SWISS SHEPHERDS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 1736, 24 April 1882, Page 2

SWISS SHEPHERDS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

The Rev. W. S. Green, writing to A gentleman in Timaru relative to the formation of an Alpine Club, adds " There is no doubt whatever that youl 1 higher mountains present more difficulties than are to be met with in Switzerland-, so it would be useless to think of ascending them without skilled assistants, but it seems to me a way is open through which the difficulty might be met. A large runholder near Wakatipii asked me would Swiss shepherds be likely to come to New Zealand. The facta of the case are these": the Swiss shepherds carry their own sheep through severer seasons than are ever felt in your country, and would, I am make niost valuable shepherds. The stream of emigration from Switzerland at present sets exclusively to America j to turn that stream would require an effort, but, once turned, I think the Swiss would find New Zealand a better home, and New Zealand would gain good colonists. The difficulty, of course) is in the language—they would want to be met by persons who could talk to them in German. Ere long the difficulty would vanish, and if each family got a Couple of afires of land, on which they would soon bnild their chalets from young birch trees, they would, with the rate of New Zealand wages, be com tented, industrious, atid happy. I am certaiu 40 young men could be got to out to-morrow men who could be guides on the ice and shepherds for the sheep—if only they were sure that all was fair and square, and that their ignorance of the country would not be turned to account against them, t would be very glad if something of this sort were done, as I believe it would be prod active of good on both sided, setting mountaineering aside altogether^'