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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4298, 30 December 1874, Page 2

Thb premature collapse of the Nelson special settlement is noteworthy. Unlike the Martin's Bay settlers in Otago, who have courageously faced the sternest difficulties for several years, and who will ultimately succeed in making homes for themselves within the shadows of the everlasting hills, and in enriching the "Colony" t>y developing a new goldfield, the Karamea settlers did not face the difficulties of their position at all. Mr. O'Conor is certainly charged with mismanaging the Nelson special settlement scheme, but in the absence of proof we hold him guiltless. Doubtless some one has blundered. The effect will, however, be generally damaging to Nelson ; and to put it mildly, that province can ill afford any loss of prestige at present. Brit' while Nelson has thus made a conspicuous failure in founding a special settlement, after the loud flourish _of ■ provincial trumpets, the neighboring province of Wostland is making a similar attempt, at the comparatively unknown and remote Arawata, near the head of Jackson's Bay. In a recent issue we gave a brief summary of the facts connected with Superintendent Bonar's official visit to Jackson's Bay, with the view of selecting the site for the proposed settlement. We have now before us a long and elaborate report on the settlement block, by Mr. Mueller, Chief Surveyor of Westland. From this paper we gather that 60, OCX) acres have been set apart for special settlement between Jackson's Bay and the Haast River, " with a sea frontage of about twenty - " four miles, and an average depth of " about foiu miles." The country land is described as level and of the very best description. It is, however, heavily timbered in places. Great facilities appear to exist for utilising the timber and clearing. The block is well watered, and the Chief Surveyor becomes quite enthusiastic on tho ease with which 'the extensive swamps included within tho settlement area may be drained. "But irrespective '' of all this," he writes, '' there is a very " large extent of superior land which " does not depend upon such contingen- " cies at all —land which is ready for the " plough, as soon as cleared." With this cheering assurance, Mr. Mueller enlarges upon the geological features of the district. Gold has been found in considerable quantities on the Haast, and along the beach, and the hope of "making a pile" may induce men to locate themselves on the Westland special settlement block, but certainly not the agricultural prospects of the district. That Westland possesses a perfect treasure in its Chief Surveyor will appear to any one reading his report. Already, in anticipation, he has drained the swamps, utilised the forest, peopled "the town of Arawata," and made provision for the rapidly increasing demand for town sections by laying off two additional town reserves —one of 100 acres, and another of 160 acres, at tho mouth of the Arawata —"both of which I propose not to touch, " he adds, until a demand for town sec- " tions there is known to exist, and the " necessity for surveying them arises." Of the 2,000 acre block of suburban land at the town of Arawata, he suggests that every tenjji section should bo "reserved " for educational purposes, and so provide '' the means for making full provision for " educating the youth of Jackson's Bay " district." This is certainly looking ahead. A " light railway," to cost £1,700 per mile, connecting the port with the settlement is next suggested ; then wharf construction is an absolute necessity; and it is vaguely hinted that a survey should be made of a line connecting this promising special settlement, which "must be "successful under ordinary carefnl "management," with tho East Coast provinces. But our space does not admit of giving more than a general idea of this very remarkable document. We shall conclude by an extract which shows that every contingency is foreseen, tho pockets of the future ratepayers of Arawata even having been considered by the Chief Surveyor of Wostland. He writes :

The survey of the town of Arawata Is peculiar and unlike most of the surveys of other towns, owing to tho hilly naturo of the ground which tho town reserve coyers. The position of the streets will to a great extent be regulated by tho contours of tho hill sides, and the town allotments and reserves must be made to "fall in" as best they can. In all probability tho general appearance of the map of tho town will bo very irregular, but it is better to waive good appearance in that particular, than incur expense thereafter in tho construction of tho streets, as has been tho case in some of our New Zealand towns. The general outline of the town of Arawata must be pretty similar, wo should imagine, to that of the town of Coromandel, situate on an island in the Frith of Thames, which was sold by tho Provincial Government of Auckland shortly after the gold discoveries on the adjacent peninsula. There, however, it was necessary to run tho streets up the face of an almost precipitous cliff, and we venture to think that until this day the only living creature that may have traversed them was some vagrant goat, and that at imminent peril of his life. Let us hope bettor things for Arawata, which has a great future, if Mr. Mueller is a truo prophet.