CATLINS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11188, 10 August 1898, Page 6

CATLINS.

TO tjie :-:;;;to.r. ; "■ Sib, —It is quite certain some further iiv ducement will hare to be given to settlement in this district, otherwise a lot of work in the way of'roads, etc., will be thrown away," as many settlers are already giving wp their sections, and plenty, more to follow. ' 1 was therefore pleased to see an article in your Saturday's issue, and can generally endorse most of the statements therein contained. Indeed, bush land of this description is ""dear at a gift," and it is altogether impossible for one without means to be successful... At the same time, its capacity to produce good, grass almost all the year .round should make it. bv.-nnd-bye. a good dairy district. But tc load the first settlers with the nrie'e of roadmaking, and also to charge, as you point out. n price for what is useless to him at tht time, is unreasonable, and without doubt must result. in disappointment and . failure, j 1 would suggest tiiab tiie.members of the Land ' Board, or some other constituted authority, visit the district in the spring' and thoroughly investigate. It is better for. the' Government, to keep a hold on the land, but let the new: man have time, say, five years at least—lo would be better —before he.is asked to'pay n cent, of either rent or rates. He might then lie:able to jpay 20s an acre, as by that time he; would either "have' made a spoon -or 'spoiled a horn." Tfiose. who undertake-this . ; " herculean-task," as, you well call: it,!';want.- , every Encouragement that thoss-;. living comfortably in r to'\vi)s can give, otherwise what '■'.&■' i.to, becomo of: the. country? ..If New Zealand. |is to succeed, homes must,'be carved out not .. j only on. the open land, but also'in the.bushl i Give .the young men a chance.;. ;Yon might ! say. surely the few pounds, required for rent, etc.,. should not deter or decide,;.but it is astonishing, the difference of only; a few . pounds makes to,the struggling settler. Here.. ; allow me. to. slightly .ijorrect your.; article in. [the illustration given •—namely. "a. settler ! commences to clear, the first yenr- falls..say,.I 10. acres, next; year he can keepia couple of. cows." as,one who knows from-,experience. Let me-remind you. that the first ..year after i s-owinsr—that is. the next. sprin'e.-T-histead of.; grass he will have thistles, six feet high, iiripenetrable to man or beast, until;. well into, ;the autumn. Next year ." Stinking John." . ' or a yellow,weed just a,s thick, but not, bo I bad to geti through., afterwards. ~ .That ia • |. three years .after sowing, his gras.s '■.will:, begin ■ i.to, come oh and improve 'yearly,• making it ~ j• fotir years from the. ; .start! So ho.; wonder it :.is;,as you remark—Scfltv living,'-"' but, "pimplyI existing, is.the-lot of the.first settlers in out-;. way places at.'Catlins. In jcdnclusipn', . let me say ..Catlins is not such a bad' place to. ■'live in, .'notwithstanding''its humidity -0f.,.01i- '■ 1 mate, provided the necessaries of ; life-can. be , obtained. There are lovely days.,there, and / .' about, the Fame number of them; : as.in Duri-' : edin. As to. prefemng:! Canada,1.: I 'cannot . ■ agree with, .seeing.that we,have notHhe same ' ■ rigorous winter to contend, with.; making.; it_.. - needful to house cattle many • months, in the . -.-'year; whereas .with _us they winter, Comfor- ■ ''•-able outside, and'in. 'he summer -we1 never ; ..•he'ar...of i 'sunstrbke. .Hoping'.;spme otbler .pen ; -than mine. wilL.take' this^ma^tter" up^l.-anv . ,-etc.,. . . .j..;. '•" :-\ <:■ , ■ -,■-, '; ",".' ' .': ". ; ;.. ,;. S ; August; 6.-.--.: •'■.... ;.:*Ose, Who;- Knows./, ;