Spirit of the Pacific.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10478, 7 January 1928, Page 6

Spirit of the Pacific.

NEW ZEALAND WRITERS. (Specially written for the Gisborne Times.)

' ... V (Concluded:) . it,/./■ EDWARD Tit EG EAR. Edward Tregear is another writer who can justly lpty claim to inclusion in New Zealand s list of writer-spec-ialists in Polynesian research. Mr. Tregear was born in London in 1846, ancl arrived in New Zealand 'at the ag;o of •'Seventeen years. in the course ol a varied career he has seen all .sides cf life from Ills experience as surveyor and mining epgineer up to Secretary for Labor for. New Zealand. He specialises in lexicography, and is the author of the ‘ AlaonPolynesian Comparative Dictionary,” a valuable work now.-out of print. ‘Dictionary of the Pauriiotu Islands/ “Dictionary of Maiigareva,” “D-ct-ionary of Niue.” Mr. Tregear also wrote. “Tile Maori Race/' which deals with all aspects of Native life; ‘Fairy Tales cf New Zealand and the South Seas,” etc. JAMES DRUMMOND.

In the world of natural history, especially ornithology, Mr. James Drummond holds a very enviable position, and probably has more correspondence than any writer jn New Zealand, for Ins weekly articles in various newspapers deal with every phase of animal life For instance, the date of the' arrival of the shining cuckoo in the Dominion, lrom its long sea flight from unknown lands back to Now Zealand, is invariably followed by a sheaf of correspo.ndeuco lor Mr. Drummond. Men, women and children from isolated bush settlements or sparsely populated areas, note the arrival of the welcome stranger, and identification having been established, the exact hour and the minute are carefully noted, and the information forwarded to Christchurch to Mr. Drummond.

Gisborne has a particular interest in this well-known writer, lor though born in Thames in 1869,. lie was educated at the public school and at a private school m this town, where Ids father/-'Mr. John Drummond, was a civil engineer. As a hoy, James Drummond served his apprenticeship to the printing trade at the Poverty Day Herald Office, and soon alter coining cut of his time-went to Wellington, where'-he was employed at the Government Printing Office. Then he decided to take up journalism, and followed that profession in several parts of New Zealand, but for many years past lias been chief of staff "on the “Lyttelton Times,” Christchurch. His* publications include “Nature in New Zealand,” “The Animals of New Zealand” (in '■.•injunction with Captain Hutton), now in its second edition:' “Our Feathered .Immigrants,” “The Life and Work of Richard John Spddon,” “Life, of Samuel Marsden,” etc.- Mr.. Drummond edited “John Ruthcrlord, the White Chief.” and contributes to numerous scientific publications in Australia, Britain and America. That his ability as a naturalist is recognised may be gathered from the fact that he was many years ago elected a Fellow of the Liniman Society. and also a Fellow of the Zoological Society, and a member of tne British Ornithologists’ Union.

G. M. THOMSON. Science teacher, scientific special-' ist and analyst, are tjie educational qualifications of the Hon. George Malcolm Thomson, o': Dunedip. but he is better" known to'the general public through his researches in natural history. Mr. Thejnson is now 81 years of age, and is one'•f the best-known residents of Dupedin. He is the founder of: the Portobello Marine Fish Hatchery and up original member of the Australasian Associriton, and was Ne,w ZealanJ secretary of that well-known: scientific body for ten years. ; Mr. Thomson is the' author oi . “Ferns and Fern Allies of New' Zealand,” “ClassBook- of Botany,b’ “New Zealand Naturalists’ Calendar/’ etc., etc.

, GUY H. SCHOLEFIELD. , Amongst the younger writers on more serious subjects one myst, not forget Guy Hardy Scholefield, now librarian at the ‘General Assembly Library. Mr. Scholefield has had much experience in the world of print both in New Zealand apd in Britain. Born in Dunedin in 1877, he. completed his education at Victoria College, where he secured the coveted honor of Bowen Prizeman, and selecting journalism as. his profession made a. start on the literary staff of the Bruce Herald, hut after four years decided to seek experience and transferred tp the now defunct New Zealand Times, as. a reporter, Inter going on- to the Christchurch Press as’’sub-editor and then back to Wellington! as chief of staff op Iris old paper, the “Times.” In 1907 he was appointed the London, representative of a New 'Zealand newspaper syndicate, and remained in Britain till t.he con lusion of the war. In tli- first stages of the great conflict A 1 Scholefield was the first overseas newspaper correspondent . jit the front. On his return to New Zealand he took over the 'Masterton “Age” and relinauished it . onlv last vear, when he' was appointed to his -present position. ; All’. Scholefield lias made a study of economics, public administration ■ and Imperial historv-. Amongst his works ar,e “The Alaking of a Nation,” “Biography of Captain W. Hobson, R,N., First Governor of New- Zealand,’ •’• ‘‘New Zealand in Evolution//' “The ; etc. In conjunction with Air, Emil Schwabe,, now of Sydney, Air. Scholefield published in' 1906 a very inrormative book “Who’s Who 1 in New Zealand,” which was later reprinted. and has proved a veritable boon, particularly to journalists...

