FACTS FROM GWEEDORE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 100, 21 October 1852, Page 3

FACTS FROM GWEEDORE.

(From Chamber's Edinburgh Journal.) The first thing done was to induce the abandonment of illicit distillation, which

caused ruinous habits, poverty, and social disorder, and likewise occasional famines, by consuming the grain which should otherwise have been made into food. It was of no use, however, attempting to preach down this evil. The. plan consisted in opening up a market for the disposal of grain at a fair price, payable in ready money.. ' In 1830, a corn store, eighty-four feel long by twenty-two feet wide* having three lolls and a kiln; was buill at the port of Ilunbrg, capable of containing three or four hundred' ions of oals. A tpiay was formed in front of Ihfl store, at which vessels oflwo hundred lons can load or discharge, there being fourteen feet of water at the height of the tide. A market was thus established for the grain of ihe district, (he price giveh for it being much Ihe same as lit Lctlel'kcnny, six-und-lwcntv miles distant. There was much diflicully in gelt'ulg this store built; even the site of it had to be excavated, by blasting front (he solid rock, and there were no masons or carpenters in the country capable of erecting a building of the kind: So great was the dilllcully of gelling even a Collin ii\u'tlc, that to secure the. services of a carpenter, such as the dislricl afforded, many of the people gave liim annually, by way of a retaining fee, sheaves of oals, on the express rendition of making their rollln when they died; It was therefore found necessary " to introduce competent tradesmen ; alid even then much manoeuvring was requisite to get those Who were brought for Ihe purpose to remain. They were paid regularly every Saturday ilight ', hut it was by no menus unusual, On mustering Ihe hands oil Monday mdrning,Ul llavc'lt reported (hala carpenter "or mason had deserted iii iheiiilerval; audit was no wonder! The aspect ofihe country being so prodigiously different from anything they had ever seen, and [he comlbrls they had been accustomed to, such as bread and meat, not for any consideration lo be procured, (heir being neither baker nor butcher nearer than a days journey!' The store acted like a charui. In the first year of its operations the sum of 47'.)/.'lis. was paid for oats; and for the year 18H the amount was 11(11)/. (train, butter, hides, and wool were also purchased; the whole being shipped for Liverpool; and hciw'cen that port and Huubeg a trade accordingly spiling up. Much aslbc money payments for oals were prized, they were, of comparatively little Use, in consequence of there being no means of laying them out lo advantage. Lord (leorge llill, as a capitalist, again interposed to do that which no one else had the means to undertake, He established a wheelwright, to I make carls and wheelbarrows; and opened a shop, ai which iron, wood,salt, soap, candles, sugar, lea, and a few oilier articles were sold at the I.etlerkeimy.prices. The wheelwright, under Ihe superintendence of the agent, acted as shopkeeper; but its noble owner put up a signboard with his own name over the door, expressing in Irish that he wasliceiicedto sell tea, tobacco, and oilier excisable articles. Every year the business of Ihe shop increased. The first quarter's sales lo December 18-10 amounted to '.lO 2s. lOd.,whilst the corresponding quarters for 1811 was 330/. So nialiy new articles are. now added to the stock, that the shop embraces pretty nearly everything in groceries, crockery, hardware, drapery, and stationery; also some few drugs, and articles of confectionery and drysaltery. The concern having gone much beyond ihe powers ofmauagmenl of the wheelwright, has been put under Ihe charge of an experienced person, with several assistants. His lordship also erected a mill for grinding wheat, anil a bakery for making bread and biscutt; and of these articles, is also of flour, a large sale ensued, in consequence of Ihe improved habits and circumstances of the inhabitants. The whole transactions in buying and selling are in ready cash. Soon after Ihe establishment of the store, Lord George Hill began his endeavours to regulate, the territorial arrangements. All Ihe old and complex holdings were lo be abolished i instead of having his land in disjointed scraps, every man was assured of gelling a just proportion, according to his rent, in a single piece. The tenants were all assembled lo hears Ihe new measure proposed ; imdallhough they advanced innumerable objections, Ihey peaceably consented lo allow the allotments (o be made; a degree of confidence being inspired in their minds, by being allowed lo appoint a committee of themselves (o assist in laying out the new farms. When (ill had been surveyed and laid out, the farms were distributed "with (he greatest regard lo existing interests, ami also by casting lots in cases of competing claims. ' It took about three years to accomplish the

