A MAGNIFICENT GIFT

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 76, Issue 6, 15 June 1948, Page 601

A MAGNIFICENT GIFT

IN the year 1877 Sir George Grey, former Governor-in-Chief of the islands of New Zealand, presented his large and valuable library to the-citizens .of Auckland. This magnificent gift, together with the reference books of the Mechanics' Institute, formed the nucleus of the Auckland Public Library. The famous statesman had not only made a notable collection of historical and scientific works, but also of rare books, incunabula, manuscripts, and autograph letters.- Another -important feature of his library ; was its wide range of Maori literature, including some of his own writings. His handsome. volume "Poems, Traditions, and Chants of the Maoris" had a Maori effigy embossed in gold ■upon the bright' red cover and was inscribed: "The Honble. Wm. Swainson, with Sir George Grey’s" remembrances and regards," and dated 1853, the year of its publication. With the exception of the preface, the contents were wholly in Maori, handwritten' notes here and there indicating such items as children's songs to the moon, a lament for Witini -Taiporutu, who was killed at Mahoetahi (this-was given added pathos by the fact that' its composer, died in battle the next evening), and a song for alternate male and female voices. Pencilled in the back was a boat song beginning:—

Spring to your oars

As the grasshopper springs at midsummer.

Pull away, pull away.

Another copy likewise had sundry translations written alongside the poems, among them being the'poignant fragment:— ,

Farewell, my pet bird —a bird that has flown Away from me. O spirits of my forefathers,

Shelter him kindly in your house.

He is precious as the ear drop of Matariki.

His > "Mythology and Traditions 'of the New Zealanders" was published in 1854, the English version (which has become a classic) appearing the following year under the title "Polynesian Mythology." In his .collection of "Proverbial and Popular Sayings", he coupled each native proverb with its English counterpart a most effective arrangement. These maxims contain much wisdom and many of them are extremely poetical, for example, a man who is growing old is. described as "ascending; the snowtipped ' mountain of Ruahine." Maori prayer-books, grammars, almanacs, money-tables, translations of industrial acts, and "pamphlets of various kinds all had a place, in Sir George Grey's extensive library. The yellowed pages of the grammar, compiled in 1842 by the Rev. Robert Maunsell are . full of scholarly Latin quotations, typifying the erudition of the author. Mr. Maunsell comments in a footnote: "The friends of the aborigines will be gratified to learn that the first number of a Maori/ newspaper has just been printed in Auckland." On the last page of the grammar appeared a list of subscribers, Mr. W. Colenso taking a dozen copies. .. William Colenso, pioneer printer at Paihia before joining the ranks of the clergy, was a noted authority on natural history and co-founder with Sir ; George Grey of the New Zealand Society for the Furtherance of Scientific Research. He was also a provincial inspector of schools for some years, and it was during this period that he wrote "Willie's First English Book" by order of the Government. Complete with "remembrances", to emphasise important, points, the contents of this pocket-size volume in the pale-lavender binding aimed at bringing students, past ''the wearisome bitterness of learning," but it was rather surprising to read that Colenso, who was the first to print the New Testament in Maori and devoted most of his life, to missionary work, purposely omitted all sentences, of a religious nature in order that the book might have greater and more general use. Someone had made a computation on . the flyleaf of W. L. Williams's "First Lessons in the Maori Language": "Cost of 100 ft. shingling: 1000,shingles 14/6; labour 2/6;nails I/-. Total,” 18/-." Obtaining , a roof over one's head then was not the expensive business it is now. . The cost of other building materials was equally reasonable, kauri being retailed at 275. per lOOft. and bricks at £7 per ■ 1000. It must have been much easier balancing the 'housekeeping budget, too,' judging .by .the. price lists l , quoted ,by the "Maori. Messenger" in the. late 1850’s:

"Fowls, 6/6 couple; turkeys. 10/- couple; pork, lOd. lb.; beef, lOd. lb.; hams, I/-; coffee, lOd. lb.; wheat (Ist quality), 12/bushel; tobacco, 2/6 lb." You could buy a ton of firewood or a pair of boots (female) for 10s., and shoes were only 6s. a pair. The paper gave quite a proportion of space to overseas affairs, and shipping information, agricultural advice, local events, and. even verses were included in its columns. In one issue, under the 'heading of provincial news, was' the reassuring • statement: "The class of settlers established at Wellington are of a high .order." A severe earthquake in Wellington was the.subject of cautious editorial comment: "The vibration did reach Auckland; in fact, we felt it ourselves, but so lightly that it was a disputed point whether the shock had taken place or not." However, there was no doubt about the damage in the Wellington area (every room in Government House was a pile of brickwork, the guard having a wonderful escape), and sympathy was expressed with the settlers in their, losses.

'A small Maori almanac held an unexpected story. \lt had apparently been l used as a diary by an early missionary l who mentions an interview with Te Rauparaha. He continues: "Left Port Nicholson for Porirua. Laid up with ophthalmiadark days." After the fifth day: "Rather better. Dr' H. came. Kept in the house with my eyes." Twenty-four hours later events took a tragic turn: "Horatio very ' unwell." Medical help being unavailable when most needed, 1 the patient grew worse. A few days later "Horatio died at II a.m." There was no railing against "Dr. H's" mysterious non-appearance, only the plaintive query, "Why no dr.?" . ■ After a hasty trip to Wellington he was "busy with coffin" for two days, and was then engaged in letter-writing. He also performed a large number of baptisms that week, wrote more letters, and packed. He records having been up all night before "sending cases off." They probably . contained . poor Horatio's personal effects and.'were being dispatched to his relatives ,in the Homeland. Parochial duties and mail kept him fully occupied for; the' remainder of the month. (If he habitually penned his epistles in as small a hand as the entries in his diary, it was no wonder he suffered with his eyesight.) In between further copious bouts of correspondence he packed in preparation for one of his periodical trips north, his visitations extending as far as Taupo. These are but a few of the many interesting items to be found in the Maori section of the Grey collection in the Auckland Public Library. .The presentation, of such a collection,

historically invaluable, for public use not only . indicates a high sense of 'civic duty, but reveals the deep-rooted attachment Sir George Grey had for his adopted land.