VILLAGE SETTLEMENT IN AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1455, 13 January 1887, Page 2

VILLAGE SETTLEMENT IN AUCKLAND.

{Evening Bell, January 5.) la another oolamn we give a statement of what ia being done m connection with the despatch of another party of over one hundred village settlers to a lovely location m the North, and we vanrura'to Bay that it cannat be re^d by anyone ... having a desire for the Bound advancement of this portion of the colony without the doopput interest, Never before m the colony has n scheme bo humane, si politic, bo statesmanlike baen inithtad for the settling of workers ou the land, and ib is satisfactory m the extreme to see that it has been thoroughly appreciated for those for whom it is intended, and that multitudes are eagorly availing themßolves of the opportnniy of making happy and independent homes for thermalv^s and thair children under eircuuos!aice3 of an extremely attractive character. Lat anyone contemplate the conditions of this single settlement party as an Uluotntion of what Air Ballanco, li oonoert wit'i his colleagues, and with the cordial approval of the whola of his fellow-colonista, ii doing for such settlers. Tha settlers aro peo^-la m the first instance of an Industrious olnraofcer, earnestly longing, we have little doubt, for years pist to obtain a little foothoid m the oolooy where they ooald make pecraanont homae. Here there is given to then m one oE the loveliest aad mv>Bt productive d.stmtß of the colony, \uthiis an hour's rido of a charming anci ommodiouj harbor, soma fifty as-e* of !ajd each, at-, aay fifty shillings a year, with leaie rerna .Table for ever. "Thsre is given to ihaui cs an advmce, never to be repaid if they desire it, an-i bearing a very low interest, the eiuti cf £40 for oleari g twenty acreß of their own lan i ; and £2) f>r patting ap » hoiue for themselves — or £60 for what caa easily bo dom within, six months, while at the same time they have the leisure and opportuuitj for preparing and putting ia various products that will go largely to provide requisite food for thbir families after a very few inonthß.

There will be advanced to them m a olmilar way £10 ti bay sceclß, nnd roads will bo laid off m th9ir neighborhood, the work on which will gfva them steady employment until such times ai their cropa and other products of their farms may becrnie available.

They will be taken with all thole families and belongings froo from Auckland to the point of debarkation ; there they will be met by : bullock teama, and conveyed to the Blbe of thair future homes, where they will find shads and raupo wharea prepared for their accommodation.

Was tliDro -n-r anything like this offered to settlers before 1 And can anyone understand why we should have one solitary idler m Auckland, one single Individual oniplaiijng that ha cannot find employ meat ? It really is enough to make one angry when wa find that human nature can fall so low m raeanneßß as to prefer loafiag and groaning ronnd the street corners, and complaining of nothing to do, when we see offered a scheme so entirely fitted to meet the case, and one which is intended to turn men and women who are dependent on precarious employment aud on' the whims of employers, into happy settlers, eelf-reliant and independent, sitting down ev«rp one literally under his own vine and fig tree, without anyone to make them afraid.

Fancy such a scheme as this unfolded before the (eyes of 'ho poor, shivering, starving people of the towits and cities of England. Why, it would seem to them a very glimpse within the gates of heaven ; nor can wo conceive of anything possibly more attractive to any man of humble means and family aoxiaties than sash a delightful prospeot of a happy independent home.

And m such a clime ! The mildest, the most balmy, the most delicious, perhaps, to be found on the face of the wide earth. A place where a man can surround hia house with orange groves, leaving m them a patrimony to his children sufficient to maintain them and their children after them m cisc and effluence ; where, m hißvineyardß and fig plantations and groves of fi^ trees, a mm can from year to year be buiidiug up a permanent income, while the fertile soil turning him out double, and even treble crops of potatoes m the year, and root crops of every possible kind, supplies the immediat3 basis of food for himself and family, his hens and ducks, and pigs and cheep, and milking cows ; and where there la not a legitimate want that be can have, of abundance or even luxury m food, but hia own &tro >g araa oan satisfy it from the willing soil.

That any working man, physically able for moderate work, should, m tho face of euoh on offer, remain idling about the streets cf Auckland, grunting out his cliaeatisfuction with the arrangements of Providence, seems inconceivable ; and we do not hesitate to say that such v lazy, skulking vagabond ought to be taken by the hind lees and chucked from tho end of the wharf, as a thing whose worthless carcaaa Bhould not have shelter on chore.

This schema is sutfe'y tho most remark - able|that has eve? been offered to men without any moans, m any of the oolonlea. It seems almost absurdly liberal ; but it is wiee ; and we believe will prove economy to society. It will be tha very beat prevectitive to deatitut'on m old age ; and it Bhould make this community ultimately so far aa wordly oompetenca and ooinfott are concerued, the happiest ia the world. To Mr Balhnce, whose determined zoal haa given ie effect, this noble scheme ehoald be a sourca of happiness as long aa he lives ; for as giving happiness to others is the source of the purest and beat happiness that ever falls to the lot Of man on earth, he will, through this scheme, now only m it? infancy, have been (he cause of more happiness to men, women, and children than any man or minister that has ever been m the o olony before. And there ia all tha greater satisfaction m the thing that the opera* tion of this scheme has n->t, like many of the best of echemes for tin. amelioration of society, had to encounter opposition and euspicion ; bat. from the first, and ever since increasingly, it haß been greeted with satisfaction and applawe by the whole people.