A YEAR ON STEWART ISLAND.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 275, 29 April 1875, Page 3

A YEAR ON STEWART ISLAND.

The following is from a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times : " In this far off and dreary island (as I have heard it called), I have spent the last twelve months. I came 1 ere more for curiosity than with any real intention of staying, for I thought if it deserved half the bad name which I heard people in Dunedin and Port Chalmers giving it, it was no desirable place to stay in. On arriving at Halfmoon Bay, I was very favorably impressed with the beautiful appearance of the bay, with its many indentations, terminating with white- sandy beaches. Nor were these indentations unoccupied, nearly each had its cutter or cutters, lying ready for the oystering, as it was just the commencement of the oyster season. A barque lay near the centre of the bay, taking in timber from the sawmill. From Akers' Point on the south side of the mouth of the bay, to Vexation Point, on the north side of the entrance, round the whole bay is wooded to the water's edge, so that during high tides there is no passing between the sea and the bush, thus showing how well this fine bay is sheltered. .The prevailing winds being westerly, it is almost always blowing out of the bay. On landing I found that the various families had not cleared as much ground as I would have expected, considering the long time some of them had been here, but more of this afterwards. I found that although the month of April, their flower gardens still had a good supply of flowers, and even the strawberry beds were preparing for a second crop, there being numerous blossoms.

The first fortnight after I came here was very wet and stormy, but from April 11th to September 20th it was very fine, generally frosty at night and clear and pleasant during the day. The coldest we had at any time during the winter was 3deg of fio&t, and the

snow lay on the ground one day. The spring months were very wet and stormy, and kept everything much behind the usual time; The summer wasverychangeable, but on the whole very good; and notwithstanding the unusual wet and backward weather of spring, and early part of the summer, we had very good potatoes before Christmas, and other crops did well, abundance of fruit in the fruit gardens. I find the great drawback here to the progress of settlement, and the clearing and improvement of ground which is settled upon, is the uncertainty which exists about the land, as no one knows how, or iu what direction, the lines may run when surveyed; or whether they may get the ground they have cleared, or would wish to clear. The consilience is that no one cares to clear more ground than can serve to grow vegetables, fruit, and flowers. Thus the people who have cattle have never-ending trouble with them, as they have only the bush to go into, and there being some wild cattle in the bush there is a dauger of losing them altogether. There is a rumour that the surveyors will be here sometime soon. If so, this will be a great boon to the people of Stewart Island, and will do more, I believe, towards the settlement and progress of this locality than anything that has yet been done. The people of Stewart Island are by no means lazy, and find abundance of work—such as housebuilding, boat-building, and ship-building, oystering, sealing, and mutton birding, fishing, gardening, and bush clearing, &c. The inhabitants at Halfmoon Bay erected a school (the first on Stewart Island), which was opened on August sth with a soiree and ball. The interest taken in the school was evinced by the numerous attendance, and the Pakheas, half castes, and Maories enjoyed themselves in the it ost friendly manner till the coming day bade their separation. There are at present four cutters being built at Paterßon Inlet, and a schooner at Halfmoon Bay. There will be another cutter on the block soon. I will reserve till my next letter the advantages of Stewart Island for ship-building and settlement.