Na to Hoa Aroha, from Your Dear Friend, Volume 1: The Correspondence of Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Peter Buck, 1925-50 (Volume I, 1925-29)

by Sir Peter Buck, Sir Apirana Ngata

Overview

The leading historian Keith Sorrenson has collected in three volumes the complete correspondence (174 letters in all) between two distinguished twentieth-century Māori scholars and statesmen, Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Peter Buck (Te Rangi Hiroa). 'The letters confirm that each man was indeed a totara tree of some magnificence and that each was a tree that stood alone. Even today such trees remain rare,' writes Hirini Moko Mead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781775581260
Publisher:	Auckland University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2013
Sold by:	INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP - EPUB - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

M. P. K. Sorrenson was Professor of History at the University of Auckland and a descendant, on his mother's side, of Pukenga, Wairaka and Toroa of Mataatua. He is the author of several books and numerous scholarly articles.

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Na to Hoa Aroha from Your Dear Friend

The Correspondence Between Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Peter Buck 1925â"50 Volume One 1925â"29

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By M. P. K. Sorrenson

Auckland University Press

Copyright © 1986 M. P. K. Sorrenson
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-77558-126-0

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CHAPTER 1

Department of Health,
Division of Maori Hygiene.
c/o District Health Office,
Auckland, N.Z.,
Oct. 20th. 1925.

Dear Api,

Your description of the Sec. of the M.P. Board picturing the fishing scene at the ancient reef bounding Pikopikoiwhiti is vivid in the extreme and truly Polynesian in setting. There is no doubt that of late years you have been doing work in a quiet way that as regards finance, would have startled us in the old days. In fact we wouldn't have got it.

Clark Wissler of 'The American Indian' fame passed through the other day. He is accompanied by a Mr. Embree, who belongs to the Rockefeller Research Foundation. They are visiting the Universities and going on to see Best, Skinner etc. If you read the paragraphs in the last P. J. concerning Wissler and the new Department at Yale, it looks as if they were after something. I asked Embree if there was anything in which we could help, and he said he hoped to have important news after coming back from Dunedin. They leave for Australia from Wellington and Embree asked me if I could go down to Wellington for a day if he wired at the week end. They may want me for some research trip or to give me a job. It would have to be pretty good before one could become an exile from home.

Yes I think it would be a good thing to send some of our records in exchange for Hawaiian or other Polynesian records!

I went to New Plymouth the other day with forty-one members of the Auckland Savage [Club] on an official visit to the local Savages. On the way, we stayed a ½ day and night at Urenui as the guests of the Ngati-Mutunga tribe. They put on all the old Te Whiti stunts to welcome us with, which is unique on that coast. I took care to stress the significance of the dying out of the old feeling engendered by the War. I influenced a Press Reporter in putting in the effect of setting up a Commission to inquire etc as a result of Pom's efforts so he got quite a local ad. to help his electioneering. Boyle, the United States consul in Auckland, was much struck by the country and the Maori hospitality.

I suppose you are now in the thick of the election business. Good luck, not that there is the slightest need to worry. Pom will have a good run in spite of Moffat, the Labour Member splashing some money on Te Puea. In Auckland here, they are working up to the verge of a free fight.

Yours Peter.

CHAPTER 2

Department of Health,
Division of Maori Hygiene.
c/o District Health Office,
Auckland, N.Z.,
Nov. 7th. 1925.

Dear Api,

I never sent you a wire re elections before or after being doubtful of your exact address and also knowing as far as you were concerned, that there was never anything in doubt. The Ratana opposition seems to have dwindled especially in Pom's district. Coates seems to have made a clean sweep and he can now carry on strong. I was sorry to see Masters, Syd Smith and Poland go out. Labour put Murdoch out for Marsden and Oakley Browne put Labour in for Auckland East. Ward got quite a good rally up here when his number went up.

Clark Wissler went through here a while ago. He and Embree of the Rockefeller Institute went round the Universities. I thought perhaps Embree had some money to spend on ethnological research but have heard nothing definite. Wissler has been recently appointed Professor of Anthropology at Yale.

Allan Thomson was up here. He told me that the Japs have offered two full fares to Japan for the Pan-Pacific Science Congress or four half-fares. These are offered to the N.Z. Institute whom they of course recognise as the Research Scientific body of New Zealand. No offer or invitation has been offered to the Government as they evidently do not recognise them as scientific. Pat Marshall as President of the N.Z. Inst. has announced his intention of going so he will get one of the fares. Thomson reckoned if I announced my intention of going I would probably get the other. Margaret was keen for me to go even if she stayed behind. I have thought the matter over for some time and have come to the conclusion that I can't afford the money even with a free fare. It would be very fine etc but I do not see that I would be further on. As a matter of fact I would be somewhat embarrassed. I want to save money so that I can thoroughly organise my den by increasing it and fitting it up with proper shelving and cabinets etc.

