FROM NEW ZEALAND TO LONDON, VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 6, 7 January 1871, Page 4

FROM NEW ZEALAND TO LONDON, VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

[continued] I remained at Omaha one night. Its situation is very good, and very pretty, being on high wooded banks or rolling hills on the west .side of the Missouri River. It contains many large shops and stores. The streets are finely laid out, and they have the street tramways. In the vicinity are many fine residences of rich settlers. We are. now away from the regions" of waste and desert land within . the Eastern' States, whose wonderful progress strikes the eye and mind throughout the journey. The immense value of emigration becomes at once apparent, as furthering the wealth ar.d progress of the country. Starting on again behind the iron horse from Omaha, you have the choice of several lines to travel through the Eastern States. I chose the Burlington and Missouri River Railway, which runs through lowa and Illinois (crossing the Mississippi at Burlington) to Chicago. The country is most interesting a^sd fertile. Fresh . towns springing up in all directions, splendid farms and prosperous looking set- - tiers the whole way. The country is abundantly wooded and watered. All this magnificent country, of immense extent, was two or three years ago almost unset- . tied. But the immense emigration encouraged by the States gives such impetus to prosperity and settlement and railway formation, that in almo'st no time a mere wasle- becomes a prosperous and thriving country, .'with every comfort and convenience of modern times. Chicago, on Lake Michigan, is a very large town, doing a great business in grain, , with many manufactures. It is in communication by rail or water with all parts of the States, and in importance, I should fancy, can be second to no city in the Union. The shops and streets are very fine and extensive, while its suburbs of residences and avenues shpw. at once the extent of its riches and progress. From • Chicago I made ray next stop at . Falls, travelling by the Michigan, Central, and G-reat Western Eailway via Detroit. iff I remained at Niagara and neighborhood ■ three days, and you may be sure was well pleased with my visit. ; But you know the Falls well, so I need attempt no description; The place was full of visitors. From Niagara I travelled across Lake Ontario in '.' a fine steamer via Toronto, along the Canadian. shore of the Lake,- of which I had a fine view. The country is all cul- . .ftiyated, with belts of timber, : and ,-• numerous small towns and villages to the St. Lawrence River. ;The . celebrated rapids, and; points of interest upon, this great river „:.are many indeed, far too many to attempt; meationin'g in a letter. Steamers ; are . \ goiflg to and fro, and lafge timber rafts. continually. The Grand Trunk Kailway '..of. Canada runs^ within i sight .nearly; the, whole way to Montreal,-where I remained ;;i:a day found "the suburbs, and thei} starred onward to ''-Ne w" Yprk, via the 3 ustljr Celebrated, ; picturesque,^ and lovely . i..; of Lake ; Champjiain , the Adir in..mountains, Ticond.eragp r: Lake Greorge, Fp'rlt '^illiam Henry, Saratoga Springs, Albany; aud down jthat "beautiful'ri^er-Hudsbnj with its sublime and lovely speneryj including the Catskill ,- ■ :: ;-^pji'nt»iiiß^-|& v c A .;'-.. It, would, you may well imagine,, .be: <jui.te imppssible to mention l or relate iati I' saw:, or' to tell of' .tfie"

magnitude, progress; and extent of the country ; Jts population, towns, buildings, -manufactures, &c. It is' sufficient for meNtp say that nothing could he better: worth^seein<r, and the .lecomnjddatioh of;' all kinds is, superior. The country, at that hot period v ojt the year^- was ;full of pleasure-seeker's, tourists, &c. The steam-'; boats and railroads are very cheap, but, the hotels very dear — from 4 : to" 5- dollars per day. The whole of the journey had been made during one o,f the hottest seasons remembered; in- New York it was unbearable, and numbers were daily stricken : by sunstroke hi that, city. The only pleasure I had in, New York was driving round their splendid parks. I visited the Gold-room Exchange, in the city, which was in a state of excitement owing to the war news, and the great rise iu gold; but .the -noise, > shouting, and tome unintelligible uproar of.voices, all speaking out some piece of. news at one and the' same moment were not very pleasant. The steamer most convenient for me wns the Anglia, via, Londonderry and Glasgow; she made the passage in 10 days. The weather, was fine and the sea calm the whole voyage; her 'passengers were principally German d-pctofsjind officers going to Prussia to the war. Altogether, the journey may.be considered one great pleasure trip, especially if the traveller has time to make "occasional stoppages ; months may bo spent on the trip, so great a variety is there in wild scenery and cities, and for the sportsman ' nothing could be better than the localities I have indicated. A good hunter who knows the country may easily be hired. As regards the fares charged, I found great inconvenience from . there being no through-fare when I started, and the imperfect information afforded in New Zealand. This, I have no doubt, has been remedied, as I find through fares now advertised in England, and full information ; but they do not include the extras of sleeping-car and meals, which cost about 8 dollars a day, brsides a short detention either at New York or San Francisco, or both. Passengers can remain at any stations they choose on the railways, and as many as they choose. If good fast and commodious steamers are put on the line between New Zealand and San Francisco, no doubt all the passenger traffic will be taken by this route, which would then be perfect throughout, and attract travellers from all parts of the world, and it will be a great pity indeed if this is not done. I think I have given you a very fair outline of the trip by the new route to England, but I cannot conclude this letter without stating that one great fact was continually manifesting itself to me iu America (as it always was iu Canterbury, only that in America it was carried out and practically developed, whilst in Canterbury it was allowed to languish and die away), viz., that no colony can satisfactorily progress without immigration, to stop which, as in the case of infant Canterbury for the last few years, may be said to be its ruin. The American crowds of immigranis are coming from Europe almost daily. Districts as large as Canterbury are occupied, settled, cities formed, manufactures springing up, and railways made simultaneously, the whole country reaping the advantage caused by constantly extending its commerce, 'productiveness and population ; wherever population flows tliere are the railways at its heels. v ""' ' ■ When I arrived at home I found that America and Canada have agents in almost every town and village in the United Kingdom, making known their advantages, &c, and the walls are placarded with tempting bills for that purpose. But. nothing can I see anywhere about New Zealand. All the troubles* and failures of Canterbury of late years may be fairly attributed to the want of foresight in not fostering the increase of population. t : **". /