NEW ZEALAND V. AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3048, 28 January 1892, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND V. AUSTRALIA.

Mrt Stephen Westney, the well-known settler—formerly of Te Awamutn—has just returned from a lengthened visit to the Australian colonies and Tasmauia. Our old fellow-settler, who was accompanied on his trip by Mrs Westney, looks all the better for the change, and, like mast observant Maorilanders, has kept his eyes open during his travels. Wo are glad to learn that after examining, from a practical standpoint, the conditions and surrounding circumstances uf Australian country life, Mr Westney has come to the conclusion that with a bit of good land a man is better off in these tight little islands than in the great continent. Settlers over there appeared to him to be just as much troubled as ourselves with that evil characteristic of the colonies—general indebtedness, over-borrowing both privately and publicly, and consequently everlasting toil fur the benefit, of others. But Mr Westney, as an old gnzier, was much imposed with the Croat advantage to settlers of the natural pasturage of Australia as compared with our worthless fern. Over there, after a piece of laud has been cropped, the nator.il grasses spiing up again, making a good pasture without cost or labour. But, after all, Air Westney evidently has that feeling which is deep in .nany of us, " New Zea" laud for our home," and we hope a gond Waikato farm will anchor liiin again for a term of years.