MR. SEDGWICK'S LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 8

MR. SEDGWICK'S LETTER.

THE BOYS OUT HERE. - ; " In the bourse of- a Christmas letter to the boys who were brought out to New Zealand from England in' June, 1911, Mr. ■ T. Sedgwick writes:— • I wish firstly to wish you' all a truly happy Christmas and JJew Year. '. . . ■ Tne Ontario experiment appears to ho turning out as successful'as the' New Zealand one. The Minister and Director of Colonisation said they had iiever seen such a fine bunch of boys, but all previous bunches had been of unemployed or paupers. The British Columbian and New Brunswick Governments are also deeply interested and in correspondence. Tho Government of one State in Australia have had 6uc)i a good report from New Zealand that they hove circularised their farmers to'inquire how many boys they will need in about March, and the movement is taking firm hold, in other centres in Australia. I am sending a dozen as a sample to New South. Wales this month, in charge of an older chap, with all the comforts for the voyage—games, . books, boxing gloves, chairs, etc. I notice that in his annual report (just received) the Secretary for Labour speaks well of the results of the experiment, and shows that not a single case-of "uutavourablo comment" has occurred under the age of 18. He adds that this was the maximum age fixed by the Department. If that was so.- it was not communicated to either tho High Commissioner or me; but possibly ho has made a serious mistake.: The farmers can have the boys to schedule if they send in -their specifications. I quite agree with Mr. Lonias that he i-ould not have got a better result if the boys had been colonially born. I hope the' New Zealand Government will scon order out some more ,boys, but even if they don't, I estimate, about a thousand will be given a chance next year in the Dominions. If more boys come to Wellington I should, very much like to have a reunion of the old gang to meet the new ones at a reception in tho Town Hall. That would for ever close tho lips that say we of the Old Country are no good. I have asked a friend of uiina to arrange it if the chance occurs, and all the boys have plenty of money in their savings accounts, and, as the wages book says, "Any reasonable request will bo nt ouce granted." We could sleep out in one or two verandahs I know or in some parish, hall, and have a day or two together before returning. Perhaps the Government would givo their wards tickets to come and thus report themselves.

A good opening to those who have not. alreadv decided where to spend. Boxing Day ' "is offered by the Wellington Harbour Ferries, Ltd., who announce a special half-hourly servico will be run between 'Wellington and Day's Bay, callinff at Petono and Bona Bay. Every opportunity! is to bs nffortle(i picnickers to. spend an enjoyable day, the water-chute, laughing gallery, and camera obscura being open. Hot water will be supplied free to visitors, and refreshments will be obtainable at the pavilion.. A variety of selections will bo rendered by the-Wel-lington City Band during the day. Particulars' of the steamers' time-table ara announced elsewhero in this issue. Mite Papatheodorc Kuwomdropolis, a Greek, applied for citi.wnship papers at Freeport, Illinois, recently. He assured the Court official .that as an American, cititzon he would be content to be known as "Mr. Papa."