The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-23 00:00:00

NEW ZEALAND AS A FIELD FOR
EMIGRATION.

In London, on Tuesday night, at the meethag of the Royal
Colonial Institute, at the Pall Mall Restaurant, Regent-
street, his Grace the Duke of Manchester in the chair, Sir
Julius Vogel read a paper on "New Zealand and the South
Sea Islands, and their Relation to the Empire." There was
a very large attendance, and the following were present :
Sir Henry Barkly, Sir Robert R. Torreus, Sir James Fergus-
son, Bart., Sir Henry Peek, Bart., Viscomte Duprat, Captain
C. C Lees, Colonel Alcock, Major Mitchell, the Hon. W. B.
Griffith, 84;c.

After some introductory remarks by the chairman,
Sir Julius Vogel said that no country of any moment
possessed in proportion to its area such an extensive
sea-board, nor was there any civilised country of im-
portance so oompletely,4solated from other countries
as New Zealand. Its immense sea-board must inevi-
tably tend to make New Zealand an essentially
maritime country. Its isolated position, although
having some disadvantages as regarded com-
merce, had compensating qualities in the self.
helpfulness, self-reliance, and love of country it
was calculated to produce. Without any artihcial
provision it gave great advantage to local produc-
tions and manufactures. They started in the race
favourably weighted in competing with foreign pro-
ductions. When it was considered that its mineral
wealth ivas abundant, and that it could produce all
the staples that thrived in climates varying from the
temperate to the sub-tropical, it would be seen that
within itself New Zealand was almost the epitome of
a whole hemisphere. Within its narrow limits thou-
sands of different interests would, in course of time,
materially aid each other.
After speaking of the rapid extension of railways,
Sir Julius said that it would be hard to exaggerate
the agricultural value of a considerable quantity of
the land of New Zealand, the history of which was
one continued record of an increase in the value of
and demand for land. Before the expiration of the
present year, 1,000 miles of railway would have been
opened in the colony, nearly all of which had been con-
structed since 1870. Thera had been, besides, 2,300
miles of roads made, chiefly through native districts;
nearly 90,000 immigrants had been introduced; 3,260
miles had been added to the telegraph lines, and
native lands to the value of about three-quarters
of a million had been purchased. On the subject of
education, he observed that it had been the pride of
several provinces to provide the most abundant means
for the education of children. The colony had not
overlooked the necessity of continuing that good work,
and in the session just over the educational provisions
of the several provinces had been consolidated into one
comprehensive system of education, the leading fea-
tures of which might be summed up in the well-known
terms—free, secular, and compulsory.
With regard to immigration, Sir Julius said that
from 1871 to 1876 the colony assisted with passages
78,475 immigrants, and went to great additional ex-
pense in receiving and housibg the immigrants on
arrival. Although out of so large a number some had
not been fortunate, it might safely be said that the
bulk of the immigrants had been greatly successful.
No one should go to the colony who did not take with
him a de,termination to endure, if need be, some hard-
ships. The primary business of the colony was to
obtain the products of the land, whether agricul-
tural, pastoral, or mineral. All other occupations
were subsidiary, and their success depended on the
plentifulness with which the land yielded. Profes-
sional men, men who could only give clerical labour,
and artisans, must depend upon those who earned
from the land the means of paying them; hence they
should be very cautions of going to the colony without
receiving direct encouragement to do so. Persons
who possessed capital and agricultural knowledge
might depend on procuring land, and if their know-
ledge was adequate, they should have no difficulty in
being successful, provided they were able to exercise
frugality and self-denial. Women, suitable for
domestic service, were always in demand, and pro-
bably would continue to be so for a long period. They
soon married, and so left again the gap in the ranks
of servants which they assisted to fill up. Ordinary
labourers were wanted.
A discussion fellowed the reading of the paper.