PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 3

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

“Facts About Esthonia,” from the Esthonian Consulate at Sydney, describes the republic from its geographical, social, industrial, and political aspects, giving the leading details with regard to the country. The Merry-Go-Round for December, being No. 2 of the new magazine for children, which is edited by Rose Fyleman, and numbers several well-known children’s writers among its contributors, fulfils the Pr omise of the first number. A -copy of the first weekly issue of Humour is a greatly improved and enlarged production. The paper gives a summary of the literary and artistic efforts of the world’s most famous humorists, some of the brightest and best of laughs that come from England, France, Germany. Italy, Russia, Spain, America, and remote parts of the globe. A big cash competition commences in the latest issue. The Publicity Officer of the Department of Internal Affairs has issued two folder booklets designed to illustrate and describe New Zealand. One is descriptive of the scenic charms and attractions generally, while the second is devoted to the mountains, lakes, and fiords. Both have been prepared for the Empire Exhibition in London, and will be also used for the season’s tourist traffic in New Zealand. The Ladies’ Mirror for January is a summer holiday number, and contains a wealth of illustration, depicting New Zealand life in its social, serious, and outdoor aspects. Charles E. Wheeler’s article on “The Art of Holiday-making and the" Opportunities in New Zealand” and “Child Welfare in New Zealand” (by Laura Bunting) are both informative, while sketches and short stories, with other features, make up an interesting number. The N.Z.L. Quarterly Magazine, which is the official organ of the New Zealand Loan nnd Mercantile Agency Company (Ltd.), and is published in the interests of the pastoral and agricultural industries, contains coloured plates of Specialty, from the original painting by Martin Stainforth, and the Sydney University. The contents are well chosen. New Zealand topics being well selected. The Christmas number of Chambers s Journal has an extended contents list, and the usual well-selected literary fare is enhanced fcv additional fiction. Mary Stuart Boyd writes “In a New Zealand Garden, which is of greatest interest to _ North Islanders, and the range of articles is wide. “The Heart of Things” (by Henry Leach) and “My First Job on the Press ’ {by Sir Henry Lucy) are among the widely-interest-ing contributions, but there are few dull pages. _ , The Empire Review for December eontains a good selection of topics treated by writers who for the mast part are widely known. The Earl of Birkenhead writes on “Idealism in International Politics, the Duke of Sutherland on “Airships and Empire,” the High Hon. Augustine Birrell on “Lord Motley of Blackburn,” Aylmer Maude on “The Russian Situation,” and Godfrcv Elton on “Oxford and the Labour Parly.” The official programme of the Empire naval cruise is included,' and several other articles, monthly notes, medical notes, and “Empire Trade and Finance” (by the Editor of the Economist) are among the long contents bill. "Polynesian Voyagers” (the Maori as deep-sea navigator, explorer, and coloniser) and “The Maori School of Learning” (its objects, methods, and ceremonial) are Nos. 5 and 5 of the Dominion Museum monographs. Both are written by Elsdon Best and are consequently authoritative and interesting. In “Polynesian Voyagers” the entrancing story of the early navigators is told, together with much that will be now to most readers regarding the Polynesian race. “The Maori School of Learning” opens up another vista of the quest for knowledge which permeates all peoples of vigorous mentality. These iponographs are well written and doubtless find a ready public. The Round Table for December opens with an article on “The Imperial Conference,” which is a useful historical review of past gatherings and a short resume of the latest meeting of Empire Prime Ministers. “The Problem of Europe” is ail exhaustive examination of the whole position, and a helpful analysis of the elements inherent in “Inflation and Deflation” follows. Several pages are devoted to “America and the Proposed Enquiry,” «o that the most perplexing points in European policy are adequately treated. Other leading articles deal with Great Britain and tile ’lrag; “An Experiment in AngloAsiatic Relations.” “Ireland As It Is.” and “The Economic and Financial Condition of India.” while leading topics in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia. South Africa, and New Zealand arc treated in the wellknown Round Table *pirit. The quarterly close? with a summary of the proceedings of the Imperial and Economic Conferences. In tlie December issue of Art in Australia the standard of this admirable quarterly magazine is thoroughly maintained. The contents are interesting and the production excels, as usual, on the technical side. The coloured plates include two capital exampk-s of the art of Mr Blamires Yeung, who recently returned to Australia, and Van Dyok’s impressive Duchess of Southampton, which is in the possession of the National Art Gallery of Victoria. The illustrations in black and white are well selected, giving a glimpse at reproductions of pen drawings and paintings by G. W. Lambert, George Bell, Will Ashton, A. Daiillo Ruhho, M. J. M’Nally, Florence Rodway, and others, as well as excerpts by Orpen and William Nicholson from Contemporary British Artists, published by Ernest Bonn, London. Norman Lindsay's latest pen-drawing, entitled “The Comedy Ends.” is also reproduced, and this artist is prominently represented in the letterpress in a reply to Sir William Orpen’s recent criticisms of his work. Whether the reply is considered convincing or not will depend largely upon the viewpoint of the reader; it is upon the whole a rather curious utterance, hut in what j? termed “A personal note on peculiarities in art” there is no doubt room for a certain amount of selfrevelation. Upon the literary side Dr C. MacLaurin’s article on Queen Elizabeth takes a conspicuous place, and if it be nor all pleasant reading, in that it has a strong colour of medical diacnosis. it is not unreasonably claimed, perhaps, in the editorial prologue that “Such a frank analytical endeavour, on account of its psvehologlcal research and the craftsmanship displayed in its treatment, needs no excuse for inclusion in any publication.” Lovers of poefrv will find their tastes well catered for in this issue.