The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 124, 26 February 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

How is Hew Zealand going to act in the great commercial crisis that is now, like a mighty wave, sweeping over the faco of nearly the whole earth ? Will she stoically look on to the general disaster without making an effort to avert the evil that is impending, even for New Zealand ? Will her rulers stand idly by and trust to fate to bring them out of the dilemma ? It is not impossible for this to be the case. It too often happens that if a man is enjoying the ordinary comforts of life himself lie is ready to turn a deaf ear to the cry for help which so often comes from those less fortunate. There is a danger that this will be the case with New Zealand. Her leading men, for the most part, are men who have been financially successful ; in short, have been accumulating wealth with a rapidity quite unusual in more settled countries. There is danger that this state of matters may be a means of lulling them to sleep when they should be up and doing. It cannot be denied that this colony has been highly favored by nature, blessed with a glorious climate, and an exceedingly fertile soil, which only wants human appliances to make it bring forth in great abundance. Every element necessary for making it a great country it possesses withinitself. Gold, silver, copper, iron, and abundance of coal for smelting purposes and for steam and fuel ; not only so, but her soil keeps teeming with the necessaries for producing the most wholesome food, animal and vegetable—even her dry and parched plains have the materials at hand for a complete irrigation ; indeed New Zealand may be termed a land literally flowing with milk and honey. Shall it be said that want of energy, of skill, want of judgment on the part of her rulers, allowed her to be overtaken with disasters which it is within their power to avert ! Shall it be said that wrangling about the election of a Govern< r, Die appointment of a Maori repre-

sent tti\ e, tlie disposal of n crazy old steamer, or the stabling of a worn-out old ( olonist in sung quarters at L2OO a year absorbs their attention when the enemy is at the door ! There is a possibility that such may be the case if the country does not waken them up and show them their duty before the golden opportunity for averting the evil has gone from them. Anyone who casts his eyes abroad, and is at all observant of the signs of the times, cannot help coming to the conclusion that the era of the world’s prosperity has for a time passed away ; people have become so accustomed to the cry ,“ Wolf ! w olf !” that they will scarcely believe the real truth when it is told to them, until hy dire experience they come to feel its effects. Every batch of news from Europe is mostly made up of commercial wreck and ruin in some part or of the civilised world. The robbery connected with the Glasgow Bank was but the natural outcome of that course of extravagant living which for the last few years the whole world seems to have engaged in. England, through a large export trade, was able to keep the great mass of her people well employed—not only so, but by being able to keep out of war she was able to profit by the quarrels and wars of other countries in the northern hemisphere. She Avas also largely benefited by the unparalleled prosperity of the southern hemisphere. When the American civil war was going on her colonies were able to obtain a good and profitable market for their wool and other produce. When the Avar between France and Germany was going on, England Avas able to profitably dispose of her manufactures of almost every sort, and to drain other countries of their money. When the Avar between Russia ond Turkey avus going on, England kept expending that money in manufacturing Avar materials in case of need herself, and so every class seemed prosperous and rapidly getting rich. When peace between Russia and Turkey was proclaimed, the era of money making carno to an end, demand for her manufactures fell off, and what had been stealthily sapping the very foundations of her strongholds (her manufactures) became exposed to vlcav. America — -who, like France, can more speedily than other countries recover from disasters— had been busy worming herself into the very heart of England’s prosperity —so much so that Avhen the discoA T ery Avas made England stood ashast. When she contemplated Avhat some of her ablest statesmen considered the ruin of her commerce, America had got over the trouble, and now busies herself in extending her commercial connections ; and so successful was she in this, that in almost every large town in England she was able to supply, and at lower prices, the A'ery manufactures that England trusted to so much for her stay and strength. A large export of bullion for breaclstuffs was nothing so long as it was more than made up by a demand for her manufactured goods. Her colonies also continued to prosper and their-orders to increase. All this has now come to an end, Avars have ceased, a reign of peace by great poAvers begun, and not only Germany, but Russia, are finding out that war is a costly pastime. The withdraAval by Germany of so much of her bone and sinew from the pursuits of peace and agriculture has told heavily upon her producing powers, and deprived her of those sources of income from Avhich she was accustomed to draw her support ; hence the discontent of her trading community, hence the cry against her Government, hence the spread of Socialism, hence her financial embarrassment. France, by a marvellous and unexpected moderation, and a diligent use of means, has managed to retrieve her lost ground—has exhibited to the Avorld something to be wondered at ; but Russia, on .the other hand, is fairly bankrupt ; her resources exhausted, her prestage lost, and her credit completely gone. Hence the amount of discontent. America also, notwithstanding all her push, is also in tiie throes of a commercial crisis, from Avhich she may not be able to extricate herself for years. Cause and effect is in every instance brought prominently before us, on the one hand, over production, and extravagance, on the other ; expenditure on works that are not productive is bearing its fruits. Wars and munitions of war are of tins class, and too Avell are the principles that govern both demonstrated. This should be a Avarning to us in this out of the way little colony in our present critical position. If avc act wisely Ave may avert the evil ; if not, a time of great depression must shortly set in. If our rulers Avill only but take the bull boldly by the horns all will go right ; if they attempt any half measures all will go wrong. What, then, is open for ns to do is this : To organise an extensive sys. tern of public works. No country is in a better situation for doing so. We have a large mileage of railways projected sanctioned by Parliament ; let our Government decide to go into the market at once and borrow largely. Our credit is good ; the public works pob'ey is sound ; money can be got at a reasonable rate ; not only so, but tens of thousands of willing hands are at this moment ready to come over and help us to construct these Avorks at a cheap rate. Not onl} 7 that, hut the iron market is in the most favorable state for our buying needful supplies. Never since the notion for building railways in this country took possession of the brain of a

