CHRISTIE MURRAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9150, 9 July 1890, Page 3

CHRISTIE MURRAY.

HIS PEOJECTED WORK

It has been said-that everybody—everybody in a civilised community, that is—reads “yellow-backs,” and that very few read : anything 1 ■ else except the newspaper. Well, perhaps it may be so ; but nobody will deny that much information, and much good, can bo got from a diligent reading of newspapers, and few will be found to deny that good may be got out of “yellow-backs,” provided, of course, that the “ yellow-backs ” are of the right sort. One of the most distinguished makers of “yellow-backs” of the very best sort —good, healthy works of fiction, pictures of human nature, which any man will be the better for looking at, paid us a visit some months ago, made many friends in this City of the Plains, and departed, to see something of the Colony and colonists as exhibited by the northern half of New Zealand. He is now among us again. Mr David -Christie Murray returned from his visit to the North Island, genial and hearty as when he first came to Christchurch, and quite as much pleased with the Colony, now that he has seen a great deal of it, as he was when he had seen but a little. New Zealand, ho said then, was the tourists 1 whathe fiaa seen since haa confirmed jhiminthat

opinion. With what Mr Murray did after he left Christchurch, his journey through the King Country, and his creation of a play representing scenes of New Zealand life, our readers are familiar. We do not intend, therefore, to inflict upon them a narrative of the distinguished novelist's adventures in the North Island. Those, however, who take interest in matters literary will, no doubt, be pleased to Jearn somewhat of Mr Murray’s intentions in regard to his work. In conversation with a member of our staff, he spoke on the subject as follows : “ I see a’ chance of being remembered longer and more favourably than by all the literary work X have done, or may do in the old groove, if I try to deal with those social human problems which present themselves to my view in these Colonies. I am going to try. to write a series of dramas which will have a Colonial foundation, the conditions for which could not arise outside the Colonies. For instance, my last one. Chums, though it does not in any way pretend to he an expression of Neiv Zealand life or feeling, has a plot which could nob be worked out except in Colonial life. Ever since I have been in the Colonies I have devoted myself a great deal more to literary matters than to recording my impressions as a traveller. I have found a Tasmanian story and an Australian story, which are full of human interest, and, if I handle them properly, will make very strong dramas. I intend to seek a Melbourne production for my Australian play, for if I secure the approbation of an Australian audience, I shall' be certain that my- picture of Colonial life is not unreasonably bad, and could take it to London with their authentic cachet, as a Colonial story which has been approved by Colonials. “ I have given the original manuscript of Chums to Sir George Grey, who accepted it, saying, ‘ I shall present this to the Auckland Library. I am not flattering you when I say that it is very valuable, and would be so even it it were the poorest thing ever written, for it is the first thing ever done by an English man of letters for New Zealand. It marks the beginning of our dramatic literature.’ Sir Gaorge was good enough to tell mo that in Chums he had for the first time seen human nature staged unstagily. He took a great fancy to little Leo, who plays Harold, and very pleasing it was to see the veteran’s kindly tenderness to the child. I must say that Mr Sb Maur’a Company plays the piece very well. I conld not get a2O per cent better representation in London. I would not ask for a better representation of Ned Fellowes than Sb Maur’s. Miss Seymour is also good, and the little boy Leo simply wonderful. Mr Kennedy’s Squire Jack is to my mind an excellent performance. He says that be never had a part which suited, him so well, but, then, it was written for him.”