OTAGO ACCORDING TO THE VAGABOND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1165, 25 October 1883, Page 1

OTAGO ACCORDING TO THE VAGABOND.

In a recent letter to the Australasian, 'The Vagabond' writes very strongly about Otago, and contrasts it very unfavorably with Canterbury. He says :—I did not write it at the time, but now that the bitterness is past I must place on record, that as a rule, nowhere in the colonies have I met such a lack of hospitality, such a general cold community, and such a grasping greediness to get every cent and dollar out of a stranger as in the province of Otago. I have done every credit to the beauties of Dunediu, to the pushing enterprise of its merchanta, and to the kindnesses received from old Victorians and ethers tfho had known me beyond the seas. But for the rest of Otago—l suppose if a man lives there for 20 years, and that he is known to have a good bank balance the people will thaw to him. But they are not spontaneous to the stranger; quite other thai so are ' the old identities.' When I left Dunedin for my trip through the Southern La.ke district a gentleman to whom I am under great obligations for courtesies which have made my path pleasent inNewZealand kindly interested himself tp obtain me letters of introduction to stationholdern or managers. In .any other part of the world I should consider the manner in which theße letters were often received an insult both to the introducer and myself. The secret was let out by one squatter, who gave me a kind and cordial reception, but said, •We don't want you here writing about the country.'* We don't want travellers nor tourists; nor settlers, Wo just want to be left alone.' This is the spirit of the ' old indentity' of which I have heard, but thought. it was long since extinct. They want to be left alone with the rabbits 1 'E for J one i will gladly so; leave them. t However, I, determined never to present another letter of introduction in New Zealand. '