EMIGRATION. 
263 
a step just taken in time; had it been delayed a little 
longer, not only would no fresh settlers have come to the 
shores of New Zealand, but even those who had, would have 
been drawn away to the gold diggings. The case is now 
greatly changed for the better. A little stream of emigration 
has begun to flow in ; it is at present only the trickling of a 
small spring; but it bids fair to go on increasing, and will 
eventually bring to the shores of New Zealand, many of the 
successful Australian gold diggers. It has already brought some. 
The first thing which benefited the Cook’s Straits Settle¬ 
ments, was the sale of land scrip, or compensation land 
orders, given to the settlers who came out under the New 
Zealand Land Company, for the non-fulfilment of its en¬ 
gagements. Much of this found its way into the market; 
it gave the Governor a correct idea of the true value of 
land, and doubtless had something to do with his reducing 
the price. These land orders, sold at from 5s. to 8s. per 
acre ; they made a sensible difference in the amount of 
population, and gave the first impetus to emigration. As 
an example of this increase in the settlement of Wan¬ 
ganui, by the census of 1843, the European population was 
males 132, females 78; total 210. In 1847, the war and 
general depressed state of the country, diminished this to 
110. In 1851, when the sale of scrip reduced the price of 
land, the population of the district was males 349, females 
196; total 545. In 1854, when the Government sold the 
land for 10s. per acre, males 570, females 391 ; total 961. 
One of the chief things now wanted, is a surveyor’s office, 
with proper persons to mark out the lands for selection. 
At present, the stranger must find out the unlocated spots the 
best way he can; many are told there is no land to select, and 
for want of a proper officer to point it out, they go away 
disappointed and disgusted. There is a carelessness and a 
slovenliness in all these matters, so essential to the well being 
of the country, which is anything but creditable to those 
in power. 
From the northern island, we pass over to the middle one, 
where the Canterbury settlement has been formed, the last 
