the work to which he has been trained. Auburn also possesses a Presbyterian theological seminary, founded in 1821, an academy, five public free schools, sixteen churches, an orphan asylum, two opera houses, and several news paper offices. The water-power supplied by the outlet of the neighbouring lake of Owasco is utilised in a number of manufactories. Cotton and woollen goods, carpets, agricultural implements and other tools, paper, flour, and beer are the principal products.
AUBUSSON, a town of France, situated in a picturesque
valley on the banks of the Creuse, in the department to
which that river gives its name. It is said to have owed
its origin to a number of Saracens, who, having escaped
from the battle in which their nation was defeated by
Charles M.irtel, were enticed by the beauty and conveni
ence of th j spot to establish themselves permanently there.
It has long been famous for its carpets and tapestry, the
art of weaving which was probably derived from those
Eastern settlers, and it also manufactures common cot
ton and woollen goods, leather, tobacco, &c. Population,
C625.
AUCH, the ancient Climberrum or Augusta Auscorum,
one of the most ancient cities of France, capital of the department of Gers. In Caesar's time this was the chief town
of the Ausci. In the 8th century it became the capital of
Gascony ; and when that district was divided into countships,
was the capital of Armagnac. The site of the modern town
does not exactly coincide with that of the ancient, being
on the opposite (the left) bank of the river Gers. Auch
was probably destroyed by the Saracens about 724 A.D.,
and was afterwards rebuilt in its present picturesque situation on the slope of a hill. On the opposite side of the
river, and occupying the site of the ancient city, is a considerable suburb, which is connected with the town by a
bridge.; and communication between the lower and the upper
town is afforded by long flights of steps. The streets,
though narrow, are generally well built, and a fine promenade in the upper part of the town gives a magnificent
view of the surrounding country. Auch is the seat of an
archbishopric, which was founded in the 4th century, and
gave, till the Revolution, the title of Primate of Aquitania
to the holder of the see. It has tribunals of commerce
and primary jurisdiction, a royal college, an agricultural
society, a theological seminary, with a museum and an
extensive library, a theatre, &c. The cathedral of St Mary,
one of the most magnificent in France, was commenced in
the reign of Charles VIII. (1489), and finished in that of
Louis XV. It exhibits several styles of architecture,
contains many elegant monuments, and is adorned with
fine stained-glass windows and carved woodwork. The
préfecture, formerly the archiepiscopal palace, is a vast and
noble edifice. The principal manufactures are hats, various
kinds of linen and cotton stuffs, leather, &c., and there is
a considerable trade, especially in the brandies of Armagnac.
Population in 1872, 13,087.
AUCHTERARDER, a town and parish of Scotland,
county of Perth, 15 miles W.S.W. of Perth. The town
consists of a single street about a mile in length. It was
formerly a royal burgh, but is now disfranchised. Near it
is an ancient castle, said to have been a hunting-seat of
Malcolm Canmore. It was in connection with this parish
that the ecclesiastical dispute arose which led to the Dis
ruption in the Church of Scotland in 1843. Population of
town in 1871, 2599.
AUCHTERMUCHTY, a royal burgh and parish of
Scotland, county of Fife, 8 miles W.S.W. of Cupar. The
town is irregularly built on an elevated site, and is divided
by the Leverspool, a rapid streamlet which runs down its
centre. The manufacture of linen is carried on. Popula
tion of burgh in 1871, 1082.
AUCKLAND, a province of New Zealand, consisting
of the northern portion of North Island, and bounded for
the most part on the S. by the 39th parallel of latitude. In
the N.W. it runs out into a peninsula between 200 and 300
miles in length, with a very irregular coast-line, especially
on the eastern side. The total area of the province is
about 17,000,000 acres, of which nearly 11,275,000 are
still in possession of the Maoris, who are, however, con
tinually disposing of their claims to the Government. The
surface of the province is of a very varied character, pre
senting wide and fertile plains, stretches of fern-heath
and swamp, mountain ranges and isolated peaks, tracts
of richly-wooded jungle, rocky plateaus, and districts of
strange volcanic activity. All round the coast there are
a large number of natural harbours, and the most of the
interior is traversed by navigable streams. The principal
river-system is that of the Waikato (or Rushing Water),
which rises in the Taupo Lake, in the south of the province,
forces its way though an extensive rocky table-land, flows
onwards for about 35 miles through a rich but marshy
basin, joins its waters with the Waipa (or Peaceful Water),
its largest tributary, cuts a passage through the Taupiri
range, and after traversing the fertile expanse "of its
lower basin, turns abruptly to the W. and falls into the
sea about 35 miles S. of the city of Auckland. The value
of the Waikato as a commercial highway is greatly lessened
by its mouth being encumbered with sandbanks, that
prevent the entrance of ships. To the E. of this river lies
the valley of the Thames, fertile and well watered by
several streams, and still further eastward extends the
versant of the Bay of Plenty. The course of settlement has
hitherto advanced for the most part along the valleys of
the Waikato and the Thames, Cambridge, about 104
miles S. of the city of Auckland, being the frontier station
in the former, and Tapapa, a little further to the S. in
the latter. Nearly the whole of the N.W. peninsula is
occupied by a scattered population, and various flourishing
townships are situated along the coast on all sides. In
1873 there were 3842 holdings in the province, and about
225,000 acres had been broken up. Hitherto the cultiva
tion of the cereals has not proved sufficiently remunerative,
though climate and soil are equally favourable, and the
attention of the farmer has principally been turned to the
rearing of the various descriptions of live stock, more
especially sheep. The natural wealth of the province
consists principally in its gold and timber. Coal has been
found in several districts, and a few mines have been
successfully worked, as Kawakawa (at the Bay of Islands),
Drury, and Whangarei; but the most important deposits are
comparatively undisturbed, It is believed that iron rnay
eventually be found in considerable quantities, and various
minerals have been pointed out in the interior by scientific
travellers. The chief seats of the gold-diggings are the
Coromandel peninsula and the Thames valley. ; The
quantity exported in 1871 was valued at 1,888,708. The
most important timber tree is the kauri-pine, which is
peculiar to Auckland, and does not grow further south than
37 30 . It is of magnificent dimensions, and valuable, not
only as the most extensively used building material, but on
account of the fossil gum which is found wherever the
kauri forest has been. This gum forms one of the chief
articles of export, about 14,277 tons being the amount in
the three years 1870, 1871, and 1872. There are vari
ous other trees of considerable value, such as the ;rimu,
the kahikatca, and the totara. The timber trade, both
domestic and foreign, is increasing in importance, and
shipbuilding is extensively carried on. There are large
districts overgrown with the phormium or New Zealand
flax, and the right to cut it on the waste lands is granted,
by the Government at a low price. In 1873, 1497 tons
