AUCKLAND, the largest city of New Zealand, and a thriving sea-port, on the east coast of New Zealand ; capital of the province of its name. Population (192 7) 202,400. It is beautifully situated at the mouth of an arm of Hauraki Gulf, the Waitemata harbour, and only 6m. from the Manukau harbour on the western coast. Auckland harbour, one of the best in New Zealand, is approached by great vessels at the lowest tides, and has large up-to-date concrete wharves. In 1926 the cargo handled totalled tons. The Calliope graving dock provides ample accommodation for all kinds of shipping. Queen street, the principal thoroughfare, leads directly inland from the central wharves, and contains the majority of the public buildings. The city has a university, an art gallery and free library containing excellent pictures, and valu able mss., including a collection by Sir G. Grey, and a museum con taining fine collections of Maori art. There are many magnificent parks and public reserves, covering in all 9,509 acres, although a considerable proportion of this area is outside the actual city con fines. The Zoo, which occupies 29 acres, is justly famous. Of the suburbs, Newton, Parnell and Newmarket are outlying parts of the city itself ; Devonport, Birkenhead and Northcote are beauti fully situated on the north shore of the harbour and are served by steam ferries; other residential suburbs lie among the hills on the mainland, such as Mount Albert, Mount Eden and Epsom. Onehunga is a port on the Manukau harbour. Auckland's popula tion increase has been greater in ratio in recent years than that of any other New Zealand city, owing to the rapid settlement of the magnificent dairying lands to the north and south, and to its grow ing popularity as a residential city. Auckland was founded as the original capital of New Zealand in 184o by Governor Hobson, but the seat of government was removed in 1865 to Wellington. There are regular steamships to other parts of the dominion, the Pacific Islands, Australia, Vancouver and Eastern ports.