IMMIGRATION. REPORTS OF MR. C. HOLLOWAY TO THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERER'S UNION.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1875 Session I, D-06

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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION.

REPORTS OF MR. C. HOLLOWAY TO THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' UNION.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. l. Mr. C. Holloway to the Executive Council of the Ageicultueal Laboubebs' Union. Gentlemen, — It is with feelings of very great pleasure that I meet you here to-day. We meet not as strangers, but as friends and brethren, united together by one common bond of brotherhood, to endeavour by every available means to promote the comfort, happiness, and well-being of the too long neglected farm labourers of our country. I was very early identified with this grand movement, and laboured for a considerable time in the Oxford and adjoining districts with very encouraging and satisfactory results. Yet notwithstanding the success which crowned our efforts, it was found to be necessary (on account of the determined opposition of the farmers) to make more strenuous efforts for the permanent improvement of the working classes —hence, our attention was turned to emigration. Emigration became a necessity; it furnished the key to solve the difficulties of our position. If, as is often asserted, the statement be true that we have a surplus population, then the fact that the British nation is in possession of a certain number of colonies, which are governed by our laws, blessed with our glorious 'institutions, whose land laws are Überal, whose soil is productive, whose climates are healthy and suitable to the English constitution, and whose area affords ample. room, not only to absorb the surplus labour, but the whole population of Great Britain ; and when we add to this the fact that several of these colonies are at the present time soliciting their share of the noble-hearted and strong-armed farmed labourers to enrich their respective countries ; such knowledge as this at the present time is of the utmost importance, and should urge the leaders of this great movement to push on emigration to the utmost, and never rest content until every labourer in the United Kingdom is upraised to his proper position in society, by being placed in easy and comfortable circumstances, cither in his own country, or by emigration to oue of our colonies. Feeling fully convinced at an early stage of this movement that emigration was one of the principal means to bo adopted for the permanent advancement of the farm labourer, and acting upon this conviction, I was led to discuss the question at some length with C. E. Carter, Esq., then ou a visit to my district; the result of which was, I was appointed by the Agent-General of New Zealand to visit that fine colony, for the purpose of reporting upon its resources aud capabilities. The arrangements made were such as would not involve the Union in any expenses connected with my visit, and I am happy to say were of such a nature as met with the general approbation, not only of my own committee in Oxford, but also of the National Executive Committee in Leamington, of which I was then a member. My way being thus clear, I left England on the 23rd December, 1873, in the steamship " Mongol," and after an unprecedented quick run of fifty-two days, we anchored in Port Chalmers, Province of Otago, New Zealand, on the 13th of February, 1874. Unfortunately, having sickness on board, we were placed in quarantine. After seven days, we were released, and I proceeded at once by steamer to Dunedin. While on my way I was introduced to his Honor the Superintendent of Otago, who received me most kindly, giving me a most cordial and hearty welcome to the colony. I at once explained to him the object of my visit. He deeply sympathized with the underpaid and ill-fed farm labourers of England, and promised me to do all in his power towards helping on the great object I had in view in visiting New Zealand. THE OBJECT OF MY VISIT Was to ascertain, from personal observation, what are its resources and advantages, its climate, and the capabilities of the colony; then return home and report fully, honestly, and faithfully to my fellowlabourers my own views as to whether the inducements held out by New Zealand to intending emigrants were such as to justify our sending out a large number of our farm labourers, with the view of their settling down in the colony, the certainty of improving their circumstances, and thus make it their permanent home.

