HARDY IMMIGRANTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 December 1924, Page 5

HARDY IMMIGRANTS.

BIG DRAFT BY THE PAKEHA. MANY TRADES REPRESENTED. SCOTCH PREDOMINATE. (BY TELEGRAPH- —PRESS ASSOCIATION. TJ! AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. It first impressions count for anytliing, then the 628 assisted immigrants who arrived in Auckland by the Pakeha from Southampton to-day should *be pleased with their prospects of settling down in this country. This is the largest batch of immigrants which has arrived in New Zealand during the year. Special sleeping compartments were fitted up on the Pakeha, and the general opinion seemed to he that the quarters were very comfortable indeed, ihe deck space, as was to be expected ot u cargo steamer, was not as extehsjye as it might have been, but this did not prevent the holding of deck games on the way out. One and all of the passengers were full of praise for the commander, Captain W. P. CliftonM°gg, his officers and the crew. A striking feature of these new colonists is their obvious physical fitness. Men, women and children alike all appeared to be in the pink of condition, and all those approached stated that they realised that if they were to succeed in this country they would have to work and were prepared to work.

There was again a predominance of immigrants of Scottish origin. There was also a large proportion of English people and a fair sprinkling of Irish. Almost every trade is represented among the, men. There is a hatch of aome 15 qualified engineers who are going to try their luck in the Dominion. Many intend to settle on the land, while others expressed their intention of going mining. „ Withal there was wholehearted conen|™en t on all sides, and little batches could be heard painting pictures of the future in glowing terms. One Scotsman could not surpass his enthusiasm, and gave vent to his feelings through the bagpipes. Around the decks he marched, and soon had a proud following.