THE “NEW ZEALAND COUNTRY JOURNAL.”

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 8 November 1879, Page 3

THE “NEW ZEALAND COUNTRY JOURNAL.”

The November number of the “New Zoaland Country Journal,” besides being fully up to the mark as regards matters of general interest to the agricultural and pastoral classes, possesses one or two special features that commend themselves to all readers. The first of these is a graphic sketch, by Mr T. H. Potts, of a Native of the Chatham Islands, which from an ethnological point of view, is of high value. These people, called Morion's, though amalgamated and living with the Maori race, have very distinctive features, which prove them to be the descendants of a different race to the New Zealand Native. Mr Potts’ remarks are so far valuable as that they are likely to draw attention to a neglected branch of' the natural history of these islands, namely, the aboriginal residents. The same writer, in his serial paper, “Out in the Open,” chats pleasantly about Kingfishers, their habitat and habits, and their value us insectivorous birds. The paper is not only valuable ns a contribution to the natural history of New Zealand, but exhibits in the quaintest fashion the writer’s classic and poetic loro on the subject of this romantic bird. Mr George Grey, of the Christchurch Laboratory, is the writer of the first instalment of a valuable essay on the chemistry of manures. The editor has been at some pains to compile a series of statistical tables, indicating the past, present, and future prospects of the colony. Earners will find profitable reading in the paper on rust in wheat. Another useful contribution is an abridgment of a valuable paper, read by Dr Curl at |the inaugural meeting of the Rangitiki Farmers ’ Club. “ Caveason ” sends his usual sporting notes, which, with the garden and farming memoranda for the season, agricultural fixtures, queries and answers, notes and gleanings, &c., make up the contents of an unusually interesting number.