“ In the sporting world the City is fortunate. The genial climate and the natural facilities for outdoor sports richly endow Auckland. At football the Dominion has proved its prowess against all comers. ”

“ The amusements which the City affords are limited naturally by the numbers of the population. A city of Auckland's size cannot expect to be catered for to the same extent as London. Yet, despite this limitation, the City has been fortunate in receiving visits from world renowned artistes. Generally speaking, however, the City has to depend for its entertainments upon the talent contained within the Dominion and periodical visits by Australian companies. ”

“ The waters of the gulf attract both yachtsmen and fishermen, for scenery and sport are to be found in abundance. Auckland's beaches, which are easily accessible, are famed for their safety, and to the jaded city dweller they are a source of physical refreshment and enjoyment. In the summer time they are the pleasure grounds of thousands. Nature has dealt bountifully with Auckland. ”

“ These figures, especially the exports, show a remarkable progress for such a young city. The excess of imports over exports is due to the fact that New Zealand is primarily an agricultural country and is dependent upon the overseas manufacturer for the supply of manufactured goods.
Auckland's commercial position is based upon its natural advantages by land and sea. It is the centre of a large agricultural district. The primary products, principally butter, cheese and wool, are shipped to the world's markets ”

“ The Auckland Racing Club's course at Ellerslie will stand comparison with any course in the world, and its extensive grounds are most exquisitely laid out in lawns and gardens. Yachting and aquatic sportsmen have one of the finest waterways in the world to exercise on, and the Hauraki Gulf attracts thousands of devotees. Throughout the season regular races are held, and the annual regatta, which takes place on Anniversary Day (January 29th) , is one of the sporting events of the year. Cricket, lawn tennis and bowls attract many, and golf is rapidly coming into favour. ”

“ Fortunately the tide of war swept past the City without doing any damage to life or property and without seriously arresting the work of the pioneers, who during the first two or three decades laid the foundation of the prosperity which the City has since experienced. ”

“ The Corporation has just sold its electricity business to the Auckland Electric Power Board, which will supply the City and district with electric energy. Gas is provided by a private company. Water, as already indicated, is under Corporation ownership. The drainage and sewerage work of the City and suburbs is thoroughly modern, and is administered by a Board, upon which the City has representation. The Fire Brigade is similarly controlled by a Board. The health and sanitation of the community is another of the Council's responsibilities. ”

“ On the æsthetic side, the Council provides its citizens with Organ and Choral Concerts and subsidizes band performances in the public parks; the Art Gallery caters for the artistic requirements, while the Public Library satisfies the intellectual demands of the community. The public parks and reserves, both within and beyond the City's boundaries, provide for many forms of recreation. The Council's annual revenue and the annual valuation of the City will summarize the various activities. ”

“ In a climate where extremes do not exist, with a good average rainfall and abundant sunshine all the year round, the cultivation of flowers, fruit and vegetables is an easy matter, and the universal garden is the result.
The domestic architecture of Auckland and suburbs helps to accentuate this feature. Tenements are practically unknown. The type of building used for dwellings is either the cottage or the bungalow, and occasionally a more formal house of two storeys. Nearly every household is self-contained, or at worst occupies a semi-detached dwelling. ”

“ Auckland's buildings are a quaint mixture of past and present. In the main streets large buildings of modern design stand side by side with one, two, or three storey structures which have passed their prime in terms of years. ”

“ Seldom are two houses together of the same design. The rows of dwellings of a uniform pattern, so common in English towns, do not obtain here, and this adds to the variety and charm of the Auckland home. ”

“ New Zealand kauri and Australian jarrah are the principal timbers employed, the Large Hall roof trusses, balcony and gallery cantilevers and principal floor girders being of steel.
All walls other than the stone facings are of brick or cement concrete, and slate and galvanised iron are used for roofing. Internal partitions are of timber studding, lathed with steel and plastered.
The whole of the building is lighted and heated by electricity, the electroliers being of handsome design, and an electric passenger lift has also been installed, giving access to every floor. ”

