INTRODUCTION.
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INTRODUCTION.
ALTHOUGH much has been written on the subject of New Zealand, not only for the information, but for the amusement of the general reader, the author of this publication has never met with a work which comprehends the practical advantages of the colony as an eligible field for the intending emigrant; the geography of the Islands; the various qualities of the land; the constitution; and the bearing of the land-regulations upon the prospects of the different provinces.
In addition to the experience of many years' residence, with ample opportunities and facilities for travelling over all the settlements on the Northern Island, the author has in his possession the land-regulations of the several governments, a digest of which he proposes to lay before the reader. An acquaintance with these regulations, which have never been published in England, will be of great advantage to all who are desirous of settling, by guiding them to the selection of the province most suited to their capabilities and former experience.
In addition to his own personal observations, the
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author has frequently conversed on the subject of colonisation with old residents, and had continual access to official documents, local papers, and works published on the Colony, the result of which he proposes to lay before the reader.
The present work offers the further advantage of giving an impartial account of the progress and relative capabilities of the various provinces, their military features, and the several inducements offered to naval and military men to establish themselves in the Colony.
Previous to leaving his own country, the intending emigrant should consider whether he is likely to better his condition by such a step, whether he is provided with, or is likely to acquire the means of carrying on with success, the pursuit on which he proposes to enter. He should weigh well whether he is prepared, for some years at least, to bear cheerfully the hardships and difficulties, with which he is sure to have to contend in a new country.
Having assured himself on these points, it remains for him to determine to what colony he will proceed. The ultimate result desired should in a great measure guide emigrants on this point. Men should leave their own land for the colonies for one of three reasons; viz. either to acquire as speedily as possible a fortune, with which to return home; for the purpose of gaining an improved status, and forming a permanent home in the colony to which they proceed; or for their health's
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sake. Climate, soil, political constitution, and social condition of a colony will be of little importance to those who leave home for the first purpose only; but should weigh much with those who emigrate for the two other reasons assigned.
As I consider New Zealand better calculated than any colony for an Englishman's home, I shall dwell in particular on each of the four points to which I have alluded, as matters for consideration by those who may desire to form a new home in a new country. And here it will be requisite to offer a few remarks applicable to the colony at large, on the pursuits open to emigrants, and the capital required for different undertakings, in which remarks I shall endeavour to describe the men likely to find themselves in the right place in a new colony.
For those who land in the colony without previous knowledge of mercantile transactions, with say from £2000 to £3000, cattle and sheep will probably be found the safest and most profitable investment. Cows have averaged from £12 to £20 a-head, for the last four or five years. Sheep from 20s to 30s. Cattle, sheep, and horses were, however, falling in value when I left the colony in July of the last year (1856). Those who understand the breeding of horses may profitably invest part of their money in horse-stock. Horses bred for the cart or plough pay best.
Those who breed cattle and sheep in the neighbourhood of towns, obtain a fair value for the meat, tallow,
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and hides, and can also obtain high prices for young oxen broken for draught. Their prices have ranged from £25 to £40 a pair in Auckland for the last four or five years. Cattle imported from Australia frequently yield a good profit to those who first buy them, and keep them in good feed. Some risk, however, attends the purchase of imported cattle, as a plant called the Tout, or Tupaki, frequently kills cattle unaccustomed to it.
It is thought that cheese will become an article of considerable export: New Zealand cheese has already acquired a name. The cheese made at the River Tamaki (Province of Auckland), at Taranaki (New Plymouth), and Port Cooper (Canterbury) is much thought of, and will readily fetch from 1s 3d to 1s 6d a pound in the colonies, and from owners of whaling ships.
For information on sheep farming in the Southern Province and Middle Island, I refer to a work published by Mr. Weld, M.C. (Member of Council). From this work, it appears that the wool alone of 2000 sheep, after the first year, ought to cover the expenses of the station, leaving the increase as clear profit; as the flocks increase, of course the wool gives a greater proportion of profit.
Mr. Weld considers that a flock of from 800 to 1000 ewes is required to commence, on anything like an adequate scale, a self-supporting station. He further suggests, that those who cannot afford to purchase at
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least 800 ewes, and at the same time reserve in hand a sufficient fund to cover contingencies, should place their sheep at some respectable sheep station, paying part of the produce for their keep and care: one third of the increase is the usual payment. Matters connected with the sheep stations and Government runs will be further referred to in chapters on the several Provincial Land Regulations.
From the remarks made by Mr. "Weld, as well as from my own observation, I believe cattle-breeding, connected with dairy-farming, near towns, will generally be attended with less risk than that of sheep, and that it is more suited to the means of a small capitalist; but that, to a man of sufficient capital, sheep farming, where there is natural pasturage, will pay best.
