The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1872

Dunstan Times, Issue 513, 16 February 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1872

Beneath the Rule of MenEXTXRELY just the PKN- is.MiGimER than the sword

The establishment of “ special settlements,” as a means for the speedy promotion of immigration to Otago, has just now a special attractiveness at head quarters. Evidently impressed more forcibly than ever, with the conviction that. ino. v-a jjujju'.aUOn is correlative with increased prosperity . to the Province ; our Superintendent and his_ responsible advisers - seem .unanimous in the opinion, that, to attract even a moderate flow towards these shores of the. ceaseless current of human life, pouring in from the Old World upon more favored fields of settlement ; it is absolutely necessary to use every legitimate stimulus and attraction. The success attendant on colonising experiments in NewZealancl has yet been but meagre, and hence the more necessary does it seem to put forth renewed energy of puiposc and devise new schemes to woo and win the confidence of the' stalwart sons of toil, the heroes in the strife of duly life, whose help is the best of all help, .in what has been termed the u heroic work” of founding new homes in'a new country, To this end has it seemed good and wise to search here and there, in remote corners and sequestered localities, for tracts of virgin ’■ land, whereon new settlements may be founded, new' communities established, and new industries developed. Undeterred by the scant success of .the Martin’s Bay experiment, and oblivious of the fact that the total collapse of that much vaunted settlement is now only averted by the self reliance and stubbornness of a handful of settlers; who, undaunted by the difficulties of the country, a humid climate, and oftentimes the lack of nearly every necessary of human life, hold steadfastly to the task before them, our Provincial rulers seek new fields for the development of their pet ideas of colonization, and true to the old maxim that “ distant lulls : are aye the greenest,” they recreate themselves with pleasant exploratory trips along the Otago coast, to such remote and littleknown localities as Gatlin’s River, Tuatuku, Waikawa, and Stewart’s Island ; amusing themselves and the publid with vaguepromisesand specious generalizations as to the formation of special settlements, where hardy Shetlander, Scandinavians, and 1 liegemen of the Dane,’ will willingly contend with all obstae'es in the way of civilization, form the ncuclus of fast expanding centres of population, create new industries, make the sea their heritage, cause the dreary solitudes of ofthobiiih t) tetm with profitable

cultivation, and attract thither fast succeeding hands of helpful and hopeful immigrants.’ A’fair and pleasant, picture is thus developed, the theory of special .settlement falls in dulcet phrases softly on the ear, and we ma\ dream of future arcadian delights of health, wealth, and content; and bless the far seeing prescience of those who created this “ new order of tilings. ’ But, descending from such flights of fancy to every day matter' of fact realities ; the idea asserts itself, even somewhat obtrusively, that our would be benefactors, have, in homely phrase, commenced their work at the wrong end of the stick. Why go so far afield to seek out new bases of operation, incurring a thousand ■isks of failure, and the unavoidable outlay of precious revenue in unproductive departmental expenses, when nearly at their very doors, within easy access of the metropolis, on the line of proposed railways, are settlements already formed, permanently inhabited, furnished with all the incidental and necessary machinery for legislative control and governance, and affording vast scope and opportunity for expansion, under the fostering care of judicious government, into centres of busy and thriving,populations! Are not the gold-fields of Otago as worthy of development as the waste places of the.Piovince, the uninhabited solitudes of the bleak southern coast 1 It seems the fashion just now, even among those who owe their present position and power to its influence, to forget the magic effects wrought on the destinies of Otago by the discovery of gold. The teachings of history are disregarded, even though presenting incontestible proofs that the lust of conquest, promptings of adventure, cravings for excitement, independence of freedom 1 pale their ineffectual fire’ as incentives to the peopling of new countries, before the all potent desire of riches, the magic talisman of gold. The New World was colonized by the natives of Europe, prompted to brave ■all the dangers of unknown seas by the craving for filthy lucre. :Tiie thirst for gold carried pioneer settlers to the coasts of Mexico, Chili, and Peru. The English settlers America were first induced to leave their native land in the expectation of finding gold or silver. • The'rapid strides of colonization in California and Australia are but the results of gold discoveries. The sudden concentration of population, first on the. Middle ■ Island of' New Zeaknul, and later in the N Orth, arose ’ from- Similar causes, and in fact, trace throughout the chart of thi World as best we may to , prove the contrary ; those , countries where gold exists, or has been supposed to exist, have been more rapidly populated than others possessing a thousand fold greater natural advantages. As the soul of commerce is embodied in the hope and prospect of gain, so, disguise the fact as we may, the desire for riches is the ruling motive that, impels mankind to go forth hi search of new homes and inheritance, even unto the uttermost parts of the earth. ' nd yet, in the face of all-convincing evidences that the discovery of gol i h> Otago brought an instant influx of people to her shores—greater by far than the most, strenuous efforts of the founders of the colony hud before accomplished, with the knowledge also that the gold-fields are the mainstay of the prosperity of the province, their full development as a source of national wealth is abandoned—or, at least, indefinitely:postponed—in favor of projects that might be well left to the caie of the next generation. The true secret of advancement for the province the one reliable attraction that will induce a steady stream of immigration —may he sumuedup in the one magic word : “gold !” Let. it be only known ihat the rulers of Otago have earnestly bestirred themselves to devHop our gold-fields by scientific research and inquiry, liberal concessions to goldmining and kindred industries, special inducements for special settlements on gold-fields, and men of the right stamp and sterling metal will come flocking hither, without need of persuasion. The distressed agriculturists of Otago, who, failing to obtain in their local ■markets a price for their produce that will pay even a scanty wage for their labor, are now compelled perforce to abandon the careful culture of their lands, and periodically wander too and fro on the diggings, seeking chance customers, selling a bag of oats here and a few pounds of butter there, would then command ’ a steady and remunerative market for the fruits of their toil. We shall hear no more of heavily mortgaged farms and bankmpt

settlers, even among the pioneers of the province ; and, in the natural sequence of events, as need arose for r.he extension t»f agricultural settlement in remote localities, private comprise, stimulated by the certain ospect of gain, would step in, and do the work of colonization. To attempt it now, to the detriment or neglect of communities already formed, ’n districts teeming with undeveloped treasures, does not seem worthy the naifte of matured or enlightened legislation.