The Feilding Star THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1885. 1886

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 86, 31 December 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1885. 1886

. » To-night the hand of time will mark another year in the term of our existence. The year which will then have run out its term has been distinguished by a number of events which will make it a notable one in the history of the world. Want of time and space renders it impossible for us to make farther than passing allusion to them. The "little wars" of England have cost an immensity of blood and treasure. The campaign in the Soudan with its unfortunate termination, and the death of General Gordon, will dwell longest in the memories of Englishmen in the colonies. The Russian scare ranks next in importance. Nine months ago we were suddenly terrified into making preparations to repel the attack of a foreign foe, by the erection of costly fortifications, and the arming of our whole male adult population as gunners, cavalry, and riflemen. Now the subject is forgotton, or is only alluded to in a casual sort of way when the cost of the armament appears in the Statement of Expenditure as laid before Parliament. Notwithstanding the shock which was then given, yet the progress of the material prosperity of the colony was not affected in the slightest degree. The Ministry then and now in power have rendered valuable assistance in this connection the full effects of which cannot be known or understood thoroughly at the present time, but will be gloriously apparent in a very few years should their policy be allowed to germinate and fructify. The advance in the price of wool and grain since last season, will be a source of immense good during the ensuing year, and growers will experience great prosperity therefrom. Although the timber trade in our own immediate neighborhood has not been so good as we would have liked, yet there are visible signs of a great change in it for the better. The rapidly increasing population of the colony, with the cheapness of money must necessitate the erection of numbers of new buildings to meet and accommodate such increase. The farmers are now experiencing the advantages of the frozen meat trade by the increased value of their stock and the ready market now provided for them. With the advance in the value of cattle and sheep, the value of grazing land keeps pace, and promises at no distant date •to be up to the quotations of eight or nine years ago when they were abnormally high. Dairy farming has now become a good paying business. The facilities for a market for butter given byfrozenmeat companies, has rendered it possible for industrious farmers to earn a good living «ut of this article alone. By this means we also anticipate that the members of the Small Farm Associations around us will achieve their first successes, because as soon as they get on the land with their cows they can begin to earn good money. Other parts of the colony will, during the coming year, enjoy the transient boon of a liberal expenditure of public money. Indirectly we must benefit by this, as thereby will be excited an increasing demand for our produce, and the greater the demand the greater will be the efforts of the settlers here to meet it. So far as human forsight can judge there is every probability that 1886 will be one of the most prosperous years the colony has yet witnessed. We cordially hope that all our readers and subscribers wUI find an ample share : of the good things offered, and wish one and all : ' tv ' r v :' : i : A 'Happy New I Year;- * " j ■ •■■■ ■'■ hi-- ':■. *'r^'.:i.y< •