TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1860. TAKING THE TIDE AT THE FLOOD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 44, 27 January 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1860. TAKING THE TIDE AT THE FLOOD.

Some time ago. -we pointed out that a result ot the public works scheme would be jjho direction of a j stream of emigrants to our shores who would ask no assistance, and Who ' would bring out with them sufficient capital to make a start in the Colony. Numerous indications of the correct- <■ ness of this are occurring, and it is evident that a large proportion of our future immigrants will be the ' better class of tenant fovmei's, who will bring out with them from Home sufficient money to enable them to start fairly well in tho Colony; The heavy depression Under which the farming interest labours at Home just now, the ti'einendous competition America is bringing to bear against English farmers, and the gloomy prospect before them, have combined to awaken amongst the sturdy yeoman of Old England the desire to emigrate and try their fortunes in other British countriees ', Whilst the Now Zealand .immigration agents have attracted attention successfully to the advantages presented by New Zealand for agriculturalists. The ship Maravel, which arrived at Wellington on Friday last, brought out some 300 of this most desirable class, and we trust the Government • will afford them every facility for selecting suitable land, and settling upon it at once. We also notice that the Rev. •T. Berry, a Wesleyan Clergyman who delivered in England a number of lectures on New Zealand, has returned to tho Colony, and is at present accompanying Messrs Grant and Foster over the country. These gentleman are delegates from the farmers of Lincolnshire, and have been sent out to report upon New Zealand as a field for immigration. The trio are at present in Canterbury, whither they have gone to inspect the standing crops before the harvest is too far advanced. We learn that they will spend about thre3 weeks in the South, and intend then to return to Wellington, and will probably visit Wairarapa and the West Coast of this island. The presence of the above gentlemen in these districts should be taken advantage of by the settlers to inform them of the magnificent quality and vast area of the available land. That the land in the North Island is superior to that in the South, is generally admitted. Farming can also be carried on to greater advantage.: The climate is more equable, as wo do not suffer from the sustained droughts or hot winds on the Canterbury Plains, nor from the floods which occasionally do so much damage. There is an almost inexhaustible supply of timber, an abundant water supply, and hi fact everything favorable to farming. These characteristics of the North Island are found especially in the County of Manawatu. In those parts where the native title has been extinguished, and the country thrown open, settlement has progressed with marvellous rapidity, and between Foxton and Halcombetown a large population is now settled upon what a few years ago was nothing but a, forest. Nor are our landed resources exhausted. Independent of the country to the north of Foxton, there are hundreds of thousands of acres of land of marvellous fertility to the south, between Foxton and Waikanae. A more desirable district for a special settlement of the Lincolnshire farmers could not be found in the country. Near to Wellington, with which the district will in a few years be connected by rail ; heavily timbered ; well watered by the Horowhenua, Waikawa, Ohau, Waikanae, and other smaller rivers with their tributaries ; with soil of an unsurpassable quality, — that country, presents attractions for a settler equal to any in New Zealand. AYe have shown recently in these columns that the Government own at present 74,717 acres of land in the district referred to, and that they have liens upon a further 128,630 acres, the purchase of which might soon be completed, if instructions-were given to that effect. We believe, from what we have seen and heard of it, that that country will .be " hard to beat," and we would therefore urge upon the people of Foxton to arrange for the gentlemen referred to — Messrs Grant and Foster — being shown over it, should they come this way. We feel sure Mr Carkeek, of Otaki, who knows every inch of the ground,

would gladly pilot them over the dii> ferent blocks, in order to show the country to the greatest" advantage. Such a course of action would be fraught with the highest good. If we are to progress it must be by the promotion of settlement, and solely on that account we write. The in* terests of this district are languishing for want of population, whilst we have at our very doors country capable of sustaining thousands o( souls. The advent of a couple of. hundred of Lincolnshire farmers would speed-ily-convert what is.at present a virgin forest into smiling farms peopled with a prosperous and contented yeomanry, and would bring about an improvement in the value of stock and securities, which would prove a benefit to the whole district.