GERMAN IMMIGRATION TO THE WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 167, 25 March 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

GERMAN IMMIGRATION TO THE WAIKATO.

[From the Southern Monthly Magaxine~\. The recent news from America tells us of more battles, strategic combinations, resulting, as usual, in the loss of some thousands of men. Taking the lowest computation which has been made on the subject, the total loss of the Federals since the beginning of the year, cannot be very far short of 250,000 men ; and yet they are able to maintain immense armies in the field, and to fill up in a miraculous manner the vacancies caused by disease dr wounds. It is well-known that such a

fearful drain upon population would soon leave the Northern States at the mercy of the South, .were it not for the constant influx of immigrants, who as fast as they land, are hurried off to join one of the numerous corps, which, under the direction of second-class engineers, lawyers, and railway contractors, are manoeuvring about without any aim in the vast regions which lie between the sea and the Mississippi. Two nations have so completely identified themselves with tins emigration to the United States, that we may well neglect to enquire the small percentage furnished by England, France, and the other European States. Ireland and Germany send out yearly thousands who, deceived by the false promises of the crimp and the agent, find, on landing, that instead of the land they had been taught to expect, all they have before them is a series of hardships, to be perhaps terminated by a "Dixie” bullet in some unknown skirmish. With the cause of emigration from Ireland, I have but little to do. It seems to be a traditionary policy, carried out in its entirety—whole families leaving their homes for the country which reports, industriously circulated by former emigrants, assert to be the land of liberty ; where no absentee landlord grinds down his tenants through a merciless agent and where no tithe-domandin<' State Church excites the anger of those who have to support .an establishment they detest. I would rather wish to draw the attention of the reader to a part of the world where, unless things are altered very lately, strange scenes are being enacted. On looking at the political state of Prussia, we might almost imagine ourselves back in the days of our own Charles 1., so closely does the monarch imitate that of the unhappy Stuart. It seems an anomaly that in a.d. 1861 we should see a King resolutely shut his eyes to facts patent to all bystanders, and persevere in his own obstinate course, believing that thd bare possession of the name of Hohenzollern is a sufficient gurantee for the right of all his actions. It is partly owing to stubbornness on the part of the King, as welT as to tlieir national character, that the emigrant Prussians form so large part of the armies of the North. The German mind is essentially theoretical, and of late years the one grand aim of the whole nation has been to obtain a fair representative government. Fears for his crown wrung out of King Clicquot (as Punch styled him) a constitution which hud but one defect—the King and his Ministers never meant to carry it out. In 1818, it was their only hope of safety. In 1861, their successors deem they can now walk alone, and throw away the sole prop which prevented, in that year, the Prussian monarchy from crumbling to pieces. Gradually every concession made has been, if not revoked, yet abrogated ; and in spite of the demonstrations of the “Yunker” party, King Frederick William declares himself an autrocrat. Hopeless of seeing their day-dream of constitutional freedom established in their own country, numbers have turned tlieir eyes abroad to seek for that they could not obtain at home. America and Australia were the two bidders for this increase of population, but America—the first in the field—has still kept her supremacy, and the agents weekly drain the Prussian provinces of hundreds of men. It was while considering these facts recently, and feeling a degree of astonishment at the eagerness with which the Germans poured from their own country, merely to enrich the plains of Virginia or Kentucky witii their life-blood, that I was led to the conclusion that the result of their decision as to their final place of settlement was due to ignorance on two points—ignorance of what is in store for them on landing in America, caretully fostered by wily emigration agents —ignorance as to the advantages to be gained were they to select other countries for their future home. As the current of emigration has set in with such vigour, the further thought occurred to me —what if the direction of this current were diverted, and if hundreds of families, frugal, patient, and industrious, as the majority of German colonists have proved themselves to be, were landed on our own coasts ?

