Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 640, 15 January 1859, Page 4

Correspondence.

JOTTINGS DOWN OF A TRAVELLER ABOUT NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —Having within a few weeks past had an opportunity of seeing something of the provinces of this colony, will you obligingly favour me with space in your columns for a few remarks upon the advantages which they respectively and all abundantly offer as homes for immigrants. All are making progress more or less rapid, Canterbury at the present time being indisputably the leader ; and the, people of this province show themselves in the light usually exhibited by the suc cesful—happy themselves, good-tempered and lenient to others. The virus of metropolitanism does not appear to have been infused into their constitutions. Content with the blessings of pure and permanent individual freedom in every respect, coupled with the enjoyment of as great an amount of personal comfort as any community on the faro of the earth, they crave not the irritating and irritable honours of leaders or governors of their fellow colonists. I am led to notice this passive source of happiness from what I have witnessed at Auckland and Wellington. At the former place the rank of metropolis of the colony for the town and leader for the province, is challenged as a right —aye almost as a dispensation of providence. But in Wellington—so different is the mental vision of folks merely because their bodily locality is different —the very name of Auckland-superiority draws down upon the unlucky speaker a volume of information as to the evident superiority of Wellington, mixed with'much kindly, spoken but strongly-meant sarcasm as to obtuseness of vision and want of judgment. Wellington, so say the people there, is marked out by nature as the site of the metropolis of the rising Britain in the South. Nay, they further go on to assert that in mercantile energy and in everything relating to - physical progress they are already far ahead of all colonial competitors. So far does this disease of m&tropolitanism extend that it occasionally changes the kindest, best-hearted, and mostfriendly men into something like bitter personal opponents for Ihe^ time. The road of their favourite political hobby is threatened to be obstructed and no effort whatever must be spared to clear its course. I possibly may be considered to have been digressing, but I believe that the matter isgermain to my subject. That subject I propose should be the different facilities and inducements for immigrants held out by the several provinces, combined with the evidence of a oneness of progress throughout, the whole colony. I believe that general colonial prosperity in \Nevr '.Zealand hinges much upon the principle here indicated being consistently carried xmt. Where the political metropolis of the country shall be is, I believe, a matter of much less importance to the several towns or provinces than they have generally considered it to be. Its central position, or perhaps, what is of more consequence, its easy accessibility by all the people of the colony, is the most material consideration. The people have much business of the very greatest importance for their good government, besides merely the meeting -of -the__general parliament, which must be transacted at the capital. Soldiers, excepting a few for the purpose of forming a guard of honor to the Governor, are by no means required to follow the seat of government. It should not be forgotten how few of the principal seats of commerce, and more particularly of manufacture, are identical with the political capitals of the several States of-the old or of the American world. That a court or political capital is not necessary to insure mercantile prosperity is most evident :from the progress of Liverpool during the last two hundred years. I would now, with hesitation, and a request for candid allowance—which every, writer trusts that his readers will accord to him if\he—sets down nought in malice" but on the contrary endeavours to inform and amuse—l would now draw attention to things that, from haying more serious matters to attend to, are somewhat gone-awry, and may require some thought and amendment.

Auckland, with a fine harbour and a navigation among islands and in straits and Mays that may be called inland, which, as has been .observed, conld not have been formed for millions of money, has a foundation on which to build a. most magnificent mercantile edifice^ and' these .facilities mast still further be increased if jthe entrance of the Manukau harbour should permanently remain in its present state, and still further if by the appliance of science "to amend its deficiencies it can be permanently improved. It is to be remembered that, like almost all bars- to rivers and harbours, tliat of the Manukau is subject to great fluctuations at .uncertain periods. Its present compai-ative facility for penetration has been of but few years' continuance, and it may-in-a few years become again more diffi•cult. 'But the Manuksu must still be very valuable to Auckland, and the advantages of connecting the shores of both waters are obvious. But the^ land in the vicinity of Auckland is mneh of it of very ' inferior quality and - unproductive. That, however, of volcanic origin, where not covered too 'thickly ;with scoi'ia, is an exception, possessing a <jertainty_ of-return "for agricultural labour expended upon it. Some of the flax bottoms are also very fine lands, as are several thickly timbeited and comparatively level spots further in the interior. Among these there is some very fine land. 15ut allround Auckland and far to tbe north of it, and quite to the northern extremity of the colony, Mereis no grass which has any nutriment in it whatever for live stock of any kind. Now grass is the foundation of all wealth. Metals, manufactures, &'•> are flic superstructure, but the wealth of the Teutonic race, trace it whore you will in its wide spread occupation of the world, is mainly founded on grass. Auckland province has a soil generally composed of clay—almost pure clay; having, hW" ever, very often, a pretty good-internal'natural drainage. But this clay must be broken up «iul tilled before the best grasses will grow freely, «"1' a year or two or three years' tillage must be expended before it will yield certain returns of aglicultural produce.

