IMMIGRATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2043, 24 September 1874, Page 3

IMMIG RATION.

MR HOLLOWAY IN CANTERBURY

The following letter, from The Labourers Union Chronicle of July 13, contains the first instalment of Mr Holloway's report upon Canterbury : —

Chriatchurch, Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, May 4th, 1874.

Since my laat communication, I have left the province of Otago, and am now in the province of Canterbury. With reference to the province of Otago, I would just say that I like ifc very well, and am pleased with the prospects it holds out to thorough good, sober, and industrious working men. I might here say afc once that it's no country for idle loafers or drunkards. If a man gives way to the above habits out here (and I am sorry to say there are some who do) he ia thought nothing of, neither ia he afc all reapected ; while, on the other hand, a man who is sober and industrious, a man of energy and perseverance, with good moral force of character, is sure to be respected, and make his way up to a good position. Otago ia in a very prosperous condition at the present time, never more so. The province ia being opened up by means of railways in many directions, thus affording facilitiea for settlement and enterprise, which, without the introduction of railways, would exist only in a very limited degree. If the authorities will only attend to the suggestions I threw out in my address at Dunedin, namely, open up more land under the deferred payment system, provide suitable cottage accommodation fdr the married peop'e who come out with their families, provide a more suitable and liberal dietary scale of rations for children while on ship board, and provide better berth accommodation for the married people on sliip board, then I think the prospects held out by the New Zealand colony to induce emigrants to come and settle upon ita soil are not to be surpassed by any other colony in the world. I find that my suggestions are likely fco be largely acted upon. The Superintendent of Otago, in opening tbe Provincial Council, had a motion upon his paper that the quantity of land to be opened up under the deferred payment system should be increased from 30,000 acres up to 100,000 acres. They bave already voted a sum of £10,000 to be expended in the erection of suitable cottages for the settlers, and Mr March, the emigration agent, has just informed me that the Government have deßired the AgentGeneral to place on board each emigrant ship, in charge of the medical officer, a supply of spare stores in the way of children's diet, and iicJical comforts for uae in case of necessity, l'his will, he cays, be done at once, and in future Jthe scale for children will be a much more liberal one. If the3e improvements are all strictly carried out (and it will be for the mtereßt and advantage of the New Zealand Government to do so if they wish to compete with the inducements held out by Canada), then you may confidently recommend any of our sober, healthy, and industrious farm labourers to come out to this fine country — I say line country, because the air is most salubrious, the atmosphere clear and bracing, the climate healthy and delightful ; the wages good, provisions cheap, clothing slightly dearer than at home, cottage rents high just now, but persons of energy and perseverance soon run up a cottage of their own. Wood, in some parts is scarce, but coals are abundant ; and when the railways now in course of construction are complete the coals can be conveyed to any part of the colony at very moderate rates, so that you needn't hesitate to send any of our downtrodden, ill-paid, half-starved, but honest and industrious farm labourers out here ; but they must be men — men who don't expect to pick up gold in tbe streets — men who are nofc afraid of work, and men who are prepared to undergo a few hardships and rough it, if necessary, for a time till they get a little knowledge of colonial life. If you send this class of emigrants out, there is no fear but what they will make their way, secure a good living, become poasesaed of houses of their own, and oventu--1 ally become employers of labour themselves. Otago, as a province, preaents a fine field for settlement. Now for Canterbury : I left Otago on the 16th of April, and, croasing the river Waitaki, entered tlie provinco of Canterbury. Tlie river Waituki divides the two provinces,and is three-quarters of amile wide where I crossed over. It consists of several streams, which are constantly shifting their course, and on this account are very dangerous to cross. The Government is fast bridging those rivers, and I was informed that a contract had been taken for constructing a bridge over this river, thus connecting the two provinces, and which will be a great boon to the inhabitants. We had scarcely crossed the river before the Timaru coach arrived, and we soon found ourselves en route for that town. I like the appearance of the Canterbury province. Our route lay through a very fertile plain, along a good metalled road, having the Southern Alps 'on our left and the sea on our right. Crossing two or three river beda in our courae, we arrived at the thriving little town of Waimate, about 12 noon, where we dined, changed horses, and resumed our journey, parsing through a fine agricultural country, Btill keeping the Alps on our left and the eea on our right. After crossing aeveral rivers we reached Timaru about 5 p.m. On alighting from the coach, I found that his Honor the Superintendent of the province, had given instructions that I was fco be provided with everything I needed at the Royal Hotel during my stay in the neighbourhood. The next day, in company with the Mayor, Councillor Wilde, and Mr Hunt, I visited most of the public places of interest in the town, and on fcho two following days drove out into the country for several miles. Timaru is a fine agricultural district, growing goed crops of corn. There is a demand here for labourers, and especially for good servant girls. Leaving Timaru, I started by coach for Asbbnrton, staying at Geraldine one night, resuming our journey in fcho morning, which lay across fche Canterbury Plains. The drive from tho Rangitata River to Ashburton is very monotonous ; you pass through paddocks of native grass, varying from 20,000 to 30,000 acres each, along a natural road, without seeing a single tree or house, or anything to relievo the dull monotony, except where you come to a boundary fence, where waa stationed a boundary dog to keep back the sheep. On our left, far away in the distance, was the great range of mountains, with their snow-capped eummits, which runs through the whole island, and was always visible, while to the right rolled in solemn grandeur against the ninety-mile beach, the deep blue ocean. Urging on our way, we croased the bed of the Hinds river, now dry ; then as we neared Ashburton, we came upon unmistakeable signs of civilised life by way of fenced-in paddocks, rich, fertile soil, and a good metalled road. Juat before entering Ashburton, we bad to ford the Ashburton river, with its

