IMMIGRATION. To the Editor of the TARANAKI HERALD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 821, 18 April 1868, Page 3

IMMIGRATION. To the Editor of the T ARANAKI HERALD.

Sin, — I observe by your last paper that our Provincial Council aro again in session, and it is to be hoped that their labour during this session may tend to the advancement aud prosperity of the Province. It is to bo i-egretted that the Bills hitherto brought before our Couucil for consideration, are for the most part trifling, and unimportant. Some in the shape of petty taxes, j adding in reality, iittle to the Provincial chest, and a serious annoyance to an already over-taxed | public. Much time is also taken up in repealing, and amending old Provincial Acts, many of which, are never made uso of, or enforced. America would never have attained the position or importance she has in so Bhorfc a period, if the time of her Senators had boon taken up in debating trivial, and unimportant matters to the exclusion of more weighty aud important questions. Sitnated as we are, possessing a large extent of fertile forest, aud opeu country, with a limited population, it would bo a wiser course to increase our revenue by increasing our population, than by adding fresh taxes, aud thereby driving the few settlers we have away. The introduction of immigrants, the advisability of giving free grants of our forest lands, as a means of, opening up our bush, and thereby increasing the valuo of our open country, are questions worthy of the consideration of our Council, and more likely to advance the interest awl welfare of the Province, than many of the Bills hitherto brought before them for discussion. To occupy our forest lands, the offer of free grants would, I believe, induce numbers to immigrato from Ye *r Brunswick, suoh a class of settlers nsed as thuy are to the backwood life of America, would do more in a few years, to open up our forest lands, than double the nnmber of our own inexperienced countrymen from the mother couutry. Iv the present financial state of the Province, the idea of free immigration is absurd 5 the Province can neither afford to pay their passages ont, or employ them when they come. If the Province has no money, she has to the south east of tho mountain a large extent of rich and level forest land, which may lay unsold for fifty years to come. Would it not be advisable to sacrifice the paltry land revenue that would be derived from it, between this and probably a hundred years time, by giving it as free grants to induce immigrants to come and swell our revenue by the increase to our population. It must be borne in mind that those men who wish to immigrate from Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, are for the most part men with means, wlio ncitlier require free passages or support when tliey came ; their object is to exchange from their own severe climate to the milder climate of New Zealand. Such being their object, I trust our Council may take into consideration the advantage such a class of people would be to this Province, and ofFor them some inducement to come &nd occupy our waste lands. — Yours, &c., Colonist. New Plymouth, April 14, 1868. P.S. — Some fourteen years ago, some settlers immigrated from New Brnnswick and went to Wanganui ; they ptirohased a block of laud there now known as Brunswick Station, they were considered the best class of settlers that ever came there. One of their nnmber, Mr. Cunniball, revisited New Brunswick, last year, and the vessels now coming ont are, I understand, the result of his visit. Tho Patea district will most likely benefit by the importation, as there is little available land in Wanganui. [Wo can inform our correspondent that the Government has the subject of his lottur under consideration. — Ed. T. H.]