Series 4 new zealand philatelic bulletin no 16 1976 october

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Produced by the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui.

I

le ACTS FEATURE IN NEW STAMP ISSUE Four priceless Maori artifacts collected during Captain Cook's voyages of discovery to New Zealand are featured on a new set of stamps to be issued by the New Zealand Post Office on November

24_ They are shark-tooth knife, a double-stemmed flute and two clubs, all held by the National Museum of New Zealand at Wellington.

The designs and denominations are: MARIPI, an intricately carved wooden knife edged with shark teeth. Reputed to have been used for cutting flesh - possibly human flesh - it may also have been used as a weapon.

PUTORINO, a carved flute with an unusual double tube, played as a solo instrument or to accompany a song.

WAHAIKA, a sickle-shaped hardwood club used for jabbing in close combat.

KOTIATE, another hand-tohand weapon, shaped much like a violin.

The two clubs are depicted in British Museum drawings which are attributed to J.F. Miller. They are believed to have been acquired during Cook's first voyage in 1769.

Joseph Banks, Cook's botanist who gave his name to Banks Peninsula, probably traded for the clubs with the currency of the time nails and other metal, axes, glass bottles, red cloth and tapa cloth from Tahiti.

The other artifacts were probably picked up on later voyages in the same manner.

The Wahaika was bought about 20 years ago in an antique shop by Mr Ken Webster, a New Zealander living in the United Kingdom. He

October 1976

No. 16

brought it back to Wellington and gave it to the National Museum.

The other three artifacts found their way into the collection of Lord St Oswald from an auction in 1819, and he later gave them to the New Zealand Government.

The Maori Artifact stamp issue is a definitive one likely to remain in circulation for at least five years.

For these designs the artist and photographer worked closely together.

Allan Mitchell, veteran designer of several New Zealand stamps, had his friend, Alan Seaton, take the photographs under h is personal direction.

Mitchell chose backgrounds of woven fabric to highlight the smooth textures of the artifacts.

He chose warm colours of like tonal quality to provide unity for the set. The photographer side-I it his pictures to give depth to the desiqns.

2

STAMP PROGRAMME FOR NEXT YEAR Jenuary 19

Com_INI_(a) One stamp commemorating tha Centenary of Hamilton. (b) One stamp commemorating the Centenary of Masterton. (c) One stamp commemorating the Centenary of Gisborne. (d) One stamp commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Automobile Association in New Zealand. lel One stamp commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

February 2

A miniature sheet of stamps commemorating the silver anniversary of the accession to the throne of Elizabeth 11, Ouaen pf New Zealand.

April 6

Education A set of stamps recognising education in New Zealand.

June 1

New Zealand scenic issue featuring seascapes and beach scenes.

AUllllst 3

Health Issue - 4th release in the children's pets series.

October 5

a"istmas Issue.

December 7

Special topic issue - fire fighting appliances.

ISLANDS ISSUES FOR 1917

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NEW ZEALAND on< POSTAGE STAMPS UU

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Stamp Booklets Ordered An order has now been placed with the New Zealand Government Pri nter for the production of new stamp booklets.

One will contain the 10c Royal definitive stamp for the inland airmail rate and another the Se definitive stamp for the basic inland surface letter rate.

The new booklets will be placed on sale when suppl ies of the present booklet are exhausted.

The cost of the new booklets wi 11 be 80 cents for the 8 cent stamp booklet and $1.00 for the 10 cent stamp booklet.

March

Niue Personal Services Issue This issue follows in the theme of the 1976 Niue Utility Services Issue.

Present booklets contain 1 cent, 3 cent and 4 cent stamps and cost 75 cents each.

July

Niue Scenic Issue

Centennial Postcard

October

Niue Christmas Issue Another set of attractive Christmas stamps on the lines of past Niue Christmas issues.

Novemliir

Tok~auIP'nds~ttssue----

Overseas rush for datestamp service Overseas collectors have been quick to take advantage of a new Post Office service, the special datestamp standing order scheme, introduced early this year.

So far 750 collectors have placed orders for this service and demand continues to increase.

The scheme ensures overseas collectors don't miss out on special datestamps released by the New Zealand Post Office.

In the past, overseas philatelists were often unaware of New Zealand "specials" until too late.

This new service means collectors anywhere in the world can get an imprint of every special datestamp released by the Post Office.

Standing orders can be placed with the New Zealand Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui.

To mark the centenary of the first item of postal stationery produced by the New Zealand Post Office, a specially designed postcard wi 11 be issued on November 1, 1976.

