Menu
The Grand Loan Exhibition at Leeston, 1898
Description
NameThe Loan Exhibition at Leeston
DescriptionIn lieu of local museums, communities put on their own displays of old artefacts, as a means to raise funds. The first of these held in Leeston was the Grand Loan Exhibition on 7-8 June 1898. Organised by the Anglican vicar Rev. H. E. Ensor, along with a managing committee, the exhibition was held in the Town Hall, and contained scores of valued items borrowed from Leeston locals, who paid an entrance fee to visit the show.
These 'souvenirs and curios', including quilts, models, shells, coral, books, photographs and paintings were laid out in a 'Museum style' in cases around the hall edge and on a central table. Notably, many Māori taonga were on display, some from the collection of H. K. Taiaroa, who showed a 'Kiwi rug worn by Heke at the Treaty of Waitangi [signing], 'a flax rug belonging to the Ngati Mamae tribe', and 'one worn by Taiaroa at Kaiapoi in 1831'.
A long list of items was printed in the Ellesmere Guardian is fascinating in terms of understanding what the community thought to be of value and interest, much of it from their diverse countries of origin. These included:
A 100 year old silk shawl from Mrs. T. B. Howson.
'Māori greenstone tools' by Mr. S. Graham.
'A Māori axe found in Lake Ellesmere' by Mrs Warrington
'A Māori chisel' by Mr. Elder.
A whale rib found on Ninety Mile beach by Mr. Jas. Inwood.
Items from the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War, including a soldier's coat and German rifle from a battle at Port Arthur, by Mr. Coe.
The exhibition had an electric component, where music played on a gramophone (from Christchurch firm Milner and Thompson) in the nearby Orange Hall was transmitted via 'telephonic wires and microphones' into the Town Hall. A sewing machine and a fretsaw powered by electricity (or 'motive power') was also on display.
A magic lantern show was provided in the evening, by Mr. J. Barnett. On the following evening, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th June, a waxworks event was staged in the Orange Hall, with locals dressed in costume and acting out tableaux, with titles as 'You Dirty Boy', 'A Cup of Tea' and 'Dear Little Buttercup' which was well-attended: the newspaper reported that it was 'pretty and effective.' Overall the exhibition was deemed 'as great a success as its most ardent well-wishers could desire'. A few days later, the Ellesmere Guardian printed a poem about the exhibition: in particular about the 38 year old cake of soap on display!
Date7-8 June 1898
DescriptionIn lieu of local museums, communities put on their own displays of old artefacts, as a means to raise funds. The first of these held in Leeston was the Grand Loan Exhibition on 7-8 June 1898. Organised by the Anglican vicar Rev. H. E. Ensor, along with a managing committee, the exhibition was held in the Town Hall, and contained scores of valued items borrowed from Leeston locals, who paid an entrance fee to visit the show. These 'souvenirs and curios', including quilts, models, shells, coral, books, photographs and paintings were laid out in a 'Museum style' in cases around the hall edge and on a central table. Notably, many Māori taonga were on display, some from the collection of H. K. Taiaroa, who showed a 'Kiwi rug worn by Heke at the Treaty of Waitangi [signing], 'a flax rug belonging to the Ngati Mamae tribe', and 'one worn by Taiaroa at Kaiapoi in 1831'.
A long list of items was printed in the Ellesmere Guardian is fascinating in terms of understanding what the community thought to be of value and interest, much of it from their diverse countries of origin. These included:
A 100 year old silk shawl from Mrs. T. B. Howson.
'Māori greenstone tools' by Mr. S. Graham.
'A Māori axe found in Lake Ellesmere' by Mrs Warrington
'A Māori chisel' by Mr. Elder.
A whale rib found on Ninety Mile beach by Mr. Jas. Inwood.
Items from the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War, including a soldier's coat and German rifle from a battle at Port Arthur, by Mr. Coe.
The exhibition had an electric component, where music played on a gramophone (from Christchurch firm Milner and Thompson) in the nearby Orange Hall was transmitted via 'telephonic wires and microphones' into the Town Hall. A sewing machine and a fretsaw powered by electricity (or 'motive power') was also on display.
A magic lantern show was provided in the evening, by Mr. J. Barnett. On the following evening, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th June, a waxworks event was staged in the Orange Hall, with locals dressed in costume and acting out tableaux, with titles as 'You Dirty Boy', 'A Cup of Tea' and 'Dear Little Buttercup' which was well-attended: the newspaper reported that it was 'pretty and effective.' Overall the exhibition was deemed 'as great a success as its most ardent well-wishers could desire'. A few days later, the Ellesmere Guardian printed a poem about the exhibition: in particular about the 38 year old cake of soap on display!
Date7-8 June 1898Collection
Connections
PersonHōri Kerei TaiaroaPlaceKarumata LeestonMore InformationMay 1898 Newspaper advertisement of the Grand Loan exhibition at LeestonJune 1898 poem about the Loan Exhibition printed in the Ellesmere GuardianJune 1898 newspaper account of the preparations of the Loan Exhibtion in Leeston1903 Information about Rev. H. E. EnsorJune 1898 newspaper account of the Loan Exhibition in Leeston
PlaceKarumata LeestonMore InformationMay 1898 Newspaper advertisement of the Grand Loan exhibition at LeestonJune 1898 poem about the Loan Exhibition printed in the Ellesmere GuardianJune 1898 newspaper account of the preparations of the Loan Exhibtion in Leeston1903 Information about Rev. H. E. EnsorJune 1898 newspaper account of the Loan Exhibition in LeestonAttribution
Researched BySarah DavyWritten BySarah Davy
Written BySarah DavyThe Grand Loan Exhibition at Leeston, 1898 (7-8 June 1898). Selwyn Stories, accessed 20/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6097