Monday 21 January 2013

Winter is approaching and Library Lunches are back on the menu after Easter.
Talk to Alison if you have any ideas or suggestions as to speakers and/or subjects for these lunches.
Here are some more titles of the books that were added to the shelves just prior to Christmas. A  partial list was posted on this Blog in mid-December, so read both lists for the complete range of additions.
Alison (bless her) just got too busy with chooks, goats and rabbits creating problems for her. We hope things quieten down abit now.
                    Robert Barnard        The Mistress of Alderley
                    Christopher Reich   The Patriot’s Club
                    Glenn Meade         The Sands Of Sakara
                   Tony Park                 Dark Heart

                   Jean Plaidy               Louis, The Well Beloved;
                                                      Flaunting, Extravagant Queen
                    Danielle Steele     Miracle
                    Marian Keyes        The Mystery Of Mercy Close
                    Frances Fyfield     Under Current
                    Patricia Cornwell  
The Bone Bed; Cruel and Unusual; 
                    Paulina Simons     Children Of Liberty
                    Carol Rivers         Lizzie Of Langley Street
                    Tim Severin         Sea Robber
                    Robin Cook          Shock
                    K M Peyton          Gains
                    John Grisham      Theodore Boone-The Accused

                    Robert Crais        The Forgotten Man   
(There are 18 tiles here by 16 authors, sometimes the formatting goes haywire when "Post" is pushed and the list may appear quite different to what has been typed.)
Now, it's just a case of finding the time to read them all!

Thursday 10 January 2013

The Hamraki Rag has at times said that Diane Garbutt's "Hampden Time Line" is available for perusal in the Library.
Aye, it is. But that doesn't necessarily mean the Librarian on duty will be able to locate it if asked for.
So here it is, complete with alterations, amendments and additions, and up-to-date as at the end of December, 2012.

                        The Way We Were
                     Hampden/Moeraki Time Line
Originally compiled in 2005 by late Diane Garbutt, updated and modified by the Moeraki Area
Promotions Society in association with the Hamraki Rag.
                                      (Up to date as at December 2012 ©)

