The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL: TUESDAY, DEC. 9, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1829, 9 December 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL: TUESDAY, DEC. 9, 1873.

Tiie question of the adjustment of the population of tbe world is one that by inevitable law will sooner or later settle itself, the process of adjustment being meanwhile made a matter more or less of convenience. Slowly, it may be, but surely, will the denizeus of the old and overcrowded cities, with others apparently compelled by force of circumstances to seek new homes, be drafted into the countries prepared and waiting to receive them. It is in the fulfilment of this natural law of adjustment that the question of convenience arises, and is ordinarily made the basis of action by emigrauts, and it follows that some particular localities are for certain reasons preferred, probably to the neglect of others affordiug higher advantages. The disposition is perhaps pretty general to migrate to no greater distance thau can be avoided, and also to retain as much as possible in the new homo of old associations and customs. This disposition accounts for tbe great favor shown by British emigrants to the American States, the emigration being regarded merely as a change of scene, with the retention in many instances of the local influences and friendships by wbich the newcomer was surrounded at home. Countries at a greater distance labor not ouly under the disadvantage of not beiug sufficiently known, but are required to offer some inducement to overcome the repugnanco to a long sea voyage when ifc can be avoided. It is true to a certain extent that by the increased facilities and speed of communication, objoiclions on the score of distance may be Baid to be almost done away with, yet it is not actually so, and in very many cases this objection outweighs tbe positive advantages shown to exist in the choice of the more distant home. "We are necessarily in a position of disadvantage to many other fields for colonisation on this ground, aud although we may be certain that the advantages which we have to offer to emigrauts from the old countries are equal if aot .superior to those which are afforded by any competing field, we require further to meet, or to reduce to a minimum, the objection on the ground of distance. If we could afford to wait there is no doubt but that our turn would come, and that as tbe result of the success of present colonists many more would be attracted, and further tbat in the meautime our position and capacity would be better understood. Unfortunately, however, we cannot afford to wait, aud therefore not only must there be no early cessation of the present Btream of immigration to the Oolony, but unless that stream be very largely augmented the most disastrous eon sequences will follow, aud the Colony will not ouly be retarded in its prosperity, but for a long time damaged in its reputation. It is a fact that at the present there is an actual scarcity of labor to complete the work now in progress, and the existing certainty that projected works cannot be commenced unless an additional supply is forthcoming. The present scarcity has already exercised a serious effect on the contracts undertaken a few inonthß back, some of wbich must result disastrously to the undertakers, and tenders for new works cannot be obtaiued from tbe same cause, and a very strong case indeed may be made out for pushing to the extremist verge exertion to obtain the necessary supply. Yet even this exertion must have its limit, and great as the need may be shown to be, we are not justified in meeting a present necessity by a payment so greatly in excess of the proportion of our resources which may be legitimately devoted to immigration purposes as shall seriously burden us in the future, and hence it follows that the present effort to induce immigration, and the present scale of expenditure in connection with it, cannot be long main tained. Our present circumstances are exceptional, and justly claim that extraordinary means should be used, but it cannot be supposed that the present rate of expenditure in connection with immigration can be very long rahin^" tained. "We Bhall shortly have to rely upon the solution ofthe problem of the " overstocked home territory," and the operation of the laws which govern emigration. The causes at work in the old country are probably sufficient, taken in connection witb our own indue- ments, to promote a stream of immigration capable of satisfying ordinary wants if tbe necessities of tbe present in connection with the public works policy can be met. The success of the newcomers will operate iu the future as a powerful stimulus, and a large number will be attracted in this way whom no Government Agency will reacb. It seems desirable in view of tbat which must sooner or later come — namely, the contraction ofthe scale upon which tbe obtaining of immigrants is pursued— tbat present effort should be made to secure the nomination of as many immigrants as possible, and to get tbem out at once, thuß Berving the double purpose of providing for an immediate necessity, and securing ourselves against the contingency of a suspension of tbe present exceedingly favorable terms for the introduction of immigrants. The satisfaction expressed by the newcomers with the country, and their own prospects, is early bearing fruit, aB is evidenced by the comparatively large number of nominations made by recent arrirals, aud tbe Immigration Agent has acted wisely

in causing the notification to be made that the favorable terms now oftered by the Government cannot possibly be long continued. Nearly 900 persons may be expected to arrive in the district within a very short time as the result of nominations at the Invercargill office, the bulk of which nominations may probably be attributed directly to the agency of the Age«t. The whole of these will be absorbed upon arrival, as would probabiv three times as many. Meantime we would adviße settlers tn avail themselves at once, aud as extensively as possible, of the nomination system, as meeting the present difficulty, preparing against a contingency, and as being the best adapted to secure the be3t class of immigrants. We believe we have reason to congratulate the province on the suitability of a large number of the newcomers to our requirements, and the new arrivals on the prospects before them of doing well for themselves, and of speedily realisiug good bomes and comfortable positions.