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

The " Wanganui Herald" of August 23rd says:—" ' Utu: A Story of Love, Hato, and Revenge,' by Tua-o-Rangi, a well-known Wnnganui resident,.whoso literary ability is fully displayed in the interesting pages of 'Utu,' and is dedicated to the Right Hon. Sir G. Grey, K.C.B. Of a most sensational type, the story is powerfully written, and, as the title indicates, revenge or payment denotes the ruling motive of the talo. The plot is first of all laid in England, and gradually developing, is worked out in the colony—not as we know ib to-day when peace and prosperity reigD, but in the olden days, when the Maori was king of tho soil in his own fight, aud when the native customs were carriod oub in all thoir fierce savagery. The situations throughout are of the most exciting nature, and yet jn holding fche mirror up to Nature tbero' is no attempt at straining for effect by introducing highly-coloured romance, yet sufficiently thrilling to inspire that; feeling engendered by awo inspiring word pictures1 of Maori life in early days of New Zealand's history. A characteristic feature of the work is the artistic imagination with which Mr Konnabh Watkins has endowed tho roally oxcollent and largo number of illuatrations'profUßoly scattered throughout, and certainly tho eirecbis materially enhanced thereby. With regard to the lofcterpress—tho book ia in handy ocbavo form—too much praise can hardly be given for the excellence of the workmanship, and in general get-up and appearance is highly creditable. The published price is only one shilling, and the local booksellers—Messrs A. D. Willis and H. I. Jones and Son—are now fully sup> plied with copies, for which there is naturally an eager demand. The book, ib may bo mentioned, is having a particularly large ealo throughout the North and South Islands, and is being published simultaneously in England,,"