The Southern Cross. Saturday, May 27. EMIGRATION FROM GERMANY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 6, 27 May 1843, Page 2

The Southern Cross. Saturday, May 27.

EMIGRATION FROM GERMANY.

Luceo non Uro. "Jf I bave been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from the spark I bore."

This is one of the many subjects bearing upon the future welfare of New Zealand, to which he had from the first, intended to refer upon the earliest opportunity, but several of those numerous local grievances at once threw their dark and dismal shadows across our path, loudly claiming their hateful right of precedence over every other subject. We heartily wish we had nothing of the kind to divert us from our' good purpose; but on every side they oppose our progress. We are like ajftiilder with all the best possible

! materials at hand, eager and anxious to erect a handsome edifice ; yea, busily occupied with the strong and stately walls thereof, when every now and then he finds it absolutely necessary to descend from his high position to look after the very foundation itself, which some ignorant or mischievous persons are wantonly or viciously undermining. Such is our place, we are nervously anxious to benefit our adopted country by exhibiting her to the admiring eyes of strangers in all her beauty, loveliness, and excellence ; when unhappily for us, and for her, some fatal act of misgovern ment requires that we should gud on our armour for battle, and leave our peaceful occupations for a time. We are like the Hebrew of old. The lime and the mortar are in the one hand, for the purpose of re-building the glorious Temple, while the sword of the warrior is held fast in the other, to slay the Heathen enemy, who seHc to pull it down. Let no man suppose that this is an easy Qr enviable position. Strife, trouble, and peril, we at least do not love, although at times we are obliged, to (and can) face them without fear or trembling. German emigration is a subject of paramount importance to New Zealand, on various accounts. Our adopted country is allowed by every person to be eminently adapted fcr the cultivation of the vine; but our countrymen are, generally speaking, not only ignorant of the art of cultivating the vine ; but also totally unacquainted with the art of making wine, — the only merit we can claim in this respect, is a superior knowledge, and a very practical skill in the science of drinking the produce of the grape, whether in the shape of mellow wine, or of fervid brandy. To no vine dresser in Germany or France, will we yield the palm in this respect. We love the wine, and we have the land to produce it j but we want the skill. The obvious, and the simple remedy for the latter evil, is to procure from Germany persons who will give us informatiori on this point. The New. Zealand Company, e**er alive to its own interest, is already before hand in the field, but so much the better. Germany has enough, and to spare for us :?:t >^ c sr People annually migrate to (he United States of America; a tithe of that number would serve our purpose, and confer much benefit upon our country. The German emigrant, independent of his knowledge of the vine, would, in many other respects, prove a great acquisition to our colony. We not only speak from our own experience of their character in the neighbouring colonies, but in accordance with known and acknowledged facts, when we assert, that the inhabitants of Germany are not only a sober, peaceable, and industrious people, but, far superior to our own countrymen in point of education and intellectual acquirements. While the majority of our countrymen in the lower ranks of society can neither read nor write; the poorest man in Germany is almost a scholar. — While in England and Scotland, the attenders at school, aye about 1 in 16 to the rest of the population : the proportion in Germany is 1 to 6 j the effect of this on the character of the German, we cannot describe in better language than that of the intelligent Mr. J. C. Lohdon, Avho says, " After what I have seen in Wirtemberg, and what I have observed with respect to its population, I am inclined to regard it as one of the most completely civilized countries in Europe; and I am persuaded that the end of Government is more perfectly attained than in Great Britain ; because, with an almost equal degree of individual liberty, there is an incomparably smaller amount of- crime, misery, and poverty, and much more politeness and cordiality.'' How desireable then, to obtain such people, instead of a moral pestilence from England or Scotland, whether in the shape of young, but well trained villains from Parkhurst, anticipated convicts from the streets of our large towns, or moral and physical incapables from the poor houses. Such are the materials with which England would attempt to improve our native population. Rather send us virtuous and industrious people, no matter where they come from; we have no prejudices in favour of any country or people. We are ourselves, already a mixed people, and we have been taught to value mankind from experience,

