The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-10 00:00:00

10) 1851.

NE W ZEALAND.
(From Eliza Cook's. Journal.)
(Continued from The Sun of Friday.)
From what has been said of the climate and vegetable
productions of New Zealand, it may readily be inferred
that it is equally favourable to animal life and produc-
tion. All the animals of New Zealand are foreigners;
the wild pigs were introduced by Captain Cook; the
sheep and cattle were introduced from Australia. But
both pigs and cattle, as well as sheep, thrive and mul-
tiply exceedingly. Hogs grow to a great size, and their
flesh forms excellent eating. Considerable quantities of
wool, of a superior quality, are yearly exported; and
probably this may yet become a staple of Now Zealand
commerce, though we believe the future wealth of the
country must mainly depend on its agricultural rather
than on its pastoral products. There are no wild animals,
nor snakes, nor any venomous creatures; the only natives
are birds, which are very plentiful, and furnish abund-
ance of good eating.
The first settlement in New Zealand was formed at
Port Nicholson by the New Zealand Company in 1839,
since which time emigrants have steadily flowed into the
country, though by no means so rapidly as to the United
States. Doubtless, the great distance of New Zealand,
which is about 13,000 miles from England, has operated
to the disadvantage of this fine colony. The first town
founded at Port Nicholson was Wellington, still one of
the most thriving parts of the colony. It is situated in
Lsmbton harbour, in Port Nicholson, at nearly the
south-eastern extremity of the northern island. Cook's
Straits, extending from it in a north-westerly direction,
separate Port Nicholson from the middle island, on the
northern shore of which the Nelson settlement was
planted in 1841. Probably many of our readers may
already have seen the interesting panorama of the Port
Nicholson settlement, which has been exhibited in
London during the past year. Though it exhibits only
a small corner of New Zealand, still it gives an admirable
idea of the character of the country, its capacious bays,
its noble natural harbours, its deeply indented coast, its
rolling and often rugged but always fertile surface, its
delicious valleys, its winding rivers, its umbrageous
forests, its smiling farmsteads, and its extensive fern-
covered plains. The country in the neighbourhood of
the settlement is very hilly, though there is a large
tract of very rich land along the valley of the -qua,
which offers numerous capabilites for agricultuaal im-
provement. The soil is of great richness, and already
well settled along the Hutt, the country heing dotted
over with pleasant and thriving farmsteads, reminding
one of old England.
Although Wellington is a straggling town, extending
over a large surface of hillocks aad hollows, knolls and
ravines, steeps and flats, all rourra the harbour, it already
exhibits a forwardness of organization remarkable in so
yostng a settlement, but quite in keeping with the Bri-
tish character, everywhere, which no sooner plants its
foot upon a soil, than it begins to organise forthwith.
Within the bosom of these towering hills, which enclose
this lovely bay, you already see churches, corn-mills,
courts of law, survey offices, banks, an; exchange, a
custom-house, bonded stores, and merchants' offices.
There are barracks also, and a few red-coats are seen
on parade or lounging about in undress. Ships lie at
anchor of the wharves, securely protected by the high
grounds surrounding the bay on all sides. In one place
you see by the stumps still protruding from the ground,
that a clearing has been effected, and the land turned
into pasture for the use of the numerous cattle belonging
to the inhabitants. Occasionally, a few natives are seen
passing, perhaps engaged in some work for a colonist,
by whom the settlers arc often hired at good wages.
Along the beach you observe :nests of houses, with an
occasional parsonage or hotel, or un officer's house; and
as you proceed into the country, the comfortable farm
houses of the farmer proprietors meet your view, some-
times on the skirt of a wood, or by a running stream,
or in a snug valley, or on the open flats; large numbers
of well-fed cattle roaming the hills, or forests, or fern-
covered plains. Windmills also occasionally diversify
the scene, and remind you forcibly of the old country.
There are now excellent roads leading to the rich
and extensive tracts of country lying to the
north-east and north-west of Port Nicholson, and
farmers are gradually finding their way into
them. The most important district is called the
plainlofty
ranges
goso
intof
hills, which form the heads of Palliser Bay. A good
the
irarap
interiora ;
fi t t
heox
country,tends
road is now formed to it up the valley of the Hutt.
waithin level
tw o
The chief recommendations are its great variety of
character—abundance of prairie grass and fern lands for
pastoral purposes; plenty of timber for building and
fuel, with hills in the distance to fall back upon; abun-
dance of good land, yielding good crops, for purposes of
agriculture, and a river affording good means of transit.
There are many good stock farms already in the neigh-
bourhood, and pigs run wild in large numbers.
With these advantages to back it, Wellington has
made steady progress since its settlement. It exports
large quantities of wool and flax, it builds ships and
carries on manufactures, it has efficient schools, and
church accommodation for the whole population, which
amounts to about 5,500 British and natives.

