New Zealand

New Zealand Mail, 3 December 1896, Page 23

New Zealand

l||gjP§HE fact that every v«r lav-.* numbers of copies of the Christmas Number of the •• New /calami Marl " are ,m.vhase,l by colonists, for the purpose of iff® sending to friends and relations in the 01,1 Country, suggested to the editor the idea of preparing a brief and handy, and. we trust, readable account l!S|u Of the manv attractions offered l.v the colony, as a place of residence for emigrants from the United Kingdom, and as a resort for tourist in search for rekxation and for those in quest of improved health. With these particular objects in view, the account which follows has been specially written and compiled, the New Zealand Government Year Book, and other official literature being, the sources of information principally drawn upon. Ihe editor trusts that Home readers of the Xmas Number of tile '• Mail " may find the description of the colony of considerable interest and value. As to our regular colonial subscribers, many of them will, we feel sure, he glad to possess a compact and readable account of their natal or adopted country, the fair and prosperous Britain of the Pacitic.

HOW TO REACH THE COLONY.

The days when the journey to Australia or New Zealand had to he undertaken by moans of a sailing - ship, when the \o\aee was one of from three to live more oi h weary months, lutve passed tor e\et. I day, the intending set tler or tourist has <>nl\ to ctist his eye down the advertising columns of a London daily paper and select one out of the many and most varied hut all most attractive and comfortable ways of reaching the colony, whose scenic beauties he wishes to inspect or on whose hospitable shores In* intends to make a new home. Perhaps the easiest and best way of reaching the colony is by means ot the magnificent ocean liners of the New Zealand Shipping Company or the Shaw, Saville and Albion line. Both companies own and run gigantic vessels, whose fittings art* most luxurious, and in which a voyage to the far-off “Britain of the Pacific” is little more

than one long pleasure cruise in a superblyfurnished st ea m - vac h t. I'lie fares vary, according tii accommodation, from CIS or C 1 b for steerage passengers up to from Cbt) to C7<» for saloon passengers. All the vessels earrv surgeons. A most luxurious table equal to that in the most palatial London hotel is provided, smoking rooms, music saloons, libraries, and social halls provide means of conquering rmim on the rare occasions when the weather is "dirty ; and the most careful possible arrangements arc in force to ensure the comfort and safety of till on board. The route taken is rid the (’ape of flood Hope, the heat of the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean being thus avoided; and the vessels touch first at Teneriff’e and afterwards tit Cape Town, thence proceeding direct to Hobart, the picturesquely situated capital of Tasmania, where passengers for Australia are transhipped into one of the fine intercolonial steamers of the Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand or of the

lluddart Barker line. 'l’lie fullest mlormalion as to fares, cabin accommodation, dates of sailing, and so birth, is cheerfully given on application to the London olliees ol the two companies named. I he direct route, of course, has its rivals. The tourist may. for i nsta nee. come out by a I ’. >Y ( ). or f )rien! liner nd tin* M ed i terra nea n ami Suez (.anal, the lied Sea, the Indian Ocean, and Australia. A similar route is adopted by the tine liners of the M essageries-M aritimes and North derm an Lloyds. By this route there s a greater variety of attractions in the wav of stopping-places ; but transhipment at Melbourne is. of course, necessary. I hen, again, there are the Canadian and American routes —the first rid Liverpool and Montreal, thence by the Canadian-Pacific railroad across the Great Dominion to Vancouver, and so on to Sydney ; the second by way of Liverpool, New ork, rail across the continent to San Francisco, ending with a pleasant trip across the Pacific to Auckland,

<•:i!1 ir i u (‘ii ri'tufi’ ;it Honolulu. So much us to the menus oi reaching' the colony. T<) 1111 ST lIOHTHS WITHIN THU (;olon V. The route to he taken by the tourist, visiting New Zealand depends, of course, upon the length of time In* purposes to remain in the colony uml the amount, of money he is prepared to expend. Travelling in New Zealand is not very expensive* it is ver\ much cheaper than in America, tend far less costly than in certain Continental haunts beloved of John Hull when bent on holiday-making. Hither "Auckland in the North Island or I nvei cargill in the* South are excellent starting points. Wellington, the capital of the colonv, is also very conveniently situated for the same purpose. In the North Island the Hot Lakes District and volcanic region are, of course, the first and foremost attractions. Starting from Auckland the tourist can now reach Rotorua —the capital, as it were, of the- Thermal Springs District —by

rail in one day; and having visited the various wonders, of which more anon, can then proceed to Napier, on the east coast, by coach, or, taking coach from Tokaunu via Lake Taupo to Pipiriki, on the magnificent Wanganui River, can descend that noble stream —“The Rhine of New Zealand,” and one of the most picturesque and lovely rivers in the world —by the fine river steamers specially built in England for tourist traffic, of the Wanganui Steam Packet Company (.Messrs Patrick & Co.) From Wanganui the tourist can take a trip to New Plymouth, and, if he wishes, make an ascent of Mount Egmont. Wellington can be readied from Wanganui by rail in a few hours, the journey being through one of the richest agricultural districts in the colony. A short stay at the seat of Government, and the traveller may proceed by one of the Union Company’s tine steamers —-the company’s fleet numbers over fifty vessels, and the coastal service of the colony is described by shipping experts

as one of the best in the "world rn Nelson. m exceeding!v pretty and historically lamon.district ; and thence to Greymouth. on tin West Coast of the South Island, by way ol the famous Bull or (Sorgo. An inspection car now be made of the goldmining industry on the West Coast, followed by what is one oi the first coaching trips in the world a-r >s.the Southern Alps into the fertile plains of Canterbury. and so on to ( hristelrnvi the most English of all the colony s c"nnv< of population. A trip to Mount ( ook is now in order; and later on the traveller will n< doubt ])roceed to Dunedin, the ])opulous and prosperous capital of the province of ( )fago. From Dunedin tlirough central Otago rthe great cold lakes is now the usual procedure followed by tourists, the magnificent Sounds scenery and the Sutherland Falls of course, not being omitted. At the Bluff the port of Invercargill, the Melbourne boar can be picked up: and so on to Australia. This, of course, is the roughest possible outline of a trip which can be filled in with visits to attractions of bewildering variety. Besides ■‘Murray's fluid- to X**w Zmaland,” guide-books an* issued by the I nion Steatn Shipping Company and others: and no diiticulry wharever wed be experienced in selecting tin itinerary in keeping with the time tit the visitors disposal. We now propose to give the intending tourist some necessarily slight idea ol what can be seen in what lots not untruth) ully been called ‘‘The Paradise of t Im* Pacific. THE WEST COAST SOUNDS. One of the best descriptions of the Sounds is to be found in a pamphlet " A Scenic Wonderland” written by Mr. .Malcolm Boss, a well-known New Zealand Alpine climber and journalist, and included in the invaluable* Official Vear Book of the colony issued by the Government, and copies of which may be obtained at the A gent-(lenera I s offices. Westminster Chambers. Mr. Boss knows his subject mi fninl. and we cannot do better than quote from his animated and careful description of this picturesque region: " Beginning in the South, we have the far-famed West Coast Sounds, no lower than thirteen in number, all lying within a distance of 120 miles on the south-west coast of tlu* Middle Island of New Zealand. The best way of visiting the Sounds is by the annual excursions, so well carried out each summer by the Union Steamship Compilin' of New Zealand. Kvery season these excursions, which partake of the nature of a gigantic ten-day water-picnic, are patronised bv hundreds of sight seers from till parts of the civilised globe, and it is safe to sax-

rhn T n i such splendid excursion can be enjovod in anv other part of rim world. I he steam -r calls tirst ar Preservation Inlet, thereafter proceeding northward through s >:n * of rim mo-r beautiful li >r. Is i > M ilf >rd Sound, the grandest of all. I’he mountains by which Milford Sound is surrmu led are rh" highest o;i t hi' c msr. the gla -ier-crowned Pembroke Peak rising aim >st it might be said from th" water's edge to a (might of b.7<): )ft. One of the most noticeable am mg them is the remarkably-shaped Mitre Peak, the end of a long ridge that runs back from the Sound, and a t r:i: ns j in rim .Mitre its greatest height of n..o!>()}'t. The l.ion. a massive mountain on the opposite side, from some points of view closely resembling a lion cintch n at, is likewise a striking feature of the Sound : and t he St irl ing Pa I Is ( b< if tft. ) and the Bowen Falls (bKM'tA are sights worth coming a long wax' to sec. Tim wall' of the Fiord-: go straight down i , tremendous depths, and. except at the head, it is difficult to {i 111 1 ;m anchorage for .-hips. In one place, near the Stirling Fall, the ~ landings show a depth of 21 1 fa'homs. The 1; e X". W. S. ( I reell . a member of the F n v i i -1 1 Alpine Club who xi-ited New Zealand .-oin • vetirs ago. thus refers to his on: ry into Milford Sound : ' \ ertieal dill’s r iso for thousands of feel on either hand, and we di'ox'e in before a blast so strong as almost to make steaming unnecessary. The surface of the sea would now and then be torn oil' in sheets, drixen along in spindrift, and again all would be as calm as glass. Waterfalls. resembling the St.aubarh. eanm down the (dill's from a box'e the clouds, and were blown iiwiiv into spray while in mid-air bv the furv of the storm. Wherever xrgetation could get a loot ing on these immense precipices lovely tree-ferns and darken shrubs grew in profusion, all dripping with moisture, and running up the cliffs in long strips of verdure till lost to our xiexv aloft in the torn white mists. The vivid green of the foliage was the feature of all this wondrous seem* which struck me nio-u. Two or three miles up tin* sound we steamed close to an immense waterfall which, in one ] i] iinge of A it lit. leaped into tlm sound with a roar like thunder, drowning our voices and sending great gushes of spray over tlm steamer’s deck. The face of another great < -1 i IT was so draped with numberless small falls that it seemed to be covered with a veil of silver gauze about Bit!) yards in width. While passing along Imre we I i ret I a gun: ech o a ft cr re h o resounded from elitl to cliff, and from inx'isible crags high oxer our heads the echo again returned as a

voice from the clouds. The mist now showed an inclination to clear off. the rain ei-n<od. ami as we entered the inner basin of t he sound the forest increased in beauty. Tlm rot am pines, draped with festoons of grev lichen, contrasted well with the soft green of the great fern-fronds ( .1/Wz’os/i/cms !’iri<hi ) which here and there lit up the upper surface of the forest with patches ol intense e ilour. (Hearns of sunshine began to dart through the clouds, gixing a in >- nmntarx’ fln-’li on one of its numerous cascades, and then, passing over forest and cliff, added new beauties of light and shah*. Wlmn nb utt eight miles from the open sea a bo lining sound rose higher ox er t he xoiiees of the numerous easea |os. growing louder as \vr ndx’anrrd. and. roan ling a lorest-rlad point, we earn- it p i: i t 1 m gra 11 d est oi New Zealand waterfalls :lm great Bowen Fall. Its lirsi fall is onlx" about boft. into a rocky ba-dn. lan. leaping from it upward-: and outwards in a m ist wonderful ettrx-e. it plunges down xxitli a deafening roar in a stngh'leap of :;t i: (ft. The fe An.au was allowed n drift up in the eddy caused by the fall. and. 1 1 ei 11 «i’ eatight bx" tlm stream in tlm midst oi

drenchtny clouds ol spray. she \v;is spun r mnil ;is i h mum she were a iu mv tl latiny twiy: t!i • • 11. st hi iuu' t" a sli >rt distant' y sli" st > p ped uyain. The weather had now ralwn up suHirientiv for us to sw thronyh a n on min if in I 1 1 ■ ol ■ mds tla ■ sn ow-cla d top of M itiv Peak, which rises in one yrand prooipioo of A,An'M't. Irom tin- sttrfa -e of the sound. The yla dm- on Pondifoke Peak showed for a few minutes, and then was lost to view : lull what we saw form-d the Lt'ran lest combination of scenery up >n which m v eves had ever rested. As these sounds tire from 2 ID to :>')') fathoms deep, there are hut few places in them wli 't'o a ship c mid anchor: had we stayed tlruv for the niyht we should have made the steamer fast to t n 'i -s.' TIIK COM) LAKES OF TIIF SOI'TII I SPA N I). Next in importance to the West (’oast Sounds, hut more easily accessible l" the tourist two are still (plot inn' Mr. Malcolm Ross) "are ih ■ lakes of hta»o, nidi liavimr a charact 'r of it- own. To yet to hakes To Anna and Manapouri t!w tourist y.

