"Valuable but stodgy"
There are around 20,000 people profiled in
these texts, many of whom have biographical notes and photographs providing
a snapshot of their activities and achievements.
ONLINE NZETC -
Vol. # Provincial District Year published Website lookup No. pages
Vol. 1 Wellington 1897 General Index 1525
Vol. 2 Auckland 1902 1024
Vol. 3 Canterbury Index 1903 1116
Vol. 4 Otago and Southland 1905 City of Dunedin 1114
Vol. 5 Nelson, Marlborough and Westland 1906 General Index 615
Vol. 6 Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Wellington 1908 767
Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Canterbury edition. Vol. 3 was published by the Cyclopedia Company at 153 Manchester Street, Christchurch in 1903 and printed by Horace J. Weeks, Ltd, Christchurch. Part 4 covers South Canterbury. The Timaru section is 62 pages and the total area from the Rangitata to Waimate is covered in 213 pages. The South Canterbury section is preceded by the Mid Canterbury section. A must see for South Canterbury research. Images online.
Indexes: Temuka Point Waimate Districts s. of Timaru Peel Ft., Rangitara & Sutherlands
Page #s District 866 - Rangitata 868 - Rangitata Island 869 - Orton - rural district 7 miles east and below the Rangitata railway station 870-871 Orari 872-884 Geraldine 885-886 Woodbury 887-888 Peel Forest 889-894 Winchester 894-896 Hilton 896-897 Kakahu 898-899 Gapes Valley 899-917 Temuka 918 Ohape 919 Milford 920-924 Waitohi 924 Arowhenua 924-927 Seadown 928-929 Washdyke 929-931 Levels 932 Kerrytown 932-939 Pleasant Point 939 Opihi 940-942 Totara Valley 942-943 Hazelburn 943-944 Sutherlands 945-946 Cave 946-950 Albury 950-951 Cricklewood 951-954 Mackenzie Country 954-959 Fairlie 960 Silverstream 960-962 Burke's Pass 963-964 Tekapo 965 Pukaki
Out lying districts south of
Timaru
Index
and
links for pages 992-993 1027-1039 1045-1061
1080-1104 plus supplementary (opens in a new window)
966- Timaru index 1027 - Wai-iti; Beaconsfield (Otipua) 1030 - Gleniti 1031 - Claremont 1032 - Fairview 1035 - Saltwater Creek 1036 - Adair; Salisbury 1037 - Kingsdown 1039 - St. Andrews 1045 - Southburn 1046 - Pareora 1049 - Lyalldale 1050 - Esk Valley 1051 - Otaio 1053 - Makikihi 1055 - Hunter 1056 - Hook 1059 - Studholme 1062 - 1079 Waimate 1080 - Waituna 1081 - Arno 1082 - Waihoa Forks 1083 - Waihao Downs 1085 - Willowbridge 1088 - Morven 1096 - Glenavy 1099 - Redcliff; Hakataramea 1102 - Hakataramea Valley 1111 - Supplementary 1112 - 1116 Supplementary continued - late entries and corrections
Cyclopedia of New Zealand was published in six volumes between 1897-1908 by the Cyclopedia Company, Christchurch and contains historical and biographical facts and photographs of local identities, usually men, supplied by individuals or the families of those mentioned, who paid a 5 pound fee to be included. The aim at the time was to provide subscribers with information on the districts and "reconstruct from its pages the social and public life and industrial activity of the first half century of a province." i.e. colonisation, growth, present condition (at the turn of the century) and prospective future (always glowing!) The books are a rich resource of information. The book not only covers various regional areas but has sections on, Professions and Trades, Societies, Orders and Public Institutions. The 9" - 12" tall, a little unwieldy, volumes contain a section at the rear entitled, Supplementary, which covers late entries categorised into the various districts and an errata.
Often the ship of arrival is mentioned, who they married and sometimes personal photo or a family group photo. The volumes give a brief description of each community with good b/w photographs of a feature of the town e.g. the main street, business, hotel or homestead or prized livestock. Photographers. Many libraries have the original volumes or the microfiche. There is another similar but smaller work 1898 Industries of New Zealand.
