Reviews.

“Marsden and the Missions.” Eric Ramsden, a versatile journalist who has made good on both sides of the Tasman, has written a book that must fill an important place in the historical library of the Dominion. Its title is “Marsden and the Missions,” and its New Zealand publishers are A. H. & A. W. Reed. It is a bulky volume of over 300 pages, with 22 illustrations and has been admirably produced. A tremendous amount of research work had to be undertaken by the author in his compilation of this absorbingly interesting story of the struggle of the various denominational missionaries for religious control in this country. However we may read the text, the author confesses that “while one recognises the weaknesses of the missionary system of that period … the men employed in the New Zealand field were in the main imbued by high ideals and conscientious motives.” This is the very point that must not be lost sight of by the reader. Human nature is weak and often petty, but many of these missionaries were obviously working, often perhaps along the wrong path, yet nevertheless towards an ideal. How far they succeeded page 63

(Rly. Publicity photo.)
Entrance to the famous Sargent Art Gallery, Wanganui.

one may judge from the copious quotations from letters, reports, and previous books so ably linked together and amplified by Mr. Ramsden. Through the course of the whole story of human endeavour and sometimes lamentable human frailty the figure of Samuel Marsden “Father of the New Zealand Mission,” looms large to his final visit to the scene of his labours. The book which is described as “a prelude to Waitangi” for it covers the period of 1830–39 is bound to arouse much discussion. It is impossible to do it justice in the short space at my disposal. Dr. Peter H. Buck contributes an interesting foreword in which he states that the book “is not only an addition to Colonial history, but is a valuable contribution to the wider study of the impact of civilization on native races.”

“Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef,” by T. C. Roughley, B.Sc. F.R.Z.S. (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) reads in parts like some H. G. Wellsian phantasy. Yet the wonder tales of this famous reef, the greatest in the world, are all true and, in fact, are illustrated by the many plates in colour and black and white distributed throughout the book. Indeed, after reading this fascinating story of Australia's star attraction we may without hesitation place the Great Barrier as the ninth wonder of the world. Here Nature is found in her most fantastic moods in her creations of marine life, here she has given her animals and plants her most vivid colours, here she has made giants of creatures that elsewhere are of a growth comparatively insignificant. Yet among all this beauty of colour and form roam fearsome monsters, and the tales of their battles with other sea creatures and occasionally with man give a thrilling touch to a wonderful story. In production, the book is one of the finest and most artistic jobs ever produced by A. & R.

“The Third String,” by Stuart Gurr (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is a tale of love and adventure in the New Hebrides. There are powerful characterisations in this unusual novel—Heinecken, the one-time German secret service agent ever fleeing from memory, and the vengeance that follows a Service deserter, Ezra Neale, the fanatic Island missionary and his beautiful wife Marcia, and then Braddock, the young Sydney doctor. With a menacing volcano ever in the background and the menace also of the island savages, these central figures carve out a strange, thrilling existence.

“Khyber,” by Edmond Barclay (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is good reading. I use the word “good” advisedly, for it is a clean, thrilling yarn. The author hurries you away to the frowning cliffs of the Khyber Pass. You'll meet two wonderful women, Ruth and Myra, Captain Garvie a hundred per cent, hero, the unscrupulous cigar-chewing Deeming, Ali Khan, who had dreams of sweeping British Indian control to the sea, and the mysterious K21. You'll be literally swept off your feet with the excitement and romance of it all.

“Big Timber,” by William Hatfield (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is an exciting novel, the background of which is a wonderful picture of the timber lands and timber industry of Australia. With this double appeal of fiction and fact the book should have a big sale. True the hero, Dale Garnett, takes everything in his stride with an ease that is amazing, yet he is a vastly appealing figure. The love interest is nicely interwoven with the scenes and action of the story.

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