THE "WEEKLY PRESS " CHRISTMAS NUMBER

Press, Volume L, Issue 8665, 14 December 1893, Page 5

THE "WEEKLY PRESS " CHRISTMAS NUMBER

A very handsomely covered paper, numbering no less than sixty-eight pages, profusely illustrated, and containing a most lavish supply of light literature—such is the Christmas number of the Weekly Press and Referee. Following the custom of Homo illustrated papers, like the Graphic and Illustrated London News, the Weekly Press publishes as its piece de resistance a complete novelette, but with this difference, that instead of having recourse to the weary pen of the hard-worked and over-productive English market, the Weekly Press has obtained a live New Zealand author, and its novel, like its stories, sketches, aud illustrations, is produced in the colony in which it chiefly circulates. It gives us pleasure to be able candidly to pronounce the whole number a distinct success, a paper on which New Zealandera can look with pride, and which we feel sure they will read with pleasure. The illustrations are highly artistic, and exhibit the results of that enterprise which has of late years So markedly characterised the management of the Weekly Press. They are executed in tbe Press Office, by means of a mechanical process in which the services of the artist are dispensed with, and a printing block obtained which gives an impression combining the softness .of a well-finished photograph with the force and delicacy of a steel engraving. The results are eminently pleasing, and we muat congratulate the Press Company's engravers; on the fact that their work far surpasses anything of a similar nature produced iv New Zealand or Australia, and compares very favourably with moat of the photoengraving that appears in the best illustrated papers published at Home. The subjects chosen are such as will interest every colonist. They are no mere reproductions of English-made wood-cuts, representing stale out-of-date events, and places no one ever expects or wants to see. On the contrary they are fresh, up-to-date, and racy of the soil. One very pleasing series exhibits "Types of New Zealand Beauty" which everybody will want to see and recognise, although the curious may find themselves baffled by the names not accompanying the portraits. Another series, "Social Leaders," shows us the Countess of Glasgow, the Hon. W. Rolleston, and the Hon. R Seddon. The portraits are extremely well executed. A,third series includes some of the loveliest views in this land of loveliness, and these make the number still more valuable as a souvenir of New Zealand. Other portraits are "A Popular Actress," the Brazilian leaders, and some of tho recent " illustrious dead." It must be said that the lavishness of the illustrating is nearly aa remarkable as the quality. We need hardly point out that fine illustrations require fine printing. This Christmas number has been printed by the Press Jobbing Department and exhibits handsome paper, beautiful type, and tasteful " make up." An exceptional interest attaches to the cover. The beautiful decorative designs have been executed on the Press Company's premises by a new. process, with macninery recently imported specially for the purpose, and with results of really surpassing delicacy and finish. The process is a patent, the property of the Press Company, and nothing like its work has hitherto been seen in the colony. The literary matter looks attractive, and altogether we think the public will agree to call this a rocord Christmas number.