NEW BOOKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2125, 20 February 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS.

Famous Discoveries by land and Sea. (London : Blackieand Co.) A book containing a realistic and exciting account of a few of the great discoveries of former days, such as the finding of the New World by Christopher Columbus, of Mexico by Cortez, of Guiana by Sir Walter Raleigh, and others. The adventures are all told with a strict adherence to historical fact, and while the book is intensely interesting it is at the same time most instructive.

Lay* ofn Londoner. By Clement Scott. (London : Carson and Comerford.) Some readers will be familiar with several of the lyrics and poems in this work, as they have appeared in Punch. To those who have not read them this unpretending little book may be recommended as containing lays on topics of the day alike interesting to the Londoner and tho general public. In an " Old Postman's Story " the complaint of the rural postman who has to go his round burdened with the additions of the Parcel Post is ventilated, and we have the well-known story of the narrow escape of the Dover express as it neared Rochester on that memorable day when an attempt was made to wreck it, and only frustrated by the courage and presence of mind of the engine-driver. " The Pride of the Troop " will be read with a thrill of sympathy and Kity, as indeed will most of these heartfelt tys, which are told by one who feels the grievances of others, which he can so well relate.

Poppy Land. By Clement Scott. (Same publishers.) This is a aeries of papers describing ■cenery on the East Coast, written by the author, who spent a pleasant holiday in that neighbourhood. They have all the freshness of reality, and are charming descriptions of the people and places as he saw them.

On Board the Esmeralda, or Martin LtigWs Log. By John C. Hutcheson. (London : Cassell and Co.) The author's name ie almost sufficient voucher for a good tale, and we here have one of his best. It is the story of a lad who ran away from hardships at school only to find himself worse off as a stowaway lad at aea, and at the captain's mercy. But having plenty of pluck and a fair knowledge of nautical affairs he managei to work on bravely, until at last he surmounts all difficulties and becomes a second mate. The narrative is as stirring and exciting as it is full of interest to any lad who is fond of sea stories.

Through the Fray—A Tale of the Ludditc Jtiots. By G. A. Hcnty. (London : Blackioand Son.) The troubles, known as the Luddite Riots, which occurred at the beginning of this century, have furnished Mr Henty with the subject of this tale. He has shown to what extent the insurrection was carried on in Yorkshire among the employes of the woollen manufactures. Ned Sankey, a schoolboy and a lad with a very passionate temper, bad the misfortune to lose his father through an accident at an early age. His mother marries again, to her .son's great disgust, to n manufacturer who has the reputation of b^ing a coward and a tyrant over his men. The new stepfather, after vaTioiw nkimiMiwj with the lad, who despises him. one day knocks him about to such an extent tint Ned declares he will kill him. That «mn« evening Mr Mulready is murdered, aud Ned is arrested on suspicion. A veidict of not guilty is, however, returned, thongh the lad has to live under the Ivui nt jieople's suspicion. How his character is cleared and his subsequent difficulties and heroic conduct we will leave to the readers of the book. The tale is full of spirit, and gives a vivid idea of the struggles which beset men of progress in those days who were so anxious to introduce machinery in the place of bo much manual labour. The bwdtome

cover and pood iHiutrations greatly add to the value of the book, which is no good without and within. ffit Gloutf with tin Silver Lining, By Mrs Maokarnes*. (London : Crosby, Lock wood »nd Co.) A a : mpl* little love atory, told very feelingly. This i? another of the Sunbeam Fcrica of short storits. Kc.mcth Me At pine. By Gordon Stables. (London : S. \V. Partridge and Co.) Thirt is a tale <>f a Scotch "laddie," Kunnolh, who, with his dojf Kooran, kept tliti nheop on the mountain side*. But one d.iv a rich Anv.rio.ui c*mo nnd bought the entire glen fi •tin the impoverished Scotch laird, nnd turned out all tho inhabitants who had dwolt in thoir cottage* for generations. He burnt their homesteads and brought deer into the glens for hunting. Kenneth was of too independent a spirit to accept a post of under gillie, mo ho trudged foith on foot to seek his fortune, and after many, very many, trials and journeys in foreign landa, he succeeded in becoming a prosperous farmer of British Columbia, only returning home to marry. The tale i< charming in its many descriptions of Highland scenes and places abroad. And as would be expected from an author, who so loves them, wo have several " dear doggies" introduced, and boys who are lovers of animals will be delighted with this book. The illustrations are good and very numerous, and a well-drawn coyer completes the whole. The Practical Poultry Keeper. By L. Wright. (London : Cassell and Co.) This is the twentieth edition of this useful work, which has been appreciated by the public as a long- felt want. This new nnd revised edition contains an additional amount of experience collected unce the first number was issued twolva months sign. The stereotyped illustrations have been replaced by coloured plates of th« principal breeds, drawn by Mr J. W. Ludlow.