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Evening Star, Issue 3041, 16 November 1872, Page 4

Martin’s Bay, — “ Old Colonist,” in the Timprka Tiring, says the settlers of Martin’s Bay do not deserve the s ightest sympathy. He says they have been settled over two years, and yet they do not appear to have done anything towards planting potatoes or corn. Besides, he says, energetic men with Colonial experience can fare luxuriously in a place like Martin’s Bay on the products of their fishing-lines and gun*. The sea of New Zealand teems with fish, and the forests are full of birds of various descriptions. “ Old Colonist” thinks the settlers a thoughtless and shiftless lot, who, although the Government are to blame, are almost entirely responsible for the privations they suffered, and is also of opinion that if the coddling system is to be followed, every settlement will be a failure. He recommends Government to bring the Martin’s Bay settlers back to Dunedin free of charge, as it is evident, from their own statements, they are better fitted for town life than to be pioneers of colonisation. Youthful Precocity. —The Auckland Star says “ A customer bas written to us making a complaint against one of our runner boys, and wishes ue to discharge the lad. Hb states that last night, while passing up Kdwardes-street, he saw the boy on the other side of the way. Me told him to bring him over a paper, but instead of doing so be called out, ‘ Üb, Sugar me all over, you’ve got a better pair of boots on than I have.’ Our correspondent then crossed over to him and found that the lad was barefooted. He tendered him half-a-crowu as pay ment as he had no smaller change, to which the boy remarked, ‘ Oh, you want to do the bounce do ye ? If you’ll let me keep it till to-morrow I’ll give you two and elevenpence for it,’ To this he dissented, so the boy answered, ‘ I ain’t the king of Japan you know ; I don’t cany the mint about in my pocket,’ Having thus delivered himself he went off whistling. We promise our correspondent that we will inquire into the matter, and if we find the culprit will talk to him like unto a father.” Railway Construction. —We learn that the tender of Messrs Brogden for the construction of the unlet portion of the Hutt line, was considerably above the Engineer-in-Cbief’s estimate. As all charges for interest and sinking fund upon the cost of construction have to be borne by the Province, the General Government, in pursuance of its declared intention to consult the provincial authorities in carrying out public works, decided to refer the tender of Messrs Brogden for the consideration of the Superintendent and Provincial Executive, The estimates and qualities of the Kngineer-in-Cliief have been placed at the di-po-al of the provincial authorities, and they will after comparing them with the tender of Mr brogden, be enabled to decide whether the tender is one that ought to he accepted. If the Provincial Government are willing to agree to the terms proposed by Mr Brogden, the Government will of course proceed. With regard to of the other lines—the Moevaki line and the Greymouth coal rail; way—the Independent says the time for Messrs Brogden sending in their tenders has been extended to De ember 15.