ROBERT’ McNAB. Itohcrt MeNab is'iinother writer of. New Zealand history who has contributed his full quota to . the research work of the Dominion. Mj\ -M.cN,ib was born in R.napdale ? ■ Southland, and qualified as' a solicitor, hut relinquished this profession when . he entered the ticld' of politics r in which lie rose to be Minister' of* I/unua m the Ward 1 Goyernnient. • From an early age Mr. 'McNab taoji a keen interest' in the; eai'ly history of New Zealand., and in the course of his research' work visited America; B' l--ain and the (Johtinent, in add) la on f,b • i--vying Visi ts' to: Australia. Some of his most ' Valuable, a-ecords were acquired unexpectedly', by,' visits to the libraries Of 1 little-linown foreign towns', wlieie lib made' rtNeustarn pt searching such institutions,, and on occasions fou itcJ r logfr'of Rippers of ’ whalers' tra'dinw.;.to.' IseW_ ’Zealand in the earlv part' of the nihoteenth century. '■ FeiiSAfe liis best" kiiown Wild-is “Murihiku,” which . was -first nublished in. Invercargill V'aqil some * vears> later’ Vv,as ? t/iiristchurch. Tn addition Dr. dVldNab wrote “Ear.lv Whaling Days,“.From Tasman to Marsdoh,?’''and two volumes Cof A* ‘Historical.''Records * 'of . Now: Zealand.” ~ r - V . ‘ ■ ’ : S.' PEERCY SMITH. 1 v * . A- roll,, of the .makers : land literature would ' be • incomplete without mention of 1 Mr. Stephenson Percv Smith,.; for his book;- “Hawaikr dealing . with ' thehomo -.of 1 , the

Maori is perhaps . the/: best known- of all New Zealand-.ivories on the Native race. Incidentally,* ‘'Hawaiki”.. is now' in its ...fourth edition. Air. Smith arrived,; in •Now.; 1 ’ Zealand j:l 1849. at the age of nine years, and as a youth entered'/the Civil Service ..in ; .the Lands Department, where he served for 45. years, rising to the high-. ,est position in the- service, SurveyorGeneral and!: Seci-otary for ; .Crown Lands. Up to the time ’of his. death a few years ago, Air. Smith retained his interest in the Maori race, He will be remembered for countless years as being the. founder of the Polynesian'" Society, * which' has ‘ performed invaluable Work in recording the ancient history, traditions and life of the Maori, and for many years. Mr. Smith was editor, of,, the “Journal of the. Polynesian Society/’ which ■ circulates among scientific institutions in. all parts' of the-globe. In addition to “JLivvaiki,” Mr. Smith wrote /“Maori Wars of the Nine-, teentli Century/’ “Lore of the Wha-re-Wahanga” ’(two .volumes), “Eruption of Tafawera,” etc!, in addition to contributing numerous papers to the “Polynesian Society’s Journal” and the 1 ‘Transactions of the Philosophical Institute.”, WILLIAM PEMBER REEVES.

