The Patea County Press, AND Manutahi-Waitotara District Guardian. “Be Just and Fear Not.” MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1887. FLOOD TIDE.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 1, 24 October 1887, Page 2

The Patea County Press, AND Manutahi-Waitotara District Guardian. “Be Just and Fear Not.” MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1887. FLOOD TIDE.

“ There is a tide in the affairs of man, “ Which taken at the flood leads on to fos tune. “ But omitted, all the voyage of life “ Abounds in shallow-and in miseries." Tiu*e beyond contradiction, are the words of the above extract, and forcible beyond parallel in their application to our district at the present juncture. The tide of prosperity has undoubtedly been steadily ebbing for a considerable time, and disastrous indeed bas been its effect on tho whole town and distiict. One after another our institu tions have dropped before the scourge of adversity, like skittles before the bowls, until at the beginning of the present month there was not one left standing—no not one—. We may, therefore, safely assert that 'ho district has at last “ touched bottom,” and therojis now strong evidence of tho tide turning, and a return of reasonable prosperity. This, however, will not happen “of its own accord” “ God helps those who heir) themselves,” and if the joys of prosperity are to bo secured to this district, it must be as a result of united action on the part of the settlers from end to end. As “ one black sheep spoils the whole flock,” so does one perverse or malcontent portion of a district tend to spoil the efforts of the many and, damp tho energy which would otherwise wo willingly put forward to advance the welfare of iho community, aud secure ‘ ho prosperity of the district as a whole. This result was more than proved at tho meeting on Saturday last, when one canvasser stated that lie felt the selfish action of llawera in making alternative subscriptions for works at Huwera or Patea “ would damn tho whole thing,” aud ho had, therefore, ceased canvassing, and refused to give in his list, thus leaving ho whole country between tho Whermakura and Waitotara rivers uucanvassed. It is un doubtedly excessively narrow minded

on tho part of the llawora > esideuts to take such a course as i: is palpably to die advantage of every grazier in the district to have the works erected whore they can ho carried on with tho least possible cost, for, as Mr Oldham stated very plainly at tho meeting, “ whatever tho cattle cost to conver must bo paid by the grower the meat has only i given value when placed on tho market and whatever it costs to place it on ho market, must be deduc.od from the price of the boast.” No words could possibly bo plainer or more intelligible, ind any g azier who will give tho sub joct a moments thought will see at mce that it is to his direct benefit to uwe the works placed in such situation is will enable tho Manager to work at ho least possible cost. It is clear joyond question that tho farmers live ■oof will walk off tho farm and to the works, within any reasonable distance, without any cost beyond tho time of, perhaps, a man and a dog, who, it not loing that would possibly be balancing themselves, one on,tho other under,the fence of some adjacent saleyard ; but, with the dead meat there is no such method of transport, every pound has to bo carried, and must be carried at the cost of the farmer, and as every mile of carriage deducts an cqxuvalont fr m tho price obtained for tho beast it should not bo difficult for a- farmer to decide us to tho adaptability of a site for the works. It is suicidal to a degree to decline support, because tho site is not fixed in a locality where a constant and heavy outlay would ho necessary to got tho product of tho works to market, when every farthing of that outlay has to come out of tho farmers pocket. For tho townsman there mav

be some excuse for hankering 1 after a close site as the ton or fifteen shillings reduction in the value of a bullock, is not of such moment to them, and the additional expenditure is more or less indirectly to his advantage ; but, oven granting this, what could such a paltry matter represent as compared with the general advancement of the district, and the financial position of settlors, A town is utto.ly useless withour a country surrounding it, and every advantage felt in rho country is at onco felt in, and enjoyed by the towns, while it is equally impossible for ouo end of a district to thrive by the establishment of a market without the clisfu-ic-t being- equally beneiittotl Prosperity is not to bo stopped, like a bullock by a wire fence across a road, at a certain spot, but will extend its ramitieations throughout tho leng hj and breadth of a district like the circles of agitation formed on tho surface of water by the falling of a stone, and it is just as impossible to say where the actual benefit of prosperity ceases, as it is to define tho exact spot at which the circles of agitation cease. It is not very long since a bonus of £2001) was subscribed aud offered for a preci Rely similar object to tho present, and to-day we have th‘- establishment of the works thrown at us, as it were, aud yet diUieulty is now exp rieuced in obtaining the necessary guarantee. It is to bo hoped that all petiy jealousies will ho put aside, aud a genuine hand-iu hand i ll'urt he made by tho who e district to secure ;lie grand opportunity that now biers for permanently placing it beyond tho reach of adversity, by planting in its midst u practically unlimited and andying market for its staple produce, md with it a largely increased pojm iatiou of consumers, to ensure a ready ; and convenient sale for every descrip - tion of town and country produce. ; Such to day is placed at tho disposal of ; the settlers by Mr tddham’s offer. The | tide of prosperity cun now he taken at ■he flood, and will lean on to fortune; but allow imaginary jealousies to step in, and tho opportunity bo omitted, and tho voyage of life in this favoured { listrict bids fair, indeed, to “abound; u shallows and in mi ch-.” (