h\- rail from I nvercaryill or Dunedin to hutnsden. the next day proeecdiny by coaeh to the southern end of Te Alum. Here the scenery is somewhat uninterest iny and yrrarlv inferior to whtit opens out worn the following day. the traveller rakes the steam launch to the head of the lake. Te Anau. t hirty-eiyht miles lony and one to six miles wide, covers a total area of lnl? square miles. It has three western arms or thirds, and numherless islands are scattered over its surface. On either side rise wooded m uinrains. and in rainy wrath w countless waterftills descend into the lake. As one penetrates farther the bennies increase and at the head of the lake the toweriny summits, often snow-capped, are most aweinspiriny. hake Manapouri is reached after thirteen miles' driviny alony the course of the W aiau. one p u tit of the roa 1 the 11 >rsesh i ■ llcnd heiny very heaut ifttl. The area of the lake is lift % sju are miles. The mm ntains arottii I it. from U > > M't. to 7< > > M't. hiyli. and tlm islands in it. arc ricldv mantled with luxuriant yrnwih. Above I lie hushline. as in hake Te Anau. rise the yr.init'* tops of the paths, shattered and splintered and often .-now - chid. The two laryesl islands are named respect ivel \ Koii.a and P anotia. I lie sniri'v at the head of the lake, up the Spe\ l.’iver, a;nl the Mica hum. is wonderfully line, t liouyli as vrt it is not accessible to the ordinary tourist. Iteiiirniny to Fumsdeu, the traveller can proceed on to Mukatipu. tukiny train for Kinu'st m. which is reached in the afternoon, and steamer up I lie lake to Ipnriistnwii. As he nears (Queenstown, which is eharminylv situateil. the niouut.ains become more impressive. and the curious P euiarka Ides, with their double cone, rise towards his riyht. <in the left is Pen homond a fa \a air il e excursion. From its summit ;t mayniliceiit view of mountains and lakes can be obtained. Another trip is to Arrowtown. which lies in an important mininy district. ('ominy back by the Shotover (iorye. the traveller passes thronyh wild and impres.-ive srenerv. and many features of interest are here to lie noted that recall the earlv yold-mininy days. The road to the Phomix Mine, at Skipper’s, is. in many parts, hewn out of the solid rock a precipice above and below. This excursion ran be made in a day on horseback from Fichardt’s Hotel. The Kawarau Falls, the only outlet of Fake Wakatipu. should also visited. <) f course, the principal excursion from (Queenstown is to the head of the hake. Tiny tourist will find comfortable quarters and a yood ynide at llirley s. and many interest iny journeys may be undertaken. Some of the linest scenery is up the Pollteburn Valley to the Fake Harris Saddle, from w hich a wonderfully yrand and comprehensive view is obtainable. Kinloch. Precipice ('reek. Diamond Fake. ,Vc.. can also lie visited from Dlenorehy. but thr expedition to accomplish is the ascent of .Mount Furnslaw. which is practicable, in line weather, hv any one who is a yood walker, and can climb a little. The view from the summit, is probably the linest obtainable in Otayo.

Tin 1 bottom of Lake Wakaripu is. a-'cordiuy to " Murrnv’s (iuide." in sonic* places 1 I< H )t i. below sen-level, although the surface of the lake is 1000 ft. above the sea. Harye and excellent trout are found in its waters, which are intensely clear, and very pure. Its area is 112 spurn* miles, its lenytli fifty miles, and its breadth varies from one mile to three and a half miles. Wanaka is said to excel Vakatipu in beauty, but is smaller, beiny thirty miles lony by three miles wide, with an area of n/.000 acres. 11 v means of a steamer that plies on the lake, various excursions may be made up to the head, to .Manuka or I’iyeon Island, ■curious for containing a small lake in its centre, ami to Hast and West Wanaka. from which a line view of .Mount Aspiriny can be yaiued. From I’cmbr.ikc the tourist may drive to b.ake llawea. Ilero. mi the surromidiuy ranyes. numbers o! red deer, introduced from Scotland by t lie Acclimatisation Soeietv. are doiny well. The shoot iny season is April and May. The ; > >• ol Mount Aspiriny can be reached in a day s ride, t Inroute ly iny up the Mat u!: i t tiki Va ! ley Til F SOFT 11 FI! N Aid’S. Mr. Iloss. who is an expert mountaineer, and who lias done excellent service to Alpine climbers and to tourists yeuerally in obtaininy tend arrtimyiny information as to the bi-st and easiest way ol visit iny the A 1 pi lie reyions ol the South I si a n d. y i ves i 11 the pamphlet from which we have tpioted jtbove a fine descript ion of t lie \ a -t mountain ranye known bv the name o! the S nituern or New /,ealand Alps, o! which Am'a imi. the " skv-piercer. ' more popularly called Mount Cook after the lamoiis ei reu m na v is a i or who discovered New /.ealand is the ytant peak. The limits of spare prevent our ( p 1 o t i 11 y Ills article 111 r i lr,isn. but 1 1 11 e pttrtieular extract we feel compelled to make. seeiny that it yives so line a picture of the maynilieeut scenery to be witnessed by the tourist. Mr. boss says. “At Mount ( '(ink we are in the midst ol the yrainiest scenes of the Southern Alps. I’ormerlv it was somewhat ol an undertiikiny to visit this locality: now. two days coaehiny from the railway at Fairlic lands the traveller at the 11 er m it aye. a comfortable host lery ;it i he very foot of Mount Fook. We look out from t lie lira winy-room window on to the ice-seamed sides ol Mount Soft on a ylorious peak draped in unite ylaeiers and we can see and hear t he :i villa tidies thunderiny down. bast Mount Seldom itml not live minutes walk liotn the Hermitaye. flows the Mueller (ilacier. tlanked on either side tor eiyht miles by t oweriny ylacier-elad ranyes. the scenery at its head beiny remarkably line. 1 p another va 1 lev. under the yreat but t resses of Mount book, runs the Hooker (daeior. some twelve miles lony. curvitiy round to Mount Stokes ( 10.ObUft.). and receiviny a number ot line tribtitarv streams of ice from the westmi slopes of Aoranyi notably the Kmpress. Nocline. and Mona (Ihtciers. I he ice iroui t he Hmpress (ilacier and t lie upper port ion of the Hooker is very much broken up by jiressure while roundiny the rocky buttresses just above the Xoeline (iltieier. ami forms si beautiful ice-wall, but one that is,

late in the season, very difficult to travi'r-e. ( )ne of the finest views in the district is obtainable from tin* Scaly Ibinye. at an altitude of about KOODfr. I made this excursion in IS:).') with Mr. T. b. Fyie. of Mount book fume, and we were charmed with the view. Immediately below us tin* Metelille (ilacier curved yeiit ly down for some distance. and then poured its ice in one yreat mass into the Mueller, which, broken and rrevmsed. flowed northward in a yen tie curve b< K X >ft . below us. From the source of tin* Mueller the eye swept round the peaks and ylaeiers of the Moorhouse banye to Mount Sefton. reariny his iceseamed sides 1 ().()(Miff, in air. Then the line peak of Mount Stokes, far away at the head of tin- Hooker (ilacier. and tin* ylistensnows of St. Ihivid s Dome, came into view, while down from their buses flowed the Hooker (ilacier itself, swollen with the tributary iee-st reams from the lony southern arete of Mount ('auk. ( Ivor t he yreat rocky ridye of Mount book, on the Tasman side, appeared tie- bold form of Mount lluidinyer. with his jiit ■ ylaeier.- rob -d in shadow, save for a litth- patch of yh-aminy white on the Western slope. Then came .Mount He la IF-eh-. wi - h ;!r* white zones of the Minaret

Peaks Idyll above all the ylaeiers. Still further afield was tin* beautiful Flic tie lienumont. fhmkiny tin* nort b-western side of the Tasman Valley, and just beyond it tlm Leu leu fold Saddle and the white mass of the 11 oid i stet ter Horn I eta n ilia tiny the valley. From the hitter came the yreat mrr <h‘ ijlnrr of the Tasman, plainly visible for eiyhteen miles, down past Flic de lieauniont. curviny round between He In Hcclie and Make lirun with a inn ji-stic sweep, t hell flowiny in a straiyhter line pasi Mounts H u id i n yei' and I I ansi. reeei v iny tribute from ylaeier after ylaeier rill il stopped far down the vallev. melt iny slowly, and issuiny forth in another form the Tasman biver. Flankiny il in the eastward was the Malle lirun lianye. steep and rocky: and beyond that in tic* hollow between that and tie- biehery banye lay in dim shadow the .Murchison (iltieier. What a y! iriou- panorama of m luntain scenery it was! !l) izeiis ol' p-aks. from Si),')! (ft. to I 2.() ) Ft liiyh. and b ‘tween fort v and lift v ylaeiers. were in siyht at one tim ■: while riylr. in t lie midst of il nil rose tic dark but t ress-'s of Aoranyi. pile mi pilei In* final snow pwik. ! 2.'! 1') i t. hiyii. y Dun lain tin- sell iny sun M a ay line y hue iers an 1 j > •: i k s in be- S oil l ! i rn Alps a re

;is 1■ r rvi'ii unnamed. and. as Mr. (in-on lias put it. there is. in tin* neiylibourhnod < >l' Mount Cook alone, tvork fora whole yencrarion of climbers. Future mountaineers will not have to contend attains! many of t lie ditlieulries which tin* pioneers have encountered, for the (iovernmem is now nwakeniny to the fact that the scenery is one of the best assets which the colony possesses, and is spendiny thousands of pounds in formingroads and r racks, so that the chief points of interest will lie easily accessible to tourists, who a re eon liny in inrrcasiny numbers every \ear from all parts of the world. With the facilities that at present exist for travel, it is a wonder that more- of the Knylisli alpine climbers do not come out to New Zealand. There is certainly here a splendid held of viryin peaks which the best am my them ln-ed not deem unworthy of his prowess. The fauna and Horn. too. of the New Zealand Aips are extremely interestiny. The ken. a mountain parrot with a swrprisinyly powerfti! beak, of which, eitriouslv. the upper mandible is jointed, has his home in these fastnesses. He is much dreaded by rhe rtmholder because of his likiny for the kidnev fat of the sheep, to obtain which he settles on the back of the unfortunate animal and tears awnv wool and flesh until tindesired dainty is reached. The weka one •f the New Zealand winyless birds is tjtiainrlv i nt crest i iil;-. if only for the intense euriositv it evinces in the doinys of the " fe;i I I icrless I >i ] icd." In m ore sou t hern latitudes tire found other stranye birds, such tis the kakapo and the kiwi. There are ninny other birds likewise to be met with, interestiny alike to the naturalist and sportsmanAt Mount ( 'oiik the flora is part iciilarly beautiful and interestiny. In t he sub-alpine yl on s n ll ill - - roils be rr v - boa ri n y pi a n t s abound, while in fa toll ruble spots the alpine veyetaI ion is varied and luxuriant. There are kinds of ranunculus, and a bewilderiny varietv of celnmsias. yentians. and sem-cios also flourish. Am my the rocks, at hiyher a It it tides, t he e. I el w -iss. d i fferiny but si iy h t I v from t he Swiss variety, yrows in profusion" With respect to m at 111 a i neeri ny in New Zealand, s nil - valuable hints as to e.piipiiient. A"., are yiven in the Ollieial \ ear Hoik of i!i - ( ' iloii v li iti yi - I o I. ed it ion il.Vl. and t!i i- - w li i c m l cm pla t e e I i 111 b: i i y expeditions to tin- Sou■ hern Alps should also |o ik II j I ill- ib-v. Mr. ( ! r. -eifs ” T l l - 11 iyh Alps of New Zealand (Macmillan A f'n.). which coni a i 11 s a most inierestiny ace unit of an a s i • ■ 11 1 of Mount Cook : also tie- badminton Liliraiw volum - d -a liny with in uni! a ineeriny: and last, but e-riainlv not least. Mr. I-’ i I /. ye ra 1 d' s i i i > k . "('limbs in the New

