Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1905. THE NEW YEAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3614, 30 December 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1905. THE NEW YEAR.

“Nineteen Hundred and Five ” will Soon be no more, for the tingle of the bells at midnight to-morrow will proclaim to us that we are stepping into another year—l9o6, and we trust that, from a Colonial point of view at least, it may be as prosperous as the last turn of the Calendar. The past year has been significant for many happenings which we must be thankful for, while on the other hand, human feeling compels us to record with sorrow.many of the happenings credited to 1905— -notably among the- latter being the Revolution in Russia, through which her populous nation has been in a state of unrest for months. Unfortunately, there seems to be no cessation to the state of turmoil existing, but we hope, for the sake of Christianity at least, the advent of 1906 will r avour the people, and the ruling authorities see their way clear to grant demands necessary to set the troublesome nation at rest. Nineteen Hundred and Five gladly records the termination of the Russo-Japanese War, and New Zealanders particularly cherish the fact that our Rugby exponents have toured and conquered the flower of the world during the past year. We claim that this football tour has advertised New Zealand as nothing else could have done, and we shall reap the benefit later on. During the year the Conservative party of Britain have been compulsorily compelled to hand the political reins of power over to their adversaries—the Liberal Camp, while New Zealand, at the triennial elections, has demonstrated by over-whelming figures, that she is quite satisfied with the administration administered by Richard John Seddon and his party. Coming to affairs strictly regarding ourselves, we confidently assert that the colony : s in a prosperous state. Every brm of product is realising. , good prices an the Home markets, while property all over the colony is steadily increasing in value. Public works have been carried out, whilst many are at present provided for Jjy the Estimates. Wlax, Foxton’s principal industry, siijll maintains a satisfactory figure, and work throughout the country is at present plentiful. We trust for a continuance of same, and certainly everything points to such proving to be the case. Our cables tell us of general depression being caused at home through the unemployed difficulty. They also tell us of an immigrant scheme General Booth has in hand to cope with the difficulty, which should be a success. A famine has been reported from Japan, but, when outsiders offered assistance, the yellow race refused, which certainly poiuts to the fact that the distress was not serious. We have heard Foxton Progressives talk of what would happen, but we fail to .notice any progression in Borough affairs, or any definite signs of that progress approaching/ ■ During 1905, we have elected a new Council and Mayor, formed a Chamber of Commerce, held ratepayers meetings re water and light schemes, and what has been the outcome ? Nothing ! We have talked till we could talk no more.. But with all our new Councillors and our Chamber of Commerce we are no further ahead. And why? It would appear that we dont want progress if it came free of cost; but we will never go ahead until we adopt united tactics, until we realise that all will have to work together. As in other progressive towns, we will have to adopt borrowing tactics for much-needed works, and we hope to place on record in 1906 that a definite start has been made to improve our Borough and’its value. Awake, Foxton, and look after your own. interests Y We extend heartfelt

sympathy to the bereaved, who have mourned the loss of many that have passed over the border of life to the great beyond during the past year. However, we sincerely trust the whole world will go forth into 1906 with good hope, urging upon each other the necessity of mutual friendship between all parties and nations, and we must prosper. May all forms of enmity sink into oblivion, and a wave of good-will continue to prevail with the chiming of the 1906 initial hour, and in that spirit the Manawatu Herald wishes all its readers “ A Happy and Prosperous New Year.”