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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 77

[introduction]

It is somewhat difficult to write a clear and concise account of the days o' auld lang syne, available material from which to draw inspiration not being plentiful, the preserved records of the past being scant, and the traditions of the fathers have become hazed and obscure. Such as we have we give, and someone else may supplement according as they have opportunity.

It naturally occurs to refer to official documents for reliable information as to how things were in primitive days, and of these, so far as available, advantage will be taken, although, sad to say, very many of these, from several causes, are now lost to sight however dear they may be to memory. Every facility has been afforded in hunting them up, and the result of the search is now with pleasure presented to our readers.

The Clutha district was held by many as the centre from which all the other partitions of the settlement of Otago should have radiated, and there is no doubt many substantial grounds were urged for the opinion. Its position as the heart of, the selected block, the lay and extent of its grand and fertile area, the immense stretch of available depasturing country around to the south and west further than the eye could reach, the comparative ease with which internal communication could be opened, its copious water supplies in all directions, its known mineral deposits (containing untold treasures of comfort and wealth, easy to be procured), together with its genial clime, were attractions hard to resist, giving weight and force to the arguments plentifully brought forth by the strenuous advocates. It was true that bush was not very lavishly distributed, and the scarcity of timber, such an essential requisite for building and fencing, was urged as an objection; and another, more powerful, was the want of a bay or harbour in which ships in all weathers could lie safely at anchor, and a port (free from sudden river floods) where cargoes could be loaded and discharged without undue risk. Both these disadvantages, it was maintained, could be easily met and overcome by a moderate outlay of money.

page 13

The discussion was not confined to the question ox headquarters or capital only; others were introduced to promote discontent and, if possible, burst up the settlement, the' main principle on which it, along with its neighbouring settlement—Canterbury—was founded, being very obnoxious and repugnant to a number, and in the light of our present day socialism appears even more so. The name contemptuously given was that of "Class," which that of Otago did not justly merit, as it was open to all to join whatever their creed or tenets might be. Without doubt, at its initiation, the idea prevailed to make it a Presbyterian settlement; so also was it to make Canterbury Anglican. In both cases the idea received substantial recognition as the Church lands testify. But it was not exclusive, as among the first immigrants were representatives of almost every religious belief.

The feud was carried on with considerable bitterness in the columns of the newspaper and by pamphlet, threatening to frustrate progress and prosperity. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr Mantell) was known to be in direct antagonism to the whole scheme of settlement, and did not hesitate openly to declare and show his opposition, going even so far as to express his desire to wipe out the name Dunedin. Among the efforts laid to his charge was the authorship of long letters which appeared in several numbers of the Otago News, afterwards published in the form of a pamphlet, intended for circulation at Home and in the colonies, and bearing the signature "Agricola," in which the monstrous notion was uttered and enforced that the whole lands within the Otago Block, including the rich and fertile districts of Clutha, were not adapted for the growth of grain crops, only fitted for the grazing of sheep and cattle.

A few of the bolts shot by this great Jove and others may prove interesting reading, and are justifiably included here:—

"Looking at the map of Otago District our prosperity as a town must entirely depend on our herds of cattle and flocks of sheep; in fact, we do not possess in any part of the district land suitable for the success of agricultural pursuits. The suburban sections in nine cases out of ten are worthless as farms for years to come. We rate the advantages and disadvantages as follows:—The Taieri district, although possessing a few good sections, is allowed by all to be nothing but a lake in winter; and, even if it were not, a few flocks of sheep would soon fill it. The Tokomairiro is in some places extremely narrow, but offers greater advantages for grazing page 14 than the Taieri, by opening into the Molyneux district along the shores of the Tuakitoto Lake. Crossing the Kaoui River we enter not only the real but the most extensive and valuable grazing country in the Otago Block, and to these plains must we look for the future source of our riches and commercial prosperity. Allowing then that the Otago district is essentially a grazing district—and who can deny it? why have the company and association not acted on the knowledge and sent out a class of free immigrants, who would have proved a valuable acquisition to the purchasers of land and stock?"

Another says:—"The Taieri plain is, with here and there an exception, one vast swamp; so much so that the southern part is incapable of being laid out in sections. The Waihola comes next with beautiful pasturage. The Tokomairiro is one vast plain, without flax, fern, or tutu, covered with fine dry grass upwards of a foot high, suited for sheep rather than cattle. The Molyneux district has on the banks of its river a large portion of remarkably rich but swampy land, the island is subject to inundations, and for the most part swampy. There is more good land in this district than I have yet seen, and capable of being easily brought into cultivation, but in my idea it would be ridiculous for a man to lay out his capital in producing corn, which might at some distance of time yield him 30 per cent., when he could, without risk, gain 100 per cent, in cattle, and have his capital always available."

Another makes a calculation, and says:—"The owner of a flock of 2000 sheep will require some 5000 acres to feed them. Ten flocks of the same limited amount will require 50,000 acres, and 50 flocks will take up the whole of the Block." On this liberal principle the whole settlement would be occupied, representing a population of 50 runholders with their dependents.

The editor of the News says:—"If we suppose it—that the estimate made of the capabilities of the district—refers to the confessed superiority in a commercial and successful point of view of the Otago Block as a pastoral over an agricultural country, we again reiterate the fact. Our ultimate prosperity must depend, not on our agriculture, but on the extent of our flocks and herds. We say we have no land suitable for the success of agricultural pursuits in a commercial and prospective point of view; in fact, we shall not be able to grow sufficient grain and vegetables from 10-acre sections to supply our own market for many years to come, if ever. The Otago page 15 settlement possesses an intrinsic merit which sooner or later will be perceived, and responded to by capitalists at Home and abroad; till then we leave the decision of the pastoral and agricultural question, feeling certain it will succeed in one—when our splendid plains are filled with stock."

There can be no doubt some of these writers were sincerely honest in their opinions, with others the wish was father to the thought. Had any of them been alive to-day, which is unfortunately not the case, they would be disillusioned and mystified at the great changes which have been brought about; and no one more so than the highly esteemed editor himself. The swamps have been drained, scrub and tussock cleared off, all the plains and hillsides are dotted with smiling homesteads occupied with an energetic humanity, the luxuriant crops of grain and roots spread over almost the whole area, and the pasture fields teeming with flocks and herds, all give testimony that the answer to the question of the editor should not be in one respect only, but in three—rapid, substantial, and increasing progress in our