Zt-alan-1 Alps." which was published by Mr. Fisher I nwin this voir. THF NKW ZKAI.ANI) FORKS'!’. The beauty of rhe New Zealand native forest is famous. Nowhere has ir received more eloquent testimony than in an address delivered in May last by the A yent-(leneral for New Zealand, tin- lion. \\ . I’. Reeves, before a meetiny of the Royal Colonial Instistiture. In this address to whieh in its printed form Mr. Reeves, himself a poet of tm mean order, has .yiven the poetic and certainly most yraccful title of "The Fortunate- Isles" the brilliantly talented youny New Zealander who represents the colony in London has described the ylorious forests of his mirive land in words whieh well deserve a place in everv book or pamphlet, dealiny with the seenie beauties of the colonv. Me make no apoloyy. therefore, for plaeiny Mr. Reeves's yraeefully-worded description before mir renders : “ The ylory of New Zealand forest scenery may be summed up in the words variety and luxuriance. The tall trees yrow close toyether. For the most parr their leaves are rather small, but their close neiyhhourhood prevents this spoiliny the effect. The eve wanders over swell after swell, and into cavern after cavern of unbroken folia .ye. As a rule the lower part of the trunks is 1 1 ra neh less : they rise up like tall pillars ill lony colonnades. Rut this does not mean that t hey are hare, ( limbiny ferns, lichens, pendant yrasses. air-plants, and orchids drape their trunks with verdure. Lony, rope-like lianas seem to fall like cords from their branches to the yround. Around them bushes, shrubs, creepers and ferns of every size and lu-iyht combine to make a tanyled thicker, tilliny up and even ehokiny the spaces between trunk and trunk. So the yiants of the forest are not lonely by any means. Like the Australians, the New Zeaiand colonists rail their noble forest • bush.' What in Lnyland niiyht lie called Lush or brushwood is culled 'scrub' in the colonies. Our forest trees are everyreens, therefore even in mid-winter they are beau! il'ul. The ylorious autumnal tints of Knylish voids are mu theirs: yet theirs in-,- i-vi-rv shade of yreen from the liyhfc puriri to the dark lotara. from the bronzeImeil willow-like leaves of the ta wa to the vivid yreen of the iiiaiai. or the soli yolden-yrei-n -O' lhe dro-ipiny rimn. Then, a.yain, ill >ll y? i i I r • wild yr. m ml -f I iwvrs ol'oiii' Islands i-a 1111 U emipa re in numl ii -r with t Im-te of Knylan I or Australia. we are fortunate in II iweriny eri-epers. shrubs, and trees. There is the Koni irik i bush with its white and purple blossoms. That, fori limit ely. is eoni-

in on enough. Everywhere in the ' hush, too, vou may meet that lovely white eonvolvulus, which covers whole thickets with blooms, delicate as carved ivory, whiter than milk. There is the clematis the cream coloured or the variegated. I here is the yellow kowhai. which seen on the hillside shows the russet tint of autumn at the verv height ot springtime. 1 here is the* manuka with tiny star blooms. But perhaps the king of our forest flowers is the crimson, feathery rata. Is it a creeper or is it a tree? Both opinions are held with a delightful confidence; both are rig-lit. One species of the rata is a parasite and climber, the other springs sometimes from the ground, sometimes from the fork ot a fork of it tree into which tin- seed is blown or dropped, thence it throws out long- rootlets sometimes to the ground, sometime wrapping round the trunk of the tree on which on which it is growing. (Gradually this rata becomes a tree itself, kills its supporting tree, and growing around the dead stick ends in almost hiding it from view. 1 Inmost gorgeous of all flowering trees, as distinguished from creepers, is the sea-loving pohutukawa. When the wind is tossing- its branches 1 can think of few livelier sights than the contrast between its blood-red flowers and the dark upper side and white down under side of its leaves. Would that I had space to detain you while I could launch out on our ferns, from the black-tree fern thirty to six'tv feet high to the tilmv fern and the little maidenhair, and the creeping" lycopodium that often carpets the glades. The silver tree-fern, and the tuiha superb a, and a hundred others must In- unhonoured to-day. But 1 cannot <|uile forget the Jiikatt. our only true palm, and the charming contrast which its rather stiff upward poin t ing leavesaftord to t lie eur\ i ng lacelike fronds of the tree ferns when they grow side bv side, as they often do in tin- forest. THE BEAI'T I Fl'L WANE ANTI. The rivers of the eolony also deserve at-

tention at our hands. In the South Island thev tire often sadly shrunken in volume 1 in the- summer season, at other times often raging torrents: but they tire always picrurespue in their surroundings. Rising in tin-g-rout dividing range, they tire swift anil turbulent, but. in the North Island, the rivers are noble waterways, winding in and out 'neat 1 1 high forest and cliff, or meandering through broad fertile plains. f H till the Xorth Island rivers indeed, of all the rivers in the colony the Wanganui sttmds preeminent in its beauty. As we said before, in our brief glance tit some tourist routes, wo stronglv counsel no one who visits the colonv to omit a trip up or down this superb stream. In his address on " 1 lie Fortunate islands" (pioted above, our New Zealand Agent-(lem-ral dwelt at length upon the scenic and other attractions of the Wanganui, a journey on which, once made onlv liy a canoe, is now made more comfortable and convenient for tourists through through the laudable enterprise of Mr. Hatrick of Wanganui, who has placed two line steel steamers on the river. Mr. Beeves savs. "As a specimen of a New Zealand forest river, let me take the W aiigamti, the longest and most famous, and perhaps the most beautiful of our north-western rivers. Near the sea. it is simply a tine broad river, traversed by boats and small steamers, and with its grassy banks dotted with weeping willows or clothed with flax and the ti. But as you ascend it. the hills cluso in. Their sides become tall cliffs, whose feet the water washes. From ! latops of these precipices the forest, which becomes denser and richer at every turn, rises oil the flanks of the hills. In places the cliffs arc so steep and impracticable that the Maoris use ladders lot" t Icscctti i i t tg from their villages above to their canoes ill the rivers below. Lovely itideed are these cl ill's ; first, because of the profusion of fern frond. leaf, and moss, growing from everything that can climb to lay bold nl or foot

itself in a crack or crevice or ledge on their faces, and then droop, glistening with spray drops, or wave whisperin'.:' in the wind : next. I u-t-ause of t he si riki uir form ami <• nott r of the cliffs themselves. They are formed of what is called "papa": this is a blue calcareous eluv often found with limestone, which it somewhat resembles. 1 he Maori word "papa" is applied to any broad, smooth, flatlisli surface, as for instance, to a door, or to a slab of rock. The papa cliffs have a smooth slab-like look, they are often curiduslv marked toiia'lled and grooved, as vvillia goitge or chisel, channelled and fluted. Sometimes horizontal lines seem to divide

tin'll! intii strata : tiicti ; i: i i 11 tin- 1 i n < •.- will lie winding 11 in I spiral in such n ri I'Mi-nr I In i! when looki tig a t t 111 • cl i tVs ill till' M 1 > k: i i. country. I have i \ n i r< • i \ i-i 1 ii possible that rln- Mm n'is ciiul'l 1 1; i \ . > I from tlii'lii xiiiii' nf their curious t :i 11 : n > pat 1 ri'!i>. Thottgl J 111 le n tn I I lei ien I e. T In ■ lints < >f III*- reeks II n ■ mu I her leu st lien HIV. (i rev. yellow. liruwie t I'l'l'il-(•( It t n. even pule orange lire I be iiiiieil Inn it is. ns I >n ii I i iefi in *. I I h • * I r;t | m-rv thill ('let lies these eliiVs which is their chief c • h: t rni. mill thnt n much lietier weri I -1 m i n: • et hull I Hill eellhl net hejie In 1 > 1 • i 11 hi 'file le Veil. Ne I li II It ee rn I li 1 dill (111 it. 1 11 'CII use I > i i - '! I ILfl'll jlllS give lie lie-lit III' eelelll'. lillll New Zealand sretierv wit hunt lie'll I mill eelelll' is " llmnlet will: lllllillet left elll. Ilew cm: I possibly bring' lie I'el'e yell the lemi's r I he fentlierv waving' foliage et the luce I iii r k f tin- white mid ]»1 1 f) 1 1 < • h!"em ei the Kem I Il'iki I f till- stiff s\\ i , i'i i - 1 1: i ye lie I -like I> I;i(ies iil' iinr tin x wiiii t licit- | n 1 1 is 1 1 (■ 1 1 ui'eri. r the richness ef the i'ern which l.'enrs the I inn |C of the I ’riliee i if Wit les f i i|' the gl 1 II! ef tiie sunshine ns ii fulls on l he million t i issi lie ) l! mill 'S of the I ( K * -1 lie. I I II ' New /.I 'll - ! n in i cell si 11 iif i he well-know n I’: i n i ] m s gra>!» r Add !e this, thnt inure often I hull yen cun eeillit IIS veil mi nlmie I lie fiver, elt her seine i it t le I'i!! eeines dripping' user the cl i if. sen I - tering the spnrklitig (ire|»s on nmss mni feline'*- : er the eliifs me eiofi : t mi. ns frein II rent in t lie enrth. seine trilminry stream gushes eii i ef n (In rk leu fy niniiel i if l»rn t,eh<-.-Si mil't i nil's, tee. the eliifs lire net cleft. 1 > 11T thi' st remn rushes from their summit, n white wuterfnll veiling the messy rocks. Nor must 1 1 1 it'e'i't t lie birds. In mid-air V * i H m;t\- see the little flllituii. : i ]»t 1 \ namedzigzagging to mnl i're. The dnrk -! >1 m- Tu i, with these while tliron! ienthers thnt pfueiire him the nnme ill the l’ni'sen hird. will sine- with n note thnt oitt-rivnls unv hlnekliird. The Kttkti et wild pigeon will show his ptlfple. ('() ppi ■ f-eel ell fed , white lllid green plumage us lie sails slowly by. with thnt ensv con lid i tie- Might that iimkes him the com nietie-t victim ef the tyre sportsman. The grey duck, less easy to u ppreucli. rises noisilv hel'efc veltr heat ef emioe eeines -within gunshot. The olive and hrown hoarse voiced Ku-Kii, one (if our In rye wild parrots, and green cri m son - headed parakeets may ,•e . I complete the list. Such is a " 1 apa river* and there arc many such. The Wanganui mav lie taken as the chief example, and us few travellers can manage to descend the less-known hut quite unspoiled Mokan. I would advise till visitors to make a point, ot running down the Wanyanui front J auntaranui to the mouth. An .admirably compiled guide-book to the Wanganui River is issued by .Mr. Willis, printer and stationer, of Wanganui, and copies ot this very useful and interesting publication should he obtained by till tourists who visit the Hot bakes region and the Wanganui River. ft T?| ]•; WONDERLAND OK THE NORTH 1 SE A N D. The Hot Lakes District of the North Island, situated to the north of the great inland sea. Lake Tanpo, and of the giant volcanoes Ruapehu and Tongariro, the latter of which is stili’activc, though not aim niingly so, has been described by scores of able pens, includ-

tug- the great English hist orimi. ti n - late.l.L. Erondo, the late Mr. Oem-ye Augustus Sala, Mr. Archibald Enrl.es. mid Mr. Phil. Robins .!: mid other journalist's, who have duly written-up the colony, but nothing- can "state tin- infinite varietv” of its wonders, mid there i> a field fm- descriptive writers flic wealth of which must remain inexhaustible. so great is tin- number, so bewilder ill g t lie variety, of the attractions for the t ottrisi. i he art ist. and the 1 ion I r h-sookers. Full details iis te the properties of the mineral waters at Rotorua and ot her cent res it: tin' district eat; lie found in the Official N ea r Rook (if the eolunv. and would take up foo much space for us to recapitulate here. Sit flieo it to say. however, that ill a number of very differently constituted complaints ami diseases, the curative effect of bm long' in t he hot aud other in ieora I springs to be found in "The Wonderland of New kind " is admitted by medical authorities all over the world. In all eases of rheumatism ami kindred complaints, in skin diseases of a I most every deseri pt ion. in gout mid liver complaint, oven in paralysis, the elfecf of taking tlie baths is re 11 la rk ahi v good, in some instance- almost m ir.-ieu lottsly so. It is. of course, advisable that expert medical advice should In- obtained 1> \ those who think of utilising' the natural resources of 1 Lis ii i a rve! lons region as a moans to the reeovei'v of lioalth. Wo may add that file < bivt-rnnieiu medical stair m the Rotorua Sanatorium t> composed of gentlemen of the highest attainments, and that every" care and attention, combined with the best obtainable medical skill, are placed at the disposition of hen It h-seekers. Tile twin subjects of the springs, t heir cliaraet erist ies and qualities, and of the genera! treatment of patients visiting the lakes, are, as we said above, most exhaust ivel v dealt with in the Uflieen! Year Rook; that part ie 11 1 a r port ion of which dealing' with the Thermal Springs District and the Rotorua Sanatorium being obtainable in separate pamphlet form from Dices of tin- Agent-< lenernl. In this place. however, we should he tieg'leefing our ditlv were wo not to include a brief description <>t the marvels of the region, those marvels which yearly astonish and delight, crowds of visitors from Australia, from America, and from tin- Did Countty. And here again we lull back upon Mr. Reeves’ eloquent .address to his fcllovvtnenibcrs of the Colonial Institute. He says, " The railway is now opened to Rotorua. and one long day's ride* will take you to the Sanatorium and into the heart of the Thermal Springs District. If you tire an invalid vou need not make the journey in one dav, but may make a comfortable be.lt and have your first taste of hot bathing at Okoroire by the way. Once tit Rotorua your movements will be regulated by your health, If vou go there for medical treatment, you will of course obey orders and live by rule, and must only take such excursions as your doctor permits. If, on the other hand, you are perfectly well ami go there as a sightseer, 1 have a word or two to say. Rainstaking descriptions of the wonders of the thermal district abound. Even it I felt capable of rivalling them 1 should leave to devote the whole evening to doing so. .So

