The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, June 28, 1890. “POVERTY” BAY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 473, 28 June 1890, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Saturday, June 28, 1890. “POVERTY” BAY.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aiiu’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

The prefatory remarks in Sir Harry Atkinson’s Financial Statement may well be taken to heart by some of our local croakers, whose mournful tales and desponding countenances do so much to cause that very depression which they lament. It seems to be in the nature of some people to be despondent when they might well be happy, or a near approach to it. The town, we admit, has overrun the constable, in that business men in times not far past have given way to the ruinous practice of cut-throat competition in which the mischievous credit system has played a prominent part, and brought to the verge of bankruptcy many who would otherwise have been in the soundest position, with large spending powers of their own. Happily a good deal of that sort of thing can now be counted as solely of the past —the credit system is still an existing evil, but not of nearly such grave proportions as formerly.

There can be no question that substantial progress is being made in the Country, and one most gratifying sign is that every industrious toiler in the district seems to be able to find plenty to do. Of course in any community a few idlers can always be found in the most prosperous of times, but some men have what may be termed a constitutional failing that a lifetime will not cure, and no plenitude of work will make them assiduous workers. There is now in Gisborne a great scarcity of labor for bushfalling and general station and farm work, the reason for which is not far to seek. “ Times are mending,” as the saying goes; things commercial have assumed a more hopeful aspect, landholders are gaining heart, and there is greater activity in making improvements than has been the case for years past. Hence all the surplus labor has been absorbed, and it is now the employers, and not employees, who have become anxious in that respect. As an illustration of this we may state that we have heard station holders and managers express fear that they would not be able to obtain sufficient labor to fall the whole of the areas of bush they are willing to have done. We believe we are within the mark when we say that from eight to nine thousand acres ofbush will be ready for burning by March, if not before, which is much in excess of previous years. This means that a large quantity of seed will be required, while there will also be an active increase in the purchase of stock. It does not require much thought to convince one that better times are coming. Even this one case of the bush lands shows that much. Should we be favored with good summer burning weather, we may look to grass seed being a high price next season ; but unless we have more frosty weather there is every indication that many paddocks will be nearly, if not totally, spoilt by the caterpillar. Most of these pests are more or less controlled by the mildness or severity of the winter seasons. After a mild winter we have the insect life thriving in all its various forms, but given a cold winter with frosty nights and the land is comparatively free from pests. Sheep and cattle during the coming summer will rise considerably in value, but cattle more especially. Our reason for feeling certain of this is because a demand will be caused in the summer and autumn for stock for fern crushing and consolidating the land, a preference being given to cattle, after such a growing season as we have had last autumn and this winter.

The prospect is certainly very much brighter than this time last year. The country already feels the improvement. The town cannot see much real alteration for several months, but it is certain to pick up wonderfully after it has got through what may be called the period of probation. The depression indeed is an evil which has in a great measure worked for good, and those who ought to know say it has worked wonders in Gisborne. That overworked system of credit, after being worn to tatters, has been forced to give way more and more to cash transactions. It would be a bright day for Gisborne were the English system of weekly payments inaugurated, and there is no reason why it should not be. It wants only a little combination and determination on the part of storekeepers and other business people. Union is strength. Let each trade unite, and the whole business garner Can soon be swept of the chaff.