“The non-thermal lakes are in Otago. They are situated on the shores of Queenstown and, as there is no fence round them, they are very popular. The Remarkables, built next to the lakes by the far-seeing Scots, attract discouraged ice-cream merchants from Wellington desirous of rehabilitating their faith in business. Next door is Milford Sound where dental students from Dunedin University go to get inspiration from Mitre Peak. Next we have Canterbury, an extensive plain worn flat by commercial travellers and footballers page 54 page 55 from Otago. Canterbury is English with a faint Irish accent due to the extensive cultivation of “Murphies.” Most of Canterbury is devoted to mutton and grain, but fortunately a corner was left for Christchurch. Christchurch was discovered when the Lyttelton Tunnel was bored through. Its inhabitants live on mutton and bicycles. But it is very cultured and supplies all Wellington's best ideas. Its Catherdral is named after Cathedral Square in which it stands. There is also the Avon after which Shakespeare's river was named. Christchurch's river has no bard, but no doubt one will be built in due course. Envious Wellingtonians claim that you can step across the Avon. This is a libel; it is quite a jump. But its banks are so beautiful that it wouldn't matter if the river were filled in. Christchurch claims to be the chief city in Canterbury. Timaru, named after a well-known brand of beer, denies it. Nelson, of course, is the garden of New Zealand. Its chief products are hops and college-boys. The hops are boiled up for beer. The college-boys are useful, too. Westland is just round the corner on the left. It raises timber, coal and umbrellas in great quantities. The chief difficulty on the Coast is to get past its bars in which the traveller is liable to get scuppered. But “coasters” are so friendly that it is a pleasure to be barbound in their company. Wellington is acknowledged to be the capital city except by Auckland and Petone. Auckland denies it on general principles, and Petone on the ground that the first sod was turned at Petone for the seat of government long before Wellington started clearing the ti-tree off Lambton Quay. But Petone is beginning to realise that it should have done something about the second sod. Much of Wellington city was made by shovelling the hills into the harbour. This is practically the only townplanning ever attempted. In common with Auckland, Wellington can boast of the best harbour in New Zealand. Wellington is very cosmopolitan, and people constantly blow in and out of it. The prevailing wind helps. But Auckland's allegation that it blows the soles off your boots is an exaggeration; it seldom does more than lift the eyelet-holes out. The new railway station is a noble building, and the trains are so proud of it that they have to be positively driven out every morning. Great difficulty, too, is experienced in inducing passengers to leave it to board the trains. Some of them want to board in the station. The museum and art gallery is greatly admired by visitors. Several Wellingtonians have visited it, too.