New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4125, 10 June 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1874.

Were testimony not so unanimous as it is to the general prosperity of tho Colony wc might be excused for entertaining a doubt all is as fair as it appears to the oyc, but, as things are, tho verdict must bo an unequivocal one. In this rospoct, tho meetings of tho various Provincial Councils have boon of value. Previously, doubts were constantly thrown out that the people were lulled into a sense of false security, out of which there would speedily bo a dread awakening. Then, said the malicious and disaffected, will bo soon the effect of tho fine policy that obtains. Now, wo know exactly what such a warning note was worth. Wc road tho same story from every quarter, and the last on tho list is from Hawke’s Bay. Tho speech of tho Superintendent was delivered on tho 3rd inst., and to it tho telegraphic summary wo published on the 4th did but scant justice. Hawke’s Bay is certainly a Province with but a limited area compared with Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, or Auckland, but highly creditable progress has boon made in it during the past year. , And, better still, this seems but an earnest of what is to come. It is impossible to road through tho speech of tho Superintendent without feeling assured that in his view tho prosperity ho has been able to tell of is but slight compared with that it will be the duty of his successor to expatiate upon in future sittings of tho Council, if but tho same general policy bo adhered to. This is, of course, supposing that no events beyond human calculation occur to mar tho progress being made. Again, it is quite fair to calculate upon some sources of wealth, now unknown, being brought to light; Nature was never more bountiful in her gifts to any country in the world than to Now Zealand. It is blessed with a glorious climate, fertile soil, and vast mineral wealth of nearly every known description. It may fairly bo assumed tbat Hawke s Bay has its share of those treasures. Tho population of tho Province has, said the Superintendent, increased during tho past throe years at double the

rate to be observed any where else throughout the Colony. Wellington stands next with 25 per cent. ; but this appears but small to the 52 per cent, of Hawke’s Bay. It is noticeable that the iuoi’easo has boon caused to a very considerable extent by the amount of immigration that has taken place, no loss than 1,028 persons having boon introduced into tile Province last year. This importation has not, however, disturbed the labor market, and the cry is for more. Two vessels with 74S emigrants are on their way to the Province, hut the Superintendent does not think that they will meet the demand, and consequently has arranged with the General Government for a ship to arrive every month during livo months of the year, and in each alternate month during the winter. That those which have arrived have been of a superior class the Superintendent very fairly concludes, from the absence of any material increase in the rate of crime, whilst the population has been so largely added to. This account it is very gratifying to read ; and as many of the immigrants that arc located have been nominated, the inference follows that the system works very well. But the scarcity of labor has very materially retarded the progress of Public Works. Contracts which should have been completed last year are as yet but in an unfinished state. For want of railways the valuable forests of timber known to exist cannot be utilized, the trattic is greater than there is motive power for it, and the cost of the maintenance of roads which are so extensively used is very serious. When there shall bo railway communication between Napier and the forests, the Superintendent believes that large exportations of timber will bo made, whereas now it is imported to a very considerable extent for building and other purposes. Of course, if it can bo procured on the spot it will be cheaper than that upon which there is extra carriage to pay. The building trade will thereby bo stimulated, and the general prosperity of the Province will bo added to by the export trade and by the employment which it will afford to the emigrants who are to arrive. It was gratifying to find that whilst the exports of wool and tallow from the Province are largely on the increase, an extensive tract of land had recently been sown with English grass, rendering it probable that a very much larger number of sheep would be grazed in years that are to come. But amidst all those signs of progress there appeared to the Superintendent one cause for regret. The settlers did not display that interest in public matters which lie would like to see. Even the Read Boards were with difficulty induced to take advantage of the General Government Road Board Grant, and as for taxing themselves for the construction and repair of their streets and highways, and taking an interest in the work being economically and properly done, this was about the last thing the people seemed to think of or care about. Of course, we agree with the Superintendent that it is well people should manifest an interest in public affairs, but wo may point out to him that the fact of them not doing so is tolerably conclusive they are very well satisfied with things present. If their prosperity were not so great, probably they would give more attention to the acts of governing bodies and the institutions under which they live. The classes that are ever ready to assist in precipitating .the downfall of a Government in Franco are those which are always on the verge of starvation. It was “Cassius, with his lean and hungry look,” whom onr groat bard pictured as a dangerous man. The relations between the Superintendent and the General Government had been, it is pleasing to observe, of the most cordial nature, His Honor observing that his representations had “at all times met with the greatest consideration.”