|
'Gold rush', f
ilms to mark 150th |
|
Monday, 08 February 2010 |
By LAURA MILLS
A whole week of Greymouth-based celebrations have been planned to mark the 150th birthday of Westland in May, culminating in a ‘gold rush day’.
Celebrations will mark the sale of Westland, when the Arahura Deed of Purchase was signed between Poutini Ngai Tahu chiefs and Crown agent James Mackay.
The Westland District Council has bowed out of the event, saying it would prefer to celebrate when Westland split away from Canterbury — in another 13 years’ time. However, the Buller District Council is still working out ways of getting involved.
Plans are advanced in Greymouth, with the celebrations to start on Monday, May 17, with screenings of old film archives from the West Coast. A West Coast room will be on show at the library mid-week, and on the actual anniversary, Friday, May 21, a plaque and historic interpretation panels will be unveiled at the Greymouth railway station, close to the Mawhera Pa site where the deed was signed.
A pioneer and gold rush day, and dinner at Shantytown, will end the celebrations on May 22.
Grey District Council events and marketing officer Debbie Collings said even more events were on the radar, including a book.
The week-long festivities would be promoted in other regions to attract visitors and ex-Coasters back for the occasion.
“Margaret Mort (from History House) is looking to get together adverts from the Grey River Argus from the 1960s to see how we have changed.”
The Greymouth Star will publish a souvenir supplement in the week of May 21.
|
|
|
Flags f
ly at Fox River market day |
|
Monday, 08 February 2010 |
 The New Zealand flag and the 1836 flag of the Confederation of Maori Tribes fly aloft the old Fox River bridge, surrounded by streamers and decorations, while locals and visitors celebrate Waitangi Day and a market day on Saturday afternoon.
Friends of the Fox River Bridge Trust president Les Holmes said the local community had been passionate since the day the bridge was under threat of demolition.
This year’s celebration combined Waitangi Day, a market day, beach sculpture competition and the launch of Les Wright’s book Brighton: Its Boom and Bust.
“We always decorate the bridge and we lay claim to flying the two New Zealand flags in celebration,” Mr Holmes said.
“I got involved in 1991, and the good news is the bridge is still here and better news is it will go on for ages.
“The trust owns the bridge, and with Waitangi Day and the market day celebrations it is becoming a big event.”
Ross Smith, a founding member of the trust said the bridge was much loved.
“It has history and character.
“In the early 1990s we thought it would be a good thing to hang on to the old bridge once they started building the new one. After lengthy negotiations with Transit NZ, it became ours.
“Transit donated it to the trust, along with money which had been set a side for demolishing it.” |
|
|
Rock blasting rattles Greymouth |
|
Monday, 08 February 2010 |
 Loud booming echoed over Greymouth this morning as contractors started blasting small areas of the Cobden slip, above State highway 6. The blasting was part of a wider plan to stabilise the hillside after last July’s rockfall, and caused booming that resembled strong thunderclaps all over town. The road in front of the rock face was closed and traffic was stopped at the Greymouth side of the Cobden Bridge, causing long traffic queues. Abseiling contractors have been removing loose rock in recent weeks. Today they started blasting to remove protruding rock to smooth the rock face so mesh can be pulled tight against the face, preventing further rockfalls on to the highway. |
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
;)
;)