This address must 1k“ confined r < > u lew points. First of till remember that the Hot Lakes district is of very considerable extent. Not a hundredth part of it or its marvels can be seen in one view. 11 ow many scores of times has one not been asked whether there is anything' left to see now that the pink and white terraces have been overwhelmed. Whereto the answer must be that an intellitrent person could spend manv weeks there and come away without having' seen all. How many hot sprint's are there? asks one questioner. I •don't know. I don't think anyone does know, they have never been counted. They are too many. How hot an- they? asks another. They are of every decree, from, sav. (iOdey. Fa hr. to 2l2dey. The chief, or. at anv rate, the most noticeable, chemical producing effects of colour in the thermal district tire sulphur, alum, and silica. To the last-mimed we owe the frosty snowwhite hue of innumerable terraces, banks, and led<res. The alum walls, or so-called caves, are more yrevish. It is to the almost rainbow tints of the sulphur pools, springs, and deposits that the sprint's owe t heirmost brilliant effects. How can I describe them? It is easy to talk about red and vellow and ttrern. but that does not irive vou anv notion of the infinite and beautiful gradations. Aelloss. yes : everything from nnintre to pale primrose. lied : that means rose, carmine, cardinal, blood-colour, crimson. port-wine. In tin- same svny yon may see all the givens, from the deepest t-tm-rald to tic- palest, s-a-tints. Then how can 1 mve vou even the faintest sketch ol the inexhaustible variety in which the subterranean forces of lire and water manifest their strength? I can tell you that there are • 'evsers, solfataras. funmroles. and mud volcanoes bv the score: but does that make them boil and roar, and writhe, and seethe, and hiss, and snort, and spout and steam, and i'll role, tind splutter before your eyes ? A far belter word-painter than 1 would fail utterly to «rive vou tiny vivid impression of these extraordinary phenomena. In close contrast with them tire often the briirhicst. tenderest fern and lea fa .ire. It maybe truly' said that the wide plateau in which the lakes stand is not always hcauiilui that the fernv terraces and pumice plains are sometimes drearv when away trout the water. But then there is so much water, and who can irnimble at the scenery ol the lakes when once vou have reached their shores r Botoruu is but one of many. I he visitor should insist upon bein.tr taken to Rotoiti, Rotoehu. and Rotorua, ('harmintr as Rotorua is, lvintr in a britrhi circle, a silver settinir round Mokoia. perhnps its sister lakes are more ehttrmimr still. A\ ho that, has elided in a canoe across the trreen. placid surface of Rotoiti and has watched the vap ill!' from some steam yi on its beach risintr white airainst a in-eeti background of forest will ferret l lie tramptil wttter? Then when vou have duly inspected the foaminy I'cvsci's. miniature terraces, and boilinir pools of Wakarewatvua and the dark hellbroth. thick and slab, that bubbles and f'urj'les in the horrid etiuldrons of Tikitere it will be time to pursue your journey to

Lake Taupe. Bv no means make the mistake of Turnin'' back from Rotorua in the belief that vou have exhausted the Thermal Sprin.its District. Taupe tlm sea. as the Maoris called the irreat lake is one of the finest siirhts in New Zealand. I he air ot its uplands is peculiarly tonic and bracine. A wa \' pas: its south-west e utter frown the irreat volcanoes Ruapehu, and N.iruuruhoc. the steaminyr cone of Tonirariro. I he openair bathinir in the hot pools at more than one spot is as delicious as vou can wish. A on can boar on the wide lake, or by its sh ires •rood pheasant-shoot inir may be had for t Intro able of walkin.tr at least that was tlm case when I was last there. Then the river Waikato flows into Taupo and flows out attain, drainin.tr the bit- lake. Before the inflow it is a pretty, t fee- IT i n tred stream morel v. After exit it is a line river, and. nitrh the lake, be inti’ suddenly jammed into a narrow rockv pass, it boils thriiutrh the imprisonin'' chasm and hurls itself in one clear leap, all foam, littht. and colour, into the broad quietly flowintr expanse below. Such is the I I uka waterfall: H uka means foam. Kven finer in all except colour are. I think, the lonir tumultous rapids two or

three miles further down. A ou may rule there easilv from the Wairakei hotel, fording- on the wav a stream with which tinwaters of warm chemical sprinirs hastminified. If sour horse has been some time in the district he will drink this if he be thirsts-. If a stra Hirer he may refuse, as mine did. snort in«r in disirusi. But I must leave the sn-ni-rv of the Hot Spring's cou lit rs . I hast- not even mentioned the alum casts of ( Irakei- Ktiutko. or the natural rock fortress near Ateumuri: or the cliffs at Horn 11 orii : or the crater, the cinders, the chasms of darlc and mischievous Tarassera. I hast- saitl nothinif of the Waiot a pit Valiev svith its lonir suecession of pools, m yd - s-olca noes. and fumaroles. scientiflealls- as intcresriny as anythin.ir in Ness Zealand. I hast- not i-ven described a iiimlsolcano as I meant to do. Bur boss can I help it ? As a lecturer I hast- like Fanstus " but one brief hour to list-.' ".lust, a ss'ort I tti t hose sv h o seek t lit - spr i n irs for health. They are nor a pool of Bethestla. in sv I licit esen one man may dip and be healed, no matter svliat bis tfiseasc. Tincures t lies effect seem miraculous i-ntiiiyh in all truth sometimes, as lor instance tin-

effect of sni | >l l ur - 1»;i r lis on certain paraly tics : lull their effect lias Keen sriont i final lxstudied. is ]>)•<>! r v well understood. and is limiti•<! to certain, thouyh nmnerons disorders. llouyhlv speakiny. we nniv sav that i lie st ini a la t i n o acid sprinys show their most [intent virtue in liver troubles. rlienmatistn. and ttoiit. and the soothiny alkalinesilieeoiis sprinys in certain forms of yout and rheuni.at ism. and in skin disease yenerallv. Disorders of the digest ion. of the Mood and the nervous system are often siynallx lienelitted at Rotorua. Mur it does not follow tluit persons in an .advanced staye of eonsituipt ion. or with heart ilisettse. or ea i leer, or sofreuiny of the lira in can expect aid. Then, a train, let me sax to invalids avoid indiscriminate bathiny. ir is just liecause our springs are powerful that they oiiLtht not to lie played with. At Rotorua and Te A folia you can ret yood tidviee. as a' well as most com fort a 1 ile accommodation take them. Within these limits it is wellhiyli impossilile for invalids to hope too much from the power and pleasantness of ; lie hath, the interest afforded by the count tw. and the important help riven l>v the briylit. brneiny. upland climate. From Tattpo \on may yo east and west. It' von are iti setire 1 1 of the scenery of the wilderness. m v advice is to yo west. Cross Taupo or drive round its shore to Tokaano; then, iiassiny lid ween the Kninianaw u mountains and the yreat volrnnoc's. one of the yrandest spectacles in the Island, make for the I’pper Wanyanui. a voytiye that I have already attempted to sketch. Hitt, if that do not tempt vou. drive throuyh the forest of Axvarua to tim rtiilway at 11 tint erville. The road in summer is yood." FA 11 .M INC I N N K W Z F ALAND. New Zealtmd is speeia 11 v ada pt ed in many wavs for the ayrieult ural and pastoral industiw. from which still come the hulk of our exports. Before dealiny with the question of how to obtain land for settlement, let us yive a few fiyuros w hich ma v serve to show the llotne reader how eiionnoiisly important is the farminy indusnw to this eolonv. The liyures. we max' sax', are taken from the annual report (for bsllb) of the New Zealand Department of Ayrieult lire, with which admiralilc institution and its work we will deal in detail further on. The quantity of wool exported from the colony ditriny t lie year endiny hist .March. bsftli. was I If.'f. 7 II is! >1 1 is., the x'alue lieiny estimated tit L'-1.l 1-0.1 Hi. For the same period the return dealiny with frozen mutton exported (not ineltidiny frozen lambs) shows a total of I ,ti! 12.i tS( ) carcases. w eiyhiny S7< ).:{( ISe Wt . and of all estimated value of

!_'! M o.ti'ip. In the same txvelxe months the returns dealiny with frozen lambs show a. ot a 1 of 7h0.1 i 5 1 ea reuses, w eiyh iny llßS.B 17ewt., and valued a! L'o.TL-100 : so that the torttl mutton and lamb export alone for the year was of a value exeeediny mm miHii'ii two i' a :nt me/ fo/7 //-sen’;, flumsii ml )m il // (/s / The frozen and chilled beef exported duriny the same period was of a value of L’2f).()(K) odd. Nothiny has been more renuirkable in the industrial history of the colony than the st it] lend otts st rides made of late years by the dairy industry. In Issti. ten vearsayo. the butter export was valued at LHHo.oilT and the cheese ditto at L’lo.dtiT. Now look at the liyures for the twelve months endiny Mist March. IMHi. butter. C-11.! old. and (dices •. L'l dld.t )A1) ! Vetw little wheat xvtis exported last year. but of other cereals there were exported Lfl.bTo bushels of barley; beans and pulse. IdlMbdl bushels: maize, l-0. 05.s bushels : and oats. id.tHlti.—bushels. There were also exported 18.17 N tons ol tallow. I’he pastoral wealth of the colony max be best estimated by the liyures shoxviny the numb. , of slieep and cattle in the colon x' on the o( It h April. I Silo; Sheep, I b.i.tit 11 : cattle. 1.0 11. NI A. Detailed jiart icuhirs as to the tiyricul t ural .and pastoral industries are yiven in the annual report from which we haxe taken the above liyures. and copies of which (the 'i)ti edition) will be procurable from the AyenfcI ietiernfs ollice early in ISM 7. Int'he New Zealand < Mlieial Vetir Monk for 1 Silo may be found some interest iny information as to the cost of workinya fiirin in Now Zealand. We make the folloxviny extract: “It may be thoitylit. bectiuse remuneration for manna labour is hiyher in the colony than it is in Croat Britain, that therefore farminy operations must cost more. This assumption is, however, erroneous. It is within the mark ; i assort that five hand vd acres or m ire can bo wo-ked at less cost than it would probablx ink • to work a hundred-acre farm in Cren' Britain, and for the folloxviny rea- > .n s : lies', tic ymial mi l arc of the climate is smbi that it is unimeessary to lions’* stock duriny the winter months, at least in the N >r. a Island, and so tic cost of attendance is s i\ cd ; s •(• m lly. farminy operations may bo carried on c mi ti n a utsly tlirouyhout the plouyhiny an I s iwiny soasoti : thirdly, the pa Ido -ks tire s i larye. ami usiitdl v so level, tier the d i-.thlo- and treble-furrow plouyh max be w irked by one man or youth with throe horses. Tfm colonial farnmr has axaded himself of all the most labour-sax-iny m iidiin 'IT. The luiy-eroj) is simply cm uni- dax. raked into windrows next, and in a couple more it is ready for staekiny. H Ic-at is en: and ti< •< I b\- maeliinerv. and

stooked, requiring no c-m]>]>in”. it is Hvquentlv threshed out of tlic stook in Invent' able seasons, thereby saving the eost ot stacking and thateliing : lint this met hod is not reeotnmended exeept in hot, dry seasons. The manure bill, which is such a hea\ \ item of annual expenditure with the british farmer, is unknown or nearly so to the colonial farmer. About lewt. to l.lrwt. ot superphosphates per acre is used with the turnip and other root-crops, and in a huge number of eases not even so much. It will thus be seen how many advantages the colonial farmer has over the farmer ot the Old Country.” STOCK-HA ISfNO IN NEW Z K A LAND. From the same most invaluable publication, the Official 'l ear Hook, we glean the following interesting details as to stockraisiny in New Zealand : " Sheep : New Zealand hits proved itselt to be admirably adiipted tor the breodiny ot all classes of sheep, from the tine-combiny merino to the stronye.st type ot Lincoln. The merino occupies and thrives on the wild lands of the colony, from t lie snow-line to the border of the plains, as well as on the drier portions of the plains. I he merino ewe furnishes the foundation tor all the crossbred varieties. (hi the rich, moist soils the Lincoln and Komnev .Maish flourish, while the finer hnylish and Border Leicester.-' occupy the drier lands. Crossbred Sheep: I hose bred trom merino ewes it utl lony-wool rams are the most suitable for the frozen-meat, trade, and are known a.- 'freezers. I he dapper little Southdowns flourish wherever crossbreds thrive. Their more ponderous cousins, the Shropshire and Hampshire Downs, have their admirers, especially the Shropshire, which are largely used for crossiny with a view to produciny early-mat uriny lambs. English Leicesters are also much souylu after for this purpose. Since the development of the frozen-meat trade, sheep-farm-ing in the colony hits undergone a radical change. At one time wool was the chief consideration, the surplus stock linding its way into the boiling-down vat, the tallow and pelts being the only products ot value. Things have marvellously altered since ISS2. the inaugural year of the frozen-meat trade. Farming hits assumed a new phase, sheepraising for mutton beiny now its most profitable branch. Sheep rose in value to a phenomenal price, which lasted till ISP.?. With the decline in the value of wool, there