The postcard will feature, on the front left hand side, a reproduction of the original stamp imprint and the distinctive border on the first postcard, and on the back, a short commentary on the history of the postcard.

A new postage imprint will be used for the first time on the centenary postcard and from then on as new items are printed it will replace the existing imprint on all items of postal stationery.

A special order form is being mailed to philatelic mailing list customers.

From November 1, 1976 until stocks are exhausted, customers can obtain their requirements from all post offices.

3

BANK'S BARTER BOUGHT ARTIFACTS

By Ray Lousich.

Joseph Banks, the man reputed to have acquired the two clubs featured in the Maori Artifacts stamp issue, was a diehard from an old school of geograph ical thought.

In fact much of Captain Cook's mapmaking was motivated by a desire to convince men like Banks, once and for all, that Terra Incognita, the myth ical great Southern Continent, did not exist.

And it was on Cook's voyages to disprove this theory that Banks, a wealthy young man making the trip to broaden his experience as a botanist, probably bartered for the now priceless artifacts that feature on New Zealand's new definitive stamp issue.

Cook visited New Zealand three times between 1768 and 1780 on voyages of discovery that enabled Europeans to redraw the fanciful maps then existing of the Southern World Ptolemy coined the term "Terra Incognita" - Unknown Land in the 2nd century AD and postulated it as a continent connecting East Africa with South-east Asia.

In 1468 Vasco da Gama sailed across the northern reaches of Ptolemy's theoretical Terra Incognita, proving that if it did exist, it was a lot further south.

Christopher Columbus, Balboa, Magellan and sundry Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch explorers pushed into the southern seas, but none sighted the fabled Southern Continent.

At last, in 1642, Abel Tasman sailed across the sea bearing his name and sighted the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. He followed the coastline north, until he reached a large bay now known as Golden Bay. There, the two Dutch ships found anchorage and made the first recorded contact between Europeans and Maoris.

Tasman ordered muskets, pikes and swords laid out on the deck and

fired some of his guns to make it clear that the white-sailed ships had teeth. Nevertheless a small boat running between the twc ships was rammed by a canoe and its occupants attacked with, among other things, "short, thick, pieces of wood".

These "pieces of wood" may have been similar to the clubs acquired, a century later, by Banks.

Kotiate and wahaika, the clubs featured in the stamp issue, are typical of the weapons used by the Maoris in hand-to-hand fighting.

Like the flute and shark-tooth knife, the clubs and especially their carving had deep religious significance. They became heirlooms handed down through generations.

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BANKS

to act as Interpreter, opening the way to impressive success in Cook's rediscovery of New Zealand.

The breach of language barrier also resolved the initial suspicion and hostility that ended Tasman's New Zealand experience so ignominiously. Instead of swapping missiles, the English were eventually able to trade with the Maoris, making possible the acquisition by interested officers like Banks, of ancient Maori artifacts including those featured on the stamps.

Cook himself soon came to the conclusion that he was charting a set of islands, but Banks and other officers would not abandon their dream of the fabled Southern Continent.

Finally they reached the southern end of the South Island and on March 10, Banks admitted in his journal: "Blew fresh all day, but carried us round the point, to the total demolition of our aerial fabrick called continent."

Cook had redrawn the atlas and laid to rest a dream stretching back 16 centuries.

Alexander Turnbull Library Wellington. New Zealand

Four men died in the Golden Bay skirmish and Tasman sailed off in disgust, dubbing the bay Murderers Bay and leaving a line on the map, the presumed western edge of Terra Incognita.

On October 7, 1769, Captain James Cook's barque, Endeavour, neared the east coast of New Zealand's North Isla(ld. He had come to the South Seas to observe the transit of Venus across the sun, and to find the truth about the Southern Continent.

In Tahiti, Banks had found an exiled Chieftain called Tupuaia and persuaded Cook to take him on board, paying for his passage out of his own pocket.

Tupuaia proved to be an invaluable asset. His Tahitian tongue was close enough to Maori to enable him

The artifacts in the stamp issue, then, are more than just items of local historic interest. They are mute witnesses to a new era of human knowledge.

Their significance was recognised by expatriate New Zealanders who acquired them in Britain and brought them home to be preserved as part of New Zealand's heritage.

It was recognised also by the New Zealand Post Office in their selection as the theme for its latest stamp issue.

The stamps are pri nted by Courvoisier S.A., Switzerland, by the photogravure process and measure 24.1 mm by 29 mm.

4

SERVING NIUE The Isolated, Ironbound Island

By Garry Maher "Niue lies 1000 miles nor-northeast of New Zealand and 300 miles sou-south-east of Samoa, in the loneliest spot in that part of the Pacific. Its ironbound coast tempts no vessels to call for suppl ies."

