The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 1884. The New Year

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 85, 30 December 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 1884. The New Year

To-moukow night the last hour of the departing year will bo rung out and another link added to the chain of Time. During tho time which has passed since we last wished our readers A Happy New Year, the political changes in the Colony have been considerable, and it is a matter of selfcongratulation that we, with our humble but persistent efforts, bad some hand in bringing tbem about. From the beginning it was our determination to have this electorate represented in Parliament by a local man whose interests were identical with those of the people he represents. Happily the electors readily adopted our views, which were in part but a reflection of their own, and tbeir evident dislike to a non-resident, prevented any other than purely local men being brought forward to contest the seat. With a new Parliament the long reign of the Atkinson Ministry was brought to an abrupt conclusion, and a new regime instituted under the able conduct of the Stout- Vogel Ministry, now holding the reins of power. A long period of inaction, and consequent depression, was thus terminated, and a new era of progress inaugurated. In aU parts of the Colony a feeling of confidence has been developed which, under the depressing influences of a pessimist Government, was practically impossible. "A concensus of public opinion" has clearly shown that the country wanted a change and was determined to havo it. Tho commercial depression wliich obtained at tho beginning of the year has been entirely removed in the centres of population, in a great measure by the advance in the price of wool and the marvellous success of the frozen meat trade. The latter has in a degree forestalled the evil consequences to farmers that must ensue from the very unseasonable weather which has prevailed during spring and the early summer months, and by the failure of the grain crops, which now appears inevitable. We are aware that in the South large quantities of land have been withdrawn from cropping, and devoted to tho more profitable pursuit of sheep raising. In many instances this good example has been followed in the North. But we

are sorry to have to record that very many small fanners, who depended on the crops of this year to recoup them for the losses of last season, wiU be subjected to great loss and bitter disappointment. Their only consolation is that no human foresight could have anticipated that two such bad seasons could have followed in such quick succession. However, it is ipleasant to foretell that one good year will " put them on their feet " again, and the bad harvests of 1883-4 and 1884-5 will be remembered only as events which excited tho display of that courage and determination which the English settler has always .been able to exercise when those qualities were needed to overcome far 'ttnore appalling difficulties than the. consequences- of bad harvests. One thing is certain ; and that is, that grain growing, except for home purposes, win be entirely abandoned in this district for tbe future, and wool and mutton grown in its stead. It wiU be remembered that after the boisterous weather of last summer, a fine winter followed, and we have no reason to expect otherwise in the coming season, when a long speU of fine weather will permit much work to be done in the bush, and the public works of the loroughcarriedoutprofitably. Barring the bad harvest, everything promises for the whole Colony a bright look-out for the coming year. Large public works, the money for the season's clip of wool, and the returns of other exports, all of which are on an expanding ratio, and which will cause a proportionate increase in the circulation of capital, point out an increase in the receipts from every trade or industry, that will in their turn be enabled to extend their business operations. This wiR mean good times, high, wages, and

A Happy New Year To All,