NEW ZEALAND RE VISITED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 32

NEW ZEALAND RE VISITED.

(By W. R.) After an absence of over 14 years, during which time it has been my privilege to visit not only the mother country, but other lands in various parts of the world, I have thought it might be of some interest to (your readers if I were to devote a small portion of your valuable- space to giving briefly some impressions of New Zealand as I now find it on my, return, and also in comparing its position today with that of other dependencies of the. British Crown. - • ■ One of the first things that has impressed itselt upon my n.ind is the present marvels lous prosperity of the colony. In every large* city, country tovsnphip, and agricultural district that' l i.avc visited there appear unmis- ■ takable signs of wealth, comfort, and otaeir manifestations of a. progressive state of society, wherea, 14- years ago there was prevalent an air of gloom and adversity and an 1 anxiety among the various classes ot the co"m-" ' munity as to what the future might have in." store. How this favourable change has been | brought aboa. — whether by political legislaj tion, the discovery and working of new industries, or the influx of cheap capital, and the most suitable class of immigrants. — it is not for me to judge. I am simply stating what avipear to be facts, and no clo3e observer of the signs of the times can fail to sea plainly on every side that the colony of New; ' Zealand, at the present period _of its history,' ; occupies a most enviable position among the countries of the world. Its democratic form, j of government, its progressive laws, its splsnI did public and educational institutions, its commercial development on sound lines, and the tacilities of almost every kind, which ifc pffords for the enjoj'ment of life,, and evea - for its luxuries : all these serve to impress the imagination of a newcomer, and his astonishment is all the greater when he reflects that little more than half a o&nitiry has elapsed since the first little band of colonists Ip.nded on its shores. Tli ere is one great advantage possessed by this favoured country which has probably done much to facilitate its quiet settlement and progress. I mean its entire immunity from internal dissensions and racial disputes. After the Maoris had been finally subjugated and relegated for the most part to that nortion of the North Island now known as th» King Couiitrr, the whole length and breadth of the land, with that exception, lay open and at the entire dispoFal of those British, pubjects who had' already crossed, or care' 4 to cross, the seas in search of a new home in the southern hemisphere. In such countries, on the contrary, as Canada, South Africa, and India, their settlement and prosperity, has been greatly hampered and impeded bycauses absolutely unknown here. Leavingaltogether oiit of conside;ation the question of climate, in which New Zealand stands - pre-eminently at the head of all our dependencies as a home for natives of the British. Islands, there have been here no, foreign elements tc fight against, and it is necessary to take this fact into account when we reflect on the marvellous advancement of the Britain of the South. At the same time, it is to be acknowledged by all who have takea tho trouble to study the history of this colony that the early settlers, as well as their successors, have displayed a spirit of enterprise, hardihood, and energy which has rarely, if ever, been surpassed by immigrants to "a new country, and we now see everywhere around us substantial monuments of these virtues and characteristics — handsome cities and towns, splendid harbour works, well-organised railways, substantial roads, and smiling,* richly-cultivated plains, dotted with comfortable farms and homesteads, embowered in. masses of green foliage. If we consider for a moment the inner spirit which prevails among the people of J^few Zealand, it must also be acknowledged that they display certain other characteristic* which place them in the very front rank of British colonists. They are not only in- 1 tensely patriotic- (as recent events have so abundantly proved) in their feslings of devo : tion towards that great' and good Sovereign who has so long and so wisely reigned over us, but it seems surprising to find in thi§ far-distant portion of her dominions such atruly English ring ' in the speechj language; and sentiment of the people. It is not my - wish to attempt in any way to depreciate the inhabitants of Canada, or lo under-rate the possibilities which may lie before our huge dependency, with its practically unlimited resources, but during a residence of several months in ihe very heart of that country, where abundant facilities were afforded, to me of studying the character of its people, X was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the American spirit of restless energy and the worship of the almighty dollar were slowly but surely extending across to the northern shores of the great lakes, and i£ may sooner or later militate against the progress and prosperity of the country, considered in its highest and noblest sense. Here „ in New Zealand, on the contrary. I find that its inhabitants, while displaying all the energy and enterprise necessary for the development of the country, are fully alive to the fact that there are higher objects of ambition than the mere heaping-up of wealth, and that a person may find time and opportunity for the cultivation of refined tastes, social and domestic happiness, and other worthy objects, at the same time fulfilling all the practical duties of life. Another matter which has specially attracted my attention is the superior tone of the public press in New Zealand, in which respect it approximated more nearly to the higher journalism of the mother country than to that of any other country with which! I am acquainted. The pages of many newspapers in ths United State? and. even id Canada, are filled with a class of articles, general news, and advertisements positively disgusting to a refined reader ; but take up any of our leading journals iv this country, and we there find leaders and other interesting and instructive matter that would do credit to the columns of the best London) dailies. So long as the press here — one of tho most powerful influences that can be exerte-i — continues to follow on the same lines as at present, there is no doubt that public opinion in matters social, educational, and political,' will be led in the right direction.

If space permitted, there are other aspee4>r

of the present hopeful outlook in the colony that might have been referred to. I could also have spoken of the wonderful scenery of the North and South Islands, ranging from the sublime mountain peaks of the Southern 'Alps to the soft sylvan beauty of other localities within easy distance of the great centres of population. Such scenery must necessarily be regarded as a most valuable as=:et, and it seems likely that New Zealand is destined in days to come to be one of the most popular tourist grounds in the world. Truly this country has been most bountifully favoured by Providence, and its inhabitants will probably bear in mind amicist their advancing prosperity, and their assured place a.mong the future great nations of the earth, titafc it is " righteousness which exalteth a nation, '' and that they will regard this beautiful land as a rich heritage for carrying into practical effect the teachings of the Christian religion. If so, then New Zealand, which even now is attracting the attention, if not the admiration, of the whole civilised world, may become in. reality the "paradise of the South Pacific."