was a fall in prices of sheep, but with the steadv and apparently permanent increase in value which set in at hist season s wool stiles prices have largely recovered. Small and large flocks of pure and crossbred sheep tire now kept on till farms which tire suitable for them, the object being tin- production of early lambs for freezing. 1 ho percentaec ot increase .all over the colony is verv high, especially in the paddocks, where lot) to 12d per cent, is not uncommon in favourable seasons, while on the hill and unimproved country it varies trom 1-> to so per cent. Shearing commences in September, and continues till January. I he usual price per hundred it- 1 os. to 1 / s. (id. Shear-ing-muchines are gradually coniine into use, but some sheep-farmers prefer hamlsh earl'll if. The average clips for t lie various breeds of sheep are approximately as follow : Merino, from Mb. to /lb. : ipiarterbreds. nbout ().', 1 b. : ha 1 f-breds, /Alb. : t iiree([titirt er-breds, SAIL. : Leicester. Io.HL. : Lincoln. JHL. Of course, very much larger clips are obtained from .-peeial Hock.-. amuch as 2AH>. to HI Mb. per sheep : hut t he almve figures represent mmeral averages. The staple of New Zealand wool, especially the lony-wool and em—bred is remarkable for it.- freedom from break.- and other imperfect ion- incidental to eountrie- -übjeet to loiiu- droughts and scarcity of feed. I he most jirolitahle sheep for New Zealand iI hat which combine- the he-t fleece and the mo-t suitahle carcase tor freezing' jmrpose-, toyether with early maturity. This is the class of sheep which sonic -hoopbreeder- have -ft t hem-elves to produce. Whether such all animal. haviny fixity of tvpe. can he evolved, remain- to lie proved : -o much depend- on the feed, situation, and -oil.” Til K DAIHV INIirsTIIV. As may have been observed by the figures i plot ed above as to the value of the colony's exports of butter and ehee-e. the dairy im_v industry has attained extensive proportions. The number of factories in the colony i- ahvavs incren-iuy. Tim utmost attenI ion i- paid by the (1 overn men t . throuyh the Department ot Ayricull urc. to this important industry. Danish ('a li ad ia n. K nyl is 1 1 and ot her ex pert s beiny encaged at high salaries for the purpose of in-truetiny the milk supplier.- and factory ma iiacer- as to the latest and best met hods. A ( iovermm-iit sv-tom ot yradinu' and uniform parking is in successful operation, and

dairv schools of insrrticrion are now reirularlv held at which factory manaycr- atten I during' t he oil sea-on lor a syst ema t ie course of instruct ion in tcclmical duties, Alrhotiyh the prices ohtainc I arc not yet always up tn those obtained by the Dune-, the yreat proyres< mu le in the adoption of the latest and most scient ilic met Imds. t lie svst ema ric and evnerous assist a nee given to the industrv hy the State, are all haviny an excellent effect. Thousands of settlers in both Islands now depend entirely upon ,lairvim_r for their mean- ol livelihood, and now that the factory system has been almost universally adopted, and butter and cheese of uniformly u'ood quality is turned out, t here are strony possihi 1 it ies indeed, everv probability that in another two or three veal's to eotno we -hall oust otir rivals, the Danes, almost completely trom the I'.nylish market. The fact that in Kuropi-a n da iryine countries the cattle have to lie housed dun'tiy the six or seven winter mom I is. alone oives New Zealand an immen.-e advantage over her rival. In the North Island, alone' the West Coast, factories have spruny up in all direction-. This will be the yreat dairying' d i —! rift ot' t In- col on v, tlm humidity ot it- climate rendering it bettor adapted to t hi— industrv than any ot tier. I im liixuri;i nci' of t lie past lire- has to be seen to be appreciated. La rye tract- of bush-land- are beiny thrown open for small settlements, and are eagerly taken up for the mo-t part 1 1 v thrifty, hard-workiny men. band i- procurable either by purchase, or on lease in pe r pet nit v. oil the easiest term-. Homeare lie in <_;• built up in all direct ion-; da iryfarm ill”' brine- the staple busines- ot the occupant s. The verv nature of the industry render- it peculiarly well -uited to small selectors. We need only now add that the annual report of the Chief Dairv Kxpert will give Knu'lish farmers, who may be contemplating starting dairying in thiseolotiv. the fulle.-t possible information. Tll K DKI’AIIT.M KNT OF A< i K 1 C C LTl' U. K Before leaving the subject of "Farming in New Zealand.” a few lines as to rhr above iniportant State Department may not be out. of place. The Department is under the control of the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. John McKenzie. Minister for bands. beiny the pi'esem holder of the portfolio. The Secretary for Ayrieult tire and Chief Inspector for Stock is Mr. -lolin Kit e h ie like his chief, a Scotsman by birth, end a o'ent'leman who has had a lengthy and

praet ical experience »1 colonial. pastoral and agricultural life. Attached to the Depart - mcnt area number of stock inspectors, permanentlv stationed in different districts t li rouylioitt the colony, a (iovernment biologist (Mr. T. W. Kirk, F.K.M.K.. F.L.S.), a chief (lovernment vet erintirian (Mr. .1. A ( lilruth, M . II.C. V.S.. several dairy experts a pomoloyist. and otlier otlieers charged with t he iidminist r;tt ion of tin- various Acts deal ill”' with stock and the prevention or eradication of stock diseases, extirpation of

ralihits, and other niattiTs. Ihe Department. which has only Keen in existence some four or live veal's, litis already rendered areal services to the count r\ settlers. A valuable feature of its work is the issuing of pamphlets dealiny with all branches ot stoek-rnisiny, ayrieult tire, dairying-, fruitM'rmvine Ac. Special and notably yood work lets been done by the preparation and publication I e-rat is 1 ot a lona' series ot " Leaflets for Fanners.'' in which insect a.nd weed pesi s have been .ably and pl'ae tieallv dealt with bv Mr. Kirk, the I lovenr ment MiMoyist. We would st rone-1 yad vise those who mav think ol adopt iny the lile ot a New Zealand farmer to obtain from the A yen t-( lenera l’s (Mice copies ot the reports and pamphlets issued by the Department of A yrietilt life. They are written in practical st vie bv practical men, and will be found full of valuable and i lit crest in y information TDK LAND KYKTKM OF NFW ZF A LAND. The followiny i n torn ui t ion eoneerniny the a.nd svstem of the colony is taken from the Otlieial Year Hook: "The d ist. i nyuish in y features of the jiresent land system are the outcome of ideas which have been yradually com inyt < > mat.urit y for some years past, in t his colonv. These features involve the principle of St at e-ownership of the soil, with a perpetual tenancy in the occupier. '1 his, whatever mav be the difference in detail, is the pri •va i 1 iny ehafact eristic ot the several systems under which land may now be selected In New Zealand this tendency to Stateownership has taken a more pronounced form than in any other of the Australasian colonies, and the duration ot the leases has become SO extended as to warrant, the name, frequently yi von to them, of 4 e verlasti ny leases.’ In point of fact, most of the Crown lands are now disposed of for terms of !)‘)i) years. The rentals are based on the assessed value of the land at the time of disposal, without increase or recurriny valuations. Under this system there is a fixity of tenure practically equal to freehold, and which, like freehold, necessarily carries with it the power of stile, sub-least.', mortyaye, or disposition by will. Since all hinds held under the Crown by lease in perpetuity” are subject to the land-tax, the necessity for the periodical revaluation under the pcrpetualc lease svstem is done away with, the State reapiny the advantage of the unearned increment throuyh the before-mentioned tax. At. the same time the improvements made m the soil by cultivation. At., are secured to the tenant. The advantages of this system to the selector tire manifest. W hen it is

taken into eonsiderat ion tlint. with few exceptions, the Crown 1 j 111 < I - are. in their prairie condition. ine;i]iiil)le of producing anythin” - until brought into cultivation, the advantage to t he settler of set tin” - free his capittil to develop the capabilities of the soil, rather than having to e.\]iend it in the purchase of a freehold, is very apparent. One of the most striking - henelits of this system is the advantage it gives to the poor intin, who. with little more capital than his strori” - right tirm. is enabled to make a home for himself; which, under the freehold system, he is frequently unable t o a ecotii plish. The values placed on the Crown lands are. as :t rule, low, for the State does not so much seek to raise a revenue directly therefrom its to encourage the occupation of the lands by the people: t his secures, indirectly, an increased revenue, besides other advantages. resulting from a numerous ruial jKJpulation. Again, underlying the whole of the New Zealand hind system is a further application of the principle of "the land for the people viz., the restriction in area which any may hold. This subject tuts been forced upon the attention of the Legislature by defects in former systems, under which one individual, with means tit his command, could appropriate large areas, to the exclusion of his poorer fellow-set t let - . I'nder conditions when 1 the price at which tinland is offered is ii.xed. and where choice of selection is by ballot, the poor settler has the saint 1 chance as the rich one. and may, should he wish it, hold as much land. The limit that a selector may hold is so fixed as to encourage tin 1 class of small farmers, and up to that limit tin* amount he may select is left entirely to himself. The Act detines the amount of land anyone may select at ti-10 ["acres of first-class, or 2<KHJ acres of second-class kind, inclusive of any land he may already hold. Tlte.se limits apply to lands which are thrown open for ‘ free selection,’ as it is termed, but in some cases, found desirable, the limit is by regulation made much smaller. In addition to the manv advantages offered by the ‘ lease-in-perpetuitv’ system, the Land Act provides others, to meet the wants of different classes, 'fhe rule is almost invariable, that land thrown open for so-called 1 free selection,’ is offered to the public; under three different tenures, and the choice left entirely to the would-be settlers. The three tenures are: (1.) l -, or cash, in which one-fourth of the purchase-money is paid down at once, and the remainder within thirty days. The title does not issue until certain improvements have been made on the land. (2.) Lease with a purchasing clause, at a tive-per-cent. rental on the value of the land; the lease being for twenty-live years wit it a right to purchase tit, the original upset price at any time after the first ten years, (M.) Lease in perpetuity, tit a rental of four percent, on t he: capital value, sis already described above.” Full details as to the haul laws of t lie colony, the upset, prices for various classes of land, particulars of conditions as to improvements and a vast amount of general information useful to the emigrant who has decided upon taking up land in the colony will be

found in the ( 1 < i 1 • r r 11111 • 11 1 Near Look, and anv inquiries will be promptly au.-wered at the A gout-( iem-ra I’.- Stall’ Improved hind is alwavs on sale by private owners t>r agents. tli” price carving largely, of roursc. according to situation, quality of .-oil. and extent a ml rond i t ion of the bu i Id i it g.- erect ”d t hereon.’ Til hi M INIMi IN I M Si’ll V. The mining industry has been tor many years a veto important source of employment and revenue, and during the past two vears has-been carried on with greatly increased energy: the development of the mines being large!; aided by an extensive influx of llritish and ot her capital. As showing the satisfactory result of this happv nimllimit ion of energy and capital, it may be stilted that, whereas the quantity of gold exported for the year ending Mist March. IS!).',, was 222,1)81 oz., valued at £'<S,S!).A 1.1. the amount, exported in the year ending Mist March last was M< >2,b'.)o( >/... representing a value of £ 1.1 !)<>,< )N 1 , no account of course being taken in these figures of the large quantile of gold man tt fact tired into jeweller; - in the colony within the twoperiods mentioned. The increase has been most notable in the A nek hind district, where 1714 more miners found employment in tinyear ending- Mist March, 18‘lb, than in tlx* preceding similar period. That important; branch of the goldmining industry quartzworking con tit i ties to make very sr eat I v and silt isfaetorv progress, the returns of hist, veal - (we quote tin’s year’s report of the Minister for Mines) showing a very marked increase over those of the preceding vent - . The bulk of the increase lias been from the mines in the North Island. During last year 127. ATM tons of quartz and tailings were treated in thi l Auckland district, yielding 221,28!)0z. bullion, represent ing tin estimated value of JL’M7S, 1 <>7, tis against bullion to the value of j£2b 1,74 b for the former year, being an increase of Jf 1 Hi,Mb I, or bit per rent, increase for the veto 1 . I n Nelson the number of tons of quartz and tailings crushed is not given in the battery returns, but the yield of gold for that, district; from quartz crushed was 22A0z... valued at. L'Stib. On the West, Coast, MljikSb tons of quartz and tailings were treated for a return of 17.75 M-oz. of gold, valued at. (approximately) £!bB,<)NO; and in Otago I l,b7!t tons of quartz and tailings were treated for a return of AAbOoz. of gold, having tin estimated value of J£2I,A4A. The total quantity of quartz and tailings treated last year was 171,2M7 tons, which yielded gold and bullion to the value of about l'4f <S,!)f,S, as against, £ MAS, Mot) for t.h« previous year. The yield last year from tho quartz-workings was equal to 47 per cent, of ilu* total value of the gold entered for exportation, compared witli -U) percent, for the preceding year. In the Hauraki ( A tick - land) goldfields the cyanide process is nun verv extensively used, and it is of great interest, to state that, no less than 71 per rent, of the total production of the gold and bullion of those goldtields was extracted through the agency of that process. Tho

extraction of bullion b; the cyanide process last year was A2 per cent, of the total value of the bullion obtained in this district. ■Judging from these figures, the time is not far distant when the process will be more general 1 v adopted ;it the mines in the North Island. < )n tie 1 West Coast of the South Island, the important quartz roofs have attracted the attention of foreign capitalists, who tire taking up quartz-mining properties with the view of further developing them. .V large amount of Knglish capital has been already introduced into this district, and the best of properties, as far as vet ascertained, have been purchased by the (loldtields Consolidated Company, represented hen* bv Mr. Ziman. I’lio introduction of large amounts of foreign capital will have the effect of t.he ground

no: on.y being ivui'mm at mum depths than heruToforo. hut also of tilt' mines being worked in a more svst('mat ic ami economical manner. More modern machinery and appliances will he introduced and erected for the reduction and treatment of auriferous ores, and it is expected that a far laryer percentage of the e-old will he recovered. The discovery of a new auriferous lode in the Keep It Dark Mine at a depth of NoOft. has done a groat di'til towards inspiring- confidence in searching for lodes containing- rick stone at deeper levels than heretofore prospected. Much hotter progress is also reported from the quartz-reef workings in Otago, and all round the colony there is a greater spirit ot Impel ulness. fully warranted as it is by the greatly increased gold returns, than has been the case for manv years pus!. Til I-: tim UKii indfstry. I he exigencies of space will not allow us to do more than make a brief passing reference to the timber industry of the colony. An enormous number of men are employed at the various sawmills in working the various and valuable timbers got from t he magnificent forests of the colony, and a steady export trade is carried on. principally in kauri. For lsi)."> the quantity of timber (sawn and hewn) exported from the colony was Ts.gPT.! t loft . During the same period. 7 Ido tons of that valuable product, kauri gum. was exported the total value of timber, gum. and fungus (the latter sent principally to t'hina) being- nearly L'()< H (.(MM). V.\ I,* It M'S M A N I' F A ( "IT I IMS. To give a complete list of the various ma n u fact n res of the colon v would take more space than we can afford. Sttflice it to say that New Zealand is steadily increasing in importance as a mannt’act tiring- country. The woollen mills of the Wellington, Kaiopoi, and Mosgiel Woollen ('ompniiv turn out every possible variety of goods for male and female attire and household use ; there are also clot hing factories for the manufacture of the prod acts of the looms i n t o art ides of dress. Sugar, soap, candle, match, biscuit. and confectioners- factories arc also in full operation. The engineering industry is particularly well established. -lams.

