OTAGO WITNESS CHRISTMAS ANNUAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 17

OTAGO WITNESS CHRISTMAS ANNUAL.

It is gratifying to be able to state that the Witness Christmas Number this year has mob with such- a favourable leception et the bands of readers that the whole issue of 20,000 copies has been gold out. Favourable notices contiuue to come to baud from our confemporatiej, of which we quote a few below :—: —

Wellington Evening Post: "One of the very best of the weekly papers published in the Australasian colonies is the Otago Witness. In literary quality, in copious and universal news, in its infinite vaiiety of wholesome, instructive, and enteitaining reading matter, it stands in the very front raiik of colonial journalism. It therefore goes without saying that when from, such an office a special Christmas number is issued it must be of exceptional quality and attractiveness. Apait from its literary excellence, a notable feature of thß holiday number of our Duijediu contemporary is its wealth of admirable illustrations. Of these there are no less than 93. while a novelty i« a specially illustrated colonial tale by ' Fabian Bell,' in which many of the mo3t noted beauty spots of the West Coast Sounds couutry 'fire visibly depicted. The paper should have a wide sale'thrbughout the length and lnvadth of' the -colony, apart from a large demand fop friends beyond the sea." ' * ' •< Tuapeka. Times : "The editor of the- Otago Witness has taken a new departure this year, and one highly creditable to his judgment and perceptjon.of the public tafete ; and oue, also, it may be • added, that should lead to results mutally advantageous to the readers and proprietors of the Witness. Last Christmas the Witness was made a 'play ground' for colonial writers of fiction, with results that may be eaid to be questionable. This Christmas that element has been excluded, and literature of a class introduced that is certain to find high and general appieciation. We have now seen pretty well the whole of the New Zealand Christmas weeklies, and can say with confidence that none of them, in any of the essentials of a good Christmas paper, can approach the Witness. It is incomparably the best of the lot. The special feature of this year's issue is the excellence of the illustrations, which number no less than 93 in all. A novelty i« a specially illustrated story by ' Fabian Bell, 1 in which mauy of the most noted spots of the West Coast Sounds country are faithfully depicted. The illustrated portion of the papar comprises no less than 40 pages, and we think we may without egotism claim for this issue the premier place among this yeai's colonial Christmas numbers." Chrihtchurch Daily Press : "The Otago Witness Christmas Annual for 1897 .... is very interesting and attractive." Timaru Herald : " The illustrated portion of the paper . . . places the Witness in the front rank of this year's colonial Christmas journals. The paper is indeed eminently worthy of mailing to friends in all parts* of the world." O.imaru Mail : " The Witness this year has excelled all previous! efforts. . . . The whole number is printed on superfine paper to give the

pictures a chance, and the Issue Is a credit to tho management," South Canterbury Times : " A novelty is a specially - illustrated colonial tale by r Fabia« Bell,' in which many of tho most noted beauty spots of the West Coast Sounds are introduced al embellishments of tho story." Southland Times : " The Otago Daily Times and Witness, Company . . . shoirldbewarmlycom* plimented on the Bucceas achieved in their latest and biggest effort. . . . This number will rank high among colonial Christmas annuals." Southland News: "The Witness has gone in more largely than \isual for illustrative work, which is pleasingly varied aud well executed. . . . The storks and seasonable matter aia full of interest and splendidly printed." Clutha Leader : "The variety and class of tha reading matter are excellent, and so also is the general get-up of the number. In the colonies the large weeklie3 take the place of tho magazines in the older lands, and it is in this light we legard the Witness, which we look upon as one of the best weeklies in the colonies." Southern Standaid : "The illustrations . . . aic excellent ; the literary portion is above the average. . . ..Altogether, the Witness Christmas Aunual for 18&7 is a very attractive and readable number." Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times : " The Christina i Annual of the Otago Witness for 1597 is unquestionably far in advance from every point of view of any number published by the enterpi ising proprietary, and not only is it a credit to the oitiee but to New Zealand, and Otajo in particular, as tiu example of journalistic art, energy, and elaborate and painstaking detail. . . . Taking the Chi istmaa Aunual all through, it is a splendid specimen of colonial enterprise and art, and we congratulate the proprietary on its publv cation in a form so attractive and interesting— aq effort we feel sure a discerning public will duly appreciate." Clutha Free Press: "Printed as it is in clear type on good paper, it presents an altogether uu-to-date appearance." Wairarapa Daily Times: "The ilust rat ions . . . would pass muster in a lending London publishing office. Dimedin comeß well to the front with this Christmas venture."

New Zealand Tablet: "This yeai's (Witness Christmas) number is by far the be^t and bigftebfc success, yet attained by the company in this respect. . . . We can safely say this year's number takes the premier position among colonial Christmas annuals, and should prove most interesting to friends in the old country." Christian Outlook : "The Christmas Annual of the, Otago Witness is a produtftion'of rare exctl lence. Its artistic illustrations in the shape ol photo engravings have not been surpassed in theia colonies, and would do credit to any Home magtv . zinc. Its literary pabulum is so arranged as to , suit, all ages and taste*. The writers have alia colonial reputation, and some of them more. Fabian Bell, 1 'Fedora-,' L. Hudson, David M'Kee Wright, and others are household names. We must mhke special mention of the liivt instalment of a p ipsr on ' Types of Heroines of Modern Fiction. Th's is a brilliant production— one of the finest criticisms we have ever read on the subject. It is enough to make the fortuue of any magazine. It will add— if that be possible — to the deep regret felt by those who watched the career of the gifted writer, whose sun went down even before it had reached its noon. Altogether, this Christmas number of the Witness ia a credit to colonial journalism, and the editor aud hh associates &ra to be heirtily congratulated on its production." Atanm Mail: "The Christmas number of tha Otago Witness is a peculiarly attractive one. The illustralious are excellent, and the readiDg matte* of special interest." Wairarapa Star : "To say that it exceeds in excellence previous numbers docs not at all convey any idea of what the publication is like. The Otago Witness is well worth the small charge of 6 i, for it is one of the best productions in New Zi % land."

Standard and North- Canterbury Guardian 1 : "We have .no hesitation in saying that it is ai% well got up and finished a journal as any we hav.'e yei, b-an in the colony." ,

Tapnnui Conner: "The general get-up of thfa po.pnl.ir people's paper is evoeHeßt."

Wp3lein Star: ''This -year the imMishefs have cm'jlWl thfin-selveM. It is wilhont diuht thebes"t Uhr^tmas number of any vveclcly journal pulili>uf'J in the r'.lony.''

WoidviJlo {"Mininer: "This popular weekly ju'tiiuti, which holds thiipiuud p^-=>lion of beiug tlw leading .tgricailui'il rwper of tho colony, is always up to date with its ChiisUuas numbers. This year's Christmas number would nißke a very nice gift to friends un the other side."

Wakatipu Mail : "The finest Chrislmas number ever issued f-ora the New Zealand prtss, to far »h our lengthened experience goes, is that of the lahtOtigo Witness. . . . It may be well to say any of our local readers who desire to send a fitting souvenir to their friends should lo?c no time in procuring a c >py of the paper under notice from Mr It. Boyne, agent."