all lived in Reefton 'for 3 years, 3 years ago'. They now live in Wellington and the boys go to Newlands School.

After looking around in the 'Reefton' village, they all went up the hill to 'Waiuta'.

Up there, they ran into Mrs. Piner - a teacher at their school!

Small world sometimes.

This is Mrs. Dot Piner with her hubby, Ted and the boy's mum in the red top.

Another Different Visitor

2008-01-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sooty and his servants came to see us.

It was a very hot day, 39 degrees in the sunshine, so the black fur coat was all a bit much. They had to buy him an ice-cream - a 'Memphis Meltdown' - the most expensive sort of course.

Sooty didn't want to have a swim in the rainwater-barrel.

cheers

A Different Visitor

2008-01-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is Nui. She came to visit the other day - she came with her friends - she had a swim in the rain-water barrel.

Not everyone does that.

Cheers

Remembrance.

2008-01-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

Rosemary's rose is flowering in the village.

Pray that we don't have to plant another one. Get well, Mitty!

Everybody is Special

2007-12-31T20:29:00.000-08:00

But some are even more special! I was delighted to be visited by this lady and her husband today.

She was Jeanette Banks, who used to live on a farm in the Buller Gorge and i went to school with her - a year or two ago!

Jeanette has still got that great smile. (Shame the photos are a bit blurry).

Jeanette, if you're reading this - have you seen the 'Hometown, Reefton' site ? (google it). They've got photos on there from the school reunion. Really great to see you - made my day.

cheers

Special Visitors!

2007-12-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

Well, everyone is special, but some are even more so.

These are old family friends. (Well, they're not old - but we've known them for a long, long time!) Timothy in the Argo with his wife, Cecile, and their boys Samuel and Matthew. They live in France, in Lyons i think.

Timothy's sister, Raine and her husband, Scott, at extreme right and left, with their girl, Madeleine in the Argo. They live in California, near San Diego.

Vry cool!

cheers

December 30 2007

2007-12-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a funny old day today. Thought it was going to be hot, but the low cloud hung around all day, which was good. We had a few visitors :-

And, Phew! I think i'll go to bed now!

cheers

Thank you, Ngapera!

2007-12-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

Now they're flying the Maori Sovereignty Flag. I think we're going to have trouble!

cheers

A Place of Safety

2007-12-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

December 25 is the only day of the year that On Yer Bike/Little Earth are not open for business.

These are just a few of the friends enjoying a non-Christmas Barbeque in our backyard.

(It's now 7.30pm and it's 'persisting' down out there - which is good because everybody's gone home!)

cheers

Yeah, rite - Tui!

2007-12-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

This is Tui who comes and mows the lawns sometimes, which is really good of him and much appreciated because it's a pig of a job and everybody hates doing it - especially me!

Thanks Tui. You're a good guy.

Keith Lock MP.

2007-12-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

We had a visit today by this very pleasant man. He said that his family stayed on holiday in Waiuta in 1953/4, a couple of years after the mine closure.

I showed him around a bit and went down the hill with him to show him the 'Reefton' village in the barn. When he was leaving, i asked him which way he was travelling - which i normally do. He said that he was just going to Hokitika as he was 'giving a bit of a talk there tonight.'

So, of course, i asked him what he does . He said, "I'm a Member of Parliament for the Green Party. Keith Lock."

Sheesh! If i was an MP, that'd be the first thing i told people, not the last! What a nice guy.

(I thought his face was familiar but couldn't put a name to it - you don't expect people that you've seen in the media).

While on the subject of politics, I can't find the reference at the moment, but it goes something like this. When the local paper was announcing the voting in a general election, it stated the results for Waiuta were (something like) 180 votes for Labour Party, 1/2 a dozen for the Communists and 3 for the National candidate, (Keith Holyoake - later a long-serving Prime Minister). The Waiuta correspondent stated that "It is hard to understand why anyone would vote National in a working-class, mining town."

Amen to that.

I KILLED A FAIRY!!!

2007-12-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

She was just sitting there, minding her own business, in Gnomeland, when i came along with the weed-eater & chopped her in half. Poor little thing!

However, a dab of the good glue and she's all back together again - don't know if she'll ever fly the same though.

cheers

Just Because

2007-12-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

Fixed! (Finally)

2007-12-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

Refugees Arrive in Gnomeland

2007-11-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

These refugees from deepest, darkest Auckland have arrived safely and taken up residence in Gnomeland.

This pair had a bit of trouble with their bench-seat on the way down, but it looks good like this.

This guy brought his own shovel and he has started work already.

Thanks to Isabella's Mum. Much appreciated.

cheers

Visitors

2007-11-25T02:43:00.000-08:00

They are really not fussy about who they let in here!
The school-groups -

Aussies (Actually a very nice Melbourne family, originally from India of course). -

Laurel and Hardy -

Benji's friend, Wade -

And even Coca Cola advertising icons -

cheers

Seek and Ye Shall Find

2007-11-24T20:45:00.000-08:00

(click on the pic.)

cheers

Another Day, Another School

2007-11-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

This lot, (and there was a lot), were from North Loburn School, in Canterbury.

They are over here, on a school camp at Moana, for the week and enjoying the West Coast sunshine. (It's a tough life for some!)

Great to see them. Nice kids (and parents/teachers).

cheers

St. Canices School, Westport

2007-11-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

This bunch of hoodlums was from St. Canices, Westport.

And this was their Getaway vehicle(s).

No - Great group of kids really. One of the nicest school parties we've seen, and there's been a few now.

They came down the Coast Road, from Westport, saw the village and had lunch then went to Waiuta for the afternoon and home via Reefton. A big day out, and great weather for it too!

This guy, Charlie Elley, was not one of the kids, he was a parent. I used to work with Charlie, 24 years ago. (Good grief!)

cheers

Oops. I forgot.

2007-11-09T20:38:00.002-08:00

The brave ones went for a ride on the Argo.

(If you click on a blog photo, it brings up a bigger imaghe).

cheers

Oops. I forgot.

2007-11-09T20:38:00.001-08:00

Reefton Ladies!

2007-11-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Had a great surprise today - a visit by a busload of Reefton RSA Ladies.

I learnt something too - When a bus comes up the hill and the gate into the village is open, the sign on the gate saying which way to go is not visible from the road. I think i'd better shift it. The bus almost carried on down the bikes' track which would taken them over top of the tunnel and that would NOT have supported the weight. We could've been on the TV news! (But not in a good way).

Anyway, it didn't happen. Great to see you ladies.

Some of them knew Waiuta, they all knew Reefton.

cheers