The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, JULY 17 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 10011, 17 July 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, JULY 17 1879.

Tub prospects of New Zealand farmers are growiri" brighter. This is a circumstance thatf should create satisfaction and restore- a little at least »>f the confidence lost during these depressing time;-. The items of tßti>lli»e»ce at this time s'» interesting to 2sew Zealand farmers are those which tell us that wheat has taken another upward turn. that France will require. to import 000,000,000 kilogrammes (about IS,OOC>,OCO bushel-) of wheat to meet Iter requirements, ami that the grain crops hare fatted in Great Britain in consequence of protracted rains. \\ e are aware that America can grow wheat cheaply, and that she can pour in supplies in excess of those she usually sends to those places that will require to import more largely than usual. I'»ut the drain upon her wilt I''' s» great that wheat must rise in price, and we, as well as other exporting countries, will reap a share of the advantage. Vnder the circumstances the grain growers or this Colony should strain every nerve to prepare for the demand which wit! probably arise for wheat and barley next season. They have been somewhat crippled by a bad harvest and other depressing commercial troubles, but if we are not"greatly mistaken, they have some vitality "left, and if that vitality should be welt used tnuv. they may do much to regain lost ground. It is rumored that some of the grain growers itt this district are in such tow water, and others are .so discouraged by their late reverses, that they contemplate growing but little wheat, if any at ail. this year—that, in fact, many of them have not the wherewithal to purchase the seed. Let them take heart. These surely cannot be the men that, with admirable courage, last season, rather than accept the low rates offering for their grain here, undertook the risk of shipping it to the ultimate market. Some of these—those that held titl the very last moment, until stern necess i'J- compelled them to part—will now reap their reward. Two or three cargoes from here will shortly arrive in London, and, judging from the : igns of the times, they will realise such prices as will gladden the hearts •>& their owners. It is important that wheat -rowers should ti»t now l".-e what appears to bo a jirv;tutic. , n& opportunity. Seed they must have. As regards >r, in the majority of cases they and their families can supply that. The improved appearance of the wheat market will surely place them in a position to obtain the amount necessary to enable them to cultivate, or to get credit at their agents', if they cannot do so at their bankers'. It is to the interest of all sections of this community that the farmers should not be necessitated to let their ploughshares rust. Surely one bad season amongst so many good seasons should not have the effect of paralysing onr farmers. We cannot believe that they are Tcaliy in so unsatisfactory a position that their credit is actually gone. To the abnormal stringency of the money market, and not to their losses last season, is to he attributed their present difficulties. They would, in an ordinary condition of the money market, be as well off as ever, excepting, "perhaps, a little temporary piitch arising from an unusually small harvest and low price 3, which would not be s»> disastrous a3 to paralyse them by ruining their credit. L nder the circumstances, we feel warranted in recommending wheat growers to grow largely this season. They may have n little ditiiculty itt doing so ; but, if we mistake not, they are equal to the emergency.