PORT OF WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 8

PORT OF WELLINGTON

ITS HISTORY

THE DISPLACEMENT THEORY

(By Hare Hongi.)

I have just read Mr. T. Lindsay Buick's "Jubilee of tho Port of Wellington: 18S0-1930." Of that fifty years I myself know the port for forty-two, and, with but two exceptions, I can testify to the well-com-piled and carefully-collected details, and to the altogether interesting presentation of the historical facts.

Those who know Mr. Buick know how very worth-while he makes hjs now many productions. To those who do not know him I commend his ."Treaty of AVaitaugi," "The French at Akaroa," and "Romance of the Gramophone," works which are a distinct acquisition to New Zealand literature, aud which may well grace the shelves of—at the least—any New Zealand library, public or private. I speak with some knowledge of these matters when I say that, in my opinion, no other living writer could so capably aud interestingly have handled those subjects as Mr. Buick has done. His "Treaty of Waitangi" is a grand, a monumental work.

But "Tho Jubilee of,the Port" and the guess as to its' orfgin: "There is an interesting speculation on tho 'displacement' theory of Alfred Wegeuer, which, presuming an eternal drift to the west, sees the South Island torn from the North, and "Wellington Harbour formed in the wrench." Such a futile and altogether unscientific guess ought not <o have been given a place in this work. There has been, no "wrench" whatever. Very evidently, countless years ago, both islands wero higher and more closely united, with a slight depression between (? a river). A sinking, process occurred which gave "Cook Strait" its being. That sinking process has ceased; and a process of elevation is now proceeding.

It is, too, a pity that Mr. Buiek has wasted space by referring to certain first Maori pioneers and discoverers of the harbour, for his names and references in that connection are altogether wrong. Neither "Kupe" nor "Ngahue" were "discoverers"; nor was "Toi" a "pioneer sailor." Then again Toi's great-grandson, Whatonga, had nothing whatever, historically, to do with, what is now, Wellington Harbour. By all of which I mean that Mr. Buick has been ill-advised to use these- names in the historical sense as being connected with the harbour. His own comment on the matter shows that stroke of genius for which he is quite capable: "It is somewhat strange that Kupe, the noted, geographer, haying taken the trouble to name two small islands in the harbour, did not specifically designate the harbour itself. At least, no such designation has survived in Maori memory;" In that comment we have Mr. Buick at his best, as an historian and as a man of competent aud careful research. That way he puts his inquiring finger on the point and asks: How is, that? Of course, his futile authority cannot answer tho question. Tho ancient traditional Maori history of the harbour does not, eyen partially, descend from those names. Kupe and Ngahue arc mythic; they do not belong to tho realm of traditional history. And, be it added to his credit, Mr. Buiek obviously hurries over those references and passes along to written records, ou which he feels quite at home.

From the Bth of February, 1770, and tho 2nd of November, 1773, he shows Cook's connection with the harbour, and thereafter all is plain historical sailing. How well Mr. Buick .states and dates the details of his work—which is liberally illustrated with views and portraits—can be appreciated only by a perusal of its contents. There is its colonisation by the pakeha, who were ably assisted by influential Maori chiefs. So the old order passed away.

As a history of the makings and the makers of Wellington Port the production is complete and is a credit to all those who took a part in it.

The concluding paragraph serves to illustrate the Buick style: "Here, then, is a great natural port, with an annual sea-borne trade amounting to 2,172,406 tons. Central in situation, road and railway fed, replete with modern appliances designed by the best engineering skill; admirably managed, faithfully administered, it is adoquately serving the needs of a rapidly expanding community of 130,000 souls. Thus to-day we enjoy the realisation of Sir George Grey's prophetic vision of fifty years ago when he predicted that: 'More speedily than most people think, Wellington will become a great emporium of progress.'" As to the make-up of the work: the print is beautifully clear, the-quality of the paper is first-class, and the cover is handsomely finished off in raised gold lettering: Ka nui te pai!