ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS. To the Settlers in the Auckland District. (Per favour of the New Zealander.)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 675, 2 October 1852, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS. To the Settlers in the Auckland District. (Per favour of the New Zealander.)

Fellow Settlers, — Do not be discouraged or down-hearted by the present depressed state of our colony, or envious of the appan ntly flourishing state of our sister colony. It is true that vast numbers of our population arc leaving us, and that, just at a time when what we seem most to require is an increased population. It may be true that we have, as settlers, yet to endure another year, or perhaps two, of comparative privation, and depression. But lam confident that ultimately our colony must be amazingly and permanently advanced by the gold discoveries of Australia. Experience lias ever shown us that that country which has gradually advanced in her agricultural jmrsuits and quietly worked out her own legitimate business, has ever become a country of the greatest stability and prosperity in the long run. That the immense influx of emigration to Port Phillip, Bathurst, &c, must be an advantage to this colony, there cannot be a reasonable doubt. If there are already 40,000 persons at Port Phillip wilh every probability of that number being doubled before many months, surely it is not unreasonable to calculate that from 1000 to 2000 will, within the next year or two, find their way to our shores. Some who have left us poor, will doubtless return rich, and thus bring their capital to play in this colony ; others who have gone from various parts of the world in quest of goldand have been disappointed, (and these will not be a few) may come to our Island and be content to acquire wealth in a more gradual, but in a more certain and much more healthy way ; and many who have made money at the diggings, will naturally be seeking a locality for a permanent new home in which to cany out less exciting and more steady pursuits. In this case New Zealand naturally presents itself, and doubtless numbers will flock to our shores. And even during all this time of probation a market is found for our produce, and happy is the man who has tilled his ground and got his crops in, for he will surely be amply repaid for his steady toil and labour. I will not say a word against those who like to risk the chances of life and health in seeking to make a more rapid fortune, for those who have no ties in the colony it is natural that they should do so. But I do bay with confidence, that upon taking a retrospective view some few years hence, my decided opinion is, that those who have not been tempted by the golden allurements, v> ill have done best, and be more content with their lot. Taking the population at the various diggings at 50,000, and the amount of gold sent home up to this time, at £4,000,000 sterling, we discover, an average of j X'Bo per man, and this takes in from 12 to W months work. It is true that some may make their hundreds, and a few their thousands in two or three months, but little is said of the thousands j of persons who toil from month to month meeting with nothing but disappointment. The fact is, as in all pursuits "nhere a "rapid fortune* is the object, it must be a perfect lottery. For myself, ; I may say, that I came to this colony intending by steady and persevering industry to make a living, and to provide for a rising family, better than I do could at home, and although after two years of toil and labour, but a small measure of success has attended my exertions, I do not feel any discouragement for the future, and I hope to be able bv plodding on both to fetch up lee- way, and in a few years to gain for myself and family, a profitable, comfortable, and happy homestead. Let those who wish to gain wealth more rapidly do so by gold digging, with all its attendant risks and miseries. — I remain, yours, &c, Old PjumcAJi.