The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2766, 29 December 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1871.

Slowly, manufacturing processes are taking root amongst us. It could not be expected to be otherwise. The resources of a country cannot at once be made known to the world so as to lead capitalists to invest money on expensive machinery, where markets are limited, and competition with older countries is certain and seveie. The wonder is that so early in the history of Otago, its fame has led to the establishment of a woollen cloth factory at Mosgiel, and to the importation of plant for making hosiery in Hanover street. New Zealand possesses so many natural advantages for successful prosecution of industrial processes, that if well managed, it must eventually occupy a similar position in the South to what Great Britain holds in the North, On this ground, it is to be regretted that Colonel Fielding has not been able to visit Otago, as had he done so, such inducements might have been olfered as might have induced him to introduce immigrants here. However, Otago’s turn cannot be far behind. Colonisation seems likely to assume a new form, and we are glad of it. It may not—nay, we go further, and say it cannot—realise all that they hope from it at Horae, because most of those who arc promoting it are men of large hearts, but with small experience. Nor do we think that they have been efficiently aided by the Colonies, Hitherto settlement has proceeded in a sort of haphazard way. There has been no estimate of resources—no looking upon Society as a large industrial organisation, in which each brings a peculiar talent or acquirement to aid in the advancement of the general wclfai’e. Immigrants have been tumbled upon our shores, as if it wore quite sufficient to bring them here like sheep and turn them into a held, whore although there was pasture, it lay in such corners or out-of-the-v ;iy places, that unless by chance it was stumbled upon, they might haply starve before findiug it. Tho gross folly, not to say cruelty, of such bungling is a chief drawback to emmigrar tion to New Zealand. There will always be a number of young men, and men who have battled with the world at Home, and are determined

not to waste the best of their lifetime in a doubtful struggle, who will 1 come out amongst us on speculation. Even with the utmost circumspection there will be many who through lack of i patience or defective mental or bodily organization cannot succeed. We do not advocate any system that might even look like communism, but no such charge could be brought against a Government that, with considerate humanity, formed a correct estimate of each' district of a country, and truthfully stated where certain trades could be profitably carried on. Government's in the Colonies should not be looked upon so much in the light of political as social helps. Many of our representatives might perhaps grumble at the expense of careful surveys, but the expense that is known is nothing to the waste of capital through incomplete information and unsystematic colonisation that is unknown. Men are brought into the country with a vague idea that they will be able to do something ; but before that something is decided upon, the small capital that immediately invested might have been the means of realising a fortune is wasted, and the man has to begin with crushed hopes to build again. The fashion amongst ns is to say, Wh.it have we to do with that ? each one of ns has had to go through the process. But stop awhile ray selfish objector: yon have much to do with it: your own profits are lessened when a man is not able to lay out money more than once. If he were engaged in reproductive industry, he would buy of you again and again. If he lives on his capital, he buys once and bogs afterwards. Place him where he can mine, or farm, or manufacture with success, and he is an employer of labor. Keep him in idleness, and he is a consumer of labor. Governments, as stewards of the public estate, ought to know the value of each portion of it; and if they could only be brought to understand their duties, would make known throughout the populations of Europe what eacli acre was adapted to produce —coal here, iron there, gold elsewhere, with the facilities for labor or the impediments to success. Until this is done, immigration will be fitful. His Honor the Superintendent has more than once pointed this out : it must be then that his Executive are the obstructives.