, 1880-09-24
Interesting Facts About New Zea,
g land.

''-- 3.r.
New Zealand is a great borrowing
country They have a national debt of
about Sl7j,00Q,0Q0 and have recently
effected loan Of e5,000,000 sterling
The tax is very heavy, according to g re-
cent estimate it is about $40 per head
The natives have King Of their own,
and reside in what is called the "King's
Country" There are about $4,000
natives left but their numbers are
lessening every year. | only know
seven Americans in Auckland. There
are large stores in the city and a manu-
featuring interest is growing up. This
includes the making Of shoes, clothing
and furniture. o.. 1l lrg-srr ,.a
Their furniture is the most beautiful
[ have ever seen. 1t is made of notified
kauri, beautiful timber This is
worked up in the best style Of European
art. They raise the finest wool in the
world in the island, and manufacture
some of it. The chief imports to the,
island from this country a.e the hard
ware implements shipped from New
York. Plows, reapers, mowers and all
sorts of edge tools are shipped there.
Tobacco is another export from this
country that finds @ large, sale there
All sorts of canned fruits are also sent
from here in large quantities.. Ameri-
can wooden ware, including wagons, car,
riages and buggies, 'go there. 1.-The in
habitants also seem to have a. partiality
for American watches. 1t is, perhaps,
q curious fact that none of our whisky
ever goes to New Zealand. The only
articlgsent from New Zealand to- this
country IS kapri gum, (which is largely
used in the manufoetlre Of ryarnish.s
One firm, which ships direct to, the
United States, sends four or Eve times
year cargoes worth 100000 each. The
gum is very transparent; one can see
through o block of it foot in thickness.
1t has the appearance OF, amber, and is
found about the roots of the kauri
trees. The natives make very artistic
figures Of their gods with this gum
They carve heads and busts Of it larger
than life, These gods are similar to
those Of the other South Sea Islands,
and the natives are exceedingly super
stitious '.'..'' '.''' ''',
Christmas is celebrated very curiouslyt
in New Zealand. 1t comes Ill Midsum
mer, and, instead of the yule log, ana
holly tree, they have the green grass
and flowers, and instead Of hot punch
there are light Australian wine and
cooling draughts. The churches in the
Christmas time are decorated with beau
tiful purple flowers Of what is there
called the christmas tree" The most
peculiar growth in New Zealand is the
ferns, Of these there are $50 varieties
not found elsewhere, and q great num-
ber that are common to other countries
There is no place in the world SO rich in
ferns. -. ... .,;.;.- ,
..The articles Of diet are about the
same as in this country. The climate is
mild in the northern part of the lslanda
1t is magnificent beef and butter
country. The finest and juciest oysters
I ever ate are found there in abundance.
Imprisonment for debt exists there by.
means of sort Of fiction Of law. The
debtor is fined for contempt Of court
and cast into prison ON that ground.
The public school. system is admirable
and extensive, All classes, Of children
attend these schools. The public system
is an institution Of which the inhabit-
ants are very proud. There is no tax
that they more willingly vote for'than
the school tax. Teachers there. Com
mand, as general thing higher salaries
than they do in the, United States.
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