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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2998, 3 February 1881, Page 2

Notwithstanding anything, and all, that has been said to the contrary, the progress that the colony of Victoria has made during the last ten years is simply astonishing. At a dinner lately given io his honor, the Hon. Mr Patterson, the Minister for Railways, alluded to the vast strides made by that country, and quoted from statistics to show that during the decade the population had increased by 200.000, the land in cultivation from 827,000 acres to 1,688,000 acres—more than 100 per cent.—and the tonnage of ships arriving and departing from tbe ports by nearly 300,000 tons, notwithstanding the assertion that commerce was leaving those shores. The paid-up capital of banks of issue had increased from £8,347,000 to £9,026,000. and the deposits in saving banks by £600,000, a sure indication of the material prosperity of the people, besides which large sums were invested in building and other societies. The most remarkable proof of the increased wealth of the community was. however, to be found in the value of ratable property, that in cities, towns and boroughs having increased from £21,630,000 to £31,352.000, and that in shires from £24,429.000 to £51,891,000. Mr Patterson did not think any class of politicians could claim all the credit for that advancement, which had arisen out of the enterprise of the people and the natural resources of the country. Progress does not depend entirely upon politicians. It was Macaulay who pointed out that "in every experimental science there is a tendency towards perfection. In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. These two principles have sufficed, even when counteracted by public calamities, and by bad institutions, to carry civilization rapidly forward." Another eminent historian has remarked that politicians were often credited with the prosperity over which they had little control, and which in many cases was the result of accidental circumstances, and that they nearly always took credit for wiat was due to the constant effort of every man to better himself. There is no such thing as standing still in science, industry or art, and politics are no exception.