AN AUSTRALIAN on the PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3804, 14 May 1873, Page 3

AN AUSTRALIAN on the PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND.

In an account of the Rev A. J. Campbell's trip to New Zealund — published in the Geelong " Advertiser" — that gentleman thus speaks of the people of Dunedin : — " The people of Dunedin are full of activity, very comfortable, and in all respects, I should say, prosperous. They are busy in all kinds of industry. One of them, the son of the late Dr Burns, has succeeded in establishing the woollen manufacture. Wages are higher than with vs — 7s for labor work and 10s to 1.2s for skilled work, other things, however, are also higher. But the workman has almost constant employment, and the eight-hour system has been in operation since the foundation of the colony. As most of the tradesmen seem to be owners of their own cottages, you will see at once how well off they ought to be. Add to these the advantages of a bracing climate and a well ordered administration of law, you will be inclined to think that Otugo is what it claims to be — the poor man's paradise. I bav'nt seen a beggar on the streets, nor a drunken man, although I learn from the police reports that drunkenness, with all its bitter home miseries, is not unknown here. There is much lessof the "pride of life," much less of the show and ostentution of wealth than you might expect in the capital oi' the province. There are persons who have risen to position and wealth ; but they don't affect that style and luxury which is corrupting the upper stratum of Melbourne society. Hard work and happy homes seem to be the two conditions of life ; and there still survives among many of them the recollection of the early struggles of settlement, which is a source of much good feeling and helpfulness."