FRANZ JOSEPH AND NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1644, 30 November 1916, Page 2

FRANZ JOSEPH AND NEW ZEALAND.

THE Christchurch Star recalls some interesting points of contact between the life of Franz Joseph of Austria and the history of our New Zealand settlements. More than half a century ago the Emperor and his family exhibited a friendly .semi-scientitie concern in this country, and the commander of the Austrian frigate Novara, which was despatched from the Adriatic towards the end of the fifties on a cruise round the world, was instructed to pay special attention to New Zealand. Dr. Ferdinand Hochsletter, the first geologist of note to examine these islands, was one of the Novara’s scientific staff, and when he landed at Auckland in 1859 his services were secured hy the Auckland Provincial Government for a geological survey of the province. For six months he made explora-

lions ol' Iho interior of the North Island, travelling by canoe, on horseback, and on fool over a great area of country (lien purely in its Maori stale. Tie penetrated to Lake Tanpo, and his description of the volcanic and thermal country remained for many years the standard account of that lerrlilory. Ilochslctler’s account of that territory aroused deep interest in this country on (he Continent, hut before his work saw print, Vienna hud already been stirred to a little concern in the dislant British colony by the sight of several latooed. Maori child's in the streets. These, Maoris were Waikato men who had been taken to 1 ’olac by the Novara, as guests of honour, in recognition of the kindness shown by (he Natives in the Auckland province. They were prc-.cnlcd to Fran/ dosed', and the Knipcror's brother, the Archduke Maximilian, who afterwards met vilb a tragi' - fate in Mexico, made much of ihem, and look' them about Vienna. When these Maori, chiefs returned to New Zealand I hey brought with them as their most prized nrc'cnl from the Austrian royal family a printing press and type, which wen' soon pul to u.-e in the Waikato in the printing of the King'ile newspaper and gazelle, “Tc Kokioi” (“The War Hawk’'). The little sheet was produced at Ngaruawahia, on the Waikato river, by King Tawhiao’s cousin, I’alara tc Tuhi, and his brother Ii < > 11 ; 111 a ; Fatar.i attended to the literary side, and llonana and some Maori youths set the type and worked (he hand press. The press bore the arms of the Austrian Koval House, and each issue of the “Ilokioi" wa- imprinted with a reference to the “loving 'gift” from the Emperor of Austria. When the Waikato war began, Patara laid down his pen, and there was no more “Hokioi." It would be interesting to know what became of the press. !l may be still in the possession of the Waikatos. That was the beginning of an association with New /(‘aland which the Austrian ruler and sonic of (hi l savants ol his kingdom maintained for many years. New Zealand’s bird life particularly fascinated Austrian naturalists, and one of them. Keischek. spent several years ransacking our forests for Vienna and German museums. This practice, in fact, developed into an abuse, and so the indiscriminate spoliation of the bush life was rightly interdicted. Franz Josef on more than one occasion sent gifts to this country, the chamois in the Southern Alps was the last royal present. But for the war this Dominion would have perpetuated the old Emperor's name on its Alpine maps, tint very properly every trace of enemy nominclature must be swept away here-, and so the “Franz Josef" Glacier and other Teuton names will give place to those more befitting a British count rv.