"IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS"

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7245, 27 February 1889, Page 5

"IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS"

The weekly growing list of Australasian i publications is to be swelled shortly by yet another, which is to be called "In Australian Wilds," and is a collection of short stories by colonial writers on colonial topics. It will be remembered that some time ago Mr Patchett Martin published a some what similar collection under the title of " Oakbough and Wattleblossom," but concerning this volume I am able to send you a few more details. Mr Philip Mennell, of the Melbourne Age, contributes a abort pithy sketch on the life of a bush township, entitled " Traits of the Township." The other eight contributions are stories. Mr B. L. Farjeon opens the volume with a tale of Victorian life on the goldnelds, which gives tbe name to the volume. Mr Haddon Chambers has three stories, "The Neer-do-well," '*In a Thirsty Land," and "An Underground Tragedy." M r Jenkins, the famous author of "Ginx's Baby," ia represented by a Canadian story "The Settler's Tragedy," Mr H. B. Marriott Watson, the. author of " Marahuna," contributes a New Zealand story, entitled "The Hand of God,'' a tale of the Waitiri Gorge. Mr Rawson, gives a Queensland sketch, " Jim's Ghost*' and "Tasman," (Madame deCouvreur), a very pretty and pathetic tale " Monsieur Caloche." The price of the book is one shilling. The English.publishers seem to have taken very kindly to the Australian collections and we may therefore conclude that the English public has done the same. Mr -Patchett. Martin tells mc that he is making another collection, so successful was the first, and he hopes to make it thoroughly representative. "Tasma's" new novel, " Uncle Piper, of Piper's Court," has been on"'the whole very favorably received by the critics, and indeed she writes very prettily. j Sir Julius Vogel's novel," A.D. 20QQ," is i being published by Messrs Hutchinson and Co., who issue, "In Australian Wilds;" and the senior partner of the firm is pay ' ing a visit to New Zealand at the present moment. ANGLO-COLO2fIAL JOTTINGS. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, who ia now nearly seventy-four, has just became the father of another son. Lord Bertie, Lord Carrington's aide decamp, has left for Sydney to resume his duties there. He has just been staying with the Earl and Countess of Lindsay in Lincolnshire.

The old Diamond, with which many of your readers will be familiar, is to be paid out of commission, and sold on her return from Australia, and her place is to be taken by H.MS. Royalist, commanded by Captain Harm. The Dowager Countess of Sheffield, the mother of Lord Sheffield, of Sheffield Bane, that well known resort of cricketers, has just died at Brighton. Lord Sheffield, by the way, who is as well liked as well known by Australian cricketers when in En land, is subject to occasional attacks from that fault-finder. Truth..-.,

The Bishop of Brisbane sailed in the Austral oh the sth, and took out with him fifteen clergy "for his diocese. On tiie whole the bishop has "scored"whilein England,for although he has been warmly assailed variously, yet he has carried away with him substantial evidence of English sympathy in the shape of "dnUars." ,■, jMr Garner, of Williamson, Garner and Musgvove, has • jnst puxchased the Aaa-

tralasianrjglttJßof "The Silver Falls,"; tiie, new Aderphi melodrama by Messrs Suns and Pettive. .

Mr Haddbn Chambers has not yet written another play, though he tells mc he is on [tiie track of one, and hopes to run it to i earth shortly, | An Australian florist in the Strand— Clay by name—did what was to outward seeming at any rate a very graceful act at Christmas tide. To each Australian here, whose name and address were known to him, he sent a pretty nosegay of flowers to be worn during the festive season. Mr Gisborne's new book is out, but as yet has met with no criticism. Things get so late at this season that it is always some time ere a book is noticed, and in such papers as the AthttUßUtn the author frequently has to search for a month or I two before he meets his reward. I have ' known the Spectator to review a book in July which had been published in the preceding autumn. This is up to date with a vengeance. Mr William Montgomery pursues the even tenor of his way in London. He resides in the St. George's Club, of which of course, he is a member, and may be seen any day after lunch enjoying his cup of coffee and his pipe over an absorbing game of chess with some other veteran. He tells mc that he will remain here until his son has finished his legal studies and been called to the Bar, which should happen in the course of another year or so. Meanwhile young Mr Montgomery is studying art in London and in Paris. He took a very good degree in law at Oxford, and his examinations should prove light to him at the Inner Temple. Mr Montgomery is resolute to have done with New Zealand public life, though he still keeps up his a quaintance with the course of politics, and regularly reads the Hansard sent him from New Zealand.

