New Books

“Through Wildest Papua,” By

Jack Hides, is to hand. It is a collection of most admirably told accounts of various patrols by the now famous young A.R.M. — expeditions carried out mostly in pursuit of native criminals. In one, Mr, Hides tells how he marched his police swiftly into a sleeping village in the Loloipa Valley and, after a brief skirmish, captured Chief Gopa and some of his henchmen, whom he after wards took to Port Moresby. In another, we have a description of how, chasing Kukukuku thieves, he was led right across the border, over the Kratke Range, and down into the Watut Valley, on the New Guinea goldfield. Here, he enjoyed the hos pitality of Hellmuth Baum, only three weeks before that well known prospector was murdered by the Kukus. It was when returning overland, on this patrol, that Hides and his men nearly starved. The book is packed from cover to cover with lively incident and colourful adventure. One of its most interesting features are the ingenuous observations of its young author, who so thoroughly understands these wild Papuan tribes.

The publishers (Blackie and Son) an nounce that they will publish Hides’ second book (an account of his latest and most famous patrol) in February.

“Knights Errant Of Papua,” By

Lewis Lett, has been published recently in London by Blackwood and Sons, and has been very flatteringly reviewed by the British newspapers. We understand that Mr. Lett sketches the history of Papua and, in lively fashion, describes the in numerable, hazardous patrols by which the great territory has been pacified. The “knights errant,” of course, are the patrol officers of Papua, whose quiet, courageous, consistently efficient work has established, in a quarter century, a standard that is in line with the finest traditions of the British colonial service.

“PACIFIC FLIGHT,” by Captain P. G.

Taylor. This is the story—told in fascinat ing fashion—of the flight of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain Taylor in the Lockheed-Altair monoplane from Australia to America a year ago. Melancholy interest is given to the book by the fact that, at the moment of its publication, Kingsford Smith had just Set out from London in the same machine, on his last flight—that in which he disappeared between Rangoon and Singapore. Captain Taylor’s story is told racily, and the book is an invaluable contribution to aviation literature and to the endless history of Pacific exploration.

The account of the calls at Suva and Hono lulu and numerous photographs relating thereto, give the book a special interest for Pacific Islands readers.

Our copy was received from the pub lishers, Messrs. Angus and Robertson Ltd.

Price 8/6.