FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 9

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM "THE POST

1886 IN RETROSPECT "The past year has been a specially memorable one in the history of the colony, as having witnessed a most marvellous yet deplorable convulsion, in which Nature destroyed one of her loveliest pieces of handiwork—the beautiful Pink and White Terraces in Ihe Hot Lake District," remarks "The Post" of fifty years ago when reviewing the events of 1886. "The eruption of Mount Tarawera in the early morning of June 10, and the sad loss of life and destruction of property which it occasioned, must necessarily demand the foremost place in any record of the year's events, so far as they affect New Zealand. Yet that disaster, great as it was, has not proved quite so bad as at first anticipated, for if one set of natural wonders has been destroyed, another set has'taken its place, and the Lake District can still claim a foremost position in the list of the Wonderlands of the world. The volcanic dust also, which at first threatened to render useless the vast extent of country over which it fell, has proved to possess fertilising properties, which may render its presence beneficial rather than destructive.

"Commencing our review of the year, apart from its greatest and most striking event, we recall the fact that twelve months ago we had to congratulate our Wellington readers upon the satisfactory progress made during the year 1885, and upon the fairly pleasant prospects of the year about to dawn. If in some respects these prospects have not been altogether realised, we think we are fully justified in saying that so far as this city and provincial district are concerned, a fair measure of prosperity has been enjoyed and great progress made in various directions. Trade, no doubt, has been dull, but on ihe whole it has been sound, and the commercial credit of Wellington stands high in comparison with other parts of the colony. There can be no doubt that during the last twelve months Wellington has made great strides in improving its position as a commercial centre and a distributing port, and it is rapidly attaining the leading business position in New Zealand. RAILWAYS OPENED. "During the year Wellington has entered on its heritage. Its magnificent estate has been rendered accessible: its vast capital unlocked for use. The great barrier of mountains which divided the port from the rich country languishing from want of access or an outlet, has been penetrated, and Wellington has been placed in through communication by railway with the vast plains stretching up the West Coast to Waitara. This is a memorable event in our local history, and a by no means unimportant one in the history of the colony. Unfortunately we cannot write that the Government has taken full advantage of the energy displayed, and the great work accomplished by local enterprise, in the construction of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, or we should hav? had to record, as we were promised would be the case, that not only was Wellington now the terminal point of the West Coast system, but that by the completion of the Manawatu Gorge line it was also linked with iron bonds to the East Coast railway system. It is, however, satisfactory to note that this connecting link is now actually in course of construction, and that fair progress; is also being made with the main northern trunk line, which is to afford direct railway communication with .Auckland. We have to note amongst the works of progress during the year, an extension of the Wairarapa line to Mauriceville, and excellent progress in the work of still further extending it to Eketahuna, so as to supply the needs of the already large and steadily growing population settled in the Forty-mile Bush. BUILDING IN THE CITY. "The improvements which have been made in the Queen's Wharf have increased the facilities for shipping business of all descriptions, and the further improvements contemplated will tend to attract more trade. The completion of one important section of harbour reclamation, and the com-, mencement of another portion, may! be noted as amongst the events of the i year. In addition to the wharf extcn-! sions and "(reclamations, a new Te Aro House has risen from the ashes of its predecessor, and is generally admitted io be the finest establishment of its kind in the colony. The new Opera House has also given Wellington the distinction of the prettiest and most perfect place of amusement in the Australasian colonies. A great many permanent places of business have been erected during the year, and the number of private residences erected has been very great, but has scarcely kept pace with the enormous increase in population, so that house-room is at a premium and the demand is in excess of the supply. The completion of the Wellington Woollen Factory, the successful result of the Gear Meat Preserving and Export Company's operations, and the commencement of smelting work by the Endeavour Inlet Antimony Company, successfully adding a new and valuable item to our list of mineral exports, are satisfactory indications of material progress and prosperity, but on the other hand we have to note the failure, for a time at least, of the attempt to develop the Caswell Sound marble quarries, and the abandonment of the search for the I gold-bearing reefs which many people still firmly believe exist at Terawhiti. "POST'S" 21st BntTHDAY. "Among the signs of Wellington's , progress and prosperity we should not ■ omit to mention the completion by the 'Evening Post' of its twenty-first year of publication, and the substantial enlargement not only of the size of our paper, but, still more, of our circulation, the advance in which has been steady and great during the year.

"The formal opening of St. Patrick's College, and the signing of a contract for the erection of a Girls' High School, are educational events of the year which deserve notice. It is twelve months since the Government decided to call for tenders for the erection in wood or brick of the new Government printing office, but we regret that we cannot record the commencement of the work as amongst the events of the year.