Saipara; or, Experiences of a Settler in North New Zealand.
Written and Illustrated by P. W. Barlow. (Sampson Low and Co.)—This is an excellent, practical, plain-spoken little book, rather depressing in parts, but written with evident fairness and careful candour. Mr. Barlow's experience as a settler in North New Zealand is the first that has been offered to the reading public, who have hitherto had to rely on the narratives of visitors —obviously of very different and inferior value as a vehicle of practical instruction—and it is now of six years' growth. It has not been all pleasant or prosperous. He is no optimist, and he has a good deal to say about Auckland that we would rather not hear (with, however, words of high praise for its incomparable hospital) ; but he is reasonable, clear-sighted, and he knows what people want to be told about a place which is spoken of as a home of promise for the crowded-out. That the Kaipara District of North New Zealand answers this descrip- tion, Mr. Barlow avers with reason, although he does not hold out inducements on the grand scale, and is particularly careful to point out that only the moderate-minded are likely to be rewarded for becoming settlers there. Natural beauty and a delightful climate count for much ; he does not over-estimate their value. His descripti in of the Kaipara District is interesting, especially that of its forests, its waters, its fish, and its fruit-trees; and a chapter on " The Labouring-Man Settler " is highly amusing as well as instructive. The outcome of the book, put shortly, is, that although North New Zealand is not Tom Tiddler's Ground, it is a sort of paradise for people with small incomes. The Colony is too young to be able to offer great inducements to professional men, but Mr. Barlow holds that now is the time for gentlemen with small fixed incomes to go out and purchase properties, while land is cheap.
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