The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 27 June 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1877.

.TnE districts between Palmerston add "Wanganui although suffering* from a great dullness of 'trade, yet at bottom are far'frqin wanting that vitality which will 'ensure future prosperity.' "We noticed m our last' issue the meeting .convened at Sanson as, a "preliminary step to the erection of a flour mill m that district, and the subscription of two. thousand pounds. Of course the promoters of .this scheme > "wlll have the double advantage of having their wheat turned into money at their doors, so to- "speaks t and of having a 1 mutual interest in' keeping the mill m full operation. This will cauwse i the laying down of more land m wheat and other grain, and will doubtless lead to a steady trade m this necessary of life. There is no doubt from late advices from Adelaide where the decrease m the yieldof flour is one hundred and thirty thousand tons for the season 76-7, that the price of this article will rise considerably, and retain its high price for some time. It then behoves those who have land capable of growing cereals to turn their attention to the raising of crops* which will be sure to bring m good returns, and there seems to be no doubt that the land around Sandon aud others settlements m the Manawatu dTstrict is m every way suited to meet these growing requirements,. There is every reason to believe that^the railway, will be.pushed on through these districts, and we. have no doubt that, the works will, before-long, pay good interest on outlay, as a very large tract of country will $msbe brought m • immediate communication with the ports of Foxton and Wanganui and other -minor.places on the' line. The Patea residents have petitioned that the Wanganui-Pater. extension may- be proceeded" 'with at once, but as yet we have heard .of nothing definite being known, jhere is no doubt that some public works are required to give« employment to* the present .large floating population, aud we hope soon -to' Tse able to report some move m tire, right direc-tion-to ensure this desirable end. In the Eeilding country ,a greater difficulty is experienced m clearing' land, consequently we do not expect to see such a large quantity of wneat grown there just yet as m the Sandon country. Wejhave noticed some, land, and no doubt rich and well adapted for cereal crops, m the . neighborhood of Feilding, but which would entail a large outlay of 'labor,, and consequently' money j to put down in-wheat, owiug to the heaviuessand -quantity of the timber now encum-

bering the ground. There can be no doubt that the timber is of some value, but not m its present state, and as clearing will be going on all the time we presume it would be best to work it up into fencing stuff, and other things for which it maybe useful. . Talcing all these matters into consideration, there is every reason to believe that although for a time the farmers of Feilding will not be In a position to put a very large area under' wheat, yet m a short time they will be able to contribute no mean support to the mills m the district. But it is not to the cultivator only that the mills must look for support. The consumer may have no direct interest m flour mill companies, yet the fact is patent enough that he receives an indirect benefit from the -money circulated through these mediums. Flour has^ risen m price considerably lately, and will probably rise yet more, . and it is to tne interests o5 all the in- ' habitants to support to. the utmost of their requirements any enterprise which has for its object the cheapening of this necessary article of commerce. We noticed at considerable, length m a previous issue the intention of Messrs. Richter, Nannestad '& Co., of starting a' flaurmill m the „ Palmerston district, and if the growers will co-operate with the companies, there is jfood reason to believe that the nucleus of a lucrative trade will be laid, from which all parties concernecT will derive a benefit, r We.would.iinp'ress upon' buyers •—small and large— that it is to their advantage to assist all they: can: m these ' schemes of local supplies, by .giving the locally prb'duced. article ..the preference m their, purchases ; and if each one of , these will only do , his share we haye no doubt, that* an article of eyery day use can beprqduced, equal m every way, to the imported, and at possibly a considerably reduced rate. 3Tet we., wo.uld urge upon consumers the fact that even should the difference of price rnpt bp very material at first, the greater the support which is. accorded to works this description, by so much is the district beuefitted m wliieh they are situated; ; We published m our columns" of Ma'y 1 30, an Article on wneat growing, whichmay^be lisef ul to those who are now scattering the " ■ ••' ::;.■■_ ''"■.: .,- :: : '" : ■ ,-;."■ ..'.-■ '" " .•