The National tribune., 1892-08-18

Cooks Strait at the south end of North Island
The strait is IL miles wide, and divides South
Island from its northern sister. The two is
lands are almost the same size and length. and
contain about equal population.
The Captal is therefore centrally located, and
| is equally convenient to all parts of the
Colony. The city is built around the head OF
a spacious bay and has one of the finest har-
bors in the world. The port is land blocked,
and surrounded with ranges of mountains. A
narrow entrance forms an outlet through the
EASTERN coast range into the sea. The Govern
ment seat is eight miles from the ocean. but
could be shelled by modern men, Of war from
outside the heads. The streets of the CAPITAL
are narrow and curve around tho bay like
circles. A PERCEPTIONS bluff rises back of the
city, and the site of the town is narrow and
crescent shaped. The bluff is terraced and
streets are cut along its sides. and the deciivi-
ties are levelcd down for dwellings. Houses
| stand above each other on the rising terraces,
like stairway. Some castle-like structures
are perched on the summit of the bluff and
present stately outlines on their airy knobs, and
| command extended views over the bay and
the distant sea. Zigzag drives slope from the
| air-castles down TO the bay-side.
The buildings of the city are almost entirely
| of wood and a fire with heavy gale would
| create destructive havoc. The place contains.
| with its suburban villages, 25, 600 people. Ow-
with both islands, aud the port is big ship
ping mart and its waters usually filled with
! steamers and smaller craft, bound up and down
| both coasts of the Colony.
Boats from Sydney, New South Wales, Mel
bourne, Victoria, Hobartown, Tasmania, and
| Auckland also stop here. A railroad extends
| from the wharves upa fertile valley for 80
| miles into North Island, and gives the grain,
cattle, and wool of the ranches outlet to the
| sea-
The Government buildings at the Colonial
| Capital not conspicuous for either design
| or costliness They wooden edfices with
ont much pretensiOn to beauty. Parliament
| House is roomy and surrounded with attractive
grounds The Governors Mansion is hand
| some and commodious structure, with an ex
| tensve Enclosure laid out into drives and
walks, and decorated with trees and sbrubbery.
| 1t is the only public edifce of architectural
| pretensons in Wellington.
The Governor is appointed by the English
Crown. The Colonial Government of New
Zealand consists of two Houses. The Upper
House is called the Legislative Council. and is
| appointed by the Governor for life. The
| Council consists of so members. The Lower
| House is the Colonial Parliament. 1t is elected
every three years by the people of New Yea
land. The Colony is divided into Provinces,
and each Province elects member to Parlia-
| ment. The Lower House consists of 81 men,
| members to Parliament.
The Governor and Council appoint Cabinet
of Ministers, and also a Colonial Secretary,
called the Premier.
! The Ministers are the heads of the different
| Departments of the Colonial Government, and
the Premier's office is similar to the American
Secretary of State. The Governor receives
$50 600 a year.
/ called at the Governors Palace and OBJ
tanned an interview with His Excellency.
The Governor. Sir Hercules Robinson, is an
English gentleman of unusual intelligence and
force of character. He is scholar of fine at
tainments and a statesman of high order; he
is also logician and writer of rare ability.
His State papers and Government reports have
always sustained an enviable reputation for
depth of thought. range OF conception. concise
ness of statement and knowledge of his SUBJ
ject. He has been Governor of New South
Wales and of Victoria, in Australia, before he
was appointed to New Zealand. Gov. Robin
son was favorite ruler in both of the AnstraI-
ian Colonies and soon became as equally ac-
ceptable in Zealandia. He is the most popular
and, probably, the most gifted Governor ever
sent to Australasia. He is porty in form,
dignifed in person. ard affabIe in manner He
received me cordially and was pleased to have
visitors from the Great Republic. He was
happy to impart information about his domin-
ion and have New Zealand known and under
condition, operations. and future of the United
States. He was especially concerned as to its
form of Government
The Australasian Colonies have not yet
formed confederation. and the subject of the
union of the Colon les into a Common wealth is
agitating the minds of both subjects and rulers.
The Governor expressed estimate formed
of some of our political leaders from their home
and foreign policies. He considered that we
had great country, vast resources untold pos
sibilities, and some admirable features of Gov
eminent. 1t would play a prominent part in
the history of Nations and have an influence on
the future kingdoms of the world
Gov. Robinson said that his Colony has been
considering the tariff, and tho public mind is
divided on the wisdom OF free trade and pro-
lection. Light on the experiments of the two
is asked for throughout Zealandia, as the c0un.
try is a large consumer of foreign goods, and
has ambitions to become itself manufacturing
country.
From the Governor and the Colonial Pre-.
mer / obtained much valuable and instruct
i've data about New Zealand, its Government,
its improvements, industries, and develop
ment.
The policy of the Government is in some
respects peculiar. There is no specie or any
sort of money deposited in tho Treasury OF
New Zealand. Colonial obligations are paid
by the Bank of New Zealand, the principal
financial institution of the Colony, which
transacts the Governments business and re.
ceives its deposits. There is no Government
paper money circulated in the Colony.
The paper currency is issued by tho banks
OF New Zealand; they are not accepted at par
value beyond the Colony.
The different banks of the Colony have issued
four and half million dollars of paper notes.
This with the British coins and English bank
bills form the financial circulating medium of
the country. Gold and silver coin is not made
in New Zealand as the Royal Mint has not
opened a branch here.
The Colony imports over million dollars of
coin annually, and exports four and half
million dollars yearly of gold bullion. 1t also
ships 81. 300, 900 worth of gold bullion annually
to the United States.
The Colony keeps on deposit usually from
eight to ten million dollars in gold and silver
coin, and 100000 worth of gold and silver
bullion.
The Government sustains an admirable sys.
tenn Of public education. 1t makes attendance
at the public schoos-on those between the
scholastic ages-compulsory by Parliamentary
legislation. Tho schools are not subject to any
denominational management. Over thou
sand public schools are OH the different islands,
employing 1900 teachers, educating over
seventy thousand children. One million eight
hundred thousand dollars are expended annu-
ally in support of the schools.
The standard of public education is high
one. Those wishing higher training find facili.
ties at the University of New Zealand.
The Government has been enterprsing in
ba ayteuSiou of nublic imnrovaments tha