ilivisions. as upwards of Iwi'iily arreslmd to be thus arranged iiiicl disiiiliulcd. Altogether, it was a diflh-ult task, and nimli thwarted liv I lie people, :\s ihcv naturally did not like llial their old ways should be distiirbril or inlorferrd willi, nor were they disposed as vet to aliaudou the Ituudale system. Thev did'not iirciii In have a /«•«/<■ liir simple plain-dealing, or dial matters should lie put slraighl, and made easy of apprehension. The L'rra:er part oflhe tenants had ton-move llirir lioiims. furnicrlv in small rlusicrs. In their new farm.--. This, though ii-<nii»j«--Mi-.iic in ihem, was not a very expensive ati'air; as ilic custom on such occasions is lor (In: person who has die work lo he done to hire a liddler, upon which <;"/«<;< i»'"' all the neighbours joyously assemble and '"dry in iin'iiiercdililv" slini-I lime, die stones and limber upon llieir hacks lo Hie new file ; men, women, and children al« rnalrly dancing and working while <hi> last, at (lie termination nl" which th.-y adjourn lo some dwelling, when; llu-y iiiiish Hit.- night, often prolonging llm dance lo dawn'of day. and willi little oilier eiiter'.aiimienl lint thai which a liddler or (wo iillhrds.' The only arrangement !o which the people made mivvsoleiil' opposilion was llie frming of a lew len-acre farms on (he waste land. .Nothing would induce Iheill lo construct the fences," though good payment was offered; and when sirau'grrs were employed in (he work, thev molested Iheni, and pulled down at night what was creeled daring the day, An energetic display of police Correal length quelled this turbulence, and llie fences were permiltcd to stand. The evident improvement in the condition of those li minis who had first got their allotments, helped t-onsi-derahlv li) nlluv disconlenl; and in lime llm people became absolutely pressing lo have laud alloled lo I hem in the same manner. When the arrangements were completed, Hie whole district formed a well-organised system of farms varying in size, each with a cottage allachcd," and approachable by roads made chielly at the expense of llie proprietor. And' as llie store carried oft" Hie produce, so did the shop furnish die collages with crockery, pans, bedding, and i other articles necessary for domestic | comfort. i

(n order to inspire a taste for neatness anil habits of industry. Lord t'loorgo Hill olfored premiums lo all who chose lo compete, in improvements in agriculture, draining, fencing, green crops, breeds of cattle ami pigs, also for neat cottages willi chimneys, plastered ami whitewashed ; making butter, weaving woollens, kuitiiug, ac. 'The first year not a single individual could bo induced lo compete for the premiums, the people thinking it all a hoax, being convinced in their minds that no gcnileinan would be so great a luol as lo give bis nionev merely to benefit others. No doubt they considered themselves very knowing in iiolbeing taken in. In IX ill, the tenants observing that any promise made, to Iheni was slricllv fulfilled, acquired confidence, and some thought they might at allcunlstry the Ihing. Thai year, therefore, I hero were, thiri'v-six competitors for the premiums, which amounted to iO/. Is. (id.; and were so fairly awarded by the judges, that they caused general satisfaction.' Kvery year the number of competitors increased. In 1811 they amounted lo I wo hundred and Ihirlv-uiue, lo whom WW. was paid. Some things were still wanting. The. district had ' no hold. Hero die noble, proprietor once more acted nobly *, ho eirclcd a handsome and conmiodsoino hotel at fiwcedorc, when! Iravelleis could beaccomniodalcd with lodgings, horses, and cars. Subsequently, a convenient sessionhouso, and an airy and commodious schoolbouse, were erected, and pill in operalion. To Ihe school a mistress was attached, to leach Ihe girls sewing. In I he schoolhouse, on Sundays, divine service is performed by a minister of the established church. Along with oilier improvements, illicit distillation and intemperance disappeared. Formerly, it was the cuslom at weddings lor each friend or relation of Ihe bride and bridegroom lo bring a hollle of whisky : now, this is gone, and each deposits a loaf, or some other simple article of refreshment. Willi respect lo advancement in economic arrangements, the following pa-sages onu:in :i report by the gentlemen who adjudged the premiums in i.Siri: 'We have 1 found a considerable extent of new ground, reclaimed from bog and mountain, bearing good crops of oals and potatoes, and in many plans the truants already attempting Hie eallivalioii of green crops.'liv raising turnips, the \.due of which, as il 'becomes mure generally known, will no doubt induce numbers of others to follow their example. 'We have to express our satisfaction at

