Series 4 new zealand philatelic bulletin no 15 1976 april

Produced by the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui.

April 1976

No. 15

FIVE NEW FACES OF PROGRESS NEW ZEALAND'S 1976 commemorative stamp issue was released on February 4.

Designed by Allan Derrick of Invercargill - a newcomer to the Post Office's design panel - the five stamp issue marks the 50th anniversary of the League of Mothers 6c; New Zealand's change

to metries 7e;

New Plymouth's centen¡

The stamp features the metric crest and

a graphic illustration of weight,

temperature, measure and capacity.

-

The centenary of New Plymouth New Zealand's fifth largest secondary

city

-

is

commemorated

on an Bc

stamp.

Allan

Derrick's

design

features a

ary Bc; the 50th anniversary of the Y.W.C.A. in New Zealand 10c and the centenary of the nation's link into the International Telecommunications Network 25c.

graphic portrayal of New Plymouth's first immigrant ship, the William Sryan, with Mount Egmont in the background.

Also depicted is the city's crest.

The New Zealand League of Mothers was founded in 1926 by Lady Alice

Association (Y.W.C.A.l, this year celebrating its 50th anniversary in New Zea-

Fergusson, wife of New Zealand's third Governor-General.

land, is an international, interdenominat ional womens' fellowship.

A non-denominational, non-sectarian group, the League's original aims of upholding the sanctity of marriage,

The

Young

Womens

Christian

a

The 10c Y.W.C.A. stamp features the organisation's international symbol and two women shaking hands.

helping parents realise their responsibilities to their children and establishing a fellowship of mothers remain unchanged

joined the International Telecommunica

today.

ations Network.

To mark the League's 50th anniver-

One hundred years ago New Zealand

The 25c stamp commemorating this event features the NZPO logo and on

sary I Allan Derrick designed a Gc stamp depicting the organisation's crest and a stylised family group of mother, father,

origjnatin'g in New Zealand and spreading

two children and a baby.

across a segmented globe.

The 7c stamp marks New Zealand's conversion to metries - an operation that began in 1969 and is now well advanced.

The issue was printed by John Wad¡ dington of Kirkstall Limited, England, using the lithography process. Each

Chiefly

responsible

for

New Zea-

land's progressive adoption of the metric system is the Metric Advisory Board,

established by Government in 1969 to

encou rage, advise and assist the people of New Zealand.

the right, a series of broad Hnes and dots

stamp measures 25 x 42 mm.

They can be purchased at the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui (mail orders) and Philatelic Sales positions (Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin) until April 30, 1977.

I;I~ ,~ ~ ...-

Designer proud of first successALLAN DERRICK, the artist behind New Zealand's 1976 Commemorative stamp issue, is modestly proud of his first success.

A graphic designer for an Invercargill advertising agency, he found working within the small space of a postage stamp a real challenge.

His favourite stamp is the 25c Telecommunications Link Centenary which shows crab-like arms (New Zealand's lines of communi-

1975 releases still on sale

cation) stretching across a segmented world map.

Though a professional in graphic design, Allan said he learnt a lot from "thinking up stamps".

"They're probably the most prestigous pieces of printing we're ever likely to buy," he said.

In 1974 Allan came third in a Post Office competition for new stamp designers.

Since then he's submitted other designs for consideration.

New Pack Service

•

PHILATELISTS ARE reminded the 1975 Collectors Pack, "diamond" stamp poster and pictorial postcards are still available from the Philatelic Bureau.

The Collectors Pack (mailing weight 85.05 grams) is priced at $2.95 (N.Z.) while the "diamond" poster, featuring 66 stamps of current and past issues, costs $1 (N.Z.).

Two sets of pictorial postcards featuring New Zealand mountains and lakes are still on sale.

The New Zealand mountains set contains five cards featuring Mt Ngauruhoe, Mt Sefton, Mitre Peak, the Burnett Range and one postcard featuring all four.

Lake Waikaremoana, Lake Hayes, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Rotomahana and a postcard depicting all four lakes feature in the New Zealand lakes set.

