AUCKLAND  , a

city and seaport on the east coast of North Island, New Zealand, in Eden county; capital of the province of its name, and the seat of a bishop . Pop . (1906) 37,736; including suburbs, 82, tor . It is situated at the mouth of an arm of Hauraki Gulf, and is only 6 m. distant from the head of Manukau harbour on the. western coast . The situation is extremely beautiful . The Hauraki Gulf, a great square inlet opening northward, is studded with islands of considerable elevation; Rangitoto, which protects the harbour, is a volcanic cone reaching nearly r000 ft . The isthmus on which the town stands (which position has caused it to be likened to Corinth) can be crossed without surmounting any great elevation, and offers a feasible canal route . A number of small extinct volcanoes, however, appear in all directions . To the west the Titirangi hillsexceed 1400 ft . Some of the volcanic soil is barren, but much of the district is clothed in luxuriant vegetation . Auckland harbour, one of the best in New Zealand, is approach-able by the largest vessels at the lowest tide . There are two graving docks .

Queen Street, the principal thoroughfare, leads inland from the main dock, and contains the majority of the public buildings . There is a small government house, standing in beautiful grounds, adjoining Albert Park, with plantations of oaks and pines . The government offices, art gallery and exchange, with St Mary's cathedral (Anglican), a building in a combination of native timbers, St Paul's and St Patrick's cathedral (Roman Catholic), are noteworthy buildings . The art gallery and free library contain excellent pictures, and valuable books and MSS. presented by Sir G . Grey . The museum contains one of the best existing collections of Maori art . There are an opera-house and an academy of music . The Auckland University College and the grammar school are the principal educational establishments . The parks are the Domain, with a botanical garden, the Albert Park near the harbour, with a bronze statue of Queen Victoria, the extensive grounds at One Tree Hill on the outskirts, and Victoria Park on Freeman's Bay . The principal thoroughfares are served by electric tramway . Of the suburbs, Newton, Parnell and Newmarket are in reality outlying parts of the town itself . Devonport, Birkenhead and Northcote are beautifully situated on the north shore of the inlet, and are served by steam-ferries .

Several other residential suburbs

lie among the hills on the mainland, such as Mount Albert, Mount Eden and Epsom . Onehunga is a small port on Manukau harbour, served by rail . In Parnell is the former residence of Bishop Selwyn, who, arriving in the colony in 1842, assisted to draw up the constitution of the Anglican church . There are many associations with his name in the neighbour-hood . The prospect over the town and its environs from Mount Eden is justly famous . The hill is terraced with former native fortifications . Auckland has industries of sugar-refining, ship-building and paper-, rope- and brick-making, and timber is worked . The town was founded as capital of the colony in 1840 by Governor Hobson . There is communication both south and north by rail, and regular steamers serve the ports of the colony, the principal Pacific Islands, Australia, &c . From 1853 to 1876 Auckland was the seat of the provincial government, and until 1865 that of the central government, which was then transferred to Wellington . The first session of the general assembly took place here in 1854 . Auckland is under municipal government .