ery handsome stores. Besides these there are
several of brick, four stories high, with handsome facades. But the town
is mainly constructed of wood, and--as we noted was the case in
Wellington--has more than once been nearly swept away by conflagrations;
so that a less inflammable material is now universally being adopted for
building purposes. The principal public edifices are the Post-Office,
Supreme Court House, Government House, Public Library, and the Hospital,
while churches are to be seen in all sections of the town. There is also
a University, a college for boys, and a high school for girls, with
numerous primary schools.

The harbor is one of the largest and best in New Zealand,--indeed, we
may say in Australasia. Though it is not so large or so varied in
scenery, some unprejudiced persons compare it for beauty with that of
Sydney. It has two dry docks, one of which is the largest in the South
Pacific, being five hundred feet long and eighty wide. There is ample
depth in the harbor for vessels of any size, and excellent wharf
facilities. The shorter distance of Auckland from the ports of America
gives it an advantage over any other seaport in Australasia. It is
reached from London across the American continent in thirty-seven days,
while to reach Sydney requires four days more of steam navigation.

This northern metropolis is situated, as already mentioned, in the
centre of rich timber-lands, and also of abundant coal deposits. Should
the Panama Canal be completed at some future day, Auckland would be the
first port of call and the last of departure between Europe and the
colonies of the South Pacific. Its present population, including that of
the immediate suburbs, is something over sixty thousand; that of the
whole province of Auckland is one hundred and thirty thousand.

The Ponsonby suburb and the village of Whou are composed of pleasant
residences tastefully ornamented. Parnell, as it is called, forms
another notable suburb, rendered attractive by hedge-rows, drooping
willows, and prettily-arranged gardens. From this point one gets a fine
view of the outspread bay lying below, exhibiting its various and busy
craft. Steam ferry-boats are constantly gliding across the harbor,
little white-winged cutters bend gracefully to the breeze, the tall
masts of sailing-ships line the piers, and tiny row-boats glance hither
and thither. The lofty marine-signal hill looms up across the harbor in
its verdant garb, whil