The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, April 1.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 668, 2 April 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, April 1.

Our readers will riot have forgotten the stir which was made in England; some few months ago about the..state of ihe-Beal. Boatmen, whom the advancement ofLmaritime science arid skill in .England had>deprived:of their means of subsistence. The landed proprietors of that, part of the coast: brought into-public notice the hardships to-'which their neighbours were reduced, the .'Times' took up the question, and made it a national one j benevolent men, and practical men as well, investigated the subject, and reported that the case was one really deserving sympathy and assistance. Meetings of-the boatmen were held arid they consented to take the steps pointed out to them for mitigating the hardship of the whole body by separating: the elder men to remain, the younger to colonise, or find other, employment at home. Thus.the diminished subsistence which . the coast afforded would cease to be divided among too many, and the hardships which: they must expect to suffer if they all remained together would be suffered no; longer by either those who stayed or those who went away. , Among, other persons who were attracted by the story of the destitute Deal Boatmen was one who had it in his power to offer* practical remedy." .Our Immigration Agent attended the meeting of the inhabitants of Deal with the landed proprietors who had first stirred in the matter;; he. addressed the boatmen and offered what ft was in his power to give to a few—assisted passages to this , colony^ We believe that under the circumstances he went even further and gave peculiar facilities for emigrating to ten or a dozen men with fariiilies, and the boat and fishing gear belonging to some of them, on the condition, (expressed or understood) that tb-y should at least attempt the business of supplying dm- market with the fish which abound in the waters along the coast. . „ The boat and its crew have now arrived by the Mystery. The former is a lugger of the kind iantiliar to all who liave visited that part of England, and is found in all the equipments: and gear necessary .for. P ur?u'D£ either the carrying; or the fishing trade*; thpugh.it is not a new boat, being weare tola some six or seven years old, nor of the very newest description of build. From what ye can seej however, it appears to be of a Kin very convenient for the coast, and applicable to the wants of the place. The men belonging' to heiy as well as their comrades, are good specimens of their class. Since their arrival, the Provincial Gov!rJ ment, whose attention has been specially can to the subject by the Emigration Agent, n» done what jay \n its power to carry out v«

ofter of encouragement giyen,at Deal. In the first place the; families; have been accommodated in tlie building formerly used by the Union Bank, while the, boat and its crew have obtained employment fin landing passengers and lugfg^g^ from the ship. This employment, offered by the ship's agent, is at least a good opening foi* the men^ The rest have been introduced... to private) employment of a similar character, which was offered readily. As tofuturo plans, we believe that it is not the intention of the Government absolutely, to bind the men to any course of employment, either ■ •': directly or indirectly., It ■willi.;;\'hpwGyjer,::':-;be';''expeclted that they, turn their aitfention first to the fisheries/ wlnle^the carrying trade^ will be open for them to;fall; back upon, in case the fish market does; not ; a sufficient opening V! there is' no reason, however, to . believe ! that j 'it will not , p^ove perfectly 'satisfti(story» To help the enterprise furtner;, we understand that tlie government will perihjt .^liemVto occupy tJie reserve at Little ;i?prt. ; ;;£!p6per,;; a : very ,advarit;agepus position, as ibemg a good bpat harbour: near the fishing .'grounds^ and ■commanding equally the' of: C^ristsihurch and: liyttelton. ,Thie carrying;:out^^ of-this pTOposition would lead to other advanteges^ as a small settlement at ®& moujiH;;^of jthe harbour would facilitate[the^estabjishinentof.a Pilot Station 4x Signal Station^rifcheihe/which we^rejed. to believe twonld- prove: no iriconsidei'abie boon tb the harbour afifl.shippings - : Many, other openings may ; offer for employing -the, special talent of the Deal boatmen,;* but, at ithe worst they have the same good chance of succeeding . as; any "other ■emigrantsi to /this country. Wherever they •are, and hojwever fimplbyed> We wish them success.. ' [;'■■ ';■■ ; .'• "''" \:',\ '■■".''..' '.'.. '■ ' <■' >..