South America.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 29, 4 November 1843, Page 2

South America.

For the sake of those of our friends || this, and the neighbouring colonies who ©|| be disposed to think that they would betl|| their condition by a removal to any of t§| South American republics, we make t|| following extract from a letter received fall Mr. Wigmore, a gentleman who soilf months ago sailed from this place for Ecg land in the Bristolian, byway of Valparaill " I arrived a few days ago, after ap|| sage of 44 days, 14 days from Juan F|| nandes. It is eternally blowing and rainiji in this place. This is no harbour, buf|| open bay, similar to Table Bay (Cape|| Good Hope) the ships rolling and the/J breaking clean over them ; altogether itffl what you may call a damned hole, up|| your knees in mud ; you cannot take a s&M on shore without being overhauled by $m customs. Land sells here at £lO per ac|| 10 per cent of all your stock and crops flm to the Priests, who do nothing but stick fl Virgin Marys in every corner, where expect you to go on your knees, or tafcflfl your hat at least, and give -some mon|| Wages for labourers are 1 rial, (6d.)l|| day. These fellows live on 3d. worth m bread, |d. worth of onions per day, which would not exactly suit John B&S The duty on spirits is the same as in and on all goods 30 per cent ad o j?f§ The hills around Port Nicholson are »J| compared to those of this place ; here s9| are perpendicular, and it is rare to face of the sun once a week at this sea j| of the year; provisions are much °-rM than at Auckland, with the exception of W||

which is only 2id. per lb. Tea is 7s. per lb, soft sugar Bd., cabbages 6<L per head, flour lis. per cwt. The emigrants who came in this vessel are very much dissatisfied, and wish they were back in New Zealand, which is upon the whole the best country I have seen yet." ...... We quite, agree with Mr. Wigmore in the latter remark, that New Zealand is in most respects preferable to all other countries ; and we doubt not that all thbse who, in the impatience of the first moment of disappointmeat.abandon it for any, we do not care which of the neighbouring colonies or countries, will have cause to regret it. No man need suffer want in New Zealand, and we know that the same cannot be said of any of the other colonies. The hardships suffered in them are extreme ; health, comfort and happiness are in many instances at once sacrificed.