MAORI LEGENDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 16

MAORI LEGENDS

LATE SIR MAUI POMARE COLLABORATED WITH JAMES COWAN

A testimony to the deep, unobtrusive interest taken by the late Sir Maui Pomare in all work concerning the Maori race will shortly be evident in an important publication, "Legends of the Maori,” edited by the wellknown author of books on the native race, James Cowan, in collaboration with Sir Maui.

The library set of four volumes comprising “Legends of the Maori” will possess much sentimental value, representing as it will one of the last evidences of the profound knowledge of the Polynesian possessed by a leader of the Maori race. The books are to be bound in full leather and will be published with every consideration for artistic effect by Fine Arts (New Zealand), Limited, Wellington. The first volume will contain about 350 pages. Stuart Peterson will provide 100 full-page drawings for the set. Because of the high cost of production, the work will be issued as a private subscription edition, the number of subscribers being limited to 500.

The announced desire of the publishers is “to produce a work that New Zealand can show to the Old World, confident of the approval of booklover and artist alike.” Sir Maui Pomare was a writer of polished prose. It is good to know, even because of his knowledge of things literary, apart from his expert acquaintance with Maori lore, that “Legends of the Maori” will benefit from his advice. Sir Maui was once a contributor to the Sydney "Bulletin.” There was no trace of Maori thought in the short stories, satirical and humorous articles written 20 years ago by one of the most remarkable members of the Maori race. As Medical Officer of Health to the Maoris. Sir Maui frequently astonished officialdom In Wellington by the pronounced literary touches he imparted to staid reports. “IMPRISONED BIRD” In one report, Sir Maui wrote of the Macri In this manner: “Like an imprisoned bird of the forest he pines for the liberty and freedom of his alpine woods. This was a warrioi race, used to fighting for liberty or to death. All this is gone . . The object of "Legends of the Maori” is to present an artistic selection of the inspiring Maori legends, epic stories of gods and men, quaint folk tales, and the traditions of mythology and history. The distinctive back, ground of New Zealand has been appreciated and it is desired to convey a true impression of the Aotearoa of Maori fancy and fact and of the seagirt Pacific islands from which the ancestors of the Maoris cam'e. The gift of the Maori, for artistic expression has been regarded as literature, in the absence of a written language. Some stories of the Polynesian are considered scarcely to be equalled by Greek myth or Scandinavian saga.

For these reasons has James Cowan set himself to present stories satisfying the tastes of art from the vast clutter of books on the stories, the history and the traditions of the natives of New Zealand. Tales of the ancients, wood-smoke magic, creation legends, the separation of rang! (heaven) and papa (earth), stories of fairy tribes anu wild men of the bush, tapu, spiritland, folk songs and tales—these will be only a few of the gems of the first volume. Volume 2 will contain legends and stories by Sir Maui and Mr. Cowan, volume 3 will deal with artcraft and decoration, and volume 4 will contain more beliefs, customs, lore, forestcraft, noetry and the meanings of place-rames.