Methven and Mt. Somers : report on socio-economic history and current social structure

Abstract

This is one of a number of publications arising from a Lincoln University study conducted in Methven and Mt. Somers during 1989 and 1990. The main report examines both public drinking and social organisation. The purpose of this smaller report is to give a socio-economic perspective on the history of these two small towns. The local history of each has already been documented for the relative centenaries of each town, and each of these works gives a strong impression of incidents and characters that make up the flavour of a particular towns history. This brief report is presented in three sections. The first deals with the history and current social structure of Methven, which was the major area studied. A second section presents material on Mt. Somers which was added into the study to provide comparative material for the Methven data. A final chapter provides an overview of some of the important issues facing these rural communities at the present time.