PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1934, Page 10

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

“MARSDEN’S LIEUTENANTS.” We have received from Mr A. H. Reed, publisher, Dunedin, a copy of “Marsden’s Lieutenants,” edited by Dr. J. R. Elder. The volume is a sequel to “Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden” by the same editor, and like it, is an important addition to New Zealand historical recoids and literature. In these days of centenaries present and prospective, when the public interest in the happenings of the early days is inci eased, there will be a greater desire to “look backward,” and “Marsden s Lieutenants” can be strongly recommended to general reader and student alike. Based on original MSS. material in the Hocken Library, Otago University Museum, the publication is authoritative, and its contents form further proof that truth can be stranger than fiction, and much more interesting. As has been made evident by Dr. Elder’s edition of the Marsden Letters and Journals, the late Dr. Hocken devoted much time and attention to securing manuscripts written by Marsden, and those who were associated with him in the work of the Church Mission in New Zealand. The manuscripts in this later book are the letters and journals of the three men who first represented the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand under the general supervision of Marsden. These three missionaries — Thomas Kendall, William Hall, and John King—were men of very different training and character, and formed an ill-mated trio whose quarrels' with each other and frequent disobedience of orders #tdded greatly to Marsden’s difficulties as Superintendent of the Mission.

Kendall, in particular, is full of interest in his observations upon native customs. His Journal records his early life and first religious experiences, his voyage of 1813 to New South Wales in the Earl Spencer, his pioneering journey to New Zealand in the early months of 1814 when he sailed with William Hall in the “Active” (Captain Peter Dillon) and made a stay of some six weeks at the Bay of Islands, and his final settlement there after Marsden’s first voyage' of December, 1814. -Kendall was the first man to reduce the Maori language to writing, an intense student of native lore, and the particular friend of the great Hongi. Wililam Hall and John King were tradesmen and lacked Kendall’s facility with the pen but, at the same time, left records which throw considerable light upon the vicissitudes and trials of the period of beginnings. Hall, from reasons of health, was compelled to return to New South Wales in 1825. King, who arrived in the “Active” with Marsden in December, 1814, was destined to serve the Society in New Zealand for nearly 40 years; he died in 1854. The Hall MSS. cover the period 1819 to 1824, the King MSS. the years 1819 to 1853, particularly the years before 1833. Hall, a practical man, speaks much pf the whalers and their -work, and is oi* particular interest for the light he throws upon the arrival of the Rev. Samuel Leigh and the consequent beginnings of the Methodist Mission. King, a more reflective individual, makes many comments on ethnologi-

cal matters. Hall, for example, writes as follows, in his Journal: — Wednesday, February 9, 1825. —Arrived the “Calder,” Captpin Dillon, and as soon as he dropt his anchor a crowd of natives rushed on board as usual when a ship pomes in. They immediately began to steal and take away everything they could lay hold of, and had it not been for Towa a son of Tippahee, a civil young man, being on board that assisted in recovering •several of the articles back again, the ship must have suffered great los. But Shoukee, an illegitimate son of that same Tippahee, who is as much a savage as his brother is civilised, watched an opportunity and stole a musket out of the captain’s boat when on shore. He immediately returned on board and detained Towa as a hostage for the return of the muskets, which, after two days, had the desired effect. Two other natives also were detected in stealing a copper chain from the rudder. They had cut it asunder and got part of it in their possession, which was recovered. The captain had them brought upon the quarter-deck and examined before a number of natives, and sentenced the one to three dozen and the other to two dozen lashes, which they received immediately in a regular manner.

An interesting extract from King’s Journal, on the other hand, shows the type of matter* which he took pleasure in noting:—May 5, 1823.—A native told me that the chief mate of the schooner (“Cossack”), previous to the wreck, had struck the tabood stone at' the mouth of the harbour. The natives then told him his vessel would be lost. He said, “No, no, New Zealand god could do nothing.’’ They told him that, Mr Marsden, Mr Kendall, and Mr King, who were priests, had been at the stone, but their conduct was quite different to his, when they understood the stone was tabood they let it abide. As the vessel was going out the wind failed her and the heavy rolls in from the sea sent her on the rocks and broke it to pieces. The natives behaved well to the captain and crew and conducted them across the country to the Keedee Keedee. The. natives told me that the atua or god called Taneewa has killed thousands of New Zealand men, and he is much pleased that the Taneewa serveth the white people no better than he does them.

These manuscripts, therefore, give an added interest to Marsden’s work in New Zealand, and together made an absorbing picture of the times with which they deal. This is ■no mere record of the beginnings of a mission but a stirring drama in which the actors are the white incomers, on the one hand, and the native chiefs, eager above all things for muskets and powder, on the other.

The fact that the publication is entirely New Zealand in matter, editing, printing, and publishing, is also gratifying, and it is to be hoped that the publisher’s enterprise will be adequately rewarded, if, only, because this may niean further similar volumes. “TALES OF MAORI BUSH.” James Cowan is the author of the above-mentioned book, by the same publisher. Less ambitiously produced than the Marsden journal, it is more “popular,” and may attract a Wide ] public. Mr Cowan’s reputation as a

writer on Maori topics is too well known to need emphasis, and this latest collection of short stories and historical incidents must add to liis reputation and admirers, This is another all N.Z. production. “NEW ZEALAND ILLUSTRATED.” From Christchurch Press Company. —The first sign of the forthcoming Christmas, in New Zealand, is usually the seasonal annuals, and one of the first issued is the above-mentioned. On somewhat familiar lines, this year’s number covers a wide range of scenic beauty spots, and will make an acceptable “card” to friends in the Homeland, Australia, and other parts abroad. From the printers' viewpoint, the annual is first-class, and the coloured plate, “Arrival of Cap-

tain Cook at the South Island, 1770, will probably be later framed, hy many households. MAGAZINES. • From Gordon and Gotch Ltd., Christchurch: — “Grand,” “West,” “Short Stories,” and “Great War Adventures.” These make entertaining reading matter, catering for most tastes, the three last-named being mainly about he-men.