SOME NEW BOOKS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9305, 4 January 1896, Page 5

SOME NEW BOOKS.

Few pirts of the world are exciting more interest than South Africa jnat now. The publication of " South Africa, a Study in Colonial Administration and Development," by Mr \V. Basil Worsfold, M.A., is therefore Ipeculiarly well-timed. Air Worsfold will bo remembered by man}* of our readers, having been formerly resident in Christohurch. He spent netrly two years in Cape Colony and Natal, and has managed to collect and place before the public in an interesting form a good deal of information regarding South Africa, its history and politics, its diamond fields and gold mines, and its literature, which, thanks to Olivi Schreiner, has also become an object of considerable public attention of late. In regard to the production of gold, Mr Worsfold, wo observe, favours tho view that the resources of the Raudt are not only enormously rich, but that there is likely to be a greater element of permanence about tho output than was tho caso in California. Mr Rhodes, " the strong man of South Africa,', has a warm admirer in the author, who evidently regards him as an Imperial statesman in the broadest seuse of the word. We should add that Messrs Methuen and Co., Essex street, W.C., are the publishers of the work.

Mr Win, Heinemann, whoso International Library of Novels are so thoroughly oppreciated by colonial readers, has established a further claim on their gratitude by starting an " Empire Library" of standard works, in which he offers in a cheap and at the same time attractive form, works of deeper interest thau mere fictiou. In this way colouial readers will be able to get at a very moderate figure books of solid value, which are only obtatnablo iv England iv very expensive editions. As an instance we ma}' refer to the •* Chitral Cumpaigu." by H. C. Thomson, the second volume in the series, a copy of which now lies before us. It is a story of ono of the most dashing exploits ever recorded in the amials of our Indian army. Air Thomson went with the force as a special correspondent, and has given a vivid uarrativo of the siege of Chitral, aud of the march of the two relieving forces. There arc many passages of breaihloss interest;, and the deeds of heroism recorded, not only on the part of Europeans, but of our Indian soldiers, eauuot fail to excite a warm glow of admiration in the breast of tho reader. The story of the siege—the repeated attacks made by the Palhans—the discovery of their mine when it was within a fewfeer of tho walla—the heroic sortie and the successful attempt to blow up the mine— and the bravo endurance of the garrison uuder circumstances of the most overwhelming anxiety and hardship—make up a chapter of thrilling interest. So; too, in a different way, does the description of Colonel Kelly's wonderful march from Gilgib over the ice and Bnow of the Shaudur Pass, to the rescue of the beleaguered garrison. Wo should add that a map aud several illustrations add to the value and interest of the book.

As a popular introduction to the study of astronomy, wo know of nothing that has been issued at the prica to equal " Consider the Heavens," by Mrs W. Steadman Aldis, of Auckland, just published by the Religious Tk-act Society. In simple, yet attractive, language, Mrs Aldis tolls us about the sun, moon, aud stars, and presents to us some of the tremendous truths which make astrouoray so overwhelming, as well as so fascinating a subject to the contemplative mind. Mrs Aldis writes in a very fresh, original style, and as the subject matter has been revised by her distinguished husband, who is recognised as one of the leading mathematicians of the day, it can be relied upou for its accuracy—a quality in which many "popular handbooks" are conspicuously wanting.

A new novel, by Rolf Boldrewood, entitled. "The Crooked Stick, or Pollie'a Probation," has been published in Macmillan's Colonial Library, and a copy has been forwarded to us by Mr Fountain Barber. We cannot say that it will add to the author's reputation, but it shows, at any rato, that hia hand has not lost its cunning in describing Australian life and character. There is a very vivid description of a drought, and sufficient of the bush-ranging element to furnish a smart fillip of excitement when the love - making at the station threatens to become a little monotonous. "Pbllie," it may be explained, is the name of a dashing and attractive young Australian lady, and her " probation " consists in having to make up her mind between the respective claims as a lover of her cousin, Mr Bertram Devereux, late lieutenant in Her Majesty's 6th Dragoon Guards, who, after "going the pace" somewhat at Home, comes out to Australia, and Harold Athcrs tone, a shrewd, wealthy young Australian squatter, whose run adjoins- that on which Pollie was brought up. As to how she finally decided the problem our readers will probably prefer to find that out for themselves from the book.

Another recent addition to the same library is "A Pair of Blue Eyes," by Thomas Hardy, our copy ot which is sent by Messrs Simpson and Williams. In this story Mr Hardy has gone further westward than he usually travels, the St. Launce's, where he lays a good many of his scene 3, being probably Launceston, in Cornwall, while Castle Boterel we should take to be Tintagol Castle. A youug architect of ignoble birth comos down to the village where his father and mother are still living —the [former being a mason—in order to supervise , the restoration of the • parish church. The vicar, a man of decided aristocratic prejudices, invites him to stay at the vicarage, and knowing nothing of his antecedents takes a' fancy to him. The young architect falls in love with the vicar's daughter, the owner of the "blue eyes "figuring in the title. There are other subsequent competitors for the young lady's hand, notably a .London reviewer, named Kafp/ht- a very good character study—and a peer, Lord Luxelliao. The end is somewhat tragic and unexpected/like so many of Mr Hardy's essays are. As usual, there are some good bits of " rustic work " in the book, and the scene in the family vault of the Luxellians we consider in Mr Hardy's best style.