The subject requires a great deal of mature consideration, which perhaps would be out of place in these pages. I purpose therefore merely to make a few remarks on the advisability of introducing German colonists into New Zealand. We have seen how the mission to Victoria has succeeded, or rather failed. To occupy the hundreds of thousands of acres necessary to convert the present possessions of Native tribes into civilized settlements, we must now turn to Europe. Of course the first attempts will be made in England, and there the question will be whether the terms now offered to settlers will be so much more liberal than those under the present Lands Act, that they will induce settlers of the desired class to come out in numbers sufficient to occupy the forfeited lands. The Government have not yet thoroughly enunciated their views on the subject; one thing ouly is clear, that Mr. Domett’s comprehensive scheme is entirely abolished. Ey his views, some Io,OOU military settlers were to be located on the confiscated land of the natives, and form a barrier against any further attacks. As far as we can gather, the settlers to be brought to this country by the present (Government are to be located in the positions pointed out by the late Premier, but are not to be bona fide military settlers. Consequently one of the additional inducements offered to the English peasant, with a view to induce him to emigrate, will be a farm of fifty acres in the neighborhood of a savage enemy, with the comforting certainty that besides his own weapons and native pluck, neither ho nor any of his neighbors have any means of resisting an attack by the natives, combination for the purpose of defence being impossible with totally undrilled men. Will this be put fairly and openly to them? Will they by the agents the plain words, “You can go out to New Zealand at the expense of Government, merely giving a guarantee that you will in course of time repay such and such a portion of your passage money. You will receive a portion of good land, but lately in the occupation of the Natives. You will be distributed m settlements ; and 1 should advise you to practise at the targets before going out” ? Is it likely that men accustomed to homely habits, if not comforts, will venture to emigrate on such conditions?

We must also remember that although the AngloSaxon be the eminently colonizing race of the world, yet the English yeoman—the class of men we want in this country—is fervently attached to the soil he was born on. It is very rarely that emigration on a large scale takes place from a purely agricultural country. Large and small capitalists, weavers, loom-men, and all classes given to manufactures, leave the old country in large numbers, but as a rule the ploughman does not emigrate ; still less does the small English farmer, and the latter is the man wo want. We want a number of men who, accustomed to make the most of a poor or medium soil on their own account, will, once in this country, turn their energies to tlie development of the resources afforded by the rich plains lying between the Horatm and Waipa rivers. Thanks to the Volunteer system, most of the men of that class raised in England will be able to combine together for purposes of defence, should hostile natives make a descent upon the settlements. The only question is, as before stated, —Is the inducement enough to farin'' out sufficient numbers of the class desired ? Un°hesitatingly I answer,—No. Of others I doubt not but that as many could be obtained as .wished for, but men are wanted, not to act as farm labourers, but to work their own land, create flourishing settlements in region's till now but partially cultivated even in their best parts; and. at the same time bo able to hold their own -against any encroachment on the part of hostile tribes. The British yeoman is just the man to do this, but it is not at all probable that he will be persuaded to emigrate in sufficient numbers to fulfill all the conditions required of him. I must here state tnat in speaking of the British yeoman I include all of that class in the British isles. Where, then, shall we turn to find a population which shall defend our frontiers, build towns, esr tablish commerce, and by their mere numbers go far towards giving to Auckland the best claim to be the chief Province of the Colony ? To the historical or geographical student, no country affords more difficulties or anomalies than Prussia. Of all the nations which make up the Continent of Europe, it is the only one which possesses no nationality. Starting from the Sovereignty of the small Duchy of Brandenburg, the skill and talents of the princes of the house of Hohenzolleru have gradually annexed province after province, till the territory of the Prussian kingdom stretches from the Vistula to the Rhino. The origin of this powerful kingdom is still traceable in its laws. It rose by the sword, and by the sword it still maintains itself j for Prussia keeps a standing army larger in proportion to its population than any European Power. By the laws of the kingdom, every male, without exception, from 20 to 25 years of age, must serve in the standing army. At the °of 26 he receives his discharge, but has then to enrol himself on the books of what wo might style the Ist class Militia (erster Aufgeboths). At 33 years old, he joins the 2nd class; when he has reached his 49th year, he is turned over to the Land-Sturm, or levy en masse, which is only called out in case of invasion. Each man therefore of the age of 25 is a trained soldier. I have before remarked that the saying is well known, that the Anglo Saxon makes the best colonist. We Englishmen are rather apt to take that saying as applying exclusively to ourselves, but 1 fear we make a sad mistake. Were Germany a naval power, the enterprising and adventurous spirit of her sons would have ruu us very hard in the race for the supremacy we have established wherever colonies could be founded. An immense proportion of the American settlers are Germans. Germans are found in separate localities in Australia, are scattered by themselves in New Zealand. Wherever business or labour promises remuneration, there is to be found some representative of the plodding German race. Of their qualities as colonists there is no doubt. It is reproached to them that they herd together, and keep up a quasi-nationality amongst themselves. What harm? is it not better that a number of colonists, known to each other, depending thoroughly on their known friends, should associate, and lay the foundations of towns, and may be cities, than that solitary settlers should build at long distances from each other? Is not this community of feeling, this association of men the leading feature in Mr. Domett’s scheme? I will not attempt to defend his plan, for the expense of 15,000 military settlers would be perhaps more than the country could boar, the returns being, though sure yet slow. But as to the advisability of entire communities being formed and having similar interests to strive for, i think there cannot be a doubt.

