Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1884. THE COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 127, 28 April 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1884. THE COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK.

At the half-yearly general meetiug 1 of the Bank of New Zealand hold on $?riduy last, m moving the adoption of the report, the Chairman (the Hon. James Williamson) spoke as follows with regard io the commercial outlook of the Colony : — " As far as the business of New-Zealand is concerned, we are still contending with the result of Ihe past over importing, stocks as a rule being yec much too heavy, but the brake long since applied is fast telling', and it may reasonably be anticipated that importers will soon be relieved of the extra weight they have for some time been carrying. Price of wool and wheat are exceptionally low, and, m addition, agriculturalists have had the further disadvantage of a partially unpropitious season, which will render the general average of farming operations throughout the colony unfavorable. As against these discouraging features, we notice a rapid dovelopinent of the export trade m frozen meat, which is becoming an important factor m the transactions of the colony ; and we have, further, the establishment of numerous dairy factories, which m their operations give fair promise of being a permanent benefit to farmers. A considerable amount of capital continues tq flow into the colony. Our population is vapidly in-

creasing, aud lull employment i.s obbiiuiible for every class ol labor and at highly remunerative rates. Amid some discouragements, thetefore, we are not without tjood "founds lor having full faith m the future of the colony. The seasons which have now been persistently adverse tor three years past aro not likely to continue so, the staple products of the colony, wool and wheat, having almost reached a price equivalent to the cost of production, any change is likely to be for the better, and refrigeration and dairy factories, it may reasonably be hoped, will materially enhance the income from Iho land, and so increase its value and the prosperity of its occupants."