NEW ZEALAND IMMIGRATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 681, 7 May 1875, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND IMMIGRATION.

—o— A letter from Dunedin appeared in the Manchester Courier denouncing the Colony of New Zealand. It is signed James Stanfield, Joseph Norman, James Edwards, William Clark, Thomas Wilson, Benjamin Whitton, and James Read ; and is dated Dunedin, November 4th, 1874. The letter asserts that there are “hundreds that cannot got work, and people cry shame on the Government for inducing men to break up their homes by false representations.” The letter complains of the treatment at the depot, saying, “If I were in England now, with my little colonial knowledge, I should look upon any man who tried to induce me to come out, as a scamp and trafficker in the welfare of his fellowmcn and one who, for a paltry commission of 20s a head, would consign to irretrievable ruin happy and respectable families.” The letter contains other similar strong denunciations. The Courier takes advantage of these state-

meats to road English Workmen a lesson on the blessedness of their condition, and the fictitious statements regarding the colonies. The following is another view of the subject of immigration to tins country, which wo extract from the Leamington and Warwiokshircshire Chronicle, being a letter from a resident of Cavorsham, to a brother and sister residing at Leamington “Mount Pleasant, Cavershara, Now Zealand, Nov, 25th, 1874—Dear Brother and Sister,—This comes with our best love to you, hoping it will find you in the enjoymont of health, as*it leaves us all, thanksto our Heavenly Father. Wo have arrived at New Zealand, after a somewhat rough and stormy passage, but it is now over, and we think but little about it. Dunedin is a very pretty place, it is now a city, and has some very fine buildings in it. Caversham, were we are now living, is a still prettier place, being a little way out from the city, but there is a railway close to, and a station about a stone’s throw from our house. We pay sixpence for a return ticket to Dunedin. I find that the land is all taken up about hero, but there is plenty of“good to bo got about 40 or 50 miles up the country, and they inform mo that the railway will pass through it. The wages hero are very high. A laborer will get 8s per day, of eight hours, but there aro a great many coming now, and it is thought by some that will reduce it, still others say that there is plenty of work through the country for a great many more. lam thinking of going on to Canterbury, and having a look around there, and then to Wellington and Auckland. Some that I have mot with toll mo this is the best place for business, and a lot of money to be made, but house rent is high, and meat is higher than it was, but it is thought that it will be lower again soon. I bought a beautiful leg and loin of mutton the day before yesterday at 5,j,d per pound, and far superior to what we ever got in England. 1 saw some very good looking mutton in Dunedin, on Saturday last, at us the whole carcase, and you can get half a sheep every Saturday night for 2s fid or 3s. There were some old ewes sold in the market last week for 2s lOd each, the skins being worth all the money. They inform me that the baking trade is a good paying business here. They are giving journeymen L 3 a week, but as we left England to get out of the baking trade we do not intend to have anything to do with it. Coal is getting ranch lower in price, as there is a great deal, and easy to get at in this Province. The railway has a branch to one of the pits about four miles from hero, and brings down a great deal. I was told last night that I could buy land up the country at LI per aero that has coal within six feet of the surface, but we should have to rough it until we c add build a house. The climate is very much like England; only purer, and free from mists ; it is cold now, though the gooseberries and currants are hanging on the trees. The wind has been blowing bard all night, and we can sea from our windows the surf breaking high on the beach. The climate is much warmer as you go farther north, but without doubt this is a splendid country, and capable of supporting all the surplus population of England, though it wants men with capital as well as laborers and artisans. Piease let all dear Leamington friends who wish see this. Wo will write to all in turn, if spared. May Heaven’s best blessings rest upon you and yours.—Richard Thacker.”