The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1888. 1888.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 January 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1888. 1888.

The year ui eigius is wau m mm,- a year of hope, and also, • wo trust, of fruition, The shadows of 1887 still cling around us, anil, like our evil habits, we carry many of them with 'us across tbo faint line whioli separates the dead year from the living one. r l'h is time last year we feared a to in Europe, which would shako the world. The conflict is stijj delayed, but now, 1 as then, wo tremble lest battle, murder, and the sudden death of thousands and tens of thousands in the spring-time, stain the old world, quarrels. ■ The British Empire, during the year which has closed, lias held a great peace festival in her Jubilee celebration, but who can say in the coming year, that this has not been a calm preceding a storm. 'ln Kew Zealand during wo have been living and making history. The past year has been a red-letter period in. our political annals, A Radical Ministry dragged the Colony once more to the verge of ruin, and then the Colony shook itself, and sent the mischief-makers about their business. A year ago Stout and Yogel were names to conjure with; now, no one does them reverence 1. Our new masters, one of whom, strange to say, is a George Fisher, have already done good work. Thoy have superceded new taxation by retrenchment, they have taken measures which will make our future Railway record a cleaner page than the past one. The new Ministry have done much, but they have not done everything as yet, We can afford to be patient, because as far as thoy have gone, they have proved their political integrity, and shine in marked contrast with the political corruption of their predecessors. The financial sensation of the past year has been the non-payment of a dividend by the Bank of New Zealand. This has been a severe blow to the Colony, but withal a salutary chastening. The people of the Colony after wondering at the Bank facing its position in such an astonishing manner, are quietly imitating it by facing their position. The consequence will be a new growth of prosperity for the Bank, and a new j.growth of ■ prosperity for the people. ■ In tile Wai'rarapa;'we have not had a particularly good time during the past year. Our County North has been compelled-to take two stops backwards by establishing bush toll-gates, and 'collecting a new poor rate. If the County lias one cause of congratulation it lios in the refection that during the late general "election, it- frustrated a dangerous and unscrupulous political machination and returned to the Assembly by an overwhelming majority, in tho person of Mr G, Beetham, a representative who is thoroughly trustworthy towlvfjflce the interests of both the colony and the district. Wairarapa South also selected its' best iraityblo representative after a keen contest, though there was not in that fight the dangerous elements. that had to' be contended with in Masterton. We have, )ye fear, ■ been taking steps backward in the Jlorough of Masterton. In January last, Mr Benr.il, by almost' a fluke, succeeded in dividing the borough into most ridiculous quarter-, ings, pd is now lrtaster of the situation as Mayor, We, however, give Mr Eenall credit for. ail holiest desire to serve the best interests'of the town, and ouly regret that there is, apparently, so hopeless a chance , of his pulling with tte so

■■■■■■§ HHMHRIie raHHm,oi,i ou| j H^HHHHHKoiiowi KSnMHHdeplorojto regret school fflSnHßSHH&c'of 0116 promote HHHHfc ago to eßtab--HH^HgßHH^Hpstown, HHHHn; : "to. of pros-' for BBgMgBPll to come. It linger for a still H|HBHe;may- reasonably prosperity' to be tlie present ; year' than in-tli? pasjt one, but tt larger hope than this cannot safely he indulged in. We have been spared so<. far the extreme drought of 1886-7, and have not iiad to pray either for rain or sunshine. ; Tlio Country districts are recuperating, the'iabbit-scpitrge;has lessened., in a marvellous manner .and enemy "sdUb" is no more heard ;«f . amongstus.' We have something to be thiirik-' ful for, and • even in 1887) our Waclc year, several Qf our settlers who toolei a-trip liome to England came- bad' pretty speedily, and without hesitation gave New. Zealand the palm as a place to live in. •