SUMMER.

Wei son 3?ro viziee.

EARAMEA SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

On"Sunday, November 22nd,' shortly 'after 7 a.m. the steamer Wallace'left Messrs N. Edwards & Co.'s wharf with the first party of settlers for.Karamea. These consisted of thirty heads of families, taken from immigrants by the Adamant, Chile, and Ocean Mail, arid as several of the men wore accompanied by their sons, the party numbered foj-ty in all. Mr R. Hyla'nd, of Moutere, had charge of the msn, and will direct their operations. Mr Baigent, sen., and' Mr Holland, both of Wakefield, were permitted to accompany the party—the visit of boththese gentlemen being made for the purpose of satisfying themselves as- to- the facilities afforded by the district for tha 6*e<sl;iaiiof saw mills", a business in which both are engaged. Captain Leecb> pilot at Westport, who had bpen summonea by telegraph, and-came up on Saturday in the Charles Edward, to take the steamer over the bar in this her maiden trip to Karamea. was also on board. A finer body of men than this pioneer party, with greater promise of becoming good settlers, it would, have been difficult to select. " With one or two exceptionß,' they had all'been accustomed to severe, manual labour, and knew what is meant by hard work and hard living, and are therefore ready to'appreciate the golden opportunity now placed within their: reach of acquiring a valuable freehold and bidding adieu for ever to want, thus realising the burden of that glorious song—the p«ean of labouring xnen " Hard times come again no more." Amongst the body were agricultural labourers from the Midland and Western Counties of England who had raised large'families on seven to thirteen-shillings a week ; Cornishmeh, driven to emigrate, through the mines they had been reared in no longer yielding them employment, by' the competition of ores brought from abroad; Manxmen, tired of an island only thirty miles long by ten to twelve broad, where v their chance of acquiring a freehold was about as promising as crossing the Pacific in a balloon j and a large party of hardy Shetlanders, accustomed to hard living won by spade husbandry from a sterile soil in a wet and tempestuous climate. These were the men whose departure we chronicle ; and as they will find 'in their new home a soil that will richly repay their labour, a genial climate favourable to health, and fifty-five acres of splendid land placed within easy acquisition of each family, nothing but mismanagement can mar their success. _ ' About three weeks ago the Immigration Officer was requested by the Executive to select a body of ' men not to exceed thirty heads of families, immigrants by vessels lately arrived, to form a pioneer body for the first special settlement. An arrangement was then made with the owner of the Anchor line of steamers that one of his vessels Should call at Karamea at least once a month, and that a vessel should be despatched with passengers and stores on. Friday last. The departure of the Wallace was delayed, however, until Sunday morning, owing to unfavourable weather. ; "","■„■-„■ t - On the evenings of Nov. 19 and 21, full meetings of the intending settlers at Karamea were held at the • depot, when they made arrangements with the linmigration Officer for the sustenance of their families, until ready to receive them in their new abodes.; A copy of the following Resolutions, embodying the scheme of settlement, was furnished to every

"4. That about 3000 acres of land on the left hank of the Karamea be set aside in the first instance

