AN IRISH SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 2

AN IRISH SETTLEMENT.

Our Auckland correspondent sends us an important piece of intelligence regarding the projected Irish special settlement at Katikati, near Tauranga. It will be in the recollection of our readers that Mr, Vesby Stewart, a gentleman of family in Tyrone, opened negotiations with Mr, Faenall, then one of the emigration agents for the colony, with the view of founding a special settlement somewhere in Auckland. The Agent-General “threw “ cold water ” on the project, it was asserted, and in a very short time afterwards dispensed with Mr. Faenall’s services. He thereupon communicated direct with the Superintendent of Auckland, and Mr. Gillies authorised him to continue the negotiations on behalf of the Provincial Government. Mr. Stewaet came to the colony, interviewed the General Government at Wellington, inspected various districts for the purpose of selecting a ten-thousand-acre block for his special settlement, and ultimately succeeded, after considerable trouble, in making very advantageous terms through the Auckland Provincial Council for the Katikati block. Mr. Stewaet returned to Ireland, and it now transpires that his fellow-countrymen of substance are willing to join him in large numbers. Allowing for exaggeration, it does seem likely that the Katikati special settlement will prove successful. We trust, therefore, that the Government will do everything in its power to assist the immigrants on arrival in locating themselves on the selected block. These immigrants will be of a different class from those the Agent-General has been in the habit of sending, and their early difficulties should be made as light as possible. The country wants an industrial population free from the taint of crime—men and women of an independent and self-reliant spirit ; and the members of the special settlement formed by Mr. Vesby Stewaet appear to be of that class. We are certain we have only to bring this matter prominently before the Commissioner for Immigration and his colleagues to ensure their active co-operation. Mr. Stewaet appears to complain that the Government representatives at Home have given little assistance. This is to be regretted, if true ; but perhaps the explanation may be found in the fact that from first to last Mr. Stewaet appears to have rubbed Dr. Fbatheestox against the grain. Otherwise, we do not see why the AgentGeneral should ship the sweepings of the large towns of England, and the output of Irish workhouses, in preference to respectable tenant-farmers and their families, who were sufficiently independent to insist upon special terms of settlement. But there is abundance of time to rectify any errors that may have been committed ; and whatever is calculated to check the emigration of a desirable class of settlers from any part of the United Kingdom should be avoided.