IMMIGRATION No. VII.

Southland Times, Issue 1027, 25 September 1868, Page 3

IMMIGRATION No. VII.

(to thk ibrrOß op xhb sottebxand times). Sib,— ln my last I stated that were my propositions acceded to circumstances and nature have decided to what part of New Zealand the tide of immigration should be directed. As it will be virtually selling large tracts of land on deferred payments, it must be where sttch tracts are' available^ and these are to.be found only in the Middle Island. That, thereis plenty of land in the North Island, which could, with great advantage to the colony, be occupied by such" a class of military settlers as the Germans have proved in Caffraria, and the "United States, there can be little doubt. To i induce such settlement, however, better terms than paying for their land and passages by instalments would, I imagine, be required. The North can make its own arrangements ; considering that a million and a-half has already been spent in the attempt at forming military settlements there, with little success, I caiinot bilt Conclude it will prove expensive. In the Middle Island it is different. The natural advantages and capabilities of the climate and soil, together with the inconsiderable difficulties to be overcome in early settlement, in comparison with those to be met with in the United States, will when once known to the Germans, more than compensate for the greater distance to travel from Europe. In America, to quote -Mr Trollope "the Government price for land is about 5 shillings art acre,- and the settler may get it for this price if he be contented to take it not only untouched as regards clearing, but also far removed from any completed road. The traffic in these lands has been the great speculating business of western iinen." In fact the railway companies .have bought all the land along the line of rail, to resell at a large profit; so that what with the severity of the climate, the A difficulties in clearing, the price charged jby speculators for land in any way accessible, settlement in the Middle Island of New Zealand is comparatively 'eagyy once introduced I have no doubt that unassisted German Immigration and capital will roll in. Of the five millions odd of immigrants, to the tfnited States between 1820—1860, Germany furnished 1,486,044. It is getting pretty well known now in Europe that America is not the paradise for farmers or laborers, it was once deemed ; v and with a little judicious management the tide will be turned in favor of the Australasian group. To return to ourselves. Canter- * bitty, Otagoj and Southland are the three .provinces in New Zealand in which the . greatest extent of unsold . agricultural land is to be found ; to the permanent and reproductive settlement of which for the benefit of the whole colony, to lessening the heavy and almost intolerable burden of present taxation, the Central Government should at once direct its attention. The colony cannot afford to have much more of its waste lands escheated for feeding sheep, we must grow men, not wool. Nelson has already parted with her birthright for a mess of pottage. From the Ist April 1856 to 31st December 1866 she sold 694,963 acres of her best land for £263,572, principally for grazing purposes. We have sold quite enough to speculators and sheep farmers — though we have not sacrificed the land like Nelson—and unlesß something better is ■ shortly 'done with the balance of unsold Crown Lands, both will come to grief. Let] the General Government at once take enegetic steps to introduce such an Immigration as I suggest, let there be a Board of Commissioners, such as I propose appointed in each Province, and the . welfare of New Zealand as a colony will be established, its capacity to endure its .taxation—- unprecedented in the history of a young settlement — evinced. I cannot close my remarks on this subject of introducing German Immigration without calling it to the attention of the Company which has so largely invested in land in the eastern districts of this Province. "Whether the General Government will- take the matter-in hand or not, the Company can, and if it desires to improve the value of its property, will. Indeed it is in a better position to do so than the Government, for it could not only locate the settlers in farms, but supply them with stock. I would suggest that it should as speedily as possible obtain and settle at least two hundred German farmers on the best of its land, say oh the banks of the Mataura, leasing it in hundred acre, or more, farms at a moderate rental, with a purchasing clause, - extending over a period of years ; starting each farmer with a small number of sheep and cattle, also to be paid for by installments. If this were done the remainder of the company's land would be increased two hundred per cent, in value in three years. Having such advantages to offer the Company would be able to pick their immigrants, and obtain not only competent and practical farmers, but men of sufficient means to render reproductive what has hitherto proved otherwise. — X am, &c, W. H. Peabsok, Invercargill, 24th September.

FI&HT BBTWBBH A FOX AHD EAGLES. — A shepherd in the vicinity of Ballater witnessed a somewhat remarkable contest the other day between a fox and two eagles. Beynard had got a piece of meat with which he was making off, when an eagle swooped down and attempted to seize it. The fox boldly showed fight, however, and stack by his prize. Another eagle then came to the aid of the first, but both were set at defiance by their four-footed antagonist, who was ultimately allowed to get off in triumph, the eagles soaring aloft when the shepherd approached rather near the place where the fight -wa» proceeding.—' Edinburgh Courant.' A Vbbt pat Lady on getting into an omnibus heard a gentleman make the grumbling remark, -"Omnibuses were not made for elephants." To this she replied, "'Sir, omnibuses are like 'Kottfß <Axt, intended to eawy ill forte of *..***£,■;■ ,«.v ;- ,; • .' •• . , .-■■ ;....