“ At the present time it is governed by the "Municipal Corporations Act, 1920." The Council consists of the Mayor and 21 Councillors, all of whom are elected for a period of two years by the electors of the City of Auckland. It is the body having the control of streets, water supply, drainage and sanitation, tramways, libraries, art gallery, etc., domains, parks and reserves, public baths, cemeteries, abattoir and markets. ”

“ The ground floor is capable of seating 1,660 persons, exclusive of the chorus gallery and platform, while a further 740 can be accommodated in the capacious balcony, situated on two sides and at the end of the Large Hall, and an additional 300 can be provided for in the upper gallery, giving a total seating capacity of 2,700, exclusive of performers. The orchestral platform is so arranged that it can be run back on the occasion of dances or big public meetings, when an extra large floor area is required. ”

“ VIEW OF AUCKLAND'S HARBOUR FRONTAGE TAKEN FROM A SEA-PLANE, SHOWING THE WHARVES.
W. A. Waters, Photo.
the colonists some concern, and Hone Heke's Rebellion in the North (1843–46) and the threatened invasion of Auckland by discontented natives, in 1851, must have occasioned no little anxiety to the settlers. The most serious trouble with the natives occurred during the Maori Wars of the 'sixties, when the City was surrounded by hostile natives, and fears were entertained for its safety. Block houses were erected at various points of vantage, and the entire male population was conscripted. ”

“ Dressing-room and lavatory accommodation is provided at the rear of the Large Hall for the use of artistes and performers, and underneath the organ loft there is a commodious Green Room, and ample Cloakrooms and lavatories for ladies and gentlemen. Ticket offices are provided for both halls.
The Concert Chamber is, overall, 93 feet long by 47 feet wide and 31 feet high, and is capable of seating 880 persons. It has a stage platform and ample dressing-rooms. Communication with the Large Hall is obtained by a bridge across the triangular light area between the two halls. ”

“ The City is also the natural centre for the increasing number of world tourists who are attracted to New Zealand by its climate and scenery, which range from the sub-tropical to the sub-antarctic. North of Auckland some of the few remaining kauri forests are to be found, and to the south are the weird and wonderful Thermal District, with Rotorua as its centre, the beautiful scenery of the Wanganui River, the Alpine pleasures of the Tongariro National Park, and the beauties of Mt. ”

“ The fine Organ in the Town Hall was presented to the City by Henry Brett, Esq., who was Mayor of Auckland in 1877–78, and who for many years past has taken a keen interest in the musical welfare of the community. ”

“ Mrs. Edmund A. Mackechnie, who died on November 7th, 1902, bequeathed, by direction of her deceased husband, a sum of £5,000, of which £2,500 was to be used in the erection of a gallery for the Society of Arts, £2,000 for the endowment of a library for the Auckland Institute and Museum, and £500 for the purchase of cases of animals for the latter. ”

“ The sky-scraper happily does not exist—an eight-storey building being the tallest in the City. Amongst notable buildings may be mentioned the Post Office, Ferry Buildings, the New Zealand Insurance Buildings, some of the banks, including the Auckland Savings Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, which is the gem of Auckland's commercial buildings, the Public Library and Art Gallery, the Town Hall, the Supreme Court, the Magistrate's Court and the city churches, noticeably St. ”

“ Upton & Co., Booksellers, Queen Street, and located over their shop, was occupied as the first municipal chambers of Auckland. As the Council's affairs prospered, this humble office was found inadequate, and larger accommodation was sought in the old Magistrate's Court, at the corner of High and Chancery Streets. ”

“ This dependence upon its own resources has led to the development of the local musical and dramatic talent, and has resulted in the fostering of a number of organisations which provide entertainment of a good standard. Entertainments of a more solid character than those already indicated are provided by courses of lectures arranged by the Auckland Institute, the Leys Institute and other libraries and organisations. ”

