NEW ZEALAND V. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4125, 2 February 1875, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND V. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

[KKOM A CORRESPONDENT.] The morning paper! pricc twopence. A wonderful luxury at so small a price. Those in the habit of having it before them oil the breakfast table may well express pity for those without it. During the breakfast hour how many hundred there are who scan the leading items of news while simultaneous ejaculations prevail among men concerning business notices, prices current, and " auction sales this day," ladies being equally interested in marriages ann deaths. Far from this throng of city lire and from the scene of publication the occasional newspaper is perhaps the most of all prized. The New Zealand Herald has found its way to the highest peaks of the liocky Mountains, into the hands of an old Xew Zealand settler, who left hero to secure some property bequeathed to him in the old country, since which time lie has travelled many lands, and after wandering through continental cities of high refinement, and possessing all the latest comforts and conveniences of travelling, lie tries the rugged heights of the Kocky Mountains, and wlnlsfc in that rough, uncongenial region, imagination pictures his old settlers' life in the mild climate of New Zealand, where the snow is rarely to be seen, even in the winter, in the North Island—a strong contrast to the Kocky Mountain falls of snow in summer. This distant reader closely examines the advertised names to see if any old familiar ones are there, thus shewing the peculiar and often unexpected value of advertisements. He sees the name of an old colonial friend, to whom lie has written the following interesting letter (which i forward to you), containing a pleasing criticism of this fair land, and expressive of his own desire to leturn and settle here :— Colorado Territory, U.S., America, October 2S, 1574 Mon cher — Having Accidentally picked up a Sy.w Zkw.and llejcam*, in glancing over its columns i observed the name of a Mr. ——, and concluding that person and my old Mdpniatc to be one ar.d tile stint*. I determined to write and ascertain if my supposition wis correct. Two years ago I forwarded from this vicinity t letter to yon, but rec Iving no nnsnvr presume you did not receive it. I have been three years engaged in mining pursuit-', but have not yet made a fortune at it. This mining, a* you no if>ubt are aw m*. is a very uncertain calling, atul should n>t b-Uer fortune attend my effort#, 1 .shall shortly try some oth. r place and pursuit*. These tilings are located on one of the highest peaks of the Kocky Mountain;', the elevation being between four»oen and fifteen thousand foet above tho sea 1.-v« !. <? n.s. «pi«-nily the el'mato is m ><t severe. r«nre, so vi.u ran imagine what a winter is like in these regions; it is, too, fearfully weiring on a man's eo'.Ntitution I often think I shall return to New Zealand, for I can assure you that in all my travels I haw »ot nut with s<> brautifnl acUmsteaml country. And think iiiwthat I could .settle down and spend tho rest of my days there, i see by the 11 Kit a i,i» tho Government are expending large sum-> of motley In constructing rullrcads and for immigration pnrpes s. I should think the Waikato country will be a good place to settle in after tho completion of tho railroad through that district. What do you thiuk 'and ought to be bought at up there f Tho repr.rts of the 7h imcs goldfl Ids are very encouraging: they appear to make smaller yield* pay than our mines do here. Silver Is the principal metal her-*. Some of the lod< s are v. ry rich, yielding under treatment from three to live hundred dollars per tou — but the expenses of mining and smelting tho ores, combined with many disadvantages to which your miners are not subjected -leaves hut little, if any. profit for tho minors. Since coming to this country, I have ni"t w:th s-vcral paittes who have lived in Now Zealand, and all express themselves much better pleased with that country than this. Wages are probably a little higher here than with you, hut then the cost of living and necessaries are proportionality high. It appears the farming Interests of your country Are grod, and, with the large influx of population, must necessarily continue so. With all the justlyboasted richness of these Western prairies, the average of their productions is not more than half that of .New Zealand.