The Daily News FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31. 1909-10.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 277, 31 December 1909, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31. 1909-10.

With tlii„ issue we complete another volume of our files, and ere the next •• Daily .News" issues from the press, the passing year will have run its course, and its happenings relegated U history. The year 11)0!) has not been an uneventful one, though happily Anglo-Saxomloin has been spared the horrors of devastating war. I'robably the most important event of the year so far as the lirilish Empire i„ concerned, was the epoch-marking Imperial Defence Conference, which resulted ill

evolving a homogeneous si stem of cooperation fci r the individual and collective defence of the Knipirc. Tli.it the summoning of die Conlcrcikc „.,. | a ri/.ly the result of .New Zealand'* spontaneous oiler of a Dreadnought to the .Mother Country is a mailer of not inconsiderable satisfaction; the inure par. licularly that it effectually set the seal upon Imperial unity. And as a natural corollary lo a comprehensive scheme of naval protection, which has broadened the view (and the obligations) ~[ the overseas dominions, each has set about'the solving of the problem of infernal detcncc in workmanlike manlier. Accordingly New Zealand ha„ decided

on universal training -a s\slem linn within iilmust a dccailc «)• two will iiK'an thill even nlilc-iiuiLieii New Zea lander will be lilted to fall into line in defence of his country .should occasion ever demand of him that duty. In the •perfecting of the Imperial idea, no smaj) part was taken iluring the year by the newspaper pro-,- and tile commercial community 01 the Empire, Tile vaiue of tin' Imperial Press Conference, at which representative- of every Urilisli iluininiiiii ami colon,, was iideipialely rcpicscnieil, will he' lelt more ami n.oi-e an lime »i.i.\i on, and the education of the people to a true appreciation oi Imperial citizenship is brought about by the modem universal teacher—the newspaper press. Commercially, also,means were taken during the year to brin* about u more complete 'understanding between the Mother Country and the Imperial family, and it cannot be doubted vfcui ilic Syuney Conference of Cham. h'Ts of Commerce delegates from all parts of the Kmpire will result in paving the way towards more recipro-

cal trailing, mutually advantageous. Throughout the Empire, and America, the year has witnessed emergence from the late financial depression." the effects of which were being seriously felt at its beginning. Ere we pass on to review miscellaneous events, prominence should be given to the federation of the South African colonies, including Hie Trau--vaal, an event imii|ue in the annals of colonisation ill the world's historv. The only disturbing factor, indeed, 'in the Imperial fabric, lias been the attitude of India, where (he Nationalist ambition is still a (source of considerable anxiety lo stale-men and til"- r>.e„ii--1 sible for the government o e.i: .' :V ,i icountry. In a lesser degree KgvpMiaalso given some cause for concern, bin it is lo he hoped that the exercise of firmness and tact, with absolute justice, on the part of the dominant power, will overcome prejudice and ignorance. Events in Turkey and Persia during the

year, resulting in llie deposition of the respective Sultans, and the establish ment of more stable government, have still to stand Hi., lest of time, but are nevertheless somewhat wonderful in their sphere. The present has been d scribed as the age of invention, and -n at least two notable directions the pn>year has been distinguished by "reat achievement. Although oxpe'rimen;have been carried on for years in aero nauties, the year 11100 witnessed tingrealcsl M.lvauce ever made in "heavier than air" machines. What Ihe fiituibis in -lore for (his mode of locomotion not Ihe most fertile brain can even suggest; in annihilating distance, def, ■ng lerrilorin] lionndarioH, :N iil in--ii!ar il.v. it niav ere long completely chan" the world's ouflook', hastening' the fed eration of mankind. Another imunn ant invention that give* great promise is (hat of the gvroscone applied to loco

mo!inn. heralding flic possibility of travelling liy mil. in perfect safety -| ;i s|io.'.l up m I2fl mil- an hour! <V| ing on,, mind had; over the events illic vein- in Sr>«- Zealand, il miisl ;,,• irkiio«lc-1..,.,| iliar H'Hinv,. Wn ~ !v favored. The lempnrnrv depression uncler which the counirv labored fn r .. 'i'w months Ijns completely disappeared In be sncce'cuVii l.i- one of dm' mnsr bountiful seasons ,„, record. Tl , p a . ductivily of the country was m'v, more conclusively demonstrated and combined with more than salisfnclorv prices f„ r nil our staple products, few have occasion tn feel displeased with the aggregate result „f the year's abors. ,\„d no pan of the Dominion has more reason for pleasurable, feeling hap I'ar.maki. f„r Xnlnro has assuredly smiled upon I lie land. The oil infMstrv cannot yet he said to be cstal> "liwl on a commercial basis, hut. the operations of the year have thoromdil" proved that a payable Held exists." In

I Mis connection probably (| IP , nost im . .portfliit pronouncement yet made upon I the potentialities of the Held is tkt which we publish this iiioruiu". ~,„|,0 , i,. "IS Dr. Hell's highly favoralil- opinio,, ot tin' prospects. Deeper 1,,,,.;,,,,' i low . ever, is necessary before (lie lm Yj n ,],,. posits that are believed to exist ran le J«l>pc<l ami it is satisfactory to know I int. the policy of (lie late manager anil the present manager of the TaranaVi Petroleum Co., which is being earriod out. i« thus thoroughly endorsed i, v j) rRell. Even more imiiovtant, in the wider aspect, than the progress of petroleum prospecting, is the making of a deep-sea harlior at Moturoa, and the vcar lflfl!) marks (he initiation of a harbor policy that will very shortly make its benefits felt from end to end of the province. During the year the

loan necessary to carry out the work ■was successfully floated, and more important still,' to some people, no harbor rat» was collected. On the whole, therefore, the year has been one of distinct achievement, locally and nationally, and the prospects are such at its close that the New Year causes no misgivings. For ourselves, we have every reason 'to be satisfied with the share of the general prosperity that Jias come our way, and we take this opportunity of thanking our hundreds of subscribers, advertisers and contributors for their kind support during the •year, and hope that within a few days the appearance of the ■"Daily News" as <m right-page paper will be taken as an indention that their support has been .fully appreciated, and that we intend to <lo our best to maintain it. Tn conclusion, we take this opportunity of wishing our readers, one and all, A VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.