The unlevelness of the country and the quantity of forest render the province of Auckland ww° fitted for division into small farms ; and the d"}" soil will cause their pastures-^whieh by the seeding them with the proper grasses may become vivli grazing lands—to be well adapted for the fattening ot sheep and cattle. When division of labour in agricultural business shall take place, here will be probably a market for the wethers and steers ot the breeding province*. I. have forgotten to nu'»tjon Iho further great mercantile capabilities that this province enjoys, iv its extensive coal-beds, which may be joined to the capital by a railway presenting scarcely any engineering difficulties.

II —■ '. nfAhuriri or Hawke's Bay, Oftho new proving o * U^itin^ bi°f lave ruled more leniently, and teS'ton miglit ha^ )r i lico have passed a more Kpleof aw^J""the actions of the.maKSC ivd?T vovm tl o land of the Hawke's f 'Asifci^I'?^ iv flourishing proI!fmMnco P^^. 1 But for the town of Ft of the fl^k'm,°n island by no moans fortii: jprobab'y bt «■■ tho rO g OIIWO3 of the Lto as from > to be foW indeed. ]S n-T - 0 Wat pretence., 1 hope they present .t J>^ t » h0 contrary is nmoh to be ->■• be l^u- .ton bas the advantage of a fine d- ,A? 5 and the city builtcrescent-hke Ijua.^ockcil haibou advantage. It is t b head OV!X^ set-offs to these great adranlrtt | tbat, some* h • v v . olcnt pvl ff s or oven Wlf. arf° v on" of which a short tim° TllWeg^°VVoMton was blown from her anchors, Sd«P of l*°*T gale, and consequently has l^T, to tai«k« "P- Earthquakes also !bcen. SoUl l\X down a few houses and raise the U»ona 11, *J W ur . Neither is the site of the bottom ot the lwiiwur- nt Y et, from ton -«d"nW£ ou lo for the fertile district of thispluce being the outU. a __ subj t to flood the Hut and vaUey ]arge Rnd rapldly> , increasing produce of wool from the numerous flocks in the provence, it must hold a high place tekS 'h nroCefof the colony for many, years among the piovracw enterprise and M totus end i l^ c!;Xg V e°both: impetusand If ¥° ' E^pt"in tie* Hutt and five valley ■diction. .* sce P nX BrO vince does not appear to If WXr P tK fa!^ pursuits, as disSfSS from breeding and prong; therefore l tUf i t maybe less inconvenienced or' convulsed jpobablyitnujue c in the distance In the coming tm * » rTJ Sit towards Taranaki-there IH' T n iToVne very fine and leveUsh land, Wnt tasT timbered; and this latter cirI°"V „ nm Sssiblv preserve if for farming instance P ould in m y very humble iTb-to^e allowed' to advert to the surprising Be^tl of the Wellington magnates, who would C every poor wretch in .the colony having a X XJate in the Supreme Court or business S transact with the General Government, to come Into their weather-beaten, earthquake-shaken, pentiup town, through storm and tempest, to have his ■suit or business decided. ; • . .: • | In passing I would beg. room for a sentence or Ibro about Che fine agricultural province of Taralinki Destitute of a harbour, New Plymouth can Lever become a commercial place any further than is absolutely necessary for the supply of the population ; and*they, as they extend, will probably find other routes by which to send away their produce and to receive their supplies. But the province itself may expect to be settled by farmers in every sense of the word; not only breeders of cattle and sheep, but also tillers of the soil. The frequent farmsteads, with all their pleasing accompaniments, will spread everywhere around, and when the battie of man agaiust sheep shall commence they will Jbe in peace. As the backwoodsman of America [clears, tills, and owns his comparatively restricted [patch of land, so in all probability will the Taranakians.

