SUCCESS OF EXHIBITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22325, 29 April 1936, Page 12

SUCCESS OF EXHIBITIONS

NEW ZEALAND AUTHORS' WEEK WISE INTEREST AROUSED The displays in the Reference Room of the Rubiks Library and at the Hocken Library in connection with New Zealand Authors’ Week are still! arousing widespread interest, and several schools have visited the exhibitions. On loan to the Public Library is ‘ South, South Eastward Ho,’ a collection of verse by the late Charles Oscar Palmer, published in 1934. This work has been favourably reviewed in ‘ The Times ’ literary supplement. A prominent section of the dispflay of New Zealand books in the Hocken Gallery is devoted to the works of F. E. Maning, author of ‘ Old New Zealand.’ This famous book, described by an early New Zealand reviewer as “ Herodotus and Froissart in one,” was first published in Auckland in 1863. An edition was published in England in the same year, and in 1876 the Earl of Pembroke brought out a further edition with an introduction which contains an interesting sketch of Maning: “He was, I believe, 60 years old when I first saw him, but, in spite of his age, Hooked the finest man for strength, activity, and grace I had ever seen. Six feet three in height and big in proportion, with a symmetry of shape that almost disguised his immense size, I felt I could well understand the stories I had heard of his popularity and his feats amongst the Maoris, especially when I watched the keen bright expression of his humor-' ous Irish face.” All these editions are included in the present display, together with one edited by Dr T. M. Hocken, who prefaced it by a biographical sketch of tho ‘ Pakeha Maori.’ In addition, the library is exhibiting a unique collection of unpublished letters written by Maning to his friend John Webster. The display is open to the public during Museum hours—Monday to Saturday, noon-4 p.m,; Sundays, 2-4 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW ZEALAND AUTHORS.

The Hocken Gallery has been used for the display of a large, collection of photographic studies of New Zealand authors from the S. P. Andrew Studios, Wellington. Although contemporary writers necessarily predominate, photographs are included of both Alfred Domett and Thomas Bracken. Among the scientists and historians are Dr W. R. B. Oliver, Dr Peter Buck, T. Lindsay Buick, Dr G. H. Scholefield. and Elsdon Best. New Zealand novelists are represented by G. B. Lancaster, Nelle M. Scanlan, Sheila Macdonald, C. R. Allen, Alan Mulgan, and Jean Devanney. Poets include “ Robin Hyde ” (Miss Iris Wilkinson) and C. Stuart Perry. There are also photographs of Dr Merton Hodge, Judge Alpers, C. A. L. Treadwell, and James Cowan.