EMIGRATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 98, 6 August 1859, Page 3

EMIGRATION.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Sir, — Quoting f/om your leader of the 2nd July — "Facilities to the working man or small capitalist in the endeavour to obtain an agricultural homestead, whether in the way of "Small Farm Settlements" or in other shape, is part of the declared policy of our new government." And your concluding sentence — "It is quite obvious, that, without population, our onward progress must be slow ; and, equally so, that population will not come to our doors unless upon inducements of an attractive character." You invite an expression of public opinion, and, accordingly, I beg to offer a few remarks on the subject of introducing emigrants, not of a mixed class, but agricultural settlers, into this settlement of Ahuriri, which is so well adapted for the reception of an agricultural population. ' I think that in general, sufficient attention is j not directed to the selection of emigrants suited to the wants of an individual settle- j ment itself. In order to forming a proper agricultural settlement, it is not a mixed population of all trades we want, but "practical agriculturists." Now, by appointing an agent in Liverpool or London or Glasgow to forward emigrants to a particular I settlement, much harm is produced at first, and failure ensues. The settlement receives a batch of new settlers, professedly farmers, but most of whom have never stood at a plough-tail or handled a spade. By industry, in the course of years, the settlement gets on, and finally prospers, owing entirely to the energy of the British emigrant under all circumstances. But for years it is only a continual struggle to live, and hand-to-mouth work. This is not the object desired. Let me briefly state my views concerning the formation of a desirable settlement, and what I have never yet seen uiiNew Zealand. To get together a large band of agricultural or practical farmers may seem difficult, but is not impossible. First, then, let a properly accredited

agent be chosen here, and sent home solely to the agricultural districts ; he must be a person who knows what work is, who can speak to the intending emigrant on any, subject connected with labour.in Nevr Zealand — land, house-building, the different soils, implements required, &c, and, in,, short, be able to speak to them practically as one of themselves, one who from a resi^ dence in this Colony himself, and his experience acquired therein, can relate things \ as they are, not painting them coleur de rose, or making false glitter pass for gold. Besides, he must be thoroughly acquainted with the people as a body to whom he is to address himself, and on arrival at home must go amongst the people, call meetings, and address them plainly on the subject in question, and from his knowledge of his subject and his practical experience, be ready to answer their questions, solve their doubts, and assist them in every way by his advice and his counsel. In order that all should be conducted satisfactorily' to a" happy termination, — having disposed of all the land &c, the agent should proceed along with the intending emigrants to this Colony, see after their comfort on board, be able to look after them on landing, see them safely housed in lodgings or barracks, and then see after their getting settled on their lands at once, before their means are frittered away. In so doing, the agent would have successfully discharged his duty ; and so would, in my opinion, a comfortable and contented body of agricultural settlers be introduced into this settlement. Let the agent make no promises he cannot fulfil, and let him be always present to answer for himself to the emigrants and the Government, I beg to enclose "Proposals for 2 "Farm Settlements" in the Ruataniwha. I prefer sending it without altera r tion now as I have written it. Lam, Sir, Your obedient servant, Robert Donaldson. Mt. Pleasant, Kuinirakao, 27th July, 1859.

To the Editor of the HatoJcds Bay Herald, Sir, — In reading your issue of the 3Oth> I was much surprised at your remarks respecting the conduct of your correspondent "Observer" accusing his Honor the Superintendent of overlooking the necessity of the harbour improvements, when his. Honor's attention was evidently directed.-tp the very subject in question. I cannot conceive the design or the tendence of your remarks, unless I am to infer one of two things, first, that "Observer" was premature in bringing the subject before the public, or, in the second place, to conclude, after you had published the letters of your correspondent, you discovered you had incensed his Honor's ire, and, to propitiate bis favour, you with one of your gigantic strides of Christian charity, would assure the public his Honor's attention was give to the subject at the very time "Observer" was accusing him of the neglect, and thus attempt to prop up his Honor's integrity.-. The force of your remarks, Mr. Editor, founded on the most irrer.agable of all arguments, that his Honor brought with him f.-om Wellington a gentleman of engineering experience, I will leave in the hands of your numerous readers who read your paper •with scrutinizing care, and judge with impartiality without being influenced with mercenary motives. The plausibility of yovr cogent reasoning will bring in the market of mind as much as it is worth, no doubt. Before closing the present, you will much oblige me if you will allow me to state the reasons which led me to bring the subject forward. Previous to any council meeting, I had frequently heard Mr. FitzGerald express his opinions about harbour improvements ; but, as a matter of course, that was before he was appointed to be Superintendent of the new province. When out of office, I believed, like a number of others, he was sincere in his protestations against the Wellington Government. After hearing him declare his convictions of the vast importance of harbour improvements, like a number of others, I thought his best exertions would be directed to the subject, but what seemed of such vast importance when out of office, seemed to meet an untimely gvave when he was helped into power. I would here, Mr. Editor, call your attention to your issue of the 9th of February 1858, when you published the result of a meeting of Commissioners, and I should like to ask you who in that meeting proposed that we should ask his Honor the Superintendent of Wellington for the sum of £10,000 to be put on the Estimates for harbour improvements ; and, to prevent any delay in spend-' ing the money, we were to ask his Honor not to submit the plans for harbour im-

provements to any engineering authority out of the province; and, to do the thing efficiently, the harbour commissioners were requested to petition the Provincial Council of Wellington to constitute them a legal jbodyyand to give them power over the expenditure of. the money. But how widely different a man's opinions seem, in power and out of officel What seemed indispensable but of office seems quite dangerous ■when in power, that is, judging from the different issues of the press in Feb. 1858, and June 4th 1859, when Mr. Tucker brought up the harbour report, which to members was a matter of surprise, having three members for the town and the task to be imposed on Mr. Tucker, the member for Waipukurau. But what was the astonishment of the people who sent the three members when they found not only the niembers had imposed the task on another, but positively opposed the measure when Jilr. Tucker was condescending enough to bring the matter forward; and the ninth clause of the report, which in Feb. 1858 was of such vast importance, was, in the new council, after a twelvemonth's ventilation, of too important a character to be discussed in a hasty manner, as published in your issue of the 4th of June. These are some of the reasons which induced me to bring the matter before the public. In contrasting the sayings and doings of the gentleman in power and out of office, and with all due deference to your skill and logical powers, Mr. Editor, I think you must admit the whole matter from beginning to end is -dark and inexplicable, and eludes the grasp of ordinary research or observation, but as you hope in a short tirne;.to report the result of Mr. Wright's observations, I will for the present refrain making any more remarks on the subject. As in all probability the public will be called on to pay the expenses, the public sHould, as well as the movers in the matter, express their opinions about the matter, whether they will allow their money to be spent for private purposes or not, for judging from what as already been done, we cannot expect much. I am Sir, Yours &c, An Observer.