AS OTHERS SEE US.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2695, 19 October 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

AS OTHERS SEE US.

The Real Wealth of New Zealand. Tub special correspondent of the liish Times, who recently made a tour of this colony, seems to have been greatly impressed and highly delighted with what he saw. From a letter from his pen, which appeared in the Irish Times of July 24th wo extract the following : It would delight the heart of anyone who takes pleasure in the operations of nature to bowl along the smooth and level roads which intersect the plain in all directions and see on either hand the tall corn overtopping the trimly-cut hedges, and already bending its head in anticipation of the stroke of the reapers; the sloek cattle browsing among tho fragrant clover or lying down in lazy repletion ; the meek-eyed sheep oblivious of weapon more lethal than the recent boneficient shears, and as yet blissfully ignorant of the modus operandi of being converted into mutton chops, or any other delicacies to which the ovine tribe are susceptible of being transubstantiated. The farms are in abundance, large in area, and prosporous in appearance. What a delightful change from the burnt up, withered appearance of Australia. Truly this is the labouring man's paradise. Short hours and big money—both of which are tending to act as a break on the real and prosperous advancement of Australasia in general, and I would almost say New Zealand in particular. At present I have no intention of entering into the economic question, not having had sufficient experience of both islands to form anything approaching a complete judgment. But this 1 will say, that labour here rules everything, from the choice of a Parliamentary representative to the rate of pay. One cannot but be greatly surprised at the aspect ot the croos, be they wheat, oats, barley, mangolds, or potatoes. All are doing well, and as for yield, I would be ashamed to name the estimate for this year. If prices only keep up, and there is every prospect of this now, New Zealand, to use a vulgarism, will be set upon her legs once again. Two or three seasons of this nature, and I feel convinced that the great wave of depression which has settled on this rich country for the past five years will be dispelled, and people start with clean bills of health in the matter of mortgages, fca. Over-legislation has been the curse of New Zealand. A desire to borrow when they could, and spend the same on public works, such as railroads, harbours, breakwaters, roads and bridges—in fact anything that could employ labour. Roads and bridges are necessary, and the work is carried out successfully as far as they are concerned. Railroads have opened up the country, and pay to estimated value. I do not say that the trains travel at "Dutchman "or " Wild Irishman" speed; they rather lean the other way, slow and sure being their motto. They answer the purpose, and however people may grumble, the great convenience they are in a young country should be well taken into consideration. The trains in the two islands are mixed ones, with an average speed of twenty miles an hour, including stoppages and shunting. Now, in the matter of harbours and breakwaters, money has undoubtedly been squandered with no mean lavish hand. Timaru and Oamaru speak for themselves: whilst the "sea wall" business is so exemplified at Gisborne, where a clear waste of £300,000 is going on, that really the wonder is how people with eyes open should have ever allowed such expenditure. On my way to Christchurch by rail we traversed some very magnificent country, looking the picture of healthy productian, Having been asked by Mr Brydone, the General Manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, to break my journey at Maheno, I did so. The name of this company very few of you will recognise, but when I just mention that it was in connection with it the late Glasgow Bank was so deeply interested you may feel a little keen about it. There is rather a marked difference now to then. The values of the estates have risen considerably, and would be u most productive asset tor any commercial company. Totara was the station I visited. A homestead worthy of any country gentleman, but land beyond compare. Thousands of acres in wheat, and the busy reaper and binder hard at work. What a revolution compared with the old country mode of getting in crops. Yes, and without tho most perfect machinery for ploughing, sowing, harrowing, and reaping the golden grain fields of this land would pretty well be wanting. Farming is studied here in its best form. But on this subject for tha present I must stay my hand, and notenterinto details. We drove through field after field—paddocks they are called—of four, five, six, aye, and a thousand acres each, full of ripening grain. Sufficient to make the heart of a dweller in the Golden Valley jubilant. For live hours we passed and gazed on paddocks, heavy and gilt with the tinge of ripeness. Miles in front of us, and miles around and behind, one mass of cultivation, rich and productive. The exception was to benold even a plot of average yield. It seemed a relief to look at a place where the crop did nut seem tho usual height or the ear so full. This gave ns something to talk about, and formed a break in tho monotony of universil admiration. Such crops ! such potatoes ! Why you know nothing ol the art of cultivation. Five hundred acres under " spuds," that is the generic term for them over here, so you see the people are fairly civilised—expected to yield an average of ten tons to the acre, and this from one place alone. I have been credibly informed that is no uncommon thing to get as much as seventeen tons to the acre. Fifty, sixty, and seventy bushels of wlieat to the acre is common enough, and taking the whole country north and south under cultivation I feel sure the return this year will average close on thirty-five bushels to the acre. It is rather a pity no authenticated record of the various crops is obtainable, but then we must remomber wo are in a very, very young country, and must not expect too much iu the matter of detail. In fact, you notice this omission, as in every other branch leturns are " comeatable." The idea one has on arriving in New Zealand and travelling about is that everything under the sun is obtainable. Well, so it is, and what it h likely to develop into in tho course of another quarter of a century I only hope I may be spared to witness This young country ivould put to sluino older institutions. With its mere handful of inhabitants, scattered over an area nearly as large as our o-vn, there is an air of independent prosperity perfectly marvellous to behold. No one is poor ; there is none of that ostentation of wealth made plainly visible in othor places. The people are "easy and free," not "free and easy," and are full of the notion, itself a right one, that before long the influx of persons to this .Lesser Britain will be such as to make New Zealand the first gem of the Pacific Ocean and Star of the Southern Seas.