Ergo, is it wise to buy from the Government, and would not such an investment (at £900) prove unremunerative consider ing the high price of labour and land ? Fictitious prices were ruling here at one time ; but that ia all past and gone; and people will but show their sense by bowing to the stern logic of facts, and ceasing to bolster up the prices of things, by combination, beyond what the law of demand and supply justifies. It is certain that if waste land and labour abated their excessive pretensions, and fell to a fair and remunerative price, things would quickly mend, and the large BVms now lying in the banks on deposit would be pub in circulation, and profitably invested in developing the country ; but until this abatement takes place, I think matters will remain in statu quo. Ten times the labour now unemployed could be at once absorbed in constant and reproductive employ, and not as hitherto on precarious, misapplied, and un productive -ftorks, which but diminish the public wealth. The adage is only too true, "Who will not learn, must feel." The unproductive classes, headed by the Government officials, who live at the expense of the few who produce, are far too numerous in Auckland. Honest agricultural and manufacturing industry, the only true and solid basis of the pros perity of a country, is swamped by oppressivetax&tion, direct and indirect, and overweighted by dear labour j consequently we see it every day driven to the wall, sold up. Exchange and barter, the true principles of commerce, are ignored. If, from what ever cause, no one can or does produce, if all are im porters, if the dignity of labour is misunderstood, if people will not believe that what makes a man is the spirit of work, and that the best religious service is honest labour, then social and material progress must come to a stand. Tant vaut l'homme, tant vaut la terre. The inordinate love of gain, and seeking after excessive profits, bring into society a thousand woes. But in dustry directed to utility, labour and assiduity which have no other end in view than a lawful gain and * fair profit, vrhich pay » due regard to the rights and interests of others, diffuse through society health and strength. 