{"id":27866,"date":"2016-10-24T23:29:23","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T10:29:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nzcfs.adminmouse.co.nz\/?p=27866"},"modified":"2018-08-25T12:39:14","modified_gmt":"2018-08-25T00:39:14","slug":"christchurch-branch-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/christchurch-branch-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"NZCFS Christchurch Branch Newsletter October 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"
Monthly meetings of the NZCFS Christchurch Branch are held on the last Thursday of the Month (except January, September, November and December): 7.30 pm at the\u00a0Rewi Alley Education and Cultural Centre (Wharenui School), 32 Matipo Street, Riccarton.<\/p>\n
October speaker:<\/strong> At this stage, speaker details have not been confirmed. We will advise details as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Important notice:\u00a0<\/b>As is our usual custom, we will not have a November meeting as this will be replaced by the annual prize giving ceremony on Friday, 25 November, which will be held at St Margaret’s College, 12 Winchester Street, Merivale (further details to come). This is a very important ceremony for these young people, and of course also for their proud parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers etc. Please come along and show your support for these young people at their very special occasion.<\/p>\n A collection of seemingly unremarkable bones discovered in a Roman cemetery in London has provided new insights into the links between the Roman Empire and Imperial China. Analysis has revealed that two skeletons dating from between the 2nd and 4th Century AD unearthed at the site in the city’s Southwark area may have been Chinese.<\/p>\n The findings promise to rewrite the history of the Romans as it suggests these two great empires had far greater connections than previously believed. Have a look at http:\/\/nzh.tw\/11716170<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n Although there were only about 20 items on display, they were enough to have us all quickly fascinated by this window into the life of an amazing man. His diary was there for 1929, and I was able to read of how a man had been killed the day before in a Shanghai factory by a piece of dangerous machinery (Rewi was a factory inspector at the time). After he had discussed it at some length with the factory manager, the manager finally agreed to put a safety device on the machine \u2013 but only because he knew it would keep Rewi happy; no thought given to the saving of future lives! That entry was followed by several exclamation marks!<\/p>\n There were three photos albums on display from a collection of over 50. Some had belonged to Rewi, some to his sister Gwen and others from various family members; all fascinating. Other items on display were letters, a school text book and report (??!), a book of poems and various sketches.<\/p>\nChinese Skeleton in a London Roman Cemetery<\/h2>\n
Well, we\u2019ve long since realised the early Chinese seemed to be everywhere, and here\u2019s another fascinating piece of evidence.<\/p>\n
Visit to National Library<\/h2>\n
As part of New Zealand Chinese Language Week, 12 – 18\u00a0September, the National Library of New Zealand\u00a0invited about 12 people from various organisations to a display at the National Library in Wellington of a viewing of material about Rewi Alley. We were shown through the display by Senior Advisor Winston Roberts\u00a0and Curatorial Services Leader, John Sullivan.<\/p>\n