IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND FROM CANADA WEST.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 65, 30 March 1868, Page 78

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND FROM CANADA WEST.

(From the New Zealand Herald.) Great interest is taken in the colonisation of New Zealand by settlers in Canada West. The reasons for this are many —such as the extreme vicissitudes of heat and cold, the prevalence of sickness, incompatibility of American aDd English habits, and other minor causes. The following is taken from a letter laid on the table of the Auckland Provincial Council, by, the Provincial Secretary “ The news that we have lately received from New Zealand, particularly from Auckland, has not been at all encouraging, still, we frequently hear of parties going there from this part of the world. Mr informed me of a person from the mountains, a sawmill owner, who has gone. I heard of an old gentleman, a member of the legislature, who is off to inspect how he may settle his family, there. He has considerable means—has been a farmer, distiller, saw-mill proprietor and storekeeper. When he returns and makes his report, I hope to hear the verdict. New Zealand as my ultimate home, and that of my children, is my constant theme, for' I cannot think otherwise than that it will some day be a great country. At the same time it is my present opinion that there is not now much energy being put forth in the development of its resources. But when your 200,000 white population gets to be two or three times that number, better results may be expected. I would like to hear more of the climate and capabilities of the Bay of Islands district—whether it is too hot in summer, whether it can produce coffee, oranges, olives; and whether it is as healthy as farther south. The resources of British North America may be considerable, but Yankee annoyances and severe winters are great drawbacks.” The writer .intimates that scarlet fever was prevalent among children, and much sickness and considerable number of deaths in his part during last summer. The rains at the fall of the year and the thaws are causes of much mortality. Here is another passage:— “ War between England and America, whenever it takes place, will be disastrous to this country. In such an emergency you New Zealanders would escape. Indeed, if your climate and resources are only as represented, it must some day be one of the finest countries in the world. By this time you will, no doubt, have your mind fully made up on- this head, and will be authority which I should not gainsay. I should like much after your experience thus far to hear your opinion. The Yankee duties on Canadian produce are almost, if not entirely.

prohibitory. There lingers here a want of confidence—a something to fear all the time. (The italics are the writer’s own.) I constantly think if I could purchase a good run or plantation in Northern New Zealand I would be free from such contingencies. How would evaporating salt (solar systeih) do as a business in. the North; or raising figs to dry, grapes to make wine, olives to make oil or pickles, oranges for the Auckland market, coffee, if possible, or walnuts to sell dry. I may err in these ideas, but mention them as probabilities. If your coal discovery turns out as expected, it must make the North of New Zealand a most important district.”

, Such are the enquiries being made by many enterprising men, with means, and the reasons given for them are apparent. It does certainly seem a most suicidal proceeding for any person having influence to warn such persons-off. The above contains sufficient internal evidence of the class to which the writer belongs; a class which contains personally and substantially all the requisites for successful settlement and permanent residence.