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FACILITIES FOE ACQUIEING INFOEMATION. Perhaps no one individual ever before had afforded to him such rare opportunities for acquiring a general knowledge of the colony as myself. No expense was spared by either the General or Provincial Governments. All my movements were arranged and carried out under the direction of either the General or Provincial Governments. But while they provided the means, to their honour, I may say, they never sought unduly to influence my mind in favour of any particular province, but left me unfettered and free, and from my own observations draw my own conclusions and form my own opinions. I mixed pretty freely with all classes of the community —from the Hon. J. A^ogel (Premier) down to the lowest settler; from the intelligent and brave warrior chief down to the meanest and most ignorant Native occupying the rudest Maori whare. I have associated with the great landed proprietor, and with the less affluent settler, who is steadily advancing upward to a more prosperous position. I have met with the employer of labour and the employed, with the prosperous aud the unsuccessful, and I have come to the conclusion that any of our labourers, gifted with temperate habits, such as sobriety, industry, frugality, and perseverance, may, in the course of a few years, become occupiers of land themselves, and have placed to their account at the bankers a considerable sum for times of sickness and old age. Indeed, gentlemen, I feel convinced that New Zealand, with its fine, healthy climate, its salubrious air, its fertile soil, its mild winter, its temperate summers, its liberal land laws, its fine educational system, its freedom from State-Churchism, and its civil and religious privileges, is secondary to no other colony in point of the advantages and privileges it has to offer to intending emigrants of the proper class. WOEK AND WAGES. The work and wages question is, probably, the most important which can be brought before the attention of those who think of making New Zealand their home. The colony of New Zealand is very Erosperous —never more so. The demand for labour is great; notwithstanding the large numbers who ave recently emigrated to its shores, the demand still continues ; and now that large tracts of country are being opened up by railways and other reproductive works, the colony for some years will be prepared to absorb annually a large number of our sober and industrious labourers, together with a fair sprinkling of tradesmen and men with small capital. All the emigrants who go out to this fine colony with the intention of working their way upward can find ready employment at good wages. This is evident to all, in the immense number of letters which reach our shores by every mail, giving glowing and encouraging accounts of the success that attends their industrious efforts in their newlyadopted country. New Zealand is no country for the idle, improvident, and dissolute ; they had better stay at home. Men do not pick up gold in the streets in the colony ; and the ne'er-to-do-well man in this country, who has fallen out with work, and is too fond of his drops, had better not emigrate to New Zealand ; but for the energetic, pushing, self-reliant, and persevering man there is no lack of employment —good work, hard work too, but the men out there have something to keep them up to it. Then, they only work eight hours a day —an admirable system this, as it gives the labourer time for recreation and for mental improvement. (This system might, if adopted, prove a great advantage to our labourers at home ; here is a hint for them anyhow.) Then they work with a will, because in many parts they are paid eight shillings for eight hours' work. In travelling through the various provinces I found that the rate of wages for general labourers varied from 6s. to Bs. per day, without board, and with board from 18s. to 225. 6d. per week; ploughmen, from 20s. to 255. per week and found ; shepherds, from £35 to £70 per annum and found ; married couples (without family), from £60 to £80 per annum and found; female domestic servants, from £25 to £50 per annum aud. found. Artizans' wages —Carpenters, from Bs. to 12s. per day ; masons, 9s. to 12s. per day; bricklayers, Bs. to 14s. per day; smiths, from 10s. to 12s. per day; miners, 7s. 6d. to 12s. per day ; and for stonebreaking upon the roads, from 3s. to 4s. 3d. per cubic yard. This would bring me to notice the price of PEOVISIONS. Beef, from 3d. to 6d. per lb.; mutton, 2d. to sd. per lb.; pork, 3d. to 6d. per lb.; bread, 6d. to 9d. per 4lb. loaf; butter, fresh, Bd. to ls. 6d. per lb. ; butter, salt, from 6d. to ls. per lb. ; cheese, 6d. to lOd. per lb.; coffee, ls. 3d. to ls. lOd. per lb.; tea, from 2s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. per lb.; sugar, s|d. to 6d. per lb.; tobacco, 4s. to 6s. per lb. ; and sheep's heads are thought nothing of. When in Southland I actually saw a number being thrown along with wood upon the fire to help to get up steam. CLOTHING AND HOUSE BENT. As clothing and house rent forms such an important item in housekeeping, I may here say that clothing is rather dearer in the colony than in England —say from 10 to 20 per cent, dearer. But this is an evil which, in a fine wool-producing country like New Zealand, will soon right itself. As manufactories increase, they will in time be able to compete with the home