for a special settlement. "2. That a person be placf d in charge, to whom be entrusted all stores and Government property, ■who-will superintend all public works, and from whom the new immigrants, may obtain advice and tuition in bush and road work, and in cultivating the land,&c. ; ■ , , "3. That thirty families be the first settlers; the ; head of each family to be employed on public works for one month, at 6s per day full time, and for three days in each week for six months certain, afterwards at a wage of 8s per working day, if desired. _ . "4. That rations be eersed out to those requiring them* for the; seven months : they are engaged ou public works, at cost price j payment of same to be a first "charge on the wages earned. ■ »",••-., '" 5. That an allotment of fifty acres of land, also -an allotment-of about five acres', be leased to each head-of a family for fourteen years, at-an annual rental of 2s^er acre, and at the end of fourteen years A Crown Grant to be given to each leaseholder without further payment. , , , , " That the land so allocated be choseo by lot. N "That one of the settlers be appointed storekeeper, under control of the Overseer, on terms to be »orreed upon. °"8. That five hundredweight (5 cwt.) of seed potatoes and one (1) bushel of oats or rye seed be given to each familyto make provision for winter use. "9. That a tent cover or tarpaulin be furnished to each family if required, the cost of which to be de-1 ducted in equal monthly instalments from the' wages j due to such family. ' ' ■ : 11 10. Thai ioola be fainisned to the seltlers at cost prices, and payment be taken in-equal amounts^ " 11, That a boat be placed/under the controlof the Overseer for the use of the settlement. . , "The Waste Lands Board wiir be recommended not to grant leases fco; any persons of landa. selected under these regulations ■.unless; the persons seleetiug or applying to lease such lands shall personally occupy -the same, and give sufficent evidence of their intention to become' hona Jide settlers thereon; by dealing and cultivating or otherwise improving a fair proportion df the land allotted to them. " A fee of one pound (£1), will be payable to the . WasteLands Board upon^very application for each separate block of land applied for, and also a deposit of sixpence an atre towards the expense of the survey for every acre of land applied for, but the amount so deposited for survey will be placed to the credit of the applicant towards the'payment of his rent." _ The following; teatimonial to: the Immigration • Officer and the Government hai been handed to Mr " Immigration Dej)ot, Nelßon, Nov. 19, 1874 "Dear Sir^We, the-undersigned immigrants per Adamant, Chile, and Ocean Mail, about to proce"ed to theEaramea, also others remaining in Nelsorii wish to tender.you our heartfelt thanks for the kind cbnBideration you have shown to us. since, our landing in Jfew Zealand. • ;. ' ■ ; . „ ; "We are much indebted and very grateful to you for yotfr exertions in promoting the scheme bf settlement at the Karamea, which you placed'before us on landing in a scheme, we believe, which willrealise- oar most- sanguine expectations on leaving Great Britaio, and which we feel certain will secure * a comparative independence for ourselves and a freehold inheritance for our posterity. "We are alsp-anxioua to show oar gratitude to the GovernnHent iof'Few Zealand for the generous gnanndr in Vhich they hare treated us/ ; Their esertions to make us comrortabie, both on"the voyage from England to thiß Colony and on our landing vhere have won our admiration and esteem. The dietary scales provided by the Government afloat and ashore are liberai,-go6d,'and very satisfactory. " We'therdfore ask you,- Sir, to kindly convey our einceriilthanks to the Government for their kind coneideration for our general wellbeing. -Wegreatly appreciate both theirs efforts andyoursi Sir,- and for that reason we embrace this opportunity of expressing our-feelings'of thankfulness. ' Trusting that you ■willloiighftye health and strength to fulfill the'post ot Immigration Officer j and that your career through life will be'prosperous and happy; * we: remain, dear Sir, gratefully!yours, -;■■/ •'' j ; ; :f John STaylii«t ''•■'' '•*• ',$' -Hr H. KitigV . John Barrer,/ ;"';1 Wm."Bule,; Jamea Penney, Newton Bungay," -^Harles Martinj'Charles Penney, Laureflce laurenceson, ' ' '. iTames Moffafc,; Frederick SelKy, ' . 'Samuel Friend, Daniel Scarlett, Edwin^T; Charles; 'Daniel Hawker, John Johnson. ' Bobert Jphnaon, sen., Eobert Johnson, juu. WiJliatn Hougbtori, James Mylroie; James Coutts, John Georgeson,. W. S. Wiliiamß,;Peter Coutts, Elijah Merchant, :Thomas,Barrer;>Koberfc Henry, Alfred Hurcomb,;Bd. Ward, j;v-t A. Burton. -..i ■/ • {Eo Q* SHUott; Eiq., Immigratioa Officer " ' *