IMPORTED WIVES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1085, 9 February 1883, Page 3

IMPORTED WIVES.

The writ r of “ Lucid Intervals ” in the Christchurch Press amusingly observes; —On cl it that Mr Holle.-ton is importing 800 single girls for the Wuimate Plains deferred-payment settlers. There is a deal of subdued kindness in the move, and if the Fates are half propitious, this year on a lit to see 800 extaa marriages. The deferred payment settlers, poor fellows, have to toil hard, ana. have no time to select wives, and according y a considerate paternal Government does it for them, i j ist fear, though, that the matter, will require delicate administration- In the first place the settlers ought to have an agent in the Old Country to watch their interests in the selection of 800 girls. In the second place they ought to cut for partners before the fair cargo arrives, as no satisfactory method of allotment will be practicable afterwards. It would be well to have the Armed Constabulary in the viohvty to preserve order during .the first twelve month-. Some arrangements ought further to be made for the wives “ running with the land,” that is to say that ovary deferred-payment settler who make defui't in his instalments shall lose his wife with his tenement, and than Ids successor . shall stand in his place, Otherwise the very o ject of the Government might be frustrated, and the Waimate Plains become a trusting p'ace for-’wives instead of the land of smiling homesteads It is just possible, however, that in the eyes of some a--wife and fainiy might he regarded as'"'dam big wit!, n the cate; r • of “en U b • aCCS ” rather, than-that, pf_j‘impiovvments.” All joking apart, though, it is p'easantto see Mr Rolleston enthusiastic about the fortunes of the i>oor cockatoo. Once upon a time lie behoved that the squatter was all in all to the colony—now he looks to small struggling fanner to rise our fortunes. And he is doing for them what he never did for the squatters when he imported 800 girls to make., them wives. William liolleston, you are down in your political luck just now, but Jaques hopes yet to see you stand godfather to 800 rosy children. Here’s to you and llieiu.