A Literary Page or Two

In my notice of the first published volume of Centennial Surveys, “The Discovery of New Zealand” by Dr. J. C. Beaglehole, I propose to write more as to the bibliographical and literary aspects. Other reviewers will, as I know from past experience, deal more with the historical side of the book—its actual contents.

First let me say that this country is fortunate in the control and personnel of its Department of Internal Affairs. Under its control we have a specialised staff to deal with the important matter of Centennial publications and that this work is being carried out in a manner worthy of the occasion has been evident already in the first issues of “Making New Zealand.” Now we have the first of the thirteen Centennial Surveys, the format of which is suggestive of such meticulous consideration as to be the work of a First Editions Society. The type used is monotype, Aldine Bembo, of which the text is set in thirteen point. The printing and binding by Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd. is certainly one of the most satisfying jobs ever produced in this country. Illustrations beautifully produced, appendix, sources and index give their touch of completeness to the book.

As for the contents, the literary style is easy to read and the story is related with clarity, colour, and interest. We meet the early Maori voyagers to New Zealand, then the indomitable Dutchman (Tasman), James Cook and the nature-loving Banks, and finally D'Urville, the navigator with the artistic soul. Their respective parts in the discovery of New Zealand, the adventure and romance of it all as pictured by Dr. Beaglehole, took me back to the joy of reading when I pored over “The Coral Island.”

The next Centennial volume will be “Settlers and Pioneers” by James Cowan.

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A flourishing art society in Wellington is the Sketch Club. From time to time the committee invites art critics and writers to give talks and lectures. On one of these occasions a New Zealand writer who is a bookplate enthusiast suggested that members of the club might interest themselves in designing plates either for their own books, for members of the New Zealand Ex-Libris Society, or for owners of private libraries. By way of inducement he offered a prize of a Norman Lindsay original drawing to the member who would design the best bookplate. I looked over the entries for this competition and felt that the members of the Sketch Club had risen to the occasion. The winning design is reproduced in this issue. It is the work of Mr. Chambers. A good second in the competition was a neat and effective design by Miss Marjorie Mills, daughter of Tom Mills, of Feilding.

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While much publicity has been given to a host of Centennial publications very little has been written about “New Zealand Centennial News” which was first issued by the Department of Internal Affairs some months before our Centennial celebrations commenced. Apart from the publicity this publication has given to the Centennial, many interesting and valuable articles have appeared in its pages. I have carefully filed each of the twelve issues published to date. There are many articles I will have occasion to refer to from time to time and for this reason I hope that the final issue will set the seal on a record of permanent interest by including an index. The wisdom of the Department in appointing as editor an experienced journalist of the calibre of Leo Fanning, has been more than justified.

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Reviews.

“The Hundred Years” by Sir James Elliott (Robert Hale, London) is a unique contribution to New Zealand literature. Here we have wrapped up in a full length novel a history of the first hundred years of New Zealand. Apart from the fictional interest, the historical narrative contains a wealth of information. The author must have gathered his material for the background of the early days in a very thorough manner and from fruitful sources. Well-known historical people and places are pictured with considerable detail. Whaling expeditions, land bartering, Maori wars, in fact the whole colourful pioneer panorama, is unrolled before the eyes of the reader. The central figure, Oliver Scott, is introduced to us in Sydney in the year 1839, and shortly afterwards he leaves in the Success for New Zealand to embark page 46 page 47 on his adventurous career in these islands, where later he establishes his home. The early days in and around Wellington are interestingly described. There is, however, a surprise for the reader in Chapter Vii when our hero leaves for Ireland. Scenes of famine and distress are graphically described and then we find the reason for the sudden change of locale for we are introduced to Oliver Scott's future wife. The scene quickly changes to New Zealand again and so we are carried forward through the adventurous years, even to the advent of the Labour Government, An interesting story, told in a simple direct language.

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“The Dog, Its Ailments & Diseases,” by B. A. McMichan, R.N.S. (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is claimed to be the most authoritative and practical book of its kind issued in Australia. The copy under notice is a second edition and because of this I am glad for I can safely recommend it on the basis of the splendid reception given to the first book. My contact with dogs has been confined to patting them on the head when their tails are wagging. So I will quote the “Kennel Gazette,” which has described the work as “of especial value to all dog owners who have the physical well-being of their pets at heart.” The book is well arranged and illustrated and contains a glossary of medical terms, index, etc.

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“Dark Interlude,” by E. V. Timms (Angus & Robertson, Sydney), tells an eerie and uncanny story of a train journey. I am just wondering whether I could have stood up to the excitement of the story if I had read it during a train journey. There is, however, enough realism in it to complete the picture even if you read it in your arm chair. Two men and a woman join a train at a wayside junction. The guard tells them that they have no right there as it is a special. Strange passengers dressed in clothes of a byegone age appear and disappear mysteriously. The body of a murdered man is discovered and then strangely removed. Voices are raised in violent argument and lights go out, and the train rushes on its way through darkness. You pursue the story breathlessly wondering how it will end and when the climax comes you marvel at its ingenuity.

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“A Maori Legend of Old Tauranga” and other verses by J. Harrison comes from the “Bay of, Plenty Times” office. The verse is pleasant, easy reading, the metre being built on the style of Longfellow's “Hiawatha.” The Legend is a lengthy poem in seven parts, is strong in its Maori atmosphere and follows its rhythmic path to a tragic and then peaceful conclusion. The author has provided a cover sketch for his attractive little booklet.

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“Such Things Were” by C. W. Vennell (A. H. & A. W. Reed, Dunedin and Wellington) is an important Centennial book dealing with the history of Cambridge and carrying the imprimatur of the Cambridge Centennial Committee. Here is a book that in most respects should be a model for Centennial publications; it is wellwritten, the facts carefully authenticated, it is easy to read, nicely illustrated and is well arranged, bound and printed. Most important of all, the work is wholeheartedly commended by James Cowan who observes in his foreword: “This story, which should rank as a standard history over a much wider area than Cambridge district, will appeal to the general reader on its merits as a narrative of true colonial adventure.” The account of the Maori wars, introducing such famous figures as Te Waharoa, Te Rauparaha, Rewi Maniapoto and Te Kooti, provides many exciting pages. As James Cowan remarks, “the author did not cook up his facts in libraries … he took time for field research and followed up the tracks of the olden war-parties and later military, with pains and enthusiasm.

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“Old Westland” by E. Iveagh Lord (Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd.) is another interesting Centennial publication telling the story of the golden West Coast and the greenstone age of old Westland. The period covered is not the hundred years of other Centennial publications, since the book opens with the “dawn days” of the world when Maori mythology tells of the arrival of Chief Ngahue on the West Coast, and finishes with the last big gold rush on the Coast (in 1876). This is one of the most colourful of Centennial publications. The lure of gold introduces many remarkable figures even to the notorious Bully Hayes and the Burgess-LevyKelly-Sullivan gang. As against these names is a grand record of intrepid explorers, famous public men, including, of course, Richard John Seddon. The story of the early exploration work tells of hardship and endurance equal to that from any part of the world. This is a fascinating and interesting book and one that will probably be more generally read, because of its human interest.

“Old Westland” contains an introduction by Mr. Justice Northcroft and is an official Centennial record.

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“First Aid at a Glance” by W. H. London (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is a compact and concise manual of first aid to the sick and injured, including air raid and gas casualties. The author is a well-known first-aid lecturer and instructor and shows a capacity for imparting his knowledge in simple, clear and concise form. The book is up-to-the-minute and will I am sure be in demand.

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