The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1893.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 125, 11 April 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1893.

Too often when people visit the Australasian Colonies, from Great Britain, with tho avowed intention of publishing tho results of their observations, they tako a pessimistic \iexr of everything thoj' see for themselves, or have their attention directed to by their entertainers. We use this term advisedly, because even tho very worst and most ungrateful of "globe trotters" has never attempted to deny tiiat he, (or she), lias been treated with •'magnificent hospitality" wherever opportunity was given to colonists of exercising that virtue; but even then we havo read of that quality being contemptuously described as "common to all savage peoples," as a qualification to any evidence of gratitudo shown. Thero is one glorious exception however, in Miss Shaw, who in one of hor letters to tho Times on Victoria, states that a colony possess, ing such wealth in tho back countrycombined with tho energy already shown, cannot bo regarded as suffering from any inextricable financial embarrassment. Tho country districts, she states, are perfectly sound, and offer an outlet for English and Victorian enterprise. The letter adds that tho supreme need of all Australia is not money but population. The whole truth is contained in these trenchant sentences. We are aware that Miss Shaw has been afforded exceptional facilities of seeing Australia, and are pleased that she has proved so worthy of tho task given to her to do. She has in all cases written fearlessly, and honestly.

It is with considerable gratification that wo publish the news that tho Commercial Bank re-oponed in Melbourne on Saturday, and upwards of £100,000 was deposited wuhin two hours. Mr James .Service having accepted the Chairmanship of Directors of the reconstructed Bank, would be a powerful factor in restoring the confidence of the public in the institution. Mr Marwick, of Melbourne, who represents the Scottish depositors in the Commercial Bank, has wired to the Edinburgh agents of the Commercial Bank advising them to urge their clients to concur in tho reconstruction scheme in its entirety, and that ho considers tho preference shares a good investment. Thk following are the traffic returns for the Napier-Taranaki section for the four weeks ended 4th March, 18'J3, and for the corresponding period

The customary increase uppears.

in 1892 ;— 1893. 1892. £' b. d. A' b. d. Passengers... 7,970 17 8 6,723 311 Parcels ... 810 1 7 673 li 7 Goods ... 8,918 6 6 8,464 19 11 Miscellaneous 399 12 0 371 8 2 Totals... 18.098 17 9*10,2:32 15 7