THE FORTUNATE ISLES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13122, 9 May 1903, Page 6

THE FORTUNATE ISLES.

There hav© been, two Pa.rlißtßont3.ry picnics this year. One is now in progress }, the other, and more important, concluded a fortnight ago, and a very interesting account of it is published in our columns this morning, frbm the pen of a ■whose identity is thinly veiled, or, we may say, more revealed than . concealed, by his initials. The cost of this picnic is not borne by the State, no luxuriously-fitted “ little palace conveyed the picnickers, and the earlier stages of the journey, at any rate, were not all smiles and sunshine; but we shall be surprised if the Chatham Island “jaunt” of the member for Lyttelton and our contributor is not more valuable to the colony in the long run than the expensive “Maying” of the Mapourika,, We pass over the somewhat sad and sobering introductory paragraphs of the story,, paragraphs which explain, probably, why , our contributor did not drop into poetry when he reached Arcady. There are lines in the “Lotos-Eaters” that would fit the experiences ■of these Arcades ambo. The picture we get of the life of the secluded islanders is quite idyllic. It seems almost , criminal to suggest the introduction, . into such a land of Crown lease controvert, sies, Farmers’ Unions,' 4 telegraphy, aiul other ~; evils of advanced civilisation. But we sus- , pect that the islanders themselves would - be better pleased to see the expansion of in- , ■dustry, the closer settlement of the laud and the more frequent communication with New Zealand which the changed condition? would render inevitable. Our contributor is strong in the belief that there is mucu more than a bare living to be made at the, , Chat-hams by double the present population. He hints that the Government might look in that direction for land for settle, ment, prices being naturally much lower than are demanded in New Zealand. He speaks, too, of the abundant supplies of fish iu the waters, and.we gather from, hi? -.- words that he proposes to interest himself.-,, in the exploitation of this sea of wealth. . The fishing industry, for some reason, has never been systematically developed in this, colony. Spasmodic experiments have proved , that there are plentiful supplies on our coasts, but capitalists do not seem disposed to invest sufficient money in the industry to enable the fish to be placed regularly ; on the local markets or to be frozto. and ■ exported. The islanders make few demands upon New Zealand. A Magistrate is re- ■ tained, but bis duties seem to be; mainlynominal, and could be discharged quite well, according to our contributor, by Justices of the Peace. We are glad to have so good an account of the island school,, and though perhaps the educational needs of the group are not met so fully as are those, say, of Christchurch, there is no room for complaint. A strong plea is entered for the appointment of a medical ’ officer for the islands. The people are very healthy, and a doctor’s time would not, therefore, be fully occupied, but there are ' cases in which medical skill could surely save lives. The difficulty is that the Government would have to provide the • greater part of the doctor's salary,- but it might easily be met by inducing a medical man to accept the appointment ol Magistrate. The islanders have no representative in. the New Zealand but by tradition the member for Lyttelton is supposed to look after tlieir interests,’ ■ and no doubt Mr Laurenson, who takes a very generous view of his responsibilities* _ will be heard on this subject during the coming session. The whole of-our contributor’s article is full of interest, and while the personal note makes it additionally attractive to Christchurch electors, the iu- • formation it contains should render it valuable and acceptable to readers in all part? of the colony.