market. House rent, too, is higher than at home, especially in towns; but it is advisable for emigrants, as a rule, not to settle down in the thickly-populated towns, but push their way up into the interior of the country, where labour is in greater demand, and where it is much easier to secure a piece of freehold, and run up a neat wooden cot of their own. I had the pleasure of welcoming friend Leggett to the very prosperous Province of Canterbury last . He spent his first night on arrival with me, and on the following morning I procured him a situation at 12s. per day. A few days ago I was informed upon good authority that he was making his way, and getting on very comfortably, and that he had already built a house of his own. A noble testimony this to the success which invariably attends the settlement of the right class of men in New Zealand. Then comes FIEING. In most parts of New Zealand wood is abundant, and is easy of access, but, in addition to this, New Zealand abounds in mineral wealth, in the shape of gold, coals, copper, ironstone, Ac, so that

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when the railways now in course of construction are opened up, and the resources of splendid coal mines in the Nelson Province, on the West Coast, as well as Canterbury, Otago, and Auckland Provinces, are thoroughly developed, coals will be as plentiful and as reasonable in price as they are in the old country. Gold mining also gives employment to a large number of miners, and when the new company now being formed for working the apparently almost inexhaustible iron-ore deposits at Parraparra, Collingvvood, Province of Nelson, are got into working order, it will undoubtedly furnish employment for a great number of hands, and prove a source of great wealth to the colony. So also will the iron-sand upon the coast of Taranaki. CIVIL AND BELIGIOUS PEIVILEGES In the Colony of New Zealand are equal, if not superior, to our own. The colony is governed by English laws. Nearly all religious sects are represented. But there is no State Church; each denomination stands upon its own merits. This system is found to work admirably; there is more religious freedom and equality than there is in a country where priestcraft is predominant, and, as a consequence, the religious life is more healthy and vigorous. EDUCATION. The system for acquiring a good liberal education is easy, and within the reach of all. Wherever twenty-five children can be collected together a new school is erected and a schoolmaster appointed. Every householder residing within a radius of three miles from the school has to pay a rate or sum of £1 yearly, and a further sum of ss. for every child between the ages of six and thirteen years, till the number reaches four ; all in excess of that number will be schooled free. Thus by paying £2 a year a man can get the whole of his family educated, if they are ever so numerous. Then, as a stimulus to industry, there are prizes awarded every year to the successful competitor, so that to any lad possessing tact, energy, ability, and perseverance there is nothing to hinder his acquiring a college education ; and, indeed, he can rise from one post of honour to another till ultimately he may occupy the position of Prime Minister. PEOVISION FOE THE SICK, INFIEM, AND THOSE BEEEFT OF SEASON, Is made by the Government, in the erection and efficient maintenance of hospitals, benevolent institutions, and asylums These noble institutions are liberally supported, aud are a great blessing to the colony. THE FBANCHISE, OE QUALIFICATIONS GIVING A TITLE TO VOTE. Each owner of a freehold worth £50, or tenant householder—in the country at £5 a year, or in the towns at £10 a year rent—providing he is 21 years of age, is qualified to vote for, or to be a member of, tho House of Eepresentatives. CLIMATE. Much has been said and written with regard to the climate of New Zealand, but the general opinion is that it is one of the finest and healthiest in the world. I may say, however, that it is extremelyvariable. Probably the shape and position of the island go a long way towards explaining the changeableness of the climate. Extending over nearly 14 degrees of latitude, and of no very great breadth, the climate must of necessity be extremely variable. The temperature of New Zealand may be compared either with England or Italy, only with this difference, that London is 7 degrees colder than the North Island, and from 2 to 4 degrees colder than the South. In the North Island snow never falls, except in the southern extremity, and then it never remains any length of time. The ice is seldom thicker than a penny piece. In the South Island the winters are more severe than in the North. But you can form some idea of the New Zealand winter when 1 inform you that the trees are green all the year round, and the sheep and cattle live in the paddocks in the winter as well as the summer, so that the necessity for housing the cattle during the winter months does not exist, t scept in the extreme south of the island. The winds in spring and autumn are strong, and occasionally disagreeable, and rain falls as plentifully during the year as it does in Great Britain. Then, as New Zealand lies at the antipodes, rising up out of the Pacific Ocean, in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun goes round by the north, and the seasons are the reverse of those in England —thus spring commences in