THE STATE OF TRADE IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Witness, Issue 930, 25 September 1869, Page 18

THE STATE OF TRADE IN NEW ZEALAND

The following notes are contributed to the 'West Coast Times by a gentleman who has lately visited most of the principal towns in New Zealand :—: —

The depressed state of the West Coast Goldfields had determined me to try fresh fields and pastures new. I left Weatport with a roving commission. My first port was Wanganui, where 1 was struck with the stagnant appearanoo of things generally. I looked forward to bustle and confusion consequent on the war ; bat labour was soarce, and in every business complaints reached me of the badness of the times. The unsettled state o( the optlying districts, and the general feeling of insecurity, in a groat measure, wero the cause of this, and hopes for the better were only expected to be realised by the thorough subjugation of the Maoris.

Taranaki won my next port, and a similar state of things presented itself. The Armed Constabulary mastered strong at tho White Cliffs, near the scene of the late massacre, and a great deal of lighting was expected about the commencement of the spring. In the meantime the troops are idle, and drunkenness is chronic

Auckland, aa may be expected, was more lively, and tho minors at tho Thames in many oases were reaping the reward of thoir labour, and waiting to make their fortunes by striking good patches of stone. Many wero, however, hanging on, and looking forward to something turning tip, and the proportion of lucky ones was but very Bmall out of the thousands who rushed thither, A great deal of building was going on in Auckland, a&d the new thoatre was nearly completed, and bids fair to be the finest in New Zealand. Employment was, however* soarce, and the street corners wero pretty well filled with men waiting for a job. Having failed to see anything payable in Auckland, I started for Wellington, the Empire City, and oortainly a moro stagnant place it would be impossiblo to concoive. Trade seemed at a standstill, notwithstanding tho improvement visible in the business buildings of the oity. Shoop are at a vnry low rate, and ons slightly scabby mob of 19.000 in tho Wairarapa district, sold by order of the mortgagee, wont for 4d per head, the lnoky purchaser being Mr J. Martin, of the Circular $aw Steam Navigation Company. Sheep boiling has become a feature in this district, thousands ore being oonvorted into tallow. The city has no gas works, and being badly lighted presents a most wretched appoaranoe by night.

Nelson is in ranch tho same state, employment for labour being much less thsn the demand, so that here a gloat many Idlo men may be seen, and gsnoral dullness prevails.

Ghriitchoroh is no exooption to the general depression, and in spite of the numMrs of tbo unemployed, there is a great outcry for immigration, wnloh Is, in the eyes of the capitalists, to' prove tho salvation of tho country. t wm greatly surprised, on landing in Du&odin, to find, notwithstanding the dullaess of the times, an improvement on tho other portions of the colony. The town presents a more lively appearance, and the various buildings In oourso of oroctioa, if taken as a criterion of tho state of the town, must not only be a source of pleasure to the visitor, but also to thefrasidente in this, the only place 1 would dtaufy by the name of a dtyinilHewZoataaa7