islands has necessitated an enlargement of the boundaries of the Dominion, which will be specially treated of further on.

New Zealand is mountainous in many parts, but has, nevertheless, large plains in both North and South Islands. In the North Island, which is highly volcanic, is situated the famous Thermal-Springs District, of which a special account will be given. The South Island is remarkable for its lofty mountains, with their magnificent glaciers, and for the deep sounds or fiords on the western coast.

New Zealand is firstly a pastoral and secondary an agricutural country. Sown grasses are grown almost everywhere, the extent of land laid down being more than thirteen millions and a half of acres. The soil is admirably adapted for receiving these grasses, and, after the bush has been burnt off, is mostly sown over without previous ploughing. In the South Island a large area is covered with native grasses, all used for grazing purposes. The large extent of good grazing-land has made the Dominion a great wool, meat, and dairy-produce country; while its agricultural capabilities are, speaking generally, very considerable. The abundance of water and the quantity of valuable timber are other natural advntges.

New Zealand is, besides, a mining country. Large deposits of coal are met with, chiefly on the west coast of the South Island. Gold, alluvial and in quartz, is found in both Islands, the yield having been over seventy-nine millions in value to the present time. Full statistical information on this subject is given further on, compiled up to the latest dates.

BOUNDARIES AND AREA.

The Proclamation of Captain Hobson on the 30th January, 1840, gave as the boundaries of what was then the colony the following degrees of latitude and longitude: On the north, 34° 30' S. lat.; on the south, 47° 10' S. lat.; on the east, 179° o' E. long.; on the west, 166° 5' E. long. These limits excluded small portions of the extreme north of the North Island and of the extreme south of Stewart Island.

In April, 1842, by Royal Letters Patent, and again by the Imperial Act 26 and 27 Vict., c. 23 (1863), the boundaries were altered so as to extend from 33° to 53° of south latitude and from 162° of east longitude to 173° of west longitude. By Proclamation bearing date the 21st July, 1887, the Kermadec Islands, lying between the 29th and 32nd degrees of south latitude and the 177th and 180th degrees of west longitude, were declared to be annexed to and to become part of the then Colony of New Zealand.

By Proclamation bearing date the 10th June, 1901, the Cook Group of islands, and all the other islands and territories situate within the boundary-lines mentioned in the following Schedule, were included:

A line commencing at a point at the intersection of the twentythird degree of south latitude and the one hundred and fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich, and proceeding due north to the point of intersection of the eighth degree of south latitude and the one hundred and fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due west to the point of intersection of the eighth degree of south latitude and the one hundred and sixtyseventh degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due south to the point of intersection of the seventeenth degree of south latitude and the one hundred and sixty-seventh degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due west to the point of intersection of the seventeenth degree of south latitude and the one hundred and seventieth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; thence due south to the point of intersection of the twenty-third degree of south latitude and the one hundred and seventieth degree of longitude west of Greenwich; and thence due east to the point of intersection of the twenty-third degree of south latitude and the one hundred and fifty-sixth degree of longitude west of Greenwich.

The following now constitutes the Dominion of New Zealand:

I. The island commonly known as the North Island, with its adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 44,673 square miles, or 28,590,720 acres.

2. The island known as the South Island, with adjacent islets, having an aggregate area of 57,823 square miles, or 37,070,720

acres.

3. Stewart Island, and adjacent islets, having an area of 665 square miles, or 425,390 acres.

4. The Chatham Islands, situate 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton in the South Island, with an area of 375 square miles, or 239,920 acres.

5. The Auckland Islands, about 200 miles south of Stewart Island, extending about 30 miles from north to south, and nearly 15 from east to west, the area being 210,650 acres.

6. Campbell Island, in latitude 52° 33′ 26′′ south, and longitude 169° 8′ 41′′ west, about 30 miles in circumference, with an area of 45,440 acres.

Area of the States of Australia.

The areas of the several Australian States, as stated by different authorities, vary considerably. The total area of the Australian Continent is given as 2,944,628 square miles, according to a computation made by the late Surveyor-General of Victoria, Mr. J. A. Skene, from a map of Continental Australia compiled and engraved under his direction; but the following areas are taken from latest official records:

Total, Commonwealth of Australia 2,974,581

The size of these States (with New Zealand) may be better realized by comparison of their areas with those of European countries. The areas of the following countries-Austria-Hungary, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Greece, Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia, Eastern Roumelia, and Turkey in Europe-containing on the whole rather less than 1,600,000 square miles, amount to little more than half the extent of the Australian Continent. If the area of Russia in Europe be added to those of the other countries the total would be about one-seventh larger than the Australian Continent, and about one-twelfth larger than the Australian States, with New Zealand.

