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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9083, 18 June 1888, Page 4

We would direct attention to the- report in another column of a very interesting interview with one of the best known and most prominent settlers in the Auckland Provincial District, who has recently returned to New Zealand, after a prolonged, and distant, and varied journey "strange countries foi to see.* Mr. McLaughlin left the colony in which he had lived so many years, with the object of not returning to New Zealand, but of settling down most probably in the land of his nativity. South America ; and he has returned to us again a wiser man, in that lie lias had very extended opportunities for observation and comparison, and been enabled to form very definite and decided opinions that "there is no place like home." In the interview, it will be observed, that Mr. McLaughlin has been sounded by our representative chiefly respecting South America, for the twofold reason that it was the country most diligently studied by Mr. McLaughlin for Ins own information and future guidance; and secondly, because to our colonists of a wandering disposition, South America appears to be, before most countries, the cynosure of their hopes; the El Dorado where the wealth of golden fleeces may be found; the country -which, more than any, is viewed with a jealous eye by all Australians and New Zealanders who are wise in beeves and muttons, and as the country that is likely to bother them in the English market for frozen meat. Mr. McLaughlin has gone through the land from Dan to Beersheba, and though he is very far from saying that it is all barren, but on the contrary awards it praise where praise is due, it is very clear to see that the comparisons instituted hate been very favourable indeed to our own seagirt isles, which is confirmed by the fact that Mr. McLaughlin his come back with the determination that New Zealand shall be his home. and the home of his family for the rest of his life. Mr. McLaughlin's observation! have been those of an experieiced eye, and when he speaks of sheep aid cattle. of wheat and oats, of farms and ranches, he knows what_ he s talking aboutvery few indeed in £ew Zealand who know better. To tin management of South American raiways hff gives his meed of praist, which we are not surprised at for he would probably have had :o travd much farther, and seen more, >efore lie found any other railway management that better knows "how not to co it" than our own in New Zealand. Tie Chilian railway conductors, he sajs, court traffic, and get it; to the ad vintage of the railway revenue and the public; ours he seems to think repeLraffic to the advantage of neither. Ii is well that Mr. McLaughlin found something to qualify his partiality for lew Zealand, where what nature hasdone for us is perfect, and only man nars that perfection sometimes by his foly. The amazing productiveness and tie comparative inexhaustibility of he New Zealand soil, were what affeted MrMcLaughlin most when he aw what was shown him in South Amexca; ana we can well understand how he people thought he was beguiling tlem with travellers' tales when he toll them « the production per acre in this land of running brooks. Th character of the labour, no lsss than the character of Government;, was an item in the reckoning of the thoughtful colonist before fixing his fame and destiny for the rest of his life, but we do not hesitate to say that no moresound or philosophic opinion wis formea by Mr. McLaughlin than thatwhich be based on the prevalence of gats. -Mr. McLaughlin does not like gats: not from any sentimental squeanishness respecting either Nanny or.Willi 4111 ' but from the fact of his oborvation that people will not keep goas where they can keep cows or sheep. He saw goats everywhere, and he tookit for *" evil omen ; and, though the productiveness of the soil, and the instability political conditions are factors qu»* sufficient in determining asbetwwu New Zealand and the SpanishrepuDUca of South America, to an u^ observant, and reflecting man, here w *> quite as much instruction giw* 3 the character and destiny of tie country —in the universal presenc ol «» William goat. At any rate ye have » very impartial and decisiv. opinio" from a competent and rebate judge, and it should be pondered wel by those who may think of saying "god-bye w New Zealand because a httl. passing

cloud has darkened its sunshine ; and it confirms the opinion that has been confirmed by observation many a time before, that for soil, climate, and resources, for all that contributes to peace and plenty, to the happiness and enjoyment of life, there is absolutely no country on the face of the globe more blessed than New Zealand.