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Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902

"A First Year in Canterbury Settlement"


Beyond sheep, cattle, and land, there are few if any investments here
for gentlemen who come out with little practical experience in any
business or profession, but others would turn up with time.
What I have written above refers to good men. There are many such who
find the conventionalities of English life distasteful to them, who want
to breathe a freer atmosphere, and yet have no unsteadiness of character
or purpose to prevent them from doing well--men whose health and
strength and good sense are more fully developed than delicately
organised--who find head-work irksome and distressing, but who would be
ready to do a good hard day's work at some physically laborious
employment. If they are in earnest, they are certain to do well; if
not, they had better be idle at home than here. Idle men in this
country are pretty sure to take to drinking. Whether men are rich or
poor, there seems to be far greater tendency towards drink here than at
home; and sheep farmers, as soon as they get things pretty straight and
can afford to leave off working themselves, are apt to turn drunkards,
unless they have a taste for intellectual employments.


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