1836
John Hughes establishes whaling station at Moeraki.
1852
Runs (i.e. sheep farms) are distributed - 7 W.S. Trotter, 8 Henry McHugh, 11 Alexander
and Thomas Fraser.
1852
Bagdad (note spelling!) bush and stream are named by Hughes, inspired by the Arabian
Nights stories.
1852
Accommodation House built by G.B Wright. Was the only accommodation house
between Dunedin and the Rangatata River.
1853
Run 10 transferred from John McCormack to A. and T. Fraser.
1857
Accommodation House purchased by T. Hastie.
1859
First auction of stock at Mr. Thomas Hastie's yard, Little Kuri.
1860
Moeraki Hundred proclaimed (November 30)
Survey commenced under direction of J.T. Thomson, Chief Surveyor for Otago, who
named Hampden after the English statesman, John Hampden (1595-1643). (Thomson's
Memorial is on Mt Charles in the Herbert Cemetery.)
Traces of gold are found along the beach. Gold retrieval operations extended over the
next ten years.
1861
Land survey of Hampden completed.
Hampden Hotel opened. Proprietor W. Murcott. It is a changing station for Cobb and Co.
coaches.
1862
Tenders let for bridges across Little Kuri and Kakaho Rivers.
Clyde Hotel opened. Proprietor John Prosser.
J. Young, storekeeper, was appointed Postmaster.
1863
Frederick Wayne - first representative of Hampden electorate in the General Assembly.
1864
Dunedin to Oamaru road officially opened (February 24).
First police station opened, under Waikouaiti district. Frank R. O'Brien, Postal Agency.
School opens with teacher Donald Munroe (June 21).
Presbyterian Church holds first service at the school (June).
Storekeepers and bakers - John Young, W.T. Kirby, Fisher and Co.
Butchers - Thomas MacKay, H.T. Murcott
Boot/Shoe Makers - John Freeman, Robert Watson
Carpenters - Archibald Weir, W.T. Spier
Blacksmith - William Stewart
Mechanics' Institute founded by Rev. C. Connor. He gave the first of many lectures to
be given at the Institute; this one was entitled “The Earth’s Crust”.
1865
Accommodation House history lost. Mrs. Margaret Hastie reputed to have planted first
gorse hedge in North Otago on slope opposite her premises, just north of Lancaster
Street.
Dr W.R. Hayne, MD arrives.
Hunter Stauchon died. His tombstone is the oldest in the cemetery.
There were 24 property owners in the town of Hampden
1866
First meeting of Hampden Roads Board (October 7).
Meeting to extend cemetery from five to ten acres.
Drapers - J. Arkle, M. Krakour
1867
Cabinetmaker/woodturner - A. Milne
Vice-Regal visit; Governor Grey stopped for lunch at William Murcott’s Hotel.
A Lecture by Mr Harper at the Mechanics’ Institute was entitled ‘The Solar System”.
Bank of Otago visits Hampden on Wednesdays.
Resident Magistrate for Oamaru, Mr T. W. Parker, also visits Hampden on Wednesdays.
Committee to control the cemetery - W.L. Leggett, William Craig, M.S. Gleeson,
Alexander Familton, William Reynolds Hayne MD, J. Young
1868
Land is set aside for the Hampden Mechanics' Institute.
Police administration transferred to Oamaru.
1869
Waianakarua Bridge (on the south branch of the river) completed.
Hampden Volunteer Rifles formed.
1870
Athenaeum Hall (Mechanics Institute) erected.
Presbyterian Church opens on London Street (R. A. Lawson of Dunedin-Architect).
Presbyterian Manse is built on Nicolson Road.
Mr Familton spoke at the Mechanics Institute on “What Was Man Intended For”
1871
Population of Hampden 170
1872
Church of Christ opened January 7 at the cost of £200.
1873
Construction of Oamaru to Moeraki railway line begins.
1874
Bridges at Waianakarua mill (north branch) opened.
1876
Opening of Oamaru to Moeraki railway line on November 4.
1878
Population 290 The first light is lit at Moeraki lighthouse on April 22.
Hampden Railway Station completed in June.
Coach overturns on Horse Range Road killing two and injuring 20 (on the day of the
inauguration of the first passenger rail service. Coroner found coach driver was trying
to race the train ).
First southbound train from Christchurch to Dunedin stopped for water at Hampden on
September 6. All subsequent through trains did this thereafter.
Postal services transferred to Railway Station. Stationmaster became Postmaster.
1879
Hampden proclaimed as a borough on September 8 occupying one square mile, with the
third smallest population as a borough in the country.
W. Murcott elected first mayor.
Borough councillors elected were A.C. Weir, J. Douglas, T.E. Watkins, J. Doreen, H.T.
Murcott, John Parker, N. Campbell, W. Familton and D. Peach.
Flour mill at Waianakarua opened.
Railway from Hillgrove to Moeraki closed due to land stability problems.
1880
Depression - gold searched for on Kitchener's, Culling's and Size's properties.
Slaughterhouse licences granted to H.T. Murcott and Thomas H. Watkins.
1881
Population of Hampden 326, increase of 36. Details are in the Library and at the
Statistics Department website. (A recent researcher puts the population figure at 539 {Anderson})
Police operations shifted to old Telegraph Building in the Square, second Police Station.
St Stephens Anglican Church opened on December 20. Rabbits become recognised as
a pest.
1882
Hampden Roads Board merges with Waitaki County Council.
1883
Waianakarua School opened. Arthur Tyndall teacher.
1885
Commonage exchanged for 150 acres of bush.
1886
Population 332
1890
Creamery opened, first owned by John Duncan Junior.
Port Moeraki public school established.
1891
Population was 301, decrease of 31 since the previous census in 1896 according to
the North Otago Times article.
Mrs Thomas Lefevre was appointed Mechanics Institute Librarian from 3 applicants. The
Library consisted of 600 volumes and the annual subscription was reduced to 5/- per
annum (previously it was £1.0.0)
1894
Catholic Church consecrated (Our Lady Star of the Sea).
1895
Mawhinney Drapery sold to Kerr of Waikouaiti.
1896
Creamery owned by Taeri & Peninsula Milk Supply Co. Ltd.
1900
NZ Farmers' Union (later Federated Farmers) branch established in Hampden.
1901
Hampden School becomes District High School (until 1908).
1902
Hampden Hotel expanded.
Six pairs of Australian Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) released by Otago
Acclimatisation Society.
Clyde Hotel closes.
1903
Tennis Courts built.
Bowling Green laid down.
1905
Prohibition in force in Oamaru district.
1906
Hampden Hotel closes.
1910
Hampden Volunteer Rifles disbanded.
The third Police Station to be built in Hampden is opened in Norwich Street.
1917
Plunket Society established. Hampden nurses visit out-stations regularly.
1918
Temporary hospital established to handle influenza epidemic cases.
1920
Church of Christ closes.
1924
Whittakers Omnibus and Service Car business established.
1925
Post and Telegraph Department opens a manual telephone exchange with 38
subscribers.
1927
BNZ leases a portion of the bank to the Post Office. All post and telegraph services now
carried out in the bank building, on the corner of London and Lincoln Streets.
1930
Hampden Women's Division of Federated Farmers (WDFF) formed.
1930
Road from Big Kuri to Hillgrove now with permanent bitumen surface.
Depression; gold mined at mouth of Big Kuri for a number of years.
Camping ground made available to the public.
S. Kerr's drapery closed.
1931
Post office is opened on the corner of London and Norwich Streets. The building was
originally the court house.
Hampden Returned Servicemen's Association formed.
1939
Waianakarua Mill ceased operating as a flour mill, but continued to process poultry feed.
1940
Home Guard formed in the Borough.
1944
St Stephen's Vicarage sold for £158.
1945
New school house built. Old one shifted to 73 London Street.
Home Guard phased out at end of the Second World War.
1947
St Stephen's Vicarage sold for £180 to Cliff Murcell.
Moeraki Estate divided for soldier settlement.
1951
Commonage of Hampden is sold to L. Caldwell for £2,145.0.0 on July 1.
1951
Population 285.
1953
Control of cemetery is handed over from the Cemetery Board to the Hampden Borough
Council.
All the assets of the Mechanic Institute were handed over to the Hampden Borough
Council to be used for the building of the Hampden Community Centre War Memorial
Hall. The Athenaeum property was demolished.
1954
Ivan Prain's bakery closes.
Foundation stone is laid for the Hampden and District War Memorial and Community
Centre.
1955
Hall opens.
1957
Population 308
1958
Waianakarua Mill and land is sold to NZ Boy Scouts Association.
1960
Prohibition ended.
1961
Oamaru Licensing Trust buys Hampden Hotel.
1962
Bottle store opens.
Water scheme is officially opened on December 1 by Mr J. H. George, MP for Central
Otago.
Dental Clinic built at school.
1963
Swimming pool opens at school.
1964
Original portion of the Hampden Hotel is demolished.
Centennial of Hampden public school
1967
Opening of new tavern (designed by Murray Cockburn) on March 11, by R E Proctor (as
last Mayor of the Borough). Built on the site of the old Hampden Hotel.
Hampden Borough Council merges with Waitaki County Council on April 1.
(The New Zealand dollar (equal to 10/- ) replaced the NZ pound on July 10. The decimal
system was introduced at the same time.)
1968
Waianakarua Mill converted to a restaurant and motel to become the Mill House.
1970s
School modified
Metric weights and measures were phased in
1974
Automatic telephone exchange is installed and set in operation on August 8.
1975
The last lighthouse keeper withdrawn from Katiki Point or Moeraki Lighthouse.
1980
Heating system installed in school swimming pool.
1981
Population: 275 according the census.
1982
The Fire Station was built in Lincoln Street by the brigade members and assisted by
many from the community. Waitaki County Council chipped in $1000 to kick start the
project.
1985
The pensioner flats in Lincoln Street built by Waitaki County Council were opened on
November 30 by Warren E Cooper, MP for Central Otago.
Hampden railway station was demolished.
1986
The Early Families’’ 150th Anniversary Memorial on Onekakara (Moeraki) Point was
consecrated.
The population of Hampden was 270, and the population of Moeraki was 87.
1987
The fourth Police Station for Hampden was built on the corner of London and Norwich
Streets.
1988
The Post Office closed. Mail operations were handled at the Bottom Shop.
Hampden School held its 125th Jubilee.
The Hampden Returned Services Association was placed in recess.
1989
Waitaki County Council merged with the Oamaru Borough Council to form the Waitaki
District Council.
1990
The first Hamraki Rag was published by Sue Sheat (February).
1991
The population of Hampden jumped by 17.6% to 317 according to the census. The same
census put the Moeraki population at 105, a 20.7% increase from the previous census.
The rate of increase in both places was extraordinary compared to the national average
of 3.4%.
1993
Moeraki Area Promotions Group Inc was formed to promote the area from Waianakarua
to Shag Point.
1996
Population 306 (Hampden, -3.8%) and 96 (Moeraki, -8.6%).
1998
A petition was raised against the proposed sewerage treatment scheme.
1999
The sewerage treatment plant for Moeraki opened at Hillgrove (August).
2000
The Katiki Point Penguin Trust was formed by Janice Jones.
Hampden's new police station, its fifth, was built on London Street.
2001
According to the census, the population of Hampden was 303.
2002
Moeraki Tavern opened on April 20.
Moeraki Millenium Walkway opened in May
Fleur's Place restaurant opened in Moeraki (October).
2003
Visit in January of Roy Bailey, emissary of the John Hampden Society of England.
Hampden Super Store (Bottom Shop) closed for business as a general store on June
29.
First visit to St Stephens Church by Rev. Penny Jameson, Bishop Of Dunedin, on
August 3.
2004
Population 304.
Gale force winds in February caused damage to property in the town, including the
bakery.
Major macrocarpa trees around Camping Ground felled for safety.
2006
Hampden Community Energy Society Incorporated is formed.
NEO Computing took over publishing Hamraki Rag from Sue Sheet (December).
2008
First energy expo organised by the HCE was held (June).
Severe flood cut off the highway (July).
Recycling trailer introduced for the service of residents and travellers (November).
2009
Population 297
Rising floodwater kept ten campers stuck for three nights at Trotters Gorge (February).
Rubbish transfer station at Herbert closed (July).
Hamraki Rag went online (June).
130th Celebrations in October. The Proclamation of Hampden as a Borough reenacted.
Derailment of freight train at Katigi (November).
Public debate held on exponential economic growth policies (November).
Critically endangered lowland longjaw galaxiid were released in the Waianakarua River

