. . . Poetry Notes

Summer 2013 Volume 3, Issue 4

ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA

both rugby and cricket and was an Inside this Issue Welcome influential rugby theorist, law-maker, coach, referee and administrator, a Hello and welcome to issue 12 of competitive athlete and an athletics Welcome Poetry Notes, the newsletter of PANZA, official, and was prominent in horse 1 the newly formed Poetry Archive of racing as a starter and a skilled Rowan Gibbs on William Aotearoa. handicapper. He was also a talented Wills Robinson Poetry Notes will be published quarterly amateur singer and actor. and will include information about In rugby he was an important pioneer of Classic New Zealand goings on at the Archive, articles on the game in and an innovator poetry by O E Hugo historical New Zealand poets of interest, of wing-forward and three-quarter play. 5 occasional poems by invited poets and a He says himself: “I practically record of recently received donations to introduced Rugby football into the Comment on Richard A the Archive. Province of Auckland, in 1871”, and on 6 Singer by Niel Wright The newsletter will be available for free the 1905 All Black tour he was called download from the Poetry Archive’s “one of the ‘fathers’ of Rugby football website: in New Zealand”; an Australian Poetry Archive road trip: Hawke’s Bay obituary called him “one of the founders 9 http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com of Rugby football under the Southern Cross”. Robert J Pope book His rugby and cricket careers are noted 10 launch report Rowan Gibbs on in passing in books on those sports but his 1905 booklet Rugby Football in New New publication by William Wills Zealand, first published as a series of 11 PANZA member Robinson articles in the newspaper The Pall Mall Gazette in October and NZ publication of Cameron November 1905, and in early November as a one penny 16-page booklet, is La Follette’s poetry bibliographer and never mentioned and seems to be genealogist Rowan Gibbs writes on unknown locally. Of the four copies Donate to PANZA through early New Zealand poet and sportsman recorded in libraries none are in New PayPal W W Robinson author of Rugby Zealand and it is not included in the Football in New Zealand (1905) standard bibliographies. The booklet Recently received recently republished in a new edition goes unnoticed in the many books, old donations with introduction and notes on the text and new, written on the 1905 tour, by Rowan. despite references in New Zealand About the Poetry Archive newspapers to the publication of the PANZA William Wills Robinson (1847-1929) original articles and even a review of the booklet in the . The PO Box 6637 is a significant figure in the history of only modern reference to it I have found Marion Square New Zealand sport. In his twenty two is in an article by an Australian Wellington 6141 years in New Zealand he represented and captained Thames and Auckland in academic who no doubt saw the copy at the National Library of .

