NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13614, 24 December 1909, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

NEW ZEALAND REMIXISCENCES.

Wo aro very glad that Mr A. Hope Blake, whose name will be familiar to readers of "The Press," and still more to to readers of "The Weekly Press," has been induced to publish in book form seme of his reminiscences of -New Zealand life and story. This he_ has done under the title of "Sixty Yeans in New Zealand: Stories of Peace and War." Mr Blake, as Mr Malcolm Ross remarks in a preface ho has contributed to the book, wears the New Zealand war medal, honourablr won, and ho has known the colony ~nd its inhabitants for more than sixty years. He makes no pretence to literary craftsmanship, but ho does not disdain to make a story more interesting by a little embellishment when this can be done without impairing the accuracy of the book from an historical point of view. Mt Blake relates many interesting facta aud . incidents about the older £>rhcol of Maoris, to whose many fine qualities ho bears appreciative testimony. He considers Rewi Maniopoto, '"noble hearted and dauntless advocate cf his jpeople," ono of the noblest representatives of the Maori race. It was shown pretty conclusively, we think, by Major Mair recently in our columns, that it was not Rewi who made the famous reply at the battle of Orakau, when summoned 1 to surrender. Mr Bi'ake admits that there has been some controversy on this point, but holds that it does not matter—Rewi was a brave man and a brave warrior. But the boot does not ideal solely with the war and tho Maoris. It is a perfect "olla podridla" of gossip about the early days, and deals, among other subjects, with 'The Big Earthquakes," "Colonisation in the Sixties," "A Pig Hunt in the Early Days," and so forth. It is dedicated to the memory of the late Sir Donald McLean, "whose wise and beneficent management of native affairs for a period extending over thirty-five years conduced ©o materially to the ultimate pacification of $ew Zeajand." (Wellington: Gordon and Gotcb Proprietary, Ltd.)

A POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK

One of the results of the Antarctic Expedition has been to interest "the man in the street" in the subject of magnetism, and most people are probably impressed with tho idea of how little they know of its mysteries. There are many secrets yet to the fathomed, but the "Wondter Book cf Magnetism," by Edwin J. Houston, Ph.l)., puts in a very readable and attractive form the main principles and applications of this wonderful force. It describes some of the most recent inventions, including Poulson's microphonograph, or talking newspaper. (London: W. and R. Chambers, Lid. 3s (id).

MORE CHRISTMAS GIFT BOOKS

A number of attractive gift oooks suitable for presentation to boys and girls at this present season have been issued by the old-established publishers, Messrs W. and R. Chambers,_JLtd., of London and Edinburgh. A volume likely to appeal specially to boys, is "Bravo, Bob! A Boy from Canada," tv Andrew Home, with six illustrations by Harold Copping. The story is told by a boy named Martin Allingham, the heir to a large property which is administered by trustees, his father and mother being dead. Ho goes to school with Bob Kitchin, a Canadian boy who has been sent to England for his education. Bob, who is a fine specimen of the young colonial, is an older boy than Martin Allingham, and they not only become fast friends, but _*»ob is able to exercise a very good influence ever Martin. Through the machinations of another boy, however, the two friends become estranged for a time, and the breach is only healed simultaneously with the clearing up of a nrvstery in connection with Allingham's home. This is a capital school story, with a number of amusing and exciting- incidents. (London: W. and R. Chambers, Ltd. 3s 6d).

"With Kit Karson in the Rockies," by Everett McNeil, is a capital tale of adventure in the beaver country of the great West of America. There are buffalo hunts, fights, camp-fire stories, and ambuscades, enough to please any boy with a taste for adventure, and the book is valuable as showing the part played by the trapper as a pioneer of civilisation in the great West. (London :W. and R. Chambers, Ltd. Os). "The Princess of the Revels," by Mrs L. T. Meade, is one of those excellent domestic stories which have made the authoress the friend of girls all over the world. The principal character is Faith, the fifteen-year-old daughter of a widower, the rector of St. Peter's West, London, who goes to visit her aunt' Lady Ludlow, at her estate in Yorkshire, where she meets a number of other girls. It is a brightly written story, with a number of interesting characters and amusing incidents, and, a3 is usual, with Mrs Meade's works, there is a moral. The object in this case is evidently to convey a warning airainst giving way to a jealous disposition. (London: W. and R. Chambers, Ltd. 3s 6d).

