beautiful plains of Rangitikei and fancied to myself what abundant mercies were provided for man by his Creator. Here was a country recently added to our possessions abounding in those natural productions for feeding flocks and lowing herds that formed the exclusive source of wealth to man in the early stages of his existence and that is even now indispensible importance to our existence. Cottages are springing up here in all directions. Beef, mutton, milk and cheese are plentiful where last year you could get nothing but a few potatoes, wild pigeons and eels to eat. In riding about you will now see fine fat oxen,