BOOKS & AUTHORS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2255, 15 September 1914, Page 8

BOOKS & AUTHORS.

[By Liber.] BOOKS OP THE DAY. ""' THE RUBBER INDUSTRY. The enormous increase in the nso of rubber for various industrial purposes has of lato years stimulated a corresponding widening and increase generally of tne sources of supply. uf late, it is true, there have been signs of the supply at last catching up to the demand, but rubber production still remains, and must always remain, a highly remunerative industry. In '"iiio Uubber Industry in Brazil and the Orient" (Metliuen and Co.), Mr. C. E. Alters gives what appears to be an exhaustive account (by a recognised expert authority) of rubber growing" as it is carried on in South America, Ceylon and tho Malay States. Mr. Abers recognises that .the days of fabulous dividends has passed, and that the largely increased production has brought in to play "the natural result of a regulation of prices on the basis of demand and supply." Lower values do not, however, he says, "imply any serious injury ty properly-managed plantations as industrial undertakings," and tho rubber industry of the' Urient will, he predicts, now "settle down into a sound, vigorous enterprise, with every prospect of remunerative and steady returns 'in regard to all properties where the initial expenditure has been withstrained within conservative limits." Three factors are bound to exercise an important influence on the future of the rubber I market. Tlie first is the advent of the steel wire-wound or -webued t.yre for motor-cars. After long research a system has.ben found for the manufacture of these tyres with 'the required resiliency at one-third the cost of: the rubber tyre. . The second is that synthetic rubbes will become a commercial possibility at no distant date. The third is the amount of reformed rubber that will result from the largely increased production of the crude material. In the lirst section of his book the author deals with the rubber industry as it is carried on in the Amazon Valley. He describee the earlier history of the industry in this region, conditions and local characteristics, the diseases and pests common to the Brazilian rubber trees, the labour supply, the processes of tapping the trees, and of curing and preparing the rubber, closing with a comparison of the cost of production ' in Brazil with that of the Oriental-grown rubber. Section 11, ' deals with the rubber industry in the Orient, in Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, and the Netiierland, . Hasi Indies. The information given is most detailed, indeed, tho whole book is most liberally documented, ' and is clearly, the work of a careful. and. competent observer. A largo number of illustrations, from photographs, enhance the value of the text. There arc also two useful maps. (Neu; Zealand price,. 7s. 6d.)

THE HOME UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. ■ Copies of the five new volumes constituting the twelfth batch of that admirable swics "The Homo University Library," are to hand from tho publishers, Messrs. Williams and Norgate. TTavel and history are'well represented in -the new set by Dr. Arnold,Lunii's racy and entertaining account of 1 Alpino mountaineering ("The Alps"), Professor sjhopiiord's useful.survey of the history, government, economic resources, and social and intellectual development of tho twenty republics of "Central and Stuth . America," , and Miss Edith ; Sicnel's glowing story of "The EeiiMSj sauce." Dr. Lunn quotes liberally from Whymper, Tyndnll,; ; and.. Jtusliin, and others who have written ■ upon the fascination, of Alpine'climbing ■ aiid tho beauty of Alpine -scenery, and-recounts many notable foals of British and other climbers oh Mont Blanc, Monlo ilosn, The Matterhorn, and the peaks of fhe Tyrol and the Oberland. A chapter on modern mountaineering contains not a little ivhich will interest New Zealand climbers, and the final chapter, 'The Alps in Literature," is full of useful suggestions for pleasant strayings along literary hypathe._ Professor Shepherd's book on the Latin republics of America is a model of compactness attained at no sacrifice of either essential information or literary interest. The story of the republics is brought up x to the time of the completion of the Panama Canal and, the Civil War in-Mexico. The chapters in which the author, who is Professor of History in Columbia University, New York, deals with latter-day progress iu Central and South America in education, science, journalism, literature, and the fine arts, ara specially interesting as dispelling what is, I believe, a widespread belief that life in these countries is primarily and almost entirely a crude and unintellectual existence. Miss Sic'hel's volume on "The Renaissance" deals not only with that remarkable emancipation and rebirth of man's consciousness and powers as it affected Italian politics, art, science, literature, and social life, but describes also the effects of the same, or a very similar movement,' upon the northern and western races of Europe Miss Sichel's narrative, of the Medici period is 'tpccially interesting, and there is a finely romantic iiavour in the chapter entitled •'Tljo Cymes and tho Swashbucklers cf tho'Renais-sance," in which Machiavelli, Aretino, Benvehuto Cellini, and Ariosto ligure■ very prominently. As _nn .uilrodnction to the study of a subject dealt with at length by Walter Pater and Jclin Addington Symonds, Miss Sichel's book should be very useful. It is one of tlio nftjst readable historical studios yet issued in "The Home and University Library.". Mr. J. M. Robert-son's "Elizabethan Literature" is well worthy of tho pen to which we owe that fascinating book "Montaigne ami fchakspore." Mr. Bobertson discourses at length upon the work of Sidney and Spwiser, the pre-Shakospearean drama, and the splendid pros'o of P.aleigh, Nashe, Bacon, Sir Thos. North, Florio (of Montaigne translation fame), and Philemon Holland. A special chapter is devoted to Shakespeare, and another to the prose fiction of the period, tho concluding section dealing with the work of the later dramatists, Dokker, -Marston, Fletcher, Hoywood, and Chapman, and, of course,'the great Ben Joneon. This is in every way a most desirable possession for the student of early English literature. • Tlie volume entitled "Religious Development Between tho Old and New Testaments," by Canon Charles, was renewed in The Dominion on August 31, under the hoading of "Eeligious Activity." ' To oac'h volume is appended an excellent bibliography, and the indexing is well done. (5. r ew Zealand price fiftcenpence pe-i volume.)

COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT SHAEES. A Eale of Leyland-O'Brion E-liares at 20s was recorded yesterday. Th.o notatione were as under:— , ' Buyers. Sellers. i■' 1 £s. d. £s. d. National Bank 4 14 0 - Bank N.Z. (« 6s. Bd.) ... 9 8 0 9 12 6 Bank N.Z. (£6 13s. 4i1.) ... 14 4 0 - Union Bank 50 15 0 - Auckland Gas 15 6 — Christchurcli Cias (£5) ... 6 15 0 7 0 0 ■\Veliington Gas (£10) ...1510 0 — National Insurance 2 3 6 — N.Z. Insurance 5 2 0 — Union Steam lord.) 113 — Union Steam (prrf.) 0 19 6 — .Westport Coal .-.. 18 0 18 9 Manning and Co 317 6 — Sharlaml (ord.) '. 0 18 0 Sharland (prof.) 018 0 - Wardiand Co - 5 1 0 Customs duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £3684 13s. 7d. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MAKKET ItEPOET. The Department of Agriculture, Indu6trieti, and Commerce has received tho followin,' ca-bleßi'am. from the Hish Commissioner for New Zealand, dated) London, September 12. (Note-Quotations, unlesß otherwise specified, are averaee majrket prices on spot.) Mutton and Lamb—The market is weaker, though not actually lower. There is a small demand an account of high prices. There is a large 6upply of Dutch pork and veal. Canterbury mutton-, 5 5-Ba. per lb. for licht, weight; It>rth Islana, 5Jd. Lamb.—Canterbury twos. 63d.; other than Canterbury, 65(1. Beef.—The market is declining on account of moderate supplies of Irieli beef coming forward. New Zealand hinds, 63d. per lb.; fores, siSd.; chilled hinds, 63d.; Butter.—Tho market is quiet and prices are irregular for low grade. Danish, per cwt., 1245. to 1285.; Siherian, 116s. to 1205.; Irish. creamery. 118s. to 1205.; Auetialian, 'USB. to 120e.; New Zealand, 1245. to 128s. | Cheese—The market is quieter, but prices are firm. Canadian, white and coloured, per cwt., 765.; exceptionally, 18s.; New Zealand, 72s to 765.

