The Evening Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2695, 6 October 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1871.

Wb have always been firm advocates ■of an extensive system of immigration. We believe that nothing can prevent New Zealand from eventually becoming a great and powerful nation ; but we believe, too, that it rests very much with ourselves whether this is to be the case in a few years or after the lapse of a century or two, and that of all the agencies which can be employed to hasten the advent of the period of 'its greatness, none is for a moment to be compared with the introduction of a regular supply of suitable persons into New Zealand by means of a judicious immigration scheme. We make ■use of the words “suitable andjudicioua”

advisedly, and not merely to fill up the sentence; for we are persuaded that an injudicious scheme—one which admits of the introduction of unsuitable persons—does more harm than good to the Colony. If the State had taken in hand the introduction at a great expense of some particular kind of animal into the Colony—say a new variety of the sheep—its agents would be instructed and required to see that the animals purchased and shipped for the Colony were the very finest of their class, perfectly free from disease ; speaking generally, that they were a first-class article. An agent who should send out the lame, the halt, and the blind would be considered as utterly neglecting his duty. But, strange to say, when we invest money in introducing immigrants into the Colony, we appear to take no steps whatever to get the best we can for our money, but are contented with a process of selection which merely involves the counting of heads. There is indeed jno picking or choosing, we take them as they come. The consequence of all this is that many of our immigrants are too old, others too unhealthy, and others altogether too useless. Now there can be no doubt that the country would be more benefited by the “ room of these people than by their company.” Is there, then, any earthly reason why the Province should go to the expense of importing what it does not want ? What we require in this Colony is an increased number of strong, intelligent, respectable, and above all, healthy people j because we want these, are we to import any number of persons who have none of these qualifications? Nothing can be more foolish and unreasonable than our doing so ! It is, then, of the utmost importance that a standard of qualifications for intending emigrants from the Home country should be drawn up and rigidly adheiedto in all cases, thus, and thus only can we have reasonable security that a very considerable proportion of the money spent on immigration will not be squandered. Hitherto a comparatively small amount of money has been mispent in the way indicated, although fer too much j but now that the Colony is entering on a vast scheme of immigration which will involve the expenditure of very large sums of monqy, no precaution should be neglected to make such expenditure as effective as possible. _ It may seem to many persons that it is quite unnecessary to insist so strongly on what is perfectly self-evident; but the fact is that while men, and mpecially Governments, are generally qcute enough about matters which they can look at from a distance, they often overlook those which lie at their feet, just as many a merchant is skilful enough in directing a trade which extends over the four quarters of the globe ] while the ruinous household expenditure which is gradually bringing him to bankruptcy, practically almost escapes his notice. It appears to us that there are two classes of persons who are especially to be desired as immigrants to New Zealand, in addition to respectable young unmarried jyomen, who for obvious reasons are highly desirable acquisition to a young Colony, viz : —persons accustomed to farm and dairy work—either young unmarried men, or young married couples—and skilled mechanics. What we want is producers, not distributors; to introduce clerks and shopmen is a mistake; net that these are useless by any means, or that they are in any way bad members of society—quite the contrary—but because we have quite enough them already. The supply f4 them is equal to, if not greater, than itfye demand. But though we can if we wish “ call spirits from the vasty deep,” the question is “ will they come f Can thoroughly unexceptionable farm servants and skilled mechanics be induced to come 1 Certainly, if sufficient inducement be offered. With regard to persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, we need not say much at present. It has been insisted upon over and over again in this andmost of the other papers throughout the Colony, that the only adequate inducement that can be offered to the first-class agricultural laborer to come here is a fair prospect of acquiring in a reasonable time, andwith moderate exertion, a comfortable l farm of his own, with the means of i working it. A truly liberal land law, or a special set of land regulations for immigrants of this class is of course the thing required, and it is devoutly to be hoped that this will be soon no longer a thing of the future. As to the second class, the skilled mechanics, it appears to us that these are of ail person ß the most to be • desired, and the mode in; which they should be introduced is not; difficult to discover. Inducements should be offered by Government to capitalists to engage in the different manufactures which appear suitable to the circumstances of the Colony, by offering rewards for the production of a certain quantity of a given commodity. Machinery would be set up, and the required number of bands to work it cctold then be got from Home, with the

assistance of the Government. This plan has the one^great recommendation that it is not altogether untried ; the success of the cloth manufactory at| Mosgiel, established by Mr A. Burns, is a standing proof that it is as feasible as it is certainly desirable. The prospect of getting regular employment at good wages, and a complete deliverance from the caricing cares of a constant res angusta domi, would be beyond all doubt an adequate inducement to persons of this class to come to our shores, if they could be made to see that the prospect was a reasonable one.

