Case 21
- Authors’ Presentation Inscriptions to A.H. Reed
F.M. Chirnside. Thoughts that came to me during World War II. Dunedin: Whitcombe & Tombs, 1953.
This
modest book of poems contains a presentation inscription to A.H. Reed in verse
by the author Florence Mary Chirnside.
Chirnside
(1873-1958) was a neighbour of Reed’s in Glenpark Avenue and her verse
inscription provides a hint of the esteem in which Mr Reed was held by those
who knew him. Reed himself was fond of utilising similarly simple rhymes in
marketing his wares, for instance: ‘At Christmastide, your every need / is here
supplied by A.H. Reed.’ His surname, too, was a regular source of puns, as in
‘Write to Reed.’
F.M. Chirnside. Thoughts that came to me during World War II. Dunedin: Whitcombe & Tombs, 1953.
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Ernest Northcroft Merrington. A great coloniser: the Rev. Dr. Thomas Burns, pioneer minister of Otago and nephew of the poet. Dunedin: Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers, 1929.
The Reed
Association Collection contains several books which the authors have inscribed
to Mr Reed himself. One such example is a copy of Ernest N. Merrington’s 1929
biography of Thomas Burns. Below Merrington’s gift inscription (and in lieu of
an errata slip), he has inscribed in fine detail the necessary textual
corrections to be made, for Reed’s perusal – including the date of departure of
the John Wickliffe, wrongly printed as September 1847.
The Rev
Dr Ernest N. Merrington (1876-1953) was an Australian born clergyman who served
as Minister of First Church of Otago (1923-1928) and subsequently as Master of
Knox College, Dunedin.
Ernest Northcroft Merrington. A great coloniser: the Rev. Dr. Thomas Burns, pioneer minister of Otago and nephew of the poet. Dunedin: Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers, 1929.
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Sir Apirana Ngata. The price of citizenship. Wellington: Printed by W. & T., 1943.
This
copy of The price of citizenship, a
memorial to Lieutenant Ngarimu, V.C., is inscribed to Reed by the author Sir
Apirana Ngata (1874-1950), a prominent Ngati Porou leader, land reformer,
politician, lawyer and scholar.
In his
1969 autobiography, Reed describes the day he met Ngata and received this gift.
After being warned by his hotel hostess that he might find Sir Apirana
unapproachable, Reed was greeted at his Ruatoria home by his granddaughter
(whose inscription the copy also bears). She directed Reed to a hall, where
Ngata’s response “at first was chilling” but he thawed upon discovering the
identity of his visitor. Ngata spoke appreciatively of certain Reed
publications and kindly invited Reed to tea and inscribed to him this very
copy.
