(By “Shibli Bagarag.“)

Varsity journals are usually full to capacity with the isms and complexes of students anxious to prove to a misguided world that quaint and sometimes sinister philosophies are the only solutions for our troubles. Infinitely refreshing, therefore, is the latest issue of “Kiwi,” the magazine of Auckland University College, a publication that in recent years has been distinguished by prose, pictures and typography of high quality. In the latest issue one writer protests most effectively against the present chaos in aesthetic values; another disclaims against psychoanalysis (“science,” he says, “covers a multitude of sins”); there is a powerful indictment of “surrealism.” The last-mentioned is written convincingly by the editor of the magazine, Mr. J. C. Reid, B.A. There is much food for thought in this latest issue of “Kiwi.” I do not regard the verse and stories as being up to the merit of previous years. The Griffin Press has made its usual artistic job of the printing.

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The first two numbers of “Making New Zealand,” published by the Centennial Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs and already reviewed in this magazine, have met with an enthusiastic reception from the public. Further numbers since issued include No. 3, “Navigators and Explorers,” No. 4, “Whalers and Sealers,” and No. 5, “Missionaries and Settlers.” These pictorial surveys, of which thirty are to be published, represent the most ambitious enterprises of its kind ever attempted in New Zealand. The Minister for Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser, who is a good judge of the literary and artistic standards, has stated that he would like to see a set of the pictorial surveys in every New Zealand home and that he will at least see that there is one in every school. If ever the history of this country will be intelligently and effectively studied it will be through these splendid publications.

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I have received from the president of the Little Poetry Society (Mary R. Greig, Wanganui) a copy of the first booklet of the Society. The writers of the verse it contains are young people —one budding poet is aged eleven. I like this little book so much that it is taking a special place in my collection of such productions. Each and every poem is creditable work. I liked best of all one little thing called “Pansy Faces.” It is a neat little fancy by Valerie Spanner.

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Volume 12 of “The Postman,” the annual Magazine of the Correspondence School of the New Zealand Education Department, is a creditable issue of 192 pages. This publication does excellent work in developing literary and art talent in the young.

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The first issue of “Oriflamme,” described as a “journal of youth and the fine arts,” has been published or rather typed, in Wellington. It contains several pages of verse and prose.

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“Aotearoa,” a collection of 100 poems, comes from the author, Annie Wright. As the title suggests much of the verse is in praise of New Zealand. The book is described as a Centennial Souvenir.

A beautiful tribute in verse to Sapper William Hackett, V.C., by Osborne Allan has been published by the Caxton Press, Christchurch. Sapper Hackett won the V.C. and lost his life through staying with an injured comrade following on the explosion of a German mine during the last war. The facts are immortalised in this poem. To tell such a story in verse and retain the true poetic atmosphere is a difficult task successfully achieved by Osborne Allan.

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It is the real enthusiast who achieves things. Take the case of Mr. J. McDermott, formerly chief engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department. Some years ago he became a Thomas Bracken enthusiast with a particular eye for the fact that Bracken's “God Defend New Zealand” is a stirring national song, a heartfelt prayer and a a poem. McDermott became imbued with the thought that Bracken's poem should be immortalised for all time as the National song of New Zealand. He set out to achieve this. Soon he found tremendous obstacles in his path–mainly apathy on the part of those he aimed to interest. So he sought to build a foundation for the interest he wished to create. He bought records of the song as played by the N.S.W. Police Band. These he distributed to various broadcasting stations. He bought dozens of copies of the song and by careful placing, Bracken's anthem was soon being sung with enthusiasm by community song-leaders. McDermott saw it was sent over the air by the Carillon, and that it was sung by choirs and by soloists. Meanwhile he bought many copies of Bracken's “Musings in Maoriland.” Although the book is a rare collector's item in this country Mr. McDermott managed to purchase over thirty copies. These he presented to people in high places whom he aimed page 44 page 45 to interest. Not one aspect of his campaign appears to have been neglected. When the Centennial Committee decided to assist the campaign success seemed near. Even so there was still the big difficulty of copyright to be overcome. Providing this could be secured it seemed as though the super-enthusiast would achieve his purpose. But there was a long delay, much correspondence and wordy negotiations. Meanwhile, a weighty controversy took place in the Press as to Bracken's standing as a poet. Success has now come at last, for the Annual Report of the Department of Internal Affairs presented to Parliament recently announced that Thomas Bracken's “God Defend New Zealand” is now officially recognised the National Song of New Zealand. Once more the real enthusiast has scored a victory.

