Will Lawson has achieved something remarkable, and I use the word advisedly. Although past the half century in years, he had not until two years ago written a novel. Verse in plenty, much of it of fine craftsmanship, he had written, while his distinguished prose may be found in leading journals at home and abroad; He had also written travel and scenic books. Only during the last couple of years have we realised his worth as a novel writer. In that time he has written three full length novels each with an historical background. First we had “The Laughing Buccaneer,” a South Sea yarn with Bully Hayes dominating the scene. Then came “When Cobb & Co., Was King,” which is already regarded as a national Australian novel. And now, best of all, revealing the sure touch of the matured novelist and occasional glimpses of the soul of the poet, is “Old Man Murray.” This book is remarkable because it is so sure and thorough. One would imagine that Will Lawson had had the splash of the paddle boats ringing in his ear for the past half century. The art of the writer makes the reader live through the fine story he tells of love and adventure on the River Murray. The hero, Captain Ted, reminds me of Lawson himself. This novel will not only find great favour in Australia and New Zealand, but I think should be a success in an English edition and probably more so in America.

* * *

I think it was E. W. Hornung who created the original gentleman cracksman in “Raffles.” Since then other writers have attempted more or less successful successors to that likeable gentleman burglar of many years ago. Two recent novels from England perpetuate the romance of the courteous cultured cracksman with what I anticipate will be the rapturous approval of thousands of readers. First we have “The Cat Climbs,” by C A. Torrant (Martin Seeker), where a diminutive bespectacled accountant, Peter Dean, embarks on a career of crime with the “laudable object” of devoting the proceeds for the advancement and improvement of the modern young man. Peter allows himself a liberal commission from his nocturnal pilfermgs. Really I should not say pilferings for anything short of a hundred thousand or two does not interest him. He gathers around him a small trustworthy gang and works with great intelligence and success. The story is ingenious and is crammed with breathtaking thrills. Indeed it is so plausibly told that my only concern is that its influence may be a harmful one. The other modern Raffles is “John Jeremy-Cracksman,” by Jeffrey Montague (Phillip Allan). Here we meet another cultured burglar, again a possibly dangerous acquaintance for some people, because his criminal exploits are so easily accomplished and with pseudo honesty. John Jeremy has a charming young lady as his accomplice. Their joint efforts to outwit the schemes of another criminal organisation, The League of Five, make for much of the excitement of the novel. Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs are the New Zealand distributors of both books.

* * *

That the inspiration of New Zealand Authors' Week still survives is evident in the publication by the boys of Form 4A, Wellington College, of a small typescript magazine appropriately entitled “Through the Greenstone Door.” The editorial committee composed of T. McNicol, P. A. Mitchell, G. A. Albert and J. Dunkley confesses in a foreword that their effort was inspired by Authors' Week. In story, verse and article the boys have produced a magazine of distinct merit. I will watch with interest this year for the appearance of No. 2 of the magazine.

* * *

An attractive handbook has been published by the Natal Technical College. Beautifully printed and illustrated on high quality paper with an elaborate index system, the publication is surely a model for scholastic institutions.

* * *

Fostered by Dr. Butchers, who is in charge of the Correspondence School of the Education Department, is a scheme to publish an anthology of junior verse. The idea is to select the best of the poetry that has appeared in “The Postman,” the annual magazine of the Correspondence School, and publish it in book form. To make the anthology thoroughly representative of New Zealand I would suggest that the promoters might extend the order of reference to all the school journals published in this country. The scheme is an excellent one to encourage literary effort in the Dominion.

* * *

There was a large gathering of members of the P.E.N. recently to do honour to Miss Eileen Duggan over the distinction of O.B.E. conferred on her earlier in the year. Among those present was the Hon. Peter Fraser whose speech for the occasion was unique in that he proved to those present that a successful politician may have a true appreciation and deep understanding of literature and art. His was no casual compliment to a writer of genius. He knew, possibly page 64 as fully as any of those present. what Miss Duggan has done in the world of letters, also her own character, distinguished as it is by almost acute modesty and yet a determination to write and interpret in prose and poetry the soul within her. Miss Duggan replied with a speech of rare beauty and sincerity. Truly a memorable gathering.

