178 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



tively rare. In South island the mean annual temperature is about 52® ; in New 

 Ulster 58°. Beautiful plains of country are always clothed in green foliage, and 

 afford rich pasture for great herds of cattle, and vast numbers of sheep, which 

 are thus grown with very Httle expense. The soil is very productive and easily 

 worked, making agriculture a light and easy employment. A large plant, having 

 leaves two inches broad and six feet long, called New Zealand flax, is a produc- 

 tion of great value for home use and export. The leaves contain a very strong 

 fibre used for making rope, twine, linen, etc. 



The coast and rivers of New Zealand abound in vast quantities of fish. 

 Captain Cook, in one of his visits there, thought to show the people how to catch 

 fish by exhibiting a seine; but they smiled and pulled down a stack of netting 

 from which they spread a seine four times as large as his. Coal exists there in 

 great abundance. Gold was discovered in New Munster in 1861. The deposit 

 was found to be very rich, and in a few years the product amounted to many 

 millions of dollars. This country was discovered in 1642 by Abel Tasman. For 

 many years after, it was known only as a stopping place for whalers. The natives 

 were cannibals, but were very susceptible to the influences of civilization and re- 

 ligion. A few English had settled there; and in 1814 a missionary station was 

 established on the Bay of Islands, near the north end of New Ulster. About 

 ninety miles south of this the city of Auckland is located ; which is still in the 

 northern part of North island. It will be remembered that Auckland is the 

 "well governed city" where Professor Pritchett made his observations. The 

 missionary station on the Bay of Islands was very successful, and Christianit)'- 

 spread over the island to a large extent. But in twenty or thirty years, more 

 emigrants came who were greedy for the fine country. They oppressed the peo- 

 ple — provoking them to retaliation, and causing much cruelty ; so that Christian- 

 ity was greatly impaired. 



In 1840, the sovereignty of New Zealand was ceded to the British Govern- 

 ment. But in a few years new and bloody conflicts arose, because foreigners 

 took possession of lands which the natives believed they had no right to. Finally, 

 some years later all became reconciled, and everybody went to work in good 

 earnest — tilling the soil and advancing the cause of humanity in general. In 

 1851 the population of New Zealand was estimated at about 146,000 — 26,000 

 being foreigners. But since then the natives have decreased about two-thirds, 

 and foreigners increased to about 500,000. As in other countries so in that one — 

 the opening of gold mines was a great incentive to rapid immigration and various 

 improvements. New Zealand has one university of learning, several colleges, 

 and a general free school system of education. 



The lamented Captain Cook has given much interesting information about 

 New Zealand, as well as many other islands in the Pacific Ocean. 



