A Serious Pitfall

to so many, has too often incurred the greatest hardships to settlers, who, through their own misjudgment or the persuasion of some ardent emigration agent, have had to reside in climates wholly unsuited to their constitutions, and where the conditions essential to successful industrial occupation are lacking. It is then realised that the comparatively trivial advantage gained by the low rate of passage money, is far outweighed by the climatic disadvantages or the increased capital, required to combat less favourable circumstances.

This aspect of the emigration question has recently engaged the attention of the Agent-General of New Zealand, who has long held the opinion that, although New Zealand possesses so perfect a climate and a soil of unsurpassed fertility, yet many thrifty settlers have hesitated to proceed page 50 thither owing to the passage money being disproportionate to their capital. This disability has now, to a great extent, been removed, the New Zealand Shipping Company having, in response to the urgent representations of the Agent-General, consented to sacrifice a large proportion of their passage money in the furtherance of the interests of the Colony.