PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Evening Star, Issue 13098, 3 November 1908, Page 7

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Air R:. A. Barr's long-premised hook, lyith the British Rugby Team in Alaoriland,’..has- made an appearance, and is now obtainable. The 168 pagee of matter it ccntains are attractively got up in a cover in which, the colors of the British team and Alaoriland’s “All Black” with the fcrnleaf arc skilfully; utilised for decorative purpose?. Of the contents of tho book, the sections to which the reading public would naturally bo expected to turn first, in view of the way in which their curiosity has been stimulated beforehand, are those dealing with tho inside history of tho tour.-v -If the “inside storyf is held to consist, of the team's doings* off the field as .against the record of their matches then there is a fair amount of it given >lay fllio author in the shape of a straightforward’ account of the trips mad©; dii travelling from place to place, the manner in which the footballers were entertained, the hospitality extended to them, as wel as descriptions of tlie scenery en route. To one who; made the tour with Hip team, as the author did, this is perhaps more interesting than to the general public. .Somcrliing more than this, however, had been expected, and the real facts concerning certain “incidents” (of which to tell the truth not much had been heard or thought tit this end of the Dominion), said to have been “ cruelly and grossly-exaggerated,’” have been awaited. These “ incidents,’’ however; seem to have mostly been nothing more serious than a reciprocation on tlie purl of some susceptible members of the admiration which is aroused among the female section of a football-loving, not to say focthall-niad, community towards a touring team from Home, Wc learn that “ there ucre several interesting and tearful groups on the platform of Dunedin’s handsome railway station to farewell tho members of tlie' British team, and more than one susceptible Englishman pUghtyd himself to return some day. To those acquainted with Dunedin’s'most honored respectability, the. sight of l,auguorous-eyed maidens weeping copiously into their 'rispcctive handkerchiefs over departed heroes rvas-said to ponder on. Truly the British tourist i footballer had much to ansM er for. Hie glamor M as over all, hut in very truth he Mas more hunted than limiting.”* Tliere is also tho “ Greymouth incident.” arid several others which the author dignities with the title of “romances.” As he remarks in his preface, it has been necessary: to touch them with a subtle hand, and the principals are not mentioned by name. As to the playing record, this is very coriiplete, and tlie book is well arranged. The letterpress is brightened with various line drau-ings and photographs, and special articles of varying value are contributed by Alessrs A. \Harding, G. Harnett, T. W. Leslie', J. W. Stead, N. Galbraith, A. Spence, and Frank Alorton.