...... Summer 2013 The 1905 articles and booklet are in fact Tour of the Auckland Representatives to Not long after his death Sarah and a rewriting in part of an article on the , , Nelson, and young William returned to her home history of Auckland Rugby which he Wellington (Auckland, 1874) and town in , near destitute. contributed under the pen name “An Pavilion Echoes from the South, 1884-5, Old Half Back” to the Auckland by The Twelve (Auckland, 1885), on the Football Annual for 1887 and 1888, the Auckland cricketers’ 1884-5 tour. III latter revised and expanded. This article William spent nine years at Epsom has been drawn on, directly or College, where he played both cricket indirectly, by most historians of II and football, leaving at seventeen in Auckland rugby. William was born on June 17th 1847 at 1864. It seems he then remained in Robinson’s other writings include a 10 Ann Street, Birmingham, England, Northamptonshire, possibly farming regular racing column, ‘Notes by the home of his parents John Robinson, with his stepfather, as there is a Spread Eagle’, in the Auckland a surgeon, and Sarah Mary Robinson, probable record of him playing cricket Observer and over the years he née Lee. In 1855, at the age of eight, there in June 1866, but on February 9th published quite a number of sporting William, living in Long Buckby in 1867 we find him arriving in Auckland, poems under various pseudonyms in Northamptonshire (his mother’s at the age of nineteen, sailing on the magazines and newspapers, including birthplace), was admitted to Epsom England which left London on October The Sporting and Dramatic Review, the College in Surrey as one of the original 19th 1866. He is a saloon passenger, Auckland Star, and The Observer in “Foundationers”, to be educated, travelling by the most expensive New Zealand, and The Sportsman, The clothed and taken care of entirely at the passage: his mother had remarried in Sporting Life, The Sporting Times, College’s expense. The voting papers 1862, to a wealthy farmer. Fry’s Magazine and The Daily Mail in for his admission provide some Soon he is in Thames, probably drawn England. interesting information: by the rush to the goldfield which He planned to publish a collection of opened on August 1st 1867. The father, John Robinson, MRCS these poems in 1916 but it did not Unfortunately virtually no Thames and LSA, followed his profession appear, probably a victim of the newspapers survive before 1874, so five years in England and then, wartime paper restrictions. The when exactly he settled there remains under pressure of adverse collection was finally published in uncertain. There is no mention of him at circumstances, emigrated to the 1922, as Racing & Sporting Rhymes (in the Caledonian games of New Year State of Illinois, US, where he died British and Empire Climes), with the 1868, the first organised sporting event in June 1854, leaving a widow, with author given only as ‘“Akarana” in Thames, but on February 12th 1868, health hopelessly shattered, and (W.W.R.)’, printed, no doubt at his own a year after his arrival in New Zealand, about £50, the wreck of their expense, by Perkin & Co. in he is playing cricket for Thames against property. The mother hopes to Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, the Auckland Peripatetics, so was support herself by needlework, but where he was living. almost certainly living in Thames by has no means of providing for the The fifty-three poems in its 88 pages are then. child. nearly all on horse racing: of the others, There was more than one W. Robinson one is on athletics, three on sport in This is supported by the information living in Thames at this period, but he general, three are tributes to Australian that can be found in American records. seems to have been the only W.W. poets (Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, The family appear in the 1850 United Robinson, so he was very likely the and dedication to Adam Lindsay States Census living in Galena City, Jo possessor of mining rights on the Gordon), and three are on rugby: ‘The Daviess County, Illinois: John Karaka field dated 24 July 1868 and 26 Seven Ages of the Footballer’, ‘How Robinson, physician, age 33; wife November 1869. it’s done’, and ‘Farewell:– Kia Ora te Sarah, age 26; son William, age 3, all He may also have farmed: a crown grant Pango!’. There are no cricket poems in born England. in favour of a William Robinson was the book, although Robinson is credited Now a picturesque historic town of approved in Auckland in January 1868 with the authorship of a “stanza” on a 3,500 people, Galena (named after the and in July 1870 Mr W.W. Robinson snoring fellow player in On the Tented natural mineral form of lead sulphide) was elected a member of the New Fields of the South, 1882, a light- was then a booming lead mining centre Zealand Agricultural Association in hearted account of the Auckland cricket and a busy river port and commercial Auckland. Many years later, in the 1901 team’s southern tour in 1882-3. My hub, which attracted many British England and Wales census, he gave his feeling is that the poems in the book are migrants. profession as “retired farmer”. all the work of the anonymous author, And in the burial records of the Old He is listed on the Thames Electoral ‘The Childe’. Two cricket works to City Cemetery, West Galena Township, Roll for 1875-6 and 1876-7 with a which he very likely contributed I have we find recorded the death of Dr John dwelling in Owen St, Grahamstown, not yet been able to see: The Auckland Robinson on June 22nd 1854, age 32, and at some point he became manager Cricketers’ Trip to the South: A by suicide: perhaps he lost his funds in a or owner of Gregory Waller’s Complete History of the Late Successful failed mining investment? 2 ...... Poetry Archive tobacconist and sporting goods shop in cricketer will be remembered by show in his window’ (AS 24 Mar.1881 Brown Street in Grahamstown. most of the public to whom the p.20), and also on show in the window He played cricket and rugby in Thames, cricketing portion of his was “a handsome bat, presented by Mr captaining both teams, was involved in advertisement is addressed, and his C. Sharland of London, as a prize for athletics and horse racing, and often intimate knowledge of all that the highest average scorer in Auckland appeared in local shows and plays. pertains to the game will be the best this cricket season” (AS 14 Feb.1881 In June 1877 he left Thames for guarantee that the articles p.2; this was awarded in August to D. Auckland and took over Waller’s Queen enumerated are selected with care Lynch, the presentation made by Mr Street shop. On his departure The (BPT 13 Oct.1877 p.3) F.C. Sharland, brother of the donor, “Mr Thames Advertiser said (26 June 1877 Charles Sharland, of London, but In November 1877 he seems to have p.3): formerly of this city”: NZH 25 been living in Devonport (AS 26 Aug.1881 p.4). The Thames is about to lose its best Nov.1877 p.3, advertising an However, Waller, who clearly still had cricketer, football player, amateur impounded strayed pig) and the an interest in the business (or at least in theatrical, amateur vocalist … Mr following year he is advertising for the premises, as he did in Thames), had Robinson is the most thorough tenders for the construction of “a died suddenly while on a visit to athlete and lover of old English cottage in East-street, Newton” (AS 25 Australia in December, and the sport we have at the Thames, and July 1878 p.3). following advertisements appeared in our respective clubs owe their origin In February 1879 he is looking for “a the Herald on May 13th, with a note on and vigour to his untiring exertions man who can milk, groom, and garden” p.5 that “The estate of the late Mr G. on their behalf… (AS 7 Feb.1879 p.3), but in July 1879 he Waller is to be cleared off at very low was lodging in a boarding house kept by and at a ceremony held in the interval of prices”. However, a correction the Mr Francis Pemberton in City Road, a theatrical performance on June 28th following day (p.5) stated: “We find where he and another boarder (John the mayor presented him with “a that a paragraph inserted in yesterday’s Whitford – possibly the Thames diamond ring and a set of sleeve links issue was in error. The only portion of cricketer of that name) put out an early and studs”. the late G. Waller’s estate to be realised morning fire (NZH 8 July 1879 p.5). By upon absolutely is the tobacconist’s September 1884 he was living at 181 Mr W.W. Robinson left by the business, hitherto conducted by Mr. Grey Street (advertising for his stolen Rotomahana for Auckland to-day. W.W. Robinson”. fox terrier: AS 2 Sep.1884 p.3), and he He said “good-bye” to many of his The same advertisements continued to numerous friends last night, but is still listed at that address with a appear until at least July 18th, offering residential qualification in the 1890 there were some to see him off and concurrently not just the old stock but Auckland electoral roll. wish him good luck. We sincerely “a large quantity of attractive New He left for a trip to England, via trust that he will succeed in his new Goods [which] have lately been Sydney, at the end of March 1880, not venture. He is succeeded in his received from London” (e.g. NZH 18 returning until February 1881. The business here by Mr T. Lawless, July 1881 p.8), and at the end of the Observer remarked while he was away who is well known, and will no year: “REMOVAL CRICKET! (16 Oct.1880 p.35): doubt be able to preserve the old TENNIS! CRICKET! W.W. Robinson connection. Mr W.W. Robinson, who is now begs to inform his patrons and the Soon he is advertising widely in seeing life in the old country, is not public that he has Removed his Stock of Auckland, Thames, Waikato and Bay of expected out again before the new the above material to the premises of Mr Plenty newspapers – cigarettes, tobacco, year. Billy’s returning with a young Jones, Tobacconist, Queen-street” (AS 7 “Havannah and Manilla Cigars”, bride will be a severe blow to many Dec.1881 p.1; Jones was at 103 Queen Meerschaums, fancy goods, and a wide fair ones in this city, who have long Street). range of sporting goods, including bats had an eye on him. Working for (or possibly with) selected for him by Charles Bannerman, Robinson since at least 1880 was Arthur But when he returned, via San Francisco “the best bat in Australia”, on his Tilly (“…Apply to Arthur Tilly, at on the on February 9th, just England tour in 1878 (NZH 27 Sep.1878 Robinson’s Tobacconist, 98 Queen- in time to play for the Auckland p.2; TS 3 Oct.1878 p.2). street”: AS 13 Apr.1880 p.3) and in cricketers against the visiting January 1882 Tilly took over the similar Mr W.W. Robinson, who has Australians, it was clear he had adopted business at 64 Queen St (“Arthur Tilly, succeeded to Mr Waller’s business Punch’s advice to those about to marry, for a number of years with in Queen Street, Auckland, and instead of a young bride he brought Mr W.W. Robinson, Begs to intimate to advertises the tobacconist ‘a carefully selected assortment of the Public that he had succeeded to the department, and in addition notifies fancy, fine, and rough cut tobaccos, Tobacco Business, 64 Queen-street, cigarette and pipe smoking; also, fine that he has on hand a large stock of until recently carried on by Messrs cricketing material by the best cut and plug tobaccos for chewing, to Partridge and Woollams, as a Branch makers. Mr Robinson’s fame as a suit all tastes. The above make quite a Establishment…”: AS 7 Jan.1882 p.1).