many streams, over which the Government are now constructing a good substantial wooden bridge, at a cost, I am told, of £13,000. We entered Ashburton about . 3 p.m. On alighting at the hotel, I found that two rooms, a sitting aad a bedroom had been provided for my occupation. A pair of horses and a buggy were at my service to drive into the country, and a very respectable gentleman — Mr Saunders, an ex-Superintendent of the Nelson province — was appointed for my companion during my stay in Ashburton. Mr Saunders wa9 the first settler who set his foot on New Zealand soil in the province of Nelson Borne thirty -four years ago, and who, from his great experience as an old colonist, added to his being very intelligent, was a gentleman well selected by his Honor as being every way suitable as my companion during my stay in the ABhburton district. I had scarcely come off a thirty-four-mile journey on the coach and dined before Mr Saunders put in an appearance with his vehicle to take me fora drive of. nine miles more into the country, to ascertain from personal intercourse with the settlers themselves their position and prospects in this young country, and also the inducements it held out for intending emigrants. I was much pleased with what I saw and the information I obtained. The first party we purposed visiting were two brothers named Chalmers. I think I have elsewhere alluded to the practice of some of the shearers, who, when the season was over, drew their wages — a £50 or £60 cheque, and taking it to the nearest public-house, would hand it over to the landlord, eaying, " Juat let me know when that's melted," and not many days would elapse before the cheque had disappeared. And in some instances the poor dissipated individual had to " sub " a few shillings off the landlord to help him on the road. The brothera Chalmers were not of thia clasß. They, too, were shearers, but when the sheepshearing season was over, and the harvest was gathered in, these brothers, instead of taking their hard earnings to the public-house, they just took it to the Land Agency Oflice, and invested it in purchasing a piece of land. This scheme they practised for several years, attending to their shearing and harvesting in the summer, draining and fencing in the winter, and every season investing their savings in purchasing Jand. And what was the result? Why, tbat to-day they are farming a fine freehold farm of 7CD acres of land, and have left off working for other people, and have become employers of ■• labour themselves. Here is another instance of success, almost adjoining the Chalmers' land I came across a Mr Joseph Hunt, formerly of Great Rollright, in my own county of Oxfordshire. He told me that he was working in that village for 8s a week — house rent to pay and a wife and three children to support out of that. He had heard of New Zealand, and Joe thought within himself that he couldn't worse his position by removing to another locality. He talked the matter over with his wife, and the result was he made up his mind to emigrate to New Zealand, to leave the munificent sum of eight bob a week, and the glorious prospect of having a mansion rent free provided for him when he got too old to work ; to leave that glorious old country lauded as the abode of the' free and the happy, but which hai the reputation of degrading the thousands of the tillers of her soil, and keeping them bound down in serfdom andj slavery, as galling as was ever felt by slaves in a West India plantation, or in the Southern States of America. Joe began to think over these things, and he determined to cast off these shackles to brave the dangers of the ocean, and to seek far away from his own native country, in some more favoured clime, a home where he could provide for his wife and family the necesßariea, if nofc the comforts of life. In the year 1856 he bade farewell to Old England, and after a long voyage, he landed safely in New Zealand, with 2£d in his pocket, wifch which he began life afresh in the colony. He set to work in real good earnest, and being a sober, energetic and persevering man, determined to get on if possible. He succeeded beyond his moat sanguine expectations ; and to-day I had the pleasure of visiting him in his own freehold house, which he has erected upon hia own freehold farm of 210 acres. He has given his children a good education, and I thought within niyßelf, as I Bat with my friend at the tea-table, what would have been Joseph's prospects had he remained an agricultural labourer in Great Rollright, in England ? In all probability he would have been over head and eara in the baker's and grocer's debt, without any possibility of paying it ; with the Chipping Norton union staring him bard in the face, and the prospect of being buried in a pauper's grave. This ia only one or two caaes which I have noted down in my diary of tbe marked success which has almost invariably followed the efforts of industrious, persevering men; they are not solitary cases. Here ia another case of individual effort being rewarded with succeaa. On the morrow, after leaving Mr Hunt, I called upon Mr Church, a small farmer ; he is brother to Mrs Taylor, our General Secretary's wife. He was formerly a carman, in London, hut nofc succeeding so well in life aa ho could wißh, he emigrated to New Zealand a few yearß ago. On his arrival in the colony, he did as evary man Bhould do who wishes to make his way out here, that ia, pitched into the first employment which presented itself, determined, in the first place to get a knowledge of colonial life, and work his way upwards, if possible. And what has been the result ? why this — when I visited him to-day he was owner and occupier of a very fine fertile farm, well fenced and watered, of 200 acres of land, and has succeeded in placing himself in very eaay and comfortable circumßtances. He, too, has in hia turn become an employer of labour. I waa very agreeably surprised to find that Joseph Smith, a young man who came out with me in the Mongol, from Chcaterton, Oxfordshire, had been engaged by Mr Church to work for him at £50 a year, wifch board and lodging — and my word they do live out hero ; no red-herring diet, but beef or mutton three times a day. Smith laboured at home for 12s or 14s a week, and kept himself ; now, he gets the above, and he aasurea me that he is very comfortable. I prefer, old boy, to give you facts like these, because tbey cannot be gainsaid ; they are worth a week's argument, and I would take this opportunity of conveying to you, my friend, and your better half, Mr and Mrs Church's kindest and beat reapecta, with an invitation for you to pay them a visit as soon as you can make it convenient. My word, old boy, I Bhould like you to be taking this tour with me, you would enjoy yourself. I am getting on very well, bufc I am keeping an extenaive diary, and I find it pretty sharp work to travel all day and write at night ; and I am thinking if you were here we should get on jolly together ; as it is, I must do the best I can, and will give you the result of my observations more fully when I reach home.—V isited to-day, in oompany with Mr

