23 JANUARY 1904, Page 26

Waiford's County Families of the United Kingdom. (Chatto and Wincing.

50s.)—This "Manual of the Titled and Untitled Aristocracy" appears for the forty-fourth time. It is a work which is probably very difficult to keep up to date, and it has always seemed to us, as far as our opportunities of observation have gone, to be particularly well done. Possibly a severe local censorship might displace some names, and a searching inquiry might discover others; but it is an excellent book of reference as it stands.—Lodge's Peerage, Baronetage, rtc. (Kelly's Directories, 31s. 6d.), is too well known to need a prolonged notice. It contains genealogical as well SS personal information, and extends to all titles and distinctions, hereditary or other.—The Church's Annual Log Book. (Church Newspaper Company. 2s. net.) Thorn's Official Directory (Alexander Thom, Dublin, 21s.) is, as our readers need hardly be told, especially devoted to Irish affairs. From this point of view it is as interesting as usual. At the same time, it gives us the customary official and other information for othcr parts of the United Kingdom. It would be a help in a somewhat obscure controversy if the editor would set forth a table showing the charges in the way of public burdens on the same amount of rental in England and Ireland. A in England and B in Ireland occupy houses at £200 rental; B escapes £7 10s. in Inhabited House Duty. What does he escape in the Police Rate; and where does he pay more ? Hasell's Annual. Edited by William Palmer. (Hazel, Watson

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and Viney. 3s. 64. net.)--e-It is; something of a surprise to find that this annual has reached its nineteenth year. The writer of this notice remembers making some comments on the first issue, and acknowledges with pleasure the great improvements that have been made in it.----Willing's.Press Guide. (J. Willing, jun. is.) —A very useful catalogue of periodicals of all kinds.— Mudie's Select Library Catalogue. (Mudie and Son. is. 6d.)— The New Zealand Official Year Book. Prepared by E. J. Von Dadelszen. (Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand.) —We see that old-age pensions in March, 1903, amounted to £211,594 102., while the expenses of administration amounted to £3,805. The population was 863,304 (including Maoris). This would make roughly about £12,000,000 for the United Kingdom, making a considerable allowance for the greater youth of the New Zealand population.