The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1877.

Wex.x.ington citizen's are not wanting in opportunities of becoming acquainted with the views residents of other places take of the city. It is curious to; note the conflict of these views. Mr. Bramhall, a cultivated and shrewd English man of business, speaks highly of the natural advantages of Wellington, and, unprejudiced as he must be, gives it as his opinion that a wise selection had been made in locating the Government here. It is unnecessary to say that Mr. Bramhall’s opinion perfectly coincides with our own. Observant travellers from the Australian colonies occasionally visit the various towns of New Zealand, and they have the same story to relate. But when a correspondent of a New Zealand contemporary tells its readers that this city is an “out-of-the-way place,” one is lost in amazement at the small amount of geographical knowledge the writer possesses. We would advise him to buy a map and a chart of the marine approaches to Port Nicholson. A “collection of wooden shanties ” is another favorite expression with some writers in reference to this city. But this taunt might be applied with equal truth to towns each with a commerce and population equal to that of any half-dozen towns in New Zealand combined. If there is anything in the remark it is the inference to be drawn that the people of this city have not faith in the permanent prosperity of the place. Had representatives of our New Zealand contemporaries visited the several land sales which have recently taken place in this town, they would have been thoroughly disabused of that impression. Men of business who will give from fifty to a hundred pounds per foot frontage for land in this city certainly do not lack faith in its permanent prosperity. It is hard to find any adequate cause for this persistent harping and decrying of everything which pertains to Wellington. The more prosperous the city becomes, it appears the more abuse is heaped upon it. We scarcely think it worth our while to' reply to the sneers constantly levelled at the port, still it is hardly advisable to let judgment go by default, as the constant reiteration of mischievous nonsense by our contemporaries doubtless has some effect upon the minds of the readers. Prosperity is certainly conducive to commerce, and he would be a bad citizen of any.town in New Zealand who would not be gratified at the advancement of another place in the colony. If it is true that it is to the interest of commerce that wealth should be plentiful in every part of the globe, how much more so is it in the different parts of the same country. The apparent ill-feeling—we do not suppose there is much bottom in it—seems to prevail most in Auckland, which is doubtless : owing to the remembrance of the removal of the seat of Government; but we dare say time will do much to alleviate the wounded feelings of the large city in the North. Its natural facilities for Commerce has been admitted on all sides, and if its citizens would look less to the past and more to the future, it would be better for themselves, and better for the colony. . This city has almost doubled its population during the past six or seven years, and as a natural consequence the trade with the provincial district of Auckland has correspondingly increased; indeed we might say that it has more than trebled, for trade is more progressive than population. The amount of commerce between, the two places is of course largely influenced by frequent, regular, and rapid facilities for communication. The steam shipping companies are doing much to expand the trade between the various ports of New Zealand, and as the towns grow and prosper means of intercourse will become more frequent and cheaper, breaking down the barriers of 1 prejudice which now unfortunately seem to exist. ■ There was a great deal of truth in the remark of the French cynic, that it was always pleasant to hear ill of one’s neighbor. However, intelligence should conquer this feeling, and it is lamentable to see those who should know better giving vent to sentiments which are only in keeping with uninformed minds. Before closing this article we would mention that scarcely a week passes without large shipments of timber arriving in this port from the provincial district of Auckland; and that there are “ wooden shanties” in Wellington, each costing thousands of pounds, in the construction of which nearly every foot of timber used came from Auckland.