Contree: 1986 No 20

Contents

No. 20, July 1986

Articles

• Johannesburg verwerp sy eerste polisiehoof. / Nöthling, FJ
• Goudstad so byna 'n spookdorp. / Oberholster, AG
• Some attitudes in Grahamstown towards the advent of the second Anglo-Boer War. / Hummel, HC
• Die Langeberg-rebellie en die totstandkoming van Olifantshoek. / Snyman, PHR
• Public administration in Pilgrims Rest, 1915 - 1969. / Pirie, GH
• An archivist's error? Notes on the origin of two farm names in the Western Cape. / Wilson, ML

Book reviews

• Bergh, J.S. & Visagie, J.C. 1985. The eastern Cape frontier zone 1660 - 1980: a cartographic guide for historical research. [Book resensie] / Obeholster, AG
• Shillington, K. 1985. The colonisation of the Southern Tswana 1870 - 1900. [Book review] / Snyman, PHR
• Snyman, P.H.R. 1986. Olifantshoek: oase van die Langberg. [Boek resensie] / Bergh, JS
• Van Rensburg, A.P.J. 1985. Excelsior 1910 - 1985: 'n gedenkalbum. [Boek resensie] / Eloff, CC
• Walton, J. 1985. Cape dovecots and fowl-runs. [Book review] / Van der Waal, G-M

Editorial

Contree: a look at ten years

The journal for South African urban and regional history published its first edition in January 1977. In the first editorial the publication of Contree (the Old French word for country, area, region or environment) was described as "an important development in co-ordinating and advancing regional historical research in the RSA, since it creates a channel whereby interested persons will be able to discuss matters of mutual interest and through which guidance can be given to those anxious to study in this field." It was finally stated that this journal "will serve as a medium for recording and publishing research results."

Has Contree lived up to these high expectations? Because the answer to this question could inevitably be subjective and biased, it would suffice to supply some information which can speak for itself.

The last decade saw 20 numbers being published, comprising more than 600 double-columned pages. Almost 80 percent of the 95 research articles, reviews and short communications deal with hamlets, villages, towns, cities and regions, while the rest mainly relate to aspects of the theory and methodology of research into regional history. The vast majority of the articles were written by professional historians; contributions by geographers, archaeologists, cultural historians, economists, museologists, educationists, amateur historians and other dilettanti have also been published. In the period under discussion 46 books were reviewed, while illustrations such as photographs, maps, tables, figures and sketches were used in abundance.

In July 1985 Contree became a "refereed" journal when a representative editorial advisory committee was appointed to advise the editorial staff on policy matters and also to evaluate articles submitted for publication. Articles appearing in the journal are annotated, indexed and/or abstracted in the Index to South African periodicals and (since January 1986) in the international Historical abstracts, and America: History and life.

The editorial staff would therefore 1ike to extend a word of special thanks to all present and prospective subscribers, contributors and readers at home and abroad whose co-operation and interest so far, as well as in the future, are absolutely essential for the progress of our journal and of the high standard it pursues.

Centenaries

As Contree commemorates its tenth anniversary this year, a few of our towns and cities have ten times as much reason to celebrate. The focus here is especially on the foundation a century ago of Johannesburg, Germiston and Pietersburg. These and other places along with all their residents deserve best wishes for prosperity and development. To coincide with Johannesburg's festival year, two short articles on the pioneering days of certainly the world's most famous "golden city", have been included in this issue.

Redaksioneel

Contree: tienjaar in oënskou

In Januarie 1977 het die eerste uitgawe van die vaktydskrif vir Suid-Afrikaanse stedelike en streekgeskiedenis die lig gesien. Die verskyning van Contree (die Oud-Franse woord vir kontrei, gebied, streek of omgewing) is in die hoofartikel beskryf as 'n "belangrike ontwikkeling ten opsigte van die koördinasie en bevordering van streekhistoriese navorsing in die RSA." Dit sou 'n kanaal skep "waardeur belanghebbendes met mekaar in gesprek kan tree (en) voorligting met betrekking tot die beoefening van stedelike en streekgeskiedenis beskikbaar gestel kan word ..." Ten slotte is aangedui dat die tydskrif ook 'n medium is "om navorsingsresultate op te vang en te publiseer."

Het Contree aan hierdie hoë verwagtinge voldoen? Die beantwoording van so 'n vraag kan uiteraard subjektief gekleurd wees en gevolglik sal met enkele selfverduidelikende gegewens volstaan word.

Die afgelope dekade is 20 nommers gepubliseer wat 'n totaal van ruim 600 dubbelkolombladsye veneenwoordig. Nagenoeg 80 persent van die 95 navorsings- en oorsigartikels en kon mededelings handel oor gehuggies, dorpe, kleiner plekke, stede en streke; die res het hoofsaaklik op teoretiese en metodologiese aspekte van streekhistoriese navorsing betrekking. Die oorgrote meerderheid van artikels is uit die pen van professionele historici, terwyl geograwe, argeoloë, kultuurhistorici, ekonome, museurnkundiges, opvoedkundiges, amateur-historici en ander dilettante ook bydraes gelewer het. In die betrokke tydperk hetvoons 46 resensies en boekbekendstellings verskyn en is oorvloedig gebruik gemaak van illustrasies soos foto's, kaarte, tabelle, afbeeldings en sketse.

Contree het in Julie 1985 'n beoordeelde tydskrif geword met die aanwysing van 'n verteenwoordigende redaksionele advieskornitee wie se taak dit is om die redaksie ten opsigte van beleid van advies te dien en bydraes te evalueer wat vir publikasie voorgele word. Gepubliseerde artikels word opgeneem, van aantekeninge voorsien en/of saamgevat in die Repertorium van Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrifartikels en (sedert Januarie 1986) in die internasionale Historical abstracts en America: History and life.

Hiermee wil die redaksie dan graag 'n besondere dankwoord rig tot alle bestaande en voomemende intekenare, medewerkers en lesers in die RSA sowel as in die buiteland. U samewerking en belangstelling tot dusver asook in die toekoms is onontbeerlik vir die voortgang van Contree en die hoë peil wat dit nastreef.

Eeufeesvieringe

Terwyl Contree sy tiende verjaardag herdenk, is daar 'n klompie van ons dorpe en stede wat vanjaar tien keer soveel rede her om fees te vier. Hier word vera gedink aan Johannesburg, Getmiston en Pietersburg wat honderd jaar gelede tot stand gekom het. Hierdie en ander plekke sowel as al hul inwoners word voorspoed en ontwikkeling toegewens. Om saam te val met Johannesburg se feesjaar word in hierdie uitgawe twee kort artikels gewy aan die pioniersdae van stellig die beroemdste "goudstad" ter wêreld.