THE CAPE AS A FIELD FOR EMIORATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1335, 20 January 1881, Page 3

THE CAPE AS A FIELD FOR EMIORATION.

A good many people in New Zealand who know nothing about it, have spoken very enthusiastically about Cape Colony as a field of labour. Mr James ODea, aWanganui resident, was one of those who were, induced to leave New Zealand on these representations, and he has written back to a friend recounting his experience as follows :—: — Dueban, South Africa, Nov. 8, 1880. Dear , I arrived in Natal aftsr a long 1 and rough passage of 60 days from Melbourne. There were 60 steerage passengers in the ship, and out of that number only three got employment myself and two more. 15 of the remainder enlisted at 5s per day to go and fight the blaoks about 200 miles inland.' Among the passengers were carpenters, blacksmiths, and other tradesman.) They were thoroughly disgusted at ' not being able to get employment. , .Some, of them sold watches that* had cost £10, in New Zealand for'jC2. •' It took me six days hard fossicking , to ' get,, a; job, The average wageß of carpenters is Us per day for this, "place and ion 5O 7 ',miles round.' Living 1 is very deari bo^ftijlngFat "reataurantis "from 2Ss up /to 4Q3 per^jßekkK^Be^fjand'mutton ,8d rito /Ipcl , jpea^lbJ \(k potatoes . ' fIdCM Mere. fiJuMxne,;o6utixxy the L^-j>eo^leij:b%ffi driedfox-dung,, , no^rewoVd^feilt'lf bff

Zealand is better than J2s here. There is no timber growing in the country fit for house <work, and all building materials come from America, Norway, and Sweden. Sometimes there is great scarcity of timber, and carpenters are thrown out of work for weeks. This place is about the size of Wanganui. I have never seen a white labouring man working in the town. All the labouring work is done by blacks — coolies and Kaffirs at £1 per month and tucker. If had mentioned the wages in his letter to you I would have stayed in New Zealand, and as soon as I make my passage money I intend to clear out of this hole. Any country in the world is as good as this. If you drink water without boiling or filtering it you get worms from 12 inches to 2 feet long. There are about 200 carpenters in this town, and often there are a number knocking about, nothing to do. It is nearly impossible for a white labouring man to get work, as black labour is so cheap and plentiful. Blaoksmith's wages are 10s to lls per day ; bakers, £2 per week, half found; labouring men 6a. All tradesmen's wages run from 10s to lls per day. "White servant girls get from 6s to 10s per week. This is one of the dearest countries in the world. All cooking and waiting in restaurants and public-houses is done by coolie and Kaffirs. The same in private houses. The coolies will wash 100 pieces dirty linen for 2s 6d. I tell you it is a regular disaster for men to leave New Zealand to come to this country. The passage from Melbourne to Natalia £15 steerage in a sailing ship. The weather is very hot just now. Most of the houses are built of brick, with very little wood work about them. Up the country, carpenters get 14s per day, but it costs £10 to go up, and board and lodging costs £2 to £2 10s per wees. You may thank your stars for not coming here. I would not advise any more to come. I hone, &c, &c.