The Library Book: A Guide to the Goings On at your Library – August/September 2021

August is Family History Month

Above photo and cover image

by Penelope Coleman

Every August, we like to spotlight the awesome resources Tauranga City Libraries offers genealogists with a series of lectures and workshops held by our heritage specialists, local experts and our wonderful volunteers.

Greerton and Tauranga Libraries will be hosting Ancestry Library Edition introductory sessions where you can learn tips for effective searching on Ancestry Library Edition, including records that are available in the UK and New Zealand.

Pāpāmoa Library hosts the main event this year with a morning of family history discovery featuring two special guest speakers: Elinor Rawlings and Morag Hughson.

Other special events include a two-day oral history workshop at Greerton Library, a special drop-in genealogy help session at Tauranga Library – which will feature presentations on a number of useful resources and one-on-one assistance from our genealogy experts – and even a family tree making session for families.

Elinor will share her own story while giving a broad introduction to the "where to go and what to do" of family history research. This session will introduce new people to the world of family history and genealogy research, offering a quick look at the difference between the two concepts and a peek at the range of places that are free to research and are a great place to start.

Morag will go in-depth on the best ways to discover more about your Scottish ancestry, with prudent advice for getting the best bang for your buck when researching online.

To see the full programme of events and to book your spot, visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz  Family History Talks at Pāpāmoa Library Saturday, 14 August from 10am-12noon Pāpāmoa Library

The BIG Issue!

In every edition of The Library Book we ask our staff members to opine on the must-ask questions that weigh heavily on every book lover's mind. This month, we dreamt up a whopping three questions and the poll results sure are something!

First up, we looked to pit two generations of book lover against each other by selecting two classic fantasy series’ for head-to-head battle: The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones. It wasn’t close though, with The Lord of the Rings brutally trampling A Game of Thrones like an ent trampling an orc!

The Lord of the Rings

76%

The third and final contest was questionable from the start, but after hours of brainstorming these here poll questions we were just too fatigued and good decision making abandoned us. The Harry Potter series vs. the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series … what were we thinking? As you can see below, it was not close. In fact, there was just one vote cast for poor ol' Percy Jackson!

Harry Potter

Percy Jackson

95%

5%

A Game of Thrones

24%

The results of our next poll question are a little bit closer … in fact, it’s really close—we have our first tie! We thought that Asterix vs. Tintin might be a good match up and we were right; after a healthy number of votes they could not be separated.

Interestingly, the cowardly person writing this very article could have cast the winning vote for either series but abstained from voting on this one because he loves them both too much!

A tie feels right.

Asterix

Tintin

50%

50%

Curiously, it was the Harry Potter vs. Percy Jackson competition which attracted the least number of votes, so there may just be a bit of apathy towards J. K. Rowling’s famous creation. This gets us wondering about the potential of a Harry Potter vs. The Lord of the Rings championship faceoff— watch this space!

Guinness Brothers and the Tauranga Bond Store

Above: Tauranga City Libraries Image 99-1157: Guinness Bros building on The Strand, Tauranga, c. 1920.

From Tauranga City Libraries archives In our archives, there is a collection that has largely been unheeded since it was donated back in 1975.

However, very recently, it has been wheeled out to be examined in the light of day, catalogued and digitised and is proving to be a very intriguing find. It is named ‘Guinness Brothers’ after the Tauranga business and its owners who have been an important part of the Bay of Plenty community from 1908.

This collection contains a wealth of material dating back to 1882 and largely relates to the building and functioning of the Tauranga Bond Store at No. 1 The Strand. There are handwritten notes, ration cards, official manuscripts, transcripts, deeds and photographs, which were cared for and stored for many years by the Tauranga Bond Store’s original owner, James Mann and subsequent owners, the Guinness Brothers. As such, it offers a glimpse of business life in Tauranga during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.

If you take a stroll to the northern end of the The Strand as far as you can go, you will come accross the old Bond Store, a Heritage

New Zealand listed building that has stood the test of time. The building itself, has had many structural and functional changes since 1882, but the character still can be seen, both inside and out, which has been preserved through the years and it has certainly earnt its way into Tauranga’s history.

The Tauranga Bond Store was originally built for Englishman James Alexander Mann in 1883 as a warehouse for storing imported goods. Bond stores were basically warehouses, where imported goods were held under customs’ control until duties were paid. It was well-situated near the waterfront and the two main wharves, which were the main entry place for goods arriving in Tauranga by sea. For Mann’s business, the goods would come in from the harbour into the store under lock and key, until the people who imported the goods into the country paid the import tax on it to the government.

