ger is considered by them if there is a chance of
inflicting a blow upon their enemy. I am convinced that at last the
imperial government will be so disgusted at the failure of the troops to
bring the war to a conclusion, and at the great expense and loss of life
entailed by the operations, that they will recall the regulars and leave
the colonists to manage the affair themselves, in which case I have no
fear whatever as to their bringing it to a prompt conclusion. Looking at
the matter from a business point of view, there is no doubt, Mr.
Renshaw, that those who, like yourself, come out at the present time
will benefit considerably. You will get land at a quarter the price you
would have had to pay for it had it not been for these troubles, and as
soon as the war is over the tide of emigration will set in again more
strongly than before, and land will go to prices far exceeding those
that ruled before the outbreak began."

Upon the following morning Mr. Atherton and Wilfrid embarked in the
schooner. They had been furnished by Mr. Jackson with a number of
letters of introduction to settlers in every district they were to
visit. "These will really only be of use to you in the small towns," he
said, "for in the country districts every house is open, and you have
generally only to ride up to a door, put up your horses, and walk in,
and you are almost sure to meet with a hearty welcome. Still, as you are
new-comers, and have not rubbed off your old country ideas, it will be
more pleasant for you to take letters. At the ports, such as they are,
you may really find them useful, for you will not find any inns. You can
strike out anywhere into the back country without the least fear of
being inconvenienced by natives."

The two friends spent a pleasant fortnight touching at the settlements,
situated for the most part at the mouths of the rivers, and spending the
time the vessel remained there in short excursions into the interior.
They were most pleased with the Wairarapa Valley, running up from
Palliser Bay; but this being near Wellington the land was all taken up,
and there were many flourishing villages and small towns.

"This is very nice," Wilfrid said, "but the price of land is far too
high for us, and we might almost as well have taken to farming in
England."

The eastern coast of the province was dotted by little settlements,
lying for the most part at the mouths of small rivers, and several of
these offered favoura