jellies, and all sorts of preserved meats and fruits are also prepared. l!rick and tile works abound. The colonials can drink their own ale and their own a-rated waters, can wear eolonially-made boots and shoes and waterproof clothing, can ride on every possible variety of eoloniallv-built vehicles, can plough with New Zealand-made ploughs, and use other colonial!v-made farming implements ; can use till kinds of eoloniallvnuuiutacture< 1 tin, iron, and copper ware, and list' pottery made in the colony from colonial clay. We could go on much further, but we need only add that the increase in volume and importance generally of our colonial manufacturing industries is a. marked and welcome assistance to the colony, providing as it does more employment for our people, and yearly making us rieher by keeping our money in the country. OUR MODULATION. 1 be census of the colony, taken on the night of dl st December, 1 S!)n. shows the total estimated population of the colony on 1 bat date to be 710,(iiM) souls, of whom 11,Mild art' Maoris. These figures show a. total increase for tin* year by births and immigration of 1-0.-1-OS. The decreii.se by deaths and emigration was 27,50 U, the net!, increase being-, therefore, 12,~>75. TIIK COLONY'S KDUUATIO.N SYSTEM. ()ne of tin* greatest advantages offered by t he colony to intending set tiers is the extent and eOicieney of the education system, one of the best and most liberally devised to be found in any English-speaking country in the world. A (Jovernment paper, compiled by the Rev. W . ,1. Habens, If.A., Secretary for Education, affords us the followingtacts: Tin' whole cost of primary schools is borne by tilt' State: the instruction imparted to them is wholly secular; and the committee of anv school may bring into opera t ion, within its district, cert ain sect ions of the Act fix- the purpose of compelling parents to send their children to school. School children not over fifteen years of age. living in a neighbourhood where there is a railway-station but no public school, can obtain free second-class tickets to and from a station in the neighbourhood of the nearest primary school : and all children

nuclei* fifteen can obtain free tickets to enable them to attend a private school. Also, second-class rickets are issued at 10s. a quarter to child vn under sixteen, r > enable them to go to anv school their parents choosi*. The country is divided into tliirteet. education districts, over each of which tin Education board presides, and into smaller districts, in each of which it school committee. elected hv the In uts(*h( ilders. has authority, subject to the general control of the Hoard. The board is elected by the school committees. I he bottl'd of an KdtteafioTt District receives and disburses the money voted by the (leneral Assembly for purptises of primary instruction, and. after consultin'' - with the committee of the school district. appoints the teachers. 1 he Hoards also appoint the Inspectors: but the ItiSjM'ctors work under regular ions made by the (iovernor in Council, who also makes the regulations under which the Minister grants certificates to teachers alter examination and adequate experience. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. The col on v possesses some excellent secondary schools, many of which are conducted much on the style of the Knglish public schools. Christ s ( ollcge. ( hrtstchurch. Nelson College. Wellington ( ollege. the Wanganui Collegiate School, the Otago boys High School, arc specially favourite institutions, to each of which a large stall of resident masters is attached, composed either of Knglish university men or graduates of the New Zealand t'niversity. The instruction includes the classica 1 and modern languages, science, .and all the branches ot a liberal modern education. The boarding accommodation is everything that could be desired, and special attention is paid to moral and religions training. I he tees charged tire, on the wli de. a trifle lower than those of an Knglish school of the same class. The Cniversity of New Zealand is a corporate bodv. which does not itself maintain a staff of professors or lecturers, but has its functions restricted tot he encouragement- of learning, by the conferring of degrees and cert ilieat es of proficiency, and by a liberal system of scholarships. The l Diversity has a statutory grant of L'dO(K) a pear from the Treasury, .and an income of £2O!.MJ from the fees paid for examination and degrees. There are three institutions, in which most of the undergraduates keep terms and receive instruction: the Universirv of Otago, founded and endowed by the Provincial (lovernment of Otago; Canterbury ('ollege. similarly instituted by the Provincial (lovernment of Canterbury; .and

Auckland I’rdver iry College, establish - d bv Act of I’arliam on since rii • ;d> ilitim of provinces, an I endowed ’ wit h a statutory grant of C I'>!>-) ;i year. In e inunction with Ut;i'_',i Cniversirv there is a .Medietd School, and also a School of Mines: and in connection with Canterbury ('allege tle-re i~ a School of A grim 1 1 u re. and a Is > an Ktigin ■ ■!'- in a School. SPORT IN NKW ZKAI.ANII. I).'Spire the str. mg opposit ion manifes; d on all occasions l>\- a section of the pu'oli '. the "turf" ranks chief in the pleasures of the people of New Zealand. And it is likely to do so. Properly conducted there is no fi tier sport. and in this pa rt icu lar e: m nee! ion it must he noted that racing' manageiicnt has improved wonderfully during' the la-t ten vears: a higher tone of morality prevails. and much that was undesirable has been banished altogether from natures gaming-table. The adoption of a far-reach-ing: poliev was found desirable in the interests of the public and the sport it self : and. although manv innovat ions and remedies for existing' abuses have yet to be intr <- dueed. everything takes time, and in any ease one ea n not expect an idea! institution. New Zealand is eminently suited for the rearing of the racing thoroughbred : its climate is exceptionable, and the result is the production of a class of animal capable of holding- its own against any of much older count ries. The large number of animals sent to foreign shores every year, and the fine prices realised for first-class sto-k. is in itself a great tribute to the .Maoriland breeding industry. Judicious importations of blood sires, of valued pedigree, have been lately made by enterprising breeders at considerable expense, in the speculative hope of not unlv recouping their outlay with interest, but of effecting general improvement in the speed and weight-carrying capacity of the aristocratic galloper. The mechanical method of gambling (by means of t he t ot alisat or or pari m u furl ) st il 1 holds swnv. and is deemed the most desirable svstem.bv t he a lit liorit ies who control the destinies of the sport. It is a fair method : the public make their own odds: and it is a permanent source of revenue for clubs who could not otherwise offer stakes worth compering for. or lay out pretty beauty spots for the benefit of the public who support the pastime. The bookmakers are not as strong in the land as of yore, but they are trving to obtain recognition from clubs in respect of plying their vacation on courses. In the event of this being conceded, only men of standing would lie tolerated by clubs.

Idie proposal to pay our on the second horse, a s well as the first, on the totalisator mnv vet be generally recognised : but it is pretty cert a in t hat if it is not. that of bracket - ing horses on the machine, where an owner lias more than one running in a race, will become law. 'l'llis system is adopted in Haris, and works verv satisfactorily. These are all little matters of detail, but they are none the less important, and require consideration and adjustment. Then, there is th" mat ter of taxing stallions. d'his may or mav not- affect breeders materially: opinions semi to be pretty well divided upon the subject, but were a CIO imposition made annuallv, there would not lie so many i n ferior st a II ions in the colony, and useless “ weeds," would in time become conspicuous bv their absence. The question is brought up periodieallv at meetings of Agricultural and Hast >ra 1 Associations, but Harliument has never passed any measure giving effect to the proposal If horses are deteriorating. as is asserted, it may possibly lie due to the way they are raced. The distances galloped over are not. conducive to to the at tainmenr of stamina: short bursts round corners have a detrimental effect on

their enlist it lit i< ms. ttic result beiny thut they tire releyated tn privacy ;it a comparatively earlv period of their careers. Also, injudicious raciny dot's not improve them for stud purposes subsequently. However, the question is .a la rye one. Pirist liny with deliatcablc points, and one which is viewed from a purely personal standpoint In interested people. With reyard to the turf yenerallv. New Zealand eluhs are in a healthy condition: operations latterly have been of a most successful nature, and there are indications that the present season will prove even more so. not nnlv ironi a monetary. hut from a sport iny aspect. ANCIdXC IN Ni;\V ZKARA.NI>. New Zealand others many a 11 met ions to the lover of sport, hut to no other particular class of sportsman more than the anyler. The eolonv is a veritable " Anylers I’aradise. and its fame as a trout - lishiny country /hir m crllrnrr increases every year. The history of pisieult tire in the colony is an extremely interest iny subject, but. beyond st.atiny tluit whereas twenty years ayo the trout was prtiet ieti 11 v unknown in our rivers, to-diiv there tire to be found literally

hundreds of miles of the finest t roui-tishiny in the world, we cannot refer to the past. The history of the acclimatisation of the trout is recorded at lenytli in that most admirable work "Trout in New Zealand : W here to <!o and How to Catch Them,'’ which, written some four years ayo bv the late Mr. W . H. Sparkman, a Christchurch barrister and an accepted colonial authority on pisieult tire and anyliny. remains to-day the New Zealand anyier's r.rlr uirrn in. and an invaluable "y it ide. e at use I lor and friend ” to the anyler Ironi other lands. To-dav the t ourist-anyler w ill lind splendid lishiny iu many and various parts of the eolonv in thr yrrnt " snow-rivers v of (‘anterburv and < h ayo. which take their rise in the Southern Nips: in the rival Southern lakes, in the tic Hint, the Waipotia. the 1 Hitt mail u nya. the Wainiti. the IWrirua and other streams in the Wei I inyt on district : in the Manawalu, and its tributaries in the Seventy Mile Hush : in the 1 pper Thames and I’pper Maipa. and other tributaries in the Auckland district, and a dozen or so streams in the Taranaki province. The (’anterburv, (ttayo, and Wellinyton provinces are the chief and particular happy htmtiny ymunds of the visit iri yr anyler. As to the size, weiyht, and ya me 11 ess of our fish, those Knylish and Scottish anylers w ho have visited the eolonv are emphatic in their opinion that far better sport can be obtained in New Zealand than in the <> I d Country : indeed, the size and weiyht of our fish are so remarkable that, for some years after the successful acclimatisation of the lish. the accounts sent Home t'p the l-'irhl. to Lunil nnil Wnfrr. and other journals of the catches made here were, we leaf, dismissed bv many an Knylisli disciple of the “ (! ent le I za:i k " a s mere M u nehausenlike yarns, creditable to the i mayi native powers of the colonist, but to be received with much more than the ordinary pinch of su 11 wliieh is proverbial 1 v sit pposed t.o lie a wise diyestive a eeom pa ni men t to stories of more than ordinary “ t ouyli ness." We now quote from Mr. Sparkman's book : II elern’ny t o the yearly yrowt h of our trout, w hich, from the yreater quantity and variety of their food, is so much more marked than in the Old Country. Mr. Sparkman siivs, " I rout were first placed in the Omarama River, a tributary of the Ahuriri, in bs7o. In December. 1 Si7!*. it was first fished by Mr. .1. A. Connell. I)u riny one da v. two eveninys, and one afternoon In- eauyht fourteen trout. weiyhiiiy liT.Hb.. or an averaye weiyht of DDfilb.. the heaviest fish 71b. Mr. Arthur also fished the Omurumn. and killed five trout, vveiyhiny Id | lb., or an averaye of 2'7lb each. This would yive their yreatest. yearly yrowt h at about Ldb. The Maitaki River was fished bv Mr. S. Thompson in bs7 < .h when lie eauyht twenty-two lish. weiyhiiiy Rb.llb.. or an averaye of I'Ofilb. each. It was first, stocked in I Stilt, and nya in in IS7-1-. Takiny Mr. Thompson s laryest trout, which was o;. lb., as one put in duriny the latter year, its vearlv rate of yrowt h would be I'lhlb. The vearlv yrowt h of lake trout, is very yreat. Haves Rake is very full of trout, some briny supposed, from appearance, to vveiyh over HOlb. Mr. Arthur mentions one of Rslb. which was poached out of HutcTs