So said author Basil Thompson in 1902, succinctly illustrating the factors that helped keep Niue relatively isolated from the world until 1772 when Captain James Cook, visited the island in the Royal Naval Barque "Endeavour".

Even then, his was a short stay, mainly because the islanders vigorously attacked his landing party.

The stamps, each depicting a service vital to life on Niue - telecommunications, water and power - were designed by Allan Mitchell, a New Zealand graphic designer.

Allan says of his designs: "Each stamp features in the foreground detai I of the total subject. The background motif evokes the subject in a more general wa.y. For example, in the 20c stamp I depicted a bank of instruments and genera· tors in the foreground, while behind that is the actual power station building".

The 15c stamp depicts a Niuean operating a teleprinter. The teleprinter only this year replaced the old morse key on Niue, and its function is to send and receive radio-telegram messages.

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Overseas telegraph messages and ~

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telephone calls are sent and received by radio, via New Zealand. Both can suffer varying amounts of distortion during long-range transmission, but recent technical developments have enabled significant improvement to the service.

Niue has established itself as a small territory taking its place as a modern developing part of the Pacific.

In the background is Niue radio station, situated just outside Alofi. the capital.

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Andy explains: "One of the major jobs we've undertaken for Niue is the installation of 'L1 NCOMPLEX' equipment on their radio facilities ... L1NCOMPLEX stands for "linked compression and expansion" and the equipment controls sent and received speech so that it's clear anddTstort:-.,'o...,n:-----free." An equivalent device, 'UNITECH', protects Niue's telegraph service.

New Zealand has had a long association with Niue and gives aid in all three fields, with the New Zealand Post Office acting as technical and operational advisor in telecommunications.

"The Post OUice has helped to extensively upgrade both internal and external telecoms on the island," says Andy Turpie of the New ZeaApart from these special proland Post Office's Overseas Telejects, the Post Office has two communications Division. permanent radio men based on On Niue, internal telecommuniNiue to give more direct assistance cations depend entirely on the in a sort of "hands across the water" gesture. ever-faithful telephone.

"At present," says Andy, Water "We're reViewing telephone services The 10c stamp depicts a small on the island."

Niuean girl undertaking a daily Services chore - the drawing of water. It's These services include a manual not from a "brackish spring", as telephone exchange catering for a tourist guide-book describes pre-European days, but from a 207 subscribers, and staffed for seventeen hours each day. Imporcommunal faucet fed by the large tant lines are permanently connected. village water tower depicted in the

5 background. As a constant and rei iable source of water, the tower is a sign of the times.

The 20c stamp presents two views of Niue's sole powerhouse at Tuila, near the town of Alofi.

John Springford of New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dealt closely with measures to solve water shortage problems on Niue.

"Electric power isn't a new thing in Niue ... small generators were being used in various places after World War 11," says John Fulton. But it wasn't until 1966 that plans for the extensive use of power came to light."

"A hydrology report on Niue was made by this country's Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the 1950's.

This showed the extent of underground water available. Niue, unfortunately, has no surface streams of any kind and, amazingly enough, fresh water is retained by the porous coral through pressure from the surrounding sea-water.

Drilling "Bores were sunk to the water by a dri 11 ing contractor from New Zealand. The main hassle was the risk of drilling too far down and allowing sea water to intrude! But once the bores were finished experiments were carried out with various forms of pumps, ranging from diesel motors to windmills."

The second big breakthrough was in 1967, when UNICEF and the Niue Government set about piping water to villages and schools. "It meant more water available for domestic use, plus improved sanitary conditions," says John.

Problem

"The work is continuing, with only a few villages left to go on the supply. The main problem is completely phasing out the use of roof catchment water in villages because of health dangers.

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John is an engineer with the New Zealand Ministry of Works.

He acts as consultant to Niue for power reticulation.

"Although the scheme was planned from 1966, construction actually started in 1975." says John. "The powerhouse itself has been completed at Tuila and is to be extended with an extra two 250 kw generators - at the moment they have three diesel generators. one of 50 kw and two of 170 kw Generation

The two new generators, being shipped from New Zealand, are to be treated with the care befitting such important items. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft will ferry the 10 ton mammoths, too heavy for ship loadi ng gear to handle.

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Having started at Alofi, construction is steadily working its way to the north of Niue and the first villages in that area to be supplied will be Makefu and Hikutavaki.

"The scheme should be complete by the end of 1977," according to John, "but we can't be sure."

