THE MARTIN'S BAT SETTLEMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1329, 1 November 1872, Page 2

THE MARTIN'S BAT SETTLEMENT.

The steamer Wallace, chartered by the Otago Government to proceed to Martin's Bay, and by the Westland Government to viait some other southern ports, returned to Hokitika on Monday, and Oapt. Turnball, who was a passenger, has supplied .to the local paper a narrative, from which we learn the following facts : —

■ "On Thursday, October 24, the .Wallace arrived off the Hollyford River bar, but there being too much sea on it for crossing, Captain Palmer proceeded to the south side of Martin's Bay and anchoredin Boat Harbor. The swell during the night, which ,. was setting in very strong, caused the steamer to be uneasy at her anchor, the anchorage being very much exposed to the westerly and north-west seas, requiring much caution in unsettled weather. Shortly after anchoring, a man was observed on the beach, and Mr Conway, the chief officer of the steamer, put off in a boat through the surf for the shore, landed, and had a conversation with the man, whose name was J. Torr. From him information was gathered that the settlers were out of provisions and starving, and that the females and children were in great suffering for want of the common necessaries of life. Nine of the settlera bad left the settlement and had gone over the saddle to Queenstown. Mr Conway also reports that the beach is not fit for landing cargo with any extra surf on, the beach being fringed along with boulders, and rocks. Left Boat Harbor at 5 a. ml on the 25th, and crossed the Hollyford'River bar safely at 6 a.m.* Steamed up the river to Lake M'Kerrow, taking onboard on our way up, several of the settlers who had come off in boats to meet us. One boat contained a whole family, consisting of ' father, mother, and six children, the youngest being a baby in arms, all looking in a wretched condition. They were taken on board and at once supplied with hot coffee and food, until the ordinary meals for the ship were prepared, when they were supplied with, more food* The weather at" the time was very stormy, blowing from the north with torrents of rain, the poor people being rather destitute of clothing for such inclement weather. Arrived at James Town at 7.80 a.m., and moored to the bank, Lake M'Kerrow being much swollen by the recent rains. Found that the statement made by Torr. on the previous evening about some of settlers going over the saddle, and those remaining to be in a starving condition, was perfectly true in every respect, dried aaal and parched corn being "all the provisions the men who left started on their journey with. They also verify the reports recently published in the telegraphic intelligence, that the women and children had been gathering cockles and mutton? fish on the rocks outside of Boat Ijarbor, having no other means Of support. A daughter and son of one of the settlers lately remained all one night on the rocks, several miles from home, waiting for two tides, so as to be able to get a supply of shell-fish for the family to feed upon. The other food used was " pika pikd" and also " mamakau," a species of "fern, such as the Maoris use, which was boiled and eaten with salt. Captain Palmer supplied all the settlers with provisions during the day, much to their delight and satisfaction, many of whom, no doubt, enjoyed a he.arty ine,al, sncli as they had not" experienced for some time past. The Wallace remained at the settlement all tha.t day, and a}so the following day, Captain Palmer still further supplying" all those who desired' "more provisions. Williamson,', from ' Big B.ay, arrived at the settlement, having seen the steamer pass on the 24th, and lie remained until she returned. . He reported that his mates had left him and had gone to Queen§town,. those that remained being himself, Thompson, and Davidson, and that their tucker had run out nearly two months. The Wallaqe left .Tames Town at 5 a.m. on the 27th, accompanied by the Sbttlers down the river, who bade their companion, the Rev. A. F. Porter', good-bye; steamed for Big Bay, where she arrived at 7.30, a.m. Landed Williamson and Torr, and supplied them with provisions, and also the other two men, who were determined to remain there during the summer. The men at this place were habitated in huts, and had crops of potatoes and vegetables planted for summer use. They are digging on the beach abqve the' s,urf on a. pipeclay bottom, amongst the boulders, but their prospects are only moderate," ; This narrative is supplemented by the letter of a resident of Martin's Bay to the West Coast Times, in which the writer says :— '

"About eight months ago, prosperous days seemed to be before ua. Several absentees returned to fulfil their term and redeem their sections, and more came oygr the saddle .to take up land. The§e last were so anxious \o settle that "gven the knowledge of ' the shameful fact 'that to procure a fifty-acre section, they must return to Queenstown to make' their application, did not deter them. But where arg: these plucky men to-day? Poor fellows ! they wrought as .long as they had anything to eat, and then they said, ' We cannot work, -we dare not tackle the saddle now while the snow is so deep ; surely there will be a steamsr in a few days— we willfyjld on and fossick for tucker.' Thus they existed for weofes, those at Big Bay Jivingon mussels and. mutton-fish, arid "at Martin's Bay on the sarae .with the addition of pika pika, which is the tender shoots of the common ground fern.. But no relief came .and" they were forced {at last, some of them ! only last week, to attempt that dreaded' saddle, with nothing in their swags to eat but dried mutton-fish, which are nearly as tough and indigestible as india-rubber. "I will tell you now abqut this f sraine. Ten weeks ago there was only ojie man here who'" had any provisions (save two families that had still a few seed potatoes left) and he could only spare what would feed the inhabitants three weeks. The single men from Big Bay made the first rush, ge then asked a]], the families to gome hi .for- tfyeir s.hare, a,nd' divided amog the single men what was left, On this bare three weeks' supply we have subsisted ten weeks, but the looks of some around me tell truly that they, have suffered a living death. Birds have been unusually scarce, for though there are a good many paradise ducks in the river, they are shy, and without ammunition will not come to }iand, sq the sight of them has been pnjy an aggravation! There are fish in the bay, but, fronv rough weather and other causes, we have been able to catch but very few. Mussels and

mutton fish can only be got at spring tides, and then they have been devoured eagerly enough. But enough, our case had become desperate. Hunger is a terrible thing, aud I am sure, Mr Editor, penguins and ferns have tasted sweeter to us than well-buttered beefsteak ever did to most of your readers. Yesterday the Wallace came, aud, thank God, we (have food again. ' - " The crops . are looking well, that is what little was got in before the seed was eaten. Fall wheat is about a foot higK> aud spring sown is coming on nicely. Vegetables bid fair to be abundant. Grass is heading, and is very luxuriant.