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Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1919, Page 4

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE. To-day is the 78th anniversary of the founding of Taranaki by the emigrants sent out under the auspices of the New Zealand Company in the William Bryant, lhe changes that have taken place in the province in those seventy-eight years lave been many. Unfortunately progress was retarded by Maori troubles, hut it is an open question whether those troubles greatly affected development. It vas the railway and road construction tbat gave an impetus to progress in the first instance, but the real lever of Taranaki's prosperity was undoubtedly the advent of co-operative dairying, the establishment of freezing works, and the application of the latest and best equipment for the factories. Another important movement was the improvement of the dairy herds, their housing and winter feeding, and though this forward step has made great headway there is Mill room for further efforts in the same direction. The days of bullock haulage are past, and petrol-driven motors are rapidly taking the place of the horse, while before many years are over it is hoped that electric power will be available instead of steam. The pioneer settiers had none of the advantages which tie farmers of to-day enjoy. Thev worked hard and endured straggles that showed their grit and tenacity of purpose, but their produce was mostly dis< posed of by barter at prices which would be ridiculed to-day. It was, however, their initial work which kid the foundation for the prosperity of the present t.'me, and on the anniversary of the provv:uce it is well to honor their memory and good work. Today To.ranaki's exports amount to three and a half millions sterling, and a very large proportion of the hinterland is still undeveloped. When all the land is brought into full profit by the provision of adequate transport facilities, and intense cultivation and subdivision have been brought about —the high price of land will compel these steps before long—and the dairying byproducts are utilised, Taranaki's exports will approach £10,000,000. Fortunately the province has a port that will soon be equal to the task of adequately dealing with all its imports and exports, and this is a boon that should be fully appreciated.