NEW ZEALAND FLOWERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 58, 9 March 1899, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLOWERS.

SOME EXQUISITE PAINTINGS. At the invitation of Miss Harris, a representative of the " Evening Mail " inspacted that ladj's paintings of New Zealand (lowers at her studio in Nile-street Ka3t Miss Harris has undoubted talent in depicting to 11.0 life the exquisite hues of thn innumerable wild flowers of New Zealand, more especially those that grow high on tho mountains of tho south, and in these her life-like fidelity amounts almost to genius. One needy but to inspect the group of lorely Una " Pleurophylla specirm " which grows in Adams' Island, brilliantly coloured ■■ Golden Lillies," and " Langiistw " to fully appreciate the wonderful gift of beauty bestowed on this country by Nature in her tnosi lavish mood. Miss Harris is endeavouring to publish a book of paintings illustrating tho mountain flowers of New Zealand 1 . JSotanist3 have written about the endless variety of these flowers ; but their works havo lacked illustration, or if, tho flowers have been depicted, they haee noj been painto'l when in their natural state. Miss Harris paints direct from natnre, brings out every important feature as only au artist can, and so adds a useful work to the botanical library of New Zealand, But, apart from the scientific value of the work, it should bo a most beautiful and interesting acquisition to drawing-room or study. The book will comprise some 30 pictures in water colours, and judging by those already accomplished, more especially the Mount Cook lilies and the frontispiece, (ho work will be of great value, without considering tho fact that it is tho first of its sort to bo published in the colony. Miss Harris requires 200 subscribers, and, for tbo purpose of enrolling members, the work, so far as it is completed, will be on view in Mr Ambrose Moore's ollice for the next few days. Miss Harrio is to hold an exhibition in New Plymouth, where her beautiful paintings are bound to attract much attention and admiration. To give an adequate idea oE the comprehensiveness of the artist's labours would take np too much space, nnd a personal inspection is really necessary to appreciate them. There are numerous studies of the clematis under different endition*, rangiora, cabbage-tree blossoms, enow berries, genlions, spray3 of geum. orchids of various kinds, manuka — a clever piece of work— kowharawhara, edelweiss, whan, cordeiine berries and flower-, all in endless profusion, on the walls, on easels, and on thn door, with a variety of which tho eye never wearies. One picture— on a plaque - represents a spray of rata, which it is hard to belipve nt first sight i3 not real, so perfect is its perspective, so minute its fidelity to nature - Mae for line, and colour for colour. Miss Harris should seek a larger field than Now Zealand fv 'ho disposal of her life-work— no loss a field, in fact, than the British Museum.