THe Clutha Leader. THURSDAY JULY 16, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 2, 16 July 1874, Page 2

THe Clutha Leader. THURSDAY JULY 16, 1874.

A notable scheme which emanated a few yeai-s.since from the prolific brain of,.our. Superintendent, was that of settling the West Coast of this Province. We most of us know the history of the Martin's Bay project. How Government, it may almost be said by false pretences, contrived to entice a few trustful and ingenious individuals to allow themselves to be transported to' the forest-clad shores of the West Coast, in order to : occupy certain land, there/ which the Government had kindly surveyedinto blocks and eections. How the poor West Coast settlers found themselves before long the victims of misplaced confidence..; How the little settlement, instead of receiv-f ing the fostering care of was*! almost entirely cast upon its own resources/ How these confiding innocents were landed" in a distant wilderness/before <even a: track?or bridle path, much Jess a. sledge or, dray road, had been made tp connect the ment with the WakatipV How nearly the entire coast of the Province had to be rounded, before a vessel from Dunedih could reach Martin's Bay; and how, therefore, visits of Government steamers with supplies of stores for the settlers were like those of angela ", very few and far between." How the settlers, cut off from access to the i settled portions of Province, were at i one time seriously; threatened, with absolute starvation, and, were like shipwrecked manners, to the hecessity of,living on such food/shell-fish and the like ias/they could continue to fish up on the beach. Anxious aaj Government once ? itself to settle the West Coast, it might well haveibeen supposed that when some enterprising gentleman came forward in the character of pioneers, and proposed to establish a business on this unknown and uninhabited coast, suoh a business as would be likely to give employment to a considerable number of : the workmen; aadVb.e the nuclus perhaps of a.large! and-thriving settlement, Government would have eagerly, snatched the proposal/: torelate, however, tije.... proposal.^of....Messrs.,. Harding and Co. to establish a fish-curing business at Dusky Sound dn the WSst' Coast, instead of receiving every encouraged ment; from;: the /.Land: Board,' .appears to have been regarded with indifference.if not coldly, by that august *b6dy£ such captious objections to the details of the proposal i being made/as : it seemed? might have Harding and Co., to abandon their. echeme y in disgust.. Certainly it might; have bera'expected that Messrs. Harding and are in the of pioneers,. should --. have i been treated in a liberal "marihtr, arid have been allowed to occupy somewhat more favorable terms than; all others following in their steps w.oufci have a right to, .demand.! A shilling an acre, 7 Which' t6-five f percent, on the upset price ;5 of rural land on the EastCoastj-.w.ould.fleemaispmewhat highreritalto pay for, in comparison to.the size of sheep,runs,, a, small area of 2000 acres; though' it must, be * admitted the value of ,land on time to incfeaae ih; Vthie years,;"tKe of ih'e;p.ro.poseji : liease. "'lr seems absurdltb^prohibit and §ell "'BJM&y-snset(M'ps&e? t &ign[ the" leased land. Accbrding4o is so abundant.on.the:Weßt-,C6a3t"thatltis absolutely necessary in most-cases to fell the bush before.the-la.nd; v can;'be c *e<ettied l .'sb that it we propose to Coast and not keep it merely as a bush reserve, bush for the present allpwed'fo be cut. somewhat easiertermsthan can be no doubt should be dealt With liberally, $^tps.a somewhat hezardpußv enterprise for {: Messrs/ Harding and Cd., their parl^, oL a € cc^jsidpeabjijs.. amount of capital, atid If theißgeelila|ipn should-turn ou.tl;3s' : iitjj| : future enterprise 'initiffelikeliirect receive a severe^checiK' , ' ; i.£^-V."■•'. Ci .^ ::; .;C / - ; :