THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER OF THE YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12087, 4 October 1902, Page 5

THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER OF THE YEAR.

AN UNRIVALLED PRODUCTION.

NOW READY.

REPLETE WITH FASCINATING

PICTURES.

SUPERB PRESENTATION PLATE.

STORIES, SKETCHES.. AND SPORT.

1' The Christmas Number of the Auckland s Weekly News has again made its welcome . appearance, and will, we unhesitatingly pre- ] diet, be universally pronounced to be the , most interesting and fascinating publication i of its kind ever issued in the colony, f Always first in publication, the Christmas Numbers of the News are easily first in ar- ( tistic and literary merit, and the great repu- . tation which they have deservedly won. both . in the colonies and at Home, is worthily • maintained by the present issue. Consider- • ing the high standard of excellence attained in past years, it is no easy matter to produce a number superior to its predecessors, ; but we confidently believe that the number now under review will be acknowledged as surpassing in many respects all previous issues. . It is a magnificent number, full of the most varied and beautiful half-tone illustrations, executed with the highest finish, and printed on superior paper in an admirably clear and charming manner. Every picture is a work of art, and the variety of subjects treated forms a combination of the scenic beauties of the colony, and typical phases of colonial life which it would be difficult to match for human interest, or artistic effect. The number, which is enclosed in an exceedingly chaste and • exquisitely coloured cover, opens with a brightly-written article on "New Zealand, the Pearl of the Pacific," and among the other contents are a number of stories and sketches of very high literary merit, including the following*:—" The Largest Geyser in the World," "The Lord Harry" (by Martha W. S. Myers), " The Tossing of the Shilling" (by Viking) . " Old Mac's Trip Home" (by W. S. Douglas), "Sport in New Zealand," "Across the Street" (by F.R.), prize competition stories by Miss H. J. Priestly, Mr. P. McGregor, and Miss D. A. Cabot, "Two Manukau Fishermen, - ' a, story for boys, etc., etc. Every page teems with illustrations, and every picture has a special charm of its own. Among the full-page views is a very fine one of Mount Egmont, Taranaki's incomparably beautiful snow-capped mountain, and another showing the magnificent Wairoa Falls, on the Northern Wairoa. It is impossible to enumerate all the pictures, but the following titles of some of them will serve to indicate- their variety and charac"Maori Belles," "Old New Zealand," "Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island" (by moonlight). . "The Celebrated Waimangu Geyser," "A Scene on the Waikato River, near Ngaruawahia," " The Wanganui River, near Pipiriki," "The Maid of the Mill, a Maori Version," "A Scene on the Raetihi, Pipiriki Road," "First Lessons in a Maori Haka," "A Maori Wood-carver at Work," "A Maori Canoe on the Wanganui River," "Christinas Holiday Season in New Zealand," " Christmas Holiday Time in the Auckland Domain," "A Gumdigger's ! Home on the Waitakerei Ranges," " Carting Produce in the Duller Valley," " The Chil- ! dreu of the Kainga," " Glimpses of Auckland ( Harbour," "Preparing to Fall a Large < Kauri," "The Southern Alps of New Zea- ' land," "The Hermitage at Mount Cook," ' "The New Zealand Niagara," "Happy ] Childhood," "Auckland City and Shipping," i "A Moonlight Glimpse of Mitre Peak," i "Mount Earnslawj," "A Homestead in ' Otago," "The Contrasts of New Zealand Life," " A View of Lake Wanaka," " Maoris Preparing Christinas Dinner," "Rapids on the Mangles River," " Pioneer Settlement in the North Island," " The Great Wairoa Geyser in Action," " Studies of Maori Children at Rotorua," etc., etc.

With the number is given away a superb coloured presentation plate, entitled. " Day Dreams in Maoriland." It is from a picture specially painted for the purpose by Mi". C. F. Goldie, the well-known artist, and is one of his happiest and most successful efforts. The colouring is rich and harmoniously blended, and the effect is very striking.

From the foregoing brief notice some idea may be formed of the character and contents of the number, which is now on sale, and may therefore be left to speak for itself. We may add, however, that for posting to friends outside the colony it is one of the most beautiful and interesting souvenirs that could be desired.