AND GOLDFIRLDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1885. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1122, 25 February 1885, Page 2

AND GOLDFIRLDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 18 85. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The low prices which have ruled for grain for some considerable time now have, in no small degree, contributed to the state of depression that has ruled, not only in this Colony, but also in the other Colonies and at Home. For several years past the price of wheat has been low, and the immediate prospects of a rise in price have seemed remote. Gradually the impression that the world's supply of wheat is greater than the demand has forced itself upon agriculturists. The enormous quantities of wheat grown in America have been pointed out as sufficient to more than stock the English market, over and above local consumption ; and India has been looked upon as no mean rival to America in that particular class of agriculture. Feeling that the tendency was towards over-production and still lower prices, farmers have refrained from holding over surplus stocks on hand ; and this in a great measure helped on the downward tendency of prices. Now, however, prospects are looking brighter, and the excessive glut in the world's market which was anticipated, has not come to pass. Statistics prove that the wheat shipped to the United Kingdom fell off considerably in quantity last year as compared with previous years. The figures are— for 1881, 2,969,000 quarters; in 1882, 2.412,000 ; in 1883, 2,164.000 ; and in 1884, 1,949,000. This shows a steady d cline in the quantity of wheat shipped to England, which must soon reach the limit at which a rise in price takes place. As for the competition of India that was so much feared, the fact that last season's shipment amounted only to about onefourth of the previous year's export, sets aside all need for fear in that direction. Though prices have bean very unsatisfactory for some years, we feel confident that the immediate future will dawn with more hopeful light to the farmer ; for in these days of fast ocean-steamers and consequent rapid transit, a rise in one part of the world must influence the price of grain everywhere else to a certain extent —that is, of course, if the rise in price is more than a limited rise due to local causes. It would be very difficult, in the meantime, to attempt a forecast of the market for the incoming wheat crop ; but we imagine, taking all things into consideration, that prices will have a tendency to harden. The days of big prices, however, are gone. The fast steamers gave the death-blow to that. Still we hazard the opinion that there will be such a rise in the price of wheat in England that it will leave a slight margin of profit for grain shipped Home. While there is a good market for frozen-meat, the area devoted to wheat culture is likely to become leas, in this Colony at all events, and this, after deducting home consumf • tion, should not leave an enormous surplus for shipment abroad. It is not too much to expect, therefore, that better prices for grain will rule in future, though, of course, there is not much chance of any spasmodic rise taking place. A steady advance would be more welcome than a sadden rice, which would for certain be followed by a fall. Though the prospects of the farmers are not so bright as we could wish them to be, yet, on the whole, there is good cause to look forward to a brighter future.

Lord Derby has suddenly awakened to the importance of giving the Colonies a little consideration. After an almoit interminable amount of haggling ovpr the New Guinea Protectorate, in which the onus of providing all expenses in connection therewith was attempted to be thrust upon the Colonies, he has at length telegraphed to the Government of South Australia that the Imperial Government will share the expenses. Recent events have evidently had gonw influence upon the mind of the Secretary for the Colonies ; and the vociferous cheering which greeted the eulogy of Sir Stafford Northcote on the gallant and spirited offers made by the Colonies for assistance in the Soudan must have aroused the old man from his mental torpor towards these distant British possessions; If the death of the gallant Gordon is the indirect means of bringing the Australian Colonies into prominence and revealing their importance to the Imperial Government, then, as in the case of every hero, the brave General will not have died in vain. Another result of the spirited action of the Colonies is that the English Government has determined to maintain the' boundary laid down in the extended protectorate over New Guinea. ' A deputation of Samoan chiefs will shortly press upon the ! New Zealand Government to take atepi for the annexation of Samoa. They could scarcely arrive at a more opportune time ; and, while Lord Derby shows signs of being amenable to reason, strenuous efforts should be made to out-wit the wily Germans, who are only waiting for

the opportunity to "seize these' pvely iilands. The time has arrived, whie the phblio>qf England are enthusiastic over thecp>triotism>of the Colonies,, toprass theplaims of the Colonies in the wy of annj^ktion 'in the- Pacific, and no time

r V" — % "-^7. Sia Stafford Northcote, in ihe louse of Commons, spoke in the very h'ghest terms of praise on the gallant and spirited offers of the Colonies to send troops to the Soudan. The Houie reeohoedthe praises of Sir Stafforl by prolonged cheering, and the pubic in England highly appreciate the enthuriasm displayed in the Colonies. The patriotism of the Colonies has come as an<evil -revelation to Prince Bismarck. That England should be called upon to »ncl troops for the defence of the Colonies he was quite prepared for; but that the Colouies should spontaneously come forward with offers of men and money he never even dreamed of. This genuine burst of enthusiastic patriotism on the part of the Colonies must, for the future, have a salutory effect upon the Germans in the Pacific. If it can be shown that we are not only anxious for the annexation of the islands which commercially lie favorable to us, but also prepared to assist the Imperial Government in defending these acquired possessions, the opposition of Bismarck may not be so pronounced. A new complexion has been given to Colonial affairs by the unfolding of recent events, and let us cherish the hope that the Colonial policy of the Home Government will henceforth be materially different from what it has been in the. past. England is not inclined to accept the services of any more Colonial troops, as they are not required ; but some authorities express the opinion that the offers of the other Colonies should be accepted in order to prevent jealousy. We endorse the opinion, as it would be well to foster patriotism in the Colonies. Besides, a3 a stroke of policy, no better move could be made than the landing of soldiers from every part of the Empire in Egypt, even if they were kept there on garrison duty and never saw the Soudan.