THE MARTIN'S BAY SETTLEMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 9

THE MARTIN'S BAY SETTLEMENT.

As has been remarked by a great philosopher it takes all sorts of people to make a world ; but we could never imagine why a number of men risked all sorts of perils and- suffered the most awful hardships that they might be permitted to settle down at the foot of a glacier and grow turnips. This, too, when there are millions of fertilo acres in the Colony which may be cultivated under climates tho most genial m-• the world. These eettter3 go to Martin's Bay, and their vessel is wrecked. -They land, and live upon fish and pipis. A steamer comes and brings them flour. They cat the flour and thon commence to starve. The steamer comes again, but this time with no flour, but with tea and tobacco. 'The settlers express no des ; re to leave the place by the steamer, but prefer to dijjf up aud subsist upon the seed potatoes which they set in fie ground foe a cop. They are sramns: once more. TiK»rt*'a a sailing craft come 3 from Hokit'ka'with provisions. Still the settlers, express no desire to leave. - They have another starve. Then, after a t'tne, some three or four walk up to the top of the glacier, which in a')out.a mile long. They get to Quecn.stown, travelling at the rate of six miles a day, ascending mountains, descending ravines, and risking their necks every foot of rock and ice

and snow they step on or over. When they arrive they telegraph to Dunedin. By and bye they get the supplies they asked for, and then have another starve. Then a good minister comes to Auckland and lectures and preaches on behalf of the settlers, in order to raise money for their relief. He has raised money, and he will relieve them, but when the money is eaten up, there is just another starve to face. The question being now asked is "Is Martin's Bay a settlement for lunatics?" and to this we are unable to return any reply. — " New Zealand Herald."