...... 3 Summer 2013 It appears that Robinson may have been coaching sport at Wellingborough of a New Zealand cricket tour to manager for a period of H.N. Abbott’s School. In 1895 we find him attending a England and watched the team play newly opened Opera House in parade and inspection of the St John Northamptonshire at Kettering in 1927. Auckland, which opened on May 23rd Ambulance Brigade in Wellingborough He died in Wellingborough on 1882, but he continued to sell his (NM 23 Aug.1895) and attending a September 14th 1929, aged 82. Probate cricketing equipment at Jones’s wedding there in 1899 (NM 8 was granted in London on October 11th (“…cricketing material for the coming Sep.1899); he was stage manager for to Arthur Manning, retired secretary, season…” AS 26 Sep. 1882 p.1) until in local amateur plays in 1895 and 1902. and Hugh William Jackson, solicitor; November 1882 comes the New Zealand papers printed some of his the value of his effects was £2468 2s 5d. announcement that “W.W. Robinson … sporting poems over the years and the A death notice appeared in The Times has disposed of his cricketing material Auckland Observer published a photo (20 Sep.1929 p.1: “New Zealand papers to Messrs Partridge and Woollams, of him in its issue of 25 Sept.1897 (p.7): please copy”). There was an obituary Tobacconists” (NZH 8 Dec.1882 p.3), “a photograph recently sent by Mr three months later in the AS (31 followed in September 1883 by news he Robinson to Mr John Marshall, Dec.1929 p.9): is back in the business (NZH 17 President of the A.A. and Cycle Club … Sep.1883 p.1). Mr Robinson has never lost his interest …He was one of the pioneers who How long he continued selling sports in Auckland or in Auckland sport of all introduced rugby football to the equipment is uncertain but no kinds” (p.6). province… His services to the game, advertisements have been found after In the 1901 census of England and both as a player and a coach, were December 1883. From about this time Wales he is single and living with his invaluable … he contributed much he appears increasingly frequently as a mother, now 84, at The Chestnuts, 30 material of historical value to New racing handicapper and associated with Poplar Crescent, Wellingborough, both Zealand football, and wrote a book Tattersall’s, the racing authority, of “of private means”. She died on April on ‘its development and small which he became secretary; he also 2nd 1902 (death notice NM 4 Apr.1902, beginnings’…” acted as an agent purchasing race horses and her death was noted in the AS June at auction. 11 1902 p.4); the probate valued her And an Australian paper published an He visited Australia early in 1888 (AS 4 effects at £2832 11s 2d. obituary three months after that: Feb.1888 p.2) and left New Zealand for He saw at least the Northamptonshire good early in 1889, returning to game on the 1905 …Mr. Robinson, who was an England via Australia. The Observer tour, and was honoured after the match. English public school boy, was published a “capital portrait” of him on New Zealand papers quoted at length recognised as one of the founders of December 29th 1888 (reproduced at the from his 1905 articles on New Zealand Rugby football under the Southern end of this article): “his is a well-known rugby and the Auckland Star printed a Cross. He settled in Auckland, N.Z. face, not only on the cricket field but review of the booklet by its London … played for his province, and in also on the race course and football correspondent. His poem ‘How it’s 1882, when the first invasion of field, where he is generally respected Done’ (on the All Blacks’ record total) Maoriland by Australian footballers for his many genial qualities” (p.10) and was published in the Daily Mail in took place, the soundness of his there was an “illustrated biographical December 1905 and reprinted in the training was evidenced by the defeat sketch” of him in the Family Friend at Auckland Star. by Auckland of a much vaunted the start of February. In the 1911 census he is boarding with a New South Wales team… It was He sailed on the Mararoa on February William Lissenden and his wife in from that defeat that New South 12th, having played his last cricket Wellingborough; there as a visitor is an Wales and Australia learned the true match in New Zealand the day before. Arthur Manning, a solicitor and inwardness of rugby, and in years to The cricketers gave him a hearty send company secretary born in 1865, come both New South Wales and off from the field and that night there probably a close relative and the same Queensland were oftentimes was a dinner given by “a small party of Arthur Manning who was to be his superior to their teachers. The his most intimate friends”, racing executor. shortness of football memory, colleagues, at which he was presented He planned to publish a collection of his however, is illustrated by a with a gold locket (AS 16 Feb.1889 p.2; poems in 1916 but it did not appear statement in a recent issue of a Obs. sd p.11). until 1922; it was reviewed in the AS in Sydney paper that “Sydney taught December (see above). Maoriland rugby football.” The late He saw the 1924 All Blacks play in Mr. Robinson had lived in England IV Leicester and Northampton, and the since 1889, but he had never lost We catch a few glimpses of him after following year a long account of his contact with Australasian athletes, his return to England, still playing sporting career, together with an and often sent messages to his cricket and maintaining his interest in interesting chatty letter from him, alumni scattered throughout cricket, rugby, athletics, horseracing and appeared in the AS (2 Oct.1925 p.5). He Australia and Maoriland… the stage. He settled in Wellingborough, was consulted in 1925 on the prospects