Moorebouse ora Yogel did all things offer so favorably for the carrying of them out. In connection with this, there is a necessity for the railways sanctioned by Parliament being proceeded Avith without delay. Land cannot be sold till they are commenced, and land is needed, especially in tins province. The Loudon Agricultural Company will be a great colonial boon, and hundreds of small capitalists Avill readily embark in such a scheme to secure a homestead of their own. But it has to be remembered that it is only Otago that will secure the direct benefits of this influx to our population. Otago’s Land Board is also up and doing. It is making proA'ision for setting apart pastoral land in blocks of from one to 5000 acres to be sold on deferred payments, as Avell as opening up a large breadth of purely agricultural land to bo dealt tvith on the same principle. What is Canterbury doing '? Does she expect that her rural population Avill remain with her if nothing is done in some similar Avay to people the Avaste land ? W r e must recollect it is an Otago settler that ha? promoted this agticultural company in London, and of course Otago is his favorite field for operations. What is our Canterbury leading men doing for her % What is Mr Hall, Mr Rolloston, Mr Montgomery, and Mr Stevens doing? The three latter are simply acting the dog in the manger. If these or others do not bestir themselves Avhen population is looking to us to take them to our shores, Ave cannot insure them against an outburst of indignation Avhen the terrible depression which it is jioav in their poAver to avert has overtaken us. If only those avlio have assumed to themselves the title of leading politicians Avould but bestir themselves Avhen such a golden opportunity offers, the sound of the hammer, the pick, and the shovel, may be heard throughout the length and breadth of the land, and peace and prosperity prevail in our midst, Avhen nothing but revolution, anarchy, and want prevails in the countries of Europe. Let the opportunity pass and depression greater than has ever yet visited New Zealand may t f° r a time be our lot.

Tenders. —An advertisement in another column invites tenders fur the erection of stables, outhouses, &e., for Sir Job Brown, to be sent in not later than Btb March next. Accident. —Mr D. Young, of Waitohi, last week, while driving a young horse in a dray, was thrown suddenly out and kicked on the knee, which was sprained and somewhat contused. The accident is not of a very serious nature. He is under the care of Dr Hayes, who informs us that ho is progressing favorably. Accident. —Yv r e are sorry to learn that Mr Hopkinson, of Georgetown, met with a serious accident, yesterday afternoon. It appears that he was riding a young horse, and the animal, rearing np on its hind legs, came | over on the top of Mr Hopkinson. injuring him rather severely. Dr Gumming was speedily in aSfghdaiice, and under his treatment we hope t o hear of his speedy recovery. The Kaitangata Disaster. An ad- ( journed inquest into the cause of the explosion in the coal mine at Kaitangata was hold in the Bridge Hotel on Thursday morning, before Mr Carew, R.M., and a jury duly sworn. After the examination of several witnesses, the inquest was again adjourned till the 3rd of March, to admit of an important witness (Mr Allan Homos) being present. It is sad to think that 31 valuable lives have been sacrificed through a little carelessness in entering an old drive with a naked light. The widows and orphans—amounting to over 100—will, we trust, be liberally provided for. The suggestion of Dr Stuart at the public meeting that each bereaved family abonld be put in a way of doing for themselves after public sympathy is at an end, is a very good one. This would be a better way than handing sums of money indiscriminately to be spent right off. Some little provision for the future would bo a wise arrangement. Bunds will not be wanting for such a purpose. All will be ready to do something to assist on an occasion like the present unfortunate one. Resident Magistrate’s Court, TeaiUKA. — At this Court yesterday, before A. Le G-. Canqibell, Esq,, R.M., George Hunter was charged by James Roberts, manager of Trevonna farm, with the larceny of two fowls on the 24th inst. Prosecutor and his son stated that hearing a noise in one of the paddocks they went out and saw the accused, who had two fowls in a hag. Accused said the fowls were his, and used threatening language when spoken to. Roberts, jun., said that some person had left the two fowls at Trevcnna, and accused had offered to purchase them, but had not paid for them. ■ Accused said that he bad been working on the farm and before leaving had set the fowls on some eggs and directed a friend to look after them. Learning that the eggs were hatched out lie went to fetch Ids property. Ills Worship said that it appeared that prisoner fully believed the fowls wore his property, and therefore ho would dismiss the case. Riele Youunteers. —The volunteers of the No. 1 Company residing at Winchester met on Thursday last, the 20th instant, to open a range, the use of which has been kindly given by Mr W. Dcßenzy. Mis Young, the wife of Captain Young, fired the f rst shot, scoring a bull's-eye. There was a goodly number of the company present. Healths were then drunk and none more heartily than that of Mr W. Dcßenzy, who had given the use of the range. After the opening the members went through various movements in skirmishing, &c., all the movements passing off well. The members of the

No. 1 Company Tenuika Tliflo Volunteers will fire for the district prizes on Thursday afternoon next at Winchester, on the grounds of Hr W. DeKcnzy. A Government inspection will be held the same evening in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka.