STRATFORD NEWS

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10616, 16 May 1896, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS

[FROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.J May 15. — The Colonial Treasurer told us last night that the population ' of Stratford County had increased from from 2521 in '91 to 5142 in '96. This increase of 2621 probably takes the cnke among the counties of New Zealand, but tbere has undoubtedly been almost as large an increase in Taranaki and Hawera counties. Say 2000 for each, and another 1C33 for Clifton and Patea Counties, with yet another 1000 for New Plymouth, Hawera, and Patea Boroughs. This will give a total increase for the Provincial District, or rather for the five counties (Patea County is partly in^ Wellington) of 8600, enough to form a new electorate. Tell it rot in Gath, but the gentleman who had been selected to second the votoof confidence in Mr Ward s Government and thanks for his very interesting address had with Borne difficulty to be aroused from a death-like slumber into which the aforesaid interesting address had thrown him. The poor man had found the dreadful array of figures too hard a row to hoe. He was not singular in that respect. Judging by the tortured expression on the faces of the audiences as they vainly tried to hold the thread while the speaker dashed madly on amongst sinking funds, drawing bouds, loan inscriptions, unpledged securities and such like fearsome objects, sleep, even had it been the last, would have come as a boon and a bless-" sing. There are some sair heads this morning, even among those who did not banquet. There is one part of Mr Ward's speech that has made a deep impression on the minds (as we call them) of us simple Stratford villagers. It is that partjin which he demonstrated that the more we borrow the less wo owo. Many of us have long had a dim perception of this great truth, and now we know all about it. For instance, Timothy Jonos borrows £1000 at 8 per cent f i'om his brother Tituß, and buys a lot ef standing bush. He pays Titus £80 a year interest, and gets no return from the land. A brilliant idea strikes him. Ho knocks another thousand out of the obliging Titus, fells tho bush, grasses the land, lets it to a new-chum at £160 a year rental, and lo and behold ! instead of owing £1000 he owes nothing. For why ? He hns a paying as-set to put against it. He is not out of pocket for interest, and therefore he can't owe anything. It's as clear as mud. The national debt of this colony ODly exists in the imaginations of the Tory Press. Have we not the land, the railways, and the Government buildings, and are they not an asset by enough to wipe tho shte.