A FISHING SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1029, 19 August 1871, Page 4

A FISHING SETTLEMENT.

(Auckland Morning News.)

The action taken by the Provincial Council last session, in reference to the establishment of coast fisheries and fishcuring estsiblishments, is likely to be attended with success. Messrs Murdoch, M'Leod, and Dr Perston, of Whangarei, have determined to establish a fish-curing smd exporting trade on a considerable scsile. For this purpose, when in Auckland some weeks ago, they applied personally and by letter to the Superintendent, for two blocks of land, with boat harbour accommodsition, as sites on which they were prepared to erect stores and buildings suited for the trade, together with fishermen's cottsiges. It was contemplated forming two special settlements, on convenient sites on the East Coast, north of Whangsirei harbour, where suitable timber for house and boat building purposes could be secured. But the Provincial Government did not, from reasons partly of policy and partly of a legal nature, comply with the request Messrs M'Leod and Perston. The area asked for was thought to be too large ; and one of the blocks applied for had not been handed over to the province. Moreover, the Superintendent was unable to make a special reserve in favour of any individuals, nor could a lease be granted for more than three yesirs. Thus the intentions of the Council were in danger of being frustrated, through legal smd technical difficulties. But an application was made to the Colonial Government through the Government Agent at Auckland, which was attended with somewhat more satisfactory results-, and the two gentlemen nsimed bought a cutter, the Blanche, and made arrangements for erecting stores and other necessary buildings.

Their enterprise is likely to be attended with satisfactory results. The Waipu settlers are Novsi Scotians, familisir with the coast and bank fishings from early childhood, and they have entered with spirit into the project. Messrs M'Leod and Perston undertake to buy all the dried fish brought to them sit a remunerative figure ; and as this is the system in operation in the msuitime provinces of British North America, it is the best understood by those who would be likely to engsige in fishing.

We have been informed that more than a dozen bosits are being built in and around Whangarei harbour, to engage in the fishing trade. The certainty of a market sit paying rates is a gresit inducement to the settlers, who otherwise would be deterred from embarking in the business as a settled industry. No doubt Messrs M'Leod and Perston will find si foreign market for sill the dried fish they can bxiy, smd thereby add to the material wealth of the colony. The immense advantages which the New Zealand cosist offers to experts in the fishery trade, only require to be generally known to induce them to come here in large numbers. It is gresitly to Messrs M'Leod and Perston's credit that they have set an example in this matter. We hope it may be very generally followed ; and we would indicate the Kaipara harbour as a most desirable position for a fishing stsition. The inner waters and bsmks teem with valuable fish, which may be caught and cured for export at comparatively trifling cost. Let us hope that some of our Kaipara friends will emulate the enterprise of the Whangarei settlers.

The Nelson Mail instances a case of Chi. nese smartness. It says : — "By the steamer Wellington, which entered our harbour on Saturday morning List, one Wong Ah Chee arrived with an assortment of teas and fancy goods of every description. During the day he secured and stocked a shop, which fsiet was duly advertised in that evening's paper. That ' Heathen Chinee ' won't starve here or anywhere else,"