Pictorial Surveys of a Century

(By H. B.)

The first eight parts now to hand of the serially-issued “Making New Zealand,” which is being produced by the Centennial Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, under the direction of the National Historical Committee, enable one to form an idea of the treatment planned for the whole work. A glance at the first part, “The Beginning,” for example, reveals that we are to be given something more than a bare history of the country, while the manner in which the birth of New Zealand is related to geology and the evolutionary story reminds one of H. G. Wells's famous “Outline.” In the next four numbers—“The Maori,” “Navigators and Explorers,” “Whalers and Sealers,” and “Missionaries and Settlers”—we are on familiar ground attractively approached, the firstnamed being especially adequate in range and treatment. Number six, “The Voyage Out,” on the other hand, though implicit in the story of settlement, is an aspect not hitherto presented with such sympathetic insight into the mind of the emigrant of the 'forties and 'fifties. Particularly illuminating here is the diagram illustrating the system by which comparatively large numbers were accommodated on board the small sailing ships of that time.

With “The Squatters” and “Gold,” again, we realise that we are being shown the life of the people as a whole in wider fashion than is usually attempted by the historian. It is, in fact, a welcome feature that greater emphasis is given to aspects of New Zealand life since 1840 which have formerly received little attention. As a rule, far too much space is devoted to the first twenty or thirty years, which was after all only a rough settling-down period for the country as a whole—most of all so in those parts of the North Island affected by the Maori Wars.

From the 'sixties onwards, after relations with the natives had become more harmonious, the story, though less spectacular, is one of the greatest progress on the road to nationhood. Then became possible the development of adequate systems of communication; the stabilising of lasting primary industries; the steady growth of population suitably balanced between sane immigration and natural increase; the “resolution” of the province complex which for several decades had conditioned in our public men a parochial attitude towards matters of national importance; and, to crown the century, the enactment in the 'nineties of progressive legislation to build a social system which contemporary New Zealanders felt could sustain comparison with any other in the world.

This middle period it is of our first hundred years that deserves to be recognised, and this the titles of projected surveys give promise of doing.

For the rest, the letterpress is uniformly good, and the large number of contemporary sketches and paintings included greatly increases interest by enabling us to look at oft-pictured harbour, plain and hill, at the Maori in his native haunt, at this whole new land of a hundred years ago through the very eyes of the settler, the missionary, or the explorer. Moreover, the lay-out, the work of J. D. Pascoe, is dramatic and educational in the

(J. F. Louden, photo.).
Frankton Railway Football Club
Winners of the Elliott and McDell Shields; Morris, Walker and Hall, White and Mackey Cups.
Back Row: M. H. Morton, R. W. Joseph, K. Davies, J. R. Lind, D. T. Nepe, H. J. Burborough. Middle Row: C. B. Elliott (donor of Elliott Shield), A. C. Murphy, F. R. Hall, K. E. Phillips, F. J. Lynch, B. F. Thompson, F. S. McDowell (Selector). Sitting: F. C. D. Watson, E. J. Hayward, H. J. Borland (Chairman), W. E. Thomson (Captain), A. Jerrom (Secretary), R. E. McDonagh, R. C. Jerrom. In Front: T. A. Pickerill, J. J. Cameron.

broadest sense, designed as it is to take the eye and hold the attention alike of the relatively ignorant and of those to whom New Zealand's story is an oft-told tale.

“Making New Zealand” promises to be in reality what it is already in design, a “Pictorial Survey of a Century” worthy of its theme.

Quite a lot of 'Flu about! It's unfortunate that even one person sickening for or recovering from this dreaded complaint may give it to any number of others. And so the scourge spreads! An Auckland doctor says there's nothing like tobacco-smoke to ward off infection. His advice is “Keep your pipe going when knocking about, especially when travelling in public conveyances.” Wise counsel! But see that your baccy is right. The purest brands of all are grown and manufactured by the National Tobacco Company Ltd. (pioneers of the tobacco industry in New Zealand), and owe their marked superiority to the fact that they are toasted, which process rids them of nicotine and gives their delightful fragrance and flavour. They are perfectly safe smoking. There are brands to suit all tastes. Ask for Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold (a mild aromatic), Navy Cut and Cavendish (both medium and both delicious), and Cut Plug No. 10 (rich, dark and full-flavoured). These tobaccos are on sale everywhere.^*