THE MEETING OF THE YEARS. A Glance Backward and Forward.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 131, 3 January 1903, Page 8

THE MEETING OF THE YEARS. A Glance Backward and Forward.

TO-NIGHT, those who can keep awake long enough, will, in the time-honoured way, listen to the toll that shall herald the death of the year 1902 To-morrow, we shall turn over our "new leaf" also in the timehonoured way, and resolve to keep it unsullied. The resolve may do us good temporarily, anyhow, even if we, in common with, our kind, lapse from the path of rectitude dunng 1903. Looking backwards is not always pleasant. There are some things people like to forget. Speaking generally, the old year, iust dying, has been a good one, and we in New Zealand have a great deal to be thankful for. Unlike our neighbours oa the other side of the Tasman Sea, we have not lacked rain, and, in pioportion as Australia has lost we have gained. We have not shared m the awful seismic catastiophe^ that have shocked the world, e\ en though we live, as it weu\ on the head of a metaphorical pow derbarrel. The year 1902 will be remembered by those who have been permitted to live through it, as the one during which the most stubborn war cf modern times ended New Zealand may congratulate herself that she, in some smaJl degiee, helped in bringing it to a gloiious end The year 1902 will be lemembeied as the one daring which Kmg Eclwaid VII , one of the most enlightened monarch* who ever ruled over a vast Empne, lav at the point of death Had His Maiest\ lived in any other times he would have be^n unquestionably lost to his people. Modern science saved lum to fill the exalted position lie happih occupies The year just closing is of \ ast historical importance as being the yeai in which King Edwaid, lestoied to health and vigour, ascended the throne. * * ♦ To oome neaier home While peace in Afr'ca has been established, politicians have emulated that condition bv sitting through one of the most peaceful sessions in the history of New Zealand. The Premier, absent for a tame from the helm, doing sterling w ork for the Empire in the Empire's capital, left in his place the man who was responsible for the internal and political peace we then, en-joyed, and still do enjoy. Sir Joseph Ward, with infinite tact and

savoir fdiie," established himself as heir-appaieut to the Premiership. In Hie meantime, tlie people, toll owing the peaceful lead ot their lepreseiitativeis, hare sdiown how they appreciate the Government, under which a condition eminently creditable to it, and satisfactory to them, have been bi ought about. For three years to come the country is to be looked after by that Government, and on this the people may safely be congratulated. « • * Looking foiward into the unknown, the prospects are bright for a year excelling in prospentv the one just closing. Right hene, in Wellington, the piospenty of the people has been show n by thear ability to extensively purchase laad. The year 1903 will increase the suburban area of Wellington m greater proportion than in any previous year The year closes showing that almost even' staple product of New Zealand is finding markets at highh satisfactory rates. This, of course, gn es tlie finest prospects for the incoming yeai With, markets yawning to taike all we can. possibly supply dm ing the coming year, and at prices w Inch at pi esent shiow every prospect of keeping up, New- Zealand may well look forward to the future with hopeful heart One instance of the increase of oui wealth New* Zealand beat its record gold pn> duotion this year by £200,000, and the possibilities m sight aie that she will much exceed this in 1903. » * * It is not to be hoped that a general optimism will prevail, or that a universal prosperity is possible The poor ye have always with you In that newlyturned leaf above lefened to, make a note of this. Perhaps, the enti*v will remind you of that which m your prosperity you might be tempted to forget There is no doubt that 1903 is to be a year of rapid colonial expansion The Com-moixw-ealth, relieved from drought, is already pushing ahead, and her expansion is an incentive to us. You cannot do better than resolve to use' the gifts given you for the benefit of the colony as a whole. As we stand on the threshold of the new year, hop* fully looking forward, and wondering what it may bring forth, we feeJ that, bv recent indications, 1903 promises to be in very truth, A Happy New Ye\r