DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH OF NEW ZEALAND. 



1079 



Brothers. Its tempting little coves and retired bays are the favourite resort in sum- 

 mer-time of yachting parties which repair thither on Saturday afternoons to camp 

 out over the Sunday. 



Beyond Rangitoto and Motutapu, and 

 trending right across the entrance to the 

 Waitemata Harbour, lies an archipelago of 

 islands which completely fills in the picture 

 on that side among them Motuihi, with 

 its beautiful sandy beach and its quarantine 

 building; and Waiheke, with its numerous 

 indentations and diversified conformation of 

 vale, hill and woodland ; behind them all, 

 the lofty summits of the Thames and Coro- 

 mandel Ranges, faintly traceable in the lighter 

 azure of the sky. With ample sea-room 

 about us, we are yet encompassed by the 

 land, for the southern shore sweeps behind 

 the islands far remote from the vision, 

 and inland the well-timbered Hunua Ranges 

 close the prospect in that direction. The 

 northern shore advances and ends in a 

 rounded hill styled the North Head, under 

 whose lee the vessel passes into port. The 

 sides and summit of this headland are mined, 

 trenched, counterscarped and embattled for 

 defensive operations, and there are quarters 

 for a permanent force of artillery-men. There 

 is another Fort at Point Resolution, on the 

 eastern flank of the city, while submarine 

 mines are also laid down in the Harbour, 

 and a torpedo-boat forms a part of the 

 warlike equipment. Far out from the North 

 Head lies the small Brown's Island (Motu- 

 korea) couched like a weasel, and straight 

 in front is the Bean Rock Li^ht-house, 



o 



right in the fair-way of the Harbour, and 

 commanding an uninterrupted view of the 

 port and city. Auckland, from its unrivalled 

 maritime position on the narrow isthmus over- 

 looking both coasts, has been well-named the 

 "Corinth of the South," and from its surpas- 

 sing beauty the " Naples of New Zealand." 



The view bursts suddenly upon the sight. 

 With an almost imperceptible curve, the 



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