PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12395, 3 July 1902, Page 8

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

" Cricket Form at a Glance (1878-1902) and the ' Australians }n England," By Home Gordon. Westminster: Archibald Constable and Co., Limited. (3s Gd.) •

This is a-stupendous statistical work, the preparation -of which has taken 12 long years— not certainly of uninterrupted work, lot while it was "at first the chief occupation of ample leisure" it was subsequently carried on in' " tho lev; leisuro intervals between many occupations,"- It supplies in small compass tho total numbor of runs scorcd in cach season, and the-season's average of every batsman who participated in English first-class matches in any two seasons ■ between and 1902, and the total number of runs scored off every bowler who similarly bowled in any two seasons bi-t-ween tho same limits of time, and took at least one wickot, the total number of wickets that, foil-.to him, and hisnverage for each season. 'I'ho rccord of tho Australian teams in England is dealt with iii a like liberal fashion. All this is supplemented, moreover, with particulars of.tho date of the birth of each of the hundreds of cricketers 'whose " form at a glance " is thus indicated and of the school of county or colony for which he. played. What more in the way of statistical information regarding the game can anyone possibly desire? If there is anything else it is supplied by the sporting journalists, to whose ability and enthusiasm Mr Home Gordon pays a generous, but, we believe, merited tribute. But why begin the record at 1873? v riio answer is furnished by Lord, 1 Hawke, who h-s written a preface to the work: "Because that yeir is the definite starting point'of inpdern' cricket." The first Australian team visited England in 1878, and on tho 27th May startled the cricket world by defeating the M.C.C. Eleven in one day. "Thenceforth,'' Lord Hawke says; " the English public realised that the game was not cur insular prerogative." Of couise Mr Home Gordon's work was a labour of love. No one who v,as not intensely devoted to the game would have undertaken to compile and shape into the presentable and useful form in which he has given .them to us sncli a mass oi figmvs as ho had had to handle. But there is that peculiar 'charm about the t;ame of cricket-that- it has attracted to itself a perfect army of devotees who will spare themselves no end of trouble if the result will only prove serviceable to the greater anny of lovers of tho game who have not the., sauio inclination to, ferret out statistical details-, for themselves, or -who have' not ilia time or .the materials at hand to enable them to do so, or who perchance lnsiy not rsalise, ss Mr Home Gordon .Joes,-"the fascination of statistics."-

*\Ve have, received from Mr Joseph Braithwaile Part I of " Sporting Pictures," which' aire .being published by Cassell and Co. (Limited) by arrangement with Messrs E. "W. Savory, fine art publishers. The idep. is to provide a gallery of coloured spotting prints superior to anything produced of recei:t years from modern original drawings and paintings by well-known , artists of reputation. The series will cover all' kinds ot sporting, such as hunting, coaching, shooting of au kinds, deer stalking, coursing, racing, stceplcchasing, golf, cricket, football, fishing,, rowing, yachting, etc. Part I gives four really artistic reproductions of fine paintings, and also a frontispiece,' entitled " Trouble at the Turnpike." The first, " Well Away," is. it-hunting scene, in which a lady is leading over the fences. " Sunshine " is-a moorland Eccne depicting ft couplo of pointers'flushing a brcod of partridges. "Up to Time at the Lion " .is a coaching Scene. "A. Da-h on ilic Goal Liiio " is a 'splendid piece, the details of which can be grasped almost at once by anyone who has watched a few Rugby games. The pictures are really artistic and well worthy of a place in the home of anyone fond of outdoor sports. Each is accompanied by a page of descriptive letterpress by B. Fletcher Robinson, whoso penpicturc3 cannot but heighten the pleasure derived from perusing the coloured plate. Every Saturday is the title of a new weekly newspaper which commenced its careef in Melbourne on June 21, the-publishing price being Id. Judging from the first number, which we have received, it should meet with public favour. It is not a newspaper as a newspaper is generally known, and ordinary current events usually recorded find 110 place in its columns. It is intended to interest and to amuse, and as the ordinary newspaper can find but little space for many events of scientific, historical, literary, ' and general interest in various part3.ol the world, it is intended to supply' tho want by publishing a careful selection of this class of news, taken from the press of the world. Some of the articles arc illustrated. Every v Saturday will thUs provide sound, healthy reading calculated to instruct, itniuse, arid interest the masses, and can be taken up in spare moments with pr6fit by young n.nd'old.' "rt'e wish the new venture the success it thoroughly dc;;rves,

Messrs W. H. Paling and Co., of Sydney, tho well-known and enterprising publishers of Australian songs, have st us a song, "My old sweetheart in fair Australia." It is iiot' entirely unfamiliar, as it was sung here by iliss Frances Gwynne; of tho World's Entertainers, and was listened to with evident delight. It is delightfully simple and effective, and Mr Austin Walsh,' the author and composer, ij to.be congratulated on his excellent work. - The.song can be sung by either a soprano or Contralto, and, altogether, should meet with public favour.