not by the country they come from, but, by their conduct. We are persuaded that our adopted land, if it shall ever become a great country, must become so by means ol a moral population. Richness of soil, beauty and salubrity of climate, together with the most advantageous position for trade and commerce, will belong to us in vain, if we want the other. What do climate, soil, and many other natural advantages, benefit the inhabitants of Spain, Portugal, and South America ? Are not the Swiss and the Pennsylvanians far better off than either, with a climate and a country so inferior, as not to bear the contrast ? We do not say that our present European population is more immoral than the inhabitants of many, or any other English colonies, but we dare not say, that our people are moral, while we know that matters that would be deemed a disgrace in our native land, are in too many instances, not only public, but talked, and even boasted of. The tone of morality in all new colonies, is supposed as a matter of course, to be not so high as at home; but we can see no reason why this should be the case, though we cannot deny that it is so. The fault lies much, if we arc not mistaken, with the parent country, in (he selection she makes in regard to persons whom she places in authority in our colonies. We ask Lord Stanley and every other English Colonial Secretary for the last fifty years, if they have ever selected an officer for a British colony, because ol his moral worth. We do not assert that many moral, and highly moral men, have not found their way into the colonies, but this has been more a matter of good providence, than choice on the part of the Home Government. In concluding this introduction to the letter which follows, from Mr. Kunst to his countrymen, which we translate on their account into German, we would urge all who are interested in the prosperity of this colony, but, especially upon those in authority, who have daily opportunity ol knowing how much the laven of morality is required amongst us, upon our Judges, our members of Council, and Civil Magistrates, to unite with the people in a request to Lord Stanley to open the door of German emigration to this settlement. I( they move in this matter, the people will, at least this once, unite with them. TO THE GERMANS WHO INTEND EMIGRATING TO NEW ZEALAND. Fellow Countrymen*, — I perceive by the English Newspapers, that it is the intention of several of my Countrymen to enter into arrangement with the New Zealand Land Company with the view of emigrating to their settlements at Port Nicholson and Nelson and as I am anxious that my countrymen who may be induced to undertake a voyage to a country so far removed from home as this, should have some knowledge of the place they are about to come tOj I will take the liberty of addressing a few short remarks to you regarding the fitness of each of the various settlements formed in these Islands for the exercise of the industrial pursuits of our native land. I am well aware, from my own experience, that nothing tends more to perplex an Emigrant on his arrival in a foreign country than the selection of the individual spot which he should make the scene of his future operations — and it is with the view of guiding you in this respect that I venture to offer the following remarks. — New Zealand, as a whole, is peculiarly adapted for the pursuit of those branches of Agriculture which prevail in our own native land. The climate and soil fit it in an eminent degree for the habitation of the vine, the olive and the fig — indeed^ the natives of the country cultivate almost every species of European fruits with wonderful success ; and with the labour and skill of our countrymen, I have no hesitation in saying, that New Zealand might be made to yield fruits and vegetables in greater abundance and of a quality equal if not superior to any thing grown in the most favoured parts of Germany. From its geographical position the warmth of the summer, though adapted for the production of many tropical plants and fruits, is still, because of the insular situation of the country, so temperate as to enable a labourer to work in the field in the middle of the hottest day in summer — and the winter is so mild and genial that in most parts

