SINGULAR VIEWS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 213, 14 June 1872, Page 3

SINGULAR VIEWS.

We were not aware that New Zealand was such a delightful place to live in as described as follows :—New Zealand (the Times remarks) appears to be fast approaching that happy condition of a country in which history finds no materials. Never in recent experience has any transformation been more rapid or complete. The youngest reader can remember New Zealand wars, and the time that has elapsed since the last British regiment was withdrawn fiom Auckland may be measured months. Yet the North Island is now as peaceable as the Isle of Wight. Our correspondent has told the public how he had travelled right across the interior, tiaversing the heart if the Maori settlements, and visiting the very scenes of conflict not only without hindiauce or danger, but without so much as discovering anybody or anything from which danger might be expected to arise. The race of fighting savages has disapp jared.To a considerable extent it is belie\ ed to have actually died out, but, at any rate, the Maoris who survive have turned the sword, if not into a ploughshare, at all events into a pickaxe, and are anxious only for Government as roadmakers. They have given up the struggle for mastery, accepted the tramway and telegraph, and betaken themselves to the construction of loads through the “ bush,” which formerly protected them. The remnant of the raceneed inspire the settler with no alarm. They are now ready enough even to sell their lauds, and have become a harmless and even useful class of the population. With this single drawback to the advantages of the settlement happily removed, the rise of New Zealand ought to be rapid indeed. Nothing can surpass the description given of its resources and capacities. . . , If it be asked, as it certainly will be asked, why the resouices of this colony are not turned more immediately or extensively to account in aid of the difficulties occasioned by a redundant popu'ation athome.we can only reply by remarking once more that colonisation, even under the most attractive facilities, must necessarily be a work of system, concert, and investment. The idea of many persons who talk about emigration at home is that it cau be so conducted as to place every emigrant at once in the position of a landed proprietor in this country, with a farm, a homestead, and an income. But neither here nor elsewhere can land be made productive without the application of capital and labour. Even in New Zealand itself with all this wealth and extent of territory, a very small holding requires the investment of what to an emigrant is a considerable sum of money. We are told that 300 acres of “ good available agricultural land,” may, indeed, be obtained, as far as the mere price is concerned, on very easy terms, but we are also told that the young farmer who goes out with the design of turning such an acquisition to good account ought to have a capital of £1,500 or £2,000 ; that this money must be applied with great care to insure a full return, and that the emigrant must not he above putting his own hand to the plough. On these terms he might soon find himself “ the owner of a pretty and productive freehold ;” but is it not obvious that such terms cannot be at everybody’s command? A comfortable bit of money, a thrifty turn, a knowledge of agriculture, and a resolution to work—all these things to--gether must go to the making of that fortune which is supposed to await every immigraut ready-made,