POEMS BY CHARLES W. PURNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1516, 3 October 1868, Page 6

POEMS BY CHARLES W. PURNELL.

Ohsistohurch : Steven's and Co., Hiodc-stbust. 2s. 6d. We have received by the last mail from tho South a small volume, containing some fifty poems on various subjects. Throughout a large portion of the book we find a. vein of truly poetical ideas, although there is occasionally a kind of faltering, if we may use the word, which causes the reader to break off with a feeling of disappointment. Perhaps portions of the first poem, entitled "Ivew Zealand," and consisting of an eulogistic description of the external features of the country, are as well written as any thing in the book. 'JLlie poem is very short, and we give an extract: — New Zealand sits With frosted crown endiad':m'd —radiantqueen, While downward chastely falls Eer glaciered hair, giittering with silver sheen, Dark format robes, Their verdant borders trimmed with ferny lace, In emerald grasp her swelling form embrace ; * # * # * # * Across the tranquil eea Proudly Bhe looks; imperial glances caets Where verdant ieles :idorn the azure plain. The " Waterfall" is a fanciful and very brightly coloured picture of a lonely forest cascade, and introduces the author's mental portrait of the Elfin " wood sprites," who With shout and call, And laughter, all Went sliding down the waterfall.

Some of the poems are what may justly be palled aimless, and, in some cases " wasliy," but upon the whole the volume will repay perusal. The writer is evidently a man of considerable power of thought, and possesses much fine feeling, and no doubt further cultivation of his poetical talents would result in even a better volume than the present.

THE THAMES GOLDFIKLDS. The following letter has been received by a merchant in Wellington fram u gentleman on the golnflelds, and appears in the Welling ten Advertiser : Shetland, September 17. Dear Sir, —I delayed writing: to you until I had had an opportunity of seeing what this place -was like, and whether I was likely to see anything in tho shape of shares or business to suit you, but up to the present time I have seen nothing to please me. I was very glad that you did not send the butter with me, for I found on arrival that T could not have got more than J Id. or Is. per lb. for it. Thore have been large quantities fent into this marltet since, bo that the price is even lower now. I ohould ;hink that all classes of goods are eo!d 15 per ceut. under Wellington prices. I h:ive done nothing since coming hero. There have been plenty of shares for sale, but or.ly into those claims which have not been proved, and the /act is that the half of the claims have been taken up with-tho view of selling. It takes a good deal of money, and perhaps a few months labor. To prove a claim, which is what; the majority of the miners cannot afford, so they had nothing for it but to take to share-selling—or swindling each other to live. The ehare-brokers corne in for the best of the picking". That game is about played out, and now aha* eB can scarcely bo sold at any price, unless they are in first class claims ; but the prices asked for them are small fortune* in theaiselv.s. The weathoE has taken up finely this last few dayß, ant), now shara-broking has received a chock, people will be compelled to go to work, when we hope to seo a healthier stuto of things. At present buying shares in a great many of the claims is simply buying a " pi<r in a poke." There are a number of rich chums here, but there are few when the number of the population is considered. 'J he want of machinery is very much felt, but no doubt thero will soon be plenty if the ground continues payable. I don't think there are many fortunes being made in busines?, tho profits is too email, there is so much opposition, and the price one has to Kivo for a business s to is something enormous. Thero h«B been great talk of a new goldficld near Mercury Bay, about IZO mileß from here by water ; thero are numbers going from h°re. I have nome thoughts of going myself in the course of u day or two to have a look ; in a new place there may be a chance of doinif some good.—i am, &c.,