The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1886. CRUMBS OF COMFORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1432, 15 December 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1886. CRUMBS OF COMFORT.

Things have so long been in a bad way in New Zealand that it is pleasant to be able to gather together a few crumbs of comfort for the regalement of our readers. The first of these comes from Auckland, where indications of a revival of trade in the country districts is reported. The Herald's Cambridge correspondent writes :—“ The country is looking well, and there is a general feeling of confidence that we shall have a good harvest. The turn in the tide, it is felt, has already taken place, and that the wave of general depression which has swept over b the whole world is now at last receding. Business in all the Waikato centres is reported to be brisker. People generally are tiavelling more, and a.noteworthy change in the barometer in this district ts to be found in the fact that inquiries are being made for country lands by intending purchasers.” The next crumb that may be taken as an instalment of the full loaf of prosperity, which it is to be hoped will ere long give us a full meal of good things all round, comes from Wellington, whence we learn that a representative of one of the largest powder manufacturers in England has almost completed arrangements for the establishment of mills in New Zealand, which, it is contemplated, will not only supply the colony, but command a large export trade with the Australian colonies, India, and China. The new industry will, if started, employ a good many hands, and will thus be pro tanto a relief to our overr.ocked labor market, One factory is not in itself much to “ blow ” about, but every little helps, and the hope of the future lies in the direction of multiplying local industries, and in that of the extension of settlement. These last words give the cue to another line of hopefulness, for the extension of village settlement which is going on m the North Island, and which it is, we fully believe, the intention of the Minister for Lands to promote in this Island also, will assuredly help to remove the causes of the depression, and to hasten the revival of the good time coming. A fourth encouraging item comes from Nelson, where there is reason to think we shall soon see the establishment of ironworks on an extensive scale, under the auspices of an English company, which contemplates the smelting of the ore, and the manufacture of railway and other iron goods on a large scale. At Collingwood there are inexhaustible stores of iron ore and of coal, and both materials are to be extensively worked. A Mr Price Williams, who has been sent out to inspect the coalfields in that locality, has, says the correspondent of an exchange, been so favorably impressed that “ he has cabled Home for immediate action to be taken for their development. It is understood that the necessary capital, estimated at each for two mines, will at once be forthcoming, and that active operations will be undertaken without delay for opening up the Collingwood coal and bringing it into the market. It is intended to run out a long wharf into deep water, off Collingwood, in Golden Bay, so that the largest ocean steamers, such as the Rimutaka or Arawa, can go alongside and coal, thus avoiding the extra cost of conveying the coal to any of the regular ports. It is claimed one of these steamships could go over from Wellington to Collingwood in a few hours, coal and return with little more loss of time than is at present experienced in the coaling operations, while by means of im proved appliances the coal could be put aboard far more expeditiously as well as cheaply. In any case the undertaking means the investment of a large sum and the extensive employment of labor, so that it will be a colonial benefit apart from the material

cheapening of the coal supply which is contemplated. This of course will prove a substantial relief to all manu - facturing industries which have to use large quantities of coal.” While the foregoing items are all satisfactory, as showing that the natural resources of the colony are about to be turned to good account in the instances referred to, and that its local industries are

steadily extending, there remains yet to be noticed a further pleasing feature which will be more appreciated in this and other agricultural districts. This is to be found in the prospects of the breadstuff's* market. Anent this our Oamaru morning contemporary says : “ The London wheat market is steadily improving. Another rise is chronicled this morning, bringing the highest figure up to 37s 6d. We may mention that 40s at Home means about 4s per bushel here, so that those interested will see that if the price remains steady next harveit m»y open with a fair paying i

price ” All these things taken togethei present a hopeful aspect, and, in view of these and other satisfactory signs of the times, we think we may fairly congratulate our readers that they wiM not have long to wait ere the cloud roll by.