Two capital stories of adventure suitable for boys are "Through tne Heart of Tibet," by Alexander Macdonald, and "The Cruise of the Thetis," by Harry CoUinj_*-ood, both handsomely illustrated with coloured pictures. Ihe former deals with a secret expedition to the sacred city of Lhasa, and is obviously suggested by Sven Hedin s adventures. Tho ex_>edition buds itself tracked and thwarted in every direction by Chinese secret agents, ana every 'chapter is repleto with excitement. The story is dedicated to Lientenant E. H. Shackleton. M.> .0. (London: Blackio and bon, Limited. ■SO

"The Cruise of the Thetis" is a story of the last Cuban insurrection, which ended in the deliverance of the island from the Spanish tyranny. It relatts the adventures of two friends, Jack Singleton, a young Englishman, and Carlos Montijo, a Cuban, who had been chums together at school, and attempted to run a cargo of ammunition to the island. Needless to say, the book Ls full of thrilling incidents, among the most exciting being the rescue ot the Montijo family from a Spanish convict ship and the disablement of a Spanish torpedo-boat by divers. Care is taken to keep the main facts of the onsunrection within tho bounds of historical accuracy. (London: Blackio and fcon, Ltd. 65.)

For young children we can recommend tho foUowing:—"Father Tucks Annual" is, as usual, full of good things. The pictures by Hilda Cowhan, Mabel Lucy Attwell, and May 1). Bowlev, and stories, and poems by Kosa Nouctiette Carey, E. Nesbit, Norman Gale, and the Editor, Edric, \erenburg. (Loudon: Raphael Tuck ami bons, Ltd.)

"Outcault's Buster, Mary.Jane, and the Tigo" will dcligtit the children to whom the quaint pictures and amusing letterpress and the inimitable "Buster have been a constant source of pleasure and amusement since he was first found out by tho American newspapers until the present time, when he may be said to have sent a ripple of merriment throughout the English-speaking world. (London: W. and 11. Chambers, Ltd.)

"Son Riley Rabbit, and Little Girl, by Grace McGowan Cooke, has* the charm of a fairy story combined with a story of real child-life. Little Girl found'Riley Rabbit when he had been almost drowned by tho garden hose, and brought him to life. They soon became tlie best of friends, and probably there was no more affectionate pet than this wonderful rabbit proved to be. The book is charmingly illustrated. (London: W. and It. Chambers, Ltd.)

Blackie's Christmas Annual is, as usual, excellent. There are stories aiid verses by E. Xosbit, Evelyn. Sharp, Alice' Talwin-'Morris, and other popular writers, and pictures by John Hassall, ILL, Gordon-Brown, R. 1., Cecil A Idm and other well-known artists. U.e colour-picturos are particularly boid and striking. (London: Biackie and Son. Ltd.)

"The Swiss Family Robinson" has been re-told for little folks by Edith Robarts and illustrated in colour and tine by John Hassall, R.I. (London: Biackie and Son, Ltd.)

BRIEF NOTICES

I. el way's "Manual of Horticulture" is a handsomely illustrated volume, which will be of great interest to the amateur gardener. While it is a very sumptuous trade catalogue, it contains a large amount of valuable practical information regarding the cultivation of plants and flowers, and is an excellent guide to the newest varieties We need hardly say that the nurseries of Messrs Kelway and Son, of Langport, are renowned in the horticultural world. (Langport, Somerset: Kelway and Son.)