MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 33, 24 May 1845, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

Advice to the Irresolute. — It is obvious that, in a great measure, the emigrant's success will depend upon his own personal character and habits. When we see disappointed persons returning to England, after a residence of a few months, or one or two years, in a distant colony, " disgusted," as the saying is, with the place, and impoverished in circumstances, we are left either to form unfavorable conclusions respecting the colony itself, or to question the fitness of these individuals for performing their part as colonists. j It is an everyday occurrence in the Australian colonies, to meet with persons who are disqualified for attaining success by confirmed prejudices and habits, by infirmity of body, by'advanced age,- by a childish timidity (more inimical to success in new colonies than the opposite extreme of rashness),, or by a gloomy and despondent temperament, which magnifies every evil, and is even attempting to foresee disasters, instead of cheerfully performing the duties of the present hour. The man who labours under this affliction cannot move without fancying a Scylla on his right hand, and a Charybdis on his left ; and whilst he endeavours to steer wide of these imaginary dangers, he falls, perhaps, upon a real disaster, which he might have avoided had his mind been less occupied by visionary phantoms. Such a man lives, breathes, and moves, in an atmosphere of anxiety and doubt. He would cultivate the ground, but is afraid of droughts, (in New Zealand, of floods), caterpillars, and hot winds : from sheep-farming he is deterred by the rot and the influenza. He will not purchase land, because he thinks the price too high : he will not lay out his money at interest, because he does not like the look of things. In short, he will do nothing rational or decisive, and fritters away his resources until necessity drives him to the adoption of some course, which is perhaps to take a passage in a home-ward-bound ship. It is wonderful that persons of this description should ever make up their minds to emigrate. If the man of indecision has emigrated, and especially if his family is large, and his resources small, the safest course that he can adopt, is to cultivate the acquaintance of some active, prosperous, and respected colonist, (he will find such men everywhere), and frankly ask his advice, with a determination to be guided by it. — Jamiesoris Travels inS. Aus. andN.Z. Lard. — Of the various articles of modern import from the United States, lard took the lead from the first, and has continued to maintain its position as the item of most extensive import. It is bought most largely by shopkeepers, to retail for culinary uses ; by chandlers; and by oil and soap manufacturers. For the first, the finest quality only is wanted, firm and of good colour, and as free as possible from the oily flavour which attaches, more or less, to all American lard. It should be put up in neat kegs, no variation of quality being allowed in the same parcel. For the other purposes, barrels are the preferable package, chandlers requiring strength of qualities and firmness of texture ; while all descriptions, down to the most inferior grease, are suitable for the oil and soap manufacturers. Imports of American Lard into Liverpool. — 1841, 2,125 barrels and 39,174 kegs; 1842, 12,326 barrels and 22,857 kegs; 1843, 25*585 barrels and 30,425 kegs.