ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 22, 29 November 1911, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

A NEW ZEALAND NAPOLEON. Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs have just issued at half a guinea Mr. T. Lindsay Buick's “An Old New Zealander." The work concerns the career, both violent and splendid, of the great Ngatitoan chief Te Rauparaha—“thu •Napoleon of the South,” as the author calls his hero, whose father, Werawera, had the misfortune to provide a substantial meal for a fellow-countryman The grim old warrior, who had tried his digestion with Werawera, was hoard to make a remark to th effect that if ever the hitter’s son fell into his hands he would certainly follow in ‘as fathei'i footsteps, as he would make a delicious relish for so great a warrior’s rauparalia. The rauparaha is a juicy plant of the convolvulus kind, eaten as a vegetable by the Maoris; and hence the youngster got the name of Te Rauparaha—convolvulus leaf. The introductory chapters of the book are of singular interest; they attempt to trace conjecturally the complicated history of Polynesian migration. Mr. Buick believes that the ancestors of the Maoris were a fair Caucasian race, living somewhere in the vicinity of- the Japanese

archipelago, and drives aonthwsrd by the “ice-sheet” of the Palaeolithic period. Going towards India the fair men from the north fell in with a dark-skinned race; the two stocks were mingled, and thus we have the present .Maoris, olive-skinned, but often with fine. Caucasian features.

In his preface, Mr. Buick suggests that there may be amongst the reading public some who will question the need or the wisdom of recording the savage ami sanguinary past of the Maoris, but as lie says, "history is always history, and if this contribution serves no other useful purpose, it may at least help to emphasise the marvellous transformation which has been worked in the natives of New Zealand since Te Rauparaha’s time a transformation which can be accounted one of the world’s greatest triumphs for missionary enterprise. It may be, too, that some critics will not subscribe to my estimate of the chief’s character, because it has been the conventional view that he who refused to part with his own people’s heritage was destitute of a redeeming feature. Owing to the misrepresentation of the early settlers and traders, he has been greatly misunderstood by their successors; and they have further added to the injustice by sometimes seeking to measure one who was steeped in heathen darkness by the holy standard' which was raised by the Founder of Christianity. As in the careers of most conquerors, there is much in the life of Te Rauparaha that will not bear condonation; but in every British community there is wholesome admiration for resourcefulness, indomitable will, and splendid courage; and, if the succeeding pages serve to balance these high qualities of the chief against his failings, they may assist in setting up a more equitable standard whereby future generations will be able to judge him.”

Mr. Buick expresses his gratitude to tire authors of existing publications on New Zealand, upon whose works he has drawn, and his thanks to Mr. Percy South, F.R.G.S. (to which “well-deserv-ing pillar in the temple of Polynesian learning” the work is dedicated), to Messrs. H. M. Stowell, J. R. Russell, VV. T. Downes, and J. W. Joynt, M.A., for the assistance they have given hint in compiling his work. Mr. Buick’s volume, which contains a fair number of illustrations, makes most interesting reading, and should be a valuable addition to the historic literature of New Zealand. A BILL AND ITS PROBABLE EFFECTS Commenting on the determination of the New Zealand Government to introduce a special bill into Parliament designed to facilitate the acquisition of whatever areas may be required for the purposes of closer settlement, the London "Financial Times” remarks that assuming that the outcome of this decision will be approximately same as in Australia, several English companies, representing over .£3,000,000 of capital, will be faced with -the possibility of the compulsory expropriation by the Government of a portion of their property on terms to be armnged either by mutual agreement or by arbitration.

According to the “Financial Times,” the representatives in London of New Zealand interests do not fear the verdict of an impartial tribunal regarding the fairness of the prices they are asking for land, and states that an impartial decision as to the value of land ,in various parts of the Dominion will be of considerable service to the companies ow ning this class of security, for some of them are by no means certain regarding the figure at which their estates might be legitimately entered in the books. “As a rule,” says the “Financial Times.” "directors have preferred to under-estimate property lather than the other way, and it is possible that when the new bill comes into operation surprises will await not a few shareholders. It is true that occasionally a 'tendency has been evinced to place the highest possible, value upon land assets. but such instances are not only uncommon, but are well known to those who make a study of the market. The prospect of expropriation will, of course, not be very much appreciated by shareholders as a whole. In view of the record of recent events in Australia it has, however, been a foregone conclusion for sonir time past that a similar policy would sooner or later be adopted in New Zealand. The net result will lie to drive the pastoralists into fresh districts, while the areas over which their sheep and cattle have hitherto roamed will be brought

into cultivation, with the prospect hereafter of towns and cities springing up where at present are few signs of cultivation. For immediate purposes, however, it is more to the point to remember that the compulsory purchase of land in New Zealand w ill mean the repayment of a considerable amount of capital, which will have to be reinvested elsewhere. Some there are who regard South African land as likely to prove a popular substitute for real estate at the Antipodes and to a limited extent this may possibly be true, though there is a considerable difference between the two propositions.” LADY SEAFIELD’S WILL. Until the will of the late Caroline, Lady Seatield, is proved, it is impossible to know to what extent the present Earl will benefit out of her ladyship’s private fortune. Certain authoritative details concerning her testamentary writings have, however, been supplied to the Home Press. From these, it appears that her will contains a number of private bequests, and the following legacies to charities and public institutions:—To the Infirmary at Inverness, £1,000; to the Chalmers Hospital, Banfl', £1,000; to the trustees on behalf of the lan Charles Cottage Hospital, Granttown, £lB,OOO. The residence and remainder of her personal . means and estate, as well as the furniture, pictures, ete., in her mansion houses of Cullen House and Castle Grant, and also the whole furniture and movable effects, the property of Lady Seafield, in all other houses or shooting lodges belonging to her or her estates, are directed to be made over by her executors to the trustees appointed under her trust disposition of the Seafield and Grant Estates, to be held by them for the purposes of that trust. Lady Seafield narrates that she succeeded to the Seafield and Grant Estates under the disposition and settlement granted by her son, who had the power of disposal thereof at the time of his death, and she desires that after her death these estates are to be preserved for the heirs who may hereafter succeed to the style and title of Earl of Seafield. She accordingly conveys the estates to her trustees, conferring upon them ample powers of management. The purpose of the trust, after the payment of expenses and all burdens, is to make provision for the present Earl of Seafieid and for his successors in the title. Provision is also made for the Earl’s wife and children should he predecease them, and for the widow and younger children of Francis William, tenth Earl of Seafield. Arrangement is made during the subsistence of the trust for the occupancy by the Earl of Seafield for the time of the mansion houses or one or the other with the shootings and fishings. During the continuance of the trust the trustees are directed to apply the whole free surplus income from the estates in payment and reduction of the heritable debts affecting the estates, and finally, on the expiry of the period specified in the trust disposition and additions thereto, the trustees are directed to entail the estates on the Earl of Seafield for the time and successors in the title.

Concerning the will, the “Times” says: “Regarded as a whole, Lady Seafield’s testamentary writings exhibit in a singular way the policy, commenced by her husband and continued by her son, and as a sacred trust by herself, of managing the family estates, with the view of their proper development, to the reduction of debt, and to the comfort and well-being of the tenantry and all connected with them. That task she has now handed, on to her trustees. Her wonted generosity is displayed, not only in her legacies to public institutions which have a territorial connection, but

also in the numerous legacies from her private fortune, 'which she has left? to the estate officials, employees and servants, and in the bequest of residue from her personal estate to her trustees for the purpose of her trust disposition.”