EMIGRATION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1899, 21 November 1874, Page 3

EMIGRATION.

To the Editor of the Thahks Advertises. Sib,—l can fully endorse your sentiments in reference to free emigration. We have suffici?nt evidence to prove that nearly all the Government schemes to procure cheap labour have been a whistle too dearly bought by the colony, partly because they have not carried out (heir measures with clean hands and honest principles. The standard of real honest labour is now being lowered by the introduction into the colony of too muoh dummy-labour, throughtheutterignorance of paid agents, and the wilful misstatements of provincial superintendents. I am one out of the multitude of their victims. It would have been better for the province of Auckland had' the •• present Superintendent acted honourably ! towards the already condemned 40-acre settlers, and given them suitable Jand to ; cultivate, instead of big mountains and bald sand hills. My passage with my family and outfit to New Zealand cost me £110. On landing in Auckland with my land orders I was advised by the Government officials to take up my land on the block available for selection. Acting on their advice, I at once selected it,. and was fully determined on making a home for myself and family; having spent ■ some part of my life on one of the best arable farms in England. It then cost me three months' hard work to lay aside sufficient money to convey me from the towp of Auckland, to look at my selection. After ■ arriving in the neighbourhood I was" directed to one of the settlers to show me oyer my farm. After looking at the plan of my land, and the number of the allotment, he looked pitifully at me, and then he looked northward over the high ridge of hills', sis miles distant from where we. were standing. He then asked me if I had a family. I said, yes. A He then asked me if I came intending to settle there and try to make a home on that land. I said, yes. When he had heaved a big sigh, that went right through me as well as himself, he requested me to sit down a hity : and on looking into his hard, good-natured-looking face, I could see bi i, tears running down his cheeks, and with an effort he explained the cause. It was' because I had been induced to sixteen thousand miles with a family to obtain a piece of land near the top of yon big mountain, whosesummit was partly hi 1 in the clouds; and the value of it to either me or himself for cultivation was not worth ten shillings per mile. It was similar to the steep side of Murphy's Hill on the Thames goldfield. I would respectfully ask the Superintendent to take back such us fleas land, and offer starviuK settlers a fair proportion of workable land in its place, in the same neighbourhood there were hundreds of good, flat, rich land belonging to the Government. But the broad arrow was upon it, and has been.for years, while starving settlers are sent to seek a place barren hills. That good, rich land to-d-iy stands out in bold relief, coveredjwith docks and thistles, showing an occular demonstration of the non-pro-ductive system of provincialism.. And it will remain so as long as it is governed by them, who are not above using unfair means to Beduce honest hard-working : men to come to New Zealand and starve to death on bare, bald hills. The joint savings of myself and wife from years of hard labour were snapped up at once, through raading . the .announcements signed by J. Williamson, Superintendent of Auckland, offering a grant of 40 acres, good land at the upset value of ten shillings per acre. I always had the character of being a lively kind of a man. until I saw my farm;-since that time I. carry the looks of a man who has been most cruelly sold. Sir, setting aside my own case, amongst many others of the same kind, I am of opinion with others, that the time has arrived in the history of New Zealand, whenlabourwill.best.find its level by those who directly and really represent it, both as regards supply and . demand, without being puffed up bjr the spasmodio efforts of Government officials, whose only feelings of respectior a working man are similar to the same feelings they have fora working bullock or donkey. Should his' Honor the Superintendent visit Great Britian in order to bring but more emigrants to New Zealand,! would suggest that, amongst other drawings and' photographs of New Zealand, he_ should . take ,a photograph of myiurm—it would astonish the natives of Uerry! -I am, &0., . laraka, iNov. 18. T.Baia.