While listing a carton I came across a book from 1889 - a copy of the New Testament in Tahitian.
Inside the cover was a slip of paper donating the volume to the Bishop, dated 8-10-23. The Bishop would have been Bishop Cleary.
A search of the web for Geo Graham led me to Te Ara – The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand and an article on George Samuel Graham 1874 to 1952. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4g17/graham-george-samuel.
He was an accountant, lawyer, ethnographer and native agent. Was he, however, the donor of this book?
The encyclopaedia article stated that his collection of papers is divided between the Auckland City Library and the Auckland Institute and Museum. I contacted former colleagues at Auckland Council Libraries asking if they had a sample of Geo Graham’s signature. They sent me a scan of the flyleaf of the Ngati Tamatera manuscript NZMS 32.
NZMS 32
Courtesy of the New Zealand Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections,
Auckland Central Library
Bingo ! It’s a match
George Graham was an exceptional Catholic layman. His understanding of and sympathy with Maori, and his scholarly and historical flair, enabled him to make a valuable contribution to the preservation of written Maori knowledge. It is appropriate to acknowledge his contribution during Te Wiki o te reo Māori.
Eagle eyes! What an interesting and relative connection to Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.