SLANDERS ON NEW ZEALAND.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 977, 14 September 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

SLANDERS ON NEW ZEALAND.

It is desirable sometimes to “ see ourselves as others see us ” but it is not the most pleasant thing in the world to see ourselves pictured without regard to either accuracy or truth. In the Belfast Weekly News, of 9th July, appears a letter by Ulster Scot, junior,,” addressed to Lord Enniskillen, and to “ Ulster Scot’s friends at Home and abroad, in which occurs a statement referring to New Zealand, of which it may be said, “ What is new in it is not true, and what is true in it is not new.” He says the tale told by the late Irish census of continued emigration must have caused sorrow to every patriotic Irishman, but that were one assured tbat Irishmen added to their happiness by this desertion of their homes the sorrow would be less. This, however, he thinks, is open to grave doubt, and to prove that his doubts are well justified he quotes portions of a letter he has received from a Mr. J. W. McNeale, of Dunedin, who appears to have engaged with zeal in the disreputable task t like a bird of evil omen, of fouling his own nest. We quote a passage from the letter of the veracious McNeale, as a sample of the rest :— “ Farming here is an awful life, and does not pay. You will be doing a good and humane service to Ireland if you will worn people not to emigrate "to New Zealand. It is on the verge of bankruptcy. The finances as put in print are not reliable. There is no business of any kind, except fora few privileged merchants. Wholesale trade in lying and deceit has built New Zealand up, and such a country cannot prosper. Better far for people to jump into the Lagan or the Lough than come here. Hundreds are going to Sydney by every steamer,” Looking at the statistics of the Colony, “ Ulster Scott ” finds they corroborate Mr. McNeale’s assertions, for during the month of April “ 212 persons landed in Zew Zealand, and 417 fled from its shores. Katikati is no exception. Some of the settlers regret bitterly having fallen in with Mr. Stewart’s plans.” Jesuits are stated by Mr. McNeale to “ swarm in provincial towns and districts, particularly in Auckland.” “ Ulster Scot,” commenting on this, remarks : —“ Until I read this, I rather doubted the statement in last week’s Church Times, which stated that recently five Methodist ministers in New Zealand have been received into the Roman Church.” Truly, we go from home to learn news ! The cloud over New Zealand has a silver lining, however. He goes on to say, “ Your Lordship must not suppose that the Colonists will soon unaiiinv csly send in their submission io the yalican. There are in the two islands 69 Orange lodges, with an average of 60 members each, subject

to the jurisdiction of 'your Lordship., Here is gios of the Jesuit Brothers can exercise themselves —ample scope for display of phtiepce and perseverance.”—W. Z? Herald.