The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5. 1886. CAUSE AND EFFECT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1600, 5 January 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5. 1886. CAUSE AND EFFECT.

Ib New Soath Wales' prosperity fictitious or real ? Last year a five million loan was absorbed, and the expenditure amounted to nearly ten pounds per head of population, as it totalled £8,600,000. Hera is what a Victorian contemporary says on the matter: — "A Victorian Treasurer a few years back had to announce a deficiency of over £1,000,000 to Parliament, and Mr Dibbs finds himself m the same unpleasant position m N«w South Wales. Both gentlemen referred to causes over which they had no control as answerable tor the position, Mr Berry's plea was a depression m trade, and Mr Dibbs, who cannot say so much, falls back on the drought. The figures he quotes regarding the loss occasioned by the want of rain are certainly impressive. In two years the drought has killed 200,000 horses, a million and a half cattle, and 13£ millions sheep. A loss which is estimated from £10,000,000 to £-15,000,000 has .fallen upon a single colony and a single industry m that colony. It easily can be understood therefore that the laud revenue is deficient to. the extent of £500,000, and the railways, which depend upon the couutry traffic, are largely below estimate also. But at the same time no impartial critic can deny the proposition that the public expenHiiure of New South Wales has .been for, years extravagant m character, ami that under Mr Dibbs the extravagance ' has been increased rather than diminished."