THE AUCKLAND ALMANAC AND PROVINCIAL HANDBOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1829, 28 December 1875, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND ALMANAC AND PROVINCIAL HANDBOOK.

We have .already announced in our columns the issue of Messrs. Reed and Brett's* Auckland Almanac and Provincial Handbook for 1876. The price of this handy book, one shilling, brings it within the reach of everyone, and the amount and variety of information upon matters concerning our province, will, we believe render the work generally acceptable to strangers as well as to Auckland readers. Upon the principle that self-praise is no recommendation, we append in lieu of any criticism of our own, a portion of the impartial remarks of our morning contemporaries :—

FROM THE "SOUTHERN CROSS,"

This is the fourth year of publication of this annual. The present issue is by far the best which has yet appeared. There are 175 pages of closely printed matter, considerable portions of it in very small sized type, and thus contains a very large amount of reading matter. In the {present number appears a very complete though brief history of the colony, besides a special description of the Province of Auckland and the city. So far as we have had time to peruse the brief history of the colony, the various dates, &c, appear to be scrupulously correct —a matter of considerable importance, seeing that so many publishers of books in Britain err in this matter. The garden calendar has been compiled by Mr. Brewin, the well-known seedsman, and in it may therefore be found some fresh hints to those of horticultural or agricultural inclinations. The list of useful native trees, with their native and botanical names, compiled by Mr E. B. Dickson, is included. Mr Lambert, F.R.A.S., furnishes useful astronomical notes for the New Year for each month, calculated for the longtitude of Auckland. Altogether, the new issue of this almanac will be found to be a welcome companion in many a country home. FROM THE "HERALD." ' !!

"An almanac is in the same category as a dictionary, and we fancy the critics of l)r Johnson's era must have been somewhat puzzled to give an off-handed judgment o» the ftiagmm opus of the great lexicographer,

Fairly, an almanac can only be spoken of at the end of the year, when it haa had the test of almost daily reference, and has became familiar by constant use. . No publisher, however, would thank us for giving a notice of an old almanac. Messrs Reed and Brett, however, are in this position, that they can point to their last year's almanac, and say, if that was good, this is better, for we improved where that could be done, and supplied all that we found was wanting. The almanac is an " Auckland " almanac, and deals almost entirely with "our province," and with a aomewhat extensive knowledge of the subject, we have failed to detect an omission or error. The information given is brought up to date, and is minute and accurate."