Description
The Story of Northland by A. H. Reed is a comprehensive 1956 popular history book tracking the development and distinct social identity of New Zealand’s northernmost region. Spanning 22 chapters, it serves as a human-centered social study of pioneering life from early discovery through the early 20th century.
Chronological Coverage
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- Indigenous Roots: The narrative begins with the region’s original Māori inhabitants, exploring oral traditions, tribal dynamics, and ancestral connections to the land.
- European Maritime Exploration: It profiles early encounters, including Dutch, English, and French maritime explorers mapping the rugged northern coastline.
- The Birth of Modern NZ: The book focuses heavily on the arrival of early Christian missionaries, rogue adventurers, and the landmark signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Conflict and Colonisation: Reed documents early land disputes and the subsequent breakout of Hone Heke’s northern war.
Key Industries & Figures
- The Kauri Bushmen: Accounts of pioneering timber cutters harvesting the massive native kauri forests.
- The Gum Diggers: An inside look into the harsh, isolated life of the laborers digging for buried kauri gum.
- Infrastructure Growth: Detailed progress of early farming, town expansion, and the development of crude transport networks.
- Local Personalities: Vignettes showcasing both the highly respectable and notoriously eccentric characters who shaped local communities.
Hardcover. First-Edition. 395 Pages. Good to Very Good Condition. Gift inscription on the First Page. No Dust Jacket.
