NEW ZEALAND IN 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1010, 10 December 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND IN 1881.

1 This is the title of a paper in the Contemporary Review for September, by Mr. Arthur Mills, who, it will be remembered, arrived in Auckland in November of last year, and spent his time up till March 12, 1881, in exploring various portions of the North and South Islands. The writer does not attempt any pictorial description of the natural beauties of New Zealand, but contents himself with a’brief summary of the actual condition of the colony in the political, financial, industrial, and educational aspects. And it would be as well if all our colonies were periodically brought before the notice of the British public in this way. Changes take place

every year, either for better or worse, and during the last two or three years Englishmen have looked upon New Zealand with not very favorable eyes, owing to the many unsatisfactory reports which have been sent over to this country concerning the financial condition of the colony. But Mr. Mills’ article will serve to dissipate many of the idle rumors set afloat, principally by unscrupulous adventurers, and help to restore confidence at Home in the Colony. Without expressing any opinions on the financial policy of ten years ago, Mr Mills proves by facts that the work inaugurated by Sir Julius Vogel is rapidlj r tending to the development of the Colony, and to its commercial prosperity. Referring to the railways, he says that “ if New Zealand in these matters had gone ahead rather rapidly, it has been in conformity with the precedents of almost all our free Colonies, whose ruin has been frequently predicted, but which, nevertheless, still survive.” He alludes favorably to the admirable if costly system of education as practised in the Colony, describes the ecclesiastical organisation, and has a good deal to say on the Maoris and their gradual extermination, which he regrets. As a field for emigration, he thinks there are two classes only to which the country offers temptation as a home, namely, to those who are ready to work for wages, as shepherds, domestic servants, and laborers, and to those who can take out with them a few thousand pounds to buy sheep. It is strange that he has overlooked many of the other important industries in which a good deal of money has been made, and wnich will yield still larger returns in years to come. We believe, with Sir Daniel Cooper, that there are as big fortunes to be made in Australia and New Zealand in the future as have ever been made in the past, and Mr Mills speaks without a thorough knowledge of the question when he says that “ the days of making large fortunes out of small beginnings in New Zealand have almost passed away.” As regards the future of the colony, he very wisely remarks that “ how far the natural advantages which the country possesses may be utilised for the best interests of the community must depend in great measure on the moderation and sagacity of her leading public men.” He thinks the present system of governing our free colonies, appointing a Governor who has no real power —is a rather critical one, but of all the communities owing allegiance to the Queen few, he says, “ are by their personal and natural advantages better calculated to weather any future political storms than the colony which has been christened the Great Britain of the South.”— -European ELail.