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M~ ~

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Individual postcards are 10c (N.Z.) each and a set of five, 50c (N.Z.).

Collectors are also reminded that the 197510w value Definitive Stamp Pack will be withdrawn from sale on June 30. Priced at $1.50 (N.Z.), this pack contains six stamps featuring New Zealand's butterflies and moths; five stamps depicting fish; the 10c royal stamp and three stamps featuring aspects of Maori culture.

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"

.', ANOTHER NEW service for collectors was introduced this year - New Zealand unaddressed first day cover packs. The 1975 pack, pictured above, contains all the unaddressed first day covers released last year and is available now from the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui for $3.53 (NZ).

P.O. releases datestamp postcards GROWING DEMANDS by overseas philatelists for New Zealand special datestamps prompted the Post Office to introduce a new collectors service this year.

To avoid disappointment of missing out on special datestamps, overseas collectors can now place standing orders with the Wanganui Philatelic Bureau.

In the past, foreign philatelists were often unaware of New Zealand "specials" till too late.

The special datestamps will be used to cancel a 25c postage imprint on a specially designed postcard featuring an outline of New Zealand with a Kiwi superimposed.

Information on New Zealand stamps is printed on the back of the postcard.

Although primarily intended for overseas customers, the new service will also be available to New Zealand collectors who place standing orders.

Inquiries about the new service should be addressed to The Manager, Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui.

Roses that will never wither NEW ZEALAND'S 1975 Definitive Stamp Pack is now on sale.

Priced at 65c {NZ}, this attractive pack contains the lc-9c rose definitive stamp issue. (Details of the issue were published in the September Bulletin). The pack comes in a protective envelope and is available from the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui {mail orders} and philatelic sales sections at Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

..................•••.•..•.•••.

New zealand to exhibit at U.S.A. Interphil '16 NEW ZEALAND will be among the 40 nations taking part in Interphil '76the USA's seventh international philatelic exhibition - to be held in Philadelphia between May 29 and June 6.

Stamp collectors, dealers and visitors from all over the world will see aspects of life in New Zealand captured on a display now being prepared by Post Office graph ic artists.

Current stamp issues, stamp packs, posters and postcards wi 11 be on sale at the New Zealand booth.

This exhibition, held only once a decade, falls on the USA's bicentennial - the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin, the nation's first Postmaster-General, signed the Declaration in his Philadelphia home.

A FREE BULLETIN FOR FRIENDS DO YOU know of family or friends outside New Zealand who would be interested in the Philatelic Bulletin.

If you know people who would like to be included on our mailing list, send their address to: Marketing Manager, Post Office Headquarters, 7-27 Waterloo Quay, Wellington 1, NEW ZEALAND.

WHEELS OF FARMING FORTUNE

by Andrea Fox

I

n New Zealand some years ago collecting material for his latest novel "Snow Tiger", author Desmond Bagley confessed he'd been pleasantly surprised to find the country was more than two islands full of grass and sheep.

The illusion is hardly surprising for a country where sheep out¡ number the human population 20 to one and where herringbone milksheds and butterfat production can take precedence in conversation over politics and the weather.

What is surprising is that New Zealand has overcome the problems of generally infertile soils and difficult terrain to become one of the most productive agricultural nations in the world.

Her success is probably due to many factors - from the New Zealander's characteristic grit and determination to aerial topdressing techniques which converted vast expanses of wasteland into farming country.

But according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, it is certain that New Zealand would not be able to maintain her high level of production without the transport services and formidable array of farm machinery she has developed since settlers moved in to farm the land about 130 years ago.

On April 7, the New Zealand Post Office released a six-stamp vintage farm transport issue featuring some of the wheeled veh icles that were to make a great contribution to the enviable agricultural position the nation enjoys today.

Designed by Geoffrey Fuller of Havelock North, the issue depicts the gig,6c; the Thornycroft lorry, 7c;

the Scandi wagon, 8c; the trac¡ tion engine, 9c; the wool wagon, 10c; and the cart, 25c.

Harrison & Sons Ltd, of England, printed the issue using the lithography process. Each stamp measures 24.13 x 40.64mm.

