The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 406, 24 September 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, September 24. Opinions upon the weather, that common- , place topic of English conversation, are not likely to fade out of the language as here spoken, while the changes are sis various as they have been during the past month, and so important as they are likely to be to the farming prospects of this year. We have had a great deal of fine weather during the past winter, but we have altso had a great deal of rain ; each variety repeating itself at intervals, and being intense of its kind while it lasted. Rainy weather always opens up afresh our'great grievance, ( the one unpopular subject to us all, the state of the roads. „" Its effect has also been, on this occasion, to injure the young wheat in some parts of this settlement, as was reported in our columns last week. We are not going to predict a scarcity from this circumstance, nor to make a dismal moan over imaginary evils. On the contrary, our information leads "us to believe that the damage done will not prove very great, if we have a favourable season henceforward. But we know that some, at least, of the grain that might have been is lost to next year's market; and this fact is sufficient to suggest a few considerations!

In England, the produce of grain may be uncertain, but the' consumption remains nearly the same. One fanner's crops, therefore, tend to lower prices for himself and others ; and the high prices which the farmer sometimes gets, help to starve some one else. In this country, on; the contrary, botli crops and market are uncertain, but the former has no effect on the latter. We have this advantage, from our market being one of export, that an abundant harvest is an unmixed good to everybody, the farmer as well as the rest; and good prices only add to the|beneftf, of the rest as well as the farmer ; with some exceptions further to be noted. On the other hand a partial failure, such as the present may turn out to be, will diminish the quantity for exportation, without, probably, ever curtailing the amount for consumption, or increasing its price. The quesiion of markets and prices we have discussed before now,!;u.r.d, though we Jhave still much ta say upon it, we must pass over for the present.

We need scarcely point out, as one conclusion from this, that it is everybody's business to hasten, by worcKand help, the performance of public works, such as draining and road making, which prevent failure, or increase facilities'for growing and nipving produce. As to roads, it is clear that every hole lowers the price of wheat to the farmer, and raises it to the consumer and exporter. This is one among many reasons for hearty andjinited'exertion in these matters, even at considerable sacrifice ; reasons which are as sound, as frequently urged, and as coolly received, as truisms generally are. Mean.while, the truth of the adage " What is everybody's business is nobody's duty," is satisfactorily proved.

An exception to the rule, that good prices for produce in this country are good lor eveiybocly, is worthy of notice. We shall not be very much surprised if it really occurs among us at some future time. The highest price for export, and the lowest for home consumption would, of course, be the most favourable state of the markets. The opposite would, evidently be the worst state.

This would come to pass when a greater quantity had been exported than could properly'be spared. No matter how low the price obtained for exportation might have been, it is clear that the remainder would command an extravagant price, to the benefit of no one but the very few individuals who "were able, and wise enough or ' fortunate enough, to hold back. Such an occurrence would be our nearest approach to a famine; and, being preventible, would be a sort of politico-economical suicide, exhibiting a not very creditable mixture of folly in those who did not think, with crime in those who did. For there are some in this country, as well as in any other, who are in a position to know if there is a probability of such an event, and whose duty, as well as interest, it will always be to prevent it. The very fluctuations in prices in such a small settlement,, as ours, are in a minor degree open to the same remarks. These few observations we have only thrown out as a warning of what is possible. "We sincerely trust that it will be found uncalled for, and that these remarks will never be applicable to our circumstances. The tinge of gloom about them, to return to the subject from which we started/is probably infused from the weather without, which is still, while we write, threatening muddy roads, and fluoded fields, convincing us of the truth of the remark, that the climate of JSlew Zealand is the best suited of all to an Englishman's temper.