AN IMMIGRANT’S OPINION OF CANTERBURY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 381, 1 September 1875, Page 3

AN IMMIGRANT’S OPINION OF CANTERBURY.

The following letter, which appears in The Kidderminster Shuttle of July 3rd, will be read with interest, as showing how a man willing to work can get on in the colony. We only give the initials of the writer : “ Christchurch, New Zealand, “ May Ist, 1875. “My dear Peter, —You are no doubt surprised at not hearing from me sooner. When we left old England I thought I would write as soon as I got over, but when I got here I found it better not to write, as by the end of twelve months I should be better able to judge more about it. Well, wc sailed on the 7th of May [1873], and dropped anchor en the 21st of July, making the run from land to land in seventy-one days, the shortest run of the season. We had a splendid voyage—only two storms all the way, I enjoyed it immensely. I was not sick at all, and the rough weather I eu-

joyed the moM.. We saw the Island of I eneriffe, and could see the houses on it; lots of flying fish, a lot of whales, and thousands of beautiful sea birds when we were off llie (’ape of Good Hope. We caught a lot of them and dressed the skins. Our longest run in 24 hours was 33/ miles ; our slowest 27 miles. It • was positively flying, every sail set. There is a good deal of discomfort on board an emigrant ship, but there is lots of fnu. It was only a pleasure voyage to me. Mother was sick nearly all the w?.y, but the children got over it soon. We were well treated at the depot at Plymouth, plenty of good roast meat, &c. I was one of the constables on board ship, and so got £2 at the end of the voyage, besides presents. The food on the voyage was good, and plenty of it. Our hams lasted /ill the way for breakfast, and our thiugs’were so well packed that we never lost or broke a thing. When we anchored the pilot came off and took us into the harbour. The entrance is about two miles wide, but docs not look half that distance. We remained on the ship eight days because the depot was full of emigrants. I forgot to say that as soon as we anchored a steamboat came to us, bringing to us the emigration officers, the reporters, and the gentlemen from Christchurch; they also brought fresh meat, mutton, beef, bread, and potato s. Indeed f hey wore very kind to all ; we had nothing but kindness from the moment we entered the depot at Plymouth up to the time vve left the depot at Christchurch, After staying on board the eight days, we were taken off by a small steamer to the town, or Port Lyttelton. It is a small place. There were about seventy ships iu. It loots very pretty from the sea, and is surrounded by lofty hills. There are lots of good buildings iu it, and plenty of work going on in making breakwaters, wharves, &c. As soon as we got on shore there was a train waiting to take ns up to the depot. You never saw a jollier lot ; we got all our luggage safe, and away we went, singing and laughing. As we got through the tunnel we were all surprised, and every one said we are in England, we are not in New Zealand. They thought the captain had made a mis take. Well, dear Peter, you would be astonished, you cannot tell it from England. The same sort of fields, the same sort of railway stations, grass, clover, llovyers, fruit trees, cattle, farms. In fact, everything is the same. I often lean on my spade in the garden and say, is it possible I am in New Zealand? Well, we got to the depot in about half an hour. It is about two miles from Christchurch. At the stations there were waggons waiting to take our luggage, beds, &c. It was a comfortable place; each family bad a little room to live in, but no fireplace. We had any amount of good food given to us. We stopped there eight days because our house was not ready. Houses were very hard to get, but Mrs Rolliuson’s son was building a house, and so we took it. Rent is high; we pay 10s a week, three rooms, but we have a quarter of acre of garden. The houses are of wood, lined inside like Mr Greaves’ office, stained and varnished, fitted up with sash windows and framed doors, with shingles or wood slates; they arc very comfortable, look very pretty, and are all detached, I wish you could see us now. Well, we all soon got work, 1 got woik at 10s a clay of eight