THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1892. A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2300, 2 January 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1892. A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

With this issue we begin a new year with brighter prospects than we have known for a long time. The harvest promises to bo the best we have known, ibr the past ten years, and the prices will undoubtedly be excellent. Judging by the present appearances we are of opinion that wheat will be at least 4s 6d a bushel, and with a bountiful harvest, that, of course, means a fortune for our farmers. Last year we advised farmers to put in as much wheat as they could, and we are glad to find that they acted on our advice, and that the area under wheat in this district is very large. There is nothing left now but to save it, and we sincerely trust farmers will not place so much confidence in the weather as they have frequently done before. They can afford now to pay for saving their crops, and we trust that they will not allow the “ penny wise and pound foolish ” policy to enter into their transactions this year. The prospects in other directions, too, are bright. The population which during the previous few years was Hying from our shores is now returning, and that must of course lead to increased prosperity. The Auckland Star says : “ The fact that the exodus has ceased, and the signs of an influx are not wanting, seems to herald an era of returning prosperity. Houses are filling up in a manner that must be gratifying to property owners, who have had rather a bad time for the last two years. Whereas a few months ago, no less than 900 empty tenements were reported in the city and immediate suburbs, it is now pleasing to be able to state that the latest returns show that the number flas decreased to about 200. Comfortable dwelling houses are now difficult to obtain, the majority of the tenantless buildings being in gullies and out-of-the-way places.” But it appears to us that we are only in the beginning of an influx of population from the Australian The financial debauchery in which the .other colonies indulged has now come to an end, apd the consequent reaction Ims set in. The result will be that our great and superior advantages, and the fact that a wise and Liberal (.Tovernment is now in power, must tell in our favor in the near future. The New Zealand Herald says >— r “ The condition of the colony is indeed encouraging in every respect. There is not the smallest reason to apprehend retrogression. The Bank of New Zealand Estates Company are proceeding to realise the landed properties which they j are possessed of, and which will soon bp

in the hands of men who will work them with the energy of proprietorship.” Besides there is a large number of other estates in the market, and, therefore, it is likely that settlement will be greatly extended before long. The Auckland Herald is opposed to the present Government, but it has the good sense to see that it is better to present the colon}' in its true light than run it down as other Tory papers are doing. And now we do not hesitate to say that there is only one source of danger, and it is that our Tory friends are trying to run down the credit of the colony and destroy public confidence. There is no increased taxation on money, and it was never intended that the tax on borrowed money should be doubled. We have the Premier’s assurance of that. There is therefore no danger that money will leave the colony, unless the moneyrings combine together to produce results which they hope will crush the present Government. It is not probable that they will do so, but if they attempt it we warn them that the free men of this colony will not conconsent to continue their slaves for any lengthened period. We have no enemies, therefore, and nothing to fear except those w T ho are crying down the colony and trying to create a panic. These may do mischief, but it cannot be great. We do not want to borrow a great deal now, so it does not matter much about destroying our credit. We ask all our friends to discountenance in every possible way this crying down of the colony. We have a beautiful country —one of the most fertile on the earth, and we ought to regard as traitors those who, for selfish reasons, attempt to run it down. With these few remarks we wish our readers a happy and prosperous New Year,