The two-wheeled gig (6c) and its four-wheeled counterpart the buggy, were the utility vehicles of the New Zealand farming community from the time of road development in the 1860's to the advent of the motor car.

Drawn by a light harness horse, the gig's light construction provided quick transport for the farmer and his family. It's large wheels and high ground clearance were ideal in winter conditions when roads became quagmires of mud.

Large numbers of these vehicles could always be seen in the streets of the farming centres, or whenever country folk gathered on social OCcasions.

As was the case in other countries, the internal combustion engine profoundly affected New Zealand. It is not known exactly when the motor lorry was first imported into the country, but its value had been well establ ished by 1912, when it was transporting much of the country's wool. It was in the rural areas beyond the rail heads that the motor lorry made its greatest contribution.

The model on the 7c stamp is a Thornycroft B.T. lorry, designed to carry a load of two and a half tons at a governed maximum speed of 18 m.p.h.

The Thornycroft was one of many makes of lorry replacing horse-drawn vehicles on New Zealand's roads in the 1920's. Large numbers were available and many

returned soldiers were experienced in driving and servicing them.

The Scandi, or bush wagon (8cl. was developed by the Scandinavian immigrants who arrived in New Zealand in 1872, and established the Dannevirke and Norsewood settlements in the Seventy-mile Bush of Southern Hawkes Bay.

on the 9c stamp first arrived in New Zealand in 1880. Great numbers were imported between the 1890's and the late 1920's and were used extensively in all parts of the country - on road haulage, farm work, timber milling and general contracting. Because it could haul great loads, the traction engine was soon in competition with the railways. It was considered almost indispensable for hauling heavy equipment from railheads and reduced the time and usually the costs of hauling wool from backcountry sheep stations.

The traction engine also made it possible to develop the heavy soils of scrub-covered swamps.

Wool wagons drawn by teams of bullocks or horses, depicted on the 10c stamp, were once a familiar sight in New Zealand. Used extensively to haul the valuable wool clip from back-country sheep stations to the coast, these wagons were of rugged construction. A high, wide deck allowed a great number of wool bales to be transported and kept the load above water level when fording rivers and loading ships standing off the beach. The bullock wagon proved immensely superior to the pack-horses they replaced and was favoured up until the 1920's.

The difficult conditions encountered by these settlers demanded a wagon of rugged construction. The Scandi wagon is simple in design, has no springs, a low deck and is characterised by its unusual wheel construction.

The four spoke design was later modified to one of eight spokes.

It's believed that traction engines of the type commemorated

The farm cart (25c) was an essential piece of the European farmer's equipment for centuries and was no less indispensable to the New Zealand farmer in the horse-drawn era. Probably the most common of all farm vehicles, the cart was used for everyday haulage round the farms and roads. Usually drawn by a single draughthorse, it carried a wide variety of loads, from fenceposts to fertiliser, milk-cans to mangolds, livestock to lumber. The basic design of the cart did not change over the centuries, though variations occured in weight and detail.

Today tractors, combine harvesters, milk tankers, trucks, landrovers, cars and motorcycles replace these pioneer farm vehicles - now preserved in museums throughout New Zealand.

Electricity, available in even the remotest farming settlements, runs milking machines, shearing shed apparatus and water supply machinery.

New Zealand manufactures its own aerial topdressing aircraft and a wide variety of haymaking, ploughing, sowing and reaping equipment.

It is this formidable array of machinery, coupled with careful land management, comprehensive Government advisory services and natural advantages that enable New Zealand to produce around 300 000 tonnes of wool, 100 000 tonnes of meat and 6 000 million litres of milk each year.

There are about 63 000 farms in New Zealand with a total labour force of 120 000. A substantial proportion of this total is made up of members of the farm owners' families.

An average farm covers 303 hectares. Of the total area of occupied farming land in New Zealand, 75% is sheep and beef farming; 10% dairy, and the balance, mixed farming, cropping and forestry.

The fine-woolled Merino sheep is the most successful breed on the South Island high country and in other marginal areas. The Romney, however, with its coarser wool, accounts for 65% of the national flock. Other notable breeds are the Corriedale, the Drysdale and the Perendale.

