LITERARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 257, 3 November 1906, Page 10

LITERARY.

A very interesting andusefullittle book entitled "An Anthology of Australian Versp," has been published by Messrs. Angus and Robertson, of Sydney. -t is edited by Bertram Stevens, who explains in his preface that he has "endeavoured to make this selection representative of the best, short , jems written by Australians or inspired by Australian scenery and conditions of life— Australian' in this connection beinj used to include New Zealand. The. arrangement is, as nearly as possible, chronological, and the appendix contains brief biographical particulars of the authors, together with notes which may be useful to readers outside Australia."' The selections have been made with judgment. and include some of the best specimens of Australasian poetry. Xew Zealand writers occupy a respectable place in this book, which is very tastefully bound, and would form an attractive addition to any library.

Ethel Turner's new book. 'Tn the Mist of the Mountains," derives its interest chiefly from its charming pictures of child life. The family of a judge are placed under the care of Miss Bibby. a lady of literary expirations, in a viva on the Blue Mountains, wlule their parents visit New Zealand. They become •part of the life of the village, with its limited interests—its rival tradesmen, and flitting population of runnier visitors. A sensation is created in the fudge's abode, through the arrival of a celebrated novelist, who takes possession of an adjacent villa, and l>v Jiis presence causes a flutter in the heart of Miss Bibby. The children soon invade the territory of tlic man of letters as the champion of their favourite grocer, and march him off ;:t an early hour to order bacon and other edibles. The acquaintance porteutous consequences to various members of the little community. Miss Bibby receives an offer of six guineas from a Sydney journal if she can secure, an interview with the novelist, who has hitherto resolutely resisted the. invading report pv, and she is furnished with some remarkable '"copy" by that gentleman, which in her innoence she sends on to the Sydney journal, and it is duly printed, very much to the astonishment and discomfiture of all concerned. Iv endeavouring to make amends the novelist becomes iurthcr entangled, and In , lnid=i himself, to his own surprise, and still more to that of Miss Bibby, transformed from the position of a not too friendly critic to that of a lover. Out of' these somewhat meagre materials the author manages to weave a pretty story. The picture of life on the Blue Mountains will recall some pleasant recollections to those who have visited this favourite resort, of thn sunbaked Svdnpyileh. The book is published by \\ard. Lock and Co.; we have received acopy from Wildman and Arcy.

Aptitude in the delineation of child life appears fo be a faculty akin to genius in the Turner family; may we infer from it happy home experiences. Lilian Turner, the author of "Betty and Co." and ''The Australian Lassie - ' has written another story quite as charming. Tn ""Betty the Scribe" we have portrayed the trials of an aspiring young author upon whom, at the age of seventeen, are laid the cares of a young family bereft of their mother. Poor Betty's struggles to do her duty by her troublesome little brothers and sisters, and at the same time gratify her insatiable desire to write, are both humorous and pathetic, and her subsequent, endeavour to gain her livelihood by the pen, while occupying a Sydney <rarret. are. almost tragic. The chief merit of the story, however, undoubtedly lies in the quick insight into, and sympathetic interpretation of the thoughts and feelings of the children, whose guileless perversity form the cross which poor Betty finds so irksome. Betty's struggles as an author end rather disastrously, but fortunately, at the psjvhologieal moment, an irate grandfather, who became alienated from his daughter because, of her marriagn. relents in his last moments, and loaves Betty bis fortune. The book is published by Ward, Lock and Co., and comes to us through Wildmiui and Arcy.

"The Matrimonial Lottery." by Charlotte O , Conor Eccles (("nwin's Colonial Library), is an arousing story of a device for raising thf> circulation of a Loudon newspaper which was very much down in its fortunes, A good m hired Irishman, who bore the title of Count. conferred for foreiirn service, allowed himself to be offered as a prize in a. half-crown lottery open to .'ill spinsters between certain specified ;!ge~. the Count undertaking to marry the winner. Some curious specimens of the feminine sex appear among the competitors, and the Count is driven to distraction through the claims of a terrible old maid who has becor-ie possessed of the winning number. He flatly refuses to marry this termagant, and the wits of the editorial staff are set to work in the. endeavour to rescue him from his unpleasnnt predicament. However, relief comes from an unexpected quarter, and the novel scheme ends happily for all concerned.

"Chatnbers's Journal for October contains the usual collection of interesting and instructive articles, among them one on "Golf Yesrerdny and Today,"' which narrates a number of anecdotes about this popular game. In a paper on "The Will to be Well," the writer quotes some, eminent authorities in support of the influence exercised by the* mind in the cure of certain ailments. The German philosopher Kant Mas a firm believer in this power, and wrote a pamphlet on the subject, and some convincing evidence is cited by the writer. The serial story, "The Twenty second Karl." has proved one of the most stirring novel? that has appeared ir thi,= popular magazine, and the issue Ui'dfr notice contain? several good short

M m'AL OF TTI~F N~EW ZEALAND FLORA.

By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.?., F.Z.S. r Jhis comprehensive work, which extends over 1200 pages, brings the scientific classification of thp New Zealand flora up to date. The author remarks, in his preface, that forty-two years have elapsed since Sir J. D. Hooker published the first part of the "New Zealand Flora, - ' and since then a large amount of fresh material has been obtained. No les3 than four hundred separate communicators or short papers dealing with the botany of New Zealand have been published, and t 'ne number of new species proposed is considerably over a, thousand. Mr. Cheeseman pays a graceful tribute to the memory of the late Mr. T. Kirk, who was entrusted by the Government with Hip preparation of a "Student's Flora of New Zealand." but who died when only two-fifths of the work was completed. The Government engaged Mr. Checseruan to take up the onerous task ; but he proceeded on different lines

from those followed by Mr. Kirk, confining the work to plants indigenous to New Zealand. He has Drought within the limits of one volume full descriptions of the whole of the indigenous flowering plants and ferns found in New Zealand, and the outlying islands, including the Kcnnadecs and Chatham and Southern islands. The labour involved in this work will be comprehended when it is known that the whole of the descriptions are original, based on actual examination of living or dried specimens, usually both, and afterwards compared I with the observations of Hooker and i Kirk. Mr. Cheeseman's descriptions are clear, 1 hough concise. They are the concentrated results of continuous observations of the New Zealand flora, extending- over thirty-five years, in the course of which the author has collected a herbarium which is the largest and ! most complete formed by individual I effort in the colony.

The author states that the total number of species described is 1571, of which 1415 are phaenogams, and 150 vascular cryptogams. (H the species no fewer than 114-'>, or nearly three-quarters of the entire, flora, arc peculiar to the colony. With respect to the 428 species which are found elsewhere. 3(iO extend to Australia, and 108 to South America.

Mr. Cheeseman gives a very interesting "History of Botanical Discovery in New Zealand." He bears testimony to the public spirit of Sir Joseph Banks, who expended £ 10,000 in equipping the scientific party who accompanied Cook's expedition. The subsequent expeditions, British and foreign, ami the labours of colonial botanists, are suitably noted and eulogised. This very able and valuable book may be said to complete, the work begun by Sir J. D. Hooker, and although it lacks the interest and instructive value which is given to such works by suitable plates, it is an addition of inestimable value to the scientific records of New Zealand.