1857 - Cooper, I. R. The New Zealand Settler's Guide - APPENDIX.

[Image of page 154]

APPENDIX.

The Australian and New Zealand Gazette, published at 11, Clement's Lane, London, contains the most recent news from the various provinces of New Zealand, the editors of which, Messrs. Algar and Street, have regular correspondents in New Zealand.

Emigrants to New Zealand can obtain information about passages at the offices of Messrs. Young, 61 , Cornhill, and at Messrs. Willis, No. 3, Crosbie Square. 1 The rates vary from time to time, but are on an average from £45 to £60 for first-class, £30 for second-class, and £22 for third-class passengers; arrangements can be made either with Messrs. Young or Willis for tonnage to any of the provinces.

They also give orders for money to be paid in any of the provinces on the payment of money to them here in London by the intending emigrant. This saves the risk of carrying the money over the sea.

The Union Bank of Australia grants bills for monies on Auckland, "Wellington, Nelson, and Canterbury, without charging any per centage. This Bank is so highly considered, that although Government Banks are established in New Zealand, hardly an instance of an old settler leaving the Union Bank is to be met with.

Emigrants should take to New Zealand the same sort of winter and summer clothes they wear at home, with a rather larger supply of strong, stout boots, socks, and shirts.

[Image of page 155]

Intending emigrants will find works published on most of the colonies at Mr. Stanford's, No. 6, Charing Cross. The best of these works, on New Zealand, I consider to be the one written by Mr. Fitton. From a letter in this book, emigrants will see what advantages New Zealand has over Canada in climate, available land, and high markets--they will also perceive in this letter, which is written by a person who has resided in both colonies, how much more likely the New Zealand colonist is to enjoy health, and how few difficulties he will, comparatively speaking, have to contend with. A reference to Mr. Swainson's book will make known the favourable manner in which the climate of New Zealand acts upon man's health, and how to those who seek, in colonization, a happy home, New Zealand offers more to be desired than any other colony, or indeed any other country, can offer.

The overland route from Southampton, on the 12th of each month, via Marseilles, Malta, the Isthmus of Suez, and Ceylon, to Melbourne, commenced on the 24th February, 1857. A steamer runs once a month from Sydney to Auckland, the charge of which for first-class passengers is £15, for second-class £8, or £10. Information about this route is to be obtained at 12, St. Helen's Place, London, and 33, Renfield Street, Glasgow.

From Auckland, people can obtain passages once a month in the steamer Zingari to New Plymouth, Nelson, Wellington and Canterbury. The prices are as follows, viz.:--

£. s. d.

Between Auckland and New Plymouth 5 0 0

" " Nelson. . . 7 10 0

" " Wellington. 10 0 0

" " Canterbury. 12 10 0

Food is included in the charges mentioned, and everything but liquor, for which separate charges are made. Objections may probably be urged against

[Image of page 156]

New Zealand on account of earthquakes and the native population. In answer to these objections I would remark that excepting in the province of Wellington, earthquakes are of no account, and in the province of Auckland they are unknown. With regard to the natives, I consider that they are a cause of wealth and prosperity to the colonists, and might be made of great use even to the Home Government. It is needless to say incase of war we won't make the Maories soldiers, lest after we have trained them they should turn against us; they are already trained, and well trained, and in many respects are, as Sir George Grey says, quite able to contend with us.

Auckland possesses barrack accommodation for about 550 troops, a Brigade-office, Commissariat-office, powder magazine, and military hospital, all built of stone; a stone wall encloses the buildings, and with them a space of grass ground sufficient for the field-movements of a regiment; within this wall a cricket-ground has been laid down, a well-drained gravelled parade-ground has been formed in front of the barracks, and gravelled walks made by the sentry boxes; so that by these means the health and comfort of the troops has been provided for. At the Bay of Islands, wooden buildings have been hired at the Wahapu, where 150 men are usually located, the situation of the Wahapu being commanded by hills at its rear. From this station troops could offer no timely assistance to Kororarika, the only township in the neighbourhood. New Plymouth has a large iron barrack, which furnishes accommodation for 250 soldiers, the barrack is on Marsden Hill, a strong position, stockaded and commanding the town. Wanganui is protected by a force of 200 men, located in two stockades, which command the rear of the town. The remainder of the troops are quartered at Wellington.

[Image of page 157]

To those who are about to join a country where grasses are cultivated with much advantage, as most grasses used in England are grown in New Zealand, a few words on the subject may be of use.

Curtis, who wrote on grasses about the beginning of the present century, asserts, that sweet-scented vernal, meadow foxtail, smooth stalked meadow grass, rough stalked meadow grass, meadow fescue, and crested dog's tail, are the six grasses which constitute the bulk of our best pastures, most of which are early, all of them productive, and adapted to such soils and situations as are proper for meadows and pastures; of these six, Curtis seems to give the preference generally to foxtail and rough stalked meadow grass. For land moderately dry, meadow fescue and sweet-scented vernal. For dry pasture, smooth stalked meadow grass and crested dog's tail.

Cocksfoot, rye grass, and white clover, much used in New Zealand, have been cultivated with considerable success, particularly in Auckland and New Plymouth.

The following scale of mixtures of grasses for an acre of land, quoted from a work published by Peter Lawson, of Edinburgh, the well-known Seedsman to the Highland Society, may serve as a general guide to emigrants about to engage in laying down permanent pasture.

[Image of page 158]

Much valuable information on grasses may be obtained from Mr. Clarke, of 25, Bishopsgate Street Within, Messrs. Gibbs, of Half Moon Street, corner of Piccadilly, and from Mr. Lawson, of Edinburgh; from either of whom grass and garden seed of the best quality can be procured, or arrangements made for obtaining a supply of seeds in the colony. All seed for exportation should be secured in air-tight tin cases, enclosed in wood. Rye grass, clovers, and fescue grasses may generally be purchased in the colony, but other sorts of grass seeds are often scarce, costly, and mixed.

Gentlemen who desire to obtain early information of what is going on at home, will do well to subscribe

[Image of page 159]

to "The Home News," published at Grindlay and Co.'s, 124, Bishopsgate Street. This paper comes out once a month at a cost of only 12 shillings a year; it contains a digest of the news of the month, is admirably adapted for the colonies, and is always transmitted with the greatest regularity.

THE END.

[Page 160 is blank.]

[Inserted map]

A MAP OF THE WORLD,
DISTINGUISHING THE BRITISH ISLES, THEIR COLONIES, AND POSSESSIONS.