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The Lyttelton Times, Saturday, December 20.

On Tuesday last we celebrated the sixth anniversary of the foundatu n of the Settlement, by keeping the day as a public holiday. The annual commemoration of the arrival of the first settlers leads us every 16th of December to compare tlu condition of the Province with that which it presented at the same period in the preceding year. Up to this time, each year's progress has been most satisfactory, and the promise for ensuing years is even gieater than any progress hitherto made. For the progress of a young Settlement, if it thrive at all, must "be iv geometrical ratio; —the addition to its numbers and weabh in one year will add to itspowers of increase for the next. It is only the first settlers here who can appreciate the wonderful changes irade in the appearance of the country during the last six years. We grumble at our roads ; —they certainly might be better ; —but those who travelled through flax and tutu over the giound where Christchurch now stands, did not expect within so short a period to enjoy even such roads as we enjoy at present. But it is not only on the high roads and around the towns that progress has been made. The most satisfactory proof of the healthy prosperity of the Settlement is to be found in the outlying districts. On whatever side you ride oat of Christchurch, you may now turn down by- roads, which lie between well cultivated farms, aud which in many cases are already assuming some of the features of lanes in flic old country. The whole available country in the Province, from north to south, is beneficially occupied by sheep and cattle farmers, outside the agricultural dis-

tricts. These last are spreading near all the water carriages iv the most satisfactory manner, i.e. by the purchase of small allotments. From the Ist of October up to the present date nearly two thousand acres of land have been purchased, chiefly in blocks of from 20 to 30 acres in extent. The so-called high price of laud has answered the expectations of the colonists of Canterbury. It has not checked the sale of land to bona fide occupiers, while it has excluded the mere land speculator who would get the advantages which should be secured by the public. What does it signify to the* man who is really going to cultivate the land he buys, whether he gives £l or £2 for the fee simple; when the'highest price is so small a part of the expense of cultivation ? All the restrictions we have yet beard of, put upon the sale of low-priced land, have failed to secure the advantages of the high-price system, —the certainty of the beneficial occupation of the country either agriculturally or pastorally. This is not a time to enlarge upon this question ; we may, however, say in Canterbury, that the high price is not with us a mere theory ; that we have given it a fair trial, and that it has been signally successful. There is every prospect of our selling as much land as we want to sell, with advantage both to the individual and the public interests. The Anniversary falling upon the 16thDecember,we are unable to get up a great many valuable statistics which will be attainable at the close of the quarter. The Census taken last January showed a population of 5,347 souls, exclusive of Maories, who may be reckoned at 300 more. Since that time three ships have arrived direct from England, bringing in all 520 immigrants, and we are expecting another everyday. Taking the numerous births into consideration we may reckon the present population at 6000 souls, exclusive of Maories. The exports during the half-year ending 30th June, 1856, amounted to about £38,500 in round numbers, to which may be added £5,000 for exports coastwise, which do not appear in Customs returus. The imports for the same period amounted to about £55.200. During the whole year 1855, the exports only amounted to £42,650. and the imports to £95,856 ; so that, as far as we can gain anything like accurate information, the increase on exports and imports this year will be very considerable. We are not yet in a position to say what the wool-clip is likely to yield, or what quantity of land is under crop. The census in the early part of next year will probably furnish interesting details respecting the material progress of the province. As to the specific objects with a view to which this settlement was founded, we are at this moment, we hope, on the point of seeing them more fully carried out. Nothing great arrives at once at perfection. The church and college endowments here have laid the foundation for a work which is daily goinc; on around us. The arrival of a Bishop of Christchurch will give an increased stimulus to the efforts to establish a comprehensive system of education in connection with the Church of England. The next anniversary we hope to be able to look back with as great satisfaction upon the educational as upon the material progress of the past year.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18561220.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 431, 20 December 1856, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
864

The Lyttelton Times, Saturday, December 20. Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 431, 20 December 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times, Saturday, December 20. Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 431, 20 December 1856, Page 6

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