4 ...... Poetry Archive Abbreviations used: He was Danish originally. His father We two could wander through the was Alfred Edward Hugo, M.D., of summer fields?” AS = Auckland Star Copenhagen. Hugo married in 1882 “Depart!” I cried, “I miss thee not; BPT = Elizabeth Annabella Campbell (1860?- depart. NM = Northampton Mercury 1924) in Reefton, formerly from Picton, For with contentment now my spirit NZH = New Zealand Herald Nova Scotia. A son Angus Oswald yields TS = Thames Star Hugo was born in 1883 and lived till Unto the autumn calmness of the heart 1958. With thee I buried aspirations vain, Hugo lectured first as a young man at And love with all its bliss and all its the Institute in Masterton in the 1880s, pain.” and developed a way of delineating character by picking people as examples July 23 from his audiences in live lectures. At one stage he was also in Rangiora ( Witness, 31 July 1890) and was a member of their literary and debating society. He later lived in Auckland and Otago and enjoyed TREES travelling the country. In Otago, he wrote on his encounters with Southern I love all trees— both those which on Māori. the plain His poetry, prose, travel tales, art and Appear oasis-like in deserts drear, literary criticism and verse translations of And those that seem on mountains to sustain Danish and European poets like Goethe appeared in a number of newspapers, The sinking clouds and those which by BILLY ROBINSON including the Auckland Star, Otago the mere (From a Photograph Witness, and Canterbury Star. Look king-like among reeds. I love the by Charles Hemus, Observer, His sonnets are of particular interest for trees 29 December 1888, p. 6) their easy registering of the New In summer when within their shade I Zealand landscape and stand apart from rest This essay is the introductory biography other poets of this period who were still Embowered in leafiness, through which to W W Robinson’s life by Rowan coming to grips with the exotic bush the breeze Gibbs. surrounding them. Sounds like a voice from islands of the Rowan’s book on W W Robinson, There is no record of poetry book blest. Rugby Football in New Zealand: Its publication from him, and he does not I love the trees in winter when through Developments from Small Beginnings, appear in official literary histories or sere, is available from Rowan at national poetry anthologies. Late-lingering leaves, the wind sighs [email protected] Hugo died in Nelson aged 60 in August pensively 1915. For glories longed for eagerly as were It Orpheus, and spring Eurydice. Poems by O E Hugo Trees were my early friends, and may Classic New Zealand they wave poetry BACK FROM THE DEAD Their songster-shelt’ring branches o’er my grave. The apparition of my youth arose This issue’s classic New Zealand poetry From out its grave and thus to me it (, 10 October 1889) (found by Mark Pirie) is by Oswald spoke: Edward Hugo (1855?-1915). “We dwelled together, you and I, in Professor Hugo, a poet, artist and those AFTER FIVE YEARS colourful lecturer, travelled around New Love-sheltered days before thy soul Zealand in the 19th century offering awoke I left her in the beauty of her youth and entertaining and fascinating lectures on To realise how much of hope was innocence; such subjects as ‘Language’, ‘Faces’, dream; Years sped onward, on my heart they ‘Noses’, ‘Hands’, ‘Eyes’ and other parts And now I come from out yon silent left their trace. of the body. His specialist and land, But often during absence rose a longing, pioneering interest was physiognomy Beyond the murmurless night-tinted deep, intense, and phrenology. stream, Once again to see that lovely girlish To hear if still you wish that hand in face. hand

...... 5 Summer 2013 At last I reached the village, but it held Like eyes that flash with curiosity I watch thy silver waves and see them no more the maid; The flaming rata flowers creep o’er the reach In the churchyard, hedged with yellow, edge, The rocky shell-strewn beach. blooming gorse, Seeking to penetrate the mystery. What am I but a wave upon the vast They pointed out her tombstone. Sad in In such a spot as this life seems a torch Expanding sea of time; I too at last. heart, I knelt, and said, Swung by a madman —to perplex, Perhaps ere long, shall reach that silent “Magni saevique Di sunt, et dira distress, shore, mors.”* And not to guide the spirit near the Where breakers foam no more. porch *The gods are great and cruel, and dire is Of the Nirvana, perfect selflessness. (Auckland Star, 8 December 1888) death. For mortals met the great Pan face to face (Auckland Star, 18 February 1888) In lonely places—through the forest’s SONNET maze. I mourn not at the thought that I shall ATYS Auckland, March 1893 leave (On reading De Atye, by Catullus.) This world of men. How could I when (Otago Witness, 24 March 1898) I think I read the story of young Atys, told That not one joy shall cease, or heart By him who, first in conquest-weary shall grieve, Rome, MARE PROFUNDUM Or eye be tear ennobled when I sink When Hellas’ day waxed lustreless and Into the depths of Orcus? But thou, blue cold, Seele des Menschen Eternal sky,— O I could leave to-day For fair Euterpe reared a sunny home, Wie gleichst du dem Wasser! With Roman resignation if I knew That picture haunts me still. I see him Schicksal des Menschen, That thou wouldst not for ever fade stand Wie gleichst du dem Wind! away; Upon the shore, and gazing through his Goethe And O, ye mountains, and ye forest tears trees; Across the sea towards a distant land Oh, palpitating, blue, expanding sea! Thou many-voiced and ever restless So luculent in light of happy years. Thou ever wert to me sea, And thus, my brothers and my sisters, A fount of wonder, awe, and strange Responding to the tempest and the each delight, breeze Of us is Atys. Like him we have gazed Which thrills my soul e’en more than Like human hearts to poet’s melody;— Into those realms which only thought does the sight No chord can render, and no voice can can reach, Of woman’s loveliness, in all the tell Where lies, soft-hued and dimmed and mystery What I shall feel when bidding you distance hazed, Of beauty’s majesty. Farewell. A flower-girt strand— one lovely spot which bore Thou restless, wailing, ever-troubled (Otago Witness, 5 September 1889) Those joys and happy days that are no sea, more. I recognise in thee A mirror of my agitated soul, Comment on Richard Oamaru, September 25 So tempest-tossed, so weary of the whole A Singer (Otago Witness, 3 October 1889) Incomprehensible and incessant strife ’Twixt peace and life.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE THE HOME OF THE PARA FERN I hear thee sing a dirge, sad, dark blue AOTEAROA POET RICHARD

sea, ARNOLD SINGER by Niel Wright In some lone gully, deep and dark, it With mournful melody, grows, For all the dead who through eternity The treasured secret of the forest’s Singer’s dates are given as 1878?–1961, Shall sleep in thy embrace. Incessantly heart. so he lived to 84. Registration of birth is My heart, too, hums a dirge in constant The creek which through the mystic confirmed in first quarter 1878. His monotone twilight flows father was a Rev. Singer = Rabbi? For joys for ever gone. Slackens its pace, unwilling to depart I am indebted to Rowan Gibbs for the

