NEW AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2105, 28 June 1894, Page 21

NEW AUSTRALIA.

WORK ON THE SETTLEMENT. The following letter from Mr James Mooney is published in " New Australia" :—: — From the New Year up to the time I left the settlement, on February 14, time had been largely devoted to the planting of sweet potatoes, beans, and maize, and to the putting up of wire fences— wire being better for certain urgent needs than other secure fencing. Some 12 acres of cleared monte had been planted with beans on the drier parts and maize on the other ; about 10 acres of ploughed camp land had also been planted in beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and majzo. Coffee was to be put in the week I left for Monte Video. In addition, several acres have been added to the vegetable garden — part in the shape of beds arranged for irrigating. Altogether about 90 acres of agricultural land was enclosed, and about half was planted. So far only vegetable marrows, cucumbers, and melons have been got . from the garden — the exceptionally dry season, locusts and other insects, and lack of experience combined having affected the vegetable gardening so far, in spite of the hard work done. But beans, sweet potatoes, maize, and mandioca were, then looking well, although affected by caterpillars slightly, and in a few weeks would be coming in. Mandioca seemed to bo doing bet>t on . well-ploughed camp land ; the other food stuffs .best in the monte lands. It is the general opinion that when camp land is well ploughed and worked for a year or two, so as to thoroughly sweeten it, it will bo found very suitable for agriculture, but that monte land will be found the best at the beginning.

Fencing had been going on for the putting up of three paddocks — a dairy paddock, a horse paddock, and a sheep paddock. The dairy paddock will be about 1000 acres, fenced with four wires, and will be used for milking cows, working bullocks, and killing cattle, also for studs — both horses and cattle. For the horses actually in use a paddock of about six acres was enclosed. The sheep paddock will be about 400 acres, enclosing the high grass land, on which the township is located, one side being made by the cattle fence — six-wired in this part — and another Bide by the stub fence of fehe garden. Before the end of the month all but the two last sides of the sheep paddock would be finished. Grass land such as that being fenced will carry a very large amount of stock. Building has been mostly suspended in order to push on planting and fencing. The oven has been covered, a bootmakei's shop, library, and schoolhouse fitted up in the big building, the store enlarged, and the blacksmith's shop completed, excepting the roof, for which grass has been cut. A saw-pit has also been put up. Wheelwright's work has also been in hand. In the stock department the killing yard had been finished, and a "crush." for branding and marking is in hand. Sufficient milk to supply the settlement is now sent from the esbancia, and enough cows are being broken to give milk to the new village — which ib is intended to establish close by — as well as to the old. A L-aujbor of horses have been broken iv, but want o? paddocking seriously interfered with all work.

Life on the settlement is bright and healthy. The day's work begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., except on Saturday, when work ceases at noon. The breakfast hour is from Bto 9, and dinner from 12 to 2, and tea at 5.30. Every man and woman carry oub cheerfully the tasks allotted to them, and when the daj's wrrk is dove pleasures of a simple bufc hearty description are alternately indulged in — such as singing, dancing, taking part in readings, lectures, and literary debates. There is also a Spanieh class for the bencfi 1 ; of fc'iose who wish to acquaint thera*plves with rhit .tongue. We have also started football, cricket, and athletic clubs, which discovered some fairly deceut talent in that line. Matches were offered to us by the English residents at Villa Rica, but as it involved the loss of three working day 3, which meant that our planting would be delayed, and as that was a good deal to us. who were anxious to get food stuffs productd ua quickly as possible, we declined their offers,

promising, however, that we would give them opportunities of testing our metal later on. The house accommodation is humble, but weatherproof, and comfortable enough ; a tworoomed house beitag allotted to each family. The single women live in "quarters," and the single men live in " barracks." The houses are built of " wattle and daub, 1 " with earthen floors «nd thatched roofs. Wooden window shutters are used in place of glass, which is a luxury that will come later on. The distribution of food is systematically and economically arranged, full and plenty of plaiD, wholesome food, consisting of meat, bread, fruit, vegetables, milk, &c, and checks against receipt and distribution of necessaries are kept by the butcher, baker, and storekeeper. Our co-operative kitchen and dining table is taken advantage of by all, excepting some five or six families who, through matters of taste, prefer to cook for themselves. By co-operative methods, the necessary mending and 'washing is done by our womenfolk, who arranged their methods of working amongst themselves.

The education of the children is in Mr John Lane's hands, who teaches the Spanish language, together with a sound English education. He is assisted by Miss Hollingsworth, who teaches the infants. The school hours are much the same as those in Australia, except that a half-holiday picnic is given every Wednesday, when, to the great delight of the scholars, the bullocks are yoked into the drajs and they are carried off to some picturesque spot, whore they sling the billy and regale themselves on mate", beans, cakes, fruit, melons, &c. They have games of various sorts until it is time to make tracks for home. They return all tumbled and tossed, but merry as you like.

Altogether, New Australia is a good place for those who wish to live honest, healthy lives, and to work honestly to help one another to build up a state wherein there will be to poverty, misery, or discontent. People who believe in working for such a state, we earnestly invite you to Join ; to those who do not thorougly understand, we say : " Stay away. At anyrate stay away until you are prepared to come to us in the true spirit cf brotherhood."