GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF NEW ZEALAND.
By Stephen N. Haskell
NEW ZEALAND is composed of two islands, divided by Cook Strait. The South, or Middle Island of New Zealand, comprises six provinces, and differs much in scenery from the North Island. The general appearance of the North Island indicates that it has been formed by volcanic action. The Maoris have a tradition that this island was fished up from the sea. In this island are burning mountains, boiling springs, and hot lakes. These lakes are very remarkable, and until the recent volcanic eruption in that vicinity, attracted the attention of travelers from all parts of the world. The South Island also possesses great attractions, its scenery being in no degree inferior to that of its northern neighbor. It can truly be said to be the “land of the mountain and the flood.” It is the chosen home of the ice king; and there are lakes of enormous depth and surpassing beauty; high mountains, and glaciers almost unequalled outside of the polar regions. The lakes of this island are sometimes called the cold lakes, in order to distinguish them from the hot lakes of the North Island. There are about sixty of these lakes, many of them small and of little interest, but twelve are quite large. The western coast scenery is the most attractive to those who like solemn grandeur. In some places semi-tropical vegetation grows almost to the line of eternal snows. The tree fern there attains a height of from thirty to forty feet. The southern part of this island, the first point at which steamers stop on their way from Melbourne and Hobart to New Zealand, is called The Bluff. The township is small, and the harbor is near Campbelltown, but is generally spoken of as The Bluff. It is not infrequently the case here that the wind is high and the sea rough and boisterous. Eighteen miles from The Bluff is Invarcargill. This is the chief town of the provincial district of Southland, and trains leave there four times daily. It is in the midst of a very rich agricultural district, and has a population of about ten thousand people, mostly Scotch. All of the principal cities in New Zealand lie upon or near the coast, but there are many inland towns, so the whole country may be said to be inhabited. The chief cities are Auckland and Wellington, which with their suburbs number about forty-five thousand inhabitants each. There are many bays and harbors, some of which are the most beautiful in the world. The North Island contains 44,000 square miles, or 28,000,000 acres, and the Middle, or South Island, 55,000 square miles, or 36,000,000 acres. By comparing these figures with the areas of the different States in the United States the reader will readily see that there is no small amount of territory embraced in these two islands. The South Island is a little larger than the State of Michigan, while the smaller island is larger than Maine and New Hampshire. The whole of New Zealand is about two-thirds the size of the State of California. Another small island, further south, is also a part of New Zealand, and the entire group is almost equal in size to the British Islands. Adjacent to the North Island there are at least fifteen small islands, which are settled more or less with Europeans. About the South Island are five islands thinly inhabited. The mountains in New Zealand are very numerous. In fact the whole country of the North Island is of volcanic origin. Chains of mountains run through the island from north to south, and the most striking feature is an extensive longitudinal range of mountains, running through the whole length of the two islands from the northwest to the southeast, interrupted of course by Cook Strait. These mountains consist of stratified masses of rocks, which form the backbone of the island. There are many rivers running from the snow-capped mountains through extensive plains to the sea. The climate is said to resemble that of Great Britain, but in the Middle or South Island the changes in the weather are very sudden. The death rate of the island is only twelve or thirteen per thousand, showing that as regards the healthfulness of the climate, it is far superior to Great Britain or the other Australasian colonies. The warmest months are December and January. The snow line is about 7,500 feet high. Ice is occasionally seen in the winter from one extremity of the island to the other, but frosts are comparatively slight to the north of Auckland, though at times the North Cape is covered with frost. Spring commences with the last of September, and continues until the last of November; summer extends from this date to March 20; autumn continues until June 20; and winter occupies the remaining portion of the year. The country being narrow, is constantly fanned by a sea-breeze. And occasionally there are heavy gales. In Auckland, the thermometer ranges in the shade from 36° at the lowest to 85° at the highest. Rains have been known to fall to the amount of fifty-two inches in Wellington.10The climate and soil of New Zealand are admirably adapted to the raising of all the various fruits, plants, and flowers, which grow in any country. There are 130 different species of fern trees, about one-third of which it is believed are peculiar to New Zealand. There are 120 different species of forest trees, many of which are very valuable. Most of these timbers are excellent for building purposes. Many of them are unexcelled for use in the manufacture of furniture, while for ship-building much of the wood is the most durable to be obtained anywhere. None of the wild or harmful animals found in Australia are to be seen in New Zealand, neither are there snakes nor other reptiles of this class on the island. In years past there was the Moa, a gigantic, wingless bird of the ostrich tribe which must have been very common, as its bones are found throughout the island, though it is now extinct. Originally there were no briers upon the island. The people are very careful in allowing cattle to be landed upon the island, particularly if they come from America, for fear they will introduce disease among their stock. Their beef is noted for being superior, and is sent to England and various foreign parts. As there are no wild animals to harm a person, one is perfectly safe in sleeping out on the ground, night or day. S. N. H.