It is apparently impossible, from all that we can judge of them from history, to form a permanent nomadic or pastoral people from the stock of the teutonic race. In their passage from the interior of Asia to the plains of Germany and the hills of scandinavia, they expended all their nomadic wild oats. But let not this give us concern when lookng forward to the fortunes of our country. It will be all for the best—man will prevail against sheep

—our extensive plains will be covered with homesteads, occupied by an enterprising and thrifty pleople, not only producing wool, but corn, meat, md perchance wine, and at all events home-brewed ale, in addition, and, what is more, yielding greater supplies of wool than they do now. Very many are the ancient sheep walks in the old country now converted to tillage produce; annually, on twoifths of the land fine crops of wheat and barley, and on the remainder more wool and mutton than formerly, with lots of fat beef to boot. Of Taralaki it is not necessary now to speak of the abunlance of iron-sand on the sea-coast, as all attempts to fuse it for mercantile purposes have at present failed.

Perhaps, of all the provincial capitals, Nelson gives us the greatest remembrance of a country town at home. Quietly and neatly placed on the level surface, with as much apparent activity as is necessary for health and comfort without strained attention and overwrought exertion, with surrounding gardens, rich in soil and profuse in production, and a kindly and well-to-do population, it presents the very spot "where peace may be found." The gardens here are so overflowingly full of fruit that they offer strong temptation to the passenger in the streets to " put forth his hands and eat." There is also the advantage of a very secure though, small harbour, of easy access at high water, and with secure anchorage outside. The province also apparently abounds with mineral riches; three or four coal fields, distant from four or five to twenty-five miles from the town. Also, though removed considerably back from the town, this province possesess much fine land, stocking fast with valuble herds of sheep, cattle and horses. It also enjoys a good inland route—the depth of winter only excepted—to the rich and thriving province of Canterbury. The province must thrive. But what prospects may we expect for the town ? Its site is \^scribed by high mountains-its fertile plains \\IZ ff^-^ "sing provincial ports of ColaS 1 I'w denV°od and ofchers offer more ready En i ? lmP ortaild exP°rfc toits rural popiit 4?r T ml wealth ? ene'-all V i» more «hj Me from other ports than from Nelson. If to re'l anjUl"?B ]\ V* correct 'Nelson must hope to remain among the delectable, not the great cities of Maori land. Jfloil^ T m,oreword for the capabilities of 1 fct OnS P°»>tofvie W . I cannot help upon this New Zealand as a nation, and not «« W u l bf aUSe lts, Sovereign may reside at mdi ssz TvrJ original seatc3f thefree ' great TL • ' 1I;. s J fc 1 ltutl011« which now bless so , Ue, lmman race- Is 5t a vain «« "ne wide snrSf ua? e ma >' be confederated terfcrencc oS, mi -v' W1««»ut authoritative ininindi.soiui,! ; onu." H»'ty with another, but bound li« fi»r coL f Wll ? NelKo" I'" frreat fadlittei } 1<l(1« Island, and by sea'with all of placed as to r f ' ldi U <hm nofc »W™ to be «o witli til? mn ,!." t0 a ".y very serious competition > XTT q«^», 'nor with tl-i rising Haimsn Ton ,f ," ncil Tni^>t there, unvexed by the »'d T B°-a-»'cadß, quietly and steadily ?^ rntj^""? ""P^^lly carry on the General • V lt tk*Periodical meetings of the h- cticLL ° r >C nhe lnGllibers would, uninterrupted eai>'v and Ifi°J , |lo L vlncial advantages, be enabled ln(*K ° debate how this nation might be *h« vtifl!" 1 a"d Prosperously governed. Nay, 'Pei'W»rnr! ISerß'01 who alway» fo"ow the disv ■ power and givers of good things, would

