STEWART'S ISLAND.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 132, 21 May 1872, Page 7

STEWART'S ISLAND.

In contemplation of a Scandinavian settlement being formed in this outlying portion „f our Province, it may perchance prove interesting to our readers if we lay before them some of the results of the reports of Professor James G-. Black and the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, on their visit of enquiry as to its suitability for settlement. The party consisted of Messrs Cutten, Sale, jlacgregor, Pearson, and Black. The eastern portion of the coast alone was examined. Port William, the nearest harbour to the Bluff, is twenty miles distant; it is easily entered with any wind, " as its entrance is more than a mile and a half wide." There is an inner entrance about sixty chains in width, (admitting vessels of large tonnage,) to the inner portion of which the term " Por-t William" is now restricted. " From its position it will probably be the most important harbour in Stewart's Island. The land is of superior quality, as evidenced by the crops obtained from the small patches which have ■been cultivated. Though as a rule hilly, it is J not too steep for cultivation, and is so sita|ated that the greater portion of the slopes I have a north-east aspect."— Southland Gazette, pjan. 21, 1867. k The bay is full of small, sheltered coves i and nooks, and contains, in its timber and | irish resources, valuable adjuncts to the harObour.

The interior of the island is a perfect terra

Incognita, from its being covered with dense bush, growing over steep and rugged hill-

sides. Writing of Horseshoe Bay, Professor Black reports:—" It is difficult to do justice "to the beauty of the long beach of fine sand that forms the western limit of this Bay. Sweeping round for a mile in one continuous curve in the form of a quadrant of a circle, it merges, by insensible gradations, in the lofty semicircular bank of wooded hills that rise [liimediateifj in the rear. There is little land in the\f'i' that admits of cultivation." i Half-moon Bay, with a wider entrance than the former, and reaching further inland, is fetter protected from winds ; while " the low Readies in this Bay, as in many other parts If the island, are connected with the interior if the country by some extent of comparatively flat land, offering great facilities for foltivation. There is a large extent of country in the rear of this Bay that could easily |e reclaimed, and that would in a few years Imply repay the labour of clearing it. A lumber of families, chiefly Germans, have fettled in this part of the island. They have ■ready cleared from 8D to 100 acres of ground, lid are growing excellent crops of oats, potatoes, and turnips ; while their grass paddocks Jul vegetable and fruit gardens are scarcely ftualled in the long-settled districts in the neighbourhood of Dunedin. I have never «en a population more satisfied with their .§wn condition, nor better supplied with the ijjecessaries of life." I Paterson Inlet, (which probably owes its ■nfiguration to the same cause as the Sounds m. the West Coast of this Province,) is described as likely to form the most important Harbour for trading purposes in the island. pie party was favourably impressed with the ■mate, beaut", and fertility of this part of Itte island. Professor Black says :—" The Hrawood with which it is at present encumjbered will, one would think, some day ooin»nd a price that will pay for its removal, |id then thousands of acres of good land Sill be added to the productive resources of fee country." Dhe whole of this portion of the island Mited is described as being of granitic for ■tion, traversed by dykes of hornblendic tip, and later granite. jWith respect to the mining aspect of the sland, Mr Pearson says : ■'The deposits of iron sand are considerable ot only in the harbours, but in the interior ; wticularly in a species of rift between Halftljon Bay and Paterson Inlet, where the deMit is very gtvit, estimated to exceed that i.Taranaki. A parcel was sent some time | for assay to "Melbourne ; and the assayers [flie Victorian Government and the Oriental auk, after smelting and manufacturing a 111 bar from it, reported that it was not w superior to the Taranaki sand, but conled a sufficient quantity of gold to pay the |enses of smelting. Copper has been fed, as also lead ore impregnated with sil-