2011
Hampden School stages a fundraising Skyline Bike Ride in the hills to the West
(February)
The first trees in Waihemo’s Jim Dunkley Memorial Orchard planted in Lancaster Street.
(Sept)
Top Shop closes, Fine Fare Supermarket opens alongside - props John Dimelow and
Corrine Martin (Nov)
Hampden’s regular visiting medical practitioner, Dr Don McKirdy, retires
Moeraki celebrates 175th anniversary (Dec)

2012
Trotter Homestead demolished by fire organised by Hampden Volunteer fire unit (Jan)
Original Hilltop Store (or Top Shop) on corner of London/Lincoln Sts, and its many
additions is demolished (March)
The operation of the Waste Transfer Station in Pughs Road, contracted to Delta (of
Dunedin) is sub-contracted to Hampden Community Energy Soc Inc. Local labour is
employed, assisted by volunteers. (March)
Public performance in Presbyterian Church by Schola Cantorum (Christchurch) and
Canterbury/Otago Consort of Viols (May)
Waitaki District Council release a report by engineers Tonkin and Taylor about land
stability at Moeraki. (July).
Services at St Stephens Anglican Church cease. Parishioners meet monthly at Te
Kotahitanga Church, Moeraki.
Electricity supplier, Network Waitaki, upgrades the electricity supply line and builds a
new sub-station in Shrewsbury Street. (November)
Three bay shed is constructed (completed in December) by Hampden Community
Energy at the Waste Transfer Station. It will be used for the retrieval and sale of items
otherwise discarded as rubbish. Profits from sales will be used within the community.

Thursday 20 December 2012

Alison says:-
That all our Library members who come in to the Library, do some borrowing, read their selections, then return them to the library and take out some more reading, must be thanked for the support they've given the Library through the year.
Likewise, her team of volunteers who open the door, carry out their duties and then close the door 2 hours later need thanking too.
Without these 2 groups in the community, there would be no Library.
We'll see you all next year - have a good time over the holidays and remember, the Library's hours are constant these holidays,- there'll be no changes.
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

Posted by Trevor on behalf of Alison who's attending to her goat.
In the last post, I said Alison would divulge the new book purchases for the Hampden Library.
Well, various impediments arose.
One of her goats has developed what seems to be an incurable ulcer on its hoof and alot of her time is being spent looking after her (the goat).
The books were boxed up and sent to Oamaru for catalogueing, but the staff there are working flat out and have not yet been able to start this task.
On Tuesday this week, the Waitaki District Council Libraries Division put on a morning tea for all the volunteers that help to keep the District's libraries running efficiently. There are 60 volunteers help the salaried staff at the Oamaru Library alone, - then there are the libraries at Omarama, Otematata, Kurow and Plamerston, as well as Hampden. But while at this morning tea, the Hampden reps asked for at least some of the books, cataloged or not, to be returned to Hampden for putting on the shelves for Christmas reading. They can be returned at a later date to Oamaru for registering in the catalogue.
So Yippee!!
We have some of the new editions - additional on our shelves for your summer reading.
They are:-
The Summer Garden, by Paulina Simons.
A Wanted Man, Lee Childs.
The Casual Vacancy, JK Rowling.
The Black Box, M Connelly.
Dominion, CJ Sansom
Daughter-in-Law, Joanna Trollope.
Post Mortem, Patricia Cornwell.
The Family Frying Pan, Bryce Courtenay.


Be in quick. This list is about half of our new purchases, the others will be put on the shelves and notified on this blog as they come to hand.

