incomes had better stay at Home. Nothing hut going into some colonial line, sheep-farming, merchandising, etc., can make the colony pay as a residence. I who am condemned from such profitable pursuits by many causes, have no means of balancing the account. Firewood (there is no coal) casts now at cheapest 30/- a cord, and a cord is equal to about one-third of a ton of coals. Think of coals at £4 10s. a ton! But then during the winter, we paid £2 a cord, Next winter I expect it will be £4 a cord, and I am laying in a stock in time. Butter 1/6 a lb.; in the winter it was 2/-. Eggs 2d. and 3d. apiece. Vegetables to us who have no garden, and cannot afford one, paying 6/- a day for labour, are almost mythical and fabulous things. We had new potatoes and green peas for a rarity for our Christmas dinner, but the potatoes were 2d. a lb., and the peas 2/- a peck. The economy of a colony consists in doing without things. Butchers’ meat is about 8d. a lb., but inferior in quality and sometimes not procurable at all. Nobody engaged in colonial pursuits cares about these things, for their profits (made out of these enormous prices) are in proportion.”
“I think I must retract a good deal of my abuse of the climate. We have certainly had some charming weather lately, and the alternations of rain are really a relief. I can imagine fifty years hence the place being really agreeable and preferable for residence, but it is a great and long hill to climb before it attains real civilisation.” Again on October 24, he wrote, “The price of everything is prodigious—stock is high and rising—sheep up to two guineas a piece; cattle £15 a head; horses an incredible price—nothing rideable under £60 or £70. My opinion is that the tendency will be upward. I see no chance of a fall. Australian gold will go on: population will increase; mouths to be fed will multiply.”
Not only were stock and provisions dear, but many of
