24 NOVEMBER 1906, Page 23

Adrift in New Zealand. By E. Way Elkington. (John Murray.

10s. 6d. net.)—Mr. Elkington modestly mentions various uses to which his book cannot be put. Among them is that of being a "practical guide to New Zealand." Possibly not. He lands, it is true, with threepence in his pocket—it is a bad thing to start with money in a new country, we are told—but then he meets a friend. "I had completely forgotten," he adds, "that I had written to an old friend to meet me." If that is absolutely true, he must have a happy insouciance which can hardly fail to carry him through difficulties. And that, indeed, is the impression left by the story of his adventures, such as he is pleased to tell. We will frankly say that we do not altogether like his manner. Now and then it seems to be wanting in good taste, to say the least. But the book is certainly amusing. Not a little, we insagine, may be learnt from it. The illustrations, which are singularly good photographs, may be praised without reserve.