A MOMENTOUS YEAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12083, 11 August 1917, Page 8

A MOMENTOUS YEAR.

CHANGES SINCE 1867. " Tho year 1867 was a momentous one in the liistpry of the world, ' said! the Hon A. M. Myers this week at tho Thames jubilee gathering at the Auckland Town Hall. Even then the Franco-German war was casting its shadoAV, ho proceeded. Iti was also in that year that the great confederation of American States took place. In New Zealand there was intermittent warfare with the Maoris, though peace had been declared in 1865, and it was not till 1870 that tho last Imperial troops left these shores. What contrast with to-day, when the> Dominion was sending troops by tho thousand to help the Mother Country. In 1567 the Maoris were granted Parliamentary representation. The mosit; momentous event, however,.was the opening Thames goldlie'kl. There were no 'Frisco or V-niK-ouvor stonnicis in thoso days, only forty-eight miles of railways. And no university nor iree and compulsory education. What great progress had been made since—due lie contended, to the sturdy band of colonists that were attracted to New Zealand. Tho population "in 1867 was only 219,000, as against 1,100,000 Australia had lent Ncav Zealand £6OOO. To-day the Dominion had a surplus ot over £6,000,000; it was floating.internal loans totalling nearly it was cheerfully adding £00,000,000 to tho national debt; had sent 00 troops Home; and had. supplied 30 per cent) of the meat required by Britain. Furthermore, Now _ Zealand s total trade amounted to £sl 10s a head, and \ a t December 31. 1916, there was to the people's credit in the savings banks -£2oJoOOJOOO-