CO-OPERATIVE EMIGRATION, TO NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 205, 31 August 1870, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE EMIGRATION, TO NEW ZEALAND.

The followiug, signed "A Colonist," appeared in the Times of June 16 : — " There are great openings now in both islands of New Zealand for a large scheme of emigration on the principles of co-ope-rative societies. Threo events have tended to bring great tracts of land into the market, which offer ready-made opportunities for carrying ou the busiuess of sheep and cattle runs, and commencing agricultural operations on a largo scale. These three events are the (Trojan) war of the last ten years, the fall in the price of wool, and the collapse of the flax trade. I believe that it would be possible just now to purchase a quarter of a million of nearly contiguous acres in each island for 7s. 6d. an acre, and to buy the sheep at present running on them for half-a---crown a head or less. A co-operative society might buy 100,000 contiguous acres, anil the sheep upon them, with all the plant and apparatus of sheep station. The co-operative society should consist of — 1. Of the younger sons of gentry who have some little capital, but no opening in this country for their tastes or gifcs. 2. Of practical sheep and cattle farmers. 3. Of agriculturists. 4. Of mechanicssuch as carpenters, brickmakers, bricklayers, wheelwrights, weavers, tailors, and cobblers. 5. Of shepherds aud laborers. 6. Of two or three accountants thoroughly versed in the principles of a co-operative society, and two or three surveyors. The advantages of this plan would be — I. That the laborers and mechanics, having an interest in the property, would remain on the estate, instead of running off to the goldfields in New Zealand or other colonies. 2. That it would r.ot be necessary to pay them in cash the full wage of the colouy ; but half of the day's wage should be paid in cash, and the other half put to the men's account as share of the purchase money of the estate. 3. The sous of the gentry would learn their business as surveyors, as sheep farmers, or agriculturists, and not receive any salary for their work till declared competent, but only a fair interest for the capital advanced. 4. A body of men living together in one society would consume much of their own proJuce; but by the very fact of their having the same local interests they would become a political power in the province, and could obtain from the local or Colonial Governments aid in making roads, aud bridges, and in supporting schools and hospitals, aud other such public advantages that immmigrants now lose by dotting themselves over the country, and having no joint interests. 5. The religious bodies in England would probably lend a helping hand to such societies at their first start, and provide them with clergy and school-masters, and means ot erecting churches and schoolhouses. 6. The effect of the above mentioned advantages would be to attract a number of well-principled mechanics and laborers who are now loth to leave England because they have to part with all the social aud religious privileges they have enjoyed at home, and which they desire to impart to their children ; and many of the aristocracy and gentry of the land would send out younger members of their families in company with tenants and farm laborers, attached to their families and parishes. 7. Two or three professional men could easily be found to accompany such a body of immigrants. 8. But it is to be observed, that the more societies, aud the greater the number of the members, aud the more contiguous to each other the several societies, the greater their political power and means of opening markets, and supplying the populations of the goldfieds."

The steps which are being taken to bring these colonies into regular communication with the United States by mean3 of mail steamers excite the liveliest interest, and meet with a responsive sympathy in this part of the world. Even protectionists, with an inconsistency which we do not feel called upon to censure, show themselves anxious to strengthen and multiply our commercial and social relations with America, as well as with England ; thus unconsciously and involuntarily paying homage to the principles of free trade, by which all such relations are necessarily increased and intensified. — > Australasian. In one week 12,000 immigrants lauded at New York from Europe.

The revenue, by sale of tobacco in France last year amounted to 248,000,000 francs, say £9,920,000. The Parisians alone have consumed, either in smoking, chewing, or snuff-taking, 40,000,000 of francs, say about £1,600,000. The Bendigo Advertiser records the following insfauce of a policeman doing his duty without "fear, favor, or affection:" — " His Excellency the Governor ■ — driven by his daughter, Miss Mabel Manners Sutton — was passing over Prince's bridge in a sort of family basket carriage, and having infringed the rule as to the rate of speed at which vehicles may pass over the bridge, was duly summoned by the constable on duty, and on Monday the fine whs paid without any public demonstration." Let desponding reefers take heart, and hesitat'iig shareholders pay their calls, after reading the following: — The Chronicle says that the Exteuded Cross Reef Company, at Pleasant Creek, lias the deepest shaft in Victoria, being down 782ft., and Slill no reef ; and, strange as it may appear lo outside men, they do not want any, as they know the ground where they expect fo strike. The great Scotchman's lode is beneath them, and they quietly pay their calls, and do not grumble iu the least. And still stranger to say, they have no shares to sell, do not want the Corner, never had it, and pay every call without advertising for forfeiture. Newington shareholders can take a wrinkle out of this, as they are on the same line, and only down about 450ft.; but being on the spur instead of the reef, they may yet get good results from it, but not the great reef under 1,000ft."