of the country both snow and frost ar« unknown. As regards salubrity of climate New Zealand is unequalled by any com* try on the face of the earth, in no othei can a man enjoy his own existence si much as in this — and in no other wil he more certainly ensure to himself th i blessing of perfect health. But, thougl the country is in itself so desirable, it i reasonable to suppose that certain part of New Zealand are more desirable thai others. Geographical position and evei local peculiarities will in every countr < constitute a difference, t Besides the settlements of the New Zea i land Company, which are principally si I tuated on the opposite shores of the sout ( end of the northernmost of the Islands c t New Zealand and the north end of tli t 1 large or middle island, there are two othf 1 I settlements, one belonging to anothe 1 English Company, and the other to som.l French Emigrants, together with the se! « j tlcments in the middle and north end(C the North Island, which are peculiar! s under the direction of the British Groveir s ment itself. f The French settlement at Akaroa i t situated on the Middle Island, and o account of its situation and climate bein * the southernmost, is the coldest and tii * least desirable of all the settled portion a of this country. Ai present from peculij £ circumstances, and some misunderstand t ing between the Governments of Englau c and France, it offers no inducement wha t ever to the immigrant. v Proceeding northwards, the next settle ment is that of Nelson, which belongs I a the New Zcahnd Company, and thoug f ] in many respects a more eligible situatic r than Akaroa, containing much good ac rich land for agricultural purposes, the; « are still several serious objections to x\{& settlement. The harbour of Nelson is fi ti from being a good or a safe one, and (I tc J country in the vicinity of Cook's Strai J is subject to such strong gales of wind,! IJI to render it greatly inferior to other pai s * for the cultivation of the grape. " { ' Port Nicholson, the first and the large , | of the settlements of the New Zealau Company, is liable to precisely the san objection as Nelson. From the precipitoi character of the coast, and the absence <<; level land in the vicinity of the town, tl 1S settler is nccesgarily driven to a dista«( or from the markets, and the country is f es heavily timbered, that the expence (( w * clearing land, is in many instances, t(f il great for the limited means of a poi in^ immigrant. The soil on the sides of tl ra< hills and vallies, might be well adapts s^ for the cultivation of the vine, but suc°" frequent gales of wind prevail during tf? c whole year, as to render this both * ni precarious and unsafe occupation. 0 '. n the whole, 1 think I should be justified i tle^ advising my countrymen who intend pursue the occupations they have bef j bred to at home, not to waste their tin |^ r or their money, in fruitless efforts at co ~ c tivating the vine, and the grape, in tl c vicinity of Cook's Straits, while oth(y ec parts of the country offer such supeii j ro advantages. c SI IT Auckland and the Bay of Islands, bo se< on account of Geographical and loc^ position, are decidedly preferable to ar^ one of the other settlements in Ne o^ Zealand, and were I merely speaking j nc j the country, as to its fitness for the culi a^ ( vation of the grape, I should certainly gii f Qr the preference to the Bay of Islands, at Q n the country to the northward of the Baya v^ r even over Auckland itself, or any of t!'^j t settlements on the Thames., The climfi |VV w j t to the northward being unquestionab j the best, and the most equable in ti o^ t whole country ; and the soil in many par t^ e partaking of the volcanic character; ll m V \ of the richest description. Another a< t j m vantage, possessed both by the Bay a c Islands and Auckland, is the facility me bringing the land into cultivation at much less expense than in any of tl mi Company's Settlements, as laud of ti^ very richest description, and equal, if tt} nc superior, to that in the Company's Settl p - aments, can be found in abundance, bo' o f' in the vicinity of Auckland and the B'f ac of Islands, perfectly free from timbe V er being in most instances, covered with ti b ee and rich fern j of which it can easily ! p r j ( cleared, cither by burning or cutting ra ' o In the vicinity of Auckland, large tra< ' of such land exist, portions of which a'f Or | already in cultivation, both by Nativjry., and Europeans. Such land yielding cr<?i

