To Our Readers.

Not a few of the best friends of literature in this colony have become convinced that, in spite of the many well-meaning periodicals which have been established in New Zealand with varying success, no thoroughly popular—and therefore no thoroughly successful—effort has yet been made to system matically bring forward the very large amount of literary talent which is known to exist here, and which has spasmodically attracted public attention from time to time. Zealandia is the outcome of this conviction. The promoters of this magazine feel that another vehicle for the conveyance o the productions of English authors to the New Zealand literary market is altogether superfluous. Colony though it may be, New Zealand is a nation—not yet beyond its embryonic form, but still a nation; and to the realisation of this truth is duo the fact that Zealandia has been established as a distinctively national literary magazine. Its contributors will be all New Zealanders, and no subject will be dwelt upon in its pages that is not of interest, directly or indirectly, primarily to New Zealanders. It is nothing to us that it may prove of interest, secondarily, to all the world beside. But, whilst it is intended to assist New Zealand authors, and, in fact, in order to assist them effectually, rigid care will be exercised as to the quality of the literary pabulum provided in Zealandia's pages. Although special pains will be taken to bring forward rising authors of promise, care will be taken to see that they are of promise, and also that each number of Zealandia is sufficiently ballasted with the work of tried writers to give it weight. By good quality, however, we do not mean what is wrongly known as the severely classical. We prefer to sprinkle our road to the higher life with flowers of fancy rather than strew it with rugged philosophical boulders. It is, moreover, clearly recognised that to be of real use Zealandia must be no ephemeral, meteoric flash. And to be permanent it must be popular. Therefore the most strenuous efforts have been made to accommodate ourselves to the prevailing taste. To this end a serial tale has been selected which by its inherent force and thrilling interest will appeal to the public at large, rather than to the hypercritical few, while at the same time its tendency will be ever upwards. Fiction will be further represented by a complete tale in each number. Every number will also contain an article, by the very best procurable writers, descriptive of some part of New Zealand. Still more solid matter will be found in our series of essays or papers on subjects of interest by our advanced thinkers. Popular topics will also be lightly touched upon in our editor's "Arrow Heads." A corner has been found for our poets. Natural History, always an interesting subject in a new country, has its allotted place. Specialists have been engaged to meet the requirements of our ladies, our girls, our boys, and our chess and draughts players. Reviews of books and music and advice to our authors, poets, and composers, both in print and by private letter, have been arranged for. "Our Exchange and Mart" should prove both an attraction and a convenience, and it is to lie hoped that our "Corner Cobweb" will catch humorous flies in abundance. This bill of fare should surety prove a most popular one, and popularity—and hence circulation—once secured, more solid matter will gradually be added, while the popular items will also be increased in number. Contrary to the usual practice, it is our intention to start, as far as possible, within our means, and to use the profits made to continually increase the size, quality, and attractions of our magazine from month to month. Finally, while Zealandia's aims should secure it the assistance of every New Zealander who has a singe spark of patriotism in his bosom, we rely upon the intrinsic merits of our reading matter to extend our circulation outside the colony.