"U T U."

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5, 7 January 1895, Page 4

"U T U."

"Utd," tbe Maori term for payment or revenge, is the title of a well written little story which has just made its appearance amongst, colonial publications. Replete with incidents of an intensely interesting' character taken from real life, and from reliable records of the history of Maori life and customs about tho end of last century, the story sustains the interest of tbe reader almost from the opening chapter till the final words. Theconstructionis so skilfully arranged thab one cannob resist taking a^cerfcain^scientifip as ,Well AB dramatic""interest ih^watching how each incident inevitably leads to tho next, and how the plob gradually bbickena till the timo for the final coups de grace is reached. In writing this little 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 who will be anxious to read it, and it is not; too mnch to say ehe hits at once taken a prominent place amongßt colonial novelists. In language thab in itself has quite a charm aboub it, the story relates how a rejected suitor for the hand of a rich heiress vi the Old Country carries out with grim morcilessness bis revenge upon everyone who has been concerned in his humiliation, and thon endeavour, to escape from jnßtico by accompanying a French exploration party to New Zealand which at bbc time referred to in tbe story, is a newly-founded colony and-inhabited only by the Maoris. Tbe merciless crimes which the principal characber is credited with are in turn avenged ab tbe bands ol the heiress herself, whom be imagined he had quiobly disposed of, by drugging her previous to his . escape, from England, bub who subsequently recovers, and mysteriously " turns up again " as a member of tbe party on its way to the South Seas. In the disguise of a valet, the young lady has gained admission whilst iv Paris into the service bf her father's murderer, and after their arrival ab the Bay of Islands, proceeds, with the aid of a confederate, to put her plan of revenge into effect. The last twonty chapters contain a minute description of ancient Maori life, deftly brought in to render the story of more than ordinary interest to New Zealanders. The work, which has beon printed at the Star Office, co far promises to command an extensive circulation.

The *■ Wanganui Herald" of August 23rd says:—" 'Utu: A Story of Love, Hate, and Revenge,' by Tua-o-Raftgi, a well-known Wanganui resident, whose literary ability is fully displayed in the interesting pages of VUtu,'atid is dedicated to tho Right Hon. Sir G.'Grey, K.C.B. Of a mosb sensational typei the story is powerfully wribten, and, as the title indicates, revenge or payment denotes the ruling motivo of the tale. The plot is first of all laid in England, and gradually developing, is worked oub in the colony—nob as we know ib to-day when peace and prosperity reign, bub in tbe olden days, when the Maori was king of the soil in his own right, and whon tho native customs were carried out in all their fierce savagery. The situations throughout are of tbe most exciting nature, and yeb in holding the mirror up to Nature there is no attempt at straining for effect by introducing highly-coloured romance, yeb sufficiently thrilling to inspire thab feeling engendered by awe-inspiring word pictures of Maori life in early days of New Zealand's history. A characteristic feature of the work is tbe artistic imagination with which Mr Kenneth Watkins has endowed the really excellent and large number of illustrations profusely scattered throughont, and certainly the effect is materially enhanced thereby. With regard to tho letterpress—tho book is in handy octavo form—too much praise can hardly be given for the excellence of tbe 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 supplied with copies, for which there is naturally an eager demand. The book, it may be mentioned, is having a particularly large sale throughout the North and South Islands, and ia being published simultaneously in England."