VINE-LANDS IN THE NORTH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 216, 11 September 1908, Page 2

VINE-LANDS IN THE NORTH.

It is a long price for a short drink of wine in New Zealand, but there are a hundred and fifty Austrians who desire to reverse the order, substituting a short price for a longish drink. These men, who had Some experience in viticulture in their native land, are requesting permission to take up land in the Auckland province for grapegrowing, and they say that they are ready to begin planting. May the prayer not wait long for a favorable answer (says The Post). Some New Zealariders, mostly of the shirker class, object to the Austrian. They look upon him as a person who sets too hot a pace in the field, and they aim to have his hands tied as much as possible. But the Austrian has a very laudable desire to cultivate land which is mostly lying neglected; in fact, he wants to make a present of more wealth to New Zealand. Theije is land on which the sun smiles, and the rain blesses. The lonely earth aches for something to nourish, and the Austrian offers to give the ground vine babies to feed. Would he not be a benefactor? He would get profit for himself, of course, but his industry would be an advantage to all New Zealand. If that vine-growing colony had any conspicuous success, what a fillip it would be for closer settlement m North Auckland! The foundation for a great garden is: up there, but the gardeners are scarce.