BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10419, 17 April 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Austral isu's GoLDmLD-s' PuOE i« "Latter Day" World History: By a pioneer prospector and physicist. Gaorge Robertson and Company, Sydney.—The first pare consists of suggestions for expansive mining dsvelopruents, and the second part treats of the attraction of readily accessible mineral wealth to Northern Hemisphere populations " threatenedjin all sacred prophesy by a recurrence oi one of many previous geological subversions of land by ocean waters, at the dotinite period, now looming politically, of the Restoration of lsraol to Repossession and Autonomy of their Beloved Land." The author is well nigh an octogenarian, and a pioneer colonist of Victoria, of nearly 56 years' scan ling. The author submits that the views of geologists, miners of experience, and physicists havo not) I>i3on in iini-om, and that the incapacity of " exports" bus, in too many cases, discouraged prospecting in districts since proved rich in the minerals of coal and gold, they had denied any probability of discovery of, either at all or in remunerative supply; ami that the researches in nature of the zoilous physicist, had induced wholly different conclusions upon these topics, while the labours of practical miners resulted often in experience uioro in accord with the viewe advanced by the physicists, and often demonstrated the accuracy of their deductions.

Australian Review op Reviews : Printed and published byT. ShawPitchett, Melbourne.—The Australian Review of Reviews for March is to hand. In "The History of the Month, within the Colonies," the references to the Federal Convention are uf the most eulogistic character. In roioring to the South Australian Conference and Methodist Union, it is stated that "The Rev. Joseph Berry delivored an address of great fire and force." No. 3 of " Fights tor the Flaj," by Dr. Fitchett, is continued, the engagement being, " Rodney and Dβ Gcasse, at the Battle of the Siints." " The Australian Girl: In the City and the Bush," by Tighe Bryan, is a capital description of Australian womanhood. Thero is an admirable and timely paper by the Hon. J. S. Larke, commercial acrent for the Dominion of Canada, on " What Canada Teaches About Federation," which should prove a useful contribution to the Federation controversy. "The Results of tho General Election in New Zealand," h a reply to Sir Roberb Stout by J. T. Marryat Hornsby, editor of the Now Zealand Times, Tho writer claims a working majority of ton for the Government. On all other questions save Prohibition tha Government will have a good working majority. He admits tint the Opposition will be more powerful in debate than for yoars pait. Mr. Stead contributes the second of a series of " Studies of the Sovereigns and tho Reign," this one being "Tho Queen and the Empire." It is largely devoted to a biographical sketch of Sir George Grey, the particulars being drawn irom Mr. W. L. Rees' sketch of the great pro-consul. The Queen's relations with Sir George Grey, judging from the correspondence published, appear to have been of the most friendly character.

Chambehs's Journal : W. and R. Chambers, Edinburgh.—We have to acknowledge receipt of the March number. A new story is commenced, " Phil's Pard," by VV. Carter Platta. There i« a chatty article on " Soldiers I have Met,' , by an army chaplain, and another of similar character entitled " My Share in the War," a tale of the Franco-Prussian War of ISS7O. Mr. E. E. Wilton, of the Consular service, Shaton, has an excellent paper on " Chinese Railways," and Mr. John Geddis, a second on the "Great Siberian Railway." Among tho general articles are "Experiments Among the Mountains," " The Founding of St. Petersburg," "A Man from the Cape," the " Humours of Scotland," and " The Eureka Stockade," by A.R.S. (Melbourne). "The Month: Science and Art?," complete a readable number.

The Story ot a Fool asd His Folly : By Noni Vyrne. Hutchinson and Co., Paternoster Row, London.—This is one of the series of the Leisure Library of complete illustrated novels. The plot of the story is than a young man (Pole) gets engaged to a simple, devoted, loving girl. He id introduced by a male friend (Goorge Abbot) to a married woman, an old acquaintance of the latter. They are thrown together, and through the inevitable force of circumstances, he forgets his earlier and purer passion for Miss Gower. The married woman (Mrs, Craigh) for whom he had had sacrificed so much, marries Abbot, while Pole takes ill, and finally dies in the arms of his betrothed. The story retains its interest throughout, and the dialogue is crisp and apurkling.

Handbook or Gardening for Mew Zealand ; By M. Murphy, P.L.S., Christchurch.—This well-known gardening manual is meeting with an experience quite exceptional to that usually accorded to colonial publications. It has already gone through two editions of 5000 each, and the third edition appears in a very much improved form. The text of the book has been considerably added to in many instances, and the rest of it, the author states in the preface to the present edition, has been largely re-written. The contents of the book have therefore been brought up to date, and those who uee it will find it the most handy single book in the colony for information and useful hints upon all matters relating to the kitchen garden, flower garden, orchard, etc. The seasons and climates are all brought! up to actual local experience, with the one exception of tbe range of climate between the north and south. This difference has been web by the author laying down the rule that), as the seasons and times of planting given in tbe text are based on Christchurch experience of many years, he advises all those wno use his manual, and who are living to the northward of Napier, to regard the districts northward ot that point) to be a month earlier than Christchurch. This is a matter easily adjusted by everyone using the book. We have nothing bub praise to say in favour of the new edition of this old friend. Several pages of illustrations have been added, showing a large number of insect and fungoid enemies, and various gardening operations, such &t grafting, budding, etc, and the printers, Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited, Christchurch, also deserve praise for the manner in which they have done their part of the work.

Nkwspaper Press Directort, 1897.— We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the above publication for the present year, being the fifty-second annual issue, It is published by Messrs. C. Mitchell and Co., advertising contractors, 12 and 13, Red Lion Court, Fleet street, London, K.C. This publication has been so long bofore the public, is so well-known, and has year after year been so carefully revised and brought up to date, that nothing bob praise can be truthfully written respecting it. The present year's issue shows the same marks of painstaking care as many previous issues have done, and eo far as the colonies are concerned, the grouping of the whole of the' British Colonial Press in one large section is a decided advantage to merchants and others who may have to consult its pages. The present issue contains several special articles which are of value and interest to the general reader. One of these articles is by Mr. Hugh Fraser, M.A., LL.D., upon the " Law of Copyright and Libel, with special reference to recent) decisions affecting the Press;" and another is by Miss Laura Smith on " Women's Work in the London and Provincial Press," etc. The work on the whole is admirably got up, and its long continuance may be taken ai a very good proof of its usefulness.

A Pinchbeck Goddess : By Mrs. J. M. Fleming (Alice M. Kipling). Win. Heinemann, London.—This pleasant and chatty tale of fiction is a woman's description of garrison life in India, more especially at Simla, etc., and the types of women to be found playing their part in the frivolities and flirtations of garrison life. There are several love episodes worked up in the story, which gives a characteristic illustration of the various phases of social life in Indian civil and military circles. " The Pinchbeck Goddess" gives her lover a lively tim« of it, bat all comes oat right in the end. .