The volumes are a wonderful resource but how accurate are these first hand account pen portraits?
It is essential to examine source material and not rely on published sources. The information given should be verified for accuracy and be treated as a secondary source as it came from the submitter. The identities usually wrote the entries themselves for inclusion and often recalled events and dates from memory and guessed when they couldn't remember and downplayed their humble origins. They used the opportunity to 'promote' themselves in a better light than some perhaps deserved and some of their memories were pretty selective. Other worthy people may have been omitted because they chose not to subscribe or because they chose not to submit a biography. The subjects were prominent citizens who could afford to pay to be listed, so excludes almost all women and many poorer men. Vol.3, the Canterbury one, is not always accurate about the early days but the station accounts were supplied by the contemporary owners when it was compiled about 1900 and it should be reliable from about 1875 onward. Individuals who would not or could not pay the fee required to feature in The Cyclopedia are not included. There are few entries for women, Maori or non-European settlers.
The pen the portraits are invariably flattering: in the publishers' words, the compilers have recognised the advisability of representing the various subjects of notice as they individually appeared to themselves and their friends, in their best and happiest moments, rather than as they might have appeared to their enemies, at their worst. Similarly, many of the business entries are unashamedly promotional business owners were, effectively, buying advertising for their products and services. The information published about two colonist certainly has retained elements of accuracy, there is some information which is neither accurate nor factual and if the ancestor concerned supplied the information then all I can say is that they chose not to let the truth get in the way of a good story!
Nearly all published biographical stories garnish the truth and those that are published during the lifetime of the subject, whether written by the subject or not, are influenced by the subject's desire to be presented in the best possible light. So the positive is enhanced and the negative omitted. These deficiencies are not confined to the NZ Cyclopedia. If 'great' things are being said about an individual, there's a chance it'll be backed up by local newspapers; club & society memberships and minutes; trade directories &c. Even place of birth mentioned in such publications can be misleading if the individual prefers it not to be known just where he really was born! Another resource we are all too inclined to believe without question is said common and garden Trade Directory. Often names remained in it long after the individual was dead. Often the next generation maintaining it as a business name.I haven't been able to find some of their names on the passenger lists but maybe they came out as cabin passengers or crew or the year they came out is off by a year or two. Watch out for spelling of place names and ship's names and the year of arrival for ship's can be out by a year or so. One colonist did not even correctly name the ship which brought him from Liverpool to Australia. He came free, but this was a common way used by freed convicts endeavouring to hide their past. He left out the details of why he left Sydney for Nelson.
The information they provided was as accurate as memory and honesty permitted.
The Cyclopedia of Otago & Southland. Edited by Paul Sorrell. A collection of paid subscriber entries and photographs, topical essays and descriptive articles. Publisher: Dunedin City Council, 1999. 2 v. 1216 pp Published as part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Otago & Southland. Includes index of subscribers.
Volume One: Wellington Provincial District-which weighs 5.1 kilograms in hard copy-was produced in 1897.
WOMEN
Women's first names were generally not recorded e.g. the daughter of Mr. .... and has a family of.... ...daughters and ....sons so helpful in working out how many children. A married woman was always known by her husband's name - i.e. Mrs John Leishman. She would revert to her own name when she was widowed - Mrs Margaret Leishman and her maiden name, Smith, not mentioned even in her own obituary. It was considered bad form to address her otherwise, and many women would be offended if you did. There are some autobiographies of professional women e.g. schoolteachers. It was disappointing to read the women were not named by their first name but sometimes maiden names are mentioned. Few women names were included in the indexes of the six volumes but a index on four microfiche has been published Women Named in Cyclopedia of New Zealand compiled by Madelaine Morton and mentions their maiden names. Arranged by province and indexed alphabetically by name. A NZGS publication.
MILITARY
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Canterbury edition has a 14-page section starting on page 132 dedicated to Military. This section deals with the various Militia and Battalions present in the Canterbury area from the time of Canterbury's founding in 1850 till when the Cyclopedia was printed in 1903. There are also a number of photographs of the various officers associated with these militia and battalions.
