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idyllic dwelling of our friend, and the beautiful garden adjoining 
it is a perfect pattern of a New Zealand garden, a lovely spot of 
earth, on which one cannot help being contented and happy. Hedges, 
six to eight feet high, of monthly roses, fuchsias, and geraniums, 
their leaves and blossoms presenting a many-coloured tapestry, en- 
compass the garden. The damp New Zealand climate secures to 
that luxuriant vegetation the charm of perfect freshness even in 
midsummer. And in the garden itself, what a variety of trees and 
shrubs and plants! All tiro plants of the temperate zone thrive 
here, and amongst them a great many forms reminding us of a 
warmer climate. The German oak-tree with its knotted branches 
towers by the side of the slender Norfolk-pine ( Araucaria 
the blue gum-tree of Australia ( Eucalyptus ), by the side of the 
weeping-willow and locust-tree. Interspersed between them are groups 
of oranges and lemons; the banana of India; tire date-tree of North 
Africa; the granate-tree; the myrtle, and the fig-tree. Jessamines, 
bignonias and roses; heliotropes, coronellas, camelias and dahlias 
grace the flower-beds in rich abundance, forming upon them a gay, 
brilliant floral texture; while upon the verdant turf the agave of 
South America proudly rears its blooming shaft from between 
its juicy leaves. In truth, it is delightful , charming indeed, to walk 
among such beds and under such trees. 
But “le bonheur est dans I’inconstamce /” — Our friend had made 
up his mind to enjoy the country-air, and hence we rowed in his 
boat, — two Maoris managing the oars, — to the North Shore, a 
distance of about one league. We landed on the low sandy beach 
strewn with mussel-shells, and ere long the Maoris had two tents 
pitched, in which we made ourselves at home as well as the cir- 
cumstances permitted. The larger tent was intended for our friend 
and his family, serving at the same time as common dining-room, 
while in the second tent we had just room enough to lie down to 
sleep at full length. The tents were stretched so close to the sea- 
beach, that at high-water they were almost touched by the waves. 
It was a clear sunny day, the scorching heat, however, was plea- 
santly moderated by the prevailing southwest wind. 
