THE DISTANCES.

Southland Times, Issue 620, 18 January 1867, Page 7

THE DISTANCES.

Of the various ports from f 'each other, I have taken. from, the " New Zealand Pilot." I found the Admiralty-surrey wonderfully cojrrectrsoWuch! so that the "enlarged charts of the yarious bays' would; answer. aB selection mapß under tne> present ' system' of. -free selection, pending' the ordinarysurvey of thelsland. . „,■.: re ::c- : ' , ■-•"-- ...■■.--,- .: .tii'ivciq I. cannot close this report '"without- -calling 'the attention of the ■Government to the utter, st&tfe of lawlessness which prevails on the Island. ■ Few id number as are the inhabitants] a syiatem of plunder ! has been established, not merely on any 1 goddtf which maybe -landed from wrecked vessels; arid, i which seem to b© consideredas a lawful prize, :: but' ion one another. No one can leave his hoiis'e .tun-i I protected for two or three days without b"eihg_ irobbed. I heaird of an instance where.; a three"hours' absence sufficed. A airigle'coristable would ihave thff immediate- effect of putting a'atop to the Ipractice I- hare, endeavoured.-t o expose. His ipresence would evidence' that the'attehtipn r of the Government had been directed to the malpractices jiyhicbihad been carried on, and'prove its determination to prevent their continuance. Port William Vould-bethe, best place . at which , to :stafton Turn, ks that port is most -frequented by Vessels in distress, the cargoes of which -have to be landed for safety, though at present srich a proceeding would/ ensure .their being pilferedi The system of plunder has been carried on in so barefaced a mariner,^ with such-Mpuni^;. : aQ<i^ori'B^ch a kngth of time t / aiat I <3n©^& aJti&st tempted to the cdnfclw&fe &&t ttu> iniaWtkati from immu-

Thenormfl condition otmm, and that ! • .q& «^B«^lian'lakß2W&%aYe the power/ - Ji^ And4hoße-shatt*eep vrhcnsatt?*~ 1 is the principle enunciated by the local' Government to winch tfie 4 few' honest settlers on the Island would naturally look for protection;/ r .V ; r p y ;.| , iWAETER; H. PEARSON, Commissioner of Crown Lands. .. Crown Lands. Office, : '! : - : • .'- ■-''' '■ Invercargill, Southland, Dec. 26, 1866.