The papers compiled by John Edward Matthews includes McLaughlin family papers, especially concerning the compiler's uncles, John and Patrick, both killed in the Great War, and his uncle Mick McLaughlin.

Includes a centennial issue of the Weekly News, and an edition of Looking at the West Coast which is about Waiuta. There is also other material concerning Waiuta and its gold-mining days, including a 1941-1942 wages book for the Waiuta Gold Mine, which operated from 1907 until 1951.

Includes a photograph of Notown, an old gold-mining township, and its last resident. Includes a Westland District Nurse's note book of cases, 1918-1919. The nurse's name was Sister Mary Anderson, later Mrs. Ramsay Reid.

There is Greymouth material, including a 1963 racebook from the Greymouth Trotting Club, and a 1967 racebook from the Westland Racing Club, for its Centennial meeting.