MARLBOROUGH AND MAORIS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28606, 7 June 1958, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH AND MAORIS

Kei Puta te Wairaq. A History of Marlborough in Maori Tinies. By W. J. Elvy. Whitcombe and Tombs. 120 pp Index.

As a surveyor employed by the Lands and Survey Department, Mr W. J. Elvy, well over 80 years of age, has spent most of his long life in the remoter parts of Marlborough along the Kaikoura coast, the Wairau valley, and in Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. His work brought him into the closest con tact with the numerous Maori hapus scattered throughout the district in those days, and he not only learnt to speak the Maori language, but kept carefu. day-to-day notebook records oi information he gathered from Maori elders. From this fund of knowledge gathered at first hand of local history, legends and traditions, Mr Elvy published “Kaikoura Coast” and now in this new book he continues a narrative of the same kind for the rest of Marlborough.

The first 17 sections deal with the life of the Maori from the earliest pre-European times down to the end of the conflicts between the notorious Te Rauparaha ana “Bloody Jack” (the Ngaitahu chief, Tuhawaiki). This part of the book happily summarises in a masterly fashion what has already been known for some years and includes also a great deal that has never previously been published. In the conclud-

ing chapters the author gives some of his own personal experiences with ancient Maori folklore and beliefs which were still current 30 to 50 years ago. Much of this knowledge may still exist to a limited degree in Maori communities, but here again Mr Elvy has performed a task of priceless value in committing it to writing before it is forgotten.

At the same time this is no dry-as-dust record, but a lively book ful of anecdotes and pleasant touches of humour. The general reader will appreciate Mr Elvy s light literary style and will enjoy particularly his many quaint illustrations of the manner in which the unlettered Maori mind worked. Besides much new information the scholar will find much also that authoritatively corrects minor mistakes that have appeared previously in such works as W. A. Taylor’s “Lore and History of the South Island Maori.” It is a pity that there is no map to guide the general reader, but several clear photographs and a comprehensive index add to the interest of tne text. This book can be recommended as an acquisition for both the historian and the general reader’s shelves.

Most of the eminent men of this world consider it an honour to be given an honorary Oxford degree It rather looks as if one such does not think so. Patio Picasso, invited to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in June, has told the University authorities that he has not the time.