The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1641, 31 December 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881.

Another year is now drawing a close, and it appears that Mother Shipton's prophecy was incorrect after all-. She receives the credit for having stated many hundred years ago that the end of the world was to take place in the year 1881, but up to the present moment nothing has occurred to indicate the destruction of our planet. On this last day of the year, we stand in an almost precisely similar position to that we have occupied in former years. We have eaten our Christmas dinners, we have had our Christmas sports, and generally we have managed to enjoy ourselves to a reasonable extent, and in a reasonable manner. However, it behoves up to call to mind some of the events which have affected the colony, and especially onr own portion of the community, since last this season c-ime round. We have seen a Govern men t too strong, and (>n that account arbitrary and unjust, disfranchise the greater portion of New Zealand for the benefit of the remainder ; and in connection with that process we have seen Westlaud robbed of » mpnili'T, and the old elecrorate dismembered, while at the s-ame time we have seen the pa in tor cut from Tlokitika and ourselves made an independent district. We have seen constituencies tvjeet many of the oldest and ai'lesf. politicians, to .return untried men who for.years to come will barely understand the A.B.C. of politics. But we have seen our old friend, G. G. FiizGerrild returned by an overwhelming m.ijority, and this id not said in dis-

paragement of Lis late opponent, but because we feel thoroughly assured that he not only has the ability to creditably represent one of the best constituencies in New Zealand, but that we are certain he not. only understands thoroughly the requirements of a mining community, but baa an entire sympathy with them. We have seen a scheme broiight forward, under exceptionally auspicious circumstances; to connect by railway the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island. What results will follow, remain for the future to tell us. We have known a repetition of the old struggle for an increased supply of water for the goldfields, with the usual result, white immense sums have been merely tossed away in abortive attempts to construct a dam which any half dozen diggers at haphazard from a crowd would have J made a substantial work of in a trifle over no time. We have got rid of our Arahura Road Board nightmare, but we have succeeded in a most wonderful manner in perpetrating the Borough Council squabbles and troubles, and as for the County Council affaire, the less said the better. We have seen the prestige which was at one time sup posed to attach to Hokitika, as the capital of Westland, rapidly diminish. The Public Works Office is low in Grey mouth, and the Education oQices have followed suit. As regards mining operations, Kumari has nothing to complain of. But it is painfully evident that the supply of water is totally inadequate to the requirements of the district, but still the miners by some, means or another managed to pull through; and Kumara still holds its pla"ce as the premier of the New Zealand goldfields. We look hopefully forward to the future; and confidently predict that this district will, maintain its place for thnny, many years to come. We have; it is this* had oiir times of depression - what district has not? but we have here latent; undeveloped resources which other places do not possess. Let us hope' that the new y> ar about to dawn on us will be more fruitful in beneficial results thaii that which litis preceded it, and that we shall one and all work together harmon ously for the general interests of the district. While bidding farewell to the departing year, with its pleasures and enjoyments, its troubles and sorrows, we respectfully wish one and all of our friends—enemies too, if we have any (but if we have, we confess we fciudge on in blissful ignorance ot it)-^ A HAPPY NEW YEAR !