Otago as It Is. By S. Wekey. (F. F. Bailliere,
Melbourne.)—A handbook of this colony, rather humorously denominated a guide to in- tending emigrants, considering that Mr. Wokey's advice is to avoid the colony by all means. Originally founded by members of the Free Church of Scotland, on what is called the Wakefield system, it seems to have no advantages of soil or climate except picturesque beauty. The discovery of gold caused a certain rush thither, but the mines do not seem to have fulfilled the expectations of the miners. Many of them are high up in the mountains, and during winter cannot be worked. Those situated more on the level of the sea are damp, and require to be propped with timber, which is not to be had. Indeed, Otago is singu- larly ill-supplied with forest, and could not find a single indigenous tree useful enough to be sent to the Exhibition last year.
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