The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1872. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Southland Times, Issue 1537, 13 February 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1872. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE AND AMERICA.

The special settlements provided for by the immigration schemes of the Government have lately been commanding attention. The object of these settlements is to promote a class of colonisation specially adapted to the position and material prospects of the localities in which they are proposed to be planted. The one in which we as a district are more immediately interested is that of Stewart's Island, a territorial part of the late province of Southland. For the information of readers at a distance, we may explain that it is separated from the mainland by an arm of the sea — Foveaux Straits. It is situated in the direct line of navigation to and from the Australian colonies, and forms an important landmark to vessels engaged in that trade. In other respects the island is of great service to navigation. Its coasts are well provided with bays and inlets, many of them safe, and the majority of them most commodious. For people trained to maritime pursuits, no place could be better situated. It is literally timberclad, and although practically speaking unexplored, enough has been ascertained to know that it abounds with timbers well adapted for ship building purposes. The facilities it otherwise offers for shipbuilding is a subject well accredited by nautical men. For launching in particular these facilities are exceptionably good. Many of the coves with which it abounds present all the characteristic features of natural graving docks, and it is no uncommon thing to find the beach line carrying a depth of water sufficient for enabling ships of heavy tonnage to moor alongside. The piscatorial resources of its waters have been fully demonstrated, and ifc is more particularly with the view of utilizing these that the settlement as a first step has been undertaken. There can be no doubt but that the population engaged in the fisheries of the north and west coasts of Scotland would find Stewart's Island a most congenial sphere for their pursuits. The outline of the country does not favor the idea that it affords any very great scope for the operations of the agriculturist. It has more the appearance of a succession of spurs running up from the coast line, and converging in a peak of considerable altitude, named on the chart Mount Anglem. So very little, however, is known of the interior that this opinion can only be stated as the merest hypothesis. Good undulating stretches of country do exist, and the presumption ia that when the place comes to be better known these will turn out more numerous andperhaps more extensive than they are at present supposed to be. What cultivation has been done on the island proves the soil to be of a superior quality, and at the lowest aggregate a maritime population would find quite sufficient country for raising crops to supply their own local wants. The eastern side of the island, being that portion of it sheltered from the prevailing winds, and most accessible to the ports of the mainland, is inhabited by a sparselyscattered population. The aboriginal element, with which we include halfcastes, predominates. The territorial claims set up by the latter operated for a length of time as a drawback to settlement. These claims have now been adjusted, the Maori reserves having be«n surveyed and mapped off, so that no obstacle exists on that account. Tm« slow progress of European settlement may to some extent be attributed to the long continuance of this obstacle, still that class of settlement has existed in the place for many years back. The population of this and the small islands adjacent, as shown by returns made out last year, amounts to 143, of whom 73 were halfcastes. Fuller particulars of the population, its social condition, pursuits, &c, will be found in another column. With the view of taking action for the establishment of the place as a special settlement, His Honor the Superintendent visited Southland on the 29fch ultimo, and, accompanied by a party of gentlemen favorably disposed to the movement, proceeded to the island the following day. Detailed particulars of the trip are published elsewhere,- and from the information contained in ' that article it will be seen that the site of the first settlement has been fixed for Port William. This ia the best and by far the most favorably known port in the island, so that the preference showu for it is fully acquiesced' in by the public. For the class of settlement in view we have said quite enough to show that its prospects as affected by the question of pursuit must be considered inviting. As regards mineral resources, we do not feel justified in expressing a very decided opinion. Its beaches carry a heavy deposit of black sand, and to some extent they are proved to be gold-bearing. Along with His Honor the Superintendent, the Minister of Public Works for this part of tbe colony, visited Southland. The opportunity was embraced for urging the claims of the district. We have reason to know that the public works' functionary was favorably impressed with the general aspect of the place, and the various promises exacted with regard to the construction of railways were made after the actual facts had been brought under his personal observation. Shortly stated, these promises amount to an assurance that no time will be lost in proceeding with the different railway lines authorised by the legislature for construction in Southland. Since the interview took place, instructions have been given to the engineer to have all the necessary plans and specifications for the

