MARTIN'S RIVER ASSOCIATION.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 9 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MARTIN'S RIVER ASSOCIATION.

(From th 3 Age.) An adjourned general meeting of the promoters of the Martin's ltiver Association for establishing- a settlement on the Weetevn coast of Otego, was held last •eveniuvr, at the Exchange Hotel, in ■WjJltani street, for the purpose of receiyifW§ report from the provisinal committee lately appointed. Mr Neilly was called to ■the chair.

Mr H. Hall read the report of the committee, which contained some information by Captain Wilkinson, late of ■the barque Frederick. He states that he •was in Martin's Bay about fourteen years ago, or in about fourteen nautical miles to the northward of Milfovd Haven, which -he believes to be identical with Martin's Hay. He describes il as a safe anchorage "for vessels of any draft of water, the depth •at low water, spring tides, being not less than eighteen fathoms, on good tough -san?ly bottom, sheltered from all winds, and surrounded by a bold ro ky shore. 'Captain Wilkinson lay there three months 'in the Mason, from New Bedford, United States, 7&0 tons, with 45- fathom chain moored, and sent everything down and refitted ship, fishing successfully during the time, and nearly filling with oil. He went himself occasionally, at ebb tide, up the river, which he describes as b ing as broad •as the Yarrj below the falls, and deep. He himse.f never went more than six miles up, but some of the men went up as far as fourteen miles, at flood tide, before they •<;ould fill their casks with fresh water. The rise and fall of the tide he describes to he nut less llian nine feet at spring tides; but he wishes this statement to be received with caution, as he speaks from memory, 'his chart being now on its way from Sydney He speaks of the surrounding coun'ry as being well above the level of the sea and well wooded-; and states that the 'landing places are numerous and safe. The present circuitous route for Siiilinj?: vessels from Melbourne to Dunedin. ;and tlience by lanS to the I ake diggings, .involves a sea vo-y.ige of 250

miles tliei - e, and with the prevailing winds, more than double the distance back, and 'Jand carriage over a difficult and dangerous country of 180 miles more than me requisite by the contemplated route via Miirtin's Bay. The time saved by the latter route-is estimated at not less than

fouiteen days via Melbourne to the dig

gings, computed i:o be equivelant to LSO ,per ton on freight and carriage of goods, and ten days, or thereabouts from the diggings back to Melbourne. The

•committee are of opinion that the proposed site of a township on the Martin's Buy or

River will become-at-a very early period 'the entrepot of a great and increasing con-, suming population, and lhnt it is there--fore desirable that an association he formed with as litile dc/ay as possible to raise Unnecessary funds to secure such land as ■may be available at or near any township existing- nh-eady proclaimed, or that mn_v -he proclaimed, by the Otasto Government. The committee are of opinion that for ihe present a capital of L2GOO uillbe sufficient •to defray preliminary expenses ■; sii'h

capital to t>e v raised« by tlie issue of 200 shares, of LlO etch. The report further . r recommended that, for the purpose of a site suitable for a settlement, a vessel or vessels be purchased or charteiv^, io convey any person appointed !>y tht&^ssociaiion to act as their accredited

agent in the survey and selection of, and applica:ion to the Otago Government im as much land as the association ma'v

think fit to instruct. And as after receiving the »eport of such agents, they mny •decide on raising the necessary funds by the increase of capital, to purchase such land, to be vested in filenames o? trustees, to be appointed by the association, and to be divided, when, and as the association shall determine, into such number of allotments, of equal extent, as there shall be

shareholders, theappointmentto be d-ec-ided

by lot. And . also, to # convey such •members, or they nominees, as lmy be

desirious of availing themselves of tin-* means of reachingthe proposed settlement. The committee further recommended that

a leader be despatched from Melbourne to

Jnvercargill, empowered to organise a -land party there or at Lake Wakatip, to co-opo-rate with the party proceeding to the -pl;ice by sea. The report then offered various suggestions for the appointment of a board of directors, officers, and for the

conduct of the affairs of the association. It suggests that all passengers proceeding to ihe proposed settlement 'shall p<">y the current passage money, whether shareholders or not; and that freight shall he paid for all merchandise, whether shipped by shareholders or not. It was mentioned in the conclusion of the report that the •committee have had offeis to fill a 100---ton ship, with goods at a rate of freight that would be highly remunerative, 'and that a marine dnsutance office has given Ihem, in writing, an undertaking that they are prepared to insure such goods at from 30s to 35s per cent. On the motion of Mr Carty, seconded by^Mr Foley, the report was receiver).

A resolution, echoing; the expression of the report as to the -expediency of forming <a settlement at Martin's River, was then proposed by Mr "Carly, seconded by Mr Thomas Allen, and unanimously agreed to

Mr Arthur Allen moved, and Captain Rhole seconded, a resolution, which was adopted, fixing the capital at £2000, in £20 shares. Mr Bennett suggested that the associa-

tion should charter, rather thnn purchase a vessel, in order to save as much as possible to buy land. Mr Hall z It wouid be well for them to bear in mind that the Otago Government have not the power to alienate the at once. Before the necessary surveys could be made, and applications to the local and general Government, twelve months would probably elapse before land could be purchased. They should not, therefore, run away with the notion that they were to become landowners at once on landing. They would have to go through a kind of squatting in the first instance, but there need be no apprehension of their being ejected. It was mentioned that Mr M'Cann, M.L.A., who had gone over to New Zealand, had undertaken to procure full information from the Otago Government on the ]and^»%uestion, and his answer might be expe&ed by the Aldinga. After some conversation, it was resolved to leave further questions of detail for the consideration of the committee. A subcommittee, consisting of the chairman, Mr Barker and Mr Hall, was appointed to draw up and issue a prospectus, and the meeting: adjourned till Tuesday afternoon, at 4 o'clock.