My judgement tells me that the right thing is to go to the Cook Group for six months next year. It would open up new ground and give plenty of material with the nearest affinity to our own. If we don't, then we will have to tell Gregory to carry on and send some of his men there. The question of Cook Island research is a vital one with us and we ought to tackle it. However I hope you will be up this way sometime and we could go into details of a scheme.

To-morrow night I leave for Wanganui to get a few missing links in the weaving so that I can finish off that paper and get it out in memoir form.

The girls are well and plugging away. They combine with Makere and I in sending aroha to Alice and yourself not forgetting Henry.

Yours Peter.

CHAPTER 3

Rarotonga.
Sept. 20th. 1926.

Dear Api,

We returned from Aitutaki about 10 days ago after a very profitable time. I could of course have spent six months there with still more profit. We called the Council and elders together and explained the whole scheme to them. I frankly told them they were lucky to be selected as the type island of the group and no matter what studies occurred later, they would always have to refer to Aitutaki. I then gave a date to each of the seven villages and it was marvellous the way they rose to it. Each village did their own stunt and I let them go their own way. After of course I filled in the bits left out. I have received a letter from a doctor pal of mine who passed through Honolulu. I gave him a letter to them. He wrote me saying that Stokes and others are very interested in my expedition but they said it was a pity I didn't have at least 6 months as little could be accomplished under that time. I think they'll get a mild surprise. As you said in your last we start off with the atmosphere. The Polynesian corpuscles carry us behind the barrier that takes a Pakeha some time to scale and the key of speech cuts out some other months. Then the plaiting technique of Wanganui, the net strokes of Waiapu etc. etc. cuts out one or two more months that Stokes and others do not allow for. I will be pleased to think that the Board's first venture into Polynesian research, will compare favourably with the Bishop Museum publications. Our material culture study will be very strong in plaiting, housing, fishing, games, the single outrigger canoe but weak in other things, because neither the objects nor the information was available. Its weaknesses however will not be weaker than the weaknesses of Skinner and Linton. You will be interested to know that I have all the whariki patterns both ancient and modern.

I have been back in Rarotonga for ten days and have taken the opportunity of mobilising my notes whilst impressions were fresh. There are many things I can check over with Rarotonga data. I decided to take the other month and work over Rarotonga material besides getting more measurements here. The somatology of Aitutaki and Rarotonga should make a good memoir. I wrote over for the extra leave and have just received a wireless granting it, so will now return by the Makura in October.

Mrs. & Miss Bollard, Margaret and I have been staying with Ayson since we returned from Aitutaki. These islands are great places for plotting and scandal amongst the civilised community. I have found Ayson very decent and with a nice outlook towards the Maori population. Coates and party arrived on Saturday and were received by the Island Council with appropriate speeches. We then had a garden party for the local residents brown and white. Coates was then driven per motor car round the island and afterwards had a private dinner at the Residency. He was quite pleased with things. He mentioned the Board of Arts and Crafts in N.Z. and incidentally put in a word for ethnology and myself.

Yesterday, Sunday, was a sad day. Dr. Ellison's wife who had been ailing for some time, died on Saturday night and the funeral took place yesterday. Makea ariki had her buried in the Makea family cemetery and the local Maoris were sympathy itself. Ellison is much cut up but I have been trying to buck him up so as not to give up this job. Our kinsmen over here need someone of the Ellison stamp to look after them. He has their full confidence and affection.

The Tahiti is in today and leaves with the mail this morning. I am sending Bal my films for development. Some of them are bad but I am hoping for the best. I have specimens of stages of plaiting technique and all the designs for close up photos in N.Z.

To-morrow, Margaret and I go round to the back of the island where we camp in Ayson's week end cottage for most of the remaining time. Already the people are mobilising material to demonstrate the crafts. By the way Downes arrived here on Saturday and is as happy as Larry. I will see more of him when the steamer goes.

Our health is good and mentally we are alert. All goes well and we are happy in the thought of adding a little to the Polynesian structure. Best love to Alice, yourself and family from us both.

Yours ever Peter.

CHAPTER 4

Department of Health,
Division of Maori Hygiene,
c/o District Health Office,
Auckland, N.Z.,
March 8th. 1927.

