Contents

No. 2, July 1977

Articles

• The Natal coastal belt. / Christopher, AJ
• Die geveg by Oorlogsfontein. / Immelman, E
• A street called Boom - some glimpses of pioneer Klerksdorp. / Orford, JG
• Bronneverkenning van die Streek Oos-Vrystaatste Grensgordel (2) / Eloff, CC
• The Victoria history of the counties of England. / Pugh, RB
• Dorpstigting in die Oranje-Vrystaat: 1854 - 1864. / Moll, JC
• Beaufort-Wes : 'n oorsig van die geskiedenis van die dorp en distrik. / Marais, JJ
• Regional Historical Societies. / Van Heerden, M

Book reviews

• Helme, N. 1976. Irene. With line drawings by Carola Brotherton and Julia van die Byl. [Book review] / Eloff, CC
• Henning, C.G. 1975. Graaff-Reinet: a cultural history 1987 - 1886. [Book review] / Oberholster, AG

Editorial

A preliminary inquiry indicated the need for a journal specialising in local, urban and regional history. Professional history journals circulate in a selected academic group, and the journals and newsletters of local history societies are not arousing wide enough interest because of their local and regional character. No adequate provision is made for general regional history in either of these groups, nor do their publications reach everybody interested in it.

Only after the first issue of Contree had been published was it possible to determine with certainty that this provision would fill a real need. The reaction of readers locally and from people overseas interested in South Africa has confirmed this. The responses were varied. Some readers reacted to specific articles by asking for or giving additional information, some by adopting a critical attitude. Others discussed the policy of the editorial staff with regard to regional history. Of course there were those who expressed their satisfaction with the journal.

All the commentary, favourable and otherwise, has inspired the editorial staff to do their utmost to produce a journal that fully serves its purpose. This, however, will only be possible if we can rely on the co-operation of Contree's readers. We want you in the first place as contributors. But we also want you to help us increase our reading public. We therefore invite you to assist us in making this journal as good as possible.

A.G. Oberholster

Redaksioneel

'n Voorafgaande ondersoek bet daarop gedui dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan aan 'n tydskrif wat spesialiseer in plaaslike, stedelike en streekgeskiedenis. Professionele historiese tydskrifte sirkuleer net in 'n uitgesoekte akademiese kring, terwyl die tydskrifte en nuusbriewe van plaaslike historiese verenigings te plek- en kontreigebonde is om werklik wye belangstelling te wek. Nie een van hierdie tydskrifte maak voldoende voorsiening vir algemene kontreigeskiedenis of bereik almal wat daarin geïteresseerd is nie.

Eers nadat die eerste nommer van Contree die wêreld ingestuur is, is met 'n redelike mate van sekerheid vasgestel dat hierdie behoefte inderdaad bestaan, en wel na aanleiding van reaksie wat ontvang is van sowel plaaslike lesers as buitelanders wat in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika geïteresseerd is. Die reaksies het gewissel. Sommige het op spesifieke artikels gereageer deur navrae te rig, kritiek te lewer en bykomende inligting te verstrek. Ander het hulle uitgespreek oor die standpunt of beleid van die redaksie ten opsigte van streekgeskiedenis. Daar was ook diegene wat hul ingenomenheid met die tydskrif betuig het.

Hierdie reaksie (gunstig en andersins) dien vir die redaksie tot aansporing om alles in werking te stel om die tydskrif aan sy doel te laat beantwoord. Dit is egter net moontlik as die redaksie die samewerking van die lesers van Contree geniet, in die eerste plek as medewerkers, en ook as bekendstellers van die tydskrif aan 'n groter leserskring. Namens die redaksie nooi ek u dan ook uit om saam te werk ten einde hierdie tydskrif so goed as moontlik uit te bou.

A.G. Oberholster