REVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

REVIEWS.

Jambs Calvert ; or, from Dark to Dawn ix Fiji. By R. Vernon. Partridge and Co., London. —The author, in his preface, Hays that tho civilisation of the Fijian people would never have been attained, but when the heart was changed by the introduction of Christianity tho life and customs of these benighted people became changed also. Thakambau saw that by annexation tho European colonists and tho natives would be bound together. " You," said ho, " will bind us together, and the stronger nation will lend stability to the weaker." The old King proved to be right in his estimate of the benefits of annexation to the natives. The work illustrates the life and work of the Rev. James Calver in Fiji, and the author expresses hiis indebtedness to "Fiji. and the Fijians," by the Revs. T. WPi, and .lames Calvert; to "At Home in Fiji," by Miss Gordon dimming ; to the "Memory of Mary Calvert," and to "A Flower of Fiji," by the Rev. G. Stringer Rowe. The opening chapters give an interesting description of the Fijian industries and customs. After giving an historical resume of the establishment and progress of the Fiji Wesleyan missions, the author brings his narrative to 1838, when the lonely toilers, the Revs. W. Cross and David Cargill, were joined by John Hunt and David Calvert.. .lames Calvert, whose life and labours is the subject of Mrs. Vernon's pen, was born at Pickering, in Yorkshire, in 1813, and his name is another addition to the roll of noble Yorkehiromon who have been illustrious in the annals of Methodism. He was accepted specially for tho foreign work, and wont for preparation to the Theological Institution at the old Hoxbon Academy. Here a friendship sprang up between Calvert and John Hunt, a fellowstudent, which terminated only with the death of the latter. On his appointment by the Wesleyan Missionary Society to the work in Fiji, Mr. Calvert went to Buckinghamshire, where ho married Mary Fowler, who subsequently aided him greatly in his mission work. In April, 1838, Mr. and Mrs. Calvert started for New South Wales, from which place they left for Fiji, in company with the Revs. John Hunt and T. J. Jagger (who subsequently died in Auckland after many years of missionary service). The greater portion of the remainder of the work is devoted to tho mission work of Mr. Calvert in Lakemba, and afterwards Viwa and Bau, and the conversion of the great chief Thakambau to Christianity. Early in 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Calvert returned to England, the translation of the wholo Bible being now completed, and it being necessary that lie should go home to revise this edition and see it through the press. While engaged in the revision work, Mr. and Mrs. Calvert returned to Fiji, a step necessitated by tho death of one of the missionaries, and theysettlecl at Levuka. In 18(55 Mr. Calvert left Fiji for England, and settled in Kent, but in 187'2 went out to South Africa, but in 18SL returned to the mother country, where his wife died. In 188.3 the jubilee of Christianity was celebrated in Fiji, and Mr. Calvert, though 7*2 years of age, set out alone on a voyage round the world, to take part in the celebration. Mr. Vernon closes his interesting sketch of Fiji mission work as follows :—

Oar task is done, at beat but in a fragmentary manner. We have tried to pourtray some of those features of the wonderful conquest of Fiji for Christ, which have taken place within the lifetime of .lames Calvert. He, after seven years of loneliness, married the widow of the Rev. Andrew Kesseu, LL.D., and now, in his quiet and happy home at Hastings, still labours for his beloved Fiji, supplying scriptures and many other books, and frequently advocating the claims c f foreign missions and of the Bible Society in various parts of England. Unlike many, lie has been spared to see the fruit of Ids labours, and though full of years, is still found working for the mission cause he has served so nobly and so lonjj.

Broadsword and Singlestick.— K. Cr, Allan son-Winn, and C. Phillips-VVolley. George Bell and Sons, Loudon. —This useful brochure gives a great deal of useful information on manly exercises. The author says, " There is not an English boy breathing at this moment who does not long to bo at some sport or game, and who has not his pet idea of the channel into which he will guide his sporting proclivities when he is a man. There are not many grown Englishmen who don't think they know something about a horse, would not like to attend a good assaulfc-afc-arms, or who are not pleased when they hear of their sons' powers with the oar, the bat, or the gloves. The exercises dealt with are the quarter-staff, the broadsword, single-stick, the bayonet, while the cudgel, shillelagh, walking stick, umbrella, &c, also come in for notice as weapons of defence or offence."

The Poolers of India : Lord Core*walt,is. By W. S. Seton-Karr, ex-secre-tary to the Government of India. Clarendon Press, Oxford.— work is one of a series under the above title, edited by Sir William Wilson Hunter. The writer, after giving the biographical career of Lord Cornwallis up to his negotiation of the Peace of Amiens, proceeds in his memoir to describe the aims, motives, and character of that distinguished statesman as an

Indian ruler, and to notice the historical events which throw a light upon his character. A considerable space is devoted to the important measures of reform in India, introduced by Lord Cornwallis, and no facts are omitted, tending to assign to this statesman a due place in history, whether as a soldier or a civil administrator.

We have to acknowledge receipt of No. 11 of '* Travel, Adventure and Sport," from Blackwood's Magazine. The present number is a very readable one, and comprises ''Shiraz to Bushire," by Captain Claude Clark, CLE.; "Life in an Island," by Mrs. Oliphant; " A Recent Ride to Herat"; "In Search of the Eira," by H. Grure, R.N.; " Adventures in Louisiana."