Heinp.—The mairket is dull and very little business doing. A large- 6UTiply of Manila has arrived. Prices are unchanged, nominally; fair current Manila, per ton, £26 10s.; Now Zealand, good, fair, £24 10s.; Mir, £22 lte. The output from Manila for the week was 9000 bales. Grain—The markot remains firm. Australian wheat, 475., c.1.f.; New Zealand Go-ton o<ite, 325., ex 6tore. Wbtrf.—The market is firm for all grades of medium and coaree crossbreds, but Iβ quiet and prices slightly weaker for all grades of merinos and fine crossbreds. The wool eales have been postponed to October 6. Tow.—There is a good demand for. second grads at £14 per ton. MINING NEWS WELLINGTON BIIARE MAKKET. There were no transactions in mining shares yesterday. The quotations were as under:— ■ Buyers f-ellfirc £ (!. d. £ «. .1 Murray Oreek (Us.) ......... - 0 7 3 Boss - 0 12 'Misraou 16 6 — Waihi ...; 112 6 Grand .Tunction 116 — Waitangi 0 0 6 — / STOCK EXCHANGE. (By Tclegl':iTi!i-l're"s Association.) AUCKLAND,' September 14. Tlie tone of the share market improved to-dny. Waihis sold at £1 135.; Grand Junctions. £1 25.; Talismans, £1 75.; Now Zealand Insurances, £5 ss. cnniSTCUDKOH, September 14. ' Sale rcnortud:—" Wailii Gold Mining 00., £1 13s. DUNEDIN, September 14. The local Stock L.cchaiige resumed the ((notation of investment stocks this morning, which goes to show that brokers coneider the market is again reaching a normal state. Tlio quoting was fairly extensive. Some stocks are lower than was the case prior to the war, particularly banks mid insurances, but ao regards the others, generally speaking, there is not a great dual of difference noticeable. Mining stocks showed an advance. 'DUNEDIN, September' 14. The following are yesterday's latest quotations, subject to tlie usual brokerage;— Dredging Stocks—Electric, sellers, 3s. 3d. Rising Sun, sellers, £1 3s. Mining Stocks.—Koxburgh Amalgamated, ' buyers, Is. Bd. Nokoniai Hydraulic, buyers', £1 Is. Progress Mines of New Zealand, buyers, 75., Beliefs 10s. 6d. New Sylvia, buyers, 6d." Tnsmanian Consolidated, buy- ■ p.rs, £1 6s. Waihi, buyers, £1 12s. IOd. ; sell-'ers.-.JSI, 13s; 3d. Waihi Grand Junctions, ,i buyers* £1 2s. 9d.; sellers, £1 3s. Bd.

Investment Stocks.—National Bank, buyers. £4 16s. Bank of New Zealand (old), buyers, £9 os.; sellers, £9 18s. Bank of New Zealand-(new), buyers £15 10s.; sellers, .-Gls 10s. Uniou Bank , , sellers £58. National Insurance, buyers £2 4s. 6d.; sellers. £!i 10a. New Zealand Insurance, buyers,, £5 3s. South British Insurance, buyers £3 175.; sellers, £4. Standard Insurance, buyers, £1 125.; New Zealand Shipping Company, sellers, £15 10s. U.S.S. Company, buyers, £1 Is. 6d.; sellers, £1 2s. 3d. Westport Coal Company, buyers, £1 Bs. 6d.; sellers, £1 Bs, 9(1. Westport Stockton,'sellers. 3s. Id.; Taupiri Coal, sellers, £1 Is. 6d. National Mortmere Comnany, buyers, £3 145.; sellers, £4. Milburn Lime and Cemont (pij <"vidend), sellers, £1 11s. 3d.; Mos?iel WodiTra Factory, sellers, £3 14s. 6d. New Zealand Paner Mills, buyers, 15s. 6d.; sailers, 17s. Knlknrai Trains Company, buyers, £1 Is. Wright, Stcphcnson, buyers, £6 10s. TTriglit, StophensQn (pref.), BPllers, par. May-Oatway, sellers, £1 Is. M'Leod'B Soap, sellers, £14 ss. GEEYMOUTH OOAt OUTPUT. Dreymouth, September 14 Tho week's coal export was as .follows :— Point Elizabeth, 2193 tons 3cwt.: Liverpool, 1888 tons scwt.; Paparoa, 1396 tone; Brunnor, 921 tons 12 cwt.; North Brunner, 496 tons lewt.; Blackball, 5245 tons llcwt.; total, 15,142 tons 12cwt. The Cartbage Company's return for last •woek nus 640z. amalgam for 12 shifte. ■ SALE OF DAIET STOCK. The attention of dairymen is drawn to the unreserved sale of high-class dairy stock to be held North Saleyards on Wednesday, September 16, on account Mr. S. 11. Lancaster, when 75 head of cows and heifers are to be offered, half of -which are now in milk, the balance being at drop. This gives an exceptional opportunity for dairyfarmers to fill their requirements with cows at immediate profit. Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercaaitile Agency Co., Ltd., in conjunction with Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., will conduct the sale. The fortnightly sales of wooj, skins, hides, etc., in Wellington, which have been suspended since tho outbreak of war, will be , resumed next Friday, tho Woolbrokors' Association recognising that business is rapidly -returning to normal conditions. We are buyers of Home-separated Cream in aiiy quantity, and will always give you the market value. . All you have to do is to pnt it on rail and consign it to Wanganui Fresh Food and Ice Co., St. John's ■ Station. Wβ. do the rest.— Advt.