September, summer in December, autumn in April, and winter in June. The summers are longer in New Zealand than in England, although scarcely ever warmer, and the nights are always cool and refreshing. Then, as to time, they are a day in advance of us —thus, when it is Sunday morning in England, it is Sunday night in New Zealand. Obnoxious animals and venomous reptiles are conspicuous only by their absence. New Zealand is as free from them as is Ireland itself. LAND LAWS. Land is as yet easily accessible. Each province has its own land laws. Thus, in the Province of Otago, land can be purchased under the " hundred system," at £1 per acre. Then, the " deferredpayment system " I consider to be infinitely better for men with small capital. Under this system land can be purchased at 255. per acre, the payments to extend over a period of ten years, at 2s. 6d. per acre rent. Then, if a few other minor conditions are complied with, and at the end of ten years all payments having been duly made, the occupier can apply for a Crown grant, and the land becomes his own freehold property. In Otago alone, 30,000 acres are annually disposed of under this system, in 200-acre sections each. Canterbury has but one land law. All lands are sold at a fixed price of £2 per acre. This system has worked remarkably well, and, as a consequence, Canterbury is one of the most prosperous provinces. Lands are cheaper in Auckland Province. There first and second class lands are sold at 15s. and 10s. per acre, respectively. Third-class lands are sold at ss. per acre, or leased. Then they have the " deferred-payment system," a " special-settlement system," and also the

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" homestead system." This system means the selection of lands out of first and second class rural lands, free, or without payment, subject to certain conditions, which I will explain to you, if necessary. Taranaki land laws differ somewhat from Auckland. Town, suburban, and rural lands are disposed of, firstly, by selection; secondly, by public auction, at an upset price of not less than 20s. per acre for bush land, and not less than 40s. per acre for open land. They, too, have the " deferred-payment system," payment to extend over a period of ten years ; and then, with certain other minor conditions fulfilled, the occupant obtains a Crown grant, and the land becomes his own freehold property. They also have a " special-settlement system," to explain which would take up too much space in a report, but of which I will give full particulars in my lectures. Westland Province has, at my suggestion, been making provision for the special settlement of some 60,000 acres of land upon very advantageous terms, which I am prepared to explain to you, if necessary ; but, as there is likely to be a change in the government, I should like to get the concurrence and guarantee of the General Government as well as the Provincial. My own opinion is, that while it is well to make arrangements, if possible, in any of the colonies for special settlements, yet, if the subject be carefully considered, the more preferable system is for our efficient farm labourers to go out and work their way upward ; say, work for some employer for a year or two, thus acquiring a knowledge of colonial life, which would be of infinite advantage to them in after life, and when they are in a position to take up land they will find no difficulty in suiting themselves in the Colony of New Zealand. FEEE PASSAGES. The Government is still giving free passages to eligible individuals, but it is thought they will not be continued for more than another year, so that it will be necessary to strike while the iron is hot. Assisted passages will probably be continued for some years to come. I have much advice to give to intending emigrants which I cannot embody in a report, but which will be brought out in my lectures. I cannot close my report without expressing my thanks to the Governments of New Zealand, both General and Provincial, for the opportunities and facilities they willingly and generously afforded me of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the resources and advantages of the colony, and also for the uniform kindness, and courtesy which I everywhere experienced. I also endeavoured, every mail, to keep you acquainted with my progress through the colony, and in the lengthy letters I forwarded for publication every month I stated my own views and opinions pretty freely as to what I thought of the various provinces, and the inducements each presented as fields of settlement for the class of people I represent. Gentlemen, in laying this report before you, I have endeavoured, simply, but honestly and truthfully, to give you my own convictions and opinions of the Colony of New Zealand and its resources as a suitable field for the settlement of large numbers of English farm labourers, with the certain and encouraging prospect before them, if they possess the qualities I have elsewhere named, of rising in the social scale, and eventually becoming the occupiers of farms themselves. I.leave you to judge whether I have done my duty, and also as to the advisability of your embracing the opportunities now presented by the New Zealand Government in giving free passages of pushing emigration to that fine colony —the Britain of the South, and encouraging it to the utmost of your power. I am, Ac, April, 1875. C. Holloway.

