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

Some time since a gentleman of the" highest respectability, and an old resident in tuis Province, received from a friend in England, a letter, asking for information and advice as to the future prospects of Southland, as a place of settlement. The following reply, which we publish in extenso, gives the writer's opinions on the capabilities «f Southland as a field for immigration : — " Invercargill, 18th April, 1868.— Deab Sib,— You ask me to state, in as few words as possible, my opinion of the future prospects of this Province. In reply, I have no hesitation in saying that there is a great and prosperous future in store for Southland, and that at no distant date. So much so, that it will be matter of surprise to many, and of regret to not a few, who have had the opportunity, but failed to take advantage of it, of investing in the Crown lands oi tliis

Province. There are ?o many elements that necessarily enter into the consideration of this question, that it is impossible to comprise in a few sentences what should be said in support of imy opinion. Southland has in abundance the elements of future greatness and prosperity —a fine climate —a great extent of fertile land, —capable of producing, in perfection, all the cereals and root crops of Europe, and of maintaining, in comfort and independence, millions of our countrymen. It is intersected by fine streams of water, from the " wee burnie" up to the broad, deep and rapid Waiau, which drains the largest area of Lake Country in New Zealand, and is the best in the Colony for salmon and trout. We have also evergreen forests of full-grown timber, adapted for every possible purpose that timber is used for, and these at convenient distances in all directions. limestone in abundance, and bituminous coal also; the latter discovered only a few days ago, and both, singularly enough, quite accessible, and within a few miles of the j terminus of the Bluff Harbor and Winton Railj waj, now in course of completion. What an | immense stimulus to immigration (now resumed) and to the purchase and settlement of the country, when these two invaluable and inexhaustible sources of industry and wealth are in full working order, which will be the case within twelve months. The discoverer of the coal informed me that freestone, lime, and coal are to be found in all directions throughout the Province. The absence of engineering difficulties, and the large extent of our agricultural territory, renders it certain that, in a few years, our Province will be thoroughly opened up, with inexpensively formed roads and railways giving every facility for rapid settlement. Tnore could scarcely be stronger testimony in favor of my opinion of the importance of Southland, than the remarks made by His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, in his opening address to the Council of that Province, now in session, when he sn r^esfe 1 that overtures should be made to us for a iu-union with Otago. In 1861 he predicted the Panama route within a few years, and was laughed at as a visionary. In the address alluded to, where he brings railways under the consideration of the Council, he refers to a great trunk line, from Bluff Harbor to Cook's Straits —of which we have already, in full operation, the first twenty miles, bringing the capital of the Province and its principal seaport within an hour of each other. Taking into consideration our geographical position too, it must be evident that all the coasting and intercolonial steamers must call at the Bluff, being the first and last port of call, to report, by telegraph, their anival and departure, and also to. fill up with our bituminous coaL When railways are in full operation throughout the Colony, the whole intercolonial passenger traffic will be centred in the Bluff, and, as a natural result, Invercargill, surrounded by a dense agricultural population, will be the commercial capital and metropolis of the Colony of New Zealand. I need scarcely refer to Stewart's Island, with its inexhaustible fish banks and magnificent harbor, where thousands of " Great Easterns" could ride at anchor as safely as in a mill pond. Although the subject is not half exhausted, I must close by expressing a hope that enough has been said to remove any doubt your friends may entertain as to the desirability of making Southland their future home." " It would appear" (says the " Ararat Advertiser") " that squatters are determined to combat against depressing influences in the marketable value of their wool, by endeavoring, as far as known appliances will permit, to get up their next season's clip in a manner not hitherto generally attempted on a large scale in Australia, lhe success of Mr Samuel Wilson's sheep-wash, lucidly described by him with drawings in the ' Australasian,' has stimulated squatters into imitatiTe activity; and on most large stations in the Wimmera district dam-making and sheep-wash constructions are the order of the day, thereby absorbing an amount of labor and mechanical skill very unusual at this season of tue year, and which tells very perceptibly on the description of men ' travelling in search of employment.' The constructing and improving of sheep-washes and woolsheds is at present so universal in the Wimmera district, that, -independent of the many sawyers at work on stations, the Ledcourt Bridge steam saw-mill is compelled to work day and night to supply orders now some weeks overdue." The "Otago Daily Times" of the 15th inst. says that there is a Ministerial Crisis. The address of the Superintendent contained the following paragraph : —' I propose to ask you to refer to a Select Committee the consideration of the subject of the Proclamation of Hundreds.' The Government moved for such a Committee, and the House rejected the motion by 16 votes to 15. The adjourned discussion on the reply to the address came on yesterday j and Mr Mitchell, the member for Waikouaiti, proposed, as an amendment, to inspert this paragraph : —' We consider the desire for new Hundreds so general, the opinion of the House on the subject so evident, from the resolutions passed towards the end of last session, and the necessity for a large extension of the Hundred system so apparent, that it is not necessary to refer to a Select Com-' mitte the consideration of the subject of the Proclamation of Hundreds.' This was accepted by the Government as a want of confidence motion. A division on it took place; and the motion was* negatived by the vote of the Speaker, the members being 17 on each side. The Government at once moved an adjournment; and tha House will not meet again until seven o'clock this evening. —It is understood that a meeting of the supporters of the Government will be held during to-day, when the course to be adopted will be decided upon.