BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

AUSTRALIA'S FEDERAL LEGISLATION. From Mr. 0. F. Maxwell (G. Partridge and Co.), Melbourne, two stoutly-bound tomes containing "The Acts of the Parliament of Australia" (except Appropriation and Supply Acts) passed from 1901 to 1911, and in force on January 1, 1912, to which is prefixed the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (63 and 64 Vict., Ch. 12), as altered to January 1, 1912, with tables and indexes. This important work has been compiled and annotated by George S. linowles, M.A., L.L.M., of the Attorney-General's Department, and constitutes a contribution of tho highest interest and value to tho legislative history of Australia. A special word of praise is due to the indexes, which are most laudably, dotailod, and render the task of reforenco to the various Acts much less difficult than is us'ually tho case in Government publications of this kind. Again, congratulation should be accorded to tho Commonwealth Government for having issued these two volumes in so handy a size— fcoTvit. a post octavo, instead of adopting the awkward quarto . format. Messrs. Whiteombe and Tombs are the local agents for this valuable work, which merits the careful attention of all members of the legal profession.

A LITTLE BOOK ON AVIATION

Claude Grahame-Whito'a little book on "Aviation," one qf the latest issues in that excellent series, "The Nation's Library" (Collins Bros, and Co.), is just what'is wanted by the average New. Zealander, who has not had the advantage' of seeing an aeroplane in actual motion —save "at the pictures." One could not wish for a more competent authority than Mr. Grahame-White, and it is surprising what a wide field he has covered —practically the whole history of aviation—in the two hundred and odd pages of, his little book. _It is a most fascinating story the aviatorauthor has to tell, the story of the conquest of the air, but useful as is Mr. Grahame-White's brief summary of the beginnings of aviation, it is when he comes to describe arid explain the,latest developments of, the art of flying that he most firmly grips the attention of his readers, A specially interesting section is that in which the wonderful development of the- waterplane is described. The commercial side of aviation is dealt with, and, needless to say, the author devotes considerable attention to the possibilities of aviation in warfare. 1 This is a really excellent little book, one of its best features being the easy and attractive style in which the. author conveys his information. (Price, Is. 3d.)

?! BEC IN N E RS. A little book which should provo .very .useful to those Who are in tho first stages of loarningvto plav golf is "First Steps to Golf," by G. &. Brawn (Mills and Boon; per Whitcombe and Tombs; 2s. 6d.) The author's aim lias been to supply instruction suoh as a beginner, or a playor whose handicaip is nearer to the limit than it is to zero, woukl require to enable him to play what might be called a "fair game." For thq most part, says Mr. Brown, the literature on ' golf, after describing the method of playing tho easier, or what are generally termed the everyday, strokes, goes —on to giro instruction on the advanced game, dealing with such master-strokes as, for instance, the "intentional slice." Mr. Brown's contention is that nimetynine per cent, of the golfers of the present day require instruction on "How not to slioo rather than on "How to slice," and therefore a work describing what is often a fault is, in his opinion, no boon for the man. In the present work all mention of what are termed "gallery_ shots" -has been omitted; the -book is one for actual beginners. Mr. Brown's practical advice as greatly enhanced in value by a long •series (9-1 in number)- of illustrations from photographs by.G. P. .Abraham,_ of tho Keswiok Golf Club, and nine diagrams. '