New Zealand

Group consisting of two large islands and several smaller ones, s.e. of Australia, in the s. Pacific. The area of the northern one is 44,467 sq. m., and that of the southern 58,525 sq.m. Both are mountainous, having peaks several of which are volcanoes, 8,000 to 12,000 ft. high. On the n. island are hot springs, rivaling in some respects those of the Yellow stone Park. The capital is Wellington. The British colony includes also Stewart Is., the Chas am, Auckland Is., and others; total area 104,471 sq. m. The coast line is over 3,000 m., and includes many good harbors. The soil is fertile, the climate mild. N. Z. was discovered 1642. Capt. Cook, the first European to land here, took po e ion for Gt. Britain 1769. The islands were little visited till mi ions were introduced 1814. During the next 30 years the population became nominally Christian; cannibalism ceased, and colonization made rapid progre . Pop., 1891, 628,658, of whom 43,642 were Maoris.