Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4336, 4 February 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1893.

Beihq the extended title op the Wairakapa Daily, with which it is IDENTICAL

The number of minor publications that are born in New Zealand is almost incredible. Day hy day some some new venture is either launched or promised, and even the smaller towns of the Colony teem with little literary ventures which would hardly have a chance of living in centres four times as large. They are ever" coming up as a nower,"-and as they usually disappear as fast as they arise, they enjoy a sort of butterfly existence, If one of our M.H.R.'s, who is fond of moviog for returns, were to get a record of the number of publications which have from time to time been registered in this Colony, the total would probably exceed a thousand.

The last new journal that reaches us is a bright little paper called " The Stage." It purports to be the special organ of music, of sports, and of the drama, it is published weekly, and it is sold for tho customary modest penny. The funniest thing about the new venture is that it hails, not from one of the chief centres of population, but from Wanganm, Where Auck* land. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin fails, Wangauui comes proudly to the front I The contents of the new serial are quite good enough for tho money. Tho first column of an original tale is given. Wo often wonder who reads the original tales written in New Zealand, but probably there are fomo people who crave after literary lollipops of this kind—there are original and meritorious articles on " Ladies Gossip," " Crisp Crumbs," and. other dainties, making altogether a nullum kpurw well worth the copper charged for them.

There is in this Colony a very considerable amount of literary talent, mostly of an amateur character, which occasionally finds a vent in a new publication, The difficulty usually experienced is that the occa* sional contributor breaks down under the strain of sustained effort, It is a pleasure to write one or two articles, but when a demand arises for. a regular contribution the work becomes irksome, and the Fount of inspiration' dries up. Even in a place like Sydney, whiah has just turned out a clever little annual called "The Antipodean," to whioh all the leading literary writers of Australia have contributed, the work though undoubtedly able and in some instances brilliunt, is uneven and iui-

perfect. It will not stand .comparison 1 with Londoii literary productions i : .l a similar character and probably even London has to yield the palm to Pari >, Still Wangantii may for one Bhort hour after the publication of this little literary adventure fancy that it Rives a lead to all creation. What cannot Wanganui do when it gets an innings?