H.—52

4

developed. In bodily powers the Englishman has the advantage. As a carrier of heavy burdens the Native is the superior, but in exercises of strength and endurance the average Englishman surpasses the average Maori. Scenery. The scenery of New Zealand forms one of its most attractive features. In the South Island the alpine region is rendered easily accessible by fiords that penetrate with deep water from the sea-coast into the heart of the Snowy Mountain's. In the vicinity of Mount Cook the great glaciers, some of which exceed in size those of Europe, are easily reached by rail and coach; while in the North Island the wonders of the volcanic district, including thermal springs which possess medicinal qualities, can now be approached with equal facility. Sport. New Zealand cannot fail to become a tempting resort on a yet larger scale for sportsmen from all parts of the world. Almost all the streams and watercourses are well stocked with ordinary trout, and several of the larger rivers and lakes with salmon-trout, the latter reaching 251b. in weight. The low lands teem with pheasants and quail, and in the mountains of Wellington and Nelson large herds of red-deer are now domiciled, enabling sportsmen during the open season to enjoy stag-hunting. Climate. The climate, which is singularly healthy, resembles that of Great Britain, but is more equable' the extremes of daily temperature only varying throughout the year by an average of 20°, whilst London is 7° colder than the North, and 4° colder than the South Island of New Zealand. The mean annual temperature of the North Island is 57° and of the South Island 52°, that of London and New York being 51°. The mean annual temperature of the different seasons for the whole colony is—in spring 55°, in summer 63°, in autumn 57°, and in winter 48°. The climate on the west coast of both Islands is more equable than on the east coast, and the contrast between the respective rainfalls is most striking. Thus, in the North Island, Napier on the east has only half the amount of rain that falls in Taranaki on the west. But the South Island, with its longitudinal range of lofty mountains, exhibits this feature in a still more marked manner, for the rainfall on the west is nearly five times the amount on the east. The excess of precipitation on the coast is clearly illustrated by the distribution of the glaciers on the opposite sides of the range. Those on the west slope have an excessive supply of snow, and descend to a line where the mean annual temperature is 50°Fahr., while on the east slope they descend only to the mean annual temperature of 37°. The winter snow-line on the Southern Alps on the east side is 3,000 ft., and that on the west side is 3,700 ft. Government. The country is divided into counties and Eoad Boards, to which, and to the municipalities, local administration is confided. The seat of Government is at Wellington, which has a central position. The Colonial Legislature, which meets once a year, has power generally to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of New Zealand. Parliaments are triennial. Any man of twenty-one years and upwards who is a born or naturalised British subject, and who has held for six months a freehold of the clear value of £25, or who has resided for one year in the colony, and in an electoral district during the six months immediately preceding the registration of his vote, is entitled to be registered as an elector and to vote for the election of a member of the House of Eepresentatives ; also, every male Maori of the same age whose name is enrolled on a ratepayers' roll, or who has a freehold estate of the clear value of £25. The duty is imposed upon the Eegistrar of each electoral district of placing on the electoral roll the names of all persons who are qualified to vote. Any person qualified to vote for the election of a member of the House of Eepresentatives is also, generally speaking, qualified to be himself elected a member of that House. Commerce. About three-fifths of the whole import and export trade of the colony is in direct connection with the Home-country, the remainder representing the commerce carried on with Australia, America, Mauritius, and South Sea Islands. The imports for the year 1878 amounted to £8,755,667, and the exports to £6,015,700, the former being equal to £20 13s. 6d., and the latter to £14 4s. Id. per head of population. In 1888 the imports were £5,941,900, and the exports £7,767,325. The total value of import and export trade for the year ending 31st December, 1888, amounted to £13,709,225, the exports containing the following chief items: Wool, value £3,115,008; gold, £914,309; agricultural produce — grain £653,311, butter and cheese £197,170, frozen meat £628,129 ; kauri-gum, £380,933 ; tallow, £124,950 ; timber, £179,312. The official return of New Zealand imports and exports for the first quarter of 1889 has just been prepared, and will be gazetted shortly. The exports during the first quarter of 1889 amounted to the unprecedented value of £3,417,734. This is not even approached by any previous quarter, and is by far the largest quarter's export that ever yet left the colony. The imports during the same period amount to only £1,721,988, as against £1,755,662 for the March quarter -of 1888, although the first is usually the heaviest quarter of the year in respect of imports, mainly on account of the season's importation "of drapery, &c. Thus the quarter's exports were as nearly as possible double the imports in value. For the year ended the 31st March the imports were only £5,908,226, an exceptionally low total, while the exports were £8,201,609, the latter being the largest ever recorded in New Zealand for one year, exceeding the imports by nearly two and a half millions sterling. The New Zealand imports for the last fifteen years (1874 to 1888), inclusive, amounted to £111,452,422, exceeding the exports by £15,227,307.