A WEST COAST NOVEL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1930, Page 3

A WEST COAST NOVEL

“Wooden Rails” is the title of a new novel by Walter Smyth. This is The fourth book from the pen of the New Zealand novelist, and according to oversl:as;,reports if is meeting with an excel lent reception in England. “Wooten RkilS” is set in the timber country of our own West Coast, and its principal character is June Devine, the daughter of, the ‘boss’ of the Mawhera saw mill, whose mother wishes to marry Joe Prosser, hef- father’s fight hand man at the milll' JuAei meets Mark, Stanton, a, young I ushman, and to her parents diSgust she fall in love with him. There is 'h ‘‘touch of bush snobbery in their attitude, and finally driven to flight June goes to Wellington, where she knows Stanton has gone, and there she discovers that the simple bushman is reallv the son of a wealthy timber merchant, and engaged to a girl prominent in returns home almost broken in spirit and when she -learns that her parents’ hdta, oh” life "is preeariotip, she .-agrees to marry the faithful Prosser. But love finds a wav to untangle the muddled

skeiri and June’s happiness is assured in thb end.‘ “Wooden Rnils” is not n‘ complicated story, but it is very readable, and it reproduces conditions on the' ‘Coast’ with entertaining fidelity. This, hook, Finch is published by Mills and Boon, London, is obtainable and it should make an excellent gift book, for it must appeal strongly,.to both men and women. ...■•■