The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1870

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2089, 15 January 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1870

The proposed new settlements on the West Coast are naturally commanding some attention, and the boon offered by the Government* of 100 acres of land free to homt fide settlers, on condition of two years’.residence, has peculiar attractions for a certain class of persons whose “ earth Jumgerhas never been appeaseJ. upder the old system of set-

tliilg land at an upset price of one pound pei! acre. Bpfe.it must always be veniefabeved that laud ijaay be dear at any price; even at a gift; if tlie possession of it involves unproductive outlay. _ It is well, therefore, to look at both sides of the cpicstion, and consider before establishing new communities in a distant region, whether there, really is the means of supporting a large population. The meeting held yesterday, 'shows the existence of very opposite opinions upon the question of the desirability of settling a population at Preservation Inlet or Martin’s Bay ; and we must_ do the gentlemen who called the meeting the justice to say, that ample opportunity was allowed for the expression of opinion on both sides, and that intending settlers were warned not to take too sanguine a view. Mr MTndoe gave, apparently, a very fair account, of what he had himself seen, and expressed himself satisfied that there was a good basis,, for a settlement at Martin's' Bay, but he also stated one very serious objection, viz., that at present there was, as far‘as lie-saw, no grass—the ground being every where covered with thick moss, which'’prevented the growth of grass until it was properly cultivated. If this.be the case it would be useless to take cattle unless there is some undergrowth that would afford a subsistence until grass could be grown. No doubt the moist character of the climate would be favorable to the growth of English grasses, but these would take time to grow, and the early settlers must live in the meantime. It may turn out that there are tracts of land clear from bush, and yielding feed for cattle, which did not come under Mr MTndoe’s observation. It is singular that on this point the evidence taken before the select committee of the Provincial Council is silent although most of the gentlemen examined spoke favorably of the place as a home for settlers, and especially with regard to the adaptability of the soil and climate to the production of cereals. With respect to the entrance to the Hillyford Biver, in Martin’s Bay, it appears to be ill adapted for sailing vessels to enter, on account of its tortuous character and the bar at its entrance ; but it is stated in evidence by Capt. Thomson, the Harbor Master of Port Chalmers, that “ he “ would have no objection in going “ iiiito the river with a vessel the size “ of the Geelong.” These points might surely be cleared viz, : What course do the Government intend to pursue with regard to settling people on the land 1 ? It is quite clear that unless some preliniinaxy survey line is laid down, it will be impossible to settle any number of persons on their hundred acres, without great trouble and after-dis-putes. It would no doubt be possible, as Mr MTndoe pointed out, if a block line were run, to mark off a certain number of chains frontage to each settler, and let them go back into the bush as far as they wished from this line until the other lines could be laid off and cut. Even then the question of priority of choice of frontage would come up, and we see no other way of settling this satisfactorily except by ballotting for it after the intending settlers are fairly landed. These points must be settled by the Government before a single settler will have confidence to go, and we should urge upon the Go\ernment the necessity for the issue of regulations which would meet this and other points which are the subject of anxious enquiry on the paid of the intending settlers, who evidently dread being landed on an inhospitable shore and left to shift for themselves. Such points as the relative positions of the land for free grants and the land for sale whether the power will be equally good and available ; whether a certificate will be issued when a selection is made, preventing others from “jumping” a particular piece of land on which they may set envious eyes ; whether any steps will be taken to keep up a communication with the new settlement, and whether, if gold is found, as it is said to have been, any protection will be afforded to the diggers under the Goldfields Act, or otherwise. We would earnestly impress upon both the Government and those gentlemen who, on commercial principles, take an interest in the matter-, to carefully turn their attention to these questions, and to find a full and satisfactory solution to them befox-e a single person starts for the new settlement, otherwise the result can only be discontent, and disaster. We feel that the one thing wanted is information, and infox-mation of a specific and reliable character-. We are quite aware that with every new enterprise there are conflicting opinions, and while one party takes one side strongly, the other party takes another equally strongly. The. early settlers in this Province and in the northern parts of the West Coast formed very different

estimates, according to tlieir peculiar tastes and-abilities, and' thc mca-snre of success which seemed' litcly to attend their efforts, 'in the future which awaited them at the place of their adoption. This is unavoidable, and all that can 'be done is to take care that both sides have an equally fair hearing ; the truth will lie usually between two extremes, and there is nothing like free discussion to bring it in tire end to light. We are decidedly of opinion, at all events, that none should go to the West Coast at present without some little means, as well as with a will to “ work and wait.” The demand for working-men, whose only capital is their hands, cannot commence till the settlement has been fairly started. If settlers go round with some small means and do not like the place, they can at least come bade, and that at an expense which will not be ruinous; but if., tire working man goes and finds no work, he is at once thrown on the charity of a small community, who will have enough to do at first to support themselves. The Government could not, therefore/ be expected, as one working-man suggested, to find free passages for this class. The first thing they have to do is to establish a class who will become employers of labor, and when that is done they will be able to offer some inducement to a working man without capital to go. There are two classes of export which might find employment to a number of hands, if a sufficient amount of capital could be brought to bear upon the enterprise—viz,, coal from Preservation Inlet, and shipbuilding timber and spars, which all testimonies agree in saying arc to be found in large quantities all along the coast, anti for which a market might be found in Australia ; but a very considerable amount of capital would no doubt be required to develope those exports to any extent, and the quality of the coal, if coal it can be called, is not yet sufficiently tested. There is a third export, that of gold, which may become a large one, but this is not yet fairly tested/ we have only opinions, and not facts. We leave the matter there for the present, with a few words of warning to the pioneers, which, if they are of the right stamp, will not discourage them, but rather stimulate to healthy exercise the faculties most wanted in pioneers. Our advice is, lay your plans carefully; do not be in a hurry ; and be prepared for disappointment.