Some time ago, Upper Hutt book repairer, Bill Tito was given a copy of The Pākehā to repair. The Pākehā is a journal of the ship of the same name which took several Kiwi sailors to Belgium during the First World War.

The book was sent to him be repaired by Danny Hopkins of Paraparaumu, who’s grandfather was on board the ship. The Hopkins have handed the book down through the family for generations, and Danny wanted to have it preserved.

Bill Tito says that the procedure involved removing the old staples from it and then hand sewing the pages back together. “I’ve just taken it apart and strengthened the whole book back together.”

Source: Kapiti News / New Zealand Herald

11/12/24