Stories from a rich past

Press, 21 August 1976, Page 15

Stories from a rich past

Tales of Banks Peninsula. By H. C. Jacobson. Capper Press. Reprint. 399 pp. N.Z. price $l6. (Reviewed by Ray Dobbie) Howard Jacobson, a good journalist, ought the “Akaroa Mail” in 1881. He ost no time in mining the rich past, first for publication in his newspaper, and then in a nook. The material, mostly obtained at first hand, made a best-seller. A second edition followed in 1893. and a third in 1914, after the author s death In 1940, the Jacobson family produced '‘Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. 1840-1940.'’ to mark the centenary of the French settlement at Akaroa. The 1940 veision suffered from excisions of the original material to make way for various local histories. All these books have long been out of print, and much in demand The photo-offset reproduction now published is of the third edition of “Tales of Banks Peninsula,” Because of the production method, the reprint perpetuates the imperfections of the original hand set type, and the dreadful illustrations. Thus, too, the reproduction of the errata, and the erratic index; but the reprint has one great advantage. The original editions were printed two pages at a time. This caused binding problems. That is why there are few, if any, good copies left — the books fell io pieces, even when re-bound. The reprint is properly bound, and will be. and deserves to be, much more durable. Jacobson must have been aware that old tales often gain or twist in the telling, and so he refrained from masquerading his book as history in the strict sense.

An interesting error is perpetuated

in the repimt. The cover* of the original editions xs ere titled Tales of Banks Peninsula,” while then prelates and folio headings use “Stories" No matter, the book persists as “Tales.” but both titles indicate the author's caution. The book's romantic tale of a race by L'Aubc and the Comte de Pans to try to establish French sovereignty at Akaroa before the British has long been discredited. Igcobson's version came from French settlers, understandably upset, or unaware at the time that perfidious Albion had. in tact, a prior claim. That apart, and bearing in mind that the stories could be suspect in omission and detail the book s a fascinating, vetx loadable recall of the old daxs. While most of the material relates to Akaroa. < anterburx s fust town. Jacobson reminds us of the other w.iile settleis on the Peninsula long before Christchurch He tells of the whaiois at Petaki and elsewhere (torn the 1830 s. the Greenwoods at Purau in 1843 the Hays ami him lan s al Pigeon Bax a yeat later, and the Mansons ind Gebbies at Teddington Irotn 1845. Stories funny and tragic come from the days when the district had more than a share of characters. A valuable section of the book is ns Maori history, based on the findings of the indefatigable Canon J. W. Stack, who spoke to "many weli-inform°d natives.” The accounts of the “eat relation" feud and the Te Rauparaha terror are involved but absorbing reading. “Tales” points up the blend of cultures and customs which went to make Akaioa the out ot this xxorld place it is today. The reprint will reinforce the efforts of those who try

io preserve its distinction, and should he required reading for those who would change its character.