A New Zealander in America.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 252, 29 April 1896, Page 2

A New Zealander in America.

We nre indebted to n friend for the following extract-- from a letter written by Mr Treseder, dated New Orleans, March 15, where the latter is now engaged in the newspaper business, which he says he likes veiy much. He and his chntn — who is also a New Zealander — intend to work the towns in the South, and afterwards to make for California: "I like this city very much indeed, although the weather has a good deal to do with it. We got here in time for the Carnival (Mardi Gras) which is held just preceding Lent. The. representation floats were magnificent, and they say they were far better tbis year than they haye ever been before. It is wonderful how the people down here (so different from the North) giye themselves up to it in order to make it a success. There are four parades. Monday is devoted to the arrival of the King, who is received with great eclat. Monday evening and Tuesday nfternoon and evening the ceremony is continued — then it is all over. The costumes are very expensive, ail imported l'rotn France, lhe war talk that bas been going on here is something awful, and the newspapers have great inventive powers in mukiag up yarns. Of course the people "wallow everything that couies from their newspapers as gospel. I was in a house the other night and in the room were five New Zealanders (born), and you can bet we had quite a time Three of us were born within eight; miles of each other down in Dunedin, and the other two in Wellington. One of them was Brown, who was at one time Mayor of Wellington, and in che grocery business. He is doing very well here. Willie Halcombe ia still up at Grand Rapids, where he is doing well. I also saw Jim Bagnall, a boy who left at the same time as Halcombe. He is working in 'Frisco, where bis prospects are better. It will be a grand education for the lad; and will teach bim how to handle money when he finds how hard it is to earn it. This is a grand market for cotton, sugar,- coffee, molasses, and and rice, with which lines quite a trade is dove direct with Europe. The vessels come, right up the river to New Orleans. It struck me the cultivation of the cotton plant would be profitable for New Zealand. I often think of the pleasant time I spent in Feildiug, which place I was sorry to leave, although it was better for rue to do so, as I shall now be able to make myself prosperous — a thing I never could have done working where I was. By the way, they have races all the summer dowu here, and they have introduced a starting machine (Gray's), an Australian patent, and another mas has finished a second. They have worked very successfully. I expect soon the place will be full of them. New Zealand inventors should hurry up. The elections for Governor of State, mayoral, &c, aro on the boom at present. Tbis town is alive. At nights they have lantern processions, let off fireworks, and go ou like a lot of lunatics. You iv New Zealand do not know what election cranks are like. Mr Treseder concludes by sending his regards to all his friends in Feilding.