THE GLASGOW HERALD ON NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 292, 20 December 1879, Page 6

THE GLASGOW HERALD ON NEW ZEALAND.

The Glasgow Herald of October 2 has an article ou New Zealand, from which we lake tbe following ox tracts ; — " We are so accustomed to have the affairs of our flauriahing offspring, New Zialand, painted for us in a io3t-3alor, wore or less glowiug, that a cbauge of

hue recently perceptible /attract*, more of our atieotioa than it tni^ht have done had our relatives familiarised us with quieter tones. Tbe colonial railway system ia not complete, but it is far enough advanced to open up large districts at some distance from the coast, and then there are, in the North Island alone, as many as 1800 miles of common road. Tbe military result of another Maori war is not open to doubt, but on moral, on political, and economical grounds such a war could only be regarded as disastrous, and it would be especially so to New Zealand at a moment when she proposes coining to us for further liberal loans to continue her public worka scheme. That scheme has been prosecuted with great energy, and until now, it must be admitted, with remarkable success. . The 22 millions of money she has got frooa us have been on the whole well expended—although it is to be noted '.hat nearly one-fifth of the Bum was required to pay the expences of her last war. The large property she has created io public works shows a jadtoioas expenditure of toe money entrusted to her; and the statistics of the Colony betoken a fair character of prudence and thrift in the populace. The banks of the colony, after all paying handsome dividends, have reserve funds to the amount of nearly two millions. The Poat-office Saving Bank has deposits to the amount of about £800,000. In 1878 there were 20,000 holdings of cultivated lands, and the extent of land under grain crops was about 500,000 acress. This means a great deal for a population of only 400,000, including women and obildreo. And to the growing of wheat and the breeding of sheep the colonists are constantly eeekiog to add new industries. Their latest idea is to become wine growers, and already 26,000 acres have been set apart for systematic experiment in the cultivation of the vine. It is said (hat the climate of tbe chosen district is most favorable for the purpose. It is claimed that New Zealand possesses the sort of volcanic soil which ia b st adapted to grow wines equal to tbe most famous in the world. Tokay, Midaira, Canary, and some of the best Italian wines are grown on volcanic soils, and, besides, New Zasland baa a great variety of climate districts which resemble tbe wine growing countries of Germany and France. Should tbe experiments which are being instituted prove successful a new Bource of wealth will thus be opened up to the Colony. This is something to look forward to, but the financial condition of tbe country is not all that could be desired. Tbe Government has bad to admit that the land tax is a failure which must be rectified by the imposition of a new tax. Among those proposed was on income tax, tbe operation of wbich in a new |and only partially - settled country will be watched with interest, and not without .doubts as to ita success. There is also a new proposition for the rating of native holdings, by which tbe Maoris are to be allowed representatives in the Colonial Parliament. This would seem a stap in the right direction, and it would be interesting to sac bow it is regarded by the natives; but these, and a number of other proposals, are all suspended by the defeat of the Grey Ministry. The only thing; that seems certain is, that the colony means to coon to us for the loan of another five millions. She would be wiser, considering the existing crisis in her internal affiirs, to postpone tbe execution of her grand public works, and to defer to a more convenient season her application for further monetary aid."