The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2548, 8 November 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 1888.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The splendid capabilities of New Zealand are undoubted, but, of a truth, comparatively few of her own people know it, or knowing it are determined to discredit the fact. If they take the colony from end to end its fertility cannot be denied ; we have agricultural yields and pastoral results to prove the fecundity of the soil. Its salubrity is unquestionable ; its freedom from virulent and epidemic diseases and low rate of mortality establish the fact. The country abounds in all directions in rich gifts, above and under the ground; few, if any, parts of the world possess such treasures in scenes of the picturesque and wonderful in Nature. Though in the very midst of all these beneficient advantages, it is only when away from them and wandering in foreign lands that the New Zealander discovers their beauty and value. Mr Devore, the excellent mayor of Auckland, has been taking a pleasure trip through the Australian colonies, and whilst there, was astonished to learn how much greater is the estcm New Zealand enjoys abroad than she does at home. Ilis worship has visited the neighbouring colonies at a time when certain extraordinary natural and social phenomena, at this moment disturbing tliern, produce a striking contrast to the conditions of these fair islands. Suffering as they are across the water from the terrible visitation of a devastating drought, one can well comprehend their amazement that a people living in a country of such a constantly recurring rainfall, perennial green pastures and equitable climate should have anything to complain of. It is surprising to others besides the Australians. There ought to be nothing to complain of here, and were we a contented people it would be impossible to complain. New Zealand has often been styled the Paradise lof the Working-man. There is I much truth in the declaration,

though less applicable now than formerly ; but it was often used ironically and in an unkind spirit by class politicians. New Zealand, if not a political, is certainly a paradise of another kind. The drought in Australia brings this to our understanding with remarkable force. Some Australians may believe this colony is, but an actuality of the poet's fancy, a land of mountain and flood. But we possess also a goodly share of valleys and broad tablelands, impatient for the sons of men to settle on them and make therecountlesshappy homes. The rater take New Zealanders have made lias been the abuse of these manitold blessings. They turned from the real to the visionary; they forsook the substance for the shadow; they bowed before the Golden Calf. Evil

clays followed, but all the troubles that began to acoumulate, year by year whilst their infatuation lasted, were of their own seeking and manufacture, not the fault of their beautiful country and inheritance. The idol has however, been cast down, the people have been brought back to their right mind and, it is to be sincerely hoped, their eyes turned to and reeoguiso those true principles by which only can they be guided to become a righteous, strong and contented nation. We shall most assuredly again enter upon a career of natural prosperity, free from any of those dangerous and fatal elements of fictittious, fevered glamours which have now been, thrown aside. What Mr Devore says is very correct. We are very supine and las in our own

efforts to make our country sufficiently known to the outside world. We did little or nothing to publish the extent of our resources at the " Colinderies," we did as much at the first Melbourne Exhibition; we have not displayed the spirit and energy we should have done at the one now being held in that city, and, finally, we propose to be couspicuous by our absence from the forthcoming Paris Exposition. All this is very wrong, and extremely short-sighted, as results have already plainly declared to us. Such conduct is a clear indication of that want of confidence in ourselves and in our couutry, which is so hurtful to all concerned. We can only undo the errors of the past by bracing up all our energies to rehabilitate all the institutions and industries of the colony, and place them» on a foundation of roclc to endure for all time. It is true, even sad, that we have so great a burden of taxation upon us : but, when we compare our circumstances with those of the Australian colonies, we can become reconciled to heavy taxation with constant rains, «reen fields and abundant flocks rather than have that taxation with drought, parched sterility and decimated herds. Let, xa remedy the evils our own folly created and not add to them. It must never be forgotten we are making a home for our children ; to make fortunes rapidly in our own day should not bo the sole aim of our lives. We must teach our children to love the land of their birth and be patriotic. Our efforts should now be directed to secure wise and good men to govern us, put our national aftairs in order and pursue an honest and righteous course of legislation in future. Then when wo have done our part of the work, we will behold it carried on by another and honourable generation.