The Boulder Bank Harbour Nelson.

Chapter XV. Hints to Emigrants.

Nothing need be said of the motives leading to emigration; it is felt to be necessary by tens and hundreds of thousands of our countrymen, who annually quit the shores of their native land in search of fresh homes. Emigration is going on, and will continue to do so as long as the population of Britain is in excess of its means of maintaining it, and there are fields to receive it, the man of energy, who finds there is no opening for him at home, will naturally turn his thoughts to other lands where one is presented. The family man, anxious for those depending upon him, will also look in the same direction. There are numbers who, when retiring from the Army and Navy, seek a home where there is a reasonable hope of health and happiness being attained, as well as prospect for their rising families; some accustomed to warm climates, cannot endure that of Britain; this also page 322 is the case with thousands at home with delicate constitutions; they battle on for years against an adverse climate, but feel each winter more and more trying, until at last emigration becomes a necessity; from such and other causes it continues to flow on with undiminished vigour.

The first consideration of the intending emigrant is, where shall he go to? There are four things to be considered: Economy, Success, or fair chance of getting on, Health and Happiness.

America is the nearest; that seems to be in her favor. There are the United States; but will they suit the small capitalist? If he leaves with the hope of escaping taxation, he finds it doubled there, burthened with a national debt second only to that of England; it will be like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire to go there. A wonderful change has taken place in America for the worse; in the large cities living and everything is dear, and destitution equal to that at home, he must go far back to the west to obtain land, and even there he will not escape heavy taxation; nor is the prospect on these accounts very favorable. Health too is not to be expected, where fevers and agues are rife, in a country which is alternately burnt up with tropical heat, or frozen with arctic cold. Were emigrants to weigh these things before they left the shores of their native land, half of them would change their minds and go elsewhere; of this I feel persuaded, that many of those who do go, wish themselves back again when it is too late.

Another consideration is—would the change of society, customs, manners, and views, suit the British emigrant? If not, his chance of happiness there will be small? But this does not apply to British America; land is cheap and readily obtained, this is true, but the remarks on climate apply with greater force there. Excessive heat and cold generate fever, agues, and other maladies; besides, the long-continued winter seals the earth’s surface so completely that the hand of the agriculturalist is idle for more than half a year, and has but a short time for improvement of the soil.

If, therefore, these four are duly weighed, the emigrant will look from the west to the south, and the Cape invites his attention. Some inducements are held out there, a hot, but not oppressive climate, cheap land, being given away, not a very good sign, for our Colonial Governments do not willingly bestow what they can get anything for, but in a country subject to droughts and hostile visits from innumerable hordes of barbarians, inducements are required to attract colonists, and even with all these, some who have the means of leaving are doing so, and seeking their fortunes in Australia and New Zealand.

Australia is a noble insular continent, but, strange to say, although so far distant from Britain, it offers little or no inducement to settlers; its land regulations hold out no attraction to draw them to its shores; it is not easy to be obtained, and everything is dear; the difficulty of visiting different localities is great; the heat of the climate and the frequent droughts are serious drawbacks. Under these circumstances the emigrant will turn his attention to New Zealand; there he finds a country about the size of his native land, but possessing a far superior climate, with mild summers and winters. In one island snow never falls except at the southern extremity, and then it never remains; the ice is seldom seen thicker than a shilling. In the Middle Island the winter’s cold is not so great as that of Britain; the most southerly part of New Zealand is not colder than the most southerly portion of England. The land is fertile, and so well watered, that droughts are unknown. Already the population is becoming considerable, and, from the limited size of the country, it will sooner assume the state of Britain than any other of its colonies. For health, happiness, and prospect of success, it is unequalled, therefore New Zealand is the colony, and it will be generally acknowledged to be so before long. To every intending emigrant, therefore, I unhesitatingly say, go to New Zealand, being far preferable in every respect to any other emigration field; and to those who make up their minds to do so, I give a few hints.

The first enquiry will be how to get there, and the best way of doing so. There are now three ways; the shortest and quickest is by Panama, and the next by Suez,—both of these are effected by steam. These, however, are not only the most expensive, but the most unsuited to the emigrant, who will, doubtless, have many packages of various kinds, which could not be taken by either of these ways, except at a ruinous charge, whilst the passage money itself is considerably more than by sailing vessels. The emigrant will naturally wish to go as reasonable as is possible, consistent with comfort. By a sailing vessel he has no trouble of trans-shipment, he is, as it were, at home until he reaches his destination.

The usual rate by sailing vessels is, for the saloon passengers, from forty to fifty guineas each; for the stern cabins an extra charge is made. The intermediate passengers are charged from sixteen to twenty-five guineas, and the steerage ones from fourteen to sixteen guineas. For the saloon passengers the owners engage to provide a good table, with fresh meat and milk, with every little comfort required; wine, spirits, and malt liquors being extras, but supplied at a reasonable price on board. Saloon passengers should always stipulate that there shall be a cow, or at any rate goats in milk, on board, and a plentiful supply of desiccated milk; these are necessaries which must be attended to before paying the passage money, or it will be too late; the value of them cannot be overrated when there are children on board. If an emigrant is willing to take a cow himself, the owners will not charge for it, provided the passengers in general have the benefit of it, and a well-bred cow will always be valuable on reaching New Zealand. It is also necessary to see that there is a medical man on board, and whether there is divine service on the Sabbath. For the second and third classes there is a regular dietary, and each passenger should be supplied with a copy of it.

