PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19692, 20 January 1926, Page 3

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

New Zealand publicity is certainly developing. The latest movement on the part of the Government Publicity Department is the issuing of a monthly illustrated paper, entitled N.Z. News and Views, for distribution overseas. Printed on art paper, with coloured cover, the first issue runs to 20 pages, but the ultimate intention is a 32-page paper, with a free circulation of 10,000 amongst newspapers, hotels, libraries, clubs, Chambers of Commerce, manufacturers’ associations and other representative institutions and individuals who count on the various English-speaking countries. Illustrations of new scenery and industries abound, and the reading mat'ter is brief and bright, and smartly beaded up. The paper is to be national in character and politics, when introduced, will be devoid of partisan tone. Headers are invited to submit the names and addresses of persons or organisations to whom copies might profitably be mailed. The second issue of the P.L.A. (Port of London Authority) Monthly is as impressive as the first, which received very favourable notice from the British press. A further instalment of the history of the groat port is full of interest One learns from another article that during a five month’s period last year 19,222 vessels paid river dues, an average of 125 ships per day. The tonnage entering the port during six months ended September, 1026, totalled 18.080.452, and was the highest ever recorded for that period of the year. The periodical is beautifully illustrated. The Empire Review for December has Quite a variety of features calculated to arrest and hold the attention of the thoughtful. Empire trade and finance, Singapore the Locarno Pact, and other subjects of vital importance to the Empire are handled by men who have something worth while to say. “The Early History of onr Country, as Told by the British Museum,” is quite fascinating reading. Book reviews, a literary causerie, science, medical, and nature notes, a sketch of John Wesley by the Rt. Hon. Augustine Birrell. K.C., and a dramatic short story by Napoleon are among the features of this number. Christmas has brought out Chambers’s Journal in an entirely fresh dress of colours, in very definite contrast to its staid covers. The offering within, presentee] in its usual form, is dispersed in a specially generous measure, and the quality is excellent. The Christmas section comprises a quartet of tonic stories by Harold Spender (“How Christmas Came to the Honcybors”). G. Appleby Terrill (“The Fan Shaped Coach”), H. Glynn Ward (“The Parrot”), and G. F. Byron (“Curses Come Homo”). The Eev. James Si’bree is informative on the subject of crocodiles in Madagascar. Major Foran has much of interest to say about elephants. Major T. A. Lowe chats pleasantly of Brussels during Christmas, 1918, after the armistice. The magazine is a pleasant admixture of that which merely entertains and that which informs. Strand subscribers should be well satisfied with the Christmas nmhber of their favourite magazine. A section of it is in colour, and includes beautiful reproductions of a collection of modern pictures. ’Hie letterpress is varied, embracing a number of capital stories by Vachell, Wodehouse, H. G. Wells, J. j. Bell, Catherine and Frank Wells, B. M. Hastings, Arnold Bennett and Douglas Newton. The monthly instalment of Sir A. Conan Doyle’s “Land of the Mist” tells of a sitting at which were materialised in succession a huge birds of prey, a pithecanthropus which licked the hands of the sitters and an aged man who moved at their dictate. Sir Hall Caine gives some reminiscences of his youth, T. F. O’Connor and Dean Inge present their views on tile art of pu'blio speaking, and there arc other features of interest, including some new stories of Gilbert and Sullivan. The Bound Table for December deals in its usual thoughtful, impartial, effective way with live problems of today. _ ' Discussing the Locarno Treaties, it explains the ideal, but points out what it considers grave disadvantages. An article on the Irish Free States gives the views of ah Irish e.xUnionist. “Leaves from a Greek Notebook” sheds a now light upon Grecian affairs, and gives a striking picture of life there under Pangalos. A suggestive article on “Conditions of Industrial Progress” Is contributed by a writer in touch with the Midlands, “one of the great workshops of England.” The important matter of Empire frontiers, with particular refoience to India, is dealt with in “The Indian Frontier Problem.” A sketch of the United Stales as it is to-day, its unprecedented prosperity, its attitude towards Locarno and the ‘ League of Nations. _ is highly interesting, and the articles dealing with 'Australia, New Zealand. Canada, end South Africa stimulate thought. Maintaining that “men have lost, sight of the constitution of the great game of life and arc at cross purposes, trying to clay little sectional games on their own," Mr E. G. Dalziell has issued n booklet form an appeal to tho organisers, industrial, or otherwise, of Now Zealand for “lovaltv to the constitution of nature.” Mr Dalzieir* gospel stresses the mint that the first and all-important principle or ride of organisation is the universe itself, and all onr organisations must be based on this great thought if success and harmony arc to be achieved. The January “Aussie” is full of bright pictures, stories, and verse. Competent writers from Australia and New Zealand contribute to tho issue. The New Zealand section is always interesting and the monthly features,' the literary page and the New Zealand woman's section sparkle with bright paragraphs. We have to acknowledge receipt of the January number; of the New Zealand Draper', Clot bier, and Boot Retailor, and (he New Zealand Bakers’ and Grocers’ Review.