GENEROUS GIFT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1933, Page 2

GENEROUS GIFT

OF MAORI CHIEF.

Mr James Cowan, celebrated authority on the Maori race, in a handsome illustrated booklet, specially written for the Texas Company (Australasia) Limited, mentions the gift of Tongariro National Park to the Crown. In his description of this graceful act on the part of the great Maori Chief, Te Heuheu Tukino, Mr Cowan says:— “When the lands of the Taupo County were being pa-ssed through the Native Land Court at Taup 0 township in 188 G, lor the purpose of settling the tribal titles to the various blocks, the old chief To Heuheu was much concerned a s to the future disposal of the great volcanic mountains so closely associated with his family history, the repository of Iris warrior father’s bones, the mountains linked to his name ana his inana’—authority, prestige, influence—in clan religion ; history, legena and poem. He did not wish to see them sold and passed into alien hands. His friend, Mr L, M. Grace, then M.H.R. for Tauranga in Parliament, suggested that lie should make over the mountains—which were by general consent hi s own lands—to the Crown as a perpetual possession of the nation, l Pakeha and Maori. This proposal re- I lieved the old man’s anxiety; he glad- | Iy agreed, and in the following year the nucleus of the Tongariro National Park came into being.

The nane of Te Heuheu is borne by the northern peak of Mt. Ruapehu. This peak Te Heuheu is the most beautiful picture in the whole Park, fitting memorial to a great man of an ancient race.”

A copy of the “Book of the Maori Chiefs”, from which the extract is made, has recently come into our possession. It is of undoubted interest to every New Zealander because it contains an account of six of the leading Chieftains, and many interesting incidents of the early colonisaton of the Dominion .A limited edition only has been printed, but ve understand that it can be obtained on application to tbe Head Office of fbe Tev.ns Company (Australasia) Limited, Wellington, and by forward r ng threepence in stamps to cover handling.