Saturday 24 November 2012

Alison's been going bananas purchasing some new titles to put on the shelves before Christmas - speaking of which, the Library will maintain its normal hours right through December and the New Year.
Anyway, I'll leave the announcement of the new books to her.
Here are some notices from the Oamaru Library that may be of interest to Hampden people:
Genealogy and the internet:
Geneologists make extensive use of the internet but can we really believe all that is available
on-line?
This talk, by NZSG Mainland South Education Officer Heather Bray, looks at some of the
pitfalls of relying on the Internet, and how you verify any information you find on sites, such
as Ancestry.com, to ensure your family tree is accurate and well sourced.
Oamaru Library Wednesday 5 December at 6pm

Hap Cameron on working the world:

After finishing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Otago, Hap Cameron
decided to set himself a big goal: live and work on all seven continents of the world before
the age of 30. It took eight years, but he did it.
Hap will talk at the Oamaru Library, 6pm Friday 7th December.

Celebrating Janet Frame:
Oamaru Library and the Janet Frame Eden St. Trust invite you to an evening celebration to
mark the publication of “Gorse is not People”: A new collection of short stories from
renowned writer Janet Frame
The guest speaker will be poet and novelist Emma Neale.
Join us at the Oamaru Library at 6pm on Friday 14 December 2012

Thursday 16 August 2012

Book Review:
From Dust To Gold by John Perriam, Photos by Stephen Jaquiery and the Perriam family.

John Perriam was angry. His family had farmed quite successfully at Lowburn for a century. Who was Robert Muldoon to say they had to go? But go they must. Their farm buildings were bulldozed and Lake Dunstan's waters rose.
Bendigo Station came up for sale and the Perriams, knowing nothing whatsoever of high country farming, took it on. What a task. And a very big learning curve. Fortunately the Perriams were up to, but they had to learn all there was to know (and more) about the type of country, its history, merinos and their wool, wool marketing, the politics of rural life, grapes, and then to have the entire scene abruptly change when one of the shepherds, Ann Scanlan, found a five year old woolie while on a high muster.
Shrek, as he was named, fitted into the scene very well, but John Perriam had to change his life to fit in with Shrek, his schedule, his politics, his star performances, his popularity and his fans.
Along the way two great environmental vandals set about trying to ruin the Bendigo Station; firstly the gold miners, secondly the rabbits.
At about the time Shrek was shorn, this reviewer wrote a newspaper article congratulating the Perriams on the way the Shrek affair was being handled, and how the Cure Kids Charity and the country were benefiting from the exposure Shrek was receiving. This book tells of the hard work, deep planning and sleepless nights that went into making this happen. Fortunately, John Perriam was up to it. A lesser mortal could not have coped.
The story of Bendigo Station is told from its earliest history through to the present day, and portrays just how things have changed. Various Perriam family companies now produce wine, slaughter rabbits for the restaurant trade, make cloth in conjunction with Italian mills, run a retail complex in Tarras, and bring in tourists for game safaris, and still run sheep. John Perriam has got over his anger.
The book is well written and easy to read. There are far more photos than one would normally expect, but these are all of superb quality. They could very well fill a book on their own.
A pleasant, but eye-opening read.
This book is not in the Hampden Library, but is in the Waitaki Library system, and can be readily obtained.

Trevor

Friday 6 July 2012

Library Lunches.
Periodically, interested people get together at the Hampden Library to discuss the library and its contents.
Often a Librarian from Oamaru, or an author will be in attendance. These meetings are usually about every four or six weeks and are held from about 12.15 to 1.30.
Participants bring their own lunch to munch during sometimes very lively (but always interesting) discussions.
The forthcoming lunches are publicised in the Hamraki Rag. Come along and join in. All Library members are welcome.

Book Review- The Twelve Cakes of Christmas

The Twelve Cakes Of Christmas, by Helen Leach, Mary Browne and Raelene Inglis.
“An evolutionary history, with recipes.”

 
The authors take us on an interesting odyssey of cake baking back to the 1600s. No doubt
there were cakes baked before that time, but written recipes do not exist for them. The earliest
recipes used strange words and strange measurements, but throughout this book the authors
have determined what was meant in each case. Indeed, some recipes of the modern era may
seem strange also. Each recipe, the ingredients, the oven heat, the method of mixing and the
finished product is well analysed.
 
The book looks at cakes; cakes baked for a particular season at that. The time portrayed at the
start of the book tells of a time when a Christmas cake was unknown and the pudding (that
was the cake of the time) was baked for Twelfth Day (or Twelfth Night). They were called a
Twelve Cake.
 
Over time, raising agents and methods changed, ingredients and their quality changed, ovens
improved, and the cake became a Christmas cake as the Twelfth Night celebration fell into
oblivion. Cooks were able to write recipes down, and noted adjustments for what ingredients
were available and affordable. They swapped their favourite recipes with friends, and passed
them onto to magazines, newspapers and community fund-raising cook books.
The authors have worked out plausible family trees for the most popular recipes and are able
to show how a recipe moved from town to town and country to country.
Hundreds of recipes were investigated to produce this book and each step along the way is
explained. Although the book contains quite a few recipes, it is not so much a recipe book as
a “who dunnit”, why and how. It makes for very interesting reading, whether you be a cook or
not.
 
Well recommended.
There is an autographed copy of this book in the Hampden Library.
Reviewer: Trevor
ZNF 641.86 LEA, Published by Otago University Press. ISBN 978 1 877578 19 9

Friday 23 March 2012

Three books by Sara Henderson - Review

The Sara Henderson Trilogy.
From Strength to Strength*
The Strength In Us All
Some of My Friends Have Tails

These are 3 separate books, the first two written to stand on their own.
Unfortunately, the 3rd isn’t, and would at times be incomprehensible to
readers who had not firstly spent time with the previous volumes.

Sara and her husband had a high-flying life in some pretty high-flying
situations (Charlie was a pilot) when they decided to buy Bullo River, a
(very) large station in the Northern Territory. There they raised animals, 3
daughters and debt. It wasn’t until Charlie died that Sara found out how
much debt. The story of how she succeeded in getting out of debt is the
subject of her first book “From Strength to Strength”*. For her efforts she
was named Australian Business Woman of the Year (1991), and this book
was named the Book of the Year (1993).

The second book “The Strength In Us All” tells of how she coped with the
Award and its aftermath, and at the same time, kept running the business
side of the property. One of her daughters took over the day-today details
of staff, stock, fences, vehicles, while Sara had a hectic regime of book-
writing, radio-telephone calls to bank managers, conferences, appearances
and interviews, all the time trying to reduce the horrendous debt Charlie
had accrued.

