The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 105, 4 January 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873.

It is usual, and naturally so, at the commencement of a new year to pass m review the events during the period of time just expired. On this occasion we have little that was either new or startling to look back upon. The gradual development of tho Public Works and Immigration policy has mainly engrossed the atteutitm. of the public and our representatives. The greater portion of the session of our Parliament was devoted to discussing votes of want of confidence m the Ministry of the time ; uot of confidence m the policy enunciated by either party, but m the ability of each m turn to- carry ont that agreed upon by both, m a manner other than ruiuous- to the colony. In fact, the public time and public revenue was wasted m trials of strength between the two parties m the House, as we said before, without a difference m their political creed. The session of 1872, when the history of (his colony is- written,, will always be considered a blot on the good name of the states, men and members who took part m its proceedings M v Stafford has lost the reputation he once had uf being a broad-minded patriotic statesman, and a man who would uot lower himself to petty dodges for the sake of gaining power for himself or party. He has now renounced New Zealand, and we ma3 T venture the opinion that she can well dispense with his presence. The end of his political career has brought disgrace not only on himself, but also on the colony whose Prime Minister he once was — a position that public opinion would never, if he desired it, allow him to occupy again. As regards the railways projected throughout the colony, their construction is being pushed on as rapidly as circumstances will allow; that iv which we as settlers m the Waikato are deeply interested, ia no exception, and by this time next year we may fairly anticipate that it will be m working order. 1 Immigrants are arriving m considerable numbers at each of our principal ports — they will by their labour add to the -wealth of the colony and relieve ua of some portion of our grievous taxation. Mining matters during the past year have not absorbed quite so much of the attention of capitalists and speculators as formerly j a steady yield of gold, however, has been kept up. The progress made m this district during the past year is perhaps more marked than that of any other m the colony. Settlers have largely increased m number, and the area of land under cultivation has nearly doubled. The flax industry is being prosecuted with vigor, and, we are happy to say, is yielding 1 a fair profit to those engaged m it. The demand for our coal — of which we possess such an unlimited supply — is steadily on the increase; a considerable number of steamers have entered the heads of our splendid river to get the supply they needed, and numbers of small vessels havo carried it away as freight. The coal has been found suitable for steam purposes, and we may look forward to the not ve.'y distant day when our coal trade will bo one of the most flourishing m the Island as well as lucrative to those engaged m it. As a sign of progress, this journal has been launched for the purpose of advocating the interests of the Waikato settlers ; it has met with fair support — not so much, perhaps, as it might have douo had more of our settlers got over the difficuties always attendant upon settlement of new country; A large number of agricultural implements have been imported during the past year, and by their means much more land has been brought under cultivation by their assistance than could otherwise have been possible. A large quantity of swamp land :has been reclaimed, and is proving, as is almost invariably the case, the best land m the district. We were about to omit to mention another industry that has been established during the year — that of brick-making. This business should, if carried on with spirit and enterprise, prove very profitable. There is very little timber m the district suited for building purposes, and if bricks could bu delivered at a reasonable rate there is little doubt that they would be extensively used; the first cost of a house would perhaps be a little more, but this would be counterbalanced by additional durability. As regards local legislation, the passing of the Education Act will always stamp the year 1872 as one m which the people were r.onimencing to awaken from their indifference on all matters not immediately affecting their pockets. They were prepared to follow the example set them by the mother country and tho most advanced of bor colonies, m compelling indifferent parents to educate their children, and providing the means to do so at public expense. The Board has difficult work to perform, but it is fair to presume, from the character of those who compose ifc, that it >vili do its work honestly and with ability. It -will be the duty of the settlers to elect a member to represent tliem m the Provincial Council j when the time arrives, it wilt be ours to suggest to them a fib and proper person to hold the office. We 1 have' every reason to anticipate that 1873 will prove a year of prosperity even greater than last. There is no reason to fear any serious native disturbance. There will, of coarse, be. the usual number of canards circulated by the correspondents of our Auckland contemporaries; they have, however, so often written and succeeded m getting printed any nonsense that they like to write, that the invention of untruths has become with them almost a chronic disease, fortunately they are ouly believed by those who know nothing about the natives or native affairs* We do trust that those who have the conduct of the Auckland^ papers will take steps to ascertain Akp truth of statements beforo giving them insertion m their columns. They should curb, for the public interest, the desire they affect to have to provide their readers with a little sensational reading occasionally. The. constant, notice. .taken of the most trivial native movements by tho press has done more to keep the native difficulty iifloat thstn probably any

other influeijp. While predicting prosperity, we may point, out ibat if it is to be attained to tho highest possible degree, tbc settlers must unite and act as one maii aud one people. There must be none of the palling m opposite direotions, a practice peculiar to all thinly populated districts, and one that pervades this. There must be union for the purchttse of implements, the making of roads, and more particularly to give us such a political position, as from the importance of the district and. the number of ifo inhabitants we are entitled to hold. Without attention to political matters, a people can only be looked upon by those who govern them as so many nonentities, and therefore not vorthy of much attention at their hands. May the year ju.st entered upon be a happy one to all, aud our anticipations of prosperity be realised; they certainly j will if we put our shoulders to the wheel and push manfully as Baitish colonists always ha\e done, and we trust always wilt.