THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays, SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 34, 7 August 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays, SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1875.

With the groat improvements which arc daily being brought to hoar in facilitating communication throughout the country, and thereby increasing business in all its branches, with the fervent hope of having trie railway running from the North to the South end of this Island, and which, we trust before long, to see realised ; and last, but not least, the almost decided certainty that we shall not in future bo disturbed by any serious Native complications, we think we may safely prophecy a glorious future for this portion of New Zealand, which has boon not unaptly termed “ Tire garden of New Zealand.” But with all these advantages it still behoves us all to do our best to try and make it by our united efforts, that which Nature lias already intended it to bo, by bestowing on it, the most fertile and easily erl irated land in New Zealand. We will try and point two or three ways, by which this prosperity may bo promoted ; viz., by roads, by opening up all available and good land, and also by insisting on a proper class of immigrants being distributed throughout the district.' In the old Roman times those concprcrors of almost the whole of the then known world, knew full wed that the surest means of establishing their power, was by making good roads in all the conquered districts, and thereby preventing their defeated opponents from again rising with any chance of succors. Many of these old roads arc still to be seen in Great Britain, and the Continent, and many are even now used, thus remaining as giand monuments of their skill as conquerors, and their discrimination as settlers.- Since the decline of the Roman Empire, its mantle seems to have fallen on the Anj.lo-Saxoa race, whose national vent and feelings seem peculiarly adapted for colonisation. Let us hope every endeavour w'll ho male to push roads through all land, either conquered or purchased from the Natives. The second means, that of throwing open all land as soon as acquired, is mainly dependent on the first. Without roads, settlements in back districts, are impossible. And what splendid lands are laying waste this moment, waiting to be tickled with the plough, to laugh with a golden harvest! Some twelve thousand acres or so, principally in the Whennaknra Block, will be thrown open for selection next month, but we fear that

much of it is not of the host quality ; but still wo must ivmembcr, that perhaps one’s idea of land here is rather exalted, and that which is called of second quality, would in other parts be reckoned in the first rank. No doubt most, or all of it, will be taken up : not we trust, by speculators ami land sharks, hut by men who are determined to live on their selection, and who, by doing so, will increase the trade of the town and port, and a's > will give employment to the immi. nnts, who are do -patched here from time to time. And now this brings us to speak on the third subject of our remarks. A. few words concerning the last party of immigrants sent boro. They appear to be a well behaved, ami well disposed body, but they all have families and are all foreigners, two insuperable objections, especially in such a place us this. Variety is charming, and variety is required hero: some single men, some unmarried women, and some families to meet the demands of the different inhabitants requiring assistance. Great Britain cannot surely be yet so drained of a good class anxious to emigrate, that the agents find it necessary to export foreigners wholesale. In large towns, a. mixture of nationalities is of benefit; in small agricultural districts, where there arc no moans of interpreting one’s wauls, it is suicidal. Wo hope in future the wants of this place will be more carefully attended to, and that we m«y bo considered sometimes of consequence enough to take first choice.