Reviews.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 January 1892, Page 2

Reviews.

From the publishers, Messrs Lyon & Blair, we are in receipt of one of their New Zealand- Readers, which contain the Fairy tales of N.Z., and the South Seas. The author is Mr E. Tregear, F.R.G S., F. R. Hist, S. The N.Z. tales arel ! the Fairy Fishermen, the Winged -Ogress,; the Pet Whale, the Great Swing, the Slaying of the Dragon, the Hill Fairies, the Maiden Swimmer, the Serpent Woman, the Woman in the Moon, Maui the Hero, r the WaterKelpies, the Celestial- Vine* the Ogre's Capture anclthe Stolen Wife. The Fairy Fisherman explains how the Natives, owing to the curiosity of one Kahu discovered from the fairies the art of making the netting-knot, which they have ever since, practised. fc The Winged Ogress details the experiences of a young man led astray by an Ogress in the Hot lakes district, and how in escaping from her, the Ogress was led to follow him over dangerous ground and was got rid off by ialljng into a Jboiling spring of sulphur. -The n)orSl appears to be that elder brothers snould not tease their younger brothers, who might be led into similar dangers as the hero of the tale, as it is asserted that on Hatu's return, his father never again allowed his sons to molest their younger brother. j f The pet whale' is a fanciful tale of the stealing and murder of that useful fish by a stronger who had been hospitably received at a settlement, and who was, after the theft, p&captured and brought back »id slain. • ' ••" . ■■ • The Great ''wing relates how two lovers met their death, and by. the trick of the man, got returned alive and well to the world again, after which they were married -and lived happily ever afterwards The laying of the Dragon, is an imaginative account of .the much dreaded Taniwha. The Hill Fairiesis a real fairy tale, the creatures seen in the hills by a party who went-kiwi hunting, being so frightened that they never hunted on that hill again. , „\,\,.. t . The Maiden Swimmer is an account of the loves pf Jline Mpa and tu. Tu. had heard of" a beautiful maiden who was sought by. every chief and warrior. At last Tv sent a messenger telling of his passion, she said "Ah, then we have each thought alike." They, arranged to elope but her friends kept so strict a watch that she had to swim. across a belt of water which separated 'them. She was so cold after the swim .that she slipt into a hot spring, and 'when Tu's slave came down for water, Bine Moa concealed, broke the calabash, which being reported to Tv, made him very angry and he came himself to find who.it was, who had done such 'a deed. <ftfter> he grasped the hand of his sweetheart and : so' found her,: aadf (Shortly afterwards they got married. This is evidently the Maori manner ,0% expressing that love laughs at locks and bars. ' The Serpent Woman, illustrates the manner in which some vroinen secured their husbands, and hbw'ttie prettiest fell to the, youngest of , the brothers. The deceptibpa 1 practised by the elder brothers' wives made them very angry^sq that they all went home and trounced their wives soundly for. having tricked them. The Woman in the Moon is the native explanation of the "Man in the Moon." Rona having hurt herself on a dark night uttered so terrible a curse, that the God of the Moon carried her up, where she can still be seen. Miiui, the Hero, explains why the country is so broken. Mauf's brothers being too hungry t6 wait for prayers, began to cut and' bat' up a big fish (the North Island) "which Mail had had caught. The 1 fish, wbtn cut, began to twist'frdtn side to side, and lashed its tail arid moved about terribly before it died, Aid that is why it is now full of great mountains and hollows. x y The Water-Kelpies recount the rescue of a mother from the 'dreadful water-spirits called Pona, a malicious' and evil race. The Celestial Vine is the Maori Jacob's Ladder.* The Ogre's captive is a story of the South Island Natives, about the river Molyneux. The Stolen Wife' is recovered by the aid of the sorcerer, and the Fairies are held at bay by 1 the charm he prescribed. ' There are other legends in connection with the South Seas, in this little volume. We think we have given a fair abbreviation ofthoieof

interest to this colony. The longer Maori names have been wisely shortened, and the language used is plain and simple. We have been asked to express an opinion as to the little book' being used as a Reader in the State Schools, and we can see no reason why it should not, and manywhy it should be, as the tales, though pure fiction, Have a thoroughly local character, and thus help to keep alive the interest in the Native race We are accepting the tales as being the true old Maori legends on the faith of the high position the author holds. Without such a guarantee they would be of no value. The publishers are to be complimented on the printing and binding of the volume.

The publishers of the Salvation Army have sent us a copy of " The Young Soldier," a weekly paper published for children, and published at the low price of one penny. Of course " The Young Soldier " is a miniature " War Cry," and is written in very mnch the same strain and illustrated very much in the same style as that journal. Viewing it as a^paper published in the Army's interest we have nothing to object to in it, being clearly printed and of a handy size. Viewing it as the only children's paper published in the colony we regret the excessive use of its columns for urging the views of the Army, We were in the hopes that there would have been a better attempt made to have brought out a first-class children's paper, with good wholesome tales, and with just a small portion devoted to the good cause. As it is now published we can see that only those who purchase the "War Cry" are likely to purchase " The Young Soldier," and unless the children are members of that organisation, we hardly see any temptation for others to buy. Undoubtedly there exists in the colony a splendid opening for a good weekly written for young people and published cheap.