URUGUAY AS IT IS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 991, 5 December 1910, Page 4

URUGUAY AS IT IS.

1 CONSUL APPOINTED TO NEW " I ZE;ii.'LND. - SIGNOR BUSTA3IENTE INTER, ■ VIEWED., Signor Monetro Bustamente, of Monto Video, who has been appointed Consul for Uruguay in New Zealand, has taken 3 up his residence in Woolcombo Street, 1 Wellington'.. Since his arrival in New 0 Zealand ho has been busily employed in' 1 getting together a. mass of data about 9 this country, which will bo of value to 7 his people. ' 5 "In appointing mo Consul," said Sig--0 nor Bustamente in tho course of an in--2 terview, "the Minister ,of Internal AfQ fairs was aivaro of tho possible develop--0 ment. of maritime relations between 8 Wellington and Monto Video (tho port - of call for almost all tho direct steamers 3 for London from this country), and considered that that lino of communication would facilitate the establishment of > commercial relations. It was- not until ' it was known that the character of the r soil and industries of New Zealand were similar to those .of Uruguay, that my appointment was confirmed. /This was done not only for tho mirposo of foster- -' ing commercial ties (wliicli, after studying tho itinerary and • conditions, of. 3 navigation, tho 1 authorities thought 5 would bo more difficult than at first sud--2 posed as the New Zealand steamers only g touch at Monto Video. 011 tho Homc--3 ward voyage), but also for tho-purposo j of possessing an agent here, who would be able to furnish full ihformation from. j time to time of tho general progress and development of tlio agricultural and the stock business of Now Zealand, those beiug .the big industries of inter-, est to my Government and people. [ "But after all I havo como hei'o not so much to develop commerce as to study tho working methods and agriculture and tile breeding of livo stock, of which .we still have something to 1 learn." . _ Askctl as to the measuro of English interests in Uruguay, Signor Hustal meuto said it was'a question •ho had- . been asked many times since 110 had been here. The English colony in t Uruguay was a. numerous one, and 3 Englishmen, were in front of most of tlio most important commercial under- ' takings in the country. 1 Of-the ten principal banks operating in Uruguay 1 thrco were Anglo-South American. In commerco English firms wero numer- '. ous. Tho principal railways and tramj ways, representing a capital of £6,000,000, woro tho property of English companies. Tho water and gas supplies of Monte Video , aro in tlio hands of English companies. Tho English colony m that city has a splendid hall of amusement in tho Victoria Hall, there is a splendid English cathedral, and there ! wero numerous social, artistic, sport- _ ing, and commercial associations that seom to (iind them togothnr. "Tlio land of my country," continued tho Consul, "is. held by' right of purl chase, heredity, or gift. When tlio " Spanish . Government undertook tlio ! colonisation of the country it distrib- ' ut-ed tho land amongst the first setI tiers, and gave them clear titles to it. In course of time theso lands h'avo been ? cut up, and changed, hands by ordinary processes. In times of disorder and civil war acts against property wero committed, but at' present ' property rights wero rigorously protected. _ "Tlie condition's of tne working peo- , plo of Uruguay wero excellent. _ There 1 is a special department controlling a I Labour Bureau, which takes full charge [' of tlio organisation of and at i tho same time safeguards the interests of tho working classes. . The country at present requires a great number of f workers. Tlie agricultural ' and pas- ' toral industries aro very extensive, arid offer a good field for immigrants. Tho manufacturing industries also employ a 9 great number, of w;orkers, especially a women and young men. Tho principal _ industries aro meat freezing and preserving, flour milling, linen nianufaca ture, and tho growing of maize, oats, !j alfalfa, etc. Tho pastoral wealth _is very great. According to statistics, lr there existed in the Republic 30,000,000 l " head of livo stock, comprising cattle, £ sheep, horses, mules, and goats. Tho annual increase is surprising, and com- ' pared with other stock-raising countries, holds, in this respect, first place. That, however, did not prevent_ a desire to improve'tho quality of their herds." 1- ■ A. remarkably fine property of 23,583 . acres of freehold land, situated in Hawke's Bay, is advertised for salo or exchange by Messrs. Hunter, Schultze, and Gibson, of Napier. Tim block posie sessos several advantages, which should l " appeal to anyone desirous of Fecuring a s " good all round sheep run. I'licro are about 2300 acres cleared, with good buildings, and new woolshcd fitted with machines. Included'in the salo are 5500 d sheep and . lambs,'loo heid of cattle, be1_ sides 20 horses and plant. Tlie area in y bush, some 20,000 aer.is, should 'be a. fine g investment alone, when one considers how s>. quickly deforestation is proceeding in c- Now Zealand. The whole property inchidinj? stock, buildings, and-plant, ;s on salo at .£1 per acre, but the owner will ~, consider offers of exchange for uriencuni- !, bered or lightly encumbered town or f> country property, or-good security of any description.