NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 36, 12 February 1929, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND.

SNAPS FROM HISTORY.

ROMANCE AND THRILLS.

ADDRESS TO ROTARIAXS

'"'More and more the thoughtful in the community are concerned with world affairs. The restlessness and the inde-

pence of our people are giving way to a deepening consideration of the great issues associated with uplifting ideals."'

This was the heartening conclusion presented to Auckland Kotarians yesterday by Mr. A. B. Chappell, wiio delivered an interesting address on "New Zealand," in which the romance and the thrills associated with tlie history of this country were vividly depicted.

At the outset the speaker definitely disclaimed any hope of being able in the time at his disposal to deal exhaustively with so broad a subject, and reminded his hearers that the jurisdiction of the Dominion extended far beyond the group usually called New Zealand.

Turning to its physical history and then to its human development", the speaker emphasised that the land was really old and that behind its brief history of colonisation lay a long storv linking up with the old British and Western world. He paid a high tribute to the men who had played important parts in putting New Zealand more recently on the map of the world, naming Alfred Dommett, Samuel Butler, Sir Geo. Grey, Sir Ernest Rutherford, Commander Sanders and others.

Passing in review the revival of interest in New Zealand history and its development, Mr. Chappell proceeded to deal in detail with a succession of points at which New Zealand attracted attention. How these islands were first peopled in the dim past was sketched. The coming of the -Maori, a predominantly Polynesian race, was described, and a characterisation of the ancient Maori was given. How the Western world afterwards discovered these islands was dealt with, the exploits of Tasman and Cook receiving special attention.

As to flic events whereby this country became settled by the" white race, Mr. Chappell referred to the beginning of the Healing industry, the coming of the whaler, the drifting to these shores of the flotsam and jetsam of human life, the enterprise of the Maoris, and the lirst definite settlement of colonists.

That the country was settled not merely without Government aid but in the face of Government reluctance, was referred to. Tims, he said, the British way was in the instance of Now Zealand exaggerated and had complications unknown elsewhere.

The coming of British rule was a subject of peculiar interest. Cook proclaimed British sovereignty, but that was not enough. There was no settlement of the land to make the proclamation effective, and the British Government openly disavowed any claim that might have been made on that ground. The Maoris' title was held to be unassailable. Finally matters came, to a head through fear of a French expedition, and by the activity of the unauthorised New Zealand Company and the treaty of Waitaugi was arranged. The exploitation of New Zealand's resources were dealt with by the speaker and the point was made of the need for careful transition from the primary to the secondary industries.

In eloquent language file speaker drew attention to the manner in which the young country had taken its place in the great Commonwealth of Britain. Each threat to the safety and prestige of the Motherland was made the occasion of proffered help. New Zealand to-day looked out on a fast diminishing world with which she was destined to make multiplying contacts; possibly to jostle for place and power, and in this connection the speaker voiced the hope that the steadying tendency already referred to of a greater urge toward* higher ideals would he of untold benefit.