PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12607, 10 March 1903, Page 3

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

"Ratcliffo'a Guide to-the South African Press" is just to hand, and, in view of the efforts being njr.de to open up a taulo with South Africa, tho volume should prove valuable to commercial and business men. There i& first 'a good map of British South Africa, and then comes an articlo on "The Business Outlook in South Africa," concluding wit-h some particulars concerning openings for trade. A list of South African papers, with particulars and notes on the various towns, is followed by an alphabetic?,l list of newspapors and other publications. The Customs Union tariff is given in full, also the various railway tariffs, followed by trade statistics of-tho whole of tho British colonies, including the Transvaal. A variety of other useful information is given in a compact form, including a list of shipping and forwarding agents, information for travellers, and particulars of the coinage, weights and measures, etc., and last of all a list of English books. Wo have received from Mr Prictor a oopy of a new magazine, entitled "Tho World's Work," published by W. Hcinemann, London. The new magazine is edited by Henry Norman, M.P., c-nd the subscription is 15s per ai-nuni. In presenting thb magazine to the public thei publishers state that its object is to present each month a picture of the activities of the world—particularly in the British world— in public life, in foreign affairs, in commerce, industry, science, invention, literature, art, and social life. It is further explained that in British affairs "The World's Work'' will be progressive in politics, and inspired by tho conviction that the education and well-being of the people form tho surest foundation of national prosperity. It will regard the Empire as tho personal concern of every citizen, and its security and development as indissolubly dependent upon his own character and aims. Special articles dealing with important features in the world's work will be published monthly, aud as the world's work cannot be successfully carried on without the world's play, there will be occasional articles upon the chief sports of the nation. A special section will be devoted to tho work of women in the world. A guide to tho literature of the month, illustrated by portraits of the authors of the books attracting mo3t- attention, will appear regularly. It is also intended to co-operate with the American magazino of the same name, with a view to presenting to British readers aspects (>' American activity. The programme is sufficiently ambitious to satisfy the most omnivoreus reader. The articles in the first number are all of a very high class, and readable withal. Advertising is brought to tho level of a fino art in the illustrated story, entitled " Tho Romance of Miller's Boots," in which the whole process of manufacturing the boots of a firm i 3 explained in detail. "By the Stroke of a Pen" performs a like sorvieo for a fountain pen factory. An article on " British Klcctrical Engineering Progress ' gives a detailed account of the work done by the British Thomson-Houston Company. Each article is dearly illustrated. Tho article 011 the English Education Bill is illustrated by portraits of tho prominent men who either supported or opposed the bill. The headings of the chapters give some idea of the contents of No. 1, Volume

I, of tho new magazine. These are: "Tho Race for South American Trade," ' A Yankee Boss in England," " Should We Abandon tho Mediterranean," "The Atlantic Combine: •Plain Facts for Nervous Britishers," "How British Trade is Handicapped," etc. "The World's Work" covers sufcli a wide field that it should find a welcome place among a large circle of readers.

Tho Review of Reviews foe Australia.—Tho lastest number, in addition to the usual features, contains several articles which will he read with more than ordinary interest. First comes a 'brief paper by Sir R. Stout on " The Totalisator in New Zealand." Believing that " gaming is the arch enemy of industrialism, and that it is through the growth of the industrial spirit that true progress will come to the race," our Chief Justice cites the totalisator as a sociar curse. " What Federal Members Think of Each Other" is on.inside view of the leading members in the Federal Parliament.' The Hon. C. H. Rason, the Westralian Minister for Public Works, in "The Goldfields Water Scheme of Western Australia," gives in brief compass the story of a great work. The cost, it is estimated, will foot up to £2,850,000. There is 011 interesting article on Dr Lorenz, straightener of children. The book of the month is " Queen Victoria as Sovereign." The leading articles in the reviews and magazinesare summarised, and there is, as usual, a selection of tho caricatures" of the month, and quite a number of illustrations.

Tho New Zealand Illustrated Magazine (Arthur Cleave and Co., Auckland).—The February number' opens with brief sketches and portraits of some- of the contributors to the magazine, and. thero is a second instalment also, of " Rambling Recollections," by " Rolling Stone." The best paper in tho selection is ono entitled " Colonials in Fiction," by Clara Eyre Cheeseman. It is trenchantly written, but- it is to be hoped that budding novelists will carefully study it. "The Early Times of Venice," by Lucy B. Sanders, is a very brief historical sketch. A short paper by Dr Dean Bamford on Edward Gibbon Wakefield scarcely does justice to its subject, There is a cynical littlo story, entitled "From the Warr," quite

a number of original pooms, literary chat, the ladies' department, and numerous illustrations. The New Idea, tho title of a Woman's Home Journal for Australasia, ia making a bold bid for the favour of tho ladies, Tho February number givc9 the results of soma of tho competitions which are to form a distinguishing feature of the journal. Nearly ilio whole of the 88 pages is devoted to subjects, which aro contributed by Australian writers. Miss Helen Davis, after working in a jam factory for several weeks, writjs, and illustrates with photographs, her impressions of the Australian factory girl; Mr.s Seddon and her daughter give to an interviewer an account of their trip to England, and aro photographed in their Coronation dresses; Mr Carew-Smyth explains tit length the system of brnshwork that is being introduced into Australian schools; and Mrs Foote, a. woll-known Australian journalist, writes a chatty article on Homo notablo Australasian women. Scvoral pages are devoted to reviews of new books and announcements of books to come; whilst on other pages aro printed prize stories and verses, tho result. o£ a literary competition just held. Competitions, however, aro not confined to literary subjects. Tho award of a prize of £50 for good taste is announced, and a further sum of £250 is promised in prizes for the coming year. Naturally, a good portion of tho journal is devoted to lapliions, dressmaking, advice to mothers and daughters; and domestb information; whilst a children's leajnio, with several hundred members, holds revol in a section of tho magazine. The subscription rate is 3s, posted to any addross in Australasia, and tho publisher is Shaw Fitchctt, Queen street, Jlolbourne.