INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 6

INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

The Wellington Post has the following as a leading article:—The New Zealand Herald recently, in noticing with approval the Premier's letter on the subject of opening up commercial relations with Canada, suggested that efforts should also be made to establish a direct trade with India and to induce the retired EBgluh officers and military men to settle in New Zealand. We have reason to believe that the Government has instituted very careful inquiries as to what can be accomplished in the directions suggested, and that these are net yet conducted. It appears doubtful, however, whether India offers any large or profitable market for the staple productions of New Zealand. If, however, oar stockbreeders would devote their attention to raising a clais of horses adapted to military service, there is little doubt that a very profitable trade might be established. The breeding of such horses would doubtless require to be pursued on a somewhat extensive scale. The demand for oavalry mounts of a suitable type is very large, but it would not pay the Indian Government to send a buyer here to pick up one horte in one place, and another elsewhere, until, with great loss of time and the expenditure of muoh trouble, a cargo could be got together. If a sufficient and regular supply could be assured, a steady demand at remunerative prices could be relied on. The industry appears one specially adapted to co-operative enterprise. With regard to inducing Indian oiiioere and men to settle in New Zealand when retiring from the army, the prospeots of suooess are, we believe, hopeful. Most of the veterans possess uotno means on quitting the service, which, although not sufficient to enable them to support a position in England, would enable them to live very comfortably in this colony. The climate of the North Island would be especially grateful after a long residence in India, and would suit them much better thaa that of Great Britain. It is thought that the systems of perpetual lease and village settlements offer great inducements for thin class of settlers, as the old soldiers would be able, without any great expenditure of capital in the first instance, to acquire homes for themselves in which they could live most comfortably on their pensions or retiring allowances, supplemented by what they could, without much trouble, make off their land. The Government has, we believe, opened up certain negotiations in the direction indicated through the medium of Captain Daveney, of Auckland, and there is reason to hope that ere long the first instalment of settler* of the class referred to will arrive in the colony. In addition to retired offioers intending to take up their permanent abode in New Zealand, this colony should be a kind of sanatorium for India, and crowds of invalids should seek our shores every year to recuperate, and in our healthful climate regain the health and vigour they have lost beneath Indian euns.