The Position of the Waiau Settlers.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 23

The Position of the Waiau Settlers.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— Some time ago I soughb, through bhe columns of your valuable paper, bo direcb public abbenbion bo bhe disgraceful breabment bhe new sebblers ab Clifden, on the western side of the Waiau, were receiving ab bhe hands of our very Liberal Government, and I would again beg bo brouble you for space to comment on the same.

It is now four months since the land on Clifaenwas taken up by the settlers, and at bhe bime it was opened for selection ib was heavily loaded for bhe price of a bridge across bhe Waiau river and Jor making roads for bhe setblers to obtain access to their holdings. Now, Sir, it is simply scandalous thab they should pay a heavy bax for these thing 3 and yeb all the means thab are provided tor bhe transport of goods across a river nearly as large as the Clubha is a small boat, which the Hon. John M'Kenzie said the other, day in a telegram which was published was inbended for passenger traffic only. Now, bhe Hon. John musb be an exceedingly liberal-minded man if he bhinks bhis is sufficient for bhe transport of heavy goods such as fencing and building material, and, as I pointed oub in my last letter, the ferry conbractor is allowed bo charge exorbibanb rates for bhe mere crossing of setblers and bheir horses (for when a settler wanbs bo travel in a district like this it is useless for him bo abbempb to do so wibhoub his horse). No provision ab all was made for the crossing of heavy material, and ib has bo be done entirely at bhe settlers' own expense. This is prebby rich after our pay iDg for bhe bridge ; yet no doubt if the settlers do not carry oub bhe condibions on which bhey have taken up bhe land Mr M'Kenzie will be down on them fasb enough. No doubt when the next session comes on he will make a greab boasb, as he always does, aboub the number of people he has placed on the land ; but if none of them are more fairly treated than the Clifden settlers bhere will be very little chance of their being able to remain long there. Sorely, the least that can be done for us is to provide a large boat or a punt, and let bhe ferry contract on such terms bhab we can have our goods transported across bhe river free of charge till the bridge is erecbed, albhough in bhe firsb place the price of tho bridge should never have been placed on the land, bub bhe matter left entirely for the sebblers bo decide. However, as bhe Government has taken so much on itself it should go far enough to ccc that simple justice is done in the matter. I suppose the Government is too busy looking after its adopted children, the unemployed, bo pay any atbenbion bo counbry sebblers, and yeb ib would like bo pose as bhe farmers' friend. If the farmers would only look to their own interests they would vobe againsb such a Government bo a man when elecbion time comes. — I am, &c, Clifden, May 1. H.f.B.