Frank Coffee

Name: Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand
Author: Frank Coffee

Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

Summary

“Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand”, published in 1920, is a work by Frank Coffee. It explores elements such as New Zealand, Maoris and gum.

Quotes from Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (Frank Coffee)

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ It is of North Island that I shall speak chiefly, because that is the part of New Zealand with which I am most familiar. Auckland is built along the southern harbor, which forms the western extremity of the island—spangled Hauraki Gulf. The site of the city, flanked by suburbs, rises in a long and gradual slope to the base of Mount Eden, a slumbering old volcano from whose easily scaled summit one obtains a most glorious panoramic view. Auckland's surroundings make her one of the loveliest of cities. Nature has lavishly endowed it with her choicest gifts. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ Tattooing, at which the Maoris were adepts, is becoming a lost art. I have, however, often come across old Maoris with faces like plaques of carved wood. These old Maoris are unpleasantly fond of shaking hands with the white strangers whom they term pakehas and are more affable and courteous than the younger men of the tribe, who are often shy, and reserved, and sometimes sullen. Most of those lack-luster and passive old fellows who sit like heathen idols around the ancient "pahs" will nod their mahogany heads on your approach and proceed to chatter to you as if you understood all they said. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ A unique New Zealand industry is worthy of mention. That is, gum digging. Kauri gum, which is the fossilized resin of the Kauri pine, is found only in the extreme north of the North Islands, and for the manufacture of high class varnish it is said to have no equal. It forms one of the greatest assets of the Auckland province and for years has been exported to New York and used in the manufacture of varnish. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ The show place of North Island is Rotorua, about two hundred miles from Auckland, where the Government has spent $500,000 in improvements and buildings. There are to be found the only geysers in the British Empire. Other geysers are to be found in the Yellowstone Park, in Iceland and Thibet. Of those in Thibet we know very little, but geologists tell us that the geysers of the States of Wyoming and Idaho are the oldest in the world; that those of New Zealand are the next, in point of age ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ The first spot to attract attention is the cooking pool, a circular crater, full of boiling transparent water, which the Maoris say is "as deep and unfathomable as a woman's heart." Proceeding, the visitor reaches a running stream and two large pools of warm water which are generally alive with Maori men, women and children, the latter squatting at ease on the brink, ready to dive for coins. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ The rent charged by the Government is five dollars per tree per annum, and the gum is worth $500 per ton, while gum obtained from the ground is worth $1,250 per ton.
The timber of the kauri tree is suitable for furniture, sleeping cars, etc. One tree has produced 110,000 super feet, and I was informed by F. J. Rayner, D.D.S., who has large timber tracts and mills, that it is worth ten dollars per hundred feet at Auckland. The tree reproduces itself from an apple that upon ripening drops from the branches. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ Fallen trees do not decay, and scientists claim that some of the trees are three thousand years old.
In proportion to population (about one million) , I meet more New Zealanders traveling than people of other countries. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ Most of the Maoris earn a living by cultivating the land, cutting flax, digging kauri gum, or working at flax mills. The foods they appear to relish most are eels and potatoes. As a rule, th: men dress as the whites do. The women are fond of bright colors, particularly red shawls. The wealthy natives live in good houses, and some keep excellent buggies, horses and motor cars.
A great many stories have been told about Pelorous Jack, the famous porpoise that used to pilot steamers through the French pass, from Wellington to Nelson. Jack has not been seen since 1913, and his death is presumed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ Except in the vastnesses of the King county there is no considerable area of agriculture or pastoral land that has not its field of corn, or its thousands of cattle and sheep. Stations, townships and cities have sprung up where fifty or sixty years ago nothing was to be seen except tussock, fern and swamp land, or stretches of trackless bush. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Frank Coffee, Forty Years On The Pacific — New Zealand (1920)

“ It is a rich Island Dominion, but they like to see other countries and enjoy life. They are fond of singing and music, at home or abroad, and assist in organizing concerts nightly on the ocean liners. ”

Frank Coffee

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