SETTLEMENT ON STEWART'S ISLAND.

».—No 7a.

7

These harbors are most easy of access from the main, have been tolerably explored by the settlers residing in them, (some of many years standing) are the most sheltered of the harbors of the Island, and are admirably adapted for the settlement of a body of men whose peculiar calling and training will enable them to utilize to the utmost the timber and fisheries. Along the coast, from Port William, northward, to Black Rock Point, there are several small harbors and sheltered beaches, such as Otahou, Murray River, Christmas Village, Lucky Beach, Orouti, in the vicinity of which the land is good. These, scaling the admiralty chart, give a harbour and sea-board frontage as follows :— Black Rock Point to Port William ... 15 miles. Port William 4 „ Horse Shoe and Half-Moon Bays ... 3. v Paterson's Inlet ... ... ... ... 38 ~ Which, with a depth of half-a-mile, gives 20,000 acres, or at a mile, double that quantity. At least a third of the frontage, however, is too precipitous for settlement, so that probably the available area may be roughly estimated at 25,000 acres. This can only be an approximate estimate, the chart of the Island being on a very small scale ; and though I have visited and inspected most of the harbors, the interior is almost a terra incognita. There are besides, Port Adventure, Lord's River, Port Pegasus, all good harbors and remarkably well adapted for fishing settlements ; the last, Port Pegasus, particularly so, the best fishing grounds being in its vicinity, while for boat or ship building purposes it is unrivalled. On the west coast of the Island there is a tolerable extent of fair and level land, fronting Mason Bay and running into the interior. While I am of opinion the principle of free selection, as being more likely to satisfy the desires of the immigrants and conduce to the success of the undertaking, should be admitted, I think it would be advisable to locate the first batch of settlers in the four harbors already mentioned, more particularly Port William, where there is a small house, a police station belonging- to the Government, which, with some other buildings, private property,would afford immediate shelter to the immigrants. In Half-Moon Bay there are several families located—two, Messrs Harrold and Scollay from the Shetland Islands, and some Germans who would, I feel assured, afford every assistance to the strangers while at the Neck, Paterson's Inlet, and scattered about inside the harbor temporary accommodation could be obtained ; thus, instead of being landed unshielded in the wilderness, the first pilgrims would have warmth and shelter for their families, and time to look about them for a choice of location. This, though apparently trifling, has no inconsiderable effect in cheering the spirits, raising the hopes, and producing a favorable early impression. There is a fishery established in Paterson's Inlet, and one about to be started in Port William, at both of which some of the immigrants could no doubt readily obtain employment, if they are willing to charge moderately for their services. Area for each family. —Half-an-acre in a village or township, or twenty or twenty-five acres suburban land. In encouraging such settlement as that under contemplation by the Government, I presume the chief object is to farm the sea, and not the land. Any inducement offered by the Government calculated to divert the attention of the immigrants from this intention, will be likely to frustrate the successful operation of the undertaking. The true policy to be pursued, in my opinion, as regards the immigrants themselves, is to let them understand at the first that they are to depend for subsistence on the produce of the sea, and avocations in connection with it. As regards the Government, to avoid the possibility of closing the valuable fisheries by giving away the frontages on the coast and in the harbors, to men, who, from being too liberally supplied with free land, are tempted to turn their attention to it for a living, content to grow sufficient food, which, with an occasional draught of fish, will keep them and their families in indigent idleness, and prove as useless colonists as the Maoris and Half-castes, who have hitherto vegetated on the Island; instead of a hardy, energetic people, who, while achieving an honorable independence, benefit the general community by developing a great industry. In the homes they are leaving, they have, so far as I can gather, very small holdings, yet there, a good area of land for each family might be considered not unreasonable. The climate is severe, and in winter they are almost entirely prevented from pursuing their calling ; to have land, the cultivation of which would occupy their attention and keep their energies in healthy activity, would be an advantage; but at Stewart's Island there need be no interruption in following their legitimate pursuits. The winters are not severe, fish can be caught and cured in any season, and may be trawled for between Port William and Saddle Point however hard the south-west wind—the prevalent one—may blow, as doubtless, also, all along the east coast of the Island, by experienced fishermen in well appointed crafts; while in the numerous sheltered coves and inlets in the various harbours of the Island, boat and ship building could be carried on throughout the year, or during those intervals when the weather might be considered too inclement to warrant the exposure consequent on deep sea fishing. Nature has lavishly furnished the material for a hardy industry, and I think every action of the Government should carefully tend towards its vigorous development.