THE "PERMANENT SETTLEMENT" OF GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 457, 26 January 1869, Page 2

THE "PERMANENT SETTLEMENT" OF GOLDFIELDS.

The Otago Daily limes has an article on the subject of the prizes offered by the Government for essays on the " the means of securing the permanent settlement of the mining population of New Zealand." It takes the same view of the subject as we recently ventured to express. "The Colonial Secretary," says the Times "will doubtless be overwhelmed—long before the eventful 28th of February—with a shower of philosophic productions displaying every possible grade of merit. The task of selection will afford a delightful occupation for a minister wearied with the dull routine of official life. It is unfortunate that the premiums should have been offered for essays exclusively, since the term ' essays' usually implies prose. The subject is equallv adapted for poetry. A premium of £SO might be the means of producing an immortal poem, and of solving an eaonomical problem at the same time. The very title of such a poem—The Deserted G-oldfields—is equally suggestive of touching incidents and practical suggestions. After painting the desolation caused by the migration of the miners, the poet would naturally

pass on_ to point out the cauaeß of their migration and to suggest the means of securing their permanent settlement. This is just what the Legislature requires. As we are bound to suppose that the main object sought in offering these premiums was to develope family genius, it is rather mortifying that poetry should be shut out from competition. It is not usual on the part of Legislatures to submit the consideration of public quostioi:s to private individuals, stimulated by the offer of small premiums. The Legislature is supposed to compromise the eollective wisdon of the country, and to possess the amplest information on every subject of public interest, as well as the highest capacity for dealing with such subjects. A question of purely technical character, indeed, on which legislation may chance to be required—as for instance the outbreak of some mysterious disease affecting crops or cattle —might not improperly be proposed as a theme for ambitious essayists. Such subjects would be handled by those only who were competent to handle them, and their suggestions would be worth consideration. But there is an obvious absurdity in offering Government premiums for essays on questions of no peculiar difficulty. Every man in the country may have something to say on the sub* ject proposed for the present competition, and consequently every man in the country may favour the Colonial Secretary with his views. But there are very tew among us whose opinions would carry much weight; and those few would instinctively refrain from expressing their opinions on such an occasion. The premium will therefore be left for competition among men who are not the most highly qualified in the country, and possibly may be rewarded for productions which would reflect no credit on our literary cultivation."