NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10822, 24 November 1900, Page 9

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Just now the Canterbury Pilgrims are occupying a prominent place in our thoughts, and a book written by one of their number is sure to attract more than passing interest. "Canterbury, and Inridentally New Zealand. a.d.1900. Bang the Lucubrations and Prognostications of a Primitive Pilgrim," is a book with a somewhat singular history, and decidedly original in its styie. The author, Mr. William Pratt, one of the mostrespected of our pioneers, tells us in the preface that early in April, 1873. ho returned to Cliristchurch, after a tew week-' absence on a short huli-i__.y trip to Sydney, and glancing over the numbers of the daily Press which had aceumukited during his brief absence, lie stumbled across a paragraph stated to be copied from a Dunedin paper, in which the Dunediu writer predicted that when the son of a certain Farmer Giles, just then christened, attained his majority, Dunedin would be tlie London, and W-Hingion the Liverpool of New Zealand, each with its 250,000 inhabitants. Mr. Pratt felt some concern at Christchurch being omitted, and first thought of writing a letter to the paper, claiming seine shore of pitigress for the City of the Plains. The subject grew under his hand:,, until it expanded far beyond ihe limits of a letter. The 2>lS. begun for his iunut-ernent was laid aside for twenty years, and now the Jubilee has arrived, Mr. Pratt has given it to the public. He lias allowed hia [>en to ivander about with delightful freedom, treating his readers not only to

"Prog!io*!tkr_Uion.s." but to "Lucul*r_u..oi-.5," to say nothing of an excursus into Maori history, and the story of missionary enterprise. There is a vivid reminiscence of tlte great fire at Lyttelton. by which Mr Pratt Avas a sufferer. (Cliristchurch : "The Press"' Company, Limited.)

Those who wish to show friends at a distance what Clirhrtchureii is like in this year of Jubilee cannot do better than ir.-ve--t.i__ the Album of Cliristchurch Views '__<" in ail). with concise Guide, a copy of whi.-h ._:>_ been sent to us by Mr Fountain Bather. The views are well --elected, and on the whole excellently reproduced.

Ethel Turner's newest story has already had newspaper publication as a serial. The especial merits of her work, however, are not those that suit best with that manner of publicatio.., and readers who have come across 'Three Little Maids" in detached chapters will prol_.ul.ly revise -some fir*.. impm-wiuns and give a "far more favourable judgment on meeting the story in book form. It. progress coA-ei.: a good "many various scenes of family life, opeu-ir.g Avith two of the little maids going out by night in an English snowstorm to rescue their dolls, left exposed, purely for romantic reasons,' to such raging of the elements, and ending with the grown-up success of two happy young authoresses in Australia. Then there is a family of boys whose fortunes become intermingled Avith --cse of the heroines; after the death of a rather tragic mother, in an interlude which strikes one as lest, suited for a child's book tltau for a somewhat poignant short story. Dorothy, Phyl, and Weenie, all through, are quaint, lovable little specimens of womanhood in its early years.

"O to be young .-gain ! 0 to have dreams and dreams !

And to talk in the gardens of Wonderland With stars and flowers and scream*.!" run.-, the motto on the title-page, and the 'volume is none the less attractive that one suspects very frequently the presance of the iuutobiogniphica.] element. If, however, the literary .niccees either of Ethel Turner or two out of her "Three Little Maids," should net too many young people to scribbling, it is satisfactory to observe such e__u*mple3 coupled with most sound advice. That pareuts have something to suffer during the childhood of genius is putheticaily indicated in the remarks of Ween-k's mother on finding her third girt sitting in a summer-house and biting her pen very hard. 'Oh, let it alone, if \V>u love mc, "Weenie! I do v.-__nt one daughter who won't burn tho jam and seaui up four sicks of a pillow-caM*." Critics of literary values may remark that, in spite of much charm and pleasant writing, this A-olume does not fulfil our earlier expectations of the Australian aut burets. It k. good, but not quite so good as the work promised by "»SeA-en Little Australians," or "The Story of a Baby." But such criticism aviTi certainly not affect the judgment of the Bursary circles who hear the good ecavs that another book of Ethel Turner's has arrived in cxceihiit time for C'hri_t_na--; present*.:. (London : Ward, Lock, and Co. Christc-hutch: Fountain Barber.)

If the British public are made thoroughly acquainted with the ins and outs of the Far Eastern Question, and the history of China, it is not th? fault of the enterprising publishers. "Ths Story of China," by Neville P. l-klwards. givey-.* in a concise and attractive form, tlte "leading event.*; in the history ot China, with especial refertuce to the e-.ius-.ti leading up to the present struggle. How "up-to-date" it is may be gathered from the fact that the story is brought down to the relief of the Legation*-. It contains over 70 illui-tration:. end ma*.s. from photographs taken by the .'inthor and others, and from original drawm'_>*. (London: Hutchinson and tx>.. Paternoster Pvow. Christchurch: Fountain Barber. Is.)

'Pears' Annual" is always er*..?_rlv looked for if only for the sake of its pictures, and th'w year it yeem:; L> have eclipsed ail its predecessors. It cont_> in. l " ». corned»- story, entitled "Low, the Harvester,** tVy _A_;ix Pemberu.n, with 22 illustrations by Frank Dodd. R.l. There are also three" superb presentation picture.-, in colours, namely, "Tho British, Lion, - ' a mo_t *strlk : ng paintiug by Vastagh : a charming figure picture, entitled "Beware !" —a beautiful woman in a Sp.trish mantilla . rind j. viailv an English country scene in .-p;- : i--gt : ip-*. i.v Yor-rJ rvi'VJ, R.i.. entitled "M-ikin"*- Fri-!•--;■." The pubiisshers tell v.* —and Aye r.'.zt treli brlki'e

them—that the "Annual'" could ur.... b? produced at the price were it not that thc-v are content to publish it at a loss for the f-.ike of advertising their biu-in-..**.-. (Christchurch : Simpson and Williams, Is 6<L)

In pursuing his crusade- for th*? elevation of public morals, )fr .James A*, hero ft. of Wellington, has printed ;:.:cl circulated a pamphlet, of modest size and appearance, containing a number of short essays ou ,>c,c'ial topic*?, and also some verses. " Mr Ashcroft is the author «.*f both the essays tire vers?..'-. The former embrace a variety of subjects, and most of them are readable and point their moral with some efi'ect. Tem-.vers.nce. Bad Language. Yarns Good and Bad. .and Re-cie-inon. are the title** of some of the number, and iriv-e a good :d?a of the ground covered. The ver.-is'aa-e a miscellaneous lot. and are likely to be parsed over in favour of the essays. The pamphlet is being sold and the proceed-; v.r-sd t> forward the crusade upon which Mr A-hcroft- ar.d others ha*e entered.