Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-23
Life in New Zealand.
n. ?. Barber, OF Auckland, Narrates
Some Of That COuntry's Advan-
tages.
The Great Palmer Mine Finally Be-
comes Gen. Ayers Property.

The skin of Mr.. II, p. Barber is tanned
to tropical swarthiness. As his home
for many years has been in Auckland,
New Zsaland, the copper tint of his com
plexion is natural result of long con-
tinued residence in climate where the
sun gets 10 good midsummer work the
year round. Late in the sixties, Mr..
Barber resided for period of six months
In 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 uuder British
colonial rule, Mr.. Barber has pros pered
in a highly satisfactory manner. He
pronounoes New Zealand the country of
all countries In which TO live and thrive.
He is largely interested III an industry
known as The "Kauri Gum" trade-kauri
gum being New Zealand product which
ID of value in the manufacture of paints
and varnishes. Large quantities of the
product are ex ported to the United States
and other countries.
~ have been considerably sought after
by newspaper men since reaching this
country late in February" he said,
30 wing to the fact that l am supposed to
knoS all about the Samoan troubles with
Germany. IL is true that / came around
by the way OF the Samoan Islands, but
believe there has never been any pros
pect 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 quarter-but the situation
naturally grew more alarming as the dis
lance from Samoa, and q correct knowl-
edge of the facts increase"
"What sort of country is New Zealand
for poor manf"
"Well, will try to give you some rea-
son for the faith that is in me in regard
to its being the best country in the world
for the man who has his fortune to make.
| will first take up the matter " living
expenses. In the way OF house rent, Il
man can rent a oottage-most of the
houses in New Zealand are cottages COZ
tanning ample room for the largest fam
lily, and fitted up In handsome modern
style, for about IS per month. This
)ttage will be surrounded by large
lawn and garden, upon which all msnDer
of vegetables for family use may be
raised in immense quantities, yielding
crops, "a they 40, every month i'll the
year. AHthese cottages are empowered
in roses and other species of tropical
bloom, forming idyllio pictures of dOmes-
tic happiness and contentment. These
lawns, when properly looked after, are
beautiful beyond description. Thus to
start with you see 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 heefstake can be purchased
every where for six cents per pound.
while the cheaper portions of the animal
are correspondingly less. An entire leg
of mutton can be bought for five cents
sometimes a whole shoulder for tn same
figure. JrB, raw, goes from two to
four cents per pound, according to the
quality. Fuel is coarse, minor consider
alton In land of perpetual GUNNER,
while clothing is not much more than
half what it is here, with the advantage
of always securing genuine English
goods"
ain return for this elysium of perpetual
! cheapness, what wages are paid by New
ZSaland employers"
The lowest wages paid laborers for a
day of eight hours, $40. There are no
working days of more than eight hours
over there. Skilled mechanics are paid
from 81 Is TO IS per day, while clerks
and tho various classes of intellectual
employees are paid fully as wel--lPerhsps
trlhe better-than are the same Glasses
In this country. Thus, You see, we have
equally good wages, shorter hours for a
days labor and sl the cheaper advan.
| tages of living. Ia there any reason why
poor man should not prosper in that
countryH All this too, under a govern
ment-I refer, of course, TO the home gov
eminent OF Eugland-which has always
been accredited with grinding the poorer
Glasses into the dust of adversely. The
poor man will ne, n be oppressed in any
civilized oouat.y until it becomes toe
crowded for breathing space. Good men
always command premium in com
parstively new countries"