, at least enjoy the comforts of peace and quietnoss. ! I now, sir, being^ abo"tt(s to;take the hbert^bX; speaking,of things in'whiohyour friends are.inter-;,'. ested, bog to assure both you and them that my; opinions are those of the individual, honestly given,' without expectation of reward, and, like all anonymous writers, scarcely amenable to censure. This; Province of Canterbury certainly hasmade a most wonderful progress in tho few years which have elapsed since its foundation. More capital was brought hero than to any; other of tho province's at its first starting j much care also and forethought,; ofiiciently > employed, together with that indomitable onergy w^th which all British colonists luive been imbued. But besides, this .Canterbury province is favoured beyond all ..others inthe colony, by an extensive level plain, spreading out to several millions of acres and ready at once for feeding purposes,; being abundantly stocked with native grass, which, if not of the very first descrintionj conrain"'very considerable nutritive qualities. The whole land is well watered, and the settlers, being comparatively rich, were enabled at once to set about the realism*: tion of all these advantages. The land about the capital, which land appears to extend as a border by the sea for a considerable distance, both north and south, is well adapted for farming.purposes. It is not difficult of culture, and the soil is rich; indeed it appears to be superabundantly so; for besides crops of corn and clover, it is made to yield niost (to my notion at least) miraculous crops of docks, "Now, these, sir,' must have been fostered .-• for the nonce, (and I suppose to draw off the extra richness of the. soil) because there is scarcely any pest to agriculture in the shape of weed that can be so easily nipped in the first appearance as the dock: none scarcely so difficult to be eradicated (New Zealand sorrel excepted) when fully | established. This province has also the advantage of a secure harbour, with room enough for the spread of its port town. One only disadvantage appears in the country of the province, that is, the inconvenience of the communication between the said Port and the Provincial!Capital,'but'whioli inconvenience is subject to abatement in twojpr three ways. Of Christchurch it might be truly said, that putting aside its communication with the sea it certainly is the finest site for a town of any possessed by the several Provincial Capitals. It has been laid out. also in a business like manner—the author of the scheme perhaps looking to the fine ground plans of the Spanish cities of South America and not getting his ideas from Loudon's Encycopoedia of gardening. The ground-plans of Christchurch and of Auckland are two very different things to look upon, and Wellington is cramped from its situation. One most commendable feature on the plan of Christchurch is its reserves for public purposes, and the same care for the future appears to pervade all the plottings out of the provincial territory. Christchurch will in all probability become the agricultural capital of the nation, the wide scope of land —all available-all good in quality—mark out agriculture as the great source of wealth, and consequently of power. May a casual observer be allowed to make one remark upon the people themselves. I have received the impression that as a whole they are the best looking of any of our population, and particularly the younger female portion of them, whose clear complexions and exhibition of the lovely red and white in their cheeks, distinctive of our race, are, if to be equalled, not to be surpassed. Now mine is impartial testimony, for I am by no means a subject to be graced by the notice of the lovely and beautiful, and thus to have my judgment warped. But the difficulty x>f communication between. Christchurch and the Port—that is, in fact, between one part of the capital and another—-requires removal to accelerate tlie progress of convenience and wealth to both parties.: The present system of. exacting a heavy toll from every passenger upon passing the ferry is certainly a novel scheme for improving and increasing the intercourse between, two places that ought in every case to be made one as far as possible. jDn^^her_]jiwrmsae_fb»ricß..upi)in~ the liigh"roaas~Sreiupporte(l at the general expense, as tending to the general convenience j why is Canterbury an exception ? ; "■.'•-'::' At present air heavy goods are brought round from Lyttelton to Christchurch by small vessels, and landed on wharves situated from two to four miles from the latter town, to which they are afterwards carted by drays. The said vessels are very often retained by contrary winds in the Port, and also by inability to pass the bar at Simmer. This course may certainly be considered as dilatory, and moreover as subjecting property to the chance of receiving considerable injury. Now, I would respectfully suggest that at not a very serious expense this inconvenience might be considerably abated. Canals appear in these days to be forgotten; but in times gone by Brindley said that 'flowing streams were provided by Providence for the feeding of canals.' The old engineer would certainly have said as much, had he seen the rivers running by Christchurch. Possibly he might have suggested that a portion of the water of the Avon should be abstracted just before the stream reaches the city bounds, and conducted into a reservoir to be formed just to the south of St. Asaph street —narrow, but of length sufficient to afford ample wharfage accommodation for the streets abutting endwise on St. Asaph-street; then from the east end of'such reservoir to form a canal with locks, towing-paths, &c.j to join the Heathcote River just at the Christchurch Quay; the canal, if necessary, but certainly the towing-path, to be continued to the Ferry. So ample is the water of the Avon, and so well adapted the lay of the land for canalling purposes, that a canal might be formed with depth of water fully sufficient for the passage of any vessels that now come up to the Ferry. To obviate the delay occasioned at the bar, a steam-tug offers the obvious, means. Hereafter, small steamers may possibly be employed generally for the coasting trade of the colony, and then for canal navigation, also; but at present much work is done by sailing vessels of small draft of water, and the supposed canal must yet for many years afford them accommodation. The Avon would also afford similar accommodation to the other side of the city, if required. But make one canal at any rate, and get rid of the present antediluvian plan of much.work and much waste of time for comparatively small results excepting in cost and injury to goods. -