The Niue stamps will be printed

by Questa Colour Security Printers of England, by the lithography process. All three measure 27.94 mm x 44.45 mm.

Co-operative Although each design depicts a developing and independent Niue, the very utility services featured are a sign of Niue's appreciation of co-operative effort.

Although each design depicts a developing and independent Niue. the very utility services featured are a sign of Niue's appreciation of co-operative effort.

Power to the people! And that brings its problems as John knows.

"The entirely Niuean workforce constructing the scheme have had a devil of a job trenching the hard coral to lay cable. They aren't haVing overhead lines because Niue is in the hurricane belt.

"The work ties in with other pro· jects, for example special provisions have been made for powering village water pumps."

Altogether, the Niueans concerted effort has seen 90 miles of cable laid," says John.

Industry

Electricity is not only vital to the quality of life, but also to industry in Niue. Without it, fruit processing, honey production and building, for instance, could not continue on a modern footing.

Now self-governing, the island maintains close and valuable Iinks with New Zealand, its past administrator.

The aid given is frequently provision of materials, advice and training, but the people themselves have provided a labour force for each project verifying the words of an anonymous observer who wrote in 1902: "These Niue people are amongst the most industrious..."

6

IVORY, ART AND ANGELS MARK THIS CHRISTMAS ISSUE

By Leslie Waiters New Zealand's 1976 Christmas stamp issue, released on October 6 features three stamps, including a 16th century nativity scene carved in ivory by an unknown Spanish artist.

"It took some doing to condense a whole carol into one stamp," said Margaret who designed the country's 1975 and 1976 Health issues.

It portrays the Resurrection through the eyes of renowned local abstract artist, Milan Mrkusich.

Titled simply "Nativity", the ornate gothic work depicting the Christ Child in the familiar manger setting hangs in the Auckland City Art Gallery.

The 7 m x 7 m lead-I ight work is a combination of stained and coloured glass and took Mrkusich three months to design.

Colour in the head and hands was actually painted into the glass and fired.

Now, with the help of one of the country's leading philatelic designers, Don Hatcher, "Nativity" also adorns the 7c Christmas stamp, lowest denomination in the Noel trio.

Simplistic rather than abstract, the "stamp" window was one of many created by the artist for St Josephs in 1961.

The New Zealand Post Office commissioned Don to design two of the three Christmas stamps around given subjects.- "Nativity", "Herald Angels" and a speciallychosen stained glass window.

Cherubs set the stage for the highest Christmas denomination, the 18c "Stylised Angels Design" - created by Christchurch stamp designer Margaret Chapman.

The window used in the 11 cent stamp, the seventh stained window to be used on New Zealand Christmas stamps since 1970, stands in St Joseph's Catholic Church, Grev Lynn, Auckland.

Inspired by the well-known carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", this gayest of the stamps bears three youthful angels proclaiming joy to the trill of a golden trumpet.

"I wanted to keep it si mple but expressive."

Printed by photogravure by Harrison & Sons, England, all three Christmas stamps measure 29.8 x 40.6 mm.

Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, the issue will remain on sale at all New Zealand post offices till January 5, 1977 and at the Post Office Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui (mail orders) till June 30, 1977.

Unaddressed First Day covers will also be released with the stamp issue on October 6.

They feature Don Hatcher's design - "a combination of religious and snow crystal patterns" suggestive of bursting fireworks.

7

NEW ZEALAND PHILATELIC SERVICES STAMPS AND STATIONERY

Postage stamps and philatelic items of New Zealand, Niue, Tokelau Islands, Ross Dependency, Western Samoa and the United Nations are available by mail order from the New Zealand Philatelic Bureau and may be bought over the counter at the six philatelic sales positions throughout New Zealand.

Western Samoa and United Nations stamps are not available to overseas clients from the Philatelic Bureau.

The Philatelic Bureau at Wanganui provides only a mail order service but all items sold from the Bureau are available from the philatelic counters at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton and Gisborne.

All mail orders are handled by the Philatelic Bureau. Collectors can either open a deposit account (see below) or include a remittance with their order.

Posters and Postcards

Overseas Mail Orders

Special Posters and postcards featuring stamp illustrations are available from the philatelic sales positions, Philatelic Bureau (mail orders) and all permanent post offices.

All mail orders from overseas should be addressed to the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui, New Zealand and, except for standing orders or deposit account orders, must be accompanied by the correct currency.

This must include return postage.

OTHfR

S Philatelic Bulletin The Post Office Philatelic Bulleti n is sent out twice a year to all people on the philatelic mailing list.