•For the reasons I have given above, I therefore think it would be beneficial to the Colony if a properly carried out scheme of emigration from Germany were organized. In every case it has been found that the Germans have brought out with them to their new homes the frugal habits they had acquired at home ; and I cannot conceive any more desirable acquisition to the colony in its present state than that of a body of men, who would not only be prepared by past experience to take every advantage of the land given to them, but would also, without any outlay for drill bein<* expended upon them, be able to act as soldiers, to repel any attacks made by Natives. I have said so much of these attacks that I must explain myself. I am one of those who, looking back at the experience attained bv the first set" tiers in North America, disbelieve in peace. We may beat the Maori—there is no doubt we shall beat him—and what then P Are we prepared to follow him into the interior of the country, and wage an everlasting war? It is humiliating to say so, bnt as matters stand, and considering the nature of the country, the entire resources of England are not sufficient to conquer the whole of the North Island in five years. I have no doubt that this statement will be cavilled at. I can only state it is my opinion, founded on the facts I have attentively considered. Erom what I have said, if the reader at all agrees with mo it will be apparent to him that at some time or another the Natives, being driven back beyond certain limits, the work of the fighting part of the army will be over, and that of the settlers will com* mence. Isolated onslaughts will take place. Natives, enraged at the loss of friends, lands and property, will, in accordance with the dictates of their

