IMPRESSIONS OF NEW CHUM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 24 October 1868, Page 3

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW CHUM.

We. have been forwarded the following letter for publication byttgehtleman who arrived in Otago lately. While we do not altogether coincide with his remarks, we think they are worthy of oome attention : — My dear Stay-at-homey— As I have , always endeavoured to get over your prejudices against travel by .glowing descriptions offoreign lands, I consider ~ ittyself bound in honesty-to -write- you from Otago, although I cannot by any stretch of imagination paint it' couleur de rote.' Well', you must imagine me, after a pleasant three months' voyage, off the heads, two rocky promontories commanding the entrance to Port Chalmers. Picture to yourself masses of igneous rocks grown over by dissi-pated-looking scrub ; add a bitter wind and a blinding sleet, and you have some idea of my first impressions of the "Britain" — heaven save the mark—" of the South Pacific." Well might I quote Shakspere, and exclaim — " I am in New Zealand now, more fool I ; when I was at home I was in a better place." Dunedin I' found a respectable town in size, and. a Very little Pedlington in nature, gossip, slander and greed being the chief characteristics of its inhabitants-. They blow greatly of its 'sudden rise ; but you know, my dear Stay-at-home, from former letters, that I have seen cities, real cities, not Dunedins, spring up in half the time in the United States. However, it is not a bad kind of place, thougn the hotels might keep better brandy. The only building Worthy of notice is the new Post-office,, which is a curious mixture of all known styles of architecture, with a soupgon of colonial invention added. It is a striking example of the- excellent system of government here, as ft has been found quite unfit for its original .purpose, and is therefore to be ; made' into a University. I see you grin over the idea of a Dunedin University ; but j I assure you the wise-acres " who do j our helm thraw, man," seriously mean it, although, the whole population of Otago is only about 50,000, and the ctebt already unbearably great. But the governing body here - are a rum * lot, in fact I am seriously inclined to doubt whether a decent town council could be pipked out of the : wholecrowd. ,■> lißuppose you never, .heajj4 of, ' Mr. Macandrew : ; in fact I must confess ; my own ignorance of "this great jnan " until I landed here. He wasj I believe, a. carpenter, , but. has,. ceased mending chairs and tables in order to patch the body political,. This inspired /carpenter and a person of the name of fc.Yogel; .'who would have found a Suitable occupation at home as an old-clothes man, jaxenoax principal' "statesmen," and the rest or our rulers are rather worse- than the two examples $ have given/ At home; one would be ratherinclined to look down lipon a person who- bore- the euphonious title of . '* Muattery' bnf fcere,,the casejs djf.ftjrtpifc' 'fjtojrtn' M> atfiftocrfecy of

Jhe^ country, and carry things with a Tery^ngti hand^inileed. The state 1 of ; society where men who, an most cases, I>egan life as- illiterate shepherds } are at the *top .of the ; tree,. can\be. more, easily imagined^that described. Irom own observations here, 1 should ihinfr'^ " " society fo> the- supply, of ' Lmdley^Murray;f" grammar ' to: colonial statesmen " would be a charily deserving ' tlie best 'iuDptfrt -Bxfeter , Hall cpuli give. /On'iJhe/WMi, I shduld" 'B&y^this was . ab,otlt f 'tW wprst governed of England's,, colokies. Ifhad given this" yile r pte-eminence' to j the Blue-noses ; but l*am now [of opinion that Otago whips New Brunswick into a cocked hat. I Shall give you some further proofs ofwhat I say next 1 letter, till when, I remain, . *Yours truly,* Fean?:' Nevtchuic. Dunedin, Oct, 16,1863.