World class guitarist to return

World Class Jazz Guitarist Ashton Sellars is returning to Martinborough for a show at The Village Cafe in December.

“Ashton is an outstanding talent,” says Jazz in Martinborough’s Music Director Lee Quayle.  “He’s played at a couple of our festivals and at a solo gig previously and always draws a crowd.  Those who’ve heard him before will want to see him again, and if you haven’t, you must!” added Lee.  Ashton will be playing as a part of a guest quartet.

Ashton graduated with a high level masters in Jazz Guitar from the Conservatory Van Amsterdam in 2018 and is back in NZ to share what he’s learnt and how he’s developed as a jazz guitarist.  He is returning to New Zealand for the first time in almost 3 years.

“I would love to share with listeners what I have discovered, learnt and achieved during this time away from home, studying and playing around Europe,” says Ashton. … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

It’s hard to believe it’s December already. Where has 2018 gone? And where is summer? Hopefully it’s just around the corner, but if the last few weeks of rain are anything to go by, it leaves you wondering what the summer holds. It’s strange to think that this time last year, we were in drought.

Our rivers are wonderful places to visit and enjoy but when we receive extreme rain, as we did, it can cause us a few problems. We are very grateful to the team at Fulton Hogan who were out the other night in the cold and wet managing the traffic at the Waihenga Bridge to ensure drivers stayed safe. I hope people were not too inconvenienced by the flooding. From what I saw on social media, people did a great looking after each other and sharing road closure updates. It showed the wonderful community spirit that exists here in Martinborough. In these situations, at the Council, we do our best to share road closure information during office hours. NZTA takes the lead to provide the most authoritative, up-to-date information on road closures around the clock. … Continue Reading

It’s Quiz time!

• Who started The Crippled Children’s Society in New Zealand?
• Who built the first Karitane Hospital?
• Who organised the first mobile TB clinic?
• Who started Milk in Schools?
• Who began the first Health Camps?
• Who brought Defensive Driving Courses to New Zealand?
• Who built the first women’s public toilet facility in New Zealand??
• Who began the National Kidney Foundation
• Who began the Riding for Disabled Association
• Who began the Asthma Society
• Who began the National Children’s Health Research Foundation?

If you answered ‘Rotary’ to each of these questions, you would be right.

But wait, there’s more! … Continue Reading

Know your town

The Anglican Church

On the  J D Bair 1870 plan of Waihinga four section were set aside for churches section 18 Catholic, 28 Scottish, 37 English and 40 Wesleyan. However only the Presbyterians  took up the offer. The Anglican opted for a section in the new town of Martinborough, as did the Catholics, the Wesleyans did not come in numbers but did build a church in Featherston.

At first the Anglicans gathered for worship at Mr Bright’s Weld Street forge  shed. When the new school was opened in 1875 they used this for their monthly, then fortnightly, Service. It is recorded that in 1881 the Minister asked permission to ring the school bell a quarter of an hour before the 3.30pm Service to remind his parishioner to hurry along.

To begin with Martinborough was a part of the Greytown parish and it was through this that in 1882 the Bishop made a grant of thirty pounds ( 2018 = $5,312 ) towards  building a church in Martinborough. A building committee comprising the Rev H White, J Badland and  T F Evans was formed and tenders called. The tenders were opened at Mr Evans’ shop with the W Benton’s tender of  one hundred and eighty five pounds ( 2018 = $32,415) being accepted. The church was completed in 1883 ad officially consecrated in 1885, although still as an outpost of Greytown. … Continue Reading