Oliver Bainbridge Redivivus.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 211, 12 September 1901, Page 1

Oliver Bainbridge Redivivus.

Many will remember Mr Oliver Bainbridge, M.A., who came here to lecture and who was chietly noticeable for bis ladylike looks.. An article by him appears"in a ban Francisco paper on Natives of New Zealand, which is illustrated by photographs of Maori maidens and carvings, and gives some rather curious and startling facts. The aforesaid maidens are named SVilkitaria Heepa, liawinia Hipargo and ltanga, which shows that at any rate the Maori language is too much for the erudite traveller. His researches, he says, carry him back a thousand years and prove that the Maoris, Tougans, Tahitians, (Samoans and Hawiians are oue and the same family. Here is a gem from his paper: “ Vast though the subject be and wide, the interval of space and time, unfettered by cataclysmul disasters and terrestrial eiianges, the mind of the Native propiiet or adept of less than 100 years of ago could grasp with clearness the principles of creation which have been handed down as a legacy from his forefathers. He could explain the evolution and involution of a germ . . . ,he could describe the contents of the universe, recite how the stars'were sown through space, their order and class, aud the forces which keep them suspended and circling in tlieir respective spheres,” as well as a lot of other wonderful things. The present tohungas do not appear to be a patch on their brother prophet of less than 100 years ago. But Mr Bainbridge evidently saw and heard many amazing things in his travels. Listen to his guide while lie tells a legend of Lake Waikaremoana, which legend by the way has no connection whatever with the Lake. “My guide,” he says, “ commenced the legend as follows:—And now that we are here among the silent homes of the ancient people it is well that I should tell you the legends of ‘ the sea of the rippling waters,’ for that is why I followed you through the dark forests and across tiie snowy mountains which lie far away, where tiie sky hangs down. And it is not an idle journey, but one in which there is much to be seen. But you must not be alarmed at the monsters which in-

habit the sea of Waikare, for I am an Ariki taniwha (lord of dragons); therefore it is well I should be with you, for no taniwha will molest you : and be strenuous in retaining what I impart, for I know that you have not eaten of the sacred herb which binds knowledge acquired. Friend, it is well that we are alone, for the people that are with us have little love for the gallant stories of old. I’ll tell them to you so that you can preserve the traditions of my people aud record them that they may be retained in the world of light.” And then he proceeds to toll the tale that is to be retained in the world of light. It is about a good-looking maiden who chose a rather common-place young man for her future husband. Having made her choice in the dark she changed her mind in the light of day and rail off with some other young man. The jilted lover followed and killed her husband ; the husband's friend in turn threw the young lady over a cliff, and so poetical justice was dealt out all round. The Ariki taniwha places the Te Heinga Falls on the Wairoa Stiver while iie confuses Turanga (Poverty Bay) with Tauranga. According to Mr Bainbridge the Huia feather is a royal ornament fat the King’s family, and he says the bird is said to be extinct. He also gives some interesting (especially to Now Zealanders) information on tatooing and carving. Home people will think the illustrations the best part of the article.