It would be well for young men, unacquainted with the colonial management of cattle, horses, and sheep, to reside on a station of some old colonist for the first year, before they invest their money. They would thus be more likely to make a safe purchase, and colonial experience would be gained at the smallest cost. Young men who commence settling, by living in the towns, generally get "used up" before they go to the country. They spend their money at hotels, and too frequently have to fall back on that refuge for the destitute, a Government appointment, which often leaves them in a more dependent situation than they might have been in, had they remained at home.
The only men who can farm with success on a small
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capital, are married men, with three or four sons to assist them in fencing, ploughing, planting, &c. Such people may, with from £100 to 36300, farm profitably in the neighbourhood of any of the settlements. People of this description, who are without the necessary capital, may soon gain it by work. For the last four years, 1852 to 1856, crops of all sorts have realised what in the old world would be deemed fabulous prices. Wheat has been selling at from 15s to 20s a bushel; potatoes at from £12 to £20 a ton; oats at from 8s to 14s a bushel. Butter has been selling in most of the provinces at from 2s to 3s a pound; butcher's meat from 8d to 10d a pound. The high price of many of these necessaries of life, is to be attributed to the sudden influx of population in the colonies of Victoria and Sydney, consequent on the discovery of gold.
It is to be presumed, from the facility with which the necessaries of life are raised in New Zealand, that it will be a cheap country, offering an easy home in which to provide for growing families, and for those who, possessed of moderate fixed incomes, are willing to help themselves, without being fastidious about servants, luxurious houses, and wants acquired in over-civilized England.
Many of those who have acquired fortunes in the recent changes of Australia, and who had not before leaving home been possessed of the means of living in luxury and idleness, will find New Zealand much more
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appropriate to their circumstances, and better suited to their habits and notions of happiness, than any part of Great Britain.
Colonial experience would enable such people, advantageously, to invest their wealth in a fine property, and they could enjoy many of the comforts of home, without sacrificing the freedom of life, to which they have been accustomed, and which such people are sure to find wanting in an old country.
Few who have resided long in the fine climate of the South Seas, will be contented with the cold, fogs, and snow of Great Britain; and unless they could sufficiently occupy themselves in the excitement of politics, or the amusement of hunting, shooting, fishing, and foreign travel, they would soon be wearied with the idle life led by the rich at home.
Capital may be profitably laid out at interest in any of the provinces, by those who are present to look after it; particularly at Auckland and New Plymouth, in which provinces money has been for some time worth from 12 to 25 per cent. on private security, given in land or houses, and at the former settlement Government securities are as high as 10 per cent.
Those who keep a command of money may with sufficient local experience, often make from 50 to 100 per cent, by buying and selling town, suburban, or country sections of land. For mercantile pursuits Auckland and Wellington are the best settlements. Auckland
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commands the largest native trade in the colony, and has the most commodious harbours, and unparalleled advantages of water communication; it is also well provided with kauri pine, much prized for first class ship spars, which have long been, and will continue to be, valuable exports to England and the colonies.
The timber trade, generally, has for the last four or five years been a source of great profit to the province; to which I shall further allude when speaking of Auckland. Wool as well as timber is fast becoming a valuable export in most provinces, and the merchants who trade in it increase the value of their transactions, by supplying the various stations with clothes, provisions, tobacco, &c. Sawn timber has been fetching from 18s to 25s a hundred feet. The brick trade is carried on with success in Auckland and Wellington, where they have been realising from £4 10s to £7 a thousand for the last four years. Brickmakers are much wanted. At New Plymouth, bricks are selling at from £12 to £20 a thousand. People emigrating to engage in trade, without a previous knowledge of colonial requirements, should rather take out money than goods. The markets vary so much, that it would not be safe to invest largely prior to leaving home.
It would also be well for people of small capital, unacquainted with colonial trade, to attach themselves to some old house, prior to engaging in trade on their own account.
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Those who arrive in the colony without capital will, if they enjoy good health, are sober and economical in their personal expenses, and are able and willing to work at any one trade, as farm servants, boatmen, shepherds, or house servants, soon realise a sufficient capital to invest in land, cattle or sheep, and thus to render themselves and their children independent.
Carpenters, brick-makers, stone-masons, shinglers and boat builders, have been able to earn for the last four years at from 10s to 15s a day, sawyers at from 12s to 20s, ploughmen (much wanted) about 10s a day, and able labourers at from 6s to 10s. Good house and hotel servants readily obtain from £640 to £60 per annum; women servants of all sorts are well paid and many are required.
Those who are least able to earn a comfortable livelihood in a new colony are clerks, and young men who have been brought up in idleness at home. Officers of the army, who have only served at home, would in most instances do badly in the colonies.
Officers of the army who have been much abroad, and officers of the navy frequently make good colonists. As the prices of different labour often vary, those who are known as handy men, i.e. those who can knock up a farm building, who know something of cattle, the dairy, and sheep, who can turn their hand to ploughing, ditching, &c. are certain to do well; if an emigrant does not know a little of all these, the sooner he learns the better.
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Having made these general prefatory remarks, I will proceed to give an account of the climate, constitution, nature of the soil, and state of society of the Colony.
