EARLY NEW ZEALAND. PLEASANT WORDS FROM THE SOUTH. WHAT THE "LYTTELTON TIMES" SAYS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 391, 7 August 1889, Page 3

EARLY NEW ZEALAND. PLEASANT WORDS FROM THE SOUTH. WHAT THE "LYTTELTON TIMES" SAYS.

The "Lyfctelbon Times" of July 27bh says:— The enterprise of Mv Brett, of Auckland, has conceived an idea appropriate to the Jubilee, which is about to be marked by the Dunedin Exhibition, and is carrying it out with signal success. He is bringing out a History of New 'Zealand from the .earliest, times. His Rages — we have received the first volume of the series of four from Mr "Brett's representative — open with the time of Tasinan. They contain a narrative of book's voyages, and they bridge the gulf of timo lying between bhe .departure of the great navigator and the arrival of the first Governor. For this latter most interesting, remarkable, and, to mosfc'people, obsdui'e period, 'the archives of' New South Wales have been, by special permission of the Government; of that 6olony, thoroughly ransacked. The result is a series of plates, and a graphic narrative, superior in mavy re^pects'to those, devoted by the Jamous Pictorial Atlas to the early history of Sydney. The' 'history is carried on by many pens. The history on which Mr Wallace, of Wellington, "has been engaged for forty years, has be'en long expected. 'A foretaste has bden given to the public in the shape of a brief school history, but the main work has not yet seen the light. The publisher of the Jubilee history has purchased the manu script, which will therefore soon see the light. In addition to Mr Wallace, we observe the names of the .Rev. R. Taylor, the author of "Te Ika Maui ;" of Mr Colen&o, author of the '• Official History of New Zealand ;" J udge Wilson and Mr C. Wilson, and other relatives of some of the earliest missionaries ; and Mr Sherrin, whose industry, research and acquaintance with the whole range of subjects comprised in the earlier history is well known. Sir George Grey has also assisted the editor witli historical notes. This will give a special value to the work, as Sir George stands in the first rank of Maoii scholars. When he came to the country for the first time, ho astonished the Maoris by the rapidity with which he mastered their language, and distinguished himself by the industry, perspicuitj', and literary skill which he devoted to the history, the lBgends, traditions, manners, customs, folk lore, and ballads of the interesting race he had come bo govorn. Bavon de Thierry, he of the chequered career, once great pretensions, and always great courtesy, also contributes to the work, from his not small stores of knowledge. With such advantages the Jubilee History of New Zealand ought to be worthy of the Occasion. New South Wales we observe is doing the same thing in celebration of that colony's Centennial, the first volume having already appeared of the early history. Such magnificent use of early records has seldom, we may remark in passing, been made. The compiler, Mr Barton, states in his preface that in the whole history of British colonisation there is bub one parallel instance to his enterprise, that of one of the States of the American Union. When he sees the first volume of Mr Brett'?s Jubilee number, he will be consbrained to add another parallel. It is a most important work, a work rarely done, a work which is rendered more difficult by every day of proci-astination, a work for the undertaking of which Mr Brett deserves the thanks of the country. We hope ho will obbain it in the substantial fashion necessary to a successful result. It is, we observe, to be published " by subscription only." The first part, which is before us, is a very creditable specimen of printing and engraving. Good paper, lai'ge, clear type, and illustrations, for the most part artistic and interesting, with a letterpress in excellent literary style, give together a good earnest of what to expect from the complete work. The illustrations, comprise :—Tasman's Anchorage, a Portrait' of Captain Cook : his relics, his dhar't of New Zealand, and his record, oi the transit of Venus. There ale portraits of the veteran missionary Marsden— the father of missionary enterprise in New' Zealand; of Te Pa-hi, "mie famous chief who was the first to make the acquaintance of Mar&den ; of Hongi, the Maori Napoleon, of Te Rauparaha, thejgreafc conqueror, who may be said to ha\e* paved, the way for colonisation. The early Governors of New South Wales, Sydney "Cove in its early stages, many scenes of the continental convict days, New Zealand landscapes in profusion and old charts complete the list. On the whole the " Early History of New Zealand " promises to^be a valuable contribution to our liteiature.

The broad lace and muslin frills which have lately come into fashion often give a fresh air to a very faded costume. The florets are docking the plain, And romps in the meadow the calf; And the iootball reporter again Is the boss of the newspaper staff. Dr. Gyles, who killed himself in New York and left the brief note, "Nobody to blame," must have been at one time a railroad man. Captain Briscoe, who has arrived in Sydney in command of the P. and 0. (Jo. 's fine mail steamer Valetta, is a distinguished shipmaster and has seen some service in his time. His lirsfc acquaintance with Australia was in 1852 with H.M.s. sloop-of-war Juno. Captain Briscoe has a good many decorations. For services rendered at the siego of Alexandria ho was twice mentioned in despatches to the Admiralty by Admiral Beauchamp Seymour for the material assistance he rendered on June 11, the day of the massacre. He was then in command of the Company's s.s. Tanjore, and was instrumental in collecting and protecting over 500 refugees. Captain Briscoe was also commissioned by Admiral Seymour to get the British merchant steamers and transports out of the harbour before the bombardment commenced, as the Alexandria pilots had refused to take out any British vessels. Captain Briscoe was also complimented by the Admiral for the clever way in which he manoeuvred his vessel while within the range of the enemy's guns. The medals of the Royal Humane Society were awarded to Captain Briscoe, once for saving the life of a gentleman who had fallen into a well at Bombay, and for recovering the bodies of two ladies who were precipitated into the well by the same accidenc. On this occasion he well nigh lost his own life. The medal was awarded him for jumping overboard at Get-el-Tier, in the Red Sea, and rescuing a girl of 14 from drowning. r-r -T fi c decoration in the possession of Captain Briscoe which has the most intrinsic value is that of the Order of the Crown of Italy, which was given him by the King of Italy for saving the Italian corvette Uhioma, which was dismasted in a gale, and was in danger of drifting helplessly to destruction. The engines had broken down, and the stern-post was carried away, and she was being steered with a spar rigged over the stern. The Tanjoro towed the disabled steamer to Corfu. Captain Briecoe declined to receive .any money consideration, and was rewarded with the. decoration.