BRETT'S "HANDY GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND" (ILLUSTRALED.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 429, 18 December 1889, Page 6

BRETT'S "HANDY GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND" (ILLUSTRALED.)

Editkd by E. ERNEST BILB"ROUGH, Author of " Twixt France and Spain,"' &c, Ac.

Nkw Zealand, its climate, it 3 scenery and its resources have formed the theme of many volumes now widely known to the public. From the early journals of Tasman and Cook, down to the light fantastic impressions of the nineteenth century globetrotter, and the solemn, matter-of-fact scientific statements regarding the geological formation or the varieties of beetles extant, the number and variety of books on New Zealand has been constantly on the increase. This shows the great interest awakened in our beautiful colony in many different minds, and from many different points of view. We suppose it is these facts which have uiged the author and publisher to advance a meson de 'etre for the compact little volume before us. The author says that the work "aims at being as handy and complete a vadt-mccum as possible," and points out the necessity existing fur the production of such a work, in the rapidlyincreasing number of visitors to the colony. But this modesty in introducing the "Handy Guide" to public notice, thouerh an excellent trait in an author, will be deprecated by all who have the pleasure of perusing this excellent little work 4 and of making use of the voluminous amount of useful information, which has been so deftly compressed into such a narrow compass. The arrangement and the aids to rapid reference in a work of this sorb are of the highest importance, and have in this instance been most elaborately carried out, Yet though every facility is afforded to the reader that may render the work of the greatest utility, the general method of the work is arranged in a manner ab onne simple and complete. We understand the plan adopted in the arrangement of the *• Handy Guide " was that originally produced by the author in the appendix to his book on the Pyrenees, and has already earned the plaudits of the press for the great convenience it offers. While the indices are full, the reader is not expected to rely solely on them. His convenience has been still further studied by the division of the work into six parts, each of which approach New Zealand from a different standpoint. The first part forms a light sketchy account of the history of the colony, from the eaily da\s until today. The second part gives an account of " the scenic beauties, wonders, and coachroutes of the colony." The third part comprises an excellent directory of all the important places, with objects of interest, excursions, etc., in and around them. The fourth part contains an alphabetical list of the health resorts of New Zealand ; the fifth gives the various routes of in terest,. and. the sixth contains a largo amount of general information, such as timetables for coaches, postal and telegraph information, meteorological tables, the soils, crop 3, minerals, pastoral interests, and animal life, all conveyed in a most condensed form, and in a manner easily grasped and roadily understood. Nob the least attraction about a volume which so easily recommends itself are the beautiful illustrations with which it is profusely ornamented. These consist of excellently cub blocks, from photographs of the various towns and places of interest, taken by well-know n professional photographists, as well as by the talented author. The views of Queen-stieet Wharf, the North Shore, the Waitangi Falls, of historic interest, with the Bay of Islands and the Albert Park will all possess the greatest interest for Aucklanders. A beau- - tiful view of the Wanganui bridge, along ' with tho town, will at once recommend itself to southern readers in the North Island, especially when taken along with delightful views of Wellington city, and tasteful pictures of Parihaka and Mount Egmont. The Southern Island is represented by numerous views, beginning in the North with Queen Charlotte Sound and dramatic Ficton, and including Jjybtelton Harbour, Christchurch, Waimakariri Gorge, Dunedin, and all the lovely scenery to be found round the Southern lakes, and the solitary grandeur of the Southern Alps and the West Coast Sounds. The little work is got up in a very neat and taking style, nicely bound in a cloth cover, and of a size that can be easily put in the pocket. This condensed information about the land we live in, musb recommend itself to all who hope to _ vary the monotony of a utilitarian existence by a holiday excursion, either .to the historic pcenes of the Northern Peninsula, or to the bubbling wonders of the Hot Likes, the majestic beauty of the Manawatu Gorge, or the broad, sunshiny views of panoramic Wellington. A change of air is a change ot diet, or nearly the same thing, and a fortnight spent in drowsy idleness in Picton or "Sleepy Hollow," or in the hundred different resorts for health or pleasuseseekera will be amply repaid by the renewed strength and happiness ensured by a pleasant, merry trip to some of these choice spots. And we have never seen any work which will prove handier on such an excursion than this very " Handy Guide," this "Multum in ParvS," published at the price of 3s 6d. Bub apart from the' utility to the traveller, there is a vast amount of information which no colonist oughb to be ignorant of, bub which i^s nut as a rule very widely disseminated. The valuable maps issued with the book are alone worth the whole cost of the volume. This will doubtless ensure for the little book, when taken with tasteful and pleasing views, a wide and ready sale through the length and breadth of the colony,