Man Who Wrote “Poenamo.”

Sir John Logan Campbell, the author of that racy book of early-days life in New Zealand, “Poenamo,” first set foot on these shores on one of the beautiful islands that shelter Waiau or Coromandel Harbour. There have been some refer ences lately to his arrival in Wellington before going on to the Hauraki Gulf; that was just before Auckland City was founded. “Poenamo” (the author's way of spelling “pounamu,” greenstone) is worth reading by every New Zealander, for its capital descriptions of old-time life and its humours and troubles of the pioneer days. It is not well known nowadays, but it is a worthy companion book to Judge Maning's “Old New Zealand.”

Years ago some of us explored, one glorious Christmas, the storied island where Campbell landed in Herekino Bay, where Big Webster the Yankee trader, had his store and held an important place as the pakeha-Maori of the local tribes. It was a lively spot then, and one of the first things young Dr. Campbell, as he was then, saw when he got on shore, was a party of young fellows from Sydney, land-buyers and what not, playing pitch-and-toss with gold sovereigns. The Scots doctor had far too much respect for real money to join them in their pastime. Soon the new town of Auckland took the wind out of Webster's trading sails, and Herekino was deserted. The island is known as Beeson's Island to-day; it is a little sheep farm.

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