NEW ZEALAND CHRISTMAS CARDS.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 October 1883, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND CHRISTMAS CARDS.

NOW READY FOR SENDING HOME BY MAIL. BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, AND PRINTED IN COLORS BY MEANS OF CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHY. TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT THE COLONY, OR FROM THE PUBLISHER, WANGANUI. Price : 6d., gd.j and is. each, including postage.

MR. A. D. WILLIS has much pleasure in submitting to the public of New Zealand his series of Christmas Cards, executed at his Caxton Printing Works, Wanganui. In order to secure fidelity of design and taste in execution, the services of one of the most skilful and experienced artists from the Home country have been secured, and the result of his labors is a collection of scenes which Mr. Willis has the utmost confidence and satisfaction in placing before the public. These scenes embrace views of special interest, showing out to advantage those glimpses of mountain, lake, and glen, which, from the hands of a capable artist, are’ so well worth preservation ; and other views reproduce the flora of New Zealand, in all the peculiar grandeur and charm of foliage and flower. Every scene has been executed from sketches actually taken by the artist in the bush, and the aspedt of the snowclad mountains and the effeCt of sun and shade are the results of his own personal observation. That the work has been ably and conscientiously carried out in every department of chromo-lithography, and every process of coloring, will be obvious from an examination of the cards ; and the publisher can confidently point to them as proofs that artistic work of this kind can be produced in New Zealand equal to the very best of the imported cards. The main objedl of the publisher in issuing a series involving such an expenditure of skill, labor, and time, has been to supply the special want long felt by residents of the Colony who may wish to send to their friends on the other side of the world pictorial illustrations which shall convey an adequate idea and a tasteful realisation of the land we live in. Both in the strict fidelity to nature of the designs, and in the rich and suitable coloring, it is believed that this objeCt has been fully attained. Several of the views have been submitted to skilled judges and experts, as well as to persons familiar with the scenes represented. They have excited the warmest admiration, and called forth expressions of surprise that work of such a kind can be produced in New Zealand on such a scale of finish and completeness. From the list of views which will be found below it will be seen how wonderfully varied they are in their sources and designs.

TREES, FERNS, ETC. POROPORO— its tapering leaf and striking flower. TUTU—The tints of the drooping flowers being reproduced in all their beautiful shades. NIKAU PALM— Most celebrated of the New Zealand flora, the majesty and grace of the spreading leaves being beautifully depicted. KARAKA— In this the transition tints of the berries, from olive green to a bright orange, are well shown. TAW A — the pretty purple berries on which the New Zealand pigeon generally feeds. TITOKI —The New Zealand raspberry, whose handsome clusters of berries make this tree remarkable. HOUHIThe white open petals, with a faint yellow centre, are worthy of note. PONGA FERN.—One of the finest of New Zealand tree ferns, the canopy of arching fronds constituting an effective picture. KAREAO peculiar shape of the leaf and the bright scarlet berries of the Supplejack are here represented. MOCK ORANGE— Shewing the contrast of the tiny white flowers and the rich orange berries. KARAMU With the clusters of bright berries on vividly green foliage. BLACK MAIRIEThe spear-like leaves and variously-tinted berries of this wellknown timber tree are shewn to advantage. WHERO-WHERO— drooping leaves and berries of this parasitic plant are well represented. POHUTUKAWA—The gorgeous appearance of these flowers has been well caught by the artist, who has here reproduced one of the most brilliant glimpses of scarlet in the N.Z. bush. VIEWS. RUAPEHU—From the Wanganui side. The view is surrounded by a cluster of ti-tree flowers and foliage. MITRE PEAK—Milford Sound. RANGITOTO ISLAND— entrance to Auckland harbor. MOUNT EGMONT—A belt of cloud surrounding the snow-clad cone. MOUNT COOK— the Canterbury side, with mountain torrent issuing from its base. LAKE MANAPOURI—With snow-clad mountains in the back-ground. LAKE ROTORUA— evening, with the shadows lengthening in the placid lake.