THE ALBERTLAM GAZETTE. DEC. 2, 1863. ALBERTLAND.

A Spectator of events, hearing various .rumours concerning us, might well feel in clined to ask what and where Albertland may be. The fair vision of a thousand godly people settling down in a brother hood for purposes of social and religious progress, and thus rearing a new home and city in this land has certainly not been realized as yet. On the other hand our divisions have had about as m uch influence in procuring us whatever notoriety we may have reached. Our history from May 29, 1862, at the East India Docks, would like the history of this wide world at least have its epochs marked by " fifteen " ( or any other number of) "battles," yet by discords wounds, either healed, or left to rankle. The first sale of Town Lands, which ought to have been a grand and solemn laying of the foundations of our city, was a scene of absurd misunderstanding, and as yet not a single clod of the soil is turned with in the limits of that accurately defined paper town. It is true that subsequent, more quiet saleshave raised up some score of actual wooden hous3S, with living men .and women moving about within them ; but this has been effected only through, and in spite of a ceaseless storm of oppo sition. Now, our brothers of the Paparoa renounce the very title of Albertland, and doubt whether they can get any good ( might they possibly do some,) by che rishing association with their friends of the •Oruuwharo. One settler declares in pub lic meeting assembled, that the Association formed ia London is gone to shreds! and that not'amaaof us need recognize any of the mutual obligations under whose sacred banner we came out, to be rather helpers -oi' each other, than jealous rivals. . j

An tl to come down to small p racfcical .fitters;'we bear of this doctrine finding

its illustration. One brother had been pleasantly anticipating1 making a little purchase in stock ; another brother hear ing a whisper of the same, slyly slips in and secures the purchase before him. All this doubtless looks ugly enough, and may well make onlookers wonder what may be the doom of Alhertland. Nor are we much surprised that distant friends should shake their heads in sadness and murmur " total failure." But after all, we who are1* on the spat, kuow better; simply because the experi ence we have been passing through has given us a fresh insight into human nature and human life. We are urged to one conclusion, that amidst the complications of society in England, could not be antici pated, viz. that Association is an art of great difficulty, to be attained only hy earnest study and practice. In an old established country men are so accustomed to fall into masses, and torun only in the narrow guage provided by the great social machinery, that societies can start up like mushrooms, live as luxuriantly, and per> haps pass away as easily. Were they can not get into being at all. Men are placed in such entirely new circumstances, freed from t all the restraints of the old life, each having his own path to shape and his very conceptfons of life to create, as well as his fortunes to build up, that it becomes really a hard task when he wishes to put himself into unity with another man who is placed under the same strong necessity. No doubt this will largely account for the sad, but certain fact of the want of unity iu all these young settlements. Next month we hope to have both time and space to point out some evidences lying beneath the sur face, justifying the conviction we hold to, in spite of all—and which for the present we merely affirm.

Albertland "n.on deletus est."

SETTLER'S MEETING.

On. Nov, 4,. the usual meeting was held ad joining Isles', when Mr. Aiex. Campbell was voted to the chair. , . The Secretary having read the minutes of the last meeting, they were formally passed on.the motion of Messrs. Ed'ge'r and Worker. The question of a Board of Management . being the first on the Minutes, Mr. Worker said he had advocated the formation of such a board on former-occasions,.but he had since seen greater reason than ever,, he hoped his ; remarks would" not be considered personal, bat.be wished to know if the Secretary was also Secretary/to the Trustees. No person ; replying, he preceded to make a statement ■ wherein .he complained th_tt Mr; Johnson had been guilty of an excess of duty, in refusing- to allot a.piece of.Town land to Mr. Bailey, and also of an advertisement in which his name appeared, giving notice as to the expiry of the-6.months for fulfilling the conditions. Mr. Eager thought the speaker was out of order. • Mr. Worker.wished to know all that was done, and how it was done. Mr..Collinge said Mr. Johnson had been J appointed secretary to the trustees, and .was surj£rised_to.hear the question;, (

Mr. Worlcor said the Trusees had not power ' to appoint a secretary, it was a' blunder he could overlook, but would not acknowledge the act. ' " ' •;', '.. Mr. Collinge was of a different opinion, the trustees required a secretary, and they had appointed one, they had not exceeded their ' powers. Mr. Edgcr corroborated this view, they required a person to correspond and act for them,-a Board of Management wouldnot in terfere with them. He-described the course adopted with allotments, all applications• were received by the secretary and laid* be fore them in due course, aud if no, reason was* seen to the contrary the allotment was granted: Mr; Johnson explained Mr. Bailey's case, the portion applied for by him had already, been applied for b}' Mr..Hindle, a deposit paid;; aud the allotment granted by the trustees, he refused to allot any land' himself, or do any . act of his own accord,, without the sanction of the trustees. ..,.,:. MivEchver showed' how necessary it was to let the decision rest with the trustees as a body. Mr. Marcroft thought it was very fitting • and'convenient to have a.proper officer to re- ,. ceive applications, and showed the difficulty. of transacting business on their behalf, as-. evidenced in a recent case. Dr. Bell moved " That the trustees be re quested' to draw up satisfactory regulations to enable parties to locate at-once," Mr. Steventon thought the only difficulty was that one man could not have what ano— ' ther man wanted, (.hear.) - Dr. Bell would bring the question to a ■ practical issue. Mr. Edger said there was no question at .? issue. It was evident tlat all the others were of* the same opinion, as no more was said on the subject.. ' Mr. Collinge thought all that was required* was the formation of a town hoard under the Act, he had purchased a copy in town for the trustees, which would remain with the Se cretary, for public inspection. The question of the erection of a building.,' on the market site, was postponed sine die. Dr. Bell said that the proposed Agricultu ral Society seemedlikely to fall to the ground' he urged that it was very desirable to push, forward such a society. Mr. Pettet thought' it had fallen through,, he would'propose the formation of a society, - a friendly sort af thing, to meet at each others houses, commencing with his own, say on the 25th Nov. being full moon. Dr. Bell was glad' to hear of.the idea, and' would join it. He thought it would be well, to open a competition for various garden pro duce, and'; moved" the following resolution, ■• which was carried with acclamation : " That a friendly competition for farm and garden produce be held at Port Albert on the • market-day. in March next, and that Messrs.. ■ Bell, Armitage and E; Marcroffe be a commit tee to draw up the rule's and regulations, the • same to be produced"next market-day for the - approval of the settlers. It was understood that the above would be open to all comers,

PAPAROA SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.

The first annual meeting of the SettlerriWas held at Mr. Haines' on the Township site, on Friday, Oct. 9th. The weather being very" unfavorable prevented the attendance of the- Matakohe settlers; about 50'were present'" from Paparoa.. . ,-y \.

THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE.

2



'NOTICE is herehy given that in case the following persons neglect to fulfill the Conditions.on whichall allotments, are sold in the town of Port Albert by the dates respectively affixed to their names any deposit money paid will be forfeited and they will cease to have any claim on such Town Lands. W. Pettet, Dec. 31st. ..'■..• K.Cutforth, „ R. Nicholson, „ B. Yates, Feb. 28th, 1864. S.Edger, By order of the Trustees, SAML. JOHNSON, Secretary. Port Albert, Sept. 3,-1803. PUBLIC NOTICE. ALL Applications for land, " Town, " or " Suburban," in Port Albert, must in future-be made.in writing, through the Secretary. By order of the Trustees, SAML. JOHNSON, Secretary .'Port Albert, Aug. 22, 1863.