NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 289, 13 December 1897, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

POST BY THE OUTGOING ENGLISHMAIL

A SPLENDID ISSUE. *

PICTORIAL MAP,

In announcing the publication of the Christmas Number of the 'NewZealand Graphic,' there is no necessity to do mOre than simply draw public attention to the fact that this now deservedly famous annual can now be procured. The public are excellent judges of 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 command admiration.

In point of artistic merit, in point of printing, in point of paper, and indeed in all the details which tend to the production of perfection, tbe number now under review excels. We shall therefore make no attempt to extravagantly praise the various fine pictures, but merely mention a few of tbe subjects believing, as we do, that the quantity and quality of the work are eloquent enough in their i own cause without the questionable assistance of puffery. The whole-page engravings and half-tones which have been made a feature in tbe number this year comprise a series by Mr Kenneth Watldns on the Forest Kings of New .Zealand.

j No artist in this colony does the .native bush such justice as Mr Wat- : kins—he seems to catch the very i spirit of the forest and its mighty i denizens. The principal picture el-tows the felling of a giant kauri, while another and rather smaller picture represents the really stupendous spectacle of a 'fall' on one of the bush rivers after a winter flood 'When the logs are tearing down to 'the sea. ! Those who know the grandeur 'of the sight when the logs fall in thundering confusion over some roaring bush cataract will easily imagine that so clever an artist as Mr Watkins has produced therefrom a spirited drawing. Trout Fishing is dealt with in a large picture by Mr Bob Hawcridge, who is also responsible for the engraving In a New Zealand Orchard,' which will, we think, perhaps be the; favourite plate in the number. It ifl' the fruit season, and a winsome lassie of sweet sixteen is standing on a ladder placed against a well-ladeen 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 Gnmfields,' and that famous explorer and guide, Malcolm Boss, contributes

RAMBLES ON THE KEMABKABLES. in which he clearly shows -.hat he has lost none of his charm as a writer and none of his power of producing lovely photographs of Alpine scenery. The First Hoisting of the British Flag at Akaroa' furnishes Kenneth Watkins with a subject such as his soul loves, and such as he does to perfection. His fine full-page picture showing thiseeremony, the Maoris squatting1 round, and the marines firing the salute, which is answered from ships seen in the bay, is 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 made his name in pictures of this class. As we have said, it is not our intention to mention or describe every picture, and the beauties of the •SOURCE OF THE AVON—A NEW ZEALAND VINEYARD/ and the profusion of other fine engravings may be left with confidence to public appreciation. The letterpress is full, and comprises two prize stories. 'Dr. Brunton's Marvellous Operation,' a cleverly imagined and exciting 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 aIL and it will be generally acknitted 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. In this the proprietors have struck out an entirely new line. A LARGE PICTORIAL MAP, | beautifully executed, printed in sever-1 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.