Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27,1896.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 27 February 1896, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1896.

Though the effects of the revival of colonial trada and production may not yet bo folt iv thia province, there is abundant exult nee thafc the corner haa been turned, and that steady and profitable industry should ere long replace stagnation and depression. In some parts of New Zealand, notably in Auckland, Oiago, and on the VVest Uoast of thisisland, mining has experienced a distinct impotns, and the activity of Wellingion is a barometer indicating the spread of better commercial weather to otber centres. Ihe people therefore should take heart of graco, and look forward tv a moderately good time coming. In regard to mining, the output of gold in tho colony is steadily increasing, anti though Auckland is the chief contributor at present towards thiß increase, other provinces will eventually share in the benefits accruing. It will be remembered that not so many years ago Auckland was the poor-house of the colony, where there were so many places to let that landlords wero glad to get paid caretakers to occupy them. Tho revival of mining in the province haa changed all that, and the revival of mining and industries generally in tlie rest of the colony may secure just as satisfactory results. The output of gold has increased in Auckland from £212,000 in 1891 to £430,878 in 1895. Otago and Southland also show increased output, and the West Ooapt may shortly be expected to add its share. From 1863 to 1872 the gold yield of tho colony considerably exceeded £2,500,000 ; bufc in 1872 there was a shrinkage of over 111,000,000. Tho reduction continued, till in 1883 the export fell below the jnijlion, arriving at the lowest liguies in 1890— £773,438. It will be noted that tho shrinkage was coincidental with the great depression, and that the increase has begun with tbo universal revival. In IS9I tho export of gold again exceeded the million, but iv IS!J2 it onco mora fell back. Last year, hovveyer, tho value of the gold exported was £1,11)2,171, and it is practically a certainty that the end of Id'Jti will show an increase ovor thia amount vast enough to astonish and gladden tho people. The miner is essentially a consumer. He buys everything wo havo to sell, and he purchases ifc, not by barter, but with tho hard cash his product makes. Hence, when he is prosperous, he extends his prosperity to all tho producing and trading classes of the community. The recent trouble in the great gold-producing centres of South Africa will probably have an important bearing on the development of the mines of the British f colonies. Capital, always extremely sousitive to danger, has shrunk back alarmed at the possibility of confiscation in the event of war, not only by a semi-inde-pendent Btate, such as the Transvaal, but also by a Power such as the Uuited States. Consequently, iuyestors aro turning their attention more tjian their wont to tho resources of colonies which own steadfast allegiance to tho British Constitution. It ia not, therefore, mere optimism to hope that the hitherto comparatively neglected mineral resources of the colonies may yet bo fully deyoloped by Englishmen, wit]i English moLey, for the good of Epglisji workers," Turning to another great factor of colonial wealth, wool, it is found

that the actual returns calculated n to September show a steady in- '; crease of export. Thus, while in ?J 1892 tho quantity sent away was Cl 110,000,000 lbs., in 1893 it was tl 119,000,000 1b5., in 1894 128,000,000 * lbs., and in 1895 129,000,000 lbs. v The rise in prices in England has \ ( also been steadily maintained, and b the odd farthings of increase noti- m fled have restored to the coloniea * some million*, of pounds Bterling jj of tbe amounts the wool grower 0 used to earn and bring into circu- - latioti in the "good old times." In n regard to other products, and a taking the statis-tics as a whole, we did not in 1895 reach the total we t attained in 1892 or ia 1893 ; but the . upward progress since 1893 has c been steady. Of course 1893 was \ tho most disastrous year Austral- i asia haa known, and it is no i wonder that both production and ' prices reached their bedrock in , 1894. T n 1892 the exports other f than wool were valued at - £5,052,561. Tbo amount in 1893 ' was £4,781,407, and in 1894 it was ! £4,288,638; but in 1895 it had attained £4,736,052, and in the present year the level of 1892 should be passed. K the figures quoted the value of wool be added (at tbe lowest computation nearly £2.000,000 ' it will be seen '{that in 1895 we have probably gone boyond the export level of 18'.<2. The improved prospects of wool and wheat, the expansion of the dairying industry, the future of the meat export trade in spite of the present rather gloomy outlook, the potentialities of New Zealand flax, the possibilities of the oil romanoo of Taranaki, tho opening of New South Wales ports which brings to New Zealand a share ot the custom of a million and a quarter of people — all point to 1896 as having within it the germs of prosperity. It may be too soon to prophesy, and figures are often fallacious : but enough has been shown by actual results to warrant the assumption that the worst is over, In the circumstances, the people should take heart of grace and look forward to the good times hiddeu in the near future. So mote it be !