The Ensign. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1909. THE PROGRESS OF MATAURA.

Mataura Ensign, 18 March 1909, Page 2

The Ensign. THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1909. THE PROGRESS OF MATAURA.

Tlic socials given ;il the sister town ol Mataura during tho past week to citizens <il long residence gave an opport unity for reminiscences to old settlers iu die district. This afforded to. those present a most interesting hour's entertainment and at the same time brought to tin'. knowledge. of recent arrivals some of the difficulties which beset tho early pioneers. I t alt" placed prominently before the public the fact that during the past 20 years largo productive industries have grown up which serve to employ a contented •population. .Mr Uriel-sou, who had occupied the position of stationinastcr lor "Jo years at Mataura, has seen the i inilie increase marvellously and has licen able to view the transformation ul (iorc and Mataura into important centres. During that time lie has been able lo watch the lands of the Mataura Valley being turned Irom swamp and tussock into excellent farms and the sheep-walks of the hills cut into smaii areas which serve to provide lor numerous families. iiotli Mr Gricrson and Mr Penny have been able to assist in this transformation in their several way* and it was fitting that their townsmen should acknowledge tho fact. The progress made by tlu> district, which was ; oniniciitcd upon by several ol the •peakers at tho banquet tendered to Air Penny, was brought, about by the arduous toil ul the sell lei's and their tamilics. It has gone on quietly and without any ostentation and it is only realised occasionally when prominently brought before the public notice at such gatherings as those referred to. Th" paper mill has enormously increased its output ; and the freezing works have come into being, passed through the tribulations of bad times and now stand out as one of the great industries of the province, for the company has blanched out into side lines which enable it to employ a stall' I be whole, year round. The suggestion that a fur factory should be started may be practicable or not, but it is an evidence of a progressive spirit that it should have been made. A woollen mill has long been talked of. but there are very great difficulties in the way ol its being given effect 10. The smaller industries are all on a sound basis and the residents of Mataura are justified in looking out upon the future in the most sanguiii" manner. While the industries we have mentioned undoubtedly support the town it must not be. forgotten that the whole ol them are dependent upon the success <if the farmer—not only the fanners in the vicinity of Mataura but the whole Eastern District- of Southland. The farmer is the backbone of the principal industries, for he supplies the material to the freezing works and takes the manufactured article lrom the lottndry. The important inventions mentioned by Mr Hamilton will enable the milk and beef of (he 'arm to be treated iu even a more provable man net llian lliey are at pre sent; anil the probabiltiy is thai further invent ions will lie made, for (j 1( . necessity to meet the keen competition in the Old World markets will spur y i, the faculties of students. The people ol this J. l ,astern District ot Southland are perlectly justified in sounding a jubilant note 011 such occasions as those of the past week. There are lew portions of Xew Zealand more fertile than the areas of which the sister towns of (lore and Mataura are the centres and few contain mote enterprising or solid producers of all good tilings.