And high above, upon the dripping following research on the Singer family.

ledge,

6 ...... Poetry Archive Richard’s father was indeed a Rabbi,  “Plays bridge, drives a car, reads published and possibly hand bound by and an author (see much. Tells a bright story…well the author or friend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Si known to police” Pat Lawlor (see below) in 1935 writes nger and presumably as a criminal lawyer, but “Dick Singer has told me much of the http://www.newwestend.org.uk/visitors/ Singer was also taken to court on two early days of another poet, Dick Harris Singerlecture.doc): matters for failure to file tax returns for [1887-1926]. Incidentally I understand - Rev. Simeon Singer, father; himself (so also was Shakespeare, be it that through the generosity of Singer, - Charlotte Singer, mother; said). who paid the printing bill, the - Fredericka (Freda) Abrahams, There are sufficient references to publication of Harris’s first book of sister; and Singer’s interest in drama to put it poems “Monodies,” was made - Julius Singer, Samuel Alexander beyond doubt, but so far I have found possible.” Monodies was published in Singer, David Jacob Singer, Dr. no public records of his name in 1910 printed by Whitcombe & Tombs Charles Joseph Singer, brothers. theatrical matters. in 125 copies string bound through The other 16 records go back to Pat holes, leather cover, copies held in only The National Library of New Zealand Lawlor’s literary papers and deal with 5 New Zealand libraries today plus has in Tapuhi 17 files for R A Singer. contact between Singer and other PANZA (copy 59 signed Dick Harris Record 2 of 17 has a library profile literary figures of the time. In Record 7 1910) courtesy of Dr Michael O’Leary. “Solicitor, actor and poet, born in of 17 one correspondent says Singer ‘(a Monodies is a more professional Camberwell England. He lived for Jew) is about the best and most brilliant companion book to Singer 1908. many years in Auckland where he was chap.’ PapersPast has 40 items for Observer (18 October 1913) ‘Pars the object of a bomb attack in 1945. He Richard Arnold Singer and 166 items About People’ has this to say: moved to Australia where he later died.” for R. A. Singer. To that extent his life There are references to him in is well documented. What, oh what has happened to the Australian papers quoted below. The PapersPast items listed as literary facilities of Richard Arnold Auckland Star 12 May 1934 page 8 Advertisements give for Richard Arnold Singer? How is it that we no longer ‘The Passing Show, Personality of the Singer only public notices regarding his hear his tuneful poetic pipe amidst Week’ has a piece naming Richard legal clients. the thunderous clamour of the Arnold Singer in full, of which these are Authors’ Week 1936 bibliography of wheels of commerce? Time was the leading points: New Zealand Literature lists under his when Richard Arnold sang with a  born in London; name lightsome heart of the sunlit side of  schooled at the City of London life, but now it would seem nothing School and University College; 1908 Dreams in Exile verse more interesting than the crabbed  member of the English Bar very 1928 The Years Go Round verse formulas of the law drop from his early in life; irridium [sic]-pointed pen.  is a barrister of the Inner Temple; He appears in Bagnall with these books Seriously, besides being one of the  “He was junior counsel in a Privy fully catalogued in the National Library. leading lawyers in a city which is Council case with the famous and No other publications by Richard overrun with them, Mr Singer at one perhaps immortal Asquith” ie Arnold Singer are held by New Zealand time had the faculty of writing good future Prime Minister from 1908; libraries. prose and better verse – he was want  at 1934 more than 3 decades in PANZA has both books courtesy of [sic] to revel in the mask of critic, Auckland; Alistair Paterson [Singer’s own 1908 but alas, he revels no longer. It may  “in many of the most sensational copy with poem inscriptions] and Dr be, of course, that his time is taken trials of our time”; Michael O’Leary [the 1928 collection]. up “within the meaning of the act”  “unsurpassed in oratorical Otherwise 8 libraries in New Zealand in the dry technicalities of the law, advocacy, pungent, analytic and have copies of 1928, but only 2 libraries but surely he might find time to convincing”; in New Zealand have 1908. write another “Little Grey Eyes,” or  “combination of orator and Both books are private editions. a further “Lyric”.’ It is so seldom litterateur”; 1908 consists of 57 pages unpaginated that we of New Zealand have the  “not only immersed himself in 20 cm in height and 15.5 cm in breadth. opportunity of enjoying good work, other people’s poetry as a chief It is centre string bound in brown tape that Mr Singer might come down hobby. But writes poetry of his knotted top and bottom but tied in the from his seat upon Parnassus or own”; middle with a bow. There is a brown from his tomb beneath the  The Years go Round – “many soft leather cover, but in the PANZA parchment and verbiage of legal friends have it”; copy it has split apart totally at the matters to thrum a tuneful lyre once  “Much of his excellent literary spine. more. work went into the Triad”; There is no indication of publisher or  “good listener as well as a good printer, but the presumption is The poem ‘Little Grey Eyes’ to D. M. talker”; [Auckland? NZ R A Singer] self first given in his privately published

