MISS RYE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 45, 19 February 1864, Page 6

MISS RYE.

('From the Times.) : A new home is almost a contradic- : tion in terms, The ideas of home and novelty appear all but irreconcilable, and an abode can scarcely become really a home until' it -ceases to be new. Especially, however, in this truth perceived when home and country are changed together, and when the abode of which the emigrant is in search is separated by thousands of leagues from the laud of his forefathers: We need but this reflection to understand the letters which Miss Eye addresses to us from the other side ofthe world. That benevolent and public-spirited lady has assumed the task of facilitating and regulating the emigration of women to Australia ;• and she now, for the second time, informs the country, through our columns, of her experience and her impression. It ' is gratifying to learn that the 'Lancashire emigrants who recently sailed, have had a prosperous voyage, a safe arrival, and a fortunate * destination. Thoy are all doing well. Of the eighty single young women who left our shores, no fewer than fifty found situations within a fortnight of their landing in New Zealand; and the superior intelligence and dexterity of the men have met with prompt recognition. But the adventurers have not found a home yet. That blessing has to be created by industry and patience, and it is simply because it cannot be extemporized that the first fortunes -of an emigrant appear so dreary. MibS Eye's complaint is, that this unavoidable ordeal is made more trying, depressing, and even dangerous, than it need be by the culpable remissness of the colonial authorities ; and we believe that hor statements are substantially true, though colored probably by the prepossessions of a mind intent on a single object. There is nothing incredible or even extraordinary about the story. Miss Eye saw that a class of persons whose prospects of happiness at home were poor in the extreme would be placed in a very different position if they could be transported to the Antipodes. Thore they were wanted; here thej"" were in excess. Nor was this opinion confined to herself, or to this side of the world. The Australian colonists shared it, and took pains to give effect ,to their views. They employed agents ' in this country to promote the emigration of suitable classes, they 'offered gifts of land, and they voted money towards the expenses of the passage.. But though they could take these broad measures for the furtherance of an approved policy, they could not descend to the details by which tlie comfort or convenience of individuals might be secured. In the colonies people are used to shift for themselves, and they naturally leave others to do the same. Preparations have been nominally made for the reception of female emigrants on their arrival,/ and it was probably thought the colony had done at least as much as could De expected of it. But then comes Miss Eye, 'full of her mission, and impressed with the importance of Jier object, not only to the emigrants, but to tlie colony itself. She finds the arrangements miserably imperfect, and regards them, from her own point of view, as still more imperfect than they are. She memorialises the local authorities and writes to us. The authorities are, of course, father angry., They consider that Miss Eye expects a great deal too much, deny her statements, and then proceedin true official fashion to reform the abuses >: which they had declared to have no; existence. Miss Eye had told the truth, but that truth had appeared more impressive to her than it did to others. We hope, however, that those who administer these matters in the Colony will now give a little more attention to the details over which, this controversy has arisen. They probably think that emigrants have not much to complain of, even if they should have to "rough it for a few days after arrival. -- They j forget that these few days, especially J in the case of "women, are important i days, and that in this period the future j career of the emigrant may possibly be determined. Eirst impressions go a long way, and there is really no reason j why these. impressions need he so ter- ; ribly discouraging to the newly-arrived emigrants as they generally are. No j doubt the colonists are full of greater tilings. They have a country to construct, and an enormous territory to reclaim. They can find space and sustenance for millions, and are eager to promote immigration ; but they cannotattend to _ the immediate comforts

spared some thougnt for the~expecta- — tions of these people bii*'th6ir arrival. Probably a very few founds," and a very little foresight would : have made all the difference between Hwhat Miss ■ Eye found and what she 'looked for. Even if she looked for a little' too V much, it was 'worth while to satisfy her. She was engaged on a work of acknowledged importance, she was sure to report her experience, and it was as well to get her good word. As it is, almost enough was said to impede the very immigration which, the colbny anxiously invites,, and 'all because of a little bad management.' The authorities, in their rough way of managing - matters, did really leave Miss Bye something to complain of, and-were then injudicious enough to give her short answers, when, with perhaps a little too much coloring, she proceeded to complain. The first day of the search' after a < new home must be a hard 1 day at' best. The emigrant has achieved his tedious voyage, has escaped the dangers of the deep, and has reached the promised land. Bat that land must be strange ' and almost forbidden in its aspects. Everything is ■ new and nothing 'is homely. The poor Lancashire lasses felt their hearts sink within them, till they found that, at any rate, whatever might be lacking, there was food 1 in ■ plenty. The discovery that good bread and meat were to be had on easy terms convinced them that in' this respect they had not been deceived'; but, fof ; ' the rest, the introduction was not a i " cheerful one. There' is no reason/ why t • this drawback shoidd" exist when so- '' little would suffice to remove it/ TheMormons, who are said;to surpass "all '* other classes in the skill with which/ they regulate emigration an&'coloniza- V tion, are peculiarly careful about'; first '** impressions. When the emigrants," after their toilsome inarch across the ( vast prairies of the West, approach' the City of the G reat Lake,' a cavalcade ' "' advances to meet them with exulting / music, boisterous welcome, and all the, ' \ thousand commodities which the new comers may be supposed to want. We J need not imitate this parade,' but we * might profit by the example. A'well- i found ship, a good captain, and a hand ' of welcome at tho new home, would ' r deprive emigration of half its bitterness. It is hard tbat importations, ' admitted to be so valuable, should 'be' held so cheap on their first arrival. True it is, in the main, that persons [ who have once accepted the necessity \. of 'emigrating are not likely to be "/" deterred by the expectation of afew'',, days' discomfort in the new home.' I . When Miss Eye tells us that fifty ' ; women out of eighty found themselves 1 well provided for in a fortnight's time, >>\ she holds out a temptation to emigranbfrJ? which her descr iption of " barrack" - accommodation will not destroy. The s * good, in fact, far outweighs the bad, -' but, as even this proportion of evil is 1 clearly avoidable, there can be 1 no ! -f reason Avhy it should continue. r ' ''".