SOUTH AMERICA.

Southland Times, Issue 937, 20 April 1868, Page 2

SOUTH AMERICA.

♦ CHILI AS A FIELD jfOR COLONISATION. (From the " Omani Times.") We are in receipt of a letter dated Valparaiso, 19th January, 1868, from a gentleman formerly connected with this office, and who has been now for some time resident in Chili, giving the outline of a scheme for establishing a colony in that country, the particulars of which will no doubt be interesting to all those who are on the look put for a new field of enterprise. We may add that, coming from the quarter from which it does, the subjoined information may be depended upon as thoroughly reliable. As the

Writer of the letter from which it is au extract is now on his way to this colony, we hope to be able in a short time to detail the scheme more fully and minutely. There is little doubt that many parts of South America present many attractive features to the enterprising colonist, and we should not be surprised to hear of the current of immigration setting steadily in this new direction. The valley of the Amazon has recently been occupying a good deal of attention at home as possessing every requirement as regards soil, climate, and natural features, for the support of many thousands of. settlers, and, from what will be gathered from the extracts we now publish from the letter above referred to, it would appear that there is also plenty of room for many thousands in Chili. Our correspondent writes: — " I shall leave here for your part of the world by the March mail from Panama, j The object of my doing so is this : — I, in conjunction with two others, have entered in an agreement to colonise about 8000 square miles of private land in the province of Valdivia, South of Chili, and we are in treaty with the Government for 3000 square miles more for the same purpose. "To carry out the scheme with fewest chances of failure, I have resolved to commence in the colonies rather than in England, as new chums in a new couritry are more nuisance than profit, with their conceit and extravagent expectations. I want men who can tackle the axe, the plough or the ox-cart without growling, and don't expect macadamised roads or brick houses waiting to receive them, and gold for the picking up. The land possesses 70 miles of coast, is the most fertile in Chilli; is intersected by navigable rivers, with other streams affording abundance of water-power; plenty of ports, and steam communication twice a month ; genial climate ; forests of fine timber, and a multitude of other things that to enumerate would only weary you. Suffice it to say, that I never saw a conntry so favored by nature or so neglected by man. There is also gold and coal, but I want to keep that quiet here. Labor is plentifhl, at from 6d. to Is. a day (without rations), and there is an unlimited demand here for whatever can be grown. Any one unherstanding agriculture, arriving here with £50 to £100 in his pocket, can secure an independence right away. Agricultural machinery can be hired of the Company on the spot ; and if the natives can make a good profit out of their bits of land — ploughed, or rather scratched with the bough of a tree, guess what a few enterprising Britishers could do with proper tools ! Mind I'm not exaggerating. The hind we have agreed to dispose of as follows : — Immediate Purchase, at ss. an acre (about) ; 2nd. Deferred Purchase, paying 2s an acre for five years; and 3rd. Merited, at about 6d. an acre, with a lease for fourteen years. (I say about, because the Chilian measure is not exactly the English, and I wish to avoid fractions.) A man arriving with £50, could therefore reckon thus : — 100 acres' rent for one year, £2 10s ; living (good bush fare) for one year, £25 ; wood for building and fencing gratis for the cutting, but for nails, sundries, &c, say £5; hire of reaping and threshing machinery, &c, say £7 10s. — £40 ; thus leaving ten for contingencies before getting his first crop in. The land doesn't need a plough, but only a " cultivator " or " scarifier," for the first two or three years, it is so rich. Animals of all kinds are cheap ; and as the making of butter or cheese or rearing of poultry is all but unknown, you may guess what is wasted. It is a shame to see so much profit lying useless. "As a proof that the Government of Chili is willing to do all in its power to assist, I may merely mention that they have granted the colonists an exemption from all taxation for fifteen years, free import of all implements, tools, goods, <fee., for the private use of the immigrants and exemption from all dues, &c, on the vessels bringing them, which must reduce the passage-money considerably. If need be, I know we can get more for the asking ; but we want a superior class of immigrants, and not a lot of semi-paupers; so we don't wish to offer more encouragement than the above. "As for the country, I like it as well, or nearly so, as Victoria — better than New Zealand; and, as for the laws, all that an Englishman prizes is secured to the Chilians — freedom of meeting, of the pres3, and of speech ; equality before the law ; religious toleration ; even a share in legislation to the naturalised citizen — either in the Tapper or the Lower House. The great bugbear of the Spanish American States— revolution — exists not in Chili; the last having taken place twelve years ago, and then not a single outrage was perpetrated on the foreigner : the revolutionary chief even shot two or three of his men for robbing the store of a native. The two armies met and fought it out fairly : the revolutionists were beaten, and nothing has been heard of them since. A proof of the solvency and steadiness of Chili may be gained from two things — firstly, that in the country there are 600 miles of railway existing, and 500 miles more will be shortly commenced ; and, secondly, that on the Government applying for a loan in London a short time back, four times the amount required was tendered for, when both Spain and Russia failed to raise the wind. As for the lingo, which is another thing that sticks in an Englishman's gizzard, it is surprisingly easy, and a really good knowledge of it may be gained by the biggest numskull in creation in a month or so. As the colonists, however, would be to a great extent thrown among their ■own countrymen they would only need enough to direct their laborers, and that can be picked up in an hour. A person of long standing in Chili (an Englishman) is to be posted as agent in the settlement, in order to act as interpreter in case of need, and protect the colonists from impositions from whatever quarter.