ch is quite sufficient to keep the fact in mind that
this is a volcanic region. Earthquake shocks are frequent all over the
islands, from Cape Maria in the far north to South Cape in the southern
part of Stewart Island. It is believed that New Zealand was rent midway,
and that Cook's Strait was thus created between the North and South
Islands by volcanic explosion. There is known to be an extinct volcano
at the bottom of the Strait in front of the entrance to the harbor of
Wellington, over which the water is never absolutely calm. Thus it would
seem that the city is situated very near a volcanic centre. A
fellow-traveller in discussing the matter suggested that it was not just
the place to seek for a "permanent" investment; but on the other hand an
intelligent elderly resident assured us that these demonstrations are
gradually dying out. Fires have latterly been so sweeping and disastrous
in Wellington, that this element is coming to be more dreaded than
earthquakes; and partially to provide against destruction by flames,
stone and brick as building materials in the centre of the town are
being almost universally substituted for wood.

The Southern Alps, as the range which runs north and south through New
Zealand is called, are believed to antedate the Alps of Europe, while
nowhere else is marked evidence of glacial action more clearly defined.
The glaciers of to-day, though they are insignificant in comparison to
those of ancient periods, are of vast size and full of awe-inspiring
effects. In one respect these glaciers particularly resemble those of
Norway; that is, in descending so nearly to the sea. The author has seen
enormous glaciers in Scandinavia whose lower portions were within a
hundred feet of the surface of the ocean, while it is well known that in
Switzerland there is no instance where a glacier descends lower than
thirty-five hundred feet above the level of the sea.

Willis Street is the fashionable thoroughfare of Wellington, being
considerably more than a mile in length and nearly straight; but it is
quite irregular in width. This street is lined on either side with
stores and public buildings, some of large and pretentious aspect. We
counted nine good-sized bookstores upon this avenue, all well stocked
with modern literature. One may safely put down this fact as being a
significant sign of the general intelligence of the neighborhood.
Wellington is certainly growing with the prevailing rapidity of the