New Publications

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5, 1 February 1906, Page 3

New Publications

We have received from the office of ' The Liberal Herald,' Wellington, ' The Liberal Labor Calendar ' for the current year. The calendar is admirably compiled, and shows in a nutshell the advance of the Colony during the administration of the present Government, besides other matters of general interest. For those who have neither time nor inclination to refer to official publications for information on certain matters the calendar will be found extremely useful. Among the many school annuals issued at the close of the scholastic year that of St. Patrick's College, Ballarat, occupies a very high position. The college, which is a most successful institution, is conducted by the Christian Brothers, who have shown themselves there, as elsewhere, to be in the forefront, as educators. The publication, which is edited by the students — one of whom, by the way, is a grandson of the late Dr. Kevin Izod O'Doherty and of ' Eva ' of the ' Nation ' — is very creditable to all concerned, the letterpress and illustrations being very good. In addition to a record of the college work during the year and other events connected therewith the annual contains a number of original contributions in prose and verse on various subjects, which display more than ordinary literary merit. Very few of the college magazines arc to be compared to ' Our Alma Mater,' the organ of the students of St. Ignatius' College, Riverview, .Sydney. The letterpress, illustrations, printing, and general get-up of the publication are excellent. The Christmas issue, now before us, is devoted mainly to a record of the work done by the students during the year in classroom, debating hall, and athletic field. As these reports take up the greater part of the 70 pages of the semi-annual very little space has been left for tho&c literary contributions in prose and verse, which were a feature of the midwinter issue. There is, however, an interesting account of the site on which the college stands, and of the founding of the institution, with a very good photograph of the late Father Dalton, S.J., its founder and first Rector.

We have received the ' Almanac of the Diocese of Maitland ' for the current year, and a very useful publication it is, great industry and care being employed in its compilation. It is now in its seventh year, each succeeding issue since the first showing noticeable improvement. It is as its sub-title indicates a family home annual, which should find a place on the bookshelves of every Catnolic householder in the 'diocese. In addition to a 'comprehensive account of the various missions of the diocese are added a comparative table of progress, diocesan statistics, religious information for 19(06, whilst in purely secular matters we have a list of the Federal Senate and House of Representatives, also of the Legislature of New South Wales, with useful notes on postal and telegraph rates, etc. The two contributed articles, especially that entitled, ' Our Relations with our Non-Catholic Brethren,' by the Right Rev. Mgr. Long, V.G., Bathurst, will be found worthy of perusal and earnest attention by many outside the diocese for which the Almanac is intended. There are many cookery books on the market, but tße majority of these arc compiled for countries where the conditions of life are very different from those which) obtain in the Australian colonies, and furthermore many of them are devoted to directions for the preparation of dinners, etc., which are altogether beyond the means and requirements of the bulk of the people of these colonies. Some time ago Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., published the Kingswood Cookery Book, which was designed more for the everyday use of people enjoying moderate incomes than for the wealthy. This oook is now in its,sixth edition, completing the 29th thousand— a practical proof of its popularity. The volume is not a mere compilation of recipes, as the majority of them are original, many having been written expressly for pupiJs attending the author's cooking classes, and therefore have been practically tested before being recommended to the public. There are close on 17D0 recipes in the book, which is obtainable in cloth at the very moderate price of Is Gd.