xi AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS 105 



11 This will grow and that will grow. You can send 

 them to such and such a country and sell them for such 

 and such a price ; and the cost of production should be 

 roughly so much." This admirable result is due partly to 

 the patient and persevering efforts of the Government 

 — more especially perhaps of the Agricultural depart- 

 ment, who have quietly and steadily worked and 

 experimented, often in the most disheartening con- 

 ditions and with a minimum expenditure, to achieve 

 this end. But still more is it due to all the first-comers, 

 those who sowed where others will reap, who worked 

 and experimented with their money and with their own 

 hands, who faced cheerfully each new disease, each 

 new pestilence with but small hope of success, and 

 who undeniably, until the last few years, did not 

 receive the right support and encouragement from 

 those who should have given it. Of such men Lord 

 Delamere comes undeniably first. 



Those settlers who have arrived in the last few 

 brighter years are apt to take exception to the large 

 grants of land obtained and still larger areas possessed 

 by some of the first arrivals. They are apt to forget 

 that these men have done the spadework, or rather 

 represent the survivors of those who have done the 

 spadework, and without their efforts there would have 

 been little chance for the fortunes which later-comers 

 like myself hope soon to obtain. The first comers all 

 sacrificed money and comfort, many sacrificed health, 

 and more than a few life. Those who have stuck on 

 are now beginning to see some slight return in the 

 increased value of their holdings. It ill becomes us to 

 grudge it them. There are, however, one or two 

 large early grants and concessions to companies which 

 hardly stand on the same plane. 



