Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
LAND WITHOUTSTRIKES
LAWS OF NEW ZEALAND EN-
FoRCED-PEoPLE SATISFIED.
A Country That Has Never Known
Drought or Failure of Crops
Auckland a Beautiful City.
From the World Today.

From the World Today.
As the steamer sailed gracefully over the
seas, followed by the stormy petrol and the
great albatross, I spent many days on
deck Hstlessly lounging in my easy chair.
meditating and dreaming of that distant
land Of which l had heard so much in boy
hoods days. l tried to recall its points OF
varied interest which books had once
opened for me. What of its geography. its
scenery, its people and especially its Maori
race which history and traditions had
brought down to the present time? re-
called from my historical reading that New
Zealand was practically discovered by Capt.
Cook in October 176', and that it was for
mely made a part of the British en-
pire in 1889. Other facts l was soon to
learn.
New Zealand comprises an area OF 104,-
All square miles, has more than 300 miles
of coast line, Is 1909 miles IN length and
has an average width OF lJJ mics. is
population a. the present time is tribe
less than 10000. il Is Inhabited by Ea-
glish-s peaking people, WAC are intelligent
healthy. Contented ana prosperous. The
direct route to New zealand is southwest
from san Francisco 1t is a fraction less
than 90 miles from America aud IS reach
ed in seventeen days. The voyage is pleas
antly broken with a Gay spent in iIonlulu,
ana another day at Page Pago.
There is always a wGtcaful eagerness
for the sight of land wneI one is aboard
ship. Dark clouds nesting On the crest
of the water are OGteuuICs mistaken :Or
land, and TaptuTous expressions Of ue.lght
are heard because Of the discovers, en!y
to give way To Respondent signs when the
mistake has been revealed. buJ these mis-
takes DO not occur on this trip from Amer
lea to New ZeaIaui. for the transpaci1c
steamers AIRY Uncle Sans mail and make
these ports with the regularity OF a raj
road train.
Auckland.
Auckland is the first city reached from
America, and first Impressions are never
efracei of this beautiful cisy and its mag
nifcent harbor Just as day is breaking.
the indlstinct outline of he Great Barrier,
barren upheaval Of perpendicular rocks,
Is seen. Then other islands appear sill
houetted i'm the morning light, the rising
sun peeps over the Great Barrier which
you have passed, and its golden light bril-
lantly bIightens Auckland, lis pretty
homes and gladdens the day for the sixty
seven thousand SOUS which abide here.
The trip from the entrance of the harbor
to the city is about eight miles, with high
hills at each side. This ha~bor with its
environments is regarded as one of the
most beautiful in the world
Were we to ask one who has visited New
Zealand what are its especial points of in
terest, the one Intercepted would hest
tate for reply, for within is domains it
contains scenic beauties unsurpassed in all
the world. Nowhere in the universe is
there a geNScr equaiinS Waimanga, which
has a crater 240 by 40 feet, and which
throws hot water. mud and stone u distance
of fifteen hundred feet into the air. At
Rotorna numerous Eeyscrs amaze the Wis
itor, who is also entertained by the antics
Of dimnutiyc Maoris, who. clothed in the
suits which nature gave them, sport and
dive In the tepid water which is tempered
TO their liking. Here the Maoris live, the
first inhabitants of the islands, ana
mOdestly striving TO initiate the dress and
customs of their white visitors and neigh
bors. From Rotorna days drive brings
the tourist to extinct volcanoes, where in
1856, hundreds of MaUris lost their lives,
and then, again, geysers and hot lakes. In
other places are snow-capped mountains
with greenest Verdure at tht f. bases. rO-
mantle rivers and lakes; altogether a ka-
Telescope of constantly renewed beauty.
Mammoth Turnips
And the land is for farmers as well as
artists I saw fields of turnips which had
from thirty TO fifty tons per acre, and
mongolds a mammoth type of turnips,
which average ninety tons 10 the acre.
Farmers frequently grow two crops, and,
at times three crops of potatoes on the
same piece of ground within a year. The
climate Is delightful In the summer the
thermometer averages about 20 degrees ana
In the winter time 30 degrees. There is
never suffering from intense heat or ex-
IRENE cold. Stock ranges throughout the
winter anu as that Is the season when the
most rain falls, stock thrives equally as
well then as during the summer time. In
discussing the g innate with one of the most
influential citizens of the colony he told me
that New Zealand had never had a drought
or a failure of crops. something that per
haps no other country could rlghtfuly
claim.
Premier Seldom.
had heard much of the laws of New
Zealand and made thorough investigation
of them while In that country I found
they were well enforced and the people
generally were satisfied with thin. knew
they were the result Of the life study of
the premier-the Right Honorable r. ].
Seldom. wanted to hear from his own
lips the story of what he had done for New
Zealand. and what prompted him to give
life of service to his country. refusing at
times great honors and DENYING himself
many OF the pleasures OF life in order TO
benefit his fellOw-CitiZens Of New Zealand
readily obtained an interview and was
accorded hearty welcome We were
alone, the premier and l. He gave me a
searching look which quickly changed to a
cheeTy smile, and in that brief time | had
studied the man. He has a massive frame
derived no doubt from those earIy DAYS
when he swung the miners pick and de-
Neloped muscles of steel and a constitution
OF iron | admired the man at our first
interview, and my admiration only deep
ened as l saw him afterward In many
places and under many conditions social
ana political. What greater compliment
could be paid man than that given him
by a lady who, at the conclusion Of one of
his addresses, asked the privilege OF giving
MN ooutonnlere-a pure white flower
saying. as she did SO, This Mr. Seldom
Is Indicative of your life: pure spotlcss and
above reproach."