CARLYLE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9512, 12 September 1879, Page 2

CARLYLE.

(from our own correspondent.)

Sept 11, 1879.

The young Spring grasß has already commenced to make its appearance, and there is every prospect of farmers having abundance of feed early in the season, as the weather of late has been very mild and seasonable. The " lambing down " season so far has been an improvement on that of last year, and the bone and sinew of the country have very little cause for complaint on that head. A large proportion of the settlers have been and are putting in crops so that a large amount of labor will be required at harvest time. Reports from the Home Market show that wool and tallow are improving in value, so the proapects of better returns for breeders for 1880 are now looking more encouraging. In the town, business is none too brisk, unless we accept that carried on within the walls of the R..M. Court, as showing the financial position of the majority. The Bankruptcy cases which have been published in the local Gazette have been far too numerous for commei'cial confidence, so essential to trade, to remain unshaken, but business people are looking forward, to a change for the better. The poet Cowper said — 41 1 would thy times, now bad still worse my friend, For when at worst, they say things always mend." Things could scarcely be wor3e, so if there is any truth in the above quotation, a healthier state of affairs should now exist. Talking of the dull times reminds me of some excellent articles I have been reading in a Home paper, called tbe Christian World, written by the Rev. Mr Berry, who some three or four years ago resided in Wanganui, but who is now lecturing in England on " Emigration to New Zealand." The extracts which I ljave sent you are taken from a supplementary letter which appeared on the

18th July last, written on intelligence being received from .the colonies after some former papers had appeared.

'•' I find from latest advices that the shiver whioh the news of the Glasgow Bank failure sent throughout the world has told severely upon the colonies. Money has tightened, confidence has diminished, banks have " put the screw on," and many who were trading and speculating upon borrowed capital have had to succumb. From all this New Zealand is not exempt. My New Zealand newspapers for May speak of many small failures, and muoh uneasiness in commercial circles. This uneasiness haa, of course, 1 been increased by the very low price of wool and other produce in the English market.

I will briefly summarise, for the benefit of those who contemplate emigration to New Zealand, the conclusions to which I have arrived after much thought and inquiry upon the subject.

.First, I think it is a shiver and no more. It came suddenly ; it was caused by outside influences ; and as confidence returns things will resume their' normal condition. Everything within the colony is just as it was. A shock of this kind does not in any way diminish the magnificent resources of New Zealand. It is on these that the wise emigrant builds his hopes of ultimate success,

Secondly, thiß is emphatically the time for capitalists to go. Money is now worth 10 per cent., and even more, on mortgage, with security that cannot possibly be surpassed. Those who are livinj? on the interest of invested money can more than double their income by taking their money to New Zealand, withoat in the least increasing their risk. Many are doing this I know, and as the matter becomes better ventilated, thousands more will follow their example. Farmers who are going out to buy property will find this a good time to enter the market. It is likely that land is cheaper in New Zealand now than it was a year ago, or will tie a year hence. Farmers, who must lose heavily by realising their property in England in these depressed times, will have some compensation if they can reinvest in New Zealand when times are less prosperous than they were, and .money will go farther. Thirdly. The classes that are in demand hi New Zealand need not waver in their decision to go because of this intelligence. I mean mechanics, farmers' sons, farm labourers, single women, &c. There may probably be a temporary fluctuation in the labour market, but the demand for labour referred to has been so much greater than the supply, that the demand may diminish considerably dur-. ing a time such as is referred to without wages being seriously affected. Two or three statements of f aot are sufficient evidence of this. The New Zealand Herald of. January 24 mentions the case of a farm labourer who, on landing, refused a situation when offered £72 per year with cottage and board for himself, wife, and four childran . Mr Claydon, in one of his letters to the Daily News, tells how he saw some labourers in Nelson! New Zealand (in March I think), who -were getting 8s per day of eight hours, strike for 9s and get it. With butchers' meat a third the price it is in England, and bread and other articles of food about the same, mechanics and laboarers can well afford to accept some temporary reduotion if necessary, and yet to realise an amount of prosperity such as may not be hoped for anywhere else,

I would again repeat the hope that people who have neither capital nor the kind of labour that is in demand there will hesitate before they decide to go.

Mr Berry has published a pamphlet in which is a table showing the rate of wages and the demand for different branches of trade in different parts of the Colony, which must prove very useful to persons intending to come to Maoriland or " the England of the Pacific," as New Zealand has been 'called by a gentleman who is also lecturing on Emigration in the old country. Mr Berry, in a footnote to one of his letters, added that he " had just received intelligence that 1300 persons had been nominated by friends in New Zealand."

Yesterday a number of landowners appealed at the Assessment Court against their valuations. The valuers had by far the best of it, their judgment in most cases being upheld by the Court (Captain Wray on the Bench;.. The reductions made in several cases were very slight, one settler saving himself 8s or 9s a year by appealing. Oh, that miserable, abortive land tax, as Sir William would say !

Building ia going on with less vigour than when I last wrote on the subject, although a very much greater quantity of timber is now in the market, and at lower rates than on any previous occasion. At a rough estimate I should say that there is very little short of 250,000 feet of rough material, totara, rimu, and white pine on sale by merchants. Messrs Malcolm and Co., of Marton and Feilding, are the chief importers, and have established a large agency, while Mr W. Dale has extended his ramifications in the same direction. The contractors for the Patea Hospital, new Post Office, and a few dwelling houses are pushing on with their work with all Bpeed. The Post Office, judging from present appearances, will greatly enhance the attractiveness of Carlyle street architecture.