"The Voice from Otago."

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 45, 20 May 1875, Page 7

" The Voice from Otago."

TFTE "CELEBRATED '* .T; G. S. GRANT. Tbe following graphic portraiture of Mr J. G. S. Grant, from the pen oF the Provincial Immigration Agent, Mr J, Ad^m, wjas published in the ' People's Journal ' (Dandee paper) in a late issue. The ar'icle has been forwarded to us by a correspondent, who adds by way of preface.—" It will be seen by the following that our -Provirici'alTmmigration. Agent and others at home and in the province are not unmindful of its, "interests. We commend the attention of Mr Grant of letter-writing* notoriety, to read the following extracts given of him. / As seen and read by those who know him,-he is a most pitiable object."* Sir, — In your issue of the 9th Jan., appears a letter from a, Mr Grant, of : Dunedin, headed " A Voice from New Zealand." It is a pity you do not know the character of "Mr Grant, who has acted the part of a demagogue for •many years in Dunedin. If you were to go to Dunedin you would see Mr Grant walking about the corner of Hig-b Street with a bundle of newspapers of his own, and irying to sell them to reluctant buyers, for no one cares to. read the productions of a man who does not seem to be sound in mind. I think you will see from the style of his letter and the harshness of some of his statements that there is an aberration of mind somewhere, and the whole of his letter is utterly at variance with truth. The credibility of the writer may be inferred when he says (i that for nineteen years he has spent annually LIOOO in the diffusion of knowledge throughout the land •" whereas a subscription had to be got up for the benefit of the poor man to help him back to. Melbourne, where he came from. : He went so far, and then- returned to Dunedin, and has ever since lived a miserable existence in publishing a low paper, in which he rails at public institutions, and specially at those, gentlemen who have shown him the greatest kindness and forbearance. So far from spending a LIOOO yearly, his family would have starved but for the industry of his wife who has had to keep herself by washing the clothes of the very persons he assumes to educate. When Mr Grant speaks of being asked to preside at a meeting of the unemployed you should know . that he has been doing this for the, last ten years, and that these meetings are' always held at the " Octagon " (the street) about the time when the workmen are going to or returning from dinner, and then they laugh and cheer at Mr Grant's wild utterances till he I believes that the' responsibility of the colony has devolved upon him. There are many of Mr Grant's statements which are not worth the trouble of refutation. I shall do so publicly in Dundee when I return from England, but for the benefit of ploughmen and shepherds, whom I have led to believe that they might become their own masters,, and farm their own land in five years, please to insert the last paragraph of a letter 1 received this morning from a shepherd in Otagq (I enclose his letter), and one statement of this quiet and unobtrusive office-bearer in our church is of more, value than anything from J. G. S. Grant. — I am, &c, James Adam; 3 Hope Street, Edinburgh. : . The following is the extract from the letter referred to by "Mr. Adam : — Otago, 24th Oct., 1874. I left Mr Walter Miller's service in - June for a place of my own on the 1 Waitahuna River, three miles below the bridge. I leased 200 acres (goldfields' lease), and bought 50 more. It is now fenced in, and 150 aged ewes on 'it, which have now half-bred lambs at foot; and all.ih'at.is the product of six years' shepherding in New Zealand, which story you>inay tell the shepherds :of ; New Cu'mnodK, Psirish, Ayrshire. We, your , old friends, are often reminded, of you. ; ; In the columns of the local paper some o£ your business correspondence have' appeared, and one beautiful letter-- to -your old pastor, of Tokomairiro,; , and in this issue we have an extract from the Northern JSnslgn ' (a Scotch paper) on your, lecture in the Free Church' School- Bower, in which; described the process of turning a farm servant into a farmer in five or six years, arid mine is a case in point I read your letter to. my wife,* and we were both niueh ■ pleased to/hear that you, were an>eye- witness to the ou,t-; pourings of God's Holy Spirit in .Scotland. May He spare you to return to our midst, that me) may hear it from your own lips, is. $he prayer of your affectioiiate brother "in Christ, ; * Gecx Kerb; Mr -Adam. > - . - -M "An Old Colonist/ PerthJ writes-^-Letter- writing; is-:not -my fortepand-it, is with. relubtaniiJe^l'ddi'a'ttempt it • Ibiit v as;'th^ j&fi\isroii' Jybuj 'fav'pred yo'tir subr scribersf with. ■ a ibrinight ago. Vis to mislead manyy -you, will perhaps* -allow me a small piece~of rope. The r mg[tiir^ '', niifuraHyr *srikM on iTea^ing-^Be^i'etter,' Wiio rls 'this 1 Jolirf-l(j6¥a;6-h^tuirrGmnt PiesjKPlSi^nMo bespatter abuses on all. and sundry in their adopted cou^W^With all deference^ I am safe'TO^ayWfs & stranger tojyou ■ofiWWl^j^dfW^^rMU not fo^;

