VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 9

VIEWS AND REVIEWS.

As Others See Us. To the long ljst of books dealing with tho scenery, th'o resources, and the social and political institutions of this country, wliich have been written by strangers to our shores, must now bo added a very handsome volume, entitled "Picturesque New Zealand," the author of which is an American gentleman, Mr. Pan! Gooding. Tlio publishers are tho famous firm of Houghton, Miffiir and Co.; of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Gooding's , book, a copy of which readies .iio through Messrs. 'Whitcombo and Tombs, is'written in an unpretentious and agreeable style, and is easily tlio best book on the Dominion which lias, appeared for some time past. Mr. Gooding has made three separate,visits to what he calls tho "captivating shores" of New Zealand, and has clearly kept his eyes and ears open to some purpose whilst ho was amongst us, for in inaiiy of his chapters aro to be found evidences of a careful observation and keen perception which aro not always reflected in the hurried journals of the average globe-trotter. Although he rarely finds fault, and his general attitude towards the country and its people is one of high satisfaction, he makes an -occasional nolo of what bo considers a national woakness —our heavy debt, for mstancc and bis book is as agreeably free fioni gushlul praise as it is from any pernicketty and captious criticism. Air. Gooding's chief attention is "iveu to tho scenic splendours of the 0 Dominion, its astonishing general prosperthe manner of the life led by the various classes of its inhabitants. ' Our Railways. Liko many other American - visitors, he pokes 301110 quiet fun at our railway system, yet 011 tlio whole his criticisms arc fair, their only defccfc being that lie docs not, especially when referring to tho railways, make sudieient allow" anco for the fact that the Dominion is still exceedingly youthful, that the

country traversed by tho lines is often very rough, and that tho population is so small and scattered that comparisons with conditions in older and more tliiek-iy-peopled lands arc thcrcforo somewhat nnidious.

\ ory likely (ho says) tho railways of New Zealand would l>o more prolitnblc, or, at least, better managed, were they under the direction of a Minister thoroughly experienced in railway J-lero is one just cause for complaint against Government ownership of public utilities. Too often their Ministerial diiectors have had insufficient experience, or 110 experience at all, in the iield over which they assume control. .Vow Zealand's Railway Department has been fortunate for many years in tho possession of an experienced General Manager, but such an ollicial, however efficient, can scarcely compensate for a less • well-iulormod Minister, particularly if that Minister should not be inclined to heed tho suggestions of tried assistants. Peanuts, Pop-corn, and Politeness. Tho American visitor finds reminders or jus native land in tho New Zealand cities. Ho notices, in Auckland, tho lntioduction of that chcrislied American institution, tho "peanut roaster." But he regrets tho absence of the "buttered pop-corn wagon." "It will bo an eventful day," lie says, "in tho Dominion's history wnen the first pop-corn wagon, with peanut-roaster attached, sends forth appetising odours in Aotearoa." He notices, as quite a feature of New Zealand city life, the prevalence of the 'iisli and chips" shop. Tho politeness of the shop assistants come in for somo complimentary remark, indeed, with tho general politeness of our' pcoplo he is distinctly impressed, being struck, in particular, with tho civilitv of the employees oil the Wellington "tramcar svstcm.

Scenery and Sandflies. Very pleasantly, quite eloquently at times, docs Mr. Gooding write of'tlie scenic beauties of the Dominion. Ho seems to havo gone everywhere and soon everything the country'has to offer in the way of natural beauties, and if, as I trust wili. bo the case, his book has a widespread sale in the States, one agreeable, result should be a big influx nf .American visitors of leisure and means. On the Milford Track, as to the splendid views from which ho is quito enthusiastic, lie' experienced the unwelcome attentions of those pests to iiJl-blooded tourists, the sandflies. In its itinerary of. travel the Tourist Department- gives valuable suggestions regarding dress and equipment, for Milford Track walkers, but it does not say anything about saijd-flics. According to maps there is a Sand Fly Point at each end of the track, but these do not r.liow all tho sand-fly points all along the track, and every time the walker halts, from one to a score of theso points are thrust into him. - . . Theso winged gluttons are acrobats—they stand on their heads when they alight /oil your hand. But they do not do it to amuse you. They are ''going down" for blood, The Labour Question. Ilio author does not treat at any length of the sociological and industrial conditions of tho country, "Theso matters deserve," he says, "to bo treated in a separate volume." I note, however, that although he commends much of our legislation. 1m draws attention to what he. calls "legislative tinkering." M it-h regard to labour legislation,' upon which lie writes at some length, and, 011 the whole, with accuracy, he says:—

13v no means can tho majority of theso -(Labour Uills) bo truthfully construed as detrimental to conimorisd or industry, but harassed employers continually fear tliem. In innumerable instances employers have specific legislation, but what they object to more than anything else, apparently, are perennial amendments, on' tho ground that they unsettle and otherwise injure business. Other Features. His descriptions of the cities are just a trifle perfunctory, but tho truth is, and it is just as well to admit it, that our cities are not exactly overflowing with attractions for the visitor from older countries. In Wellington tho author gets some mild fun out of thodifficutly]io experiences in finding anyone who can tell him where the local Art Gallery is situated. Also lio chaffs tho Government for its inconsistency in frowning upon lotteries, prohibiting raffles, and forbidding the publication of racing tips and dividends, and yet legalising and deriving a rcvenuo from tho totalisator! The Maori race, its traditions, and customs aro the subject of more than ono chapter, and the author was specially fortunate in having a very interesting interview with the once-famous prophet" Rua. A special and very attractive feature of the book is its wealth of wellchoson and woll-oxccuted illustrations. Many of them are double-page pictures, and some of them aro of quite noticeable beauty. Mr. Gooding's . book, upon which both author and publishers deserve to bo complimented, is beautifully printed and very tastefully bound. The American price is three and a half dollars (Us.).

