THE SPECIAL SETTLEMENT SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1619, 27 January 1886, Page 2

THE SPECIAL SETTLEMENT SYSTEM.

"Asmodeus" m the New Zealand Mail makes the following sensible observations :— The advantages,.ofl:ered by the special settlement system cannot /be too widely understood. 'Tis 'no new thing, and the great mass of the colonists, as yet, are not aware of what is really pffered .to them. ; If they (were, there would be a rush for the land, that .is to > say, unless " manhood, good manhood,',' is on' the decline m the rising generation. Still, it cannot be denied thafthe towns/ such as they are, exercise aniOverwhelihi ing attraction to the new chum and Che colonial genteel young man who did not Anything - ,f or 3o : termed genteel, occupatiori/and.to live, amid streets'' and alleys_ with little or no prospect- of ultimate independence,. is mot > repugnant^ to some minds,. a;nd , uaQte's the pity. Any kind of manual labor shocks therrefined .feelings of. these sweet creatures, and .so the country goes ft-bege;ing for; occupation. And yet' the country is the place to begin life m. Two or three" young {.nienrof the ;right"kind, and ;cpngenial tastes'and Habits, "and determined" to win, would" win, of a surety, if they took upia section m a special settlenient and^ worked it between the.m' % , say pne'hutH dred ahd fifty, acriesM bush lancl. tsirA "build a log hut m a good situation, "and* then wire m and clear, livtng meat. while lin that .frugal, afid y6t .abundant style ' that is only possible m the bush. Food 1 "tfor the [three ought not to cost mofe^thart I 'twenty shillings aVeek," and m one short 1 twelveirionth how much larirt •wouid' three hard-working men clear fc 1 Enough: fora '.'.big;, burn," and subseqaent good sewing, and m another year there would .be acres of pasture to commence stocking, and another big; clearance made m the- bush for another '* burn," and so on and so, ( on. .How. infinitely: preferable such a r life.to the dead level. of Civil Ser- t i vice clerkships v and' other jgenteel g'oihg .occupations at remuneration that tolerates existence, and nothing more. Old set tiers will be wise if they encourage' their sons to turn.. .their attention to country life, and their backs upon the towns at the same timer And young men, with the .generous, free, instincts of youth stirring ; within /them, will not require >mueb\ inducement to regard the axe with greater' favor than the pen, and free .country s life to serving. v behind &>iihtertff/iand«ji3o on. \$ $ j