Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-19
A TALK ABOUT NEW ZEALAND.
Its industries, Natural beauties, Gov
ernment, and Climate.


foreigners among us is Mr.. John 3.
Russell, prominent barrister q
Auckland, in the far off antipodal re-
gion of New Zealand Born of Eng
lish parsnts in Australia some fifty
years ago he has vet to see two pronl-
inent objects on the map of the world
the home of his ancestors and tbs
Atlantic ocean. A reporter of The
Post had a pleasant chat with M
Russell last night, and asked him By
what route he had reached Washing
ton.
by what is called the Central Pa
citic route, was the reply, "and a
delightful trip it was. We left Auck-
land in October last, and, after q
pleasant voyage, arrived IN San Fran
cisco twenty days later, in Novembec-
making but one stop on the way, st
Honolulu. After looking about ia
California awhile, we went south
visiting New Orleans, Atlanta, Rick
mond, and many other southern
cities, and having an enjoyable tinm
everywhere"
How long do you propose remaiK-
mgr
Until April, when [ shall visit
some of your large eastern cities, and
then for the first time visit old Eng.
land. My visit TO this great country,
| of which | have read so much, mas
been great treat to tne, / assure you.
| visited your capitol to-day, and was
pleasantly surprised at the develop
ment of what might be called intel
| lectual good taste in the adornment
of that wonderful structure. 1t is a
marvel of taste and beauty. The
prosperous aspect Of the south has
astonished me very much. Consider
ing the waste caused by your late
great war, the rapid resuscitation OF
that section is something amazing.
Thriving towns and cultivated fields
attest the progressive spirit of your
( people and their wonderful recupera-
tive power.
MANY people on this side of the
world haven't very well-detined no
tons about your country" suggested
the reporter.
Mr. Russell laughed as he replied
"Well, you are not alone in that re-
spect Europe to great extent is
lEuOidli VI All0 vi AN1W
Zealand, simply because we are SO far
away that people don't care much
about us anyway. It, IS very anus
ing, but since my arrival have been
asked how learned TO speak English
so well.
81 suppose you find that many re-
/ gard the average New Zsaland as an
aboriginal bushman, whose only at
tire is a sheep skim suggested the re-
porter
"The fact is, replied Mr. Russell,
) "we have no savages in New Zealand.
We have only 40, 600 aborigines there
and doubt if there are one hundred
adults among them who can not read
and write. Thepopulation consisting
of Europeans and those of European
descent, is between 100000 and 6O0,-
900, while Auckland, in northern
New Zealand has a population OF
10000 New Zealand, it must be re-
membered, is as large as the United
/. Kingdom of Great Britain, and Aus
tralia is almost as large as the United
States
"Whot is the chief industry or in
terest in New Xealand"
"Wool-growing. We have some
OF the finest breeds of sheep in the
world, and a dressed sheep weighing
from SO 10 1870 pounds is not uncom-
mon. Cloth manufacture is also an
important interest, timber is another.
Take wheat, for Instance Our average
yield per acre is % bushels the aver
age yield in the United States is but
~ bushels per acre.
How about education"
"Our education is compulsory, but
free We have four universities, and
their graduates rank with those Of
! Oxford and Cambridge
what Of the physical aspects OF
New Zeaand2n ~
"The country is rich in its natural
attractions. Among these are the
seysers and an island composed a.
most entirely of sulphur. AS to the
climate il is the most equable and
healthful in the world. Last winter
for instance, in northern New Zealand
we had frosts but two nights. And
yet the climate IS not quite warm
enough TO grow oranges to perfec
ton. 1t is simply. as have already
SAID, uable-del1ght1ully pleasant
all the time.
What can goa say as to your gov
ernmental system2"
eve are are free as you are. AL
though New Zealand is noniinally an
English colony, the only interference
by the British government is the APP
pointment Of governor, who is a
mere fipurehe9d We have q lepisla.
ture and free constitution and govern
ourselves in all respects as if we were
a free country"
Mr. Russell is accompanied by his
wife and seven children, who, he says
enjoys seeing the world quite as much
as he does himself. After remaining
ia England couple of years, Mr..
Russell will depart with his family for
his home in New Zealand.