THE FEILDING SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 2

THE FEILDING SETTLEMENT.

Bedding, January 27. On Tuesday evening, Colonel Fielding addressed a pretty strong muster of the settlers. In the course of his remarks, the Colonel ob-' served that he had come there at considerable inconvenience and expense, to ascertain how their people were getting on. The Corporation has the interest and welfare of their settlers at heart, and he wished to learn from themselves whether their anticipations, formed at home, had been realised, or if in any way “ the shoe pinched;” if so, he should be only too glad to apply a remedy; and, if he failed in doing so, he could assure them it would not be for want of will, but for some cause inherent in themselves. He reminded them that up to the time of his leaving he had gone on board almost every ship that had brought them out—except three—• and on these occasions he had called the people together as well as he could, and told them that they would have many difficulties to contend against, and explained what these wore. He also asked -every man if he was willing to work, and, if so, told him that work would be found for him, but he warned them that the work might not be of the kind to which they had been accustomed. He was sorry to hear complaints from some, that they could not obtain' suitable employment. He was surprised to hear this, for several large employers of labor had told him that morning that they were in want of men. He reminded them that they had been landed in Wellington, forwarded to Foxton, and thence to the barracks at Palmerston, perfectly free—without any deduction whatever being made for this. He regretted th at many had arrived at a bad time of year, and that some had been peculiarly unfortunate in this respect; but they must remember that the late winter was quite an exceptional season—such, in fact, as was seldom or ever remembered. Owing to circumstances beyond the Corporation’s control, they had on one or two occasions arrived in such batches that great difficulty had been experienced in finding accommodation for them, but the Corporation had done all that lay in their power. The mill had been kept constantly at work since March, and the Corporation had made such offers as they thought could not fail to secure the erection of another mill ; but in .this they had been disappointed. He regretted it very much, for the erection of another mill would have enabled them to proceed much more rapidly Ixllll the erection of cottages. Referring to their leases, he informed them that those who paid 7s. a week for three years, were entitled to the freehold of their cottages, and promised that if they would bring them into the office next day, he would have the necessary clause inserted, and thus remove the doubt which appeared to exist on this important point. He thought they had every reason to be satisfied with the . wages they were obtaining. He had spoken to one man that morning, and asked him how he was getting on, and what wages he was making. The man replied that he was making about 3s. a day 1 He then inquired the nature of the work. It was fencing, and for this the man told him he got IGs. a chain! This man's wife, however, a little later on, let out that they had saved enough to buy a Government section, and cows to put on it! He knew that many were anxious to be put on their fortyacre sections. But they must wait till the country has been in some degree opened up. He would be no party to putting women and children in the bush, where in summer they would be almost devoured by mosquitoes, and in the winter could not stir out without getting up to their knees in mud. In due time roads would be laid out and formed, and then they would be located on their sections. With regard to their future prospects, he might tell them that he had been out very early that morning, but had met with only one “early bird.” This man was milking his second cow, and the third was standing by ready to be milked. There could be no doubt his having done well; and he invariably found that the best and steadiest workers were out of debt at the stores, had their gardens in good order, and had managed to save a few pounds. He would remind them whilst on this subject that, as many of them did not understand growing vegetables, the Corporation had sent out a gardener for the purpose of showing them; in fact, they had done all they possibly could to make them comfortable. He regretted to say that some cases of typhoid fever had broken out in some of the ships that had brought them out, but not in those sent out by the Corporation. Considerable sums of money had been expended by the Corporation in cutting drains, &c., in order to render the place healthy; and he must ask their co-operation by not allowing any dirt to accumulate in their gardens, but to bury it in the ground. If they followed that simple plan, he did not see why the ;»lace should not bo as healthy as any other. With this view, too, he was going to bring a supply of the best water into the township from a point three miles distant. In the meantime, he would advise those who used well-water to deepen their wells—to sink through the clay into the gravel, where, he had been assured by Dr. Hector, they could not fail to obtain the purest of water. He urged upon them, the necessity of this course, since without good water they could not enjoy good health. He was very sorry to learn, after all the efforts of the Corporation to provide them with the best of education, so few of their children attended school. However, he was going to ask the Government to allow them the first three months '■on credit; and if successful this would perhaps be the means of inducing many others to be sent. He regretted the small attendance at the school very much. The Corporation had paid half the cost of the school. An efficient master and assistant had been appointed, and yet the attendance was so small that the assistant had to go elsewhere. He then contrasted the state of the Corporation emigrants with that of the emigrants brought out under the auspices of the Government, who had no cottages, no A hut, nor even a bell-tint provided — nothing, in fact was found those, and no credit given them. One of those now listening to him had told him that very day that he arrived in Wellington with twopence in his pocket, with which ho procured biscuits for his wife and children, and at night had to ask the police for shelter, and yet it was he who was now the principal contractor for the buildings in the town, and owned the hotel. The Corporation had had stores erected on purpose to serve them, and he had been informed by Mr. Roe, one of the storekeepers, that goods were sold in Feildiug as low, or even low.er, than they were in Foxton or Palmerston, notwithstanding all the additional freight. Altogether, he considered their lot, at the commencement of their colonial life, was far superior to that of the Government immigrants. After referring to some coses of abusive language used to the Corporation officials, he intimated that in future such would subject the parties indulging in it to dismissal from the Corporation employ, as would bo done at Home or elsewhere.. Colonel Feildiug invited those who had any complaints to make to send them in in writing to the office, and they should be investigated. The gallant Colonel then observed that as it was getting dark and many of them had some distance to go, ho would wish them “ Good .night.” . After three cheers for Colonel Feilding, given with a hearty good will, and a similar compliment to Mr. Halcombd; the settlers dispersed, [lt is satisfactory to learn that only four responded to Colonel Feilding’s invitation, and that these were not complaints, but applications for certain indulgences.]