SIR J. VOGEL'S NOVEL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1888, Page 3

S IR J. VOGEL'S NOVEL.

The London correspondent of a Southern contemporary gives the following circumstantial account of Sir J. Vogel'e literary venture : — Sir Julius Vogel's novel "is to be the sensation of the publishing season. It is astonishing the interest which the anticipation of the work has already excited in literary ciroles in London, and I can bespeak for it a demand which the publishers will have some difficulty in supplying. A friend of mine, an ex-New Zealand Btatesman, who was consulted on one of the chapters dealing with Maori mythology, tells me that the work will be one of i joint authorship, on (he. lines of ' Thb Sight Honourable, ' by Mr Justin M'Carthy and Mrs Campbell-Praed. The ex- Treasurer's partner is a Ghristchurch lady of well known literary ability, and a Maori scholar of some note. Tbe scenes are principally laid in Maoriland, and include incidents of the war, Sir George Grey and Te Kooti playing very conspicuous parts. While the assassin of Poverty Bay appears iiipropria, persona, Sir G. Grey is easily recognisable in the weak-minded old statesman, ''Sir Thomas Bland who is impeached before Parliament as either Che causa of tbe Taranaki war, cr us having indirectly assisted the enemy in Borne way— -bub this is a poiut on wdioh^my informant is not very clear. There is a chapter devoted to tbe trial for nigh treason of a Pakeha Maori, one Richards ; but my informant assures me tbat IlioVtrds is no other than Mr O, O. Davis, who at one lime was actually called to the bar of tbe House on a charge of betraying his countiymeu. Richards is tbe father of the heroin*, Hinemoa, a bright and gifted half-caete ; and 1 Hinemoa,' I am told, is to be the title of the work. The outline of this remarkable story was sketched some years ago by the lady, who sent the MSS. to Sir Julius Yogel before his departure for London, ajid for some time past he has been re-writing and revisiug some of the passages and supplying a few of his own oreation. Sir George Grey's friends will not like the pose of the old knight as Sir I homas Bland, the character being a rather contemptible one. I am also told that, ia addition to this work of the literary partnership, Sir Julius has sketched out a thrilling piece of fiction on his own account; but " Hinemoa" is to be first presented to the public.