A HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7253, 16 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Thoro aro few men in Now Zaalaud who have, from the first iuoaption of the New Zealand Company's scheme of colonisation to ibe present time, taken a more active part in the settlement of the Colony (says the Wellington Post) than Mr John Howard Wallace, of this city. Although it is not likoly that when the thoughts of himself and his father were first turned towards tho aubjacteither had any idea of becoming contributors to the history of what was destined within half a contury to become a great Colony, each had a methodical method of keeping a diary, and wes accustomed to treasure up all kinds of documents which, although only possessing little or no value at the time of publication, after once the contents is ascertained, become in lapse of yearE of inestimable value as records of the paßt and landmarks on the road which has been passed over, Prom the original poster which in 1838 announced ■on the blank walls of English villages that a company under the governorship of Lord Durham had been formed to plant the British flag in an almost unknown country at the other side of the globe, called New Zealand, down to the latest Parliamentary publications, Mr Wallace's collection of interesting official and historical documents is almost perfect, and certainly unique. Having taken an active part in public affairs, Mr Wallace's collection of autogiaph letters from almost all the men of note whoso names have been associated with the Colony is very large, and relates to almost every subject of interest connected with its history. At a meeting of old colonists held here a couple of years ago, Mr Wallace announced that it was bis intention shortly to utilise his vast stores of information by publishing a complete history of New Zealand from the very earliest period of its discovery to the introduction of the Constitution Act. The announcement was received with great interest, and the value of the proposed work was promptly recognised, As a matter of fact, the history has been in preparation for the last 40 years, but it is only within the last four or five that Mr Wallace has been preparing his stores of knowledge in form for publication. This work is now almost completed, waiting only for final revision, and arrangements are at opca to be made for its publication in England in two volumes royal Bvo., at a price not exceeding £2 2s to subscribers. We have had an opportunity of seeing the manuaoriptj.and can speak in the highest terms of the method of arrangement adopted and the accuracy and completeness of the information embodied. _ Mr Wallace has indulged in no fancy writing, and has sacrificed nothing in aspiring to literary style; but he has compiled a truthful and most interesting, if plain, account of the early days of the Colony, the triala and troubles of its settlers, the heroic work they did, and the success which they achieved, Liets of the pioneer Bottlers in all parts of the Colony are given, and numbers of them have rendered Mr Wallace valuable aid in hiß work. The prospectus will be issued in a few days, and we have no doubt that Mr Wallace's industry and labour will, meet with due reward by a very large edition toeing Bubscribed for in the Colony,