COLONIAL SKETCHES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 206, 3 September 1867, Page 2

COLONIAL SKETCHES.

IV. — THE EUKHOLDER. Society owes a great debt to those who reside upon the margin of civilisation, and endeavor by sheer force of will and perseverance to extend its operations. Separation from his fellows is one of the severest trials which can come upon the mind of man, and it was upon this principle that banishment was enacted as one of the greatest puuishraents of the law, In olden times, when society was more rude, separation was looked upon with great fear. The feelings and sentiments which cluster about the "roof-tree" are painful to sever, and the communion with friends and our holiday-making form the sunshine of our lives. The theatre, concert-room, and the garden minister pleasure to the mind, while the refreshing stroll by the winding stream on a sunny afternoon, breathes ' health into the frame. To shut one out from these pleasures, and to exclude our steps from the home fields is justly looked upon as a great punishment. How much then ought we to honor the pioneer of

progress ! They have'sacrificed the enjoy- \ ments of society .and erected' altars to their Lares and Penates in tbe desert. They have to endure great hardships before they succeed iv establishing a home. It is comparatively easy for those who confine themselves to the trodden paths of life to determine a proper course,- findiug, as they do, others following the same vocation in close proximity to them. The farmer who tills* his acres in an agricultural district observes others gaining a livelihood by the same" process, and knows that success will attend him equally with them. Not so with the runholder. He has to thread his way far from the haunts of men. He has to drive his stock over dangerous rivers and through dark ravines. Wheu he reaches h ; s country he has to create all the uecessaries of life for himself, aud gather round him food for the mind during leisure hours. Nearly all the men who thus eliminate themselves from society are possessed of education and have been reared in the midst of circumV stances which led them to appreciate it ; yet they dive into the obscure corners of the colony, aud for years live a solitary, and secluded lift*. Fortune when thus pressed iv many instances yields her richest' prizes. In Australia the greatest fortunes were gained in this manuer, and the runholders iv New Zealand, as a rule, have been the most successful class. The Wairau offers a good case in point. When. Major Morse first drove a flock of sheep thither from Nelson his fellow-colonists considered his scheme unfeasible, and scarce dreamed of the wealth that was to be gained there in future years. Several however -followed his example, but the hardships they had to eucouuter were not sufficient to conquer their enterprise, aud the cloud which had long turned its dark side to them revealed its silver lining. They gathered the harvest which was sown amid hardships, and uurtured in solitude. And we deem it narrowminded of those who grudge them their fruits. No greater mistake could be committed than to paralyse the arm of the runholder by legal restrictions. There is a class of people in the colony who pretend to look with dismay upon the large runs possessed by these geutlemen, aud argue that they are favored over their fellow-colonists. We condemn those who lock up extensive tracts uselessly, but our sympathy rests with the sterling runholder. The land which they search out and occupy would in many instances have lain undisturbed by the occupants of small faunas. Provincial Councillors have not been wanting who have desired to throw every obstacle iv the way of those who occupy the waste lands, and have clamorously demanded that a tax be imposed upon wool. Their argument is that, as there exists a duty upon gold, so there ought to be one placed upon wool. They forget that the former duty is levied principally for the maintenance of order and tbe construction of roads upon the gold-fields; and that the runholding class cause comparatively little expense under either of these heads. Then we would ask why wool should be placed under restriction more than that imposed upon, cheese, or any other produce? Surely no just reason can be given. The General Government of the colony have wisely struck from Provincial Bills auy principle which vitally affected the privileges of the runholder, who deserves to be aided and encouraged in the excellent work he carries on for the general prosperity of the colony. From this rank are recruited many of the ablest men in New Zealand, for their education and social training have fitted them for the highest offices of the State. Iv both Houses of Parliament they form a very large proportion of the members, and the best administrative capability , in the colony is found among them. Scan the list of men who are eminent in New Zea"land aud nearly all will be found to. have some connection with the subject of our prosent paper. And in this we recognise a power which has materially aided the development of our prosperity. The runholder is not generally a man whoj confines his mind between the narrow hedgerows of the path in which circumstances have thrown him. The necessities of the colony and the administration of its affairs awake au interest, within him and lead him to devote time aud ability to the general good. As colonisation advances and greater demands are made upon the waste land, the runholder must disappear. But until such time arrives let us trust that no restrictions will be placed upon them; but that every aid may be given .to their work — a work alike profitable to ' them and tp the colony at large.

tw "° l '*" " "*" """' ' ' II.MIWI •t?*mr~*amm l m?mM*~mtmmxMmmm^m*m^^. A lake has been discovered in the State ofc- lowa* occirpying- a - surface •of 2,800 acres, which is between two or three feet higher than the surrounding country, and surrounded by a carefully built wall ten or' fifteen feet wide. When or by ■whom the wall, which is very old, was bnilt, no ono cau discover. The stones of the wall, vary in weight from a hundred . pounds to three tons. There are. no atones on the land within ten miles around the lake.