In some vessels there are two kinds of stores, old and new, good and bad; the latter, perhaps, have made several trips round the globe, or have once been on board some of page 325 H.M. ships, from whence they have been discarded; after some time, specimens of this kind will make their appearance at the table, such as bad fusty tea, sugar, or flour, rancid butter, but when complained of better will be produced; it is as well to know this beforehand, as having to put up with bad articles of food not only greatly adds to the discomforts of a long voyage, but also endangers the health.

There is also a great difference in Captains. As much of the comfort of a voyage depends upon him, it is well, if possible, to know something of him beforehand. At sea he is supreme, and if of an irascible temper, and not sober habits, being shut up with him for a three months’ voyage is anything but agreeable; he may forget the usual courtesies of civilized life, and use his temporary power in such a way as to render his passengers as miserable as possible; whilst on the other hand, a kind considerate Captain can render a voyage, even to New Zealand, a regular pleasure trip.

When the emigrant reaches his port, it matters little where it may be, every part of New Zealand offers its peculiar advantages. If he possesses means, and intends turning his attention to sheep, Ahuriri or Wanganui, in the North Island; Port Cooper or Otago, in the Middle Island, are the best for him. If he goes to obtain a mild and enjoyable climate, Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, or Ahuriri. If his means are small and his family large, Auckland is decidedly the most desirable province for him to go to, as for every adult in his family he will have a free grant of forty acres given him, and twenty acres for each child, forty acres will also be allowed to the settler for each servant he may bring our, as a compensation for his introduction. This is an arrangement much to the credit of the province, which is already reaping the benefit of this wise regulation by thus giving rise to many little communities in it composed of highly respectable families. For officers of the Army or Navy, four hundred acres are given; for soldiers or sailors, sixty acres; warrant officers and schoolmasters obtain eighty; and the parties are allowed to select their own lands, they can also add to the quantity at the fixed rate of ten shillings per page 326 acre. The land regulations of Auckland are liberal and judicious, and entitle that province to the first consideration, as there is not another equally so. In this respect, those who decide upon Auckland should call at the office, Messrs. A. F. Ridgway and Sons, 40, Leicester Square, London, to obtain particulars, and certificates of their being entitled to the quantity accorded to their position and rank; those gentlemen are the agents for that province; in that case they will select a vessel bound for the Port of Auckland. The land regulations for Taranaki Province are nearly as liberal, free grants being made to naval and miltary officers, but there the land is put up by auction. In Wellington, no free grants of any kind are allowed, but as much made from the sale of land as possible. So also at Hawke’s Bay or Ahuriri, at Nelson and Marlborough. At Canterbury, country land is sold at £2 per acre; free grants of thirty acres are made only to old soldiers, wounded in the Crimean War, or their widows; but assisted passages are given to good laborers, mechanics, and domestic servants; for particulars, apply to T. Marsham, Esq., 32, Charing Cross, W.C., the agent of that province. At Otago, land is sold as at Canterbury, but no free grants of any sort made. So also in Southland; but I believe there is now a more liberal arrangement for obtaining land in that province at the fixed price of £1 per acre.

To all who have learned a trade, New Zealand presents a good opening; carpenters stand first, they will readily obtain from ten to twelve shillings a day, and farm laborers from six to eight, whilst those accustomed to the management of sheep, will obtain board and lodging with from £70 to £100 a year, and on large runs will have a horse found in the bargain,—a far better income than that of three-fourths of the Pastors of the Church of England, commonly called curates. The best mode of obtaining employment on reaching the colony, will be to put an advertisement in one of the local papers, stating what kind of situation is required. Married couples without incumbrances will readily meet with employment, at good wages; and even with families, if their testi- page 327 monials are satisfactory, they will not find it difficult to obtain situations as overseers. All such should be careful to obtain testimonials from their ministers before leaving home; these will be found of great service to them, and their best introduction on reaching their destination; to these it would be well to add one from their former employers; this would much facilitate their obtaining good situations. To those who possess some means and look for comfortable homes, it would be well to take time before they make their selection of a locality. The facility of visiting all parts of the colony are now greatly increased, and reasonable by steamers, thus a month or two so spent will enable the looker after a home to form a correct judgment of the respective merits of different places, and decide accordingly.

Relative to taking money, whilst it is desirable to have some to meet immediate expenses on landing, it will be better to pay the amount intended to be taken into the hands of the firm the vessel belongs to, which will give letters of credit on reaching their destination, without any charge.

A few words may be added about the furniture, which a family should take: as a general rule it is better to avoid encumbering one’s self with more than can be avoided, on account of freight, and expenses on reaching the colony; but there are some things to be excepted, and amongst these may be mentioned, chests of drawers, plain wardrobes, which can be used as packing cases; other articles of furniture can be obtained almost as reasonably in the colony as at home. A single man will not burthen himself with even these; still an exception might be made in favor of whatever is most prized, and most portable: linen, blankets, cutlery, and plate, a selection of good books, and whatever is most valued in the old home will be doubly so in the new. Many little articles might be selected which would pack close and be very serviceable; whatever each emigrant needs or uses the most before he leaves he will need when he arrives, whether tools or whatever belongs to his particular calling. If any furniture or property of value be taken, it is as well to insure it, but still the advice is, take page 328 as much hard cash as possible, and as little else as you can help; to single men I would recommend their going out married, in whatever way they may go, they will find a good partner their best help and best assurance of success. A wife will not be an incumbrance, but the best helpmate to future prosperity.

A new country presents several advantages over the old one. The settler, when he possesses the raw material, land, to work upon, soon changes its appearance and converts it into a cherished home; he sees beauty and order arise from his efforts, and with his increasing prosperity, it likewise becomes more and more comfortable, with the prospect opening out of leaving a competency for his family, however large it may be, and the knowledge that as his adopted country advances, his position likewise will rise with it.