Establishment of the Settlement.

A town had been laid out at Arawata. The survey of suburban and rural allotments had been completed, and the settlers at once began the hard task of making an idea become a fact. According to the conditions of settlement, the land was to be held by annual payment of rent extending over a period of seven years, the payments entitling the settler to the freehold at the end of that time. For the first two years, also, on three days a week they were to be provided by the Government with work on the road through the block, or such other works as might be undertaken. At the end of the following May, the population totalled 175—60 men, 25 women and 72 children. The majority were entering with spirit into the work of settling, but the agent pointed out that the ultimate success of their efforts would depend on the erection of a jetty and on the speedy opening up of communication with the east coast via the Haast Pass. Only by this route could the majority of settlers obtain stock at prices which they could afford to pay.

Unfortunately, as the year went on, trouble arose. In the “New Zealand Times” appeared letters and a leading article containing grave charges of maladministration in connection with the affairs of Jackson's Bay settlement. Bonar, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Immigration, said he would be glad if the Government would send some independent person to the settlement to report fully on it, and look into the grossly unfair charges levelled against himself. About this time Mr. Charles Woolcock (Secretary of Public Works) paid a visit to Jackson's Bay. He reported most favourably on the settlement, and stated that the trouble was due to half-a-dozen malcontents.