The Daily News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31. THE PASSING YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 312, 31 December 1908, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31. THE PASSING YEAR.

lire another of this impel' lias issued from til.- (iri'ss, the fast-Heeling year lUlrt! will l.K.ve run its course, anil lull of the hope of prosperity we shall lie entered upon the new. The past twelve months. « liich happily lias heen one, comparatively speaking, of international peace, lias not heen one of world-wide prosperity. The aftermath of the financial stress in America, s) sensitive are intricately interwoven interests of commerce and finance, made itself felt throughout the world. The good fortune that has attended this Dominion for many years, however, did not desert it on this occasion, and while it would be wrong to say that we were unall'eetcd, it is true that merely, temporary embarrassment was felt. To a certain extent the stringency of the local was all'cc-tod by the purchasing |iower occasioned by the unexpected urop in the price of wool, a drop that meant two millions of money to New Zealand. The recuperative powers of the laud is such, however, that little anxiety is felt for the coming year. Wool has recovered, our dairy produce and meat markets in the Old World are eminently satisfactory to us, and again the balance in the adjustment of trade and exchange is in our favor. Taranaki has every reason to view with equanimity the record of 1008. The year has been a bountiful one, ami to-day business throughout this favored province, we arc assured by those competent to know, is in a condition of prosperity superior to that of any part of the Dominion, and the solid prosperity that has its being at the moment promises, by every test that may be applied, to continue. The principal event of the dying year in New Zealand was the opening of the Main Trunk railway line, and the general election, events which, however, are of too recent happening to require more than passing mention. Nearer home, the outstanding event of the year was the passing of the New Plymouth Harbor Empowering Act, and the consequent carrying of the poll authorising the borrowing of WOOAIOO to complete our harbor. Having witnessed the successful issue of the preliminary essentials for this great work is alone sufficient to mark the year 1008 as a memorable one in the history of Taranaki. Ere the new has run its course, Taranaki's harbor will have progressed at least to a s'.age. that ''Vill mark it as the largest and saffl^fc ° n ""'' west of will have advanced a vry X>n*i'lerail??> distance on the way to completion as a deep-sea harbor and sheltered anchor age. In this respect at least the closing year marks the opening of a new epoch in the development of Taranaki not secondary to the peaceful settlement and development of the province during the close of the war. Tile quest for oil, and the development of our ironsaud resources are, perforce of circumstances, carried forward to the new year with the hope that ore another year is ushered in, oil and iron will: be established industries in our midst. ;We take this opportunity of wishing ovir readers, one and all, " v - - A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

eipal event of the dying year in New Zealand was the opening of the Main Trunk railway line, and the general election, events which, however, are of too recent happening to require more than passing mention. Nearer home, the outstanding event of the year was the passing of the New Plymouth Harbor Empowering Act, anil the consequent carrying of the poll authorising the borrowing of 1:300,000 to complete our harbor. Having witnessed the successful issue of the preliminary essentials for this great work is alone sufficient to mark the year 1008 as a memorable one in the history of Taranaki. Ere the new has run its course, Taranaki'','! harbor will have progressed at least to a stage, that will mark it as the largest and saT3^fc lxl " ,r on the west coast of will have advanced a vry Xin*i'lorail??> distance on the way to completion .is a deep-sea harbor and sheltered anchor age. In this respect at least the closing year marks the opening of a new epoch in the development of Taranaki not secondary to the peaceful settlement and development of the province during the close of the war. Tile quest for oil, and the development of our ironsaud resources arc, perforce of circumstances, carried forward to the new year with the hope that ere another year is ushered in, oil and iron will: be established industries in our midst. ;We take this opportunity of wishing oi*r readers, one and all, " v --- A PROSPERCVCS NEW YEAR.