frost asBbal, if not superior, to those produced climag&n the most heavily timbered soil, ny couj&Uthough I have, in point of climate, no otfiSen the preference to the Bay of Islands tenee Br Auckland, I would still, for various ther wlier reasons, recommend Auckland in nself ffiference to .all the other settlements. t, thoMaS; emigrant, besides the climate, and ible, An the soil, must take into consideration am paßh matters as the nearness of markets — able thS fitness of country for other agriculand ev^s&l pursuits-cheapness of living- means f couno£|bducation, &c. In all these respects the preference tfew2cbfst be given to Auckland. The soil in :ipallythe immediate vicinity of the town, is the soealeedingly well adapted for the vine and slandschel grape. Within a circuit of not more nd of £§u>. seven or eight miles, no less than two otlfflf remains of twenty extinct volcanoes anoilrak' be seen, and around each of the little to soffls, in which these volcanoes formerly i the $&ted, the soil is rich and peculiarly th endMwpted for the formation of vineyards j }ecu]je&i|§rounded as they are, with innumerable Goverapill and beautiful vallies, with neverfiling si reams of water running through ; and completely sheltered from all , and Independent of this, the district ate btm Auckland affords easy and cheap com- . an d p inication by water to all the richest porting districts in the whole Island, i pecu^th as the great valley of the Thames — terstafi' plains of Manukau— the extensive E n ~]£3 in tries on the Waipa and the Waikato, ?nt will [ether with the Kaipara, Wangari, and ra|ious other settlements to the northward. Xt settj|J» n tne above sketch, I have said nothing slongsjitf >ut the settlement at Manakau, because d thoisl m * ts proximity to Auckland, the same situatjtff narks apply to both, ffoodi^i feel, that in thus recommending to es till r countrymen the district of Auckland s to w the scene of their operations, the ques»on is[| n w ih" naturally arise in their minds, as and ij how the l and ' s to De obtained, indeed, s Strll m we^ aware, that it is so much the wind! tllra l desire of every German, that he hfirpl )U^ himself be the owner of the land | cultivates, and settles upon, that unless , J aw a certain prospect of your easily 7 jfi taining cheap and good land in this r" ea a | i"t of the country, I should never have tne sm . gn c trouble of writing this letter. senccl c anc^ n tn^ s P ar^ °^ New Zealand, own I )W n e^ three different parties. The distal gi°al inhabitants still possess the largtry iii portions of the country, but for reasons )ences ' en no enlightened man can undernces nc^> are now prohibited from sell- • a psj ' to any person but the British Govern • is of I nt * Government has always for adapffj c, certain allotments of land, which they but si! ;i *at the price of one pound sterling per iringsT e > ut tn is is a price which a poor botlM m »g ran t could not be expected to pay. on. f| dependent, however, of these two parslified^J 5 » there is another class of persons here, ntenoN ° own considerable tracts of land ; aye bM se are Europeans who have purchased leir tra rom tne Natives before the British sat M vernmen t claimed the sovereignty of c mli w Zealand. These persons are now le oti| living grants of portions of their lands supeijP m British Government, and would |i exceedingly glad to enter into any I , ||angements with persons desirous of i iS tlin^ upon their lands * r^ he y nave nc t .Men so long kept out of their possessions JJH the British Government, that many V*. Jjl them are, in consequence, in such f jffligent circumstances, that they cannot . c , ° ( S orc ltol t0 introduce immigrants themselves 11Wi G P ur P ose °^ cult*u r ating their lands, ■h Mb ls account 5 ' am quite certain that r pWy advantageous terms might be made J°. Rth them. I have had communications c . "lath several of them on this subject, and 1 • na fftf tt l cl that lands could be easily 3 m Jis { " nec * on PP a y^ n S a ver y Bma N rent for f U^ ]%k lst ye » or any numDer °f years, r; -M ing the eini & rant » afc the end of that ct j ei HH e, the right of purchasing the land at •n Ji ertain price fixed at the time the agreea ° iw Jt was entered into, which price would ?n? n fi much less fcban that which the Govern\°f iM Ut now demands for their lands, and i-fsR lch l have n °t the least doubt, an ?cptfB. u . striou3 famil .v might be enabled to hW in a very short time from the produce C S lSr h h e itself - So that in point of ? iat' [t 1S quite P° ssib le for a person with •?iW yey c mone y t0 commence with, to T-\M° me \ n a ver y sh oi't time, the proeasirjgßetor of most valuable land, and in the * C jßf favored P arts of the country. ? (f- h■. above remarks I have written solely \f° ,1 the benefit and q uida «cc of my coun»g <m ~ mn ' from my own cx P erience and

observation. And I should rejoice to think that any of my countrymen shall , receive benefit by them, and i I am, my fellow-Countrymen, Your sincere well- wisher, Philip Kunst. Auckland, New Zealand, \ May 23rd, 1843. /