MARTIN’S BAY SETTLEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3424, 11 February 1874, Page 3

MARTIN’S BAY SETTLEMENT.

Mr Homer, the contractor for the Lake Harris road works, visited Martin’s Bay, we understand, on the 24th of last month, to meet the Governor and the Superintendent and party. He waited, and did not see them. Ho was literally starved out, and had to leave, Some of the residents, have been for a considerable period without flour and other necessities of life, and had been waiting for the promised supplies for months. Mr Homer states that many have left the settlement. From another informant, we learn that persons resident there have means to pay for provisions gained by* goldmining. We also have learn to-day that the Government steamer Luna, with bis Honor the Superintendent, will visit Martin’s Bay with a view to expressing an opinion as to what should be done with the settlement. Money, we believe, was voted at the last meeting of the Provincial Council, to the extent of LIOO, for the Greenstone route. We presume that this would be only valuable as opening a connecting link with the present Lake Harris track. Commenting upon the above, the ‘Wakatip Mail’ says “Wo believe that the Government are desirous at last to try the Greenstone Valley route the natural one, as a means to the end once sought to be established—but are afraid to recant. In using the word Government we speak more especially of previous ones, more particularly those of Mr Held. If they had years ago acted upon reports, counsels, &c., Martin’s Bay would have been at least not starved, and the country between it and the Wakatip not a dreary waste of snow laud as the Lake Harris line is described to be, but a country fit for settlement would have been ooened up. If population will not settle in face of the difficulties created by mismanagement and broken promises, let us go back to Mr Macandrew’s original idea of settling sturdy Canadians, Shetland island fishermen, and woodmen. The country is open and large enough to employ them ; the timber resources are magnificent; the ocean teems with fish, and family husbandry of sheep is bound to succeed.”