THE 'OBSERVER' Christmas Number.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1094, 16 December 1899, Page 17

THE 'OBSERVER' Christmas Number.

A SPLENDID PRODUCTION.

To-mobkow (Saturday) the Christmas number of the Observer will be placed before the public. "We have always comistentl/ followed the plan of giving to our readers a real Christmas Annnal — not one produced months iv advance, and staled in the public estimation long before the Christmas season, with all itß merry and cheerful associations, has begun to occupy people's minds. We have never lent onreelves to the practice of vamping it ont with borrowed pictures, which have done duty elsewhere, and ek* ing out space with tales cribbed from .English and American magazines.

On this occasion, as heretofore, the Obsek ver Annual will be distinctively a New Zealand production, racy of tba soil, full of local colour, and faithfully mirroring colonial life in many phases from grave to gay, bat, in consonance with the holiday spirit of the season, affording the utmost play for humonrous fancy.

The issue bas been somewhat retarded Jhis year by a more ambitious effort in pictorial work tban has ever before been attempted in this colony. This is the development in our office of the new process of printing in colonra from etched zinc plates. It is the first time it has been successfully achieved in New Zealand. In the Old World this colour printing from zins is fast superseding lithography, and is revolutionising the old fashioned methods of pictorial reproduction.

The public will judge of it for themselves when the saperb coloured presentation plate, which accompanies the Observeb Chrißtmas Number, is placed in their hands. The subject is taken from Old New Zealand. A Maori brave has just landed from a war-party upon the beach at Lake Rotorna, and, leaping in the air with his mere brandished in his uplifted right hand, he makes his challenge to battle, ' Ake, Ake, Ake, -Kin Eaha.' Kight behind him on the lake float the war canoes of his tribe, crowded with warriors and gaily decorated. In the backgroand, lie the familiar outlines of the historic island of Mokoia.

The picture was expressly painted by Mr T. Ryan, whose artistic talent is here seen at its very best. It has been reproduced with marvellous fidelity - Every detail is brought into clear relief, there is great depth in the perspective, and the leading figure id instinct with vigorous life and true to nature in every lineament. Ie is printed apon enamelled paper and is richly worth framiDg.

The Annual itself contains a capital collection of Christmas tales written by capable New Zealand writers, and is copiously illustrated by the facile pencil of ' JrSlo ' in his own graphic and humorous style. There is abundant food for mirth and laughter in cartoons, pictares and tales A large variety of taßtefl is catered for. Stories, jokes, fannyism?, nonsenße verses, amusing illustrations, broad caricatures — all are tbf re. And the price, as heretofore, is only sixpence. A cheaper and more versatile sixpennywonh was never placed before the New Zealand public. Subscribers aad friends will do well to book their orders in advance, for there will be no second edition.