PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 47

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The August number of Scribner's Magazine, a copy of which is sent us by Messrs W. J. Prictor and Co., publishers, is a most charming and attractive one — beginning, but by no means ending, with the strikingly artistic cover. For some time readers of American magazines have groaned under a mental fare of Spanish-American war absolutely nauseating ; but the August number of Scribner's emerges triumphant ; full of capital stories and articles, and absolutely excelling itself in the beauty of the illustrations, as, for example, those to Harding Davis's capital story, " The Lion and the Unicorn," and the charming Canadian sketch, " Vaillautcoaur," to say nothing of the rich Irish humour of both letterpress and illustrations in " A Royal Ally." "The Trail of the Sandhill Stag" and " Japanese Flower Arrangement " are two most interesting articles. Mr QuillerCouch's serial,. "The Ship- of Stars," and the series of Robert Louis Stevenson letters continue, with unabated interest. In fact, our old friend "Scribner," in this number not only equals, but excels that charm which came noar to extinction in the tide of Spanish-American war patriotism. The September number of the Review of Reviews contains a fair amount of interesting colonial reading, such as the " Australian Eleven in England" — that inexhaustible Australasian topic ! — " New Zealand and Federation," by Mr T. K. Taylor, M.H.R.. and "Australia's Naval Future." The character sketch of the mouth is of ex-King Milan, of Servia, whom Mr Stead generously essays if not to whitewash, at least to portray in neutral tint. The book of the month is "Pope Leo XIII; His Life and Work," written by no less an authority than Monsieur de Narjon, the Pope's valen. The editor, reluctant to abandon the subject, finds a topic for che month in the results of the conference, prefaced by a charming portrait of Queen Wilhelmina ; while " The Crisis in the Transvaal," from an Australian point of view will interest many readers.

The Pall Mall for September provides a good deal of fiction for its readei's, but all of a somewhat perfunctory kind, and nothing to call for special comment unless, indeed, it be Mr Wells's unutterably sad sketch, "Underneath," a story of the days to come. Among the various articles contained in the number there is a finely-illus-trated one on Alnwick Castle, a very interesting one on " Russia After the Completion of the Siberian Railway," another on "America of To-day," well worth reading ; and yet another, entitled "Pictorial Phll-

ately," which includes several illustration* of New Zealand stamps. Messrs Clarke and Co., Melbourne, have issued an interesting description of the Pitfield Plains and Beiringa goldfields, containing maps of the field, showing bores, etc.. complete to date. The work is by Mr Allan Bowler, and should be of considerable value to all taking an interest in the gcldfields of Victoria.

THE NEW ZEALAND ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE.

No. 1, volume 1, of the New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, published in Auckland, is to hand, and a highly creditable production the first numbei is. * This is not the first time that a purely New Zealand magazine has been attempted, but the present effort excels all previous attempts of the kind, and if the magazine secures the measure of patronage its merit warrants the Ne-n Zealand Illustrated Magazine will take its place amongst the periodicals that have corae to stay. The articles in the number jus I. to hand have been specially written for the magazine by colonial writers whose names are not unfamiliar to readers of New. Zealand newspapers. Both subject matter arid style show excellent discrimination, and the general tone of the magazine is commendable. The -variety of subjects handled affords entertaining and .instructive reading for all classes of readers, and some of the articles are native to the soil, which, lends an added interest. The magazine demonstrates the fact that there is plenty of talent in the colony if only some inducement is held out for its application ; ahd naturally a magazine gives scope for a different class of article than that generally; found acceptable for the daily r.e^ .-paper. Professor Bickerton contributes a. capital article on the " Outlook of the Coming Century," in the course of which he places under review the -nain factors that contributed to England's commercial supremacy, and touches generally upon the widening area of knowledge that has expanded with the century. It is a well-thought-out article th at isworthy of careful perusal. Under the caption " In the Public Eye," hia Excellency the Governor, Lady Ranfurly, and the old and new Maori, as represented by Patara te Tuhi, a chief of the oldeo time, and Mr A. T. Ngata, M.A., LL.B., are briefly referred tp. Mrs Malcolm Rost contributes a racy article entitled "A Ghat with an Old-timer." "The Austialian Commonwealth and New Zealand." by Mr G. M. Newton, will be read with moie than usual interest at the present time. cs Mr Newton carefully reviews the whole situation. Fiction is not overlooked, and "Tha Opal Cliffs," by F. Carr, is no mean effort. Professor Maclaurin, of Victoria' College, contributes an instructive article on " University Life in the Middle Ages," and James Ct wan gives us a glimpse at " The Poetic, Side of the Maori." "A Dream of Hearts," by Olive Tilly, is a capital short story, as "is also " The Little Mother," . by Keron Hule " Her Long-Lost Brother," by Thos. Cottle, is a capital story with local* colouring. Poetry, the drama, art, music, and athletics all find a corner within the covers of the magazine, and the illustrations are on the whole creditable. Altogether tha Magazine Company have reason to be satisfied .with their first number ; it only rests with the public to encourage such a commendable enterprise by giving the Magazine the support it will deserve if it is kept up to the standard of its first number.