BOOK NOTICES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOK NOTICES.

NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS

“Picturesque New South Wales; an Illustrated Guide for Settler and Tourist.” Prepared under the direction of T. A. Coghlan.

From the Government Printer of New South Wales we have received a copy of this work. It is a nicely bourfd, clearly printed, and profusely illustrated book of considerably over a hundred pages. The work treats of the physical geography and climate of the colony, its fauna and flora, its social and commercial condition, its government, its industries, and the principal features and sights of the capital city of Sydney, the Western Districts, the Nortern, and the Southern, and an historical sketch which begins the book traces the progress of the colony from the landing of Captain William Janz (a Dutchman), in 1606, right up to the federal achievement of January Ist, 1901. The illustrations, consisting of full-page, half-page, and vignette half-tone blocks, are well executed, and depict the picturesque scenery on tho Blue Mountains, in the Riverina, the Monaco district and other districts of New South Vales characterised by natural beauty. The staple industries of the colony are artistically treated. The pictures of shearing operations, of mustering, and similar scenes from life “out West” evoke time-mellowed memories from their half-forgottenness, while the manifold beauties of Sydney Harbour and the city’s many excellent parks and pleasure resorts ar e set forth in detail by print and picture. , To anyone desirous of forming a close acquaintance with the characteristics of the whole colony without travelling over it the hook is just the thing required, for it gives lucidly in a condensed form the industries and agrarian features of every district in the extensive New South Wales colony.

“’Twixt Devil and Deep Sea.” By Mrs C. N. Williamson. London: George Bell and Sons. Wellington: Whitoomhe and Tombs.,

A mysterious and sensational family history is told in this novel, the scene of which is laid for the most part in London. The heroine passeg through vicissitudes of an exciting and troublous nature before she finally receives assured happiness. A heart-shaped scar marked on the arms of two of the characters and some peculiar coincidences are among the circumstances which deepen the mystery unravelled in striking language by the authoress.

“Jean Keir of Craigneil,” by Sarah Tytler. Publisher: John Long, Lon* don.

This is the story of a young woman who, being cursed with a legacy which she does not want, is subjected to all sorts of petty annoyances by impecunious relations, to whom she cannot see her way clear to give anything. The different systems and methods adopted by these relations, according to their varying needs and dispositions, is the somewhat unsatisfying pabulum on which, the reader is expected to subsist. It is quite a relief when, eventually, the heroine, in a mad recoil from Scylla in the shape of a more than usually persistent male relation who wants to marry her, strands upon Charyhdis in the person of an ardent pro-Boer, _ who has relinquished all his substance in a vain attempt to revolutionise men and manners in the fishing village in which he resides, and who thankfully takes Jean and her dollars to wife. “Another Woman’s Territory,” by “Alien.” (Constable’s Indian and Colonial Library). A story well worth the reading. It has a colonial setting, the characters making several rapid alternations between New Zealand and Melbourne. The characters are strongly drawn, and the 'hook is on the whole powerfully writ* ten. There is one failing, and that is that the author has signally failed in his attempt to pourtray the New Zealand scenery in which his story is set. Otherwise “Another Woman’s Territory”is a book which powerfully stirs the imagination and holds the undivided attention of the reader throughout. “The Girl at the Half-way House,” by E. Hough. Publisher; Wm. Heinemann, London'. This book is one of “The Dollar Library” series issued for the purpose of popularising American writers with the British public. . The story is interesting as depicting vividly “out hack” lif© in America, and th e peculiar methods and customs of the prairie pioneers. It is racy of the soil and told in the breezy exhilarating vein characteristic of the writers of American fiction. The hook deseryes to find many readers.

LITERARY GOSSIP

In “The Evolution of Immortality” Dr S. D. McConnell refuses to believe either that all men have immortality or that none have it. Immortality is, he thinks, conceded only to those to whom it is a boon; the belief in it as a universal attribute of th© human soul being not earlier than Augustine. Immortality, therefore, is a prize which may be won by any man who has attained to the idea of good things and evil in themselves, not merely forbidden or permitted. This, he says, is the doctrine of Christ, winch was so understood hv those to whom Christ preached, and by the whole Church np to the time of Augustine. Christ offered immortality in this sense, and tne strength of . Christianity lay in the novelty and fascination of the conception. These views are supported, of course, by extensive quotations from the New Testament. ***** Colonel Harvey, the President of

Messrs Harper and Brothers, on his return from a visit to London, made some interesting remarks to a representative of the New York “Tribune”:—“There simply does not exist in England to-day what American publishers would consider even a moderate demand for either b/joks or periodicals. It is well known that one of the most conspicuous and apparently popular magazines in London has been in the market for some months because its proprietor has reached the conclusion that it cannot be published except at a loss —and no purchaser appears.”

Over the grave of Professor Max Muller in Holywell Churchyard at Oxford (says “Literature”) has just been raised a tall Celtic cross of West Country granite—close" to the somewhat similar memorial which marks the grave of Dr Price, the master of Pembroke College. On the granite curbing is the inscription: “Wie Gott Will.” The memorial was designed by the Professor’s widow, and executed by Mr Harry Hems, the Exeter sculptor, who is to produce the proposed memorial to R. D. Blackmore in Exeter Cathedral.

Dr Paget, Dean of Christ Church, who has been elected to succeed the late Bishop Stubbs as Bishop of Oxford, was the autnor of the essay on “Sacraments” in "Lux Mundi.” He is the author of several works on religious subjects, “Concerning Spiritual Gifts,” “The Redemption of Work.” “The Spirit of Discipline,” and “Studies in Christian Character” are among them” *****

Mr Andrew Carnegie’s gift of £2,000,000 to form a trust fund, out of the income of which the fees of all Scottish students at the four Scottish Universities will be defrayed, is a noble one. It remains for some English philanthropist to provide funds for paying the fees of English students at some English University. Perhaps a commencement might be made by opening the matriculation examination at the University of London free to all who could show that they were born in England. This limitation to a particular nationality does not sound pleasing, but it may lessen the task set before millionaires.

A movement is on foot to raise a memorial to Sir Arthur Sullivan. A committee has been appointed to carry out a plan that includes a memorial in St. Paul’s, the endowment of a musical scholarship, and the erection of a statue or bust in some public place.