NEW ZEALAND STORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 43, 30 November 1938, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND STORY.

“THE LAND OF THE LOST”

DOMINION WRITER’S SUCCESS. 9> William Satchel] is well known as a writer of stirring stories of bygone times in New Zealand, one of his best, if not the best of these being “The Land of the Lost.” First published .in 1902, a second edition lias just been issued by Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., and from several points of view it should 1 prove popular. Dealing with the gumlands of North Auckland some sixty years ago it presents mystery, adventure and thrilling incident with a romance that of itself makes good reading. The gunifields have two phases*—one a past of gigantic trees; the other, at the time of the story, dreary scrub-covered wastes. Many centuries—probably thousands of years —separate these two phases but in the tragic figure of Jess Olive tbe author brings them to a focus, so that for the reader also they may exist simultaneously. Mr Satchel! paints a vivid picture of this unique land, of the lost, which is reached by so many of its inhabitants by gravitation or by drift. There the deadbeats of the world come at last to an anchorage. But all the European characters delineated by Mi Satcliell are not deadbeats. unruly Maoris appear on the canvas, in ir, cldents that portray in nappy fashion the character temperament of tlie race—capable, generous to a fault and keenly imitative of their British compatriots. The fact that Viscount Bledisioe has written a preface to “The Land of the Lost” is guarantee of its worth. Our review copy was received through Mr Newton O. Jones.