The Petre and New Plymouth settlements are both in
Cook's Straits, on the same coast as Wellington, but
considerably further west. New Plymouth has been
styled " the garden of New Zealand." The soil is ex•
tremely prolific, the country is beautiful, and the climate
at once delightful and invigorating. The bishop of New
Zealand, speaking of this place, says, " No one can speak
of the soil or scenery of New Zealand till he has soen
both the natural beauties and the ripening harvests
of Taranaki. When ho has sat upon the deck of a
vessel sailing to Taranaki, and watched the play of
light and shade upon the noble mountain and the woods
at its base, and far behind, in the centre of the islands,
the thin white wreath of streamy smoke which marks
the volcano of Tongariro, and to the south the sister
mountain of Ruapaho covered with perpetual snow,
then be may be qualified to speak of the scenery of this
country, especially if he has added to his sketch-book
the great chain of the southern Alps, which I have
lately seen in all their wintery grandeur, stretching in
an almost unbroken line from north to south for more
than three hundred miles."

The country around New Plymouth consists chiefly of
timbered and fern lands, which, when cultivated, yield
heavy crops, and large quantities of corn aro yearly
exported to the other settlements. Nearly the whole
population are owners of land. Wages are so good that
a labourer is soon enabled to save snfficient money to buy
a bit of ground for himself, on which he builds a house.
Good land is to be had at 1Z an acre and upwards, being.
of course higher priced the nearer it is to the centre of
the population. The colony is calling out fur more
labourers, which is its greatest want. There is said to
be ample room in the district for 100,000 emigrants; of
course they must be supplied judiciously, and by de-
grees. The only objection to the colony is its want of
s good sea-port, the river Waiters affording shelter for
small coasters only. But the colony nevertheles con-
tains within it the elements of great prosperity; indeed,
the whole coast country, from Port Nicholson to New
Plymouth, an extent of 150 miles, is a beautiful and de-
sirable land, and presents numerous attractions to in-
dustrious agricultural settlers.
On the opposite shore of Cook's Straits, on the
northern coast of the middle island, at the head of
Tasraa,n's Gulf, the spirited colony of Nelson was planted
by the New Zealand Company in 1841. It ranks next
in importance to Wellington. The land around is lees
hilly, and the soil is equally rich. The expense of
clearing the fern land is small, and the settler loses no
time in proceeding with his operationt. The climate,
however, is not so agreeable as at Wellington, and occa-
sionally high winds blow across the land here; but there
is not much reason, either, for complaint on this score.
For weeks together, there is fine calm weather, brilliant
sunshine by day, and magnificent moonlight by night.
Indeed, it is usual in New Zealand, at a timo of more
than ordinary fine weather, to say, "This is Nelson
weather." An idea of its general mildness may be in-
ferred from the fact that sheep lamb iu mid-winter in
the open country, and very few losses occur. The in-
digenous trees preserve their verdure all the year round.
Crops yield well, especially wheat, maize, and potatoes.
The district contains about 60,000 acres fit for settle-
ment, mostly free from timber, but only about 4,000
acres are yet under cultivation. The whole population
of the country is only about 3,000 British, and 600
natives.

