The Southland Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 11 August 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1864.

Less than two years ago, but before the discovery of gold in the river-beds of the Arrow, Shotover, and the numberless streams, gullies, and terraces with which the Lake district abounds, the people of Southland had formed a high opinion of the capabilities of their Province. It was, according to a very general verdict, to become one of the first settlements in New Zealand. Its harbors were as good as could be wished ; its soil was magnificent, and its climate perfection, with the exception, perhaps, of a trifle too much wind, which occasionally blew down an odd house or two, or landed some unfortunate skipper, together with his vessel, high and dry on the banks of the New Uiver. These small evils were but little thought of in comparison with the great privilege of being citizens of so highly favored a spot. The fame of Southland, and the glories which were in store for it in the future, spread beyond the limits of its own narrow boundaries. • Sovers and adventurers of all classes came to spy out the land, and those who returned took back a good report. Population rapidly increased ; land was largely purchased, and building lots were at a premium. It began to be whispered that the one thing wanted to cause the cup of our prosperity to overflow was a goldfield. A good " diggins," within a reasonable distance, would very quickly make luvercargill a formidable rival to her elder sister, Dunedin. The fates were propitious, the goldfield was found, if not within the geographical, at least within the natural boundaries of the Province, and so situated that, with ordinary prudence, Southland might reap the benefits of the trade which would, as a matter of course, spring up. How that trade did spring up ; how population flocked into Southland ; how the shipping lists began to swell ; how our railways were initiated ; and how a few short months after there came what may be termed a " crash," — • is it not written in the memories of all of us ? Is it not still the every-day subject of conversation, the fruitful source of litigation, and the beacon to guide us in our action for the future ? The causes wkieL. led to such a melancholy deiwuement to the bright hopes of the Province were numerous, and not altogether under the control of the colonists. Leaving the past, let us look at the present, and then speculate on the future of the Province. Such an examination is necessary, because an impression has gone abroad that Southland has seen her best days, and for the future must content herself with a very subordinate place amongst the settlements of the Middle Island. We do not share such gloomy anticipations. It is true that the Province has incurred a heavy debt, and will have to incur a still heavier one, before the railways are open for traffic. It is true that at the present moment business is almost -at a stand-still, and that the laboring class • have great difficulty in obtaining employment; but, nevertheless, we are as sanguine of the j future as we were at the close of 1862. No one acquainted with the subject will ' be inclined to deny that, just previous to the discoveries of Fox on the Arrow and Shotover, Southland was in an eminently prosperous condition. Her revenue and her population were increasing rapidly. Her waste lands were purchased by bond fide settlers, and the Provincial expenditure was kept within very moderate bounds. In short, if the annals of colonization be searched, no instance of greater or more legitimate success will be found. On the discovery of gold in the Wakatip district, Southland saw a repetition of the scenes which have been so often enacted elsewhere. There was a rush to reap the golden harvest which was looked for. Legitimate commerce, in too many instances, degenerated into reckless speculation. The issue was neither doubtful nor long in coming. It is that reckless speculation which has, in a great measure, been the cause of the present dulness. We are suffering from the reaction consequent upon over-trading in almost every branch. In time the balance will be restored, and business again . assume a healthy aspect. The prospects of the Province are infinitely better than they were before the gold discoveries. Southland is still advancing in material wealth. Both pastoral and agricultural settlers are prosperous, and a little careful legislation on the part of the new Council, when it meets, will make them more- so. But the birds of ill-omen, who are continually croaking of Southland's decline and fall, will remind us of the debt incurred for railways and other works .which would never have' been thought of had nq._gplcL discoveries taken place. .They will tell us that ; the money is 'thrown away, and the credit of the Province' pledged for ho purpose. To thi'B we answer, that tidegold discoveries renderediiai}muchjlarger; expenditure of public money necessary than was previously the ease- — an expenditure which could only be met by incurring debt. The yeople clamored for either

a good road or, a railway to the dig-, gings-; they asked for more wharf aceom-, modation; they called for better police protection ; they wanted, in fact, an .expenditure - , many ;t - greater than what has actually been incurred. Their .representatives in?. the Provincial: Council went as far as they .considered it prudent to go vand^ went no farther than the circuiristances warranted them. We do not" for a moment lose sight of thel fact, that the Province is in great difficulties, but ;we contend:they are only of a temporary character. ; The; railway scheme was initiatediib meet the requirements of the Lake trade,; that,, at least, was 'the! source fr6m ; yhich" the greater part of its revenue was expected to spring for some , time to come, and yet the Lake trade 'is .seldom mentioned now without a smile of derision, as a thing not worth talking ofr; Let those,~how-~ ever, who are i thus ■' willing to undervalue what was once looked upon as the " tr'uinp card" of Southland, make inquiries as to. what is " going-' 6n in v a-: : circuit of .many miles round Lake "Wakatip; They will find that a goldfield, originally : confined to the beds of one or two rivers of no great magnitude, has spread over „a vast tract of ■ country, and comprises every variety ' of mining operations. The. miners are commencing to "bring skill and capital to bear on their work ; they are alive to the advantages of machinery and combined lab or, and the. ensuing twelve months will see a very; large increase" of population in the Lake district. "We still, therefore, adhere; to our original opinion, that the Northern Railway scheme was based on sound calculations, and ..will prove of the greatest value ■to the Province. We: have said nothing of the other ways in which this railway will do us good service ;'.. of the increased 1 value which, will be given to land, and the facilities afforded to upcountry settlers: of forwarding their produce to market. It is of the last im- j portance that this work should; be completed, and we are inclined to believe, j that the necessary assistance will not -be withheld by the Greneral Government. There may be delay, but the thing will -be eventually accomplished, and Southland will not have paid too dearly for what some are at present apt to regard as an expensive toy.