Various items pertaining to South Canterbury are found the within Military section. e.g.
Page 137 - 1st Battalion South Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Major John Turnbull
Capt. G P Wood
Capt. G A M Buckley (photo)
Page 142 - South Canterbury Infantry Battalion
Lieut. Colonel Walter Montegur Moore
Lieut. Colonel Jowsey CMG (photo)
Capt. Sidney Wolf (photo)
Capt. Edward Cutten
Ven. Archdeacon Harper (Hon. Chaplain)
Capt. John Lillie Gillies (photo)
Capt. E Richardson
Page 144
Capt. Ernest Thomas (photo)
Capt. Herbert Clifford Barclay;
Capt. Kenneth MacKenzie (photo)
Lieutenant J R Montgomery
Lawyers
Page
990
James Hay
Miles Jefferson Knubley
Joseph Harold Moore
Perry, Perry and Kinnerney
Smithson and Raymond
Tripp and Rolleston
John William White
Medical
Page
991
Hedley Vicars Drew
Richard Bowen Hogg
Robert Stuart Reid
Charles Ernest Thomas
Dental
Page
991
Bartram Percy Ginders
Norman Kershaw Cox
[University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, graduated 1890]
Norman Cox in Timaru, acted as Honorary Dentist for the public hospital from
1896 to 1909
Cuthbert Henry Gresson
William Gunn
Thomas Griffiths Rowley
John Charles Scott
Chemists
Page
991
William Gunn
John Crosfield Oddie
Where to obtain the Cyclopedia?
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand volumes are available in the reference
section at many
libraries around New Zealand and Australia in hardcopy or microfiche and
online.
Local library
The Timaru District Library does hold all six volumes including the the Canterbury edition of the Cyclopedia of New Zealand. It is held the Stack room and if you ask at the Help Desk in the adult area the staff will get if for you. Reference Only.
South Canterbury Genealogy has as all the volumes in their library at the S. Cant. museum
The Waimate Museum has an extensive collection of South Canterbury books including the Cyclopedia of New Zealand series. Aotearoa New Zealand Centre located at the Central City Library Christchurch has a copy of the Canterbury edition as does the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.
Mosgiel Library has the Canterbury and the Otago/Southland volumes for reference only.
The Lincoln University, Masterton District Library, New Plymouth and the Waikato Museum
Hamilton City Libraries have all six volumes. Many libraries will have the entire series.
Dunedin Public Library has all six volumes in the McNab Room, 3rd floor.
The Kaikoura Museum has the Canterbury volume.
The Christchurch Central Library- Reference section
Christchurch Polytechnic Inst of Tech
"My father picked them up for me one at a time at Morton's Auction house in Timaru when they came up for sale, years ago. The Canterbury volume is the only one that has been rebound." TW, B.C.
Bookfinder The books can still be purchased through used bookstores or second hand book stores may be able to order the book. $NZ150 - $350 approximately.
Another option is to buy the microfiche or CD.
On 71 microfiche (1987) from BAB Microfilming
MacBeth's Genealogical Services has each edition of Cyclopedia on fiche
Gould Book Stores
The NZSG Strays & More Collection included:
1902 Vol. 2. Auckland
1908 Vol. 6. Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and Wellington Provincial Districts.
All True, below:
I inherited this Cyclopedia, originally
owned by one of my great-grandfathers, thus has been in the family for a few
years!
It is well used, well loved, and in a rather "battered" condition.
Links
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Fifty Gold Rush Immigrants wayback
Wellington printing history
1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
"Cyclops!" - 'The Cyclopedia of New Zealand'
"All biographical dictionaries face the problem of selection. The 'Cyclopedia of New Zealand' had a simple solution in that those who wished to appear in its pages had to pay for the privilege, as well as provide information about themselves. Although this may mean critical information is usually suppressed, such volumes are of value in that entries are wide ranging and often include information not available elsewhere."