The final work is “Some of My Friends Have Tails”, and covers the animals
that kept Sara and her family company through her life, and some of the
human characters as well who had left an impression on her. It recounts
many a story from the outback and beyond, some humorous, some sad,
some ridiculous, some serious, all interesting involving the Hendersons.

All 3 works are extremely well written and easy to read. One wonders how
she manages to convey all the sensitivity and feeling in her writing whilst
retaining her chatty style.

These 3 books are now available in the Hampden Library. The second
book has information recently added to it about the author’s death in 2005,
the tributes paid to her, and the long-running legal case with one of her
daughters. (The second book also is not in as good condition as the others
and care is necessary in handling it.)

*(This book  also available on audio tape read by the author, but is not in the Hampden Library.)

Saturday 28 January 2012

Schola Cantorum in Hampden

I give you advance notice of a visit to Hampden of the Schola Cantorum of Christchurch and the Canterbury-Otago Consort of Viols.
They will spend the weekend of May 12th and 13th testing the acoustics of the Presbyterian Church in London Street, winding up the weekend with an all-in-together "Sing In".
This is a unique opportunity to hear a unique style of music, a style rarely heard in New Zealand.
The event will be themed on "John Hampden, - His Tymes, His Music".
Mr Ken Bridge will help fill in the weekend with a discourse on John Hampden, after whom our village is named. Was he a ratbag, or was he a patriot?

Any further information, contact Trevor - 4394 887, or Alison - 4394 824, or members of the Presbyterian Church and Community Cultural Centre Committee.

That Rhubarb Cake at the Markets........

A couple of years ago there was a morning held at the Hall at which rhubarb in all its manifestations was presented. Recipes for rhubarb items were made available.
A couple of months ago I came across yet another rhubarb recipe - a cake and/or dessert recipe. The cake has been very favourably received by people attending the market and sampling it.
From North and South Magazine, a magazine available at the Library, I give you:-
RHUBARB CUSTARD CAKE.
This cake is best made in 3 stages.
The Custard
2 Tsp custard powder
2 Tsp sugar
1 tsp butter
1¼ cups milk
Combine all in a pot and gently make the custard over a slow heat. It needs to be thick, and is then cooled before making the cake.
Rhubarb Mixture
250g of fresh (or frozen) rhubarb cut into 1 cm pieces
¼ cup sugar
1 Tsp flour
½ tsp cinnamon
Combine and let sit for 10 minutes
Cake Mixture
150 g butter
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs
1½ cups flour  (organic and stone ground for the perfectionist)
2 tsp baking powder
¾ cup milk
In a medium bowl cream butter and sugar until pale. Add eggs, flour, baking powder and milk, and gently fold together.

To assemble the cake, pour a quarter of the cake batter onto the bottom of a 21 cm buttered tin, and spoon half of the custard on top, then spoon half the rhubarb mixture on top of that. Pour over a third of what's left of the cake batter and top again with remaining custard, the rhubarb mixtures. Finish with the remaining cake batter being poured on.

Place in an oven pre-heated to 180º and bake for an hour. Turn oven off but leave cake in for a further 15 minutes to complete the cooking process. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before turning cake out.
Serve as a dessert with sweet yoghurt or cream, or slice and serve with tea or coffee.

K-KITS for kids

The Library now has in stock K-Kits which are a combination of a book and Cd.
There are 4 in stock and more can be made available if there is a demand for them.
The ones we have are for children of pre-school age.
Mum (or Dad) puts on the Cd, and as the story is being told, the book gives the illustrations for the child to follow.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Library Hours

The Usual Hours For The Library at the Hampden Community Hall Are::::::
Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm
Fridays, 2pm to 4pm, and
Saturdays, 10am to noon.
The Librarians look forward to your visit.

Thursday 24 November 2011

Book Review: How to Care For Your Poultry.

How to Care For Your Poultry, by Nadene Hall and Sue Clark.
This book is comprehensive - probably the most ‘all inclusive’ book on
chooks yet published. And what’s more, it’s published for New Zealand
readership.

Nadene Hall is the editor of NZ Lifestyle Block magazine, and 5 years
ago saw the need for a contributor to the magazine to write specifically
about poultry, and to discuss with readers the problems that inevitably
arise. A poultry enthusiast and breeder (since age 14), who has also
been a farm manager for Tegel (which meant supplying 13 000 000 -yes,
13 million birds per year to the industry), threw her hat into the ring.
Sue Clark was thus accepted by NZ Lifestyle Block magazine as their
resident expert.

The two of them have collaborated in this production and the result is
an easy to read but most interesting 145 page manual that will help you to
keep a healthy and productive flock of birds. It also explains the limited
number of different breeds available in this country. To know whether you
are going to get a show bird, a meat bird or an egg bird (and not very often
does a bird have more than one of these qualities) you must firstly find out
about what’s available, and this publication contains all the information you’ll
ever need - including how to care for, feed, shelter and obtain your flock.

There are plenty of photos and diagrams, but not all photos are captioned.
At times, the fact that 2 people have written the book shows through, and
minor contradictions arise. It contains a full index enabling specific information
to be quickly located within it.

The book, though originally issued as a supplement to NZ Lifestyle Block,
is a publication of Fairfax Media. It is currently available from neither web-site
(although Fairfax is currently selling an Australian edition of the publication). It
can probably be ordered from reputable booksellers, ($19.90) and, of course,
is available at the Hampden Library.

Another rabbit dish

Fabian Rabbit  (recipe contributed by Tracey)

1 rabbit                          ½ tsp salt & pepper
3 rashes bacon                1 Tsp worcester sauce
1 T brown sugar              2 Tsp flour
2 medium onions              1 Tsp vinegar
3 Tsp tomato sauce          1 c stock or water

Roll rabbit in seasoned flour.  Cut bacon, fry & remove from pan.
Fry rabbit in bacon fat.  Fry onions.  Place in casserole & pour in
remaining ingredients mixed together.  Bake at 300ºC** for 2.5 hours.
**(Note: suspect this is meant to be 300º F, meaning about 180º C.)

Enjoy!!

