THE MARTIN'S BAY DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 11

THE MARTIN'S BAY DISTRICT.

INSPECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CROWN LANDS. The Commissioner of Crown Land* for Otago (Mr D. Barron). together with Messrs Livingstone and Mackenzie, members of the Land Board, have just returned from a visit to the far-disiant Martin's Bay district, away in the extreme north-we^tein corner of Otago. The Martin's Bay district "upwards of 30 or 40 years ago v* as partially opened up by the late Mi James Macandrew. A number of sections were then taken up, and a stait made b\ the settlers to clear their holdings or their virgin bush. The district wa«. howeier, such a very isolated one and the work of clearing the land attended by so many difficulties that the usual thing happened. The small band of settlers became despondent and hopeless, and eradually dropped one by one away from the district. The number of settlers was thus slowly but surely reduced, until at the present time there is only one holdinjr occupied in <hp whole district — that of the M'Kenzie brother.*. Some of the settlers who were there did not do a great deal towards clearing their selections, and the result is that tho greater portions of the abandoned areas have now gone back (o their former wild state and are covered with dense scrub and undergrowth The want of communication wth the outride world made it an impossible plac* to live in, and that the few pottlers did leave it is not to be wondered at. The last three or four settlers certainly did make a brave fight against the prevailing conditions, but in this case the overwhelming difficulties of way-back settlement pre\aikd, and in the end they had to <xi\e up the idea of bringing their holdings into anything like a state of cultivation or into a fit condition for grazing purposes. The only two men now left are, as stated above, the M'Kenzie brothers, who, in addition to original selection, utilise practically the whole country for grazing purposes. As a matter of fact, tbe\ aie in sole possession. They ha^e a small run with about 200 head of cattle on it But the feeling of isolation is there all the same. The approach to the Martin's Ray district from the sea is first by the river Hollyford, and then by Lake M'Kerrow. There 16 a good supp'y of timber in the district, but the development of a successful timber industry practically depends upon the accessibility of the harbour. But the harbour is not accessible, and a solution of the difficulty which at present exist*

in this connection would probably be the ' cleaving away of the rocks at the entrance. The timbor is somewhat scattered, hut there appears to be sufficient of it there for the payable working of two sawmillsone on each side of the lake. But, as already stated, everything 1 depends on (ho harbour. If the rocks at the entrance were blown out. as proposed, ■vessels v*"> to, su\ , 500 tons could go up the river. The river is na\igable from where it empties itself into the sea for a distance of about four mile* up stream, and at that point it meets the M'Kerrow Lake, which has water deep enough for anvth:ng\ The position is. however, that the establishment of a flawrmllinK industry and the making of the harbour accessible to vessels of moderate size munr go hand in hand. The Government, of course, would not be justified in doins anything in the wav of clearing the harbour unless there was an absolute assurance that a sawroillins; industry was to be established, or c on until the industry was an actuality. If the mills were there, there is. we have reason to state, not the least ' doubt but that the Government would undertake the work of clearing the har-

hour. On the other hand, if the mills ' were placed tlicie and the Gov ernmcni | saw fit to decline to clear the harbour of ; its obstructions, that, it must be borne ' in mind, wo'.ld be a "\erv senous matter for the owner* of the mills. Scattered over the district these is a sufficient quantity of red pine, which ia (he commercial timber of the d,\\ . also a quantity of red fcirch, which is said to be a \ery favourable timber for stroct-pa\inp; purposes. There is, of course, plenty of other timber there, but none of it with any striking commeicial \alvie. One or two mills would certainly succeed m the district, everything, of course, depending upon the accessibility of the harbour. The receiving- of certain applications by the board from persons evidontlv desirous of taking up selections in the Martin's Bay distuct led to the visit made by the board, and the said applications will accordingly receive- the consideration of the board at . an early date. j

Over 30,000 hordes are annually slaughtered in Paris for food. The carcase of an average horse yields about 3691 be of meat.