LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 14

LITERARY.

A new novel by Katharine Tynan, entitled "A JilidßUmmer Rose," is published by Messrs Smith, Elder and Co.

Lord Cromer is publishing, through Messrs Macmillan, a volume entitled "Political and Literary Essays, 1908----1913.''

Mr R. B. Cunninghame-Graham has just completed a new volume similar to his "Charity," which will Bhortly be published by Messrs Duckworth.

Messrs Hutchinson and Co. announce for early publication an addition to their Nature Library, written by W. P- Pycraft and entitled "The Courtship of Animals."

Messrs Alston Rivers announce a volume of poems entitled "Voices of the North and Echoes of Hellas," by George Handlev Knibbs, C.M.G. Mr Knibbs is at present Statistician to the Commonwealth of Australia.

Messrs Constable have in preparation a translation of M. Louis Bertrand's "Life of St. Augustine," which has been attracting wide appreciation during its appearance in serial form in the "Revue dcs Deux Mondea."

"Chambers's Journal" for November covers a very wide range in ius current articles embracing papers on Eastern Turkey, the American Desert, Salmoncanning in British t>olumbia, Impressions of Fiji, and the Hudson Bay Route There is the customary proportion of excellent stories, general articles, and science and art notes.

The "Welleome" Photographic Exposure Record and Diary for 1014 will bo found a useful pocket companion by amateur and professional devotees to the camera. It is full of information on photographic subjects, including many useful hints with regard to exposures and negative making, with Burroughs, Welleome, and Co.'s standard preparations.

Most of Shakespeare's works have now been translated into Japanese by Professor Yuzo Tsubouchi, of Waseda University, and have been staged in leading theatres of Tokyo and other cities throughout the country. Goethe's "Faust" has been translated into Japanese on instruction of the Government, and it has been put on in lending houses in the empire. t .

"Pears' Annual" again takes a notable place among the Christmas publications for 1913. Its literary contents aro contributed by Max Pemberton, Barry Pain, Ceo. R. Sims, T. P. O'Connor, Keble Howard. Olive Onions, William Le Quex. W. Pitt Ridge, and other popular writers. The coloured illustrations are attractive in character and execution, nnd three largo chromo pictures, suitable for display on the wall, complete a. very fine art budget. We have received a copy through Messrs Gordon and Gotch.

"Life" for December continues the 6tory of the Scott Antarctic expedition up to tho point where the dead bodies of the Commander and his brave companions were found dead in their tents. The editor appropriately says: "It is impossible to read these final chapters of Captain Scott's thrilling story without being moved -profoundly. To seek, to strive, to find, and not to yield.' " Among other interesting articles in this number is "Dunedin the Bea-ntiful, New Zealand's Southern Gateway," being the first of a series of articles on the holiday resorts of New Zealand. Tlie editor continues his papers on "The Higher Criticism and its Perplexities."

Lovers of dainty thoughts nnd fancies expressed in poetical form will welcome a little volume, entitled "Tho Turret Captain's Toast and Other Verses," that has just been issued from tho local press. Tbe authoress, Margaret A. Sinclair (well-known by her pen-name of "Roslyn"), has, in this book of thirtysix pages, crowded about thirty lyrics from her pen. These have all been published before, but rney will be welcomed in this collected form. The themes are varied, but all are adequately treated. Many are of universal interest; in some the interest is local; but in all the reader will recognise the New Zealand atmosphere, the Xew Zealand "touch." One lyric, "Pohutukawa," brings a strain of Christ-mas-time. Among the pieces marked by fine musical expression wo like "The Old Town's "The Waihou," '-One ' Sweet Morning," "Tamaki." and "Bonnie Jean." ]n more ambitious flights the writer is not so successful. The collection will add to the deserved popularity of the authoress. The book is dedicated to "The Encouragor."

"The Unexpurgatc-d Case Against Woman Suffrage," as stated by Sir Almroth E. -Wright, M.D., F.R.S., 'is set out in a book -published by Constable and Co., and of which we have received a copy from George Robertson and- Co., Melbourne. Dr. Wright frankly and fairly states the arguments commonlyadvanced in support of woman suffrage, and proceeds to answer them seriatim. Whether he does so successfully will be a matter on which opinions will seriously differ. Unquestionably, however, the author of this book succeeds in presenting, -in clear, logical and concise form, the most powerful arguments that can -be used against -woman suffrage. He meets the claim that taxation carries with it the right to representation with the statement that there is no such inherent right, or foreigners might claim the franchise; further, that the great bulk of the taxation in paid by men. and, therefore, women have iio equitable' Tight to claim an equal share in iv administration, and- that in such claims as may -be based upon economic independence, the -woman has, in a great majority of cases, derived her position .from man. He contends that all laws aTe based on precedent, and, therefore, there is no ground for asserting that men are liable to legislate injuriously towa-rds -women. He lays great stress on the argument that is by physical foTce alone and by prestige—which represents physical force in the -background ' —that a nation protects itself against foreign interference, upholds its rule over subject populations, and enforces its own laws." And -he contends that "nothing could in the end more certainly lead to war and revolt than the decline of the military spirit and -loss of pTestige -which would inevitably follow if man admitted woman into political co-partners-hip." He contends that, while men and women are intellectually equal with Tespect to memory and apprehension, women lack originality, and are much more unstable in their judgment*, from causes which are inherent in their sex. He states that these defects -might operate most disastrously upon the legislation of the nation which adopts woman suffrage.