Unaddressed First Day Covers

Special Pictorial Datestamps

Specially designed unaddressed first day covers for new issues are sold at philatelic sales counters and at all Chief Post Offices and selected district post offices for eight days from the day the stamps are released.

These are provided for events of national interest. They are publicised in the New Zealand news media and on each occasion a notice with a reproduction of the postmark is displayed in all New Zealand post offices.

They can also be ordered from any post office up to two months before release date.

The recently-introduced special pictorial datestamp standing order service (minimum deposit $5) is available upon application to;

Special Packs Special philatelic packs are produced at intervals by the Post Office. They include the Definitive, annual Collector's, Postal Stationery, and First Day Cover packs.

Mail Orders

The first two can be bought from all permanent post offices, and all packs can be bought from the philatelic sales positions and by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau.

The Manager, Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui, New Zealand.

Datestamps are sent on a special, unaddressed postcard that bears a 25 cent postage imprint.

Approxi mate currency conversion and postage rates are included in leaflets issued advising of new releases.

Orders for first day covers must arrive on or before the day of issue.

Deposit Accounts Collectors who deposit a mInImum of $5 with the New Zealand Philatelic Bureau can open a deposit account. The cost of stamps collectors require is then taken from their deposit.

Deposit accounts can be used with individual orders or where a standing order is placed for stamps and other ph i1atel ic material.

Standing Order Service Th is service is available to deposit account holders on completion of a special form available on request from phila~elic sales centres and the Philatelic Bureau.

OFFICES OPENED AND CLOSED

ARTICLES may be extracted for reprinting without further perm ission. Acknowledgement to the New Zealand Philatelic Bulletin would be appreciated.

Plate Numbers VINTAGE FARM TRANSPORT (Stock no longer available from Philatelic Bureau)

Office

District

Date

Cape Campbell

Blenheim

31.3.76

Government Buildings

Wellington

10.5.76

60 7c Bc

Tuaha

New Plymouth

31.3.76

9c

Kinohaku

Hamilton

31.3.76

Leithfield

Christchurch

31.1.76

Mohaka

Napier

31.3.76

Papatoetoe South

Auckland

5.2.76

Riverhead

Auckland

12.2.76

St Arnaud

Nelson

19.12.76

St Omer

Blenheim

24.12.76

Taringamoto

Hamilton

27.2.76

Waihi Beach South

Thames

17.2.76

Whenuapai Airport

Auckland

12.2.76

Whangaroa

Whangarei

27.3.76

Ngaruawahia Camp

Hamilton

10.5.76

Richmond Heights

Rotorua

9.2.76

Rutherford House

Wellington

Tamatea

Napier

Opened

10.5.76 3.6.76

CURRENT STAMPS STAMP ISSUES currently available by mail order from the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui, or over the counter from Philatelic Sales Sections

at Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch.

Dunedin.

Gisborne

and

Hamilton

N.Z. Fiscals (Set $28.001 $4, $6, $S, $10.

1970171 Definitives (Set $5.36) lc,2c.

3c, 4c. 50, 60, 7c, 8c, 9c, lOc. 150, 18c.

2Oc, 23c, 250, 3Oc, 5Oc, $1.00. $2.00.

1976 Tokelau Definitives (Set $1.901 Issued 27 October 1976 lc. 2c. 3c. 50. 9c. 2Oc, 5Oc. $1.00.

Government Life Insurance (Set 24~c)

21>c, 3c, 4c, 15c.

Niue Definitives (Set $3.95) 1c, 2c, 3c.

4c, 5c. 1Dc, 2Oc. 5Oc, $1.00, $2.00.

Ross Dependency (Set 48c) 3c, 4c, 5c.

Sc, lOc, 250.

lA1A1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A

lOc 250 1976 lc 2c 3c 50

lB1B1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B 1B1B1B1B lB1B1B1B1B

20c 50c $1

TOKELAU DEFINITIVES lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A 1AlA 1 AlA 1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A

1976 7c Bc lOc

HEALTH lA1A1A lA1A1A lA1A1A

NIUE lOc 15c 20c

UTILITY lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A

9c

lB1B1B lB1B1B lB1B1B

WATERFALLS lOc I I I I 140 I I I I 150 I I I I 160 I I I I NIUE lc 2c 3c 40 50 lOc 20c 50c $1 $2

DEFINITlVES lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA!A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A lA1A1A1A1A

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STOP PRESS

The 1976 Fllst Day Cover Pack contain ng all special and CO'TI memoratlve stamped hst day covers Issued from November 1975 to October 1976 IS row ava 1bl' Itco t5$281