My IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 7449, 18 February 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

My IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

ro THE EDITOR. Sir,— l was induced to come to this Colony by reading a pamphlet called ‘ A Guide to Intending Immigrants,” and setting forth New Zealand as the most likely place in which a steady man, with a few hundreds, could make headway. I have been he:e three months this week, and during that time I have been through most parts of Otago, and some parts of Canterbury ; and what do I find ? Discontent everywhere ; settlers that came here years ago now trying to sell out, willing to sacrifice half what their homesteads coat them. In your towns I find hundreds leaving, and more wishing to. I hear daily of families breaking up, and the men poition leaving for Victoria. In your Saturday’s issue you state that 330 left per Mararoa, and I know that 190 left by the boat the week before. Now, there must be something wrong or this would not be. In a young country like this the Government should hold out inducements for people to come in thousands. What more deairable class of people could you have than thoseborne here? but instead cf remaining your young people are constantly leaving. I learn that if a man arrives here with a few thousands he is immediately pounced down upon by the Property Tax Department; and yet this is the sort you ought to induce to your shores. I, for one, would not invest my capital where such a tax is levied. Again, the Colony is making railways while those open are scarcely paying. You have no papulation sufficient to make them pay. You have one of the best of climates, and I never saw finer crops. An old resident informs me that half your foundries are closed and the other half are run by the banks at a loss. Surely a pitiful state of affahs this for a new arrival to cast his eyes upon. At present it is not bright enough for me to oast my lot in with you ; and I hope that at some future day, if I should revisit you, I shall find you a more prosperous people.—l am, etc., lonic. Dunedin, February 13.