Wellington Independent MONDAY, 6th APRIL,, 1874.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4071, 6 April 1874, Page 2

Wellington Independent MONDAY, 6th APRIL,, 1874.

On the arrival of the Woodlark, disappointment was expressed in some quarters at the appearance and character of her immigrants. Perhaps thi3 was only natural ; for there is a very marked difference in the appearance of a group of colonists and that of a number. of the laboring class in any part of the United Kingdom. The men wbo earn from eight to ten shillings per diem here, are able to get themselves up in a very much more sightly manner tlian their brethren at home would ever think of attempting on only the same sum of money per week. There is an air of smartness aboufc the colonists that is altogether wanting in new anivals ; and from this and other reasons, theae latter are to be told at a glance. The comparison is not in their favor, even when they come out under the most favorable circumstances. But, very soon after arriving, they begin to adapt themselves unto circumstances, and " do as Rome does." It would not have been human nature if, after the arrival of the Woodlark passengers, dn attempt had not been made to level a charge against the Government, the Immigration Agent in London, or some one or other. First, there was an attempt to get up a fever excitement, but unfortunately lor the zealous malcontents jt was shown that the ship went to sea with her passengers in a fairly healthy state. Why people who are indifferent in the dirt of Wellingtou should profess the utmost horror at sanitary arrangements not of the purest charactei" in an emigrant ship, crowded with passengers of all ages, we cannot quite comprehend. And one thing is certain — more robustly healthylooking men and women tban most of those who landed from the Woodlark it would be impossible to conceive of. Their appearance quite set the question at rest whether or not they had been in a plague ship. Fine, smart colonists they are not ; but tbey certainly looked as if laboring had been tbeir vocation, and as if they were qualified to turn to it again. We suspect that if tbey could be assembled in twelve months they would cut a very different figure to their present one. Again, the fearful discovery was made that some of them did get drunk a few days after landing. There is nothing astonishing about this. They had just come off a long sea voyage, during which they probably had no opportunity of tasting liquor. On shore they very likely had supplied to tbem some new colonial spirits of a description that is, in all probability, the cause of three parts of fche drunkenness in Wellington — spirit that, when drank, becomes alcoholic poison in the system. If this were the case, and there is very slrong presumption that it was, there is no cause for wonder in a few immigrants out of a shipload getting drunk on the first day or two they landed from the vessel. The circumstance in no way reflects upon the Immigration Agent who despatched them. He, let it be recollected, is sending away aboufc 1000 per month. AH these he has to select from the laboring classes in the United Kingdom. It is impossible that, uncler such circumstances, there should not be a few black sheep in tbe flock he selects, even though he cull them ever so carefully. No doubt, when the news reaches London that there has been fever on board some of the ships that have been sent out, the Immigration Ageut will warn the health officers of the Imperial Government, appointed to supervise the arrangements on board emigrant ships, that they must be more careful than they hitherto seem to have been. And possibly the question may arise for discussion whether it would not be better policy to pay a higher sum per head for passengers, and so secure some of a superior class, instead of choosing them as draught horses or bullocks are chosen, on account of their thews and, muscles, bones or sinews. It is quite certain that Dr Featherston cannot, under the present system, entice away the very highest description of labor there is in the market. It is the most valuable there, as it probably would be here. All he can do is to send out men aud women who are likely to prove fairly useful to their employers. And this, we contend, is what has been done. The men and women by the Woodlark look fairly healthy, and appear to be in the very prime of their lives. Employers of labor who are thus baving it brought to them by a ship load at a time, will only be too glad to see such a welcome accession to the previously somewhat baro market. We cannot suppose tbat laborers and others here, seeing how scarce the supply has been, and how many works are not undertaken because there are not men to be had, will object to importations of their own class from the old country where the lot is so much harder than itis in New Zealand. And the community generally will be glad that the demand for labor is so good as to permit such a large increase being made to the stock in the market, without materially affecting the rate of remuneration that is ruling, or running a risk of the labor power of the Colony being temporarily overstocked.