THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 21

THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

The special Christmas, number of the New Zealand Mail, which was published on Tuesday, contains 36 pages of reading matter, together with eight pages of illustrations, the whole forming a magazine of entertaining literature especially suitable to the Christmas season. A considerable amount of care and labour, together with no small amount of money, has been ex- - pended upon the production, which is specially noticeable for the number of colonial stories and sketches which have been written for it by New Zealand authors. Qut of the 23 stories and sketches of which the number is composed no fewer than nineteen are solely the work of Colonial writers and deal almost entirely with colonial life and character. The editor has been successful in gathei ing around him a band of clever contributors, amongst whom will be found some old friends and many new ones. The proprietors and editor would fain bespeak a hearty support and favourable reception for the number on the ground that it is first and foremost a colonial production, and, unlike so many similar publications in the colonies, does not depend upon writers at the other end of the world for its literary contents. Amongst the contributors are the following:—“Airlie,” author of “’John Reed’s Stockman,” H. B. Vogel, R. A. Loiighnan, - “ Scrutator,” Herbert B. Bridge, Jas. H. Kirby, Elsdon Best, John Christie, Robert Allan, J. S. Allan, “ lone,” Bryan Scott, Cecil Thornton, the author of “ The City of the Plains,” James Drummond and several others, a full list of whom, with the titles of their various contributions, will be found in our advertising columns. Besides the stories and sketches there are special pages for the ladies and the children, a page of puzzles and acrostics, and several other features of interest. The illustrations exhibit mainly the commercial progress of the city of Wellington, whose chief educational institutions and public buildings are also depictured. The design for the cover, which is of an unconventional and highly artistic character, has been specially drawn by Mr J. M. Nairn, president of the Wellington Art Club.

Copies of the Christmas number of the New Zealand Mail may be procured at the publishing offices, Lambton quay, and from the principal booksellers.