Pappardelle or Tagliatelle with Rabbit Sauce

1 rabbit                                2 rashes bacon, chopped up
1 onion, sliced                      some celery, cut in strips
clove of garlic                      ½ doz mushrooms
Fresh or dried thyme to taste (or majoram)
salt and pepper                    1 Tsp flour
½ tumbler red wine or marsala
lemon juice & 1 tsp grated lemon peel
½ to ¾ pint hot stock or water.

Cut all the meat of the rabbit off the bone and slice into small strips.
In a thick bottomed pan melt some bacon fat and fry the bacon.
Add onion, garlic and celery. When these have browned a little
put in the strips of rabbit, mushrooms and herbs, salt and pepper.
Let the rabbit simmer for a few minutes, then add the flour. When
this has thickened, add the wine or marsala. Let this reduce
a little, then add stock or water.
Cover the pan, cook on a moderate heat for a good hour. The
mixture should resemble a thick sauce.
Before serving add the lemon juice and peel.
Cook the pappardelle (wide ribbon noodles) in plenty of boiling
salted water for 10-15 minutes. When cooked, put in heated
serving dishes, stir in parmesan cheese, and add the rabbit sauce.

Sunday 20 November 2011

Rabbits in the Kitchen

At the September Market, Maurice Corish gave a demonstration of
how to cook rabbit; the rabbits used were prepared on site by Rick
Koehler. (Photos are at www.hamrakirag.blogspot.com)
Here are some rabbit recipes, including those demonstrated by Maurice:-

Rabbits in the Kitchen.
First, catch your rabbit! (Aunt Daisy, attr)
Some tips for the general cooking of rabbit.
Rabbit must be paunched immediately it is killed and eaten within 1 - 3 days.
     1    When cutting up a rabbit, remove legs and the saddle. The bony rib
cage can be used for stock. A 1kg rabbit should serve 2 people, more if you
have a rich sauce or several side dishes.
     2    Cook the legs and the saddle separately. Braise the meaty hind legs
in stock and aromatic seasonings and roast the saddle (loin) on its own
because the type of meat is different in both areas- like a chicken breast
and leg. Smaller, bonier forelegs can be cooked with the hind legs, or
reserved for soup.
     3    Use rabbit legs as a substitute for chicken or paella or other dishes.
     4    If you’re simply roasting rabbit, cook it to an internal temperature
of 150º, slightly lower than chicken. You want a bare hint of pink remaining
because rabbit is so lean it will readily dry out if overcooked.
     5    Strong seasonings will overpower the meat, so stick with aromatic
herbs such as thyme, tarragon and sage. Serve rabbit en brochette with
grilled vegetables and grains such as bulgur (cracked wheat) and polenta or pasta.
     6    Since rabbit is considered game by most people, try in in a ragout
with wild mushrooms.
     7    Though white wine is often used to deglaze the pan rabbit is sauteed
in, you can also use grappa (the fiery Italian clear brandy) and balsamic vinegar.
     8    Rabbit liver is unusually large and delicious. Sear it on both sides in
clarified butter, leaving it pink on the inside. Then add a few shallots to the pan
with some wine, port or brandy and cook a few minutes. Process with a touch
of cream, salt, pepper and a pinch of allspice or nutmeg for a quick paté.
     9    What wine?? Light reds such as Beaujolais and Pinot, and full-bodied
whites such as chardonnay compliment a rabbit meal. So also does a
gewürztraminer or white Rhone.

Roasted and Braised Rabbit In Thyme Jus
1  rabbit - cut up            Salt and pepper to taste
Flour                        4 Tsp canola oil
1 cup of equal amounts of chopped carrots, celery and shallots
1 cup of white wine               1 cup of rabbit or chicken stock
1 bay leaf                   4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Cooked pasta                
½ cup of chopped tomato and 2 sprigs of fresh thyme for garnish

Preheat oven to 200º
Season legs with salt and pepper, dust in flour and brown in half the oil in a
heavy skillet over moderate heat. Remove to a platter.
Add ½ the chopped vegetables to the skillet. Brown, and add ½ a cup of
wine, stock, bay leaf and thyme.
Add the cooked rabbit pieces, cover, and put in oven for 25-30 minutes.
Remove the forelegs after 15 minutes, cover and keep warm.
Meanwhile, season the saddle with salt and pepper and brown in the
remaining oil in another skillet over high heat. Remove saddle, add remains
of the vegetables to the pan, top with the saddle, and put in the oven for
about 6 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes in the pan.
Remove saddle, deglaze pan with ½ cup of wine and combine with the juices
from the pan the legs were cooked in. Cook down to ½ cup of liquid and strain
Put the cooked pasta in the middle of a platter and surround with the rabbit
pieces. Drizzle with the cooking juices and garnish.

Rabbit Tagine
2 rabbits, jointed           50 grams butter
2 onions, peeled and finely sliced     8 - 10 strands saffron
4 large cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced or 4 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp each ground cinnamon, ginger, paprika and black pepper
3 cups chicken stock              20 dried apricots
10 - 12 dried dates

Brown rabbit in the butter in a hot pan, and set aside.
Add the onions and cook over a moderately high heat until the onions
are lightly brown. Add the garlic, saffron, cinnamon and ginger and cook
a further 1 - 2 minutes until fragrant.
Stir in stock, apricots, dates and simmer for 2 mins before transferring
to a casserole. Sit the rabbit pieces on top and cover.
Cook at 160º for 45 minutes or until tender. Do not overcook as the
rabbit will be dry.
Season with salt and pepper. Serve over couscous.

Slow Cooker Rabbit
1 or 2 rabbits                    Salt and pepper to taste
1 c sour cream                    1 can creamy mushroom soup
¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce        1 med onion, chopped
 paprika

Cut rabbit into serving size pieces and sprinkle with salt, pepper and
paprika. Place in a slow cooker.
Mix the cream, mushroom soup, chopped onion and Worcestershire
sauce together. Pour over rabbit.
Cook on a low setting for 7 - 8 hours or until fork tender.

