, i 92 A ( 'S TR. I L. \SI.l IU. [ -STRA TED. 



Australian visitor affords a pleasant change from the depressing monotony of the miles 

 of brick and mortar that line the streets in Sydney and in Melbourne. 



On the whole, the cities of New Zealand are very well endowed with public 

 reserves, a fact that testifies to the foresight of the founders. But the public guardians 

 of these reserves have not always displayed equal foresight. In Dunedin, a committee 

 had to take action in the Supreme Court to compel the removal from the Town Belt, 

 and other reserves, of structures which, with the consent of the governing body, had 

 been illegally erected upon them to the exclusion of the public, for whose recreation the 

 reserves had been set apart. One difficulty that arose in connection with the management 

 of New Zealand public domains was the raising of funds to maintain cricket grounds, and 

 to grant the use of public recreation reserves for matches at which a charge could be 

 made. This matter was finally settled by Parliament passing an Act empowering the 

 governing body to authorize a charge on not more than ten days in any one year due 

 notice being given by advertisement ; and certain public holidays, upon which it is 

 presumed the reserves may be in special request for purposes of general recreation, are 

 absolutely exempted from choice as days upon which a charge may be made. This Act 

 has worked very well. Revenue to maintain cricket grounds is also sometimes obtained 

 by allotting wickets at a fixed charge to the various clubs on Saturday afternoons. By 

 these means suitable provision has been made for cultivating the English national sport 

 without detriment to the public interests, although there are also well-kept practice 

 grounds in the possession of private clubs. 



Descending the rest of the hill, by way of Rattray Street, we soon reach the site 

 of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cathedral, when once more the Town Hall comes into 

 immediate view, and the sight of it reminds us that the elective Corporation to which 

 the burgesses entrust the management of the civic affairs, undertakes a wide range of 

 duties. In addition to fulfilling the regular and normal functions of municipal govern- 

 ment, the Dunedin City Council supplies both gas and water to the citizens, looks 

 after the public baths, and maintains a paid fire-brigade; while" the precautions against 

 the ravages of fire are rendered still more effectual by the existence of alarm-bells, 

 besides sixteen electric fire-signal boxes in various parts of the city. There are two 

 separate sources of water-supply, so that the probable needs of the future have been 

 studied and provided for in good time. The older supply is drawn from the head 

 sources of the Water of Leith. 



I' rom the northern end of Great King Street, the road follows the windings of the 

 shallow Leith to Woodhaugh, notable for its mill and paper-works. Turning off at this 

 point up a small lateral valley, the visitor soon makes the Reservoirs, forming a series of 

 placid-looking lakes, confined within angular limits, faced with powerful masonry. In 

 order to penetrate to the Water-fall-, one must return to the main road and plod along 

 up the valley for two miles farther, when Nicol's Creek opens out to the left. A slip- 

 pery scramble along its fern-lined banks brings the tourist at last into the presence of 

 a glorious little cascade. The newer and larger reservoir is situated on the banks of 

 the Silver-stream, this second water-works scheme having been successfully completed in 

 18X2. Dunedin also possesses its clubs, its Benevolent Institution, its Industrial School, a 

 strong volunteer force embracing artillery, naval, cavalry, engineer and rifle corps 