Area of the Dominion of New Zealand.

The area of the Dominion of New Zealand is about one-seventh less than the area of Great Britain and Ireland, the South Island of New Zealand being a little larger than the combined areas of England and Wales.

7. The Antipodes Islands, about 458 miles in a south-easterly direction from Port Chalmers, in the South Island. These are detached rocky islands, and extend over a distance of between 4 and 5 miles from north to south. Area, 12,960 acres.

8. The Bounty Islands, a small group of islets, thirteen in number, lying north of the Antipodes Islands, and about 415 miles in an east-south-easterly direction from Port Chalmers. Area, 3,300 acres.

9. The Kermadec Islands, a group lying about 614 miles to the north-east of Russell, in the Bay of Islands. Raoul, or Sunday Island, the largest of these, is about 20 miles in circuit. The next in size is Macaulay Island, about 3 miles round. Area of the group, 8,208 acres.

IO.

Islands forming the Cook Group:

Rarotonga.-Distance from Auckland, 1,638 miles; circumference, 20 miles; height, 2,920 ft.

Mangaia.-Distance from Rarotonga, 116 miles; circumference, 30 miles; height, 656 ft.

Atiu. Distance from Rarotonga, 116 miles; circumference, 20 miles; height, 374 ft.

Aitutaki.-Distance from Rarotonga, 140 miles; circumference, 12 miles; height, 366 ft.

Mauke Distance from Rarotonga, 150 miles; circumference, 6 miles; height, about 60 ft.

Mitiaro.-Distance from Rarotonga, 140 miles; circumference 5 miles, height, about 50 ft.

Takutea. Distant from Rarotonga, 125 miles.

The Herveys (Manuae and Aoutu).-Distant from Rarotonga, 120 miles.

Total area of above Group, 150 square miles.

II.

Islands outside the Cook Group:

Savage or Niue.-Distance from Rarotonga, 580 miles; circumference, 40 miles; height, 200 ft.; area, about 100 square miles.

Palmerston.-Distance from Rarotonga, 273 miles; an atoll, 4 miles by 2 miles.

Penrhyn, or Tongareva.-Distance 735 miles from Rarotonga; an atoll, 12 miles by 7 miles.

Humphrey, or Manahiki.-Distance from Rarotonga, 650 miles; an atoll, 6 miles by 5 miles.

Rierson, or Rakaanga.-Distance from Rarotonga, 670 miles; an atoll, 3 miles by 3 miles.

Danger, or Pukapuka.-Distance from Rarotonga, 700 miles; an atoll, 3 miles by 3 miles.

Suwarrow.-Distance from Rarotonga, 530 miles; an atoll. Total area of islands outside the Cook Group, 130 square miles. The total area of the Dominion is thus about 104,354 square miles, of which the aggregate area of the outlying groups of islands that are practically useless for settlement amounts to about 498 square miles.

ICELAND.

The Constitution granted in 1874 to Iceland upon a demand of the Althing contains an article which reproduces the provisions of Art. 95 of the Danish Constitution with the single difference which serves to simplify a process still further that the Althing is legally dissolved by the adoption of both Houses of the proposed amendment. (Charles Borgeaud, 1895, Europe and America.

The Constitution was granted to Iceland by Christian IX., king of Denmark in 1874. The King visited Iceland in August of the same year and brought the constitution with him. He was received with much respect by the Icelanders and told them he "hoped the Constitution he brought with him might contribute to the material prosperity of the Island and the development of the people." At the time the Constitution was granted the population of Iceland was about 70,000.

The length of the Island is 300 miles from east to west and the greatest breadth 200 miles. The area is estimated at 39,200 square miles.

THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution which, as the King declared, he "brought with him," is mainly due to the persistent claims and representations of Jon Sigurdsson at Copenhagen. Copies of it were furnished to us; but I think it unnecessary to translate every clause in detail, and will here only give a brief resume of its most important features.