hours, begin at eight in the morning and leave at five; so it is very nice. Fred got work at £1 a week; Harry, 10s; Charley, Bs. My first job was at two'cottages, I stopped there two months, and then went up country ten miles from Christchurch, coming home every week. Ttcrc 1 had 9s a day and board and lodging, but we made 11s 6d by working ten hours. When that job was done I went to Port Lyttelton, the place where we landed, and there I am now. at 10s a day and my railway fare paid up night and morning Fred is now having 25s a week, working at his trade, Harry is having 20s a week, working at a wool store, Charley 10s a week as errand boy ; Emily goes to school. Now vve ianniM with £lO ; that wo have spent in extra tools, furniture, garden tools, seeds, &c ; and we have saved and put in the bank £6O 10s. Wo have fifteen hens, seven pigeons, three rabbits, and one dog ; half a ton of potatoes, onions, &e; so I think we have done very well; don’t you think do? the cl ; mate is beautiful since last November, it has been like your month of August, You never feel too hot or too cold. We are living about a mile from Christchurch, iu a place like the Habberley r aid. You cannot believe you a;e «ui ol England. Climechurch is a nice town, quite fi.it, lots of good building—it is one mile square ; the streets arc all straight, a mile long, so when you go down one of them you cross over all the rest. There is a river called the Avon runs nearly all round it, about half as wide as the Severn ; very few fish, but plenty of good eels ; very few birds to be seen ; the native birds go away into the bush. The blackbird, the thrush, lark, linnet, are here, but not many. Plenty of wild duck, sea birds, There are no reptiles, no wasps, lots of bees, honey is (id per lb. The common house fly is here, no nettles, all English flowers and vegetables grow to perfection. Potatoes splendid. I have got them up eight inches long, four inches broad. You never saw such potatoes. They are selling at 3s a hundred weight ; flour, lls a hundred pounds ; eggs, 2s 3d a dozen ; cheese, KM a lb ; bacon, Is 4d a lb ; fresh butter, Is Gd a lb ; sugai, s£d ; tea, 3s ; soap, 5-1 ; coffee, Is 4d ; clothes about the same as at home, but better quality; boots and shoes the same; house rent, dear ; coal £2 16s a ton, but you don’t want half the quantity that you do at home. Splendid mutton at 3£d a lb. the hind quarter, fore quarter 2d ; beef, the best joints sd. They throw all the heads and plucks away. You have them given to you for the dog, no one eats them here. You can buy half a lamb for ss. We got tired of eating lamb and green peas. Y r ou think nothing of eating here. Last week we had 40 lbs of meat, and to-day mother roasted a leg and loin for dinner. You eat as much as you can. You have no idea how people live out here —meat three times a day. We don’t eat much bread. Our baker’s bill for the last fortnight is only Vs. I have a lot more to tell you, but I must leave it until another time. All trades get 10s a day; and good workmen can always get a job. Labourers 8s a day; farm hands get £1 a week, and all found; married couples £7O a year, all found; good servants—housemaids, £3O to £35; cooks, £4O, Now, dear Peter, I will not advise any one to come out for this simple reason, if they don’t do well they will blame me ; but I have told you the truth, and you know me too well to think for one moment that I would write a lie to yon, but if any one comes out, they have just the same chance as I have. I don’t regret coming out, and I would not come back to Old England if you would make mo mayor of

old Kiddy. If any one comes out here, as you know, I will «’o all I can for them. ***** From F. P., Post office, Christchurch.” [ln a subsequent issue of the Kidderminster Shuttle, is published a letter signed “C. A. Pritchard,” of Christchurch (himself a native of Kidderminster, and now on a visit there), affirming generally the truthfulness of the correspondent’s representations, and stating that he knows “of no part of the British Empire which offers such advantages to mechanics and agriculturists as Canterbury and Otago,” and concludes by predicting that Mr P. having commenced the laudable habit of saving money, will soon he living in his own dwelling house, and “ no man daring to make him afraid.” —Eu. G LOBE. ]