An artistic Christmas booklet, descriptive of the City of Auckland, written by Mr. Janes Cowan, and published by WTiitcombe and Tombs, will doubtless prove a popular favourite at this season. It gives, in brief compass and in an interesting literary style, an account of the chief attractions of Auckland to the resident and visitor. The illustrations Emprise artistic reproductions of Auc|jland fifty years ago, in contrast with the Auckland of to-day. The harbour ii shewn as it appeared at the time of (he visit of the American fleet. Tberq are also pictures of yie Post Office, Government House, GraftonBridge, and jther important buildings and suburban beauty spots. The book is well-timed,? both for the Christmas season and fjr sale during the Exhibition. It is %i excellent souvenir of the oity to send to friends abroad. CAMP TX9.E YARNS OF THE LQOT LEGION.. By Colonel Q. HA&IILTON-BROWXE CJlaori Brown"). T. Weiper Laurie, London. In this book Colonel HamiltonBrowne reeofds some memories of his ten years' military service in New Zealand. We prejer the form of his present direct narrative to the half romance of his earlier bogle, "With the Lost Legion in New Zealand." Some of his stories fire more or le»s familiar to men belonging to the old Colonial forces which served in the Maori wars, but they bear retelling for a later generation, aud Colonel Hamjjton-Browne's colloquial style gives them all the freshness and raeiness of the yarn told beside the oamp fire where he gathered, and, no doubt, often rented them. The Colonel criticises pretty freely General Cameron's conduct of the Wnikato war. lie »ays: "The first lighting took pUice in 18Q0,and soon General Sir Duncan Cameroßbad over 1,000 (T10,000) Imperial troops under his command, as well as an equal number of Colonial Militia and Irregulars, and also a powerful Naval Brigade.' He had also a strong force of artillery, and was well supplied with ammunition and stores of all kinds. Yet, perhaps, you will scarcely credit ma when 1 tell you that never at any single moment had he more than 2,000 natives in arms against him, and that he was never opposed in any single action by even 1,000 mon. It mu=t be borne in mind that Sir Duncan's force was one of the most powerful that England, up to that time, without the assistance of allies, had ever put in the field; that the men who composed it were, all of them good, seasoned men, many of them being veterans of the Crimea and .Mutiny; that the Militia were highly trained, most of them old soldiers, under the command of ex-Imperial officers; that the irregulars proved themselves to be second to none in the field, and that the imtives only possessed old muskets and fowlingpieces. Now, these numbers are staggering, but üb.-olutcly correct, as it is that the above force made but small headway against this handful of savages; for although Sir Duncan forced his way into the Waikato, and held a chain of forts there, yet on the West Coast, especially in the districts of Taran-.iki and Wanganui, the settlers had to abandon their homesteads, tho women and children being sent for safety to the South Island, and no man's life was safe beyond rifle range of tho forts. This was the state of things in New Zealand after six years of incessant war, and it ran only be accounted for in the following way:—-To commence, tho General and his officers were hidebound with the old traditions and maxims of the British army. They simply would not or could not adapt themselves to the exigencies or tactics of irregular warfare, nor could they be made to understand or believe that a regiment that could march in line like a brick wall might easily he worsted by a mob of savages in a thick bush. Then again, when attacking pahs, the General considered thaji,the correct way to do so was, after a sharp bombardment, to rush the place with the bayonet. Who could imagine for a moment that natives could hold their flimsy stockades against men who had stormed the Redan and taken Delhi at the point of the bayonet? Yet they did. Rangiriri was assaulted three times, and on each occasion, notwithstanding the splendid devotion and courago of our gallant Tommies, they were driven back with great loss. Yet on the following day the 180 defenders marched out and laid down their arms. Why? For three days they had been without one drop of water. The General knew that, they had no water, then why did he risk the lives of bis splendid men by ordering futile assaults'; Rangiriri took place in November, 1803, and one would have thought that the General might have learned something by its lesson of the way how to deal with a Maori pah; but he had neglected to do so, for in April the following year, he invested Orakau pah, the defenders of which exhibited gallantry seldom equalled and never surpassed in all the annals of human warfare."

The Colonel narrates the story of the fight at Orakau, which has become famous in story and song, as he heard it some years afterwards from one of its defenders. This narrative, given from the Maori point of view, has a distinctly humorous side, while the simplicity with which the old warrior explained how, according to all Mauri usages, they could not have surrendered the pah without losing their honour, makes a more direct appeal to our admiration than any amount of eulogy of that gallant band, who against overwhelming odds sent forth the message of defiance, "Ake, ake, ake" (For ever, for ever, for

Colonel Hamilton-Browne records numerous incidents of his sojourn -among the Maoris, with an account of their manners and customs, their elaborate forms of etiquette, and their ineradicable superstition. Like all men who were brought in contact with the old-time Maori, he has an immense admiration for their courage and hospitality. His reminiscences cover the period during which irregular warfare raged throughout the North Island, including the Pai Marire fanaticism, and the expeditions against Te Kooti. His own experiences were varied and romantic, and he shared them with a number of adventurous spirits who had a good deal to tell by the camp fire. The result is a very entertaining book, which, if not literally accurate in all its historical allusions, yet leaves upon the mind of the reader a clear impression of a condition of society which appears remote from the New Zealand of to-day. It will be generally conceded that the veteran free-lance and inveterate raconteur and practical joker is filling in well —and let us hope profitably—the days he is now spending "camped in a Lon don flat, sick of the turmoil, row and worries of the big city, with its pushing, hurrying and ill-mannered crowds."