452 



AUSTKALASIA. 



very remarkable collection of the remains of extinct birds. With the surrounding 

 suburbs Christchurch ranks as the second city in the archipelago for population, 

 while its port owns the largest mercantile fleet, although the general movement of 

 the shipping is inferior to that of Auckland. The neighbouring Banks Peninsula 

 with Akaroa Harbour, where still survive some descendants of the early French 

 settlers, are pleasant retreats, much frequented by the inhabitants of Christchurch. 



Fig. 195. — Cheistchuech and Akaeoa Peninsula. 

 Scale 1 : 700,000. 



I72°40 



'75° Easb oF Greenwich 



to 32 

 Feet. 



32 to 80 

 Feet. 



Depths. 



80 to 160 

 Feet. 



160 Feet and 

 upwards. 



6 Miles. 



A railway, connecting the city with its port, passes in a tunnel through a thick bed 

 of lava — the finest work of the kind in New Zealand. 



South of Christchurch follow along the east coast the seaports of Timaru, Oamaru, 

 and the flourishing city oî Dunedin, metropolis of the south, which lies on the west 

 side of Otago Harbour under shelter of an eastern volcanic headland. Since the 

 deepening of the channel ships of average size are able to ascend as far as the 

 town. ; but larger vessels are obliged to anchor in Port Chalmers at the mouth of 



