IMMIGRATION.

Southland Times, Issue 961, 1 June 1868, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

(TO THTH IDITOB OS THB SOTTTHIAND TIHB3). Sir, — The motion, in a recent sitting of the Provincial Council, for the encouragement of immigration into this province by the inducement of grants of land was it will be remembered withr drawn by the mover after considerable discussion. The weight of opinions appeared to be that no additional stimulus was needed to induce a tide of immigration commensurate with the present wants and probable future requirements of the province. The admitted capabilities of Southland in the fertility of the soil, and its general adaptation to the pursuits of both pastoral and agricultural industry would it was asserted in proper time exert their influences, and cause an influx of the class of men whom it was. most desirable to have settled amongst us. Against the plan proposed an argument was employed, based on its unfairness to those who, having paid their passage out had become purchasers of land in the province. A further objection was founded on the difficulty of appropriating land for this purpose of such quality, and in such a situation as that it should be really valuable to the grantee, and at the same time to avoid fencing in its occuj pancy by harrassing restrictions. The necessity of ensuring occupancy and improvement was generally admitted, but the conviction of this necessity ccuid not be entertained without almost inevitably leading to the conclusion that in some cases the restrictions imposed with the grant might make it a positive injury instead of a blessing. The subject has grave difficulties connected with it, and requires carefully handling. It is an old saying that " Q-ood wine needs no bush " or in other words a good article is its own advertisement. This is however only true under certain circumstances, inasmuch as there may be no possibility of persons who may be anxious to avail themselves of certain advantages becoming acquainted with their existence except through the medium of an advertisement. In one way or other the capabilities of a district or province let them be ever so good must be made public before they will be extensively availed of. The discussion on this subject will not have been without its effect, because by it the facts will have been made known that an extensive immigration hither is needed by ourselves, and that the field in which we propose to employ the labor we seek to introduce is one which has the reasonable promise of yielding a good return. Taking a broad view of the question, it is not a matter of regret that the proposal to grant land to immigrants by way of inducement, or as a kind of return of passage money, has been for the present shelved. Tha fair way of dealing with the matter is to regard it apart from any considerations of special inducement, and to endeavor to ascertain the legitimate attractions of the province as a settlement. When these are fully understood, there can exit>t no doubt as to the result. Those of us who have been a few years resident have felt, and still feel, our attachment to the province continually increasing, and our confidence in it as the future home of our children increases in equal ratio. The province contains in itself all the elements of future prosperity. The breadth of its agricultural area, and the absence of difficulties in its preparation for the purposes of husbandry beyond those which are necessarily to be met with in any newly settled country, renders it a most eligible field for immigrants whose tendencies are in this direction. The productiveness of the soil and the generally genial climate form important considerations in making up the estimate, and, while admitting the comparative failure of the harvest in the late thoroughly exceptional summer season, it may be assumed from the returns which have reached us from neighboring colonies that even this exceptional year will not only bear comparison, but show favorably by contrast with other districts. The forests of timber of kinds adapted for all the purposes for which timber is required, are of an extent and capability to meet the necessities of a densely populated region, and with an increase of population must open up an important and highly remunerative branch of industry. The proved existence of coal in a locality easily accessible is a fact in the history of the province, the discovery of which will in all probability have a greater influence for good upon the future of the province than that of almost any other natural advantage. In the existing railroad, and the promise of its speedy extension, a guarantee exists for speedy and cheap communication between the port and the interior. The distance of road already constructed and now in good travelling repair, with the works at present in progress, furnish an additional assurance to the settler that the means either already exists or will not long be delayed for the transit of his produce from even the most remote locality to the market. The position of the province on the ocean highway ia another important element affecting the future of Southland, and is one of which the advantage cannot be over estimated. The present abundance of employment, and the remunerative rate paid for the same, i3 a consideration which only incidentally affects the matter as indicating present prosperity. On the I broad principle of containing within her- ! self all the requisites for the reception and maintenance of a large population with all the indications of their ultimate prosperity, the position of Southland has

but to become known to ensure to her ft full share of the tide of immigration, being all she needs to enable her to rerlise all that Providence has placed within her reach. — Yours, &c, . Obsebteb. Invercargill, May 29, 1868.

(TO THE EDITOB OF THB WSEXLY TIKIS.) Sib, — I always understood that roadsurface men were intended to keep the roads viable, but, not being a road engineei, I suppose I ought to consider myself entirely ignorant of these matters. I am, however so opinionative, and selfwilled, that I will persist in thinking I do know two or three things. For example, I know the road contracts are not only not fulfilled, but that the roads are in an inexcausably disgraceful condition, I also know that there are nine or ten men on about two miles of the lately metalled North road, while the formed, but unmetalled, portions are actually allowed to get impassable, and to take care of themselves. Some time ago, when I went up country, I was congratulating myself on the apparently certain and speedy completion of these contracts, and the good roads I would find on my return. Instead of. which, I ran the risk of breaking my neck by getting into dry ditches (not there when I left), running parallel with the newly gravelled portions of road, south of the Junction Hotel, the ditches being evidently made to prevent travellers getting on or off these^ except at the ends, where you drop axle deep at a single step. I also know that the convenience of the community, and not that of the contractors, ought to be attended to, and the latter compelled to finish the works within the stipulated time. It is simply childish and absurd to urge that the weather is too wet. It may not quite suit the contractors, but it suits roadmaking — being the best for consolidating the metal, by carting over it to complete the distant portions. Trusting you will draw the attention of the authorities to the hang-fire system, of fulfilling contracts that presently obtains, I am, &c. W. Stone, op Stone G-bayed & Co. May 29th.