THE EASTERN MOUNTAIN REGION, between the Ruahine range and the coast, contains over one-fourth of the sheep in New Zealand. Here, as elsewhere, the character of the land changes rapidly from place to place. The great alluvial plain in the basin of the Waira rapa is suitable both for sheep and cattle. Elsewhere the land, consisting partly of rolling downs and partly of alluvial flats, is devoted almost exclusively to sheep. In the north the " papa " soils reappear, but are almost entirely in the possession of the Maoris.
Wellington, the principal town of the region and the capital of the Dominion, is situated on Port Nicholson, an inlet of Cook Strait, and is the meeting place of the coastal routes of both islands. Hence it is the most important collecting and distributing centre of the country, and transacts a great part of its trans-oceanic trade.
COMMUNICATIONS.—New Zealand has over 2,800 miles of railway, much of which, owing to the physical structure of the country, has been laid down at great expense. In North Island, the main trunk line runs from Wellington to Auckland and beyond, with branches to Mount Egmont, Hawke Bay, and Coromandel districts. The
principal line of South Island follows the east coast from Christ church to Dunedin with extensions to the north and south, and with numerous branches across the Canterbury Plains and into the Otago peneplain. In the north-west of the island, the mineral districts are in railway communication with their ports, but there is as yet no connection with the main trunk line on the eastern side of the mountain range.
COMMERCE.—The trade of New Zealand is conducted mainly with the mother country. In early days, when wool was practically the only export, it naturally went to London, which was then the world's market for that commodity. Frozen mutton and dairy produce, which have been subsequently added to the list of exports, also find their chief outlet in the more densely populated parts of the United Kingdom. The figures shown on the next page indicate the average value of the exports during the years 1906 to 1910 (both inclusive).