Mataura line completed by the 6fch prox. , at which date the Government contractors, Messrs Brogden and Sons, are expected in Southland to decide as to the commencement of the work. The extension line to the Wakatipu is also a point upon which a satisfactory assurance was given. Another result of the late visit is & promise made that the Government will be recommended to undertake a branch line to Riverton and the Western district of the late province. That promise, on the part of our official visitors, was purely spontaneous, consequently it speaks volumes for the character of the district itself. With these facts before us, we feel justified in assuming that before the date of next month's outgoing mail, definite arrangements will have been made for resuming the construction of railway works in Southland. En passant, we beg to direct attention to the report for the last year on the working of- the lines in existence. The information it conveys has been received with much satisfaction by the public, in no respect more so than in the earnest it gives of the sound wisdom of the public works policy. Our prospects in connection with the* auriferous development of the district are brightening. The export returns show a marked increase in the yield. Orepuki is known to be turning out well, and along the beaches numerous parties have lately set in to work. A project for testing an important branch of the pursuit, viz. , the deep leads, has been undertaken, the scene of operations being the Nokomai, situated in the direct line of country through which the projected railway to Like Wakatipu will pas 9. The Nokomai is one of the earliest goldfields of the province. As an alluvial diggings, it has all along yielded well. Hitherto it has been wrought on the false bottom. Some years ago, an effort was made to penetrate to tbe bed rock, but a heavy accumulation of water prevented that object from being attained. The result of that effort showed that powerful machinery was all that was required to keep the water down, and aa the projectors of the new undertaking are acting on thit hint, a well-founded belief exists in their ultimate success. Should the endeavor succeed, a new and at the same time a most important phase of the mining interest of Otago will be opened up. From the character of the country between the Nokomai and Invercargill, there is every reason to believe that if deep leads are show n to exist, they will follow the line of the Southland territory. This theoretical opinion on the subject has lon» existed, and lively interest is taken in the movement. For some weeks past, a geological survey, or perhaps it wouH be more correct to say, examination of the district, has been going on under the auspices of the Government, with the view of forming an opinion regarding its resources a3 a coal field. The search, so far as it has gone, is satisfactory, and good hopes are entertained of an important mineral development of that nature being effected. It appears that so far as the search extended, no fewer than twelve out-crops have been officially examined, of which nine are reported to be good well-formed seams of brown coal, and the other three of the bituminous character. Three superior seams of lignite were also examined by the party, and favorably reported upon. In cogitating for and speculating upon the future, we are too apt to overlook existing effects. The consequence is that much that is highly encouraging, wholly or in part, escapes detection. That industrial pursuit and material development are progressing, cannot be doubted, although when compared with the sudden outbursts of commercial excitement to which the province has from time to time been subjected, these achievements are in a manner tame and uninviting. It ia a noteworthy fact, borne out by records of statistical information, that the commer? ciil account, from showing a very large balance on the side of the foreign trader, now amounts to a very respectable balance in favor of the colony. The transactions on record for the decade ending 1870 will exhibit this fact in a striking degree : —

It will thus be seen that, from an annual deficiency equal to the entire amount of our export trade, the colony had at the end of 1870 arrived by a gradual process of readjustment at that satisfactory state of affairs when a balance remained to its credit. An examination of the articles of export proves that we are indebted for this result to the produce and manufactures of the colony — preserved meats and its concomitants, tallow, hides, and bones, besides grain and pisicultural products, forming the more noticeable items. Last month's trade, so far as this district is concerned, will be found fully detailed in another column. Our import values are set down at £5032. That sum represents direct importation alone. The indirect importation may be estimated at twice that amount, so that we are safe in putting down our imports for the month at £15,186. The export values are summed up at £96,871, so that the balance left in favor of the district is in round numbers £81,685. It should be stated that last month can scarcely be reckoned a fair criterion of the export trade of the district throughout the year, inasmuch as the wool season gives an accession not obtained at other periods. Still the foregoing proves that the export trade has made a creditable advance on the imports, which, there is little doubt will bd still further increased.

imports. Exports. Deficiency. 186? £1,543.3*3 £58<,95-3 — £959,389 1861 2,493,811 1,370,247 — 1,123,564 1862 4,626,082 2,422,731 — 2,2)3,318 1863 7,024,67* 3,435,495 — 3,539,269 1861 7,000,655 3,401,667 — 3,59-»,9S§ 1565 5,594,977 3,713,218 — 1,831,759 1866 5.89i,863 4 520,07* — 1,374.789 1H67 5,34.4,607 4,644,678 — 693,929 1863 4,935,743 4,429,19* — 556,550 1869 4,976,126 4,224,860 — 751,266 Preponderance. 1870 £4,639,015 £4,882,756 — £243,741