A NEW ZEALAND SETTLER IN AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2555, 24 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A NEW ZEALAND SETTLER IN AUSTRALIA.

[By Richard Reynolds.]

Dear Mb Editor, —I have been asked by several to give a short account of my visit to Australia. Well, there have been many better able to give you information than I am, over there, but I know there are a certain class of people who like to keep all their information to themselves, possibly for fear other people will know as much as tlioy do. I am not one of that sort, and lmvo often wished I could express my feelings in suitable language. A pressing invitation from the Rev. Ralph Brown, and a chance of paying my expenses with a few Jersey oattle, which I should bo able to sell under exceptionally favourable circumstances [ with Mr Brown's imported ones from Jer.-ey, decided mo to make the trip. After going through several yards of red tape (1 may say miles, for I had to travel miles to get it) I got them all safely on board the " Manapouri. The trip seemed pleasant enough to some people, but not to me. lam more than ever convinced that I was never meant for a sailor. Captain Logan is a splendid specimen of a mail, and to hear him conduct the Sunday services would do any man's heart good. There were a few that ridiculed the idea of going to listen, but they are always the first to cry out if any danger appears. Arrived in Sydney after a five day's run, and got the cattle safely landed. One of the youngsters was so delighted to get on shore again that it took a smart gallop on to the wharf, and landed clean into the sea, but the ship's carpenter soon had it safe again. 1 got some men and drove the cattle through the streets of Sydney, I mention this, because in Auckland, when Mr Brown's cattle came from Fiji, I was told positively that I could not drive them, so I had to get them taken out to Newmarket in trollies—S quiet cattle that were far easier to manage than the people that made the laws—not allowed to walk up the streets of a town like Auckland while in Sydney or Melbourne you can drive or lead such cattle at any hour you like. Australia will never fall short of soil for brick-making for a machine could be started at Sydney, and another at Melbourne, and make bricks until they meet, but for the natural grass, this part of the country would be almost useless. The scraggy gum trees all the way become very monotonous, but there is =!ciircely an acre of waste land all the f>7o miles. 1 was very much astonished to see almost as sharp a frost as we get in Waikato, at Albury, the tap in the yard was frozen and the country quite white. And yet the orange trees were to be seen all through the township covered with ripe fruit. This was about the middle of January, I suppose the frost there must be more seasonable than here for we all know that it is the very early and late frosts that do the damage with us. I can assure you, Mr Editor, it is quite a treat to travel or convey stock in that country, especially Victoria. I booked the ca'tle through Now South Wales first anil I could stop them at night whenever I pleased. The first day we were delayed through a mistake in tho trains, and when the cattle had been long enough in the truck, and we were still many miles from a good stopping place, I requested the stationmaster at one of the stations to forward them by express passenger train. At the next station there was a telegram to say that the cattle had to be sent on by express (which was just then in sight) and taken wherever the owner desired. How long would it take to make that arrangement in this country ? The Viotorian railway system differs from that of New South Wales in width of euage, as well as in other respects, and it was necessary to change the trucks on crossing the border. At Albury (which is the end of tho New South Wales line in that direction) there was, at the time, no provision for trucking cattle, the practice being to drive them over the boundary to Badonga, which is tho first station in Victoria, three miles distant from Albany, and I quite expected I should have to drive my cattlo there. As I found the atmosphere favourable to travellers, I thought I would try another plan, so I telephoned on to the station master at Badonga, asking if he would send a truck on to Albury. Now, remember, there were no trucking yards at Albury in use at this time, so my stock had to be from the passenger platform. The question a-ked was, Are the cattle quiet? and satisfying him on that head, his reply was " Allright; the truck shall be there." Well, really I was astonishod. Then I asked him if I could get them on by the passenger train, as they were valuable cattle, and still the reply was, Yes. You will be surprised, Mr Editor, when I tell you that this train only stops five minutes by time-table, but we couldn't get the cattle in aud tie them up in five minutes, but there was no cursing and swearing because of that. No; but every help and civility was shown by officials and others. I remarked to the Customs Officer at that place that tho atmosphere in this country was very pleasant. I think he must have tiad similar remarks made to him before for he knew well what I meant and his reply was, " We do all we cau in this country to oblige people in every possible way," and so I found it all the way through There is every encouragement there for an enterprising man. The freight per mile is just the same as ours for cattle trucks, but they hold twelve big bullocks instead of seven or eight which brings th>-m half as cheap again, the trucks are all smooth inside, no framework sticking out all round about four inches with edges on them almost as sharp as a knife to cut the cattle whenever they aro jammed against them, I beard an Australian say : —" We would chop all rour trucks up for firewood." I was glad to see whilst at Hawera the other day some trucks very similar to the Australian ones, and would carry sixteen to eighteen bullocks, all close boarded and smooth inside. I was glad to see this improvement in the trucks, and I saw no objec tion in having this number of cattle in one truck. I think the authorities in this country might do more than they do to help people iu their different enterprises, for instance one of my cows was not allowed to land at Sydney, so I brought her home again, and from Auckland to Cambridge cost me thirty shilliags, This is abominable seeing the trucks have to come up empty in any case, for freight down, no one would object to 10s for a single beast, and if they amounted to half a truck they ought to be taken at the average rate, which would be six shillings per head for a hundred miles. Many times people would buy odd beasts in the Auckland market if the freight was what it ought to be for single animals, but the present rate of freight is prohibitory. Just fancy Auckland not having a quarantine station ! I was asked in Victoria to say if cattle could be landed at Auckland from foreign ports, and on my return after making enquiry I informed the enquired that cattle could be brought subject to quarantine regulations, and that a quarantine station would most likely be proclaimed, his reply to me is as follows:—"I find that cattle cannot be quarantined in Auckland at all, must go to Wellington—not good enough —will get them here—great humbug." This is from an out and out Victorian, it is all very well for Parliament to say there are no cattle coming to Auckland and need no quarantine there, whilst at that very time arrangements were being made tc import stock that would be a benefit to all New Zealand. I was never so well pleased with New Zealand (as a country) as when I returned from Australia, to see everything looking green and fresh, made me feel satisfied with the future of this colony, but for this I would not remain under its Government, On a future occasion I will give you the information I obtained as to the best cow for the butter industry, and a few other ideas that occurred to me.