The beef production industry, once a sideline, has diversified to include greater use of dual purpose breeds like the Friesian, the Charolais and crosses with other beef breeds.

The country's most popular beef breed is the Aberdeen Angus, often crossed with Hereford.

LEAPING WATERS

by Garry Maher

"It was dipped, it was drawn. The water, the water by the man called Maui."

the mist" because of their legendary origin ... the union of Te Maunga (the mountain) and Hine Pukohurangi (the mist maiden), producing the tribe Tuhoe-potiki.

Bridal Veil Falls (15c stamp) were discovered in 1880 by an explorer named Powell. Aptly named, they fall in a long white ribbon of water from the grassy cliff-face, plunging 160 feet into a rocky basin.

So the New Zealand Maori, in a ritual chant, described the mischievous Polynesian demi-gods' delight in the life giving element of water, reflecting a universal fascination in legend and fantasy.

The water falls in runnels and sheets, trickling down the greyblue stone terraces, level by level.

It is a lyrical scene in an antique landscape, with trees overhanging and surrounding the gradual descent.

The cliff from which the veil falls is scarred and undercut, partially overhanging the basin below.

Above its face the cliff is heaVily wooded. At the bottom a softly coloured carpet of greenery covers large rocks.

Waterfalls were a source of inspiration for the early Maoris.

Purakaunui gives it's name to a reserve, first established in 1905 and added to in 1970. It now covers 494 hectares.

The old Maori name for Bridal Veil is Waireinga - leaping waters.

Papakorito (16c stamp) is one of several falls on the Aniwaniwa Stream, running through Urewera National Park.

Marakopa (also known as Marokopa) Waterfall (14c stamp) is the most violent. It is found in a primal North Island setting on the Marokopa River in Waitomo County.

Four of New Zealand's most beautiful waterfalls feature on a series of stamps to be issued on June 2 by the New Zealand Post Office: Purakaunui Falls in South Otago; Papakorito Falls in Urewera National Park; Bridal Veil Falls between Raglan and Kawhia townships and Marakopa Falls in the Waitomo area.

As depicted on the stamps, each fall is different in character sinuous delicate tiers of Purakaunui in the far South Island contrast with Marakopa in the North Island - a crashing curtain of water.

The Purakaunui Falls (lOc stamp) are 11 kilometres south-west of Owaka township in South Otago.

Tuckett, a New Zealand explorer wrote of the falls in 1884, "They say the eels ascend the falls unitedly in a train, intertwining with each other."

The Reverend Belmer wrote in an article for the "South land Times".

"The falls are on the inland route and hidden in the beautiful reserve wh ich is establ ished on th is part of the Purakaunui river ... This reserve is mainly silver beech forest."

After negotiating numerous drops of up to 40 feet upstream, the river makes its final drop of 120 feet, onto jagged rocks below.

Set in a low bushy area, Papakorito slips sharply over a broad cliff face broken in several sections by roo:ky outcrops.

The river surges around and through small colonies of greenery, clinging grimly to large rocks in mid stream. In a reckless, broken fashion it pours down, boiling and seething around boulders at the bottom.

The Aniwaniwa Stream flows down to Lake Waikaremoana, or "sea of rippling waters". It is an area rich in Maori legend. Urewera is homeland for the Tuhoe, who came to be known as "children of

Measuring 28mm x 33.4mm, New Zealand's waterfall stamps will be printed in the photogravure process by Helio Courvoisier S.A. of Switzerland.

1976 Commemorative - New Plymouth Centennial.

century under a snowcap sc

O

verjoyed to feel the firm earth beneath their feet after a journey of 12 000 miles in the barque "William Bryan", the passengers must, at the same time, have looked at the wilderness around them with doubt and apprehension.

But these people founded a city - a city wh ich is now the centre of one of the richest dairying provinces in New Zealand. Those early travellers named it after their place of origin and set about to clear the land and fight for a secure foothold in the new country.

