THE PROMISED LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1996, 4 February 1907, Page 4

THE PROMISED LAND.

AMERICANS ENQUIRING ABOUT NEW ZEALAND. “Half a dozen of us are thinking of settling in the ‘Promised Land,’ ” ran a passage in a letter sent from a village in the United States to Mr T. E. Donne b.v the last mail. Altogether about 1500 persons wrote to the Departments of Tourists and Industries, some seeking information about New Zealand’s plcasuro and health resorts, and others desiring facts about land and labor. A representative of the Post glanced through a formidable stack of letters. Selecting them at random, the examiner coidd see that the writers had not spent time and money in potstage merely for the pleasure of worrying the officials here They ask many questions—one man alone puts fifteen “cute” queries—and the answering will be a labor of some magnitude, but the interrogations are never trivial. Obviously tliero are solid men in the States and in Canada, who are turning their eyes to a “better land,” which, the advertisements say, is New Zealand. But they are not rash; they have dollars, some of them thousands of dollars, but they have no “money to burn.” They are looking before they leap, and therefore request explicit details about the land, the cli mate, the people. Here is a typical missive: “I have just read a very glowing description of New Zealand, and it presents u very bright and beautiful picture, but does not mention any objectionable feature. Now, if you have a country with no disadvantage, and have everybody happy and contented, I for one want to be one of you. I have never known or heard of a place yet but which had somo bad feature. Not that such would deter me from locating where such exists, but I would simply like to know what to expect. Therefore I wish to obtain reliable information: (1) As to price, quality, terms, proximity of agricultural land to railway which is open to settlement. 2. Price and grade of farm horses, stock, cattle, sheep, and hogs. -‘3. Price of farming implements, building material, the kind of fuel used and price of same. 4. Is land for settlement level hilly, open or timbered? 5. What are'tlie kinds of fruit and vegetables that grow? (3. What would be the more profitable there : diversified farming, stock raising,truck gardening or a specialty of fruit and chickens? 7. What are the average prices of chickens and eggs? 8. Is it a good country for wild game, an.l have you game laws? 9. Have you lumbering and mining districts? 10 What are wages of mechanics and farm labor per day or month? 11, What are the taxes on real and personal property? If your printed matter relative to that country does not include answers to the above questions, please write mo a personal reply, for men of different occupations here are interested. We would also like a sample copy of one or more of your leading newspapers. 1 “I am extremely anxious to return to a climate where life is worth living,” plaintively # writes a Britisher settled in Canada. “The bail stones during the last three summers have about put me out of business,” declares a Colorado farmer. Indeed many agriculturists of the United States and Canada appear very eager to got to a land with a reasonably good climate. A few also wish to settle in a soil where they will not bo afflicted by pests that torment man and beast. Among these enquirers are men with 10,000 dollars, 25,000 dollars, and so on. Some have large families, ranging up to a dozen children, and the parents seem to bo moneyed folk. Altogether New Zealand’s prospects for securing Americans of a good type are very bright.