Young historians win national awards

The names of two Otago Girls' High School pupils have been engraved in the history books of the New Zealand History Teachers' Association and the New Zealand Historical Association after winning awards at the organisations' 2012 New Zealand Young Historians' Awards. Rebecca Anderson (16) won the national year 12 competition with her essay titled "Times of Protest: Homosexual Law Reform", and Xanthe Musgrave (18) was runner-up in the year 13 competition with her essay titled "Maori Prisoners in Dunedin". Rebecca said her passion for human rights, law, and the current debate about same-sex marriage inspired her to write about the situation and include numerous historical ideas. The judges said the "textbook chapter" had clear evidence of in-depth, quality research. "The level of detail would not be out of place in year 13, or even university text. The clear winner." Xanthe won praise from the judges for her research essay on Maori prisoners and the way they were taken from their villages to be incarcerated for "doing nothing at all". "I like scandalous things, really. I've always thought about what life would be like as a prisoner. "My research has given me a healthy respect for the law. I don't want to end up behind bars." The judges were impressed with the presentation of her essay. "This work is presented as a Te Papa museum information booklet and meets the requirements of its format wonderfully. Detailed in its narrative and with perceptive analysis of issues with historical evidence, this is an excellent example of the level to which a local study can be taken." Both girls were delighted with their awards. Xanthe said it was the first time she had placed in a national writing competition. - john.lewis@odt.co.nz http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/231988/young-historians-win-national-awards By John Lewis on Fri, 26 Oct 2012

Wellingtonian editorial: When The Beatles came to town

The Bootleg Beatles revived happy memories for some Wellingtonians this week. The four English musicians make their living touring the world giving "Beatles" concerts. There are a few Beatles imitators, including an impressive group of New Yorkers called the Fab Faux. But The Bootleg Beatles are so good that they've had ringing endorsements from Beatles manager Sir George Martin and from Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison. They are playing at the St James until Sunday, and no doubt their shows will be well received. People will be twisting and shouting to their hearts' delight. However, it's doubtful if The Bootleg Beatles will bring any more joy to people than they did on Tuesday lunchtime when they stepped on to the balcony of the former St George Hotel and belted out a few Beatles classics. The real Beatles stood on the same balcony in June 1964 and waved to 7000 adoring fans. The Bootleg Beatles' appearance this week recalled one of the maddest weeks in New Zealand history. The Beatles arrived in Wellington from Sydney on Sunday, June 21, after a sensationally popular tour of Australia. They were met at Wellington airport by nearly 8000 fans and received a Maori welcome, including a haka and a hongi. Drummer Ringo Starr stepped behind a policeman and whispered in his ear jokingly: "Tell them we come in peace." Once the Fab Four had checked into the St George, a crowd gathered outside and began calling for The Beatles until they finally appeared on the now famous balcony. The Beatles played four shows at the Town Hall: two on Monday evening, two on Tuesday evening. Their shows comprised 11 songs and lasted just over 22 minutes, which doesn't sound much, but they left the full houses of 2500 fans more than satisfied. Their shows also included other musicians such as Johnny Devlin, Sounds Incorporated and a couple of blond American male singers with unusually high-pitched voices. After their second show each evening, The Beatles returned to the St George, where again crowds gathered and called for them, until they appeared at a window and waved. Ringo Starr played in Wellington, having missed most of the Australian tour because of tonsilitis. A fill-in drummer had taken his place. The Beatles were in New Zealand for seven days and were immensely popular - Beatlemania was just as big in New Zealand as it was in Britain, the United States and Australia. New Zealanders loved them and The Beatles were very friendly in public, although it later transpired, from books they wrote, that they had been rather bored while they were here and couldn't believe how early our one television channel closed for the evening. Ad Feedback Wellingtonians with an eye for these things were impressed with The Bootleg Beatles up on the St George balcony. Steve White, who plays Paul McCartney, even plays left-handed like the master and uses a Hofner bass, with its distinctive violin shape. A crowd quickly gathered to watch them this week, and some began calling out the names of favourite Beatles songs they wanted to hear. No-one seemed to want to leave. Perhaps there were too many warm memories from a time long past. - The Wellingtonian http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/7858197/Wellingtonian-editorial-When-The-Beatles-came-to-town

Nairn St's historic past CHLOE WINTER

Nairn St is said to be home to Wellington's oldest remaining residential building. The Colonial Cottage, at 68 Nairn St, became Wellington's first house museum in 1980. It was once home to William Wallis, an English carpenter and his family. Wallis and his wife, Catherine, arrived in New Zealand in 1857. Soon after, he bought land in Nairn St, one of Wellington's steepest streets, and built a cottage. It was made from timber delivered by bullock wagon from his timber yard in Manners St. In 1870, he built another home, Royston House, next to the family cottage. The second dwelling was necessary because of his growing family - he went on to have 10 children. The cottage was in the family for 127 years before the council obtained it under the Public Works Act in 1974 from Winifred Turner, William Wallis' grand- daughter. The council planned to demolish the cottage to make way for parking. Most of Wellington's early houses have long since been demolished but the Colonial Cottage Museum Society campaigned hard during the 1970s to save the cottage and eventually won the day. The society then restored the house to its original late-Georgian style and opened it as an educational museum in 1980. The cottage is now listed as an earthquake-prone building. Nairn St was named after Captain Alexander Nairne, a director of the New Zealand Company. Though he never set foot in New Zealand, Nairne helped fund European settlement. The street named in his honour has always had the final "e" missing, and it still does, despite recent Wellington City Council agitation to "correct" the spelling. Nairn St is notable for more than just residential land. At the top is Nairn Street Park. In 1895, Enoch Tonks, owner of a brick factory in Webb St, was given the right to use the clay at the top of Nairn St in exchange for transforming the site into a sports field. The ground is now used for football. Last updated 10:59 26/10/2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/the-wellingtonian/7860866/Nairn-Sts-historic-past