io-6 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



New Zealand are at an end. In i79, Rewi, the hero of Orakau, visited Auckland for 

 the first time in twenty years, and was lioaizecl by the citizens. Early in 1882, Tawhiao, 

 the King, also visited Auckland, where all sorts of honours were lavished upon him. He 

 subsequently visited England, and is now living quietly at his home on the Waikato. 

 At the beginning of 1888, he held a meeting at Maungakawa, at the invitation of the 

 Ngatihaua tribe, when the following lines of policy were affirmed : " That the Maoris 

 and PakcJias shall be as one people ; obey the laws of the Queen, and respect them in 

 every way as loyal subjects ; and that every native acting contrary to the Queen's laws 

 shall undergo the same punishment as the Pakcha ; that all natives avoid intoxication 

 and other abuses ; that no objection be offered to the Native Lands Court selling or 

 otherwise so long as it is done legally." With this declaration the long dispute between 

 the two races, which had lasted from the very beginning of colonization, at last ceased. 



When the term of office of Sir William Jervois came to an end he was succeeded 

 by Lord Onslow. The British Government has been trying the experiment of substituting 

 for professional governors young noblemen of promise, who are sent to the colonies to 

 dispense vice-regal hospitalities, and at the same time to learn the art of governing. 

 Lord Carrington was the first with whom the experiment was tried, and Lord Kintore, 

 Lord Onslow and Lord Jersey have followed in his wake. 



Towards the close of the year 1890, the hold of the Premier, Sir Harry Atkinson, 

 on the country had visibly weakened. His health had failed, and he was not equal to 

 the fatigue of leading the House. A general election left him in a small minority, and 

 he resigned. Sir Harry Atkinson was able, before he relinquished the political leadership, to 

 publish a financial statement showing that he had succeeded in establishing an equilibrium 

 in the finances, and had left behind him a clear surplus. The achievement of this task 

 was really the great work of his Administration, and it was made possible only by 

 severe taxation, and still more severe retrenchment. He has been succeeded in the 

 Premiership by Mr. Ballance, the leader of the Opposition, who has indicated a disposition 

 to adopt a radical programme in politics, especially as regards the incidence of taxation. 



As indicating the degree of development to which New Zealand has already attained, 

 it may be mentioned that at the end of 1889 its population was six hundred and 

 twenty thousand seven hundred and eighty souls ; that its shipping inwards and outwards 

 was one million one hundred and ninety-five thousand eight hundred and eighty-six tons ; 

 that its total trade inwards and outwards was fifteen million six hundred and thirty- 

 six thousand three hundred and sixty-two pounds ; that its export of domestic produce 

 was valued at nine million and forty-two thousand and eight pounds ; that it depastured 

 fifteen million five hundred and three thousand two hundred and sixty-three sheep, eight 

 hundred and ninety-five thousand four hundred and sixty-one head of cattle, and one 

 hundred and eighty-seven thousand three hundred and eighty-two horses ; that it had one 

 million three hundred and eighty-six thousand two hundred and eighty-seven acres under 

 crop ; that its revenue was three million nine hundred and ninety-one thousand nine 

 hundred and nineteen pounds ; that the deposits in its banks were thirteen million seven 

 hundred and eighty-six thousand and fifty-five pounds ; and that it possessed four thousand 

 eight hundred and seventy-four miles of telegraph, and one thousand nine hundred and 

 twelve miles of railway. 



