II. Its Size and Position, Etc.

New Zealand, extending from about 34° to 48° S. lat., and from 166° to 179° E. long., lies in the South Pacific Ocean. Its position on the face of the globe is thus almost directly opposite to Great Britain. It consists of two large islands, now generally called North and South, and a small one named Stewart's Island. Besides these there are a few much smaller islands lying off the coast, the principal of which form the Chatham Island group.

Its length is 1100 miles from N.E. to S.W., and its breadth varies from one mile at Auckland to fully 200 from Poverty Bay to New Plymouth. The coast line, being indented with several bays and some admirable harbours, measures about 3500 miles. The area of the whole amounts to about 105,000 square miles, being rather less than that of Great Britain and Ireland. In shape it bears a striking resemblance to Italy turned upside down, with the foot reversed.

From the large continent of Australia it is distant 1200 to 1500 miles, and it is entirely separate there from in its government and institutions. It is a distinct colonial dependency of the British Empire, having a Governor appointed by the Queen, who is aided by an Executive Council; a Legislative Council consisting of about forty-five members, chosen by the Governor for life; and, thirdly, a House of Representatives, consisting of about seventy-five members, elected by the people every five years by a system approaching to universal suffrage. The country, moreover, is divided into eight provinces, the local affairs of which are managed by a Superintendent and a Provincial Council. There is also the county of Westland.