MR. GORST'S BOOK

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1908, Page 13

MR. GORST'S BOOK

The literary critic oV the Pall Mall Gazette writes thus of Sir John Gorst's book, "New Zealand Revisited" : — Save for the fact that it is not always easy to tell whether ho is referring to yesteryear or to tho days of his youth, we have nothing but praise for Sir John Gorst's reminiscences of New Zealand. The book deserves to be widely rea<\; it is a happy blond of gaiety and wisdom. Sir John began his public earner as civil commissioner of the Waikato district, and journeyed to New Zealand in a sailing vessel, whicn took 111 days on iho voyage. That was in 1860. Jn 1865 he left the colony, but in 1906 made a second journey thither to represent the British Government at the opening o£ the Christthurch Exhibition. The yoars I^6o-1862 were those immediately preceding the second great Maori war. lfc v with the Maoris of that period' and the Contrast in their condition and position to-day that the book is principally concerned. We get a striking and sympathetic picture of this race, who proved fearless foes, firm friends, ardent 'nationalists. ' They fought and fell ; but the vanquished has become, in a sense, the victor ; for to-day the Maoris are, and are treated as, politically and socially the equuls of the white colonists. Their frank, honest character, their high poetical gtfts, their logical mindp, and the beauty of their women are clearly brought out in Sir John's pages. They have learned also to assimilate civilisation without losing their native virtues. Of his own advqntures'with Maoris in the 'sixties and their chivalrous regard for his life, Sir John has many entertaining things to nan-ate ; while of 'the two great men in Now Zealand at tho time, Sir George Grey and Bishop Selwyn, there are many characteristic sketches. With one little anecdote of Selwyn close. An original guest, when, visiting people in the bush, hb made, his own bed, tidied up his r>wi± bedroom cleaned his own boots, and even washed his own clothes: "Ont> Saturday afternoon he was missing, and the only clue as to what had become of him was a report that ho had gone to the , kitchen and borrowed a piece of soap. My wife and I discovered him on a bend of the Mangahoe Creek, having just' eompleieci the washing of all his clotheF, which were spread out on (he banll to dry.''