the. evident impioveinent ill 111 c mode of reclaiming and cultivating I In- boggy and iiioiiiil:iliiiii l:imls, hydrainiiigandspadr husbandry, and :il lite .judicious manner in which, under llio guidance ol" his lordship's agriculturist, the. exertions of the |U'oplc;ire dircrlrd, and llieir lime and labour turned to llie best accoiml. 'We ai'o also happy lo find so much attention given lo I lie home manufacture of woollens, the <|uality of the clolh of various kinds, and the ilannel, stockings, ..'• e. exhibited being most creditable. This liraui'li of industry is, we conceive, particularly valuable, as il gives thai emplovmenl (o llie females I'm' which they aro peculiarly tilled, and enables them lo rouiriluile, in no small degree, lo the health and comfort of llieir lamilies— affording | cheap anil warm clothing, and ini'idealiug a I spirit of cxerliou among iheui. | 'ln uolhiir-', however, have we had such I pleasure as in the marked improvement in the dwelling and ollice houses of the tenants, knowing whal dillieullies old habits ' and prejudices present to Mich changes. . I'nlil laielv, the people were crowded lo- ; gelher in iniserahle villages, where want of 1 cleanliness, and llie impure exhalations of I clnng-pils close lo llieir dwelling-houses, generated disease and misery. .Now we behold in all directions neat and loiuforlable collages, attracting the eye by the well-lhalched roofs and whitewashed walls, giving an aspect of life, health, and cheerfulness. Nor were we disappointed upon a closer inspection: we found thai the: interior of the houses fully realised the expectations raised by llieir cvlerinrapparcnrc —•clean, orderly, and well-vcniilalrd rooms, comfortable and suitable beds and bedsteads, with a supply of bedclolhiiig and furniture eipial at least to tin- wants of the inmates, and in many instances showing a taste in the arrangement for which wo were ijuilt: unprepared. ' These various improvements we consider in a great measure attributable lo the division of the lauds into separate farms and placing each tenant's house upon his own ground; one of the great advantages of which is, enabling llieni to place their dwellings, ollices, and manure heaps in the most convenient situations for comfort and cleanliness —advantages of which, it is but justice to the tenants to say, they have fully availed themselves. 'Il was peculiarly gratifying to us to witness tin; respectable appearance and orderly demeanour of I lie crowds of persons assembled upon this occasion, and the gratitude displayed in llie looks and manner, even more than by the expressions of llie successful candidates, when, after the dinner provided for them by his lordship, and his agent had announced the decision of the judges, they approached his lordship and received from his hands the amount of prizes respcclivley awarded them.'

We learn liy :i foot-noie dial mi 111; 1 above occasion I.iird (ieorge Hill nol only provided dinner lor, lull (lined willi liis lennnls. Tliis was nn liimoiir altogether overwhelming. 'The poor people could nnl believe, lli;il they would lie permillcd In ilinr tiillt In'.i/nrdship! When assembled onlsiiU: the house when: llitt diner \v;is provided, seeing llie surveyor, whom lliey Knew, ;il llie. door, they anxiously impiircd of him "if it was renllij fnif that llie might go in?"' Here may appropriately conclude lliis gratifying and ' eventful history.' A uohlenian, abandoning llie frivolities of the metropolis, has hecn seen expending his wealth anil Ins energies on tin; reclaiiialiou of one of llie least hopeful Harts of country in the llrilish islands. By dint of benevolence, inlclligcurr, anil persrverenre, lie is successful. Lawless resislauce to nulliorly is suppressed—without tiring a shop. I'ovrrly is luriied into prosperity, intemperance into sobriety, vice iulo virtu:', ignorance into knowledge. While thus lieneliting others, we trust that Lord (iorge Hill has equally improved his own fortunel>y the hazardous enterprise which he undertook, and so courageously brought to an issue. As a lesson to Irish landlords his example is invaluable more particularly as his improvements have hi'eu carried mil al his own cost and risk. Will this example lie lost on those who are everlastingly seeking to have sitmrtlthitj ilmir fur f/icm instead of ihimj for ilumseln!

Tin's iiilei'c'siiiiic iirlide was lindly liiniislicd by llits Hov. .Mr. Spi'iiirr, Missionary at Tapim. We laki; ihis opportunity <>•' lltiiiikiuj; llii' rev. Ki'iillrmaii lor lln: interest lie lias taken in our journal.