Manukau topics: communities.

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Myths today

The creation of myths continues to the present day. Indeed, they can sometimes be observed almost in the very act of creation. Take a recent controversy involving the Woodside Methodist cemetery and early settlers’ memorial at Manukau City Centre.

In 1973 Manukau City Council and the Methodist church reached agreement on removal of the old and long-neglected Woodside cemetery to make way for road widening. This involved replacing the cemetery with a communal grave and memorial a few yards to the south.

The whole process was a careful, orderly and amicable one. More than thirty years later, however, correspondence was published that implied matters had been so rushed that inscriptions had been copied from the headstones only at the last moment before their wanton destruction.[20]

In fact, the headstones were transcribed on 18 December 1973, but remained in place for another two years. Only on 16 December 1975 were they removed and disposed of, in accordance with the instructions of the families concerned. The bulldozers mentioned in the above correspondence were working on the development of a shopping centre across the road.[21]

Another story

The myths that we local historians create are often trivial, usually harmless, and sometimes amusing. They may have as much value in themselves as the history they supplant. After all, the myths we cherish tell us a lot about who we are as people.

Less forgivable, I think, is the kind of history that distorts evidence by way of political or ideological bias. However, that’s a story for another time.

References

[1]Readers interested in discussions of the relationship between place and identity should turn to authors such as W.G. Hoskins, David Lowenthal, Benedict Anderson, et al. 

[2]A.E. Tonson, Old Manukau, 1966, p. 21. 

[3]The Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden, 1765-1838, ed. J.R. Elder, Dunedin, 1932, p. 279; Richard A. Cruise, Journal of a Ten Month’s Residence in New Zealand, 2nd ed., London, 1824, p. 151; Earliest New Zealand: The Journals and Correspondence of the Rev. John Butler, ed. R.J. Barton, Masterton, 1927, pp. 98-100. 

[4]"It has pleased the Almighty to affect the natives of this area very severely …", William Fairburn, quoted in, G.J. Murdoch, A History of the Occupation of the Whakakaiwhara Block, Auckland, September 1996, p. 12. 

[5]The Magic of Maraetai, Maraetai, 1981, pp. 15-16. 

[6]Ibid., pp. 22-3. 

[7]H.W. Tucker, Memoir of the Life and Episcopate of George Augustus Selwyn, London, 1879, vol. I, p. 118; cf. John H. Evans, Churchman Militant, 1964, p. 30; cf. Reminiscences by Mrs S.H. Selwyn, ed. Edith Evans, Auckland, 1961, p. 17; Reminiscences of Sarah Selwyn, ed. Hary Bioletti, Auckland, 2002, p. 19. 

[8]G.A. Selwyn, Letter Book, 1841-1845, Alexander Turnbull Library, qMS-1774; see also: Edwin Fairburn, Maharatanga, t/s, [1908?], p. 49 (Auckland City Libraries, NZMS 91); Edwin Fairburn, notes accompanying 'The Deluge of Genesis' (Auckland City Libraries, NZMS, 1142). 

[9]Edwin Fairburn, quoted in, The Magic of Maraetai, op. cit., pp. 22-3.

[10]Otahuhu Golden Jubilee, 1912-1962, Otahuhu, 1962, pp. 9-11; A Passing Parade: A Reflection of 150 Years in Otahuhu, Otahuhu, 1998, p. 13. 

[11]'Plans and Sections of the Great South Road ...' [ms.], Auckland City Libraries, New Zealand Maps, 2691. 

[12]‘'nn's Bridge: Story of Its Name', Otahuhu Advocate, 5 February 1927, p. 4; cf. A Century of Progress, 1848-1948: A Souvenir of Otahuhu, 1948, pp. 7-9; etc. 

[13]Local story recounted in, Alan La Roche, History of Howick and Pakuranga, 1991, p. 109. 

[14]'Movements of His Royal Highness', New Zealand Herald, 17 May 1869, p. 4; 'Movements of His Royal Highness', New Zealand Herald, 25 May 1869, p. 6; The Macleans of Howick and Tamaki, Auckland, 1997, p. 13. 

[15]'Arrival of the Galatea', Daily Southern Cross, 9/12/1870, p. 2; 'The Prince’s Elephant', New Zealand Herald, 9/12/1870, p. 2; 'The Elephant in Queen Street', Daily Southern Cross, 13/12/1870, p. 2; 'Amusements', Daily Southern Cross, 9/1/1870, p. 3; etc. 

[16]'Mr. Bernard Shaw Departs Tomorrow', NZ Herald, 19/3/1934, p. 10. 

[17]Bernard Shaw, Collected Letters, 1926-1950, ed. Dan H. Laurence, London, 1988, pp. 368-9. 

[18]David Mulgan, The Kiwi's First Wings, Wellington, 1960, p. 21. 

[19]'Auckland Aeronaut: Flight at Papakura', Auckland Star, 10 February 1911, p. 7. 

[20]'31 Years on: Work of NZSG Members Revealed During Demolition', New Zealand Genealogist, January/February 2005, p. 30; [letters and commentary], ibid., May/June 2005, p. 148. 

[21]Full references given in Bruce Ringer, 'Background paper on the Woodside Methodist Cemetery', 29 February 2008 (online version).

Publication history: First published as ‘Myths and Memories’ in New Zealand Legacy, vol. 20, no. 1, 2008, pp. 13-15. See also response by Mr John Bull of Wellsford, ‘Myths and Memories: a Correction’, New Zealand Legacy, vol. 20, no. 2, 2008, p. 2; additional material in ‘A Last Word about Elephants’, New Zealand Legacy, vol. 21, no. 1, 2009, p. 20). Revised version published on the Manukau Libraries website in September 2009.

Copyright © Bruce Ringer. This text may be used freely for purposes of private study or research. For other purposes the permission of the author is required.

 

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