DANES IN NEW ZEALAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

DANES IN NEW ZEALAND

THE recent arrival of a party of Danish artisans to help in filling the shortage created in the building trade of New Zealand stimulates a hope that they will emulate former countrymen who have thrown in their lot with us. Danish immigrants in the past have helped to enrich this country by their work on the land, and in various callings in the cities and towns. At the present time when German aggression is agitating the world, it is interesting to recall that aggression from the same country was responsible for New Zealand acquiring one of Denmark's most distinguished men. Following Denmark's disastrous war with Germany in 1864, when Schleswig-Holstein was forcibly taken from her, a former Prime Minister, Bishop Monrad, came to New Zealand with his two eons and three other Danes. He took up land in the Manawatu district, and with his sons acquired the estate of Karere, on the

By---Bernard Magee banks of the Manawatu River, which they developed. In 1808, after three years in New Zealand, the ex-Prime Minister of Denmark returned to his native country, but one of his sons remained and became a pioneer in the dairying industry. A few years ago Dr. Scholefield, while visiting the capital of Denmark, found many evidences of Bishop Monrad's work in the library of Copenhagen in the shape ol engravings and books. I hat Bishop Monrad conceived a great affection for New Zealand, and no doubt made thi6 country well known in Denmark, was shown by his presentation to the New Zealand Government a year after his return to Denmark of 500 etchings by famous artists of the Dutch, Flemish, Italian, French and German schools. Strange to relate,

these remained in obscurity in 6ome Government building in Wellington till the year 1924, when they were rescued, and now adorn the art collection in the Turnbull Library. While in Denmark in 1936 Johannes Andersen, of the Turnbull Library, Wellington, instituted researches into his countryman's work, and made the discovery of a copy of the first edition of Bishop Monrad's translation of Judge Maning's "Old New Zealand" in the Royal Library at Christianshaven. Mr. Andersen was in hopes of procuring a copy for his own institution in Wellington. Bishop Monrad translated Judge Mailing's work in 1871 into Danish and German. In Germany it ran into a second ecfition. The career of the late Mr. Justice Alpers is well known. He was born in Copenhagen, and as a lad arrived in New Zealand lacking money and a knowledge of the English language. He set about acquiring the latter, and the rest came as he mounted the ladder of success. He became a schoolmaster, later a distinguished member of the Bar in Christchurch, and to crown a remarkable life, he was elevated.to the Supreme Court Bench—a position he adorned. Notwithstanding his busy life at the Bar, he found time to indulge his penchant for literature. "Cheerful Yesterdavs," his final revealed his heroism in the face of impending dissolution. Denmark and New Zealand have reason to honour his name. Another Dane who has added to the honour which adorns his countrymen in New Zealand is Johannes C. Andersen, formerly Librarian of the Turnbull Library in Wellington. He was born in Jutland, Denmark. Mr. Andersen gave excellent service to New Zealand by his study of bird life and his researches in ethnology. As a poet and man of letters he has contributed to the literature of New Zealand. Anything connected with the Maori and his customs found in him an observant student. "Maori Life in Aotea," "Maori Fairy Tales" and" "Maori Music" are themes on which he is an authority.

The late George Magnus Haaeing, a fellow-townsman of Judge Alpers, came to New Zealand about 80 years ago, and pegged out a claim in the West Coast, alongside that of a hefty young man named Richard John Seddon. Eventually he became a schoolmaster, and his early experiences furnished him with a rich stock of material on which to draw for the historical writings he contributed voluminously to the Dunedin Press. Mr. Seddon never forgot his Danish friend, for on one occasion, while visiting Southland; he picked him up at Heddon Busli and took liim to Invercara;ill in his special carriage in order to talk over the old days of their mining careers. Dannevirke The most tangible evidence of the stuff of which Danish and Norwegian immigrants was made, is the town of Dannevirke in Hawke's Bay. Dannevirke was named by the settlers after the old fortification of Scbleswig, which was taken from the Danes by Germanv in the mid-sixties. In its desire to stimulate settlement of the land in New Zealand, the Government in 1870 made a move to induce immigration from the Scandinavian countries. The first shipment arrived in 1872 at Napier by the Hovding and Ballarat. It comprised 22 families—l 4 Danish and eight Swedish and Norwegian. They were sent to the district of Dannevirke, where sections of 40 acres were surveyed for them at £1 per acre. The Danes, Norwegians and Swedes had a struggle to wrest a meagre living from their holdings, and the Government helped them to. help themselves by providing roadmaking at 5/ per day and splitting sleepers at 1/3 a sleeper, less 3d royalty. That there was no go-slow complex in the make-up of the settlers was shown by the spectacle along the roadside. Rows of sleepers extending for two miles and from 10 12 feet high demonstrated the enterprise of the new settlers, and gave to the township in the vicinity its name of "Sleepertown." The main industry of Dannevirke became sawmilling, but with the clearing of the bush dairying took its place. To-day Dannevirke is the most permanent and successful result of immigration from the Scandinavian countries.