Books

Te Ao Hou, June 1962, Page 52

Books Egmont: The Story of a Mountain A. H. and A. W. Reed 20/- by A. B. Scanlan Generations of people, Maori and Pakeha, having lived in this country, there is something to report of every locality. Mr Scanlon's account of the story of Mt Egmont is as useful as it is interesting. The mountain has always ‘belonged to’ the Taranaki Maoris. Once the mountain Taranaki lived near Tongariro in the place where Lake Rotoaira now is and fell in love with the mountain Pihanga; but Pihanga was Tongariro's wife and Tongariro drove Taranaki away. When mist or cloud covers Taranaki's head he is said to be mourning his lost love Pihanga. For generations the Taranaki people buried dead on the mountain. This is a powerful association. Egmont's slopes have been the training grounds for many well known mountaineers and skiers. Mr Scanlon has written about the tragic accidents that have occurred on the mountain and the continuing work of the Alpine Clubs to provide huts and experienced guides for people who enjoy mountain climbing. —Earle Spencer Hey Boy! by Jane and Bernie Hill Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. 15/- ‘Boy is what they call me in our street. But my real name is Charlie, like my Dad's. My Dad's people come from Tahiti, and my mother's people are Northern Maori, who were famous warriors. So as Dad says that makes us half hula and half haka’. This book of photographs is about Boy, who lives at what is obviously the Orakei Pa in Auckland, though the name is not given in the book. It presents a realistic and attractive picture of him and his family; there have really been very few good photographs of Maoris published, and this is certainly the best book of its kind to appear so far. It should be very popular, and for a big book with so many photographs its price of 15/- is very reasonable indeed. —M.O. Dictionary of Maori Place Names A. H. and A. W. Reed 12/6 This valuable little book discusses the meanings of over 2000 Maori place names. It will be a most useful book for schools, as well as for everyone who is interested in Maori history. —M.O.