The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 373, 31 May 1856, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, May 31. The Provincial Council having been prorogued, we are relieved from the constrained and unpleasing contemplation of its unhappy labours, and turn our attention to things far more attractive to minds of hopeful and adventurous settlers in a young and struggling country. We once more recur to a consideration of the " ways and means" of ensuring a provision for the maintenance of that first Hesideratum of all virtuous men, a happy home ; and find, in the labours of this particular season, a subject for exciting and critical speculation.

It is with no slight anxiety as to results that the industrious settler is at this time preparing his lands for the production of next season's crops, the price he may in due time obtain for which is depending on so many contingencies, and which may be affected by so many circumstances beyond his control. The result of the efforts of last season are rather depressing, and many of our friends will certainly feel themselves

called upon to exercise all the characteristic fortitude and energy of New Zealand settlers; the consciousness that experience has proved the value of these qualities will foster their growth, fed by the hope that future successes and triumphs over difficulties and discouragements are still attain s able. That portion of our community already engaged in farming, may rest assured that although perhaps it may only be by the accident of a dry season in Australia that prices may ever rise to their late figure, still remunerative prices for all the produce they can bring into the market will be forthcoming. The"enormous expense of breaking up, fencing, &c, unreclaimed lands, taken together with the low prices, will have the effect of retarding future immigrants from attempting what would be a hopeless competition with those fanners who had already fenced and fully ploughed their lands. The enormous increase of pastoral produce will have a most benefioial effect on the agricultural interest, for by the expenditure of our pastoral income will be secured the growth of our population, and the increased home demand for corn and potatoes. Then the gradual introduction of machinery, and the consequent economy of labour in farming operations, is another of the sources on which we may depend for a fair profit even at lower prices than obtain l^ow. Our advice to the farmer is—" Go i/iiwith your work, use the strictest economy, and be cautious in all your contracts ; with your servants take care to secure to yourself the ability to pay their wages, by firmly refusing exorbitant and ruinous demands. This plan, if followed, may perhaps secure to the now desponding farmer a much better profit at the close of next season than he has reaped this year, even should prices be then lower than now."