THE NATION’S WOES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 538, 4 October 1902, Page 4

THE NATION’S WOES.

The financial genius of the pessimists is a fine instrument with which to examine tho debit sido of tho ledger, but not having been trained to look on both sides of the book, they are not always so convincing as they might be if they studied the question impartially. However, we aro afraid the peoplo will await the coming eruption that is to hurl us into bankruptcy with light hearts. They aro familiar with that kind of prophecy, and, liko the old maid's dream, it is always to be interpreted by its exact opposite, At any rate tho actual facts knock out this kind of prediction every time. The prophets of woe have their uses. They show to what a depth of misery a man may descend if he allows his financial instinct to get a kink in it, and are terrible examples to others to avoid melancholia. Maybe it is foolish to increase rolling stock, and thereby expenditure, just because the traffic increases. Why not get pack horses to carry it, or steam rollers, or something ? Should we have decent public buildings, merely because other countries have them ? Tents are cheaper, and kahiuatea weatherboarding instead of bricks will soon save the money required for the works the pessimists want for their electorates. Their never has been a time when the Government was not accused of doing for other people the very thing the accusers want done for themselves, and there never will be. A curious thing about the present state of things is that tho people don't know they arc being ruined, They are reaping and sowing, marrying and giving in marriage, and their impending doom is unexpected. But a time will come. The voice of the Parliamentary pessimists proclaim it.—Lance.

What makes the Australians’ performance the more meritorious is the iact that it was accomplished in one of the worstsummers known in England for many years. It speaks highly for their batting prowess that such splendid averages should have been secured on “ bowler’s wickets.” Especially is this the case with Trumper, who finishes with a batting average seven runs per innings higher than any previously gained by an Australian in England, Trumper'c success has been the most striking feature of a remarkable tour. Young as be is, his marvellous record of 2515 runs, including eleven centuries, stamps him as one. tf the finest batsmen that the cricketing y/orld has ever known. All the members of the team have acquitted themselves well. Remembering the adverse criticism levelled against the new men before the team left Australia, it is the more satisfactory to note that Duff, Armstrong, and Hopkins have all scored over 1000 runs apiece during the tour, and secured higher averages than tried men like Darling and Gregory, while Saunders, sent Homo for his bowling, finished second to the great Trumble in the averages, with 127 wickets to his credit. If any of the team did not come up to expectations, they tyere Darling and Gregory, though neither can be said to have proved failures. In the early part of the tour accidents and illness prevented some of the players from doing themselves justice in the field, but little fault could be found with their subsequent performances. Australia bas, in fact, good reason to feel proud of her representatives, who have demonstrated in such brilliant fashion the supremacy of colonial wicket.—Christchurch Press,