■ This sand would form rich ballast for fol-slrips from Otago, and could be put on Fa with ease, and at no great expense, as |e is always deep water in the harbours. t Quartz reefs, of size, and well defined, fe been discovered in various parts of the Bill, more particularly at the north end, i although the hasty, ill-advised and worse aucted enterprise, which started from InFgjll a few months ago, failed to discover mriferous reef, it was mainly owing to the 1 that while a great deal of money was «by persons entirely unacquainted with .business, little or no real work was done. ! few experienced reefers who went I at the time have all expressed their conlce in the undertaking ultimately proving ecess, and are only waiting a sufficiency eans to give it a good trial. If payable J are discovered, it will prove in extent , ot the largest, and, from its admirable

most economically % gold-fields in the Australasian group. «tti introduction of a large population that in contemplation will prove the of testing this, with the other P*<t resources of the island. Keeping P view 1 would suggest the advisability rwagmg settlers from the coast of NL They are not only hardy, expert

fishermen and boat builders, but have a practical knowledge of mining and metallurgy, which, as they would be constantly in the localities, would prove of greater service in discovering any mineral wealth which may exist, than a higher grade of science visiting the island for a few weeks, though sent for the express purpose."

Summing up its general capabilities for settlement, Mr Pearson writes :

" Stewart Island is so singularly favourably situated for the proper class of settlers, that it is difficult to determine what they could not do. With good crafts, bold hearts, and skilful hands, the fisherman could, at the proper season, vary the ordinary business of his life by the exciting occupation of whaling and sealing. The waters in the vicinity of the island were at one time frequented by large numbers of the various members of the Cetaceous and Phocidie families. Indeed, at Wilson, or Broad Bay, there was, years ago, a very considerable whaling settlement; and from what I can learn, the whales and seals are beginning to return to their old haunts. Though there is no occasion for hiin to confine his energies to his own territory, like the Vikings of old, he can, though with a more peaceful intent, steer his bark to foreign shores. He can wage war on the seal at the Auckland, Campbell, and Macquarrie Islands to the south, or seek it in the numerous caves in the deep sounds of the west coast of the main, from Preservation Inlet to Martin's Bay. He can cruise through Foveaux Strait and round his island home in pursuit of the richest fish the sea produces—the whale ; or sail to the Snares for mutton birds, and albatross and other sea-fowl feathers. The first, dried and smoked, sell readily at from four to five shillings a dozen wholesale iu the local market, for exportation to the North ; and feathers—mutton bird at rivepence a pound, albatross for considerably more. With a craft of his own, the Stewart Islander can take his mutton birds not required for home consumption to the best market, the North Island, where the Maoris, I understand, give as high as twelve or more shillings a dozen for them ; and he can, unlike the ordinary whaler, do all this without risk, danger, or loss of time, always within easy reach of his home. While trawling, if he see* a whale, he can, if prepared, give chase, and, if he gets his monster rish, tow it home ani try it out at his leisure ; if he loses it, go on trawling, always sure of a return of some sort. He lives in a genial climate, with the means of subsistence, nay, wealth at command, and surrounded with such comfort as few of his calling experience, either in the home country or the bitter winters of Nova Scotia. To the fishermen tho Government propose to bring out, or Nova Scotians, Stowart Island will prove a very paradise. "The scenery is magnificent. At the south and west coasts of the island, the weird appearance of the jagged mountains—the fantastic fissures in tho bare rocky islands and coast, worn by the turbulent seas to which they are exposed—the lofty cones of bare granite—the singular colour of the rocks abutting on the ocean, unite in conferring a degree of grandeur to the tableau such as I have not seen equalled in any part of New Zealand—while the natural beauty of the landscape in Paterson Inlet and Port Pegasus is equal to that of the Sydney Harbour, setting on one side of course the artificial adjuncts of cultivated shores and ornamented villas."

It will thus be seen that, apart from the timber and fisheries of Stowa.'t's Island, it contains many of the essential elements of a successful settlement: among them, available agricultural land and known mineral wealth. Our knowledge of its geological formation is too meagre to form an opinion as to whether coal maybe found in some undiscovered localities. Probably not. But when the Southland coal-basin is proved, fuel, limestone, fireclay, and all the material necessary for blasting-furnaces will be easy of access, to utilise the titaniferous sands of this new settlement. Whatever may be the opinion of inducing the Norsemen to occupy this portion of our "waste" land, it is only wise to remember two facts : —l. By climatic education and mode of life, they are eminently fitted for the task assigned them.—2. We are attempting t> "call back" the hardihood, frugality, and endurance of our Saxon forefathers, by "tapping" the old ethnological spring from which most that is worthy of commendation in our present mixed generation has descended.