aavage race—for their Christianity is of the shallowest order—try to wreak their vengeance in solitary instances. These settlers were originally all to have been grilled. This plan is now altered. Therefore ■would it not be as well to introduce into the Colony, and locate on the plains of the Waikato a number of men who, accustomed in their own country to agricultural pursuits, yet can from former experience work together to repel any onslaughts made on their villages ? Having said so much in favor of German Immigration, it may be argued I ought to propound a scheme. Not being infallible, I will not assert mine to be the best, but I will state what, from personal experience in Germany, I deem might succeed in raising colonists for this country. For recruiting in England, the accredited agents for the Colony can easily find subordinates to execute the work; but another plan should be adopted for the German scheme. There should be a special mission, like the one sent to Australia, the head of which ought to be, if possible, a Gorman born, and connected in some manner, with persons of influence in Prussia. Besides him, whom 1 shall denominate the chief, 1 would have a secretary and treasurer, and four subordinate officers, making six in all, and their mode of action I will proceed to indicate. In speaking of German immigration, the word “ German” is generally used in far too comprehensive a sense. “ Prussian” would be nearer the mark, for though Saxons, Bavarians, and the subjects of the smaller Duchies do leave the country, yet nine-tenths of the emigrants conic from Prussia. In this latter kingdom, there is no tie to bind the different sections together. Some are Wurtemburgers, some Saxons, some Poles, and between none of these is there any community of feeling, country, or religion ; so that there exists in Prussia less objection to qxiitling the land of one’s birth, than in any other pare of the continent. We will then take Prussia as our recruiting field, and having first mentioned the manner in which the recruiting should be carried on, we go to consider what provinces are open to us, and what chance there is of our obtaining, say 8,000 men, women, and children. Referring to the political geography of Prussia, we shall find that the northern plains, constituting the lower part of the great German watershed, are the roost sparsely populated, Pomerania and Prussia Proper consist.ng of large sandv plains geologically recent, in many parts covered with thick forests, and affording but [ittie occupation to a scattered population. Horses, geese, and small crops ot cereals are the only productions. The provinces I would suggest as a fit field for the labour of the emigration officer would be Prussian Westj halia, the Dower Rhine, Saxonv, both Prussian and Proper, and Silesia. In each of these the chief products arise from agriculture, and the breed of Saxony sheep is well known over the Continent. The average numbers of the population to Jbe square mile, I find from a return of ISJP, averaged from the highest, Silesia, 313, to the lowest, Saxony, 113. Next to Si’e-ia are the Rhenish Provinces. Notwithstanding the wonderful stream of emigration which has so steadily set in of late years, I doubt not but that later statistics would show a far higher rate of per eentage per mile. In these Provinces, excepting Silesia, where special interpreters would be required, I would propose to act as follows : Taking Westphalia as the first scene of operations tlie chief and his treasurer (or secretary, whatever name be given him) would establish themselves in the capital—Munster. The mission would be provided with handbills, numerous, and maps of New Zealand. Copies of the latter would be sent round to the clergymen, both Lutheran and Roman Catholic, of the villages round about the country, and then the work of the members of the mission would begin. Starting on horseback, they would follow a stated road, stopping a night in each Dori or village where the printed papers had been sent, and there bo ready to explain any doubts raised by the peasants. I need not say that of course these men must be able to epeak the language, but the more Englishmen there are among them the better. They would first communicate with the clergyman, ot whatever denomination he may be ; lor in Westphalia the majority of the peasantry are Roman Catholics. And here I would mention that it would be most favourable to this scheme were tiie pastors of different congregations guaranteed land as well as settlers. Supee two clergymen per 1000 men were granted 300 acres each, the cost would be trifling ; and such is the influence exercised over the German mind by his priest or pastor, that whole congregations, 1 firmly believe, would follow their spiritual lerder in his exodus. Should the minds of any be made up on the agent’s first visit, he should take the names and signatures, and forward them by tlie next post to the chief. After going his round, he should return the same way, and pick up those who before had doubted and wavered. Then when a district was swept through on a certain day 7 those at the outskirts would set off, and the column increasing in numbers as it went along, would eventually be directed by railway on to Lubeck or Hamburgh, where one of the mission would be in readiness to receive, and place on board ship, tlie intending emigrants. It would be desirable that each recruiting officer should accompany to the port of embarkation those men he had himself raised. Meanwhile, the chief, at his quarter in the principal would address himself to the business of procuring transport, forwarding the recruits, auditing the accounts, and receiving the daily reports of his subalterns as they journeyed through their appointed district. Of course a great deal would he left to his own judgment as to selecting the different districts to be traversed, the towns to be visited, Ac. I have given merely a sketch of the method I would employ, based on the knowledge acquired by 7 a long residence in Germany. I am certain it would succeed, were the conditions fair, on proper persons being appointed. I would prefer to all others Englishmen who could speak German thoroughly ; but there are few of our countrymen who, however well they might show inthecursaal of Baden-Baden, could sustain a short conversation with a Suabian peasant. One more conside-

ration remains under this head—that of terms.Each immigrant—man, woman, and child —ought lo receive a free passsge. The Colony would have to pay heavily for such, but in the end I feel confident would be the gainer. I certainly do not give any statistics. I only 7 go by estimating the difference of numbers who would be added to our population were paid p ssages the law, instead of free. Out of Prussia not one-tenth of the numwould bo procured, to pay their passage, compared with those who would come on condition of being conveyed free. The Germans—l mean the emigrating classes—are poor; but what they lack in wealth they make up in frugality, economy, and industry. Besides the free passage, I would have each emigrant receive his expenses from the day he left his home to the day ho embarked, and be entitled to a year’s rations from the date of his landing in Auckland. As far as regards the possibility of obtaining some 8,000 souls, I see but one obstacle—the Schleswig-Holstein question. It is very doubtful whether Prussia will allow herself to drift into a stupid war of races, when her most vital interests are at stake, when her constitution is overthrown, and the laws of the land so deliberately trod under, that the Crown Prince —all honor to him—has resigned all his emoluments, rather than back up bis father in his insane proceedings. Tluj emigration to America has not been stopped by the Government. Why should any objection bo made if this were diverted to New Zealand? It seems as though M. Von Bismarck was anxious to encourage the flitting away from the country 7 of all the bold spirits who might vote for the Liberal party at the next election ; and if such be the case, surely New Zealand, with its undeveloped resources, its growing trade, its opened up country, is a far finer field for the hard-working Prussian, than that overgrown giant, the United States, who, while still in a state of hobble-de-hoy-ism, affects the airs of ancient states, and in the name of freedom to the blacks, coupled wi;h a most holy antipathy to anything that wears a colored skin, are hypocritically concealing their lust for extension of power under the cloak of charity. Verily their charity need be great!