Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Life in New Zealand.
II. Z. Barber, of Auckland, Narrates
Some of That C0untry's Advan-
tageS.
The Great Palmer Mine Finally Be
comes Gen. Ayers Property.

The skin of Mr.. II. P. Barber is tanned
TO tropical s9arthiness. AZ his home
for many years has been in Auckland,
New Zealand, the copper tint of mis- com
pleXIon Is natural result of long con-
inued residence in a climate where the
sun gets IN good midsummer work the
year round Late in the sixties, Mr.
Barber resided for period of six months
Ia Detroit, going from there to New York,
and thence TO New Zealand in 1863. He
still has relatives in Detroit, and at long
intervals pays them a brief visit. This
is one of the long intervals. During his
twenty years of residence under British
colonial rule, Mr.. Barber has pros pered
IN highly satisfactory manner. He
pronounces New Zealand the country of
all countries In which to live and thrive.
He is largely interested in an industry
known as the "Kauri Gum" trade-kauri
gum being d New Zealand prodact which
| IS Of value In the manufacture of paints
and Varnlshes. Large quantities of the
product are exported to the United States
and other countries.
Il have been considerably sought after
by newspaper men since reaching this
country late in February he said,
owing TO the fact that am supposed TO
Germany. 1t is true that | came around
by the way of the Samoan Islands, but /
believe there has never been any pros
poet of serious trouble in connection
with that affair. There was considerable
local trouble in one way and another
trouble which naturally involved most Of
the countries having commercial inter
ests In that qusrter-b15 the situation
n al he
lance from Samoa, and correct knowl-
edge Of the facts increase"
"What sort of a country is New Zealand
for poor man?"
''Weil, will try to give you some rea-
son for the faith that is in me in regard
to it's being the best country in the world
for the man who has his fortune to make.
[ will first take up the matter of living
expenses. In the way OF house rent,
man can rent a cottage of the
houses in New Zealand are cottages CON
tanning ample room for the largest fam
lily, and fitted up In handsome modern
style, for about So per month. This
cottage will be surrounded by a large
lawn and garden, upon which all manner
OF vegetables for family use may be
raised IN immense quantities, yielding
crops, as they do, every month in the
year. All these cottages are embowered
IN roses and other species of tropical
bloom, forming idyllic pictures of domes-
tic happiness and contentment. These
lawns, when properly looked after, are
beautiful beyond description. Thus to
start with you zee the frugal citizens is
relieved of the necessity for any outlay
whatever in supplying his table with
vegetables of all sorts the year round.
The best beefstake can be purchased
everywhere for six cents per pound.
while the cheaper portions of the animal
are pOndingly less. An entire leg
of mutton can be bought for five cents
sometimes a whole shoulder for tn same
hgu re. Pork, raw, goes from two to
four cents per pound, according to the
quality. Fuel is course, a minor consider
alton in land of perpetual summer,
while clothing is not much more than
half what it is here, with the advantage
of always securing genuine English
goods"
SIN return for this elysium of perpetual
oheapness, what wages are paid by New
ashland emplOyers?"
The lowest wages paid Iaborers for
day of eight hours, $175. There are no
working days of more than eight hours
over there. Skilled mechanics are paid
from $2.75 to So per day, while clerks
and the various Glasses of intellectual
employees are paid fully as wel--lperhaps
trJfe better-than are the same classes
IN this country. Thus, you see, we have
equally good wages, shorter hours for q
days labor and ell the cheaper advan.
tages OF living. Is there any reason why
poor man should not prosper in that
country? All this, too, under g govern
ment-I refer, of course, TO the home gov
srnment of England-which has Away
been accredited with grinding the poorer
Glasses into the dust of adversely. The |
poor man will never be oppressed in any
civilized couat-y until it becomes too
crowded for breathing space. Good men
always command a premium IN com |
parativeiy new countries"