The Days of a Man 1907 



stretches of rich arable land. The North Island cul- 

 minates in the volcanic heights of Rotorua, a region 

 comparable to Yellowstone Park in its array of lakes, 

 geysers, and hot springs. The kauri has no parallel 

 in Australia or Europe, its only kin being found in the 

 Andean forests of Chile, while the various species of 

 Pittosporum, and the lancewood Pseudopanax, a 

 peculiar member of the Aralia tribe are known to 

 us of the north only as ornamental shrubs. The 

 "cabbage tree" Tcetsia indivisa, a sort of tree lily 

 allied to Dracczna furnishes shade in pastures. Only 

 one native plant seemed really familiar, the brake or 

 bracken Pteris - - a coarse fern of the thickets in 

 nearly all temperate regions; geminate forms in Aus- 

 tralia as well as New Zealand look very like that of 

 the Scottish moors. 



The charm If the normal tone of Australia be gray, that of 

 f New New Zealand is certainly green. For there one finds a 



Lealand > 



land of springtime, hope, gracious climate, and 

 fertile fields, a sturdy people, honest hearts, and gen- 

 erous hospitality. In these lies her charm. Her much- 

 vaunted political experiments are of secondary im- 

 portance, but being sure of herself she can play games 

 which would bring disaster to an older, more popu- 

 lous, more varied, and less joyous community. Tired 

 nations cease to experiment! 



As to population, New Zealand and Australia show 

 the same essential types despite the fact that a native 

 of the "Dominion" claims to know a citizen of the 

 "Commonwealth" the minute he hears him speak! 

 Indeed, in Australia, particularly in Sydney, cockney 

 pronunciation, due to the presence of assisted immi- 

 grants from London, dominates outside of cultured 

 circles. This is especially marked in the substitution 



C 242 : 