...... 7 Summer 2013 book Dreams in Exile of 1908 when he rest to Arnold Goodwin (1889-1978) the PANZA. The earlier book is only held was 30 can be read in unfortunate terms artist who designed his bookplate dated in 2 libraries plus PANZA. Only the as a man preying on young girls. In it he c1925; chief points as follows. University of Auckland General library says he is 33 years old, which implies Singer came to New Zealand in 1902, and the Turnbull Library have both his birth date was 1875 or earlier rather frequently attended the meetings of books, besides PANZA. than 1878? and that actually sounds Savage Club, and of the graphic arts With only access to 1928 one actually more plausible given his career in interest group, the Quoin Club of which gets a misleading impression of Singer’s Britain. Possibly D. M. became his wife Goodwin and T (Tom) V Gulliver were work and worth as a poet. It takes Dorothy Rose, who died in 1930. members. Singer appeared in plays, access to 1908 to get a handle on Singer NZ Truth issue 1043 21 November 1925 took part in long running radio series as a poet. gives a profile under the heading Famous Trials. In 1945 a bomb The two books 1908, 1928 have a very ‘Lawyer-Litterateur’. After quoting a exploded in his home letter box. He substantial core of poems in common, witticism it goes on: died in Australia in March 1961, viz 15 poems. obituaries in New Zealand Herald, 15 This common core suggests that the This was one of the many witticisms March 1961; Auckland Star, 26 March poet’s oeuvre had taken its character by cracked by Richard Arnold Singer, 1961; gets a chapter in Pat Lawlor’s his age of 30 (1908). In fact he is almost barrister and solicitor, known to his Confessions of a Journalist (1935). In fin de siecle in character, but probably intimates as “Dickie.” the 1930s [but this is the wrong decade most of his poems belong to the 20th The self-same R.A.S. was once as she was dead by then] Mrs Dorothy century. Pat Lawlor in his Books and referred to by a member of the Singer led the Auckland Amateur Opera Bookmen New Zealand and Overseas profession in the Supreme Court as Society orchestra and provided (1954) pages 98-100 describes Singer’s one of the cleverest criminal lawyers incidental music for Auckland Little personal library as strong on fin de in the Northern city. And that is the Theatre Society productions. Their siecle (1890s) poetry first editions and general opinion of the Bar and daughter Pam was a student at Elam praises Singer highly as a poet. probably of the Bench. School of Art from 1933. Singer’s earlier book, Dreams in Exile, But Lawyer Singer is a man of more In 1928, Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd is the better book. It has extra love than usual attainments and hobbies. printed The Years Go Round – a poetry, a lighter touch, and a clearer His favourite pastime, if pastime it handsome book. There are 61 pages but cultural context. can be termed, is literature in only 34 have print on them, only those Singer handles a wide range of poems general and drama in particular. with text having the page numbered. with some assurance. His library contains classics, Every poem starts on the recto, but if it Album verses are what I call light short primeval, mediaeval, and modern, doesn’t continue to the verso the verso complimentary poems addressed to and its owner has more than a is blank. I have never met another book women. There are 10 examples in 1908 nodding acquaintance with the best of verse with this sort of pagination. none repeated in 1928. known and some of the l[e]ast Thwaites cited above says Gulliver The later book is less happy in its known authors down the ages. designed this book, “which became a additional poems, which are grimmer A club man with many attachments, collector’s item, notable for its and sadder, usually less effective for his circle of friends is a very wide typography and distinctive endpapers,” lack of context or sharp focus. The poet one. He has not his peer as an though he is not credited in it for doing is 20 years older but in fact is to live impromptu humorist, and he will so. another 33 years. write and produce a playlet or Rowan Gibbs supplied this quotation. Even in 1908 there are poems with a comedy while you wait. The Years Go Round is: “probably the sense of sadness and distress at the Art finds him an ardent and devoted first well-printed book of poetry done in human predicament. But by 1928 this follower, and music claims his New Zealand” – Ron Holloway sense has greatly deepened, one ungrudging admiration. (distinguished Auckland printer) in supposes as a result of the global Turnbull Library Record, May 1989, p. warfare that overwhelmed the 20th Rowan Gibbs advises me there is 12.” century. In the last 30 years of R A information on Singer in Ian Thwaites, Of 1928 200 copies were printed. The Singer’s life the sadness and distress Biographical Journeys, p.175, 2009. Turnbull Library copy, inscribed by the clearly broke the man who may have Quilter’s Bookshop has a copy in the author is no. 200, and has an errata slip seen or may have wished to see the reference collection. There are copies in tipped in as leaf [58] and dated 1930. world pre-1914 in idyllic terms. the Turnbull Library, National Library The PANZA copy is no. 83, with an I have no doubt that the 1908 book and Te Aka Matua Research Library at inscription by the author dated should be reprinted, because it is his Te Papa (by appointment) etc. December 1928. His is not a script easy best work as a poet. Thwaites’s book is a collection of to read at times. There is no writing on But it seems also sure that there are bookplates with profiles of the the blank pages. uncollected poems to be found and a bookplate owner and artist. 2/3rds of a This is a case where the later book is collection should be made of them. page of text is given to Dick Singer, the better known, in 8 libraries besides

