TURAKINA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 532, 15 February 1869, Page 2

TURAKINA.

(From our own Correspondent.) Turakina, Friday morning. "Oh ! I see the crescent promise of my

spirit hath not set; \ Ancient founts of inspiration well through all my being yet."

After an unusually long* silence T again wield my almost rust-eaten weapon, to lay before your readers a brief account of our comings and goings since, my last. We are now in the midst of a luxuriant harvest; a large portion of our crop safely stacked^ and what yet remains uncut promises much better than for many previous seasons. . A large field, cropped by Mr G. Y. Lethbridge, in barley, oats, wheat and potatoes, is simply splendid, and is the general admiration of every passer by. I have been told by travellers from many parts of the province, that they have never seen its equal either for quality or abundance. It is, I understand, an- experiment which is being tried by the owner, in order to determine an oft discussed question—namely, whether agricultural farming pays in New Zealand. Tf all results are as satisfactory as in the present instance, agriculturists need,have no fears, provided of course proper method in the preparation of the soil, and sufficient care in the selection of the seed, are used. Emigration (I regret it is not immigration) still continues. Hitherto it- has . been confined to persons in humble walks of life, and whose careers have not been marked by striking features or characteristic peculiarities. They have quietly tak en their departure for other spheres, unheralded, unchronicled, soon forgotten, except perhaps either by a few personal friends, or, more probably, disappointed creditors. But the commencement of 1869 will witness events no less astounding-, and epochs no less startling, than the abrupt and totally unexpected departures of our esteemed and valued .Doctor and Minister—the former for Wellington, the latter for Tim— Melbourne. Yes, the hour of their departure has come, and each has left his own peculiar ' foot-prints on the sands of time';' whether they may be the means of any forlorn and shipwrecked brother taking heart again, time will prove. For the benefit of their successors and their respective charges; I did intend to have glanced briefly at the causes, which, to a great extent, have led to the disunion and apathy plainly manifested by the supporters of each ; but, on second consideration, I prefer to wait till their places are filled, and then endeavour to prove, from the, future history of the place, what an amount of permanent good can be brought about, and evil averted, by the consistent, kindly, and charitable conduct of those in high places in our small community. Let us hope that a change will be for the better, as in fact it almost must be. We want more^genuine Christianity

more lively interest in our bodily and spiritual Welfare, more zeal, more earnestness, and more forbearing- charity; preached-by precept and example, before any real and lasting change can take place. At the same time we wish to both pleasant prospects, and trust frequently to hear of their success. Since the change in the proprietorship of Cobb's line of coaches much improvement has taken place in the regularity of their despatch and arrival. The present proprietors, Messrs Shepherd and Young, seem determined to make the undertaking pay, by retrenchment where before was gross and useless extravagance, and doing that share of the work themselves which the last Gobb and Co. paid heavy salaries for getting done. I have much pleasure in recommending this means of travelling, which I do from personal observation, and the praise universally accorded to the line by all the travellers on the coast. With capital teams, liberal proprietors, civil and careful drivers, I do not wonder at the increased support which has been received. Some time since I spoke of a daily mail between here and Wanganui, which at one time I thought would be carried into execution ; but since then it has died out, and I again wish to bring it before the notice of the proper authorities. Such a thing would be a great benefit to the place, and I have no doubt would pay a fair balance-over all expenses. Mr Shepherd offers to convey said daily mail, till the end of the present'year, for the sum of £20, which I consider a: very reasonable offer. I hope the inhabitants will take the matter up' themselves, and lose no time in getting a petition signed, the prayer of which, if endorsed by our postmaster in Wanganui, will not be denied, as he also, I understand, approves of the alteration. \