Reviews.

“The Fishes of New Zealand,” Vol. 1, by W. J. Phillipps (Thomas Avery & Sons Ltd., New Plymouth) is an important addition to our natural history library because of the reason that, until 1927, only two books had been issued on this subject. The book is published at a moderate price and is after the manner of a handy guide to the Dominion's fishes. Mr. Phillipps has, for some years past, built up in the Dominion Museum, to which he is attached, a valuable reference collection covering most of the fishes found in New Zealand waters. His twenty years’ experience on this subject has enabled him to write this work which will be completed in two or three volumes. The descriptions, habits, distribution, etc., of each fish, are clearly set out under separate headings, with illustrations.

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“History of North Otago” by K. C. McDonald, is the official centennial book for that district in the South, of which Oamaru is the presiding town. It is written in a thorough and interesting manner by one who has apparently searched every available record for his history. No record in book form has been published about North Otago since W. H. S. Roberts’ “History of Oamaru,” published in 1890, and now a collector's item. Mr. McDonald acknowledges his indebtedness to this book for the period 1853–89. Other valuable information was secured from local newspaper files and the whole was checked by Mr. G. L. Grenfell, an old resident of the district. The history of North Otago really opens with the colourful early days of Moeraki and its whaling activities, a period of adventure. The establishment of John Hughes’ whaling base there in 1836 marked the beginning of European occupation of the district. Pastoral settlement followed, but it was not until 1858 that Oamaru could boast of its first store. The gradual progress of the village to the picturesque and prosperous town of to-day is described with great detail and yet with the necessary story-telling ingredients. Milestones in this progress include the inauguration of the Oamaru-Moeraki railway, the Oamaru Breakwater and finally the great work of the Waitaki Hydro-Electric Works.

The illustrations are good and the appendices helpful. The format is old-fashioned but no doubt many of the old settlers will view this with pleasure.

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The gold lettering and Maori design on the red cloth cover of a centennial book, “Historic Maketu,” written by Enid Tapsell and printed by the Rotorua “Morning Post,” make the volume look interesting and attractive. The book carries a definite sales appeal. Inside is a collection of stories and historical incidents bound up with the Arawa people, tales of Tama-te-Kapua, of many other famous Maori people, legendary and otherwise, of the redoubtable old Danish sailor, Captain Tapsell, of the Maori Wars and of other exciting and romantic events wrapped up in the colourful history of Maketu, the first home of the Arawas. This book has a special value in that it has been written by one of Tapsell's descendants. Has not Mr. James Cowan paid his fine tribute to the famous old whaler-trader? “There was not a man or a well-grown youth of ‘Tapihana’ who failed to answer Britain's war call in 1914–1918.” Mr. Cowan also states that “to-day the ‘Whanau-a-Tapihana’ (Tapsell's children), are more than a hundred in number.”

Here, then, is a book rich in associations. The illustrations by H. Dansey, junior, are good, but are worthy of reproduction on a larger scale. Much of the detail is lost, however, because of the thumb-nail blocks.