NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

POST BY THE OUTGOING ENGLISH. MAIL

on Saturday.^Next, the 30th)

A SPLENDED ISSUE.

PICTORIAL.. MAP.

In announcing' the puhl-tcation of the Christmas Number of the ' New '.Zealand Graphic,' there is no neces;sity to do more than simply draw ■public attention to the fact that this fnow deservedly famous annual can. mow be procured. :, The public are excellent judges ol !a good thing and of its worth,, so -that 'the very obvious excellencies and ■ artistic merits of the Christmas ! Graphic are certainly not likely to [escape attention or to fail to comimand ad__tn_-_icm. 'f- .', ! In point of artistic • merit, m •point |of printing, in point of paper, and Sindeed in all the details which tend ■to the production of perfection, the dumber now under review excels. We shall therefore make no attempt to /extravagantly praise the various fine 'pictures, but merely mention a few !of the subjects believing, as we do, I that the quantity and quality of the I work are eloquent enough in their I own cause without tlie^fluestioaable [assistance of puffery. •■• --?•■'» * __" *.•: ' The whole-page engravings ana 'half-tones which have been made a ! feature in the number this year i comprise a series by Mr 3_enmsth 'WaUiins on the Forest Kings of, New Hno "artist in this colony huative bush such justice as Mr Wat-JMns-Jie seems to catch the very spirit of the forest and its mighty idenizens. The principal J^ure Ishows the felling of a giant kauri, •while another and rather smaller jpicture represents the really stupendous spectacle of a 'fall' on one of :the bush rivers after a winter flood iwhen the logs are tearing^dosm ...to !the sea. j_-J ! Those who know the grandeur •of the sight when the logs fall m thundering confusion over some roarling bush cataract will easily Nm« .that so clever an artist as Mr Watikins has produced therefrom a spirited drawing. '- Trout Fishing is dealt with in. a large picture by Mr Bob Hawcndge, who is also responsible for the en-, graving In a New Zealand Orchard,'! which will, we think, perhaps be tho| 'favourite plate in the number. It isi •the fruit season, and a winsome lassie' of sweet sixteen is standing on a ladder placed against a welMadsta tree, plucking the fruit and laughing down at the inevitable youthful •adorer, who stands gazing up at her while a very characteristic specimen of the New Zealand younger sister looks on sympathetically. Mr Walter Wright, whose lengthy visit to the European Art Schools has so noticeably affected his work, illustrates a brightly written article on 'Life and Luck on the Gu______el_V and that famous explorer and guide, Malcolm Rosb, contributes RAMBLES ON THE REMAEK&BLES. in which he clearly shows uhat he has lost none of his charm as a writer and none of his power of producing lovely photographs of soeheryrThe First Hoisting of the HmMil Flag at A_karoa' furnishes Kenneth Wat-das with a subject such ag _____ soul loves, and such as he does to perfection. His fine full-page picture showing thisceremony, the Maori-, equatting round, and the marines firing the salute, which is answered from ships ecea in tho bay, ia supplemented by a series of photographs of historic' interest. Pay Day at the Waihi Mine and the : Tairua Gorge are dealt with in large' pictures by Mr Kerry, who has madei his name in pictures of this class. j As we have said, it is not our intention to mention or describe every picture, and the beauties of the j "SOURCE OF THE AVON—A NEW ZEALAND VINEYARD,' j and the profusion of other fine engravings may. be left with confidence to public appreciation. j The letterpress is full, and com- | prises two prize stories. 'Dr. Brunton's Marvellous Opera- | tion,' a cleverly imagined and excitI ing story, by Mr Burford, of Auckland, and ♦A BUSH CREMATION,' a really admirable bush yarn. The dramatic interest and characteristic New Zealand atmosphere of the 'Bush Cremation' will commend itself to all, and it will be generally admitted that two such stories by New Zealand authors have not previously been published. But the most novel and the most important feature is THE COLOURED SUPPLEMENT, j In this the proprietors have struck out an entirely new line. A LARGE PICTORIAL MAP, j beautifully executed, printed in sever-: al colours, and covered with numerous picturettes showing the scenic beauty or natural resources of the district or country. It shows at a glance what are the characteristics of each particular portion of the colony, and it will unquestionably do more to clear away the ignorance of New Zealand which prevails to so large an extent amongst our friends across the sea than thousands of letters and descriptions would do. Nothing better for sending away to friends can be imagined, and this attraction alone willl certainly command for the 'New Zealand Christmas Graphic' a record sale.