LAND SETTLEMENT AT FORTROSE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, 17 May 1895, Page 5

LAND SETTLEMENT AT FORTROSE.

TO THE EDITOB. SIB,— I lead with pleasure the fatherly address of Mr Williams, tbe Chief Oommicßioner of Lands, the other day to the ballotera at Foitrose. He ffSongly advised tbem to " assist each flther in every way they possibly could." This advice seem* to me to be tbe beginning of the renaissance of a loßt art. People now-a-daysdo not think of assisting each otber : tbey are too much occupied with self, and too individualistic to spare any time to assist others. If any assistance iB required they would please be excused, bnt would, at the s>me time, most magnaoimously recommend your case to tbe favorable consideration of a very Liberal Government, who are expected to find a remedy for all tbe evils the colony is troubled with. Mi Williams did not forget at the 83 me time to pay a high compliment to the njariied people at the expense of tbe single. Perhaps they deserve it on both sides— in some instances ; but, speaking for tha single people, I must say tbeir case iB viewed unfairly veiy often. They are accused of reckleßßneEß and reckless spending, whioh are not trne aoonsations in most instances, bb single men are bound to spend more directly than married men, Tbey have no home, und must, therefore, find one and pay for it; and not only bo. but they are con* I sidered good game for storekeepers and | publicans, whose rapacity they too often fall victims to, besides hosts of others who think it no sin to flaece them iv the way of j donations for churches and schools, etc., etc , with the remark if they demur, " Oh, but you've only yonrßelf to keep," as if that makes his expenses any less 1 On the oon- 1 trary, in my opinion, it makes them all the more. , Mr Williams seems io think that the married people in all cases have offered the bpst security for advances to the Government. So they onghr. There are two against one working the concern, and when tbe man fails, does not his enfranchised better half step in, and manfully takes bis place ? But Mr Williams must have a much higher opinion of those married people than they have of him in the discharge of his duties, else wby did they consider it necessary to bring Mr McNab to tbe ballot "to see fair play dispensed?" These are Mr McNab's own ipswima verba at the finish of the day's proceedings, with an es'-urance tbat everything was carried on fair and above board, and seeing there were only four single men got sectiors out of nearly twenty applicants the married folks must have been highly delighted, no matter bow the Chief Com - miisioner may have felt.— l am, etc., Vas.