Creek. running into Lake Hayes. in I SN2. Now. trout were first put into tlie streams round ;ibout tlie A\':ik;iri |>11 in IS/-!-: so this verv large trout must have grown yearly at the astonishing rate of Hflb." Hut we need not dwell on this subject : suHiee it to say. as evidence of the enorinons size attained ]>v trout in New Zealand rivers. that Mr. Sparkman says. ''The largest trout yet Oil n<f] it with rod and litre was taken by Mr. Htitnliie. of Heeston. fishing in Hall's Creek, near Heeston. with live bait, and weighed Hoflb. Another very fine fish, weight up- o.llh. was taken from the stime ])l;tee I > \‘ Mr. Heetliam’’ (then IJesident M a - gist rate for (' h fist el i it reh ). In the Sehvyn Hiver. ('a nt erl utrv. tiuinv fish have been caught up to lS|b. " If the growth of trout is abnormal (continues Mr. Spaektn.au I. the reason is found in the equally abnormal food-supplv of the Knylish streams. Most of the rivers swarm with various kinds of fish-food, and in such abundance that it is a wonder the trout ever take the anyler s let it. S mol t s t I' I ri' i a n in n rl, u ,■,!.< mi / ). white(fi'u/ui/s n / 1 r ii 111 1 1 ii s !. both a 11 a 1 1 rom i > u s. are in siirh countless millions at the mouths and for s mm distance up the rivers that fret | lien t ly t hey a re i m pa led on the t ria n tries of a Devon minnow or a phantom when Spinning. ('ravlish. the voting of the seamullet ( A'jt'ii i.<t"imi /n.-lrri ). fresh-water molluscs (Himtiiea). flies with their larva-, beetles (espeeiallv two kinds, the wellknown brown-beetle (< hlimt rm ~.rn I u in 1 1 rn ). in appearance like a cockchafer, and the well-known little yreen-beet le). grasshoppers. bullheads (/v'/rc/ris jnliiiinlrs). a fish in appearance somewhat similar to the loach, and minnows (< lain < iu.< I'nse/nt ns). all these make such ;t feast for the liuiipry trout that it is no wonder that it grows at a prodigious rate.” So much for the fish, t heir grovvt h. size. Aveight. and their food. Now as to catching t hem. In New Zealand the angler is .a happy man compared with his Knylish brethren. lie can fish anywhere without asking (almost) anyone's permission, and at very little cost. A few words as to general conditions. The licenses are issued bv the Acclimatization Soeities of the various districts. A license costs L'l . and this, if von please, yives the holder the right to fish in II II II Jilll't (ij till' I'ti! 11 ll II J"i' /In' 1 1'1 1 < <l l ‘ srnsnn merely by his yet tiny it endorsed by I he secretaries of districts other than the one in which it was oriyinally issued. The season in the South Island is from t lie Ist October to the 1 St h of the followiny April: in Wellington and Hawke's Hay the season commences a fortniyht earlier, and in Auckland about the loth ( Ictober. closing day, however, being the same all round. 'The anyler may use natural or artificial flics, artificial spinning baits of anv kind, an v small indigenous fish, grasshoppers, spiders, cat erj ii I la rs. creepers, and worms, but not mussels or shellfish of anv description. Kvery bait must be used in its natural state, no medicated bait or bait, prepared Avitli chemicals being allowed. Only one rod and line may be used at t he same time. A breach of the regulations means a fine of no less than :€J or more than ToO. and it says much for the common-sense and good conduct of our anglers that a breach of these

regulations are almost unknown. Troutfishing is practically free t linniyhoitt the col on A". The ri vef - bed s be I on y to t he (Town, and. provided the anyler does no damage to fences, he can go and camp in them where he pleases. This applies m ire especially to the ureal snow-fed streams of the South, for some of the smaller rain-rivers leave is necessary, but it is seldom, if ever, refused. In addition to the river-bed prop-r. a reserve. a chain wide, hits been made all ninny the banks of munv rivers, on both sides. Now for a few words as to rods and tackle. New Zealand trout reiptire strone rods : mill nil'll I jhi r.iil.i nrr 1./ mi'll litllr Ihni irnn'l in,1,1 il,r fish .' Messrs. Hardy Hrns.. of Alnwick, make a special New Zealand rod : blit t here is no need for ! he t oil rist who is an anyler t o t rouble a bout bringing out either roils or tackle from Home. There are several yood rod and tackle depots in the colollV. the best stocked and best known beiny that of Mr. W. 11. Tisdall. Hambton(ptav. Wei I i nyt on . Wellinyton is the most convenient st a rt i try - p >i n t for tic visiting anyler. and Mr. Tisdall will tit him out with evervt hiny lie reipiires at very m derate cost. He is a speeinllv accredited ayent for llardvs and till the leadiny Knylish and American makers of anyler- requisites, which can be bouylit from him at a trifling advantr on tlmir oriyimd c >st : and lie is also .a nd t h is is ei pia I ly i m port a n t a walkenc vclopmd ia on all matters connected with the sport. Half tin hour with Mr. Tisdall. whose court esv and attention to anyler- are proverbial, will serve to yive the visitor what is vulyarl v k no wn ns " t 1 ie run of the ropes." Mr. Tisdall publishes an " Anyhe's

(iuide." which is a most useful companion to anyone visitiny the colon v on angling bent : and as he is in almost da i ly com m u n i - cation with correspondent s all over the Island, lie is able to yive reliable information a< to the state of the rivers, and so forth. As to flies, we yive the same .advice on I v m ore so. as the Irishman put it as we yave about the rods. On this point we mav (plate Mr. Spackman. who says. "The anyler is stronyly recommended to hnv his flies in the colony, as the tackle makers are now well aeipiainted with what is required, and can tell the flies most suitable for the different streams." As Mr. Tisdall can supply almost every fly known to anylers. either in the Old Country or this, we need sav no more than to advise the tourist anyler not to trouble his lend upon the SU b ject of this until he yet s safely la tided in the col mv and Inis a varn with Mr. Tisdall. or other re I ia die a u t horit. y. One of the I lost and m >st plea sa n t foil hits a bout anyliny in New Zealand is cam piny out. Hot ween November and March very little rain falls rertainlv nothiny that an ordinary calic i lent and yood fly will not keep iiiit. Of course, from time time, there will be a wet da v or two. but seldom any eon - t i n it i l v of wet weather. Kvery where wood and water can be found in abundance: and. above all. one of the yreatest charms of tent-life is the entire absence of snakes or harmful insects of any kind or description. Tim tired anyler mav throw himself down in t lie heaviest tussock or flax without t he least fear of harm, or may sleep at niylit in his tent ill all- illlte seeurilv. W hat a boon tli is is t | iev alone know who have lived in a

country wlmtc vcinmtiiiis reptiles are eomin'.ui : lint iln' fact remains ilnu. while snakes ami eei 11 i | in les are verv common in Australia and Tasmania, not mm sinyle specimen lie Found in the whole of New Zealand. With a horse and cart and ramp out lit the ampler can penetrate into eonrt's eomaininy some of the finest scenery in the world, or can camp in the river-hods, and have no Imiy journey to make after his day's sport is over. Tents, and other e.a 1 n piny-out requisites, can he obtained .at moderate prices in the various centres. W'e specially advise the tourist not to he heyuiled hy so-called "colonial outfitters" into biiyiny and hrinyiny out to the eolonv ;i lot of cumbrous and expensive " year." which will never he needed. Most of the best fishiny in the Wellington district may he reached hy rail, followed hv less th.an a couple of hours of w.alkiny. We should like to say smiii't hiiiLt about the sea-fishiny. hut space will not permit. All round the coast of New Zealand sea-fishiny can he obtained. yiviny sport unsurpassed in am part of the world. Hapuka. sehnapper. cod indeed ilozens of varieties of fish, and some of the z'amesi fish in the world will keep the sea-a nyler oeeupied as hmyas his l eisu re perm it s. Tack 1 e. of evert descri pt ion. for sea-lishiny is supplied hv Mr. Tisdall and either mtikers in the co|on\': and full informal'on mav readilv he olitained when once tlie visitor luis reached New Zealand. i) I-: !•; i; stalk inc in new zeaiad. Tim followiny particulars a< to the red deer, now to he found in I .a rye numbers in the Wairarapa district (Wellington province) are taken from the annual report ( for lSitli) of the Wellinyion Acclimatisation Soeii'l v : "New Zealand must he rewarded as a m >st suitable h mi ■ for d""f. alVn’diny. as it does, everv re;| a isit e for I h dr breed iny, development. and sinMiti tice. t Imre he in a' tin a hu n da nee of wo i I. rich fo > 1 all the vea r round, plentv of pure wafer, splendid forest s 1 i dter. .and a temp 'rat ■ climate. That tliev thrive well under su di fa v m ra hie e m litmus has he ui verili e 1 h v the w m d erf u I wav in which tliev have multiplied wherever lib 'rated. Tim imavas' of red d er has he - ■ n e spec ill 11 V I'e 111 i r k a b 1 e in tic W a i ra - ra jo a dist i -1. • i. w lm re fr mi a trio have sprung h an Ire Is ilia' ii nv r i.ru over t in- Maun yarn k i ra my os. th • Tain s. To A wait i and White I! i • k e s i a ! -' s. and a- tar 11 > r i 1 1 a ~ th ■ W liarea’ii a Il'Ver. an area c nnprisiny a h m 1 li ft y s pi a re miles of e uni! ry. Tim pr rye 11 i I Ill's of t h ISO h • I'd s were ill! 'o hi" - I into i lie provinc • of Welh ii y. m in lie vi'ar I N 52 : tind for t his t lm e *1 on \ is i i r 1 ■ b • "i I i > Mis la: ■ K iva.i lliyliimss I’rince A Ibert. who. at tlm solicit .at ion of Mr. John Morris m. tlmn New Zealand ( 1 o\a uai men t A ye lit in London, arranged to forward six deer to New Zealand three lor Wellinyton and three for ('anterburv. Two stays and four hinds were captured in Windsor Lark, and

housed there fora sh >rr rime ns a preparation for their limy sea vovuye. ()ne stag and two hinds were shipped hv tlm Triton, for Wellinyton. where, on tlm (sth Jam', one stay and one hind arived safely, after a passaye of 127 davs. one hind having died at sea. About the same tlm three other deer were shipped for Canterbury -. hut as only one hind was landed there alive, it was sent to Wellinyton. and placed with the two others. They were eventually liberated on Mr. Carter's run. on the Tnrarahi Plains, early in the year I Mid. and. crossing the Utimahanya River, took up their abode on the Maunyaraki ranges. front whence heads with the largest and best antlers have hitherto been obtained. A considerable portion o! the Manyaraki ranyes is of rich limestone formation, and has been well sown with Knylish grasses. this probably accounts in a measure for the extraordinary growth of horn developed bv deer in that, locality. During the last three or four years there has been a decided increase of red deer in North Wairarapa, and some splendid sport is now afforded. Licenses for shoot iny red deer stays in the Wellinyton Acclimatisation District were' tirst granted in INS,, when six were issued. The slmotiny season opened on the Ist, March and closed on the lOtll Mav. This year the slmotiny season extends from the /th April to the doth April, each license holder briny restricted to slmotiny not more than three stays, no stay to he shot carrying less than eiyht points on its antlers; the slmotiny of hinds briny prohibited. The license fees for the season is fj 1 . I) L hi; in new zla land. 1 pon the above-nanmd subject a wellknown sportsman, who modestly veils his idmi'iiv under th ■ ~ ~,/ ,/•• y,///,,/•> of "Colonial." has supplie 1 us with the following int crest iny particulars: " Although tin; variety of yam '-sh »tiny in New Zealand is s mmwhat limited, an 1 until recent years was. as rey.ir Is t h • I :ry a- order of animals, conliiml t i wild piy and cattle beasts. Spo'is-ii 'ii mav tmw obtain d"er-st.nlkiny wdiich. fa - si/. ' aa I con lit ion of deer and the we ilt h of t h hr a tit h'rs, an I for beauty ot sc m my an I y m *ra 1 charm of the surroun buys, em n M b•e\ • died. Fall >\v deer arc ve -y mini '.mis on Mo utapu Island and in lie Waikato district. both pi.aces be iny wuhin easy a rss of Auckland. In tho Ra a y.t ike: <li -; ci. -: a Imrd of those lino animals. Sambiir d""f. or < 'ey lon elk. has b' m su ■■• ss j 11 11 \- established : and. t liouyh tii '} a a- s- ill p.-./.".a "d. it is Imp'd that, in tlm ii -a r fi i’ 11 a • tl l ■ v will have i n -creased su di 'i uit 1\ to warrant rest riel ion s beiny rein > veil and sp ml sin -a allowed t o shoot, so til e of tlm ma 'll i'e bu -k s. In the W’a irara pa d istriri. m ar Wellington, red deer are plentiful. Th "y we-e lirst libei'aieil in the year is;:;. 'Fii/* oriyinal trio fornmd portion of six d ■-r udiieli were presented tot he Colony of New Z 'aland from tlm linlmoral herd by

