"MIXED GRILL"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 24

"MIXED GRILL"

In his brief but brilliant career as a journalist Noel Boss achieved notable distinction in New Zealand' and overseas and, in making a name, for himself on Fleet Street as the writer of manyspecial articles for the "Times," he won a success which few New Zealanders have yet gained. That his progress towards a still more deserved fame should have been cut off at the time of its most eloquent promise was one of those blows which humanity has had to suffer through the Great War, for, like Rupert Brooke, he died when ho had achieved much, but when there were yet worlds for him to conquer as he would. In "Mixed Grill," published by Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., his mother, Mrs. Malcolm Ross, has established another memorial to her son which will assuredly be avidly sought after by the New Zealand literary public. It is a volume of some 300 pages which encloses a wealth of illumination on Noel Ross's writing life, giving as it does many articles written at various stages of his career, from the time when he was at college to the.period of his active service with the New Zealand Forces. To these Mrs. Ross has added numerous examples of her own ability as a writer, examples which deal largely with New Zealand of early twentieth century days and before—sketches of Native and pakeha life, many of them infused with a spontaneous humour that makes their reading a delight. Of Noel Ross's Work in "Mixed Grill" there is great variety dealing with war and overseas experiences, and the inclusion of quite a number of imaginative and descriptive narratives such as "The Secret Chamber," "The Oyster Boy," and "Painting the Bath," will provide the, reader with many happy hours. A collection of his letters written when at school are sufficient to indicate what, promise Noel Rosa had as a youth, a promise which bore fruit when many articles from his pen were published not only in New Zealand papers but in "Punch," the London "Times," and overseas magazines. "Mixed Grill" has a very fine foreword written by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, a recommendation in itself to those who would read this volume of varied and intelligent appeal..