THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam ant faciam." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 69, 4 February 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam ant faciam." TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 1862.

Hkfore the gold discoveries Otago was the Cinderella of ]S Tew Zealand — tlie young daughter of the House, her claims to attention were systematically ignored in favor of her tawdry elder sisters. Her climate was described as little short of unendurable, her people as clanish and ascetic, her capabilities as meagre, her resources as uninviting. Jiut, 10, the good fairy at last came ; she descended like Jupiter, in a, shower of gold, and Cinderella, like Danae, welcomed her luxurious visitor. Cinderella bedecked with gold was very different from the previous!}' despised handmaid; not only her pampered sisters, but her neighbors, began to recognise her in a new ligiit. Instead of the despised, ugly, useless, little drudge, they found that after all she was fitted for something better. To drop the metaphor, Otago began to be looked upon with very different eyes. The newspapers, anxious to retain the population of the places they represented, still expressed fears and doubts, but the people themselves spoke out, find flocked down to Otago in numbers. The climate was no longer unendurable, the inhabitants were not found to be the grasping ogres they were represei t :d, and the capabilities and resources were uoknow- ' lodged to be worthy of attention. Cinderella has left the kitchen, "and courted and caressed, high placed in hall a welcome guest," she commands a, tardity conceded but none the less securely based consideration. Otago gold and Otago trade are highly thought of now among the sister provinces and neighbor-

ing colonies. But we may be sure Cinderella, would not content herself with provincial society alone whichever was the metropolis "of her hind of ancient fame" we may be certain she aspired to a London season. Our Colonial Cinderella is turning her eyes thitherwards. At one time since'Otago was settled a period of six months warj allowed to elapse without any communication to or from England. In their"sea girt home" the Pilgrim Fathers were content to endure the hardships of early settlers without drawing'on the compassion or admiration of their far off friends. Mais nous aeons change, tout cela, and in the hour of their prosperity they revert to the land to which absence has only served to endear them. To make Otago a household word in the mother country is now one of the most anxiously sought after objects, and on every side one hears of successful colonists proposing to return to Great Britain.

Nor is the desire to cultivate home relations unlikely to be reciprocated on the other side. By latest advices, the tide of emigration previously directed to America was seeking another outlet. The fame of the Otago Goldlields was just made public, and the capabilities of the Province were beginning to be understood. It is not at all unlikely that next mail will bring us the intelligence of a veritable rush to Otago. A\ re know by advices that several large ships were about being laid on. A rush from England will not partake of the spasmodic character of one from Australia. The stream when once it commences to run will flow on, and swell into broader dimensions. Nor will the " Merchant Princes" of Great Britain do things by halves—ships with emigrants will load side by side with ships with cargoes, and the inhabitants of Otago will obtain their supplies first hand, without being subiected to the heavy tax of twofold profits and charges on goods which come via Melbourne. Fancy the picture we have drawn, and believe it is not an exaggerated one. The same agency that made Canada and Victoria what they now arc, will be enlisted in aid of the progress of Otago,— a stream of emigration from Great Britain. Whilst neighboring colonies are sending home lecturers and offering pecuniary inducements to immigrants, thousands will Hock to Otago voluntarily and unsolicited. Tlirough Otago the whole of New Zealand will be peopled ; in every province of the two islands are sterling inducements to the sturdy immigrant. Otago may be the mouthpiece, but all New Zealand will derive benefit.; It will enjoy the same opportunities that have offered to the Australian colonies, and let us hope in many respects will benefit from their experience.

If our readers agree with us that the cultivation of cordial relations with England is of exceeding importance to the settlers of Otago, they will not think it irrelevant if we refer to two events of more than common, interest which this clay will develope. By the Aldinga, which leaves in the course of twenty-four hours, a gentleman yery inti-

mately connected with the last few years' progress of Otago, takes his departure en. route for England via Melbourne, and with him and in his charge goes the hastily gathered collection of articles for the Great .Exhibition. We are by no means prone to hero worshipping, but think that Rome recognition should be given to the services rendered by enterprising colonists, even although in rendering the?e services the donors secured substantial rewards. No doubt Mr. Holmes has largely benefited by his connection with Otago, but none the less surely, has Otago benefited by Mr. Holmes. Jt is in the nature of modern colonization, that those who best serve themselves serve, also their fellow colonists. Mr. Holmes, long before the goldh'eid?, had sufficient discernment lo perceive the capabilities of Otago, and sufficient reliance on hisownjiidgmenttoinduccbim to introduce n large amount of capital into the Province, raid to continue to keep it invested there. We need not point out here that capital in the hands of the Government expended on public works, fructifies, and sheds enlarged advantages around it. To be great, and to be successful, are, we know, two very distinct things, but yet success has always a certain amount of greatness about it. Not alone is it likely to have proceeded from an enlarged capacity, but it argues the power of doing good. lit" only as encouragement to others we may be forgiven for enlisting into our cause Longfellow's celebrated lines— Lives of great men all remind us We may jr.ake our lives sublime ; And, departing, leave bsliind us Footprints on the sands of Time. Footprints, that, perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's stormy main, A forlorn ;iud shipwrecked brother, Seeing may take heart again. Mr. Holmes' return to England is naturally associated with the charge he has undertaken, to carry home the articles destined to represent the Province in the Great Exhibition. He will exert himself to procure for them a favorable position in the space assigned to New Zealand, and, so far, he may be considered the representative of the Province. Judge Barry, and Mr. Knight, who are purposely accredited home from Victoria on similar missions, are being toasted and feted prior to their departure, and some little public recognition to Mr. Holmes would show at least that the people of Otago are not wholly indifferent to the purposes of the World's Great Fair, and to the position they may occupy in it.