A NEW PERIODICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 238, 17 August 1864, Page 3

A NEW PERIODICAL.

Wii perceive that a new periodical is announced to appear in Auckland, with a programme and under auspices which promise well for its success. It has long been felt that there was an opening here for a new weekly miscellany, of fiction, combined with instruction, in the fashion now so popular in England, and on which the journals that exceed all others, both in circulation and general favor, are modelled, namely— " The London Journal," " Once a Week," " All the Year Bound," and "The Family Herald;" and it has been generally supposed that such publication would not only remunerate the originator, but would be more generally popular than any cotemporary. Hitherto, however, no attempt has been made to venture beyond the vague, assertion that such an undertaking was very desirable ; and doubtless the very formidable difficulties to be encountered at the outset, more especially in a young place like Auckland, have led former projectws to abandon the enterprise. At one time a stall' could be assembled but no publisher of sufficient popularity to make such a work known could be found to undertake the labour of it. At another time the publisher would endeavour to collect together the many different talents required for a work of so versatile a character. That these obstacles are very great must bo acknowledged; indeed, those only who have been personally connected with the production and establishing of any new literary urdertaking, are in a position to judge of their extent and character ; we are gratified, however, to find that vigorous determination and business energy have ceased to regard tlicm as insurmountable, and the desired periodical is to be at once produced. Under the tact and wide popularity of Mr. Varty, as publisher, and with the staff which we understand he has called to his aid, there can be very little doubt of the success of the weekly miscellany now announced under the suggestive title of " Entertainment." The first number of which is to contain three works of fiction, two by writers of well established reputation in Kct - Zealand, and one by the greatest of English writers; original articles fumisliing instructive material in a popular form will also be found, combined with iaeetife and poetry, by writers who are well able to support the character of a work which aims at introducing, under the cover of amusement much solid information. We consider that the publisher's idea of reproducing the works of great English authors in a popular form, for the benefit of residents in New Zealand, cannot fail to be a considered a boon to a large class who cannot afford to invest in the expensive luxury of a novel per se, hilt who will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of lvuding first-rate fiction in combination with a considerable amount of useful information and light amusement, at the inconsiderable cost announced.

The most noTel feature oC this publication is the illustrations with which it is to l>e furnished. •(This will cause it to partake partly- of tlie of a local satire, although, not professedly of the same character as the so-cnllod "Punches," which, whereveT Englishmen now locate themselves, become one of their standard institutions. - "While there would not ho matter enough in our limited community to furnish a constant supply ot food for fun or "satire, there is plenty for an occasipnateketch. and the combination has been tlietrfor* suggested, bv which " .Eijtcrtraiiilijentmay be made a vehicle for the wit and humour of tlie place without professing to make the facetious or satirical wholly its aim. We quit<s agree. with the projector that such an arrangement has been -wisely derided upon, and in this as in oth.gr little delicate matters and .well weighed points, which would have escaped the notice of publishers oT inferior talent, we see the gtrod ttete nnd_ judgment of Mr. Yarty; and we^trust that in his hands Entertainment" will prove a decided success.