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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 11 (February 1, 1938)

Variety in Brief

page 64

Variety in Brief

In a recent number of your Magazine you published a most interesting account of the abandonment of the ship Endeavour at Dusky Sound, and the subsequent shipbuilding operations. It is most desirable that these early events should be recalled, and one regrets that so few are sufficiently interested to do so. Obviously Mr. Shanks, the author, has consulted “Murihiku,” by Dr. Robert McNab, for much of his information, and probably he could not have relied on a better authority. However, there are certain details in which he has departed from the learned doctor's version.

The Endeavour was a ship of 800 tons and not 280 tons as Mr. Shanks says. The Fancy was a snow and not a scow. Probably few of your readers know what a snow is. Well! A snow is a vessel rigged as a brig with an extra mast, immediately abaft the mainmast, on which a trysail is set. Dr. McNab describes the Fancy as a brig of 150 tons, and also refers to her as a snow. Both descriptions are correct.

It is interesting to note among the voyages of this little vessel one to the River Thames, New Zealand, where she loaded 200 spars for Sydney. These spars varied in length from 60 feet to 140 feet. The Mercury, which removed the last of the Endeavour's company from Dusky was also a snow, and she was probably the first American vessel to visit New Zealand waters.—W.R.H.

* * *

New South Wales Poster Stamps.

The Advertising Department of the New South Wales Railways has just published a set of artistic poster stamps. The colour and art work are of a high standard. Apart from their publicity value, the stamps should be eagerly sought after by collectors, for poster stamp collecting has of late taken on a new lease of life.

A recent article in the “Railways Magazine,” by Mr. James Cowan describes the Opepe engagement. A few years ago, the scene of this fight (which is on the Napier-Taupo main road) was signposted to the effect that it was the scene of the Opepe Massacre. The Maoris objected strongly to the engagement being described as a “Massacre.” They pointed out that those killed constituted an armed force out on active service in search of an enemy. That the Maoris were able to surprise the pakehas was a matter of good tactics on the part of the Maoris, or poor generalship on the part of the whites. Mr. Cowan's story makes it clear that if the fight could be termed a “Massacre,” then thousands of massacres took place in the Great War without any special attention being paid to them. The offending signpost was quickly removed.

—“Katiti.”

* * *

My attention has been called to an article which appeared in your December issue entitled “First Printing Press in New Zealand.” A photograph of what the writer states was the remains of the building which housed the first printing press accompanied the article.

This is not correct. The ruins, as photographed, are the remains of the home of William Williams. Some of his children were born there, and also in this house Mrs. Williams taught a Maori girls’ school.

The printing press was housed in a stone building which stood on or near the site of Mr. W. Atkinson's seaside residence, three doors from the Paihia Post Office, this building being pulled down many years ago.

Henry Williams was not buried at Paihia, his grave is in the cemetery at the Pakaraka Church, and Mrs. Williams was also buried there.

The monument at Paihia was erected by the Maoris as a memorial to Henry Williams and as a token of their love and affection for him.—

A Grandson of Henry Williams.

* * *

The Mystery-bird Pouakai.

There is an ancient wonder-tale about a huge predatory bird called the pouakai, which the Maoris at Arahura said inhabited the mountains somewhere between the Buller and the Kopi-o-Kai-Tangata. One was said to have been killed near the Inangahua. This pouakai, it was declared, was large enough to carry human beings off to its nest or den. It must have been some kind of eagle. There is a certain amount of scientific basis for such stories, for the fossil bones of some gigantic bird have been found at Glenmark, on the way from Canterbury to Hanmer Springs. The name Hapagornis has been given to this prehistoric species. It is scarcely likely that the Maori tribes knew this strange fierce bird, but they may have derived a dim memory of it from some early race of aborigines.

* * *

Travel in Safety.

On a siding at Taumarunui I once saw the best illustration of the above title. A motor-car which had been in a bad smash from all appearances was standing on a truck awaiting transport either to car-wreckers or to a fully-equipped repair-shop. Scrawled in chalk the full length of the truck were the words “Travel by rail for Comfort, Safety, and Economy.” When one comes to consider the matter, the occupants of the wrecked motor could not have had a safe, comfortable or economical trip.—C. McB.

Printed by Ferguson & Osborn, Limited, Wellington. Wholesale Distributors: Messrs. Gordon and Gotch (Australasia) Limited, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.