A letter inside a book

From Tauranga City Library’s archives
A monthly blog about interesting items in our collection

It was a lovely surprise to recently discover a hand-written letter attached to the inside cover of a book in our Special Books Collection at Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries. Donated to the library by then City Councillor A. Balfour in 1974, the significance of the letter is that its author is the notable historic figure Captain Gilbert Mair.  A surveyor, crown agent, and soldier, Mair is renowned for leading the No. 1 Arawa Flying Column in campaigns against Te Kooti (Crosby, 2004).

Captain Gilbert Mair, Carte-de-visite
Elms Foundation Image Collection 1972.0319

The recipient of the letter, Major V. J. (Vincent John) Scantlebury, was a Tauranga farmer and settler who at one time owned 500 acres in the area across from the Tauranga Racecourse, and who was once a Tauranga Borough Councillor (Scott, 2021).

Olive Scantlebury's inscription inside the book

In the letter, Mair first thanks Scantlebury for the loan of the book in which it was attached: The Mystery of Easter Island: the story of an expedition by Katherine Scoresby Routledge. First published in 1919, it is an account of her time on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) excavating moai (statues from Rapa Nui), collecting oral histories and studying the culture and lifestyle of the Kanaka people (Routledge, 1919). The publication is said to be a great authority on Rapa Nui at the time.  

The Mystery of Easter Island by Katherine Scoresby Routledge, and a page with her photo and autograph

Mair’s letter is dated 25th March 1923, and not long before this, Routledge and her husband were touring New Zealand. Mair, who had been a guide to many notable figures in Rotorua's districts, and to the famed author Anthony Trollope during his New Zealand travels, laments not having met the couple during their tour.  

Mair talks about his own fascination with Rapa Nui. He describes similarities among the Polynesian languages, and he feels that Māori must have traditional knowledge of that place.

Excerpt from Gilbert Mair's letter 

Mair also talks of his friend “Brookes” experience of helping to excavate two moai in 1868 and transporting them to England, as a lieutenant aboard the HMS Topaze. The ‘Hoa Hakananai’a’ and ‘Moai Hava’ are now exhibited at the British Museum and Manchester Museum respectively (British Museum, n.d.).

The moai Hoa Hakananai’a on the deck of HMS Topaze c. 1868,
from https://imaginarapanui.com/en/moai-hoa-hakananaia-the-stolen-friend-of-rapa-nui/

Mair was living with family friends, the Norris family at Rawhiti, 206 Devonport Road, at the top of 3rd Avenue (Green, 2022).  He mentions in the letter that he will leave the book for Scantlebury at Miss Norris’ shop as he is unable to walk too far. At this time he was not in good health, and died in the same year, in November 1923 (Crosby, 2004).

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BOPT19231222.2.3

The extended Norris family outside their home Rawhiti in 1923, Tauranga City Libraries Photo 04-044

Even in his later years, Mair had maintained a curious mind, with this letter touching on, among other topics, his interest in languages, anthropology and botany.

Sources:

British Museum. (n.d). Moai. https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/moai 

Crosby, R. D. (2004). Gilbert Mair: Te Kooti's Nemesis. Reed Publishing NZ Ltd, Auckland. 

Green, J. (2022, July 15) Ebenezer Norris and Family (Part 2). https://taurangahistorical.blogspot.com/2022/07/ebenezer-norris-and-family-part-2.html  

Routledge, K. (1920). The Mystery of Easter Island: The Story of an Expedition. London: Hazell, Watson and Viney. 

Scott, R. C. (2021). Early Tauranga County History: Tauranga Suburbs to Pyes Pa Cemetery Including Greerton Township. The 100 Years Following Confiscation of the Land. (n.p.).