His Koval Highness tin.' late* Ptitice Consort. r rhrc*c* were s 1 1i]>}k *< 1 tor W ellinyton and three for Canterbury. One stay and two hinds having died on rho res]icctive vovayes, the remaining stay and two hinds were turned out on Parkvale sttuion. near Carterton, whence they niadt* their way to the Maunyaraki ranges. I hey have multi* plied to such an extent that thousands now roam over an area— to the eastward ot the Wairarapa valley - of fully lifty square miles: truly ;i wonderful increase, proving conclusivelv the suitability of tnis country for the hreediny and dovelotiinetit of deer. Mr. I’ohieson, who had charge ot these three deer at Ikirkvale station before t h t were liberated, has informed me that the stay held yood strnny antlers. o( very even yrowt 1 1 ; and a 11 a 1 1 11 er j o 11 nd i 11 1 Nf >s, now in m v possession, and which was presumably shed bv this stay, is of yood lcnyt h and thickness, and has seven tines. In is.s. Major Campbell shot a very old stay, carryiny ;i yood head, and which was generally be I ie ved to be t in ■ one 1 roll i Pa 1 1 11 ora 1. I he.-e deer arc runniny mostly ot: private land, and permission to go in ]iurstiit ol them has to be obtained from tie* landowners. *»n the ot hei- hand. Nelson, in tie- northern part of the South Island, tilt - >r« is yo «i shoot - iny of both red deer and 1 al h >w dec ;• on < < <- vernmeiit land, open to all. and within easy distance of Nelson town: hm tin* red de.-r heads got at Nelson do not compare iavoitrablv for size and symmetry with t im heads obtained in the W a i ra ra pa. Whether the qualitv of the food or the ipiality ol the original stock is responsible lor the dinercnee in this respect, I cannot say. It may. perhaps, he attributed partly to both, and also —l say it with regret to the selfishness of some of the men who slioot in Nelson. The indiscriminate shoot iny ot young and old stays is certain to have a deteriorating - effect on the herds generally. Red deer can he yot tit Pushy Park, near Palmerston South, and also on the high mountains near Lakes Wanaka and Le Anau ; while, further south, Tapanui provides fallow deer, from the herds of which bucks with hettds of record dimensions have been yot. The Wellinyton Acclimatisation Sociotv are endeavouring - to procure it number of fallow doer from Tapanui, for liberation in the Weinuiomata Valley, near Wellington. The Government have just bought seven fallow deer trout .Messrs, lteid Pros., of Motutapu Island, and have sent tin in to Totara Plat, on t lie west coast of the South Island, where they are to he liberal ed. Ministers deserve every credit for t Ids first move towards establishing - deer in parts ol the colonv when* they have not hitherto existed. and by their liberal financial help to the acclimatisation societies in the distribution of trout and sal in on. and by t hei r st rony assistance in the preset vat ion ot iur and feathered game and fish, they have deserved well from every colonial who has an interest in his country New Zealand a countrv possessing - tutt nra 1 tit 1 1 act ions which are unrivalled; and if to these attractions are added advantages in the way ol sport SO dear to the heart of the Anglo-Saxon a measure of the stream ol visitors lroiti the older count ries. that now flows to Nor-

wav. Australia. Africa, and other spotting countries, will he diverted to our own picturesque land. No doubt many who come to shoot will remain with u.-. It is to Ih> hoped that, during its next term of oflice. the present Government may see its way to take farther steps towards introducing fresh varieties of herbivorous animals. The mountainous country in the Southern Island suggests itself as a suitable Itrihifnf for reindeer from Norway, and those splendid game animals, the moose and the wapiti, from North America : while roebuck and red deer could with advantage he placed on the Tararun and the lluahine Ranges. in t lie North Island. I he question of procuring some ot the antelope species from Africa is also worthy of consideration. All of these varieties can be obtained, and :it small cost in comparison to tied;- ultima! o value to the col my. A t iiottsa ad pounds or so judicious!y e\; ,i-m !•-d a, tei--direct ion would, in t hr course of yar-. I) i\ I-!! 1 - ST A I. K I N < I iN TP!-: W A ! PAPA PA. N.Z. With a view to quo! i: r_ pram ie:,: . > ( ,e:-i cnee as to the fine s j m -I't 1 • • be o! it a ; ! :e. i in tin- Wairarapa dist riet. Welling!: n piovnie.-. •• Colonial " lias k indiv adde. i a few totes on the resuit of one ot his st a I kina expeditions in that district : "A year or so ago i bad an opportunity of joining a tew friends on a deer-st a 1 kina - expedition on the .Matinyaraki Ranges. ()111- first morning w as cold and bleak, with every indication of rain. However, we saddled horses and made an earlv start for a point of the Maunyaraki. called llinewaka: and, after an hour's hard riding, we tied our horses in the hush and divided into two parties of two each. -J.R. and I had not: walked more than a quarter of a mile when we saw a stay coming down wind directly towards ns. W e took cover, and lit* passed close by. hut, us lie had only ten points, we did not desire closer acquaintance, so let him go without shooting. Shortly after this, and while still going against wind we heard a great tear, which indicated a big stay, and which made our In ;tits thump hardir and oitiner. 11 1 it rving along, we soon siy 1 1 1 1 <i a 111 n11 1 < r of hinds close by a swamp on the < ut.-kiits of hi aw ! 11s 1 1. A ft w minatis' ducking ; 1 U ( 1 ( I (: (1U i tig 1 e 1 1! 11 d 111 e S t l , 111 ] IS . 1 11 S 1 ; ( S . ami ticks 1 i or e lit us t o wit h in PH s ds. i f about a tlo/.t n hinds and one small .-lay. The latter keeping on the outside of the bi-id, and being vety le.-th ,-s. it was a sine iiuiii at :i n t hat a big fellow w; s si tin w In i e fioar. Presently came another liar, a shaking of hushes. and into the o| i n eroiind waikt d a s] !i t e:d st: y. A !i < k t hre r y li the t eli si ( ] -e s 1: i wi d a line ] : i i r if ant lers. so 'at ye that I felt in | elli d to fire, i \u n at PH) vds.. seoni r t I a n lose a shot. but di.-si;ai!i d me. sayir y t l.at a.- we 1 a<l t 1 e w ii:d in i nr ia\ - i nr. a t.l l | !i 1 1 1 y ol i-ovi r, w e eoa il l st a 1 k t I:< m until w e got closer. While we were qttii t ly di.-em-sing the best mi de of a] pi < aeli. the di or la I -

d 1 ■ 111 \- became Startled and. moving into close order. tlu-V took :i lIIOIIH'IIUIIT survey of their surroundings : then, with tin - big stay in front, t hev quickly ran in our direction. sto]iping for another gaze rearwards, the stay being not more than (inyds. from us. and standing clear of any obstruction. Diana! what a shot. 1 was kneeling behind a fallen tree, with everything in my favour: so. taking n steady sight. 1 drew a long breath and pressed the trigger. To see the stay hound forward and drop on his knees was a glad sight : hut to see him jump up find make off at top speed, while I tried in vain to withdraw a jambed cartridge ease from mv rifle, caused me the utmost disgust. A — started running at his best, and intercepted the deer at a creek crossing. where he had a snap shot, hut without Success. Traces of blood and the well-de-fined slot gave us hope ol being able to follow' the diet - and yet another dinner: but the fates wi re against ns. as just as we were gelling close on their trail, a howling blizzard came along, the wind driving the hails! cues nealm-t us with gnat violence and completely i il >1 it i-i at iny the deer tracks. We got thoroughly drenched and bitterly cold, so made for a rabbitii-r’s c'/m/v. where we rnjoved a ] minikin of hot tin and a hunk of damper. In the a ft ernni >n the w i at In rjeli a 11 d up, and A- — got a pretty rovn 1 luad. W id Ie we w t re taking the skin off this stag, a huge black l iar i merged from the 1. 11 . h al out I ft-yds. fn m us. and as he ran along I lie hillside 1 took a shot and drop] i d him. set tinny a ym d ] air ol tusks. ()n i he following morning we made a start long before dtiybn ak : -Id', and I having about half an hours start ot the

lit her.-. As we U'l'l'r r ii i i 11 p I It I till' road t n •: i! ' I >; i iipit :i ll \%' <' i i < ■; 11 •< i ;i slap r< m ri n p. ilitehi 1) P Hill' iiul'si'S In ;i 1 1 'lice «'r stalked ;i I i t h • stap iiml :i In! ui' liinils. \\'i> pm within ; i 1 1 u ni I fi ‘i i ytinls. < >1 >1 ;i in inp pood cuvi'r he- ) i i 111 1 siiini' IVi'iis. h whs jusi hreakinp day. ;in< I tlir lipht wns 1 km I fm' shoot ini;'. The liinils apparent ly dmecreil ;i foreipn odour in i ht' air. as they iimvi'd off. leavinp the stup pawnin' I lie earth and n itiri n p continually. lie was evident Iv work inp liimself ipi in lipht inp pireli, su as in anniliilate an expected rival. A dies! shot brmtpht him In Ill’s knees, lint, like the one lost mi 1 he previous day. lie was up apain and nil' like prensed lipht ninp. Two hip heads losl in two days, and linih I lie result of usinp a stna 11-1 lore rifle, was rat her discotirapinp ; I have since learnt that hip stays take a lot ol lead. An hour later a slap and several hinds, pmhahly startled hv other stalkers, were runninp down a spur in mil' direction, followed hy ,anot her si tip wit h two hinds. 1 dropped the first with a neck slim, while (' look a lonp shot tit mimher two. hreakinp his htu-k. A vet'v pret t v shot it was. 1 in media t el \' afterwards I pot another pood slap : and later on (' pot a four-teen-pointer 1 1\ clever shoot inn'. Four hip heai Is iii one ninrninp was pretty pood work. (in returninp' to the station homestead. we found that .I.S. ami W.S. had also hei'ii successful : and the result of live days’ stalking' was fourteen heads, earrvinp from seventeen to twelve points each. The record oup'ht to have keen sixteen heads; a ml alt houpli | have since pot mans' tiohle trophies, mie in ] i;i rt icti la r having' eiphteen points. I always repret those two hip he,ads which i hmt. and the i > ft etier I think of them the dipper 1 lies' Seem. 11l the lofepoiwp sket eh I have laid I o con ti tie mysei f t o a hald narration of incident. otnitiinp all reference to See I icry tl 1 1 d heailliesof locality. IliiWi'Vi'l'. to the New Zealand reader descript is'e writ imp is unnecessary. '( it hers will please accept m s' assurance that t lie count iw wherein mtr deer prow their ma<pnificetit antlers is to he reckoned with the host and most piet tiresipte on earth. ('nt.oN 1 -T. ” (>TI I I'd: SI'I ilFi'S. As hefits a countrs to which has heen o-jvi'ti thi' proud title id ” I lie IJritain ol the I’acilic. maids sport.- oj .all kinds flourish i‘xceodinpl v. The smallest township has it.- cricket and h>.ahull cltths. whilst in the Inrpvr cent res p'olf i- nmkiup' ceei | i ne'! v dtiriiip' the past less seat's, and to the last North Island polo tournament some ! went s' club- were represented. '> .' 11 • h a n e and a piaties are also hipldv in favour. as for t la- " oldst cl's." tlie ancient pa me of howl- lias heroine re i n a rk a hly popular. The cvelinp ” doom. which lias hecli proceedinp at liome and in America, has descended upon this country also. New Zealand oilers

special attractions to vi.-itiap' wheelmen. Wit h fesv exceptions ali the main roads are I'e II ia l'k.a 111 v well kept, whilst the plol'ious sceneiw and the i n \'ipora t i tip air add much to the pleasure of the eye I in p tmiri st . IN CONCLI'SION. New Zealand has much to commend it as an almost ideal home lor the Friton who is seekinp “fresh woods and pastures new,” and w ho wishes to found a new home across the seas, awav from the hustle and worry of the (till World. A settled povel'll meilt, (lie lines! sceneiw in the world, the possession ol everv possible social, relipiims, and educational institution dear to the heart of the Union, all collidine to make New Zealand’s claim of heinpone ol the hest possible tields for Fritish emipr.ants. with a moderate amount of capital, perfectly unassailable. In the account we have piven of the various attractions for tourists, and the ini ormtit iolt wo have compiled .as to our social and other institutions, much has necessarily had to he excluded ihrmip'h lack of space. We trust, however, i hat't In ■ Home reader will he a I ile, hv mean- of what we have written, to pain some fair idea of the colony. I lie fullest po.-sihle information as to the lands of the eol 11 nv. the in in i n and other iiidit st r ies, will I>e fun iid iii t he < Mlicin I 1 ear Fook : and, as We have jifevi' nisi v remarked, the ApeiitI leneral's st aIV will aiiswi'i' all rea si ina hie in - I | u i I'll 'S.