The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1041, 21 August 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1879.

Another book h. 13 emanated from the pen of Sir Julius Vogel, the subject being —as might be expected—New Zealand. The exact title of the work is " Land and Fanning in New Zealand : information i respecting the mode of acquiring land in ! New Zealand; with particulars as to : farming, wages, prices of provisions, Ac., in that Colony j also the Land Acts of i 1877 ; with mnp3. Edited by Sir Julius Vogel." The introduction is written by ; the Agent-General. It explains that good land cannot now bo obtained at L 1 or L2 ' per acre, and enumerates those things | that affect it 3 value, such as nature of i soil, amount of bush to be cleared, the | distance from a railway station, the I distance open of that railway to a market lor harbor, the proximity of gold fields, i &c. The Agent-General adds that " the : emigrant is not altogether dependent on ; Government lands. At various times, j when land commanded a mere fraction of ; its present worth, large estates were i purchased by private individuals. These, in a great many cases, are now cut up, ; and emigrants may obtain farms on leases with deferred payments, or purchase bj • paying a portion of the cost and leaving ithe rest on mortgage." The writer says 1 that it is difficult to satisfactorily fix the ; sunt which would be necessary to enable an intending emigrant to succeed a3 a farmer ~ r that much depends upon the size of his family, frugality, and activity. _ He, however, ventures to offer the opinion that an emigrant intending to farm should not land in the Colony with les3 than L 250, and should at once set to work with that amount. But, whilst he fixes this amount as that which would I.e necessary to ensure perfect comfort, he states that if the emigrant were prepared to undergo extraordinary hardship, Ll5O might suffice. Tlits writer tending emigrants against the idea which obtains that they can readily find temporary occupation whilst they look i about them. He say 3, in effect, that although there is an almost unlimited demand for farm laborers, fanners accustomed to work on their own account make better masters than servants. It is most satisfactory to I earn from this work that, a3 the Colony becomes known the I desire amongst all classes of " the population of the three Kingdoms iss to transfer their domicile to the Great Britain of the South." Sir Julius Vogel, with that loyalty for the Colony for which all must give him credit, dilates upon the advantages of the soil and climate of New Zealand over those of any other British Colony, and institutes comparisons between the climate of this Colony and the rigor of Canada, and the tropical heat of India. He points out that there is here a larger quantity of producing and fertile land in proportion to area than in almost any other country, and alludes to the spontaneity of the soil, which produces grain crops without artificial aid that " challenge comparison with the best producing countries in the world." He concludes the introduction by saying " It is incredible that people possessed of capital and intelligence can submit to be tenant-farmers in Great Britain, whilst in another part of their own country-for such New Zealand is—they may enjoy independence, attain wealth, and find openings in life for their children." Sir Julius vogel has represented the Colony and emigration thereto of small capitalists in such a light that is scarcely possible that it can fail to produce the desired results. We think, however, that he, in his earnestness, has perhaps a little under-estimated the average amount that would be necessary to enable an immigrant to obtain a footing in the Colony. In addition to Sir Jtrlius Vogel's opening article, the book contains notes on New Zealand farming by the Ber. J. Berry, extracts from newspapers (principally Home), letters from newspapers, letters from residents in New Zealand, extracts from reports of Immigration Officers, tables showing rates of wages and prices of provisions, statistics taken from the paper read by Sir Julius Vogel at the Colonial Institute, map of North Island, showing land tenure, the Land Act, 1877, map of Middle Island, showing land tenure, regulations respecting the homestead land syatem in the Auckland district.

An advertisement, signed by the Returning Officer, appears in another column. It announces that the nomination of candidates for the representation of the Waitaki District will take place at noon on the 30th August at the Resident Magistrate's Cowrthonse, Oamant, ami that the poll will be taken on the sth September. It will be seen that there arc 14 polling places, and that, therefore, every facility is being afforded to electors to record their votes. Mr. George Jones has been asked by a number of the electors to enter the contest for the representation of the Waitaki district in Parliament. He has declined to do so. as he has no wish to in any way interfere I with the return of the present members for I the district, who have served the electors EwthEttlly and well. Jt is stated that Mr. W. Mnrcott will be asked to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for one of the seats for the Waitaki District. Should Mr. Mnrcott come forward, he will do so essentially as a country candidate, and it is probably in connection with this that the meeting of electors in the southern portions of the county has been called for to-morrow evening, at Otepopo. The fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council will be held this evening. Thotw members of the Oamara Dramatic Clab who tun engaged in the comedy will meet for rehearsal to-morrow evening.

