REVIEW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8634, 25 October 1889, Page 3

REVIEW.

"Tho Spirit of the Rangatira, and Other Ballads." By Jessie Mackay.—Melbourne: Geo. Robertson and Co.

This volume is a welcome addition to tho growing stock of literary productions of Young New Zealand. The authoress, a young lady of much promise, iv her preface characterises her book as " one of trifles, and as such," she tbiuks, "they may plead for more indulgence than a more ambitious production." We are quite Bure that the indulgence asked for will be readily given by those into whose hands the Balladßfall. .

From poetry tho reader justly expects a refined pleasure, an elevation of fancy, and a certain satisfaction of .-esthetic susceptibilities. The reader of these ballads will not be altogether disappointed in this legitimate expectation. Many subjects of a commonplace character are rendered pleasing from their presentation with considerable novelty of sentiment, and occasionally with no little novelty of expression, Iv the first piece " The Spirit of tho Rangatira" we have a very beautiful and touching legend, which Judge Manning relates in " Old New Zealand." Rangatira was engaged to Maroue. Brave and renowned was the youth who came wooiug ■ i ' To ber for a wife, Auil she gare her promise, too firm for undoing, . In death and in lile To be trus to lier lover.

Rangatira went forth to battle, and was slain. Great was the sorrow of Marone. A Tohunga, comforting her, said the spirit of Rangatira would speak to her from Reinga, the Maori place of departed spirits. The spirit did so, .Peace to 3 ou, peace to you ever and 6ver, () tribe, and 0 friends 1 He who ill life shall return to you never A love-greeting sends From the land of the spirits. Peace, salutation, 0 father and mother 1 And Maroiio, my btvlQl From lips of the dead, and to Bister and brother 11 ceased, nud they cried " Is it well in thy dwelling ?" " The dead are at rest," low sighed the departed, And my place it is good "... A contrast 13 then drawn between the daughter of the pakeha and the Maori Marone: When the pakeha's daughter is reft of her lover. She wetp3 for a diiy, : And then will a youth that is dearer discover— Not so was the way Of the Maori Maroue.

For deep in her heart, ere the dawn of tho morrow, She planted a spear.

The story of " Forvie Rig?," an old legend of Abtrdecnshire, is sweetly told. The poetess has succeeded in describing a cruel murder in a manner that redeems the sadness of the tale. Paiuful effects should be sparingly iuttoduced in poetry, and when introduced tax the author's powers in redeeming them. There is r.o better tast of poetic power than the exhibition of matters" essentially painful in such a manner, as to soothe and comfort us. The an6wer to the maiden's imprecation satisfies our ideas of justice. "To Wanahu Corner " is in the author's best vein. It has the true ballad ring about it. Space forbids our giving a lengthy quotation from it.

The " Charge of Parihaka" is a parody in a bauturiug strain. Here is the last stanza:—

When can their glory fade ? Oh ! the wild charge tliey made! Now Zealand wondered Whether eacii doughty soul Paid fo.- the pigs he sr.ole— Noble Twelve Hundred! In the majority of the pieces matters of serious import are treated and all in au exceedingly fine spirit. The " Last Prayer "in reference to the terrible eruption of the triple-coned Tarawera is a very good piece. If poetrj is rightly defined as the "interpretation" or " penetration " of Nature, we have in this piece much genuine poetry. The exhibition of feeling is in harmony with the awful surrouudings. Mi3S Mackay's strong point is her power to evoke the feeling of pathos. :

We can recotDinend this volume of ballads to our readtrs as decidedly above the average.