Dear Api,

I am enclosing Gregory's correspondence re the Polynesian work in order that you may form an idea of what the Bishop Museum people contemplate. This five years intensive research work is the biggest thing attempted in anthropology so far. At the end of it, the Polynesians should be the best recorded race of any of the tinted races of mankind. It is too big and important a study for us to neglect having a share in it. There is enough in New Zealand to occupy a life time in study but I feel that one's full time ought to be devoted to it. I am tired of doing a bit here and a bit there and burning the mid-night electric to do work that counts in a spasmodic way in one's own time that ought to be devoted to reading and seeing what others are doing. I feel that some one else could do my health work equally well or better.

I have worked up to the stage that I am dissatisfied with myself and want to do the best work of which I am capable. This lies in the field of anthropology. The past [studies] have gradually trained me for it. I think the time is now ripe when I should devote myself entirely to it and keep up our reputation in this branch of scientific work. I know I can more than hold my own with other workers in the Polynesian field. Gregory knows that too or he wouldn't write the way he does. In Polynesian research, it is right and fitting that the highest branch of the Polynesian race should be in the forefront and not leave the bulk of the investigations to workers who have not got the inside angle that we have. They miss things that are significant to us.

I am therefore more than inclined to accept Gregory's offer for five years full time research in Polynesia, provided that he makes it worth my while financially. If it could be arranged that I could be seconded from the New Zealand Civil Service on any loose arrangement, it would keep me tethered to New Zealand. I don't want to sever my connection with you, the people and the country. In fact, I don't intend to. In five years time, my value to New Zealand would be considerably enhanced. By then, you might be able to find me a place with the Board, the Polynesian Journal and the Dominion Museum that would enable me to carry on. I have cabled Gregory asking him what salary they would give for full-time work. He cabled me that his Trustees meet on March 17th. My decision will rest on their offer.

The advantage of five years with the Bishop Museum is that one would come in contact with experts. They have secured Professor Wood Jones of Adelaide University and the Pacific Relations people have as you know secured Prof. Condliffe of Canterbury College. Honolulu is going to be the centre of scientific research of the Pacific and the association with experts would be of incalculable benefit to one's own work and status. In any case, one needs practical experience of the other branches of the Polynesians in order to get the true perspective and appreciate to its fullest extent, the great advance achieved by our people. To sum up, Api, I feel it my duty to take an active hand in the wider study of our own race. I value your opinion above that of any one else and would like to know what you think of it.

I am working away at the Aitutaki material and would like to get it out as speedily as possible as a sample of work done by our own Board and as a standard for the Bishop Museum people before I join them — if I do join them. The section on houses, domestic furniture, implements etc and clothing is nearly ready to send away to Avery's with the diagrams etc. From our conversation I take it Avery can carry on and the Board will confirm the action taken. If Avery does the printing in sections as they are completed, much time will be saved.

Tai is doing fine. McCaw said she had a very long appendix and it was good getting it out in a quiescent period rather than during the complications of an acute attack. Hinehou has been very deaf and I got McCaw to examine her. Her ears were blocked with wax and he fixed them up. Hinehou has settled down into her old home and she is a great comfort and of much assistance to Margaret.

Reverting back to the Honolulu matter — I have not said anything yet to my department as first of all I want to know what the Bishop Museum offer will be and I want your advice. I have promised the Bishop Museum nothing.

Pom. told me in Rotorua that Coates was desirous that an honour should be conferred on you in connection with the Duke's visit. You thoroughly deserve it from all your past work and your position of leadership amongst the people. I think that you should accept not only for your own sake but for the sake of the Maori people. It's not a case of inheriting from Jimmy but of accepting something that you have earned by sheer mentality and indefatigable work. That no Maori or Pakeha could deny.

Yours Peter.

CHAPTER 5

[n.d]

Dear Api,

Owing to intense concentration on Aitutaki, I sent you my draft of letter to Gregory and it was not until I came to consider Gregory's letter that I find the enclosed. You might send me Gregory's file back when you have glanced through it.

Tai is doing fine and Hinehou is well. I have got no further on with Hawea Koia. She has to be interviewed by the Matron, Auckland Hospital. I drafted out a letter to the Matron explaining the situation and Hinehou was to meet her and go with her to see the Matron. Hinehou waited an hour. The girl did not turn up and since told Tai she does not want to be a nurse. If she doesn't, she is not worth bothering about as she would not make a success of it unless she is keen.

Yours Peter.

CHAPTER 6

March 21st. 1927.

Dear Api,

Thanks for return of the Gregory correspondence. Re your remarks about the Tahiti region, I think Gregory cut it out because Handy has been working there but we have not got his results yet. I am anxious to see it for I agree with you that they will miss a lot that we would see the significance of.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Na to Hoa Aroha from Your Dear Friend by M. P. K. Sorrenson. Copyright © 1986 M. P. K. Sorrenson. Excerpted by permission of Auckland University Press.
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