No. 2. (Reprint from the Agricultural Labourers' Union Chronicle, of 3rd May, 1875.) Me. C. Holloway, who has recently returned from New Zealand, delivered a lecture on "New Zealand," in the open space in front of Ejilingworth Castle, Wootton, near Oxford, on Thursday evening in last week. Mr. Holloway, after some prefatory remarks, said it was intention that evening to give them an honest, fair, and faithful account of New Zealand, as a field for intending emigrants, and as a colony suitable for the settlement of some thousands of their fellow-countrymen, with their wives and families. He had, as they were aware, been delegated to visit that fine colony with a view to ascertaining, from personal observations, its resources, climate, and capabilities. Before proceeding, however, to give his views upon that country, he thought it necessary to state briefly the reasons which led to his undertaking so important a mission. If they looked back to the beginning of the year 1872, they might be struck with the apparent prosperity of our country. Trade and commerce had increased to such an extent that many of our merchants had become fabulously rich. We had also our millionaires; and if they turned to the agricultural world they would find that the competition for farms in this country haxl been so great as naturally to induce the landowners to increase their rents for the same, and which they easily obtained. This, together with the additional burdens of rates, taxes, Ac, were such as to compel the tenant farmer, if he would get anything like a fair return for his capital, to cut down the wages of his labourers to the very lowest penny; thus reducing the condition of the tiller of the soil to a state of serfdom, wretchedness, and degradation. ("Shame.") The lines of Lord John Manners, composed some thirty years ago, describing the condition of the labourers at that period, was applicable to the labourers of 1872. Ho wrote — " The modern slave, Doomed from the very cradle to the grave, To tread his lonely path of care and toil, Bound in sad truth, and bound down to the soil. He dies, and leaves his sons their heritage, Work for their prime, the workhouse for their age." ("Shame.") He could conceive of no condition so wretched and deplorable as that of the peasants of our country at the time of which he was speaking. How could it have been otherwise when strong

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able-bodied men, with wives and families dependent upon them, and house rent to pay, were compelled to toil from early morn till late at night in the counties of Dorset and Somerset for 7s. a week ? and yet people in better conditions of life had not scrupled to charge those ill-paid labourers with improvidence. What, improvident with 7s. or even 10s. a week ? Why, the economical powers of these men's wives must have been taxed to the very utmost to know how to lay this small pittance out to the best advantage, so as to be able to keep body and soul together. Other similar statements might be advanced to prove that the condition of the labourers was a most degraded one. They were to a great extent dependent on the charity of others, and if misfortune or affliction overtook them, they had nothing to look forward to but the workhouse, and eventually rest in a pauper's grave. But all this was now about to be changed. The clouds and darkness which had hitherto overspread and blighted their prospects were about to be dispersed, and already a gleam of light was seen in the distant horizon, which was gradually increasing in brightness, and giving promise of a more brilliant and glorious day —a day when the enslaved should be emancipated, when the chains and fetters of despotism by which he had been bound down to a life of misery and wretchedness should be snapped asunder, and when the farm labourers of Old England should once more stand forth iu all the dignity of true manhood, a happy and contented people. The dust of ages was being swept away from the minds of the labouring class ; they were gaining knowledge and increasing in intelligence. A spirit of restlessness was among them; they were impressed with a sense of their wrongs, a knowledge of their power, and a laudable ambition to improve their position and that of those dependent upon them. All these changes would not, however, be effected by the aristocracy nor by the clergy, the great landed proprietors, or the farmers. (Loud cheers.) No, all these classes, with the exception of a few nobleminded men, possessed too much of the spirit of the priest and the Levite in days of old, who, when they saw a fellow-creature iu distress, needing sympathy and assistance, passed by on the other side, forgetting that he possessed in his bosom all the elements of humanity just as much as the great, the noble, and the mighty. (Cheers.) Help and deliverance generally arose from a quarter where least expected. When the Almighty had a great work to be done, He raised up suitable instruments for accomplishing it, and he believed that their noble President, Joseph Arch, was raised up by Divine Providence to be the deliverer of the farm labourers, as Moses was to be the deliverer of the Israelites. (Cheers.) Joseph Arch was trained up in the school of poverty and privation, and, possessing good natural abilities, which he improved by self-culture, he was pre-eminently qualified to be the leader of this great movement. He alluded to the first meeting held at Wellesbourne, and traced the history of the movement from that time to the present, and remarked that defence, and not defiance, was their motto, and that the more their Union was opposed