BOUND THE CORNER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1947, 18 September 1888, Page 4

BOUND THE CORNER.

It is always pleasant to write hopefully, and it is exceedingly satisfactory to be able to believe that New Zealand is about to experience — is experiencing even now the truth conveyed by the proverb that " it's a long lane that has ixo'^tuming," and that we are fairly round tbe corner at last. Surely we have been "On the road to Jordan " for some years past, if as the song says " Jordan is a hard road to travel," for the road has been about as hard as they make 'em, and the " 'ammer, 'amraer, 'ammer" of debts, duns, and difficulties has been monstrously dreary, disappointing and disheartening. But we verily believe that we have sounded the depths of oar Slough of Despond and are already getting on to firmer ground, while the dark clouds of distress which have overshadowed so long are beginning to lift, and the welcome sun of prosperity promises brighter and happier days. It is true that, however firm the road and bright the weather, New Zealand has a sufficiently big burden on her back, but she can bear it buoyantly if only she is able to obtain fairly remunerative prices for the products of her soil, and of her Hocks and herds. Prices such as have ruled for some time for our staples of production if they had continued much longer would have spelt ruin .for thousands, but prices such as are now happily returning will if they continue for four or five years set even the tottering on their legs and bring about a return of prosperity and progress. Durthe past few weeks wheat has gone steadily up, and latest quotations from Mark Lane (received on the 13th inst) give 45s a quarter as the very satisfac tory figure for New Zealand wheat. This is equal to 5s 7£d per bushel, and should mean 40s f o.b. m the colony. Probably only a small proportion of the actual growers will benefit by the rise, hut for all that the colony will be at least £50,000 the richer for the advance, and if these rates continue until after next harvest as we hope they may, then every farmer m tho country will be substantially benefited. Again there is excellent news from 'the Frozen Meat Market the latest quotation being s£d per lb for prime New Zealand mutton, equal we suppose to 3d nett after all expenses are paid ; or 18s per head for a 721 b sheep. .No wonder that sheep are advancing m price. Altogether the outlook is infinitely more cheerful than it has been for a long long time, and once more we congratulate our readers m the firm belief that we are " Round the Corner " at last.