The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 651, 2 February 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, February 2. When cattle were imported into this province in the early days of the settlement, we heard a great deal of the damage incurred by them from eating tutu on their first landing. The effects are too well known. The cattle were puffed out in an extraordinary way, and the consequences were often fatal. But if they got over the attack, they were considered acclimatized, and, unless under peculiar circumstances, were seldom attacked in the same manner again. Now and then an acclimatized beast, or one horn in the country, falls suddenly upon a luxuriant bed of tutu and falls a victim to its fascinations j but this misfortune is comparatively infrequent, and we do not hear of the poison how as often as in the days of large importations of cattle. Then an animal might land in good health, and the grass might be rich and plentiful; but the tempting tutu was there, and he had to go through the swollen phase so painful both to victim and looker-on before he was fairly at home in his new country. It has been very truly said that newly landed immigrants often go through a similar process of acclimatizing. They find on landing a state of society to which they have not been accustomed—a rate of wages such as they never dreamed of in the old country; and those whose heads are not turned find plenty of good. pickings at once. But some must eat the ' tutu'—must get puffed up and loose their heads—and must undergo the unpleasant course of remedies necessary before they come to their right senses. We often hear a farmer or a squatter in search of servants say a I must have old hands ,* I will have nothing to do with new chums." The experience which makes him say this is often a very unpleasant one. An immigrant in a ! state of ' tutu' is not agreeable in any capacity. He is very ignorant of the state of things in the new country, and at the same time very unteachable; he fancies that without any exertions of his own he is at once to change his position in society; he mistakes impudence for independence ; and is of very little j use to himself or his master. But this very soon wears off; by dint of being* knocked | about and having' cold water dashed upon his ! heated imaginings, he is able ere long to take a sober view of the wide field of enterprise around him \ and he sees that by steadiness and perseverance and hard work he may attain to any position he ever dreamed of. This 'tutu' stage is not a necessary one— many immigrants have landed and gone to their work and done well for themselves at once. But, unfortunately, so many newly landed men and women have bored their employers with their extravagant airs and temporary uselessness, that masters are inclined to ask when about engage a servant, "Has he (Or she) eaten the tutu yet?" A constant and regular immigration is now going on. Let the working immigrant avoid the 'tutu.' Let him remember that swaggering airs and new-chum graces are abominations to the colonial employer.