Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 8 (November 1, 1934)

A Notable New Zealand Work

A Notable New Zealand Work.

As we go to press I have received a copy of the book of the year as far as New Zealand publishing enterprise goes. This is “Marsden's Lieutenants,” edited by John Rawson Elder, M.A., Professor of History in the Otago University. The work, which is a sequel to “The Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden” published two years ago and is based on original M.S. material in the Hocken Library, is a most important contribution to the historical literature of this country. This is no dry historical narrative, but contains elements of strong human interest. For the first time is revealed the remarkable story of the trials and adventures of the three missionary agents placed by Marsden in the Bay of Islands on his first visit to New Zealand. There is a foreword by the Hon. Downie Stewart. The illustrations are interesting and well reproduced.

This book is an all New Zealand production and, after the author, who has done his work in a scholarly and brilliant fashion, my congratulations go out to the printers and publishers Coulls, Somerville and Wilkie Ltd. and A. H. Reed, both of Dunedin. The work which has been published by the Otago University Council retails at 25/-.

* * *

Although he did not mention the titles, the two magazines referred to by the Rev. Clyde Carr in the House of Representatives recently when discussing the American back date menace were the New Zealand Edition of “Aussie” and the “New Zealand Artists' Annual,” a contributing factor in the suspension of which was the low grade magazine fiction dumped so promiscuously in this country.

* * *

The two outstanding publications dealing with art and literature in the Commonwealth are “Art in Australia” and “Manuscripts.” Because it is a much younger publication, “Manuscripts” is not so well known on this side. It is run on lines slightly different from the older quarterly, more modern possibly in conception. The literary matter is of a very high standard and covers every phase of artistic and literary endeavour. Each issue contains a book-plate feature. The latest number gives pride of place to a reproduction of an etching by the New Zealand artist, Mr. F. H. Coventry. Hector Bolitho is also represented in light poetry. “Manuscripts” is published in Geelong.