THE TURN OF THE TIDE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1782, 6 March 1888, Page 4

THE TURN OF THE TIDE.

There are lots of apothegms m the store of popular proverbial philosophy expressly designed to comfort those who are overshadowed by adversity, and which go a long way towards enabling the troubles of life to be encountered with a hopeful, if not precisely a cheerful spirit. Thus when the horizon is dark we are told that the darkest hour immediately precedes the dawn, and when the clouds are lowering we are reminded that the sunshine follows the storm. So also, though the way be long and toilsome and apparently leading ta nowhere, there comes the comforting reflection that the longest lane must have a turning. And though the " little longer " which we have to wait, often seems an unconscionably protracted period, yet all of us, even m the worst of times, hope on m the firm belief m " a good time coming." And as there is nothing new under the sun, as that which ii, is that which has been, and which shall be again and aga'n, and, as hitherto, every ebbing tide has been followed by the flow, so we all knew that the times of depression which had fallen upon New Zealand could not last for ever, and that the tide mast turn sooner or later. But the question was and is when the hopeful change might be expected, and a very vital question indeed it is for many a struggling colonist for — to draw again upon proverbial wisdomit is often only too true that while the grass grows the steed starves. It is highly satisfactory, therefore, to be able to think that the better times we are all so anxiously looking for are close at hand, nay we think we already discern the turn of the tide. The market for wneat and oats is, unfortunately, exceptionally low, bat our other great Staple, wool, is m better demand, and the last wool sales showed a distinct improve ment m prices, while the telegram we publish to-day, received by cable from America, gives strong hope of the early opening up of another large market for the harvest of our flockoaners. The new Tariff Bill introduced into the House of Representatives of the United Ftates provides for a total reduction m the duty on woollens of no less that thirty-five millions of dollars— about £7.000,000 sterling— and also that after the Ist July next all wools shall be admitted free of duty. 3t is true that while the opinion is expressed that these proposals will be accepted by the Lower Chamber, it is added, that* it is doubtful whether the Senate will pass the JtJill. Yet, even if the Senate reject it, if both the Lower House and President Cleveland (whose policy it embodies) stand firm, the change proposed will speedily be brought into operation ; and, indeed, we, look upon the opening up of the United States ports to the free admission of our wool as all but an accomplished fact. We fully expect to find a marked improvement m values the immediate consequence, aad if so not a little good will result from the mere prospect. Then, again, we think that it will not be long before our frozen meat trade is put on a different footing which will secure to the producer his fair share of the proceeds. In more than one quarter arrangements are said to be m progress for the opening up of channels through which the meat can be distributed and cold as New Zealand, not as English, and which will absorb only so much of the price as will yield a fair return to * those engaged m the agency, leaving a much more satisfactory result as sett proceeds to shippers. In this connection it is significant that it has leaked cut that one of Sir Julius Vogel's objects m visiting England is to organise an agency of this kind, and we shall not be surprised, to find that the New Zealand Illustrated Atlas business is only after all a very subsidiary affair, and that the making of satisfactory arrangements m connection with the frozen meat trade is really the main bnsiness he has m hand. Success m this matter means millions eventually'to the colony, and Sir Julius would prove himself a benefactor indeed if he succeed, as he probably wilL But there is yet another direction m which there are hopeful signs of the return of better times — we refer to the evident revival m the mining industry. We hope great things of the large dredging operations which are about to be undertaken m our auriferous rivers, and on our goldbearing sea beaches, and it may be that atter all Sir Julias may be proved not to have been so far out m his. visions of the wealth underlying the waters of tho Clutha and other rivers m the colony. We. wish we could add thst Alford Forest had added a rich tin mine to the known mneral resources of the colony. Meantime it is satisfactory to know that there really is tin m that locality, and while we are living m hope that it may be proved payable, it is pleasing to hear that another metal has been discovered m large quantity m Auckland province — we mean lead. About this the ; * Herald " writes quite exultingly, talking of " hills of lead," and prophesying " a big boom coming." It says :— v . The sound of the big drum of commercial revival is every day growing louder and coming nearer. The latest bang of the drum comes from the Tui mines, at Te Aroha, where a very important find seems to have been made recently. Mr C. A. Comes, miniug manager, has brought up some 801bs of galena ore, and had it exhibited at the office of Mr J. F. Clarke, Insurance Buildings. It is extremely heavy, and consists of almost solid masses of steel-grey crytals of galena, or sulphuret of lead, containing m parts crystals of copper sulphide. It is evidently extremely rich m lead . • Mr Comes states that similar ore obtained some distance from the spot where this was found gave m addition to lead 13dwts of gold, and 17033 of silver. • No analysis of the present ore has as yet been made, but it is expected to contain at least 60 per cent, of lead. Fig lead is worth some „£l3 per ton, so this ore should pay if ■worked for the lead alone. This rich find has been discovered m the Champion So. S lode, at Tui Creek, being cut m a level -2 OQ. feet below the upper workings, •■which, with the underlay, will give 200 feet of backs, as it is nearly perpendicular. . The lode has been cut into for a distance of five feet, but the inner wall has not yet been reached. The lode runs for ajbpnt half a nnle along the course of the Champion reef, and the outcrop is m some places 60 feet high,, from 8, to 14 feet wide, showing very rich ore* The same lode has been traced through the Earl of Aberdeen claim, next to the Champion, and the ?« Keep-it-Dark," Laogtry, and Laurel mines. Through *ll \%e§9 propels $c lode ouJoroPB « ».

a way that there is no getting out of ' as Mr Comes puts it One cause of the importance of the find is than an abundance of lead ore will now be available for the La Monte or other smelting processes. One of the difficulties m working the La Monte furnace at the Thames was the lack of lead ore." The find is, therefore, of great importance m more respects than one, and though the immediate benefit will come chiefly to Auckland, yet as the whole colony must benefit m a degree from the prosperity of any of its parts, it is not without interest to our readers. Altogether we think there are many and pleasant indications that the winter of our discontent is well nigh over, and that the summer time of prosperity is near at hand.