A NEW ZEALAND STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 7 (Supplement)

A NEW ZEALAND STORY.

" RIFLE AND TOMAHAWK." Although the story of tho Maori Wars has been told and retold in historical works upon New Zealand, very few writers have woven tho romantic and thrilling episodes with which those wars abounded into story form. One of tho few who have delved into this rich mine of priceless " copy" is Mona Tracy, who has made a special study of the early history of New Zealand. A well-known writer of short stories and verso, Mrs. Tracy has now published a stirring tale dealing with tho dark days of the Te Kooti rebellion, under the titlo of " Rifle and Tomahawk." " Rifle and Tomahawk" is the story of two plucky children of an early pioneering family of the Poverty Bay district, who find themselves left alone in a house in the direct track of Te Kooti and his murderous band when they swoop down from the wilds of the Urerewa. They make a bold bid for safety, but are separated while making their escape, and each experiences thrilling adventures before they meet again. Ron, the boy, subsequently joins the Forset Rangers, and is in the thick of the fighting at the Ngatapa Pa, Te Kooti's last stronghold, where his sister is held captive by the rebels. Her rescue is one of the most exciting episodes in a story of hair-raising perils and narrow escapes from horrible death. Thoroughly New Zealand in atmosphere, and presenting an accurate picture of stirring and peril-fraught days, " Rifle and Tomahawk" is a book every New Zealand boy and girl will want to read. Although dealing with warfare, it makes equal appeal to boys and girls, for the adventures of Isbel, the girl-heroine, are no less thrilling than those of her brave young brother.

The illustrations are by H. Evison, the publishers being Messrs. Whit-combe and Tombs.