AUSTRALIA’S MAKING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S MAKING

Ancient Australia. By Charles F. Laseron. Angus and Robertson. 210 The Nor’-Westers. By lon L. Idriess. Angus and Robertson. 241 pp. The Fury. By E. V. Timms. Angus and Robertson. 244 pp. Mr Laseron, a leading geologist in Australia, has followed “The Face of Australia” with this well-written book for the ordinary man on the geology of Australia. Australians will follow the book more easily than New Zealanders, who cannot so readily appreciate the vastness of the Australian Continent. The general story begins at the dawn of geological time, and is spread over thousands of millions of years. The creation and later disappearance of whole mountain chains are explained; the various Ice Ages, the formation of Lake Wallon, probably the largest fresh-water lake in the world (now disappeared), and the theory that a land bridge connected Asia with Australia and New Zealand are all presented in a manner to hold the reader’s interest. Fossils are of the utmost importance in the story of the past; they provide clues for the geologist’s deductions. It is amazing to notice that such insubstantial creatures as jellyfish have been found intact after burial for millions of years. Mr Laseron explains how these were preserved—and the great thrill of finding them —and how the shapes of rocks in different strata, sandstones, shales, and slates, can be read to explain the mountain ranges of the past. The last 50.000,000 years have been “quiet,” geologically speaking, in Australia, and now, in Mr Laseron’s opinion, there is a build-up proceeding in the north-east, round the great reef. There are 15 most helpful maps, many illustrations, an index, and a reference section where Mr Laseron quotes the ooinions of other authorities. Dr. R. J. Tillyard, formerly well-known in New Zealand, is mentioned here with high praise. “For long I’ve wanted to write whatever comes into my head. And here it is . . . random scraps from the g r eat scrap-book of life,” says lon Idriess in an author’s note jn his latest book. As usual with him the story is set in the outback of Australia, this time in the north-west—-a territory of vast distances. After his 30-odd books there can be few queer characters or legends (or just yarns) of early Australia that Mr Idriess has not written about. His opening story, of three natives who walked out of gaol and tried to escape by riding on the rudder of the night boat from Broome to Derby, is really remarkable. One survived, held to the rudder arm by cramp, inches from the propellers. A 1200-mile trip with the mailman, in nine days, before there were roads, and “the nearest escape from death,” this time head and shoulders in the mouth of a tiger shark, are told in the droll story-teller’s manner. Mr Timms, now half-way through writing a dozen novels based on the history of Australia, has set the “The Fury” in the period just 100 years ago—the stirring times when gold had been found at Ballarat and a mad rush was on. The historical side outlines the events that led to the. episode of the Eureka stockade. The narrative tells of Sally May Lorne, who at 16, finds herself alone in the world after a great fire destroys her family and its few possessions. The events, occurring mostly round Ballarat, which lead on to Sally’s marriage are all told in a manner most realistic.