The achievements of those settlers who reached New Plymouth aboard the "William Bryan" and all those who contributed to the making of the City of New Plymouth are commemorated in a stamp recognising the founding of New Plymouth Borough 100 years ago.

The stamp was released by the New Zealand Post Office on February 4 - one of five stamps in the 1976 Commemorative issue.

Designed by Invercargill artist Allan Derrick, the 8c stamp features the "William Bryan", the cone of Mt Egmont and the crest of the city itself merging together in the stamp, as they have through time and history. The three images, drawn in stark simplicity, convey the richness of the past that is unique to New Plymouth.

New Plymouth city nestles at the foot of the snow-capped Fujiama of the Southern Hemisphere - 2 429m Mt Egmont - on the fertile coastal plain of Taranaki province which ships cheese, frozen meat and butter back to the homeland of those original settlers and to many other parts of the world.

Today It also supplies the North Island of New Zealand with natural gas and indications are that, at some future date, New Plymouth could be a centre for oil production.

The first Europeans to establish themselves at Ngamotu Beach in 1828 saw only the riches of the sea in the whales they hunted. It was left to those pioneers who came later, either to fight in land wars with local Maori tribes or to farm the land, to discover the hidden riches of the area.

It soon assumed the characteristics of a market town and transport terminus for areas around being being cleared of forest.

The advent of refrigeration in 1882 hastened the transformation of the lowlands into pastoral land.

Improving sea and new rail services made New Plymouth the obvious centre for the area. In 1876, just 35 years after the first emigrants landed, the fledgling settlement was granted borough status. The value of the town had been officially recognised.

But even before the arrival of those first settlers, whalers became involved in Maori inter-tribal wars and, in 1832 an invading force of 4 000 Maoris besiged local Maoris.

The whalers joined them in successfully defending their homes and lands.

Since then the population of New Plymouth has grown to 37 900 and the city itself has evolved as one of the most beautiful in the country.

It was in indication of some of the difficulties pioneers would have to face before they could become truly a part of the new land.

PLATE NUMBERS

Early in 1841 the chief surveyor of the Plymouth Company - a company set up to bring settlers from the United Kingdom - began the work of laying out a town and in March the first ship the "William Bryan" arrived.

For the embryo city the period from 1841 to 1860 was one of consolidation. Land was purchased from the local Ngatiawa tribe but by 1860 relations with local tribes had deteriorated and the new settlers and the Maoris found themselves fighting a war neither side wanted.

The Taranaki Wars were the most bitter to erupt between local tribes and settlers and they continued intermittently until 1869.

During this time New Plymouth became a military encampment and many disillusioned settlers left the district but once peace was restored New Plymouth began to prosper.

Yvonne Ashworth

1975 Christmas 3e lA1A1A1A1A 50 lA1A1A1A1A lOe lA1A1A1A1A1A 1975 4c 50 lOe

Niue Christmas lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A

1c-9o le 2e 3e 4c 50

Rose DefinitivllS lA 1 AlA 1AlA, 1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1At'A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A

6c 7e

Bc 90

lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B

Tokelau Fish of the Coral Reef 50 lA1A1A1A lOe 1AlA 1 AlA 1A lA1A1A1A 15e 25e Plate No's. not available Niue Hotel lA1A1A1A 20e lA1A1A1A

Bc

1976 Commemoratives lA1A1A1A1A, 7e 1AlA 1AlA Bc lA1A1A1A1A lOe lA1A1A1A 25e lA1A1A1A

6c

lB1B1B1B1B 1Bl Bl Bl B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B lB1B1B1B

Stamps Printed 3M 5c - 3.2M Miniature sheets 4c-.13M 11 5c - .155M 11 4c~

1973 Health

1973 Christmas

Mountain Scenery

Commonweelth Gemes

New Zealand Day 1974 Commemoratives

3c - 26M 5c - 10M lOc - 2.5M 6c, 8c, 18c, 23c - 1.2M each value.