* * *

Donald Cowie's book, “New Zealand From Within,” has arrived and already has been marked as one of the most interesting and instructive studies of New Zealand. He has discussed us exhaustively from our golf to our gastronomy, from our Reserve Bank to our William Goodfellow, and from our extinct moas to our almost extinct birth rate. It is all done with such amazing and mostly inoffensive candour. His judgments are largely sound, although they are occasionally based on extremes, but always, as we read, we must admit his honesty, and at times we glimpse his introspectiveness. He deals with our past and our future (“bound up with overseas markets and population”), our individuality (“already characteristically New Zealand”), our defences (“we are completely defenceless”), our sport (racing and not Rugby is our “national religion”), our earthquakes (“there are really no earthquakes in New Zealand”), our newspapers (“if you want to write for a living in New Zealand you had better take a dose of strychnine and get it over quickly”), and our first year of Labour Government. In fact there is hardly a stone that this energetic young writer has left unturned in this country. Of course we will not all agree with his findings, and we certainly will not agree with his strictures on our New Zealand woman. He admits that he is rude in this respect and does not expect to be forgiven. Although he is a fine big handsome-looking fellow and admittedly clever, I do not think the average young New Zealand woman would take kindly to Mr. Cowie which I think just explains why he has turned misogynist as far as our womenfolk are concerned. This is the only serious flaw in an otherwise well balanced and interesting analysis of our own country.

Reviews.

“The Valley of the Sky,” by Tarlton Rayment (Angus & Robertson, Sydney) is the British Empire winner in the All Nations Prize Novel Competition. Last month I reviewed the chief winner in this world-wide competition, and without hesitation I consider that Rayment's novel is superior even to the other, as fine as it is. The Australian prize winner I would almost place on a level with that greatest of all Australian novels “All That Swagger.” Tarlton is an artist in word pictures. He paints the Australian abo in the warm appealing colours of love of humanity. The hero of his story, Angus McAllen, is a lovable Scots pioneer who carves out his destiny in the back country of Australia and also in the hearts of his beloved black-fellows.

“The Mussolini Murder Plot,” by Bernard Newman (Hutchinson, London; Whitcombe & Tombs New Zealand agents) is a selection of the Crimes-book Society. To my mind it is a rather irresponsible flight of fancy on the part of the author, and if international law permits has a nest of libel actions in its pages, that is if Mussolini cares to proceed against the author or publisher. Newman has built other novels around the names of leading world figures, but none so provocative as this. “Suppose Mussolini had been killed on the first day of the Abyssinian war! He very nearly was,”— so the book begins. The story will certainly entertain many people, but it may also sow in the minds of some dangerous thoughts and ideas, also a totally false conception of Mussolini.

“The Fortunes of Captain Blood,” by Rafael Sabatini (Hutchinson, London; Whitcombe & Tombs New Zealand agents) justifies the bookseller flooding his window with copies of the book with the big selling announcement “Another Sabatini!” Yes, Sabatini still has his hold on the general public as one of the world's best sellers. This latest book of the adventures of that most agreeable buccaneer, Captain Peter Blood, is quite as exciting and just as readable as the earlier chronicles. The new book is a series of episodes on the career of this swashbuckling hero, the best being “The Dragon's Jaw.”

“Shibli” Listens In.

Douglas Stewart, the young New Zealand poet whose “Green Lions” I reviewed in last issue of this magazine, is leaving shortly for England.

Professors Shelley and Sewell and Mr. John Barr, Auckland librarian, have been elected members of the P.E.N.

He Was Always Tired And Ill
Three Complaints Gave Him a Miserable Time.
Now Life's a Joy—Kruschen Thanked.

Suffering from three complaints—disordered kidneys, sciatica, and rheumatism, how could this man be anything else but always tired and ill? Yet, he tells us in his letter, that in four weeks, Kruschen Salts brought about “a complete transformation.” This is what he writes:–

“Up to a month or so ago, I had suffered continually from kidney disorder, sciatica, rheumatism, and generally felt off colour. I was constantly tired, and under medical supervision. I tried many remedies I had seen advertised, but without effect until I gave Kruschen Salts a trial. In four weeks, Kruschen has brought about a complete transformation. I have a healthy appetite and once more feel that it is good to be alive.”—S.V.N.

Constant tiredness nearly always results when the kidneys are disordered. And it is quite common for kidney disorder to be accompanied by the pains of sciatica and rheumatism, as happened in this case. The kidneys are the niters of the human machine. Their duty is to expel certain poisonous wastes from the system. If the kidneys become sluggish, these impurities find their way into the bloodstream. Soon poisons are accumulating in the system, uric acid crystals begin to form, and the seed of half-a-dozen common ailments is sown.

The scientific combination of salts in Kruschen quickly coaxes the kidneys back to healthy, normal action. As an immediate result, the sufferer experiences relief from those dragging back pains. Then the uric acid crystals are dissolved and passed out of the body through the natural channels—and life becomes a joy again.

Kruschen Salts is obtainable at all Chemists and Stores at 2/6 per bottle.

The Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister's literary companion on his journey to the Old Country was a copy of that great Australian novel “All That Swagger.”

Stuart Perry, whose caricature appears in this issue, is now busy on a murder mystery novel.

There is further talk of establishing a literary monthly in New Zealand. To be an enduring effort I am satisfied that such an undertaking would have to be supported by Government subsidy. There is not sufficient population or advertising revenue in this country to make such a journal a financial success.