Houghton Valley Email Newsletter
6 October, 2011
EVENTS CALENDAR
Houghton Valley Progressive Association Meeting: This Sunday at 4 pm in the Community Hall.
October 15, TRiG Working Bee: “The Te Raekaihau Restoration Group (TRiG) met on last Saturday afternoon (Oct 1) and had a very enjoyable 3 hours cutting, pruning and forming about half the Peace Grove Track, which will loop around below the Alice Kreb Cottage. At the next Working Bee on October 15, (Saturday 2 – 5 pm) we will work on the track from the cottage end and meet up in the middle.” For more details contact Jenny.
October 31, deadline for the Community Preparedness Grant: Several locals are keen to put an application in. If you have any ideas of community based events that you think would benefit us all, let me know.
November 12, message from Sarah (the Houghton Valley School Fair Coordinator): “Donations needed! The fair is on 12 November, and we are in urgent need of donations of clean clothes, toys and books to sell at the Fair. Sorry, we are not doing White Elephant this year because of lack of space. The money raised from the Fair will go towards the building of a new classroom, which is urgently needed! I’m happy to come and pick up any donations. Many thanks.”
Houghton Bay History: In the 186’s and 70s the whole of Houghton Bay was part of a sheep farm, owned by Alexander Sutherland (aka Sutherland Rd). The following is another story told by his grandson, about Alex’s daughters:
“A few [Maori] families lived at Houghton Bay; and at the head of the valley of Houghton Bay, near the foot of Mt Albert, was another camp situated in a clearing surrounded by beautiful native forest.” Sutherland A. (1947), ‘Sutherlands of Ngaipu’, Pub: A.H.Reed & A.W. Reed, Wgtn NZ.
There is a photo album being passed around the area which is full of early Houghton Bay photographs. If you would like to see it, let me know and I will drop it off.
Regards, Grant