Today in NZ history- 26/03/1896 - Brunner mine disaster kills 65At 9.30 a.m., an explosion tore through the Brunner mine in Westland’s Grey Valley. Two men sent underground to investigate were later found unconscious after inhaling black damp, a suffocating mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
- 27/03/1883 - The 'Sallies' come to New ZealandTwo English Salvation Army officers landed at Port Chalmers to set up a New Zealand branch of the Christian evangelical movement.
- 27/03/1984 - Trades' Hall bombingCaretaker and unionist Ernie Abbott was killed on 27 March 1984 when a bomb exploded inside Trades’ Hall on Wellington’s Vivian St.
- 28/03/1923 - Forest and Bird foundedThe New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society was formed at a meeting in Wellington called by a local conservation advocate, Captain Ernest ‘Val’ Sanderson.
- 26/03/1896 - Brunner mine disaster kills 65
Category Archives: History
Palpitating moments in Gore
I do love the Papers Past online collection of old New Zealand newspapers. Often, when using it for historical research, I find unrelated bonus stories that tickle my fancy. Today, in the 13 November 1900 edition of the Mataura Ensign, … Continue reading
A model sister
I accidentally came across this gem in the New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian, 23 June 1849, at the National Library’s marvellous Papers Past website. Just the thing for young women to send to their brothers to encourage their … Continue reading
National Library redevelopment has much to recommend it
(Published in the Dominion-Post, 20/4/09) As a long-time user of the National and Alexander Turnbull libraries with an affection for the place, I share some of former Turnbull chief librarian Jim Traue’s misgivings about the redevelopment. But not many. In … Continue reading
Posted in History, libraries, Museums, research libraries
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Samuel Pepys
Yesterday a colleague told me one of his daily joys was reading the diary of Samuel Pepys. Every day my colleague gets an email containing the ‘current’ diary entry (the correct month and day, but from three and a half … Continue reading
Martinborough Musings 