4c 5clOc 18c 23c -

(5 x 4c) 5.498M sheets 4c-7M 5c- 2M Bc - 1.2M 3c 4c5c 23c -

Air Transport

1974 Health

12M 6M 2.5M 2.5M 2.5M

8.05M 7.05M 2.05M 1.55M

4c - 3.8M 5c- 3.3M 6c-l.35M Miniature sheet - .25M 11

1974 Christmas

Island Scenery

1975 Commemorativ8I

Sailing Ships

3c - 26M 5c - 10M lOc - 3M 6c, 8c, 18c, 23c - 1.2M each value.

4.10.72

Niue Self Government 4c, 8c, lOc, 20c - 150 000 each.

13.11.74

1974 Christmas - 3c, lOc, 20c - 150 000 each.

19.11.75

Niue Hote' - Bc, 20c 150 000 each.

29.10.75

Niue Christmas - 4c, 5c, lOc - 150000 each.

TOKELAU 6.9.72

25th Anniversary of South Pacific Commission -

5c, lOc, 15c, 2Oc100 000 each.

12.9.73

Tokelau Island Coral 3c, 5c, 15c, 25c - 100 000 each.

13.11.74

Tokelau Island Shells - 3c, 5c, 15c, 25c - 120 000 each.

19.11.75

Fish of the CQral Reef 5c, lOc, 15c, 25c 100000 each.

STAMP ISSUES currently available by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui, or over the

counter from Philatelic Sales Sections at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.

Dunadin, Gisborne and Hamilton.

N.Z. Fiscals: (set $28.001 $4, $6, $8. $10.

1970n1 Definitives: (set $5.37)<,) %:c, 1c, 2c, 2%c, 3e, 4c, Se, Gc, 7e, 7Y.rc, 8c, 10c, 15c, 18c, 2Oc, 23c, 25c, 3Oc, 50c, $1.00, $2.00.

2~

Overprinted 4c: 4c.

Tokelau Definitives: (set 81c) lc, 2c, 3c, 5c, IOc, 15c, 2Oc, 25c.

Government Life Insurance: (set 24)<,c) 2)<'c, 3c, 4c, 15c.

Niue Definitives: (set $3.951 lc. 2c, 3c o 4c, 5c, lOc, 2Oc, 5Oc, $1, $2.

Ross Dependency: (set 48cl 3c, 4c, 5c, Bc, IOc, 25c.

To be withdrawn 30 April 1976: 1975 Commemoratives 3c, 5c, 10c, 18c.

Historic Sailing Ships 4c, 5e, Se, lOc, 18c, 23c.

Forest Parks 6c, 8c, 18c, 23c.

Post Offices Opened and Closed OPENED Gilbert Road

Auckland

16.6.75.

Hepburn

Auckland

14.7.75.

Whataupoko

Gisborne

15.7.75.

CLOSED

4c- 6.9M 5c - 1.9M Bc - 1.3M lOc - 1.3M 18c - 1.2M 23c - 1.3M

25th Anniversary of South

Coqk 8i-<:entenary 2c, 3c, 8c, 20c - 180 000 each.

19.10.74

3c - 7.21M 5c - 3.11M lOc - 1.76M 18c-1.31M

NIUE 6.9.72

20.6.74

Current Stamps

Ahimia

Thames

2.10.75.

AlIanton

Dunedin

31.7.75.

Greenhills

Invercargill

27.3.75.

Laingholm Central

Auckland

17.5.75.

Lochiel

Invercargill

Mangarakau

Nelson

30.4.75.

Maraekakaho (now an exchange only)

Napier

3.10.75.

Market Cross

Westport

Oroua Downs

Palmerston North

20.8.75.

31.7.75.

2.5.75.

4.8.75.

Pacific Comm ission -

Pahia

Invercargill

4c, 5c, 6c, 18c - 150 000 each.

1972 Christmas - 3c 5M.

Te Anga

Hamilton

21.3.75.

T ongaporutu

New Plymouth

30.4.75.

27.6.73

Niue Fish - 8c, lOc, 15c, 20c - 160000 each.

21.11,73

1973 Christmas - 4c, 5c,lOc - .15M of each.

NoB. Issue No. 14 September 1975 CLOSED Kakatahi

Postal district shown as Westport should have been Wanganuio