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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2947, 4 June 1891, Page 2

A Southeun farmer, who recently paid a visit to Waikato, has been giving expression to his opinions on the character of the land, in the columns of a Dunedin paper. These we reprint in another column. He has apparently, like many other travellers, judged the quality of the laud in the district as a whole by the appearance of that seen from windows of a railway earriage. We admit that the land through which the linp runs—whilst in its present condition—is apt to give a stranger a talse impression as to its quality ; but to a man possessed of any judgment the fact that the land is still in its virgin state is not proof positive that it is worthless. Much of the Waikato land, when properly reclaimed and thoroughly tilled will bear favourable comparison with any in the South. Southern land, through presenting fewer obstacles to the pioneer—most of it, especially in the Canterbury province, requiring nothing but to have the tussocks burnt off to make it ready for tho plough—has naturally attracted population whero other lands that require the expenditure of labour and capital to reclaim, have been neglected. It is wrong for a man who makes a journey from Auckland to Hamilton by train, and then continues his trip through what he calls " the famous and notorious Piako Swamp," to Te Aroha, to discorse on the resources of a district of which he has seen absolutely nothing. He admits that "it is scarcely just to give an opinion of a large district from merely passing through itbut even this he has not done, lie has merely touched the outer rim of what is known as the Waikato district proper, and the fine agricultural lands of the Hautapu, Cambridge, Pukorimu, (Jhaupo, llangiaohia, To Awainutu, and Kikikihi

districts arc to him a terra iumr/nita. Lands such as these which yield — to put it, if anything, under the niarlc—from 20 to upwards of 40 bushels to the acre, it is wrong to describe, by inference even (as our Southern visitor has done) as being unable to keep a goat per square mile. The South has, undoubtedly, made splendid progress in the past, while tlio North, handicapped by the Native difficulty and the cost and labour of reclaiming the land, has comparatively stood still. The payable prices now obtainable for Xcw Zealand produce at Homo has, however, put renewed energy into our settlers, and the Northern districts are being

gradually galvanised into lifts thereby. This is evidenced by the many large contracts now, and about to be, let for felling bu.sh and clearing. Wo Northerners aro not jealous or envious of tlio progress mado by our Southern neighbours ; wo heartily congratulate them upon it; but in our humble ojiiniou tho tinio is not far distant when tho North—by its greater resources, attractivouoss as a Hold for settlement and consequent material prosperity —will show to the South a clean pair of heels. Settlement is even now making groator progress in tho North than in the South Island, as is evidenced by the larger area of land sold and leased by the Crown in this Island. Tbis cannot bo otherwise ; most of the land in the South has boon alienated from the Crown whilst that in the North is still, from the reasons given above, in the hands of tho Government for disposal by sale or loase. TLe Southerners have eaten their cake; we havo ours still to enjoy.