Rabbit Stew
400g rabbit tenderloin cut into bite-sizes pieces
1 onion, chopped             1 clove garlic, chopped 
1 Tsp olive oil                   5 rashes bacon, chopped
 400g mushroom, sliced        2 med potatoes, chopped
 400g frozen peas             1 tsp salt
½ tsp each thyme, black pepper and dried parsley
1 cup of red wine

Heat olive oil in medium sized pot. Add onions and garlic, cook on
high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rabbit pieces and
cook 5 - 8 minutes, or until cooked through.
Add salt, pepper and herbs; pour into the wine and cook for 5
minutes or until wine is reduced. Add potatoes and peas and place
the lid on the pot. Cook 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.


Fricassée of Rabbit
Main Dish: 1 rabbit; 1 onion; 6 peppercorns; salt; bouquet garni.
Sauce: 1½ oz butter; ¼ lb button mushrooms; 1 oz flour; ½ pint
liquid from the rabbit; ¼ pint cream: lemon juice; 1 tsp chopped parsley.
Garnish: Croutons of fried bread and bacon rolls
Method: Soak the rabbit in salted water for 12 hours to whiten the
flesh. Cut into joints and blanch to remove any strong flavours. Place the
rabbit in a pan with warm water to barely cover, bring to boil, and skim
well: add the onion, seasoning, and herbs; cover and simmer for about
an hour or until the meat is tender.
Strain off ½ the rabbit liquour for the sauce and keep the rabbit warm.
Melt ½  oz of the butter, add the mushrooms (halved or quartered),
and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the rest of the butter and, when melted, stir in the flour. Cook for
a further 2 minutes, then blend in the stock and cream. Stir until boiling.
Simmer for a few minutes and adjust the seasoning, then add the lemon
juice and parsley.
Place the rabbit in a serving dish, and garnish.

More of these recipes will be places here soon.

Monday 19 September 2011

DVDs HAMPDEN LIBRARY COLLECTION AS AT 19/09/11

  Free for members to borrow  
       
2012    SCIFI/DRAMA               
A SIMPLE QUESTION - THE STORY OF STRAW    DOCUMENTARY       
       
AIDA    OPERA               
ALL OF ME     COMEDY               
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN    DRAMA               
AMERICAN DREAMZ      DRAMA                 
AMERICAN GIGOLO    DRAMA               
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH    DOCUMENTARY               
AVANTI    COMEDY               
AVATAR    SCIFI/FANTASY               
BACK IN THE USSR     THRILLER                   
BEAT THE DEVIL                   
BETTER OFF DEAD    COMEDY/DRAMA               
BIG SLEEP    THE    MYSTERY               
BLACK GOLD    DOCUMENTARY               
BOURNE SUPREMACY  THE    THRILLER               
BOURNE ULTIMATUM  THE    THRILLER               
BRAHMS -PARIS 1996 CONCERT    CLASSICAL MUSIC           
   
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB                   
CALL OF THE WILD    ADVENTURE               
CAMPION    MYSTERY  TV SERIES               
CAR WASH    COMEDY/DRAMA               
CARVING THE FUTURE    DOCUMENTARY               
CASINO ROYALE    ADVENTURE               
CATS AND DOGS                   
CHARIOTS OF FIRE    DRAMA               
CLASSIC HOUR AT EMERALD HALL 1997    CLASSICAL MUSIC       
       
CLEARING    THE    DRAMA               
CRACKERJACK                   
CRIMSON TIDE    DRAMA               
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON    DRAMA               
CRUSH GEAR VOL 4                   
CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON    DRAMA               
CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL    ADVENTURE/COMEDY               
DAISY MILLER                   
DANCING WITH WOLVES    DRAMA               
D-DAY    WW11 DRAMA               
DIVORCE HIS/DIVORCE HERS    DRAMA               
ELIZABETH TOWN                   
FLYING LEATHERNECKS    WWII ADVENTURE               
FLYING TIGERS     WWII ADVENTURE                    
FLYNN    BIOPIC               
FUNERAL IN BERLIN    THRILLER               
GECKOS ROCK    NZ  DOCUMENTARY               
GOOD GERMAN    THE    WW11 THRILLER               
GOODBYE PORK PIE    NZ  COMEDY/DRAMA               
GREAT EXPECTATIONS    CLASSIC DRAMA               
HAMPDEN 130 YEARS    NZ DOCUMENTARY               
HEALING JOURNEYS    NZ  DOCUMENTARY               
HEARTBURN    COMEDY               
HELL TOWN                             
HIGH SOCIETY    MUSICAL/COMEDY               
HOW TO PROPOGATE    DOCUMENTARY               
IL DIVA LIVE    CLASSICAL MUSIC               
INDIAN COOKING    DOCUMENTARY               
INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU    COMEDY          
INSPECTOR GENERAL    THE    COMEDY               
INSPECTOR MORSE    TV MYSTERY SERIES               
JONATHAN CREEK   SERIES 2    TV MYSTERY SERIES               
JONATHAN CREEK   SERIES 3                   
KAREAREA    NZ DOCUMENTARY               
LADY KILLERS    THE             COMEDY/DRAMA               
LAST TIME I SAW PARIS     THE    DRAMA
LAST WALTZ THE          MUSICAL (ROCK)    
LAVENDER HILL MOB                COMEDY/DRAMA               
LEBRUN/MOZART 1991 CONCERT    CLASSICAL MUSIC               
LESSONS FROM A MELTING ICECAP    DOCUMENTARY               
LIBRARIAN      THE    TV ADVENTURE SERIES               
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE    COMEDY               
MACMASTERS   THE                   
MAGIC CHRISTIAN      THE    COMEDY               
MASTER AND COMMANDER    ADVENTURE               
MIDSOMER MURDERS      SERIES 3                   
MIDSOMER MURDERS    SERIES 5                       
MIDSOMER MURDERS  SERIES 2    TV MYSTERY SERIES  
MIDSOMER MURDERS  SERIES 4                   
MILLION POUND NOTE     THE    COMEDY/DRAMA               
MOUSE THAT ROARED      THE    COMEDY               
NATURAL PRIME                    
NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND    DOCUMENTARY               
ON GOLDEN POND    DRAMA               
ONCE WERE WARRIORS    NZ  DRAMA               
PENNY SERENADE                   
PERILS OF PAULINE    THE    DRAMA               
PHILADELPHUA EXPERIMENT   THE    SCI FI MYSTERY               
PIANO     THE    NZ  DRAMA               
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS    COMEDY               
PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN    ADVENTURE/FANTASY        
PORRIDGE THE MOVIE    COMEDY               
POWER ON ONE    DRAMA               
RADWALL                   
RAINBOW VALLEY FARM    DOCUMENTARY               
RETROACTIVE                   
RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER     THE    COMEDY               
ROBIN HOOD    ADVENTURE               
ROHU    NZ  DOCUMENTARY               
RUN LOLA RUN                   
SCARLETT PIMPERNEL     THE    HISTORICAL TV SERIES               
SHADOW     THE    THRILLER               
SLEEPING DOGS            NZ DRAMA               
SMASH PALACE             NZ  DRAMA               
SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO    ADVENTURE             
SOME LIKE IT HOT    COMEDY               
SUDDENLY                   
SUPERSIZE ME                   
SWEET SMELL OF  SUCCESS    DRAMA               
THERE'S A GIRL IN MY SOUP    COMEDY               
THEY CALL ME TRINITY    WESTERN               
THIRD MAN      THE    DRAMA               
TOMMY                   
VERY BEST OF BENNY HILL    COMEDY               
WALK THE LINE    DRAMA               
WATERSHIP DOWN    DRAMA               
WESTWARD HO                     
WILD LIFE SYMPHONY    MUSIC               
WIND DANCER                   
WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN      THE    NZ DRAMA               
ZOLTAN KOCSIS PIANO RECITAL 1998    CLASSICAL MUSIC              