been published.,. He claims to ' be a patriot when jih© writes— r« humbly speaking-, he had spent LI OOO yearly for tl^elast Ift years in the diffusion of knowledge throughout the land." ; He endeavors to disseminate knowledge; but I am sorry to say it is not appreciated by the community. He was interviewed by the -authorities of Otago somV years ago, and lind to contradict and apologise for some such ; publication as published by you that-appeared in a respected Northern Scotch newspaper. -Tt is difficult taking any tjhing off a Highlandman— -more especially the breeches ; but if memory serves me right they threatened to perform that operation if he committed that offence .again. I saw him about 8 months ago wandering the streets of JDuriedin withan armful of pamphlets,- importuning' purchasers, many giving- him a gratuity ■to get clear. New Zealand will'progress. She has the elements of prosperity — gold,, copper, tin, wool,. .grain, stock,- &C, &is. ; .flax and woollen manufactures, pottery, glassmaking, &c, &c.~ all the elements of greatness which in time will become to be more fully developed. Dunedin; some twelve years ago a straggling village, is now a compact city, proud of her! schools, University, churches, cathedral, public building's, press,, and other institutions, all having attained a position- of considerable eminence by the push of her enterprising citizens: The .country; was intersected by telegraph some' years ago. Communication, by said channel' will ere long- be direct to England \ the route to Australia being "surveyed. Extensive railways are. in progress ; iover 700 miles contracted for, which, when completed will enable the country to be more quickly colonised, and add materially to the comfort of the inhabitants. The climate is much milder than in Scotland. There is rather rough windy weather at times — not " inhospitable " r at all. Travelling is expeditious; and is performed by niail coaches which run: to almost every settled district in the -country; Schools and churches, there are- in every locality. ..The Provincial Governments are very staunch iriends: of education. J. G. S. Grant. would have the people in this country believe -that the colonists have acquired" their property and position by unfair means. Such. a view is, j to say the least, despicable. I landed ' in Otago some twelve years ago with men possessed of little money, but who were of the right stamp-r-possessed coriimon sense, a plain education, who could " crack diamonds (metal) well," hold a plough, handle a spaderto advantage, also good -carpenters (we ' got spread over the country after landing), but I have known a few all along, and heard of others that came out by the same ship, wEo,' had fought the world successfully by sheer, determination and upright dealings. There are a few in all communities who will neither crack diamonds nor qxert their energies, but are always grumbling and bewailing- their lot, jealous of their neighbors' good works. The latest information regarding the labor market there, dated 24th December, I send you, from- which, you 'will see that good hands ; are in demand at long wages. We quote the following from the paper sent us by <• An Old Colonist " : There is plenty of work for all willinghands. People are freely asked for, especially for road making, -railjway hands, farm hands/, shepherds, ,&c.,. and suitable female- servants. Sheep shearing will soon give 1 an extra spurt to many, and among those different employments many . who arrived during the winter (though not very suitable colonists) will' 'find." places in which to pickup some knowledge and a -j fair' living for a start. The -Invercarg-ill's people are, a very good s,e.ction>-a"good number are from the Aberdeens'hire districts, which can turn out about the. best ploughmen in Britain. . They are also known by, their cautious dispositions—a very good distinction.. We have had a good many excellent people from the north of Ireland, but in nlany cases they show 100 great an inclination to remain in Dunedin. Wages for the, week, past as under ; — House girls, L 26, L3O, .and , L 35 ■ experienced !do., L4O, L 45, and L 52. — -Female - cooks, 20s..and 25s per week. _ Smart boys and- girls, 6s. to l*os £>er week. Plotighmen and shepherds from L 52 to 1i65. Marriel people Ifor farm 'or station;~L7o, L 75, and. LBo— always ratioms. -Roa.d and quarry men, Bs, 9s, Cand 10s : per ■ day. Gardeners about 30.s per week, :Masons and :&c.i are now busy, and get from -12s to 15s ; buit for: : country, rates, diffei? very much. A 'good ; many people- withouttrade or calling of any^ kindCare ■ badly off ; \ but 7|f wifling.tp^ woikilarfdsteady, they too will"fit in t6' ' sornethfn g. - Good " hotel people- are now, "asked-foiv < ; ;