News from First Church

Weekly Sunday gatherings are taking place in our hall from till the end of September. The cosier relaxed setting works very well and helps us to know one another better and encourages discussion as we think about what we read, sing and pray for, sharing our thoughts and experiences – and there is laughter too!

Anyone is welcome to join us – the café opens at 10am on Sunday mornings with morning tea to start, and a friendly greeting.  So different from “church” of a generation ago which so many no longer find attractive or helpful.

We now see our hall as a valuable asset for more regular use in 2020’s, and have undertaken long overdue improvements to it– rewiring and upgrading of heaters, with plans to attend to some necessary repiling and interior and exterior painting. 

Of course our well-loved and respectfully maintained historic church building will always be an appropriate setting on many occasions, and stands as an attractive statement on the corner of Jellicoe and Weld Streets.

First Church will be celebrating 150 years in 2021, and we are looking for reminiscences and old photos from past years to help us remember and celebrate “its story”. … Continue Reading

Petition presented

Glenys Hansen speaks to the petition before handing it to CEO Harry Wilson and Councillor Pam Colenso.

The petition with 300 signatures in support of librarian Shirley Nightingale was presented by Glenys Hansen and Alex Wall to the South Wairarapa Council CEO Harry Wilson and Councillor Pam Colenso.

Statements were issued by both the Council and petitioners.

Glenys Hansen’s statement:

Thank you  to everyone who signed  this petition.

We all agree that Shirley is a woman who made the library a place that was a social hub. It was more than books in, books out. We miss her kindness, quirkiness, sense of fun and her knowing us as people..

I am sure Shirley would like us to say a big thank you. 

This petition was only available in four places, three cafes and the BP Service Station and even then not placed in obvious positions. So therefore these signatures represent only a small number of those who made their opinion known. I am sure that if we had taken it door to door the result would have surprised even us. … Continue Reading

Maree’s musings collecting is cool

Donald, one of the many frogs.

 What is it about collecting stuff? I’d challenge my readers to identify a single person who doesn’t have a collection of anything; when you think about it, we’re all doing it, even if only to a small extent. I’m as ‘guilty’ as anybody, although because collecting is universal, guilt shouldn’t really feature. However, with planning on moving house high on the agenda; the thought of transporting and having a new ‘happy space’ for my collections is close to the top of the list.

At least my most treasured stash: frogs (no sniggering, please) – I have nearly 200 – don’t take up much room and none is alive. I should be able to pack them away in unmarked cardboard boxes and avoid the raised eyebrows of the removal chaps, although they’re likely to have seen a lot worse and are paid to be discreet. 

Recently I sorted my ‘library’, my record collection, and the plethora of potplants; all pretty respectable. Whew! I found out recently that the famous tidy-up lady, Marie Kondo, dictates that one should have fewer than 30 books. Surely no-one can survive with that. But, she adds, ‘fewer than 30 cereal bowls.’ Seriously .. I fail to see the connection and so I can happily ignore her rules. Also in a recent New Scientist (refer back to my library), I read about James Wong, a botanist trained at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, no less. He lives in a tiny London flat with more than 500 houseplants. So I’m not alone.  … Continue Reading

Know your town MacGregor’s Glasgow House

Alec MacGregor erected the building now know as Kitchener’s in 1906. Alec was born in Glasgow in 1872. He entered the fabric trade learning weaving, spinning and  dyeing both cotton and wool fabrics. Experiencing continuing poor health he decided in 1902 to come to New Zealand to help improve it. 

He first set up a drapery business in Masterton. Then later moved to Martinborough where he erected Glasgow House in Kitchener Street, a building with four large rooms and large plate glass windows in the front. The front rooms were the shop and office with the back given to dressmaking and millinery.

A wide range of products were on offer, advertised as : drapery, millinery, men’s wear, mercery, boots and shoes. Along with running his business Alec served as secretary of the Waihenga Lodge and was a member of the Order of Druids. 

The  business was later sold to John Hodge who changed the name to The Top Hat and ran it as a tailoring made to measure business. This was eventually on sold to Bill Hitchings who returned it back to general drapery under the name Martinborough Drapery House.  … Continue Reading