EARLY RECORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 284, 30 November 1932, Page 6

EARLY RECORDS.

Whilst browsing around in an obscure little second-hand bookshop the other afternoon I came across a fow very interesting pamphlets, which quietly changcd hands for a few pence. Amongst the lot was. the. first and only number of the "Huia" magazine of thirty years ago, containing the early work of many authors now in the front rank of New Zealand literature; there were also "The Historical Record of the Jubilee Reunion of Old Colonists," including tho roll of pioneer settlers who arrived prior to 1843, and tho detailed story of the arrival of the first emigrant ships at Auckland. The ships referred to were the Duchess of Argyle and the Jan© Gifford, which both sailed np the Auckland Harbour together on Sunday» October 9, 1842. Included also in tho purchase were some early copies of the "Red Funnel" magazine, now very rare, and a fine copy of Thomas Bracken's "The New Zealand Tourist," published fifty-three years ago. In ■this small octavo volume is a very interesting sketch Of the rapid progress of the Union Steamship Company, which at the date of the publication had been in existence but four years. The pioneer vessel of the Harbour Steam Company, which became merged into the Union Steamship Company When it commenced business under the new title, was the Golden Age, which commenced plying in 1861. Apart from the fine historical account of our earliest shipping enterprise, the little volume of Bracken contains a review of the beauty spots of New Zealand, vital statistics, etc. In a copy of Sir Robert Stout's "Impressions and Recollections" we find the following: "After seeing Switzerland, I do not think it excels New Zealand. It is true it has higher mountains, but from where you see them they do not- look higher, and their lakes are not to be compared with our lakes. Taupo is larger than Geneva. Even in glaciers we excel Switzerland, for the Tasman is larger than Aletsch. In fact in mountain and lake scenery we are ahead of Switzerland. We excel Norway in fiords, and we have a finer hot water region than the Yellowstone in the United States." Doubtless there are many items of interest on dusty shelves that would be all the better for safe housing in the little private libraries of citizens who take a pride in their books. —CLEM EGGLETON.