The Evening Star SATURDAY, FERBUARY 22, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3124, 22 February 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, FERBUARY 22, 1873.

Although it seems quite evident that the Immigration arrangements are not working so satisfactorily at Home as could have been wished, wo do not feel justified in that wholesale condemnation of the Agent-General in which it is now the fashion of the journals of the country to indulge. There have been several absurd arrangements, and many apparent blunders ; the proportion of immigrants to the different Provinces is not what it ought to be; and wo miss those hale, hearty, respectable-looking folk that used to land from the immigrant ships when the Province had the matter in its own hands. But we should like to know whore the hitch is—who is really to blame; and therefore we arc content to wait the full development of the plot, in the hope that the consciousness of the mistakes, shortcomings, and mismanagement of the past may have so forced themselves upon the attention of Dr. Feathkhston, that he may himself have taken steps to prevent them in future. From a communication that originally appeared in the Bruce Herald, a short time since, and in our columns on Wednesday last, it is evident he has had much to contend with. We give an extract; —

The fact is that emigration to Australia and New Zealand is done, so f«r as I am concerned. I am sending more passage tickets to bring home from Australia than I am sending persons out. In the meantime, as I regard it, emigration of tfie right class to both these places is done. I would not be bothered with Dr Featherstone. A single man comes ii> to me, asking a hundred questions regarding New Zealand apt! the cost of an assisted passage. My inclination is to shpt him up and book him for some other place, Supposing, however, that he is determined to go to New Zealand and will not go elsewhere. I, having answered his questions, and he having answered mine satisfactorily, get a form of application for him, .enter in his name, age, occupation, country where born, name and address of last employer, and time iuhis employment,then get a certificate sheet and repeat all the entries, then show him where lie has to sign his own name, where two householders, a doctor, and a magistrate or clergyman have to sign theirs, then tell ifim to get it completed and returned to me. "Well, about pne in four or five return the form, possibly a week fir jtwo afterwards. I post it to Dr F., who issues au approval circular, calling for payment of the sum required. About one out of three sends up the money to Dr F, and actually embarks. Well, three or four mouths afterwards I am permitted to send up an account of five shillings to Dr F. for commission, and in a mouth or two, after having done so, I am rewarded with five shillings little more than navvies’ wages, for the time occupied and work done. If, on the contrary, the person had gone to Ontario, I would have got bis deposit at once, have given him hi; ticket, and made seven shillings and sixpence sure in ten minutes’ time, whether he went or not, besides LI 00 for five moptlix’ salaiy from Ontario, and LAO for printing, advertising, and travelling expenses. Do you see it now/ fs tiny thing further necessary to be said to show the contrast ? Yes, there is. I expect L2OO this year, and L7O or LBO for expenses

The Bruce Herald introduces this contemptible mercenary’s letter by stating it is an extract from a private communication published by permission, and that the writer is a gentleman connected with emigration whoso opinion is entitled to some weight. Our opinion is that it is the confession of an unprincipled fellow, who sc,ems to make a boast of an act of treachery to the ajjeut, who, trusting in his good faith, employs him. It is somewhat surprising, too, that ttye man who received the letter, and the journal that published it, seem so utterly unconscious that this man. who is too greedy to give up his live shillings a head, which he claims as his reward for not succeeding in sending those who apply to him elsewhere than to New Zealand, has done anything that an honorable and upright agent would ho ashamed of. If he is not satis tied with the remuneration, why did he not resign? New Zealand does not want half-hearted men, like him.pud his friend/; connected with the Bruce Herald, the ehlot object of whom seems to he to damage etery plan intended to beuelit the Colony. We trust that Dr Fkatiikuston is put in,possession of the name and address of this most unprincipled upholder of the Stafford and Ekid policy. The racy hit that led our one-sided contemporary to .introduce his letter as that of one whose opinion is entitled to some weight, is the following ; I wish I hud an hour with your rioverument —the Stafford-Kcid Government--apd f am glad you have got an honest one now—l would say to them —your country is now on its trial. You arc being tried by adversity, and you had much need of dt, after the unexafnpled prosperity with which you were blessed a short time ago. Things arc going against you. Do as honest people would do in such circumstances - give up your extravagant establishment for a time, pay .oil a few of your ornamental servants, stick in to bushies*', and be saving ; above all, do not add to your expenditure and then try to float yourselves by wind hills. We are at a loss to think where the man got his extraordinary information from; but we hardly believe Mr [{kid or Mr Si afford will feel flattered by the d oiie vrlio 90.3 Fold the po:;i----tjop of

land, and show his zeal in promoting it by trying to persuade those who apply to him to go to Canada, because lie gets half-a-crown more for selling this Colony. If Dr Featiierston has many such faithful servants to deal with, the wonder is, not that he has succeeded badly, but that he has sent out any emigrants at all. Wo thank the Bruce Herald for the expose. It is alike creditable to the writer and receiver of the letter, and to the political morality of the journal in which it appeared, and was commended. We further recommend the Brace Herald to give to the world a few more specimens of the worthies who, with itself, are working against the interests of the Colony; for we know' no surer way than that to insure the party cutting its own throat.