OTAGO

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 167, 25 March 1864, Page 3

OTAGO

Considerable comment has been occasioned by the agents of Messrs. M’Meckan and Blackwo xls’ steamers having advertised the low rate of thirty shillings for steerage passengers to Melbourne. Some time ago we drew attention to the fact that from some hidden cause the steam-boat owners were then charging only fifty shillings for steerage passengers, and hinted at the possible complicity of the Government of Victoria in this glaring and unwarranted attempt to draw population from Otago. Since then this extremely low fare has been temporarily reduced to thirty shillings, although it has since been altered to five pounds. It is of course a very natural consequence of such unusual facility, that many persons w'hose business or inclination led them to leave this province, have availed themselves of it. The number of persons leaving Otago by each steamer has induced a most uncalled for feelof despondency, and nothing could better show the fallacy of the doubts and fears of the -£ croaking party” than the fact, that, despite the tempting rates charged by the steam-boat agents, the balance of emigration against immigration for the last tw r o months is exceedingly small. During the month of January the arrivals from foreign and extra colonial ports numbered 937, and from ports in the colony 525, making a total of arrivals for January of 1462. The departures during the same period were, foreign and extra colonial ports 938, and for ports in the colony 321, being a total of 1259, leaving a balance in favour of the Province of

203. In February the arrivals numbered—from foreign and extra colonial ports 580, and coastwise 377, being a total of 957. The departures during the same period were —to foreign and extra colonial ports 1361, and to coastwise ports 378, being a total of 1739, leaving a balance against the province of 288, The account for the two months stand thus : —Arrivals 2419, departures being a total balance for two months against the province of only 579. Considering the inducements which have been held out, this result speaks volumes for the confidence felt in the stability of the province ; and we have not the slightest d6ubt that when the extensive public works which are contemplated are fairly initiated, a complete check will be placed to the emigration from the Province of men who, unable to obtain ordinary employment, and lacking the necessary capital to proceed to the gold fields, are ready enough to snatch at an opportunity of returning at a ridiculously low rate to their old haunts n Victoria. —Otago Daily Times.