"U.T.U."

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 236, 3 October 1894, Page 3

"U.T.U."

" Uto," the Maori term for payment or revenge, is tho title of a well written little story which haa just made.its appearance amongst colonial publications. Replete with incidents of nn intensely inbereabing character taken from real life, and from reliable -records of the history of Maori life and customs aboub the end of lasb century, the story sustains tho interesb of the reader almost from the opening chapter till the final worda. Thoconstructionis so skilfully arrangodbbnb one cannob resist baking a certain scientific as well as dramatic interesb in watching how each incident inevitably leads to the nexb, and how the plob gradually thickens till tho time for the final coups de grace is reached. In writing this liotle volume, which is dedicated to Sir, George Grey, the author has certainly produced a book which will amuse, and in some measure instruct, the thousands whowill bo anxious to read it, and it is not; too much to finy ph« hn« at onco taken a prominent j^lace amongst colonial novelists. In language tliab in itself haa quite a charm about it, the story relates how a rejected suitor for the hand of a rich heiress in the Old Country carries out with grim merciiessneea his revenge upon everyone who has beon concerned in his humiliation, and then endoavoura to escape from justice by accompanying a French exploration party to New Zealand which ab the timo referred to in the story, is a newly-founded colony and inhabited only by, tho Maoris. The merciless crimes which the principal character is credited with are in turn avenged at the bauds of the heiress herself, whom ho imagined he had quietly dieposed of drugging her previous to hia escape from England, but who subsequently recovers, and mysteriously" turnß up again" aa a member of the party on its way to the South Seas. In the disguise of a valet, the young lady has gained admission whilsb in Paris into the " service of- hsr father's murderer, and after their arrival ab tho Bay of Islands, proceeds, with the aid of a confederate, to put her plan of revenge'into effect. The 'last twenty chapters contain a minute description of ancient Maori life, deftly brought in to'render the story of more than ordinary interest to New goalander?. The work, which haa boen printed at the Star Office, bo far promises to command an extensive circulation.