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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 325, 29 May 1878, Page 4

Messrs Wise and Co., of Dunedin, have forwarded to a resident of Carlyle, a specimen copy of a “ Geography of New Zealand and the Australian Colonies,” a school book, compiled by D. Petrie, M.A., Inspector of Schools to the Otago Education Board. The Otago Daily Times , of April 3rd, remarks on it as follows : “ The little volume under review is evidently tbe result of convictions forced on a practical educationist by the evidence, of his eyes and ears, and a somewhat careful perusal of the book shows that it is admirably calculated to impress the geographical facts of New Zealand on the,minds of the youth of the Colony. This is effected, not merely by judicious compiling and arranging of the information, hut by certain peculiarities of the printer’s art, by which greater effect is given to ’names and towns intended to catch the eye, by the occasional use of a black letter type (albion), which, while giving a somewhat curious appearance to the page, cannot fail to' give a very great assistance to the learner. The first portion of the little volume is devoted to a general description of the Islands, their position, area, political divisions, coast features, and surfacefeatures,' under which latter division there is a.detailed statement of ,the mountains) rivers, plains, downs, lakes, &c., of each of the Islands.Thereafter, the Pro- ■ vincial Districts are treated in succession, the information being conveyed in a most interesting manner, and one calculated to impress the information on the memory. To each Provincial District is appended a descriptive notice, showing at a glance, the distinguishing features, productions, &c., of each, with historical sketches of very

readable kind. To this succeeds a list of the new Counties, with their position, principal towns, &c., followed by an account of the islands of the coast. There is u very interestsng sketch of the Native race, descriptive of their histoiy and manner of life. A chapter is devoted to the climate of New Zealand, another to its Fauna and Flora, which is followed by a sketch of the discovery and history of New Zealand The second portion of the work- is devoted to Australia with its several Colonies, and though not so full and comprehensive as the portion devoted to our own Colon}', it nevertheless contains a large amount of general information of great value to students. The little volume, which consists of 77 pages of letter-press, is exceedingly neatly printed and tastefully bound in cloth, and is published at the low price of one and sixpence. It is unquestionably far superior to any New Zealand geography which has preceded it.”