The Good Name of New Zealand.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1426, 17 January 1901, Page 3

The Good Name of New Zealand.

The Hon. Thomas Fergu?, ex-Minis-ter for Public Works, who has just returned from England, in answer to a Dunediu interviewer, says that, as compared with previous years, he found New Zealand had become thoroughly known and appreciated in England. Formerly New Zealand was regarded with a certain kind of reservation. He attributes the change to a variety of circumstances, one of which is the ready assistance given by England's most distant coloDy to the Imperial cause. Articles are frequent, not only in the great newspapers of London, but also the those in the provinces, descriptive of New Zealand's resources in wool-growing, and agricultural products. The troops, who bad returned from South Africa invalided, met with the highest praise from their commanders, who knew them best. The oilicers especially say they never had any trouble with the New Zealand men. This hss helped the position of New Zealanders in the Mother Country. As to the resources of the colony, (here was but one opinion at Home among people, who every where declared thit New Zealand had a grand future before her, and that she could withstand a good many reverses, and yet come out superior to them. A great deal more care is being bestowed upon the handling of meat. It is a sight in Smithfield on a Friday morning, about 5 o'clock, to see the quantity of our stuff there, which is deing disposed of to the butchers. The average price of lamb last year stood higher 'ban ever it has done before in Great Britain for a similar length of time. Beef, too, 'l3 taking very well, and those who have exported from Canterbury and Otago have had fairly satisfactory prices. Of course tbe quality has been good. There is great competition at Home with the United States and Canada. Thay send to Great Britain a good deal of the beef in a chilled condition, and two or three of the principal salesmen told Mr Fergus it was very hasd to beat. It really is good.