8 ...... Poetry Archive Auckland Star, 18 October 1929, reports the legal rolls in 1941? It seems Richard Arnold Singer does not appear Richard Arnold Singer in court for however that anti-Semitism may have in the 2012 book Jewish Lives in New failure to file income tax returns. been the bugbear of his life. Zealand: A History. However this may Auckland Star, 7 October 1930, has a However a later Australian newspaper simply be an oversight as the editors death notice for Singer, Dorothy Rose, report indicates he was a party to consulted a knowledgeable bibliophile wife of Richard Arnold Singer. misappropriation, but later repaid the who knew of Singer as a poet but not Auckland Star, 31 October 1934, Girl’s funds to the plaintiff. His son was killed that he was Jewish. Previous books on Death reports that Singer was in an in war. Jewish writers in New Zealand had not accident involving cars at an Here follows the substance of the report. covered Singer. intersection; one travelling 15 to 20 The significance of which is it confirms miles per hour (in which Singer was a Singer’s age so date of birth, and fills passenger) was hit by the other out his biography in important detail: Poetry Archive road travelling twice as fast (in which the 12 year old daughter of the driver was APPLICATION REFUSED trip: Hawke’s Bay killed). Was Singer injured in this Disbarred N.Z. Barrister accident? Confessions of a Journalist (1935) by The Full Court of the Supreme In October 2012, as an invited guest for Pat Lawlor pages 246-7 has page and a Court yesterday refused an the Hawke’s Bay Live Poets Society, third complimentary profile of a public application by a Sydney solicitor for PANZA co-organiser Mark Pirie gave a figure in line with what you would permission to employ a former New talk on the Poetry Archive of New expect for R A Singer in 1935. I quote Zealand barrister who was struck off Zealand Aotearoa and was guest poet one sentence “His rare efforts in prose the roll in 1941. there. may be found in early numbers of The The former barrister is Richard Accompanying him was the co-founder Triad.” Arnold Singer, 73, who has been of the Poetry Archive Dr Michael “Postscripts” column, Evening Post 4 living in Australia for five years. O’Leary who had agreed to join Mark in July 1936, under the heading below Evidence was given that Singer lost a joint presentation on the Archive. Percy Flage = C A Marris comments as his wife in 1931 [sic, correctly The Hawke’s Bay Live Poets committee quoted and gives the text of ‘Let who 1930], and later a son was killed in includes former Labour MP and poet Dr will believe it’, which appeared first in the war. Bill Sutton, Chairperson Carole Stewart, 1928 under the title given below in In his judgment, the Chief Justice, Marty Smith, Dave Sharp, Marie capitals. It is significant to have the Honourable K. W. Street, said Dunningham and the poet-dermatologist Marris’s endorsement of Singer as a that Singer had built up an Dr Ian McQuillan. poet. This is the only occasion importan[t] practice in New A smallish but appreciative crowd was “Postscripts” refers to Singer by his full Zealand. After a series of illnesses, on hand, about 30 people. name. he had been the victim of a brutal Michael and Mark gave their talk on the bomb assault [in 1937], and suffered Poetry Archive. They emphasised the AN OLD COMPLAINT DENIED a nervous breakdown. importance of collecting New Zealand’s These verses, which breathe a He resumed practice, but continued national poetry wares for public display warming philosophy for the up-in- to suffer bad health. In 1941 his similar to the arts council assisted years, are the work of Richard name was removed from the roll Poetry Library in London. They stated Arnold singer, professionally a man because he was a party to PANZA was always on the lookout for of law but at heart a poet. appropriating for his own purposes a new additions and every kind of poetry debenture left in his custody. was acceptable to the project: privately Of interest: Auckland Star, 26 October However, he had redeemed the printed material to mainstream 1937, reports a bomb outrage against debenture, and handed it back to the publications. R A Singer, with Peter Fraser Minister owner. Next, poets from the Hawke’s Bay read. of Police posting a reward. A later The Chief Justice said…[i]n Mr. There was a break to remember a Australian newspaper reports that Clark’s business however, Singer recently deceased member Allen John Singer was severely injured and in ill would be a responsible person in the (88). His daughter Kerin John read health for years afterwards. office, and there could not be Allen’s last poem, a tribute to his late Auckland Star, 2 September 1941, adequate supervision over him. wife Myra, discovered on his computer. reports Richard Arnold Singer was If an application was made in other This again as Michael pointed out was a struck off the legal rolls, but does not circumstances, by a larger legal fitting reminder of the importance of state the cause. office where there could be having a Poetry Archive. Michael also If more comes to light about R A supervision, the Court might reach a read in the Open Mic. Singer’s biography there may be some different conclusion. Mark finished off the reading with scandal involved. Why was he exiled (The Sydney Morning Herald, about 20 minutes of his own poetry. He from Britain? Why was he crossed off 16 February 1951, page 7) first warmed up by reading Harry ...... 9 Summer 2013 Ricketts’ fine elegy for Louis Johnson. that not much has changed in 100 years books that share two of my interests. Mark had reprinted his and Pope’s poems are just as relevant There is a need to see things in a tribute to Louis for the occasion. today as they were in the 1920s and different light, in a different (Johnson lived in Hastings 1959-63 1930s, whether it is politics at perspective as Mark does. working as a journalist for the Hawke's Parliament, the cricket at the Basin or One is a large collection of poetry by Bay Herald-Tribune and running his the latest All Blacks rugby match.” a long forgotten NZ poet Robert J Capricorn Press there.) In honour of the windy conditions Pope whose poetry was in print from The next morning, Mark and Michael outside, Mark read Pope’s poem 1902 to the 1940’s. The book is King visited the second-hand bookshop: ‘Windy Wellington’ written and Willow: Selected Poems. The Little Bookshop. Packed with published in The Evening Post in 1940: Pope lived 1865-1949. He was 12 NZ poetry, they took a box back to years younger than the earliest New Wellington with them. This included WINDY WELLINGTON Zealand born poet Mary E Louis Johnson's Capricorn production Richmond. She also lived to 1949. I of James K Baxter’s Two Plays: Jack It seemed to me of late (I fear I erred), shared the last 16 years of both their Winter's Dream and The Wide Open That Wellington, grown wise, was lives. So literally I grew up in their Cage. The owner discounted the price wearing down era with some degree of exposure to as a salute to the non-funded Archive Her one reproach, those blustering both. initiative. springs which gave Mark Pirie’s judgement on Robert J Detractors joy, and cause to dub her Pope is valid. Mark’s words are oft: “The windy town.” “Pope’s poetry, lyrically gifted, Robert J Pope book showed musical and easy felicity In this, her hundredth year, has she of rhyme.” I would add Pope is launch relapsed, intelligent, acute and witty. He Dispelling hopes that some amend was reflects his time, but his insight is made? subtler than is obvious on the surface. The following report on the launch of Alas! a fore-time gale she late released, He has a profound sense of what PANZA member Mark Pirie’ s books, The fickle jade! changed between 1880 and 1940. including his edition of early New The other is a book of Mark’s triolets, Zealand poet/songwriter, Robert J Her lovely Gardens, then enjoying Old Hat. Pope, appeared on Beattie’s Book Blog, wealth Triolets have been around since the 6 December 2012. Of cherry, plum, magnolia, kowhai, 13th century and have been popular gay, all over Europe. There was a A good crowd of 30 people packed into She smote with ruthless, biting blast, Frenchman the Duke of Orleans Alan Aldridge’s Kiwi Art House and swept whose son became king of . Gallery on Tuesday night, 4 December, That wealth away! When the Duke of Orleans was a to celebrate two new books by prisoner of Henry V of England he Wellington poet and publisher Mark Mark read four poems from his Old Hat wrote triolets in English as well as Pirie. book, including the book’s title poem French. The triolet was neglected Those in attendance included well- ‘Old Hat’, a tribute to Bob Dylan, and a otherwise in English till the late 19th known poetry personalities like cricket poem ‘Old Bat’ for his young century. Vivienne Plumb, Lewis Scott and nephews. Old Hat, designed to be out of Mark’s triolets are like nothing that Michael O’Leary, Dr Bill Sutton of the step with current poetry trends, has previously been written in Hawke’s Bay Live Poets Society, reinterprets the old triolet French form. English. They are a vigorous Wellington poet/publisher Helen There is also a blues motif running development which I welcome as a Rickerby and librarians from the through the book with a blues hat fruitful line of work. Turnbull and National Library of New featured on the cover (drawn by Mark Pirie says his book Old Hat Zealand. Michael O’Leary). Mark commented: gives a set of dramatic monologues Dr Niel Wright, Mark’s co-organiser “The blues is about truth telling, and reflecting popular interests with the Poetry Archive of New saying it like it is. The poems represent nowadays. But interestingly Mark Zealand Aotearoa, launched both books. different attitudes of people and Pirie sees Robert J Pope as doing After Niel’s speech, Mark read poems comment on diverse subjects.” similarly in much of his poetry in from each of the books. Dr Niel Wright’s launch speech is newspapers and weeklies. And I have Mark, commenting on why he edited the reproduced below: to say all my poetry is also a dramatic substantial volume of Robert J Pope’s enactment in which I present myself work some 63 years after Pope’s death, I have been asked to launch Mark’s as author, persona and dramatic told people of the similarities between new books, the latest he has written character interacting with other epic Wellington of 70-100 years ago and the or edited. I am Niel Wright. I do so characters all of us running together Wellington of 2012. “The poems prove with pleasure because they are to some point. 10 ...... Poetry Archive New publication by NZ publication of Recently received PANZA member: Cameron La Follette’s donations Wednesday’s Women by poetry Nelson Wattie – New Zealand Books, a Michael O’Leary People checking the New Zealand full set of this review periodical. National Bibliography may have come across the name Cameron La Follette, of Laurice Gilbert – My family & other USA, since 2010. strangers by Laurice Gilbert; Building a PANZA member Niel Wright has been Time Machine – NZPS anthology 2012; producing archival editions of this and The Shed by Judith Clearwater. Salem, Oregon poet in New Zealand. Expectation is to archive 1,000 poems Alistair Paterson – Dreams in Exile by by Cameron La Follette in total. Richard Arnold Singer. So far the following 8 volumes have been published (362 poems in total): Mark Pirie – 70 titles. 43 poems: Daphne and Apollo to questing beast / 2010. PANZA kindly thanks these donators to Midsummer stars: 44 poems / 2010. the archive. Spiderwebs of silver: 48 poems / 2011. Dr Michael O’Leary’s new book was Beyond the painted hills: 46 poems / launched by David McGill’s Silver Owl 2011. Press at Petone Jail Museum in Jackson Amber and gold: 43 poems / 2011. About the Poetry Street, Petone, 12.30, Friday 23 Mist in the morning: 45 poems / 2012. Archive November 2012, and Jewels of the harlequin: 48 poems / St Peters Hall Beach Road, Paekakariki, 2012. 1-4pm, Sunday, 25 November 2012. Salmon guardian: 45 poems / 2012. Poetry Archive of New Zealand Dr O’Leary’s PhD thesis on three La Follette’s poetry is lyrical, Aotearoa (PANZA) decades of discrimination against women passionate, classical and traditional in writers preaches what he practised and approach centred around nature and PANZA contains reintroduces writers worthy of attention. wildlife themes and with classical Few women writers are prominent in the mythology and spirituality at her core. A unique Archive of NZ published period 1945 to the late 1960s, In this mode Cameron’s work is poetry, with around five thousand titles deliberately under-represented and impressive and her overall oeuvre is from the 19th century to the present trivialised by male writers and building up to being quite significant. day. publishers. Dr O’Leary, poet, painter and Poetry by Cameron La Follette also The Archive also contains photos and publisher of works by men and women, previously featured in Poetry Notes, paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s uncovers this era dominated by openly Vol. 1, No. 1, Autumn 2010. catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, hostile misogyny which only ended reproductions of book covers and other when women ‘started doing it for memorabilia related to NZ poetry and themselves’. In the process he reminds us poetry performance. of neglected reputations, including that Donate to PANZA of the cover artist Anne McCahon. Wanted An article on the book by Jim Chipp through PayPal NZ poetry books (old & new) appeared in The Wellingtonian, the Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books Kapiti Observer and on the stuff.co.nz You can now become a friend of on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, website in December 2012. PANZA or donate cash to help us poetry periodicals and ,

