The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-05 00:00:00

then stated upon the subject, and warrants us
terming it a " land flowing with milk and
honey . add ition ,to its,spletlid.agri cultural,
resbu'rcles; New Meitlivati tiots&se4 inirr&al capa- •
hilities of. a high and valuable character. Gold,
silver, and copper have been discovered. The
latter in large quantities, and of splendid quality.
In a word, New Zealand possesses within itself
every thing to render the country most prosperous
in an agricnitural and commercial point of view.
Moreover, it is a country . which is making
rapid progress. The colonists only require labour
to enable them to equal more populous portions
of our Australian settlements. According to
recent advices from Wellington the roads had so
far improved, as to enable carts to proceed to the
small farm settlements without being obliged to
incur the trouble, expense, and delay, of unload-
ing. The cost of cartage, which had been so
serious a drawback to the small farm settlers,
enjoying the outward appliances of domestic
comfort and civilization, was reduced to £l2 per
ton. This was in the depth of winter, and hopes
were entertained that, in the summer, the redaction
would be still greater. "We may congratulate
the colony," says one of the Wellington papers,
"on the advantages which are likely to arise
from the facilities which the removal of the
Renintakar barrier will afford to the settlement
of the extensive and fertile valley beyond ; and
we doubt not that, during the next few months,
a large proportion of our new corners will be
attracted hither." Again, as an evidence of the
increasing commercial prosperity of this colony,
we should observe that steps have been taken for
the formation and establishment of a Chamber of
Commerce at Wellington.

It is not many years since New Zealand pos-
sessed a scanty population of cannibals. Already
have the footsteps of civilised man wrought a
most wonderful change in the manners and dis-
positions of the natives. Cities and towns are
springing up in all directions, and, from the new
constitution which has been given to the colony,
there can be little doubt that that progress will
be greatly accelerated ; and, ere ten years elapse,
we shall hardly be able to recognise it, so wonder-
ful will be its growth. The imports and exports
will astonish every one who will take the trouble
to examine them. New Zealand requires our
manufactures, and, in return, she is ready to send
us her productions—tallow, wool, hides, and cop-
per ore. These articles we require in large quanti-
ties, and are therefore obliged to draw upon the
resources of foreign countries to meet the demand.
It is a duty, then, to encourage our own colonies.
Let but a portion of our Australian emigrants
turn their attention to New Zealand, and there
they will find sufficient inducement to repair
thither. Employment will be certain and per-
manent, and remuneration, considering the cost
of living, such as cannot fail to satisfy the
greatest grumbler.
We are glad to observe that the attempt made
by Messrs. James Baines and Co., to open up
the trade between this country and New Zealand
is being persevered in, and that with that punc-
tuality and perseverance for which they have
been justly celebrated, they dispatch a vessel
to the Colony once a month. Some of the
swiftest and finest vessels in their renowned.
fleet of Australian clippers have been put upon
the line. Freighted with the manufacturing pro-
ductions of the mother country, and large num-
bers of all classes of emigrants, they go forth on
the 20th of every month, to gladden the hearts
and cheer on the settlers and native population
of the colony. It does not require us to dilate
upon the excellent passenger arrangements of
the Black Ball Line of Australian clippers, nor
to speak of the splendid performance which
many of them have left on record in their runs to
and from the Antipodes. The enterprise of the
owners' merits, and we are glad to know that it
meets with the approbation of the several classes
for whose benefit this monthly communication is
intended. The first ship which the company
intend to despatch to Wellington, is the Alma.
She is to sail on the 20th inst. The Alma is a
noble craft, beautiful in model, and con-
structed in the strongest possible manner.
Her between decks are lofty, her passenger
berths are arranged in the most approved man-
ner, and everything is being done to secure
health and comfort. Considering the many
thousands of emigrants whom Messrs. Baines
and Co. have sent to and from Melbourne, their
experience in fitting out the passenger depart-
ments of their ships is such as to enable them to
attend to everything which can contribute to the
comfort, happiness, and welfare of the passengers
on the voyage. With an ample store of superior
provisions, a good, a tried, and speedy ship, a
captain—Hugh Ross, famed for his nautical
skill, his coolness in the hour of danger, as well
as his uniform kindness and attention to the
humblest of his passengers, and with officers of
the first class—seamen who have had experience
and " know the ropes," there is every reason for
expecting great things of the Alma as segar is an
excellent passage, and that parties intending to
proceed to New Zealand, cannot get in this or
any other port of the United Kingdom a vessel
so desirable in every respect.