OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
“ Mr. William Macintosh, of Paternoster Row, and Mr. H. I. Jones, of Wanganui, New 
Zealand, have just published a work of authority — if authority be in any way based upon 
experience, upon the state and prospects of the ‘ Britain of the South.’ It is a bright and not too 
bulky octavo volume, by an Old New Zealand Missionary, the Rev. Richard Taylor, M.A., 
F.G.S. * * * * Mr. Taylor has produced a work which is the best of its kind and perfectly 
reliable in its statements of facts and opinion. ” — Home News. 
“The progress of British Colonization is something wonderful. When we glance around and see 
the British flag waving in every quarter of the globe, not merely at the top masts of the vessels, 
but on terra firma, ‘ part of a parcel ’ of the great British Empire, we cannot but discern the 
hand of God and His all-wise resolve to perpetuate the English voice irrespective of whatever may 
befall the mother country. * * * * Mr. Taylor, who styles himself an ‘Old New Zealand 
Missionary,’ has written a most interesting work on the colony, * * which will be found most 
useful to all interested in New Zealand. The statistical tables are important, and the portion of 
the book treating of the geography of the island, as well of its agricultural and other advantages, 
with the sound advice given to emigrants, make ‘ The Past and Present of N ew Zealand ’ one of 
the best works we have met with on this one of the most important appendages of the British 
Crown.” — Times Review. 
‘ ‘ There can be no doubt that to the emigrant this work presents attractions of the highest order. 
It will be read by all who have friends in New Zealand with anxious interest, and to those who 
contemplate a residence in the Colony, it is almost an indispensable hand-book.” — Liverpool 
Courier. 
“ This volume has for its author a gentleman who has passed many years in the midst of the 
scenes and people he describes, which fact, coupled with the fair and candid spirit in which most of 
the subjects are treated, will make the work valuable as a text-book. * * * In writing of the war 
which raged for so many years, the author endeavours, and with some measure of success, to 
reconcile conflicting statements, both to its origin and progress. This is, of course, a task of 
difficulty, but Mr. Taylor has grappled manfully with the subject, and thrown light upon many 
points, which were before obscure even to those well acquainted with the colony. All may read 
this work with advantage, but to the intending emigrant it must be invaluable, presenting in so 
small a compass so much really useful and reliable information.” — Ettropean Mail. 
“ To those who desire full particulars of information respecting the most inviting of the British 
colonies we recommend the acquisition of this well-written and admirable work. The reverend 
author has devoted the earlier portion of the volume to details of missionary progress among the 
natives of New Zealand ; and those who have doubted the expediency of introducing Christian 
teaching among the aborigines are likely, on reading the interesting facts presented in these pages, 
to considerably modify their opinions. Mr. Taylor is a vigorous advocate of emigration, and 
presents to his fellow-countrymen in eloquent terms the advantages of seeking in new and wider 
fields of enterprise an outlet for their activity and energies. The true mode of avoiding the waste 
of boiling down sheep to obtain their fat, writes Mr Taylor, is, that if the flocks and herds cannot 
come to Britain, Britain should go them. We admit the conclusion, and heartily say, ‘Go.’” — 
The Oak. 
“ The Rev. Richard Taylor, an ‘Old New Zealand Missionary’ has given to the world a most 
interesting w ork ; and more particularly such to those who have taken thought in reference to this 
colony, and of the sad circumstances which have taken place there. * * * We recommend a 
perusal of this most interesting work, supplying, as it does, wonderful testimonies to the power of 
Christian teaching, as well as the result of British industry.” — Isle of Wight Advertizer. 
“ The author was one of the early missionaries ; and after spending many years in the islands, 
now gives us the benefit of his long and varied experience. His book contains a large amount of 
reliable and useful information. * * * In the first six chapters he gives us a very full and 
detailed account of past missionary work and its general effects in the whole country. Chapters 
VII. and VIII. illustrate the gradual and lingering strife which, in all such cases, takes place 
between barbarism and civilisation. In other respects these two chapters — containing a good 
summary of the whole New Zealand War, the causes which led to it, and the miserable results 
which have followed it — are really full of interest, and will be read both at home and abroad. The 
remaining six chapters are occupied with much useful informntion concerning the colonial govern- 
ment, the surplus population, the convicts, and the general geography of the whole group of islands . 
The newest and freshest sketch among them all is, perhaps, Chapter XIII., which, under the head 
‘ Acclimatisation,’ gives an account of all that has been done, since the introduction of the pig and 
potatoe by Captain Cook down to the present time, to improve the climate and aid the productive- 
ness of the whole country.” — London Standard. 
“It is now little more than half a century since a Protestant missionary first landed in New 
Zealand with a view of converting the natives. Mr. Taylor gives us what, we trust, is not a 
flattering notion of the willingness with which the natives received the Gospel message when jt was 
offered them. * * * The account he gives of the state of the Maori race before the Gospel 
was introduced amongst them, shows a state of degradation almost as deep as could be desired for 
the sake of contrast between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of the preaching of Christianity. *. * * 
The war and the bad example of those Europeans who did not follow up the work of the mission- 
aries, have had a prejudicial effect on the conversion of the natives ; * * * but on the whole, the 
prospect of the native population is hopeful. Between the past and the present there is a manifest 
change for the better. They (the Maories) are remarkable for their well-formed persons and their 
intellectual powers. One of them has shown such a taste for drawing, that his European friends 
have sent him to England that his talent may be the more successfully cultivated. It is not 
impossible, therefore, that when the New Zealander comes to sketch the ruins of St. Paul’s, he 
may have derived the principles of his art from the Academy in Trafalgar Square.” — London 
Review. 
London : — WILLIAM MACINTOSH, 24, Paternoster Row, 
and of all Booksellers. 
