THE "GRAPHIC" CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 259, 1 November 1893, Page 3

THE "GRAPHIC" CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

♦ TO BE ISSUED SHORTLY.

It is nob necessary to employ tho arts of puffery in introducing this annual now in the press and to be issued shortly to tho New Zealand public. Each year a substantial improvement has been made, more money has been expended, and each yoar the efforts of the publishers have been meb with increased success. Last year the enormous edition was sold cub wibhin ben days of publication, and ib waa vainly that the agents and the public asked for more. The number printed this year has been increased by one half, and the advance orders already foreshadow a repetition of lasb year's speedy clearance. The Christmas •* Graphic " for 1893 will bo unquestionably the most expensively-prepared paper ever issued south ok the line. Tho quesbion of cosb has never bsen raised, the best artists have been engaged, and money and trouble have been lavishly poured out, the one endeavour being to make tho production as perfect as possible. The work has been entirely executed by our own or by specially-engaged colonial artists. The presentation plate is a magnificent panorama picture in twelve colours of WELLINGTON HARBOUR, gainted by tho well - known artist, Mr awknell, of Wellington. This subjecb was chosen owing to bhe enormous popularity of the similar picture of Auckland presented with lasb year's number. The view bakeh is extremely comprehensive, and shows the land-locked harbour of the Empire city to fullest advantage. Several thousands of tho Auckland views wero sold for lraming, one frnmer alone having passed n«arlv 200 through his hands. The Wellington picture will no doubt achieve equal success. Those who framed Auckland should certainly save Wellington as a companion picture. The residents of both cities who have friends at Home can now refer tho question of the rival harbours to an independent jury at Home. Tho increased encouragement extended to the publisher has enabled him to expend a larger sum this year in tho production of FOUR EXTRA COLOURED PICTURES. Mr Wilson's lovely water colours aro well known to lovers of colonial art. Ab bhe Socieby of Arte Exhibition in Fobruary, 1892, no picture was more admired than an exquisite water colour by this artist of lake te anau. It was immediately bought for reproduction in tho " Graphic," and will porhaps be the favourite of the four smaller pictures. Another charming picture is ROIORUA LAKE AND MOKOIA ISLAND, a brillianb bib of colour with tropical summer sky reflecbed in the bluo of bhe lake and steaming fumarolcs in bhe foreground. THE WAIKATO RIVER affords a charming subject for a CHARACTERISTIC PICTURE OF NEW ZEALAND RIVER SCENERY. The fern trees and other rich foliage, tho green books awi tha nobU river havo fur*

nishod the artist with ample subject for a very charming picture. THE LAST OP THESE FOUR COLOURED PLATES was chosen to convey some idea to those at Home of the variety which contributes to make our scenery so famous. The RIVER WAIKATO WITH TONGARIRO AND RUAPEHU IN THE DISTANCE. Theso three are from originals expressly painted for the " Graphic " by Mr T. Ryan, a colonial artist, who has just returned from the Parisian schools, whither he went to study his profession. A new Maori poem, '•the mere honamou," by Mr Frank Matthews, the Digger Poet, has been ILLUSTRARED BY MR KENNETH WATKINS. The name of bhia artist is so well known that to say thab he illustrates two of the literary contributions to bhe Christmas number is sufficienb. THE PRIZE STORY is by a Wellingbonian, Mr H. R. Huggins. Ib lends itself admirably to illustration, and the pictures by Mr Bob Hawcridge are the most beautiful specimens cf story illustrations ever submitted to us. They have been reproduced in the most improved form of half tone engraving, the exquisite photo process now so.extensively used. another story. "The Way of Our Grandfabhers" is a capital novelecte by a young writer whose talent as a teller of short stories deserves every encouragemenb. It is in every way an excellent story — a good plot, well developed, agreeably told, with a distinct bouch ot humour and a suspicion of sabire. The Bbory is excibing, and bhe denouement satisfactory, and will be read with interest by all. Other attractions too numerous to specify will make up a superb annual. Order early and prevent disappointment.