the stronger it became. He also pointed out that in consequence of the farmers locking out the Union men, they were compelled to resort to emigration, and hence it was that Mr. Arch went to Canada, and he to New Zealand. A graphic description of his voyage to the latter country was then given. He left Wootton, his native home, on Saturday morning, the 13th December, 1873, and proceeded by rail,-accompanied by a large number of immigrants, to Plymouth, from which place they set sail on the 23rd of the same month, and arrived in New Zealand 52 days afterwards. With the exception of sickness on board, they had a very pleasant voyage, not experiencing a single gale. On their arrival they were put iu quarantine, and a few days afterwards he was introduced to the Superintendent of Otago, who received him most courteously, and gave him a cordial welcome to the province. He made him acquainted with the object of his visit, and he deeply sympathized with the underpaid and ill-fed labourers of the old country, and offered to render him all the assistance in his power. (Cheers.) He gave a description of the scenery of this part of the colony (the Province of Otago), which he said was most picturesque. Near the city of Dunedin is 700 acres of land, which a wise Government had laid out as a recreation ground for the inhabitants of the city. At Dunedin he was most courteously received by the Government officials, and provided with a first-class railway pass over all the railways in the Province of Otago, and a gentleman was appointed to act as his guide. Dunedin was quite a modern city, and about twentysix years ago there was scarcely a house to bo seen there. Now, however, this city contained about 25,000 inhabitants, and it had good streets, splendid shops, banks, churches, manufactories, post and telegraph offices, railway station, hospital, asylum, Sunday and week-day schools, museum, botanical gardens, a public library, university, Ac, but no union workhouse. (Cheers.) As he paced the streets, he thought that everything betokened prosperity. The people were well dressed and respectable, and the children with their rosy cheeks looked the very picture of health. There is a marked difference between the labouring men there and here at home. They did not look down at their toes so much, their heads were erect, and their whole bearing impressed him with the idea that " Jack is as good as his master." (Hear, hear.) Everything betokened happiness, comfort, and respectability. In other parts of New Zealand he was equally as well received and as courteously treated. An account of the discovery, position, extent, settlement^government, population, climate, and scenery was next given. With regard to the Government, Mr. JTolloway explained that it consisted of two Houses—a Parliament under a Governor-in-Chief —an Upper House called the Legislative Council, consisting of forty-five members nominated by the Governor for life; aud a Lower House, called the House of Eepresentatives, consisting of seventy-eight members. Thirty of these represented the North Island, forty-four the South Island, and there were four Maoris to represent the Natives. The members of this House were chosen by the people every five years, and each owner of a freehold worth £50, or tenant, householder in the country at £5 per year rent, and in the town at £10 per year rent, providing he was twenty-one years of age, was qualified to vote. In addition to this, each province had its own separate local government, known as the Provincial Council, and presided over by a Superintendent. The education of the young was well provided for, and all public institutions were admirably managed. With regard to agriculture, the colony possessed immense tracts of fine undulating country, with vast plains containing thousands of acres of fine fertile soil, which, when brought under proper cultivation, was equally productive with the average of land in our own country. He had been informed that an acre of land would produce about 50 bushels of wheat and barley, and between 60 and 70 bushels of oats. The land of New Zealand was generally fighter than that of Eng2—D. 6. \

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land. The above statement should not be taken as giving the average produce per acre throughout the colony. From the agricultural statistics for the year 1874, with which he had been favoured, he found that Canterbury, the greatest grain-growing province in New Zealand, produced in that year, from 71,827 acres of land, 1,706,739 bushels of wheat; and from 38,985 acres, 1,053,550 bushels of oats ; 9,201 acres, 249,690 bushels of barley ; 14,873 acres, 20,958 tons of hay; and 1,854 acres, 8,522 tons of potatoes. Otago, which was the next largest grain-growing province, produced from 50,069 acres, 1,489,711 bushels of wheat; 60,204 acres, 2,002,794 bushels of oats ; 8,891 acres, 264,007 bushels of barley; 10,558 acres, 16,971 tons of hay; and 3,303 acres, 15,436 tons of potatoes. The total quantity of wheat grown in the North and South Islands was 3,391,634 bushels. The number of live stock in the colony, according to the census of March, 1874, was —cattle, including calves, 494,113; horses, 99,261 j sheep, 11,674,863 ; pigs, 123,741. Besides this, there was 1,057,220 head of poultry of all descriptions. The amount of butter produced last year was 4,861,159 lbs., and cheese 1,964,809 lbs. There was under crop this year, 1,547,277 acres. In sown grasses, permanently laid down, there were 1,107,115 acres, which were included in the number of acres stated as being under crop. There were 173,110 acres broken up, but not under crop. The