ONE-TREE PORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 29

ONE-TREE PORT.

May 16. — So far the wintry weather has not retarded progress or industry to any considerable extent. Mills are in full blast trying to cope with urgent demands, the fellmongery works are taxed, to the fullest working capacity, and the Woodlands meat preserving establishment is in full swing, and thereby benefits ia large number both directly and indirectly. Literary. — Although too late for previous notes I was kindly favoured with an. advance copy of a book entitled " My Life and Lays," the literary and poetical production of jir Andrew Kinross, the rustic bard of MyroßS. As stated herein on a former occasion Mr Kinross has been leisurely engaged at the work, and his literary compilation now ranks., among the national standard works of our own times. Messrs Ward and Company, of the Southern Cross, are the printers, and the typography of the book is a creditable" piece of workmanship. The volume, which consists of 122 "pages, contains the author's biography, photograph, and autograph, as well as the portrait of his wife, and is written in a crisp and racy, style, while the biographical portion bristles with interesting and cheerful anecdotes from, beginning to end. Mr Kinross has performed the task of preparation with such skill and poured forth in abundant measure the stores of his common sense and astute reflection, that he may well claim a place among euphoists and sons of erudition who have given the New Zealand public a chance of applauding or condemning the productions of their literary talent. Mr Kinross, who was born in Glasgow abofat 70 years ago, is the descendant of a Highlander and a Lowlander, and while in his tetSis was a constant and successful composer of poetry. He left the land of the heather for an Australian clime in May, 1848, and after a brief but eventful stay on " the other side " he sailed for New Zealand in 1861. He became a member of the Provincial Council, county council, road board, and land board, of which last body he is still a member. The only thing regrettable is the necessity which the author felt for condensing his biography to a mere outline. The book suffers considerably through the intermingling of political, social, and domestic matters and the absence of distinct paragraphs. There are some G2 pages devoted to politics and items concerning horses, cows, butter, buggy, piano, wife, family, balls, concerts, and private parties, " where he sang, recited, or danced wheu asked,' without pressing, and was sometimes told he was the life of the party."

Baptists. — I notice a sample of petty criticism by two would-be defenders of the Gospel's teaching who are as distinct from the subjectmatter of critique as the poles are asunder, and are tinworthy of further notice.