DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JAN. 17.

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 15

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JAN. 17.

The arrival of such a large number of Chinese immigrants by the steamer Mikado is a circumstance which demands move than a mere passing notice. It is certainly impossible to regard the importation — for such it really is — of Chinese labour to this Province with feelings of satisfaction. The general theme of conversation in business circles is the scarcity of labour and the importance of measui'es to secure active immigration. There cannot be a doubt that one of the chief drawbacks to the progress of this Province, in fact to the general progress of Now Zealand, is the great deficiency of labour, an obstacle which nothing but immigration can remove. Still, at the same time, a line must be drawn in the selection of this labour, and the exacb spot vfcere the line should cu.t

through, is the importation of Chinese. Those who are aware of the bitter lessons taught by the large number of Chinamen quartered in a town, also know the terrible state of immorality and depravity caused by their presence. But, apart from the evil effects in a moral point of view accruing from Chinese immigration, we have to deal with the ultimate results of this system of foreign interference on our own working man. The British workman struggles hard to get on in this Colony ; his great ambition is to make a footing in his newly-adopted country, to bring up his family in a respectable and GoD-fearing manner. Now, to do this he must have those around him who can set him an example, those in whose company he will daily have to mix, who can appreciate the comfort and happiness of a home acquired by honest toil and dogged perseverance. These are the immigrants we require, men who do honour to the land that gave them birth, and also men who will be a source of benefit to this or any other Province they may settle in. But can this, we ask, be said of the Chinese? We answer, most unconditionally, no. The alien from the Celestial land has only one object in view, and that object is his own personal aggrandizement. His savings are all carefully laid on one side, he never for a moment spends any money to further the interests of the community he lives in ; but on the other hand, having sucked our very vitals, and with SHYLOOK-like keenness extracted the last penny from our Colony, he leaves us to return to his native country with his hoardings. Prom these iacts, which are undeniable, it is easily seen that the Colony does not benefit much from this class of immigrants. It is only a few days ago that we had intelligence of a quiet and peaceable town being thoroughly upset and made the scene of a riot, which was a disgrace to all concerned in it ; and more especially to those who, for the sake of a few pence a week, would strive to turn out English workmen and supply the vacancy by Chinamen. Let it be understood that we do not for one moment otherwise than condemn the system of rioting as a means to prevent Chinese aggression; still at the same time circumstances may arise when men may be compelled by a strong hand and stout heart to protect their own interests, and those of their wives and families. The action the "Victorian Government took in the matter showed plainly that it sympathised no more with the Chinese than it did with the rioters. It is truo that a nominal fine of £5 was imposed, and rightly too ; but this was only to vindicate British law and justice. The miners knew it also, and paid the money cheerfully, freely recognising the fairness of the Magistrate's decision.

If this is to be a British Colony of some importance, let us gain that proud position by our own exertions — let us employ our own flesh and blood to further that end. We have a veiy j great regard for the Chinese in their own. country, and even for a few of them liere ; but when we see them imported by hundreds at a time, and to the great disadvantage of our own countrymen, we ai'e bound to confess that we view their arrival witb great misgivings. Doubtless many will say that -we have over-painted this picture of Chinese immigration, but if they -will pause for a moment and refer to the police records of Melbourne, Ballarat, and the up-country districts of NewSouth Wales, they will, we think, freely acknowledge that the matter has not been exaggerated, or the importance of the subject over-rated.

There are few subjects more worthy to attract the attention ot the Government of a young Colony, than the survey of the sites of proposed towns. Upon the manner in which the plans of our future towns are laid out, will depend in a considerable measure whether N"ew Zealand shall hereafter be dotted over with healthy and magnificent centres of population, or mean crowded collections of human habitations, the seats of disease and pestilence. A Government having wapte Jao4 at its disposal,

'will not incur much loss of land revenue by appropriating land in a liberal manner for town sites. In the course of years town land may become very valuable, but the demand for this class of land will usually be so moderate when Government offers town sections for sale, that the laying out of fine broad streets, and the reserving of open squares or unbuilt-upon spaces within the proposed towns, will not involve any considerable loss of land re venue. Its would be miserable and wretched economy to lay out towns in a. meagre and illiberal manner for the sake of saving a few pounds of land revenue. It is also worthy of consideration whether it would not be well to make lar-ge reserves of land in the neighbourhood of all towns for the purpose of recreation. It might be advantageous also to reserve land in the neighbourhood of towns with powers to the Corporations of lease but not of sale. From such an estate a Corporation might at some future period draw a handsome revenue, which could be devoted to the improvement of the town. It is questionable whether the plans of some of our towns in Otago have been laid out on as liberal a scale as they ought to have been. Had Princes street been made considerably broader than it is, the appearance of an important part of Dunedin would have been greatly improved, and a large increase of street traffic have been provided for. The widening of streets in towns at a future period, for the sake of health or convenience, necessitating the purchase for that purpose of private property, would prove enormously expensive work. That the General Government of New Zealand should up to this time have failed to bring forward a measure for the regulation of the plans of, and the building of, towns, seems extraordinary neglect. Perhaps the delay may in some measure be accounted for by the disunited state of the Colony, and the absence of general supervision. It would appear, however, that although no Act has yet been passed, this subject has been before the Assembly for two or three sessions. Last session a " Plan of Towns Regulation Bill " was before the House, but after some discussion, the Bill was withdrawn by Mr O'Neill, Mr Richardson, according to Hansard, complaining that he really had not had time to go through all the details that were necessary for bringing forward a measure of such importance. He expressed, however, great interest in the matter, and made a sort of promise to bring forward a measure next session. It is to be hoped Mr Richardson will not lose sight of a subject of so much importance, action as to which, does not admit of any delay. What are called private, as well as Government townships, should be brought under the operation of the Act. A private individual should not be allowed to lay out a town on his own property, exactly according to his own fancy. It is requisite for the public welfare that all towns, whether Government or private, should be built in a manner which will not be likely to be injurious to the health of the persons inhabiting them*