SPECIAL SETTLELENTS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2680, 19 September 1871, Page 2

SPECIAL SETTLELENTS.

To the Editor. Sir,—l rend your article last night on special settlements with interest, and while I cannot withhold my sympathy from the deluded people who have been induced by the • promises of the Provincial Government to go to Martin’s Bay, I would protest against the humbug of these special settlements in toto, as unhealthy attempts to force a population to parts of the country that either from geographical position or other difficulties would not be looked at for years—far better leave these things to settle themse]ves, for depend upon it, if any parts of our province, at present uninhabited, have natural advantages, there is plenty of energy and push amongst our men to find them out. This mischievous idea of looking to the Government for assistance £in forming a settlement should be discouraged as much aspossiblc—they don't do things so in America, nor more should we—lt destroys the self-reliance of the people, and lends to whining and discontent and moreover the formation of such settlements is enormously costly—l should like to know from some truthful source—-if such a thing can be found in connection with Government expenditure—how much that dismal failure at Martin's Bay has cost ? I fully hulieve it has cost already, in surveys and other expenses, more than it will return to the Treasury for many years. I say, let a little judicious help b given after people have gathered to a locality, and have well helped themselves. There will be no need W waste the bard earned money of the people in attempts to carry out that bit of historical rot about the “wilderness blossoming,” Ac. I am, Sir, Aim Special. Dunedin, Sept 19, 1871.