several localities which we visited; new streets were being laid out, of
better width and having more regularity of form, while the roadways were
being thoroughly macadamized, and rolled with a heavy steam-rolling
machine. In the harbor a large steam-dredging boat was also busy
deepening and straightening the course of the channel. Eleven steamships
and half-a-dozen large sailing-vessels lay at the wharves, five of the
latter from England. It is natural that the trade of the colonies should
be very generally retained by the mother country, though there is a
considerable commerce carried on with the west coast of America.

The stranger coming to the capital must not omit to visit the Hutt, a
pleasant village situated where the Hutt River enters the bay. Here also
is located the Wellington race-course; and most interesting of all the
attractions hereabout is a famous resort known as McNab's Gardens. The
pleasant lawns, flower-beds, and fruit-orchards of this place form a
charming resort for pleasure parties out on a ride or drive from the
city. Some of the ornamental trees contained in these gardens were the
finest we saw in New Zealand. The labyrinth of walks leads through
exquisitely kept flower-beds, which specially exhibit the remarkably
favorable nature of the climate for floral displays at any season of the
year. The many fine exotics which are exhibited here must have been
accumulated at a heavy expense. A small admission fee is very properly
charged by the proprietor, who is prepared also to supply any desired
refreshments at a reasonable price. As we write these notes there steals
over the senses a delicious memory of atmospheric sweetness, daintily
impregnated with mignonette, lilies, lemon verbena, and roses, at that
pleasant resort on Wellington Bay.

The last scene witnessed at the capital, as we were about to embark on a
steamer for the north, was an attempt at a parade by some
"Salvationists." The procession moved in single file, consisting of
three poke-bonnets with an equal number of young women under them, two
men in red coats, and two in dark clothes, very shiny and greasy. There
were also four or five small boys, who so straggled from the line that
it was by no means certain whether they belonged to it or not. One of
the girls vigorously pounded a cracked tambourine, one of the red-coated
men blew occasional blasts upon a tin fish-horn, and all sang psalms
much out of tune. The sight would have been lu