NOW READY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 297, 14 December 1892, Page 2

NOW READY.

Christmas Number of the "N.Z. Graphic."

WHAT IT CONTAINS AND HOW IT WAS COMPILED.

The production of Christmas numbers ha_ devolved into an art, and almost a pro-, fession ofitßelf.. 'Everyone knows bhab blie'^ greab illustrated weeklies at Home start preparing their Chrisbmas numbers.ab .the beginning of tho-New Year, and in determining to eclipse ail former efforts and to cause these same Home papers to look well to their laurels, the proprietors and editors of the Now Zealand "Graphic" have been obliged to follow suit. For many anxious months artists, engravers, and masters of the secret and beautiful process of photogravure have been hard at work. Evory nerve has been strained to the uttermost, seemingly unconquerable difficulties havo been mt«t with and surmounted, and soon the weary workers will have put into the careless hands of the public a Christmas number, the like of which has never been produced soubh of bhe line. Now, all bhis may appear mere vain glorious talk and advertisement puff. If any captious person thinks so let him buy an early copy and criticise at his pleasure. Good—really good —honest, strong, and nervous work never fears criticism from wbich indeed-it cannot gain ought bub good, it is only mediocrity thab fears the darts of the critic. Leb anyone inclined to be captious look at the pictures illustrating the Southern Alps and tho ascenb of. Mount Earnslaw. Such fine arb engravings have never appeared in any paper or magazine south ,of the Equator. Here you shall see the PANORAMA OF MOUNT COOK RANGES, a splendid reproduction of perfect photo? graphs. In the foreground is the great Tasman glacior, its mass of boulders and rugged rocks of ice standing in wild disorder—now lighted by sun, now in deepeet shadow. Behind you may see as clearly as if you were there the wonderful points of interest in that land of everlasting snow. You may admire the peaks of the ranges, the various jeofails, the Cook,Tre»i'xiaga glaciers, Mount Tasman, Mount Haasb and all the other pinnacles and glaciers. Anobber large and exquisite picture of THE TASMAN GLACIER AND MOUNT DE LA BECHE, will delight all lovers of bhe beaubiful. The"1 Empress Fall on the Hooker glacier, the Remarkables, THE EASTERN PEAK OF MOUNT EARNSLAW, these are pictures the like of which have nob been seen in this part of the world, comprising specimens of the highest class of the photographer's arb and demonstrating the per.';'eotion to which the zinc reproduction process has been brought. A now and enbirely original poem, based, on tho immortal LEGEND OF HINEMOA ia illustrated with four Jarge pictures drawn by expert artists, and reproduced by the " Graphic's" secret beautiful photographic process. "Hinemoe/s Bath —The Discovery," is a beautiful picture, occupying a whole page ; another snows Hinemoa listening for the sounds of her lover's flute, and in this the moonlight effects on bhe waters of Rotorua are wonderfully pourfcruyed. The other pictures are of equal merit,"but space forbids a lengthened description. The competition stories have been illustrated by the foremost artists, and are admirable in construction, plot, and working out. Mrs McLean, cii Waikato, takes eecond prize, and Miss L. Rees's third, bhe first being awarded to> a Christchurch lady. Of the splendid GIFT PICTURE, A PANORAMA OF AUCKLAND HARBOUR, there is no need bo speak. Ib may be seen displayed aboub uown, and is without doubt the most costly picture given away by any illustrated paper in the colonies ; tb.6 cost of preparing- the stonss alone was conj sidcrably over £250.