“ ZEALANDIA.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 320, 4 July 1889, Page 3

“ ZEALANDIA.”

Tns first number of this magazine is to hand It contains 48 pages of reading matter, and so far as printing and general arrangement is concerned, is admirably got up, Perhaps a plainer outside cover would have been prefarable to the blotch which at present appears, but this blotchy and decidedly ugly appear ance may not be so noticeable in all the copies, The periodical purports to be written by New Zealand authors, and will be confined to them alone. The idea is a good one, and if it can be faithfully carried out, should have the effect of unfolding a large amount of the latent literary talent which the promoters of the magazine confidently assert to exist in New Zealand. The matter contained in the initial number of the magazine is very promising for its future success. A great amount of space is necessarily occupied with introductions in explanation of the various departments. Rev. R. Waddell, in a well written article, discusses “ Some social responsibilities of a young community ” to the past, present, and future. The first of a series of “ Wanderings in Lakeland " is contributed by Malcolm Ross, who evidently possesses fine descriptive powers, which he rather spoils by a tendency to repetition, and the occasional descent from tbe sublime to the ridiculous, such as when he takes a look at the moon " shedding a golden band of light far across the waters ” imino, diately after ” discussing ” home-made broad and mutton chops, Fie ion is represented by the opening chapters of '• The-mark of Cain, ’ by Owen Graham, and a complete tale by A. P. Reeves, entitled, “A helpless spectator,” To “ Our Poet’s Corner ” Thomas Bracken contributes an amusing account, in verse, of " Our pet kangaroo," which humorously tells of the wonderful effect the sound of the bagpipes had on this not l e9S wonderful than gifted animal, Arthur Desmond, who made himself conspicuous here in a less peaceful manner, appears as the author of a translation from the Maori of ** My rata tree,” a feeling poem in blank verse, and put into very creditable English. Natural history, chess, draughts, music, dress, reviews, and wit all have their share of space allotted; whilst portions under the supervision of able editors are devoted to the interests of out boys and girls, There is one thing we might point out, and that is that the first review in this periodical is devoted to one of the editor's own works. We have no doubt tbe reviewer is justified in taking a favorable view of the work, but under the circumstances wo think good taste requires that it should not have been made so prominent as to receive first place in the first number. The second and - only other review is by tha editor, and unfavorable to the author. On the whois, how. ever, we think that the piagasine is to be encouraged, and seeing that the price is so small (7a par annum}, It should obtain a goodly number of supporters, financially and otherwise,