A meeting of Mr. Steward's election committee was held last evening, at Air. Chnrch s office, and was very well attended. A programme of action was adopted, and arrangements made for a thorough canvass of the whole district, and for the electors being addressed in all the principal centres. The Philharmonic Society will meet this evening, to practice for the miscellaneous concert. The band will not be required to attend. We are glad to be able to state that Dr. C. E. Smith, so well-known and respected in this district, has arrived safely at Home. In a letter to a friend he says that he has arrived in England, rather the worse for the voyage, and adds that "it will be a satisfaction to a great many of my old patients to know that I am still in the land of the living." We are sure that everybody who knows Dr. Smith will rejoice that he is still alive, although we regret to learn that if he recovers at all, his recovery will be a long and tedious process. Some very funny things were said at the meeting of the Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to-day, during the selection of judges for the forthcoming show. On the name of one gentleman down South being suggested, a member of the Committee remarked, " Oh, he is a politician," to which another replied, " Don't take away the man's character." Others wanted to know whether the proposed judge was a Liberal or a Conservative. This vital question was not satisfactorily answered, and the gentleman named was rejected. The small fry larrikins of Oamaru have evidently discovered a new method of providing amusement for themselves and causing annoyance to the public. During the performance at the Volunteer Hall last evening a number of boys to whom the application of the birch would be a fitting punishment indulged their mischievous propensities by throwing stones on the iron roof of the building. At the Oddfellows' Hall, where a meeting of the Loyal Alfred Lodge was being held, the same tactics were followed, a volley of stones being thrown upon the roof. Fortunately, however, none of the missies used —pretty large ones—struck the skylights, or the results might have been much more serious than the perpetrators of the mischief imagined. It would be well if the police kept a sharp look out for these stone-throw-ing larrikins. A meeting of the Committee of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held to-day, when there were present— Messrs. Henderson (in the chair), Hedley, Menlove, Ketchen, Little, Gemmell, Diehl, Ronayne, Robertson, Easton, and Connell. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Messrs. Morrow, Bassett, and Co. wrote, asking when they might expect to receive the medal won by the M'Cormick reaper and binder at the last trial. A letter was read from Mr. E. P. Burbury, the local agent for the machine, on the same subject. Some discussion then took place upon the subject, and it was decided to obtain from Dunedin a supply of medals sufficient to satisfy the demands of those who have not yet obtained their medals for the last show, and that a supply of medals for the forthcoming show should be ordered from Home. Mr. Ronayne suggested that they ascertain if it was possible to obtain the medals through a local firm. If this could be done, he thought it would be well to let the local tradespeople have the benefit of any commission that might bo given. It was pointed out that the dyes for the medals would probably have to be cut if that course were adopted, and that great delay and inconvenience might occur. The suggestion was therefore not adopted, though it was stated that it might be adopted for another year, wiien there would be more time at the disposal of the Committee. The selection of judges wns then proceeded with. "H.M.S. Pinafore" was repeated at the Volunteer Hall last evening, when there was a very good attendance, and those present seemed to enjoy the opera even to a greater extent than on the previous evening, encores being of more frequent occurrence. | The piece went, if possible, more smoothly , than on its first performance here, and this, : too, notwithstanding a very material change ;in the caste had been rendered necessary i through Mr. Crain having been unaMe to appear in consequence of the cold lie has been suffering from for some time having become much worse. Mr. Crowthers, who has only recently joined the company, undertook the part at very short notice, and he is therefore to be highly complimeuted upon the very creditable manner in which he rendered the part. Had it not been for hoarseness, his singing would have been excellent. The Misses Leaf, Hunter, and Heath, and Messrs. Riccardi, Harding, and Hodson were each loudly applauded for their singing, the principal vocalists having several times to respond to encores. The company left by the express train to-day, for limaru, where they will appear for a few nights, afterwards playing seasons in Christchurch, Wellington, and other northern towns.