Monday 12 September 2011

Book Review 'Music-A Joy For Life' reviewed by Ken Bridge

A Review of Hampden Library’s “Music. A Joy For Life” by Edward Heath.

When Edward Heath was Prime Minister of Britain, I thought he was a pompous politician. This autobiography proves he was much more than that.

He started to learn piano at 9 and became a chorister at the local church. The chorister’s pay was a penny ha’penny for each practice and tuppence ha’penny on Sundays. At the time, every leading composer, conductor, organist or music administrator in England received his basic grounding in church music.

He remembers as a boy he wondered what “pearl streams were, ‘......Through gates of pearl, streams in the countless host’. He learnt the organ. He found the exercises for right hand, left hand and the feet - separately
and together, gave more satisfaction than practising scales and arpeggios on the piano.

At grammar school he studied music theory, harmony and counterpoint; and the history of music. He started to conduct the school orchestra.

As a young boy he listened to music through earphones on a crystal set.

He attended morning rehearsals of the Proms; and concerts at The Queen’s Hall, The Albert Hall, Westminster Cathedral and The Roundhouse.

He was elected organ scholar at Balliol College, Oxford, with a fee of £80.0.0 per year.

His love of music continued his whole life, including concerts at No 10 Downing Street, and at Chequers.

The book is filled with references to composers: Mahler, Sibelius, Bach, Beethoven, Britten, Chopin, Brahms, Bruckner, Elgar, Grieg, Handel, Haydn,  Liszt, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Puccini, Rossini, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovitch, Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Vaughn Williams; and conductors: Malcolm Sargent, Henry Wood, Toscanini, Beecham, Barbirolli, von Karajan, Solti. Bernstein, Previn; and performers: Myra Hess, Kathleen Ferrier, Duke Ellington, Nureyev and Fonteyn, Curzon, Gina Bachauer, Isaac Stern, and Pinchas Zuckerman.

Edward Heath was President of the Oxford Union Debating Society, and began to conduct choirs and later orchestras. He recorded for EMI. He sang carols at Christmas, including in Germany in 1944 and 1945.

He recalls the first musical in Drury Lane in 1947 -‘Oklahoma!’ and the first visit to England of the Bolshoi Ballet in 1959.

The book contains sections on instruments of the orchestra, on conducting, on collecting records (with recommendations); notes on composers and a Glossary of Musical Terms.

Edward Heath believes music can work its miracle on each of us if we give it a chance. It can triumph over the conflict of mankind. Nobody can take it away from you.

Edward Heath’s “Music. A Joy For Life” has a wealth of memories and information that proves he is much, much more than a pompous politician.

Reviewed by Ken Bridge, Hampden.
“Music. A Joy For Life” by Edward Heath; Sidgewick & Jackson, 1976 ISBN 0 09 135231 2

Hampden Library information now freely available at anytime (if you have internet access).

Welcome to Alison's dream. 
Unfettered access to information from the Hampden Library. It's all here. It just takes to people to 'Post It' and for readers to read it.
Please notify Library staff of:-
Books,  (review, recommend)
URL links, (your own or anything appropriate to the local community)
Upcoming events,  (dancing, Tai Chi garden club meetings, markets)
DVDs,  (review, recommend)
Films,  (review, recommend, Film Appreciation Group)
Newspaper clippings,   (items of local interest, obits, WDC notices)
Happenings,   (church services, meetings drama)
or anything else you want the rest of the community to know about.

Sunday 11 September 2011

Book lunch - it happened!

A select few gathered together today to see if a book lunch once a month would be a good idea and to initiate all into the processes of writing blogs.  The blogspot will hopefully provide a book and DVD recommendation service to many who don't wish to come out and talk about books and DVDs.
We hope all library readers will eventually post recommendations about the books they're reading.

That's enough for today until I see if the [process really works!

Friday 9 September 2011

Other Hampden places of interest in blogs.

Our address: www.Hampden-Library.blogspot.com  It would be an idea to bookmark it.

Moeraki transmitter of Oamaru Heritage radio is on air 24 hours a day, on 107fm. It broadcasts a programme aimed at Moeraki and Hampden on Tuesday nights - 4pm to 10pm. See upcoming programmes at www.heritagewireless.blogspot.com

Hamraki Rag, the area's monthly newspaper puts all information that will appear in the next issue on its blog: www.hamrakirag.blogspot.com.

Oamaru weather up to 10 days in advance is available at http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/oamaru
Adverse weather warnings and storm warnings are available here too.


Our resident photographer in Hampden/Moeraki is Bent Jansen. As well as providing photos for the Rag and the Oamaru Mail, he takes photos around the town of anything that will catch his eye.
He posts photos of interest on his blog, which is at   http://www.hampdenphotos.blogspot.com/