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Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14842, 6 December 1913, Page 9

"WHAT OF THE NAVY?" Under this title Mr Alan H. Burgoyne, M.P., who is a recognised authority on naval construction, has given us an interesting volume on the subject of Naval Stefence. It does not profess to go de*ply into' the subject, but is easy to read, and contains a good deal of information which "the man in the street*/ ought to know if he is to exercise a judgment of any value in regard to this vital question. The author deprecates dangerous talk about Germany, but emphasises the need of England keeping well ahead of that country in the matter of naval construction. He is more reassuring regarding our present position than some other critics. He considers that in the race of Dreadnoughts we are ahead (but not enough) in numbers, well ahead in design, and leading by an amount past computation in our personnel. The call to action, in his opinion,. is now not in the matter of battleships, but of aircraft, and the shortage of the food supply in timo of war. The book is well illustrated, and thoroughly up-to-date. (London and Melbourne: CasseH and Co. 'Cliristchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs: 5s not.)

MRS HUMPHRY WARD'S LATEST. In "The Coryston Family" Mrs Humphry Ward has given us another pre-sent-day story dealing with upper mid-dle-class life in which political and social problems are handled with the itrm and virile touch characteristic of the author. The central figure Lady Coryston, although only forty-six years of age, and still beautiful, is a "grande vS m t til 6 *? 1(i '» strong Tory, one has the misery, of seeing her eldest s° n > , l>ix £P> converted to Socialism and Land Nationalism. There are two other sons—-Robert, a Tory of the philosophic scnooi. and Arthur, tho mother's favourite. There is also one daughter, Mercia. strong-minded as her mother, whose love affairs supply a good deal of the "motif" of th O/ book. Mrs Humphry Ward seems to us to have been unusually daring in taking living politicians as material to use in the composite portraits in tho book. The Socialistic Chancellor, Glenwilliam, a Welshman and orator, is strongly suggestive of Mr Lloyd George, while there is more than a touch of the Cecils m Edward Newbury, the High Church politician. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 2s 6d.,

-. .» BRIEF NOTICES. Presence of the Kindly Patriarch," by Raymond Taunton, may be described as a proso morality. It is not a story, but a succession of scenes. "We are to imagine a Mr Roulade, who.has the power to make men sec either the past cause or the future effect'of any present conditions. In his company, for instance, the narrator visits the scenes of George Eliot's childhood, and has conjured up for him a vision of the small girl who was to grow up and write about Maggie Tulliver. He visits a ruined banqueting hall, and finds it restored to its ancient charm and glow, and furnished with a full company of feasters. Or he looks on a great city, and as Mr Roulade murmurs (with an accuracy not always observed by mystics) "Date December 3rd, 2500," the city goes. "We saw only a cemetery! Large as a city, sorcbro. eloquent!" With "The Presence of the kindly Patriarch" added to that of Mr Roulade, this second-sight becomes more mystic still, and.strange ■spiritual effects are worked upon those who experience it. The allegories are at times obscure, and the style varies too suddenly from the familiar to the high poetical, but the book certainly conveys some fine ideas. (London: A C. Fifield. 2s net.) Mrs Malcolm Ross, of Wellington, has written a very interesting travel book entitled "Round the .World With a Fountain Pen." It gives impressions of a visit to England and the Continent *n 1910. Interesting sketches are given of the many charming parts of Great Britain visited by Mrs Ross. • ..What.will chiefly appeal to New Zealanders -*s an account of Lord and Lady Ranfurjy's homo at Durigiumon. ; There is a telling picture of London at the tima of the King's death, and the impressive pageant of his funeral. There is a chapter devoted to a visit paid to Madame Melba in Paris, where Mrs Ross'also had tho pleasure of meeting Madame Marches, the famous music-teacher, whose dwith, at a great age, has recently been announced. Two chapters in conclusion are devoted to Vienna, in some respects the gayest and most attractive capital in Europe. (Wellington; printed by Blundell Bros., Ltd., 'Wilis street.)

The "Pall Mall Magazine" keeps op to £he standard set by the new proprietary.' Among the articles in the October some are 'fin. Apple-Land," a subject appealing to. all Devonians, ?The Workers' War," » plea for the re-

vival of the guild system, and "The Woman Doctor," an account of the training of women doctors in London. Mr G. K. Chesterton contributes another Father Brown stoxy, and tho interesting announcement is made that another series about this fascinating little priest will shortly appear. Another instalment of Mr W. J- Locke's serial "Tho Fortunate Youth" is printed. Other stories, articles, verse, letters, and excellent illustrations niako up a very readable number. The October "Windsor* , opens irith a copiously illustrated article on the art of Ford Madox Brown, and among othor subjects treated are "The Chief's Colleges of India," and- "The Lawyers of Dickens." Miss Gertrude Page's serial "The Pathway" is continued, and among the other writers of fiction represented in G. B. Lancaster. There is much readable matter, both original and reprint, in the November number of the "Review of Reviews for Australasia." Mr Henry Stead, the editor, writes again about the Defence Act, and contributes another article on his father's oarcor. There is an article on - the Dictator of China, and the participation of Australia in the Panama Exhibition is discussed. Art, music, and literature are represented, and many articles from the world's reviews summarised.