TOPOGEAPHY OF NEW ZEALAND. 451 



wind in all directions amid the surrounding forests and recent plantations. Kaipara 

 has been called the " Eden of New Zealand." South-east of Auckland are the twin 

 towns of Shortland and Grahamstown, which are now united under the name of 

 Thames, and which lie on the east side of the inlet improperly called the Firth of 

 Thames. Farther south is Tauranga Harbour, the landing-place for travellers pro- 

 ceeding to Lake Tarawera and " Wonderland." South of the little haven of Gis- 

 borne on Poverty Bay, the only coast town on the east side is Hapier, capital of the 

 province of Hawke Bay. Napier is well situated on a peninsula between a winding 

 estuary and a semicircular bay which, like so many others, has been compared to 

 the Bay of Naples. Although its port, the Ahuriri of the natives, is of difficult 

 access for large vessels, the yearly export trade of Napier in wool, preserved meat, 

 and cattle already exceeds £800,000. 



Wellington, capital of New Zealand, dates from 1840 ; it occupies a central 

 position on Port Nicholson on the north side of Cook Strait, and holds frequent 

 communication with Blenheim on the opposite side. Wanganui, another busy sea- 

 port in the same province, lies at the mouth of the navigable river of like name 

 south of the King's Country. North-west of Wanganui the coast railway is deflected 

 inland by the peninsular Mount Egmont (Taranaki), and thus redicke^ New Plymouth, 

 which is probably destined to become a flourishing seaport when the construction 

 of the neighbouring Moturoa breakwater will enable skippers here to ship the pro- 

 duce of the " Garden of New Zealand." 



In the South Island Blenheim, over against Wellington, is still a small place 

 although capital of a province and converging point of two railways. On this 

 south side of Cook Strait the most commercial town is Nelson, which lies at the 

 head of the hill-encircled Tasman Bay. Farther on the north coast presents 

 nothing but villages and hamlets ; but on the west side a few little towns have 

 sprung up in the neighbourhood of the gold and coal mines. Westport, sheltered 

 by Cape Foulwind, has the advantage of possessing a safe and deep harbour, 

 whereas the more southerly ports of Greymouth and Hokitika, capital of the jDrovince 

 of Westland, were of difficult access before the construction of jetties and other 

 harbour works. Greymouth, formerly a centre of gold-mining, is now the " New 

 Zealand Newcastle," and in 1886 no less than 120,000 tons of coal were shipped at 

 this place. Hokitika, the town lying nearest to the regions of snows and glaciers, 

 still retains some importance, thanks to the neighbouring gold-fields, which in 

 1866, the year following the discovery, yielded over £1,300,000 of the precious 

 metal. 



The east slope of South Island being more gently inclined, presents by far the 

 greatest extent of arable and fertile lands, with the largest centres of population 

 and most flourishing seaports. Here are found the two chief cities, Christ- 

 church and Dunedin, the former of which lies not on the coast but in an extensive 

 plain watered by the river Avon and about eight miles from its port of Lyttleton, 

 formerly Port Cooper. Christchurch, capital of the province of Canterbury, is the 

 most English in aspect of all the New Zealand cities, and as the see of the Anglican 

 primate, it also contains the most sumptuous religious edifices. In its museum is a 