Mora Yarns by "Maori" Browns. Another very interesting book, largely dealing with New Zealand, which has recently been published, is "Camp iMro lams o£ tho Lost Legion/' by Colonel G. Hamilton-Biwnc ("Maori''' biwiie), late Commandant in the colowal forces, tho publishers boiii" T. We-rnie Laurie, Ltd. fper 'Whitcombe and lombs). Tbo book is divided into ty\o parts, Part I, including somo two hundred and odd pages, being devoted to New Zealand; Part 11, dealing with the author's experiences and adventures in South Africa. In a previous work, ■'A\ith tho Lost Legion in New Zealand," Colonel Hamilton-Browne told some excellent yarns, mainly relating to tho author's experiences 'duriiK' °tho Maori war. That lie did not tlien exliaust ljjs stock of interesting i*eniinisccnces and pictures of the colonial soldier's life in the cariv days will readily bo admitted by all 'who read this second batch of stories and sketches. In tlio opening chapter, "The Maori as I Knew Him," the author gives an interesting account of the defence of the Orakau Pah, given liiin, viva voce, by one of its defenders.

The Fight at Moutoa Island. Next follows a 'description of how, in J 864, Ma tone, tho Pai Marirc prophet, an apostle of To Ua, attempted to convort the tribes of the Wangamii lliver to tho now religion. The description of the famous light, at Moutoa Island, where the Hau Hauhaus were defeated by the lower river Natives under Tamehana To Aov/a, is .specially interesting. As exemplifying the author's racy, not to say slangy, stylo, iho following extract may bo quoted :— The end of the prophet Mate-no brought tho Wholo show to a tragical ('male. Ho had fought bravely through tho fight; for, as it is oniv right to give the devil his due, I may hero state that all To Un's prophets woro game to lead any crack-brained exploit they might havo persuaded their misgui3ed disciples to undertake, and conscf|iiently vacancies frequently occurred in the apostolic ranks." Well, Mateno was still alive when tho remnant of his men was forced into tlie river, so ho had to frog it with them, and was swimming away for all lie. was worth when tho eaple eye of Hainiona spotted him. Tho chief turned to his aide-de-camp, To Moro, and handed him his bono mere (a short battle-axe.made out j

I of whalebone, and greatly used by the Natives before the introduction of steel-bladcd tomahawks), at. tho same time pointing out the fugitive, and remarking, "'There is your lisli." In plunged To Moro, v.'ho, swimmiiig rapidly, overtook his prey, and grabbed him just as ho had reached tho bank. In vain tlm • prophet tried to save himself bv his incantations: "Hau Han, Pai Marire, Hau ." He gasped tlm remainder of his discourse, being interrupted by a smashing cut from tho mere, and To Moro swam back, towing the dead Itocly, which ho threw down at Haimona's feet. Some Other Features. "A Hau Hail Martyr" r is a very gruesome story of tho execution of n Jlau Hau fanatic, who walked boldly into a pa occupied by European soldiers and loyal Natives, and openly avowed his complicity in Nama's "torturing of women and children at Poverty Bay. "How a Scout Won the Now Zealand Cross" recounts the daring exploits of Trooper Georgo Hill, a member of tho Colonial Field Force, stationed at To Wairoa. The To Kooti raids arc described at somo length, and a specially detailed description is given of tho famous outlaw's deeds of villainy in the Poverty Bay district. The author has many amusing yarns to tell, and draws some highly satirical portraits of certain officers with whom ho came into contact during his war experiences, Some of the storjes purport to be narrated by tho "Kai Tangata," and an Australian bushranging yarn, which is interpolated in the New Zealand section, is related by "Tho Old Identity." Tho second part of the book is devoted to stories of camp life in South Africa, and arc written in a yet more easygoing, racy style than are the chapters in which, the author recounts his Now Zealand experiences. Undoubtedly tho Colonel knows how to tell a good story, but it is a pity that hero and there he should interrupt tho flow of the narrative proper to denounce, for instance, "Cromwell and his canting, hypocritical Puritans," or to inform Ins readers that although "an Irishman, a Protestant, a Unionist, and an Imperialist," he can blame nonfl of his countrymen "for tho hatred-they feel towards England," etc., etc. The book would have been better for a littlo use of an editorial bh.lo pencil, but, despite certain crudities of stvlo and offences against good taste, it is a decidedly readable and entertaining volume. The illustrations include a portrait of Rewi and some Maori scenes (Price, 12s. 6d.)

Notices of other gift books, including a number of books specially .suita.blo for presentation to young people, will appear next Saturday.