A correspondent has furnished us with a detailed account of a viait recently paid by him. to Martin's Bay, and one or two neighbouring localities. As the journey from Queenstown to Martin's Bay has been more than once described in our columns, we take up our correspondent's narrative at the point where he gives his impressions of the settlement at James town :—: — The settlement of Martin's Bay does not come up to my expectations. I ex pected to find something of a country lit to settle in, and was greatly disappointed. The township is situated on Lake M'Ker row, about four miles from the sea, and consists of exactly eight houses — only five of Avhich aro occupied. I cannot say much for the scenery of the surrounding coun try. Lake M'Kerrow is some eight miles long hy two broad, and is shut in by per pendicular ranges which come down to the water's edge, the whole lake being rock bound. The sea is not visible from the township, the view being cut off by bush and sandhills. Of arable land there is but very little, and one-half of the land is swamp andunfitf or cultivation, as drainage would be impossible. The farther you go towards the ranges the more swampy the ground becomes. The same is the case throughout the whole valley of the Holly f >rd, and neither will ever be a farming country. Of all the miserable settlements I ever saw or read of, Martin's Bay is the worst. The selection of the site is bad and a mistake, and although it is three years since the settlers first landed here, scarcely anything has been done amongst the whole lot. Only twelve acres have been cleared. Mind, no stumps have been removed, the ground between being only scratched up with a hoe or rake — not dug with a spade — and sown with wheat or potatoes. This extensive area, I was told, was next year to bo increased by four acres. There are no fences what ever—not so much as one surrounding a garden. Three persons have made gar dens, and au area of half an acre will comprise the whole. About a couple of dozen of currant and gooseberry bushes, with a few willows and oaks, comprise the whole of the plantations, which are rapidly receding into a state of nature. 