“ On each floor there is ample lavatory accommodation for the staff.
The main feature of the hall portion of the building is, of course, the Large Hall, which has an average length of 168 feet by a width of 75 feet, and an actual floor area for dancing of 122 feet by 75 feet, the height from floor to ceiling being 50 feet. Ample space has been provided for the fine organ, and in front thereof is placed a chorus gallery and orchestral plat
Reception of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales at the Town Hall. April 24th, 1920. form capable of accommodating 350 performers. ”

“ A charge of sixpence is made for admission to the evening Recitals, but a short series of free afternoon Recitals is given during the winter months. The Organ is also used at all civic functions which take place in the large Town Hall. ”

“ CHIEF TRADES CARRIED ON IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT.
Agricultural Implement Manufacturing.
Artificial Manure Manufacturing.
Bakery and Confectionery.
Baking Powder Manufacturing.
Bed and Bedstead Manufacturing.
Bicycle Making. ”

“ The attendance at the Saturday evening Recitals has steadily increased year after year. The average attendance is now more than double that of the first year. The audience at the Recitals for school children frequently numbers over 2000. ”

“ What a transformation has taken place in this short period of little more than the normal span of a man's life. The ti-tree and the fern have given place to a city with a population (1921 census) of 81,712 inhabitants, or, if the suburbs are included, of 157,757.
The young city did not grow without experiencing difficulties. In the first two decades the Maoris caused ”

“ Edward Costley, who died on April 18th, 1883, bequeathed the sum of £84,700 in equal shares fo the following institutions:—Institute and Museum, Public Library, Hospital, Orphan Home, Home for the Aged Poor, Sailors' Home, and Boys' Institute.
3. James Tannock Mackelvie, who died 4th June, 1885, bequeathed his valuable art collection and a sum of money, in trust, to establish and maintain a Museum of Fine Art. He also presented a collection of art books to the Public Library.
4. Dr. J. E. Elam, who bequeathed a sum of £6,500 to establish a School of Art. ”

“ The architectural style of the building is a free treatment of the Classic, and the material used for the facades is Oamaru limestone with a base in Melbourne bluestone. For the main Queen and Grey Street fronts a columnar method of design has been adopted, terminating at the apex formed by the junction of the two streets in a segmental colonnade, surmounted by a tower 18 feet square and 130 feet high, in which is fixed the clock with four dials of 81⁄2 feet diameter, presented by Mr. ”

“ James Dilworth, who died om 23rd December, 1894, left estate valued at £100,000, to be applied to the maintenance and education of orphans or of children of persons of good character in straitened circumstances. ”

“ Commonwealth and Dominion Line—Agents: Messrs. Heather, Roberton, Ltd., and Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Ltd.
Compagnie Francais des Phosphates De L'Oceanie—Agents: Messrs. Henderson & Macfarlane.
Craig Line of Steamers—Agents: Messrs. J. J. Craig, Ltd.
Cunard Line (Australasian Service) —Agents: Messrs. Heather, Roberton, Ltd., and Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Ltd.
East Coast Shipping Company—Agents: Messrs. Watkin & Wallis.
Eastern and Australian Line—Agents: Messrs. Russell & Somers.
Federal Steam Navigation Company—Agents: N.Z. Shipping Co. ”

“ Seated:—J. Stanton, City Solicitor; W. St. J. Clarke, Acting General Manager, Tramways; W. E. Bush, City Engineer; J. S. Brigham, Town Clerk; J. Carlaw, Waterworks Engineer; A. Wyllie, Electrical Engineer; A. Messer, City Treasurer. ”

“ Denmark.—R. Millar, Acting Vice-Consul, 18, Commerce Street.
France.—E. T. de Beauregard, Consul for N.Z., N.Z. Insurance Buildings.
Italy.—J. H. Pagni, Royal Consular Agent, 20, Strand Arcade, Queen Street. ”