James Mann sold the business in 1908 to Guinness Brothers. The Guinness Brothers Limited’s original directors were brothers Sidney Oswald Guinness and John (Jack) Arthur Daniel Guinness, along with

their mother Jessie and step-father John Green.

The brothers are indeed descendants of Arthur Guinness, founder of the famous stout brewery at St James’s Gate in Dublin. Jack and Sid’s grandfather, Francis Hart Vicesimus Guinness, was the grandson of Arthur Guinness and after a number of years living in India, he brought his family out to New Zealand to start a new life in 1852. Francis’s fourth son, Frank Hart Guinness, met and married Jessie Bannatyne, whose family was in the hotel business in Otago. Together, they were the licensees of several Dunedin Hotels.

Frank died aged 44 at the Douglas Hotel in Dunedin, leaving wife Jessie and seven children.

She remarried John George Green and they had one son, George Leslie Green 1902. The family moved to Christchurch in 1903 where they were again in the hotel business and by 1908 they were on the move again. They left Christchurch on the vessel 'Ellingmite' en route to Tauranga with the youngest six members of the family.

With the boys’ future in mind, Jack being 24 years and Sid 22 years, Mr Green purchased a business from Mr J.A. Mann that consisted of the direct importing business, a wholesale wine and spirit licence, farm machinery and a retail store selling general hardware, groceries and petrol.

As importers, producers and stockists of agricultural equipment, Guinness Bros. played an essential role in the development of the Bay of Plenty's agricultural industry. They did considerable business in the backblocks, extending from east of Opotiki to west of Waihi.

They adapted well to trends, opportunities and the changing needs of their community, and weathered the highs and lows, such as two World Wars (Guinness men were killed in both wars, including younger brother Cecil who worked as a storeman at Guinness Bros.).

The business and its owners were an important part of the community and were prominent in Tauranga’s recreational and social scenes. They were also influential in civic matters, as can be witnessed by a letter in the archive collection dated 25 February 1909: Ams 12/3/3 – Department of Trade and Customs Wellington (top right).

Accordingly in the early part of 1909, the Government was contemplating closing the Port of Tauranga because of the drastic drop in revenue.

A direct approach by Guinness Brothers to the Minister of Trade and Customs urging that Tauranga continue as a Customs Port, elicited a favourable reply from the Government and the

Above: Tauranga City Library Archive Collection – Ams 12

Port continued its trade. The fortunes of the port and of the warehouse business changed for the better, as by 1914 nearly 20,000 tonnes of imports were landed at Tauranga, and 466 tonnes exported.

As Mann & Co. and as Guinness Bros. the Bond Store played a major role in the local economy for Tauranga and for farmers in the surrounding districts. As a bonded warehouse the building played an important role in enabling access to many imported goods for the development of Tauranga as a borough and a city.

Guinness Brothers businesses remained in the Bond Store for 70 years, plus a further eight years just for their wine and spirits business. When occupied by Guinness Brothers the Bond Store was a familiar landmark and popular retail outlet, becoming one of Western Bay of Plenty’s iconic and leading firms.  Don't miss the upcoming Past & Curious talk 'Actions for Peace' Wednesday, 4 August from 1.15pm at Tauranga Library

Regular Events at Tauranga City Libraries Children & Teens

Book Chat On the 1st Thursday of each month 10.30am-11.30am

Tamariki me nga Rangatahi

Pāpāmoa Library

Kids Book Squad On the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 3.30-4.30pm

On the 3rd Monday of each month 10.30am-11.30am Greerton Library

Tauranga Library

Greerton Draw Squad On the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month 3.30-4.30pm

iti Pounamu (Toddler Time) Tuesdays at 10.30am

Greerton Library

Wednesdays at 10.30am

Registration required.

Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz

Mauao Draw Squad On the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 3.30-4.30pm

Tauranga Library Pāpāmoa Library

Wednesdays at 10.30am Greerton Library

On the 3rd Wednesday of each month 10.30-11.30am and 5.30-6.30pm Tauranga Library

On the 4th Tuesday of each month 10am-11am Mount Maunganui Library

Thursdays at 9.30am and 10.30am Mount Maunganui Library

Mount Maunganui Library Registration required.

Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz

Adults Pakeke Adult Colouring Clubs On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 10.30-11.30am Tauranga Library

On the 3rd Thursday of the month 10.30-11.30am The Hang Out (for teens) On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month 4-5pm Pāpāmoa Library

Pāpāmoa Library

CV Typing Sessions Days and times vary Tauranga, Greerton, Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui Libraries Registration required.

Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz or call 07 577 7177

For more information visit: library.tauranga.govt.nz/whats-on Friends of the Library General Meeting On the 4th Thursday of the month 10am Location varies

Genealogy at the Library On the 2nd Tuesday of the month 10am–12noon

Knit & Knatter Tuesdays 1pm

Greerton Library

Wednesdays 1pm

Pāpāmoa Library

Wednesdays 2pm

Mount Maunganui Library

Registration required.

Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz

JP Services Tuesdays 11am-1pm

Wednesdays 10am-12noon Pāpāmoa Library

Fridays 12noon-2pm Tauranga Library

11.30am-1.30pm Mount Maunganui Library

2-4pm Greerton Library

Wednesdays (times vary) Mount Maunganui Library Thursdays (times vary)

Pāpāmoa Library

Pāpāmoa Library

Greerton Library

Tauranga Library

Fridays (times vary)

On the 4th Friday of the month 10am-12 noon

2.30-4.30pm

Individual Lessons Mondays (times vary)

Greerton Library

Tauranga Library

Mount Maunganui Library

Digital Learning Ako Hangarau

The Past & the Curious On the 1st Wednesday of the month 1:15-2pm Tauranga Library

Stepping Up Classes Mondays 1-3pm Tauranga Library Thursdays 10-12pm Pāpāmoa Library Registration required. Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz/learning

Tech Hour Mondays 3.30-4.30pm Tauranga Library

Thursdays 3.30-4.30pm Greerton Library

Fridays 3.30-4.30pm Pāpāmoa Library Registration required. Visit: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz/learning

What We’re Reading Here’s a selection of books and DVDs that we highly recommend.

Keen to talk books? There's a book club at each Tauranga City Library!  Tauranga Library 3rd Wednesday of each month 10–11am or 5.30–6.30pm

Fiona

 Mount Maunganui Library 4th Tuesday of each month 10–11am

Sarah

 Pāpāmoa Library

 Greerton Library

1st Thursday of each month 10.30-11.30am

3rd Monday of each month 10.30–11.30am

Penny

Thinking on My Feet Magic Lessons: A The Kauri Family Book by Kate Humble Prequel to Practical Written by Suzy Cato Magic Novel by Alice Hoffman

Daniel

Lonesome Dove Novel by Larry McMurtry

Leslie

Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings Book by Neil Price

Katia

The Slaughterman’s Daughter Novel by Yaniv Iczkovits

Kirsten

The Chosen (streaming series) Dir. Dallas Jenkins

Chantelle

Sucker Punch Novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Lauren

Nicole

Jane Anonymous YA Novel by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Murder on the Moorland (Kitt Hartley series) Novel by Helen Cox

René

Celia

A Woman Is No Man Novel by Etaf Rum

Sorrow and Bliss Novel by Meg Mason

Ali

High-tech Legs on Everest (NZ) Book by Mark Inglis

Ali

Sherpa: Trouble on Everest (DVD) Dir. Jennifer Peedom

Sharon

The Paris Orphan Novel by Natasha Lester

Paul

Later Novel by Stephen King

Hanna

Lockdown: Tales from Aotearoa Graphic Novel

by Various

Vicki

Where the Crawdads Sing Novel by Delia Owens

Paul

Dark Money (DVD series) Starring Max Fincham

Hanna

The Cook and Baker Book by Cherie Bevan and Tass Tauroa

Beamafilm Film Reviews Beamafilm allows you to stream over a thousand movies and documentaries for free—all you need is a Tauranga City Libraries membership and access to the internet.

For more information: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz/digital-library/streaming/beamafilm

right away. This warm and immediate friendship kindles conversation that is more heartfelt and more honest than what you’d expect from two individuals who’ve just meet and Agnès seems especially eager to engage in a form of ‘outrospection’—examining her memories and reflections aloud, in the company of a fellow creative spirit.

Faces Places (2017) Dir. Agnès Varda



2017’s Faces Places finds French New Wave legend Agnès Varda on a freewheeling road trip through rural France with famous Parisian photographer and street artist JR. The intent of the trip is simply to meet the locals and make art – something that they achieve to spectacular results – but a unique force like Agnès was never likely to stay in such shallow (though delightful) waters and so, inevitably, the film goes much deeper.

The French countryside and interesting locals help make this a jaunty exercise in improvisational filmmaking. Agnès and JR are so comfortable in front of the camera – riffing on their art and generational divide while collaborating on giant black-and-white photographic installations that they produce in their novel camera-shaped van to display on public walls – and form an intimate chemistry

Varda repeatedly refers to fellow New Wave legend Jean-Luc Godard (Breathless), an old friend who she has lost touch with after the two fell out with one another long ago, and eventually she and JR travel to Switzerland so that she can introduce him to Godard. The visit doesn’t go to plan, but the emotional results provide a perfectly simple and authentic movie with a quietly profound ending.

