A NEW ZEALALANDER'S IMPRESSION OF QUEENSLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2623, 4 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A NEW ZEALALANDER'S IMPRESSION OF QUEENSLAND.

Just a few lines as I promised to let you know my! opinion of Queensland in so far as I have had an opportunity of judging. At the set off New Zealanders have an exaggerated idea of Queensland's wealth and natural resources. Not but that the colony is, doubtless, very rich ill her resources, but the developmental department is sadly wanting much of thi3 is to be attributed to the uncertain seasons which prevail here, the want of a proper water supply being the bane of the country ; but want of energy is also a large factor in the cause of non-develop-ment. Until a proper artificial irrigation scheme is established here the country will never be able to carry on those mining operations, agricultural, pastoral and other works which are necessary for the success of a colony such as Queensland is. The timber-industry, the sugarworks. everything in fact is suffering from the want of water, and I predict a very bad eight years in store for the 1 colony. Land has been selling in Bris- ' banc and its environs at fictitious prices, prices on which the buyers can never expect to get even a 3ij per cent, return ; but now the reaction is setting in, and purchasers are depressed. Public works here seem as unrcmunerative as are those of N.Z. Railways are certaiuly paying better than N.Z. ones, but even they give no adequate return for construction. Then again railway construction here is much cheaper than in N.Z. owing to the natural formation of the country, and the few engineering difficulties to be encountered. The Public School feature is not to be characterised as an unqualified success, the cost of education nearly 'equalling that of N.Z., but the results being less satisfactory. The school-buildings, furniture &c., do not compare with those of N.Z., nor do the teachers impress you with much favourableness. The country just now is looking wretched, owing to the drought, and cattle are selling at poverty prices. Station-holders are in a very bad way generally, but seem hopeful for the better seasons which they have been expecting for the last six years. Produce has been selling at a premium and a very high one. N.Z., potatoes have been sold here at £30 a ton. Oaten hay, chaff and wheaten chaff at £8 a ton, and other produce in proportion. I am glad from late accounts to bear that N.Z. is again looking up, and you know all my sympathisers are with all my old colony, which I trust, ere long, will prove herself what she is, the pick of the bunch. From the northern mining centres here, we have received encouraging accounts as to the quantity and quality of the stone on hand for crushing; but, uufortunately, owing to the lack of water, the crushing is not 'un fait accompli.'