Two ounces flour, 2oz. butter, 2oz. castor sugar, 4 tablespoons jam, 2 eggs, ½ pint milk.

Heat the milk in a saucepan. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth, beat in the eggs, and stir in the flour lightly. Now add the warm milk, which will slightly curdle the mixture, beat well, then cover and let it stand for an hour. Have ready six buttered saucers, put an equal quantity of batter in each, bake quickly until the batter rises, then more slowly for about ten minutes. Spread half with jam, which should be warm, cover with plain pancake, and dredge well with castor sugar. Serve quickly.

Time. —About 1 ¾ hours. Averàge cost 8d. Sufficient for five or six persons.

page 60

(Continued from page 55).

a bit queer at first, but you soon get used to it. “The first item to puzzle me was,” Septimuo Smith, who wao arreoted laot Saturday, wao found to have oevcral opuriouo coino in hio poooeooion.” I puzzled that out, and was confronted with: “The Shakeopeare feotival wao otarted at Stratford-on-Avon yeoterday, oixty-oix flago being unfurled. Seventeen of Shakeopeare'o playo will be preoented.” When I found something about “An actreoo'o oucceoo,” I took the sheet to the office and requested my money back on the ground that the rag was printed in a foreign language. The proprietor seemed hurt, but gave me the thruppence. By the way, the paper printed a warning of its peculiarity that week; but as they had no “s's,” they could only hint darkly at the disappearance of “a certain letter,” which had to be nameless.

Reviews.

“Dirk Spaanders,” by Ernest Wells (Angus & Robertson, Sydney), is described by the publishers as the author's best novel. Although I have fond memories of his other novels, particularly “Brave Music,” I am inclined to agree with his publishers in their placing of “his latest book.

“Caribbean Interlude,” by Frank Dalby Davison (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) has on its title page the following appropriate lines by Ambrose Pratt: —

* * *

“To every man his ship of dreams
When young and blythe and fain
To swagger down the Orient
And sweep the Spanish Main.”

Davison has already proved he can write entertainingly in his “Man Shy” and other books. Now he tells of his adventures ashore and afloat with his mate, Marshall O'Brien. They embark in the ship pf reality and sweep the Caribbean Sea finding many adventures, all of which are delightfully told. Racy and enjoyable reading.

* * *

“The Emancipist,” by Major-General J. M. Antill and his daughter, Rose Antill-de-Warren (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is an historical drama in three acts. Apart from the special interest in the fact that the male author of the play is a grand nephew of the hero, Surgeon William Redfern, the action of the drama centres round the Macquarie period in Australian history. Redfern is a surgeon in the Navy, and because he champions the cause of the men for better food he is court-martialled and ultimately transported to N.S.W. How he is later pardoned and secures the respect and admiration of his fellows, although “an emancipist” forms the basis of a thrilling and moving drama.

* * *

“Clansmen,” by Ethel Boileau (Hutchinson, London; Whitcombe & Tombs, Ltd., New Zealand agents), is a long new novel of life in the Highland countryside by the writer of those two fine novels, “Turnip Tops” and “When Yellow Leaves.” The canvas is peopled with a long line of the Stewarts of Ardbreck from the year 1747 to the year 1935, but mostly with the period of 1914 when the old fighting blood of the Stewarts is drawn irresistibly into the Great War. The love of life, of women and of strong liquors, permeates the lives of the Stewarts. Mrs. Boileau handles her characters with womanly understanding, yet as forcibly as a male writer. Her sense of humour is as delightful as it is unusual. Quite an outstanding book.

“The Shearer's Colt,” by A. B. (“Banjo”) Paterson (Angus & Robertson, Sydney), is another example of the amazing versatility of the veteran Australian writer. Here is a racing novel, packed with excitement, humour and good writing. The adventures of Red Fred, one time shearer, then mine owner and millionaire, with his thousand-a-year secretary, his mortal enemy “Jimmy the Pat,” and other egregious characters of the turf, comprise over 200 pages of excellent reading.

“Shibll” Listens In.

The forthcoming publicaion of “Let's Go Home,” by Dr. R. Noble Adams, is announced by H. Duckworh, an enterprising bookseller in Blenheim. It is described as “The Journal of a Jubilee Journey,” and takes the reader from New Zealand on a tour around the globe.

Will Lawson's latest novel, “Old Man River,” will be published next month.

“Murphy's Moa,” a collection of short Christmas sketches by Pat Lawlor will be published this month. It will be available in time for overseas Christmas mails. Gordon Minhinnick supplies most of the illustrations

Writing to me recently, Miss Nelle Scanlan stated that her latest novel, “The Marriage of Nicholas Cotter,” would be published shortly. Her next “already buzzing in her head” would “take her home again.”

Kealy's Ltd., the well known Auckland booksellers, have just issued another interesting catalogue from their secpnd-hand book department. The catalogue is supplied free’ on request.