But it may and will be 6aid there is another scheme offering a much more direct communication between the port and the city ; true, bore a hole through the mountain ; and that also will be done, but by and bye. But it must never be forgotten that this proposed tunnel will for commercial purposes be of little value without a locomotive railway, and at present there are no coals at hand to give motion to the engine, nor indeed to give necessary warmth to the persons, or cookery to the food, of the people of Christchurch and Lyttelton. But there, is a bed of coal in the province at no very formidable distance from city and port which a railway would easily convey to them and open up a considerable ??ct of country at the same time. Now, suppose that a present communication for goods and trade as suggested above was made between these two parts of the capital, and then that attention was given to the bringing of coals by means of a railway to the city, &c.; at the'same time perforating a tunnel for the passage of such railway with passengers, coals and wool, and other produce to the port, returning with people and goods,—and then only will the resources of the province be fully developed; But these things will cost much money to be fully carried out; in the mean time a carial offers a facile and almost perfect remedy for the present dilatory, expensive arid wasteful plan of mercantile communication between the two parts of

one town. When oho looks a,t the prosperous financial situation of this province, the means for mooting tlio large outlay that; Would Jw, required'fd? such works as are hero slouch of appear to be quite suffli-! cicnt, as it ia to be wscollectetl that somft time must pass over us before they can bo alliaccomplishea k j I have, written so much, that of Otago I shall merely say that its facilities for improvement and adaptation to agricultural purposes appear to be pretty well equal to those of the most favoured provinces—Otagoans say, better—and it has still land open for stocking as sheep and cattle runs. The separation of its port—Chalmers—from Dunedin, will it is to be hoped be no detriment to it progress. Praying to be forgiven for taking up so much space, of which I little thought when I commenced, I remain, yours respectfully, A TRAVELLER. January 13th, 1859.

Seeing thb Wobm>.-"-Wc rememberonce hearing a clergyman, who waa going abroad, describe hi& object to a ..friend'as being"to relax bis .moral*. 1' His jest, we fear, is too often a- sbrrj earnest with our countrymen, whose notion of the freedom, of travel appears to consist yery much in emancipation from the usual restraints of morklity.; Seeing the world seems often to be thought to.lie in seeing itstvices/and the better to see them in practising them a little, or a great deal. ; The unhappy truth is, that ihe vices of the world are. much the same everywhere, and that nothing is less new or strange] and nothing so wholly useless as an object for the traveller's research as the follies and wickedness of mankind. There isTar move reason for tightening the girth \of duty many holes, than, for letting it out one. For it is not to be denied that travel is in its immediate circumstances—as all times of varied pleasure, of continued excitement favourable to 'habits of self descipline,.regulation of thought^ sobriety of conduct, and dignity of chaf racter." Indeed oneof the great;lessons:of travel is the discovery how much pur virtues:owe to the support of constant "occupation, to the influence of public opinion, apd to ; the force of habit. And this discovery is a very dangerous one if it proceed from an actual yieldjng. to temptation resisted at home, and not frpm a consciousness of the increased power put forth in Withstandingthem>— North American Review: j