Timaru Railway.— The amount of Messrs Allen and Stumbles’s contract was L9OIB. Twelve tenders in all were sent in, and the difference between the highest and the one accepted, which was much below the engineer’s estimate, was something like L 3500 to L4OOO. Chinese Immigration. According to all accounts, we are threatened with a continuance of the shiploads of Chinese with which we have now become tolerably familiar. And that Otago should be considered by them to be a favorable field is not to be wondered at. A few months ago one of their countrymen went home, after only fifteen months’ sojourn in the Province, with Ll3oo—a sum that is regarded as a colossal fortune in China; and about the same time others returned to the land of their nativity with sums varying from L2OO to LSOO each. Princess Theatre. This theatre will be opened on Monday next under the management of that well established Dunedin favorite Miss Dolly Graen ; we are promised a succession of novelties, and “stars” more or less brilliant. 'Mons. Fleury has been engaged, and his well known band will again occupy the orchestra. For the opening piece Mias Dolly Green has selected “Old Phils Birthday ” (first time in Dunedin), to conclude with “You can’t Marry your Grandmother. ” During the recess the theatre has been thoroughly cleaned and paiuted, and other efforts have been made towards the comfort of the patrons. Chambers of Commerce. Delegate in London. — At a recent meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the chairman informed the meeting that no reply had been as yet received from the various Chambers of Commerce in the South relative to the appointment of Dr Feathsrston as delegate in London for New Zealand. A letter frpm the chairman of .the Chamber of Commelgfe at Christchurch, relative to a motion passed by them appointing a delegate for-,, .themselves, was read. After some discussion, it was agreed, upon the motion of Captain Daldy, to write to Dr Featherston informing him of his appointment by the PJjjujaber, also mentioning that the Chambers of the pther commercial towns in the South had bpep communicated with, asking them to confirijx tfr e appolntmept, fmt no reply had been rep.eiye.d from The motion further required that he be requested to act for the Chamber as their repi'ps.entative in the committee in London. This was seconded by Mr Shera, and carried. A Railway to Tuapeka. —The good people of Tuapeka, backed up by the Times, ‘.ssp pot going to have their claims to have a jrailwfy from Tokomairiro to Lawrence constructed s,tnopg the earliest lines of railway passed over q\iiet|y, At a meeting of the railway committee on Tuesday, jfche following resolutions were unanimously agreed to;— “ That the attention of the Provincial Government be called to the fact that they haye failed to carry out the resolutions of the Provincial Council, proposed by Mr Bastings and carried, requesting them to forward the petition of the inhabitants of Tuapeka, and the report of the Select Committee of the Council, on the Tuapeka railway to the Colonial Government.” “That this Committee desires the Colonial Government to proceed at once with the construction of the Tuapeka railway now that the survey is completed,” “That the Government be reppipmended to take the 95,000 acres of commpnage. present realising a revenue of L3OOO a y?p, a guarantee that the, proposed railway sUlpAy forking expenses.” Sculpture.— A beaut#ui specimen of artistic carving ip stpue js now being ox- ( hibitited at Mr {Hjslop’s, jeweller,' Princes j street. The sculpted, Mr L. Godfrey, has executed this piece of work for Mr David Hunter with a view to showing in the neighboring col nies tbeadaptability of the Kakanui stone for building and ornamental purposes The subject chosen is one requiring, in the highest degree, great delicacy of touch and treatment. A hen waxeye perched on a twig is peeping iwith great alarm over the nest 'containing her egg. u . at the movement of a lizard undepieath the nest, while the cockbird qn Ips'jhightr perch is looking with equal interest and dismay at th,o threatened intruder, Tty® stems and l&Ves o f f climbing „ plants ape admirably executed in alto-rpjief, j while the nest pipbpspQiedin the rich folidge,! and the birds are seen i» bas-relief. This is a perfect little gem of art, happily (Conceived and boldly executed, and one that jreftepts great credit upon Mr Godfrey. We would recommend all lovers of the sculptor’s art to visit Mr Hislop’s during the few days it is exhibiting. The New Zealand Institute,-— The third annual report of this institution was interesting as it is satisfactory. Since the publication of the last report the Nelson Association has been affiliated ; and the Institute now numbers 553 members, or an increase qf during the year. The largest increase In ’the' aviated societies was in Auckland, wlier.c' 'i’hbi'e weie 5v pew members ; Otago copies next with 43 ;" WclUpg-, ton with 27, a»d Canterbury with &4'.' " In I accordance with its recent statute, the following gentlemen were elected honorary members Professor A gasses ; Captain Drury, R. M.; Dr Finsch ; Professor Flower; Dr Hoschscellor ; Dr Hooker ; Dr Mueller ; Professor Owen, and Admiral Richards. The report complains of inadequate accommodation at the museum for collections, and informs ua tjjat the suggestions made in the last report ,qf the gpyernors, at the request of the Government; with a yisw to adapting the museum and laboratory tor the purpose of instruction jn technical science, pave'been . carried out so far as to al)ow of eight or ' ten • students being instructed at the laboratory. Incendiarism.— A most dastardly attempt was made on Saturday last to set fire to the premises of Mr Quayle, who is a storekeeper and postmaster at Blueskin. It seems, from the Waikouaiti Herald's account, that the perpetrator was a man named George

Grey, who has for the last fifteen months been residing at Blueskin, and*who professed to follow the occupation of a gardener. The fire was first discovered at about half-past three o’clock in the morning by two draymen, who had arisen somewhat early, so as to reach Dunedin in good time the same day, t in observing the flames they gave an alarm, and the fire was quickly got under. Had it been otherwise, serious consequences might have ensued, as Mr Quayle and his family slept on the premises, and a large quantity of gunpowder was stored where the fire was discovered. On examination, it appeared that the fire had been ignited from a bag of dried prepared flax, evidently taken from a neighboring mill. Strange as the fact may seem, the supposed incendiary was, for some time after the occurrence, walking about the place very unconcernedly, and only made off when he heard the police were on his track. He was captured at Kilmog by Constable Walsh, and is now in the Waikouaiti gaol awaiting trial. The usual weekly concert of the Total Abstainers’ Union, will take place in the Hall under the Congregational Church to-piorrow (Saturday) evening at 8 o’clock. We would remind our readers that the Citizens Club’s concert comes off at the Masonic Hall to night. The programme put forward is a very attractive one, and ought to secure a large attendance. An old favorite, M. Fleury, announces that he will open the Princess’ tomorrow with a vocal and instrumental concert. Ho will be assisted by several wellknown amateurs.