Tauranga District Federation of Women’s Institutes scrapbook, 1932-1984

From Tauranga City Library’s archives
A monthly blog about interesting items in our collection

It was a surprise to find the signature of one of the most significant women of the 20th century in our archives (Ams 358/1, Box 569). What could such a famous figure as Madame Chiang Kai-shek/Soong Mei-ling have to do with Tauranga? In the Tauranga District Federation of Women’s Institutes scrapbook (‘T.D.F.W.I. Scraps of Interest!’), dating from 1932 to 1984, there are the usual Eisteddfod programmes, certificates, cards, and invitations, just as you would expect. Also, there are fragments of a typed letter dated August 29, 1947 and signed personally by Madame Chiang Kai-shek at the Headquarters of the Generalissimo, China. The letter was sent to thank the Federation for ‘their kind expressions of practical sympathy’: they had contributed to a cause that was dear to Madame Chiang’s heart, the welfare of Chinese war orphans, for whom she set up special schools and well-equipped orphanages.

Photograph taken by Stephanie Smith, Tauranga City Libraries, 19 March 2019

Soong Mei-ling, later Madame Chiang Kai-shek, lived a long and remarkable life: she was born in China in 1897 and died in New York, in 2003. She was the child of a wealthy Methodist businessman from Hainan. Educated in the United States, she spoke excellent, American-accented English, which was to help smooth the path of her international diplomatic efforts. In 1927 she married Chiang Kai-shek, thus beginning a close 48-year political partnership. Chiang became leader of the nationalist Kuomintang party and ‘Generalissimo’ of China, and his wife was a major contributor to his success. She reached out to the world beyond China, touring the United States several times to drum up support for the party’s war effort, and becoming internationally popular in the process. However, the tides of history turned against the Kuomintang and after defeat by Mao Tse-tung’s Communists in the civil war of 1949, the Chiangs fled to Taiwan, where Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975. At this point Madame Chiang moved to the United States.

Soong Mei-ling, image, from Encyclopædia Britannica, accessed March 9, 2021

Sources: 

Britannica Library, s.v. "Soong family," accessed March 9, 2021
Britannica Library, s.v. "Soong Mei-ling," accessed March 9, 2021 
Britannica Library, s.v. "Chiang Kai-shek," accessed March 9, 2021

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This archival item is on our schedule for digitisation, and will be added to Pae Korokī once digitised. For more information about other items in our collection, visit Pae Korokī or email the Heritage & Research Team: Research@tauranga.govt.nz

Written by Stephanie Smith, former archivist at Tauranga City Library.

Foraging and Hunting on Pae Korokī

According to Tauranga City Libraries Heritage Specialist Harley Couper, whether you're "foraging or hunting" there is something for everyone on Pae Korokī, the library’s recently launched online gateway to historical information. Indeed, after learning more about Pae Korokī at February’s Historical Society meeting, I thought it would be interesting to go foraging and share a few highlights.

Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries Pae Korokī

One of the first things to note is that most of the stories on the soon to be retired Tauranga Memories website have been transferred to Pae Korokī and can be found curated under the ‘Stories’ navigation menu on the home page. Information collated by librarians, community members and local historians such as Ellen McCormack and Christine Clement continue to be accessible.

A visit to 'Archives’ was next and this category contains some real treasures including the Tauranga Borough Council rate books and the outward letter book of the District Surveyors Office in Tauranga between 1866 and 1868. However, it was the diaries that caught my eye; those of Te Puna farmer Thomas Lochhead in particular. Twelve of his diaries, dating from 1883-1905, have been digitised and more will follow.

Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries Pae Korokī

One of the most popular features of Pae Korokī will undoubtedly be ‘Images’ where visitors can access an ever-increasing number of photographs that reveal the people, places and events of this region. Stand outs include the Gifford-Cross and Photo News collections. However, a real surprise was the selection of stills taken during the 1935 filming of ‘Hei Tiki’. Described as an important piece of New Zealand film history these stills must be unique.

Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries Pae Korokī

Onto ‘Maps’ and this section contains some intriguing hand drawn and annotated maps, including a sketch map of Katikati district and a map that shows the Maori occupation of Mauao. If this wasn’t enough, with ‘More’ visitors can search publications including the Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 1955 to 1982 and listen to oral history recordings.

Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries Pae Korokī

Not only will Pae Korokī be a first stop when I’m researching, it will also be a place to visit when I have time on my hands and the urge to learn more about where I live.