The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY JUNE 10, 1889. NEW ZEALAND'S CRITICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2147, 10 June 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY JUNE 10, 1889. NEW ZEALAND'S CRITICS.

From time to time daring the last two or three years the cable has brought us items of severely unfriendly criticism by English financial journals, of the existence of which most of us in New Zealand were ignorant. The journals referred to are those published under the titles of "The Financial News" and "Fair Flay." Regarding the former, the first of its expressions of opinion respecting New Zealand which was thought worthy of being cabled out gave rise to a somewhat sharp newspaper controversy as to whether or not such - a journal was published. Since then copies of both papers have been seen here, and their appearance is scarcely what can be called imposing. Still those in London who compile the news for transmission by cable to the colonies have quoted these authorities so frequently that a certain amouat of attention has been given to their opinions, though the nature of the criticisms has not been such as to lead to their being accepted ns those of the highest financiers. It has been left to a Christchurch interviewer to ascertain the exact standing of these critics ot ours, and the value of their opinions. Kir Corners Vine, the delegate commissioned by the Prince of Wales to visit the colonies on behalf of the Imperial Institute, was questioned on the subject, •nd replied that these papers had no influence whatever; their issue was small, and iu London where they were known they had not the slightest weight . They were, he implied j the pro • perty of rings, for whose benefit it may be presumed these attacks on New Zea land are made. The paperslwere of small circulation ; but perhaps their importance may be best gauged by the face that they were not kept on sale by the regular news-agenta. Sir SomeTjS Vine expressed his surprise that colonial newspapers should takeany notice of suoh publications We have no doubt their opinions will for the future have still less weight iu the colonies than they have hitherto had. Gar eyes were pretty well opened to the hollowness of the pretensions of these authorities in colonial matters by the rich description by the " Financial News" of the New Zealand Midland Railway, the country through which it is to travel, and its prospects. The readers of the journal were told that this railway would traverse the best settled part ot the South Island ," and that it would, connect Chriptghurch on the east Coast with Nelson and Grey mouth on the west, these being three of " the leading ports of New Zealand ;" besides some other equally surprising statements. It is satisfactory to know on so good an authority aB this that " there is room in New Zealand for remunerative railways," and that the Midland Railway Company is recommended &s promising a certain retsrn of Jarge profits to investors, We should have thought that the Press agent in London knew what the opinion lof su* 1 * f° arnft I 8 *orpo rp worth too well to have glv'en tn^, by 80 *«*Wfy f !*' in 8 them fey cable, a proru^ 066 portance in the colony, from which utter worthlessness at Home should have altogether excluded them.