There are several fine tracts of land in the neighbour-
hood—at Cloudy Bay especially, where there is abun-
dance of rich land, with plenty of coal at hand. Further
south, on the east coast, at Port Cooper, is the new
colony of Canterbury, in Banks' Peninsula. There are
large tracts of available land in the neighbourhood, and
under ordinary good management the settlement cannot
fall to thrive. Otago settlement is further south, along
the same coast. Being in a lower latitude, it is rather
colder in winter, and less hot in summer, than the more
northern sottlements; nevertheless the climate is delight-
ful and salubrious. Even its coldest parts are milder
than the south of France, which is in a corresponding
latitude. The colonists here grow wheat of the finest
quality far in the interior; flocks and herds thrive ad-
mirably; and the colony bids fair to prosper and grow
rich. The settlement comprehends 400,000 acres of
lend, a very large proportion of which is capable of pro-
' fitable cultivation. It has a noble harbour, abundance.
of untimbered fertile land, open grassy meadows inter-
spersed with an adequate supply of wood, a navigable in-
land water communication running up the centre of the
block of land neerly its entire length, and the richest
land lying on either side of it, remarkably well watered;
an ample field of coal; and to the west, stretching away
to the feet of the snowy mountains, an unbounded sheep-
walk, open to the farmer and flock owner; these consti-
tute, indeed, a series of combined advantages rarely to
be mot with in such a moderate compass of territory I
The last settlement in New Zealand which remains to
he mentioned is one of the most important—being the
seat of the Government. It is named Auckland, and is
situated on the eastern shore of the northern island, more
than 200 miles north of Wellington. Its situation at the
head of the Frith of Thames is very fine: the harbour is
land-locked by . a cluster of beautiful islands. The
scenery in the neighbourhood is lovely, the ground being
undaiatimag, and naturally dotted hero and there with
clumps of trees, as in a gentleman's park. The soil is
not, however, so productive as in the settlements already
named. But a large trade is done at the place ; and
being the resort of numerous whaling vessels' besides
being the scat of the Government (aces, it is a place of
considerable bustle and business,

[PRICE SD.

The ruling price of land in New Zealand is 1/. an
acre; but it may occasionally be had for less from private
persons. Good land may be rented from 2s. to ss. an
acre, for seven years, the first year free. Wages for
most kinds of labour are high; agricultural labourers
receive from 20/, to 301. a year, with boad and lodging;
bricklayers 6s. to Bs. a day; carpenters, 7s. to 10s. a day;
blacksmiths from 3s. to 55.; coopers 4s. to 55.; gar-
deners, ss; masons, 7s. to 95.; bullock drivers, 201. to
30/. a year, with rations, female cooks, 151. to 251. a
year; dairymaids, 101. to 201.; house servants, 101. to
201., all with board and lodging. On the whole, New
Z3aland presents strong inducements to the overworked
and underpaid working people of this country, and to
small capitalists, who desire to became possessed of land
in a rich and prosperous colony, with an almost un-
rivalled climate. l'ar. Ward, who has resided in the co-
lony, says,
"If I were going out now, I should go to
Nelson for farming purposes, or, New Plymouth may be
as good; to Wellington for mercantile pursuits; to
Auckland as a storekeeper, or for a situation; and to
Otago, Port Cooper, or Wariau, for sheep keeping."
With its great capabilities, New Zealand seems to
have a great future before it. Even its natives will yet
prove a source of wealth to the country; possessing, as
they do, capabilities of civilization such as have not been
observed in any other aboriginal savage race to anything
like the same extent. They make good labourers, and
are gradually becoming accustomed to European ha' bits
of industry. They are quick, intelligent, and indus-
trious; and many of them are accumulating wealth in
the settlements. Emigration also continues steady, and
the new comers are generally of a higher class than or-
dinary. The necessary cost of the voyage indicates a
wealthier class of emigrants than those resorting to the
United States; and we see them proceeding at once to
the erection of schools and churches wherever they plant
themselves. We conclude in the words of Dr. Lang,
than whom no living mass is better conversant with the
comparative merits of our southern colonies, for the pur-
poses of emigration. " Unquestionable," he says, "as
are the facilities of colonization in South Australia, as
well as in New South Wales, they are not to be com-
pared with those which New Zealand affords, In ono
word, whatever may be the destinies of the Australian
Colonies, I am confident that if colonized upon right
principles, New Zealand will one day become the Great
Britain of the Southern Hemisphere."