Another writer of books who graduated in the journalistic World is the Hon. William Pember Reeves, who -lias led a most interesting life, rising.'from a practically inexperienced barrister to the editorship ,of a, big city newspaper, then to Ministerial office: and to the High Commissionership of New Zealand, and later to the directorship of the London School of Economics. Air. Reeves was born in Canterbury m 1857. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and at the conclusion of his school days took up the law. He was admitted a barrister in thorSupveme Court of New Zealand, but decided to enter the field of. journalism. He made rapid progress in his new profession and in the course of a few .veal's was editor of the Canterbury Times, a popular weekly journal, now defunct, and later took over the editorship of the Lyttelton Times. Air. Reeves’ thoughts turned to polities, and he was in the House from 1387 till 1896. For the last five years lie hold the portfolios ol 1 Education, Labor and Justice in the Seddon Government, resigning in the latter year tc become Agent-General lor New Zealand, a position lie occupied till 1909, in the last five years of which the position increased in importance through the alteration of designation to that of High Commissioner. In London the. Hon. W. P. Reeves’ abilities were recognised,'as may lie seen by the fact that on -vacating the High Commissionership lie was offered the- position of Director of the London School of Economics, which lie held for twelve years. Last yeai Mr. Reeves made a tour of the Dominion, and in the course of liis trij paid a visit to Gisborne. Air Reeves best-known book is “The Long White Cloud, A History of New Zealand/’ which was,- republished some two years ago, with additions, and .i: still one of the. best sellers amongst books dealing with the’ Dominion. He also wrote “State Experiments in Australia and New Zealand,” “New Zealand,” “An Introduction to the History of Communism and Socialism,” etc., and has also published a volume of New Zealand verse. In addition he was a contributor to the tenth edition of the Encyclopaedia Eritannica and to the Dictionary ol National Biography. DAVID AIacDONALD ROSS. Amongst the poets of the Dominion is David AlacDonald Ross, of the Agricultural Department, Gisborne. Air. Ross was born at Aloeraki and received his education in Palmerston South, to which town the family removed when he was an infant. Later the family engaged in farming pursuits in Southern Otago. Malcolm Ross, best known as 'an alpine climber and as correspondent with the New Zealand troops at Gallipoli and in France, is the eldest oi the family. Both David and Alalcolm commenced their literary careers as country correspondents, bin tile poet did not long maintain tlial connection, being more concerned about original work than r»ailing current news. Air Ross! first serious efforts were contrbiitfi no to Sydney Bulletin fn on which lie always received kindly encouragement as wel 1 as generous payment. • Air; Ross has already- published four books of verse. First, “The Af-ter-glow/’•which- was splendidly received and reviewed by Australian and New Zealand journals', and next “Hearts of the .Pure/’ to .which Dame Alelha contributed a charming Foreword! There followed Upon this “Morning lied” and “The Promise of the Star.” “The Afterglow” and “Morning lied’’ were issued from the Dominion Press, “The Promise of. the Star” by JaiTold and Son. London, and “Hearts of The Pure” by Lothian, London. All these publications are now out of print. •’ From his‘earliest appearance as a poot Mr. Ross has. had the warmest encouragement from some of the most eminent literateurs and critics, including the late Sir Robertson Nicel, S. R. rockett (best remembered as the author of “The Lilac Simbonnet”), Havelock Ellis, arid all the editors of 'the “Bulletin lied Page” in succession. Other poets and writers have also. written most generous praise of Air. Ross’ work, and these include sir.li well-known names as Jessie Alackhy, Alary Gilmour, David McKee Wright (probably the finest poet iri Australia today), and the late Victor Daley and Jack London. Dr; Rutherford -Waddell,- acknowledged ■to be one of the finest judges of English literature south of the line, published the opinion that the sonnets by Air. Ross would!, compare favorably with the best in any language. Reviewing “The Afterglow” on its appearance many years ago, the "late Bertram Stevens, editor, of “Bulletin lied Page,” pronounced it “The most notable addition to Australasian literature within; recent years.” While-strongjy advising Mr. ltriss to publish ‘/Stars in the Mist,” the “Bulletin” wrote: ■ “We’ have, ol course, -known.’ your work for a very long time, hut it is now finer and better than ev ( er before. . .-It is good to find such a. strong and individual note among so’ much that is thin and insincere.” : Questioned about the issue of this book, Air. Ross said, “I am entirely in the hands of; my editor. Air, .T; It. l£irk, who liasi arranged for; publication through his' friend, the .seeretsvry of The Royal Uiplonial Institute,, Sir George Boughey. . The- issue is thy subscription! arid confined to 200 copies. The whole sum .of the - subscriptions : will go- to the post of the publication' arid lias .already been prepaid. The Prime Minister; some miembers •of the Legislative Coupei! arid of the Hduse :of .Representatives, ’Besides other friends in-various, parts of Now Zealand,.; are assisting with subscriptions for, the new work, which, it is expected, will be an attractive publication.”