FOR YOUNG READERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 4

FOR YOUNG READERS

The Runaway Settlers. By Elsie Locke. Paul. 189 pp. This children’s book is in the forth of an historical novel, and tells the true story of a family which settled in New Zealand in 1859. The Small family originally lived on an Australian farm, but ran away, to Sydney and the first available ship' ih order to escape a drunken bully of a father. Mrs Small, a woman of exceptional determination, obtains the consent of Mr Cracroft Wilson to occupy a deserted cob cottage in Governor’s Bay. and much of the story is devoted to her struggle to convert a rat-in-fested. almost derelict little place into a home which became famous for its beautiful and productive gardens. The family lives happily there, working hard and making friends. Various adventures come their way, to make life more exciting. One of the boys feels the lure of the goldfieldk. and meets with varying success. The most dramatic episode is the account of a daring trip made by Mother and Archie over the Southern Alps with a herd of cattle for profitable sale on the West Coast. The calm, confident character of Mrs Small domnates this pleasant book, which should find favour with many young readers.