Saunders, Mr J. Grigg's farm, at Long Beach Station, Canterbury Plains. Mr Grigg has been in Canterbury province since 1865, and has now in his possession a magnificent estate of freehold land, of 27,000 acreß, and the remains of a run, making a total of 33,000 acres. Mr Grigg is a first-class farmer j he employs from forty to fifty men. Average rate of wages— ploughmen, 25s per week and all found, with a bonus of £7 for harvest ; shepherds, lowest wages, £64 per year, and all found ; highest wages for shepherds, £78 and all found. Fencing by contract, average earnings from 10s to 12b per day ; draining about the same per day as fencing. Carpenters on the station, 10s per day and all found. Mr Grigg has in his employ an Irishman, who has been with him for th i laat seven years, and has saved several hundreds of pounds, and has now 200 acres of freehold land, which he purchased for £2 an acre. Now he says he could get £7 an acre for the greater part of it. Thomas Black, a Scotchman, hae been in Mr Grigg's employ about the same time, and has saved about the same sum. He has been today to select a section of 300 acres of land, within two milea of his employer's house, for which he will have to pay down £2 per acre, the Government price in this province for all land. The land here is perfectly level, no bush ; just plough ifc over twice and put in the seed, fche average yield being abont thirty bushels per acre. Mr Grigg has now in his employ a number of other men who have saved from £100 to £500 each. Mr Grigg wishes me to procure him some good ploughmen at 25s per week, and. all found, which means, of course, board and lodging. — Saturday, April 25 ; rose afc 5 a.m. Started at 6 a.m. for the Rakaia station, a distance of eighteen miles from Aahburton, over a very monotonoua plain, reaching the station about half-paat eight. I had scarcely alighted from the buggy, and looked around, before the train from Christchurch came rushing into the station, which was to convey me back to Chriatchurch, a diatance of thirty-five miles. I was agreeably surprised to find that his Honor the Superintendent of the prov : no 9 (Mr W. Rolleston) had arrived by this train to welcome me to the province and to accompany me to Christchurch, the chief city of the province. I might here say that Mr Rolleston is a countryman of mine, hailing from Yorkshire, and who ha? just been re-elected to the officj of Superintendent without opposition, fchu3 showing the esteem in which he ia held by the people. He is a thorough Englishman, of the true Yorkshire type, poesessing tact, ability, energy, and perseverance, and has worked his way up to his present position. Under his able superintendence the province of Canterbury has in its exchequer a balance of £6CO,CCO. Arriving in Ohristchurch, his Honor engaged a cab and accompanied me to Warner'B Commercial Hotel, in Cathedral square, where he engaged two rooms — a sittingroom and a bedroom — for my accommodation during nty stay in Christchurch; he also placed at my service a private room in the Government Buildings. Having breakfasted, his Honor, accompanied by Mr Montgomery, President of the Executive Council and member of the Sohool Board, proceeded to show me the prinoipal objects of interest in the city, before completing my tour through tbe remaining part of the province. I will tell you more in my next letter.