Sir John Hall is still at Eastbourne with his family, where he remains till March next, and then he intends to depart for your shores in time for the coming session. Captain Webster, of the Canterbury Volunteers, is now "at home," and has been occupying his time by inspecting the arrangements of the arsenate at Woolwich. He seems determined to become au fait with military improvements in the Old ountry, and has, indeed, had special opportunities, as he was admitted to view the war-game at the Horse Guards, and is otherwise being courteously received. Mr A. G. Morton, of Auckland, has departed for home in the Austral after a very pleasant visit to this country—one of many. Lord Onslow was present at the first night of "Macbeth," recently produced at the Lyceum by Irving. Sir Wait 6l, Duller is a fixture in Cromwell road, Kensington. He concerns himself with ,i his companies and his ornithology, j which latter occupation has borne recent fruitß in the publication of an illus trated-catalogue of Mr Silver's New Zealand collection. I regret to say that Sir ( Walter is not as popular here as his friends would like. He is ; too energetic and goahead for many people. Since the publication of his new hook, Mr Gisborne has been staying at Lingen, i Badnorshire. 'The enterprising correspondent of r the Evening Star has persis- ! teritly written Mr Gisborne down as the author .of'.'tike'series of articles on New Zealand and Australian life which appeared last year in the St. James' Qatette. They were, however, from the pen of Mr Marriott Watson. The latter is, I understand, just finishing a new novel, which' will be issued in the spring. It is in one volume, and is to be called" Fair Lady FaintHeart." , I clip the following from a football paper —Ihe Maoris pre being accused of looking after the nimble ninepenee and the solid silver shekel. is getting attractive to the New Zealand eye. If it be true that they asked a Club to charge their members admission to seethe gome, and double the usual tariff for, them, it shows a keen eye to the main chance, which would not disgrace an Israelite. A . bid has been made by the Congiegationalista of Brisbane for tbe services of a popular minister here, the Rev. R. F. Hor ton, of Hampstead, who has been " called" to succeed the Rev. E. Griffith at the Wharf Street : 6hureh in that city. Mr | Hortoh.. will be remembered as the lee» j turer iwhopi; Dr. ;Jowett appointed at Qxt } ford ia certain ecelesiftsticaL subjects, and j who was obliged by .the outcry thereupon jto -resign bis:'poa tion. He is nt at all I likely to accept the "call," as he is exceptionally popular in the northern suburb. , Mr Gerald Keanaway, the eldest son of Mr Walter kennaway,' of the New Zealand Ageuey.Jwhom' I. mentioned in my'last letter'as i having gained a scholarship at Trinity Hall, is destined for the Bar. He is a very clever mathematician, and goes up to Cambridge in October. ' : i saw 1 -Mr Frederick Trischler the other ~day, who was looking far from well., Re tells mc he ia under the doctor's hands at present, buVhopes to be a free man in a short time. Ha has the author of the f* Hansom. Cab 'staying with him. The next venture of, the 'Hansom Cab Publishing Company is-to : be "Harvest," by John Btrahge Wihtetr, J who : will in';future. eon* :' tinue to publish with them. Mr 1 Trischler Lis. to, make ;tha edition 50.00 D, which heiooks upon as"disposed of already. .

Mr A. Patehett Martin's forthcoming [ b00k,." Australia 'and the Empire/ is to; Mr Doftglas, of Edinburgh. It Chapters on "Lord Sher. birpoke in;", "Sydney, ,Sir Hy. Parfces in England, Lord Beaoousneld and Young Australia,- Australian Democracy, Australia and Irish Home Rule, the Irish in Australia, the State Schoolmaster, Imperial Federation, and the Moral of the Queens- ' land'Embroglio.", , i ' ; Mr" Dion Boucicault, tlje ever-active' Irish-American,' intends to sell by auction the. copyright of fourteen of .his plays, which,.according.to bis own statement, have already brought him a quarter of a million.- M p •Garner, of Melbourne, may be expected to attend and come away a purchaseri if"this be true, / I