MR COURTNEY'S SIXTH MISSION TO ENGLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8642, 30 November 1889, Page 3

MR COURTNEY'S SIXTH MISSION TO ENGLAND.

HE IS INTERVIEWED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Mr 'Courtney left for England on his sixth immigration mission on Thursday last in the a.s. Kaikoura. Previous to his leaving Christchurch he waß interviewed by the special reporter of the Lyttelton Times, who gave the following particulars of what transpired between the two. The reporter writes :—: — On Saturday I had the pleasure of a few minutes' conversation with Mr William Courtney, of Taranaki, who very quickly sketched as follows the work he has been doing during the past, year :—: — HIS LAST TKIP. "This is the sixth and last trip," said he, " that I have made to the Old Country for the same purpose. I go on my own account, paying all my expenses. On one occasion only did I receive any assistance from Government, but since that time I have carried out the enterprise as a fad of mine. his wonrc at iroMK. " I am convinced that what New Zealand requires is population, and I have, when in England, given numerons lectures in which I have dwelt upon the advantages this colony offers to bcttlers. Last winter I gave sixty-one such lectures at Brighton, Epsom, Staineß, Chelmsford, Southwark, Kew, and other towns. TRICKS OK THE JfUTCHERS. " But I will show you how I help Christchurch and Canterbury. I will give you just one instance. It is of a clergyman who wanted to purchase a quantity of mutton for his parishioners. lie had tasted some New Zealand mutton at a friend's table in London and had found it to be very good. He went to the local Dutchcrs and asked them to supply him ■with three New Zealand sheep. There were two butchers in liis parish, and both declared that Now Zealand mutton was •uneatable, and that they would not have Biich stuff in their shops. Not to be baulked, the deigyruun sent to a wholesale man in Leadenhall Market. Kb found this man's price fur the mutton was bo reasonuhle that he purchased four instead of only three sheep. But {'udge of hiH surprise when lie learned, as ie aid, that the two butchers of his parihh were regular!}' supplied with New Zealand mutton by this very same wholesale man, " I can give you one other instance of tin trickory report^ to by tin i»uil

butchers at Home. A fanner in England had received from his son in New Zealand a present of some frozen mutton. He liked it so well that he ordered some from his butcher, with whom he had dealt for thirty years. A joint was delivered to him, but it was quite unfit for food. Ho at once told his butcher that the meat he had received from his son was first rate, and if ho (the butcher) could not send him as good, he must deal with someone who could. Ilis butcher put the best face he could on the matter, and baid he had just heard of a man who got frozen meat direct from New Zealand. If the farmer would give him ono chance more, he hoped to satisfy him. Another joint came, and proved unexceptionable ; and the butcher was told that he could send English mutton if he liked, but he would be pa ; d only the frozen mutton price. The butcher accepted the position, and his customer had no further cause to complain. " These stories," said Mr Courtney, " I introduce into my lectures, and you cannot tell them sixty-one times without helping the frozen meat trade. Then I had thirtyfive framed photographs of New Zealand scenery and homesteads exhibited at railway stations and in other public places. They are views of places in the Province of Taranaki. In addition to this means of advertising the colony, I distributed 125,000 of these little handbills of New Zealand, and, of course, Taranaki in particular. I have also a neat little pamphlet, illustrated, which I sell in England at 6d a copy. " After this, my last, trip I intend to return with a party of settlers, and shall settle in Taranaki. A CANTERBURY MAN WANTED. " I contend that the Government shouid do what I have been doing — they should send someone to advertise the colony in England; and if the Government won't do it, then Christchurch would find it to her interest to send one of her own men. It would pay your people hore to send a capable man Home, with views showing your resources and comfortable settlements, and so to induce people with capital to come out for the sake of the climate, and men who are struggling againstcompetition and the high price of food to come out to a place where the hours of labour are not so long and living is cheap. " True, the cost of living may become greater here, but fhould this be the case property will rise proportionately, and those here will reap the benefit of the unearned increment. Then their children would have a much better prospect here than they can have in the Old Country. TOWNSPEOPLE MOST INTELLIGENT. " I may here mention that it is a mistaken idea to suppose that the country districts are where my lectures should be given. My exerience proves what I say. I have found that in the country places my circulars are crunched up and thrown away unread, whilst in the towns they are j read and put into the readers' pockets, evidently to be talked over with friends and relations. After all the townspeople make very good settlers. Two of the most l successful farmers now in Taranaki were at one time weavers in the Old Country. THE CLERGY WELL DISPOSED. " And here I may remark that there is a. great difference now as compared with a few years ago in the attitude taken by the clergy towards anyone advocating the claims of the Colonies. Formerly the clergy held aloof, but now they are willing to give every assistance. Just recently, however, the Bank of New Zealand has done incalculable injury to this Colony, and it will take some time to undo the mischief. SOME WHO PROFIT BY HIM. " I may be pardoned for pointing out here that the New Zealand Shipping Company would have had £1600 less during the last twelve months but for my success in inducing people to come out. Then also the Insurance Companies gain by the increase of settlement, because empty houses become occupied, and are, probably with their furniture, insured with the local companies. The banks, too, extend thenbusiness in many ways which need no explanation. The Government Savings Bank is no loser, as already at least forty of my young fellows have opened accounts with it. This last fact shows, I think, that I bring out the right class, though I do not say that amongst those I have introduced there are no black sheep. " You in Canterbury, by the way, send up your grain to Taranaki, so are pretty direct gainers by my efforts." Mr Courtney closed . his conversation with a few observations complimentary to the enterprise of the people of Christchurch and the district.