The Labourers' Union Chronicle oi July 15 contains the following letter from to bis brother in England. The writer arrived in the ship Mongol : —

Knight's Town. Dear Brother, — I now take the pleasure of writing to you ; I hope you are quite well, as it leaves me in good health and in pocket too, thank God for it. lam engaged by a boss for twelve months. It was the best thing I ever did coming out here, which I hope you will see some day or other. Dear Brother, there is plenty of meat cheap ; mutton, 3£d per pound, the beat joints ; beef, 3£d per pound ; bread is about 8d a loaf. Hats are rather dear; I gave 10a for one that I could have got for 7s at home. Taking one thing with another, things cost about as much as at home. I can save a nice bit of money in time. Do you think of coming ? if bo, write fco me ; if you make up your mind to come, do bo before the emigration is stopped, as I think ifc will soon be, lam lodging dt , but I shan't be there long, for I have to pay £1 for board, washing, ahd lodging. I wish father and mother were here ; they could live well. Rents are dear ; from 5j to 15s a week. Labourers get from 6s to 9s per day of eight hours ; I work nine hours. Carpenters receive from 9s to 12s a day. A married man is more comfortable out here, and seems to do the beat. Dear brother, I want you to consider as to what will be best for Septimus. I will send you a few pounds to put him to some trade or let him go to school longer In six months I will send you some, as I shall not take my money until then ; it amounts to £150 a year. lamin a woollen draper's shop and wait on the customers or sew on the shop board. It is the beat job I ever got into. The town lam in is as big as Oxford ; there are railroads and 'busses the same as Oxford, also horse-racing and boatracing, churches, chapela, school and hotels. Wild pigs and rabbits and turkeys are about threo shillings each. The natives are civilised but very cunning; I have very often to deal with them. Waiters at hotels are wanted. I will pay Will's paaaage over here when I get his address. Give my best love to all my brothera and sisters. I have no more to Bay aa my time is short ; with best love to you and everybody, I remain, your loving brother.