How a Battle is Fought ? — With tremendous volleys, the ranks standing firm and steady as ou dress parade — with enthusiasm, wiih deafening cheers, with music, aud followed by a glorious bayonet charge? Nothing of the kind. Here are simply some thousands of men oa either side, who have been marching out lhis fine day to butcher. Modern firo arms are hortihly effective weapons. A good Springfield mu.-ket will kill at a thousand yards ; and by the time you have drawn these opposing forces to within two hundred yards of each other, or ahout the distance ncross a good sized wheat field, the battle is resolved into a simple ' problem — which army can stand the most killing or wounding without breaking up. When thai question is answered, you cau tell which side will be victorious. Tho business of the officers is to hold the men to their work, to compel (hem to load and fire until so many of ihe enemy are put hors de combat that lie is forced to withdraw. Tsike our regiments into battle as orderly as you may, before it is under fire half nn hour it will become resolved into knots nnd groups from the drawing together to fill the places of those stricken down, Mid (he survivors will be lying or kneeling, forced down by the irresistible instinct, of self preservation. The sights aud sounds of baitlc ure well nigh indescribable. Noise, tumult, danger, excitement, all blend lo make up a scene wbich I (hiuk cau have no parallel on tbe higher side of the infernal regions. During his first bnttle perhaps, the novelty of the (bing may fill the recruit with geuuiue enthusiasm, and put fear in the -background; but after tbe battle he will find the poetry of the battle-field somewhat overdone in '* Hohenlinden," and fighting rather a prosaic and dangerous butchery. There ia nothing less like a pageant, I verily believe, than a battle. Tbe arms are not polished aud shiny now, for the dew of last nights bivouac in the grass has tarnished them ; very plain blouses have taken the place of straight bodied corsetry coats ; belts are loosened, or iu the fury of tbe fijrht are thrown aside altogether ; shoulder straps and epaulets are discarded, out ol wholesome regard for the enemy's sharpshooters ; and after the fight has progressed an hour, you will find those who are still fiy h ting dirty, grimy, and laboring (o kill the enemy with about as hard manual labor as your wood sawyer employs on your wood pile. A Young Lady's Reyenge. — Under the heading of "Birch Tortures," an account was given iu a late Euglish paper of the style of corporal punishment in vogue in many English schools.' A storyis told of a spirited girl, who, in one of these sc' ools broke some of (he regulations, the penalty of which was a whipping. She rebelled, and refused to submit to the castigation. Her parents were written to for permission to restrain her. She being au officer's daughter, word was sent that discipline must be enforced ; she must resign herself to punishment. She would not yield, and, therefore was forcibly tied down, exposed and flagellated. As a further penalty for mutiny, she was com«= pelled to sp<nd her vacation at school. She was sixteen years of age, and the insult and indignity offered to her womanhood rankled. With ber young cousin, a midshipman she. concocted a plan for revenge. Seizins: the oppoitunit.y vvi.en the housebold were abroad and the matron alone, obedient to a signal, the midshiprnau was 'at hand, and assisted to gn<z and strap tha 'matron down. Tiien he disappeared, and the young lady, appropriating the same instrument, \v<th which she had been tortured (leather thonyt.), with all her strength laid them upon the bare person of h r instiuc < r, whom she then left, to regain lit., rty as ?»lie c<>uld, while she sought the proi. ciioi. of an uncle. Her relative, \\h • vv:,s ix-li :ni.l poweiful, while appearing io censure, r.-.dly espoused her ; caur-e, netiociau'd v.' hli her parents, aud, timing her iinbittned against them, and unwilling to return home, finally adopted her. On June 5, while the Rev. Mr. Armstrong was prejichinsr a sermon on the uncertainly of life, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Baliol Roa'!, Bootle, a 3'oung woman, 25 yeais of., age, named Ann McClusky, fell back in her seat, and died instautly.