ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3436, 16 April 1879, Page 3

ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND.

His Worship the Mayor has kindly planed in our hands a letter he received by the la9t mail from tho late W. O. Cawkwell, a very old Canterbury colonist, whom come of our readers may remember. The letter is dated fro.a Spitalfields, London, Feb. 27, 1879. Three days afterwarda fche writer.' fell down suddenly in a fit, from which he died on the day following, his letter being forwarded on with an intimation of the sad event. After reference to some privato matters, and com , plimentary allusion to the public services and capacity for usefulness of Mr Ick, Mr Cawkwell goes on to write as follows : — " You refer to the dulneas of Christchurch, owing to the land sales. I judge that to be | only tomporary, for emigration to JS'ew Zealand seems to bo greatly increasing ; indeed, to no other part of the globe is it so extensive. You will ace that to Canada it has been almost givon up, and emigrants are numerously leaving that country. In regard to trade and commerce England ia in a most awful state, men aro leaving work and strikes I are frequent all over the country. The manufacturing towna are doing nothing for exporI tation ; indeed, they have no ordera in Liverpool. 14,000 men have left work. Sheffield, Birmingham, and all the largo manufacturing places are nearly at a standstill, as imports are coming in from all foreign parts. I say that there i 3 no place equal to New Zealand, and I constantly groan that I evor left it. My age — approaching 75 — renders me too old for returning, othorwiso I would set sail to-

morrow,

•' You speak of bad weather for your crops. I know not how we shall suffer here from similar effects. Everyone here says fche season haa been the worst experienced in their recollection. The continual daily and extreme changes havo been moat awful. The climuto of England I think muat be, of all countries, tho most sovere. * * * The rail to Sumner,"

tho contemplated street tramway is here referred to, " will bo an invaluable blessing to Chriatohurch. Tho joyful sea bathing, the change of air, and tho expedition to and fro cannot be over-estimated. * * * The South British paid last quarter a good dividend, which was afc the rato of 15 per cent., but Banks all over the country have sustained a great shock by the Glasgow failure. Tho Zulu war is engaging everybody's. attention here. Such an occurrenco as tho total annihilation of British troopa haa nover takon place boforo bufc the Africans will have to pay most dearly for it. 8000 troops are roady to start for Africa at onco, and the steamships aro roady at hand to take them out." A most intereating letter concludes with many tender references to the Mayor's family, and kind and respectful mcsaageß to fcho writer's old friends and some time companions in Christchurch.