THE DEPRESSION.

Evening Star, Issue 6808, 23 January 1886, Page 2

THE DEPRESSION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—lt is a great pity to see so many young men constantly leaving here. Seven more of my acquaintances left yesterday for Melbourne, making twenty in all since the New Year. Of these three were the sons of a thirty-years' colonist, who, seeing no opening for his boys here, bid them " God speed " and sent them away. The other night Mr Larnach, address'ng his constituents at Portobello, said that what we wanted for the rising generation was more local industries. I think so, too; at least we want something that will stop this rapid decrease of our population. To look up and down some of our former busy thoroughfares and sec the no\ir deserted look they wear, ono would almost imagine that an epidemic was rapidly thinning us out. No wonder that the building trade is at a standstill when there are so many empty premises. I have asked' some of the house agents hov many vacant premises there are at present, ".nd on comparing notes I find there are between twelve and thirteen hundred empty houses and shops in and around Dunedin. An agent showed mo property on his book that seven years ago changod hands at L 1.050, and the present owner would be willing to sell the same for LSOO, but caunot get an offer. Hoping that this state of things will soon pass away—l am, etc.; "' Nil Despehandum. Dunedin, January 21.