A Cardinal's " •Lark.'-'-—A singular adventure befel an illustrious member of the papal court during the recent high ecclesiastical demonstration at Balinsaloe.' '.The distinguished individual being introduced to a convent in that town, promised to call upon the sisters oh the following morning and give them aft early;mass before his departure.by the train for Dublin1. But they1 are earlier birds, it seems, in Italy than on the westof the Shannon, for when the Monsignor presented himself at five o'clock a.m. before the door^wrapped in a mantle such as Jesuits • wear, which covered both his quality and purpose fronr the external world, the whole town was lockedin the arms of' Morpheus. In vain did he knock and pull at thebell. The ladies were not yet out of their first sleep $and; an old woman who thrustfone of; her eyes out of, the attic casement, shut it down again with a bang, having first threatened to call the "peelers,." Nor was her denunciation without its effect. A guardian of the. night, baton in hand,came upon the disturber, and roughly demanded " What ftre you doing there P." " As you see," replied his reverence, " I knock and ring;" and suiting the action to the word, he .took another strong pull at the nob, and performed aloud sassarara with the knocker. "Oh, come, my good fellow," said 'Dogberry, ."this is rather too much'of a good thing; go home to your wife and tell, her to take care of you." "I am wedded here," said the Monsignor, with dignity, laying his open hand carelessly upon the sill-r- ---" wedded to this institution, and have no other wife in the world;" and , again r goes the knocker,, rat-tat-tat tatterarararararara ra! ■'■'■'" Is it married you say you are ? arid to the blessed "ladies in this hpiisej^cries -the enraged -^pjeseryer ; of : the peacej- " You—Souper J-I'H taclfe you fbTHepv a civil tongue in your head;, I will!" And thereupon he seized-a-full grip of Monsignor*B collar, and drove him on before him, gasping, foaming, sputtering, and recalcitrating even at the door of the stationhouse, into.which he pushed him with such a will, that it was a mercy his reverence did not tumble over a woman who was down on her knees washing the passage. " The. cross of Christ be over us all!" exclaimed the startled woman, rising from the ground, and in a moment recognisingthe Monsignor, whom she had seen on the previous day adumbrating the cardinal—" What has his Reverence been about ? Was he larking ?". "1 believeyou," said the policeman, " but what are you talking about reverence? It's a; big jumper i 3 he, and nothing else." An explanation quickly ensued, of which the result was that the Monsignor^ still "in a sultry chafe," walked forth disenthralled, emancipated, and free, leaving, the penitent streetkeeper ori his marrow-bones. By the time that he came'back to the nunnery, all the sisters were astir in their best bibs and tuckers, when he finished his mass without further interruption. When this dignitary returns to Rome, we hope he will not fail in candour to tell his lord the Pope how the laws and the civil authorities^ of heretic England guard the inmates of Romish institutions, though they be contrary to law, from even the suspicion of wrong or insult in this land of " persecution."— Dublin Mail.

A Vein or Coal on Eire.—A serious accident occurred on Monday in the Evail Fach coalpit, at Tondu, Glamorganshire. Early in the morning some passers-by observed a volume of smoke proceeding from the air shaft, and the mineral agent was immediately apprised of the circumstance. He descended, and discovered that a vein of coal had caught fire, it is conjectured from a spark.emitted from the engine used under ground. With as little delay as possible steps were taken for the safety of the men, and in le3s than an hour the wholeof them were brought out, no one fortunately, having sustained the. slightest injury. The watercourse was then turned into the pit, and will continue to run till the fire is quite extinguished. The pit will, of course, be stopped for' some time, and the damage done will be considerable.— Times, Oct. 10.