IMMIGRATION-NO. IV.

Southland Times, Issue 1023, 18 September 1868, Page 2

IMMIGRATION-NO. IV.

Siß—lrrespeotive of the offer to putchase land for the introduction of Immigrants, mentioned in my last letter, there is another scheme whioh I think is well worthy of attention. When Sir George drey waa Governor at the Cape of Good Hop*e, he entered into an arrangement with Messrs J. 0. Godeifroy and Son, of Hamhurg, for the introduction of 2000 German Immigrants into Caffraria, which they performed to the entire satisfaction of the Government. The main features of the agreement were as follows: — Messrs Godeffroy and Son agreed to select and ship the immigrants, advanoing the j passage money in the first instance, the ! Government undertaking to repay the same in ten years in debentures bearing 6 per cent interest; the immigrants to repay to the Government the passage money of themselves and families and interest thereon, &c, each immigrant to receive one acre village lot, and twenty acres of country land, and an additional acre of country land for every child, £2 per acre, to be paid" for such laud, &c, Government to find rations for one year, cost of which to be repaid ; time of repayment to extend over ten years ; title to the land to be given on full payment being made. In 1862, the New Zealand Government, contemplating planting a military settlement at Taranaki, entered into correspondence with Messrs Godeffroy and Son, on the subject, and appointed Mr IPedor Kelling, a member of the General Assembly of New Zealand, to | proceed to Hamburg, With the view of completing the arrangements, which were to be based on the scheme which had been successfully adopted in Caffraria. The negotiations, unfortunately, were broken off, on the commencement of hostilities at Taranaki, in 1863. Mr Kelling, however, went to Hamburg, and reported moßt satisfactorily of the arrangements made by Messrs G. and Son, who at the time were shipping emigrants to Queensland, under contract with the Government of that colony, commenting in strong terms on the care taken in selecting them, and dilating on the advantages to be derived by the colony, by the introduction of a large number of sober, industrious, thrifty, persevering men. Nor is he mistaken in this. In everj colony to which Germans have emigrated they have proved invaluable settlers. Accustomed to hard work anc small holdings in their native land, thej have learned to till the ground and til ib to advantage. If the inducement of i 21 acre lot at £2 per acre was sufficiem to induce 2000 tc leave the father laiidfoi _c« — r» ! — , l e nn. l 1 1 . „,,,, in Southland would prove a boon beyon( compare. To quote the words of Mi Kelling to the Colonial Secretary — " Th< men who would be sent out are agri culturists, or rather farm laborers, anc would look upon a piece of land of thei own as all that is necessary for theii future welfare and happiness, and it if not likely that they would, if it could bt given them, abandon it." Adelaide was made by them, while every colony in Australia has had occa sion to rejoice at their advent. The fai west of America, the great grain pro ducing district of the United States, has grown under their hand. The state oi Minnesota which has been developed bj Germans, was organised as a territory of the United States, on the Ist o1 July, 1849. It contained at that perioc little over 4,000 inhabitants; in 1860 according to the census returns, 172,000 which, in 1864, had increased to 350,000 The number of acres of ploughed land ir the state in 1850 was 1,900, and in 1860, 433,276 ; and the produce of grain and potatoes was nearly 15,000,000 bushels. Bearing in mind that the average size oi the farms in the United States is from 20 to 100 acres, not above a fifth of the whole number exceeding the latter acreage, one can gather that farming in Minnesota means farming, developing the resources of the land, and turning it to account. Here is progress and wonderful development in ten years. Contrast this with the acreage sold in this province during the same number of years, and what has been done with it. .From- 1856 to 31st July, 1866, there have been 454,828 acres sold in the province, 139,700 acres prior to separation in 1861, and 158,337 between that time and 1865 — the balance up to July, 1866. According to the census returns for 1867, there were 31,034 acres under crop. It may be argued and with justice that the soil and climate of the States is more favorable for the growth of wheat. I cannot but think, however, that if we had 3000 German farmers in Southland for the last six years we would have shewed a respectable export in barley, for which the climate of America is too dry, potatoes would not require to be imported, and dairy produce would be cheap, and a pork trade established. It may also be said that carriage to a market is cheaper. I question whether the price obtained by the farmers in the far west, and the price realised at the market is not more disproportionate than here. A bushel of Indian corn at Bloomington. in Illinois, cost in October 1863, 10 cents ; <. I Liverpool it sold for 89 cents, t:i> difference being entirely swallowed uj :u river and ocean freights. Thab fV ling will pay here, if properly and indu sti-iously carried on, I know from more than one instance I could point to ; that a considerable immigration of Germans will materially^ assist in solving the problem I feel con -^ vinced. — Tour's, &c, Walter H. Peaeboit. Invercargill, 14th September 1868, '