continue our work by going to poetry event programmes, posters Title: Wednesday’s Women http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com and and/or prints of NZ poets or their poetry Author: Michael O’Leary accessing the donate button – any books. ISBN: 978-0-9864519-7-3 donation will be acknowledged. Price: $25.00 DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ Extent: 176 pages POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA Format: 148x210mm Publication: November 2012 Publisher: Silver Owl Press ...... 11 Summer 2013 PANZA will offer: • Copies of NZ poetry books for private research and reading purposes. • Historical information for poets, writers, journalists, academics, researchers and independent scholars of NZ poetry. • Photocopying for private research purposes. • Books on NZ poetry and literary history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry and literature • CDs of NZ poets reading their work • Inspirational talks on NZ poets • Video/DVD/film screenings of documentaries on NZ poets • Readings/book launches by NZ poets • Educational visits for primary schools, intermediates, colleges, universities and creative writing schools/classes. • The Northland Writers’ Walk (in planning)

You can assist the preservation of NZ poetry by becoming one of the Friends of the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa (PANZA ). If you’d like to become a friend or business sponsor of PANZA, please contact us.

Contact Details Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa (PANZA) 1 Woburn Road, Northland, Wellington PO Box 6637, Marion Square, Wellington Dr Niel Wright - Archivist (04) 475 8042 Dr Michael O’Leary - Archivist (04) 905 7978 email: [email protected]

Visits by appointment only

Current PANZA Members: Mark Pirie (HeadworX), Roger Steele (Steele Roberts Ltd), Michael O’Leary (Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop) and Niel Wright (Original Books).

Current Friends of PANZA: Paul Thompson, Gerrard O’Leary, Vaughan Rapatahana and the New Zealand Poetry Society.

PANZA is a registered charitable trust

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