HINTS TO EMIGRANTS.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 346, 25 July 1885, Page 3

HINTS TO EMIGRANTS.

A recent cablegram from London states that ' Colonel Stanley (Secretary for the Colonies) favours the establishment of an Emigration Bureau for affording information to intending emigrants.' Now, provided the information supplied to the intending emigrants is reliable and accompanied with practical advice applicable to each individual case, such a Bureau (if •established) would be a public boon, not only /to the intending emigrant, but to the colonists, 'evaf ready as they are as a class to welcome ■■the ' new chum,' but who at the same time -naturally enough want that ; new chum ' to be ■of the right sort. When the late Anthony Trollope published Ms < Australia and New Zealand,' some years ago, he stated in. the preface to that very readable book that no less than four hundred, aiid fifty works on the Colonies had appeared up to that time, and humourously remarked that he thought some apology was really due to the public for presenting it with the four hundred and fifty first ! There have been a good many .additions to the list since Trollope's volumes appeared, and yet the ignorance prevailing amonsst the 'old folks at Home' on the -subject of the colonies is deplorable. The haziest notions are, as a general thing, enter--tamed regarding the geographical position of this 'Brighter Britain.' 'Going to Auckland,' some friend of an intending emigrant will exclaim on hearing the news of his -approaching departure. 'Well, I have a cousin in Brisbane ; now mind you look him ■up.' < Auckland, Dunedin, Melbourne, New Zealand,' was the address observed on a trunk lying on the Queen-street Wharf just after the arrival of the Aorangi the other clay. Such specimens of geographical accuracy Hiie;ht be multiplied indefinitely. And the majority of Home dwellers appear to be quite as much in the dark respecting our modes of life. The prevalent idea seems to be that we are all sheep-farmers or gold-diggers; that our ordinary attire (that of the sterner sex, at all events) consists of riding breeches, digger shirts, and cabbage-tree hats •, and that our manners are as rough as our clothes. People 'entirely overlook the fact that the conditions of life in the colonies have greatly altered since the 'early days.' For all these misconceptions the innumerable books about 'Toughing it' and that kind of thing are chiefly responsible. These books are all very well in their way, but the next man who takes pen in hand to to ' write up ' New Zealand should devote a few chapters to the life in our great centres, show the rapid rise and growth of bur cities, and the pluck and enterprise of our business men, and say something to convey to the benighted dwellers in 'the tight little j Island' our social and general advancement ' and what manner of people we are in the city ,as well as in the bush or on the goldfield. And to supplement all this, the writer might j most advantageously devote a portion of his book to emigration. Many of the works ! published <m the Colony contain 'hints to -emigrants,' but I have never yet seen any really valuable hints. _ .«, _ Amongst the many ' vulgar errors ' obtaining at Home in connection with emigration is that any ne'er-do-well, fast youth, or useless and helpless individual, who find it difficult or Impossible to ' get on ' in the Old Country, have only to land in New Zealand or Australia -to find their troubles vanish straightway and themselves on the high road to fortune. It ■cannot be too frequently or too earnestly repeated, for the benefit of intending cmi.grants, that the same qualities which command

success at Home are necessary to win it abroad. . .«. Our author might also tell his readers that people without money, and .who are unacquainted with any trade or calling, had better think twice before they take their passages. Such people may, of course, succeed as hundreds have already succeeded, but the road to success under such' conditions is, generally speaking, a rough one to travel. Capitalists, both large and small, can hardly make a mistake in emigrating to a colony like this ; indeed, the chances constantly presenting themselves here for the profitable investment of money but rarely, if ever, occur at Home. ■ — ■ — ■ ■ But the writer of my ideal volume must be an old colonist, or, at any rate, a colonist of some years' standing. One half the misconceptions existiug in England on colonial matters are attributable, I feel convinced, to the misleading statements of people who have come out here to ' do ' the Colony, and who rush from place to place as fast as steamboats and express trains can carry them, and then, after a brief visit of a few weeks' duration, go back Home and write a book, on the strength of which they claim ever afterwards to be authorities on the colonies and all relating to them. -« To revert for a moment to the proposed Bureau: If the institution is to effect any real good it must be ' run ' by someone possessing ' colonial experience' and competent to advise all- comers seeking information about colonial life— someone well posted in agricultural matters, who knows something about mining, is a thorough business man, and a keen judge of character. Such a manager might be difficult to find, but, once found, he would be invaluable, and would make the Bureau a public institution of enormous importance.