The Westport Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1150, 13 February 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1874.

Two documents, of very different import, but still both bearing strongly upon the immediate future of New Zealand, are to band, and are worthy passing comment. The one is the Immigration "Return issued by the Marine Department of the Hoard of Trade, for the quarter ending September, 1873, and the other is a Report upon the present stagnation of trade in America, and its effect upon the labor market The one indicates the scanty flow of population to New Zealand shores, the other an obstacle that may cheek the superabundant How of labor to the States, and under favoring circumstances divert a portion of it further southward. By the first it appears that during the specified three months 78,348 emigrants left the United Kingdom to find new and wider scope for their energies. Of these 57,000 made their homes in the United States, and of the rest some found their way to British North America, some to Australia, and a comparative few to New Zealand and stranger lands, vaguely described in the report as " all other places." The precise number choosing New Zealand as their home is not explicitly set forth, but the Immigration returns of the colony for the past year will, when published, give but a meagre tale. One point of special moment is that the return shows that siuce 1861 the tide of colonization flowing from the shores of Britain has been steadily increasing in volume. The return for the corresponding quarter in that rear being but 19,892; as against the grand total of 75.341 for the quarter ending 80th September, 1573, and only in four corresponding periods from 1861 to 1873 has this number been exceeded, and those particular periods wherein the excess occurred were the autumn qunrter of 1851 and three succeeding years. A time of distress and dire disaster at home, and during the discovery of the goldfields which lured thousands to the then little known lands of theSoutb. The steady increase shown as exteudiug over so long a period of years may be taken as asserting that the flow of emigration will still expand, and that with reasonable inducement the number of immigrants landing on New Zealand shores will augment in progressive ratio to the facilities afforded them, of which indications have been already given by the tele graphic report of the increasing number of passenger-ships now en route or on the berth for New Zealand Turning to the other report, which tells a tale of intense commercial depression, of suspension of business houses, the cessation of industries giving employment to thousands, and much consequent privation and suffering, the details of the saddening record point to effects that must for a time cheek the flow of population to the States and send it eddying elsewhere. Emigration will not cease because one field of profitable labor is for the time closed. The movement has obtained an impetus that no mortal influence can stem, and the restless multitudes of the Old World if turned from one path will quickly find another. New Zealand will share in the harvest of sturdy hone and muscle, which America for the time cannot gather. And not of workers in one particular branch of industry but in many, as the report we speak of shows only too plainly. Following close upon the financial panic in commercial circles, establishments have been closed, hours of labor abridged, and in New York alone 15,000 workmen are row idle. The railway proprietors are reducing their battalions and cutting down wages. In the cotton mills 15,000 persons have been thrown out of employment. The iron founders have nearly all stopped work, being glutted with stock unsaleable in the present condition of affairs. In Print works., shoe factories, steam mills, and silk factories similar stagnation prevails, aad in one of the most extensive iron works in the Union, the managers announce to the men " That no regular cash payments need be expected, until cash can be obtained for products of the works.' In lieu of money the men are given food and clothing supplies. Throughout the States all mnnufacttiming industry has been similarly affected, and where work has not been altogether suspended, the mills are running but half or two-thirds time, and the working staffs are reduced, and wages brought down to minimum rates. In referring to the cause and effects of this wide-spread subversion of trade and prosperity, an American journal says:—" That when money is scarce at 24 per cent., when goods are unsaleable with an apprehension of a decline of the raw material on the opening of the market, surely no malignant motives, no murderous policy, need be imagined to explain the suspension of production. Only men of enormous capital can go on in such conditions, and these would find their capital melting away if they should continue to manufacture without sale, and pile up goods on a falling market." The result of this condition of affairs is that, the price of food and clothing and luxuries has been cut down iu many instances to below cost

price, but this will not alone induce emigration in the face of fearful lack of employment. America's adversity is New Zealand's opportunity, and there is little doubt that emigration to these shores will receive a considerable impetus.