LETTERS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1470, 20 February 1886, Page 2

LETTERS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

The following are extracts from letters received from a native of North Devon who new resides in New Zealand, and which recently appeared in the North Devon Journal. They should prove of interest to settlers in this district aa they emanate from some one resident among us, “ 'Timuk” and “ Gualdine” evidently meaning Temuka and Geraldine : 1 am farming 1700 acres of land belonging to the Government, reserved for Educational purposes. I am giving only a small rent, having commenced with it in its natural state all covered with tussock, a sort of dry coarse grass, and cabbage trees, which had to be rooted up before the land was ready for the plough. It is heavy clay land, free from stones, somewhat pretty like parts of Devon, and grows fine English grass, but it is not so good for growing grain.. T hav« generally 400 sores of grain sown, but I can only grow 20 bushels of wheat and 80 bushels of oats, which barely pays, I have generally about 3000 sheep. This season I have sent Horne 74 bales of wool averaging about 2801bs, and worth about 9d in London. New Zealand generally is more adapted for grazing, but a very large quantity of grain is grown in Canterbury and North Otago—and could bo grown to pay if wo could depend upon getting 3s 3d for good wheat and 2s for oats, but we do not average that price. We have the most approved and modern machinery the two-furrow plough has been in common use for ten years—the self-feeder has been in use here for the last four years, and is doing good work and becoming general. My market town is the seaport town of Timaru. Though our climate is varied, changing sometimes from extreme heat to chilly cold in a few hours, it is quite bearable, and on the whole charming and somewhat delightful—the winters are very pleasant and mild compared to England. The buildings of Timaru are good, but they are scarcely up to the average of the larger towns. The population of Timaru is about 11,000 ; Dunedin has the largest population, 42,802 ; Auckland next with nearly 40,000; and Ghrist-Church over 30,000. 552,807 is given as the estimated European population of New Zealand in 1884. The natives numbered at the same date some 44,000, all in the North Island, except 2160. These latter are scattered all over the South Island. AH towns with 1500 inhabitants are entitled to and have its Mayor and Councillors as governing body. There is pretty much sameness about the Canterbury plains on which we live—it was originally a vast tract of perfectly level plain covered with a soil of dry nature, producing a grass which is called “tussock,” interspersed every ten or twenty miles with rapid running rivers of more or less volume taking their rise in the mountains, which stand in a continuous chain all through the South Island with their summits covered with perpetual snow, making a grand majestic back ground to the monotonous plains. In those mountains there is no doubt some of t l l e grandest scenery in the world. We are 80 miles from Mount Cook. It is hid from our view by other snowcapped hills. My own farm is composed of low rolling downs. From some of the highest knolls in clear weather we got a splendid view of the surrounding country for a distance of say 20 or 30 miles—and the high snow clad hills are plainly seen some hundred or more miles.

The natives are a fine, intelligent race. They can speak English, many of the younger ones fluently ; we do not see many of them. They mostly live on lands reserved for them about the seaboard by the different rivers. This is their habit for the sake of fishing, by which they obtain their principal food. We have plenty of Churches and clergymen. We live eight miles fro* Timuk, and the same from Gualdine two small towns of 300 inhabitants. Each town has its own English Church, Catholic, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Primitive Wesleyans and a small detachment of Plymouth Brethren—all except the latter ’at any rate have their resident clergyman. We have a superabundance of professional men, clergymen, doctors, lawyers, engineers, &c. The lawyers are especially numerous. All tbe professions have many worthy representative* aipoogst them.

1 believe we are provided with a too liberal education system. The State pays £4 17« per child, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, to the children attending the Primary Schools. Secondary Schools and Colleges have had very large landed endowments from Government, and also get money grants from the same source at the present time, a child can be taught English in all its brandies, Latin, French, and German, for the nominal fee of 10 guineas per annum. This, I believe is too cheap for our future welfare : the rising generation are toq genteel to H . cjirty theirhands.’* They will not take menial positions. Employers of labor apd capitalists will have to do the dirty work themselves. Houses for the most part are built of wood, but a large percentage in the towns are built of brick and stone.

No doubt farming is better here than in England, although just at p-r>s nt grain and stock are low in price and difficult of sale. I think I arn right in saving that our politics are democra'io. Kir William Jat vds, our Governor, is the

most popular ruler ever we had, but at the present moment there is greater depression in New Zealand than there has ever been before. Generally, the soil in the South Island is the best, especially for agricultural purposes. My father (in the North Island) could grow more grass on one acre of his land than I could on three of mine, but his is not so suitable for grain growing. By the bye I would mention for the information of your gentleman friends, that I expect 1 have quite as many hares on my farm as there are in the whole of Devonshire. About a fortnight since my two brothers, a brother-in-law, and a friend shot 25 in four hours. We regard them as a nuisance. They come within a yard of our doors and eat the flowers. This seems to be the only kind of Old game which there is out here, r akough we have had pheasants, partridges qtrails, introduced here for many yews > also salmon and trout in our rivers. The latter are doing well and getting numerous in some streams, and for many years have afforded good sport for anglers.