88-year-old Agnès Varda clearly doesn’t lack in creative energy or curiosity (why else would she continue to make movies at that age?), but in Faces Places she is slow moving – unable to climb a tall set of stairs at one point of the movie, therefore missing out on one of JR’s creations – and her eye sight is failing her rapidly. Still, it was a shock to hear that she’d passed away in early 2019 at the age of 90. Faces Places is an unassuming near-masterpiece that could only have come from such a uniquely honest and spontaneous filmmaker and, if you’re only just learning of Agnès Varda, is the perfect introduction to the filmmaker—even if it is essentially her farewell.

unbelievably sharp considering the wild things he’s been through—he comes across as a sort of thoughtful rapscallion, a one-of-a-kind combination that makes for captivating viewing.

In fact, everyone is captivating here (legendary music manager Danny Fields is another particularly enthralling personality featured)—it seems those who are lucky enough to have survived what is detailed in this film ought to be entertaining characters.

Gimme Danger (2016) Dir. Jim Jarmusch



Fewer subjects have ever been more perfectly matched to a director—a Stooges documentary directed by Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive, Down By Law)? Who could ask for more? Well … funny I should ask because Jarmusch has produced such a conventional film in Gimme Danger that I am left wanting just a little bit more.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a pretty good time, but diehard-Stooges-fan Jarmusch, like the Stooges themselves, is so unconventional that it could be expected that his typically-stylistic movie making manner would match – and therefore accentuate – the brashness of the band.

Still, as I said, this is a good time. Stooges frontman and punk pioneer Iggy Pop is the star of the show and what a star! Even when he was a notorious troublemaker, he was famously likeable and here he’s as likeable as ever. He’s a great storyteller and

Gimme Danger is a loving tribute to one of the most influential bands of it’s time. They’re called the Stooges; he’s called Iggy Pop; their most well-known single is 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'—you’d be forgiven for dismissing them as a silly example of a type of music we’ve moved on from but if you sit through this, you’ll be treated to a very persuasive account of a seminal band who created work of serious importance. It’s a bit disappointing that Jamusch didn’t manage to inject his trademark edge in a way that would’ve made this more compelling for the unconverted but, heck, even if this documentary is a little formulaic, you’ll be entertained and the music alone is oh so good.

Beamafilm Box Office The titles Tauranga City Libraries users most streamed last month:

1

2

3

Lyon O'Neale Arnold Library Law Series Join us for these free seminars.

Please register for your spot at: www.library.tauranga.govt.nz.

Wills A Will lets you say how you want your property dealt with when you die. Once you die, everything you own, and everything you owe, is called your estate. Anyone of sound mind who is at least 18 years old can make a will. Your will also appoints guardians, lists your beneficiaries and sets out your last wishes. This presentation informs you about making a will and how your estate is administered.  Tauranga Library Wednesday, 1 September 5.30-6.30pm  Pāpāmoa Library Wednesday, 8 September 5.30-6.30pm

Enduring Powers of Attorney

Property New Zealanders like to own their own homes and, for most of us, it’ll be our biggest investment.

Whether you are buying or selling for the first time or not, you will want the experience to be positive and rewarding. This session will cover different ways property can be sold, the process of buying and selling and important pre-purchase investigations purchasers should carry out.  Tauranga Library Wednesday, 29 September 5.30-6.30pm  Pāpāmoa Library Wednesday, 6 October 5.30-6.30pm

Relationship Property Understanding your rights and obligations is important to all people in relationships, whether married or not. The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 provides how ownership of assets is dealt with both during relationships and after they terminate.

You should know how this law applies to you and how to contract out of the legislation if you so choose.  Tauranga Library Wednesday, 13 October 5.30-6.30pm

We should all have Powers of Attorney. These are the documents that appoint a person who can make decisions on your behalf if you cannot. As we get older, or if we suffer from unexpected illness, we need to make sure that someone is ready to help us pay bills, sell our house and arrange any medical care on our behalf. When preparing a Power of Attorney, you need to consider who is best for the different roles—personal care and welfare, and property. We can highlight some of the issues and explain how these important documents work.

Family Trusts

 Tauranga Library Wednesday, 15 September 5.30-6.30pm

 Tauranga Library Wednesday, 27 October 5.30-6.30pm

 Pāpāmoa Library Wednesday, 22 September 5.30-6.30pm

 Pāpāmoa Library Wednesday, 3 November 5.30-6.30pm

Family Trusts can/may be used for a variety of reasons. If you are in business, they offer protection from creditors and an opportunity to split income between family members.

They protect the interests of future generations and can avoid estate litigation. Many people want to know about whether they will help with rest home subsidies. We can tell you how they work, why you might want them and what they can achieve.