Reviews.

“Camps, Tramps and Trenches,” by Eric Miller (A. H. & A. W. Reed, Dunedin and Wellington) is the diary of a New Zealand Sapper during one year of the Big War, 1917. The title of the book sounds uninteresting and yet the book itself is one of the most interesting war volumes I have read. It is an unimpassioned, sincere record of a soldier who appears to be singularly unaffected by the great tragedy in which he is a very active participant. His unassailable humour enables him to describe war events as though recording the happenings of a very interesting tour. Because of this we obtain a direct view of a war warrior's daily routine without being harried with accounts of the horror of it all. Incidentally, the author illustrates his own book, a talent he used in several very helpful ways in the course of his soldiering. The author's photograph appears with this article.

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“The Spur of the Moment,” by Walter Murdoch (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is another collection of essays from Australia's cultured writer of prose. The book is a literary tonic against the multitude of wordy microbes to be found these days between covers. Although I must sound like a radio announcer on one of our Commercial stations I will nevertheless recommend with sincerity the taking of one or two of these Murdoch literary pick-me-ups, morning, noon and night. They are delightful brain bracers. Professor Murdoch has a clean, keen, honest mind. We have only one writer in this country who can approach him—J. H. E. Schroder. In his latest collection Murdoch has written over thirty essays on a variety of subjects from tin-openers to tyrants—on literature, democracy peace and war. I would like to comment on each essay but will (because of space considerations) remark briefly on one—an essay on “The Great Victorian.” The subject is Anstey, the author of “Vice Versa.” Murdoch describes him as “the last of the great Victorians.” I suppose this is just why I like Professor Murdoch, because he is in his writing an example of the culture and refinement of the older days. “Our time may have been all they say in dispraise of it,” he observes, “but it was a jollier time than the present.” Murdoch gives us such pleasant draughts of this jollity in his essays.

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“The First White Boy Born in Otago,” by H. Beattie (A. H. & A. W. Reed) comprises a series of reminiscences related to the author by Thomas Baker Kennard, one of the oldest of the pioneers who died recently at the age of ninety-five. Mr. Kennard was evidently a man of character, with a splendid memory, keen observation and very outspoken. The book is like a series of newspaper articles linked together under many headings. The stories told are full of human interest and incidentally provide quite a who's who of the earlier Otago residents. The colonial life of the period is related in colourful style with many of Maori incidents, stories of whalers and gold diggers and other anecdotes of the early days. This is just another important addition to the Centennial historical library and makes excellent popular reading. There are several illustrations.

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“My Silent World,” by Dorothy Donaldson (A. H. & A. W. Reed) is a collection of simple songs from the heart of one who, though blind and later deaf, triumphed over her misfortunes during her brief life. The splendid courage of Dorothy Donaldson and her great love of the birds she could not hear and the flowers she could not see are reflected in her verse. Her spirit sought for and seemed to find happiness in the silent world she lived in. The booklet is artistically produced.

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“Beyond the Kubea,” by J. G. Hides (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is the story of the author's last expedition in New Guinea. It is a tragic story with an almost prophetic note of the author's own death which occurred later, largely as a result of the expedition on which the story is based. In the author's own words the book is the story of a search for payable gold in Central New Guinea “where untamed men still fight and make peace—where men still dance by the light of the stars and sing the songs of the Stone Age. It is the story, too, of good companions, white and brown and of a tragic journey's end.” Hides' sole white companion on this perilpathed journey was David Lyall, who became dangerously ill just when it appeared that success was to be achieved. In a vain effort to save his mate Hides makes a terrible return journey. The author gives a fine picture of the untamed interior of New Guinea and expresses his love and gratitude for the grand devotion of his native servants. This is one of Australia's best stories of exploration.

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