Master and Members of the Company had been very kind to me during my years in London, so, naturally, I wished to give them some token by way of thanks for all the hospitality I had received. The problem was what to give, for the Company had so much of everything, all of the best quality. As I reached New Zealand House one morning. I looked in to see Inia working in the basement. He was not, however, working as usual on one of his logs, but had a piece of totara some three feet long by ten inches square, at which he was whittling. He said something about ‘a small job’ when I made an inquiry but didn't enlighten me beyond that. A few days later I knew more about it. Inia had heard of my problem as regards a suitable presentation to the Butchers Company, had conceived the idea and executed the design in less than ten days, making a beautiful feather-box, a ‘wakahuia’, out of the piece of totara that I had seen him handling. It was an outstanding piece of work, with paua-shell eyes in the heads at either end, with a heavy, close-fitting lid, and with the whole exterior carved in symbolic designs, some Raukawa and some East Coast. Suitably stained it was a very handsome and unique piece of work, a credit to the artist who gave it form. A small silver plate was added, indicating that it was presented to the Butchers Company by me on my departure from London, as a token of appreciation and goodwill. In handing it over at the luncheon, I explained just what it was, how the chiefs used to keep prized possessions in such boxes and just how it came about that Inia had made it. The Members of the Butchers Company were so impressed that they later added another silver plate, on which was engraved, ‘Carved by Inia te Wiata, New Zealand Opera Singer’. They also invited Inia and his wife along to their next Ladies' Night, when they were able to tell him how greatly they admired his work. It was with a gloomy sense of foreboding that I heard of Inia's final illness. He was so vital a person that it was hard to imagine him being stricken, but no one is immortal and, at last, the call came. I feel the world is a little better for having had Inia in it during his all-too-short span; he has gone but his memory and influence will live on. A man of great gifts, who radiated happiness, he brought credit, not only to himself, but to New Zealand and its people, Maori and Pakeha alike. It was a privilege to have been accepted by him as a friend. Sir Thomas Macdonald, now living at Waikanae was New Zealand's High Commissioner in London from 1961 to 1968. Shining Cuckoo It comes the Pipiwharauroa On tired wing, Calls out across Valleys Whio, it sings, Come come come come Whio, Haere haere haere haere Whio. Calls, the Pipiwharauroa Gather, Take hoe And plough I sing for the planting Of the kumara. Time now Dig and hoe, Whio, Haere haere haere haere Whio. Patricia Grace.