NEW ZEALAND WILD FLOWERS.

The valuable collection of oil and water colour paintings of New Zealand wild (lowers, ferns, and berries by Miss Harris, of Nile-street East, is well known not only in this colony hnt in AustraliaIt attracted attention at the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions several years ajjo, and since then Miss Harris has been constantly at work a<idiug new and rare specimens as they are ■ obtainable. Of course many of the pictures have been sold from time to time, but there yet remains a complete gallery— or rather, museum— of them. The collection is now being exhibited by Miss Harris at her studio from 9 a.m. till (i p.m. during the holidays, and such an opportunity of seeing the beautiful llora of the country reproduced to the life by the brush of a faithful artist should not be missed. Miss Harris has had rare opportunities of studying the vegetation of the New Zealand forests, for not only has she visittd most of the looalities where grow the ferns, berries, flowers, and foliage she has painted, but the botanists of the colony consider it an honour and a pleasure to sond her specimens from all parts of New Zealand. Thus, she can show side by side a flower growing at the extreme north of these Islands, and another growing at the extreme south. When Professor Kirk returned from the Auckland Islands in the Binemoa he brought several valuable specimens, from which Miss Harris took paintings. She was then enabled by Mr Lukin to add tho foliage from the plants, etc., which he collected duriug his recent tour. ■ The piotures are in both oil and water colours, and range from the smallest to the largest size. Some of the life-size paintings are done on panel, or on American leather, the latter boing found very useful for the purpose, us needing no preparation. Among tho finest of the larger pictures are specimens of tbe Cordyline Australia i cho cabbage tree), of which Miss Harris has made a valuable collection. The nikau palms, and in fact every conceivable variety of wildwood growth ate represented in the studio, the walls being covered with Miss Harris's beautiful paintings. It may also be mentioned that the books of New Zealand ferns, berries, and wild llowers, published by Miss Harris some years ago, are still available, and they are in constant circulation for presents, Miss Harris undertaking to paint the. specimeus to the life iv the books. All who desire to spend a profitable and pleasant time are recommßnded to visit Miss Harris's studio, and Government money jould be far less wisely spent than by purchasing the collection for the State.