t of this financial embarrassment all right, for it is rich
in animal, vegetable, and mineral products beyond nearly every other
country, excepting perhaps the sister colonies of Australia. The exports
of 1886 are represented to have exceeded eight million pounds sterling,
over one million of which was in gold. The export of meat is annually
increasing, and the mutton, from its greater size and fatness, is
preferred to that which is produced in Australia. The country is
believed to be almost fabulously rich in auriferous deposits, besides
which coal of excellent quality is abundant and easily mined; while in
the north the kauri-forests yield immense quantities of shipping timber.
All that is needed to promote and confirm the prosperity of this
naturally favored country is population,--a good class of immigrants to
open up the fertile lands, and to produce grain for food and export. But
the Labor Unions are jealous of immigration, and strive to prevent it in
all possible ways lest it should tend to lower wages. Neither the
leaders nor their followers have brains enough to look at the matter in
any other light than a thoroughly selfish one. As they outnumber the
rest of the community and can therefore outvote them, they are likely
for a while to enact laws which will favor their narrow purposes. The
principles and system of Democracy were never so challenged before as in
this case at Auckland. What is wanted there is one-man power--a
despotism, if you will--until affairs can be put into proper course, and
people who are too ignorant to know what is best for them are taught a
little common-sense. Auckland will be set back ten years at least in the
matter of progress by the crisis through which she is now passing. Labor
organizations have chosen as usual the very worst time to enforce their
arbitrary rule, and must suffer accordingly.

New Zealand as a colony has gone ahead too rapidly, and without counting
the cost. It has built railroads too fast; that is, before they are
absolutely required,--railroads running straight into the "bush,"
without any _raison d'etre_; and the present reaction is but a natural
sequence arising from extravagance. Undoubtedly these "bush" railroads,
as they are now called, will help to open up the country through which
they run; but even this may be done at too great a cost. Experience has
demonstrated the wisdom of a rule the reverse of that which has been
adopted here; namely, first to wait fo