quantity of grain exported from the colony during 1873 was 589,431 bushels, valued at £136,832, and of wool 42,587,049 lbs., worth £2,705,351. Boots and vegetables of all kinds abounded in the colony, and nearly all kinds of fruit were also grown there. A large quantity oiphormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, was grown there, and was largely used by the Natives for the manufacture of baskets, mats, cloaks, Ac, and formed the principal article of barter between the Natives aud Europeans. In 1873 there were 6,454 tons of flax exported from New Zealand, and which was valued at £143,799. He next went on to give a description of the forests, and said that they contained more than a hundred different specimens of trees, and a variety of birds pecubar to that colony. Game, such as hares, partridges, and pheasants, were becoming abundant in some parts, while rabbits in some places had become a regular nuisance. The rivers were almost destitute of fish, with the exception of eels. One peculiar feature of that colony was the absence of all obnoxious animals and venomous reptiles. The mineral resources are very extensive, and gold has been found in large quantities in Nelson, Otago, Westland, and Auckland, and in smaller quantities in Marlborough. Each province had its own land laws. One system did not prevail throughout the country, and some of the systems were rather complicated. He pointed out the different systems, and showed that emigrants might easily become possessed of 50 acres of land or more from the Government. In the Province of Otago there was a land law relating to hundreds, which consisted of from ten to twenty thousand acres of land or more. Any person wishing to purchase a section of land could spot it out, and then make application to the Government for the same to be surveyed. He had to pay £10 on application, and on the completion of the survey the remainder of the purchase money, amounting altogether to £1 an acre. The land then became a person's own freehold property. Another mode of purchasing land in this province was that of the deferred-payment system, which enabled persons of small capital to purchase land and pay for it in a period of ten years. In this case, the following were the conditions to be complied with : —The purchaser had to pay a yearly rent of 2s. 6d. per acre, the money to be paid half-yearly in advance, the land was to be enclosed by a good substantial fence within three years, and at least one acre out of every ten to be cultivated within the same period, and that the person settle down upon the land within six months. After complying with these conditions he would be entitled at any time within thirty days after the three years to obtain a Crown grant on the payment of 17s. 6d. for each acre, or fractional part of an acre. The Canterbury land laws differed from all others in the colony ; they were very simple, and said to work admirably. A fixed price of £2 per acre was charged for all Crown land, whether it be mountain or plain, farm or cleared land. A purchaser had to get it surveyed and pay the £2 per acre, and then it became his freehold property without any other conditions to be fulfilled. The Auckland land laws were divided into five classes, as follow : —l, town lands ; 2, suburban lands ; 3, rural lands ; 4, special settlement lands ; 4, timber and mineral lands. Some of these classes of lands were offered for sale or lease by public auction. Taranaki laud laws comprised three classes of lands:—l, town and village land ; 2, suburban land, being land in the vicinity of town land; 3, rural land, not reserved for towns or villages or other public purposes. No section of rural land contains more than 300 acres. Most of these lands are sold by auction, the upset price being fixed by the Provincial Council, subject to the approval of the Superintendent. He pointed out the easy terms on which all these lands might be obtained, and then went on to show the population of New Zealand. In 1873 the European was population 295,946, or 170,406 males, and 125,540 females. The total increase that year, exclusive of emigration and deaths, was 16,386. The Native population is 46,016, of which number there are 3,000 in the South Island, and the remainder in the North. The total amount of the revenue in 1873, both ordinary and territorial, was £2,753,181, and the total debts of the General and Provincial Governments, consisting of debentures and Treasury bills in circulation, amounted to £10,913,936. There are 2,389 miles of railway and 98 telegraph stations in the colony. The number of miles of telegraph wire is 4,609. A number of railways are now in course of construction, and these would open up large tracts of country which has not yet been brought under cultivation, and materially increase the prosperity of the colony. He remarked, in conclusion, that it was an excellent field for emigration, and recommended all intending emigrants to go to that colony. (Loud cheers.) —Mr. Banbury, of Woodstock, who arrived shortly after the meeting commenced, next addressed the assemblage, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to hear Mr. Holloway so flatly contradict the statements that had been made by Mr. McPherson, who had lectured in this neighbourhood.—Mr. Glanville, who has recently returned from New Zealand, also addressed the meeting, and bore testimony to what Mr. Holloway had said.—Hearty cheers were then given to Mr. Holloway, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman, after which the proceedings termimated. By Authority : Geobgb Dedsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. Price 9d.]